Post Paint Day April 24 with Shelagh Duffettt

Sunday April 3rd was the first of my painting workshops!

I hosted it at Fruition Cafe on the corner of Coburg and Oxford Street. A lovely bright and cheerful cafe owned by my friends Seth and Jess.

There were 16 of us and it was a perfect number. Just enough to feel like a party and small enough to feel intimate.

Everyone painted the same image which I demonstrated step by step, yet were encouraged to add their own twist.

I have to say I had as much fun as they did! What a lovely group of enthusiastic and friendly women!

We listened to fantastic music and basically zoned out or rather "in" for a few hours. Stopped for lunch and laid the canvases outside so we had room to eat our healthy lunch. See how the paintings are all the same but different:) Still in progress.

We continued for a couple of hours after lunch...

Everyone lost in their creative process....

Loved it!!

and then......Tah dah!! Thanks everyone you were GREAT! I am teaching another class on April 24. You can REGISTER HERE. Still some spots available! 

or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paint-day-with-shelagh-duffett-april-24-tickets-24207958656

18 Reasons Why Rainy Days are Great

Perfect day for hanging out in a cafe. Rain, rain, rain......
1. Cleans the dust and grime off your car, saving you a car wash
2. Makes the lawn green, flowers grow.
3. Nice and soothing to listen to as you fall asleep
4. Keeps wells from going dry
5. Makes it easier to get things done inside, no lusting for outside time
6. Puts out forest fires
7. You can wear red rubber boots
8. Gives water to wildlife
9. Nourishes crops
10. Great day to see movies or hang in a cafe or bookstore
11. Cools the air if it is warm, cleans it too
12. Fun to stick out your tongue and catch some drops
13. You get to open your umbrella
14. Less risk of skin cancer
15. Give us puddles to jump in
16. "Singing in the Rain" would not exist.
17. Pre and post rain skies make for great pictures!
18. Really makes you appreciate the sunshine when it arrives:)

Do you have any to add?

March 30, bits and bobs

So today started like that. Golden early sun streaming through my window, gilding everything with colour. This time of year I can really notice the shift in the light, it is starting to feel like warmer days ahead!  I sat and soaked it up for a while, planning my day.

I had a busy day today. One of those days where I microwaved the same cup of tea about 7 times! Still haven't finished it. Haha. 

I took advantage of the sunshine and prepped these wooden supports for a painting workshop I am teaching on Sunday.

I had ordered a large shipment from Deserres last week forgetting that Easter was tucked in between then and now. I couldn't take the chance they might not arrive by Friday so popped to the downtown store to purchase more supplies again! Had a hard time finding 15 brushes of the same 3 different sizes so my participants will have an interesting lesson in making do. Fingers crossed shipment WILL arrive.

I also just prepared this! I'm roasting brussel sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, onion and some garlic cloves. Found a recipe where you lightly toss them in balsamic vinegar and maple syrup when done. Mmmm. Sounded good to me. Will let you know how they turn out:)

And then there is THIS! My first workshop was sold out so I am putting on another one April 24th. We will be painting a lighthouse at dawn..... You can register HERE if you so desire:)

If you are reading this blog on the Haligonia site,you can pop over directly to my blog by clicking HERE!

Feeding the wolves....

I am trying to be a better person. I think we all are. Life sure does make it difficult at times! We dodge unexpected blows, jump hurdles we didn't know existed, arrive at dead ends, get confronted with bad news and do our best to keep going in a positive and upbeat manner. It it boils down to decision making doesn't it. 
The way we choose to react to a situation determines the outcome for ourselves. It is how we move forward. The space between the event and our response is where it all happens.  Our thoughts direct the show. We need to pause. I am working on trying to see the positive and larger picture instead of quickly reacting emotionally. It is difficult.
It’s so much easier to do things like complain, begrudge, procrastinate, dismiss, put down, bemoan or ignore. The lazy way out. Those things take almost no energy because they don’t require real action of any kind and don't change anything; inside or out. It is hard to rise above but the benefits are boundless...... a challenge I am fighting daily.

A girl said to her  grandfather, “It feels as though there’s always a fight between two big wolves inside my head”
“The first wolf is full of anger, self-doubt and enviousness. The second is full of hope, empathy and courage.”
The grandfather said, “That same fight is going on inside all of us.”
The girl thought about that and then asked, “Well grandfather, which wolf will win?”

The old man simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Photos taken at Chebucto Head, Duncan's Cove

Bloomin lovely!

I received these luscious tulips from my daughter. Thank-you! So bright and positive. Bursting with the promise of Spring!

Paint Day with Shelagh Duffett April24

My first workshop on April 3 sold out quickly. I am very grateful. Thanks. A second one has now been added.... we will paint a lighthouse and dawn sky. You can REGISTER HERE at Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paint-day-with-shelagh-duffett-april-24-tickets-24207958656

Rumi

 

Rumi. He makes me think. He gently nudges my perspective. His beautiful words carry messages of love and hope. Timeless thoughts....

Painting ....

So today is an all day studio day. Lovely! I have been very busy organizing my upcoming painting workshop, (which only has one spot available, hooray) and a few workshops to follow, finishing commissions, preparing orders for shops, purchasing supplies, post office, contacting people,  researching, social media promoting, blogging, planning...all the usual busy stuff that comprises my life. Today is just music and colour and getting some much needed painting done! I have practically no stock and people, shops and galleries waiting. Yikes! I am very grateful for that.
This is Monty, my studio assistant when I work at home. Actually a picture of him as a kitten, he is now a fat middle aged man, Ha!

Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink...

Today is United Nations WORLD WATER DAY. March 22.
Some facts for you....
1 in 10 people lack access to clean water (That equals the entire population of the United States)
Women and children spend 125 million hours each day collecting water. Average weight of a jerry can is 40 pounds. 67% of families rely on the women to collect water. Girls lose out on school time to collect water.
Every 90 SECONDS a child dies from a water borne illness  Diseases from dirty water kill MORE people every year than all forms of violence, including war.
1 in 3 lack access to a toilet

Today, be grateful every time you turn on a tap! We are the fortunate ones. We are ridiculously water wealthy and we never think about it. We waste it. We take it for granted. Be mindful today.

Here are a few organizations trying to help
CharityWater.org
Water.org
the WaterProject 

( the painting is by S. Duffett, (me) Black Rock Beach, Point Pleasant Park)

March 21

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want—oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” -Mark Twain