Another day in paradise

I cannot believe it's been a week since I posted here. What with the snow being on the ground for so long, and having fallen into an indoor daily routine, I never seem to know what day it is. It used to be I knew what day it was by what I had seen on the television the previous night, but now we DVR all our shows and watch them throughout the week. If we watch our Monday night shows on Thursday, and our Wednesday night shows on Saturday, it can get a bit confusing.

I have been spending quite a bit of time working with polymer clay. One of my favorite books for ideas is Ancient Modern by Ronna Sarvas Weltman. She loves to make jewelry that she refers to as impracticable...big, bold pieces that might impede normal duties, but are still such fun to wear. Here is a bracelet made from one of the techniques.



One of the components in this fun chunky elastic bracelet is faux agate slices. I found a picture online of a really pretty agate slice and referred to it as I built this cane.

Isn't it cool how my patio table looks like water???

Using translucent clay, gives it a more realistic appearance. To get an unusual texture for the outside of the cane, I rolled it in Epsom salt and then applied various colors of alcohol ink. You can then gently remove the salt, or you can carefully make the slices without removing it, but don't run it back through your pasta machine, or the salt will scratch the rollers.

Speaking of agates canes, the bracelet also includes slices from an agate cane that my sister and I made about nine years ago. Just another confirmation as to the length of time you can keep unbaked clay. Some of you may recognize the ring and brooch from an earlier post, but since they are favorites of mine, and made from this same book, I'm showing them again.

Other than watching it snow and hoping for Spring, I have been doing a lot of blog surfing. I read all your blogs and for some reason have been lax in commenting and for that I do apologize. We did go to see a movie last week, The Crazies, and I loved it. Really scary and lots of gory special effects that were believable enough to be fun, but not so disgusting.

The sun is actually out this morning and the hubs has suggested a shopping trip to Stein Mart, so I'm off to get ready for that. Hope everyone is enjoying their week and preparing for a warm and sunny weekend.

Take care and stay creative.

Just some art

Now, I know some purist would beg to differ. Not everyone would consider the following beads actual works of art, but for today we will.

I tried several techniques since I last posted. Much of my time is used playing Mad Scientist with my clay. I have several great books and while I know their techniques work, I'm always wondering "what will happen if I try this?" I learn a lot, but lab work does eat away at your creative time.

Today's art is faux bone. I based several of my pieces on the ancient art of Scrimshaw. Scrimshaw was originally done by whalers on the bones and teeth of whales and walruses. They used the tools at hand to engrave designs and then rubbed the design with pigment to bring out the image. If you like to do scrimshaw, you are a scrimshander. These days artists certainly don't use bones and tusks from endangered animals in their art, so it is often referred to as faux scrimshaw or faux bone even though the technique is still the same.

This may sound odd, but I haven't seen a piece of actual bone in years. I remember ham bones and chicken bones from my younger days, but since all the meat I cook is boneless, I'm not really sure what color bone is. With that in mind, I relied on the color combinations mentioned in my various clay books for my faux bone polymer clay. I came up with these...



The piece on the left was done on raw clay using a needle to punch tiny holes into the clay in the design of a tiger. I wasn't sure how to initially get my image onto the raw clay to go by, so I printed out a small picture of a tiger and took the needle tool and punched holes through the paper to outline the tiger. I pressed the picture onto the raw clay and was going to go over it with a soft lead pencil in hopes that the graphite would go through the holes. Well, it didn't...but something even better did happen. Due to the light burnishing of the image, the holes themselves showed up on the raw clay giving me a perfect dotted outline to start my project.

The tile on the left was done by pressing an un-inked rubber stamp into the raw clay. On both of the pieces, I baked the clay at 225 in my little toaster oven. I use a lower temperature than recommended and it seems to work quite well and I don't get much scorching. After curing the pieces, I used brown acrylic paint over the entire piece and then wiped off the excess with a cloth before it dried . If your image is quite deep in the clay, you can sand any remaining paint off of the piece. If your image is not that deep, and sanding would obliterate your image, you can lightly spray rubbing alcohol on a smooth cloth and go over the top of the piece. Rubbing alcohol removes acrylic paint, so don't spray it directly onto your piece, or you will have to start over. But it's good technique if you don't like the paint that you used to antique your piece, as you can use the alcohol and an old tooth brush to remove that color.

Whew, I'm wordy today, aren't I. Sorry about that. On to the next one...

On this one, I simply rolled the bone clay into a somewhat large ball, then flattened it slightly with my hand. I textured the clay with a needle and lightly pressed an oval shaped cutter onto the clay, giving me a frame for my picture. I baked the clay, then antiqued it. For the picture, I used a copyright free, laser printed image left over from my library art club days (thanks, Marnie!) and a piece of clear packing tape. You place the tape down on the image, and use something to burnish it. I used the back of a teaspoon. After making sure the image is burnished completely, you then place the whole bit into a small bowl of water and walk away from it. It usually takes about five minutes for the paper loosen and you can then start to remove the paper carefully from the tape, using your fingers, re-wetting as you go. I use my non dominant hand, so I won't be tempted to scrub the image from the tape. After all the paper is gently removed, the image is completely transferred to the clear tape. I used a bit of gel medium to glue the tape transfer to the pendant, added a few gold paint highlights and it's ready to string.

Lastly my personal favorite is a grungy faux bone heart.


I roughly shaped the clay into a large heart and sliced it flat down the middle (think of filleting a fish) and then roughly placed them back together. I wrapped thin wire around the hearts, pressed in some grommets, roughed it up some and also used various shaped pieces of wire for texture. Cured and cooled, I removed the wires and applied the paint to antique.

While blog surfing earlier this morning, I checked in on a favorite, Pink Crayon Studio. Suze Perrott is a marvelous artist and today she shows a picture of a stack of her fabric that reminded her of a deli sandwich. That got me to thinking what a great way to find colors that go together. If you are in a bind and can't think of what colors to use, think of your favorite foods and the colors that they contain. The colors of a juicy hamburger, with shades of ground beef brown, tomato red, lettuce green and that off white colored onion, would make great colors for beads for a new necklace. Ok, now thanks to Suze, we're hungry and off to the store.

Take it easy this week. If you're expecting more falling weather, prepare for it and remember spring is right around the corner. It has to be...tell me it is!

Still hanging in there

Not a lot going on here. Did get a few beads and buttons made...

but I just can't come up with anything I really like. I prefer my work to be original, but there comes a time when you need to get out the books and practice techniques using another artist's work as a sample.

I want to make some canes and create some jewelry similar to that of Karen Lewis (Klew) and Kim Cavender. The best way to do this is to condition a lot of clay ahead of time, so you can proceed uninterrupted with the building of your canes. Conditioning clay is my least favorite part of the process, especially the stiffer clays, like Cernit and Fimo.

If you are not familiar with the process building a complex cane from polymer clay, check out the the free tutorials of Desiree at Desiree's Desired Creations.

There are as many ways to use polymer clay as there are artists and crafters that use it. There is no right or wrong design, and once you learn the techniques you are really not limited by much. It is an inexpensive art material and requires few tools, and can be cured in an inexpensive toaster oven. If you find that you really like polymer clay and want to subscribe to some really helpful and professional videos, be sure to check out Cindy Lietz.

All that being said, I'll leave you to check out yet another picture of me. An unretouched full length shot of me standing in front of our door.



The reason I'm mentioning this is that this shot really shows that I have packed on some winter weight and I'm going to be using this as my "before" shot for the huge amount of weight that I plan on losing. Wish me luck and keep track of my weighty musings over here if you want.

That's it for today. Hang in there and try not to let the acres of snow drive you batty. It has to melt sometime! If you don't have snow...enjoy that fact and act accordingly!

Frivolous Friday

Frivolous because I really don't have anything much to say. Got out today and ran some errands...

Piles of snow everywhere, even at the bank (snow bank, get it?)



Went to see Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges, liked it a lot, but I kept thinking that Jeff Bridges was Kris Kristofferson, I got a bit weepy at the end, but it was really good and the music was good, too.

Went to Merle Norman to get some nail polish, but they only carry OPI nail color now, and I can get that cheaper at the mall, so no new nail color today. I didn't realize that Merle Norman was discontinuing their brand of polish, or I would have stocked up. Grr.

DH took a picture of me in my new glasses with relatively good hair today, so I'll share that with you.

Other than going out to lunch yesterday and to a movie today, DH and I aren't doing much for Valentines Day. I'm kind of funny about Valentines Day. It started back in grade school when we were supposed to give those little Valentine cards to all our classmates. It actually started when I was in first grade, my Mom, after trying to deal with me and my siblings waiting till the last minute to address the valentine cards, decided it would be a lot quicker if she wrote the names on the envelopes....in cursive. That meant that the next morning in school, six year old me couldn't read any of the names on the envelopes, and had to traipse back and forth asking Mrs. Henderson, the teacher what each envelope said. Needless to say, thirty trips back and forth to the boxes would have been too much for her, so then she takes over and puts them into the boxes. Not a good way to start Valentines Day, huh? Then fast forward to sixth grade and yes, we still have to put a valentine in those stupid boxes. But the cards they got me to give out all said I love you on them, or be mine and that didn't sit well with me. Man, I couldn't catch a break, I just wasn't into any of the boys in my class, or many of the girls for that matter, (they all teased me because I was the chubby girl). It never occurred to me to not put a valentine in every box, I mean how rude would that be?...anyway, I took my pen and crossed out love on the cards and wrote like instead. For some reason, the adults thought this alteration was hilarious when the teacher ratted me out the next day.

As an adult, it didn't get much better when my boyfriend of almost ten years, waits until after Valentines day to pick up left over candy that was on sale...the reasons for not liking Valentines day go on and on.

Blessedly, as you know, I now have a wonderful, loving husband who would go all out on Valentines Day and would take me where ever I want to go, by I'd rather stay at home with him, watching shows that he tapes for me and feeding him my homemade chili and watching him doze off in front of the tv. That's what Valentines Day is really about for me. He has bought me jewelry and perfume and candy and clothes over the years, but sitting beside him watching our shows is the best present anyone could get. Like the song says, who could ask for anything more?

So what started out as a frivolous post, turned into a happy post about my sweet hubby. If you haven't seen him for a while, here is an older picture of us together. I think he looks so cute here.

So there you have it. This little photo is my Valentine to you. Hope you have a great weekend and a wonderful Valentines day. If your day doesn't turn out the way you planned, remember you could be forced to send love notes to kids you don't really love. In other words, it could always be worse. Take care and embrace and enjoy what the day brings, I know I will.

Monday, Monday

The sun is shining and although there is a lot of snow, the roads are clear and dry. DH had to dig out some, but thanks to our neighbor, our driveway was mostly clean. I had errands to run before the next storm (Tuesday, grr) so I got chauffeured around town all morning.

Went to Michael's for a new clay blade. I have tons of dull ones and haven't figured out the best way to sharpen them, so I had to fork over $5.00 for one blade. Yikes.

I think I'm going to take a break from the collage work and make some jewelry. Making jewelry is what I always go back to and I think my polymer clay is calling to me. Hopefully, I'll have something to post later in the week, jewelry-wise, but until then here is the only art I've done recently... my last two collage journal pages.

My pages are fairly large, 11" x 14", so I have lots of room for my images and lettering. I may have mentioned that I'm participating in a Flickr Collage group, where we all download the same image and create our piece. I'm getting a bit stymied in this type of collage art. For some reason, none of my pages look anything like the others in the group, and I'm constantly comparing myself to them. The group leaves positive comments on my art, but for some reason, I feel like they are dancing around the fact that I'm just not like the other kids. I have always been a bit different, and have been called crazy, weird and my all time favorite...colorful. Ahh, but again, I digress.

Here are my most recent submissions.

The guitars and the necklace were my addition to the supplied images, as were the words and the doodles.


This week's sheet was mostly party images with cake and balloons and vintage photos of fancy ladies. I had some really nice watches cut from a fashion magazine ad, and I added them, but I really never got a feel for this week's images.

With all this in mind, I think I'm stepping away from collage for several weeks and going to play around with wearable art, mostly necklaces. I've done a bit of research on what the new trends in jewelry are and will be trying my hand at a few new ideas.

We picked up my new tri-focals today and am trying to get used to them. I can see much better than before, but there is a learning curve. Maybe if I can come up with a cute way to camouflage my turkey wattle, I'll post a picture of me actually wearing them.

Well, that's it for today. Keep your fingers crossed that we don't get any more snow, but I'm thinking we will. If you get any of this next storm, try to stay warm and safe and enjoy it.

Hang in there and remember to be creative in some way and to love life.

Yes, I'm snowed in

I am snowed in, but I'm not unhappy at all. It started snowing early Friday morning (about 3 a.m.) and now at noon on Saturday it's still snowing. Due to the fact that at times it has been quite fine, we haven't gotten the accumulation that we did on Christmas Eve, but this is a heavy snow that is sticking to everything. Our neighbor had a new blade he was itching to try and he pushed and plowed everyone's driveways. After working (playing?) for hours, he finally realized it was an uphill battle.

He is a great guy and I'm sure when it finally stops, he'll be back out helping us all.

Here is the view down into my back woods...

A neighbor's tree sags from the weight of the snow...

A close up of a tree holding the snow, as if she loves it.

This shot, taken from my deck, shows even the tiniest branches grasping the snow...like it's some kind of winter game. I love it.

It's a good thing this red car has no where to be this weekend. It will take quite a bit of sweeping and a lot of hot cocoa for this neighbor to go out.

To help deal with the weather, I love to do art, especially coloring. I'm so glad to have such a talented artist friend as Jenny, who graciously shares an image to color. Please stop by and visit her and see my take on Jenny's art.

So, that's it for me today. I'll be staying in, having fun and counting my blessings. Power, cable, food and love...things we might take for granted, but really appreciate on a day like this.

Enjoy your weekend and have fun!

It's monday again...

Well, it's Monday again. We had another major snow storm over the weekend with frigid temps. I don't mind at all. I would show you a picture of this new storm, but surprisingly enough, it looks a lot like last month's storm. So I won't bore you with that.

As you know, I am a very lighthearted and happy person. There have been several really sad things happen in our region lately, the finding of Morgan Harrington and also finding little Aveion Lewis. These were two local missing persons cases, that have been on our news recently.

Both of these cases are now murder investigations and we are all saddened by the events. Last week I was going through some of my previous essays and I came across one that I want to post for you today. Approximately one year ago, two similar events happened that prompted me to write this, and it still holds true.

********

Sometimes when I stop and think about all the pain in this world, I wonder is it OK for me to be so happy? I know He wants His children to be happy, but is it fair for me to be happy when others have such grief in their lives?

Babies being killed by family members. Ridiculous. Families being torn apart by the sudden death of a loved one just doing his job, killed while at work, by someone doing something stupid. The people that caused these deaths? How can I feel for them? Is it Evilness? Madness? Spirits...from a glass vessel? What causes their pain, what causes people to change? From the decent souls that you thought they were, into instruments of pain? Instruments of death?

Can I live with myself for being happily married for over twenty years, with hopefully and prayerfully, many more years in the future? Can you be happy for me? Or do you hate me for my happiness?

How can I ease your pain, how can I not think of you, all of you? I am only one person, one silly little girl. Am I masking my empathy for you with my happiness? Do I bury myself in my own interests because your pain makes me physically ill? I have to stay healthy, so when it is my time to do my part, I will be able. Please don't hate me because I'm happy. Love me for it. It is a gift from God....this capability I have to always stay positive, to be able to remove myself from your pain. I have to, I know you don't want me to falter... I have to be here for you.

If I don't cry when I hear your grief, it's because I must not. I would cry all the time. I have to grab the bootstraps on my pink patent leathers and give them a tug. I am here to help you and I can't do it if I am in pain.

Don't hate me because you think I'm happy, or beautiful, or rich or blessed or fortunate. What you may think of me, what you may think I am, have you considered that you just might be wrong? I love you, I love you all...maybe too much.

Thank you for the music. Thank you for the art. Thank you for the healing. Thank you for being you.

It's ok to grieve, just don't give up. Grab the rope and hang on. It really will be ok. I know that in my heart.

Faith, Hope and Love...

*******

So that's it for today. I'll be back soon with some art and something lighter and happier, I promise.

A little bit of art...

Ok, I know you are tired of looking at my ugly mug, so here's a bit of art.

I mentioned this artist in an earlier post when I drew the apple. That tutorial was on how to draw an apple, but until I get my new glasses, I have to hold stuff in my hand in order to see it. Imagine my surprise when I found out his new tutorials are on drawing the hand. Last night, just as a lark and using the tools at hand, I followed his newest Youtube tutorial and drew this pointing hand.

This is an excellent tutorial that starts out with three oval shapes and breaks the drawing down into simple shapes that anyone can draw. It is so non intimidating to draw in this way. I really didn't take that much time on it, but I did use the pause button on the video as instructed, and did some shading with a Q-tip. The pointing finger is shortened a bit too much, and the shading needs work, but all in all for a quick sketch, I'm pleased with it.

Several weeks ago, I was asked to participate in a Flickr art group called Collage Play with Crowabout. The group administrator, Nancy Baumiller, supplies an image sheet, which you download and print out and then make your collage using at least three of the suggested images. This week's images were ones that I did not immediately relate to, but after one unsuccessful attempt, I applied the "if at first you don't succeed" method and I came up with this.

It's done on a fairly large sheet, about 9 x 12, so I had lots of room to write (which is my favorite part of my style collage). The sheet had a cow, several signs (open, exit, road work ahead), an advert with Bill Cullen hawking Tenderleaf Tea, a vintage image of a boy, some fish and lots of stuff about Spam. No offense folks, but for a person who stopped eating pork about fifteen years ago, the Spam ads did nothing to encourage my creativity. But I kept looking at it and finally decided that it needed to be a cowboy collage. Having decided that, it dawned on me that I have always thought that, deep down, all guys want to be cowboys. I have lots of old Look and Life mags and took some images from a Roy Rogers ad for little boy's boots and toy guns and such.

I found an image of Sam Elliott (the hunkiest cowboy around) and some vintage images from a western wear website. All of these images lead me to draw a background of the setting sun and then I did a doodle type border frame. I glued down my images and altered them a bit, especially Mr. Bill Cullen.

Well, I could go on and on about my feelings regarding collage art, but perhaps that is a post for another day. Today, I'm staying close to the Weather channel and wondering if the snow that is in our forecast will really materialize.

So that's it for me today. Hope you are all having fun and being creative. Take care and hug the person closest to you. You'll be glad you did.

xoxo
Susan

Something Fun

Here is something I've been working on this weekend. It's unbelievable that it took me hours to figure out how to do it. Duh...copy and paste.

This is just a small sampling of the colors, shapes and styles that I have sported over the past ten years. Sorry that the first one is awful, I was holding my very, very ill fur baby. I should have found another one, as there are lots of me with this Ric Flair mullet, but you get the idea.

Anyway, hope this holds you over until I can post some art.

Kickin it old school...

Ok, I'll be honest, I really don't know if this quote really applies to this piece, but I just like the sound of it.

I used to think you had to suffer
to be Beautiful, but now???

I'm Kickin' It Old School!

The suffering could be anything from eating all your peas as a child, to suffering through many Lilt or Toni home perms. For me, I still do an occasional Velcro roller set, but no color and no perms for this chick. I still love me some war paint (lipstick and nail color) but I kicked the torture chamber heels for more comfy shoes quite a while back.

This next little beauty is along the same lines.

You know how they say

"A leopard doesn't change Her spots"...

Well, Baby I won't tell if you don't!

This little feline sweetie looks a lot scarier than I intended. I hope I don't seem superficial. "Oh listen to her, she thinks all you have to do is slap some make up on". I have always known that folks can change. Whether is something you have been delivered from, to something like gradually breaking out of a rut. We can change bad habits and move forward. Changes can be made, and you can share them with your friends, or they can be your little secret. But the next time someone tells you that "they'll never change" think of my little leopard with her jewelry and make up, and tell them they just might be surprised.

Well, that's it for today. It's raining here today, so perhaps some needlework is in my future. Hope everyone is having a great week. Take care and keep those cards and letters comin'


disclaimer: please be advised that I am a girly-girl, princess type (Baby Boomer that I am) and you will probably continue to see fashion and glamor in my collages (at least until I get some new magazines), so be prepared.

Fabulous Friday

Can you believe that it's Friday again? I know it is, because all my shows were on last night. The week has flown by, but I did get a bit of art done. I'm still into collage art. I like the whole process, from gathering up magazines, to finding images, to deciding whether to look for colors or themes. Everything about collage art is working for me right now.

This first piece wasn't going well, and I just sort of vented as I worked on it. That's where the therapeutic part comes in. I decided to post it anyway...

This next piece was fun and just fell into place...

Someone gave us a stack of Life and Look mags, dating back as far as 1952. When you have magazines that old, you are sometimes hesitant to cut into them, but when I want an image I want it then. So I clip it out. I could wait and go to the copy shop and save the magazine, but shoot...nothing lasts forever, so I am using them. Any hoo, there was this ad for a product to make silver hair beautiful, so that got me to thinking about my journey into the land of uncolored tresses. It's one of the best things I've done for myself lately. Once again I'm happy with my hair. But enough about me.

Speaking of magazine images, if you don't have a lot of magazines and certainly don't want to put a lot of money into something you are going to cut up, check out your local library.



Our's sells their back issues of magazines for .20 each. I went by today and they had lots of different kinds. Another option is catalogs that you get in the mail. I even ask my dentist for old magazines. DH gets musician catalogs and I'm looking forward to doing something funky with them.

My last picture for today is a somewhat blurry shot of a little red headed visitor we had this week. I had to use my zoom feature and take it through the screen, but you can tell what he's up to.

Not quite as busy as Stan the Beaver, but he was quite intent on his job.

So that's it for today. A bit of art, some prose and a look at our backyard buddies. Hope everyone has a great weekend. Do some art, enjoy the scenery or just curl up and watch a movie, whatever you choose...have fun.

collage art

Just a quick post today to show some of the collage work that I did this week. I think the reason I'm so attracted to collage is the fact that I get to play with fancy lettering. I would like to do one that has a lot of text, but it seems that when I leave the keyboard, my thoughts stay there.

In any event, here you have...


This is a line from the song that Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls sang. I was only a Brownie Scout, so I didn't really understand the lyrics. It's about being in a canoe with a boy and having to decide what to do. The end result being... girl, you better know how to swim.

This next one is something that just evolved as I worked on it...

The image in the lower left is from a hand carved stamp that I did several years ago. I seem to like the visual of someone thinking or speaking the quote. I always thought this was a funny ad. It's from the 60's, back when you could still hardly talk about ladies unmentionables, let alone show one on a model.

Then, last night at a loss for images to use, I started cutting up my Cuisine magazines and my fitness mags and these images just fell together...

It shows the conflict that we sometimes experience when dealing with wanting sweets, when we know we should have fruit. The meditating girl was from an ad in the Fitness mag, the cake at the top was from the food mag, and the strawberry sundae is from an old Life mag. The verbiage at the bottom that is hard to read, says torn between two lovers, which I think says it all.

Hope everyone is staying warm this weekend. We had record cold for several days, but the weather chick is promising warm weather next week, so watch out world.

That's it for today, take care and be creative.

Hello World...

The new year does that to me. I just want to say "Hello World" and twirl around and toss my hat like Mary Richards. I don't do much twirling any more ( although I used to twirl as a majorette) but I plan on doing that and lots more this year.

I've been working on solutions for storing my numerous bottles and jars of sweet smelling loveliness, that I showed you last week. I'm thinking shelves on the wall next to the dresser, but we'll see.

I do a lot of online research and love to learn new things, especially art techniques. I have been using prisma color markers and copics for several years now, but I never thought to combine them with my other favorite medium, colored pencils. There's a young guy, named Merrill Kazanjian, that does amazing art using these and many other techniques.

I particularly like his tutorial on drawing an apple. I used his ideas, but used an apple instead of a picture. I did run into one problem, I need to have my glasses changed. I wear bifocals and I need to have trifocals. I just couldn't see the apple to draw, with it just sitting on my table, so I had to hold the dang thing. Well, that meant I had to draw my hand also, so here is a life sized version of my hand and apple.

Well, that was my first art project for 2010, but I'm really wanting to do some different things this year. That brings us to my friend Shelly, who does the most wonderful collages and I am so inspired by them. I know that I'm not ready for the detail that she puts in her's, but I love studying them. Here is the link to her Flickr page, so check them out.

There's another chick that does collages that my friend Linda and I have been watching. Her name is Teesha Moore and she has a very elaborate web page and she also has lots of youtube videos to watch when you have the time.

So it was off to Michael's for some paint pens, new journals and scrapbook papers. I don't have much in the way of printed paper to work from for collages, so it will be purchased paper and copied vintage photos to start out with.

I just fell in love with the skull paper and while some folks make their own journals, I really prefer the spiral bound art papers for mine. That gives you the option of gluing pages together for thicker pages if you want. Anyway, they were BOGO at Michael's yesterday.

Saturday, DH and I went to our favorite used book store, not only to sell some books (got enough for a fancy lunch) but to check out the old craft books, which I love. Of all the things I have done in years past, I have never done needlepoint. Probably from always having cats in my lap fighting me for the yarn. In any event, I found these two fab books and had to have them.

Don't these look like fun books to have. Can hardly wait to start a needlepoint project.

So that's were I am here on the first week in January 2010. Already learned a new art technique, am chompin' at the bit to do some cutting and taping and lettering on my collages and have needlework projects climbing into my dreams at night. Combine that with keeping the dust bunnies at bay, doing laundry and making sure my hair looks marvelous at all times, I'm also going to be using this book...

So if you want to follow my journey on getting fit and transforming my life, stop in periodically at my other blog (Let's Lose Weight This Year) and check it out.

So that's it for today. I'm hyped and psyched and ready to go. Jump in with both feet and join me. You'll be glad you did. Until then,

xoxo
Susan

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.