I almost forgot this one...

This painting was on of my early projects, and I actually thought I had posted it to either the web page or the blog, but apparently I didn't. Here it is. It is called Peony.

This painting and one other are on display at Sadie's of Stokesdale(formerly Sadie Scarecrow's Herbal Garden). Stop by and take a peek at the 'all new' Sadie's!



This was so much fun to paint. It was pure joy, and I hope you can see that in the painting. I find complete relaxation when I paint....

This may not make sense, but....

This is my 'Echinacea Butterfly' halfway done...



This is my completed 'Echinacea Butterfly' finished...Yes, the canvas is an oval, and that shows in the completed photograph. I have painted the edges so that a frame is not necessary.

Suze Orman says, quite accurately, that women are more relational than men. A woman cannot do well with anything in her life, unless she has a relationship with it. While Suze is talking about women and money, I think this idea is important. How many things do you have in your life, and how many of these things do you see in terms of relationship?

For me, one of these things is my artwork. I have never considered that I have a relationship with it, nor have I felt that having a relationship with my art is important. I have always considered my art to be an extension of myself, the "self" within. When I post my work online I often feel vulnerable, as though I have exposed something that should be kept covered up and private. It feels as though I am baring my soul for the world to see. Perhaps that is true, but there are other forces at work here too.

If you were to ask me if I had a relationship with my art, I'd have thought for a moment and felt, in a vague way, that it was a relationship of sorts, but a contentious one.

Sometimes unexpectedly when working in my attic on a painting I experience something unexplanable when working on a painting-this happened with my current piece of work. I realized, quite suddenly, that this is more than an extension of the self. I suddenly understood that I have to build a relationship with this activity. I have to love it unconditionally, appreciate it, build on it, trust it, believe in it, nurture it, as I would any important relationship in my life. Then, and only then, am going to be able to relate to it as intimately.

The brass tacks of painting will never be the same for me. I have a profoundly intimate relationship with something of beauty and delicate substance, if I chose to honor it with my love. And I do.

Would you rather hear the good news first, or the bad news?

Okay, I choose the good news first.
Sadie's is officially open for business.
All new paint, inside and out, a whole new look, a young energetic new owner, her name is Crystal, and hour by hour, step by step, and day by day she is making it better.

The bad news is that this is going to be a long process.
I was there for two days this week, and the previous owner, whose name I won't mention, not only took thousands of dollars of inventory home, but she kept many of my original formulas for the best selling products that I developed over a period of 10 years. The Bankruptcy court ordered her to return the binders and all of the formulas, but she took out most of the best selling products.

She also took necessary equipment, but that can be repurchased. The Bankruptcy court has been notified, and hopefully we will get these priceless formulas back.  All of the vendors and suppliers paperwork were taken too, so there are many challenges ahead.

But, in the meantime, be sure to visit Sadie's.
FROM WINSTON-SALEM
Leaving WS, heading east on Business 40, take Highway 158 (Reidsville Cutoff). Go through Walkertown intersection at light, and proceed on 158 approximately 10 miles. At stop light (intersection of Hwy 158 and 65) turn right at Bi-Rite Grocery, and proceed into Stokesdale. Sadie’s is located on the left about 1/2 a mile, directly across the street from the Stokesdale Fire Department. Off street parking is provided directly behind Sadie’s-turn left on Shilling Street before Brooks Funeral Home, then immediately left again into the parking lot. Feel free to enter through our back door entrance.

FROM GREENSBORO:
Take Hwy 68 past Piedmont Triad Airport. Go through stop light at Hwy 150 at Oak Ridge, then proceed past Dawn Acres Golf Course on the right. At the next stop light (intersection of Hwys 68 and 158) turn left. Sadie’s is on the right, immediately after Brooks Funeral Home. Off street parking is provided behind Sadie’s. Simply turn right on Shilling Street-immediately after passing Brooks.

If you are closer to Battleground, head north on Battleground, and you will see the signs indicating that you are on Hwy 220. Stay on 220 until you see the Hwy 158 cutoff to Stokesdale. You will drive several miles before coming to a stop light at Stokesdale. Go through the light, and Sadie’s will be on the right, immediately after Brooks Funeral Home. Off street parking is provided behind Sadie’s. Simply turn right on Shilling Street, immediately after passing Brooks.

FROM WALNUT COVE:
Take Hwy 65 into Stokesdale. At the intersections of Hwy 65 and 158 at the stoplight you will see Bi-Rite Grocery on the left. Proceed straight past the grocery, and Sadie’s is on your left, directly across the street from the Stokesdale Fire Department. Convenient off street parking is available directly behind Sadie’s, simply turn left on Shilling Street, immediately after passing Sadie’s, and feel free to enter through our back door entrance.

UPDATE: The shop has sold again to new ladies, and they are working very hard to keep Sadie's alive. Same location, many of the old products, several new products, new phone number and a new look, be sure to contact them.

Call (336)643-5123 for more information.

 A photo I took in 2007 of our handmade lotion bars.

 

A letter from a satisfied customer-

I was privileged to take a trip to one of North Carolina’s little gems – Sadie’s Herbal Garden – after hearing rave reviews from my in-laws. This little shop is tucked on Main Street in Stokesdale, North Carolina but don’t let its size fool you; it’s full of handmade soaps, herbal teas, essential oils, shampoos, lotions, and so much more!

Sadie’s handmade soaps come in a variety of fragrances and mixtures. At $4 per bar, you can’t beat the quality. Of the bars purchased, I love the Goat’s Milk the best. It has moisturizing properties, a subtle smell, it lathers really well and it leaves you feeling clean and refreshed. Some other favorites: Calendula, Kitchen soap – made with coffee grounds and a hint of peppermint, and cotton blossom. There are so many choices, it was hard to choose.

I also purchased both the Liquid Shampoo for adults and for babies. Sadie’s shampoos come unscented, and the staff can fragrance them with the scent of your choice for FREE! When added to the bath water, the aloe shampoo for babies was not a largely sudsy soap. I chose the calming scent of Lavender for each of my purchases and the scent was subtle in the bath water. When used on my little one, it suds nicely! He felt squeaky clean and smelled wonderful after his bath!

 

The adult liquid shampoo was likewise scented with Lavender but suds even greater than the children’s castile soap. A little bit went a long way in getting my hair squeaky clean and the smell lasted for hours after the wash.

I also purchased the handmade eye pillow that can be cooled or heated for comfort. Cool it to relieve morning eye puffiness or warm it up for the calming scent of lavender before bedtime. I found that it worked great on my neck for sore muscles and even my lower back as well. This was the best $5 purchase I’ve made in a long time! It has so many uses and slides easily into a handbag or suitcase for on the go.

Other favorites: Sadie’s baby laundry detergent, the wooden soap saver, and their homemade blend of Mother’s Milk tea.

 

 

 

 

I love to paint nature...

The trees, the hills, the birds, the butterflies, the delicate flower, the sunsets, the sunrise, the fleeting moments. The mere idea of capturing that beauty on canvas will always be a thrill to me.

"Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty." John Ruskin

Thanks to all who took time to chat Saturday

The day began far too early for this old woman, 4am, and by 2pm I felt like a truck had run over me, but it was a wonderful beautiful day. Thanks to everyone who took time to say hello, and especially to everyone who took my business card. Your comments and purchases were just the shot in the arm I needed to reaffirm that I am on the right course. Thanks to everyone, and God Bless You!


Many thanks also to my friend, Lura Marshall, who shared the booth with me and had an opportunity to show and sell her gorgeous baskets, truly works of art!

Blue Ridge Butterflies

I began this painting in 2006, and it has been gathering dust since then. It needed something. After dusting it off, I worked on it for hours yesterday, and I am happier with it. Not joyful, but happier. I'm not sure where to go with it now, but I am sure that by the time my show is over I will know...


Courage is being scared to death--but saddling up anyway. (John Wayne)

Diptych Butterfly

This has been a fun painting, but it was much more labor intensive than I thought it would be. It's been a learning experience too, but I'm not finished yet. I will post the completed work tomorrow. I need about 2 more hours to get it where I want it to be. In the event that you have never heard of a diptych before, this is the definition.

A diptych is a photograph that uses two different or identical images side by side to form one single artistic statement. The two images can literally be in contact with each other, or separated by a border or frame.

HERE IS THE FINISHED PAINTING:

Not For Sale

This painting was completed in the mid 1990's...before Sadie's. I was painting daily then, and I had grown to this point. Then, over 15 years of diversion as a soap maker, and I've regressed, so I don't call myself an artist yet. I am an Emerging Artist. I'm getting there, but it's a long journey.

Teal Geese-SOLD

I don't know if it shows with my completed painting, but I really enjoyed painting this. I love the colors, the geese, the composition. Each painting has such a big part of your all wrapped up in paint and canvas....

THIS WAS SOLD AT THE FARMERS MARKET SHOW,BUT IF YOU LOVE IT AND WOULD LIKE ONE PLEASE LET ME KNOW, I WILL RECREATE IT FOR YOU.

Herb Collage

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." (Theodore Roosevelt)

Over 20 years ago I had completed a very difficult landscape painting. I was very happy with it until a friend who was a well known artist took once glance and said, "It's okay, but you are afraid of color".

Who, me, afraid of color!?!
The words etched into my brain. She changed my style. Without formal training or really know what I am doing I have jumped into my paints. I wish I could ask her if I am still afraid of color........

Courageous Rooster-SOLD

Be Bold. It's just canvas, just paint. If it doesn't work for you, paint over it and start again. Don't be afraid that you are wasting supplies. Every failure teaches something, if only what not to do. (Tiko Kerr)

Facts on Roosters-People born in the Year of Rooster share specific characteristics that are common to all other Roosters. To say that someone is a Rooster is simply a shorthand way of describing that individual's personality.Resilience :: Courage Passion :: Protectiveness Patriotism :: Conceit Industriousness :: Bluntness Rudeness :: Impatience Aggression Bossiness

This colorful personality filled bird is a charming rooster painting, skillfully created with striking colors, will make it a pleasure to own, and he pairs up beautifully with Mr. Rooster (see next blog entry). What a handsome pair they are.

A COUPLE FROM WILMINGTON PURCHASED MY 'COURAGEOUS ROOSTER', BUT IF YOU LOVE THIS PAINTING AND WOULD LIKE FOR ME TO PAINT IT AGAIN PLEASE CONTACT ME AT SadiesArtGifts@aol.com.

Mr. Rooster - Courage

That is my theme today. It is Wednesday, and my first art show is Saturday, albeit it a very small show, it is my FIRST!!!!!

"Courage always starts out by feeling like fear. Fear is an invitation for us to respond with belief in ourselves." (John Paul)

This quote really doesn't make me feel any better, "The first prerogative of an artist in any medium is to make a fool of himself." (Pauline Kael)

There is a part of me, deep down, that was hoping that this outside show would be rained out. It would have been easier. The weather is forecasted to be beautiful, so I am swallowing my fear and praying for courage.

One quote that struck me as being exceptionally true was the statement by Matisse that "creativity takes courage". It takes courage to be an artist - to create a piece of art that will inevitably be judged by others. It takes courage to suggest that a painting can be an impression of a scene, rather than a perfect reproduction of the scene. It takes courage to create entirely new forms of painting as Pollock and Johns and others did. These artists have the courage of their vision to create their art. We in business need to learn from their example. We need to have the courage of creativity. Many people think that courage is the ability to face some terrible threat, such as a solider in wartime. Simple courage is much more basic than that - the ability to create an idea that differs from the status quo, or to follow a passion, even in the face of possible skepticism from your friends and colleagues.

“To create one’s own world in any of the arts takes courage.”
---Georgia O’Keefe

Transformation...have you ever thought about it?

Transformation is one of the most common events of nature. The seed becomes the flower. The cocoon becomes the butterfly. Winter becomes spring and love becomes a child. Marriage is a transformation we choose to make. Our love is planted like a seed, and in time it begins to flower. We cannot know the flower that will bloom, but we can be sure that a bloom will come.

I just read this poetic reference of Transformation from Doug Hoffman. It delights me and it is fun to share with you. Yes, I'm on my way to paint...the show is Saturday, so much to do!

“We are all boats at anchor. Depending upon circumstances, or genes, or upbringing, or whatever, we may be attached to our anchor by a longer or a shorter chain. We may have more or less freedom to move about, but we are still chained and anchored.

If the winds blow strong enough, or the tides are powerful enough, or if we run our little engines hard enough, we may find that our anchor drags across the seabed a short way. And then we find ourselves in a new place. But we are still chained and anchored and stuck.

It isn’t until we dive down deep and sever the chain from the anchor that we become truly free. Then the 7 seas and all they contain are within our power to experience, as we choose. That process of diving down and releasing is called Transformation---


"The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."
-- William Faulkner

Longing for a miracle that will transform your life? Miracles happen, and if we don’t want that magic to disappear on us, we need to learn from each epiphany -- to integrate it, apply it, and build on it so we can permanently shift to a new level of being.

The real key to fulfillment lies in ONGOING transformation: building our awareness of daily opportunities to change our perceptions and raise our consciousness. Life is about dissolving the old and creating anew. The more we open to accepting and learning from every life experience, the more our lives transform.

"Enlightenment must come little by little -- otherwise it would overwhelm."

Idries Shah

Advice from a BUTTERFLY

Photo taken at Belews Creek, NC

1. Let your true colors show
2. Get out of your cocoon
3. Tke yourself lightly
4. Look for the sweetness in life
5. Take time to smell the flowers
6. Catch a breeze
7. Last, but certainly not least, remember, we can't all be monarchs!

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.

Here are a few photos of my inspiration, taken by me, at Carolina Marina.

If I can pull myself away from this blog they might actually become paintings. There are not enought seconds in a minute, not enough minutes in the hour, and certainly not enough hours in the day.

Do you paint?

Painters look at the world around them in a different way. It is both something innate and learned. I look at the world around me and see many different colors in the sky, the trees, the grass. I see greens in old fence rails and blue in gray horses. I see shapes between the branches in the trees, shapes in and around buildings, the shape and color of light as it falls on the floor or comes through the curtains. I feel and see the many ways that light changes from sunrise to sunset.

Both oils and acrylics have such amazing properties that allow me to portray the effects of light and shadow on everything from butterflies to roosters-especially birds, hens, geese, chickens-anything with feathers. If you have never painted but you love being outside-painting allows you to combine both loves. Painting allows you to learn something every time you participate in the experience, because each time the light, the wind, the weather change your subject appears different and new.

Here's what I hear all the time...
"Oh, I wish I knew how to paint, but I don't have any natural talent."

"My art teacher in Grade 5 told me I wasn't very good."

"My sister has all the talent. I wish I was as talented as she is."

"I wish I could paint what's in my heart."

If you don't allow these negative thoughts to guide you it might be a real surprise to find out that you too have talent. To me, painting is not about the destination-the completed project, it is about the journey, the joy, the experience. I never worry about producing museum quality masterpieces, and it's a good thing I don't, or I would never pick up another brush. This is about participating in activities that bring out your creative spirit, and we all have one, trust me. All you need is to WANT to paint or draw from your heart.

About Me

This is a photograph of my painting entitled, "Bend Oregon, A Love Affair". I didn't get to stay there long, but it was truly an wonderful experience.

Although I've had a life-long, deep love of art, I am mostly self-taught. I picked up what I could, when I could from books, an occasional workshop and miles and miles of brush time. I've began painting at my kitchen sink since my daughters were small..sometimes setting up my canvas after getting them tucked away at night, only to blink my eyes and see the sun rising without my being aware of the fact that the night had come and gone. And yes, this wasn't yesterday. They have birthdays this month, and they are 41 and 36...when did that happen? Recently I have returned to fine acrylics and oils.

Although I paint as often as I can my very detailed style and natural rhythm just don't result in a huge output. So, I paint small format, original works at my own pace. I generally paint canvas, but I am about to rekindle my love of wooden duck decoys, antiques and wooden objects.

Painting is such a fascinating experience. Once you see the light around you, and begin to understand the endless ways to use color to show it, there is no turning back. It becomes something you can never completely master, but continue to learn and travel on the path of discovery that keeps life so interesting.

Thank you for your interest in my work and please feel free to contact me at anytime about anything.

Why Butterflies?

“Tell me Sir, what is a butterfly?” asked Yellow the caterpillar.


'It’s what you are meant to become.

It flies with beautiful wings and joins the earth to heaven.

It drinks only nectar from the flowers and carries the seeds of love from one flower to another.”


“Without butterflies the world would soon have few flowers.”


“It can’t be true!” gasped Yellow.
“How can I believe there’s a butterfly inside you or me when all I see is a fuzzy worm?”


“How does one become a butterfly?” Yellow asked pensively.


“You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.”


“You mean die?” asked Yellow.
“Yes and no…What looks like YOU will die, but what’s really you will still live.”
“Life is changed, not taken away. Isn’t that different from those who die without ever becoming butterflies?”

(From the book "Hope for the Flowers" by Trina

Why painting?

Painting is such a fascinating experience. Once you see the light around you, and begin to understand the endless ways to use color to show it, there is no turning back. It becomes something you can never completely master, but continue to learn and travel on the path of discovery that keeps life so interesting.

“There are two kinds of artists, the emotional painter and the academician. The academician can paint into old age sitting on his stool licking his canvas until 98 years of age. The emotional artists burn himself up; he does not live long. The academician always creates something acceptable, boring, but acceptable. The emotional artist often misses, but when he hits, it is breathtakingly beautiful… touched by the gods!”

Sergei Bongart 1918-1985

I know it's been forever since a post, but I promise I'm still around....just really busy! I'm so excited to be a part of this fabulous Herb FestivalI had to announce it so all will come. It's going to be an exciting event.

Herbal Thyme Guild 11th Annual HERB FESTIVAL

Saturday May 7

(Mother’s Day Weekend)

7 am to 2 p.m. Outside the GSO

Farmers’ Curb Market, 105 Yanceyville St.

FREE ADMISSION Rain or Shine!


Family Fun Live Music !

Face Painting Refreshments

Educational Demos Garden Art

NURSERY HERBS & OTHER PLANTS

Herbal & Natural Products


* Demonstrations *

9 am - Create Fairy Gardens
9:30 am - Plantable Cards for Kids
10 am - Bee Friendly Gardens
11:30 am - Making Body Oils
12 Noon - Cooking with Herbs


Vendors

Anise Bertran– Garden Art

Donna’s Delights Soaps

Earth’s Natural Soaps

Everyday Art – Painting/Pottery/Soy Candles

Gethsemane Gardens

Horse-O-Peace Soaps

J & B Herb Farm

Moon Creek Farm

Raindrop Ridge Farm

Richland Creek Farm

Running Pine Herb Farm

Toad Song Farm

Sadie's Art Gifts

Welcome to Sadie's Art Gifts

Vincent Van Gogh said, "I dream my painting and then I paint my dream".
I understand.