Snack & This-n-That

Tonight's post is brought to you by the microwave. The friend of the artist (aka: the lazy cook.) I'm snacking on this:

Microwaved Smores. Is there any better microwaved snack?

Snacking while I'm cleaning this:


& Sanding (before I paint) this:


and this:


& Sorting things into this (these?):


Oh & yesterday I made (for an etsy order) this:


That's a little look into my goings on. How goes your week?

Good Luck Canvas

I was part of a recent Sweet Goodness swapping. The topic was Suits (hearts, clubs, diamonds & spades.) My partner and I were both stricken with sicknesses that delayed shipping of our packages so I'm just getting my piece posted now. I sent a vintage item, some yummy foodies, little artsy odds and ends, and then this piece I made.


This was one of the many canvases (6x6") I painted the background, weeks ago. I had an idea to include these little suits charms I picked up from this Ebay seller (such a sweet guy), but had no real idea what to make. I used a Tim Holtz mask w/paint, gel pens, a fairy image from Inka Stamps and handpainted the wonderful Irish Blessing. The edge of the canvas is covered with vintage black lace. I hope my partner loves it!

It feels so good to be back in my studio after weeks of sicky hiatus. Wonder what I will create next?

POISE - Illustration Friday

I thought we'd start Friday's homeschool day with some drawing. And what better idea than to use the Illustration Friday prompt as a jumping off point? We looked up this week's word, Poise.

poise (v): 1. balance ; especially : to hold or carry in equilibrium . 2. to hold or carry (the head) in a particular way.

poise (n): 1. a stably balanced state : equilibrium. 2. easy self-possessed assurance of manner : gracious tact in coping or handling.

The girls, after a bit of reluctance, embraced the art time.

The Little One (age 9 1/2 yrs)


The Teen (age 16 1/2 yrs)


Me (age you-don't-need-to-know). This is supposed to represent me and my balancing act of life but apparently I must feel like a balding old man today! Even though I'm a girl... figure that one out will ya? ha


Can you tell who has had a whole year of drawing classes? It wasn't me... Sorry about the picture quality. Just couldn't get it right today and don't have the time to play with it. Click to get a closeup view.

The Little One also drew a picture of me. Isn't she sweet?

Happy Friday to you. Have a blessed weekend.

Trailing...

Today's Haiku

Me. I am a slug.
Slowly moving. Trailing slime.
Not myself today.

Just checking in. Nothing remotely artistic going on unless you count watching the fat cat balance her 18 lb body on the thin back of a chair. Now that is an art unto itself. I'll take a pic sometime. Hilarious. Catching up on life. Cold and other things kicking my energy level. Helping the kids be diligent in their homeschooling so we can finish out the year. It seems this time of year is always a crunch. The teen has her ACT testing next week. Trying to see how long we can go without doing laundry. Especially if I'm just living in pajamas. Wondering if takeout food is ever a good idea. Envying people who are creating things or out in the sunshine taking pictures (like Trish and her flowers) and going on walks. Wishing I was a more disciplined person. Like the ones who don't crave Oreo cookies. or at least don't give in to that craving. Where's my Calgon? Do they even make that anymore and why don't we see the commercials these days? Today I'm a slug. Tomorrow I'll try on something different.

Catching Up Yet Again...

Yes I fell off the face of the earth. The precipice of my existence proved too powerful to resist and I tumbled head over clogs into the nothingness of 'where did the last week go?' abyss.


You don't want to hear about what has been going on. Really you don't. It's just one thing after another; between some injuries, sick ones, bedrest, more sickness and the teen running away from home to join the circus (well, not really but she did run off on spring break to hike and hit up Silver Dollar City and left us here in our misery we call Illness Central), we're keeping our heads above water. Oh joys! But enough about the niceties of life. How's your world these days?

I haven't been doing much art as of late because of all that life is throwing at us. Let me tell you the bad side of putting the art room/studio in the basement. You don't want to walk to it when your hip hurts! That also left out doing any laundry so there was a plus to it I guess. hehe I have however been reintroduced to two shows I love: 17 Kids and Counting (now 18) and Bewitched. I love Bewitched especially. I still can't remember how they handled the problem of switching to a new Darrin (from Dick York to Dick Sargent, York being MY personal fav) and Sam not missing a beat. Maybe a spell was cast on him to change his looks? I don't remember but they are playing an awful lot of episodes so I'm sure to find out soon. 17 Kids & Counting. Boy, I thought 2 kids were a handful but they embrace all the ups and downs of that many children with grace and favor and I certainly give them kuddos.

Dh has shared his laptop while we've been recouping so I've been visiting blogs when I could get online.

** Trisha has been playing with dolls again.

** Sweet Repeats has been doing some yummy work with purple. Yes, you know how much I dislike purple but her new pieces are *gasp* making me want some purple paint! Yeah, go figure...

** Vallen made the most beautiful shirt out of an old quilt topper. I don't know if I'm brave enough to cut up an entire quilt. I've made brooches out of a vintage 1928 quilt I had but it was just a small piece. Here's some I still have in my Etsy store.

Spin Me Round Brooch


Pretty In Pink Brooch

** I love Kersten's new Spring piece. Makes me enjoy the warmer weather we've been having and hoping it will stick around.
** The Crafty Chica has been inspiring me with the new lanterns she decorated with Papel Picado papers, very like the banner set I bought while at Epcot in January! I planned to display the banner of papers across my art room RED wall but now I might be thinking I need a few lanterns too!
** You can't ever go wrong by popping over to Fancy Picnic's blog. She always has something scrumptious in progress on her desk!

** Teesha took a unique class with Carla Sonheim (scroll down on Teesha's main page to see days 1 and 2 projects.) I am officially jealous and wish I could have attended too. Might try these ideas they did as art projects for the girls.

** Rhonda, my friend and Stampin UP demonstrator has been whipping up beautiful cards. I hope we get to make one of them at club tonight!
** A new blog I discovered last week, The Hunt For Vintage, is a girl after my own heart. She has a dining room cabinet I'm drooling over. And I found out she lives near me! She'll know that too if I ever catch up and respond to her email. I really do try to keep up with comments.
** Oh my goodness! DH! I have found a use for all those vintage pillowcases that I keep bringing home and stuffing in the closet. Skirts! See here at Pink Picket Fence. Wouldn't the little one look adorable in one of those?! I also saw beautiful Pillowcase Tankies here last week. Gotta make one of those. Would be perfect as dresses for the little niece twins too!

Have fun blog hopping. As soon as this cold/cough abates, I will be back to some hard creating. I've been reading two art books that are super inspiring. 1000 Journals Project and Confident Color. So fabulous! Also reading Peter Walsh's clutter-free book, It's All Too Much. Great book, I love him on Clean Sweep. Happy Creating!

P.S. I just posted some new recipes over at my foodies blog. My mouth is watering already.

Always Learning - Creative Therapy

This week's Creative Therapy catalyst (Tell about something you’ve always wanted to learn) was a fun challenge, once I got past my mental block. I started out with a collaged page for the journal I'm always working in. It was moving right along... until it wasn't. My friends will tell you I threw it around more than once in frustration. I ended up putting it aside to use in another project someday, after a new idea came to me. The one you see here.

This catalyst I participated in is my last for Creative Therapy. Unfortunately I find that life is pulling me in many other directions and I had to let something go. Sadly it was my participation on the Creative Therapy design team. I will continue to visit the blog and participate when I can. I hope you will do the same. The talent and inspiration on the design team are immense and should not be forgotten. Take time to play along!


I’ve never understood people who are so glad to be done with high school or college. I love learning! I always dream about going back to school for art classes. Fiber arts, painting, sculpting, printmaking, metalwork, jewelry design. You name it, I wanna at least try it. I’m hoping to be able to attend college again soon. When I was in high school I loved languages. I wanted to learn as many as I could and then be an interpreter at the UN. Hey, it was a goal! I still love learning languages. My daughter is taking French and I’m picking some of it up. When my husband was in the military I studied Korean with a friend for a few months and I took 5 years of Spanish during my school days. It’s too hard to pick just one thing I’ve ‘always wanted to learn.’ There are so many things I want to know, so many books to read and so many opportunities to learn. I am a perpetual learner. I pray I never lose that desire.

Thursday rambles on...

Didn't he ramble, didn't he ramble

He rambled all around, in and out of town
Didn't he ramble, didn't he ramble
He rambled till the butcher cut him down

He rambled through the city
He rambled through the street
Little ol lady pass him said
"Look at the market meat!"

Didn't he ramble, didn't he ramble
He rambled all around, in and out of town
Didn't he ramble, didn't he ramble
He rambled till the butcher cut him down.

Oh, that sounds a bit morbid doesn't it? Every time I say the word ramble I break out into this song though. Go figure. (It's by Harry Connick Jr. and I can hear him singing it in my head.)

This is a ramble of a post, full of little tidbits from yesterday and today's activities because you know I just like to be chatty contessa sometimes. So many things inside the brain today...

I'm still working on the new art room. This week and last has been all about fabric. I love seeing it start to all line up on the shelves, just waiting to be petted and used if I can part with any.




Have you been keeping track of your creative days? I have. I'm hoping my days of art only increase.

Upon seeing my chart on the wall, the little one said 'I bet you can't do art 10 days in a row.' I tried my best but made it to 9. Definitely this month!

Last night I wanted to work on something without instruction or worrying about if it 'looks right.' I chose to try continuous line drawing. The gorgeous flower that DH gave me for Valentine's Day has finally reached the pretty and dried out stage so I worked with it for my drawing. I got a bit lost in the middle, trying to remember if I had included this petal or that yet. I like it though.

And last but not least of the rambles... meet my new studio friends. They keep me company.

OWOH Winnings & WIP

I'm all about the abbreviations today aren't I?

I had the best time playing during One World One Heart, didn't you?! I was blessed enough to win three different blog offerings. I have received all the mail and wanted to share pics! (pics are blatantly stolen from the sites where I won the items.)This adorable little doll is from the creative mind of Sandee's Sanity. She is now ensconced in my basket of glitter jars, as the queen, protecting them from little handed thieves. She is quite enjoying her job and expects that I will make a crown for her soon.

This sweet denim bag is from Winn's Angels. It's quite popular in our house and the little one would like to claim it as her own. Winn also sent the a beautiful set of cards and a handmade card with a gorgeous picture of double rainbows!


This gorgeous present of a pendant, altered tin and 2 tags w/envelopes are stunning. I thought they were pretty online but in person they just shine. What a wonderful winning from Land of Nod's Studio! (more pics can be seen here on her blog.)

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Several posts back I talked about giving myself permission to 'waste' a canvas. I've been working on one. It's not finished but I thought I'd share it so far. It's many layerings of paints, papers, glazes, plastic discs for texture, stenciled images and handpainted eucalyptus. Any suggestions on what it might need?