Owl Wisdom

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Yesterday I received one of those ‘Happy Anniversary’ notes from WordPress, reminding me that I did still have a blog and despite not having posted once in February, I might quite like to celebrate six years of blogging with a post …..

So here I am.  Six years – isn’t that great.  Thank you all for being here and being so nice and encouraging and such fun……..  

I’ll keep this brief, airy and light filled and just a little bit arty.

With me is the first completed mixed media work in about two years.  I’m sadly out of practise as you will most likely note.  In order to get back into the flow I did a class with the wonderful Tamara LaPorte called Owl Wisdom.  Here’s my version

The sketch

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on A3 heavy duty watercolour paper.

And that’s where the photographing stopped until it got to here – almost finished

Finished – or as good as it’s going to get

I scribbled onto the photo on my phone in an effort to avoid having to upload to computer and edit in the photo editor with a watermark….  I had to do all that uploading anyway as WordPress seems to have deleted direct access to my Google Photo account …….  Is it just me or has that happened to you too?

During the last month I knitted and crocheted.  The one item completed is this scarf made with some beautiful beaded silk thread that has been in my stash for years, it drapes beautifully

For a change, let’s finish with Orlando.  He was playing with his nepeta mouse, got high and turned his attention to putting on my shoes and trying to catch the light catcher sparkles all at the same time – then he fell asleep….  

dav

Thanks for coming by to check us out.  Love that you did!  

80 thoughts on “Owl Wisdom”

  1. Pingback: Painting a Teddy Bear | The Contented Crafter

  2. I love the magical owl and your story of Orlando is funny. Congratulations on six years, Pauline – you are one of my favorites. Your creativity is inspiring and your words are always just right.

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  6. So glad to hear from you. The owl is beautiful as is the scarf. Orlando is quite the fellow. Love that he was trying to get the sparkles from the light catcher. Congratulations on the anniversary of your blog. May you have many more.

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  9. Beautiful, and arty. Lovely post. Well done on the six years. 🙂 Congratulations.
    Lovely knitting, nearly colour coordinated with the painting.
    Hugs to all, and enjoy the last bit of the season.
    🙂

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    • I didn’t realise how well coordinated they were until I was loading photos 🙂 Thanks for your good wishes – yes, it’s winding down and the trees are starting to colour up. Still warm but the days are drawing in…… You will also be looking forward to the cooler days and nights, look forward to seeing something from you soon xo

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      • I have seen a single tree that has started to turn colour. It is a small sign, but it is starting. The mornings are cooler now when I take Miekie out, but the days still get very hot. 🙂 I am indeed looking forward to cooler day, and a less hectic schedule too. I have been crafting still, but not blogging so much. I really need to start at that again. 🙂 This is a good year so far, so no reason not to.
        Take care and enjoy. 🙂

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    • Time is flying at supersonic speed these days isn’t it Jill. I find myself wondering if it has anything to do with the fact that they (the scientists) say the universe is accelerating outwards at ever increasing speed………. I’ve tried and I can’t do quiet colours, I’m just a gypsy at heart 🙂

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  12. Happy anniversary, Pauline! Congratulations. We must have started at about the same time. My sixth anniversary is also coming up sometime this year, I think. I’ll wait for WP to tell me.
    I love your owl and his/her wise words. The colours are stunning.
    Your scarf is very beautiful too. I would like to see a photo of it worn. That way I could better tell how it drapes. 🙂
    Have a wonderful month and enjoy your seventh year of blogging. xx

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  13. Happy anniversary! I love your twitty owl and his sayings. The colours made me stop and think about the owl I did in traditional owl colours , yours is so much more fun. The scarf, wow what pretty yearn, and I love the cat who did too much and fell asleep.

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  14. Oh, Pauline!! I LOVE the owl and what he’s sayings. He makes me happy and I love the colors. The colors in your shawl as well. So soft and delicate. Very feminine. There is so little of that kind of thing anymore. You made me laugh at Orlando’s antics. I have little experience with cats, less with catnip but I was happy to see him here today. He’s been on my mind lately. I’ll be happy to see Siddy again but I do miss Orlando. He is part and parcel of your blog since it’s inception. Congrats on 6 years. That’s quite the accomplishment. Things have changed a lot over the last few, don’t you think? Hope to see you again soon. You are an anchor for me here. Love and hugs. M

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    • Hello Marlene ❤ I'm happy to hear you like to see Orlando, even if he isn't quite at his best here 🙂 I thought he needed to be seen again too. Siddy gets all the glory. O's
      a dear old fellow and doing quite well these days I'm happy to say. Things have changed haven't they. For a start we are six years older………. We have made many friends, some of them are mutual friends which is really special. And we've lost some. Some have passed and some just stopped blogging. I've discovered I don't much like it when people just disappear, especially when I feel connected to them.
      It's much better if they sign off then I kind of feel like we said goodbye and it's okay. Is it the same for you? I've promised myself to have an artsy March, so I'll be posting some work – good or bad – regularly this month. I framed the owl today and like it better now it has a surround – but the work is a bit rough I think, my hand is out of practise! Hope you and daughter are both doing okay, I keep meaning to ask you where she is intending to go and when – the thought of her going far away must be hard for you, so you are much in my mind.

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      • Everything you create is good to me. I can’t eve do stick figures without a pattern. 😉 But I know good work. I adore how Orlando gave in and made peace with the pesky little brother. He is part and parcel of your blog. Looking forward to more beautiful art. Hugs and love to all of you. M

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          • I took tole painting lessons in the late 80’s-90’s. Loved it I think they call it decorative painting. Have lots of brushes, booklets with patterns and old possibly dried out acrylic paints. Just not enough spark left to pursue it anymore. But I’d love to paint with you and learn a thing or two. 😉

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              • I’ve given away so many books on it that it breaks my heart. Still have so many. But there are only so many hours in a day. But you never know. Daughter still wants to make a trip there. 😉

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                • Not a lot of good in keeping books you aren’t using and we can’t do everything…… Daughter is very welcome to put up on my sofa bed in the living room any time – sadly I don’t have a spare room any more. – but you know, it’s a jumping off point 🙂

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                  • Thanks for the offer, Pauline. I’m in the same shape with no guest room again. But you have inexpensive hotels nearby should a visit happen, I’m sure. Odds are not favorable but you never know.

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    • I have just disposed of the last of the items that were to be rehomed and the last cupboard is waiting for its wash out and rearrange. It’s just the spare cups and glasses and a few vases now, so no biggy. I have empty shelves, space for everything and everything is easy to get at. I am feng shuied thoroughly. Thank you so much for all your wonderful suggestions and ideas they all worked a treat! xo

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  16. I’m happy to extend my congratulations on six years, Pauline, with all your other fans and friends. That’s a lovely scarf you’ve made, all the more amazing to me that you’ve done so with part of your stash. You have excellent taste in yards. Your owl is very sweet. I’m glad you’re back doing something you love and that you’ve found a good instructor to keep you moving forward. Lindy, Mouse and recently Tessa all love the Nepeta growing in the garden. The good news is that a second plant self-seeded in the side yard so we have two ready sources. Orlando is a sweet, old soul. What a happy household you have, Pauline. xo

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    • Hello Alys ❤ You are very fortunate to have self seeded nepeta – it generally grows stronger and better that way. Mine has never had a chance to seed as O destroys the plants as soon as he finds them. Barricades, upturned baskets and all other deterrents have failed in the face of his determination to get at his favourite drug! My gentle and sweet kitty has another darker side….. Currently he is passed out on the window seat having had a good brush and a treat or two.I am greatly relieved to be back into some art, I needed a class or two to get over the hump of forgetting where to start and how to do it once started. I had torn up two pieces, first time ever. Completely unsalvageable! This month is art month!!

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  19. It’s the colours that have really grabbed me this week in your pics. The owl is gorgeous and your yarn. As a huge Siddy fan, I’m sorry but I’m going to have to complain about the lack of his happy little face this week – sorry Orlando, you are cool, but not Siddy.

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  20. Looking at the photos, it’s pretty apparent what your favorite colors are! It all looks so fresh and happy. I’m glad you got back to making art–you were doing lots of that when I first “met” you and it gives you such a fine outlet for your creativity. My six-year blog anniversary should be coming up this summer, I think–I can’t believe how much blogging has come to mean to me! Give sweet Orlando a good scritch for me. . . .

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    • As to the years of blogging – I think we all have stories of how much it has changed our lives. Things we never imagined have come our way and friends we never met have come to mean so much. It’s a pretty fabulous thing! I’m glad to be back at my practise again for sure, it enlivens me in ways I forget when I’m not doing it.

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  24. I checked and nepeta is indeed catnip 😉 That owl is so cute. I love the colors. And they are echoed in your scarf as well. It looks as though your talents remain sharp, Pauline!

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    • You are very kind Lisa 🙂 Hopefully you will see a big improvement if I can keep to my intention of sketching every day and completing a painting every week throughout this month. Yes, catnip is nepeta, nepeta is catnip….. I’ve always known it by its botanical name and forget not everyone does. I think I might be including more green in palette, which is a nice addition to all the blue I typically surround myself with.

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  25. Oh Pauline, I love the owl. And I really like seeing the progress start to finish. That always fascinates me! Orlando got high?!? That’s funny. 🤣 Nepeta has a way of doing that!
    Happy Blogging Milestone! I’m so happy we met in the Blogosphere. 💕

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    • Orlando has always had a bit of a drug problem Cheryl. Once he demolished three potted nepeta in less than half an hour and was completely smashed himself. Nowadays he is monitored and I get a good laugh out of his antics 🙂 Six years have flown by and made the globe so much smaller – I am so glad we met too!

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  26. I missed seeing your wonderful projects, Pauline. It’s so interesting to see your sketch transformed into a delightful and vibrant owl (I’m an owl fan at heart). And the scarf is stunning too! I love those colors and the delicate pattern. Beautiful. Happy Creating this March, my friend. ❤

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  29. You’ve had a lovely creative month, Pauline. I think Orlando has found feline nirvana – his mistress’ heavenly smelling shoes, kitty pot, and sparkles. Actually, it sounds pretty darn nice from my perspective, too.

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