ANOTHER BRACELET

One more piece for my collection . Now what? I guess I'll put it away with all the other finished projects sitting in my closet.

This has been a low key week for me. Didn't do much. I tried to stay away from shopping. I did a good job until yesterday. I ventured out to Jo Ann's and I managed to buy something I didn't need with my coupon.

Now there is a 50% coupon looming over my head. Let's see how long I can hold out. Who am I fooling?

Mia (my niece) came out to visit for two days. She's really going through an identity crisis. She's 22 and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. I am totally confident that she will figure it out. She has so much

going for her. I just wish she believed it.

I'm thinking of creating more soul collage cards on a smaller scale. It will be fun to do in minature , just like the inchies, but not that tiny.

I have all these ideas running thru my head about other projects too! Lets see what comes of it....

ALEX

Just had to share this photo. My grandson Alex and his date for homecoming. I cannot believe how fast he's growing up. He's 16, driving, working, going to school and actively involved with life!
I'm so proud of him and of course ,my son and daughter-in-law for doing such a good job. Am I bragging or what?

BEADING BEADING BEADING

That's all I've been doing the past few weeks. I really love designing my own
jewelry. I guess it has to do with my need to be individualistic.
This week , my desk top computer totally crashed (it's corrupted)
My son ,Keith ,(HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY!) is working on it.
My lap top is new and functioning, but It won't let me use my printer.
I guess it's a compatibilty issue between XP and Vista. I'm being so patient . I didn't run out and buy a new one. I'm waiting for a resolution.
Of course, this has been driving me nuts all week.

Bob and I are going to Mexico in December. I've always wanted to see the Mayan ruins so we decided to go to Riviera Maya in the Yucatan. We'll be staying for 10 days. Can't wait. This will be replacing the winter we were going to spend in Phoenix.

Went to the Quilt Expo the other day in St. Charles. I really didn't see anything new and exciting in quilting. Nothing inspired me.
I did see one booth with kits and supplies for Brazillian embrodiery.(three dimentional)
I would like to learn that eventually.
Met with the ladies yesterday in Warrenville to do art. I just couldn't get into it so I left early and went shopping.
It's certainly grey ,cloudy and yucky outside. Fall is finally here. It almost
seems more like winter. I'm wearing socks and a sweater. I guess this can be called the transition period , neither here nor there.

ACTIVE WEEK

Between Birthday celebrations, going out to dinner with friends ( Shari and Sandy) driving into the city to visit Stampology, and going to see "Across The Universe " twice, I haven't had much time for creativity. I went with Barb during the week before she left for Phoenix and I went with Cindy yesterday. I could actually see it a third time.
I bought the sound track and that's what I have been listening while I'm driving.
I was never much into the Beatles music until now. They changed some of it for the movie and the actor's sang all the songs. Great voices.
This is my new favorite movie.
I believe I am obscessed with it (for now).

I'm trying to finish a needlepoint canvas and am
planning another beaded piece of Jewelry.

I'm not feeling the paper art thing right now.
I can't get motivated to do it . I'm enjoying the feeling of fiber , fabric and beads. I know at some point I will get back to it. I guess I just need a little break.

BEADED BRACELET FINISHED

I'm finally done with my bracelet. It sure was alot of beading. I was determined to finish it, and I Did! Will I ever wear it? Probably not, it's not my style. I am proud of it.
I started out with a vintage button and just went with the flow. I guess it is called free form.

Spent the day with the ladies, doing art. Had a good time. Again, we did more talking than creating. I worked on a needlepoint canvas.

My friend Barb is in town. We've been running around every day shopping and eating out way too much. So what else is new? Haven't stopped at Dairy Queen yet. I'm really surprised.

Tomorrow, Bob and I are having a party to celebrate our 65th birthday. We've invited lots of people, which means FOOD AND DRINK. We are prepared. Our birthdays are only three days apart. I guess turning 65 is an accomplishment. We're still here and in good health and happy too! We have it good!

SAMPLES OF LESLIE ALTMAN CLASS

I Took Leslie's class at Carolina Moon yesterday. We learned how to apply alcohol ink to different substrates. My favorite was using papyrus and vinyl (the two samples on the left).
Had a fun time and learned how to use the inks . Never used them before. Of course, I have had them in my stash for a couple of years. I love the colors, but other than that, I doubt if I will apply this technique to anything I'm doing right now. I'm really focused on other mediums at the moment.
As I said in an earlier post, I'm beading away.

I'm meeting friends at the Naperville River Walk Art Fair today. The weather is perfect for it. Can't wait to see all the new artwork that has been created this year.

LAST ROSE OF SUMMER

It feels like fall. I love this time of year. Too bad winter comes next. That I don't like...

I can't believe I got caught up in making coffee filter roses. I just had to try it and I actually had fun. I'm not sure it looks like a rose, but I think it's kind of pretty. I made a few , but now I'm done!! No MORE

I've been busy beading away on my free form bracelet. It's keeping me busy at night while I'm watching TV. If I ever finish it, it will be a conversation piece. I think beading is very Zen like. It's calming to me.
Between that and Yoga, I should be a new person.

There is alot going on this week-end. The Quilt Show in St. Charles(too close to miss), A class Saturday with Leslie Altman, Riverwalk Art fair in Napervilleand the Bead show. I think I'm going to do it all. I hope I can fit two events into one day.

I just dug up some of my colored pencil drawings. I was shocked at what I saw. Not too bad.
I was really getting somewhere with it, but lost interest. Just think, if I would have kept it up I would be much better now. Story of my life. Can't stick to anything too long. Once I learn a technique, I need to move on to the excitement of something new. Oh well, I guess that's part of who I am . I've learned to accept it.

Went to Cantigny today and took lots of pictures . I really needed to commune with nature. It felt so good to walk around and see all the beautiful gardens. Weather was perfect...
I started my bead embroidery project and am happy with the way it's turning out. It's very relaxing.

Went to see the movie "No End In Sight" with our neighbors. It is a documentary about Iraq and all the deception going on with our government. It just confirmed my beliefs and even made them stronger.
YOGA starts tomorrow. Can't wait!

WAITING TO BE FRAMED

These needlepoint canvases are finished and waiting to be framed. It's going to cost me a fortune. No wonder I keep putting it off.


Anyway, these are in my WOMAN series. I"ve done these over the past few years. There are a few more which I'll upload later.





I'm also working on two other canvases right now, A carribean scene and a kitchen saint.

I am feeling a little bit more motivated than last week. I'm beginning to get some ideas for art.
I also have a beading project I want to start.

NO MOTIVATION

It's been over a week since I've been back and I just can't get
myself to create new art.
I have been needlepointing. I guess in a way, it's creative.

I have been a little discouraged about the type of art i've been doing. I think I need to do some fine art to acknowledge the fact that I still enjoy it..
Since Art Unraveled, I've been having a problem with originality. Most of the mixed media art looks the same to me.

The picture on the left is Ann Grigh's paint pallette. I love her style and her original way of creating. She sure is an inspiration to me.

Getting back to real life, not much is happening. I had my grandaughter this week end. She is growing up so fast. She'll be 13 next month. It was fun shopping with her and I enjoyed watching her pick out clothes. She definitly has her own style.
Got together with Pam, Ann and Jean to do art on Saturday. There was more talking than creating. I accomplished nothing.

EATING FRENZY

Phoenix is one big restaurant !!! Aside from eating breakfast and lunch at the hotel, we went out to dinner every night. Of course, I'm not complaining. It was a good opportunity to get together with old and new friends from Art Unraveled.

I spent the second week with my friend Barb and of course we ate out every night.


Still need to come down from the trip.
I haven't done a thing yet.
In retrospect, I really had a fun time, but did not learn much. The only class which I can honestly say was good was Michael Demengs class.(Light Bulb Shrine). The other classes were OK or bad. Unless there are new instructors and new classes, I think I'm done. Time to try something new.

BACK FROM ART UNRAVELED

Home at last.
I can't get my act together. I've been sleeping on and off all day. Need to unpack!
It seemed like a long two weeks. Art Unraveled was wonderul. The second week visiting my friend was OK except for the nasty heat. It's unfit for humans. I did love the sun every day.
I'll go into more detail about Art Unraveled later..
The photo of the Light Bulb shrines and Circus
shrine are the only things I managed to bring home finished.

NAME BADGE FOR ART UNRAVELED

Hope I wear it!

ART UNRAVELED, HERE WE COME!

Five more days and the the four of us will be leaving for Phoenix, A week of art and fun.
Belinda, Sandy Shari and myself are very lucky to be able to experience this together. We Are
definitely Art Sisters and lucky to live so close to each other.

This has been a hellish week. My cousin Renah passed away. I feel so relieved that she is not suffering anymore. Tomorrow is the memorial service. I'm feeling sad. Renah is the last of the Chapman family (my mothers side). I hope her kids and I will stay connected...
I've also had computer problems again. The Geek Squad came out and
spent a few hours trying to figure out the problem with my new laptop. It wouldn't connect to the internet.
It ended up being faulty. I exchanged it for another one and now it's working fine. I'm so sick of this computer stuff. I didn't realize how addicted I am to the internet. I was having withdrawl symptoms.

Haven't done any art this week. I guess I'm saving it all for Art Unraveled.

A LOST WEEK

The past week has been a big blur. I've decided that I am obscessed when it comes to things that don't work'

I have spent almost every day trying to figure out my new lap top . It has the Visita operating system. It is different than XP. I also installed a router. UNFORTUNATELY, my desktop has a virus and I was told not to keep it connected to the internet. So what good is the router? I decided to get a new printer for the lap top only. Lo and behold, I installed the software and a message popped saying it's not compatible with Vista. I was so frustrated. Anyway, I solved that problem by downloading a different driver

from Hewlett Packard. Is all this boring stuff? Sorry, I am just describing one part of my week.

I also spent 2 days staying with Renah, my cousin who is suffering from cancer. She is declining very quickly. She has become unresposive and can't take care of herself anymore. I feel so sad for her. I hope her suffering ends soon.

No art work has been done this week. My other side of the brain was working overtime.

Two weeks until Art Unraveled. Im so looking forward to it. Can't wait!

QUILT DONE

FINISHED! Actually, it was supposed to be a wall hanging. I've decided to use it in my studio

as an afghan, draped over the back of the love seat.

I'm loving the colors. This was fun to do, but a challenge. When it came to putting the backing on, everything was off kilter. I had to improvise and add more material. Hopefully, with my next attempt, I'll be more careful. I'm always in a hurry.

Still working in my trades for Art Unraveled and houses for the swap on the IN THIS HOUSE

group.

Too hot outside to do much. Good time to play catch-up on art projects!!!!

LITTLE TINY HOUSES

PROTOTYPES FOR

HOUSE SWAP.

I haven't decided exactly what I'll do yet. The photos are of the two I've created so far.

They are 2 X 3 1/2" in size. So far, it's been fun. I need to make 2o of them.

I really should finish the trades for Art Unraveled . August will be here before I know it.

I'm still working on my quilt and loving it. I'll post it soon.

Got together with Shari, Sandy, Belinda and Sarah for a play date Wednesday. We tried a new technique. I'll scan it later. Shari has all the info on her blog www.creativechatter.blogspot.com

I Spent Thursday and Friday in Chicago. Renah is in the hospital again, so I went to visit her and than went to Joni's to spend the night. I took public transportaion both ways. I came home totally exhausted. I could never commute on a daily basis. Too much chaos. I'm beginning to enjoy my quiet life more and more.....

MOO CARDS

My moo cards came today. They are soooo cute and tiny....

I chose my watercolor paintings, digital art and collage for my first batch.

It's 5:57 p.m. and I'm still not dressed. Today was house cleaning day (ug) and when I finished, I started playing around with the quilt I'm making. Before I knew it, the entire day was gone. No sense getting dressed now. Tomorrow is a new day and I'm going to SEIZE IT...

The quilting is challenging me and I guess I like that.

I'm designing it myself. I'm sure it will end up being a wall hanging.

It's very colorful with African Prints.

TAG! YOUR IT

Belinda tagged me.
So, here we go!

1. I have a weakness for soft serve ice cream (DAIRY QUEEN)

2. I need to have more than one project going at one time. I get bored easily!

3. Salsa music gets my motor running. Can't sit still. Need to get up and dance.
I've always been attracted to anything hispanic (even men) Olive skin, black hair and dark
eyes

4. I want to be taller. It's so hard to buy clothes. I hate hemming!

5. Now that I have my passport, I want to travel the world and experience different
lifestyles and cultures. First stop, Russia to discover my roots.

6. I don't give myself enough credit for my artistic ability. I'm always criticizing my work
and thinking I'm not good enough or equal to other artists.

7. I've worked very hard to overcome my fears. phobias and negative thinking. I'm in a
better place now than ever before. Maybe getting older helps. In other words, what's the
very worst that can happen? Been there, done that!

EARTH MOTHER I'M NOT

I'm trying so hard to be good to my flowers and plants. It's been so hot and dry, they need to be watered daily. I forgot one day and they all looked dead. I managed to revive most of them. I hope my little garden will be maintained for the duration of the summer.

I won't neglect them again.

So, now I'm into fabrics and art quilts . The picture is of a 4X6 I just did to experiment with my sewing machine, which I haven't used in ages. It's a pitty. There are so many neat stitches to play with. Part of this card is machine stitched and part hand embroidered. The woman is a collage I did on a formica sample. I believe this piece is really MIXED MEDIA.

I have designed an African watercolor quilt. It's all pinned and in place. After I fuse each 2"square onto the backing, I'm going to machine stitch it with decorative stitches. I had fun planning it. Hopefully, I'll finish it before I go on to the next project.

I've been feeling a little restless and unfocused again. I want to create a million things. My head is full of ideas, but I know I'll be better off doing one thing at a time. The story of my life!

(ha ha)