Cactus Monday (#60) from Shanghai

Walking from 1221, a wonderful Shanghainese restaurant, to my hotel I passed this neighbourhood with a real Chinese atmosphere.

I have done this stroll before and it is always interesting.

So much to see.

A Chinese couple walking in front of me took their newly bought shoes from their boxes and threw the boxes and bags on the pavement and kicked it aside. Left all their garbage there and moved on. I was amazed.

In my country I would have tapped them on the shoulder to bring their attention to what they had forgotten ................

But I just stared in disbelief.

And yes............!!!!!

On my walk I found my cacti for Cactus Monday!

Artificially coloured.

Yes, anything is possible here.

Happy Cactus Monday!

Shanghai Orchid

Back from Shanghai .

With a lot of delays but in one piece.

Glad to be back home.

I couldn't visit you back there. Somehow all the blogs were unaccessable.

Hope you will have a nice Sunday!

Animal Wednesday #31 Dragonfly II

I did a few dragonflies and here is one again.

Dragonfly is the keeper of dreams, the knower within that sees all of our true potential and ability. Dragonfly strips away the illusions that say to us we cannot achieve our dreams and goals, that we are not worthy or capable when in fact it is our birthright and our true power to create anything we choose!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Blooming Tuesday 10

I have no idea what this is, found the flower on the internet.

I liked the combination of orange and pink.

I am enjoying the last day of my holiday and will go to Shanghai tomorrow for 2 days.

The weather is better in Shanghai than here, no rain.

It has been raining for days and will the rest of the week.

Happy Blooming Tuesday!

Cactus Monday (#58)

Happy Cactus Monday!

Admire more cacti? Visit our chief Teri for more cactus links on Monday

Suki's pages

The first page for Suki's book is a sandcastle.

Notice the heart inside.

Home is where the heart is.

The second page is inspired by a poem by Twilight Whispers.

I wrote the words on the back

I connected the two pages by making the horizon longer.

So they formed one image in the end.

When I started I planned something very complicated. I wanted to make a collage. Use the stamp I got from Linda and her beautiful papers etc. I wanted so much and it ended so simple.........I just started and it turned out this way.

I was pleased with the outcome. I hope you will too Suki.

and here is the poem:

Finding My Home

Finding where my loyalties lie Finding where the bluebirds fly Finding the path that leads back in time Is finding my home Finding where my young years are Finding memories from afar Finding where my mind has gone Is finding my home Finding where the rainbows end Finding where the oceans blend Finding a quiet and calming place Is finding my home Twilight Whispers

Mandala for a good cause

10,6 x 13,8” (27 x 35 cm) Watercolor, ink micron pen glitter and pearls.

My best friend Emily Rabbit asked for help for a few good causes and I promised her to donate a mandala for the good cause to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

So this mandala can be yours. Visit KJ's blog to read what Emily's plans are.

There are a few possibilities to do something nice for people who are less fortunate than we are. So even when you don't want the mandala there are other possibilities to help her out.

So please go and have a look!!!!

.

Thankful Thursday (#19) Where do I begin.....?

Well pictures showed up in random order.

And most of them are in poor quality, but it is late and TT will only last 50 minutes more, so no time to wait until tomorrow for the light to get better.

I have had a busy day and so will be tomorrow, but I want to share the treasures that hit my doormat lately!

Above the V from Laure for our ABC swap.

The picture is bad but believe me the card and ATC are gorgeous.

I ordered some cards from Lolo and got some extra also.

I ordered them to send and also gave away a few to Eveline last week as they make excellent gifts!

But most grateful I am for the words written on the notepaper, they just fill me up with warm feelings of friendship!

Thanks Lolo!

Same here! These lovely ATC's are from Teri!

The Y for yellow things. Who wouldn't get happy of these?!

The bear with daisy and green zentangle came as extras.

But again the words written on the back are what make these cards worth so much to me!

Teri thanks for your friendship and for inspiring me in so many ways!

I am so sorry I can't capture the beauty of these cards on a picture but believe me they took my breath away!

Amazing how Lolo can achieve so much with just a few colors.

The ATC is just gorgeous and so is the white raven.

And then the card and again the words inside.

Thanks so much for the beauty you send in the world and the friendship you give to so many of us!

I got this beautiful mandala book from Eveline last week, filled with inspiration!

Then I ordered 2 books , .........who has difficulty reading :)

Well Diana's book I read already . A children's book (I can handle that.......) so sweet and inspiring as her art and the way she looks at life always is.

I ordered KJ book too and both wrote a personal note inside, which changed the book into a treasure.

I will really try to read your book KJ! I will take me a while but I will.

Linda (Stampmaiden) had a give away on her blog and I won a true treasure chest!

A box full of goodies. Besides two wonderful ATC's I got 2 gorgeous mandala stamps and lots of wonderful things to use for collages.

Wish I lived in California so I could attend one of her workshops. She is soooo good in collaging the most beautiful things.

Thanks so much Linda. I will give it a try .

Again sorry for this bad picture...... but believe me everything is so beautiful!

And how about this one?!

A Frida hanger (Linda knows I LOVE her and her art) and again the picture doesn't do it justice.

It is awesome and I will hang it on a spot so I can enjoy it every day!

One big thank you to all of you!

Hope you will all have plenty to be thankful for.

Animal Wednesday #31 Dragonfly

Dragonfly, symbol of prosperity good luck strength peace harmony

and purity

Have a dragonfly day!

Happy Animal Wednesday!

And the winner is..........

The original watercolor mandala Drum roll please Felix picked the winner .

And the winner is........

Mim!

I'll send you the original mandala.

Hope you will enjoy it.

We picked another 5 who will get a printed notecard.

(Also available in my Etsy Shop)

they are

Lynn

Beaudor

Emily

Caroline

and

Suki

Thanks everyone for participating and for the comments you leave on my blog.

You are the ones who make blogging fun!

Not a winner? There will be more give aways in the future!

Cactus Monday (#57)

Watercolors on Bristol Board

Happy Cactus Monday!

(Visit Teri to see who has Cactus Goodies on their blogs.)

And here are mine!

A= for Apple blossom B= for Bee on Buttercup

C= for Cactus Wren

D= for Desert Rose

E= for Elephant

F= for Frog

G= for Goldfish

H= for Hibiscus

I= for Iris

J= for Jellyfish

K= for Klimt's Kiss

L= for Lunamoth

M= for Maneki Neko

N= for Nautilus

O= for Orchid

P= for Passion flower

Q= for Quan Yin

R= for Rainbow Mandala

S= for Sunflower

T= for Tattoo

U= for Unicorn

V= for Violet

W= for Waterlilly

X= for Xylopia Aromatica

Y= for Yin Yang

Z= for Zebra Swallowtail

And these were the ones I made in return for our ABC ATC's Around the world swap.