Comfort Cottage

Sweet Dreams

Today is Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen Cafe.  I happened to catch my sweet Molly girl snoozing on the love seat.  This little golden knows how to relax.

 

 

My recipe:

I worked in Photoshop CS5

Layer 1:  photograph

Layer 2:  Photoshop brushes - Stars and Gorguss Clouds (free downloads-I can't remember the source!); both set to Screen

Layer 3:  Kim Klassen's Phoebe texture, set to screen at 51% opacity

Layer 4:  Another layer of Phoebe set to Color Burn at 100% opacity

Layer 5:  Font - Splendid 66; size: 48pts with drop shadow set to 52% opacity

 

You can see all of the Texture Tuesday entries at Kim Klassen Cafe.  Have a wonderful day!

 

Until next time,

 

The Boneless Cat

Don't you wish you could relax like that?

 

 

What a life!

 

Let's take a nap.

 

Wild At Heart

Many of you have seen photos of my quirky gray tabby, Arthur.  He's a favorite subject of mine both for photography and painting.  I often watch him as he leaps from chair, to sofa, etc.  He springs to the window sill and swishes his tail madly at the birds, all the while making the most curious noises.  Even though he's just my furry friend, I get the impression when I look at those eyes, that his heart is far away on the plains of Africa.

 

Alas!  My painting is the closest Arthur will come to the outdoors.  He came to us declawed, and I wouldn't dream of allowing him to fend for himself outside.

 

 

Often, like Arthur, I long for the wild open spaces.  How about you?

 

Until next time,

 

 

Pink Art for Pink Saturday

Hello everyone!  Welcome to Pink Saturday.  Before I begin, I'd like to thank Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturday and giving us the wonderful opportunity to get to know one another.  Many talented people participate in our weekly pink party and if you'll click on the Pink Saturday icon on my right sidebar, you will be transported to lots more pink!

 

I had the privilege of visiting Michelle over at Rosebud Quilting this week and I can wholeheartedly recommend that you check out her lovely blog.  You will see some beautiful quilts and sewn items and your spirit will get a lift too!

 

I have a few pieces of artwork to share with you today.  The first, is a pastel painting I did.

 

 

The next one is a watercolor painting I did.  I scanned it and printed it onto canvas to give it some texture.  It's called Tea in the Garden.

 

 

Finally, a digital scrapbook page of my funny fifteen-year-old kitty.  The digital kit was a free download.

 

 

That's it for today!  I hope all of you have a lovely weekend.  God bless you until next time.

 

Asparagus Gustopher Tabby

I'm off to New Jersey to visit my sister Lorrie today.    I'll also get to see my niece and my great niece.  (I still can't believe I'm old enough to have a great niece!)  Now, hopefully my dear niece won't be too insulted, but I'm most looking forward to seeing Gus.  Who's Gus?  Asparagus Gustopher Tabby is the cutest,  most lovable orange tabby I've ever seen!  He's just a great big fluffy ball of love.

 

 

 

This is another of my art journal pages.  I drew the image and then painted with Derwent watercolor pencils and Caran d'Ache Neocolor II crayons.  This art journaling thing is getting to be addictive!

 

I'll let you know if I survive the Schulkill Expressway (or as the locals refer to it:  the Surekill Distressway).  Have a great day and God bless you!

 

Arthur

This is my precious kitty Arthur.  He is fifteen years young, and he still tears about the house as if his tail were on fire.  You wouldn't know it  to look at that angelic face, but he can still stir up trouble.  He's also my little buddy.  I can hardly remember a time when he wasn't perched behind my head on the sofa, purring like crazy.  His favorite game is "Pummel the Pom-Pom" which he plays with reckless abandon.  I've never seen a cat his age who can pull off the feats of gymnastic prowess that he does.  He also is a wonderful conversationalist and he usually speaks his mind.  His vocabulary of noises is impressive.  The most startling of these is his howling.  The first few times I heard him, I ran to make sure he wasn't dying.  I'm convinced now that he just likes to hear himself.

 

 

Are any of you out there as in love with your feline friend as I am?  Arthur and I would love to hear from you.  Hug your kitty today!

 

 

Credits:  Photo and layout design-Terri Morse

                 Digital patterned paper and elements-free downloads

Cat Tales

Being a cat lover, I am always amused by their personalities.  I painted this after observing my grey tabby, Arthur, staring longingly at the birds.  They often come up six inches from his nose on the other side of the glass.  Sometimes the posterior view is more telling than the face.

What has your kitty been up to?  I love to hear cat stories!

Pinklicious

 

 

Hi everyone!  I'm sending out wishes for a very Happy Pink Saturday to you.  I don't know about you, but I've had a very busy week.  It's been lots of fun though.  I finished two new painted pieces for my Etsy shop.  I know I've been talking about it for awhile, but I promise, it's coming!  I haven't decided whether I should delay opening until after the family camping trip (week of 8-15) or go for it this Monday.  I hate to have it open for two weeks and then have to shut it down for a week.  What do you think?  While you're thinking about it, let's get right to the pink.

 

 

 

 

Okay, now let's get real.  I've got about as much chance of getting breakfast in bed as I do of fitting into a size 6.  But where would I be if I couldn't dream?  Besides, I've got to find some way to use the mountains of stuff I collect!  Now, I don't make a habit of drinking my morning juice out of  pink stemware, but it could happen.  I found three of these glasses at a yard sale.  How could I pass them up?  They're pink!  The crystal mugs were another great yard sale find, and they're beautifully etched.  An antique bed tray, antique linens and Grandma Gallagher's antique silver and I'm ready.  Will someone summon the maid?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Roses really are a masterpiece of creation, aren't they?  Just the sight of them takes my breath away.  These beauties are from my garden.

 

 

   

 

 

Now that we've had our walk in the garden, let's go inside where it's cool and have a glass of pink lemonade.  Shall we use the pink stemware?  I have two new painted items to show you. 

  

I found this little metal bowl at a yard sale.  It was so dull looking, but it had an interesting shape.  It would be wonderful for some potpourri or to hold some hairpins in the bathroom.

 

   

 

 

I rescued this lovely metal tray at the antique store.  It needed some help, but now it's a gem.

 

 

In an earlier post, I had shared one of my favorite stops along the antique trail, Treasure Hill.  On Thursday, I made the find of the century (at least I think so!)  Laying under a table, was an old volume on wildflowers.  When I picked it up, I didn't expect much, but was I surprised.  This 1 1/2 inch thick volume was completely filled with botanical paintings of every known wildflower in the US.  The pages are wonderfully heavy and delightfully browned with age.

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

This is one of my original apron designs, "Collete".  It is being modeled by my assistant, Antoinette, the French parlor maid.  Say "Bon Jour," Antoinette!

 

 

 

Finally, my sweet baby girl, my angel puppy, showing off her cute little pink tongue, Molly.

 

 

 

 

I hope you have as much fun visiting me as I've had coming to you.  Being an artist is kind of a solitary existence, but it makes me so happy to be able to share my life and what I do with you.  I hope you'll come back soon.  I love seeing what you're all up to.  It's wonderful how much we have in common.  May God shelter you and give you His peace.  Until next time!

 

 

 

Credits

 

Lace brush by

 

 

Butterfly brush by

 

Into the 21st century

I'm Terri Morse.  I've been in love with art since the kindergarten teacher yelled at me for drawing a princess on my paper.  Apparently, creativity wasn't part of the curriculum :).  I didn't know it then, but that single moment would eventually tell me everything I need to know about myself.  It still speaks volumes.  I had, and still have an unquenchable desire to make art with whatever material is available and I'd rather do that than anything else.

 

My favorite medium is pastel:

 

 

                                       

           

I have to admit that two years ago, I didn't know what a blog was.  I also believed that isolation was part and parcel of an artist's life.  I've often suspected that other creative people also wrestle with the desire to have contact with fellow humans and the need for large amounts of "alone time" to pursue their passion.   Oddly, it was not this conflict that brought me, kicking and screaming into the 21st century.  No, the real impetus was all of you out there in cyberland.  You know who you are:  the ones who spend an hour photographing puddles because the relections are cool; the ones who sew over their thumbs because you stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish your latest creation;  the ones who own 3000 rubber stamps but need just one more because it is the perfect one to complete your latest work;  the ones for whom the prospect of yet another hunt for vintage buttons will get you out of bed faster than a New York cheesecake;  the ones for whom nothing else in life provides the kind of joy you experience when you are creating.  You are the reason I've arrived on the front step (or should I say, blogstep?) of my new cyberhome, Comfort Cottage.  I want to share what I love with you.

 

 

Comfort Cottage will be a place where I invite people to come in, curl up with Arthur the Studio Cat, Molly the Wonder Dog, and a cup of tea, and share in the delights (and challenges) of the creative life.  My studio, sewing station, and the goodies that come out of them will be open to all who care to visit.  I'll share my ideas, favorite haunts and experiences.  Hopefully, I'll hear from you and you can fill me in on what you've been up to.  I've been so encouraged and inspired by the members of the art blog community.  Comfort Cottage will allow me to return the favor. 

 

 

 

 

I also love watercolor.  From my nature journal:    

 

 

 

 

 

I adore needlework because it allows me to combine several things I love:  beads, embroidery, vintage buttons, fabric and charms.  I've been most inspired by the work of Judith Baker Montano, crazy quilt expert and author of several wonderful books.  From the sewing table:

 

                                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thrift stores are a great place to find fabulous fabric.  I've lost count of how many pieces of clothing I've disassembled.  On a good day (usually Tuesday morning) I've scored as many as four prom dresses!  They're the best for harvesting satin, velvet, and antique satin.  More to come.  See you next time and thanks for visiting!