A UKRAINE GARDEN WALK IN MAY

 Come walk through my yard with me.  I've been too long away from my blog so here's what happened in the yard in May.  Above was a rare foggy morning in the back yard.

 The rest of these pictures are from the front yard.  In Ukraine houses have fences all around them including across the front.

 Peonies are always so beautiful.  I have white ones and red ones too.

 Iris and evergreens...

 Spiderwort....

 In the Russian language (that's what I speak here) these are called "Little Bells."  I don't know what they would be in English.  Behind are two varieties of hosta.

 The garden is just another art expression for me.  I love the flowers.

 Roses and strawberries.  The strawberries are in several of my flowerbeds.

I think these are called "Sweet Williams."  Thanks for stopping by. Sure appreciate it. 

BIRD BOOKS # 2, REPEATED PER REQUEST

My dear sweet husband did this on digital format for me.  So nice to be able to show the whole book at once.   It was fun to do and includes some work from art friends and some of my own little pieces.

CRE8TIVE CRE8TION'S SPRING BIRD

You'll enjoy seeing how Andrea Gomoll of Germany works.  I really like how she did her background.  You will too.

THE VIEW

This is what it looks like from out my front door looking east in the morning.  I love how the trees cast shadows across the yard.  We live in a pine forest so even though we have lots of trees, we still get sunlight because those trees are so tall.

FUN WITH STONES

I posted this on my Facebook page because I liked it so much.  I have a whole garden path with stones like this.  Well the big ones anyway.  It is such a cute idea I want to do it in my garden next spring.  These are what I call river rocks.  You can't find them just anywhere, but they are plentiful in the rivers of western Ukraine.  I just like rocks.  Ever since I was a kid I collected rocks and shells.  I collect sea glass while at the Black Sea as well.  Haven't found what I will do with it, but I like it.  I even paint on rocks....flowers, words, squiggles and then I leave them for strangers to find.  I'll post some of those later too.  Have a good week.

CALIFORNIA FLOWERS AND HOSPICE

I am now entering my third week in California where my family lives.  I got an emergency call just one night after returning home from the country of Georgia (south of Russia).  I left the next morning.  My father, who is less than two months short of his 90th year had a brain bleed and they didn't expect he would live.  He rallied, we thought he was going to make it and now he is not.  We thank God for all the years he has had.

He is now enrolled in the hospice program and we have support in his dying process.  Though it is hard to loose a family member, we know that God has "numbered our days" and we trust him for that.  I am grateful that I can be here as a support for my step-mom and my two sisters.  I would greatly appreciate your prayers for them.  These two beautiful flower pictures are actually some I took in 2010 while here in winter.  Just as the flowers, we are each and all here for a "season," so be sure to tell your loved ones what they mean to you.

UKRAINE GARDEN DELIGHT

Already we have had several freezes in Ukraine so the flowers have been gone now for a bit, but I wanted to show you this pretty little corner of my garden because in the cold and bitterness of winter it is a delight for the soul to see something lovely.  Therefore as winter goes on I shall occasionally post some beautiful little tidbit from the summer display.  Like my art, the garden is one of my areas of pleasure.  It really is simply another expression of art using the medium of the garden.

When we moved to this home 15 years ago the yard was nothing more than a wild forest.  It was chest high in  "maleena" (wild raspberries)  and an abundant crop of "krapeeva" (stinging nettle).  I never had a plan to necessarily do the whole yard, but little by little, year after year I would plant more and it just grew.  Many of the sweet people of Ukraine gave me things from their gardens to get a start.  From that time I've transplanted and added.  This tiny teapot above has been in the garden since we moved here.  Winter after winter it survives through the season and moves from one spot to another.  As you can see here I do have a few little figurines in the garden that some have given me, but you can rest assured there are no elves or gnomes lurking around in the tall plantings.  Both of these pictures are shots of my rock garden.  It started out as a small clay hill in one corner of the yard in which I knew not a lot would grow so rock garden seemed like the thing to do.  Hope you like this little peek into my garden.

"Birds of a Feather" Mixed-Media Tutorial

On Facebook someone asked me how I did these.  She liked seeing through the image to the text or music below.  It really is not difficult so I shall summarize enough that you could repeat it.  This one has a Russian music sheet. And you'll need napkin images of your choice.  As you can see I like birds and these were from my napkin collection.

I started with a card stock base to give a bit more strength, though I have done these on heavy paper as well.  You could also gesso your paper to add strength, but I don't often do that.  Some of it I stamped before I did anything around the edges and some stamping I did after adhering my text and images.  It really is your choice.  This one has a Russian language phone book page in the background.

After stamping you are ready to adhere your background layer.  You can also paint and do other decor around your edges.  This background text is a Russian language phone book page again.  I like using foreign text.  Rather gives an air of mystery. Use Elmer's Glue (PVA) diluted at least 50% or ModPodge.  You want it pretty watery.  Living in Ukraine where I can't easily buy many materials I mostly use the white glue.  It works well and it's cheap.

Paint the surface of the cardstock where you will lay your background paper or paint the back of the image.  I lay the text down, paint the glue on top of it and immediately take it to my heat gun (hair dryer also works) to dry as fast as I can to prevent too much buckling in the lower card stock.  When that is dry I repeat the process for the napkin (all layers removed except top image).  I do not paint the back of the napkin.  Only the surface upon which I will lay it.  It is too delicate.  Once down I paint on top of it, but here you must be very careful not to overwork it as napkin fibers break down quickly and it could start tearing so watch closely as you work.  Then go immediately again to the heat gun and dry.  When you are all done you can press it in a book to help flatten, but I usually don't mind a bit of buckling as I think that adds to the character of the piece.    I also do these in my art journal.  See previous post of Oct. 11 or go here http://vintageterrace2.blogspot.com/2012/10/projects-using-tissuenapkins-for.html.  In addition, the post just below shows a suitcase I altered using napkins.  Give it a whirl.  These are fun and there are so many beautiful napkin images.

Bees in the Garden

The lowly little crocus is come and gone from the garden already, but what a splendor it has for the short time it shines. And notice the bee all covered in pollen. How he joys in the season and uses the pollen to make that wonderful nectar of honey we enjoy so much. Click to enlarge for incredible detail. It's just amazing to see how everything is connected. Without the bees to pollinate so many things our existence on this planet would be far different, if we had existence at all. As you observe, it does become evident that there is an intricate interdependency of all creation. And a Creator who made it and ties it all together. I "stand amazed."

MARK HAMMITT, GIVING YOU ALL OF ME

A story of joy created out of pain. Read the "story behind the song" at the end.

Summer's Beauty in Ukraine

Since we are all in the midst of winter now I thought I'd share some beauty from warmer days. I know this butterfly almost doesn't look real, but I promise it is. And the photo is untouched as far as saturation or anything. I'm just not that techy, but God in all his creativity is amazing in what he makes. It is a foretaste of what is yet to come in heaven. Hope you like it.

Take a walk with me in my garden. This was shot in September. Now we've had many hard frosts so mostly the leaves are all on the ground. Nights are below freezing, days are in the 40's, sometimes close to 50(F) degrees, but that won't last long.






Sharing with you a heart I found in the garden. It was the inside of a fading rose and I thought it was so beautiful. I often notice as the roses start to fade and they lose their strength and their vibrancy, there still remains a beauty that catches the eye. I think that is how it should be in the Christian life. As we age, as we lose our youthful strength and energy, we have not the beauty we once had. Nonetheless,there should still remain a beauty from below the surface that catches people, that draws them to the Author of all beauty....a peace and a gentleness that shows we know Him and we are close to Him. I hope as I age, I will exhibit the beauty of the rose that shows others the love of our Creator. To Him be the glory.

A WALK THROUGH THE FLOWERS - UKRAINE

The morning light was just right. The day touched my cheek with a soft breeze. I was in wonder of His beauty. He never ceases to prick my inner being with joy at what he's done.




Isn't God's creation just marvelous? He speaks to us through the flowers and the beauty he puts all around us. Even this delicate little bee is a wonder of his doing.




This is the rich flower bed from which I was shooting. Summer is gone, yet the fall flowers are like God's final blessing of his colorful imagination expressed to give us beauty. This spot is located in the small village of Gorenichi in central Ukraine where we attended a Harvest Day celebration on the 11th. I"ll post pictures of that later.




Yes, this is for real. That amazing butterfly let me get real close. I've learned to start snapping as I approach so I at least get something before they flit away, but this one let me keep coming. God's amazing workmanship.

We all have problems in this life, yet we walk around like everything is fine and we look like our life is all put together. The fact is, behind that mask often is great hurt, some tragic event or some challenge we think will engulf us. So, I've left here a link for you to read. It's not long, but will take you a few minutes. Believe me, it is worth the time: http://bravegirlsclub.com/archives/5832

Go there, you'll be glad you did and you'll look at people differently.

Blessings, Coleen

FIRST SIGNS OF FALL

COLEEN'S GARDEN

Just wanted to share with you some of the beauty of my summer garden. I had the most spectacular blooming of Peonies in early May. Fuller and more abundant than I've ever had. April was a normal rainfall month to bring them on, but after the first week of May there was no rain the rest of the month and so this abundant showing was short lived. Of course, I watered, but any of you who garden know that watering is not the same as God's mineral filled showers. I decided I must do an altered book on my garden so I can preserve these lovelies in a place I can enjoy when I'm old and gone from here. Our lives are often short lived like the peonies so preserve your relationships with those around you. They may not be there long. Blessings on your day.

THE GARDEN PATH

Just a small peek into my garden.

Black Tulips

Well, that's what the package said, but they don't quite look black to me and I'm glad. I mean, who wants black tulips, but I figured they'd be a dark color. Tulips are about done here in Ukraine and we are now in Iris season. I love watching the changes.

Butterflies and Hot Air

This journal page started with a dinner out with family in Texas, Andy, Gayle and Melissa. I started doodling on a napkin while we were all talking. I"m just one of those hyperactive Type A's that wants to be doing something all the time. If they'd been diagnosing when I was a kid I"m sure I would have been ADHD. Just the title describes me well. See there, I am off on a tangent. Anyway, I started with circles in the top of the balloon. I didn't know I was going to draw that. It's just what it turned into. I used a wash of diluted Elmer's to attach it. The rest of the layout came from the Butterfly house in Dallas that we visited. It's an amazing place if you ever get a chance to go there. I got lots of great photos. I'll post some later. Whoops, another rabbit trail. The background circles idea came form a video on Milliande's Art Journal January. She does a journal page a day. Hope you like it. Let me know what you think.

FLOWERS FROM MY GARDEN

I've been so blessed this year because I got to see spring twice. Once in the south in America and again upon returning to our home here in Ukraine. I love spring with all it's fresh new colors. These tulips are in my front yard, just a sampling. Hope you like seeing them.