Friday, 20 December 2013

A tea party, the moon and clouds

Hi everybody!
Today at Paint Party Friday we are having a virtual tea party in support of Tracy, who has been courageously fighting breast cancer this year with a wonderful mixture of toughness, humour and fortitude. My contribution is a painting on cardboard of tea cups, with a quote from William Gladstone. 
I must admit, though, that tea is not really my cup of tea, I prefer coffee!


 As it is my birthday tomorrow on Winter Solstice I made a painting for myself to celebrate the return of the light. I used acrylics and pastels. I still need to do some work on it, but hope to get it finished today. Sorry about the bad photos, it was dark and cloudy all day, and not good for taking pics of black paintings! It is showing the moon over Stonehenge and the gradual awakening of the hidden colours of the earth.




The photos were taken on my wet, wild and windy walk today, it was fun watching the clouds being blown across the sky at the Rhine.








That's all for today. Take care, and thanks a lot for coming by.

56 comments:

  1. What a wonderful tea party and great way to support someone going through such a challenge! Very uplifting and I am sure Tracy feels the love! Your walk today looks beautiful, but chilly!

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  2. Love your tea set and quotes for the party Val. What fantastic cloud formation in those pictures. I love to watch the clouds. Hugs Rita xxxxxxx

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  3. Was für eintolle idee,eine virtuelle tea party,deine Tassen sind große klasse und dein bild erst,das ist Hammer!!!so schön mit dem Vollmond und den schwarzen Ruinen,das ist total romantisch und mystisch zugleich,ganz ganz toll hast du hier gewerkelt.
    wünsche dir morgen einen tollen Geburtstag und ganz viel spass mit deinen Geschenken,denk an dich *Knuddel*

    GLG Jeannette

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  4. Lovely tea cups and quote. Love the painting, its Stonehenge isnt it? Those clouds are wonderful.

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  5. Wonderfuk work, love the painting for Tracy - all the best for her - and your Stonehenge painting is great. Do you remember when we went there from school? Hugs, Sarah

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  6. Die Idee mit der virtuellen Teeparty ist cool und deine Bilder sind Klasse. Du bist also auch ein fast-Christkind :-) Bei mir haben meine Eltern eine Punkt Landung gemacht - grins- genau an Heiligabend. Ich wünsche dir dann einen wunderschönen Tag mit lieben Menschen und vielen Geschenken. Liebe Gruesse, Dagmar.

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  7. Fantastic idea for the tea party and also a really lovely idea to all something for Tracy to show your support for courage and spirit.

    A great painting for your special day--hope you have made yourself a cake-maybe one of your special lemon ones -yummy

    The photographs have so much atmosphere and I just love the changes in the colours of sky.

    Have a great day

    Love Chrissie x

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  8. Your tower of teacups is so stunning in white on black and I love the way you have divided old Gladstone's saying among the cups. I've only seen Stonehenge in the daylight, but your moonlit scene evokes the feeling of mystery and power very well, I love it.
    As always I love all your photos, especially the 'pillar of smoke' in the last one. (Can't think of the exact words - was it a pillar of fire, or dust … or smoke?)

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    1. A pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night - you have evoked some powerful images!

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  9. I love, love your wonderful tea cups and the quote hand in hand. I love both, coffee and tea :)
    Happy PPF
    Erika

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  10. A lovely work of art for your friend and I love your Stonehenge piece too. The clouds are amazing over the Rhine, you captured them beautifully. Happy Birthday for tomorrow.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  11. Beautiful and heart full post Valerie. It is so inspiring how much creative you are. Have a very Merry Christmas and big, big hugs to you

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  12. Beautiful photos, wonderful and magical sky!

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  13. Happy PPF. Love your terrific paintings and such a fab tribute to Tracey. An early Happy Birthday for tomorrow Valerie. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas, hugs Annette x

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  14. such a lovely post, beautiful art and amazing photos as always, best wishes to you,

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  15. Beautiful, thoughtful post! Enjoy your day tomorrow.

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  16. Woah, your solstice painting is fabulous Valerie and being a "tea jenny" myself I love that little rhyme. Hope you have a nice day tomorrow. There is a wee birthday/Christmas parcel winging it's way to you but with all the extra christmas mail it might be a bit belated for your birthday. I'll be thinking about you anyway. Hugs xx

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  17. Wow, both of your works are very very beautiful! I love what you made for Tracy, and that painting for your birthday is just awesome! I love that bright blue underneath that dark sky.

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    1. I almost forgot: of course I'm wishing you the best birthday ever tomorrow!

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  18. Just outstanding work today Valerie, lovely teacups and your birthday painting is inspiring. Happy Birthday! Love the photos too.

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  19. Your tea cups for Tracey are wonderful. That is a great quote. Happy Birthday tomorrow.

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  20. Beautiful tea cups, love the quote and the way you stacked them up, the black and white is really charming! Your Birthday painting is magnificent, hope your Birthday will be just as beautiful as you are! ~Diane

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  21. Happy birthday for tomorrow! I love these pieces. The White of the pattern on the tea cups looks so effective against the Black and your stone henge painting is really atmospheric!

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  22. Now this is my cup of tea!!!! Your painting is gorgeous! Stonehenge is is such a mystical place and I think you captured that mystery completely! Love the black and white with tea cups. Although I enjoy a cup of tea now and then, I do like my morning coffee.
    You are such a wonderful artist Valerie - you really knock my socks off!! Your pictures do show what a good eye you have. The sky looks amazing in those photos.
    A very happy birthday to you tomorrow kid!!!!
    Sandy

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  23. I prefer coffee, too, but your stack of tea cups is charming. Your landscape photos are great - gorgeous sky! Happy Birthday!

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  24. First and foremost, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Valerie. I hope it's a wonderful day for you. You cups are wonderful. Tracey will love your tribute. Happy holidays to you.

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  25. My dear friend, I wanted to send along some wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

    Sending big hugs,
    Gaby

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  26. Happy Birthday Valerie!!!! Wishing all the goodness and love you deserve. Your tribute to Tracey is wonderful. Your art is striking! So much depth. I like it very much.
    Have a wonderful day
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  27. Happy Birthday tomorrow Valerie!!! I love your painting for you. Just a wonderful work of art. The teacup stack with the verses is an awesome piece and special tribute to Tracey.
    Wonderful walk pics!!
    Have a great December day!
    Hugs

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  28. Beautiful pastel painting Happy Birthday. Great idea, naming the different kinds of solutions that the teas give. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  29. Love, Love, Love Tracey's tea cups:-)And Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!

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  30. Your stonehenge painting is just fabulous, Valerie and of course the darling stack of tea cups is a wonderful tribute to Tracey. Love all those beautiful sky photos, too.

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  31. Super teacups with all the little sayings, a very original painting.
    Happy Birthday for tomorrow, hope you have a great day and maybe an extra special walk.
    I do like your painting and your skyscapes photographs are wonderful.

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    1. Thanks - I walked around in the rain, soaked but happy because the clouds were so gorgoeus!

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  32. I just adore your teacup tower with the quote for Tracey! Your winter solstice project is beautiful a s are your photos. Bonne, bonne fêtes de ton anniversaire et Noël!

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  33. I love your painting for Tracey....it's so fun and whimsical!! Gorgeous!! I could see it on cards!! I am a coffee lover too!! Nice fresh beans for me!! Happy happy birthday to you!! You get ripped off this time of year having a birthday.... so I hope it's real special!! Love the painting you did for yourself!! It's beautiful!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  34. Beautiful tea post for Tracey. xox

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  35. I like your stack of tea cups--such a nice gesture for a courageous woman.

    The Stonehenge painting is fabulous--Happy Birthday! Hugs!

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  36. Love your tea cup stack and the verses . The painting looks so atmospheric, fantastic piece of artwork.
    Hope you have a lovely day tomorrow for your birthday.
    hugs Yvonne xx

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  37. Two wonderful pieces! Love the cups - great quote! The Moon is gorgeous and over Stonehenge - perfect!

    Happy Birthday and best wishes for a great holiday season!

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  38. Beautiful piece for Tracey and lovely art!

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  39. Lovely painting of the tea cups-you can drink coffee from them too - although I like a mug for my coffee. Your painting is just wonderful.

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  40. Happy birthday and thanks for taking time to share you beautiful solstice paintings. I love the tea tower and quote, too. The layout and design are so eye-catching and the white on black just makes it pop.

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  41. Happy Birthday, my dear friend! Your B&W tribute to Tracey is magnificent, as is your painting of Stonehenge. May your holiday season be filled with love, joy and peace!

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  42. Herzlichen Glückwunsch und alles Gute zum Geburtstag, liebe Valerie!!!
    Du hast wieder einmal so wunderbare Werke gezaubert!
    LG, LonettA

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  43. Happy Birthday !!!! Your cup of tea creation is wonderful, I'm a tea drinker (switched from coffee 15 years ago). I have 3 friends that have breast cancer, it's too common and I feel for the brave ladies. Your artwork is beautiful and as always so are your photos. It's been very busy here and now this weekend we are experiencing awful ice rain. We cannot drive or walk it's dangerous. Season's Greetings! Shirleyxx

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  44. Agree with tea sayings. :) Great painting as well as photos. Happy Holidays!

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  45. Valerie you are so creative, I just love those tea cups and such an apt saying (I love tea) and your Stonehenge painting is lovely as are your photos. I hope the tea party cheered your friend.
    Here's wishing you a very Happy Birthday and a Happy Christmas. Hugs Sandra X

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  46. Happy birthday wishes and hope it was a beautiful day with filled with a fraction of the joy your painting has brought me. It is perfect and I love the black and white. I especially appreciate the fact that you mentioned the dreaded tea over your beloved coffee so it means even more. Thank you for your generous words and lovely work. They have made me smile like you wouldn't believe xx

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  47. Great tea art Valerie and I Love your cloud pictures.

    Happy Christmas to you too.

    Karen x

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  48. Happy Paper Saturdays Valerie! Wishing you a wonderful Christmas! ManonX

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  49. Belated Birthday Wishes. Love the stack of cups. Your birthday painting looks beautiful. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas.

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  50. Happy Birthday, my friend! Love your gorgeous art, especially these stacked cups of tea.

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  51. Ah! Stonehenge. Great interpretation, Valerie. Happy Solstice. hugs, Donna

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  52. Eine tolle Teeparty für Tracey! Die Worte passen hervorragend.
    Dein Gemälde haut mich schier aus den Latschen. Das gefällt mir sehr gut! Ich dachte erst, die Steine von Stonehenge wären als Foto aufgeklebt, so echt wirken sie. Ich bin wirklich beeindruckt, Valerie!

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