Let's get ready to rumble....

After staying all day yesterday in my pj's, robe and leg warmers (Hi, Peanut), I woke up this morning to find another few inches of wintry mix. I didn't want to get up and dress, but I knew I had to. I couldn't really figure out what day it was either. I am pretty sure it's New Year's Eve, and that got me to thinking about resolutions and such. I don't usually make resolutions, but this year I am going to try to do several things.

I am going to try to help the hubby feel better. Certain foods cause him gall bladder pain, and he has been using herbal supplements and natural foods to avoid gallbladder surgery. He had done really well all year, then I just about ruined everything with sugary and salty holiday treats. Sorry, Sweetie, I'll get us back on track asap.

The other things that caught my eye this morning were these...


Yep, it's the paint and spackle table where all the magic happens. Sometimes it takes a lot of product to get that certain look. I've always loved cosmetics and make up and I need to make some changes in how I store things.

...and DH is going to create a custom shelving system in the closet, so I can have somewhere to put my shoes.

I really need to work on my jewelry. I have a friend that has an eleven year old daughter and I was going to borrow her to help me work on the jewelry box. The snow put a damper on them coming earlier to visit, but hopefully when she stops by Saturday, she'll have time to help organize this...

Yep, it's one of those four foot tall craft containers and it is full of jewelry. I emptied it several years ago, taking lots of jewelry to repurpose. I have another full one in my art area. Some of it I don't wear, but I'm quite fond of my collection and while I don't want to just do away with it, I'm fully prepared to let her have some if she wants it. Most of it is older than she is.

Last, but certainly not least, there is a project that drives me crazy and I always forget to do it.

I have so many clothes that need work. I have several blouses that the tags drive me crazy. I love Karen Scott tops, but the tags hurt like all get out. I have tee shirts that I need to cut the necks out of completely, because I can't stand anything touching my throat. I know it's silly but I get a choking sensation from the neckline from a tee shirt, so I "flash dance" them, in that always popular 80's style. I'm not one to usually wear a tee shirt when I'm out and about, but for around the house, a gal's gots to have a tee.

All of these projects bring us back to the title of the post..."Let's get ready to rumble". We know that what ever our projects are, we can't get them done until we hop over the rope and get in the ring. So let's get ready to tackle those chores and projects and pounds to be lost. Let's get in that ring and rumble!

Well, that's it for today. I hope everyone has had a good year, and if not, may next year be better. So to you all, have a truly blessed and Happy New Year.

xoxo
Susan

Using Your Brain

I never really knew if she was kidding or not, but my Mom (God Rest Her Soul) used to say things to us like..."use your brain" or "try using your head for more than a hat rack" or her favorite... "if you had a brain you would probably take it out and play with it". I mean, come on now...that's pretty heavy. I always was a visual kid and I always visualized someone playing with their own brain. Now that I'm older and am married to an accomplished musician, I view playing with your brain in a completely different manner.

Sorry for the long intro, but that's what brought this next drawing to my mind.

Be sure to click on the picture if you need to. You will notice that his guitar actually has his brain hooked into it and the cords are veins and such.

I know it's a bit gross, but art sometimes isn't all lace and ruffles, now is it? I'm going to be using my brain more this year. I have spent the past several years learning different techniques in my art. I like to make jewelry and have learned about wire wrapping, chaine maille, and precious metal clay, just to name a few. I love to draw and am always trying to learn new skills and use new products. My painting skills are few and far between. One of the reasons I don't take courses in painting, is that I don't like to have a bunch of canvasses that I've painted just taking up room. Jewelry and polymer clay and drawing seem to take up much less space. I've accumulated so many supplies that space in a studio (or your entire house) is something you need to think about.

Any way, I've got my thinking cap on, and I think I am going to be doing things like beading on and off loom this year, as well as doing some decorating around the house. DH has already been warned and he's up for the challenge.

The new year is almost here, what kind of things are you thinking about doing? Have you done anything recently that you think I might like to try? I don't get to bounce ideas off of many people, so that's where you come in. Let me know what you love to do.

Well, that's it for today. Remember to use your head for more than just a hat rack and if you take your brain out to play with it, remember to put it back!

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas to all my friends...




Enjoy the holiday and watch out for the weather!

Relaxing on the Deck

I talked the hubby into leaving the snow on the deck, cause I wanted to make a snow man. So he shoveled me a path....


I bundled up in layers. Put my bright yellow rubber gloves on over my fuzzy warm gloves, got a spoon and a bowl and made my...

Snow Woman!

With her book and soda, she's just taking it easy. That's what a deck chair is for after all, right?

It only took about 30 minutes, and I would have given her more detail, but the snow just wouldn't cooperate. I was afraid she would fall apart, so I called her done.

We stayed up late last night and the hubby is taking a well deserved nap. He hasn't seen her yet, but I'll bet he'll think I'm crazy.

Well, that's it for today. Hope everyone is enjoying their Monday. Take care and remember..."If life gives you snow...make a snowman".

Yep, they were right

The weatherman hit it on the head this time. We haven't had any measurable snow for several years. This measured in at 15.5 inches so far.

We're thinking about making a snowman on the deck. The hubby is a bit concerned about the weight of all this snow on the deck. I hope those lag bolts hold, cause it's going to be a while before I start shoveling.

If you're in the path for the storm, hunker in and get ready, it's a doozy.

Be sure and post pictures as you can. Be back soon. Take care and have fun.

My Decorations

This is the extent of my Christmas decorations (with the exception of some holiday dish towels).

I suppose I should go get some greenery from the yard and plop it down, but I'm too lazy.

It was easy to create, first take one DH that has an extensive record collection and was happy to supply the red vinyl Christmas 45's. Then take two oranges out of the bag that you paid $5.00 for and are completely inedible and dry them. TAA, DAA!!!!

Don't know how to dry oranges? Here's an easy way and this is quite similar to what I did. After I dried them in the microwave, I also placed them on the lowest setting in the oven for about an hour. Then I placed them on a clean paper towel and they finished drying overnight. Place them in a bowl that you won from the "pitch a nickel" stand at the carnival in 1970 and there you go.

Well, that's it for now. We are expecting a "wintry mix" tonight, so I might have to get out the ingredients and make some oatmeal-raisin cookies to enjoy tomorrow. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekends. Take care and stay creative!

Color or Black and White

After sketching these first in pencil, I drew these faces in black ink using a Pigma Micron 03 pen. I love the look of pen on paper, and sometimes I add just a touch of color. Often times, I go all out and color just like a child, except instead of crayons, I use copic markers. Several years ago I was given a nice set of Copic markers for Christmas, but the colors are all quite vivid and dark. Last Christmas, I asked to pick out Copic marker in flesh colors from Dick Blick. It's not easy to tell exactly what color the pens will be when ordering online, but I was pretty happy with them. So here is what I have been doodling around with recently.

This first one looks like Paris Hilton, quite by mistake to be sure. I find it hard to draw faces without a picture and they often look more "cartoonish" than I'm aiming for, but I usually end up liking them. I do like to come up with different backgrounds after drawing the face.

I am showing my hand in this shot only to show the size of this sketch book. It's hard for me not to get bogged down in detail, as tightly detailed pen and inks are my favorite thing to do. Just trying to lighten up a bit here.


On this little lady...

I was going for a 50's-60's look and a different shaped face. I had fun with the background in her's also.

Let's usher in the 70's with a big eyed hippy chick. I can't decide whether to color her in or not.

One of my favorite vintage pictures is of a lady named Faye, which was in with my uncle's military memories. I have had the original copied and I use it quite often in mixed media pieces, but I decided to try my hand at drawing a more realistic portrait using Faye for my model.

She has such a sweet, but sassy look on her face in the photo that was a bit hard to capture. To me, though, art is all about practice. I sometimes keep trying to achieve a specific look, simply to see if I can accomplish it. Other than high school art in 1970, I have no training, so I'm not too hard on myself.

This last drawing was supposed to be an anchor from a news show. She is very angular and has a larger neck than some women. When I drew her from memory, she looked more masculine than I wanted for the portrait, so I softened her jaw and made her neck smaller and she ended up looking a bit more like I had actually intended.


I have always loved to draw and I have an old notebook from my childhood that has some of my original girl drawings. I wanted to be a fashion designer, or a hair stylist, or a model and I expect that is why I love drawing the female form in some way. I still draw clothes and hats and such.

Oh well, I suppose that's it for now. If anything interesting comes up (like snow), I'll let you know. Take care and have a great weekend.