Theme Thursday-Valentines Hearts

Theme Thursday is about hearts and valentines, so here is my rendition. I painted this on a coaster from a restuarant....

Studio Friday - Jan4/08 Brand New

This weeks studio Friday is about new things in the studio. Well my easel is new, I got it for Christmas. At first I was definitely not getting an easel, I felt uncomfortable using one. Then I decided my art would be better for use of one. So I decided I would start small and use a table top easel. The art on the easel is also new, it has had may reincarnations, different colour dresses, different backgrounds but I think I am finally happy with this one. Mostly painted on the easel. I am lucky enough that the counter it is resting on in my studio is tall, and with the easel on it , its just the right height to stand, so now I guess I have to get a stand up one because I really like it. I told hubby the exact table one I wanted and he went and got it for me for Christmas.....Now only if I could get him to do everything I ask...

It's not a resolution it is a life choice....

Ok i did not make a resolution to lose weight because if I did that then it would not work. So I am making a life choice to get healthy. Starting Tuesday...so wish me good luck
I received this book today in the mail and am excited to read it, I plan on doing something different this year and really want to try something like this......Well got to go, its late and the puppy is trying to escape from her kennel....

Art Journal

Have not posted in a few days as I have been under the weather, you know the winter cold. I seem always to get one after christmas, must be because I get run down. My throat feels like fire tonight as I thought I had got over the worst of the cold without a sore throat but not the case. Here is a page I worked on tonight, it did not turn out really the way I wanted it to, but I decided just to let it go, nobody is judging my journal....I am going to work on other stuff more, it seems I get obsssed with one thing and that is all I do. Well it is late again, my sleeping habits must improve.

2008 and a new art journal....

Thats right got a new art journal for 2008 . The old one was like a binder and after a while I could not close it. So this should work better for me.
I created a 2 page spread one for saying goodbye to 2007 and 1 page saying hello to 2008.
I actually think it turned out pretty good. I like working in an art journal, but I am not going to be soley doing that this year. I am going to make sure to particiapte in challenges. Like Studio Friday, Inspiration Thursday, 4x4, etc. That I think gives you motivation to create.

2008 a new year...a new begining

Well usually every year I make a few New Years resolutions and keep some and don't keep others. So this year I am making only 1 resolution (to make every day count as if its my last). I am going to live my life like that. 2007 had a few memorable highlights.

1. Sofie (the dog) came into our lives and now what would we ever do without her.

2 My daughter started College last year and likes it.....

3. I created more in my studio and was happy with most of it.

4. My mother is still in reasonably good health and is happy.

5. My three best friends has been with me through thick or thin

6. Spent a week in Phone nix with my daughter re-connecting

7. Saw my younger sister two different times in 2007 (she lives in a different place)

8. Met some wonderful supportive people on my blog and other blogs.

9. Received some beautiful art from Karine and Patti (two talented artists)

10. Was happy....

For 2008 I want to accomplish some things artiscally
1. Want to take some life drawing classes at the University
2. To learn more about mixing paint colours
3. To make my own stencils(I am fascinated with stencil art or street art)
4. To paint more canvases
5. To be happy with what I create

This list will evolve over 2008 and I will add to it. I am going to post it in the studio and at the end of 2008 I will report if I have accomplished all that I want to do.....

Its not the New York Times

Today was all about family, resting, talking, revisting when we were young, remembering my Older sister.My mother, me and my younger sister(who is visiting)it really helped us all. We all went out tonight for Chinese food and had a great time. My sister leaves tommorow for home and I will miss her....The newspaper is for my art..hubby went out to the mall and found me one, the mall apparently was crazy.....I am itching to spend some quality time in my cleaned up studio. New Years eve will be quiet which is the way I like it...I will talk to you all in 2008 and you will see some new art from me.

Christmas is over and the studio is on display

I am back and all the christmas frenzy is just about over. I have taken down my trees and decorations I know early but I like a clean clutter free house. Now I have also did the same in the stuido. I had a declutter this week . Spent all week getting rid of stuff I will never use, organizing the cupboards and drawers. They were not functioning the way I wanted to work. This arch is how you enter the studio, I also share space with the treadmill, which keeps calling me to use it, but I havent answered that call in awhile, New Year coming...

I am lucky to have space to do what I want to away from the family and be able to leave out my mess if I want to, which is very often, I am not a tidy artist. The white cabinet which I really cleaned out I got at IKEA and it is really a handy cabinet.

I cut big watercolour paper on the cabinet with the cutting mat, it is just the right height.







Well that is my studio and the drawers hope you like the tour and I would love to see yours.

Have your finished your shopping

This is an ornament that I have hanging on my tree. Well today I just did not do to much, just lazed around the house. I should have been wrapping the presents but no, I better finish that tommorow. The puppy layed on the couch and napped.

A gift from a generous friend...

As promised the gift I received from the lovely talented Patti Is it not beautiful? It came wrapped in brown paper, stamped and with the tag. I totatlly love it and really came out of the blue, generous spirted and really talented. Go to the side of my blog and you will see a link to her site, Patti.....you wont be disappointed.

Flowers for Christmas

Well I only have one more art peice left, I never did get to Day 25, but did my best....Well today was a day of last minutes, trying to get some sleep, I am having trouble in that department, must be all the stress of christmas. On the 25th I will take a big long sigh and relax...

2 posts in one night ...

Just wanted to show you a page in my art journal, its good therapy for me, to art journal, plus I love it. You can try out new techniques...

Only 5 more sleeps

Only 5 more sleeps till Santa comes....Wonder what he will bring me....Well today was a cold and crisp day, a day for a little walk for the Sofie the puppy, a day to sleep in, wrap some presents, anc clean the studio a little. I am cleaning so I can take some pictures of it to show on my blog....what did you do today...

Two days in one post

Missed posting this one yesterday as it was hubby birthday. So out to dinner, then cake at his sisters.
Here is todays and truthfully I think I only have one left, that is all I did. I going to try and upload my picture of pattis gift so you can all see it.

Camel Travel...

Alright I know these dont look to much like a camel, but I have never been on one, so this is my rendition. I have been thinking, that I am going to take some pictures of my studio and show you where I work. I always wonder what kind of space everyone has to create in. I love looking at other peoples studios. I am cleaning it up first it is a total mess. Well its my plan to get to bed early tonight so I am off talk to you tommorow. Oh I recieved a surprise in the mail today. Patti set me a beautiful present I will post the pictures of it on my blog. It is to beautiful to explain, the picture will show you...

The Countdown begins....

Well today we decorated the house and put up the oranaments on the tree. Dont ask me why it has taken me so long to do this, I am not in the Christmas spirit this year. Plus we have had the tree up for a while with the lights, just testing Sofie the puppy, she hasnt bothered the tree to much, now the oranments time will tell. I have been tagged by Patti Mosca about 7 random things about me. I have done this once already but I tell you 7 new ones.

I met my husband when I was in grade nine

I am the middle child of three girls

My dad and sister both died at age 55 and I am scared I might be next

I was born on St. Patricks Day

I have size 10 feet (I wish I had size 7)

My favourite junk food is French Fries from McDonalds (its the salt)

I went to Europe with my Mother for two weeks on a bus trip
So, now it is my turn to tag, here are the rules and here is who I choose!!

The rules: -Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.-Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself-Tag 3 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.-Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here is who I tag: Krissie http://bowerwood.blogspot.com/
Janet: http://jkbees.blogspot.com/
Ankehttp://ankemartin.blogspot.com/

I dont know how to get the links to work sorry about that.

Stressfilled Saturday

Alright your wondering whats with the Green N, well I cant find the wooden N and no other N is available so I went with the green felt pen......This whole layout is done in white...if I had it to do over again, I would not do it,,but a girl has try new things. Well its getter closer to Christmas, so I am full system alert, trying to close in on finishing the shopping. Hubby and I went out for dinner, he now is sleeping on the couch, the puppy is beside me, sleeping under the computer, the daughter is working, and I should be wrapping instead of here on the computer. So I better get at it. Talk to your tommorow.

Baby its cold outside

I dont drink coffee I am a diet coke girl, morning , noon and night. But I do like to go to Starbucks and have their hot chocalate...so here is my ode to hot chocolate

Help wanted elfs

Its time to get elved. Just always wanted to say that. Well am making headway in the present department nearing the home stretch. Next year we decided the daughter and I havent told hubby yet. We were chucking it all in and going away for two weeks, enough of this stress we need relaxation and warm weather....

Day 12 and still going....

Well here is day 12, my angel looks like he has had a few....Should he be flying....Well the weather outside is not delightful, the shovel had been getting a good workout, had dinner with my pals and had a good time, I needed to do that being kind of down this week. Having a hard time getting in the Christmas spirit....

Baby its cold outside...

Well here it is day 11 and my swans are swimming, not here, the river is frozen but one can always dream. We put up the christmas tree (we have a fake one) put on the lights and the dog went crazy and that was enough for one night. Tommorow all the decorations around the house and on the tree, some more wrapping of presents, and I think a little resting.

Follow the red nosed.....

I had fun doing this one, didnt want to do the whole crowd, so concentrated only on one. How is your holiday shopping going......mine is not going so great. I had to wrap some of them, so I could remeber who I bought what for, oh well I have a few more days left....

Chirping a christmas tune...

found this paper amd I think the bird was on it. Just used a little paint, some emblishments, some felt pen and some wooden leters, here it is in all its glory....keep posted I still lots of days left....lets get your inspiration going..

Christmas marches on ......December 8

this one is a mixed media piece, I found the images on a card, cut them out individually and lined them up. Painted the background, I thought It turned out quite nice. I was going to draw something and paint it, but I decided to try a different way. The day has been very busy with christmas shopping, etc and already I am tired out and it is not christmas yet...still lots to do.

Inspiration Thursday -Ice

This is my Inspiration Thursday rendition of Ice ...Mother and baby bear stuck on a ice berg........and it also works into my Day 7 of the 25 days of Christmas Art.....

Star of wonder star of light

I quess the image speaks for itself, I must say I like the way this way turned out....Well went to my mothers building christmas party,,,,80 years and up, but I had a good time, and so did my mother which was important. I waiting for Greys Anatomy to start. I have not done any challenges in a while, but am going to start again. Last Inspiration Thursday was way over my head...Well talk to you soon.

A time to remember....

This is a poem that I wrote about a Christmas past in my life.

2 little girls and there dolls

This is my sister and I in France (where we lived for 3 years) on Christmas day, I was 3 she was5and we got dolls that year and were really excited......

December 3-Mary did you know

Well I created all of these last year I think I did 25, I challenged myself every night to create one, I am telling you I will not do that for awhile. A new set maybe next year, but starting earlier thatn December. I will also post any new pieces of art that I do. I am still working on my art journal. The blocks I have put away for now, I get obessive and cant do anything else so I put them anyway so I can stew over them and try and picture them.

Mixed Media Challenge - Wings

Here is my entry I have made a christmas piece for every day until christmas, please feel free to come and check them all out...

Playing with blocks of wood

Yes i was down in the stuido playing with these 2 x 2 blocks of wood, trying to make something out of them, maybe christmas tree decorations, and this is one I came up with which is going straight to the recyle bin. I got the idea of http://djpettitt.blogspot.com/ site. I love her work, in fact i am in awe of her talent. Of course mine are not like hers and I would never want to copy her, but I did borrow her idea, go to her site, its on the side as a link and look at her work it is amazing, she started painting late in life just like me, but the talented gene pool is all on her side. I am not giving up, I am just taking a day to think it through and go another way. I know I am going to use those cup screwy things and maybe a bead hanging at the bottom. Lets just say its a work in progress, instead of a peice of xxxx. Well again its late, went shopping for presents tonight, came home with one,at that rate I should be ready by next christmas. No really I am just about finished just my daughter and a few odds and ends. Well got to go catch some beauty sleep and be bright eyed for work tommorow. Talk to you then...

Change Room Nightmares

I dont like going into changerooms and trying on clothes, I know that is really stupid. I usually just buy them and try them on at home. Dont ask me why, I have no clue......I should have put that in one of of my 7 random things you dont know about me. Well this little ditty dont ask me where it came from, I was trying on clothes at home, and thought I should do a little art piece on this. Note who I put in there, no not me, the girl from Greys Anatomy..love her, she is not model skinny. Was out at Costco tonight with the daughter did a little shopping 100.00 later. Came home and shovelled snow, yes the dreaded shovelling has began. Hubby is out of town on business, so could not help. Seems he is always away when the snow shovelling is needed. Well working on a Christmas piece about my christmas tree, riveting stuff I bet you can hardly wait to see it. Well hope to have it done tonight....Well talk to you all again tommorow.