NEW DELL COMPUTER

Hey Friends, Good to be back! My computer died and I have a NEW Dell. Shiny black and Fast! I'm having trouble with this blogpost though. The pictures uploading fine but I can't click with the mouse to put that little blinky thing whereever I want to type! Exasparating.

This is a quik note to let you know I haven't died yet and what I've been doing besides painting (which I've done a lot of). The skys here in SW Va. have been gorgeous this summer and I've carried the camera around clicking as I drive!! The nighttime temps have been chilly too, good for sleeping but the tomatoes aren't happy. And of course following the little flying Angel around with the camera! She's a ham.

With the old computer, I could click between the photos and type, now I can't. And I always forget the photos upload in a backwards order.

Tomorrow I'll show some new paintings. My world has been pretty colorful!! hope yours has been too. Must be off to work.

Happy Trails.

2nd HELPINGS (formerly Art on a Mission)

Hey Friends, A message for all the locals. Local to Roanoke/Salem area. I'm really happy to tell you the Rescue Mission has finally gotten their new space ready to open!!!!! Their gallery used to be in the Tanglewood Mall next to Penneys. They have been closed since March. Hopefully, you can read the postcard/invitation above to find their new home. This bldg. used to be Sears, a really long time ago. Not far from the intersection of Williamson Rd. and Orange Ave.(460) next to the Roa. Civic Center, which is right off I581. It is real easy to find and lots of parking-close by. It appears there will be live music! Hope you can be there. I'm busy getting some new work framed or ready for hanging. I always have to scan or photograph everything and thats such a chore. HAPPY FATHERS DAY to all you Dads.

Happy Trails!

ROANOKE SIDEWALK ART SHOW

Hey Friends, Boy - was I shocked when I checked my blog this morning! I hadn't posted in a MONTH! It's hard to realize how fast days go by - how fast LIFE is going by!
Anyway, I've got a few pictures from the annual art show in downtown Roanoke, Va. Above is me, myself, and the love of my life-Lillie! She brought her mom to the show just to see her TuTu. The only thing that impressed her was a bag of rubber bands.

Here is a shot looking north at the famous Roanoke City Market Bldg. I had a great spot on this tiny street, almost in front of the now famous Taubman Museum!

Here is a shot looking south with the famous Hotel Roanoke in the background. A gorgeous old hotel you should visit next time you're in Roanoke.

The show this year was wonderful for me. The weather was heavenly and the crowd was large. I sold more artwork this year than in several previous years. Who would have ever guessed. I'm still not up to snuff on this here Internet thingy but I'm afraid it's all my fault. I honestly don't have the time to fumble with it enough to promote myself. My youngest daughter, my baby named Jessi (she's the one thats been so sick) is trying to help me out a bit, while looking for a job. She has some time on her hands at the moment, thank goodness.

I'm thinking about giving Bon Air (in Richmond) another try this fall. Maybe. A lady in my Va. group within Design Style Guide is from Richmond so I'll have to ask her.

I'll be back soon with some new artwork. I have been painting a lot which is a great thing, almost as good as eating ice cream.

Happy Trails.

FUN TO READ

Hey Friends, I just wanted to post a couple of links I found on Casey Klahn's blog (the Colorist). The first is about writing better blogs, nothing earth shaking but worth reading. The second is just plain funny - about ALIENS. I'm sure we should all be making ourselves a hat.



Happy Trails.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

Hey Friends, Boy - How time flys! Sorry to be absent so long. Since going to UVA with my sick baby and her Dad, I've been either baby-sitting my precious grand daughter or working in the yard. Not to mention taking the day off for Mothers Day to be with my girls. All this worry about my daughter has been a real blog killer. The only time I wasn't feeling stressed was when I was digging holes for trees. (and at my age and physical no-condition it was a job just to keep from passing out!!!) Now to finish this story - my daughter is going to be OK - I feel sure of it! She was finally able to get a prescription from Canada for her stomach (will be here soon) and the other issues are finally being addressed. The medical world is slower than any sloth you ever saw on TV. It's truly a wonder anyone makes it out of a hospital.
I've got one street festival to do on May 30 & 31, so I'll be busy for the next few days.
I notice several new followers on my blog, so I'm going to say Hi to them.
I'll be back soon!
Happy Trails.

Water Can with Flowers

Hey Friends, Wanted to show you this painting I just finished. It's one of my fav's. I love watering cans and have several. I think they make a lovely container for a flower painting. What say you? I like the metal cans, even when they are rusty.

For the life of me I can't remember the name of the flower in the can. I know it doesn't matter, but it bugs me when I can't remember a detail. I'm thinking I want to paint this in a larger size. It would be ready for a local show first part of May. Do you think this would be a good gift for Mothers Day or a gardener's birthday? I had better get out to the studio and slap some paint around.

Happy Trails.

TREASURY REVISITED

Hey Friends, Thought I would come back and show you what I learned today! My daughter, the computer master, was here today and showed me how to get this partial screen shot from Word into Photoshop, etc,etc. I believe to get a full screen shot I would have to do this twice-top&bottom and then do a photomerge. She is REALLY good with computers and understands what the artsy-fartsy types want or need. Check out her work at my website - http://www.suefurrow.com/. She did it all - you should see all that code behind each page, each photo.
PS: NO it is not clickable-maybe in time. My work is the lady bent over cutting flowers.

Happy Trails

TREASURIES!!!

Hey Friends, Short note to tell you I have been lucky enough to be included in several Treasuries lately. Treasury on Etsy is a group of shops chosen by a person, a curator, and grouped into one screen shot so the world can see this curators favorites or maybe its a reflection of their taste. Anyway, I think it's an honor to be chosen. AND someday soon I hope to learn how I can post these treasuries on this blog. I did learn how to capture a screen shot and save it in my Word thingy. Just haven't figured out how to click it and upload to Blogger.

One treasury is here and one is here. And Kathleen and Mysticsilks also posted treasuries with my work in them but they have expired. So just click on their name to visit their Etsy Shop.

Happy Trails.

Gum Springs-the Glow of a Million Red Buds

Hey Friends, A couple weeks ago I posted some photos I took on a short walk down our little country road along Gum Springs. I did finally get around to painting from them. At the time I was painting, the Red Bud trees were in full bloom. That's where the title came from. The little buds have fallen now and the little green leaves are emerging. In the photo below it is hard to visulize all the shades of green and the glow from a Bazillion Red Buds when the sun is setting. Just trust me - That's what it looks like

I painted another from the same area that I will post later. I only have 2 shows scheduled for this year, thus far. And it's a darn good thing 'cuz I'm not sure I'll be ready for these. The first is in a couple weeks and the second is the end of May. Boy, I better get with it.

Happy Trails.

JOSH'S PAINTINGS

Hey Friends, Thought I would show you what I finished up about a week ago. Just got them back from being scanned and giclees made. I put the back covers and hanging wires on them today. Now they are ready to be delivered!

I made 3. This, of course, is the bumblebee and there is a dragonfly and a butterfly. These are for a boy named JOSH. For his room. He gets pretty excited about Bee's. Probably because of all the screaming and running and slapping that goes on when a Bee arrives.

At the bottom, within the hearts, are words. Words that I hope will inspire lots of actions, such as day dreams or hugs or kisses or kindness. I'm disappointed the words don't show up better. Maybe I will go back and try to blow them up some more. Maybe. Click on maybe if you want to see all 3 of them.

Happy Trails.