If you follow my instagram, you know I paid a visit to my friend Mary Ann yesterday. I had a lovely day at Moss Cottage and tried to capture some of it's beauty for you.
I snapped the above pics before Mary Ann realized I arrived and came out to greet me. We promptly began a garden tour. It's always fun to discuss plants and watering methods and transplanting and garden plans and future projects. We admired all the new growth most. Something so exciting about fruit appearing, no matter how old one is (at least for me anyway!).
I was focused on capturing the beautiful steps she tiled all by herself while she carried all my bags of art supplies in.
Perfect for a little house in the hills of LA.
We continued our garden tour on the back patio.
I was completely struck by the beautiful colors and healthiest succulents I've ever seen. We had plans for me to take many cuttings, but I realized on the drive home we never followed through on that, as always our plans exceed the time allowed. Next time!
We then moved inside for our usual exchange of various items we'd been saving for each other and as she went through my box of goodies, I snapped some of my favorite sights in her studio.
More beautiful colors everywhere.
This collection of water and sand and other items gathered all over the world is pure genius. I hope I remember to do it the next time I am somewhere special.
They are striking in a group but each on their own as well.
After a delicious lunch we settled down for an even more delicious dessert in the form of journal viewing and play.
(And no, that does not say what it seems to say on first glance!!! I didn't realize it until the funny instgram comments alerted me to it. Look at it again, you'll see what I mean.)
We were especially focused on sketching and watercoloring, as her dreamy travel journal from her recent trip to Umbria was front and center in both our minds (and the table too). I truly can not wait for her class on it, she already had much to share I want more! So many fun different rabbit holes for us all to go down, even within the world of travel journaling. I love that about art, endless possibilities.
We discussed different pens and ended up trading a few, tried all different watercolor sets while discussing what colors and brands would make the best travel set, did a few blind contour sketches (I can't show mine here because I don't want to embarrass her, mine were so much better than hers haha- let's just say that I don't think either of us captured the fact that we were drawing a human, let alone each other), and did a couple excercises in shapes and patterns. Just play and just perfect.
And like every other time I've visited, I left with a desire to return SOON. Art time with friends, so so important. Sometimes I forget how much. Sometimes I think I don't have the time. I'm glad I have these pictures of me taken by Mary Ann to remind me it is, and I do. Always, always time well spent!
{Ed: for a much funnier and less truthful version of my visit go here}