Westie, Art & Garden...by Candylei

Run Westie Run

2009-11-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

With the cooler weather our westie is preparing for marathons. He is into some serious running. While we watch him he runs in large circles around us laughing with his tongue hanging out. He is chasing some imaginary friends and some real ones, us. The thing is we fall over laughing and he keeps running like he is the coach. "Get up and keep running. It's good for you," I think he is saying.

Kailua Beach Canoeing/Kayaking Hawaii

2009-11-05T15:11:00.001-08:00

Kailua Beach has lots of white sand and calmer waters because it is protected by a living barrier reef. Now the fun part is that you can kayak out to some small islands, Mokulua Islands and Flat Island, that are bird sanctuaries to snorkel and enjoy the privacy of your own little island. Your companions will be a few swimming sea turtles, fish and birds.

There is also a canal where you can test out your kayaking ability if you are new at it.

Halloween Spiderman Hat Westie Dog

2009-11-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

Spiders on halloween help you see in the dark. Our westie doesn't need any help seeing, but the huge spider was a little scary. He was a real trooper and didn't mind wearing this for a short time. I did give him a pinch of peanut butter as a treat.

Elsewhere around town First Lady Michelle was dressed as a catwoman. And the first dog? Was he dressed up?

Hawaiian Flowers-Tropical Bouquets

2009-11-01T18:33:00.001-08:00

Floral designers are so inventive. This bouquet has a palm frond woven to look like a sail to me it looked like the Hokulea outrigger. At the tip of the frond it is tied with rafia. I thought this was beautiful and to me the palm fronds lying flat rather depicted the ocean.

I talked a bit to the florist that provides the flowers and she said that the arrangements are changed once a week. Believe me they still look good after a week. She had the flowers and leaves from the previous week in her basket and I was thinking, "She is not going to throw those away: Is she?"

Bamboo is used sparingly in each arrangement in most bouquets. Below is our favorite purple (burgundy, maroon) foliage in the form of ti leaves. There are so many different types of heliconias. I found a tropical flower blog in North Queensland (maybe I can find a Hawaiian heliconia blog soon) and it has many pictures depicting the different varieties and colors. Scroll to the bottom of the first page and there is a fast slide show of many rare ones with their proper names. I found it very helpful.

The reds of the anthuriums and heliconias are a rich red and look striking against the ti leaves. I saw orange bird of paradise flowers against the red (purple) ti leaves at one place.

Pussy willows in Waikiki? Yes, here is proof. This little arrangement made a nice contrast against the dark wood. So simple yet stylish.

Hawaii Red Dirt Shirts

2009-10-31T13:08:00.000-07:00

Not everyone gardens with soil or the bad word "dirt". A business was born from soiled shirts from Hurricane Iniki that hit kauai harsh in 1992. A mom and pop had a screen print business whose white shirts were stained red from all the rain and mud. They could not get the red out no matter how hard they tried. A friend suggested they finish them by adding more red mud so they would be evenly colored. The idea was a business success that all started on the beautiful island of Kauai!

There are stores in Arizona and on the islands of Hawaii. We visited their shop in Waikiki on Oahu. If you would like to order a shirt or cap of your own visit their website.

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Breakfast at Mac 24-7 Waikiki Hawaii

2009-10-30T20:18:00.001-07:00

Someone suggested we eat breakfast at this sleek, modern, minimalist restaurant called
Mac 24-7 located in the lobby of the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel. It is a very clean, stylish restaurant with great service. After being in restaurants where the walls are covered with trinkets,etc. this one was refreshing. We were impressed before we ordered.

Sometimes menus are worded in such a way that you are disappointed when you get your plate, but not so here! Can you believe these pancakes with macadamia nuts, pineapple and banana? For a moment I thought we were in Texas where things are bigger, or so they say. (Maybe just the stories are bigger?) The pancake order came with 3 pancakes that each measured 1 1/2-inches by 14-inches! Pancake pies. One order of these could have fed all of us.

We also ordered the candied pecan french toast which was delicious and the serving size fit more one's eating capacity.

The breakfast fruit plate was beautiful and each morsel at it's peak ripeness! Yay!

It doesn't matter what time of day or night you are hungry. Mac 24-7 is true to it's name and is open around the clock. Which ever clock you are on. We were still on east coast time which is 6 hours ahead of Hawaii so we were the early birds every morning wherever we went.

Recycled Aluminum Cans Halloween Sculpture

2009-10-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Back in Maryland our town put up halloween scarecrows from various groups. This one has a painted balloon eye against an aluminum pie tin. The tonque is an umbrella cover! How fun to recycle these cans into sculptures for halloween. Is this a sea horse or a dragon?

Hawaii Billabong Surfboards Slippers

2009-10-29T10:52:00.001-07:00

Have custom made slippers at this surf shop. Just pick out the color and height of sole you want. Then choose the color of straps. The clerk has this tool like a screwdriver that cuts a hole out. The screwdriver tool divides at the top and he then puts in a strap and pushes the tool through the sole with the strap. A very simple tool, and patented I'm sure.

The whole time the surfboards above us are whirling about on a conveyer belt like a candy factory. We sometimes use the phrase "It caught my eye." These surfboards did many times. It's a great marketing idea and also saves on storage space.

Hula Girl Lessons for Westie

2009-10-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

There are lots of beautiful hula girls in Hawaii. Here little westie gets some help during westie's hula lesson on the golden beaches. This is an small ACEO painting that I listed for sale on ebay. With the heavenly scent of flowers and the rolling surf it is hard to concentrate on the lesson!

Link to view auction.

Hawaiian Ladies Clothing

2009-10-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

What to wear here in Hawaii? How about one of these hula outfits? All of this fabric is available here in Hawaii if you want to sew it yourself or you can buy them ready made. I love how you can wear a colorful garden on your skirts!

Royal Hawaiian Waikiki Hawaii

2009-10-19T12:28:00.001-07:00

We are in Hawaii and loving it. We are here for a special occasion. It was 82 degrees the day we arrived and it has been about that every day! Woo-hoo! No one is worried about bringing in plants inside here in October. The scent of tuberoses wafting through the air is heavenly. The fresh fruit, the food, (the smell of barbeque everywhere we go) the beaches..and our family make it wonderful, too.

The royal hawaiian hotel is an old pink landmark hotel on waikiki beach with some neat shops inside. I love how the pink contrasts with the deep blue sky and the green palm trees. They have planters on the very top of the roof with variegated agave type plants. Large ones, I might add. No need to water them by hand.

I have taken lots of pictures to share with you. I have not seen one westie dog yet. I did see little yorkies in Waikiki being carried about.

Elegant Toad Lily Flowers

2009-10-13T17:08:00.001-07:00

A beautiful fall lily flower blooming now. It loves moist shady areas and is a good companion for hostas and ferns. It reaches a height of 18-24-inches and arches gracefully. The leaves are a beautiful kelly green.

I felt this was good for our garden because our westie loves toads (how did it get the name toad in it?) and because our westie's mother's name was "Lily" and because the perennial flowers are welcome at this time of year. If you can read between the lines it's also because I like it! Think of reasons later to justify it.

Orange Mums Burgundy Purple Coral Bells Foliage

2009-10-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

Another variation of the orange and plum/purple colors. The mums are a burnt orange and the shadows in the flowers petals are the same plum color as the heuchera, "obsidian" coral bells' leaves. The same color combination as I showed from the day before, but different plants and intensities of color.

The Fall season really has alot going for it if you have contrasting foliage and flower combinations next to the oranges, reds and yellows! I have been a burgundy or royal purple, as some call it, foliage fan for years! The purple makes the orange seem more intense.

Pyracantha Red-Plum Fall Colors

2009-10-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

Going outside and seeing the plants and their beautiful colors in the fall helps artists see some of the best color combinations! I continue to learn everyday and I keep taking pictures to help me remember the colors. The berries of the pyracantha shrub are red and orange now. The birds will feed on the plump orange lanterns during the winter. The plum color of the "mardi gras"abelia leaves and the orange pumpkin sitting there...luscious!

On the other side the blue-gray gravel tempers the colors, but it is still a nice contrast.

Why I like pyracantha also called the firethorn bush is because it is evergreen. Two, it has white flowers in the spring and these beautiful berries in the fall/winter. Birds can make their nests in it and be safe from the hawks. We have plenty of those in the country.

Yay for evergreens! Sometimes we don't appreciate them enough til everything else dies down. These are the bones of the garden.......and look the color, too!

Yarn Knitting Girl Cat Folk Art

2009-10-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

Fall and cool weather are here! A new little painting of the yarn girl knitting socks for santa. Yes, Santa Claus. Two kitties help with the production. One works with yarn tension and the other on her lap tests for durability. Up for sale now.

I think she looks cute in her beanie. They're not just for kids.

A Very Big Dog House

2009-10-07T20:42:00.000-07:00

This dog house is a bright spot on the street. It even has a pink roof. Anything a dog could want is for sale in this store. Two floors of goodies.

Collage-Altered Art-Mixed Media-Painting

2009-10-04T21:38:00.000-07:00

Papers, pencil, canvas and paint make for a colorful collaboration! This painting is titled, "Class Party" and it's 5 x 10-inches. It's always fun when you can't dress up as something scary! Pick your favorite person, make believe or not and dress up. Up for sale now.

HOT Burgundy Foliage Garden Colors

2009-10-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

The colors just sizzle together; don't they? The burgundy foliage annual (for us in US zone 6) is an ornamental pepper called, "Black Pearl." The leaves are glossy and the color is "Hot!" Pair it up with orange and it's a smashing success. You could also choose an burnt orange crocosmia instead of an orchid.

(Do you think that this arrangement is up against stone? It is actually a chalkboard that has been erased over and over again and it has the patina of stone.)

Candylei's Art Blog

2009-09-30T07:30:00.001-07:00

"Frida's Mother Crow" painting is now up for sale on ebay. You can see below what came from an idea that I sketched out on paper to check for composition and to see how it would look in an 5 x 7-inch area. I liked the idea of Frida being raised by a crow surrounded by natural bouquets of flowers. She is still in the egg shape but with arms and a little braided bun on the right side that Mother Crow braided.

I am my own worst art critic. My drawings are usually cuter than the final, but then again I want it to look folky.

Link to painting here.

Scottie, Cat, Doll & Frida Kahlo Candylei Painting

2009-09-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

A new little painting with our westie's cousin in it for sale on ebay now by seller: colorist_painter. Scottie is so cute in the right hand corner. Kitty has a face with white fuzz on it from playing with the white cotton yarn. I have this exact little old-fashioned singer sewing machine! I also made a Frida doll to sell coordinating with this painting. Check back tomorrow for that picture.

Spinach Salad, Simple and Elegant

2009-09-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

I had this salad for lunch and it was a treat. The tart richness of the balsamic dressing and the sweetness of the dried cranberries were a winning combination. It also is a nice color combination and doesn't need many embellishments. It is tossed with gorgonzola cheese, pine nuts and sundried tomatoes and bacon.

Spinach is one of those wonder foods that carry alot of goodness in their leaves. Did you know one full cup pressed down has 6.0 grams of protein in it? Yes. There are many other goodies in it too.

Surprise Rabbit and Bunnies Cabbage Garden Art

2009-09-25T14:31:00.001-07:00

Little Bluebird was jumping from cabbage leaf to cabbage leaf singing with all it's might. Wanita had to come out and lift up the cabbage leaf expecting to find a fat worm for bluebird. What she found was little bunnies playfully scampering about...and a very proud mother rabbit. Bluebird is a great detective. Yes, the garden is producing well.

Painting is 5 x 5-inches and up for sale on ebay.

My Westie Dog and Toy Frog Video

2009-09-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

Three Homesteaders/Primitive Girls Painting by Candylei

2009-09-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

A new painting that I listed today on ebay.
Link to auction. I feel there is a misconception about the term homesteaders and what they might look like. No flannel shirts here! Homesteaders are very crafty, creative and artistic lot. These homesteaders are little seamstresses and their hearts are made of gold.

I shall tell you about the little black kitty who is named "little crow" because she likes to play with shiny things...like marbles. Crows love to gather little glimming, glittering things that man leaves along the road and adorn their nests with them.

So many people who have "made it" are turning to little farms with chickens, goats, and sheep. Reese Witherspoon is one. I could name many others. It is a beautiful thing to live so close to nature and I feel it fuels the creativity in a person. And, okay, it keeps the washing machine busy, but there is fresh flowers on the table.

Duckie Cow Costumes Westie Painting

2009-09-19T12:11:00.001-07:00

Westies have a great sense of humor most of the time unless they are half asleep. Here is a painting of another brother and sister dressed in a duckie and cow costume. It is listed and up for grabs on ebay here.

Brother went costume shopping with his dad and they bought sister a cow costume. Sister would rather be anything but a cow, but after a little sweetening of candy she was in a grand mood. The evening out was a success.