RAIN!! We've actually had more rain in the last couple weeks than we have had in the last 18 months and while the latest rains arent even a fraction of what we need to catch up we will gladly take every drop. The hail today...not so much!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
365 Project Day 83
Ok, back to cheery! Here's a recent picture of my darling, Trinity! How can anyone be sad with this little ray of sunshine around?
365 Project Day 80
I'm currently working on a T-shirt quilt for my friend, Katy. Her mother passed away recently and she wanted to do something with all the T-shirts her mother had collected on her travels. Since I had already done one just like that for my mom I suggested it to her and she asked me to do it. Its such a priviledge to be able to make something so special for someone who is so dear to me.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
365 Project Day 78
As we drove home today we got to enjoy one of the most beautiful spring days and one of the best things about spring in Central Texas, Bluebonnets! Although I had to twist their arms, I did get the girls to pose for me in the bluebonnets. Its a spring tradition for many people in the area and we saw many cars pulled over and lots of families stopping on their way to wherever they were going for a snapshot. They seem to be especially nice this year as it still seems a little early for them to be peaking yet they were everywhere. What a blessing! Thank you, God, for the bluebonnets and for the beauty of Central Texas in the spring!365 Project Day 77
I thank God every day that my mom is such a packrat and even better, a packrat that knows where she put everything. We went through a drawer full of stuff and among all the wonderful treasures were these two Better Homes and Gardens magazines, one from 1945 and the other from 1930! They are in absolutely beautiful condition and have such wonderful graphics. I hope to use copies of different pages in my art work but I also just love to look at them and know that I am holding a piece of the past, my mom's past, in my hand. To me that is the ultimate thrill. Thanks Mom!!
365 Project Day 76
This little guy and his 2 siblings were hanging out a lot at Mom and Dad's while we were there this week. Mom and Dad have woods and a creek behind the house and when we were kids we actually used to put out food for the raccoons and enjoy their nightly visits. In recent years, however, they have made themselves too much at home and actually tear holes in the house and run around in the ceiling at night. Each year Dad has to get a humane trap from the animal control people and catch and release a number of them to keep them from tearing up the house. This seems to be the new batch for 2009. Anyway, this one took a liking to me. I sat out on the deck to get a picture and the little guy nearly crawled into my lap! Another night he came right up to the screen on the back door and looked at me as if to say "Hi!". I still think they are adorable and its a treat to see them when we are there but I understand why Dad runs them off and sends them away. Its pretty hard to sleep when you have what sounds like raccoons bowling over your head all night!
365 Project Day 74
So...not to be outdone, Austin went to the same guy and got his own free tattoo. He plans to get more. Ugh! My baby! I remember when his skin was perfect and flawless. I know it doesnt stay that way after almost 19 years but this is going to take some getting used to. Its his body and it makes him happy so I cant fight it. I dont really have to like it either.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
365 Project Day 73
Okay, I really love this one! I was playing around with some paper towels that had been used to blot excess paint (nothing goes to waste in my "studio"). I decided to paste a couple to cards as background hoping an idea would come to me. I stared at this one for a long time and soon an image appeared. I picked up a pencil and just went with it and this is what I ended up with. I dont draw so this one for me was very exciting. Its not the best thing ever but its something new for me and I love it!
365 Project Day 72
So, my camera isnt working right now so you have to deal with scans of more cards. Lucky you! Anyway, I dont know if you can tell but this is Obama and he seemed like the perfect definition for the word "gobbledygook". I dont know if the meaning of this card will be lost on people without an explanation but for me, it speaks volumes.
365 Project Day 71
Okay, so you have to excuse the picture quality. Artha had a concert tonight. This one is the prep for their contest that they will go to next month hence the formal concert outfit. Thankfully Artha's friend was able to snap this shot of Artha's back with her phone because my camera, which was fine when I left the house, decided it needed new batteries by the time I got up there and wanted a good picture. Anyway, the concert outfits arent bad just generic. Artha's band has the worst of them and they obviously werent made with flute players in mind because none of them could raise their arms in the silly thing. Somehow they managed and the concert was nice.
365 Project Day 70
I decided to have fun with a black pen and some markers and see what kind of cards I came up with, no designs in mind, just whatever came to me. This in one of them. It was a lot of fun, kind of like being in kindergarten again and I was suprised how many I made in just a short time. Another fun experiment among many.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
365 Project Day 69
Phil has wanted a tattoo for a very long time. He has been talking about it for years. I dont have anything against tattoos in fact I think a lot of them are works of art. I just personally dont like the thought of what one would look like on me when I'm 80. I really didnt want Phil to get one but I never figured I'd have to worry too much about it knowing we'd never be able to afford for him to get one anyway. Well, he managed to find someone who was looking to build up his portfolio of work and was offering free tattoos!! Oh great! Anyway, today was the day...for the outline at least. He'll go back in a few weeks for the color and shading but it is official, I am now married to a man with a huge tattoo!
365 Project Day 68
I started a series of cards called "Dictionary Fun" based on an old Webster's Dictionary from the 60s that I bought for a dollar at a thrift store. I've always loved words anyway especially ones that strike me as silly or fun to say. I decided to pick whatever words struck me that way and make cards to go with them. This one is my favorite so far simply because the word is just so fun.
"Frippery"- cheap gaudy clothes or a showy display in dress , manner, etc.
We should totally use this word more and there are so many other good ones that dont get used nearly often enough. Anyway, thats the point of the series. Should be fun to see where that takes me!
365 Project Day 67
Even though she is just 2, Trinity is regularly asking to potty at home and actually doing it too. We decided we should probably be prepared for that here too so Sarah bought us this. Probably not the best topic for a blog but the name was too funny to pass up. Makes me laugh everytime especially since I already have one of those...think about it...okay now stop thinking about it!
365 Project Day 66
Artha, Bethany and Phil were all in San Marcos over the weekend attending YouthQuake, an annual youth conference for middle school youth. This was Artha's first year to attend as a Junior Guide and Phil's first time as a chaperone. This picture was taken on Crazy Dress night (too bad you cant see the tutu she is wearing) when Artha was asked to come up on stage and read. They all had an incredible time and even with a group of 30+ kids (just our church!) there were no serious issues to deal with (unless you count spitting off the 10th floor balcony and hitting someone...not my child I promise.)
365 Project Day 65
Still having fun with the ATCs. I've posted 16 so far to the website and traded 10 of them. The trades are just starting to trickle in to my mailbox. Its like Christmas waiting to see which one will arrive today! One is coming all the way from the Philippines! (which of course means one of mine is headed there) Its been a great way to experiment with different paints and techniques and the work by the other artists is so amazing and varied that there is never a lack of inspiration to be had.
365 Project Day 64
Here is Bethany sporting a new haircut and several pairs of stylish 3D glasses. She and a friend went to see the Jonas Brothers movie. If you havent been to a 3D movie lately, they give out these great new glasses. Apparently they work really well and they are definitely a far cry from the pair I have from seeing Jaws 3 in 1983, I think. Still have em too!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
365 Project Day 63
I made this one today. Using pages from an old phone book I made the sun out of a collage of different phone book strips. The phone listings themselves were the inspiration as every one on the page was a variation on the word Sun. I figured a sun that big and bright deserved a really funky rooster and I just loved this one so he completes it. I titled it "Wake Up!". I love acrylics and the richness of the colors they produce. By for though I think my one go to tool is my white Sharpie. It makes the absolute best highlight against all that rich color. I am having so much fun! Can you tell?
365 Project Day 62
My favorite one so far. Again, embossed for texture, free painting with several colors and then I went with the design I saw which in this case was fish, again. Anyway, I love the colors and the design is just fun and funky.
365 Project Day 61
Ok, I really love this one. After embossing the card for texture and then just free painting with a few colors I studied the card until my eyes found the design that was there. In this case I saw fish. The title that came to me was inspired by an old Monty Python bit that Phil quotes a lot...fishy, fishy, fishy, fish.
365 Project Day 60
Okay, this may really get boring for some of you. (Isn't that funny, like anyone reads this anyway!) Another ATC I made. This one inspired by a book my mom gave me specifically to use for altered art on the discovery and conquest of Mexico. Hey, I'll take inspiration wherever I can find it.
365 Project Day 59
My very first completed ATC (Artist Trading Card). I found this great site online, ATCsforall.com which is a community of artists who post and trade these ATCs. The amazing talent of this people and the variety of designs and themes not to mention materials is staggering. I feel honored to have my work alongside theirs and its really thrilling when one of them comments that they like what I've done. I am totally addicted!
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