...and the winner is......

What a wonderful world !!!! One world, One Heart and I heart everyone who visited my site and left such generous comments. The Red Queen was flattered. so many wonderful invitations to every corner of this amazing planet. I wish I could hug each and every one of you ! I am most grateful for being able to participate in this event and thank the Whimsical Bohemian for organizing everyone and everything. A big hug to you !

So this morning I asked my darling husband to choose the magical number indicating a winner......who is Sue from Barton Originals !!!!! Sue, I have sent you an email, please forward me your address so I can set the Red Queen off on her journey to your own magical kingdom. If you haven't been there, please visit Sue (#162) and enjoy her wonderful blog and see her own amazing creations...the most beautiful art dolls you can imagine. Thank you, Sue, for visiting my little world. The Queen is packing her bags and ready to be off on her journey to you.

The world seems to be snowed under and I am cozy warm this morning with my cup of wonderful coffee, thanks to my darling husband's Valentine gift. He knows I am happily addicted to rich dark coffees. You know, the kind that feels like chocolate going down. SIGH. That along with a box of artisan chocolates, an orchid plant and a day at the Orchid show all sparkled this grey Valentine Girl's day. I can hunker down quite well at this point. My gifts to him included a homemade pistachio cake, a plate of his very favorite deviled eggs and a special dinner cooked with all the love I could pack into it.

Just to catch up, since I haven't posted since the event began.....I just finished a month long online portrait class with Misty Mawn. She is a generous and talented instructor and an amazing artist. If you are so inclined to improve your painting and drawing skills, or just have a great deal of fun being inspired by her assignments and challenges, I heartily suggest you take one of her classes. This one was my third in a year and each one has been an inspiration and fuel for my own work.

I cleaned up the studio and it seems to be full once again with a painting in progress based on one of my drawings for the Sketchbook project. It has been interesting to see how changing mediums really evolves the image in ways you just wouldn't expect. I also have a few painted boxes going, a new sketchbook for just drawing studies, and a project going for my church. I have been creating a series of banners and hangings for our contemporary services, which has been great fun and very rewarding for me. At Easter services I will create a huge banner during the service...yep, right there in front of God and everybody. I did this a few years ago and it was very spiritual experience for me. I am very honored that they have requested a repeat performance.

Books...oh with all this snow I have been reading every single night, tucked up in blankets in front of a toasty fireplace. I just finished the Stephen King "Under the Dome", a huge book with dozens of interwoven tales perfect to read while the winter wind is blowing about outside. Also Paul Coehlo's "Brida", a parable about a metaphysical journey well worth reading. I enjoy his books very much. They are thought provoking and enchanting. Right now my nose is buried in Kenneth Clark's"Leonardo Da Vinci". Clark is an amazing person in his own right and this was one of his first major books. there has been so much written about Da Vinci, but this particular book has lovely reproductions of Da vinci' drawings and brings together his writings and paintings in an insiteful manner. I am enjoying it as a look into a master painters thoughts and work.

Now I am off to the studio to prepare the Red Queen. Have a wonderful day and thank you for visiting !