Imperfect, imperfection......

He was searching for the perfect shell for her. It was the one thing she had asked him to bring back from his trip. He had walked this stretch of beach each day and could only find imperfect shells.

He wanted to bring perfection to her. Little did he know she would simply love the effort he had put into bringing her a gift from the beach, not something bought, but a treasure searched out.

Charming young man

He had been keeping a secret.

For their anniversary he brought home fresh flowers and a handwoven willow picnic basket; nestled within, resting in a soft wool blanket a wonderful gourmet meal.

She was completely delighted.

Things with wings

This little fairy is a rework of another post. She is cropped to fit this challenge and has added pen and ink. The original post is here . Which do you think works best?

Obsession both his and hers

Her obsession with books and not being able to let go of the collection began to look like hoarding. The shelves became a jumble of disorder. There were old books of her mothers, fathers and grandparents her childhood books, cookery, garden, house design all wedged this way and that. Getting dustier and dustier....

Then he introduced his obsession...TV. Large, flat screen, blank, shiny surfaced thing. Which obsession will win out? Or can they coexist in peace?

The tea party, Inspiration Avenue Tea Time challenge

 She prepared the table for tea time, it would be the first one on one with her future mother in law.
She wanted everything to be perfect. The sun was shining, the table set for two. She used her favorite tablecloth and china, chose fresh flowers and baked fresh goodies.

She hoped it would be a memorable tea party and the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

Perennial Enchantment, Perennial Nemisis

 Perennial enchantment. As a child she believed in fairies. They were hiding in the flowers and ferns, Peonies being the favorite flower their blooms like fancy dresses, ruffled, frilled and pink.
That there could be magical winged creatures hiding within them only added to their allure.
Could there be.....
Perennial nemisis in the form of the worst of the weeds, she pulled them mulched over them starved them and they continued to outwit and outlast her. Yet looking at them as flowers they are quite lovely!

Gesture Illustration Friday

 He had never brought flowers to a girl before but as a gesture of his true affections....A little play with watercolor and digital coloring.

 As a gesture of kindness she prepared the guest room for her visitors. Fresh flowers, water with lemon & mint, a selection of good books to browse. The bed turned down for the late arrival, a picture of comfort.

 Again a play with both watercolor and digital painting, which do you think is more appealing?

 As a gesture to her creative nature she made her wedding gown. It became a creation of borrowed, old and recycled as she used old family lines to baste together a bit of history.

Stay Illustration Friday

Stay, or perhaps sit? Could there be a treat in the hidden hand?

Laughter is the best remedy

Laughter might be the best medicine but remedy is pretty close.For Illustration Friday Remedy Challenge. Playing with watercolor and pen and ink. A long weekend here in Canada, sunshine and laughter it feels like summer. For Paint Party Friday Challenge of Summer.

I'm hearing the children in the

neighborhood running down to the beach and fireworks at Butchart Gardens last night.
Heading out into the garden to start watering again. Suddenly everything is dry.

Midsummers Night Illustration Friday

Summer will it ever get warm? Nicotiana is one of my favorite summer flowers sweetly scented in the evening.
Watercolor and pen and ink in layers.