Monday 16 February 2009

mantra monday and photo-a-week day

MANTRA MONDAY

i had so much fun creating the valentine's canvas that i thought i would do a card in similar tones. sometimes, we can feel different, not pretty, or inadequate and i felt this affirmation card would be a reminder that we are perfect just as we are. who defines what's perfect and what's not, anyways?

the card size is 5"x3½" and painted with acrylics on Canson 300gsm Mixed Media paper

click on any image to enlarge


PHOTO A WEEK MONDAY

a couple of weeks ago, beau and aaron drove out to my ex's (deceased) property for their usual visit with, brutus, the kids' childhood pony. we worked out that brutus would be around 26 years old now. he has certainly aged a lot, poor thing.

whilst out there, beau noticed some prickly pear cactus growing so he took a small cutting which we put in a pot. in the rural areas particularly, prickly pear is seen as a noxious weed but i think it should be okay in a pot. and, look see.....i took this pic today and...

...it's already sprouting new growth! YAY!

30 comments:

  1. The card is just as beautiful as the canvas! Brutus does look pretty grey. I can't imagine a life where kids have a horse to ride growing up--wow! And that is more than a sprout--like a tiny forest! Have a great day, Lady! :):)

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  2. Be sure not to accidentally brush against it. Have done that as a kid lol!

    Your Mantra card is gorgeous!!

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  3. Awww, sweet old pony! One of my daughter's horses lived into his twenties and she still rode him quite often. It was very hard for her when he died.
    Love your cactus!!! I must try some cactus again sometime.

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  4. Lovely card Serena, A perfect combination with the canvas. Poor Brutus, he has the look in his eyes that my 18 year old cat does...."don't ask me to do anything strenuous"..;o))) Hope the cactus doesn't take over, it looks rather innocent just now...lol Ro

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  5. The canvas is great! I like that Buddha keeps it all inside until you release it.

    Love the photo of brutus! I had a horse when I was a kid and still remember him.

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  6. Ohhhh, that sweet sweet horse....he is so old, but looks so sweet..

    Wow, great card and journal...What a beautiful image.

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  7. I am seriously in love with both the canvas and the card. They are brilliant! :)

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  8. The card is perfect and what a pretty horse even if he isn't a young one.

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  9. Beautiful canvas and wonderful card!

    What a pretty horse!

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  10. You are really good with your canvas and cards..love you talent.
    Also enjoyed seeing your pony..and cactus..waiting to see how well the cactus grows..weeds in Texas too but I love cactus..

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  11. Two beautiful things to me: Your gorgeous card, and a really great, growing prickly pear plant! Awesome! Happy MOnday, Serena!

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  12. lovely horse :) is he a red roan or just going grey with age?

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  13. beautiful beautiful canvas piece and mantra card serena!!! i love the colors and tone to them both!!! and such a GREAT reminder that we are perfect just the way we are!!! thank you!!! self-love is SO very important!!!

    peace and love!!!

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  14. Old as Brutus is he actually don't look bad.
    And even your prickly cactus looks so green.

    Coffee is on.

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  15. The card and colors are absolutely beautiful,

    PS: I love your laughing bird (as we call them here) to the right, just above the stunning and handsome eagle.

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  16. thank you all for your wonderful comments.

    shashi - thanks for the head's up re. the prickly pear cactus.

    jennifer - i think he's appaloosa if memory serves me correctly.

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  17. I agree- you are perfect just as you are! And your card is lovely.
    Doesn't that dear old horse have the sweetest face?

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  18. I'm always amazed by the depth you achieve in these pieces! The gradation of color on that canvas is beautyFULL. All those peach and plum hues...yummmm.....

    Much Joy, Many Blissings!~*
    Molly

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  19. Your artwork is gorgeous!!
    I love it!
    And Brutus......awwwww....so adorable!

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  20. Beauuuuuuutiful! Gorgeous card & canvas. :)

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  21. Brutus looks like a great old guy.

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  22. your art is absolutely gorgeous!!!

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  23. Oh I just love the canvas print with the Buddha! You are so talented!!! Love the photos...how sweet is Brutus! And yippee for the cactus...

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  24. we grow prickly pear easily on the outer banks (north carolina) - it IS a weed - small and hard to see and if doggies walk across it they get pricks in their pads. But I like it when it is corraled.

    Lovely old horse. Gorgeous cards!

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  25. My sister has a 30 year old Arab mare and she is still pretty spry... the look a bit "aged", but do go on and seem pretty happy....

    somebody else was showing a prickly pear type the other day...and it looked like it got pretty darn big...

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  26. Oh, Serena, I have a lot to catch up reading your posts (haven't have a lot of time being in the internet lately). Can't wait to read all of them as I enjoy each one of your posts :)

    That is a very sweet picture of the pony. I love his gentle and aged expression. And, of course, I'm at awe of the new baby cactus. It's a real talent to be able to propagate plant!

    *Love your Valentine's set up.

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  27. what a gorgeous pony, how lucky that your kids have had him growing up :) hope you have a wonderful weekend Serena!

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  28. Hey I think this qualifies for Cactus Monday LOL

    what a cute pony!

    Also, I adore those cards you are making. Have I said that already?

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  29. Serena, I adore these pieces! They're just gorgeous in every way - color, design, the buddha embellishment, the message - I love them, I love them, I love them.

    I didn't know prickly pear is a weed. Don't they grow an edible fruit? I love cacti!

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  30. What an incredible looking pony! The cards are beautiful!

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