tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38447385544293014222023-11-16T05:39:37.527-05:00Trowel and PaintbrushA blog about painting, gardening and other lovely pursuits.Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.comBlogger344125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-17202465934146645192022-03-14T09:53:00.002-04:002022-04-01T11:21:46.091-04:00Sunflowers for Ukraine<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/sunflowers-watercolor-print" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigtR650Er2hPkY3a8BSSPN_9sDgQcoBn5xFeAYRI1ZaLahM9DazN0_mjlCbWZlUr58OWoCyQSwO_HsvnODhLl9W0a9OcXdqvYlsdowxNfzL8C-oAXyJDVLnUandaZ4Pyn4mU7u08bLkY4mD0UiDgHiWdH-mnOU1k9vC1eF2K0WYGytONv6DRfa-lQi3w" /></a></div>
I’m hoping to make a small difference instead of sitting with knots in my stomach and an ache in my heart. I’ve listed a <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/sunflowers-watercolor-print">Sunflowers Print</a> in my shop. It features a painting I did years ago and still love, and one that seems pertinent for the time we are in as the sunflower is Ukraine’s national flower. <div><br /></div><div>For the entire month of March 2022, I will donate $20US from each US order and $25CDN from each Canadian order of my Sunflowers Print. The donations will go the the <a href="https://www.cufoundation.ca">Canada-Ukraine Foundation</a> which is providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainians in their country as well as countries where they’ve taken refuge.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Sunflowers print measures 8 x 6 inches and is on beautiful watercolour paper. I print my art with love and care in my studio.<div><br /></div><div><i>UPDATE: Thanks to the purchases of my customers, I was able to donate a total of $220US ($275CDN) to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to help the Ukrainian people. Thank you for your love and support. We did it together. (This special fundraising effort ended on March 31, 2022.)</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">🌻🇺🇦💛</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-42867679723600546282020-10-07T18:04:00.005-04:002020-10-08T14:30:30.844-04:00Pansies and Violas: Favourite Flowers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/yellow-and-white-violas-note-cards"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="800" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfRi-E1MvNFOA8teiXTPZUPskbF10MYg02ofF4yPiWjXj1qlQPbL-at_FGnwjrWbMAzLXLTE9XxbhPMLDJDlV8ms2QMtY5ekh68b2brJ-qdUuxvkruq8xL_1ZIt5LNdOcCr0IT0CfC6EU/w640-h513/Yellow+and+White+Violas+Notecard.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Anyone who has followed me for a long time here or elsewhere on social media knows how much I love pansies and violas. They have strong childhood associations for me and remind me particularly of my mom's mother who was named Viola. They are also favourite garden flowers with delicate looks yet a hardy character, perfect for a northern garden. And they are a joy to paint.<div><br /></div><div>This spring I did a painting of some little yellow and white violas that I bought in a little pot to cheer up our kitchen windowsill. I've made my watercolour into <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/yellow-and-white-violas-print">prints</a> and <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/yellow-and-white-violas-note-cards">cards</a>. You can see the note card in the photo at the top.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Cheering up is the key role I think of these flowers. Whether in the garden, a pot or a vase, their little faces have the ability to lift our spirits. Who doesn't need that, especially right now?</div><div><p>The very first print I created in my studio in 2011, when I launched my online art business, was of a watercolour painting I did of a pot of pansies in my backyard. That happy group of blue pansies was punctuated by pink nemesia, coral diascia and white euphorbia. It's still available in my shop as a <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/pansies-watercolor-print">print</a> (shown below) and <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/pansies-in-a-pot-set-of-note-cards">note cards</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/pansies-watercolor-print" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpPRZ5YpVJCO6daWaYvl_BzMPoJLrSF8P0_9Ust0SDjJzT6XZ1GuHyskyeN73_er-hIFz9oBagUHwW7xnYBR7StL_0JxTLHuqgK1LwCWoa9nimzJ1jZIWoIYjKJgHPxvqbseWqEM_0EXH/w640-h510/Pansies+Watercolor+Art+Print.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past week, I added an assortment of pansy and viola note cards to my shop. I chose five of my favourite watercolour paintings: Pansy Quartet, Pansies in a Pot, Posy of Pansies and Violas, Violas and Verbena, and Yellow and White Violas. This <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/pansies-and-violas-note-card-assortment">notecard collection</a> is for all of the pansy and viola lovers out there like me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/pansies-and-violas-note-card-assortment" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6F7aFoq2gt6DhisfkexymNJ1zjC5tGubR6HzrcPbuRkUOYMFQ42XHi5Co4P54BWSJW2ex7Kqc3W6UCaM7fy-_PnLp9u2wu6E3NK2BooQJSrS11rZrAUJ2Vk17feUG-aXkTzHXH3zDIoF/w640-h640/Pansy+and+Viola+Notecard+Assortment.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I was a little girl, I would follow my grandmother around as she fed the birds and squirrels in her backyard and tended to the annuals. One of my favourite memories is of her letting me pick pansies from the garden to put in the beautiful silver and glass posy vase she owned. The memory of gathering pansies with her was so special to me that I tracked down an almost identical vase for myself years later from an antique dealer.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7at-ZfEOp9qi0IRlbv-SQP-Khtv4n11_rxkwhfOV_t3Lkq4gYH1nTIEChkfMxR8lhDwod_hREUwDV3dnJo-lq2cZ7hTomn5XKPuVygPHxqSxyRcJX8Z7XuXD9tcmiL5Jq6dyWu7HesZ_/s468/Violas+in+Vintage+Posy+Vase.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="468" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7at-ZfEOp9qi0IRlbv-SQP-Khtv4n11_rxkwhfOV_t3Lkq4gYH1nTIEChkfMxR8lhDwod_hREUwDV3dnJo-lq2cZ7hTomn5XKPuVygPHxqSxyRcJX8Z7XuXD9tcmiL5Jq6dyWu7HesZ_/w400-h319/Violas+in+Vintage+Posy+Vase.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you'd like to see all of my pansy and viola art currently available, click <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/pansies-and-violas">here</a>. There are prints, print sets, note cards, my new note card assortment, and a bookmark. I hope that they give you the same pleasure that they give me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">🌼 🌼 🌼 🌼 🌼</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-15299949502552529122020-08-05T12:01:00.010-04:002020-08-07T08:41:48.097-04:00Flowers for Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/flowers-for-change-watercolor-print" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flowers for Change print featuring a watercolor of a bouquet" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMnEuKGBSSf15yECmds-xgmAd9BxybSuEtuU1BhItguiN6gtgwHhSrXDqNWqKfjoE6M7p4fVmS5cSUPQ4Ya18NJWfk47LSeUNrjPmqZqXa_a9-5aAGPOWgw8GZF5fHFnyKgaFcrtPpRBS/w640-h640/Flowers+for+Change+print.jpg" title="Flowers for Change print" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I've been quiet on my blog. I've been pretty quiet in my life recently too! I'm still staying home as much as possible while we wait out this crazy pandemic! But I haven't been idle. One of the most important things I did recently was to create a painting to support the Black Lives Matters movement. In June, I painted a bouquet with flowers individually chosen for their significance as a tribute to George Floyd and so many others lost to racial intolerance and injustice.<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Black tulip - power, strength and supreme elegance</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dill - powerful against evil</div><div style="text-align: center;">Borage - directness, courage and sometimes seen as a remedy for a heavy heart</div><div style="text-align: center;">Black-eyed Susan - justice </div><div style="text-align: center;">Blue iris - faith and hope</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thyme - courage and strength</div><div style="text-align: center;">Forget-me-not - remembrance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's my rough sketch and the early stages of the painting. I used reference photos from my garden for most of the flowers. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlXqrR1sYqrljUnVkYPz3u4Bvd7ZWrfITJCYFq2wpt7BYSATP1J_DeXYCJgqSlQYX-ZzJtViX3QNPEboRUEhVzpKAx5Se09cEEDQiu1MwwjHbnkg1wyPkh0suSCEajT579zhWn0hNjyiy/s800/Flowers+for+Change+sketch+and+early+painting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sketch and preliminary watercolor painting of Flowers for Change bouquet" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlXqrR1sYqrljUnVkYPz3u4Bvd7ZWrfITJCYFq2wpt7BYSATP1J_DeXYCJgqSlQYX-ZzJtViX3QNPEboRUEhVzpKAx5Se09cEEDQiu1MwwjHbnkg1wyPkh0suSCEajT579zhWn0hNjyiy/w640-h640/Flowers+for+Change+sketch+and+early+painting.jpg" title="Early sketch and beginning of painting "Flowers for Change"" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>I added a print, note cards and bookmark to my shop in mid-June, all with a fundraising aim. I'm happy to say that as of July 31, 2020, I've raised US$160/CA$222 in total from my "Flowers for Change" print, note card and bookmark sales! Your orders have helped to support the work of: <a href="https://blackwomeninmotion.org/our-story">Black Women in Motion</a>, <a href="http://www.afriqueaufeminin.org/?lang=en_us">Afrique au Féminin</a>, the <a href="https://blackhealthalliance.ca/">Black Health Alliance</a> and, mostly recently, the <a href="https://www.canadahelps.org/en/black-solidarity-fund/">Black Solidarity Fund</a>. Thank you to everyone who has ordered and, by doing so, supported these important organizations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/flowers-for-change-note-cards" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="Flowers for Change Note Card - watercolor bouquet" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyrLnHSdYLOwrzQT0LRNdT8XbDckPG7_lnhmGj0BV9jmQfFr55KydC8tfu-8SQVOaI5PATwl1YeCDGRjDHnzqS3p7I-2TYPLqfwxyVzUmZXNdaOK-T8nbniEfaIutax3IC9S4wJ_XMNrR/w640-h640/Flowers+for+Change+Card+800.jpg" title="Flowers for Change Note Card" width="640" /></a></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The Flowers for Change <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/flowers-for-change-watercolor-print">print</a>, <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/flowers-for-change-note-cards">note cards</a> and <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/flowers-for-change-watercolor-bookmark">bookmark</a> continue to be available in my shop. In August, the proceeds from orders of these products will go to the Black Solidarity Fund which unites over 50 Canadian Black community organizations. Donations to this fund are being doubled by P&G Canada up until August 31st! (They will donate $2 for every $1 given up to a million dollars up until the end of August.) <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/search?q=flowers+for+change">So it's definitely not too late to order and help!</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/flowers-for-change-watercolor-bookmark" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A paper bookmark with a bouquet in watercolor and a worn copy of The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimUzuP5OJb_eb_mMwCMEmG7ZJWmayVsluu4-dxf7U98-Ce9uwlt-PkzVRoy9NTJQBfO03ci2wJm1DvfYE-iETULuDKhAd5hrOK_0bnfZK5raQITyf3hQt1svfLgP03pHKEIE7NnNlG_SV6/w640-h640/Flowers+for+Change+bookmark.jpg" title="Flowers for Change bookmark" width="640" /></a></div> </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-family: raleway, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 17px;">♥︎ </span></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">♥︎ </span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">♥︎ </span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">♥︎ </span><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">♥︎</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="background-color: white; font-family: raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></div><div>During the past few weeks, I've been doing more gardening than painting. I've also been reading and baking. I'm trying to take advantage of the summer days and create a soothing rhythm out of the weirdness we're living. Every time I'm working in the garden, I'm thinking that I really should be painting this flower or that. New paintings are in my head for now but I hope to get up those studio stairs soon! I know it would do me a world of good and I will share whatever I do with you.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope that you are safe and well wherever you happen to be at the moment. Thank you for dropping by. It's nice to have guests, even if they are virtual ones!</div><div><br /></div>Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-23993670146033629152019-11-27T20:53:00.001-05:002019-11-27T20:53:29.237-05:00Happy Holidays! Introducing A New Christmas Card!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here we are again! It's hard to believe that the holidays are upon us!</div>
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This is <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/the-christmas-tree-farm-holiday-cards">my newest holiday card</a>. It features a watercolour I did of the Christmas tree farm that we've visited annually for the past several years. It's such a lovely family tradition to go and cut our own tree down. And, of course, I had to include Meeko on the card! I also have a <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/couper-le-sapin-de-noel-cartes-de-voeux">French version</a> of this card. It's also available as an ungreeted <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/holiday-cards/products/cutting-the-christmas-tree-note-cards">note card</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/holiday-cards/products/the-christmas-tree-farm-holiday-cards"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyzikflHXpBDlFKP1YMhMRal3m4SWxprwipr_fi0Q3CXTS4gVfsasX229xDeX5exLrl6bWdLH7nTFBxvibKWsyBSK2ZSkXW-k-29ggL1G1ZbtGMeTAbKCSm5xNLJwno_LiIBHrpOU5b3G/s1600/The+Christmas+Tree+Farm+Holiday+Card.jpg" /></a><br />
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I currently have a lovely sale on. I'm offering 30% off everything in my shop: original watercolour paintings, note cards, holiday cards, prints, books and bookmarks. The discount will be added as soon as you put something in the cart. No coupon is required. The sales ends at midnight EST on December 2, 2019.<br />
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It's not the first time that I've featured Meeko on my cards. He's also on this <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/holiday-cards/products/meeko-and-the-mistletoe-dog-holiday-cards">sweet holiday card</a> I did last year.<br />
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/holiday-cards/products/meeko-and-the-mistletoe-dog-holiday-cards"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-l6kkmDkhRBvYqqTCB2FZIz3kbP0o9I_IrGu5vfnQrxVfK1NFEYRL4iEVftUDIAWqj9YRc25Zkt3-q2L9EMQFb6LHLUZaDLNt5ptCT3BycOZq881eogJ6H2wSW0rUDIccJM2romLmiUH/s1600/Meeko+and+the+Mistletoe+holiday+card.jpg" /></a></div>
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And here he is again on an everyday <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/wheaten-terrier-dog-note-cards">note card</a> which I did a few years ago! What can I say? He's a handsome and willing painting subject.<br />
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/wheaten-terrier-dog-note-cards"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dVt2SuC-DQKHqWbjiF7QYlagKEAwguqw2A6qkeb8GZVEjpzUNDeNo52uQy6B0f1D4aoAc7J62ptezo4GpQxi002LuW-QcaQADIsEr-h4Vk2jONWdJ1fCC7L-FiTsllMfkUglLGUt8vzJ/s1600/Wheaten+card+featuring+Meeko.jpg" /></a></div>
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I hope you'll have a peek at <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/">my shop</a> while my sale is still on.<br />
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And please accept warm greetings from Meeko and me. We wish you lovely holidays surrounded by family and friends.<br />
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-66139940968483312252019-05-21T14:45:00.006-04:002021-09-13T20:06:14.860-04:00Goodbye traditional lawn!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDSyYdNq3RthsxJm06m97CYbYZjkCUtoIsUWr9LSO9oiweZZ4ZD_ciSIyT1bH7ekjPZNZFB9h4uKA9xiF4LiAFVs0jIF4JokxYUjJQ2bI1mkVJ0Bw8X_KhF64bmid04yQIkKxClVGuct3/s1600/Upstairs+view+of+newly+planted+lawn.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Aerial view of newly planted micro clover lawn" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDSyYdNq3RthsxJm06m97CYbYZjkCUtoIsUWr9LSO9oiweZZ4ZD_ciSIyT1bH7ekjPZNZFB9h4uKA9xiF4LiAFVs0jIF4JokxYUjJQ2bI1mkVJ0Bw8X_KhF64bmid04yQIkKxClVGuct3/s1600/Upstairs+view+of+newly+planted+lawn.jpg" title="Aerial view of newly planted micro clover lawn" /></a></div>
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The photo above shows the results of a week of work. Let me explain. Our front lawn was in a terrible state. It was mostly weeds (dandelions and cinquefoil among others), clumps of coarse-stemmed grass and it had many bare patches. We suspected we had a white grub problem. I take a lot of pride in the appearance of my garden and the lawn was an embarrassment. Here's what it looked like. Ugh!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRArG5EqtpLBOs6UgGfsPZU-HgYMFLV1oOK9SwD8GNAIGkrHvIZYU5Hz4EE10LefrIn1QsdhyphenhyphenEoA_1kDHlQDYwM1iU8N77aLqHAdhE-KI_GUooK-0-_VkW2LZVU0OMQENMm1Gs8sk5QFPj/s1600/The+old+lawn.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Front lawn in poor condition" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRArG5EqtpLBOs6UgGfsPZU-HgYMFLV1oOK9SwD8GNAIGkrHvIZYU5Hz4EE10LefrIn1QsdhyphenhyphenEoA_1kDHlQDYwM1iU8N77aLqHAdhE-KI_GUooK-0-_VkW2LZVU0OMQENMm1Gs8sk5QFPj/s1600/The+old+lawn.jpg" title="The before state of our front lawn" /></a></div>
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In our household, the flowerbeds and vegetable garden are my responsibility and, with the number of flowerbeds we have, it's a huge one. The lawn and pool have always been my husband's job but his level of duty towards the grass was dwindling. I don't blame him. Perfect lawns are a thing of the past. They don't make sense from an environmental standpoint. We haven't used any pesticides or herbicides in our garden for many years. We would reseed the lawn a bit in the spring, water it regularly, and my husband would mow it every week or two and that was it. He used to put fertilizer on it but hasn't for the past few years. We weren't doing anything special to it and it showed.<br />
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I completely removed the lawn at one side of the house nine years ago and replaced it with flower beds and a gravel path. I never regretted it. Elsewhere, the back lawn has evolved on its own to a mix of grass, regular clover, self-sown wild violets and a few other acceptable weeds. Lovely moss has grown on its own in parts and I've added a few patches of creeping thyme. I like the gently disordered way the back lawn looks, quite unlike the mess we had at the front of the house.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VAOaDrJhzUxGsDrbGWbJVRTXxe2HlP_ifc2UXBDWh9FBLVgxwrvpLSqSSMaImIGs8pwMV3fxSy8j_1TdAseoF9nRh-DbJSzjAsylxKdNaqCB2dZb1_Mhhyphenhyphenw7HgS1CdWDXzf6N5-vtp7I/s1600/Wood+violets+in+back+lawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Spotted wood violets growing in the grass" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VAOaDrJhzUxGsDrbGWbJVRTXxe2HlP_ifc2UXBDWh9FBLVgxwrvpLSqSSMaImIGs8pwMV3fxSy8j_1TdAseoF9nRh-DbJSzjAsylxKdNaqCB2dZb1_Mhhyphenhyphenw7HgS1CdWDXzf6N5-vtp7I/s1600/Wood+violets+in+back+lawn.jpg" title="Self-sown spotted wood violets in the back lawn" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the wood violets that have sown themselves in the back lawn. What's not to love?</td></tr>
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This spring, we talked about alternatives for the front lawn. My husband suggested rocks. He did. I put a border of river rocks along the two sides of the front lawn a few years ago and I love how they frame the yard. I wasn't ready for rocks everywhere though! When I was awake in the middle of the night, I thought of making the lawn into one huge flowerbed with a pathway cutting through it. And then I remembered how I have trouble keeping up with all of the flowerbeds I have already. That didn't seem like the best approach. I researched lawn alternatives and found some articles about micro clover (Trifolium repens pipolina). It's a tiny version of clover that was developed in France. It has smaller leaves and is shorter than Dutch white clover. It requires less water and mowing than grass and is not of interest to white grubs. It doesn't need to be fertilized. It forms a soft, green carpet and responds well to being walked on. The more I read, the more convinced I became that this was what we needed to try.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCN_SQTTfbA-xOpSUGFnvAQisMDRxdJ6X1Odpvx-2yHGhyceP8PCvGOql2pmht4Sf5IsNPYW-05XALK_jsPs1kr0zrOYs47PuLiZz8bnwp9-65BUHtkccwnCtG8FG-W2HQ4MO1Uznu940/s1600/The+lawn+%2527before%2527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Clumps of grass, weeds and bare patches in front lawn" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCN_SQTTfbA-xOpSUGFnvAQisMDRxdJ6X1Odpvx-2yHGhyceP8PCvGOql2pmht4Sf5IsNPYW-05XALK_jsPs1kr0zrOYs47PuLiZz8bnwp9-65BUHtkccwnCtG8FG-W2HQ4MO1Uznu940/s1600/The+lawn+%2527before%2527.jpg" title="The before state of our front lawn" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before we started our work</td></tr>
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We initially discussed hiring a landscaper to remove the existing lawn. Then last Saturday, I foolishly suggested, "Why don't we try it ourselves?" So we did.<br />
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I used a lawn edger to slice thin strips and then used my trusty Japanese gardening knife* (my favourite garden tool) to cut them into small pieces, knock the dirt off and dig out any deep roots.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ILhZ4EVjjWBh7uA0GwCiPoVeM5TSJJZN6Lx_c4e5avzyq7vfaI8dhGyiLCqvl4aicMltIIAcUfFVCtvwAakP4HQ5GtavRh6FVQ4MnYjMekrekbShvy92DF9OPrbdWjw3TMDNdhgbBYhZ/s1600/My+trusty+Japanese+knife.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Japanese gardening knife (hori hori)" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ILhZ4EVjjWBh7uA0GwCiPoVeM5TSJJZN6Lx_c4e5avzyq7vfaI8dhGyiLCqvl4aicMltIIAcUfFVCtvwAakP4HQ5GtavRh6FVQ4MnYjMekrekbShvy92DF9OPrbdWjw3TMDNdhgbBYhZ/s1600/My+trusty+Japanese+knife.jpg" title="My trusty Japanese gardening knife" /></a></div>
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Remember my suspicion about white grubs? Oh, we had them. I lost count of the grubs we encountered as we sliced and removed the lawn. I said 'Yuck' pretty much every time I found one. And there were hundreds! We also ran into the occasional parent, the June beetle. There were also a lot of earthworms. I love worms so we carefully extracted them from the clumps and made sure they went back to the earth.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8JkFIkbPAFxOYzy4HUeDKcE7ukZiVEt4ESDbEbqTPFj9QvaBW_5ltqt_noTl-Cw9hgW_JcW2tRs9amkU3GJfjHAwTAZjOfjEUDtwUYtKTgFhYQtB5aaqa51bbSkJeJqnawabcUekUTrZ/s1600/Earthworms%252C+June+beetle+and+white+grub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Earthwords, June beetle and white grub" border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8JkFIkbPAFxOYzy4HUeDKcE7ukZiVEt4ESDbEbqTPFj9QvaBW_5ltqt_noTl-Cw9hgW_JcW2tRs9amkU3GJfjHAwTAZjOfjEUDtwUYtKTgFhYQtB5aaqa51bbSkJeJqnawabcUekUTrZ/s1600/Earthworms%252C+June+beetle+and+white+grub.jpg" title="The good, bad and the ugly" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under the lawn: the good (earthworms), the bad (June beetle) and the ugly (white grub).</td></tr>
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We opted for a labour-intensive manual process to get rid of the lawn. It allowed us to remove as many roots as possible of the grasses and weeds that were there as well as removing the white grubs. The lawn is about 500 square feet. We were kind of crazy to do it manually although it did ensure that we did a thorough job.<br />
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It took us several days, working two to four hours at a time. I did the shifts alone in the middle of the week and then we worked together on the weekend. If you ever want to meet and greet neighbours, sit in the middle of your yard removing the lawn. You become a magnet. Everyone was curious about what we were doing. We chatted with old and new neighbours as well as strangers. I got the 'thumbs up' from people passing in cars and got called "patient" by more than one passerby.<br />
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We removed the grass piece by piece and tapped the dirt off it, dug any deep roots out, removed every white grub and June beetle we found, rough-raked the earth to get whatever bits of plants or roots remained, fine-raked it to even it out, flattened it (we used a scrap piece of plywood rather than rent a lawn roller), and then spread a thin layer of soil on top.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUuB6uP1donGO7CwPcDZnwRkba4lRJZUniY2iBOXdVCDu2sU88Y5jRqVXZJy6FFsMyrXMVlPCXBt284p2S28R9Bywxp1GUNCi-16I3ShtZyjjqsEag-0yal9hxQkejAl40s1TSet-HsvY/s1600/Stages+of+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="(1) Lawn removed and roughly raked, (2) flattened,and (3) with layer of topsoil distributed" border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUuB6uP1donGO7CwPcDZnwRkba4lRJZUniY2iBOXdVCDu2sU88Y5jRqVXZJy6FFsMyrXMVlPCXBt284p2S28R9Bywxp1GUNCi-16I3ShtZyjjqsEag-0yal9hxQkejAl40s1TSet-HsvY/s1600/Stages+of+progress.jpg" title="Stages of progress" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Progress: After the lawn was removed, after raking and flattening, and after a thin layer of top soil was added.</td></tr>
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I also took the opportunity to enlarge my flowerbeds a little bit (I couldn't resist), to give me a bit more room for annuals at the front of the beds. I used an old garden hose and yellow stakes to mark out the revised perimeter of the lawn and flowerbeds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmjNLZXcCf-Omvzx3nn4LgdZFf0YyAsVqyfpYPV3jWMHnpnV4hcVQtWn7G1gsVYGUENdz29qOUI8Dr3YELOO-imvcZboL9MmtQiARFeuanNSoot9I6oWXb-dn7F17ANvel0SphSo4-PNa/s1600/The+revised+perimeter+of+the+flower+bed+and+lawn%252C+and+neighbourhood+watch+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Wheaten terrier in front of newly marked lawn and flower bed." border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmjNLZXcCf-Omvzx3nn4LgdZFf0YyAsVqyfpYPV3jWMHnpnV4hcVQtWn7G1gsVYGUENdz29qOUI8Dr3YELOO-imvcZboL9MmtQiARFeuanNSoot9I6oWXb-dn7F17ANvel0SphSo4-PNa/s1600/The+revised+perimeter+of+the+flower+bed+and+lawn%252C+and+neighbourhood+watch+dog.jpg" title="New perimeter of lawn and garden done under Meeko's supervision" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new reduced perimeter of the lawn marked with an old garden hose and yellow stakes. Meeko distractedly supervised the whole project.</td></tr>
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Then I seeded the lawn portion by hand. I mixed the seed with compost and scattered it as widely and evenly as I could.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGrmc9IcU1m6kB4GW9fGgwPVFSMOZFGhE2m602T9nChOSgRmuaSodx-t76xpk7MkauKiNuPb-ESEwVEc0w4OPg0JlNYMkJJkwh1_A1mO5TRjCu19oRuC4AeE9Hs8gZjrF5sOZr6tyUIRb/s1600/Gardeners+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hand covered with compost after seeding" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGrmc9IcU1m6kB4GW9fGgwPVFSMOZFGhE2m602T9nChOSgRmuaSodx-t76xpk7MkauKiNuPb-ESEwVEc0w4OPg0JlNYMkJJkwh1_A1mO5TRjCu19oRuC4AeE9Hs8gZjrF5sOZr6tyUIRb/s1600/Gardeners+hand.jpg" title="A true gardener's hand" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the state of my hands after distributing the compost and seed mix. I always start by wearing gardening gloves and then ditch them at some point. </td></tr>
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After a week of intense labour, we are exhausted but we are also very excited. We can't stop looking out the front window at the neatly seeded earth. There's rain in the forecast which will help us as the seed needs to be watered frequently while it is getting established. I can't wait to see what the lawn looks like. And we know that the neighbours are curious too! I'll update my post with 'after' photos. Keep your fingers crossed that our micro clover experiment will be a success!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8ZneW-eqdfQDEVxuRyMiYi9Yo6k_UGcNkR9f8Fdy-0dWhCz9txRpO0JciwhDuzagMeWoCe7Aqd9pGS2Fc8lxJOqWIN4eHBTMvRHB8kkXmvzkDnOqZXbtXm8gizjAAMYT8Pn8Ag4Y0Ykr/s1600/The+clover+seed+has+been+planted.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Front lawn with grass removed and seeded with micro clover" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8ZneW-eqdfQDEVxuRyMiYi9Yo6k_UGcNkR9f8Fdy-0dWhCz9txRpO0JciwhDuzagMeWoCe7Aqd9pGS2Fc8lxJOqWIN4eHBTMvRHB8kkXmvzkDnOqZXbtXm8gizjAAMYT8Pn8Ag4Y0Ykr/s1600/The+clover+seed+has+been+planted.jpg" title="The newly seeded micro clover lawn" /></a></div>
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🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿</div>
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These were the articles that I found most interesting and helpful when doing my research:<br />
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English: <a href="https://laidbackgardener.blog/2016/05/11/micro-clover-a-new-groundcover-to-discover/">https://laidbackgardener.blog/2016/05/11/micro-clover-a-new-groundcover-to-discover/</a><br />
Version française: <a href="https://jardinierparesseux.com/2016/05/11/le-micro-trefle/">https://jardinierparesseux.com/2016/05/11/le-micro-trefle/</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: inherit;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://vancouversun.com/homes/gardening/brian-minter-make-your-lawn-more-eco-friendly-with-micro-clover&source=gmail&ust=1558456930228000&usg=AFQjCNEkSX6ZVdl0BGVjv8N7QPgAU2jbKw" href="https://vancouversun.com/homes/gardening/brian-minter-make-your-lawn-more-eco-friendly-with-micro-clover" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://vancouversun.com/<wbr></wbr>homes/gardening/brian-minter-<wbr></wbr>make-your-lawn-more-eco-<wbr></wbr>friendly-with-micro-clover</a></span><br />
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Sources:<br />
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Micro clover (Trifolium repens pipolina): I purchased our micro-clover seed online <a href="https://www.oscseeds.com/product/pipolina-microclover-6737/">here</a>.<br />
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*Japanese gardening knife: I bought mine years ago from Lee Valley. They have a <a href="http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=10504&cat=2,44663,71827">different version</a> available now.<br /><br /><br />
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☘️ ☘️ ☘️ AUTUMN 2019 UPDATE! ☘️ ☘️ ☘️</div>
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We adore our micro-clover lawn! No regrets! It grew beautifully during a very hot summer. We ended up mowing it about every three weeks. So many neighbours and passers-by complimented us on its appearance and a few said they were inspired by us to think about planting it too. It's the most beautiful green! Some white clover mixed in with the 'Pipolina' micro-clover naturally and it looked just fine. When it was just starting to grow, there were some weeds growing with it (left in the earth despite our best efforts to clean everything up) but, as the clover became thicker and more lush, the weeds were forced out. We didn't see any signs of white grubs throughout the summer which were a big problem for us in the past. We're currently approaching winter here so it's dormant now and covered with a blanket of snow. I'm looking forward to seeing it back in the spring! ~ Kathleen 💚</div>
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<b>2021 UPDATE!</b> I was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal about our microclover as part of an article about alternatives to traditional lawns. You can read it here: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/so-long-traditional-lawn-the-new-turf-trendsfrom-wildflowers-to-fescue-11630087268">https://www.wsj.com/articles/so-long-traditional-lawn-the-new-turf-trendsfrom-wildflowers-to-fescue-11630087268</a> ~ Kathleen 💚<br /></div></div>
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Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-42384976563418828752018-10-18T13:10:00.000-04:002019-05-22T09:12:11.723-04:00Beautiful Garlic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCptOQsGn8a__nIx1_gr3Nsl12OE8szV-AQBGvaBpED5Cc87KJjU4KlT5k364fbh2UVbkHvhiLh6q6mY2aEVR6lFbhLCmN-pXA7YuFRvqG82VdFNDKL8i3-zXdQnA85uIhjsrLd0ry1XC1/s1600/Garlic+harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCptOQsGn8a__nIx1_gr3Nsl12OE8szV-AQBGvaBpED5Cc87KJjU4KlT5k364fbh2UVbkHvhiLh6q6mY2aEVR6lFbhLCmN-pXA7YuFRvqG82VdFNDKL8i3-zXdQnA85uIhjsrLd0ry1XC1/s1600/Garlic+harvest.jpg" /></a></div>
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I've been growing garlic in my garden for about three years. This year was a particularly lovely harvest.<br />
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Years ago, when I started my little backyard vegetable garden, it never occurred to me that I could grow my own garlic. And then, a few years ago, I tried. As with many garden endeavours, experience teaches lessons. When I first planted garlic cloves, I didn't know that you harvested the garlic bulbs in late summer. I watched their stalks and leaves die and thought: "Well, that didn't work!" The next spring I was telling my best friend how I hadn't had success with garlic and she said that I was supposed to harvest the garlic bulbs in late summer just as the leaves started to wilt. I got off the phone with her and went out to my garden. In the raised bed where I'd planted the garlic the previous summer, there were tiny green shoots. The garlic was still there and it was alive! Had it listened to our phone conversation? I let it grow that whole second season and then harvested it in August.<br />
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Since then, I've followed my friend's advice and have planted my cloves in the fall and harvested the bulbs in late August or early September. I cut the curly garlic scapes in the early summer and make a wonderful pesto recipe I found online a few years ago. Then I wait for the leaves to partially wilt a few weeks later and dig up the bulbs. We love to cook with garlic in our household so it's a real treat to have our very own.<br />
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This year, I grew Marbled Purple Stripe garlic and it is beautiful! So beautiful that it inspired a new painting! I can report that garlic bulbs are very cooperative models. They sit very patiently and don't wilt and wither like so many of my other painting subjects. They give you the time you need to admire and paint them.<br />
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Here's a photo of my painting in progress.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMr3w_q4F78hnOtzTsFw0Wd6q-Jxs7uFmru6QH3WfMojm2kki0NSbcqbC4tOiVRo03d183QV3qfdgr6JtHjVOtwqGSHiaSntAomtMT0zL_yeb9GrhGog7o6Qp3kET0WReucirJTSz2g1n1/s1600/Garlic+watercolour+painting+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMr3w_q4F78hnOtzTsFw0Wd6q-Jxs7uFmru6QH3WfMojm2kki0NSbcqbC4tOiVRo03d183QV3qfdgr6JtHjVOtwqGSHiaSntAomtMT0zL_yeb9GrhGog7o6Qp3kET0WReucirJTSz2g1n1/s1600/Garlic+watercolour+painting+in+progress.jpg" /></a></div>
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And here's the finished painting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7VLFk-qWg4VAwttVX9h9kKR-ApP6cyrTf8Q52fI9CTm1ZpwQriIy2mhyS7CLn_nRs69Geuu3iiR4dNTBBAOO9yxWHF6QV94rd0dWsHIKkVpV5sy1LS5lVyM79YpLJJEYmROWtd6QJPmp/s1600/Original+watercolour+painting+of+garlic+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7VLFk-qWg4VAwttVX9h9kKR-ApP6cyrTf8Q52fI9CTm1ZpwQriIy2mhyS7CLn_nRs69Geuu3iiR4dNTBBAOO9yxWHF6QV94rd0dWsHIKkVpV5sy1LS5lVyM79YpLJJEYmROWtd6QJPmp/s1600/Original+watercolour+painting+of+garlic+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" /></a></div>
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Within minutes of posting a photo of the finished painting on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bow408wnOiA/?taken-by=trowelandpaintbrush">Instagram</a> last week, I received an email from a friend who has been purchasing my art for years. She had a touching request. She wanted to buy a few prints of the garlic painting for a family she knows. Garlic has a very special meaning for them. Their father, who passed away recently, used to tell his sons that a garlic bulb is like a family: while the cloves exist as individuals, they are grown together and belong to the whole. Isn't that lovely? I will always think of that now.<br />
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I'm happy to let you know that my garlic painting is available as both a <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/garlic-print">print</a> and <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/garlic-note-cards">note cards</a> in my shop. Here's what they look like.<br />
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/garlic-print"><img alt=" Garlic art print by Kathleen Maunder" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-ojU0g9Qh6PPD-dWzclw19X03gm0wZrsf1kSgkZAtluguMq1KRAZo_dOIiyjEAX70z6TOksvQLjnnhNg50gtxqvkdfJS0CNE_XKEwvdaPYd_4Jy-4e0NFxo2i81s688jFXIQ7u01icxK/s1600/Garlic+print+by+Trowel+and+Paintbrush.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/garlic-note-cards"><img alt=" Garlic Note Cards by Kathleen Maunder" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcB3rWlHfy6PgCn9wvwzLg3rS6aHiSBc-q_7IZqUfUpgeA7IeyydK7D_fEDBBKs0Yr4bJJf04ctzSQ3e7pZWYGUB4glY3ZxZ4GzeIsjzOL7ReFzZXMf7yNrvsEb-Ovv5kDp_PsGxkNDTkk/s1600/Garlic+Card+by+Trowel+and+Paintbrush.jpg" /></a></div>
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When I chose to paint the garlic, I was mostly thinking of how pretty it was. I thought that the painting might interest someone who loved cooking, gardening or eating! It didn't occur to me that garlic would be of symbolic value to someone. People frequently tell me of the special associations, often from childhood, that flowers hold for them. Now I know that exists for garlic too. 💕<br />
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* 🌱 Gardener's note: I purchased my garlic bulbs by mail from <a href="https://www.veseys.com/ca/marbled-purple-stripe-fall-garlic-36003l.html">Veseys Seeds</a> in PEI.<br />
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* 🍲 Cook's note: I mentioned a great garlic scape pesto <a href="http://www.dyerfamilyorganicfarm.com/garlic-scape-pesto-1/">recipe</a>. Garlic scapes have a pungent flavour. I like to freeze this pesto flat in ziplock bags. Then I break off a chunk when I'm cooking a soup, sauce or stew during the winter. I also like to defrost a bit and spread it on pizza crust before adding the other toppings. Delicious!<br />
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<i>“There are five elements: earth, air, fire, water and garlic.” </i><br />
Louis Diat - chef and culinary writer (1885-1958)<br />
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-57557195387066641132018-01-24T13:56:00.000-05:002018-01-24T14:48:14.113-05:00Ice Paradise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2T5jbVmA9EWQtWxKTn4pcRVvepQbcje-V_JQHmeHREJH2fG-Vvf7iuJBk2hlBJkPU59LqYkeONopQ-5BSDeRAIpvEMBYVovbhIi2DyRJrZEmd6mV-ZneP-2uSt1UxvSJ7jpvMxsifZnw/s1600/Ice-covered+branches.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Ice-covered viburnum and clematis - Photo by Kathleen Maunder" border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2T5jbVmA9EWQtWxKTn4pcRVvepQbcje-V_JQHmeHREJH2fG-Vvf7iuJBk2hlBJkPU59LqYkeONopQ-5BSDeRAIpvEMBYVovbhIi2DyRJrZEmd6mV-ZneP-2uSt1UxvSJ7jpvMxsifZnw/s1600/Ice-covered+branches.jpg" title="Ice-covered viburnum and clematis" /></a></div>
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Yesterday we had twenty-four hours of I guess what you'd call a winter mix. We had freezing rain overnight, followed by some regular rain, thunder, lightning and then a bit of snow. It was quite something! Because of the dangerous icy conditions, many schools were closed in the region including Chloé's college. The power flickered many times throughout the day yesterday but we didn't lose it. Others were not so lucky. But there was a silver lining to all of that weird weather. Today, we woke up to sunshine and a sparkly wonderland.<br />
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This morning I ventured outside in my boots with cleats on to take these photos in the backyard. I hope the photos give a sense of how very beautiful it was. It was as if every single branch, leaf and berry was clothed in diamonds. Look how gorgeous the clematis vine seed heads look encased in ice!<br />
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The photo below shows you how very, very sparkly it was! It looks like the garden is covered in fairy lights but it's the sunlight reflected in the ice on all the branches. Magical!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyaf7nXQeKGVJwNnivSSdOp8sxGR2eAXRAAEiH_9gwtHlFD1snlqrE3KcVKhymlR4ao5SII2JGiFWTXEXnBoLl6J7OHX5g7B0pNVq5tlLQ-wi_UsjECuva26QiDqoEUKu1qON5CcuaFHO/s1600/Sparkles.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyaf7nXQeKGVJwNnivSSdOp8sxGR2eAXRAAEiH_9gwtHlFD1snlqrE3KcVKhymlR4ao5SII2JGiFWTXEXnBoLl6J7OHX5g7B0pNVq5tlLQ-wi_UsjECuva26QiDqoEUKu1qON5CcuaFHO/s1600/Sparkles.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is one of my Palibin lilac bushes. The ice on these branches looks like a bird in flight!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_DPc6Zr9keb6azJBWdy1JqhNmznZfMOJEgZiTVrteVRqcbDhtGKBJaB_4xLj6Jrwm2pxzyGmjK72KFGYU26rmcVg9IaZiZW-JWaEPb_lLqBtxYFjPb9eIrI-wqO0iWktN3wfKLKeDH6C/s1600/Bird+branch.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_DPc6Zr9keb6azJBWdy1JqhNmznZfMOJEgZiTVrteVRqcbDhtGKBJaB_4xLj6Jrwm2pxzyGmjK72KFGYU26rmcVg9IaZiZW-JWaEPb_lLqBtxYFjPb9eIrI-wqO0iWktN3wfKLKeDH6C/s1600/Bird+branch.jpg" /></a></div>
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Meeko was able to walk on top of the ice surface. While it was slippery, he got adept pretty quickly at walking (sliding) around. He had a lot of fun exploring all corners of the yard. He's been limited lately because of how deep the snow was in places but with a covering of ice, he was able to go everywhere! My movements were a little less elegant. Because I weigh more than thirty-five pounds (!), I broke the ice and sunk in at every step!<br />
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With all of the sunshine, the ice is melting. Look at all of the ice that has fallen off of the branches of our chokecherry tree!<br />
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It's easy to get a little discouraged by winter weather in late January but today's icy spectacle showed that, while conditions can be sometimes be harsh, there is beauty to be found even in one's own backyard.<br />
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-14776753842032805312017-10-12T17:51:00.000-04:002017-10-22T10:20:57.659-04:00Garden Visitors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/painted-lady-butterfly-print"><img alt=" Painted Lady Butterfly Watercolor Print" border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeqnZSOFDzku69tM_SIgS3aiVwZsw_zsoYIbmrsWS6vxx39dlhTK_ryCR9EdaG4iHSugYE9YQDDsbAwQdirL47BPjjN6FF1P9UnplL6W9_aYpWIRvElggsEX_rm54GJ7gr7gqxC6ofnz_/s1600/Painted+Lady+Butterfly+8x10+print+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" /></a></div>
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My garden is always full of surprises from year to year. Sometimes it's a plant that thrives particularly well. Other times it's the disappointment of a plant that fails. And occasionally it's a magical occurrence like the visits by dozens and dozens of painted lady butterflies the past several weeks.<br />
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We had an unusually mild September and early October in the Montreal region. Apparently those warm temperatures enticed painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) on their migratory path to descend and stay a while. It was written about in a local <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/butterflies-montreal-painted-ladies-1.4294808">newspaper</a>.<br />
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When I would go out the back door into the garden, there would momentarily be a small cloud of butterflies in the air as they left the flowers they were on and then went to others. I wish I had been able to capture an image of their numbers!<br />
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I first noticed them on my sedum spectabile plants.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpoiqdGoXD8V71Aa_jIgEJS-yLZkhvUQ3zqxScI2OL48PgRP_xoILiPUwEcmT37klbqmcEvZHa4jOPD8-bVn1lzkmPrBV8ZaCMTNryk7DTIkCO6vw646qLuyWTEOz4y6PLw7-W-p8iQGl/s1600/Painted+lady+butterfly+on+sedum+spectabile.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Photo of painted lady butterfly on sedum spectabile by Kathleen Maunder" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpoiqdGoXD8V71Aa_jIgEJS-yLZkhvUQ3zqxScI2OL48PgRP_xoILiPUwEcmT37klbqmcEvZHa4jOPD8-bVn1lzkmPrBV8ZaCMTNryk7DTIkCO6vw646qLuyWTEOz4y6PLw7-W-p8iQGl/s1600/Painted+lady+butterfly+on+sedum+spectabile.jpg" title="Painted lady butterfly on sedum spectabile" /></a></div>
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Then I found them on my echinacea.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWBVezqTjjQaqJnsxyF22zBbDCTbb2jNxKCYmY-W-uozL252UQSWZxX98TtfvYlnH7ART79GvqUcu2DWa7P6pxh1lXNkBo0gomhq5pjcqPMGRGLk9bME60KwEcCsHWYWQsZErdODKtxyv/s1600/Painted+Lady+butterfly+on+echinacea+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Photo of painted lady butterfly on echinacea by Kathleen Maunder" border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWBVezqTjjQaqJnsxyF22zBbDCTbb2jNxKCYmY-W-uozL252UQSWZxX98TtfvYlnH7ART79GvqUcu2DWa7P6pxh1lXNkBo0gomhq5pjcqPMGRGLk9bME60KwEcCsHWYWQsZErdODKtxyv/s1600/Painted+Lady+butterfly+on+echinacea+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Painted lady butterfly on echinacea" /></a></div>
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They really liked my zinnias.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvxfTLmHZ-eH27OyJewzrfXIpwgvWlu3OMrSsyQKlV8qdEDp6PI9i1el6lUyU1yvxNihW7wRAZ0rruz4Ni67Np6t9oaCP0O4tfRPYaJNkVvNolXMWzpwSJIRnhg_DN0H3DTPQxveTwUYO/s1600/Painted+lady+butterfly+-+zinnia.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Photo of painted lady butterfly on zinnia by Kathleen Maunder" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvxfTLmHZ-eH27OyJewzrfXIpwgvWlu3OMrSsyQKlV8qdEDp6PI9i1el6lUyU1yvxNihW7wRAZ0rruz4Ni67Np6t9oaCP0O4tfRPYaJNkVvNolXMWzpwSJIRnhg_DN0H3DTPQxveTwUYO/s1600/Painted+lady+butterfly+-+zinnia.jpg" title="Painted lady butterfly on zinnia" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBuznDHLUnFo2zjO0rl8yLr3CqA3SnpwyIua907w0b16J7fsF1M2Scw0ZZMMDJewlVm9vq3c4PZ01HrayhxI7iCWMayMMyu-TLcc9jxAddZqcF8GQHSlvG29K_ghLURAKq-OpCIrmoj7k/s1600/Painted+lady+butterfly+on+zinnia.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBuznDHLUnFo2zjO0rl8yLr3CqA3SnpwyIua907w0b16J7fsF1M2Scw0ZZMMDJewlVm9vq3c4PZ01HrayhxI7iCWMayMMyu-TLcc9jxAddZqcF8GQHSlvG29K_ghLURAKq-OpCIrmoj7k/s1600/Painted+lady+butterfly+on+zinnia.jpg" /></a></div>
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They really, REALLY liked my zinnias! If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZMvujngXM6/?taken-by=trowelandpaintbrush">video</a> of a very happy painted lady butterfly flitting about on my zinnias.<br />
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And what do you do when blessed by such beautiful garden visitors? Why you paint one of course!<br />
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I found one on the ground (poor thing) and was able to bring it into my studio to use as my model.<br />
Here is my watercolor painting in its early stages and, underneath, in its final form.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW78DlI3JLXHZiO1XTzRg8Oj-jSk_xjrJtPWiFJEsgSpWmCayZ4HaCUHBdz40nL6v3JQuPXHrdNj1EnwBTkHb-NNzmZ9pQno6svqmcVHg0ruD1zazk0VZJf9zzb43xIp4OiXbB8Qeyigl/s1600/Work+in+progress+-+painted+lady+butterfly+watercolor+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW78DlI3JLXHZiO1XTzRg8Oj-jSk_xjrJtPWiFJEsgSpWmCayZ4HaCUHBdz40nL6v3JQuPXHrdNj1EnwBTkHb-NNzmZ9pQno6svqmcVHg0ruD1zazk0VZJf9zzb43xIp4OiXbB8Qeyigl/s1600/Work+in+progress+-+painted+lady+butterfly+watercolor+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Painted lady butterfly watercolour in progress by Kathleen Maunder" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAp39Q2aNSW767AZPoniKEI-_bep6wjT2ogXfOnlG3a1GPZA3nfa8bgtKyQLdLzhnFcq2sIOuLfLHYn-HP12fsyWNnVlhPR62uI5hgwxZCE44o4oej-O6YjaQwz2V6XU5h0bTyw_d1ICLN/s1600/Painted+lady+butterfly+-+original+watercolor+painting+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Painted Lady Butterfly Watercolor Painting by Kathleen Maunder" border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAp39Q2aNSW767AZPoniKEI-_bep6wjT2ogXfOnlG3a1GPZA3nfa8bgtKyQLdLzhnFcq2sIOuLfLHYn-HP12fsyWNnVlhPR62uI5hgwxZCE44o4oej-O6YjaQwz2V6XU5h0bTyw_d1ICLN/s1600/Painted+lady+butterfly+-+original+watercolor+painting+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Painted Lady Butterfly Watercolor Painting by Kathleen Maunder" /></a></div>
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When you look at a painted lady butterfly, the markings look kind of random and splotchy. It was only through close observation that I realized how intricate some of the markings were. In my painting, I tried to honour the details while still keeping a painterly feeling.</div>
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I love how it turned out and now have both prints and note cards available in my shop. I really hope you like them!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURH1wRug7pAX3iU7gRzlYojum9JXMpkpOSmYsfUmDd-izkoZWA4SPzu87xJq2f_p61qHLKIgukEJ7VnQLLAfT_AQC1of5GBnyRoGl6N4AhMAPgGjK2oZ4YvjbE7kXg5n_eNY0qMzE8fgC/s1600/Painted+Lady+Butterfly+8x10+print+by+Trowel+and+Paintbrush.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Painted lady butterfly watercolor print by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURH1wRug7pAX3iU7gRzlYojum9JXMpkpOSmYsfUmDd-izkoZWA4SPzu87xJq2f_p61qHLKIgukEJ7VnQLLAfT_AQC1of5GBnyRoGl6N4AhMAPgGjK2oZ4YvjbE7kXg5n_eNY0qMzE8fgC/s1600/Painted+Lady+Butterfly+8x10+print+by+Trowel+and+Paintbrush.jpg" title="Painted lady butterfly watercolor print" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMgvkVYNX7sI7bOTliBdbk0nmx6YKzx_BMBBDaFqwcxiFViLWR4hsxdm5uFAQ69csx_zyXXAj7I8vRXTJXrXPU17RAmM2RKOILnzCPztwzf2gn8AKoCUypCjr4BvwCZKjFAVlkhljPhL3/s1600/Painted+Lady+Butterfly+Note+Cards.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Painted lady butterfly note cards by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMgvkVYNX7sI7bOTliBdbk0nmx6YKzx_BMBBDaFqwcxiFViLWR4hsxdm5uFAQ69csx_zyXXAj7I8vRXTJXrXPU17RAmM2RKOILnzCPztwzf2gn8AKoCUypCjr4BvwCZKjFAVlkhljPhL3/s1600/Painted+Lady+Butterfly+Note+Cards.jpg" title="Painted lady butterfly note cards" /></a></div>
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If you haven't visited my shop in a while, I hope you will <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/">have a peek</a>. I've been busy adding new prints and cards. 🦋<br />
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-5771026569982473492017-05-07T13:33:00.000-04:002017-05-07T19:15:34.413-04:00Mad for Magnolias<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/star-magnolia-watercolor-print"><img alt=" Pink magnolia watercolor painting by Kathleen Maunder" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwK9R8Qfsjp1lgRzrRWwZDB-ELWu3qNEX2ATQPXPFB-gwvyO_qJVN29uAy5vNJrMfZbGARdsT-dH4wTGaDDt1yNacrDO9EAiosJyUOZnmML7ex7sOgctZ5yctLbKVdOmXKKPs6rAJidFy/s1600/Pink+star+magnolia+watercolor+print+with+frame.jpg" title="Pink star magnolia watercolor print" /></a></div>
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Many years ago, I worked in a corporate communications job during the day and painted in the evenings. I was living in an apartment in midtown Toronto and having a garden of my own was only a dream. Each spring, I would take an alternate route home from work for about a week or two. It was a winding road through a beautiful residential neighbourhood. Around a curve and at the top of a hill was the reason for my detour--a gorgeous magnolia tree in bloom. </div>
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Years later, I finally have my own magnolia tree in my very own garden. It's a pink star magnolia called Magnolia stellata 'Rosea'. I planted it about ten years ago. It's very slow growing and has taken a long time to get established. It's still quite small, about my height, but the blooms are now plentiful and spectacular.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbtVktkxueVQZYfgrj1rt9FN6aNfAXAOyzr8K1-tODMuX-EgVmZuWeBtsHHWMV-AXCR15RxSxBhV24pQnIFUkEfUCKWaw1Y0VcI1Yu4vpdUK4t-WvctAgfcTX2bPAN4Tgn2AXtIgktnZg/s1600/Star+magnolia+tree+in+bloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pink star magnolia in bloom" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbtVktkxueVQZYfgrj1rt9FN6aNfAXAOyzr8K1-tODMuX-EgVmZuWeBtsHHWMV-AXCR15RxSxBhV24pQnIFUkEfUCKWaw1Y0VcI1Yu4vpdUK4t-WvctAgfcTX2bPAN4Tgn2AXtIgktnZg/s1600/Star+magnolia+tree+in+bloom.jpg" title="Star magnolia - Magnolia stellata 'Rosea'" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlOyuGUHVk9F551ALi4hV5XGMeQz66hQ3LENaFZJOwGIATRA0gS8m06cDL0YfrAKUzsg0Qsileno0b4YR1Z7Nzh_nMxWu48DYkxosNQcADHEd1Fpj34EJocrvuejgi-qGyNJ40zGEcDGD/s1600/Star+magnolia+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pink magnolia stellata flower" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlOyuGUHVk9F551ALi4hV5XGMeQz66hQ3LENaFZJOwGIATRA0gS8m06cDL0YfrAKUzsg0Qsileno0b4YR1Z7Nzh_nMxWu48DYkxosNQcADHEd1Fpj34EJocrvuejgi-qGyNJ40zGEcDGD/s1600/Star+magnolia+tree.jpg" title="Star magnolia flower" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15cgUMQ-4wCXezLQ1I4PvJA3PBfBsgYOol9LJxROLy3wgpclANkptIsIku2AXx-H7QUheceGa_jLE5DWGIFqtQvU_1WsOqSDIQgrXTGLs1WCSyM5h4neXmZkdJJDTAw3FoD4oTHo-xh7O/s1600/Pink+Star+Magnolia+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pink blooms of star magnolia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15cgUMQ-4wCXezLQ1I4PvJA3PBfBsgYOol9LJxROLy3wgpclANkptIsIku2AXx-H7QUheceGa_jLE5DWGIFqtQvU_1WsOqSDIQgrXTGLs1WCSyM5h4neXmZkdJJDTAw3FoD4oTHo-xh7O/s1600/Pink+Star+Magnolia+tree.jpg" title="Magnolia stellata 'Rosea'" /></a></div>
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Last week I decided that I needed to paint one of its flowers! I took a few photos of the blossom I was going to paint to be sure I had references as I knew it wouldn't last long.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFZsSq4RUndCvBShmSVPCiPKe3v8SKmMqFxUenksWAGLYkT7gjOlG58txSF-rpVjUz42G3ImzEpcvUXOZ4CJHoLi5dNFc6KU5ha8wHvtsC1vLISU4pP2At5FN__H9dH8TP9HaQzWnHeIq/s1600/Magnolia+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pink flower of star magnolia tree" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFZsSq4RUndCvBShmSVPCiPKe3v8SKmMqFxUenksWAGLYkT7gjOlG58txSF-rpVjUz42G3ImzEpcvUXOZ4CJHoLi5dNFc6KU5ha8wHvtsC1vLISU4pP2At5FN__H9dH8TP9HaQzWnHeIq/s1600/Magnolia+flower.jpg" title="Pink star magnolia flower" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MB8QnwqTGMds-lF6VQK6tkBgaU-xjlxOVGxVWf9gdLgz-q481JQCxveLyWlH5hu1M1YVmLC5Nh0HK8U1xWL8kdM65wz2u5iSDW-fB8vp7hdQcxUvXKbLxJhwjJIAEd3nUNPQn9hsfxlb/s1600/Star+magnolia+blossom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pink star magnolia flower - top view" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MB8QnwqTGMds-lF6VQK6tkBgaU-xjlxOVGxVWf9gdLgz-q481JQCxveLyWlH5hu1M1YVmLC5Nh0HK8U1xWL8kdM65wz2u5iSDW-fB8vp7hdQcxUvXKbLxJhwjJIAEd3nUNPQn9hsfxlb/s1600/Star+magnolia+blossom.jpg" title="Close-up of center of star magnolia flower" /></a></div>
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Here's my painting on the second day when I was still building my washes. I paint slowly! The bloom I picked wilted after about 24 hours which is when I dissected it to have a closer look at the colour and markings on the petals.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCiasIXVwM65qyqKswcVz_YrKMy8m_f9XYJ6rBfFVlG-5Z-zObYtFizvHcDYZrn_f-vMk3Nlf0vnGhHQkFp8dgIDeMwKtf84fw3qwk7g-2C54VyZiogTd1gA_1SwVO8un67gziLVL8q2m/s1600/Star+magnolia+painting+in+progress+b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Star magnolia watercolor painting in progress" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCiasIXVwM65qyqKswcVz_YrKMy8m_f9XYJ6rBfFVlG-5Z-zObYtFizvHcDYZrn_f-vMk3Nlf0vnGhHQkFp8dgIDeMwKtf84fw3qwk7g-2C54VyZiogTd1gA_1SwVO8un67gziLVL8q2m/s1600/Star+magnolia+painting+in+progress+b.jpg" title="Painting in progress - star magnolia watercolor painting in initial stages" /></a></div>
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I love holding garden specimens as I paint them. It allows me to observe their details closely. For example, I had never noticed the little speckles on the magnolia tree's bark until I was doing this painting. It took me three painting sessions over the same number of days to complete the painting. Below is the finished original watercolour painting!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zOwX0_H3STrLJlk5tSIbv211q-z9VNrsKRP05n-t9JNI8-PMWabnRZKM9o-VNnj31GjhXY7ET1D_vhVmXDdazxunbc2HciWArfBy55x-fj7q-13qynEY2ocZH6yN8JPboRl-Xh9wQ8YP/s1600/Star+magnolia+original+watercolour+painting+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Botanical watercolor painting of pink star magnolia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zOwX0_H3STrLJlk5tSIbv211q-z9VNrsKRP05n-t9JNI8-PMWabnRZKM9o-VNnj31GjhXY7ET1D_vhVmXDdazxunbc2HciWArfBy55x-fj7q-13qynEY2ocZH6yN8JPboRl-Xh9wQ8YP/s1600/Star+magnolia+original+watercolour+painting+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Original watercolor painting of pink star magnolia by Kathleen Maunder" /></a></div>
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After I completed my painting, I knew I had to create a print pretty quickly if I wanted to photograph it with actual magnolia flowers as the blooming period lasts for such a short time. Each morning when Meeko ran to the back door to do his morning check for squirrels, I would make sure the magnolia hadn't lost its blossoms. To each his own priorities! I am happy to say that I completed my print in time! Here are some photos of my star magnolia print which is now available in my art shop. It's printed on gorgeous paper that reproduces the delicate details of the image beautifully.<br />
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/star-magnolia-watercolor-print"><img alt="8 x 10 watercolor print of pink star magnolia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdhF39VepSI7gycrczOqwyAoyc3j5oyW7eZLWMfjIy_fDC1hrzU0kSwI2szxtdPjtmvLJ29XBV2fWPhG3nf-SpyVPv2AwK7c-GLrxHdTdGoFeQbydZFUSS9YI1pAcQf_9tRSeL9Nj-g8K/s1600/Star+magnolia+print.jpg" title="Magnolia watercolor print" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/star-magnolia-watercolor-print"><img alt=" Close-up of star magnolia watercolor print" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yBSbxn6qAtT2l2Mb7GHNjAuU_yavDH0jDgRfXoPvksoXZ92kUkCROaZIJg5V2Se-3cbvuMQhpepFbk3pAKLU6hZ9PF-GACMOtusKNjqC14Ry3AqLfNY09-W9pWX3jf0mN6nB1i-nwIKu/s1600/Close-up+of+pink+star+magnolia+print.jpg" title=" Close-up of star magnolia watercolor image" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/star-magnolia-watercolor-print"><img alt=" Star magnolia watercolor print by Kathleen Maunder" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgWx1G0SOxx7z9A6_2MpitgPyQxKUSAeVxGE3RXD1cTHmT7Iyh1h_AwhhstOhIUOYEBbMoVlM_7uDO0B0OBq_cD_lJDQglR0BlUuVgW-noLYsi_p664xgLFCGaHO287dx93jhOwsEb8wN/s1600/Pink+star+magnolia+print+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title=" Star magnolia watercolor print" /></a></div>
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Here is my print in front of the magnolia tree that inspired it! You can have a look at more images of it <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/star-magnolia-watercolor-print">here</a>. Now I wonder what flower I should paint next?<br />
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/star-magnolia-watercolor-print"><img alt=" Star magnolia watercolor painting in front of magnolia tree" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-Ki6dDsWRnJhcq3l_kEOxHyhyq0t0TUJDrm1JAmljjjEXQDyxqo5b8TtBNQQsYg2Qh6ucvq6rrdCmAyXVXgE-fUo4anSCMXZTrVmUd1dAC2TcpPTax6-GU_4ByJ5B91YU2RHytyk_rfS/s1600/Star+magnolia+watercolor+print+in+the+garden.jpg" title=" Star magnolia watercolor print in the garden" /></a></div>
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Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-49939646260198157562017-04-16T19:59:00.001-04:002017-04-19T20:08:43.147-04:00Hello, Garden. I've Been Waiting For You.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYix5GKsWdRb9y_EqYhqHB2ulQReF1MmslJ5KK30PMQmVFPsmHR2T9S3T7eTkvv84Uj5My1c4C7jNhJZ5jkk5yTX7jAozrfIyQxBYMblmlso7jiKBbXRPSMST6W_qyk_cqxDJI224W50Qt/s1600/Pure+joy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="White and yellow crocuses" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYix5GKsWdRb9y_EqYhqHB2ulQReF1MmslJ5KK30PMQmVFPsmHR2T9S3T7eTkvv84Uj5My1c4C7jNhJZ5jkk5yTX7jAozrfIyQxBYMblmlso7jiKBbXRPSMST6W_qyk_cqxDJI224W50Qt/s1600/Pure+joy.jpg" title="First crocuses" /></a></div>
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My garden is waking up again. Each trip outside brings intense moments of joy as I discover more plants inching their way up through the soil and bits of autumn debris, first revealing green tips and then, a few days later, the flowers with their beautiful colours. Goodbye grey and brown! The crocuses in the backyard were the first to emerge. Now they have started to bloom in the front too. There are dwarf irises and scilla too. Interesting that the tiniest flowers are the most courageous ones, daring to appear when the snow has barely melted.<br />
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I often say that 'I need my garden and my garden needs me'. This year, it could not be more true. I found this winter to be tough. Ever since the U.S. election, I've been feeling a lot of anxiety about the world. That made it hard to think that painting flowers was important when there were so many scary things going on. I got stuck for a little while. But I think I've come to terms with the fact that small things are important. Like paying attention to nature. Celebrating it. Respecting and nurturing it. Creating art. Painting flowers. Being true to myself. All of these things are valid and positive ways to contribute to the world.<br />
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I don't make a big income with my art but I have also tried the last few months to contribute, when I can, to organizations who are trying to make a difference in the world. I believe that tiny gestures do count and they are a way of being engaged in positive change.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8U9uTpIv5YQOLqOLbQXFSj5ncM4o-7zR_IW8x_f828g_VQdb320sszXJ4UmwPbKbwrIWB_9GiDD07BMVuiUN3UhicvHlGEoKaYrMN8LW9IWNSwvkMY6-faJDg_fw339NqG363NDI-YZX/s1600/White+crocuses+in+back.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Clump of white crocuses" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8U9uTpIv5YQOLqOLbQXFSj5ncM4o-7zR_IW8x_f828g_VQdb320sszXJ4UmwPbKbwrIWB_9GiDD07BMVuiUN3UhicvHlGEoKaYrMN8LW9IWNSwvkMY6-faJDg_fw339NqG363NDI-YZX/s1600/White+crocuses+in+back.jpg" title="White crocuses" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI1G8TYqsB9cizdlDeEgCWKYvMBgv5YiVT56DHI8ArHho3Xt4X2fTADXU352jHrtJlbwZN2jZneYqWOFuwp62MoPgDchLi2q1IskbFMKyvQZarmzxiqjrJeQluTD0u25l_tWbqw1Z-uXC/s1600/Two+crocuses.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Two pale yellow crocuses" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtI1G8TYqsB9cizdlDeEgCWKYvMBgv5YiVT56DHI8ArHho3Xt4X2fTADXU352jHrtJlbwZN2jZneYqWOFuwp62MoPgDchLi2q1IskbFMKyvQZarmzxiqjrJeQluTD0u25l_tWbqw1Z-uXC/s1600/Two+crocuses.jpg" title="Soft yellow crocuses" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9xtTDTEM5IiPvazDNerbJzj6dC5j7ui0N3J4HGq5buErY_gM15MPCYyT57cNX0ygzzcIosPfw59x1lwbAUwaquC_LMG292QEKSY0oT3iCeSUAnLlo0I8dCNjfUsV80WsyJkZiPk6K-H9/s1600/Yellow+crocuses.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Bright yellow crocuses with purple stripes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9xtTDTEM5IiPvazDNerbJzj6dC5j7ui0N3J4HGq5buErY_gM15MPCYyT57cNX0ygzzcIosPfw59x1lwbAUwaquC_LMG292QEKSY0oT3iCeSUAnLlo0I8dCNjfUsV80WsyJkZiPk6K-H9/s1600/Yellow+crocuses.jpg" title="Courageous crocuses among roots and rocks" /></a></div>
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Those of you who follow me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BR8eTDGgqs9/?taken-by=trowelandpaintbrush">Instagram</a> will know that the past few weeks have been particularly stressful as my dog Meeko needed to have unexpected abdominal surgery four weeks ago, just days after his seventh birthday. What seemed like minor digestive issues initially were actually much more serious. He has been diagnosed with a chronic intestinal condition. There were some very emotional days the week of his surgery but I am happy to report that he is doing really well. With medication and a strict diet, our vet is confident that his condition can be controlled. He got his stitches out a week ago and we can now go on our walks together again. He is happy and acting like himself (once again monitoring the neighbourhood squirrels and cats). I am so glad to have my buddy by my side again.<br />
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Oh! And another bit of good news. My <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/set-of-6-tea-lover-note-cards">tea cards</a> were featured in the May 2017 issue of Romantic Homes magazine. It's a really lovely magazine and the May issue is available on newsstands now.<br />
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/set-of-6-tea-lover-note-cards"><img alt=" Tea Lover Note Cards by Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbkvCH6na5hU0IVdXEv5z0qGVCQnyfjHb6r2kxWGyVLgQAorCnjsMmNGLUBCV7b3J94in-3YEUTYRThz0D9JTHW52xRlHEmnuTukINMC8W-ACMTnFj2wN4RIkdIaOehVLlJ5gI4YR1wee/s1600/Romantic+Homes+feature+of+Tea+Cards.jpg" title=" Tea Lover Note Cards by Trowel and Paintbrush featured in Romantic Homes" /></a></div>
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Today I picked the first garden bouquet of this year. It contains dwarf irises, crocuses and a scilla sprig. It was a way to celebrate Easter and the return of my garden. An emissary of more positive days ahead. A sweet handful of hope.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr1f-dgJt6vzgTACORAXWq32jBUxDyHDBs9RxqKc70vDONoJ379Xjkx8NWjqX6fBE0-7Gtsl1pM2yN1pyXd2Pir4xvJSzJ1qXv993Fk6lvDnYCr5glNszra2_bbgH86_Z-KpzYAhR4TFv/s1600/First+spring+bouquet.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Tiny bouquet of dwarf irises, crocuses and scilla" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr1f-dgJt6vzgTACORAXWq32jBUxDyHDBs9RxqKc70vDONoJ379Xjkx8NWjqX6fBE0-7Gtsl1pM2yN1pyXd2Pir4xvJSzJ1qXv993Fk6lvDnYCr5glNszra2_bbgH86_Z-KpzYAhR4TFv/s1600/First+spring+bouquet.jpg" title="First garden bouquet of the season" /></a></div>
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-86385810209642664852017-01-07T12:07:00.001-05:002017-01-07T17:01:00.978-05:00New Beginnings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MpFlQtk4HoV4A9Oj4ZSxJpXPJUIZjiA_YNPiQoBm7xKsmMnupQaah2rMfIPtjq15OMrx_ZbBAH4IzsiJWCzC9qySbRw30j-in3sbaRKQcunehJ9hvPgv7FXt3YDgJSfcPLSueDF5qUiB/s1600/Frosty+morning+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Hoar frost on red viburnum berries backlit by the sun" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MpFlQtk4HoV4A9Oj4ZSxJpXPJUIZjiA_YNPiQoBm7xKsmMnupQaah2rMfIPtjq15OMrx_ZbBAH4IzsiJWCzC9qySbRw30j-in3sbaRKQcunehJ9hvPgv7FXt3YDgJSfcPLSueDF5qUiB/s1600/Frosty+morning+1.jpg" title="Hoar frost on viburnum berries" /></a></div>
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It's a new year. A new year signifies a chance to do things differently. It represents hope. A new beginning. But I haven't painted in eight weeks. I have found myself to be in the middle of a creative block. It was partly triggered by the political uncertainty in the world since the US election and my desolation at how it felt like forces of intolerance and hatred were winning. I also was wracked with doubts about my art business and frustrated by the ongoing challenge of finding the right audience for my paintings.<br />
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It hasn't been a complete creative block as I gave myself permission to divert my attention from painting to other creative things--things that required wider focus and less concentration. I repainted the walls of our upstairs hallway. I installed new picture rails to display my art and others. I framed art, mine and pieces I had purchased from friends. I built a simple wood bed frame with Chloé for her room. I reorganized shelves and drawer contents. I've been reading. I walk with Meeko every day. I thought of all of the good people I know. I've spent time with family and friends.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqDl9G3F1DVTA5ieh-ckW80upN8JRMMH-3VG5jX0H1X7QBoYHm-D4HgNR17egOeF9hAMe5KqmAdGnMhZDyy4RwLd8c7rkOKPfCzUsoUP5Sx8LavPAOeNqNMe5dh_-Lz0y2-CmrDEKfh5Y/s1600/Frosty+morning.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Hoar frost on clusters of crabapples" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqDl9G3F1DVTA5ieh-ckW80upN8JRMMH-3VG5jX0H1X7QBoYHm-D4HgNR17egOeF9hAMe5KqmAdGnMhZDyy4RwLd8c7rkOKPfCzUsoUP5Sx8LavPAOeNqNMe5dh_-Lz0y2-CmrDEKfh5Y/s1600/Frosty+morning.jpg" title="Hoar frost on crabapples" /></a></div>
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If I was to look at the whole of 2016 in a personal way, it was the year of the neck and back. I had to slow down for several weeks in the early summer after being diagnosed with arthritis in my neck. Physiotherapy has helped so much. I've learned to stand and sit up straighter. This past week, there was a new challenge. I began suffering from dizzy spells. They were scary at first but they have been diagnosed as muscular in origin--my trapezius muscle probably irritated after a vigorous hike over the holidays. My physiotherapist thinks that the dizziness should be resolved in a few days. What a relief. I can't wait for them to be gone. My neck and back keep sending me signals. Don't take things for granted. Look after yourself. Stand up straight.<br />
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So I am determined to paint again. To feel hope about the state of the world. To help when I can. To stay aware but not to the point of paralysis. To take moments to appreciate the beauty of nature. To create. To concentrate on those I do reach with my art and to worry less about those I don't. To surround myself with caring people with good hearts. To listen to my aging body but to work with it and remind it that 'hey buddy, we still have plenty we need to do together'. To concentrate on art and love and hope.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9FNXnd_eCI6W1vJwT7tMO6CN6jXDnsdiRQ5ctVHh1DDK4JDy5ildML1d9Yx5dOlOz3E2xwLVdfO1INV-_whbghB_j6u0pylH_TI004BZ4whP2pD5qFbiRlGRwT5sYdVvRnJsRXtaMeKF/s1600/Frosty+morning+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Crabapples covered with hoar frost" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9FNXnd_eCI6W1vJwT7tMO6CN6jXDnsdiRQ5ctVHh1DDK4JDy5ildML1d9Yx5dOlOz3E2xwLVdfO1INV-_whbghB_j6u0pylH_TI004BZ4whP2pD5qFbiRlGRwT5sYdVvRnJsRXtaMeKF/s1600/Frosty+morning+2.jpg" title="Frost-covered crabapples" /></a></div>
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This morning we woke to sunshine and a magical garden covered in hoar frost. I went out in my pajamas to photograph it for you! These photos of ice and light seem to be the perfect representation of where I've been lately and where I am right now. Frozen but allowing the light to get in.<br />
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I'm not sure what I am going to paint when I get back into my studio next week but I look forward to being there. And I want you to know that I'm really glad you are here with me.<br />
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-60065633761326413092016-11-21T14:19:00.000-05:002016-11-21T16:38:08.175-05:00First Snow!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a border="0" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPP98Qxd36A0ZaZ3I8g9IBbdmBuDDuG1uPX8fJduJRbkG2tQZag7doLbpouRcycnEuuNZpyRhoXf4iX5sCFAHd3YZKd3pfMTDPe7Reeb0nJ7Wc-UTCTMGvm1FPFV69iZV0ViCaAk6be3nn/s1600/First+snow+on+crabapples+%25C2%25A9Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1" img="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPP98Qxd36A0ZaZ3I8g9IBbdmBuDDuG1uPX8fJduJRbkG2tQZag7doLbpouRcycnEuuNZpyRhoXf4iX5sCFAHd3YZKd3pfMTDPe7Reeb0nJ7Wc-UTCTMGvm1FPFV69iZV0ViCaAk6be3nn/s1600/First+snow+on+crabapples+%25C2%25A9Kathleen+Maunder.jpg"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5dPoPnAHwC-t4a3rmBFwb1EvvCc9seeIosDiiayshuJ2DzJXCFBB-71e3gHDB-_ZSLkkPwU_k_V5g9zsqmvG-MU3GuT4KxmQtsfeHIOlVFay650GHOU8NzxtYf2ZgsFDif9Z2f5NAP04/s1600/First+snow+on+crabapples+%25C2%25A9Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Tiny yellow crabapples covered with first snow. Photo by Kathleen Maunder" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5dPoPnAHwC-t4a3rmBFwb1EvvCc9seeIosDiiayshuJ2DzJXCFBB-71e3gHDB-_ZSLkkPwU_k_V5g9zsqmvG-MU3GuT4KxmQtsfeHIOlVFay650GHOU8NzxtYf2ZgsFDif9Z2f5NAP04/s1600/First+snow+on+crabapples+%25C2%25A9Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Sir Lancelot crabapples and first snow" /></a></div>
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We woke up to this season's first snow and it was extraordinarily beautiful. These are crabapples on a row of small trees in our backyard. This variety is called Sir Lancelot. The tiny yellow fruit remind me of jewels. It is particularly nice at this time of year to be left with bits of colour after the leaves have fallen from the trees and shrubs.<br />
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Meeko was very excited to see the snow and did two crazy fast loops of the backyard in celebration. I was able to convince Chloé to accompany us to the forest for a morning walk before she headed downtown for her classes.<br />
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I'm so glad we went as it was absolutely enchanting. All of the trunks and branches of the trees were covered with snow. These photos were taken in colour (you can see a bit of colour in the leaves at the top) but they look like they were taken in black and white. The marshy areas border parts of the pathway through the forest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93MLJSFVGFCjK3VJ-HJZSoE7cK94z5mfNaaZhW-dniEkKxPB9lgaw3J-41VwPqrZxMvkjo8r71LeSMVQpB2O7BEl-MuhR44UAdqDJw_DvwDLkjybigMrhy10uxpQNNC3yxU1IAM9sPKU2/s1600/First+snow+3+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93MLJSFVGFCjK3VJ-HJZSoE7cK94z5mfNaaZhW-dniEkKxPB9lgaw3J-41VwPqrZxMvkjo8r71LeSMVQpB2O7BEl-MuhR44UAdqDJw_DvwDLkjybigMrhy10uxpQNNC3yxU1IAM9sPKU2/s1600/First+snow+3+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Snow-covered trees and shadows in the marsh" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7xkuRggO1xnKba82uRT89tmPZDArPR6UGNyVuonoyqSGqgksSKzMnDDO4IVyrhvyQx5X9FvFuFQIQa_Fh4-KRvOHy4TrcwRAt7iXFvLvvkU-G69vHkoX4CkPICSrmIdxcTj1NTTMoB54/s1600/First+snow+2+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7xkuRggO1xnKba82uRT89tmPZDArPR6UGNyVuonoyqSGqgksSKzMnDDO4IVyrhvyQx5X9FvFuFQIQa_Fh4-KRvOHy4TrcwRAt7iXFvLvvkU-G69vHkoX4CkPICSrmIdxcTj1NTTMoB54/s1600/First+snow+2+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Sculptural trees and roots covered with the first snow" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERJw_NybV4KCnghyphenhyphenTnqpPIpcB5v5cRVP6KBS50whaWdAjTSkv9NimREfiNIMwnLiu-VO4Jnfe74mhMCf9FqnUy25MzfRMFUw9lYwwwuwLJ7M7oR7B5lfTKBKsBsg8Kz2jUxpySf_FfaPh/s1600/First+snow+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERJw_NybV4KCnghyphenhyphenTnqpPIpcB5v5cRVP6KBS50whaWdAjTSkv9NimREfiNIMwnLiu-VO4Jnfe74mhMCf9FqnUy25MzfRMFUw9lYwwwuwLJ7M7oR7B5lfTKBKsBsg8Kz2jUxpySf_FfaPh/s1600/First+snow+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Snow-covered forest" /></a></div>
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As Chloé and I drank the beauty of the morning in with our eyes, Meeko dipped his nose in it. To each, their own form of celebration!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhJJFOw_du4DUtcpAqCgXwDdhhhqQHA6t__h5tEO6u0w5Oy1ruvnJTkl9183OpIPSSIlktdCv9Mo1dMbZysvkDK12a4EhoMxOGpLJ7j5PWyYc7dS2UYHjqimEYYb9OT2H2ANc3qshKCxo/s1600/Meeko+in+first+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Wheaten terrier with nose covered with snow. Photo ©Kathleen Maunder" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhJJFOw_du4DUtcpAqCgXwDdhhhqQHA6t__h5tEO6u0w5Oy1ruvnJTkl9183OpIPSSIlktdCv9Mo1dMbZysvkDK12a4EhoMxOGpLJ7j5PWyYc7dS2UYHjqimEYYb9OT2H2ANc3qshKCxo/s1600/Meeko+in+first+snow.jpg" title="Meeko with a noseful of the season's first snow" /></a></div>
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If you'd like to visit my shop, please click <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/holiday-cards">here</a>.</div>
<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-1867677256156896052016-10-25T17:26:00.003-04:002016-10-26T16:44:09.479-04:00Lovely Autumn Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlqgxdJ8Rpt2ZG87aD41KX9z62F3UTVDoVF9XcPVSiBPycskZKXs3w5_nspZY5tbXuQGUh-e6NJSnu_90Gz3mqSl0jI-wPyYlA4RlFiqOalIWbiKS1eMht6VaHfny_m_MtbuuC2bvIhGi/s1600/Serviceberry.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Autumn colour of serviceberry (Amelanchier)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlqgxdJ8Rpt2ZG87aD41KX9z62F3UTVDoVF9XcPVSiBPycskZKXs3w5_nspZY5tbXuQGUh-e6NJSnu_90Gz3mqSl0jI-wPyYlA4RlFiqOalIWbiKS1eMht6VaHfny_m_MtbuuC2bvIhGi/s1600/Serviceberry.jpg" title="Amelanchier / Serviceberry" /></a></div>
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Autumn days are truly here. The weather is cool and crisp. It's perfect for long, lovely walks. Many leaves have fallen and are providing that wonderful 'crunch crunch crunch' underfoot but there are still lots of leaves on the trees giving beautiful colour. We must be at the magical midway point.</div>
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The leaves above are on one of my serviceberry bushes. I have a few of them around the yard, both in shrub and small tree form. Their fall colour is hard to beat. Below is my viburnum trilobum which is on the brink of turning red-orange. Those berries won't last long once the birds figure out they are there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KMl-LcL0KlEK4qfBfGnSMMWvO1yDVF62woYrH_tJKklMmaNjGNdRDPQNxzn-1GG1biW-9Byl13h85OfwlW83ZwehhjJ3TqbXyGdx1bxURiVWw-Q9SMw5d1LRIh_liSKWaG4h1UyMaJXb/s1600/Viburnum.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Viburnum trilobum leaves and berries" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KMl-LcL0KlEK4qfBfGnSMMWvO1yDVF62woYrH_tJKklMmaNjGNdRDPQNxzn-1GG1biW-9Byl13h85OfwlW83ZwehhjJ3TqbXyGdx1bxURiVWw-Q9SMw5d1LRIh_liSKWaG4h1UyMaJXb/s1600/Viburnum.jpg" title="Viburnum trilobum leaves and berries" /></a></div>
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Our town is edged by rural roads and fields. It's one of my favourite places to walk with Meeko. The cloud formations are often beautiful and there is a feeling of openness that you don't find even just a few streets away. It's a thinking and breathing place for me. I'm pretty sure that Meeko mostly thinks about the horses we see along the way.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeXoQ_dDDyo-n6FgpGyt672vopm-1ny1L6o13WYTJsK3TI-cpgx3yU4hUM0INZ_8kIcSiPIIiVlHLfsBhgWlHZicO0g5dcrnKG0tZH2p0QCTyahtmb33K9gsXji28cPkybaVq6vDALNGG/s1600/Farmer%2527s+field.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Golden field and blue sky" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeXoQ_dDDyo-n6FgpGyt672vopm-1ny1L6o13WYTJsK3TI-cpgx3yU4hUM0INZ_8kIcSiPIIiVlHLfsBhgWlHZicO0g5dcrnKG0tZH2p0QCTyahtmb33K9gsXji28cPkybaVq6vDALNGG/s1600/Farmer%2527s+field.jpg" title="Beautiful autumn fields and sky" /></a></div>
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I also often talk about the tiny forest where I walk during the colder months of the year. It's been cool enough the past few weeks that I've started walking with Meeko there again. During the summer, it's too swampy and buggy. I took this photo of Meeko on our walk there this afternoon. Do you remember when people used to get their 'colours done'? Do people still do that? You would be told if you were a winter, spring, summer or autumn according to your coloration. Meeko is definitely an autumn. (He also needs a haircut.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7JcnY1QeRZ58L9-rLF3c1ohBVqf628Ddy0ca9fJ9nMJeDe9bYBz8GA4A_Ki6eFaveo4uwdrGg9yQYRYrTh7bFfplO-YMRJiqBmTcsaxmEhFe5Gxcu3aPJmXElnUnU59rJn-0Rf9QyJ6j/s1600/Meeko+in+autumn+woods.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Soft coated wheaten terrier with autumn leaves" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7JcnY1QeRZ58L9-rLF3c1ohBVqf628Ddy0ca9fJ9nMJeDe9bYBz8GA4A_Ki6eFaveo4uwdrGg9yQYRYrTh7bFfplO-YMRJiqBmTcsaxmEhFe5Gxcu3aPJmXElnUnU59rJn-0Rf9QyJ6j/s1600/Meeko+in+autumn+woods.jpg" title="Meeko in the autumn leaves" /></a></div>
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A few weeks ago, I told you about my 2017 calendar. I'm so proud of it. It is truly a labour of love. Many, many weeks went into the creation of the paintings and the calendar is printed page by page by me in my studio. One challenge I've found is that it's hard to take a photo that gives a really good sense of a 12-month calendar. This morning I worked on Photoshop (actually until my eyes felt cross-eyed) making this poster of my calendar. I hope it gives you a full idea of how pretty it is. </div>
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I originally only offered my calendar unbound which can be displayed leaning on a bookshelf, on a fridge with a magnet, or on a wall with washi tape, a clip or push pin. Some people said they would like it bound so I now also offer a version with holes punched in the centre and a loop of twine. Something for everyone! You can order the version you prefer <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/calendar">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXa0UXb4mN9gz12NwuO2CzrWPeoBleMD-9eVBDDcUyQe8CyDTRsqeuvESCbJmh2fc-n0KmcAGqN-C0lqYPTFRlGKqhkfyvYIrDoZwmDDRQJ36OqtSLwv9fkzlpzC2z8eqqzyGhLbrMwj9b/s1600/Trowel+and+Paintbrush+2017+Herbs+and+Edible+Flowers+Calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXa0UXb4mN9gz12NwuO2CzrWPeoBleMD-9eVBDDcUyQe8CyDTRsqeuvESCbJmh2fc-n0KmcAGqN-C0lqYPTFRlGKqhkfyvYIrDoZwmDDRQJ36OqtSLwv9fkzlpzC2z8eqqzyGhLbrMwj9b/s1600/Trowel+and+Paintbrush+2017+Herbs+and+Edible+Flowers+Calendar.jpg" /></a></div>
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Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-31733616839284724662016-09-26T11:07:00.002-04:002016-09-26T11:12:58.247-04:00Edible Flower Print Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjVdMscm5aaBgX8gevbH3QUA3GvDjIb9R3ieySU8dJf1gJsXcRYNDHAGyecQlaEPnJNA_PQT3vSV9yO4jueURCI0CQw_28g7JAyV5eApMGcVz1LIPU3yYugHpATqzTQUoRZ79-R_ua-uv/s1600/Chive+Herb+Watercolor+print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Print of chives watercolor painting" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjVdMscm5aaBgX8gevbH3QUA3GvDjIb9R3ieySU8dJf1gJsXcRYNDHAGyecQlaEPnJNA_PQT3vSV9yO4jueURCI0CQw_28g7JAyV5eApMGcVz1LIPU3yYugHpATqzTQUoRZ79-R_ua-uv/s1600/Chive+Herb+Watercolor+print.jpg" title="Chives Herb Watercolor Print" /></a></div>
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I am happy to announce that my edible flower watercolor series is now available as prints in my <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/">shop</a>. I really enjoyed painting this collection of flowers. I have printed them in my studio on beautiful paper. I mean paper so nice that you will want to sit there holding it instead of putting it in a frame. Or at least I would. Because I love paper that much.</div>
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A little while ago, I wrote about how I am trying to paint more series. I did it! These six edible flower prints are compatible with my herb series. I hope by having related images available that it will be easy for people to mix and match to create a <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/herbs-and-edible-flowers-print-collection">collection of prints</a> that is just right for their wall. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoSdZG9xnWKbwEuePEbRyvlfEyLq2gDXxHDavxLof5rl6CvYvsrzblx55c4GinYH_06KZw4kA0tn9J4FmLz9uklCYC3ExCvy3gi5IGOtIRCP8Q770_paEl1Nr41Xm9IwfXjg_0aiYUQqo/s1600/Edible+flowers+-+viola+%252B+pansy%252C+crabapple+and+borage.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Botanical watercolor prints by Kathleen Maunder: viola + pansy, crabapple and borage" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoSdZG9xnWKbwEuePEbRyvlfEyLq2gDXxHDavxLof5rl6CvYvsrzblx55c4GinYH_06KZw4kA0tn9J4FmLz9uklCYC3ExCvy3gi5IGOtIRCP8Q770_paEl1Nr41Xm9IwfXjg_0aiYUQqo/s1600/Edible+flowers+-+viola+%252B+pansy%252C+crabapple+and+borage.jpg" title="Edible Flower Prints by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush " /></a></div>
Viola + Pansy - The flowers of these charming plants are edible. They can be added to salads or crystallized and used to decorate cakes.<br />
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Crabapple - The petals of crabapple blossoms are edible (apple blossoms too). I was delighted to learn this! They can be used in small quantities to garnish a salad or try floating them in a drink.<br />
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Borage - I grow borage from seed every year. It's such a pretty addition to the garden. I love all blue flowers! The flowers are edible and can be used to garnish salads and cold soups. You can float them in beverages or freeze them in ice cubes. The young leaves are also edible but I don't really enjoy how prickly they feel so I leave them on the plants.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOq-ZwWsMyhRiMXUXKVFXom-4bhMN27IB9zp_HCGU8gMAx3ANdU_HKTPzuHRvUnLCYAffPnobWXE0fJJQGs4g4KJJFMLmmP3lwD54QKz0PIO_L-3EW-JQhJyA7R-GQkazaeQKHFc6Ia60/s1600/Edible+flowers+series+-+Chives%252C+Nasturtium+and+Violet.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Botanical watercolor prints by Kathleen Maunder: chives, nasturtium and violet" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOq-ZwWsMyhRiMXUXKVFXom-4bhMN27IB9zp_HCGU8gMAx3ANdU_HKTPzuHRvUnLCYAffPnobWXE0fJJQGs4g4KJJFMLmmP3lwD54QKz0PIO_L-3EW-JQhJyA7R-GQkazaeQKHFc6Ia60/s1600/Edible+flowers+series+-+Chives%252C+Nasturtium+and+Violet.jpg" title="Edible Flower Prints by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Chives - The stems of chives are a great, mild substitute for onion in foods. They are nice with egg and cheese dishes and are lovely baked into biscuits. I never used to think of eating the blossoms until I saw a photo on my friend Sonia's beautiful <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cozymemories/">Instagram feed</a> a couple of years ago. She was preparing toast topped with soft cheese and chive florets. I tried it and not only is it delicious but also beautiful! </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Nasturtium - This is another beautiful flower that I grow each year from seed in my garden. I line the sides of my square-foot garden with nasturtiums. The flowers have a peppery taste and are great in salads or as a garnish. The young leaves are edible too.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Violet - Wild violets are edible. I'm lucky to have some growing wild in our back lawn. Many people like to crystallize them and use them to decorate cakes and cookies. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I really hope that like my new <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/herbs-and-edible-flowers-print-collection">edible flower series</a>. You can also find smaller versions of these images in my 2017 <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/2017-calendar-herbs-and-edible-flowers">calendar</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><i>I should mention that it's important to be sure that your flowers and herbs are pesticide-free. Eat in small quantities and always consult with a health professional if you have particular health issues or are serving to small children. The basic rule is, if in doubt about a plant, don't eat it. If you want to learn more about edible flowers, there are some good guides online. You can find two <a href="https://whatscookingamerica.net/EdibleFlowers/EdibleFlowersMain.htm">here</a> and <a href="http://www.thompson-morgan.com/edible-flowers">here</a>.</i></span></div>
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-81592031501510330852016-09-21T11:41:00.001-04:002016-09-26T12:48:23.588-04:00A 2017 Calendar!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/2017-calendar-herbs-and-edible-flowers"><img alt="Calendar with watercolor images of herbs and edible flowers by Kathleen Maunder (trowelandpaintbrush.com)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6aIX1g74_-z8to9FDGkkVt2io1aBipQvzX6YBP8aEeG9hGFTh0v1dbrrl6ZKI5PzNr5UaPzYFGKe4nPjocQ7_-_niVm0gsAoQW2OGcuJeQfIAHBfOccDFEFVgb5fXQYP9d5NoFvQhOB_/s1600/2017+Trowel+and+Paintbrush+calendar.jpg" title="2017 Trowel and Paintbrush Calendar - Herbs and Edible Flowers" /></a></div>
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I am happy and proud to introduce my first <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/2017-calendar-herbs-and-edible-flowers">Trowel and Paintbrush calendar</a>!<br />
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It's twelve months of herbs and edible flowers featuring my botanical watercolour paintings.<br />
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I started working on this project a year ago. I was encouraged by an artist friend (thank you for the nudge, Brenda of <a href="http://cattailswoodwork.myshopify.com/">@cattailswordwork</a>) to think about doing a calendar. I quickly figured out my theme: herbs and edible flowers. I already had six herb paintings finished. I started to work on six edible flower paintings hoping to have it ready for 2016 but I underestimated the time it was going to take me. Rather than introducing a rushed effort late in the season, I decided to make it a 2017 calendar.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpcGztDScA3zDtPG4itMQnlSRwriRC4muFbgA_vY4tq4AT6h9zpkZjezcQcEh64pL_FeENxOb3vY27qkt0KDXCLnz84UEsayqhASLnspJj_yAD0j9P5tQpg3iZvd2Ztt3zL966F_4EeAF/s1600/Lettering+for+2017+Trowel+and+Paintbrush+calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Hand lettering of months and days for 2017 Trowel and Paintbrush calendar" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpcGztDScA3zDtPG4itMQnlSRwriRC4muFbgA_vY4tq4AT6h9zpkZjezcQcEh64pL_FeENxOb3vY27qkt0KDXCLnz84UEsayqhASLnspJj_yAD0j9P5tQpg3iZvd2Ztt3zL966F_4EeAF/s1600/Lettering+for+2017+Trowel+and+Paintbrush+calendar.jpg" title="Hand lettering for 2017 Trowel and Paintbrush calendar" /></a></div>
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I did some finessing of the edible flower paintings early this year. In the past few weeks, I hand lettered the months and days in watercolour. Some of lettering was done with a fine paintbrush, some with a pen nib dipped in watercolor paint.<br />
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/2017-calendar-herbs-and-edible-flowers"><img alt="February watercolor calendar image of violets by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj031X2AkfS9uaMr-AXpL8jOvZd9oeO2m2ozbQ1lP0Vho1fflrKWBylGEmzL86v-9xFuOTZJCnOF8Iw_dte0iw1eosqXhGd2uafodI-PGvXcTY5OCCb-9DQJDWJVctssWwpiCvcdFllNkDe/s1600/Violets+-+February+2017+Trowel+and+Paintbrush+calendar.jpg" title="February Violets - 2017 Calendar by Trowel and Paintbrush" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/2017-calendar-herbs-and-edible-flowers"><img alt="Images from 2017 Herbs and Edible Flowers calendar by Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gz7s4Q36R5UzX7l9rcApoRDVI-V3Sct9w_lyy-IbjTqHqWjuzCHI3KlEhuybTz9cxc0klhiEcFBHJiqFq2oTuAWZrpeSnk9NxTRVaXPydOf_J1CeC5jQdswsh3WtLa75v7b_HxSHzfBJ/s1600/2017+calendar.jpg" title="2017 Trowel and Paintbrush calendar images" /></a></div>
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I chose 'Mint' for the January page as it seemed to fit with a fresh start. The sweet violet bouquet seemed to be perfect for February, aptly so I found out later as the violet is February's birth flower. I chose 'Thyme' for March because time marches on. (Sorry to be corny but it's true! Sometimes I need to amuse myself.) I placed my viola and pansy painting as the July image since that's when my birthday is and violas and pansies have lots of family associations for me. Sage is on the December page as it is so often used in holiday meals.<br />
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I've printed the calendar in my studio on beautiful paper with the same care and attention I give to everything that I produce. As a bonus, I also created an accompanying page which describes some common uses of the herbs and flowers featured in my calendar.<br />
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The <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/2017-calendar-herbs-and-edible-flowers">calendar</a> would be a lovely gift for a gardener, cook or nature lover. Or you may want to buy it for yourself! It would brighten up a kitchen nook or an office space. I sell it without a hole at the top centre which is perfect if you want to display it with a clip, clothespin or washi tape. Or I can punch a centre hole for you so you can loop a piece of twine or ribbon through it.<br />
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It was so much work but I am thrilled with how it turned out. I really hope you like it too!<br />
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Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-26568186389811188152016-09-07T10:33:00.000-04:002016-09-07T15:44:49.715-04:00A Morning Glory Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQUKyVxrtKrj018iC0bBBCf_NYDvkmDxCRxSsy4xNo49YnVTOfwyoj77kvFdmodQ8T6YVYjHxFOVyuD_FXRqDta_W4GUfntsf_r3GrEGQYPAYLNp02IL2SWP2QsKmW-nYTN6C7cWxlaki/s1600/Morning+glory+watercolour+painting.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Watercolor painting of a morning glory by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQUKyVxrtKrj018iC0bBBCf_NYDvkmDxCRxSsy4xNo49YnVTOfwyoj77kvFdmodQ8T6YVYjHxFOVyuD_FXRqDta_W4GUfntsf_r3GrEGQYPAYLNp02IL2SWP2QsKmW-nYTN6C7cWxlaki/s1600/Morning+glory+watercolour+painting.jpg" title="Morning glory watercolour painting by Kathleen Maunder" /></a></div>
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The morning glories in my garden inspired me to do a little watercolour. I have a stack of paintings from the past few months that I hope to convert into prints in the weeks ahead and this will be one of them.<br />
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My garden is shifting towards autumn. I want to paint it all but I don't have the time these days. I'm trying to take lots of photographs to use as references and inspiration during the long winter months ahead. I bought some pots of chrysanthemums yesterday, a sure sign that the seasons are changing.<br />
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I sometimes wish you could freeze moments in the garden and get things to slow down and linger a little bit longer. It goes too fast. The morning glories are looking absolutely glorious at the moment. I truly understand where their name comes from. I took this photo this morning. They look like the light is coming from within them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeU04WWv4poYfhnH2Vc8V46Pa_AlWZ5WKErgrDDZkFQeu8wxJmgVzjaLT6o9lKjHf_FtlnQqHIho2vMyy3LlmDNXElIxcfZ0FX8XLDWnLHc2_cJByKWqulCPeSA5QG14-Tz4axIs1iJPc/s1600/Morning+glories.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Morning glory vines against a brick wall" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeU04WWv4poYfhnH2Vc8V46Pa_AlWZ5WKErgrDDZkFQeu8wxJmgVzjaLT6o9lKjHf_FtlnQqHIho2vMyy3LlmDNXElIxcfZ0FX8XLDWnLHc2_cJByKWqulCPeSA5QG14-Tz4axIs1iJPc/s1600/Morning+glories.jpg" title="Morning glories in my garden" /></a></div>
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This is a tangle of flowers that are growing near the morning glories: gaillardia and verbena bonariensis. If you asked me to list my favourite colours in the garden, red wouldn't be one of them. However, I absolutely adore this combination of red and light violet. I have to tell you something else. I have the worst mental block for 'gaillardia'. I have to look it up, every single year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgFfMnFTygZGu5AG_7PpIdEN1sEY0ftsBLAb5vT5G7Sn2Evhvb3rVFOOQpm9HDxohfkJM-yV6020nm8VATOr9Z4PN3qmOvb7RxuK-a1fBU_CUwQ4oL-6_VfP7eLXpJ7ZTDLQVQvxUGUYg/s1600/Gaillardia+and+verbena.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Red Gaillardia and Verbena bonariensis" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgFfMnFTygZGu5AG_7PpIdEN1sEY0ftsBLAb5vT5G7Sn2Evhvb3rVFOOQpm9HDxohfkJM-yV6020nm8VATOr9Z4PN3qmOvb7RxuK-a1fBU_CUwQ4oL-6_VfP7eLXpJ7ZTDLQVQvxUGUYg/s1600/Gaillardia+and+verbena.jpg" title="Gaillardia and verbena bonariensis in my garden" /></a></div>
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I always have to remind myself that as we are approaching autumn here, that my friends in the southern hemisphere are enjoying spring! In the north, we are dealing with the wistfulness of knowing that our gardens will soon be going to sleep and you are experiencing the joy of spring flowers! For the moment though, in the Montreal region we are experiencing unseasonably warm weather.<br />
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I'll leave you with one final photo of my morning glory painting. I hope you are enjoying nature wherever you are and whatever the season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJC45mUtEXQmrnh-Go-644cIWGH6ROZx-ulK68oOfJ-qZVngWlfwCICel9kYvwJ30kGrRrdvTj3FV8CFgCXJDo64ElauvEaYfVso4KDxjwr9jgdGGptJkXVOl4MKyE9kb-VRV2e9IT19R/s1600/Morning+glory+painting+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="A morning glory watercolor painting by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJC45mUtEXQmrnh-Go-644cIWGH6ROZx-ulK68oOfJ-qZVngWlfwCICel9kYvwJ30kGrRrdvTj3FV8CFgCXJDo64ElauvEaYfVso4KDxjwr9jgdGGptJkXVOl4MKyE9kb-VRV2e9IT19R/s1600/Morning+glory+painting+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Morning glory watercolor painting by Kathleen Maunder" /></a></div>
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-34823884000025269332016-08-19T13:11:00.001-04:002016-09-07T12:52:12.330-04:00Meeko and the Morning Glories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV7eKkevzSx6uh_yRq0E5kvznNiLZUwYrl5KfP-0igjE-JZgjyFxqts1nsi0dAFpeh9_B1LRtMto5jL9yBlStWbRHUNb3OBPt0dppBvGdszmBAtOKOqKPthOAYEUQsFI4Wy-qADuzCrmQ/s1600/Meeko+and+the+Morning+Glories.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Wheaten terrier and morning glories (Photo by Kathleen Maunder of trowelandpaintbrush.com)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV7eKkevzSx6uh_yRq0E5kvznNiLZUwYrl5KfP-0igjE-JZgjyFxqts1nsi0dAFpeh9_B1LRtMto5jL9yBlStWbRHUNb3OBPt0dppBvGdszmBAtOKOqKPthOAYEUQsFI4Wy-qADuzCrmQ/s1600/Meeko+and+the+Morning+Glories.jpg" title="Meeko and morning glories" /></a></div>
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Meeko and the morning glories. Ha! I think that would be a good name for a band!<br />
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These morning glories reseeded themselves from last year. As they've grown, I've guided them towards the little fence that backs the flower bed. They've twirled and curled around the wire and look so pretty.<br />
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I didn't grow morning glories for a couple of years when Meeko was a pup. In those days, he couldn't pass a plant without trying to take a bite and morning glories can make dogs sick. Now he ignores most plants except for grass so I'm able to grow morning glories in my garden again.<br />
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The blue-purple of these flowers is one of my favourite colours. I love any warm blue tone. The morning glories have created the perfect backdrop to the light blue salvia. I love when the garden leads the way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GE9UYOLcUc1LeWPViUUDaRfgG4lMrvIxCPpgXx57sAMgjKoIgdwShvxMA9vZ0_BMqMOqcNu9sMuxgxKCG17UCzAUWktWdPTUNVc2q5sK-muPvww8diimLDHH23_KoqSWn1zg-8uu1LTc/s1600/Morning+glories+along+fence.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Morning glories and salvia (photo by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GE9UYOLcUc1LeWPViUUDaRfgG4lMrvIxCPpgXx57sAMgjKoIgdwShvxMA9vZ0_BMqMOqcNu9sMuxgxKCG17UCzAUWktWdPTUNVc2q5sK-muPvww8diimLDHH23_KoqSWn1zg-8uu1LTc/s1600/Morning+glories+along+fence.jpg" title="Morning glories and salvia " /></a></div>
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There is something very special about morning glory blooms. I think they look like little lanterns, almost as if the light was coming from within them. So very beautiful!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7_OQ2OW4tg8Mw0AkF6feXiBZ7tXKPRubSU6eaCEHt2zKh-BwOT_Rc31lWf55qkddXd9uh-KcbAwAc8lqbunlGsBIsEe2k11b3vWEvxZBF5HaQDEDqVaBQEs5q2Jw_Wd7iS_pdK9nU-hv/s1600/Morning+glory+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Morning glory photo by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7_OQ2OW4tg8Mw0AkF6feXiBZ7tXKPRubSU6eaCEHt2zKh-BwOT_Rc31lWf55qkddXd9uh-KcbAwAc8lqbunlGsBIsEe2k11b3vWEvxZBF5HaQDEDqVaBQEs5q2Jw_Wd7iS_pdK9nU-hv/s1600/Morning+glory+2.jpg" title="Morning glory" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bnWZNVnMxvGgJJt8s54TkCSFY5fNZ2PwlflBr0Y1OUhJgdru5nr6u1ENU2wBB45KFI7GdndAD1adjgWWDfacTDZQnz8SioOCeW40mo811fjaOEBRyR_RF4ZGwq8_ZSLWD35yR9p-Z_Ab/s1600/Morning+glory.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Morning glory photo by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bnWZNVnMxvGgJJt8s54TkCSFY5fNZ2PwlflBr0Y1OUhJgdru5nr6u1ENU2wBB45KFI7GdndAD1adjgWWDfacTDZQnz8SioOCeW40mo811fjaOEBRyR_RF4ZGwq8_ZSLWD35yR9p-Z_Ab/s1600/Morning+glory.jpg" title="Morning glory " /></a></div>
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-38872158153493966792016-07-26T09:38:00.001-04:002016-08-13T20:13:32.302-04:00Back to Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyBPWs20Zhg08xmz2Vj5gPAt2aF8JTXXeuyoIdZBJyx3A5Zg6pljA5fzokhgtbXTtLkHJxUOG0EHU_i4FkHvBNDUu-yp0XpKWUIoqT7yGr_TnWw5xKzZtAvhG3AMFrpU5lRqgQ3t26qdE/s1600/Side+garden+by+Kathleen+Maunder+-+Trowel+and+Paintbrush.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyBPWs20Zhg08xmz2Vj5gPAt2aF8JTXXeuyoIdZBJyx3A5Zg6pljA5fzokhgtbXTtLkHJxUOG0EHU_i4FkHvBNDUu-yp0XpKWUIoqT7yGr_TnWw5xKzZtAvhG3AMFrpU5lRqgQ3t26qdE/s1600/Side+garden+by+Kathleen+Maunder+-+Trowel+and+Paintbrush.jpg" /></a></div>
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I am finally back gardening! It was hard to set aside so many cherished activities the past couple of months as I waited for my neck to get better. The good news is that it is improving with physiotherapy. The bad news is that the reason it was vulnerable in the first place is that I have osteoarthritis in my neck. That was hard to accept (especially when I got the diagnosis a day before my birthday) but I suppose finding that out is a good thing as I am learning to be kinder to my neck and not to take it for granted. </div>
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Back in April, I started a big project: revamping the shady garden at the side of our house. The pathway was already there. I created it myself six years ago (paver by paver and wheelbarrow-full of gravel at a time). I still love the pathway but I wasn't happy with the garden. It was especially hard not to like it as it's the view from our dining room window. This is what it looked like in early April.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCabMFnOpF9r1JF5XJzvNP4lYo0K8qtYL3YFUQ2d_C6PLz81zOF92A3Ueh45odw3FklxkDyLTq-5azHrdCjywjvTgirZfhG_uO4c5pYVP9IOrYxXSP-PNG2qjGcTr5xHfrIAmOsb-6gYv/s1600/Side+Garden+-+Before+photo+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Pathway and perennial garden in early spring" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCabMFnOpF9r1JF5XJzvNP4lYo0K8qtYL3YFUQ2d_C6PLz81zOF92A3Ueh45odw3FklxkDyLTq-5azHrdCjywjvTgirZfhG_uO4c5pYVP9IOrYxXSP-PNG2qjGcTr5xHfrIAmOsb-6gYv/s1600/Side+Garden+-+Before+photo+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Before the garden update" /></a></div>
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I completely removed the not-so-great grass that bordered the narrow flower beds. It was a big job but Meeko helped (sort of).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLziJiRN7giEfs2Tj7nMQcRImYp5BiRkPg2v8-dHZ07IbCw_BOL7x23PRp4mkn4vWhrjYn2VbU1J2FpNslpFMG2xIWuwifWjO2WxU_yEf2dAD2kLgmt9893GuCcSUv3RDy1zTdurf-zK5h/s1600/Meeko+looking+back.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="My wheaten terrier Meeko helping me in the garden" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLziJiRN7giEfs2Tj7nMQcRImYp5BiRkPg2v8-dHZ07IbCw_BOL7x23PRp4mkn4vWhrjYn2VbU1J2FpNslpFMG2xIWuwifWjO2WxU_yEf2dAD2kLgmt9893GuCcSUv3RDy1zTdurf-zK5h/s1600/Meeko+looking+back.jpg" title="Meeko 'helping' me remove the sod" /></a></div>
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I loved this photo of Meeko so much and the way he was looking at me over his back that I painted him in late April. Cutie pie.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEo3W4Fc7hE_suQxxWq5CMk5hyS-pYursTURwWarQaQNLDCYDsVH8BPR7FlvinyXt8Kaf93cmaLWirDftGdeP91CPIUNkwMk-EN7nuWEavJggLXwsC1p7ZrHATwjSH-wAKTXjTJvnha1qx/s1600/IMG_7330.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Watercolor painting of my wheaten Meeko. Artist: Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEo3W4Fc7hE_suQxxWq5CMk5hyS-pYursTURwWarQaQNLDCYDsVH8BPR7FlvinyXt8Kaf93cmaLWirDftGdeP91CPIUNkwMk-EN7nuWEavJggLXwsC1p7ZrHATwjSH-wAKTXjTJvnha1qx/s1600/IMG_7330.JPG" title="Watercolor painting of my wheaten terrier Meeko." /></a></div>
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Once the sod was removed, I added good soil, divided the perennials that were already there (bleeding hearts, astilbe, lady's mantle, masterwort, turtlehead, sidalcea, hostas) and rearranged things. I also removed a huge shrub that was past its prime. When I was doing all of this work in April and early May, I was kind of feeling like Superwoman. Well, guess what? I'm not. I'm human after all. An aging human, my neck reminded me in a not very subtle way. The garden waited for me while I adjusted my pride and learned to treat my neck better through improved posture and daily exercises. </div>
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In the past two weeks, I was finally able to finish my garden project. I weeded, added a few new perennials (coral bells and a shasta daisy) and planted an annual passionfruit vine in a pretty obelisk that my husband Jocelyn gave me for my birthday. Some of the new additions need to fill out a little but now I absolutely love looking at this part of the garden! It feels peaceful and serene.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarlEogrmJ5t85sVx6NkevBLR-7sKGxwaCnnRDj5SwoWxKF1ALHt3bwq7JSFbZ8FSLshvF3LYO2_W8NTmy-aaPWDa1R-_G7D23aVeyp08Vje_svR8v7E0V7DtipZx0vg6b9-x3_V3WRT8X/s1600/Side+Garden+-+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Garden pathway and perennials by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarlEogrmJ5t85sVx6NkevBLR-7sKGxwaCnnRDj5SwoWxKF1ALHt3bwq7JSFbZ8FSLshvF3LYO2_W8NTmy-aaPWDa1R-_G7D23aVeyp08Vje_svR8v7E0V7DtipZx0vg6b9-x3_V3WRT8X/s1600/Side+Garden+-+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Garden pathway and perennials" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Vc0j6c33YOZuVd7Ni5x5AMVxbIBDY1XJHtGo1yFfGrZCrrEwLZzZnqLqkE0DfdkA1X3lJog_5EaUvMqstEm_7ZLhAm3NTMJgExjrNaG5wMb-uKp1RB2oWu8T6SPijZhhaM0E7bI3wOv-/s1600/Side+garden+view+from+bench.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Gravel pathway and perennial beds taken under the branches of a Japanese Maple tree. (Kathleen Maunder - Trowel and Paintbrush)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Vc0j6c33YOZuVd7Ni5x5AMVxbIBDY1XJHtGo1yFfGrZCrrEwLZzZnqLqkE0DfdkA1X3lJog_5EaUvMqstEm_7ZLhAm3NTMJgExjrNaG5wMb-uKp1RB2oWu8T6SPijZhhaM0E7bI3wOv-/s1600/Side+garden+view+from+bench.jpg" title="Another view of the gravel pathway and newly revamped perennial beds" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zxkP1KCxnqZ3zOaYiXVdVHt7DRVh3dHk4BFhOFX7vJXKoSynkruUfDQsSkRt8tLagGn2s_4HwZwC54PECSoHBy8qbx8P75niK0M5ofT8_U_1atNsUHMss0VPJpPzPR1L6KPJChKn_gF-/s1600/Tradescantia.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Tradescantia (spiderwort) and astilbe" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zxkP1KCxnqZ3zOaYiXVdVHt7DRVh3dHk4BFhOFX7vJXKoSynkruUfDQsSkRt8tLagGn2s_4HwZwC54PECSoHBy8qbx8P75niK0M5ofT8_U_1atNsUHMss0VPJpPzPR1L6KPJChKn_gF-/s1600/Tradescantia.jpg" title="Tradescantia (spiderwort) and astilbe" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLh54T4DGVlU46t43SlvavtYcdiCGQC0kJxlfGPbKCYK_NmymgAG2IMU3Fh2wIpUD3vilCpGi4NnpnsJSFmG9j7Byd_8yvqoxl7oZYYDeckpGLduYGupfT8nfbBZLgr_zdWT5KmZoxNt4/s1600/Obelisk+and+side+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Obelisk with passion flower vine and perennial bed" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLh54T4DGVlU46t43SlvavtYcdiCGQC0kJxlfGPbKCYK_NmymgAG2IMU3Fh2wIpUD3vilCpGi4NnpnsJSFmG9j7Byd_8yvqoxl7oZYYDeckpGLduYGupfT8nfbBZLgr_zdWT5KmZoxNt4/s1600/Obelisk+and+side+garden.jpg" title="Obelisk with passion flower vine and perennial bed" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6BKrpXBIKwO0o-XNi2ntqCPGsxEPz1a3OlNxmQClVmk3htHl2EpqafndnFWW5VAa-S05H971YhE2RLv1136u16uVTF50uhvXSuQ7xkNKwPDuwVM08Mw8x_m0UFnMVfalyFWSyt5rWcPo/s1600/Shasta+daisy+%2527Sante%25CC%2581%2527.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Shasta Daisy - Leucanthemum ‘Santé’" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6BKrpXBIKwO0o-XNi2ntqCPGsxEPz1a3OlNxmQClVmk3htHl2EpqafndnFWW5VAa-S05H971YhE2RLv1136u16uVTF50uhvXSuQ7xkNKwPDuwVM08Mw8x_m0UFnMVfalyFWSyt5rWcPo/s1600/Shasta+daisy+%2527Sante%25CC%2581%2527.jpg" title="Shasta Daisy - Leucanthemum ‘Santé’" /></a></div>
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I am happy to announce that I have reopened <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/">my shop</a> after having it closed for a month. Yay! I look forward to gardening and painting more in the weeks ahead and sharing my efforts here and on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/trowelandpaintbrush/">Instagram</a>. Thanks so much for being here!<br />
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-70522710808880495452016-06-17T10:37:00.001-04:002016-06-17T23:34:13.749-04:00Not As Busy As A Bee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtv7LLj4K_QM1kgjjXRwxa8SYqVlvbuf8VMc4LMYkBAv3c3mApXAXjpYFVFLPIHdTqbYAtNE-fty-x2bY_ECRIG7uEueR9BJYh_4HJeusZCMbDzc0IjoiwfZWI2RF-bYn4GUaAH5sHB2s/s1600/Bumble+bee+and+salvia+in+Kathleen+Maunder%2527s+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Bumble bee on purple salvia from trowelandpaintbrush.blogspot.ca" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtv7LLj4K_QM1kgjjXRwxa8SYqVlvbuf8VMc4LMYkBAv3c3mApXAXjpYFVFLPIHdTqbYAtNE-fty-x2bY_ECRIG7uEueR9BJYh_4HJeusZCMbDzc0IjoiwfZWI2RF-bYn4GUaAH5sHB2s/s1600/Bumble+bee+and+salvia+in+Kathleen+Maunder%2527s+garden.jpg" title="Bumble bee on purple salvia. Photo by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush." /></a></div>
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The bees are absolutely in love with the salvia in my garden. I don't remember planting this particular salvia where it is. Tall salvia at the very front of a flower bed? Hmmm. I constructed a Dr. Seuss-type rhyme it in my head.<br />
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<i>I did not plant them there at all. </i></div>
<i>I'd never plant something there so tall.
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But the salvia is there and the bees loves it and that makes me happy.</div>
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So the bees have been busy but I haven't, at least not in a normal way. The past month has been a bit odd.</div>
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In mid-May, I injured my neck while pruning the sides of the tall cedars that surround our garden. It seemed like a normal strain at first but then, a week later, I woke up with neck spasms which I had never experienced before and don't wish on anyone. If I needed a reminder of the neck's function, I had it. It's involved in most every movement. I couldn't drink a glass of water, look down to to gauge my steps on the stairs or do pretty much anything else without triggering a painful spasm. Within a two-hour period, I had forty spasms. I saw a doctor and after two days of medication, the spasms disappeared. Unfortunately, the ongoing stiffness and occasional pain didn't.<br />
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In late May, Chloé was sick for over a week with a bad virus. That was worrisome. She missed a week of school and two final exams. We were very relieved when she finally started to feel better.<br />
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The week after Chloé was sick, I had to have an unexpected biopsy. I am happy to say that the biopsy results came back negative although my brain has taken several days to regain its focus. Oh stress, you are powerful!<br />
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My neck? Well, it's much better than it was but still not normal. It makes me feel grumpy and frustrated. I am going to see a physical therapist on Monday. I realize how much I took it for granted as now I am very conscious of its movement.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYAC55eYSJlx_KZikjPWyqTJ2nm2YX5kA30dmU15iX-zRfaE6MEAUUQJT0zwJv-z-qA2Xfg0yUHjHhJKcz36HT7Ch8kjkFvlfvKNIueslyQ3xzrCeKrx6xD0jK18MUCCnAjqekEKxvCwm/s1600/Bumble+bee+in+flight+with+pollen+sacs+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Bumble bee with pollen sacs flying towards purple salvia. Photo by Kathleen Maunder (trowelandpaintbrush.blogspot.ca)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYAC55eYSJlx_KZikjPWyqTJ2nm2YX5kA30dmU15iX-zRfaE6MEAUUQJT0zwJv-z-qA2Xfg0yUHjHhJKcz36HT7Ch8kjkFvlfvKNIueslyQ3xzrCeKrx6xD0jK18MUCCnAjqekEKxvCwm/s1600/Bumble+bee+in+flight+with+pollen+sacs+by+Kathleen+Maunder.jpg" title="Bumble bee in flight. Photo by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush." /></a></div>
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I didn't paint for four weeks. I've been on social media only in a sporadic way. Partly because of my neck. Partly because I had lost my focus with everything else going on. I've done bits of things. Bits of gardening. Bits of computer work. Bits of admin work on my shop. I've missed things. I'm sorry.<br />
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Yesterday, I realized that this whole not painting thing was not going to solve itself. I just had to start painting again--maybe in shorter sessions. Then I couldn't decide what to paint. It's amazing how not painting for a while can do a number on your head, or at least mine. I start to feel like I can't paint. So I decided to work on an unfinished painting of irises that had been waiting in my drawer. It felt really good to have a paintbrush in my hand again. I've always loved irises so this is the perfect subject to ease me back into my painting routine. And guess what? I still can paint!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEoClMiSyxzBcC820lIiyyv5zPdHkQDY-JJhgiMKio5nVj8uguKambFy7t9Q9J1JZB3PybzR0FSSnrIr_I9_mrxCix_Pa_M0lhXf0eoDOVhTpUFNO0145lbATmIignk-E__knhUiGw3Gn/s1600/Irises+watercolor+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Iris watercolor painting in progress by Kathleen Maunder (trowelandpaintbrush.blogspot.ca)" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEoClMiSyxzBcC820lIiyyv5zPdHkQDY-JJhgiMKio5nVj8uguKambFy7t9Q9J1JZB3PybzR0FSSnrIr_I9_mrxCix_Pa_M0lhXf0eoDOVhTpUFNO0145lbATmIignk-E__knhUiGw3Gn/s1600/Irises+watercolor+in+progress.jpg" title="Iris watercolor painting in progress by Kathleen Maunder of Trowel and Paintbrush" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #414040; font-size: 15.456px; line-height: 23.184px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All of this is not to complain, just to explain and share. I look forward to painting, posting and participating more in the weeks ahead! Here's a little poem in honour of my busy garden friends.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;"><b>The Bee</b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">by Arthur Guiterman</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Little chemic-artisan,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Doing work no other can,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Deep in dewy nectaries,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Petal-walled refectories- </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Apple-blossom, columbine,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Rose and lily, all are thine,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Yet, though oft thy weight they bear,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Dost thou know how they are fair?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Thine are sun and Summer breeze- </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Hast thou aught of joy in these?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Pollen-yellow dumbledore,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Leave thy clovers tumbled o'er!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">What's a lily? What's a rose?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Down the golden lane he goes,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Drowsing forth a prosy song,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">'Honey! Honey!' all day long,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Wasting life's diviner sweet,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Hiving food for drones to eat.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Oh, thou silly, silly bee!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 17px; line-height: 23px;">Idle here and learn of me! </span></i></span></div>
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Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-65128708437054748452016-05-30T22:31:00.000-04:002016-05-31T08:05:20.943-04:00A Soft Spot for Pansies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/pansy-watercolor-collection-set-of-four-prints"><img alt="Pansy watercolor prints by Trowel and Paintbrush " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMHfNHWvTNevR0rBo-1P7TunSfeEjUdSzixU0aGty5tJhA6-I7U3voTr6yLSMmL1JtC7WPHS3oKewrXkK7TudI-XPjFEHJbG5d7gZ5gTK6oYk-p4DxnfFVsEx97bxbgRG2VMjbt5h1V-J/s1600/Pansy-Watercolor-Prints-Set+of+Four-800.jpg" title="Four pansy watercolor prints by Trowel and Paintbrush" /></a></div>
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One of the things I have been trying to do as often as possible the past couple of years is to create sets of images when I paint. It's not something that I necessarily find to be intuitive. Often I want to paint one thing and then for the next painting, do something quite different! But by trying to offer more sets of images which I think is helpful to customers, I am finding that I do enjoy painting series. This is one of my favourite sets of prints that I currently offer in my shop: <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/pansy-watercolor-collection-set-of-four-prints">my set of four pansy prints</a>. I introduced this set a few months ago but I have pansies on my mind these days because of all of the planting I am doing in my garden!</div>
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/pansy-watercolor-collection-set-of-four-prints"><img alt=" Set of Pansy Watercolor Prints" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qCU5RTM7V3SMssrgSbRDrcV5jpl1p_FDjo1AsyUjXFcuccITcdBEhNYfJ9CFcKHEPnMTVbuz2aZlgqQoW5pu3PGIfi4nOo2ck9ld5zEOIzDdntFZWqvtKbw2DhjvH7yZUvTToIo7IKLn/s1600/Pansy-watercolor-set-by-Kathleen-Maunder.jpg" title="Pansy watercolor print set by Kathleen Maunder, trowelandpaintbrush" /></a></div>
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Anyone who has known me for a while is aware of what a soft spot I have for pansies. One of my grandmothers was named Viola. Here's a photo of my recently planted herb pots on our back porch taken in the late afternoon light. Of course, I had to add a pot of sweet little violas!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdYN-KMiDiUx3VTfeRQm3yHdYpghxsUR2S4yYMaO03GTnde3jPOOOTd35A62G40d6-aMYiChZMeC4dcM2iGW14N6t4gharwGxP30jehFqvaPhRJlCXkK03-RMypwQOtieRRSFz4BW_8ji/s1600/Violas+and+Herbs.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Pots of herbs and edible flowers, photo by Kathleen Maunder, trowelandpaintbrush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdYN-KMiDiUx3VTfeRQm3yHdYpghxsUR2S4yYMaO03GTnde3jPOOOTd35A62G40d6-aMYiChZMeC4dcM2iGW14N6t4gharwGxP30jehFqvaPhRJlCXkK03-RMypwQOtieRRSFz4BW_8ji/s1600/Violas+and+Herbs.jpg" title="Herbs and edible flowers on the back porch" /></a></div>
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You can view all of my print sets <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/sets-of-prints">here</a>. I hope to introduce more sets this year. I have several paintings in my studio just waiting to be converted into prints. As with all of my sets, you can also opt to buy the prints individually or to make your own grouping.<br />
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And now back to planting!<br />
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<br />Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-54940533102408921452016-05-26T17:21:00.000-04:002016-05-31T08:07:26.679-04:00Tulip Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYx2ZNW8vyGtKtkvumQvgAZXDNUoEyztihzd5KzW6Fbm8YRr-GA51uhdNdsk0VLRnBRu04eyGoPDRHsiY7K118uy062U-SWOr6L_7SNoumoP40jWK-vOc7CB9XpEXqJMvp1CN5IAvamRn/s1600/Tulips+and+sunlight+in+backyard+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYx2ZNW8vyGtKtkvumQvgAZXDNUoEyztihzd5KzW6Fbm8YRr-GA51uhdNdsk0VLRnBRu04eyGoPDRHsiY7K118uy062U-SWOr6L_7SNoumoP40jWK-vOc7CB9XpEXqJMvp1CN5IAvamRn/s1600/Tulips+and+sunlight+in+backyard+a.jpg" /></a></div>
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This spring, I've had one of the prettiest tulip displays ever in my garden. The mild autumn we enjoyed here in the Montreal region meant that I had more time than usual to plant spring bulbs. I bought a lot of bulbs on sale in November and planted them. In December, the earth was still workable so I bought more! Lots of bulbs planted means lots of spring flowers!<br />
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In the photo above, you can see the early stages of the tulips in my back flowerbed. The elegant pink-striped ones in the back are 'Ballade'. They have been there for several years and I love them. The multi-coloured mix in front was planted this fall. On Instagram, I mistakenly said the mix was called 'Monet's Garden'. This colourful mix is actually called...wait for it..."Long-Stemmed 2 Months of Flowering Tulips Mixture". It's certainly not a very poetic name but it is a very diverse and pretty combination of tulips. With the very warm days we have been having recently, a two-month display seems overly optimistic but I am enjoying every single day of them.<br />
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This particular flowerbed is visible from our kitchen window and back door so I have been making frequent trips there to gaze out at the tulips. In the more recent photos below, you can see how the stems are taller now and the blossoms more full.<br />
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Can you tell that I'm in love with them? </div>
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Sometimes nature give you something a little extra. In the middle of all of these tulips was a very special one. A renegade. Isn't it amazing?</div>
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At the side of the house, I planted yellow-pink and purple-toned tulips together and they look like they were made to be friends. The pinks ones are a bunch-flowering tulip called "Quebec". The purple-edged ones are a Triumph variety called "Affaire". Both types have multiple stems so it makes for a very full display. I can see these ones from our dining room window. If it sounds like I spend a lot of time looking out of windows at my garden, I do.
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I don't know what the funny-looking tulip below is called. (In case you are worried, he is not in a cage. I have these wire fences throughout my garden. I call them 'Meeko fences'. They are meant to slow down the galloping of a certain boy through my beautiful flowers. In this case, I had pulled one of the fences back in order to photograph the tulips. When I looked up, 'guess who' was sitting behind it grinning at me.)<br />
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One of the ongoing disappointments I have about many tulip bulbs is how they disappear over time. The silver lining is that it means that I can adjust and renew the look of my flowerbeds by adding more bulbs each fall. Every spring brings new surprises. I have many other tulips planted here and there in the garden but wanted to introduce my 'newcomers' to you.<br />
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Here's the "Monet's Garden" mix of tulips planted in front. I have to admit that I bought them mainly because of their name but I am very happy with their refined and elegant appearance.<br />
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If you'd like to see the watercolour images that include tulips in my shop, you can see them <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/search?q=tulip">here</a>.<br />
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<i>You may have noticed that I've made some small adjustments to the design of my blog. It's a little wider than before and my photos are also bigger. I hope that you like these small changes. I thought of changing my blog header but I still like it. It's been the same since 2011 but it feels like me. It's one of my favourite watercolour paintings that I did many years ago. The original hangs in our living room.</i><br />
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<i>Today, I also managed to solve a problem I've had on Blogger since I began it in 2011! My photos would automatically indent from the left so I had to manually remove a piece of code after adding each and every photo! It was especially annoying when I had posts with several photos. I found some <a href="http://www.technogeekzone.com/2016/03/how-to-stop-blogger-from-adding-margin-or-border-in-images.html">code that automatically corrects the problem</a>! Hurray! It gets added in the CSS portion of the blog template. I also found some <a href="http://www.designerblogs.com/how-to-resize-blogger-photos-automatically/">code that resizes my photos to fit my blog columns</a>, also added to the CSS. Two internal changes that make posting a little easier! I'm sharing in case anyone else is struggling to solve similar problems.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-64897371325240994492016-04-11T12:01:00.000-04:002016-05-23T15:59:01.685-04:00My Studio: Before and After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A week ago, I received some disappointing news. I had applied to a local arts and crafts show and wasn't accepted. I had a choice. I could wallow in sadness or I could do something constructive and move forward. I did let myself wallow for about 24 hours and then I decided to embark on a major cleanup of my studio.<br />
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I am a perfectionist and really do like when things look organized and pretty. Unfortunately, I don't really enjoy cleaning. I would far rather use my time to paint than clean, so things have a tendency to pile up around me. Last summer, my daughter Emma gave me a pretty white table from Ikea for my birthday. I added it to my studio without really taking the time to make it fit in. It displaced another small table which I left in the centre of everything. I had piles of paper, frames and shipping supplies on the floor. It was far from organized. Things were actually getting a little dangerous.<br />
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I've been brave and took some before photos to show you just how much my studio has changed. Some of these photos were taken in the middle of the process, so things looked even worse than at the beginning. I had pulled things into the centre of the room to go through them.<br />
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It was such a big job that I really wanted to give up about halfway through. I was physically tired and bored out of my mind. But I didn't and I'm glad I kept going. It took me a full week. Here are some photos of what my painting studio looks like now. </div>
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I printed the Trowel & Paintbrush sign with the hope that I would be accepted to the show but I like the way it looks on the wall of my studio. I also put up a couple of my <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/nature-collections">nature collection prints</a> on the wall. I love the new blue file boxes I got at Ikea. And, of course, I have fresh flowers.</div>
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My painting table always has my paint, brushes and bits of my nature collections on it but now everything is neat and organized.</div>
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I have pretty fabric bins made by Sonia of <a href="http://cozymemories.bigcartel.com/">Cozy Memories</a> tacked on the side of my table for storage. On my bulletin board beside my table I have the Van Gogh quote: "If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." There are also photos, postcards and business cards from artist friends.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I recently put my </span><a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/haworth-moor-watercolor-print">Haworth Moor print</a><span style="text-align: left;"> up on the wall over my bookcase as it's one of my current favourite prints. On the shelves, I have some of my nature finds, art books, magazines and illustrated children's books.</span></div>
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I love the Alex storage unit from Ikea. I allows me to store watercolour paper, supplies and some finished paintings. I've added a Falkhöjden shelf on top. Do you see my painting of Meeko? That's a Milou (Snowy) toy beside it. Hergé based the Milou character on a wire fox terrier but it reminds me of a certain wheaten. I made the slipcover for the daybed years ago but now it's freshly washed. Having a sofa in the studio also provides a convenient place to store full sheets of watercolour paper. You can see them peeking out at the bottom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi136QPAJ5dw2rWhfRurHXfpaK72sC9J4gzQ1TLFt3c3LJvygOLHNvgnBuu2JMD4bjGWVceVes_-YRm8O71qBrA1xcBuKrX3NkIhHBqQrIbqgIHs1owa0M8iMjqR_BH4Bgv6EFoTz-lYhkj/s1600/Trowel+and+Paintbrush+studio+2016+8a.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi136QPAJ5dw2rWhfRurHXfpaK72sC9J4gzQ1TLFt3c3LJvygOLHNvgnBuu2JMD4bjGWVceVes_-YRm8O71qBrA1xcBuKrX3NkIhHBqQrIbqgIHs1owa0M8iMjqR_BH4Bgv6EFoTz-lYhkj/s1600/Trowel+and+Paintbrush+studio+2016+8a.jpg" /></a></div>
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The dresser is where I keep my finished paintings. I have a huge number of them! To the right of it are my framed heart stones. I hot-glued some of my rock collection to the matboard of an Ikea frame. The bird nest watercolour is by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jodyvanB">Jody Edwards</a>. To the left of the dresser is the small wooden table that was previously floating awkwardly in the middle of the room. Now it's tucked neatly against the wall. I'll use it for cutting and scoring my note cards. </div>
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One of the final touches I made to my newly cleaned studio was to frame and put up my beautiful original watercolour of strawberries by my friend <a href="http://lucileskitchen.com/">Lucile Prache</a>. My husband gave it to me for Christmas and I love it so much. </div>
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It feels completely different now when I climb the stairs to my studio. I feel lighter, like there's a weight off my shoulders. The air feels clearer. There's room to paint and even dance if I feel like it. Do you know what? I just might.</div>
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-Kathleen</div>
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If you'd like to browse through my art shop, it's <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/">here</a>.</div>
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Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-27959308062249085142016-03-21T10:37:00.003-04:002016-05-23T10:00:30.126-04:00Happy Spring!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy spring, friends! You know how much I love this time of year! My garden is still sleeping although I'm seeing little signs of life--the tiny tips of bulbs poking through the earth. There is snow predicted for later this week, so we aren't quite in spring weather mode yet.<br />
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I'm taking part in a spring giveaway loop on Instagram with eleven other makers and I wanted you to know about it. I'm giving away a set of my daffodil prints and it's very easy to enter. You can see the instructions <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BDMiKn3MVnl/?taken-by=trowelandpaintbrush">here</a>. (The giveaway closes at noon eastern time on March 23, 2016.)<br />
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Last week, Instagram announced that it will be changing our feeds from chronological order to what they think we want to see most. Uh huh. As if we asked. I feel brain cells disappearing with each 'helpful' algorithm introduced on social media sites. We all know it's really about money and it will very likely make it harder for individuals and small companies to be seen. It's sad to think that Instagram will turn into another Facebook--although with Facebook as its owner, I knew it was just a matter of time. I love Instagram so much. It's such a warm, creative place. I hope that it won't lose all of its charm and will still be a place where creative folks can meet. We will see.<br />
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My indoor potted daffodils have given me so much pleasure this past month as I waited for spring to arrive. The first daffodil bloomed on February 25th and there are still new ones opening each day. In the autumn, I layered a whole bunch of mixed daffodil bulbs in three big pots that I usually have outdoors for summer annuals. I can't wait to see the bulbs I planted outdoors too. There's so much anticipation this time of year.<br />
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And in other news, this bundle of curls turned six years old last week! Meeko is such an important part of our family. His daily companionship means the world to me.<br />
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I wish you a lovely spring (or autumn if you are in the southern hemisphere)! If you'd like to see more of my spring art, you can see it <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/seasonal-spring">here</a>.<br />
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Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-78443045741427720362016-03-01T15:42:00.001-05:002016-05-23T10:00:56.859-04:00Hello March!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Hello, March. We meet again...somewhere between snow and sunshine, ice and flowers.<br />
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There's a blizzard on the way tonight. Don't worry! I brought my vintage jar back inside right after I took the photos. I keep it by our dining room window and have been enjoying watching the bulbs' progress.<br />
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I also have a big pot of daffodils blooming just inside the back door. I wish you could smell them. They are wonderfully fragrant. Doesn't it look like they are huddled together looking out and talking about the weather? Like the rest of us.<br />
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Emma and Chloé both have their March break this week. I suppose it's not the worst time for a blizzard. They both have a huge number of assignments to complete for school although they've found a bit of time for baking too. I've been busy with my shop, when I'm not dreaming of snow melting and spring flowers blooming that is.<br />
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I recently organized my art by the season. If you are aching for spring too, you can have a look <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/collections/seasonal-spring">here</a>.<br />
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Happy March, everyone!<br />
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Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844738554429301422.post-28608634245185758152016-02-26T13:08:00.000-05:002016-05-23T10:05:43.130-04:00Winter Inspiration: Story Behind the Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/winterberry-print-camus-quote"><img alt=" Winterberry Watercolor Print with Camus Quote" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaaYtRBzmOwg5Fs6-DOQYaaJrRCBiwebJWaa5MGO92QLE1aoCzXMC6h7TcyV0uByVmCzP1_k9RPIGu5oOHfUniNV-n6EUO-yIMWFLTtXy5rzkhl9DD5rwruzzrpXtEFzjofEkYE2ftOrr/s1600/Winterberry+watercolor+with+Albert+Camus+quote.jpg" /></a></div>
Sometimes the winter months seem like they will never end. That initial delight when the first snowflakes of the season arrive can turn into a cold and dark dread of winter's final days. Even my creative spirit at this time of year can feel sluggish as if it was laden down with ice crystals.<br />
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In November, a lovely customer ordered my Autumn Leaf print with the Albert Camus quote: "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower". She contacted me once she had received her order and asked if I knew of the beautiful winter quote by Camus. I didn't and what a beauty it is: "In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer". Isn't that gorgeous? Quite beyond enduring unpleasant weather and dragging seasons, it speaks to the strength that we can find inside ourselves when life is difficult.<br />
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She said she would be interested in a companion print with the winter quote and had a wonderful idea of what to include with it. She suggested winterberry also known as Ilex verticillata. Do you know it? It's a beautiful shrub--a species of holly native to parts of North America. When the rest of nature is brown, grey or covered with snow, winterberry sports beautiful bright red berries.<br />
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While I wasn't able to find winterberry in my local forest, I did find branches of it at a nearby garden centre. I absolutely loved painting the berries. A greater challenge for me was creating the lettering in watercolour to match the quote I had done for the autumn leaf image. Watercolour paint is capricious. Hand lettering with a small paintbrush is not like using a computer font that remains the same each time you use it, although in the middle of this project I sort of wished it was! I did so many tries before finally coming up with a version that was similar in weight and tone to the previous quote. I am happy to say that my winterberry print is now available in my shop, <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/winterberry-print-camus-quote">on its own</a> or <a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/autumn-leaf-and-winterberry-with-camus-quotes">coupled with the autumn leaf print</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/winterberry-print-camus-quote"><img alt=" Winterberry watercolor print with Camus quote" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPORcIdLZE0_p3AZNPdYuYB2wukjUP6DTtUxYuEuXjpCr-_MxGr5lalm_1A7FBLFFC5RSnZqUDo07YJlBiOZSSOxxSyj86VLcUymqI25G4VgSiNzTORxAGqX1vsWifJigkZMK1gEB6_BGh/s1600/Winterberry+with+Camus+quote+3a.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.trowelandpaintbrush.com/products/autumn-leaf-and-winterberry-with-camus-quotes"><img alt=" Winterberry and Autumn Leaf prints with Camus quotes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5jb_cVsQOMyopmZrCa1E72AIXusKo1L3oCmjpcCQjVNkRL0f5J_WBF7qBzz9C9I2Vf36QjhF2ISfvboy7e3tFMfkeoXGDY7xfabQGUUYIdma9kpG7m6WYHdeOUrPTZ5sn-x3FNHeEtRH/s1600/Winterberry+and+Autumn+Leaf+with+Camus+Quotes.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thank you to my lovely customer and Albert Camus for the wonderful winter inspiration!</div>
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<i>You can buy directly from me below. Your order will be processed through my secure Shopify shop. Shipping is free in Canada and the US. A flat rate of $7.50 applies to all other destinations. Products are shipped within 3-5 days of your order. ~ Kathleen</i>
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<noscript><a href="https://art-by-kathleen-maunder.myshopify.com/cart/16869693507:1" target="_blank">Buy Winterberry Print - Camus Quote</a></noscript>Kathleen Maunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17827170549189936589noreply@blogger.com10