Mixed Media Monday - Layers

Hi Everyone,

Every once and a while Coco wanted to just be herself....she was always trying so hard to please everyone...but under all her layers...she was just a happy girl....a happy girl who wanted to live her dreams and not anyone else's dreams.....

Here's to shedding all the layers and just being yourself Coco....and then there's cakes with many layers....yumm!!!

I logged on today and checked out the theme on MMM and at first I thought...layers...what am I going to do for layers....then the first thing that came to me was to create a lady in a lady in a lady.....multiple layers....then I started to draw and Coco came to life....I hope you enjoy her....

and for all my wonderful blog friends...a nice slice of layers!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Shopping Time....Have a great weekend everyone!!!!

Hi Everyone....sorry I have not been around...Friday turned into a great day and night as 7 friends headed across the border to enjoy some laughs and shopping!!! it was so much fun....we ended up getting home pretty late and we found so many great things to buy!!!

Today my Mom is over helping me clean out some closets....and we are enjoying some quality time...I wanted to do a quick post to say hi to all of you and wish you a wonderful weekend.....

Hugs
Diana

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Illustration Friday - Thank you to my Wonderful Blog Friends.....

Hi Everyone....Wow...where does time go...I just realized that this is my 551 post on my blog....I am so happy that you all pop by and leave me messages...it is the inspiration I need to keep posting....As an Artist and illustrator who works out of a studio it is nice to have a connection with people on a daily basis....and you all have really made my day by coming and reading and seeing all the new things I have been creating.....

I created these happy flowers to thank you all for popping by and saying hello...it really means a lot to me and I so enjoy our visits.....

So thank you!!!!

This is my submission to IF this week....the theme is "adapt" and flowers to me are very adaptive.....They adapted themselves to the change quickly ...from cool weather to warm and sunny and bright days.......

Happy Thursday Everyone....

hugs
Diana

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Rain for a few days.....but we are welcoming it!

We are getting rain on and off here for the next few days and I welcome it...so that all my gardens can get some watering....I took these photos the other day....one of the plants in one of my deck pots...they are so cheery and beautiful......

Then I took some photos of our lunch outside....Cole and I almost always eat al fresco when it is nice out!!!!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and pop back for some art later!!!

hugs

Diana

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Meet Candy!

Hi Everyone....Meet Candy...she was the sweetest girl and always wanted to help...that is why she became a candy striper in her free time....She would make every one's day with her kindness and her contagious smile....She always had whatever your heart desired....whether it was a huge lolli-pop or a warm and cozy water bottle.....She made every patient's stay at the hospital more pleasant.....

Do you need Candy to pop by? she also bakes homemade cupcakes for special people too....

Happy Tuesday!!!

Hugs
Diana

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Mixed Media Monday - Feathered Friends

Hi Everyone....I would like you to meet the Bluebird Identical Triplets....They were fans of the Bird Ball and always attended all the festivities....they were proud to come dresses up in 3 identical gowns and masks and they always made a grand entrance.......

This is my submission to MMM this week....
Wishing all of my Neighbors in the USA a Safe and Sound Memorial Day!!!!

Have a wonderful Monday!!!

Hugs
Diana

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Weekend Food and Fun!!!

Hi Everyone....I hope you're all having a lovely weekend....we are enjoying family time, bbqs and gardening....what fun....Minnie here wishes you all a happy weekend too...Cole and Minnie are always running around and enjoy anywhere from 8-10 hours of outside fun.....

Here is Cole helping me with our vegetable garden...he loves to water it and eat all the herbs....basil is his favorite....

It doesn't look like much now....but eventually this will be perfection in our tummies....

like this,.....

Have fun!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Illustration Friday - "Cracked"

We all have a little flaw ...but I think it makes us individuals and helps us find our strengths....this week's theme is Cracked and I thought this piece was just perfect for it....one little egg...one big crack....but everything will be ok in the end....

Have a wonderful Friday everyone!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Sunshine and New Life....

Hi Everyone....

Today is one of the warmest days here so far....Cole and I are heading outside to finish up our gardening and check out our vegetable garden!!! I have a new piece to show you in my wood canvas and pyrography body of work...this piece is also in line with my main theme "Transformation"....it is titled "New Life" and I thought it was fitting to add it to today's post since we are planting new things that will be thriving in our garden.....and bringing us new life....

Hope you all have a wonderful day and take a moment to enjoy something, someone, anything.....life is all about taking things in....oh and if you do this for 21 days straight it becomes a habit....a great habit!

Hugs

Diana

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ATC Wednesday and my latest recipe ....I submitted it to a contest!!!

Hi Everyone!!

hope you're enjoying the wonderful weather.....I have been doing a lot of gardening lately....being outside is so much fun and planting has always been my thing.....

For ATC Wednesday I revamped my special angel....this is Cole's Guardian Angel....I am happy she looks out for him when I can't.....

I also created a very tasty recipe...you can get a sneak peek below...but I will have to share the recipe once the contest is over....I submitted it to the Canadian Living Cook of the Year Contest.....

All I can say right now is that it tastes great and Cole loves it too....

Have a wonderful day!!!

Hugs
Diana

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Crazy Amigos - 2inch x 4 inch challenge....

Hi Everyone....

I created a quick piece for this week's challenge...It represents freedom....freedom to fly where you want....freedom to believe in all of your dreams....and freedom to love and enjoy life....

The Statue of Liberty was a special gift from France and I am still amazed that they brought her over via boat...wow...and they say good things only come in small packages....

Have a wonderful Tuesday....I keep thinking it's Monday since we had a long weekend here!

Hugs,

Diana

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Live from Wasaga Beach - The Show must go on...and my Mixed Media Monday piece .....

We are up at Wasaga Beach celebrating my Mom's birthday and the Victoria Day Long Weekend....when I decided to get an update on Cole and his wonderful showmanship....

I have two videos to show....one from when he was a wee little baby ...when he first found his love of music and another updated movie from today when he played for us.....

He is one of the funnest little guys in the world....and we are so blessed to have him in our lives....






I also have my latest wood canvas to show...it is my submission to Mixed Media Monday....the theme this week is...."Altered People" and this is my "Lady of justice" This is the first piece in this body of work that will be leaving to a new home....I will update the colour version of it once it is done this week.....

Thank you for popping by and I hope you're all having a wonderful Long Weekend!

Hugs
Diana


oh and I had to add the actual card I made with that design in my last post...Mom loves it!!!

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Happy Birthday Mom!

Hi Everyone....today is my Sweet Mom's Birthday!!! I wish her a wonderful long weekend....may it be filled with lots of family, lots of laughs and lots of cake....

I will be sure to take some great photos to share with you all....

have a great weekend!

hugs
Diana

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It's hard to believe a year has passed....Remembering my wonderful Father-in-Law...Bless you Dad!

A year ago today my wonderful Father-in-Law passed away and it seems like it was just yesterday....It is so hard to imagine a whole year without him...we talked about all of our memories and I find that he always brings me a smile with things we used to share...he was one of the most amazing people I have ever known....

I created these special flowers we will place on your tombstone....

and this special heart too...it is from your proud Grandson Cole....

and now I would also like to share the Eulogy I read at your funeral a year ago....

"It was the Spring of 1997 when I first met my father-in-Law…My friend and I happen to pass by his home and he was working outside as he usually did. We pulled in the driveway and he walked over to us….probably thinking that we needed directions….I said….Hello….I’m Diana and I am dating your son Brad….we laughed and chatted for a while and I knew from that first meeting that I would see more and more of him.

I always wondered how my husband could be so “too good to be true” but he had the most amazing role model and you know what they say about the apple not falling too far from the tree….

Seeing them together and their special bond drew me more and more to their family. When we got married, Dad was the most supportive Father….and most people luck out in life with a wonderful father…but I gained a second one with Dad through marriage. He truly made me feel like his daughter and every time we saw each other we would share big hugs, laughs and make so many wonderful memories.

We live so close thanks to Dad who found the most perfect property for us to start our lives. It was nice to see Dad regularly and he always did funny things that still bring a smile to my face…..like when he delivered wood to our home driving his lawn mower across hwy 6…..

We have spent countless hours debating on what’s going to happen next on the Young and the Restless and we always scheduled our dinners together around our show. We both loved to garden and year after year Mom wanted me to teach Dad about removing the suckers off of tomatoe plants to make them grow better and year after year Dad would pluck the wrong parts….we would laugh and laugh….

I loved watching his relationship with my husband Brad, who thanks to Dad is the most amazing with our son Cole. Dad used to bug us all the time about having a baby and we are so blessed that our child spent time with his Grandfather. We will talk about Dad to him as he grows and talk about the big heart he had…..and the big shoes he will have to fill….

Dad dedicated his life to making a difference in this world. He was one of the busiest people I ever met. He worked full time hours volunteering for Senior Support and delivered meals on wheels whenever needed. He was an Angel….He would never ever say no to helping others and I am so proud to say that he is my Father-in-Law. He taught us the importance of family, love and faith and his positive attitude would rub off on each and everyone he came in contact with.

Seeing him in his last weeks was one of the hardest things, but I truly believe He is with us always now and I know he is at peace…..I feel his presence each and every day and I am so grateful for that. Only time can heal a broken heart and that is what I have without Dad.

He will always have a special place in my heart forever and I know that one day we will be together again……Bless you dear Father….you will be greatly missed…."

We Love you and will always remember our special times...

Hugs

Diana

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Rainy days and baking yummy cookies....

Cole and I love to create....whether it's painting, sculpting out of play-doh or baking treats in the kitchen...Cole has always sat and watched me but now he actually helps me with stuff...he is the sweetest....We baked a double batch of Chocolate Chip cookies for Daddy......They are yummy! We made three sizes...small medium and huge .....lol

The 2 big ones are for Daddy and his friend at work!

Have a sweet day and if it's rainy where you are....don't fret...just create! We are stuck indoors today with lots of rain...

Hugs

Diana

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ATC Wednesday - "Music"

Hi Everyone....Music is magic...and I have always loved my violin....I started some formal training when I was a child but the lessons ended when my teacher was unable to do it anymore....

I take my violin out when I am home alone with Cole and we have so much fun with it.....The sound of it always makes me smile.....

So naturally I created a special ATC with an illustration I did of my violin....

hope you enjoy it!!! and I hope you can almost here it....

Happy Wednesday !!

hugs

Diana

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Crazy Amigos Challenge - "Cake" and a new addition to my wood and pyrography series....

oh what fun when I learned that the theme this week on Crazy Amigos Challenge is cake....I love cake and often find that I doodle them whenever I get a chance....so here is a piece filled with your choice of yummy treats....

I have also been busy at work with my latest series of wood and pyrography....here is one I call "New Life" more of my Transformation Body of work.....Today will be the first day I actually add colour to one of these....wish me luck!!!

hope you have a sweet Tuesday....

Hugs
Diana

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Mixed Media Monday - Helping Hands - My son Cole and his latest watercolour and ink pieces....and my Mother's Day Cake from Cole....

Hi Everyone...Cole and I spent Mother's day enjoying special treats and quality time together....he painted with my special inks and watercolours and I ate some cake....The top piece was looking pretty scary at first but it is my favorite painting right now....the vivid colours and the darkness looks pretty neat...and then the metallic inks really add some depth...I just ask Cole what colours he wants and I squeeze them out into his pallet....and he goes wild....I really enjoy watching him create..........

He always looks so serious when he paints.....

and also very serious when there's cake to be eaten!!! lol Maybe Cole will be in some Exhibitions...wouldn't that be wonderful!!!

Happy Monday!!!

Hugs

Diana

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Happy Mother's Day to my Wonderful Mom!!!

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Wishing you all a Happy & Sweet Mother's Day!!!

Hi Everyone...May you all enjoy time with family and friends and remember those that have passed also....Happy Mother's Day!

Hugs

Diana

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My Mother's Day weekend - a walk into a dream....

Hi Everyone....my Mother's Day weekend started on Friday with our annual escape to the Royal Botanical Gardens....the rock gardens are in full bloom and it was like walking into a dream...Cole and I started this tradition together and I really enjoy it.....I am so thrilled we went yesterday because the weather is rainy and wet and seeing all these photos from our journey of discovery yesterday is brightening up our day!!!

We were going to head away for more fun....but with the rain it will be a paint and quality time day for us....

Have a wonderful Saturday!!!

Hugs

Diana

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