made some art today *

This morning I sat down at the computer to do a bit of work ….  and instead wound up making art!  Here is my process, really its more like stumbling my way around all the little thoughts in my brain.

I noticed that the calendar was now bragging it’s no longer January (yea), and the photo posted on my Uncommon Everyday Art Facebook page was still set to December.  Guess it’s time to change that up.  So I think for a moment… brain takes me to this weekend.  I had spent some time in the garden on Saturday, pruning and cleaning up. Of course, I have a great shot of my weather worn hydrangea blooms that would be perfect!  Off my fingers go, making it happen.

TaDa!  New art, and a new calendar for my computer (and yours too!)

A ghost from last summer, hydrangea blooms weathered but still clinging to the bush.

 Feel free to share, download and enjoy the calendar all month long!

Just leave me a “like” for payment.

I had so much fun playing with that I decided to see what else inspired me.  My younger sister has a birthday this month, so I thought it was time to make up a new image just for her.  Browsing around my pics from last month, there was some shots of my beautiful white Amaryllis taken with my smart phone.  Not good enough… hmmm. Oh yea, the plant is still blooming!  Out comes the camera and my macro lens.  50 shots later and I have 3 to play with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that I have spoiled the surprise for Younger Sis’s birthday photo, I guess I will have to decide if I want to still use it, or let my brain and fingers work together to create more art another day.  I promise to keep you posted!

late Winter to Early Spring * in Sharon’s garden

It’s been a very long winter in my world. When the calendar turned to March, I started to see the signs I wait for from the time I put the garden to bed in November. The green shoots of my roses begin to swell, the Hosta leaves start to point up through the ground, my 3 year old Clematis is waking up and all the little plants I have in the yard seem to become much larger as I walk around to take a peek, and a photograph or two.

The following pics are a timeline of sorts, walking you through the last part of Winter as it turns gradually to spring. Without a doubt, something worth seeing with each passing year.

Enjoy the photos, and the wallpaper calendar at the end for you* Sharon

a ghost from lingers from last years garden

I noted this beautiful fungus growing on an older rose cane and couldn’t resist sharing

the first blooms to arrive in my sleeping garden

a classic beauty graces my rose bed every spring

the simplicity of the Trillium always reminds me of my mom

this Ballerina beauty is fast becoming a new favorite of mine.

there is never enough red in the winter garden

the Cherry and Camellia grace my view from the dining room

there isn’t a better plant for a winter garden than a Hellebore.

love the simple greens in this bloom

the burgundy colors of this winter rose remind me of my summer roses

taken on March 7, my evergreen Clematis promises a cascade of blooms

about a week later, the blooms begin to uncurl from the bud

the stamens are still so fresh and untouched

yet another week later, the vine is a riot of blooms

the stamens are all unfurled and waiting for the pollinators

love the classic form of this blooming vine

a mini rose begins to leaf out beneath my feet

another classic spring gem, Muscari

this should be my Birthday Bloom, she is right on time every year

these blooms are so fragrant, and the blooms so cheerful in the grey spring days ( Oregon Grape)

I love watching the hosta’s uncurl their leaves each spring

delicate and classic, wish she would bloom all year!

a variegated Money Plant. I wish she weren’t a biannual plant ( I only have one so far!)

a peek at what’s to come … my roses are leafing out just right

I will leave you with the latest desktop wallpaper … enjoy!

* Red Sunflowers and other photos (with a calendar too!)

I woke up to another beautiful fall day, feeling quite productive and creative.  Sitting down at the computer this morning I decided it was a good day to make some art!  I have been spending so much time on projects for others, and volunteer work and boring housework … I wanted this beautiful day to be for my own benefit.

When I sat down I decided it was time for a new calendar wallpaper for my computer, so I went thru some recent photos I hadn’t even really looked at.  These 3 pictures are what caught my eye, even tho I wasn’t looking to make more sunflower art.  After several hours of edits, I came up with these 4 versions.

Now how do I decide which one to use? I think this is what you have friends for, right?  So I fired off an email to my BFF in Cali to let her make the choice.  It’s perfect!

Enjoy your new wallpaper, and feel free to share! Just leave me a “like” for payment.

right click the image to download the full size wallpaper …

click the first image below to view in a photo carousel

which image would you have chosen?

I know, not as dynamic as the sunflowers, but it IS October after all!

I really like the different perspective to this shot

here I was trying something funky

my first edit