GOODBYE 2011

New Years Eve. December 31, 2011. The husband and I are pretty boring. No celebrations to get dressed up for. In our Jammie's, we sit home and watch a movie, occasionally flipping the channel to see who is performing at one of the live parties. Most of the time, I fall asleep and he has to wake me up to watch the ball drop. I get a "Happy New Year" in and a kiss, and it's Goodnight Irene!

This has been a busy and exciting year. The daughter was married, our Grand-daughter was born, the Navy family reunion and the pending birth of our second Grand-son! Lot's of love in this family.

My son leaves for Army basic training in February. It makes me sad that he will be away from the family, but I am also excited for him. He is pursuing a long time desire. He has the "guts" to step up and go forward. This is impressive to me, something I couldn't do. Call me chicken... lack of "kahunas!" I wish you well Michael. Push for the stars! I am so proud of you!!!

To all of you, my friends and my family... I wish you a healthy, happy year ahead.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012.

CHRISTMAS IN HUNTERSVILLE, NC

Hey everybody! I will be at the Huntersville Christmas Festival tonight, 5 to 8 pm. Donna Downey Studios has a booth set up and I will be doing a children's Christmas craft! Donna and Bill will be there also. So bundle up (I hear it's going to be very cold) and come out for some Christmas fun!!!!

I put the final touches on my fifth canvas and prepped them for the ride to the florist! All signed and tagged. I am actually only selling 4 of them, the fifth was a gift to Frankie, the shop owner. I really enjoyed making these. I have tried so many "styles", but I always go back to simple Folk art pieces. I guess it is what I crave for in life... simplicity.

Mixed Media Collage... I prefer the flat panel canvases and alot of texture. My all time favorite is to create a distressed, faux barnwood background. Layers of paper, different types of mediums, pan pastels, acrylics and inks...

An Old World Santa sketched onto watercolor paper and painted with Pan Pastels. His beard is light modeling paste applied with a spatula. I then hand tore
him and decoupaged him to the faux wood panel.

The stars are faux rusted metal. I plan on sharing this process in a future post.
the title of this canvas is; "BELIEVE"

My next canvas is "ANGEL AMONG US"

I free hand sketch all my pieces and then hand tear. I like the aged look it gives and it "fits" into the Folk art theme.
This next canvas I love... I titled it; "PEACEFUL"

The next was a fun piece... a winter wonderland after a big snow. I thought about my Grandson playing in the snow, as I created this.
Titled; "LET IT SNOW"

My final piece is not for sale, but a gift to Frankie. She is the shop owner in a restored gold mining village in Gold Hill, NC. Frankie made all the beautiful flower arrangements for my daughter's wedding. This is the village I used to display some of my albums I made. I was also Paula's partner in the bakery. Oh, how I miss all that! Now is my time to get back to that little village... this time with my art work.
To Frankie, thank you for hosting my art! "THE GOLD MINER'S DAUGHTER"



I hope you have enjoyed seeing my art... as much as I have, creating it!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the pieces, please email me at;
vintagebeginnings@yahoo.com Historic Gold Hill Village

I FOUND MY STYLE IN CANVAS

ALL I CAN SAY IS EEEE....X......I....T......E.....D...! I do believe I have found myself and my unique style! With that, I must go finish the last 2 canvases for my sale! You just have to wait a little longer for me to post some pics. Sorry!

ALL CAUGHT UP... well, almost

All my "work" projects are caught up for now... just waiting on a number for making class kits. That means, I can play all I want and not feel guilty! Thought I would share one of the Christmas Class projects I have been working on.


The next 3 days, I am planning on creating for myself. My art has taken the wayside the past few weeks... life in general...things... just things... tend to bog me down at times... and this time change... gets me every year. I hate when it gets dark so early... "lights out and it's time to sleep"! Guess that's why the bears hibernate! Haha...

Good news last night! My limited edition Halloween kits are almost gone! Thank you to all who purchased them and supported me. I have ideas for one next year already. Keeping a journal.. because I tend to forget as fast as I come up with them! ideas, that is... I'm working on a few ideas... have some preparation before I can execute... military strategy...

This is one of the items for the Children's craft day in Dec.



For more information on classes, please visit;
http://www.donnadowney.com/index.php/donna-downey-studios

"A GLIMPSE"

Wow, what a day! I started out with a visit to my daughter's OB appt. Bentley (yes, it's a boy!) is growing just fine! I even heard the little stinker's heart beat, when he would stay still. Next was breakfast at Cracker Barrel... have to feed this little guy... and Mommy!
Last, a quick trip to Hobby Lobby to pick up a snow flake die. Of course, once again, I waited to long to go back and get it. The lady in line (can you believe,in front of me!) had it in her basket. How dare she!! An urge came over me... I could yell, "Would ya look at that!"... grab the die and run the other way! That was the evil side of me (lol). Instead, I folded and told her, I was going to her house to play. After all, The Mind's Eye paper in her basket "was to die for" too!
I finished my second Christmas project today, an 8X8 Angel canvas. It came out completely different than what I had anticipated, but I am actually very pleased with the changes! It will be a class at Donna's studio in Dec. Watch her calender and upcoming events for more information! I think I'll tease you with a little glimpse...

(laughing) You really thought I was going to give you more??

Tomorrow... another day... a day to start my third, but not final, Christmas Whimsey!

FIRST KIT COMPLETED

A new week. A new list of "to doe's". First on the agenda is to find the floor in my studio! Between the puppy getting in the garbage bag, strewing little clippings of paper and chipboard all over and my piles of unfinished projects, magazine issues to file and stashed bags with new goodies just waiting to be played with.... well, you can only imagine!

Last week was exciting for me. My very first, original design, "Trick or Treat" album was listed in Donna Downey's Online store! It was a long process. Many hours! Designing is the best part! Then of course, you have to write all the steps down, list of products, cut each individual piece for multiple kits, emboss, stamp and stuff. I have bought many "kits" and gone to classes of all kinds, but have never really stopped to think about all the work and time, people have put into them. It is amazing and time consuming! This week, I will start the process again. A new album, Christmas goodies and a few other surprises! After all is said and done... I'll be looking for my floor again!

'TRICK OR TREAT"

It's done! My first workshop at Donna's studio is set up for the 13th of October! I am super excited and a little nervous, but over all... I'm good.




“TRICK OR TREAT” A 6x6 HANDMADE CANVAS ALBUM; 6-9 pm $40

Come join me for a frightful night of ghoulish laughter and haunting memories. At the stroke of 6 pm, I will guide you in how to create your own spooky, canvas album. You will be using “secret potions” of paints, inks and modeling paste, along with stencils and objects to add layers and creepy texture to the canvas and chipboard. Add layers and distress each piece. Make it creepy, make it yours ,to remember the horror on this special night!




Hope to see you there!

STUDIO OVERHAUL AT LAST

Today I decided to put my studio back together, so it's functional again. It's been tore up since the wedding (April) and there is art stuff all over the house. I even took over the living room, which only started out as a one day online project with Amy. I'll be needing this space clear... company... well actually, members of our Navy family will be here for the long weekend! We are close. Some of the friends I mentioned in my last post. You know, the kind you pick up where you left off last. We, as in, us three wives, all had our first babies within three weeks of each other. Our husbands at sea for months at a time... we would put the kids to bed and watch TV together. That is, on the phone... for hours. It was a family, you depended on for support in everything. Most of our birth families were far away, so we couldn't depend on help from them. You made the best out of what you had, or you didn't survive.

Back to the studio. I am also going through all my supplies and purging. I have so many things that just sit here, not being used and probably never will be. I think I am going to donate some of it to my grandson's preschool and the rest to a friend's little girl. She is just starting out, crafting with her Momma. I think she will be thrilled! Besides, this weekend, is CKC. I'll need a little room for more stuff! (laughing)

FRIENDSHIP

It was a great day today. I went to lunch with a very dear friend. We had so much to catch up on! The kind of friendship, that time has no meaning. You just pick up where you left off. I have a few of those friendships and I cherish them. Life sometimes gets bogged down and finding a mutual time to visit is often difficult. You just make the best of the time you have together.

Love you Paula Waula!

WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE

These next 3 photos are collages I have done recently....prompted by DD's Collage Mondays.



On another note.....
I have mixed emotions today. I'm proud of my son, he has chosen to serve his country. I am also scared to death and quite a bit selfish. I don't want him to go. I want my kids and their families to stay close to home, where I can see them often, give them hugs, know they are safe......

My babies, all grown up... making such major decisions... I am feeling a little lost. I have no control... a feeling I do not like. I pray that I have God's grace to give me the strength I need... to let go. He is a grown man... but still my little boy. That little boy with blond hair and bright blue eyes... always grinning from ear to ear......

Today, I did another collage..... one prompted by a collage Amy did. I started with a black background and added layers of paint, paper, stamps and ink. It is white washed and distressed. "Fairy Land... Where dreams come true." My dream for Michael... to be safe and happy in his choices.

ME... A DESIGNER?

INSANITY!!!! Have you ever just had a moment... I mean a REALLY, good moment... like... the lights flickered, and you literally yelped? It starts like this...

I have never thought of myself as an Artist, just a crafter of many types. I've tried all kinds of things, some successful and others not. I have been building my base knowledge of ideas, techniques and abilities with workshops, tutorials and just experimenting. A couple weeks ago, Donna and Bill Downey approached me about designing for them. Of course I was flattered, but also, scared to death! What did I know about designing... let alone showing my art to a broader interest? I would be exposing myself, letting down the shield that I've been hiding behind. A mask, of sorts, that covered my face, so people could not see me grimise at my mistakes and failures. I've never been one to blow my whistle, I sat at the back of the class... (still do).

I thought it over and said, "Yes". What did I have to lose? Other than my sanity and my self-esteem. You see... I'm still scared. I've been questioning myself, second guessing. I sat for a three days, with fabrics, ribbons, paint and albums in front of me... NOTHING... N>O>T>H>I>N>G>.
I hadn't even started and I was already a wash-up! I surfed the internet, looked at magazines, took a trip to Ben Franklin. Oh, the goodness. All there in front of me, flaunting, begging me to play. I still needed a spark, something to send me in a whirlwind with ideas. I decided to walk away.

The fourth day, I still had no clue. I went to bed so tired that night, just wanting to shut down and sleep, but my brain had other ideas. It all came at once. A craft I used to love as a kid. I could incorporate that craft in my pieces. My signature! Then, other ideas... I was in overload! Had to write it all down or I would forget as fast as it came! That's when the lights flickered and I gave that yelp! I think John thought I had lost it!

So there you have it. I have given it more thought. Am going to try my very best to stop second guessing myself and just enjoy the creative process. I can't please everybody and there is always going to be someone who thinks my art is unacceptable. I have to do this for me and me only. It's better to have tried something and have it not work, than to ponder about what never happened.

just "STUFF"

I've been making stuff today...
just stuff...
stuff for "somebody"...
will share that stuff soon.
Just love secrets...
I'm pretty good at keeping them...
but I am excited about all this "STUFF"!
stuff... stuff... stuff...

Faber Castell Gelatos, I think I'm in love! They are so smooth and blend beautifully with water. I was playing with them on canvas today. Now I need to get to the real thing. A canvas messenger bag, I have saving for just the right medium. I think this is it. Now to put my brain to work and ponder (I do that best with music)...design...create...

Tomorrow I am in workshops all day at Donna's studio. Hopefully, I'll have a few things to share on Sunday... or Monday. Have a great weekend. I know I will!!!

MY HEAD IS SPINNING

Finally finished! Today I share a new look for my blog. I am soooo NOT computer savvy. It's the LONG way around for me to get it right. I think I had a gazillion windows open, filing info, cut, copy and paste... repeatedly! again and again and again.... you get my drift?

Having many new ideas and just "things" on my ever growing list is making my head spin! Hopefully soon, I'll be able to share some of them!

But first it's off to the dentist and a trip to the store for some new paintbrushes. If you read my Facebook post, you would say, "But you just bought new paintbrushes. 36 of them."
Yes, I did indeed.
36 of them.
That is 1 inch brushes.
Today I need artist brushes, different sizes for different purposes.
Kind of like a man with his wrenches...
types, sizes, different purposes...

Well, that's it for now. Time to get ready to go. Have a great day and thanks for visiting!

TRIAL AND ERROR

I've been playing in my journal today. Working on creating wings for my angels in different colors, mediums and styles. I believe the one I am working on right now, may just be I was imagining. I'm not ready to share it yet. Still have to add dimension and texture. My goal for these winged girls, is to get them on canvas..... eventually.


This first one was one I started last Friday night at crop night. I created her hair out of paint tinted, light molding paste. I was very red! I closed up my book thinking it was dry enough (at east it was to touch). Apparently this stuff takes a few hours to cure all the way through. It had stuck to the opposite page and tore off. So I mixed up a little more, applied some new hair (not so red this time) and let it dry over night. Perfect, at least for the molding paste. I'm not sure how much I actually like the hair done this way. But, that's what my journal is for.

Trial and error... lots of errors!

So, on we go.
Today, I started a new page, another angel, this one with blonde hair.
Smaller.
Transparent wings.
A new design stencil.
A new medium.



I'm liking the wings, I just need to figure out how to add more texture. I have ideas, now to try them out. I may need a new journal before I am done!

Hoping to get something on a canvas soon. I am so impatient!!!!

GRUMPY

So... Sunday we decided to put my new camera to good use and try to get a few pictures of the grand babies. It was just too hot outdoors for any of us... we set up shop in the living room. Maybe a picture or two of Grayson on his rocking horse... no go. He had other plans... "How fast can I make this trot?" No smiles... wouldn't even say the usual "Cheeeesse". Grumpy boy.....


OK... let's try the baby. Hahahahaha..... jokes on us! Propped up... paci in the mouth.... Nope! Let's try laying down.... hmmmm... brother holding her?.... naked.... diapered..... head band..... nothing. Grumpy girl.....


Well, how about the whole family? If the babies are held, just maybe?????? See for yourself............

GRUMPY FAMILY!!!!

I did manage to get a couple of good pictures, this one being my favorite. My son with his daughter... "Daddy's Little Girl"

COLLAGE MONDAYS

A few weeks ago, Donna Downey started a new phase in her teaching. Collage Monday. This process has actually been a lot of fun and has been quite relaxing... to the point that I lose myself and forget what is going on around me. No pressures... no worries, just cut and glue. There are no mistakes. Try something and if you don't like it... cover it up or don't do it again!!! (I'm laughing!)



Circles punched and stems and leaf cut... out of magazine pages. Flowers (Mini Mums stencil from Crafter's Workshop) are stippled with paint onto Bazzil cardstock and then hand cut. I tried cutting them from magazine paper also, but they just didn't "pop" like I wanted.



A washed background of soft grey watercolor. Flowers are Basic Grey's Sweet Threads. I think I am loving the color Grey as a neutral!

ANGELS ARE AMONG US

We spent the day with the daughter... our one and only... Lunch and a movie. Back home, John retreated to his office to play on the computer a little and started a new entry into my journal. I always start a written journal, but it fizzles out fast. This week, I decided to incorporate some of my art into it. Whatever I feel like, whether it be doodling, painting or trying something new. Today, nothing came to mind to write about, so I just started painting. End result; A rather perplexed, odd looking Angel.

HAVE A LAUGH ON ME!

If I had a day job, I would be told to keep it! 6 weeks (1 day a week) of drawing classes and my first attempt at a portrait. This is the result of "at least" 7 to 8 hours of doing each feature, over... and over... and over... I got it pretty close, but still not right. I think I'll move on to another and let this rest. I'm tired of it. Time to move on! I am starting a new class the middle of next month. Oil pastels and charcoal.
So... hang on to your hat and try not to pee your pants!! Here is the semi-final result. I still have to clean it up a bit!!! ...... (later)

"BEAUTIFUL"

Finally, I can share with you a canvas I made. My daughter-in-law had pregnancy pictures taken and there was one that just stuck out... saying "Create me"! So I decided to give it try. What could I lose? If it didn't work, the next step was the garbage! Well... I surprised myself! I glued, painted, inked, stamped and doodled the background. I hand cut her and the boy out of plain card stock, decoupaged, painted, dressed them, and embellished away.




I decided to give this to Ashley for Ava, my new Grand-daughter. My plan is to teach my grand-children about art. About experimenting with media and expressing themselves creatively.

DRAWING 101

Stepping out of my comfort zone... something I've never been comfortable with. I have always wished I could sit down, look at something and start sketching. Well, i stepped out... way out! I signed up to take a drawing workshop. I have been to 2 classes now. It was a little nerve wrecking, but our instructor was gentle. Nothing was overwhelming. We started with the basics... this is paper and this is a pencil. Well, not that basic! We did a few simple outline sketches and learned the difference between a contour sketch and a blind contour sketch.
***Simple outline sketch is as it sounds.....
***Contour sketch is the shape of the object you are drawing with detail.....
***Blind contour sketch is the outline and detail drawn while looking at the
object and NOT looking at the paper while sketching. This was not easy and
produced a lot of laughs!

Next... motion in sketching... the following is my completed sketch of motion. This was fun, all free-hand.





Day 2. Learning about value (light to dark) and the color spectrum. Pretty straight forward so far!




So there you have it. Out of my comfort zone. Now it's just practice, practice..... and I am looking forward to the next class!

THIS DAY...

This day...
is a happy day!
This day...
my second grandchild was born.
This day...
there was a miracle.
Her name is Ava Elizabeth.
She graced us with her presence on this day...
Thursday June 30, 2011 at 10:52 am.

A pink bundle of joy, this baby is.
8 pounds and 6 ounces.
19 and a half inches...
from the top of her little head...
to the bottom of her toes!

She will be loved by...
Mommy and Daddy...
and
Big brother, Grayson.

Ava...
my wish for you...
is to grow healthy and strong...
be independent, but know your family is here,
to support you whenever you need us.
Grow up to be kind, loving and honest.

I love you Ava...
my precious Grand-daughter.

XXX OOO
Nena.

ROLLING WITH WHAT I GOT

Wow! It's been months since I made a scrapbook page. Today, I sat here looking at a blank piece of cardstock for over an hour. Geesh! Absolutely NOTHING!! Then I remembered last weeks inspiration night at Donna's. So I started with a circle, a stenciled swirly circle. Next, to add some layers. Out came the paint, ink, more stencils, lace and chipboard. I was on a roll... a slow roll. But after a couple hours and way too much thinking... this is what I came up with.
It still is missing the most important component, Little Miss Ava's photo. That will be soon... real soon.





The next is a project from a workshop, I took online last week. Christy Tomlinson's SHE Art workshop. It was great! I am learning to "let go", be free, try new mediums and techniques. I know... I just had a "lost my mojo" day with the girly page, but sometimes, even the best of artists have disfunctional days! Enjoy!!!






Thanks for visiting.