sketchbook challenge

over at the sketchbook challenge

this months theme flowers

with the warmer temperatures , my garden is ahead of schedule

which lead me to look through last years photos, which inspired me

to get some sketching done.......

after scanning the sketches i really wanted to add some color

once i started playing with some brushes in ps i couldn't stop!!!

early spring

with temperatures way above normal

15celsius --62degrees

it feels like spring!!!

as i wondered through my garden

looking under the debris for signs of life

i'm a little hesitant to rake out the beds

just yet!

i have a funny feeling that the will be

one more snow fall before easter

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above

one of my pencil sketches

of the day lilies in my garden

i added some color with the

paint brush in ps

spring has sprung!

it's amazing what a difference

a week will make in the garden

with the unseasonably high temperatures and

a few rain showers

and i can actually watch my garden grow!

everything has sprouted up and out

my garden has really expanded over the past 10 years

last year i dug up 500 "babies" and

sold them at my plant sale

this year i'll be able to work a little less

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above, one of my pencil sketches

played with some color in ps and added a border

april showers

april showers bring may flowers

yesterday was gorgeous

14 celsius that's 60 fehrenheit

(for toronto that's above average)

it gave me some time to wonder through my garden

and uncover what's growing under the fall leaves

it's so exciting to see my babies sprouting up

buds are forming on my lilac bush,

clematis and honeysuckle

i see bleeding hearts, sedum, chives, bee balm

shasta daisy and echinacea

my lilies and iris are 3 inches

looking through my garden journal

it inspired me to do some sketching

above, an iris

which after i scanned the sketch

i played with it in ps and

added some color

wishful thinking

only 28 more days 'til spring

waiting for spring

during this deep freeze

i've been dreaming of my garden

because i work from home

i really don't have to go outside

i don't mind hibernating

i get a lot done in the house

cleaning and purging

organizing and re-organizing

my taxes are ready to go

i even have time to take up sketching again

only 62 more days 'til spring!

long live the king

when i was a little girl i loved to watch elvis movies

i think i've seen every one 50 times! really!

i told my mum "i'm going to vegas to marry elvis"

i was never a fanatic , just had a huge crush!

i started pencil sketching in grade school

mostly houses and scenery

i started portraits in high school and

once i left collage i wondered into other mediums

once in a while i would pick up my pencils and try "my hand"

i found this sketch in my portfolio case hidden away

it's at least 15 years old

and one of my favorites,

it captures him before the fame, before the army and

before his innocence was lost

and of course, i had to play a little in ps

trying on different backgrounds and blending modes

i still listen to elvis and love his christmas songs the best

i did get married in vegas to a wonderful man

and elvis showed up and sang

"love me tender", "i can't help falling in love"

and "viva las vegas"!

he was wearing his gold lame jacket