biltmore sunshine

there are rows and rows of sunflowers planted over a mile stretch
on the grounds at biltmore.....

and whether i get up close and personal....

or just stop to enjoy their golden splendor......

i can't think of anything more delightful, happy, and sunshiney
than the day my little dutch sweetie took me there.

and that's just the way i wanted to remember it in my journal!


{this biltmore memory was created in my moleskine journal using koi watercolor,
derwent inktense pencils, micron pens,  4B pencil}

biltmore gardens

this past weekend my little-dutch-sweetie-boy treated me to another getaway to biltmore house.  for so many reasons, it's one of my most favorite places ever (the estate is gorgeous, i love the story of george and edith, and it's hard not to think of downton abbey as you're soaking up the splendor of it all....).  and as fabulous as the house is, the gardens are equally spectacular.....you could probably spend an entire week strolling through the lush flora and fauna and still not see it all.....  

  

so i tried to capture some of mother nature's marvels in my journal.....
to remind me of a perfect weekend spent with my perfectly wonderful guy!

thank you, dutch-sweetie....
you make all my days happily-ever-after days!!  xox


{this biltmore artwork was created in my moleskine journal using koi watercolor,
derwent inktense pencils, pitt pens, and a 6B graphite pencil}

inspiration monday

last year my little dutch sweetie treated me to a fabulous weekend in asheville, north carolina and we had a wonderful time visiting biltmore place.  not only is the estate magnificent, but the gardens are absolutely gorgeous, and several of the beautifully carved statues that adorn the grounds caught my eye.

and even though i tried to capture some of the details of the estate in my journal last year,

i find myself still inspired by everything i saw there, so i decided to get out my journal

again and start making some marks with a pencil.....

then i added some watercolor.....

along with some more marks using a pitt pen.

and now, not only does the memory of this spectacular place live on in my heart,
but it's in my journal, too!


p.s.  the recipients of thursday's inspiration boxes have been chosen and notified....
thank you SO much for your sweet participation, bloggy love and support!!!  
i appreciate all of you more than i could ever express!!  xox


{created in my wings journal using koi watercolors, pitt pens, and 4B graphite pencil}

timeless details

{stonework detail at biltmore house} 

one of my new favorite places to visit is the biltmore estate, located in asheville, north carolina!  the grounds and landscaping are breathtaking, the house is stunningly beautiful, and the history behind this extraordinary property almost reads like a fairy tale.  it took an army of laborers and craftsmen back in the late 1800's to complete the construction of what is now known as "America's largest home",  and with all it's grandeur, i found such beauty in the details of the immense stonework that adorns the outside of the house.  as an artist, i can only imagine the sense of pride those stone masons must have felt as each project was complete.......and as artists (and over 100 years later), i think we all continue to have this same sense of delight in common with each other, no matter what our finished project is!

happy weekend to you!

{this artwork was created in my mini strathmore journal for mixed media using
pitt pens, black tombow marker, waterbrush, 4B graphite pencil}