Marinated olives #92

Daily painting 92. 4"x6" oil painting on primed canvas board

I love to cook! I love shopping for delicious ingredients ...and I am one of those people who buy recipe books as a hobby and read them from cover to cover like others would a novel...and yet I rarely cook using a recipe unless of course it is to bake and specific measurements are needed! So in case you thought I was just greedy....you now know why so many of my paintings include food....food is just part of my daily creative fix whether it is in the kitchen or in my studio...I am inspired by the textures, colours, smells and tastes....
This festive season I made a HUGE jar of marinated olives ....a recipe which evolves each time I make it depending on the ingredients in my cupboard and the herbs growing in my garden! I never make a single batch ....they don't last long in this house ....but last week I made the biggest batch I have ever made in the largest glass jar I could find thinking they would last Christmas and New Year and could be used for snacks, salads, pastas and for our favourite type of lunch which my kids call 'pick and choose' where a variety of breads, cheeses, olives, left overs, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado etc etc etc is placed on the table and everyone makes their own meal depending on what they choose...

Well yesterday I went to place whatever I could find on the table for 'pick and choose' and discovered 4 little olives at the bottom of this huge jar!!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes....my family have been dipping into the jar ...eating the olives like candy! So much for thinking they would last out the festive season! I guess next time I will have to make 2 HUGE jars of marinated olives!

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Late afternoon at the lake #91

Daily painting #91. 6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas board

My daughter Amy received her own wooden traveling paintbox (full of paint, brushes etc) and has been desperate to use her gift! I now no longer have to share my things or have my 10 year old looking longingly over my shoulder while I paint! I know too well that desire to paint...that excitement at receiving a new tube of colour....the excitement of seeing new brushes and paint....and I am only too delighted that she shares this passion with me!

So we set off yesterday while the boys were at cricket to picnic and paint in Durban's Botanical Gardens. We had such a fun afternoon! I have shared some photos to Instagram if you would like to see...if you don't yet follow me on Instagram you can do so at http://instagram.com/heidishedlock 

By the time we had walked around, taken photos, enjoyed the beauty and had our picnic, we realized the bright summers day had changed ....it was cooler, it had clouded over and the wind had picked up....it was possibly even going to rain! We quickly set up our painting things! The weather didn't stop us, the cool was a welcome break from the heat and we spent a pleasant late afternoon at the lake!

Mother and daughter painting together.....I felt truly blessed!

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Protea in a turquoise pot #90

Daily painting #90 6"x8" oil painting on primed canvas board. SOLD

Proteas, especially King Proteas are getting harder to find as they are out of season and if you can find them they are incredibly expensive per stem! Boohoo....I love having proteas in my house (as those of you who follow my blog will know)!

Well my family know me so well.....they went to a local crafter who sits outside one of our supermarkets selling his products from the pavement. He constructs the most amazing things from wire and beads only! As South Africans we have become so accustomed to seeing this type of craft around that sadly not enough people appreciate the skill, craft and sculptural element that goes into creating a huge variety of things simply from beads and wire! Anyway....my darling family went off and asked him to make me some proteas!!!!! Yes....proteas (life sized) made out of beads and wire......they are stunning and no picture could do them justice....but here is one to show you...

Fresh...painted....or beaded....I do love proteas!





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Afternoon clouds #89

Daily painting #89. 5"x7" oil painting on primed canvas board

We all jumped out the swimming pool....thinking a storm was fast approaching! The clouds seemed to roll in, dark and ominous with the sudden strong wind and a dark shadow appeared on the horizon as it rained out at sea. Doors started to slam in the house and windows were quickly closed as great gusts of wind seemed to swirl around the house....I thought we were in for a huge storm!
But as fast as the strange weather and wind appeared, it disappeared just as quickly. Rain clouds blown away by the gusting wind!
I have a strange habit of observing the sky...I am drawn to observing the colours, movement, patterns and light in the sky....yesterday was really a dramatic visual symphony!

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Granny Jean's Christmas cake #88

Daily painting #88. 4"x6" oil painting in primed canvas board

Wow today was a busy day, but I am so close to reaching 100 days of little daily paintings that I had to find some time to paint! Actually it was a good thing....it forced me to sit down for a bit, take it slow, breathe and loose myself in paint (my best!!!!!) ....just what I actually needed on such a busy day!
All the family came to our house for Christmas lunch....it was a good day....Christmas just as it's meant to be....with those you love! I missed my cousin from Chicago who was with us last year....but I was with her in spirit and am looking forward to a catch up with her in Cape Town in the new year....I just can't wait!

So my heart is full as another Christmas comes to an end....but my tummy is full too!!! Way too much delicious food...I am grateful, but could not face up to another mouthful...not even Granny Jean's delicious Christmas cake! The last of my Christmas paintings....

Thank you to all of you who participated in my Christmas giveaway....Christmas was probably a crazy day to run a giveaway...it's just so busy but giving a painting away to someone who takes the time to follow my project just felt like the right thing to do! So thank you for joining in the fun....if you didn't win...don't be disappointed I will do another giveaway in the beginning of the year ...so keep watching! My kids helped me out this morning before I posted this....all the names went into the Christmas hat and my daughter Amy pulled out the name.....BEV SPARKS! Well done Bev...please contact me at heidishedlock@gmail.com with your mailing address!

The boys are off to watch a South African cricket test match....I think the girls are going to have a lazy day around the pool...and maybe a little painting! Hope you have a restful day too!

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Christmas gift #87

Daily painting #87. 6"x6" oil painting on primed canvas board. SOLD

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Blessings of Peace
The Beauty of Hope
The Spirit of Love
The Comfort of Faith
May these be your gifts this Christmas!

May these be your gifts regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas or not....everyone deserves PEACE, HOPE, LOVE and FAITH!

Being Christmas I am in the spirit of giving and have decided to give today's painting away to a Paintings in the post follower on my Facebook page. Visit the Paintings in the post Facebook page to find out how to participate in the giveaway....you must like the page and write Peace in the comments box to be a part of the lucky draw. The winner will be announced on the 26th December. Let's share some peace, hope, love and faith this Christmas!

Have a blessed day and Happy Christmas ....all my love Heidi

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Visitor #86

Daily painting #86. 6"x6" oil painting on primed canvas board

I was sitting on the floor in my bedroom wrapping Christmas presents with the door to the outside verandah wide open to try and get a slight breeze inside....it is extremely hot and humid after all the rain we have had. My attention was suddenly drawn to some birds that were making a huge fuss outside and I jumped up to see if maybe one of the cats were teasing them. I then realized what all the noise was about ...the bird feeders which usually hang up to attract all the beautiful birds we have around had been taken down during the rain and high winds we had not so long ago...and these little visitors were screaming for their food!

I put the feeder back up and for ages we had the little birds flocking back to perch on the railings, peck at the feeder, chirp and fluff out their feathers as if to say..."it's about time you put our food back!" I didn't realize how much I have missed our little visitors and can't believe I have been so busy I didn't even notice they were not there! Time to slow down and enjoy the little things I think....

One day to go until Christmas.... I hope you are slowing down too!

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