Looking forward to 2007...

I am really looking forward to 2007. Really 2006 has not been a great year in my famil, heartattacks, deaths, family problems, the list seems to go on and on..
So 2007 I have deemed to be the year of a better life for all. I have been thinking about goals, dont you every year do a new years goal and then 3 days into the New Year you break it. Well this year I am going to set 5 goals and ensure that I carry them through for the new year. Now I know you are not suppose to tell anyone your goals but I want to be accountable so here they are: Goal: Lose weight/Not is that not everyone's goal, but I want to do it for my health> Goal 2: Excerise/now this is a major goal, as this girl hates excerise (my treadmill re laundry holder can testify to that/Goal 3: Enroll in an Art course at Universtiy/now this also is a heafty goal as I am always comparing my talent to others and always falling short. Goal 4/Improve my photography skills/take my camera more places and get the unexpected shots/Goal 5:Try to do something for someone else other than my self/pershaps volunteer I havent really decided on this one yet. Now I will get you imformed of my progress in regards to these goals. We are having friends over for dinner , Steak, and garlic shrimp, the works, stuffed baked potatoes and a movie. My friend is going to hook up my home theatre that we got for Christmas, Hubby is not inclined that way. Well I hope you all have a great time and a safe and happy New Year. And here to blogging in 2007.,....

Chinese Food and a Birthday Girl

This is the birthday girl, my sister inlaw, we all went out tonight and celebrated her birthday and had Chinese food. We eat alot, laughed alot, and had a great time. The only one who could not make it tonight was my daughter as she had to work. Well today was totally crazy at work everything has to be done by year end and that is tomorrow and we get to leave early so I will be going in early. I have been in the groove of creating something everyday for 23 days, and haven't done anything now in a few so I am getting jittery. I am totally going to create tomorrow night, I have a great idea stirring around and want to work on it, I love it when you don't have to fight to get ideas. Well enough of my chatter, talk to you tomorrow.

Studio Friday-Proud artist of "The Art of the Teapot"

Well since it was my suggestion I thought I better post. This piece was done with paper, stamps, paint, and mesh. My scrapbooking store had a contest on to use certain paper, which was provided and you could do anything with it, as long as you used all the paper patterns. Well I dont usually enter contests but was intriqued by the paper, I love paper. So this is the concept that I came up with, and you know I liked it immediately, it tells the story of how I created the teapot, didnt win, didnt matter because I was happy with what I created, and thats all that matters....

I'am Done Cooking till the New Year....

I hope everybody had a great Christmas. I did! But way to much cooking, so I am not cooking till the New Year, everybody around here has to fend for themselves. Wont be to hard we are off for dinner out tommorow night, and friday, and New Years eve we are doing nothing, so I for sure will cook a special dinner. I got some really nice presents, a watercolour set (i wanted to try my hand at watercolours) some new paint brushes, sketch pads, perfume, books (I love to read) and misc stuff, so I was very spoiled. The weather cooperated this year and we had nice warm days and no snow. Today I went out (took the day off today) and did some shopping with my daughter, it was quite busy, I did not buy anthing but there still is the weekend. Well I must go and get my lunch ready. What else but a turkey sandwich as its work tommorow. So its back to normal and I will talk to you guys tommorow. At studio friday I submitted an idea and they used it this week, so I better post. Oh by the way this is my family, Mums, sister inlaws, cousins etc The ones missing is me (taking the picture) and hubby who hates getting his picture taken).

I will remember....

Merry Christmas to you all. Today on my blog I remember my sister Delta Louise Martin, who passed away this year, in January, she had just turned 55 two weeks before. It was a surprise we were not ready for it, it was a heart attack, she was at home not feeling well and everybody was at work. I want to tell you a little about her, She grew up in a warm loving household, the oldest of three sisters. I am about 2 years younger, and the youngest is about 12 years younger. She was a normal sister, we got into a lot of fights about her clothes, I always wanted to wear them, and she did not want me to. But just sister stuff. She grew up and married her soul mate Bryan. They eventually settled into Vancouver. She had a son, lets just say her family was her life. Her husband and son meant the world to her. She had a great job that she loved, and was happy to go there each day. The last time I saw my sister, was last Christmas, I came just after Christmas and stayed till her birthday. Truthfully I think I was meant to go there and see her at Christmas, we had a great time, visited, laughed, hung out with our Mother, spent New Years altogether, her husband, me, and my mom, and celebrated the new year. Almost 3 Weeks later she died. I will remember her, as a Young girl, a teenager, a wife, and a mother, and a devoted, caring sister, who loved her whole family. We miss you and wish you were here to share your life with us. We love you always......

Day 24-Merry Christmas Eve

Okay if you have been following the 24 days of Christmas art journal I am missing 2 days 22, 23, but I have not had the time to complete them, but I will when things calm down. Lots of rushing arouond with last minute details for Christmas. Well not a long blog tonight just want to wish you a Merry Christmas, and hope that Santa brings you what you want. My wish for 2007 is Peace on Eacth.....I know that;s a pretty big wish, but if we all wish it might happen.....We had the 2 moms over for our favourite dinner of snacks, a tradition on Christmas Eve, we had shrimp escaots, chicken wings, mozzale sticks, drinks (lots of )ham sausage, all things good for you once a year. Merry Christmas

Studio Friday: Rituals and Wishes (plus day 21)

Studio Friday is all about Rituals and Wishes in the studio. I dont really have any rituals in the studio, I like a clean studio to work in, so I usually have to clean it up, and then get down to work. But wishes for the studio, I would love to have an island in my studio, just the right height, with storage underneath, and on the sides room for book and magazines. I dont have the room for one of these babies but in my dreams I would have the perfect studio and be able to create endless amounts of work with no mess...

Only 5 more sleeps till Christmas...

I know not very original, I used a xmas card and some scrapbooking paper, took me 3 minutes, but really thats all I have had today to do any art. I am super busy at work , year end stuff that needs to be done by the end of Decemember, stuff around the house, final little bits still to do for Christmas. I am having a hard time fitting in the Christmas art journal, all I have left is 4 days....I am not going to give up....I will get it done....Tonight got home late nobody home, layed on the counch till 8.00 napping, I just needed it I am tired out. Christmas really is not restfull. Well got to go its 11:30 here and 6:00 am comes mightly early.....

Come on baby light my fire...

All right not very orignal, but hey I am running out of things for the 25 days of Christmas, I am glad its just about all over. Next year for sure 12 days only....I have been super busy finishing last minute Christmas things, and going out with friends for Christmas celebatrations. I am looking forward to christmas just being over and finally taking a break and just destressing. Actually I do stress quite alot in this season. But come Decembere 25, and the presents are open, I am just going to relax and enjoy the rest of the holidays. We in Canada get December 25, and 26 off as a stat holiday, we call Dec 26, Boxing Day that is when we have some great sales. It is like in the states when they have those thanksgiving sales. Well its after 12 and I have to hit the hay to get up for work tommorow. So talk to you later....

Catching up on the art journal day 18

Still trying to play catch up stay tuned for December 19 and then I am caught up...

We three kings

Day 17 and I am caught up for now, I should have just done the 12 days of Christmas, but I am bound and determined to finish. Now I know these guys dont look much like camels but I did my best. Well this weekend was a whirlwind of activity. Trying to get the christmas shopping done, and wrapped. My husbands birthday is on Monday and try to get him presents as well, he seems to get short changed because his birthday is so close to Christmas, we have my brother inlaws as birthday today, and my other brother in laws birthday on Tuesday. My mother came over today and we did some shopping and she wrapped most of the presents for me, and we ordered in chinese food, it was great I love not cooking on a Sunday. But alas i have to go and make lunches for Monday so gotta to go...talk to you tommorow...

Happy Chanukah

Trying to catch up on my Art projects, I wanted to post this for my daughters boyfriend who is Jewish and its the start of his holidays.

Studio Friday Challenge-Purely White...

I did this layout all white, I scanned it and it turns beige, It photographed the same, so here it is anyway. I like it, I painted it in layers and used wooden layers, and even managed to incoroporate it into my christmas 25 day art journal. It does not look great here, but in person its pretty good.

Santa likes starbucks to...EDM challenge #96

The challenge at Everday Matters was to draw something sweet, so here is my entry into something sweet. Two thinks I like hot chocolate from Starbucks and Candy Canes at christmas...

Elfs wanted...

Day 13, still trying to catch up on my Christmas art journal, stay tuned for day 14....

angel baby....

Well 3 layouts in one night, and still not quite caught up....Well as you can tell back from the visiting. Had a cup of tea and a visit with my neice and family and my mother inlaw was there as well. My sister in law is off to Malysia in January so we had a good talk about that. Well today we had our annual staff christmas luch and it went off very well, we always have it at the same hotel and they do a really nice job of decorating and food, our group was about 150 and we all go fed and out of there in about 1.5 hours. Then it was back to work, of course nobody felt like working a nap was what I was thinking but managed to get a little work done. Well I should end this now, before you actually snooze off, so talk to you tommorow.

How many swans a swimming to many to draw....

Well here is day 11, now on to day 12....

Just Call me Rudy...

Meet Rudy Dy 10 of the art journal and I am behind I feel the pressure, so tonight I am trying to catch up. But first I have to go to my sister inlaws because my beautiful neice is turning 21.... I wish I was 21.... then its home to do some more. You will hear me from me tonight. Got to go...get checking back...and leave some comments....

Life interfering with Art...

Thats right lately I have had no time for art, or my Christmas Art journal. Tonight got home late from work, and so did hubby, had supper, cleaned up and then had to get some christmas stuff done. Well there went the night and no art created. I think I need to quit work (hubby doesnt read the blog so I feel safe to say that). Tommorow night its off to the mall to get the pesky christmas shopping over and done, just the daughter left. Sunday we put up the tree and decorated it, here is the tree undecorated, the decorated one was blurry. I know its a pretty lame picture, but I think we need pictures on our blog. Well got to go. talk to you tommorow night and will let you know how the shopping turned out....

December 9, Birds eye view

Did not draw this one, I found the paper and loved it on sight. I did alter it a bit, but love it anyway. Now i am not totally caught up yet as today is December 10, so I better get moving and get on it. No art done this weekend as I was pretty busy, with Christmas things, we put on the tree and decorated, cleaned the house from top to bottom, had my Mom over for dinner and putting up the tree. And just lazed around the rest of the weekend. Hubby put up the Christmas lights outside, and shoveled the driveway, and cleaned out the garage. So we were both pretty busy and pretty tired. I was cleaning the shower today, and stepped inside and did the splits, my whole body aches, after all I am not 20 anymore.....so I took a couple of Tylenol. I have not finished my shopping yet, am going on Tuesday night after work to complete it....enough of this, I want it over and done. Well I should go and make my lunch for work and try to get to bed early, but I want to read Vanity Fair, I just bought it today and the issue is all about ART...Well talk to you tommorow and hopefully have day 10 and 11 done....

Day 8, is all about the boys.......

I found this picture in a book, I wasn't going to use it at first, but thought its an art journal it can be anything it doesnt have to be all about you drawing everything, so here it is. I did paint the background, but the picture is out of a magazine.

Polar Bears have Christmas to....

I had just watched a tv show on Polar Bears coming into Churchill Manitoba on their way to the Ice, and thought that would be a great drawing for the Art Journal so here it is enjoy..because I really liked doing it....Just catching up on my art journal days...

Studio Friday - Color Combos that make you Crazy

I find orange and yellow very hard to work with, there are so many shades of yellow. I dont paint to much with yellow, and never with orange. I know orange and brown look good together, but I just dont like the color of orange, so I dont use it. Another color is tan, or beige very hard to use.

Remembering Christmas Past

Well the days on the journal are a little mixed up but at least I am trying to do one a day. Well this one came together quite easy as I was thinking of my family and of christmas in the past and of course my sister. Today was the dentist my crown broke last week so today it was two hours of drilling, so by the time I was out of the chair I was ready for home. But I had promised my mother shopping and dinner so that is what we did. Still not finished christmas shopping, I dont find it easy as I never know what to buy people. We are putting up the tree on Sunday night and decorating Sunday. Well should go got to get Studio Friday ready for posting.

Star of Wonder Star of Light

I know I missed day 5, but here is day 6, I am going to do day 5 tonight and day 7. Well tonight its just me home alone. I got a plan to clean the house and do art. So the journal entry will be short. Last night My daughter and I atteded the retirement party for my husband. About 150 people and lots of fun, he got some great original art as gifts, we had a great time. It really was not to late of a night witch is great. On my way home tonight I stopped at Chapters to get a book, and a homeless man asked me for money, I gave him some. But it got me thinking, how could anyone that lives in the province in Canada where I live be homeless or out of work. We are having a boom in Alberta, Oil is big, jobs are plentifull on the streets eveyone has signs they need help. We are bringing in people from other provinces to work in the fast food industry etc. Do people not want to help themselves, its mighty cold out there to be cold and hungry. Well should go talk to you all tommorow.

Hope...

First and foremost I know today is December 4, and I put the 3 on the picture I will be fixing that after this post. Well to days post is about Hope. Today we received an email from my brother in law and sister in law, who are in Guyana on a three year posting. My brother in law is a Minister with the Presbyterian church and my sister in law is also involved with the church. The email today made me think, (I know Ian imagine that) because of what his message was about HOPE. As i was driving home tonight, I thought about this, you have to have HOPE, your whole existence is based about HOPE, if there is no hope then there is only despair. People who give up have lost all hope can see nothing ahead of them. Ian thanks for the email it made me sit up in my comfortable house and think about other individuals other than myself.

Mary did you know?

I was driving home and heard this song on the radio and knew immediately I had to do something, here is my rendition of Mary, I did not put a face on her, because I think people all have a different way they see her, she is universal and yet different to everybody. I am having a blast doing all these, I am working now on day 5, I have day 4 done. well this weekend went by really fast. Went Christmas shopping on Friday night, and today, the mall was crazy and I am not finished. My mother was over on Saturday and we were going to bake, but ending up wrapping presents, I have beeing behind on present wrapping that is my least favourite job. Well got to go make lunches, talk to you all tommorow, stay tuned for day 4......

Art Journal updates.....

Sorry didnt post December 2, art journal because was busy. Oh I know you were all waiting to see what it was, well I really like it, but I like December 3, way better. Going to post it now!!!!