Isn't this the greatest!?!

http://allendesigns.typepad.com/blog/2009/12/allen-designs-goody-giveaway-contest.html

I absolutely LOVE Allen Designs! They are having another give away contest going on at the link above. Check it out!

Hugs!

Saturday following Thanksgiving

I had a great time celebrating the holiday with my parents and 2 of my sisters and their husbands. We went to Lincoln City and stayed at the Chinook Winds Hotel. Right next door to the casino! Yippie! I came home with 21 more dollars than when I left. So, it was a good trip.

I'm hoping to get more photos loaded onto my laptop so I can do more updating. To add something new I did get the Jack in the Box clock! Yippie!

Hugs and have a great weekend! I'm going to bed now because it's 2 am and my daughter and granddaughter are going to show up in the morning. Or, maybe the afternoon but I'll still be in bed! HA!

So many years ago. So young and free. I would draw for hours on end and not be critical of every line I put on the paper. Now, I can't seem to make a mark without erasing it away, trying again, erasing again, and so on. Never satisfied with what I've done. Not happy with the final result. I've lost the freedom I once felt. How do I get it back? How do I give myself permission to make mindless mistakes and just experience the joy of creating?

One day, I'll be able to find the joy of creating once again. I just need to return to the mindset of youth, put on my wings of graphite and fly across the paper.

Hugs!

The weekend comes to an end....

It's Sunday night, 9:15 pm, and I'm feeling unaccomplished and a bit empty. Didn't get things done this weekend that I wanted to do. Stayed up too late, stayed in bed too long, got nothing done. No excuses except laziness. I need to start some swap projects and finish up other ones. But, here I sit, with the tv blaring away, playing on the computer, having no motivation to do much else. I keep thinking "Tomorrow I'll feel better! Tomorrow I'll do....this, this and this!" Then, tomorrow comes, I don't want to get out of bed and still have no motivation. It will get better. It's just going to take time.


Sorry to be a poop today. But, I'm in a poopy mood. Tomorrow will be better! HA!!!

I can see the tv screen!

Hubby and son cleaned off the front porch yesterday while I was visiting my parents. That was a nice surprise to come home to. Today, hubby and I tackled the stack of laundry that needed to be folded. I swear it was 1/2 way to the ceiling! Which is why I couldn't see the tv screen, it was blocked by clothes. I got the dishwasher loaded and run, and am working on (nagging my hubby) to get more of the laundry washed and dried so we can fold it and get it out of the way.



I need to get more pictures loaded on this computer to use for my blog. But, I'm too lazy right now. I need to be working on my doodles for a Day of the Dead ATC swap. But, I'm too lazy right now. I need to get busy on some mini banners and a Holiday Art Doll...but, yes you guessed it, I'm too lazy.

Well, I'm off to do something that doesn't take any energy. HA!
Hugs!

Another birthday....

Another year older. I'm over the 1/2 way to 100 mark now. OK, a few years over that mark. I had a nice birthday. Got some really fun gifts. Need to get busy on new projects but I've just been very lazy. Finally got the stack of bills out. Got them all opened. Now to sort through them, write some checks, go back to bed, pull the blankets over my head and forget that there is a world around me for a short time. Ah....the fantasy world is such a nicer place to be!

Have a great day!

Aren't these the most adorable little houses?! Allen Designs is having a give a way and here's the link:

http://allendesigns.typepad.com/blog/2009/09/goody-giveaway-contest.html

I hope the link works! The art work is wonderful and so unique! I love it! Check it out for inspiration and fun ideas.

Hope everyone is having a great week. Wednesday my younger sister, Cathie, drove Mom, Dad, and me to Spirit Mountain Casino. Mom won a bit, Cathie came home with 1/2 of what she went with. Dad and I lost. Boo Hoo Hoo! But it was a really fun day, other than losing. Today I had a doctor's appointment in Portland. It's about an hours drive away for a 15 minute med's check. ARG! Let's see, there was construction in Scappoose so I had to slow way down. Construction in Portland where I had to detour which took a bit longer. And then, right next to the parking lot there was more construction. Glad I left early today! Friday, I'm going to go over to Mom and Dad's and drink all their coffee. Cathie is going to go to Camas and pick up our older sister, Sandi. She's going to stay over the weekend and we're going to yak our heads off! I hope you all have a great week end and create some fun stuff!

Hugs!

Lazy Day

Should be working on projects. But, here I sit.

Should be cleaning up the house. But, here I sit.

Should be organizing some of my art supplies. But, you guessed it, here I sit.

I guess I should get off the couch and get busy. I know I'd feel better if I did. Might even be able to find treasures I forgot I even had! That's always fun and exciting.

This picture I drew when my daughter was about 3 years old. I had taken a photograph of her and use the photo for this drawing. Except she turned out looking like she was all grown up instead of 3 years old. So, I named this "Sarah at 21". Sarah is now 26 and she does look a bit like this picture, except with shorter hair. Sometimes her hair color is very much like this! Hee hee hee! Sarah now has a 3 year old daughter and gets to experience all the fun of watching her baby grow into a young woman. With all the joys and heartbreaks that come with being a Mom.

Well, this is not getting anything accomplished around here. So, I'm at least going to try and work on some Halloween ATC's for a swap project and maybe doodle a ghastly scarecrow for a postcard exchange.

Hugs and Welcome to the Boo Season!

This mixed media work was created for at bloubell-alteredexpressions.blogspot. She provided a beautiful vintage photo of the young girl and we could embellish it as we chose creating our own work of art. This was about my 5th attempt! I used a gel medium to transfer the image to a 5"x 7" canvas board. Once it was dried I used watercolors to tint the picture. I added the torn vellum edges, a metal heart, the rectangle rock beads, metal rose charms (from Paper Imagery Design), and an old belt that was broken and certainly wouldn't fit around this pudgy bod! I'm very happy with how this turned out. It's been ages since I used watercolors so this was a bit of a challenge...I generally make mud when I use watercolors! Now, I just need to figure out how I'm going to frame it so the belt can hang down. Got ideas, just need to play around and see if they work!

I had a blast and learned some do's and don't's for transferring images! Made lots of messes and tossed lots in the recycle bin.

Hope you're all having a great time!

I want to run away to the beach. The sound of the ocean waves, the smell of the salt air, it's the most relaxing place for me to be. If I could live any where, I think the coast is where I would want to be. lie to walk along the waters' edge picking up rocks, agates, and shells. Sometimes a piece of drift wood that I can bead around and add treasures to and make into a Wizard's Stick.
My Father gave me a rock tumbler so I can shine up the rocks and agates and then use in some of my art projects. Need to get more grit for the darn thing.

It's been a chaotic month of stress and frustrations. I'm ready to run away and hide. I won't but I'd sure like to!

It's a windy, rainy day. The sun peeks through the clouds every now and then. I'm cold and wrapped up in a blanket. I'm in a poopy mood today.

I took this picture of Mt. St. Helens in the early 1970's. It was from the dock at Harry Truman's lodge. I was there for a Girl's League officer's retreat to plan out the year's events. I found some old negatives and fortunately this was in with them. I'm glad I found this one. It's one of the few photographs I took during my teen years that actually turned out! I haven't returned to see Mt. St. Helens since it blew. I did fly over it once on a trip. Sadly, my camera was packed in an overhead storage and I couldn't get it out in time to take a picture. But, it wouldn't have compared to this one anyway. I'm sure the area is returning to a beautiful place. I think I'd rather remember it with Spirit Lake and the Truman Lodge and the girl who got sick and barfed out the second story window.

This is the Golden Man. I found the piece of wood outside my sister's gift shop. I used sculpty clay to add the face and attach the smaller stick to the main piece. The wood didn't all fit into the oven so I had to bake it with the door open. I wasn't sure if I'd set the house on fire or not. I didn't. Yippie! I still need to make a base for this and now it needs some minor repair work from having stuff stacked on top of it. I'm not happy that it now needs the repair work. But, it's my fault for not making the base years ago and placing it somewhere safe. Off to work on some swap projects!

I haven't drawn like this in years. I have become way too critical of each line I make with the pencil. How do I return to the freedom I use to have? I'm frustrated. I'm feeling lost. I'm having a pity party and you're invited! Bring some cookies or cake and let's have some fun! Maybe that would help get me out of my funky feelings. Even if just for a little while.

Well, back to work on some art swap projects. It's not drawing but it is creative work.

My Aunt Billie gave me this cow skull and this is what I did with it. I did this quite a few years ago. I'm now considering selling it. I like it...I just don't have any place to display it and it would be nice to add a few bucks to our account. I used acrylic paints, pen & ink, and then added beads for accents. It was a fun project! I have other little animal skulls to work on, just haven't done anything with them yet. Need to get off my behind, clear off the table so I have space to work, and get busy. Yeah...maybe next week! HA!

"Sleeping Wide Awake"

or just plain day dreaming.

Just got back from Lincoln City on Sunday. Monday my friend, Linda, will be arriving at about 1 pm and we'll be heading to Seaside. I love the beach. I need to repack my suitcase. Guess I should get to bed and get some sleep. When I get up it will be running around like a loony bug trying to get everything packed and ready to go.

Hugs!

You've all heard about them...and now you can see one for yourself! I captured this Hideous Fairy as she was trying to make off with some of my sparkly beads. Look at that innocent face! But they are full of mischief and mayhem! Don't let their looks fool you! I've recently heard that some of these fairies like to scatter beads all over the floor when you aren't looking!

I've carefully place this fairy in an escape proof box and sent to a friend. I'm sharing the fun. Let them create trouble for some body else! And if you notice, this fairy has a pouch in which to carry off it's booty! Silly Fairy! They don't call this the Home of the Fairy Smasher for nothing! HA!

I made this Hideous Fairy about 3 years ago for a swap project. The head and hands are made with Sculpty Clay and the body is fabric. I make up the patterns as I go along so there really isn't any guidelines that I follow. It would probably be a good thing if I'd make a pattern and file it someplace instead of making a new pattern for each doll! DUH! I also make the clothes to fit as I work on the doll...lots of hits and misses...lots of experimenting...and each doll ends up unique. Which really is the fun part...I never know how a doll is going to end up looking by the end of the process. I let my muse run wild.

Currently, I'm working on a Fancy Smancy Artsy Fartsy Doll. She's pretty much finished but I need to photograph her and send off to her new home. Then, I'll be working on a Stink Fairy, cousin to the Hideous Fairy only smellier. Both have sculpty clay faces and hands and cloth bodies.

Enjoy and create!

"Head in the Clouds"

Most people who see this drawing think it's a young woman...it's a young man in a leather jacket. One of my favorite works of art. Colored pencil drawing in my passion. And, yet, I haven't drawn, seriously drawn, in years. I'm getting frustrated with myself because I get side tracked with other things and don't allow myself the joy of drawing.

Today I was able to get quite a bit of stuff done around the house. Cleaned a tiny bit in the upstairs bedroom that will one day become my studio...once again. Took out a huge bag of garbage and there's so much more in there! It's so disgusting! Boys are disgusting! Now, I'm suffering with back pain. ARG!

Well, back to work. Hope you're all having a great week!

Got some cd's....

Now I need to get them over to the desk computer and put some photos on them so I can use them with my laptop (which is much faster than the desk computer) and then I can add more to my blog. Whew!

I'm working on a Artsy Fartsy/Fancy Smancy Doll for a swap project. I've got her body sewn together. Her head and hands are made out of polymer clay and they are finished. I need to get working on her clothes and then add lots of decorations. Next project to work on is a Stink Fairy Doll. i have her head and hands made - polymer clay - her body is sewn and her legs and arms are cut out. I like making these dolls. I just wish I was better at sculpting the face and hands. I need more practice I guess.

Well, it's now 1:15am so I guess I should get to bed. Sarah and Christine will be here in the early afternoon with cupcakes to celebrate Shawn's birthday. Yippie!

I made this a few months ago for the Paper Imagery Design group (a yahoo group). The swap was called "Script" and you have to use one of the PID images in your work. This is such a great group and so much fun! They have challenges going on all the time that you can participate in. The site has wonderful collage sheets to purchase along with some great ephemra, all at reasonable prices and when I've ordered it's arrived quite quickly. Gee! I'm sounding like an add for PID! HA!

Mostly I love working with the old time photograph images. I have collected a lot of vintage photos and postcards over the years and have quite a few scanned into photoshop so I can use them. I just need to get off my lazy butt and get busy. First, I need to finish up the swap projects I've committed myself to and then I can play with things for myself or to try and sell.

So far today I've done.....uhm....this blog update, which took me FOREVER to get the photo to upload due to an older desk top computer, and thought about the Token Swap I'm participating in with the Charmster's group (another yahoo group). I guess I should go and get those ready to mail along with one other swap project for Making Dollz (yes, yahoo again!) that's been stuffed into a box and ready to go, just needs an address and a few extra goodies since it's past due.

Hope you are all having a great week and that your weekend will be a creative happy one!

Hugs!

Perhaps....

I shouldn't have started a blog yet. I'm not posting any art work. Maybe that's because I'm not creating anything these days. I keep hoping that my days will slow down, be less chaotic, so I can have some "quiet time" to relax and create. I'm behind on my swap projects. I have stuff ready to mail but haven't taken it to the post office. This is getting beyond ridiculous!

But, I'm hoping to get this blog going. Post some of my art work. And, let people know that I have a blog!

Hugs and enjoy your day.

The beginning of my Art Blog

Today I decided to get off my lazy behind and begin an Art Blog. I will need to add some photos of my work. And, get busy on new items to show. I will need lots of reminders to get back to work and update my blog. I will need lots of bops to the head to keep me focused. Other than that, it's going to be a fun adventure!

Hugs!