Sharing ... Things I Love

Hello there!  How are you today?  It seems that in this time of transition, preparing for my hubby to retire, life is busier than ever around here.  Luckily, I have my artwork and artsy/crafty friends and that keeps me happy and gives me moments to relax and clear my head and create something pretty.

Anyway, this morning as I was reading a blog ... one that I have been following for years ... I saw a list in the side column where she had listed things she liked ... you know, those little things that make your heart patter.  So I decided to share with you today, some of those things that just make me feel happy.  In no particular order ....

The smell of fresh mown hay after about a day's worth of sunshine drying it out.

Fresh, in season, Florida (Plant City) strawberries.

The sound of the cows in nearby pastures saying goodnight to one another.

The happily wagging tails on my Doxies when their 'Daddy' gets home from work.

Faber Castell 'Gelatos'

Vintage Fire King Dishes

Walking along the edge of the water at the beach.

The smell of the dry earth when kissed by a rain shower.

Vintage cream and sugar sets.

Pretty ribbon.

Freshly sharpened pencils and the smell of the wood shavings.

Bagels and cream cheese.

Vintage buttons.

The sound of birds waking up in the morning.

The feeling of freedom as I paddle across the water in my canoe.

My Mama's biscuits and 'butter' gravy.

How my hubby loves me.

Watercolor paper.

Going to sleep in our camper, listening to the sound of waves beating the shore.

Me and my art bag at a picnic table by a lake or stream and time to create!

The perfect meal ... crusty bread, good butter, a couple of good cheeses, fresh, in season fruit, and a glass of wine.

Southern Gospel Music.

Laughter with good friends.

Time spent with my hubby, riding the back roads and talking and laughing and enjoying just being together.

Clyde, my Chevy truck.

An art store.

Friends who love me, even when I mess up!

My nephew, his sweet wife, and their precious Punkin Bug!

My beautiful northern Georgia.

Tarragon, Basil and Sage ... the best herbs ever!

That said ... fresh, home grown tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, EVOO, salt and pepper.

My deviled eggs.

Hugs from my Mama.

My hubby's laughter.

A bubbly stream, mossy banks, ferns and a place to lay a blanket to enjoy the stream.

The ceiling fan over my bed.

The love of God, forgiveness through Christ, and the assurance of salvation.


So, that's just a few of the long list of things I love, that make me happy, and sigh with joy.  Would you share a few of your favorite things with me???  I would love to know what makes you happy!  Blessings,

 

Sharing ... The Way of the Times ... Spam!

Hi there!  If you have looked for my blog in the last week or so, you might be wondering what happened to it!  Well, I recently began receiving spam comments on a couple of my older posts.  Lots of them!  So I thought it would be best to just shut it down for a few days and remove it from the search engines so that the 'bots' or whatever they are couldn't find me.

But now, I have re-added word verification and re-published the blog, adding it back to the search engines.  I know, I know ... I don't like word verification on comments much myself, but I know that with all the idiots who send out spam emails and bots and virus' and such, it's just pretty much a necessity.

So, I hope to be posting again soon ... I have lots of crafty goodness to share with you, so come back soon!  Blessings!

Sharing ... Mixed Media On Old Dictionary Pages

I am now addicted to painting on old papers, especially old dictionary pages.  I shared my first couple of these on my last post, but now I want to share my latest ... they are so pretty!!!

A friend of mine (some of you may know him, he is Ken Oliver who used to work for Spellbinders and now is doing some work for Prima) was given the family's old Purple Martin (bird) house by his father, and now uses it in his new home as a decoration.  Anyway, I so loved the bird house that I decided to paint it, and here is my finished product ...

I took creative license and painted MY version a light blue, and turned that top floor, which was facing left on the true birdhouse, toward the front.  I also added the pole and flower!  My friend's mother, Linda, loved it so that she wanted to buy it for a wall in their new home, but I am sending it to  her as a housewarming gift from me!  Here are some close-ups ...

The products I used were water colors, Gelatos and assorted pens and markers.

After I finished this one, I was on a real artsy high, so I kept going!  Here are some of my other pieces ...

The gold key and lacy circle are done with a stamp and heat embossing.  I also used water colors, acrylics, Gelatos, and assorted pens and markers.

A bright sunflower, mostly water colors and gelatos.

I don't know why I decided to do the lettering, but it came out pretty cute!  Still watercolors, gelatos, and assorted pens and markers.

I really like this one, even though it was probably the hardest of the birdhouses that I painted.  Same products as all those before.

So, tell me ... what do  you think!  Do you like them, hate them, would you buy them, because I'm thinking of selling them.  I really want to know!  Blessings,

Sharing ... ICAD 2014 ... My New Obsession!

About a week ago I noticed a post on facebook by a crafty friend, and it was a project she had made and labeled it 'ICAD 2014'.  Well, I searched it out and found their facebook page to discover what it was all about, and I loved what I found!  ICAD stands for Index Card A Day, and is using the simple index card to encourage artists (and aspiring artists) to create every day, and do it on an index card.

A project of Daisy Yellow, ICAD 2014 will last for 61 days ... all of June and July ... meaning you should make 61 projects.  You can choose several ways to participate ... following the daily prompts, the weekly themes, or just taking your own path ... just as long as you create and learn and grow in your artistic abilities and endeavors. 

I have chosen to follow the daily prompts, which are given out each Friday evening for the following week.  (An ICAD week runs Sunday to Saturday, just like on the calendar.)  Week one prompts were:

• June 1  -  Day 1  -  Prism
• June 2  -  Day 2  -  Circus Tent
• June 3  -  Day 3  -  Hello, my name is ...
• June 4  -  Day 4  -  Puzzle
• June 5  -  Day 5  -  Galaxy
• June 6  -  Day 6  -  Nail Polish
• June 7  -  Day 7  -  Yellow

And here are my cards ....

Day One - Prism

Gelatos, Black Pitt Pen, Spica Pens
 

Day Two - Circus Tent

Graphite Pencil, Spica Pens.  The quote is my very own, describing how I feel these days!

Day Three - Hello, My Name Is ...

Day Four - Puzzle

For the base I used a gelli print on 110# card stock, using cheap acrylic paints.  I also used MME stamps, Archival Ink in Cobalt, Pitt Pens and Collage Podge.  I love doing some puzzles, but the Sudoku is just a mystery to me!  That's why I said "This Puzzie is a Puzzle to me".

Day Five - Galaxy

For this one, I used black acrylic paint, Stickles in Black, Silver and Stardust, tiny silver star sequins, and a Uniball Signo white pen.

Day Six - Nail Polish

Background and pink fingernails are Gelatos, fingers drawn with a graphite pencil (6B), and Pitt Pens.  I don't wear nail polish, don't like what it does to my nails, and prefer the natural color rather than some un-natural color.  That is why I did what I did on this card.

Day Seven - Yellow

Gelatos, water colors, Stickles, Glossy Accents and Pitt Pens.  No explanation necessary!


So that is my first week of ICAD!  I am running behind on week two, but it won't take long to get caught up. 

What I love about this challenge is that:

• it is a small surface to work on, 
• the prompts give you just enough to get you started, 
• it isn't forever, but rather just two months, 
• you can follow the prompts or themes, or go your own way, and 
• the group page on Facebook is LOTS of fun, with lots of encouraging and talented folks!

So, let me know if you decide to give it a whirl!  I think you would really enjoy it!  Blessings,

Sharing ... Art ... Catching Up!

Hi there!  Back again for one of my infrequent blog posts!  Life has been really busy lately, and while I have had time to MAKE art, there hasn't been much time left over to post about it, so her I am to try to catch up! 

First up is an art journal page that I did in my favorite new journal.  It is a Strathmore Pro-Art Watercolor Journal, which basically means the paper inside is a heavy weight watercolor paper.  Water color paper will take a lot of different mediums, even wet watercolors, so it is great for art journaling.  Here is the page ...

The background is Faber Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos.  They are my newest artsy product obsession!  The are kind of waxy, but much softer than crayons.  They blend on their own, or you can paint with them like water colors, or mix them with water to make paints or mists.  They are amazing!  The poem is one I wrote on Friday, when I was worrying about a sweet friend.  The house is on a card, and was sent to me in a 'happy mail' by a lady named An who lives in Belgium.  It went perfectly with this journal page.  Other products I used in this were Faber Castell 'Pitt Pens', (that's not the set that I bought, but I thought you could see what they look like in this pack) and Spica Pens

Next up are some little bits of art I've been making using old dictionary pages ... what do you think about these?

Of course, I got the idea from the little house I used in the art journal page above, but I really do love them!  The dictionary pages I used are from an old 1950-something dictionary that I bought at a yard sale for about $1 or so ... don't remember for sure!  The backgrounds are tinted with Gelatos, the markings are done using Tim Holtz Distress Ink Markers in Black Soot and Vintage Photo, and no, I don't own the whole set ... in fact, I only own those two colors!  The red hearts and flowers are done using the Spica pens (link above) in Red and Garnet.  These are done on 3 x 5" index cards ... that's another new obsession, but more on that in the next post!  I have done more than these, including a couple of birds, but haven't got pictures yet.

And these cuties led me to try something TOTALLY out of my comfort zone!  Drawing/sketching on old dictionary pages, and coloring them with Gelatos and watercolors.  I am in love with the Eiffel Tower!

I did this one by looking at a stamp I had of the Eiffel Tower.  Mine came out totally different, but I love it ... a lot!  The blue tint on the paper is from Gelatos.  I sketched the tower using a Kimberly Graphite Pencil in 6B ... very soft, and draws like a dream.  Then I went over it with the Tim Holtz markers linked above.  Oh, and I did it on a dictionary page that has the history of France!

The chair came out great!  The sketching was done just like above ... graphite pencil then markers.  The coloring was done with Gelatos, except for the chair legs, which are watercolors.  The white on the arms of the chair is from a Uniball Signo White Gel Pen ... the BEST white pen ever!  (And no, I don't have a dozen ... I have one!)

So tell me, what do you think of my artsy endeavors???  I am loving what I am doing right now ... and THAT is a true sign that I am doing something right!  I'll be back soon to share my newest artsy challenge obsession!  Blessings,