Fashion Star

Put up your hand if you watch Fashion Star.  I do and I wanted to tell you, there is a hometown girl on the show her name is Cassandra Hobbins, and last week, she got bought for the most money......Not only that I know her mother.....how cool is that.  

I am going to give some tuts today because, its quiet around blogland lately must be the easter vacation and I am going to take a little mini vacation down in the studio, and try and stay off the computer until Monday or Tuesday .  So I hope every one has a great Easter, and talk to you when I get back.

http://daisyyellowart.com/vividlife/urban-layer-cake-tutorial-e.html

http://dianatrout.typepad.com/blog/2013/03/setting-up-a-journal-kit.html

Play day....

Well yesterday, I did play with my Gelli Plate, the results were not great.  I need to watch more videos and get more of a feel for it.  I did learn one thing, so if you get one, use craft paint, they recommend you dont use your good paints, I think craft paint stays wet longer.  Anyway I am going back to play with it today, maybe I will show you the results tommorow.

Spring has sprung...

well we are finally going to get some spring like weather here, later in the week.  Last week we had a huge snowstorm, (we are not known for snowstorms, we do get snow but we are known for really cold winters)

now everyone is worried that if it melts all at once, we will have huge floods.  

Well didn't stay in my PJ's yesterday, the neighbour phoned and I went out with her for some shopping and a late lunch, I really had a good time. Are you waiting for spring to come with eager anticipation, do you plant flowers, I have no green thumb, and don't plant flowers, but I do buy them, hanging baskets and stuff.  Our planting season is usually May long weekend, that is when you usually can plant your garden and flowers.

So since I did not play with that Gelli Plate yesterday I am going to do it today.....What are you doing today?

Bits and pieces

i just noticed that this looks like the counter is listing to the left and everything is going to fall off (lol) oh well its just a sketch (thats me going with the flow)

 

 

well whats new? I am still in my PJ's debating if I should get dressed today, and what I should do.  Dont you like just some days to stay in your pj\s and just do a little bit of that and little bit of this.  I don't do that to often, but today might be the day.  I have to admit something, I broke down and bought a gelli plate, I know I said what's the big deal but I only bought it because.

1.  my favourite art store had them

2.  I had got a gift certificate for my birthday and its been burning a hole in my pocket

3.  I did not have to pay the shipping costs

So today I just might play around with it.  I am putting a roast in the crackpot today

Anyone else have a good crock pot recipe they want to share

Lets get messy....and some tuts

Some new art , this was just a little sketch and color I did a few days ago, there are a few things wrong with it, like those eyes, I must take a course on making eyes, mine are always wonky.  I have as always on fridays included some new tuts for your enjoyment, I love tuts, dont you.  Okay back to regular programming, the tuts are below the girl....

another video from my favourite artist, showing paint
http://janedavies-collagejourneys.blogspot.ca/2013/03/fresh-paint-friday.html



A taco mix you make at home....should be delicious
http://rondapalazzari.typepad.com/helpmeronda/2013/03/taco-seasoning-to-go.html

a new artist I found thru I cant remember, but shows how to make mixed media houses really great
http://caatjesartsystuff.blogspot.ca/2011/03/little-houses-tutorial.html


 a really great video at least I think, showing how she uses magazines to make a page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0eMSePXP7o



http://mylifeonebitatatime.blogspot.ca/2013/03/something-new-something-different.html


who doesnt like a free mixed media tutu
http://christytomlinson.typepad.com/christytomlinson/2013/03/behing-the-art-a-new-mixed-media-tutorial.html


a really good idea from my favourite artist
http://alisaburke.blogspot.ca/2013/03/paint-chip-doodles.html

10 things I love and you didn't want to know about

Well since I don't have much to say today, or most days, here are 10 things that I cant live without, (family is a given so I not including things like that)

1.  French fries (chips) fries what ever you want to call them-now you know why I have a little bit

of a weight problem, been limiting myself to once a week 15 fries and savouring every mouthful. My favourite place to get fries is NY fries, McDonald's.

2. colour, I love colour i cannot live in a black and white world

3. The computer, its a wealth of information, anything and everything you want to know, or need to know fast, it might be sometimes a big time waster, but what would we do without it.  Plus I love connecting with people who I might never have known thru my blog.

4.  Books on CD's - when in my car, I listen to books on CDS another way to get my book fix  in, and its great on long trips, makes the trip go way faster.

5.  Walking the dog, I might complain about it but I love walking the dog, not only for the excerise, I also listen to books on my IPOD, or just thinking, I think alot when walking, about art, the blog, it just clears your mind.

6.  Swimming, as much as I hate going 5 days a week, because I do it in the morning, so I have to get up early (I do like my sleep), it seem to get the day going, I get there, swim, think, talk to people, and generally its a nice way to start my day.  (and some days you need stuff to occupy your days)

7.  Food, I like to cook and find new recipes for cooking light (we both need a few pounds to go away) and trying them out on the hubby (he will eat anything)lol

8.  Art - I love sketching, painting, and making stuff, coming up with ideas, and trying them out, even when they turn out like crap.  We all need a passion in our lives and art is mine .

9.  Travelling - I love to travel and I don't do enough of it, hubby is a stick in the mud that way, so I have decided to start to travel more with friends, by myself, whatever, there is a whole world out there waiting to be seen by me.

10.Organizing (in another life I should have been an organizer), I love to organize things, not parties, or anything like that but I like to organize objects, groups of like minded things, weird or what, but that's what I like to do.

Okay now you know more about me then you probably wanted to know, but that's how it rolls around here, (I always wanted to say that), talk to you soon.

Snorkel fun

I have been learning to snorkel.  I bought my self a snorkel, and fins.  I have been snorkelling around the pool, I am not the only one, lots of people use them, apparently you get a better work out.  I thought I might have trouble with the breathing part, but no I do just fine.  I am now ready to go deep sea snorkelling in Australia  (lol) If I ever get there.

Let the sunshine in....

today i was dragging myself to swimming.  It was snowing again, and I am really sick of this weather.  I need to feel sun and warmth on my body. I need to be able to wear flip flops and shorts (ok maybe not shorts) and no coat.  I need to be able to go on long walks without mittens and boots.  I long for summer, why do I live in a climate that has bad winters. So instead of swimming I went into the hot tub at the pool and just warmed myself up, did a little mind yoga (give myself a little self pity talk in my head) and got over it.  Thou spring is the 21 that doesn't automatically mean its spring here, but by April we are really on our way,

first we have to get over, the melting snow and dirt crap, then the brown wet lawns, but then its spring, and sunny and something to look forward to.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Another postcard for Ihanna's swap

Well today is the first day in about 4 days that it is not snowing out.  Hubby is out with the snowblower

doing the driveway and sidewalks.  Its way to heavy for shovelling.  Well today I am off shopping I am looking for a snorkel, (all ladies in the know at swimming are using these because you get a better workout, who knew)lol) .  The shopper is bringing over dinner and its just a day of me me me (lol).  Dont you love those days (i know its doesnt happen very often so take advantage of it when it comes around).  So I am off to get dressed (i need to find something green to wear , green is not my color), but my mom gave me a green shamrock pin years ago, my prized possession and I am going to for sure wear that.  So have a great day,

because I plan to.....

A pre-bash.....

This is a piece of painted paper that I did awhile ago, but I thought whoever got it would think so what its painted, so I made the painted circles flower added stems and the church. Maybe I should have left it the way it was, oh well live and learn

Today is the start of my birthday weekend, my birthday is tomorrow but I have started early.  We are off to lunch with the family for a pre birthday lunch, some birthday carrot cake, and some birthday shopping.  Tonight I am out to dinner with a friend and my real birthday on Sunday I will keep you posted.  So everyone have a great Saturday and dont forget to wear green tomorrow.

Friday Fun

I just figured out how to reply after you leave comments.  So I will be leaving the replies after the comments. I noticed that alot of people are.  Don't worry I will still be checking your sites daily.  Now here are some tuts for friday.


http://almastoller.blogspot.ca/2013/03/how-to-make-a-cardboard-canvas-by-Alma-Stoller.html

http://caatjesartsystuff.blogspot.ca/p/tutorials.html

http://willowinglove.blogspot.ca/2013/03/essence-of-angel-free-art-tuto

http://www.youtube.com/user/mitsib?feature=watch

http://www.isuwannee.com/2013/02/here-hold-tight-while-i-take-care-of.html

Spring has sprung

Click on picture to enlarge

I created this postcard a little differently than usual, first I painted the background, then drew the design, used paint and white out, then I put a piece of vellum on top stitched around the edge, then I drew another design

on top of the velum and used white out again and red marker.  I have done this before on a few postcards and am happy with the way it turned out.  I got the idea from Jane Fazio.  Its a really good way to jazz up a postcard.

http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/2013/03/diy-postcard-swap-2013/

heres the link just in case you want to join up, still lots of time and fun

If you click on the link below that says 2013 postcard exchange you can see all the postcards I have posted so far.

Its a bad bad bunny

This bunny looks none  to nice.  I wanted not your typical sweet bunny.

So I drew the bunny, I stitched the bunny, and lightly used pastel chalk on the bunny, I used scrapbook paper for the background, and stitched around that.  If you turned it over you would see the outline of the bunny, that's where I wrote my note.  This is a new one I created for the postcard swap. What have you been creating?

Whats for dinner?

I never did show you this one, I created for the 29 faces, she a bit on the thin side.

I have been busy creating some new postcards, I decided  they will not all be new but about half and half.  I will start showing some of them soon.  Tonight its a whole chicken already cooked from the grocery store, rice pilaf which i cooked, and broccoli and coleslaw   You know its a slow news day when I tell you whats dinner.  On that note what are you having?

Art Journal, hide and seek

I am late again, life just gets in the way (lol).  I have been organizing again, I love organizing as much as I love art, I am making rice pilaf for my daughter to take home, making us some for here.  Helping the neighbour with some problems.  So was a busy day today.  This is in my journal.  This journal I am not to comfortable with, the journal I was working on and loved, I threw out by accident.  So now I am looking around for a new journal with the same feel as the old one.  You know the minute you open it , it speaks to you and you know I could make this an art journal.  First what do you use for a journal, and how did you find it?

Plain and simple...

Click on picture to enlarge

Well I have been off the air this weekend, just taking a little down time, from posting all month in February.  I have been making postcards for the postcard swap I am in , they must be in the mail by the end of this month.  I have been making postcards for awhile now, some you have seen on my blog.  I am going to send some of those, do you think that that's ok, its not like i made them last year.and I did make some new ones as well/ this is one of the new ones.  What do you think, I decided to make this one with no paint or white pen, or black pen, just like collage used to be, paper only.  What do you think, if you got this would you be disappointed, because I could jazz it up?

Friday Finds

Found some great tuts, take a look, they really are good, have a good friday.


http://rondapalazzari.typepad.com/helpmeronda/2013/03/create-daily-in-print.html

http://alisaburke.blogspot.ca/2013/03/altered-plastic-eggs.html

http://rondapalazzari.typepad.com/helpmeronda/2013/03/got-washi.html
things to do with washi tape

http://rondapalazzari.typepad.com/helpmeronda/2013/03/little-things-trio-revisited.html

http://brendaswenson.blogspot.ca/2013/03/how-to-set-up-watercolor-palette.html?spref=fb

Memories

It seems when you retire, so does your spelling capability, I used to be such a good speller, now I cant spell anything.  So spelling, remembering things like what you are in the fridge for, peoples names, are just some of the fun things you have to look forward to as you age.  Well I signed up for ihannas postcard swap, 10 postcards by the end of March cost 6.00 .  I wasn't going to but decided I needed a good kick start so

I am in, created one last night only 9 more to go, if you want in here is the linkhttp://www.ihanna.nu/blog/2013/03/diy-postcard-swap-2013/

so what art  projects are you up for?

The taste of spring

Well I am here to report, that I will not be making the crockpot Lasagna anymore. I did not like it, it tended to be on the dry side.  I like my own version in the oven 100 percent better.  Some things are just not meant to be cooked in a crockpot.  My soup always turns out terrific in the crockpot yesterday I made a big batch of hamburger soup, I made  it for the neighbor along with some homemade banana bread.  They had to put there dog down after 14 years, and they were so upset, I was upset as well.  So I thought comfort food for them would be good.  I never understood how people could be upset over a dog, but now that I have a dog I totally understand. Today I am taking the shoppers boyfriend to the tire store, he had to get a new tire, due to all the potholes we have in this city.  The weather is so bad here, extreme cold, melting, cold again, the potholes have been developing.

Yesterday I went down to the studio and worked on my canvas, which I totally painted over twice.  Got disheartened with the crap on the canvas, and just sat down and did some collage, until I felt better, and totally with a new eye looked at the canvas. I really have a hard time with painting, I don't feel comfortable using that medium ,  The expectations that we put on ourselves sometimes is to much, and when we cant meet those it almost makes you throw up your hands in frustrations and say that's it I cant do this anymore and give up. The thing is I have to remember I am still learning and that not everything turns out.  Okay I have spilled my guts enough for today, and got it out there.  So do you have any problems with paint, do you have a handle on everything that you want to do?

Out of Africa

When I was at the library the other day,  I was looking at this amazing book about Africa, and inspired to draw this character, he looked so beautiful in the book, but now he has my spin on him. lets hope he doesn't read the blog (lol).   Yesterday I went to my local chapters (book store), had hot chocolate at Starbucks, browsed the new titles, looked at the magazines, and generally just had a good time.  Today I have been swimming, made crockpot lasagne my friend swears its delicious, we will see. and then made crockpot hamburger soup, they are all bubbling away in the kitchen, I am making my way to studio slowly to paint on my canvas, well show you tomorrow.  Whats on your dinner menu tonight

Rain rain go away

 

Well today I was going to go to the zoo, to sketch, but we had a huge snowfall, then rain, then freezing , so its icy and I am not going.  We dont have a huge zoo, quite a small one.  I have not been there in years, so thats on my list to do this week.  I am trying to stretch myself creatively.  I have been taking that Strathmore Art Class, its free you should take it.  Anyway they have a great painter showing us how he paints and layers, and I am excited to try it.  Its his style, but feel I could tweek and make it my own, so I might give that a try today, as I am already working on a canvas, and was stuck, so I have some ideas. Other than that, I dont know I will see what the day holds.  I had a really good day at the library, sketched lots, read some amazing art books.  What are you doing today?

Good things in my life

Click on picture to appear larger

Well thanks for all the nice comments on the Mosaic  for those of you who want to know I used big huge labs to make the mosiac.  It was not perfect but it was free.  Well today March 2, I am going to library to spend my afternoon, and just sketch and look at art books, that's for me.  I happen to love the library and don't spend enough time there, it is so relaxing and quiet, and peaceful.   Tonight we are going out for supper with a friends, so no cooking no clean up, good thing two.  What are you doing today.

Mosiac mayhem

http://pamcarriker.com/2013/02/28/panpastel-fun/

http://janedavies-collagejourneys.blogspot.ca/search/label/4x4x400

In 17 days I will be having my 60th birthday.  I dont feel 60 I still feel 30, so thats good.  Though my mother at 82 still felt 40 .  Your body may get older but your mind can stay young.  Anyway

I have decided to do 17 nice things might be for me, might be for someone else, might be a giveaway, but I decided I am doing it.  I will let you know each day what I did.