Summertime Speeds By and more Folk Art

July sure is speeding on by,

 and before I know it the Back to School sales will be making me smile.

Don't get me wrong ..I love my sons and all,

 but they need to have more to keep them busy than TV and Video games. 

 I should have splurged on the YMCA summer pass

 but now I feel like it is too late. 

 My youngest is going into seventh grade this fall and so he will have football practice soon. 

 No easy thing to go through in this summer heat.  

They have helmet fittings and uniform pick up

 this Saturday already!  

I have to brag on him a little .  

He is getting very fit. 

 He goes to the gym three mornings a week to work out

 with a bunch of the other varsity (7th and 8th grade) guys.  

A lot of running and lifting heavy things and agility stuff. 

 I just pray he will stay in one piece this fall. 

 I'll talk about his arm situation some other time 

Now for some FOLK ART

this is what I do all-day every-day lately...

Watercolor of a purple flower
&
 a bird which could be an Eastern Towhee

Bluebird on a painting of a tulips

towhee on top of
a painting of some petunias

Black capped chickadee on top
painting of brown-eyed -susies

As you can see I have markedly 

downsized

my wooden birds.

These are only about 2.5 inches in size.

The little paintings are only about 4 by 6 inches

and glued to a board that I sanded 

and painted a grayish blue color.

I wanted them to have a distressed look but not overly so.

All I have left to do is to...

  spray on a coat of some sort of protective varnish.

It has to be safe to spray on the watercolor paper.

HELP

Anyone have a suggestion for that product?

here is another way I am doing the 2.5 inch birds
They are doweled onto a very small base
This guy measures about 3  inches high.
...and TODAY!... my 12 yr old son said
 they were "cool" looking!
O-M-G
I hugged him immediately...
...and said thank you!
I never get compliments much around my home
 for some reason.
They just are not that type.
They do love me and support me
They just don't say
"Hey, that bird is really nice looking! "
I live for every compliment I can squeeze out

Maybe that is why I love blogging so much
Everyone has been so, so nice to me on here
Blogging has saved my sanity in this art adventure.

red bellied woodpecker

robin

black capped chick-a-dee

bluebird

cardinal

So...there are some more birds

(no surprises right)

I just decided to make them smaller now

a suggestion by Suza.( the owner of a gift shop)

When customers are looking for a gift item

 they usually like to spend around ten to twenty dollars

 and usually are looking for a small item 

that will travel well back home.

We shall see if Suza is right

Thank you Suza 

For working with me so kindly!

KAT

Here are some linky parties I joined:
http://www.dirtyfootprints-studio.com

http://www.santasgiftshoppe.blogspot.com