Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 in a nutshell

well the countdown begins for the beginning of 2012
in 2011 i blogged 238 times
made some good and bad art
took alot of courses and learned alot
have 112 followers (thank you)
made many good blogging friends
grieved over the loss of my mother
had a few scary health concerns (good now)
took a few trips
had fun times with good friends
watched my daughter grow as a woman
celebrated my 39the wedding anniversary
helped my sister
tonight we are staying home having a quiet new year
sometimes we don't even make it up for new years,
we are going today at 1:00 pm to have lunch with
friends at the Red Lobster...my favourite place on earth.
What are you doing tonight?

Friday, December 30, 2011

Favourites

Do you have a favourite drawing, painting, sketch that you
like above anything else you have ever created?
I do, this one, its not pretty, its not even that
good technically, she looks like she
has had a bad batch of botox, but
it represents me who I am as an
artist,where I want to go as an artist.
I cant draw or paint realistically, no
matter how hard I try, so I decided
I have to go a different path, the
path is a little wonky, funky, edgy (i try)
I want people to look at my work and
say, that is her style for sure.
What do you say, whats your style,

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Imperfection


When you make art do you love what you produce immediately?
I must say sometimes, I am satisfied with it, sometimes
I hate it, sometimes I am happy with imperfection.

I think that some of the great painters of years ago
struggled with the same worries about
there art, as we do.  I am sure Picasso must
have produced a few stinkers in his time.  But
I guess what we all have to remember
is what we see as an imperfection\
others see as perfection.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Mrs. No idea

I quess you can tell, I have no ideas, no art ideas i mean
the well has run dry this week.  The feeling of blogging
is not there.  Is it the season? Is it sometimes you need
to take a break.  I kept going by Zorans blog, but
she had not posted in awhile.  Finally a post
a bunch of bloggers had emailed her and asked
if she was alright.  She was she had just
up and quit her blog, she thought nobody
would miss . she came
back, explained she had enough for now,
and goodbye.  Do you feel like that sometimes?
Or am I the only one, or is blogging going
out of style, now with different ways to
communicate. thru face book, twitter etc.
Personally face book or twitter is not
for me.  Ok lets take a poll, do you
like to blog, facebook or twitter, which one the most
Me.  its blog when I have something to say

Monday, December 26, 2011

Its all over except the mess

Had a great xmas
lots of great gifts
lots of turkey and stuffing, chocolates and on and on
listening to Adele 21 from the Shopper
went for a great long walk with devil dog to walk of the food
the weather is perfect
not venturing to far today
Boxing day sales will be on all week
leftover turkey and trimmings tonight
turkey soup in the crock pot

Saturday, December 24, 2011

twas the night before christmas


and Lee wanted to wish everyone a

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Friday, December 23, 2011

Family Traditions


Every year I buy my daughter a christmas ornament, have been doing this
since she was born, she now has 23.
Do you have a family christmas tradition you want to share

Thursday, December 22, 2011

lets get together


Today was a lunch with best friends, and exchange of gifts,
I bought a couple of prints from one of my favourite artists
on her website, mounted them, painted the canvas, and some
other things for them.  They loved them.  I love giving
gifts that mean something.  We had a great lunch
and a good time.  We don't just do it at Christmas
we try to all get together at least once a month
you need to keep in touch with friends.  We need
family, but you also need friends.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Snow Birds

Where I live in Alberta, we have long, cold winters, and
for those that can afford it, usually there winter holidays
or winters are spent in either Arizona, or California.  Now if
you lived on the east coast of Canada, your winter
destination would be Florida. They call us
Snow birds, going south for the winter. If you
know Anne Murray a Canadian she had a number one song
called Snow birds
 Just a little information you might not know today

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

spinning my wheels

I have been out of commission these past few days, with a fever,
heavy cough and really bad cold  But today, I am feeling a bit
better, I have a few things    that need to get
done.  Hubby is home on holidays so he is doing his
best with the  errands that I give him, but you know
men, they dont get exactly what you want.
Other than that no news, this is a postcard I did a while
back and never showed anyone.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Princess and the Pea

The shopper and I have been busily making magic bags.
For those of you who don't know what magic bags are
these ones are full of Flax Seed, all you do
is heat them up in the microwave for a couple
of minutes, and you can put them on achy spots,
or if your cold to warm you up, you can also
put them in the freezer if you need a cold compress.
I have been using mine all weekend, as I have
come down with a really bad cold, and congestion
aches all over my body.  I love mine not shown,
These ones are for her co-workers, we have
quite the assembly line going, she cuts, I sew,
we fill, and I sew closed.  Most of this is done
on the machines, except the end bit, which
is much nicer done with hand stiching

Friday, December 16, 2011

Card Zone

this beautiful card was made by Sue, don't you just love it
so smartly made I would never of thought of making a tree like that
I love it





this gorgeous card was made by Jan, don't
you love it, its got that ethereal quality to it


This beautiful card is from http://joyfulploys.wordpress.com/ she is a great artist and has a wonderful blog, full of great art, great color

this is made by my blog friend janet
http://jkbees.blogspot.com/ isnt it beautiful
when I opened it I was dazzled, the
picture does not do it justice
go on over to her blog she
explains how she made it




so how are you all doing were almost to the countdown, the presents will be
opened, in how many minutes (lol) the food you loving prepared is
over in how many minutes (lol) and the mess is all yours to clean up
in how many days

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Moo




The picture says it all, that is how i feel ...
Today I feel weepy, and I have a cold, and a cough, which I haven't had in about 8 years.  I must be run down, the holidays this year are getting me down, and I vowed not to let them.  I have been thinking about my mother and sister and father who have all passed away.  And feel my family shrinking, and worry about my own mortality, and my other sister.  There are things that I need to do and I have put off this but I made a new bucket list of 12 things that I want to accomplish in my life and I vow to do them.  They are not impossible things they are doable.  Christmas time is always a season of soul searching and gathering of
all the people that you love close beside you and letting everyone know how much they mean to you.  I have vowed for 2012 that I will let the people I know and love everyday how much they mean to me.

Oh for heavens sake I am being so overly dramatic here, must be the fever (lol).  Well today I am laying low, feeding a fever and starving a cold, (or whatever it is).  Tonight the shopper is coming over after work and the family is having pizza and we are baking.  The hubby needs some stuff for work on Friday and so does the shopper, tis the season. 

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Snack Attack


Do you leave Santa a snack and what was it?

Back in the day, we always left Santa a snack,
but not a traditional snack.  Because my
parents always told us, Santa must be
sick of cookies and milk by the time
he got to our house.  So our snack
was crackers, and ham sausage and a bottle
of beer.  When we woke up in
the morning we always checked to
make sure Santa had his beer
and crackers (loll)

Saturday, December 10, 2011

The Truth

How old were you when you knew that Santa was not real?
And Who told you?

I cant remember how old I was , but my sister told
me, when she was mad at me.  First I wouldn't
believe her, then she pointed out some valid
points, like we didn't have fireplace. Every time
we went to see Santa he was a different Santa
etc.  So then when we both knew it became
out mission in life to find every present
before Christmas.  One year we
saw a phone jack in our room, hidden
behind something, so we knew we were
getting a phone, so we searched the
house found it, plugged it in
and had phoned my mother
at work to ask her some dumb question.  She
never knew we found it.  It was princess phone
in pink. Our favourite that year.

Friday, December 09, 2011

busy busy

even with being so organized, having all the presents bought and wrapped,
tree up, house decorated, outside decorated, I am still busy.  I thought
I would be down in the studio, sipping a diet coke, with my feet
up just thinking about art.  But no my mind is still thinking
we need more, more presents, more stuff.  But yet
my heart says you have enough, its not suppose
to be about the presents, but we all know
that is crap, ask your kids what it is really about.

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Fa La La La and all that stuff

the daily question is "Do you like the Old Christmas Songs or the new 20 the century ones"

I like some of the old ones, and some of the new ones, some
bring back memories I have forgotten.
  What is your favourite
Christmas song?

I am taking a little poll, are you sick of all these Christmas questions and
art that I am doing for the month of December? Are you thinking
of not coming back till January? Let me know, because I
can change it up.

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Checking the mail


Do you send christmas cards to your friends and  Family?

This is the year I have decided to stop the sending
of Christmas Cards period.  Last year it was to
just family.  Christmas Cards I quess are
old school now, as you can send your
emails, and facebook, and skype, your
wishes.  Years ago (here I go again) my
family (mother etc) would get
a zillion cards, with letters on how
everyone was doing, etc.  But now really
there is no need, we used to have christmas
cards strung all over the house. 

Monday, December 05, 2011

Sometimes its just black and white

do you put candy canes on your tree?

When I was growing up, our tree was loaded
with handmade ornanments, and candycanes.
So do you think candycanes are old
school, because I think I am going to
go and get some and put them
on my tree, old school or not.
Be a rebel and start a new
tradition and make candycanes rule.


Sunday, December 04, 2011

string them up

Do you decorate the outside of your house?

We only put lights on the trees in front of the house
and on the front of the house.  They are turning
on tonight.  In the neighbourhood where we
live they have a "light up" night, they
make a big deal, have a tent, have horse
sleigh rides, and everyone turns on
the Christmas lights.  At the front of
the entrance to where we live, they have
a fountain and some big tall trees,
and they are lighted up.  Tonight
we turn on the lights?

Saturday, December 03, 2011

Dedicated christmas tree space

Tonight the tree comes up and decorations appear
Question of the day
Do you always put your Christmas Tree in the same place
and do you have more than one you put up?

I can tell you I only have one tree, I always put it in the
same place. I will tell you a little secret if you haven't
figured it out yet, I am quite the precise and that's
a nice word,  kinda of gal, so it goes in the same
space every year. 
Now I guess the next question would be:
Do you decorate your tree by a theme, like
same colors , all balls, or bows

Now I must admit my tree is not a theme tree,
its kinda all over the place, things the
shopper made me when she was little, things
I inherited from my parents, things we
bought when we were married.  But
I do admire beautiful trees that have
a theme, and beautiful ribbons, but
its not me. 



Friday, December 02, 2011

Deck the halls

Its December 2 and the question of the day is
"When do you decorate your house and put up the tree"

Well usually I do all this stuff on the 18th of the month
and take it down on the 26th.  But this month
i am breaking my stringent rules, throwing caution to
the wind and putting the tree up and the decorations
on Saturday.  I am going out of my comfort zone (lol)
and breaking free as the shopper says.


Thursday, December 01, 2011

Hello December

making a 4x6 index card each day in December
going out with friends tonight to see Breaking Dawn, and drinks afterward
bringing up the tree to the family room
having leftover chicken pot pie
working on my December craft
enjoying my day by doing things that I love
what are you doing this December 1

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Do you feel crafty?

I had a little laugh when I read this in the paper, and had to share it
so true.  I always make one craft at christmas, it started when
my daughter was born, I wanted to be a good mom and
make crafts with her.  She wasn't the least little bit interested, could be because I
was a pushy mom and always had to be in charge (lol) or because it was my way or the
highway...  because don't we always know right (lol) I have since learned I am not the boss of her (lol)
So this year without assistance   I have decided to make a cone shaped styrofoam
tree filled with bows made from the newspaper, and water colored.  In my mind
its going to be beautiful, reality may step in and say differently.  So stay tuned for that

Here is a link if you feel crafty from robin Marie site
for a bunch of homemade ornaments, just
click on the writing and you will get the
instructions and let me know if you make anything
 http://www.robenmarie.com/blog/2011/11/29/ornament-love.html

Monday, November 28, 2011

One eyed wonder

  • still working on cone project and collage
  • had spring like weather all weekend
  • going to the shoppers house to let the floor guy in
  • today is wifely duties, and get your mind out of the gutter, its not that, its cleaning the house
  • some art supplies bought on the weekend some wood boards to paint on, spalette knifes, sennier pastels, only 4, as I cant afford them all at once, so I buy a few at a time they go on like butter
so what di you do on the weekend,,,,

Friday, November 25, 2011

mish mash friday

Thanksgiving is over, and all that is left is turkey sandwiches
turkey pot pie, and should I go on, until all that
damn turkey is gone.  Now its shopping till you drop,
fighting the crowds back when they have what you want,
and coming home with an sense of accomplishment of
getting what you really did not need but had to have
and a little lighter wallet, now isn't that what
thanksgiving is all about (lol).
In Canada they did not like all us Canadians going down ac cross the
border to spend all our hard earned dollars, so they
got into the spirit and now we have Black Friday
shopping, but it doesn't give you quite the
thrill of going across the border just
so you can get that one item
and come back and brag to all your friends
of what you got?
All right who of you went shopping raise your hands, and let me know what you
got, so I can get the thrill of the hunt to.


Thursday, November 24, 2011

Back to the future

did the transfer and it worked thanks Julie
one of the secrets is use toner based copies
and let the gel med dry
still a little work needed on the transfer
and lots on the collage this is just
the start

I am also working on another project on the cone
on the table, if it works I will share it with you
if it doesn't you might see the garbage
are you full of turkey now



Wednesday, November 23, 2011

do you feel crafty


Is this the time of year you feel crafy, well have I got some sites for you to
check out, really great projects, dont wait run over and check them out

this one I might try today
here is another one from her for a chevron stamp, and you know chevron is this season
http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/2011/11/from-the-archives-chevron-stamp-tutorial.html

and make your own teacups with a pattern so simple

http://annwood.net/blog/2011/02/24/paper-mache-teacup-pattern/

heres another site, this site is so full of information and
tutorials, and she shares so easy go here and try it out

http://annwood.net/blog/2011/02/24/paper-mache-teacup-pattern/

i belong to a group called art geeks run by Gulfspirt free
and she shares,  and here is her youtube channel
check it outhttp://www.youtube.com/user/GulfSpr1te?feature=mhee

here are some tutorials from Julie Pritchard, her art is
amazing, she has amazling online classes, and she
shares what she knows
http://julieprichard.squarespace.com/blog/category/tutorials

so that is from me to you, happy thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Transfer Magic

I haven't given up on my collage, I am
working on it today, I will take pictures .  I am going to try another transfer, this
time one that I learned in  http://www.julieprichard.com/blog/
class titled Complex Collage, that is a great
class if your interested in taking one, I learned alot, and
its on sale  .  I was not paid to say that.(lol)  Dont ask
me why I never did that transfer to start with, you know the I can
do it my own way and it will work but never does way
Other than that, I have already been to the airport, to drop
the sister inlaw off to go home, to the vet, to
get devil dogs, leg checked she was limping,
she only stretched the ligament, get her
nails cut, and buy some dog food, $166 dollars
later, I left.  But the good news is
in two months she has lost 2 lbs
she is on a diet, unlike her owner who has
not dropped two pounds.  Anyway
I am off to work on my collage, stay tuned.

Monday, November 21, 2011

failure does not deter me


so i decided that i should do a transfer on her head,
i know what you doing? The funky piece I had
looked like hair.  Now every transfer I have
ever done, with every supply i can think of
has failed. But undaunted I vow to try again.


 so I start pict 2 on the head, you cant
see me praying off camera



 picture 3 the reveal, failure, you cant see
what words at that moment are coming
out of my mouth



 picture 4 I decide to leave the transfer
area and never do another one again, and move on
until I can think of something else.  Next painting
the girl. Stay tuned

Sunday, November 20, 2011

The Ugly Stage

I started working on a collage,
first step pickingout some of  the collage items
went very monocromatic on the colours

 Next step place them and see if you like them,
this is what I call the ugly stage, but
hopefully it gets better. 

I will share this journey with you if your intersted.  In other news there seems to be alot of blog drama going on, lots of people stealing others ideas and claiming there own.  I see no ones stealing my ideas, because your welcome to them (lol).  Pretty soon nobody will be blogging because they dont want their ideas taken. So those out there in blog land who dont have any ideas of your own, get a life and start thinking of some.  Because I like reading everyones blogs....keep posting

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Moments

wind is howling and snow is swirling
fireplace on
 hotchocolate in hand
wrapping christmas presents (yes I am )
mailed christmas cards (yesterday)
enjoying the little moments today


Monday, November 14, 2011

A bit of drib and drab

painted background papers

I have a busy morning
  •  haircut much needed
  • pick up the shoppers contact lenses
  • return some bottle to the bottle depot
  • pick up mother inlaw take her grocery shopping
  • walk devil dog
This afternoon I plan on devoting some time in
the studio, a quick clean up and then its time
to think of working big, thats right I am
going to try and work big .  I dont know
yet what I am going to do but its going to be big.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

christmas card chaos

I am in the process of making Christmas cards
I had all my Christmas stuff all together
so I decided just to make them in the kitchen
instead of the studio, so I could
visit and watch tv with the hubby.
I know , I know, what a nice
wife, what I wont do for my man (lol).
So I managed to make 5 cards so far,
lets just say it not production line
fast.  If you squint really hard
you can see some in the back
on the counter.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Reflections

Today is all about reflection my mother passed away 1 year ago today
hard decisions had to be made and I had to make them
I still wonder if I made the right decision
but sometimes its the only one

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Fridge Art

Sometimes i just create art for the fridge, the other day I had a paper bag and created two peices of
art, I will show you the  other one  tommorow.  Not the best of works of art I have, but done fast and easy, 10 minutes.  Sometimes I just like to do fast art and not care if its not perfect.  Well last night I said to hubby how do you like my fridge art, and he say's what fridge art.  Ah dude were you dropped on your head as a baby,are you blind. How many times does he go in that fridge in 24 hours lets just say more that you want to know, and he cant see a big honking peice of art, oh the joys of having a husband

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Floating

I feel like I have been floating lately, just floating and not doing what
I want to do, which is stop doing tthese damn postcards, and do
something else.  So I have been thinking about what to go onto
next, my friend  janet  http://jkbees.blogspot.com/ works
on all sorts of things, big canvas one day, her journal the next day
draws on newsprint. I am thinking of doing a mixed media
on clayboard, I would love to be one of those people that
could work on more than one thing at a time.  I am going to try that,because
pretty soon I will need  some intense therapy if I continue to make postcards

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

I dont do cutzie

I know this is bordering on cutzie, gag me with a spoon.  Its started just as a piece of textured paper, and a card with fish on it.  I started with a pink marker, the fish I used as a picture, and it went from there.

(disclaimer: IT not that I dont like cutzie art, I just dont like if I do it.  I asked my daughter the
shopper if it was cutzie and she said no, but she is related to me, she has to lie. 


Monday, November 07, 2011

The day



postcard, hand drawn fence and background, girl from magazine, drawn over
with sharpie, white out, and markers


Hello Monday
turkey soup on the stove
no snow here yet
homemade bread to be made
laundry to be done
dog to be walked
art to be made

Saturday, November 05, 2011

Molting

I know you probably thinking is that all she ever does is birds, I promise
you i will do other things, I am getting a little sick of it to.
But I had a good time with this one, I kind of made him
look like peeling paint, or molting, i used tiny scraps of handmade
paper, and glue, and white out, and black pen.

Friday, November 04, 2011

Imperfection


I like drawing buildings, not perfect, because truthfully
try as I might I cant get them perfect.  So imperfect it is, this is another
postcard, but a big one, I got out of the garbage by the mailbox.
Yes I am a garbage picker......Well today looms in front of me,
with possibilities to go out and enjoy the last of the fall
weather , so I better get out of these pjs and into some
warm clothes and get myself out of here and get
a hot chocolate and a muffin, the paper at my
favourite coffee shop...what are you doing for yourself today?

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