S.S. Keewatin

The weather forecast is lousy for the next 2 weeks and 30 cms of snow expected by Wednesday.  Today, it was beautiful with sunshine and temps at 8C so I took the opportunity to drive the 54kms to Port McNicoll.  I wanted to see this amazing luxury Edwardian steamship passenger liner before it is taken away.  It pre-dates the Titanic by 5 years and it took passengers and freight throughout the Great Lakes (from Port McNicoll to Fort William and Port Arthur now Thunder Bay).  It was built in Glasgow Scotland and owned by Canadian Pacific Railway.  

I am so glad that a few years ago I took a tour that included the engine room.  I’ve tried to draw it several times in the past and I have to say this is my favourite try even if it is still wonky. My fingers started to chill off from the breeze off the bay so I was glad I finished up with colour when I did.  

So sad it is being moved to Kingston Ontario; Port McNicoll is losing a part of their history because developers who want to put up fancy homes along the waterfront.

Shakell’s Wrecking yard

There was sun today so I decided to take advantage of it and go for a drive.  I went by Shakell’s and did a double back since I saw that it was closed.  I’ve never sketched at a junkyard before.  The sign said “beware of dog” but I don’t think that there is one actually.  “Old man Shakell” rode out on his ATV to see what I was up to, I’m sure he has a video surveillance system.  Funny thing is, he isn’t the original OLD MAN Shakell; his father had been the old man we had dealt with back in the day.  I have been there before many many years ago with a boyfriend who was looking for parts for a truck he was fixing up.  Yup, a woman of a certain age and alone in a car is definitely “HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS”!!  He asked me if I was an artist, I said yes and showed him my sketchbook. Curiosity and the cat ride again!

In my handmade sketchbook, I do wish I would have had the time to add colour.  I had another stop to make and it was getting close to sunset. 

Down memory lane

 I was in the storage room looking for Christmas wrapping paper to start the process..... will need to mail out our Christmas presents sooner rather than later.  It was almost as nostalgic as that moment in the Christmas Vacation movie.  Oh my!! An old 45! 

Yup! I spent longer in there than I had intended with fond memories. 

The Christmas lights are up

My hubby put the Christmas lights up early this year (when it was still relatively warm).  He decided that this year there is no need to wait for December 1st.  I so agree!

I used acrylic gesso and craft paint and glitter glue.

New Book

This is the current book for 2020 in this series and I’m happy that I requested to be put on the list for this latest story.

Handmade Fun foam stamp

I just had to try this out and see if I could make my own stamp with fun foam.  I send out loads of mail so it would be great to jazz up the envelope.

Really happy with my results!  I just need to press a wee but harder on my lettering so the text will be sharper.

I’ve got more carrots in the car

Here is another finished postcard going to Julie in Georgia.  This card was created from a “cast off” piece of paper that had watercolour on it and I hadn’t liked it at the time (muddied colours).

I pulled it out again and saw a face and was able to tease out this portrait. I thought she needed to be saying something and my mind went blank.  So out of frustration, I got my little envelope of vintage book phrases and found this one.  It is nonsensical but it appeals to my sense of humour especially during these horrid months of COVID-19.  

The inspiration for the technique started with a class I took with artist Deb Weiers (check her out on IG). 

Snowy Day

This is the way it looked out my window while sipping my coffee this morning 

I used cheap craft paint

Grosbeak

We had some of these birds stop off at our bird feeder this morning.  I got a few snaps so that we could identify thus bird. 

Selfie Sunday

Another Sunday has rolled around! Sometimes I think creating a selfie each week makes the weeks go faster. 

So I was surfing the internet and found a art class for children.  If it is good enough for kids, it is good enough for me!  Apply graphite to the paper, smudge with facial tissue, draw with an eraser.  I couldn’t do my whole portrait with my eraser pieces, I had to apply more graphite in areas and draw my eyes and glasses with my pencil.  I made some errors but oh well, overall I’m happy and I drew another selfie. 

It is so dark and dank here in Ontario that I’m having a difficult time getting a decent photo. 

Corn harvest

The farmer that owns the land around us retired and he has “farmed out” or rather contracted out the cultivation and harvest.  I suspect he might have rented out the fields but I don’t know that for sure.  Today they are finally taking the corn off so I picked up this dedicated cob (minus kernels) off the ground. It has been grey and wet here so with the beautiful sunshine today it is a perfect for harvesting. 

This is a postcard that will be mailed out to Kyra in California next week. 

Ziller glossy black ink, distressed book page, watercolour, and gold acrylic ink. 

End of Aisle marketing

My simple journal page today is a report on the fact that I am definitely someone who falls for the “end of the aisle” marketing of merchandise. 

I haven’t cracked it open other than the sniff test as our current hand soap is not quite empty. 

Fence Post Friday

Happy Fence Post Friday everyone! Sadly it is dull grey and raining here right now! Hopefully there will be some sun tomorrow.  It was so lovely earlier in the week and I drove to Gravenhurst to draw Norman Bethune’s house.  Of course it was closed along with the museum beside it since it is after all after Thanksgiving.  No matter. It was a nice day for a drive.  Good memories of the last time we were there together Martie Barth 

Dental Appointment

Today’s journal entry. This was a scary day for me and I had myself in a state before I got to the dentist office.  Now that I’m on the other side....it wasn’t as bad as I thought.  

I survived as she only had to get the “basic” pictures.  I choked up but didn’t get the dry heaves! 

The book I’m reading-Remembrance 2020

The library book I’m reading on my iPad. 

Vintage vehicle

I went to the post office today and on my way I saw this vintage car parked at the antique shop around the corner.  It has been unbelievably warm here in Ontario so I was able to stand outside once again to draw and paint.  I went inside to speak to the owner snd he gave me some background. 

I used my handmade sketchbook with Fabriano Artistico 90lb hot press paper and my QOR watercolour travel palette!  It has been awhile since I have used it this summer.  The paper is so yellow from the late afternoon golden sunshine! 

Selfie Sunday

Instead of avoiding each self portrait Sunday, I am making it a priority in this journal. Not sure how long I can last but I’m going to stick to it for a bit until I need a change to another substrate; the planner has its limitations. 

Maud Lewis Stamps

I went to the post office the other day and got some new Canada Post Christmas stamps! I love Maud Lewis folk art.  She is a Nova Scotian artist who lived in poverty but her paintings are worth lots of dough now!!  The White House actually had commissioned some of her paintings back in the 1970’s. she had arthritis so painted small and she painted directly from the tube (so little colour mixing). 

This little painting is my version of her stamp for mail (postcard/letter) going to the United States. 

I used cheap craft paint, acrylic markers and poster paint markers

Bird Feeder

So far so good... my husband’s creativity seems to be working!  This is my view while I drink my morning coffee.  Our squirrels are horrid creatures and have knawed through the plexiglass to get at a few crumbs that are beyond their reach.  I’m glad my hubby was thoughtful enough to dream up a recycling project to solve the problem.  

Fence Post Friday

It’s another gorgeous day out there so get outside and enjoy it! Happy Fence Post Friday everyone!  I always love a house up on a (little) hill! It is probably because it makes me think of the scary mystery novel, The Haunting of Hill House that I read as a kid.  I guess I should re-read it to see if it is really all that scary in relation to today’s standards. 

The scent of snow

Well, am I the only one that uses perfumes seasonally? Of course, as a Canuck, we need to have a perfume that smells like snow!!  We are in a weird warm weather period for the next 5 days; that makes me very happy.  Love to see and feel the sun!!! Regardless, I’ve brought this out front and centre along with a few others in preparation. 

Doggie Ornament

This morning’s page; a wonky dog ornament! My hubby bought this ornament as a joke gift for our daughter.  

Selfie Sunday

It is Selfie Sunday once again! These are chunky kiddo pencil crayons and I was happy to find a pencil sharpener that fit them. I just used what was in the box.

In my Moleskine planner.  Happy to be warned by the electric company a couple of days ago that they are bringing the hydro down this afternoon for maintenance..... better now than having it go out in the dead of winter.