TRADES ARE DONE

Trades are finally done for AU. The theme is MOMENTS.....

So are my ATC'S for the live trade this Saturday. The theme is HOT HOT HOT.

Barb will be coming in this Wednesday for 5 days.Can't wait to see her.

I need to finish everything, so I can have fun with her.

I leave for Phoenix the day after she leaves for her stitching retreat.

BUSY IS GOOD!

EXTREME BEADING

I was going through Miranda's old toy
box which is being stored in my basement. I found
a little Care Bear from McDonalds.
I thought it would be fun to bead.











So, after two weeks of beading every nite, I ended up with an embellished bear which serves no purpose at all.
I guess it kept me relaxed and I actually had fun doing it.
Thre is something about bead embroidery that totally puts me in the zone..
My trades are done for AU.
Now it's the excitement of waiting for the day to come.
(1 week 3 days)

NAME TAG FOR ART UNRAVELED

Just finished it! I like it, but will I wear

it? Probably not. It 's big and bulky.

Now on to more trades!

CATCH UP

It's been over a month since I've posted.

I guess life gets in the way.

Aside from making ATC'S for the Live Swap groups, I haven't been doing much paper art.

I'm into beading again. I've created some more jewelry (I'm thinking of selling some when I'm ready).

June was also a month of life style change. My son moved in with us temporarily. I didn't know how to behave as a mother. I haven't lived with him for

over 20 years. I worried about his eating habits, health, well being etc. Since he's

a middle aged man and father of teenagers, I didn't know my boundries. In a way, I felt the roles were reversed.

He's back home for now and hopefully happier. He has his own space back and so do I.

I'm beginning to prepare for ART UNRAVELED. I'm getting excited and am looking forward to spending a week doing art and hanging out with artists.

I'm also planning to spend a day or two with Barb. Two more weeks of waiting. Thank goodness time seems to fly.

Since I joined Facebook, I've been involved with playing word games with friends and checking out what's happening with people I know (and even don't know). I feel more connected to the world...

MIRANDA GRADUATES

Miranda , my grandaughter,
graduated from 8th grade yesterday. The short lady
next to her is me. I think
I'm shrinking.
Anyway, it was a nice day.
We went out for lunch after the ceremony and then she opened presents.
Both grandchildren graduated this year.
This is it for four more years.
Nothing else is going on at the moment.
I'm creating more ATC'S for the swap tomorrow...

BUSY WEEK-END

On Saturday, Shari, Lynne and I took a road trip to Milwaukee for an ATC swap. (are we crazy or devoted to our art?) The entire day
was filled with fun and something different to do. The swap was held in a very organized fashion and I managed to get 20 new pieces of little art work.
After the swap we stopped to eat, browse a used book store (of course I bought some books to cut up for images) and indulged in some frozen custard. YUM!
Got home about 8:30 and began thinking about
the final things I had to get ready for the art retreat on Sunday.
We made tin dolls (the photo on the left). I only finished one and started one more.
I really enjoyed the day. I met new people and
found the experience to be totally relaxing.
The gathering was held in a log cabin at THE CENTER in Palos Hills. It's a non-denominational spiritual center to promote healing and enrichment thru the arts. They also have a chapel to hold services. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. There are log cabins all over and an abundance of old trees and flowers. It was so peaceful, I didn't want to leave. It was like an "oasis of calm in the middle of chaos". I'm so glad I had the experience.
I definitely will go back.

ALEX GRADUATES

Here's a picture of Alex and his very proud grandma's right after the ceremony.
I can't believe he will be starting college.

I've been working on ATC's for the swap in Milwaukee this week-end. This will be a new experience
I'm loving this! Small little pieces of art. Actually, they take as long as larger pieces . The same amount of planning goes into it except on a smaller scale.

FINISHED!!!!!!

More ATC's.
The meeting at Dick Blick last week inspired me to do more.
I've decided if I don't trade
these here, I'll bring them to Art Unraveled.


*****************************


DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!!!
(I don't brag very often)
I FINISHED......
I must say, this project took more perseverence and patience than anything else I have ever created.


It took almost two months.


I worked on it every evening.


The proud part for me is that it is truly an original. I designed it from scratch and actually stuck to it. There were times when I wanted to give up.....

IS LESS REALLY MORE?

I'm getting carried away with these ATC"S. I wish I could

say enough is enough.

They are addictive.

I'm really enjoying the process.

Since it's been dark, dreary and rainy all week, these

cards kept me from crawling into bed.

OK, where's the sun already?

MORE ATCS

I guess you can tell what I've been doing this week-end.

It's been raining for two days..

Perfect opportunity to be creative.

NEW ATC'S

Our local Dick Blick is sponsering an ATC swap next week.
I thought it would be fun to participate.
It also inspired me to play around again with my very first endevor with collage and mixed media art.
"WHAT'S OLD IS NEW"
I'm having fun with it. I've also noticed that my style and tastes have changed in the past few years. I think my biggest change is that I'm
being me and I'm not trying to do art work for approval. I have more self confidence.
I'm almost done with my needlepoint canvas. YEAH!!!!! It's taking forever. I'm proud of myself for sticking to it.
Spring has finally sprung and that always creates a happier frame of mind for me.

TIME TO MOVE ON

I have spent the past month of my life trying to design and stitch my own version of a Mexican Talvera tile.

Well, what a surprise! It's not so easy. I'm not a linear person and I don't like anything to be perfect . For some reason,

I expect this tile to be symmetrical and it's driving me crazy. I'm tired of ripping out stitches to make it look just right. Maybe it's time to walk away from it and give it a rest!

In my heart, I really believe I like the challenge and that's the exciting part for me! Hmmmmm, what should I do next? Let it go or

keep being obsessive?

HOME AT LAST

We've been home since Monday night.
Our last stop was the Grand Canyon. WOW! It makes me believe in something grander and more omni-potent.
Bob was in awe of it. It was his first time.
We stayed in Flagstaff the first night on the road. The second night, we stopped in Tucumcari NM and the third night, Joplin MO.
Every year I say, "Next time we FLY!"
It's really a long long drive...
Now that I've been home a few days, I'm beginning to feel normal again. I've caught up with everything . Even laundry. Three weeks worth (UG)

I've been working on the Talavera canvas which I've designed from scratch. I certainly admire all the artists who design and paint thier own canvasas. If you want it to be precise and exact, it becomes very intense. For me, it's all trial and error. I guess I love a challenge.....

I'm determined to finish it. So far, it looks pretty good....

TRIP WINDING DOWN

We finally saw the Chichuly exhibit at the Desert Botonical Gardens today. What talent that man has. His work is incredible.
Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the exhibit at a later time, when the sun is at a different angle.
Still awesome! Loved the different desert plants too! My favorite section was the Sonoran Desert.
All the Cactus were giant size.
Almost surreal.
We visited the butterfly garden also. There were some beautiful specimens flying around. I got some nice pictures.

It's time for a new camera. Mine is acting up . It only has 5 Mega Pixels and is too bulky to carry around.
If everything goes according to plan, we will be leaving Phoenix this Friday. I'm not looking forward to the long trip home, but it will nice to be in my own house again.
Barb has been the perfect hostess and makes us feel right at home.

HERE WE ARE

We arrived in Phoenix a week ago today. The trip was long and tiresome, but it was worth it. This time. a pebble hit the winshield and cracked it. We need to get it fixed before we head home. It's growing!
The weather has been perfect. SUN everyday and temps in the 70's and 80's.
Bob has been busy practicing golf and eating his way thru all the Deli's in town.
I took a 2 day work shop at Family Needle Arts. The designer, Kelly Clark, taught us how to embellish one of her new canvasas. It was fun. Barb and I are doing alot of stitching.
Again, we're planning to go the Grand Canyon. Not sure when.
The girls (Barb, Carol, Martha, Nancy and I) went to an art exhibit in Peoria, Friday night.
It was just OK..
We are planning to stay two more weeks. Will fill you in later!

WE'RE LEAVING FOR PHOENIX

It's strange how things work out. Bob and I were not planning to go anywhere this winter. Mainly due to expenses.
I was in a crappy mood earlier and decided to make a plane reservation to go visit Barb alone. When I mentioned it to Bob, he said, "why don't we drive and have a relaxing trip." HE SHOCKED ME....
So within a half hour I called Barb , made plans for Sunny and off we go!!!! We'll be leaving this week. Now that the initial shock is over, I'm getting excited. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG WINTER!!I'm so ready to go somewhere.

I CAN'T BELIEVE A MONTH HAS GONE BY

It's been a month since I've posted anything. I guess I've been so involved with my art journaling, I completely forgot about blogging.
I have been faithful to my journaling. I have created a new page every day for over a month and still am enthusiastic about it.
I believe joining a group helped alot. Thanks Kelly!
Some of my pages may be too personal to show to the world, so here are the a few that I don't mind sharing.
I'm still working on the granny squares for my afghan.
Not much else is happening. Last month was very peaceful, productive and quieter than usual.

JOURNALING

I just signed up for Kelly Kilmer's "A Prompt A Day" on line class. I was really impressed with her format. The photo is my journaling for Day 1.

The subject was "Your Favorite Childhood Toys"

I needed to get the juices flowing again. And so far, her prompts have helped me. Believe it or not, I did not have to go out and buy any supplies.

I went thru my stash and found an abundance of everything I needed.
I'm looking forward to each prompt and hopefully, I'll be able to do one a day. (at least for now)

We've had a break in the weather and I've been going out more. It was 30 degrees and sunny. It felt like spring.

Shari, Sandy and I actually got together for lunch yesterday. We spent

a few hours eating and chatting.

OK, SO I CAN DREAM

Blue skies, a warm ocean breeze, palm trees and flip flops!
Have you heard of the Law Of Attraction? I'm trying very hard.
This winter has been brutal.. If it's not snowing, the
temperature is sub zero. . It was so frigid tonight, my poor dog froze his paws and actually could not walk until he thawed out. (poor Sunny)
It's too dangerous for little dogs and all living things to be out in this.

I have not been creating much. My brain and body have become frozen just like the weather. I've been very lazy lately and am not too motivated to do much.
I'm beginning to get cabin fever. I've only been out once this week. I almost have to force myself to go out. I DEPLORE WINTER!
I hope my next post will be more upbeat...

HAPPY NEW YEAR

MY WISHES FOR THE COMING YEAR ARE:
1. Good Health
2. World Peace
3. Financial Security
4. More creativity
5. Loving family and friends

No resolutions for me! I never keep them.

I hope everyone has a great 2009 and I wish you health, peace
and love !