Painting Flowers with Jenny Doh

At the top of my list of things to 'improve' this year is my art.  At one point I was creating every day but last year that dropped away.  Moving house ate up a lot of my time but that's all behind me now and I'm determined to concentrate on art making this year.

When I saw that Jenny Doh was offering an in person flower painting class in her Santa Ana studio, Crescendoh, I jumped at the chance.

I've attended four workshops at Jenny's studio and each one is a special memory.  For me, the day starts as soon as I get in the car.  Even the fifty-five minute car ride seems magical as I drive by myself on the freeway (something I rarely do) I feel independent and optimistic.  Walking into Jenny's studio is an up-lifting experience - art work and supplies everywhere and always someone interesting and inspiring to chat to.

I know from Jenny's website and social media posts that she is a super-smart woman, well-read, an avid knitter, author, artist and musician and now I also know she is a super-generous teacher who has an amazing ability to roll up her knowledge and life experiences into meaningful anecdotes and analogies to illustrate and explain her painting instructions.

Sometimes we need permission to do even the simplest things and I felt Jenny gave permission to slow-down, speed-up, observe, edit, plan and use tools not normally associated with artists such as iphone apps.

If anyone reading this is on the fence about attending an in person lesson, and I do understand it's difficult to get away from the daily routine, but do it.  Put yourself first, just once, the benefits are so enormous I'm sure you won't regret it.

How to Make Flower Preservative

When you get home with your flowers and the little sachet of flower preservative is missing - urgh... 

I found this simple recipe to keep your blooms lasting longer?

Homemade Flower Preservative
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of household bleach
2 teaspoons of lemon juice

Dissolve all the ingredients in one quart of warm water.  If your arrangement needs more water then double the ingredient quantities and the the amount of water.

How does this work?  Each ingredient has a specific job to keep the flowers lasting longer.  Sugar provides the nutrition the flowers would normally get from the soil via the roots, bleach ensures the water remains clean and the lemon juice keeps the solution acidic which helps with the uptake of water. 

Don't forget to change the water every few days and mist occasionally.

Let me know in the comments below if you have any other tips for extending the life of your cut flowers. 

Hello 2017: One Little Word

Hello 2017!

I'm always excited by this time of year.  People are so motivated to make change.  Setting goals and making lifestyle improvements is always positive.

However, I won't be making a new year resolution this year. In fact, I haven't done for a few years now.

What I will be doing is Ali Edwards One Little Word.  You can find out more about the project HERE.

Some years ago my one word was 'healthy' and that was the year I changed my eating habits and lost a significant amount of weight (and so far I have kept it off).

This year I'm choosing the word 'improvement' and hope to apply it to all areas of my life - health, home, work, art.

Will you be joining the 'One Little Word' project?  Or do you have other goal and milestones for 2017?