I've had a busy week!

Before and after!

9/5/2013

                        Shelagh..

                                     I love it, looks very tranquil....Here's my latest I added to my
                         art site..
                                                                        Cheers..Joe.. 

What medium is it, Joe? It's very pretty.

9/5/2013

                     Shelagh..

                                  I was at a cosignment place today with a friend while my car
                      was having it's oil changed and I came across it, it's needlepoint, I got
                      it with the frame for $10.00 !! Great deal ! I liked it first because I like
                      plants and it was cheerful..

                                                                   Cheers..Joe..

Well done, Shelagh.  You are creative.

Looks very nice, Shelagh.

Thanks, Alice!

Years ago, I did this embroidery/appliqué, Joe. It's chain stitch:

9/7/2013

                             Shelagh..

                                            " Beautiful ," Years ago I did a needlepoint rugh, 3 X 5
                             10 to the inch ! Ouch , that'll hurt your eyes, I still have it, I'll
                             photograph it nd put it up, all the wool used in it came from
                             England and it wasn't cheap..

                                                                         Cheers..Joe..

In my nostalgia times, I look at the days before television and electronic games and entertainment at every turn when board games and quilting and needlepoint occupied and gave meaning to spare time.  I have dabbled in knitting without getting hooked.  I tried Chinese Brush Painting (in Korea where there was little tv watched except AFRTs Mash and classical piano (same time).  Since I had other options, none of the "domestic arts" stuck. 

Needlepoint is a treasure.

I added the print to Fine Art America. This is what it looks like in a frame:

9/7/2013

                     Shelagh..

                                    Great idea ! I'm sure it'll have many buyers..

                                                      Cheers..Joe..

Wow, would you care to do my backyard, Shelagh?

I can offer Shelagh a dip in a 90 degree gulf and a small guest room in my house - at least in summer.

Lol! DM and DK, I'd love to sort out your garden ... if you would do the spade work!

Here's a framed photograph of daffodils in a glass jug:



http://fineartamerica.com/featured/daffodils-shelagh-watkins.html

Beautiful!  Simple elegance.

It's one of those photographs that just came out right. The camera doesn't lie ... but it doesn't always see things the way we do!

9/9/2013

                         Shelagh...
                                       I love it , it's so fresh, Spring looking, cheerful and beautiully shot.
                         I love the background and I bet you didn't use a flash ? I always use a white
                         background or I have a large piece of black felt and when I correct it the back
                         ground comes out blacker giving the flowers drama...Sample...

                                                                           Cheers..Joe..

Beautiful, Joe!

I've just received a 5-star review for A Thousand Words of Poetry:


 "A collection of lovely poems to strengthen and uplift the heart, sooth the soul and still the mind, I am sure you will also enjoy this book."


http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1482308452

Congrats!  Poetry is a hard sell.

Thanks, DK! Last Sunday, I spoke to my mother on the phone. She told me that she'd given a copy of the poetry book to the new female vicar at the church she attends. The vicar was delighted and told my mother that she keeps it by her bed.

Mum is getting a great deal of pleasure out of the book. She showed a copy to a couple who are friends with her younger sister and the husband had tears in his eyes when he read "Love Is". Another reader said that the poem was perfect and she would like it read at her wedding.

Not making many sales, but at least the poems are giving some joy!

New 5-star review for Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine:

"This book had been on my Kindle for a long, long time because, as a reviewer as well as an author, my reading list is vast. However, I wish now that I'd read it sooner...absolutely wonderful! It's different in many ways, not least how it explores themes such as death and bullying and how children cope with such horrors, yet within the fabulous mix of reality and magic.

I know it was meant for children, nevertheless, I think adults could learn valuable lessons by reading this book. It is written very well, a fast-paced easy style, yet deceptively clever - and the author took pains not to 'talk down' to this age group...parts of which I found delightfully 'adult' yet keeping the target audience in mind, as if melding the two...something of which 'grown ups' should take note and listen to their young.

Not wanting to give spoilers, I will say that this story is unique in the telling, dealing with extremely important topics - a wonderful fantasy, filled with wondrous ideas.

Highly recommended for both young and older."

And every word in the review is 100% valid.