Random Bits

Hello my Dears!
Just a simple post filled with random goodness! 

We put a beautiful creation in our bouganvillea today.....you can't see it, but she decorated the inside for the birds to enjoy, too...
...and just in case they didn't know it was for them...she labeled it...haha!

We sat on the porch and admired the happy flowers....

I've decided a pot filled to the brim with pansies is going to always be a Spring tradition!

I love having them by the front door welcoming me home ;)

Those flowers smell so wonderful when you walk by them....

The roses are in full bloom now, too :)

Hope you've been enjoying random bits of pleasure, too!  You deserve it!!
Love ya' guys,
Cameron

Believing

Hello Fellow Blog Friends!

The word of my trading ways has been spreading, it seems....this time to beautiful New Zealand!

I was introduced to dear Joyce van der Lely during the OWOH event...funny that we've never met before, since we've now seen how many mutual circles we travel in...haha!  Lucky for me, she invited me to do a swap with her...

She named a few favorite pieces of mine...saying that Jewel of the Forest (the uni on the sidebar), was by far the leader....since he has gone to live in the UK and settling in quite nicely there, I might add....I decided to paint something special...just for her :o)

I don't usually spend a lot of time sketching in advance, but this being just my 2nd unicorn, I wanted to practice a bit...

I chose a prepared canvas (when I say prepared, I mean that I paint the canvas, then layer with patterned papers, then paint again...to obtain my working surface) and sketched out my design.  Something new I tried this time was outlining in prismacolor pencil before painting...I usually just use pencil lines as a guide.

I stamped the background and tried the "drip" method...both new techniques to me, as well!

I layered acrylics and prismacolors and oil pastels to create him....

...and used irridescent medium on his magical horn...

I decided to make his eyes blue.  I'm so glad I did! They are my absolute favorite part of the painting!!

I've named this piece "Believe"
8x10 on canvas

I'm just so pleased with this elegant creature...I truly hope you love him, Joyce!  Thank you for letting me introduce him to you, and everyone else, right here...right now...heehee!

I've put him in the Print Shop just in case his eyes have captured you too :) 

All my best,

Cameron

California Dreaming

Okay, I know the last thing some of you want to hear about is snow...haha!

...and I debated whether to even post this...but since, I'm working more on my daughter's Birthday preparations (I know it's not til May, but when you get the brilliant idea to make everything from invites to cupcake toppers by hand...you gotta start early...lol!) I don't have much else to share with you.....yet!

But, it was such a sweet gesture on the part of my Hubby and Little Girl...I thought I'd share nonetheless....

It's warm here in Southern California....everyone knows that, but for those of you still in snow, I envy the gradualness of your upcoming warmth....we had to drive with the A/C on in the car today cuz it was too darn hot for open windows....in March!  We stopped for smoothies and skipped the park.....and just hid in the house the rest of the afternoon.  We're in for a scorching Summer :(

But anyways...what I wanted to show you was this!

An itty bitty snowman made from 2 bags of snow my family brought back for me from their trip to the mountains....  They said there wasn't much left up there....probably mostly gone now....

...but I thought it was sweet of them to think of me....especially since we make an effort to go see snow maybe once every couple years....and I chose to skip it this year.

This poor little guy was melting even before he was finished....

So if you are dreaming of warm days like we're experiencing here.....just remember, that while we're breaking a sweat just breathing....we'll be dreaming of where you live :D

Thinking about you all....warmly :)
Cameron

Little Pink Houses for You and Me

Hi There, Sweet Friends!

I'm so excited about this post!  As, you know....I adore doing trades....it's so fun to fall head over heels for something and be able to acquire it with something else you made...

The wonderful and talented (and newly engaged!) Lauren at Fair Rosamund and I have done a trade like that before where I became the proud owner of this adorable piece entitled "The Strange Garden".

Her style is so different then mine....and that's what I love!  I couldn't paint like her if I tried...the whimsy just flows from her brush!

...and so, for this trade, we took it up a notch...heehee!

She fell in love with my "Cozy Street" painting a while back...and so, with that as inspiration, she asked me to do a painting of a pink house for her...no parameters....just 8 x 10...and PINK :)

Well, with that kind of freedom, how could I go wrong?!  I just really wanted to incorporate things that she adores and personalize it for her :)

I know she enjoys Nature and butterflies....

...pretty flowers, of course....

...and, it had to be all about LOVE!  The perfection of a heart full to overflowing and a Special Someone to spill it all over!  So...lots of hearts....lots of Love....lots of Pink...haha!

Lauren, this is your painting, My Dear!  "Love Lives Here"
I hope it's everything you wanted and more :)

I had so much fun making this Garden Cottage....Thank you, Lauren!
But I didn't stop at one!  Lauren's came out so cute, I made another.....

This one is "Home Sweet Home"...all about the playfulness of togetherness and what it means to "make" a home together....

We all know the house is just 4 walls....it's what you do there that makes the memories fond :)

....like sharing a bench in a garden you planted together....

...or flying kites side by side....

I feel so much emotion stir up from these little paintings!  I wish a long marriage for you, Lauren, stuffed full with Life's best and brightest gifts :)

"Home Sweet Home" is avail here and as a print here....

Lauren is doing a special request painting for me in return that I'm giddy with excitement about...and I haven't even seen it yet...haha!!  She is so nice....please poke around her shop...you'll see why I (and so many others) are fans of her wonderful work :)

*UPDATE* I have now seen the adorable commission painting she did for me and am one cloud 9!!!  It is so perfect!!! Yay!*
Have a fantastic weekend...fill it with memories!
Sending you all the warm and fuzzies....with a decidedly pinky hue :)
XO, Cameron

P.S. I also made cards...heehee!  They are avail here :)  Okay, one more hug...and I'll go :D