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!

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.

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!

I WAS INSPIRED

The past week has been an emotional and whimsical adventure for me...
I have watched... listened... spoke... and shared...
I have been inspired... and hopefully have inspired others...

You see, I volunteered to help Bill and Donna and to assist guest artists at Donna Downey's INSPIRED event. They graciously let me join in the classes.

I created my pieces with new mediums... new techniques...
This experience for me, was enlightening. It made me realize, just how much I have blocked my heart and my mind from the things I love... from the hobbies I used to enjoy... from the creativity... and from my abilities.

Jenny Doe, It was a pleasure to meet you (I sat with you at Suzi Blu's class). I thoroughly enjoyed your closing words at dinner. It made me open my heart and mind to rekindle my passion for my art and self expression. A reminder to myself of what I am and what I was meant to be.
Thank you...

"TEARS OF LIFE"

That is my description of last week. Emotions running like soft waves, then crashing on the rocks. Cravings for donuts and chocolate milk, only to find the milk has soured. Tears of Joy, tears of Sadness. Life begins, life ends. One never knows.

We found out my oldest son and his wife are having a baby girl. Her name will be Ava Elizabeth. A pink bundle of joy, this little girl will be. An addition to our ever growing family. My future side-kick, to share my knowledge of crafting, my paints, my brushes. Lots of color, lots of mess, lots of laughter. Her and Me. Me and Her.
.....Soft waves; Tears of Joy.....

My daughter, my pink bundle of joy, had her heart broken. It broke mine too. She lost her bundle of joy many weeks into her pregnancy. Her joy was lost. Now, time and love, will mend our hearts and heal the wounds.
.....Waves crashing on the rocks; Tears of Sadness.....

BUDDING CHEF

I am a messy cook;

I'm in a challenging position; having to learn to cook and bake gluten free for health. Is there a difference... OH Yes! Today I am trying out my own recipe for Honey-Oatmeal bread. It's put together and in the pan resting. 60 minutes or one hour. Then it will have to bake over an hour. Bread making is not a quick process or do you want to rush it... unless you want a flat,dense loaf that tastes like cardboard.

My assistant; making rice soup(aka... rice and water) He is a particularly handsome man and very smart. He measures everything out and he doesn't like to be hurried! Only the very best ingredients goes into his creations. His tastes are exquisite, fine juices, tasty fruits and vegetables (cut in a medium dice, not pureed), and OH... the cheese! Just call him "Chef Gray-soun", that is, with a french accent!

DEAR BLOG

Dear Blog,
It seems I have left you in the dust again. Sorry, but life happens!
p.

"DANGER DANGER!!!"

What a week! The tale of the beginning of the week.......
Wow! What a whirlwind day! I kept Grayson all day because Ashley (DIL) was having surgery. (It went well-she is home recovering/thank goodness) I went and picked up Ashlyn to go shopping (Grayson needed a few new toys for our house since he has outgrown the others). Any hooo... we ended up having to rush to Stanley Hospital because her fiance shot himself in the shoulder with a roofing nailer. 2 1/2 inch staple embedded into his right shoulder (straight into the bone-ouch!). Into surgery he goes. Anyway, he is home now - recovering. Dufuss! This is the second time he has done this. A year and a half ago, he shot his foot. Dufuss! Yes! I called him a dufuss! DUFUSS!!!!!
After all was said and done...... Grayson got to go to Walmart and he picked out a CAT front loader with all the bells and whistles! He's happy and so is Nena!

On with the week...Planned on going to the LSS for a little fun, too much on my plate for the day. Needless to say, nothing really got accomplished! Another day gone.
Imagine this... 4:30 am... you're sleeping and in the middle of a dream... next thing you know, you're lying on the floor. Hmmm.... note to self... "Get side rails for the bed". Yes, I rolled out of bed, hit the floor and took all the covers with me. Hurt like hell and all I wanted to do was laugh! I don't even remember what I was dreaming about! Was it good or bad??? Who know??? Scared the hell out of John! Poor guy!
Today I managed to clean off one side of my desk and put some stuff away. I stayed off ladders, kept sharp objects out of reach and didn't go near the stove! Didn't want to take any chances! Tomorrow will be a day of rest and hopefully, next week will be less dangerous!
Here are a few of the cards I promised you from my last posting. Enjoy!

DIGGING OUT

I know... it's been a while... a long while. Sometimes I just get too many irons in the fire and it all comes crashing down on me. After that, it just takes me a while to dig myself out. That is what I am doing. Digging myself out. I actually had a week with absolutely nothing scheduled. My calender was blank! So, I spent three, yes three days at the LSS, just playing!!! I made a few cards for OWH, helped stamp and adhere base cards to a new shipment of cards to get them ready to ship overseas. It was a good week. Tomorrow, I will try to post a few new pics of the latest, but for now..... goodnight!

Think Happy Thoughts,
p

"TODAY'S RAMBLING"

Today...
- I slept in.
- I spent the day at home, by myself.
- I watched TV, all day.
- I read and responded to my emails.
- I talked to an old friend.
- I ate toast for supper.
- I enjoyed the quiet me time.
It has been good to be me today. (smiling)

ANOTHER PASSION OF MINE

I love the arts, all kinds. Music is another passion of mine and has a great influence on my moods and well being. I played piano, guitar and the clarinet in band. I sang in the church choir and chorus in school. My children also love music, I am not talking about rock or heavy metal (yes, they do listen to that), but classical, new age (IE. Yanni) and others. When I was pregnant, I used to put headphones on my belly so they could hear it. If they were active, it settled them down. In the spirit of Halloween, I changed my blog background and music. I chose a classical favorite of mine to share with you. < 'Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor' > Portions of this piece have been used in many movies and clips. So for now, sit back and listen, but remember..... watch behind you. One never knows what might be lurking....... ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-.............

HOSPITAL FREQUENT FLYER

Hi everyone. Unfortunately, I ended up back in the hospital with post-surgical complications, but with many IV sticks and a few pints of antibiotics, I came home last night. To be able to sleep in my own bed; ahhhhh.... no noise, no machines beeping and no one poking at me. Today I am laying low, my appetite is still not the best and I am still feeling weak, but no fever. Yeh..... The care I received during both hospital stays was exceptional. The staff was always available to help if needed and were very kind. I couldn't have asked for better. My main goals for this week, will be attending Wednesday and Friday's crops at my LSS. I miss my people!!! LOL...

A New Chapter in my life.....

2009 and a new chapter in my life has begun. I have found myself becoming too rigid and dull in the last several years, with all that I do. I have suppressed my true talents and creativeness. I have not fully enjoyed life and what it has for me, like I used to do. Somewhere along the way, I got old. Not in age, but my pleasures and activities. I got a small taste of enjoyment and freedom when my friend Paula and I ran a bakery last year. When we had to give that up, I lost myself again.
I want to be more spontaneous again, not think so hard and beat myself up over decisions. I want to look at life with new eyes and really see what I have. I will not look back to see what I have missed, because I can not change what is done and it will just bring me down. I need to start anew and go forward.
I look forward to going to crops at my LSS every week. I love being with my friends and creating art. It is like a "happy pill" for me. I will spend more time with my Grandson and my children. I will start a book of ME