Tracy.... where did you go?

Wow - who knew that taking on the not-so-new job would take my happy little world... crumple it into a ball... and toss it in the trash? Certainly not me. I have totally lost myself. I'm cut off from my altered art group, I can't get anything done that needs daytime hours, my business is going down the drain, my hair is in dire need of a stylist but she keeps the same hours I do so I'm screwed, I have not seen my friends in weeks, I'm too tired to go to my other job, I never cook anymore and worst of all, I have not created a single piece of art since I got hired. I hate having to cram my 'to do' list, family and friends into a 48 hour time slot - because trust me, it all doesn't happen. I have to tell you, I hate money. I've sold my soul to the workplace, so I can 'live'. Ya right - what living? I want my life back.

wish list : bird lamp

Is this the coolest oil lamp or what? It's on my wish list.

A little DAQ does a person good

With little time and inspiration to work on my collages these days, I've been blessed to have hooked up with some fun & crazy woman at Digital Art Quirks.
I can sneak a little creative time when I'm having my coffee or right before bed, to create some digital art and just hit 'save' when I have to leave it to rush off to work. It's kept me in the creative zone at least, until I can get back into my 'tangible' art.
Here is a design I did for a magnet swap with the DAQ gals.
I made it in photoshop, then sent the file to my local print shop for printing and laminating. I cut them out, stuck on a magnet and voila - a quick and easy swap fulfilled.
Another project is kind of a 'right of passage' for the group. It's the quirk naming ceremony. We choose our first name and create a digital collage for it. Then the next person on the participation list comes up with your second name and voila - you have a new quirky name within the community. We then can create a third collage with our new name.
For my own first name, I chose 'spirited'. This is the collage I created for it:

Then Kate (digime) created my second name 'wings' for me, and created this heavenly collage for me:

So my new DAQ name is Spirited Wings. I will create my final collage for it this week.
It was my pleasure to give Helen (belles) her second name. She chose 'eclectic' for her first name and I chose 'butterfly' for her second, so her new name is Eclectic Butterfly. Here is the collage I created for her:

Operation "outfit" a success

Yesterday, I made the treck back to Eugene to find an outfit to wear the bank's Christmas party, after coming home empty handed in last week's fiasco of a trip. I clocked 170 miles on the ol' Bonnevissle looking for it, and finally at 6:35pm it came together. (so much for getting home before dark) While it's still more casual that I was hoping for, it will do. I'll jazz it up with lots of bling bling jewelry :)

Mint Chocolate update....
I am SO LOVING the navigation thingy on my new phone. I just type in a store name, or any address and it searches it out and tells me how to get there, turn by turn. Yippee... no more driving by the exit I need and aPublishsking "should I have gotten off there?"

The 'girls' Christmas party for the bank was last week.... this is the sweet present that I got:

Recovered

Whew... I have recovered from my bad day :) Thanks for all the sweet emails. I love hearing your stories ... don't be afraid to share them here on my comments page, unless of course they are private, then your emails are great too. Either way, thanks for taking the time to write me!

So how's the shopping going? Everyone done? I just started this weekend so I have a lot to do still, but I like shopping in December. I enjoy the hustle and bustle of people. Maybe if I had to buy an Elmo or PS3 I would hate it, but since I don't have to hunt down those items, I'm doing ok. My last paycheck before the holidays is the 15th, so I'll be shopping till at least the 20th.

I don't know if I blogged about my job or not (I don't think so), but besides my art, my shop and my friend's business, I'm also working at our local bank. It was a major change for me.... and everything suffered the first few weeks... I came home too tired to do anything, but now I'm feeling ok. The only thing that is suffering still is my art.... I just don't have time - and it's killing me. I can't just create on Saturday and Sunday when I have the time. And I can't stay up all night anymore or I have to suffer from a migraine at work, which I just can't do. So I'm hoping that soon.... very soon.... I will regain the energy to create after work, and that inspiration will at hand on the weekends.

My aweful, no good, very bad day...

went something like this:
-get up at 5:00 am to take our sweet friend to Eugene to the train
-argue with grumpy husband in the car
-fight with grumpy husband in the car
-get hurt feelings and tune out grumpy husband, still in the car
-realize the tags on my car expired 2 days ago (while 65 miles away from home, on a Saturday when the DMV is closed) (for my Canadian pals, the 'tags' are what Americans call the date stickers on the license plates)
-spend way too much on soap making supplies
-return much need and highly desired soap making supplies
-look for an outfit for work Christmas party
-try on an outfit for work Christmas party
-look terrible in an outfit for work Christmas party
-stop at music store to pick up keyboard for son's Christmas present, then realizing it doesn't exactly fit in the car (with expired tags)
-see a fantastic movie (doesn't belong on the bad list, but it's the only good thing, so no point making a good list)
-keep looking for an outfit for work Christmas party
-try on more outfits for work Christmas party
-looking terrible in more outfits for work Christmas party
-leaving town without an outfit for the work Christmas party
-getting stuck on the drive home for 1.5 hours because there's been a terrible accident on the hwy
-driving by the crash site, feeling horrible sadness for the victims
-driving the rest of the way home with a horrible migraine
-running over and killing a poor, innocent raccoon 15 miles from home
-crying the rest of the drive home, trying to see through my tears and apologizing to the raccoon, the raccoon's family, my son who's in the car with me, God, and pretty much anyone else who would deem me a horrible person for not being able to swerve out of the way
-falling into the most uncomfortable bed in the world with swollen eyes, a migraine

That was my Saturday.
Today I didn't get out of my jammies, didn't shower, didn't answer the phone, and didn't do anything but try to regroup, rest and take the entire day off.

Snow Re-do

Yup, I've still got snow on the brain..... so I brought some to my blog.
Credits are in the right column.

Forget the rain dance... is there a snow dance?

It's snowing like a bugger in my hometown right now and darn it - it never snows here!
Here's the webcam shot from this morning....

What's a girl gotta do to get some snow around here? I guess I have to settle on the web cams. I've been glued to them all day....

Chocolate Mint

It's free upgrade time for my cell phone so this is the cutie patootie that I chose... LG's Chocolate Mint. I just can't get enough of lime green!!!!

I cooked.... and there's proof

If you knew me when my kids were little, you would have expected a grande feast from me for Thanksgiving. I was the one who baked all the cookies, painted all the windows, hand made all the invitations... I could put Martha to shame back in the day.
But in recent years, I've lost my zest for decorating for the seasons, preparing special meals, making everything from scratch, etc. .... until this year.... I've rejoined the festive ... and am chalk full of holiday spirit. Here's our Thanksgiving feast...

Thankful for....

This has been quite a year for me, and I am thankful for....

• closing my studio on my terms, and going out happy
• having Tyler come home
• the comfort in knowing Trev is ok living on his own
• my Mom's support of my art sabbatical
  
• my sister for being my sister - which means the world to me
  
• having the time to focus on my art (till now)
• Patty - for not letting the miles get in the way of our friendship
• Amanda - my partner in crime, for making me laugh and for being here for me, in the good times, the bad times, and everything in between
  
• Sandy - for good advice, good company and flexible hours :)
• Lori - for the support and good words in my new job
• my computer - because it connects me to the world, otherwise I'd go nutty
• selling my art
  

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump
May your potatoes have gravy
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize
And may your Thanksgiving Dinner
Stay of your thighs!
- anonymous

Can you say WINDY?

Last Sunday night it was soooooo windy... it was actually pulling water back up the drain, through the vents in the ceiling. There was this rumble and gurgle going on in the sink with every gust... it was the water swishing around in the drain pipes, from the wind action on the roof. Crazy yes, but it gets crazier.... The wind was so strong, it blew some of the railings off at Sea Lion Caves. Wowza!
It's windy again tonight and here's our storm warning for the beaches, right off www.accuweather.com:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF ADVISORY WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PST THIS EVENING.

A PACIFIC STORM HAS GENERATED LARGE SEAS THAT ARE IMPACTING THE SOUTH WASHINGTON... NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COASTS THIS AFTERNOON.
HIGH SURF CONDITIONS WILL SUBSIDE AFTER A COLD FRONT MOVES ASHORE EARLY THIS EVENING.
IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO VENTURE NEAR THE COAST UNDER HIGH SURF CONDITIONS. PEOPLE AT TIMES ARE SWEPT OFF ROCKS AND JETTIES AND DROWN WHILE OBSERVING HIGH SURF. STAY WELL BACK FROM THE WATERS EDGE AND BE ALERT FOR THE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH WAVE.
A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT HIGH SURF WILL AFFECT BEACHES IN
THE ADVISORY AREA...PRODUCING RIP CURRENTS AND LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION.

Took the hubby

Today I took my hubby to the gallery where my art is on display. We took a few photos, pardon the glare from the glass case the shadow from the display on the tree pic. You can't tell from the photo, but ALL the stars in the sky on the tree pic are Swarovski crystals. {photo frame credit: Anna Aspnes}

I've had requests to put my charm back on Etsy, so I'm going to do it. Again, if you are in the charm swap - don't look because these are being sent in to one of them (I won't tell you which one, so even if you do peek, you won't know)

Immigration update for those sweet souls who have been following along and sending me emails of encouragement.... We have filed our final papers - woo hoo! Ty can be out of school for some time still, but the superintendent is a champ and promised he would day anything it takes to get him caught up again, upon returning. At least that's a load of my mind.

Peace!

Too much of good thing....

I woke up this morning to find a letter, from a very upset artist, thinking that I had stolen her idea, and she wanted me to credit her for the design. Horrified that I was being accused of stealing, I wrote her back with my sources of inspiration (home decor items). Because I felt her pain of having an idea 'out there' when she was trying to keep it under wraps for an upcoming publication, I pulled my photos from flickr... my item for sale on Etsy.... but there's a bid on my auction on ebay, so I couldn't pull that. I pulled all those things out of empathy for her. After searching and finding all my links to send her, I found a ton of the same item on etsy already. Both posted before mine, and after. Hey they are adorable - who wouldn't want to make some? It just goes to show you there are no new ideas out there, lol.
I'm happy that we have worked it out this morning...
she has no ill feelings for me, and vice versa. As a matter of fact, she's one of my fav artists, so I couldn't be happier that this was all a big misunderstanding AND bad timing for other reasons.

YES! - Kinda

Well the immigration officer came through for us and called with good news today. The only problem is the receipt might not reach us until January. I'm praying for a speedy return.

Going for the hat-trick

Wow - what a great 2 days it's been.... first finding out I got into the show, then tonight we went to the reception and found out I got 2 honorable mentions! (for this one and this one) That's my first score.
My second score was our fantastic visit with my son's neurologist today. He found the answer we have been looking for, for 13 years. The tears just started welling when it happened - such relief.
So... the third score I need for my hat-trick is immigration to say yes to school with out 485 filing.
If you say prayers - we need one for that.

Doin' the Happy Dance

All day I had my phone call forwarding to my cell, waiting for the call from the selection group at the FEC gallery, to hear if I got in the juried show I've been making art for. I didn't get a call so I went down there (because I know the stuff had to be picked up by 5 tonight). I didn't realize they were only calling people to pick up art that didn't make it into the show... that's why they didn't call me because all 3 pieces of my art made it!!!! I am so excited!!!!! There is a private reception tomorrow night for all the artists who submitted. We can bring one guest, so I'm bringing Tyler, since he's seen me fret over this since I started my show pieces, and he was with me when I found out. He was so proud of me - that was the best!!!! He's never been to any of my receptions yet either, because he was Canada all year, so this will something I can share with him.

I'm so happy to have some good news, especially since we are going through this whole immigrations/school thing. The X's new wife told him this is my problem, so he won't help pay for this, which is our only stumbling block at the point. This really sucks - it's not me they need to help, it's our son. I swear, every man that leaves his family and gets a new one, leaves his original kids behind.... it happened with me, it happened to my best friend's kids.... and now poor Tyler. I just want to call the 'latest' wife and tell her she better not get too cozy, cuz sooner or later she'll be old news and she just might feel this frustration with the kids they have together too. But I'm not going to call - I'm just going to find a way and when they call seeing if he's coming up for Christmas I'm going to tell where to shove the mistletoe!

OK - back to the good news.... I recently got accepted into a group of artists that I not only admire, but really respect. I'm now a member of MMCA (mixed media collage artists) and I'm tickled pink. I accomplished my art goal for 2006 - to get my work out there in shows and galleries and start selling. My goal for 2007 is to start submitting my art to publications that I admire and really focus on some pieces that I can market to shops/galleries (they need to be reproducible)

Happy Halloween

This is my brain in the hands of the immigration dept....
Ugh, so much drama!

Isn't this great work? It belongs to turtblu on flickr.

Well today was not nearly as exciting as yesterday... no kids to save or anything.
I was unable to complete my last work for the show, so I'm handing in 3. I just didn't want to put 'anything' on it - so I'll wait till it comes to me and I can do it right, then put in the December art gift show.

If you are in the charm swap and you don't want to see what your charms look like, then DONT CLICK the Etsy link below! I can't stop making these little charms, so I put some for sale on eBay.

Happy Halloween.

The clock is ticking...

I have yet to finish that last piece to be juried for the show. Tomorrow is my last day to decide "what to put in the attic" Everything I try looks crappy. If magic doesn't happen tomorrow, I'll have to pull it off the list. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

In other news - it's been quite a wicked few days, around here. Thursday morning started off with a bang. The lovely department of homeland security decided to 'reclassify' my son to a different status, and so that voided his student visa. This is a nightmare because we had to pull him from school until he has the A-OK to go back. This was the year he decided he was turning his school life around darn it.... and pulled his grades WAY up. I'm trying to appeal, so that this doesn't drag out and cost him graduating with his pals. Man this chaps my hide!!! So I waited all day Friday for them to return my call on Friday, and missed my altered art group - oh and they DIDN'T EVEN CALL!!! I can't take much more of this crap.

I've been playing around with ideas for the charm swaps I'm in. I think I know what I'm doing for Dawn's, and I finally came up with something for Amber's. I haven't taken pics yet, but when I do I will just post a link to them, not the actual pic here, so anyone else in the swap doesn't have to have the surprise spoiled. I just love how they turned out. Hooray for small favors. So I got 18 of them done tonight and ran out of supplies... I'll get more tomorrow and finish them off. If you want info on the charm swaps, check out my site - right on the front page.

Oh! I almost forgot!!! While I was online, reading my favorite blogs, a cute little kid caught my eye, running down the street. He was tiny, like 3 years old tiny.... so I'm waiting for his parents to come by, with the stroller or something, trying to catch up to him, but NO! My street is crazy busy, and everyone speeds on it - so I was freaking out. I flew out of my chair with my eyes on this this little tot and a car rounded the corner - but just as that happened, my son and his friend did too so I was screaming from my balcony as I was running towards them... "scoop up that baby - a car is coming!!!" With one hand he was scooped up and pulled to the sidewalk and the car came to a screeching halt. I flew down the stairs and picked him up. He was crying and had no shoes on, so I took him upstairs, washed his face, and called 911. He stopped crying when he saw my turtle. I asked him if he was ok and he nodded, and he just snuggled up to me while we waited for the police to come. The cop asked him where he lived and of course he didn't know... which frustrated the cop. "He's only about 3" I said "of course he doesn't know where he lives." So we just sat by my front door, watching the street to see if anyone was out looking for him for about 20 minutes. FINALLY a car driving by sees the second cop car out on the road in front of our place and he asked him if he had seen a little boy around. "Like the one up there?" he asks as he's pointing up to us. That was the dad all right. Apparently they didn't realize he was even gone for a while..... and they lived 2 or 3 blocks away, around the corner. He could have been hit by a car on a million occasions, but he was ok. Thank God for that!

I made a new header for the blog.... for November. I'm just itching to put it up! I'll be a good girl and wait....

Coming Together

I'm so pleased, my entries for the art show are coming together. I got the bubbles out of my tree and I'm almost done my 4th and last peice. I changed my last one from a beeswax collage to another mixed media peice. My friend made me a few house canvases, and I used one of those (saving the other 2 for the December art gift show).
So the house.... it's cute and my favorite part is the roof. I cut shingles out of copper mesh, folded the edges in so they are neat and hammered each one on. Then I heated them up with my heat gun, to 'heat patina' them. {pictures coming soon}
It may not be sophisticated art, but it's mine - and they will either accept me or not and if they don't I'm fine with that. Surprisingly good outlook on my part ;) maybe because I sold a painting yesterday! I got a commision to make one like the one I made for my altered art group pal. It came together nicely and is sold and on it's way to it's new home.

Bubble Bubble Toil Trouble

Oh drat, my big tree is getting a little bubbly as it's drying. I may need to add another layer if I can't get it to settle down.

Did you watch Grey's Anatomy tonight? I love that show, but I wish Meridith would just hook up with McDreamy and be done with it. I can't handle another season of 'will they'. The divorced couple was pretty funny too - getting 'lodged' together like that.

My neighbors are driving me crazy. I swear they got booted from hell for being too awful and came here to live. I wish I could move out of Florence right now.... it was such a mistake to move here. It's just been such a struggle to barely stay afloat - totally not worth it. Just 2 more years and I'm free.

.... back to the de-bubble mission. This painting has got to make them stop and think 'hey, that might be fun in the show'.

whole lotta sky

I'm working on my biggest peice of art, ever (besides the windows I used to paint). I'm creating my 3rd work in my 'twilight' series, and it's a whopping 24 x 36 inches, which is huge for me. Pat found a clever way for my little easel to hold my canvas, which has helped alot. Here's a few shots to see it coming along in stages... (still need to add the tree trunks & stars) Oh the quality of the shot sucks, but I didn't want to take the time to fuss with it - I'll save the work till the final pic.

While up in Newport at the craft store I found some teeny tiny glass animals. I picked up a green tucan for my Mom and I got this little blue bird for myself. It's only 3/4 of an inch from tip of the beak to the end of the tail. I have this cute little thing on my monitor where the light from the window can shine through it.

High to Low in less than 12 hours

Last night was of my top 3 nights since living in this cruddy town. It wasn't that I did anything special - it was pretty much the people I was with.
Why are 'last days' always the best days?
Back in L.A., before I moved here, I had a friend that I admired from afar, for pretty much 2 years. We'll call him Mr.Phoenix #1. Well about 6 months before I moved we got close, had tons of fun and spent the next few months wishing we had hooked up from the start. (not that kind of hooking up) So the day before I moved here, Mr.Phoenix #1 moved back to Phoenix, where he was from.
Ditto last night.... had the best time with Mr.Phoenix #2 (who I should have not been so shy with, for so long, like #1) .... and by 9:30am this morning he was on the road, back to freak'n Phoenix. Damn it. So all afternoon I have felt like someone just stole my box of kittens.

The best head ache I've ever had

Today, like many days, I woke up with a head ache. I think it's the switch from sunny weather to rain. Sometimes barometric changes throw me off. Instead of letting it consume my day, Tyler & I went to the thrift store to see what looked interesting. I scored a terribly tacky wall pocket. It's painted black and gold and is deliciously hideous - I can hardly wait to transform it. When I do I'll post the pics here.
After that I went to Sandy's with my crazy big canvas that I bought yesterday up in Newport. I like to paint on small canvases... like 8x8 or 12x12, but I'm making all new art for my entries into the jurried show. The size limitation is 40 inches in any direction, so my new canvas fits right in there at 24x36 inches. I'm doing another in my 'twilight' series... and I'm making sure it gets noticed :) So today I packed up my paints & super size canvas and headed to Sandy's house. It was a great afternoon of painting, talking, and just hanging out. It's usually all work with us these days, so spending my day off there was a treat, especially since I had a headache... it was nice to hang out with friends.
When I came home I was followed by 4 fire trucks, 2 Florence police and a state police car, heading past our place, down the road to another apartment building. We couldn't see any flames but there was lots of smoke and the smell of melting plastic and such drifted down the street. It was raining out and cold rain felt so good on my aching head. Tyler and I stayed outside in the pouring rain for a half an hour just letting the drops soak us. It was a great end to the day.
Well it was supposed to be the end of the day....
It's approx. 2:55 am and I'm wide awake. I just finished another entry for the show. It's called Nesting. It's along the same premise of Grow, but a different look.

Grow

Well here's to hoping I can grow.... as an artist and as a person, since I'm probably not going to get any taller. (I belong to the 5 foot and under group)

So, this is my latest....
I layered acrylic paint, papers, and texture medium on an 8x8 canvas. Then embellished with vintage clip art I got from flickr's Collage Images group, and added wings made from vintage french text. I fashioned a nest from moss and a wood egg that I painted. "Grow" is made from a distressed 'deluxe' scrabble tile, cut paper, a watch face and a regular scrabble tile. The black dots in the upper L corner are old snaps and buttons are vintage from a collection my mom sent me.

This is one of the pieces I will be entering into a jurried show tomorrow. I really hope I will get in because I one of my beeswax collages is in a commercial for the show - and wouldn't it suck if I didn't get my art IN the show?!! The chances are probably slim to none, as over 300 enter and they only take 100. I don't do the usual 'look' you see around here.... everyone does coasty stuff. Oh well, I can't get it if I don't try, right? I won't find out till Nov. 1st, cross your fingers for me.

Say hello to my little shelves

On a brisk stroll through a discount shop I spotted little shelves as I was walking out the door. They were just plain white with little scroll supports, so I picked up 3 to play with. I've made-over 2 so far...
An 'old' Asian one.... using vintage text pages that were torn and decoupaged on. Then one of my own bird graphics that I made in photoshop added on top, then I mixed my 'green tea' colored paint with Golden's glazing liquid and painted over the entire thing. Some black paint aged it for me... now I just need to seal it.
And these are pics are the bright bird one, with fun striped edges.

Love a good quiz

I'm a

Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino

Smooth and sweet, you fit in to almost any crowd. No one would suspect you of being a coffee tweaker!

What Flavor Frappuccino Are You?

Take the other quizes at the bottom of my blog and share your results here :)

SMILE.... even if it hurts

Oh man, my day really sucked - so I have spent the evening online, being inspired by other artists... browsing my fav flickr pics and reading my huge list of favorite blogs. I was at the blog Available Space and spotted this gem......

This did the trick :)

free hugs

Someone sent this to me .... it's a great watch, so I'm sending out to you, my friends.
Free Hug video

Well.... I AM a Gemeni

I can't help but change my look on a whim! I've decided that I might as well change it every month - to suit the seasons, holidays, and my need to try things new :)

Welcome to my October look.

I'm using elements from the "Midnight Jack" kit in my header. It's a digital scrapbooking kit by Jen Wilson. Her site it great - check it out.

I'm digg'n the new 'beta' blogger.... I love being able to add labels. Then you can click on my labels and see all the posts that go with it. The obsessive part of me want to go back through all my old posts and add labels to them. There are about 135 or so.... I really should just start fresh from here, and label from now on, and not go back BUT it will drive me crazy, so over the next few weeks, I'm going to add labels to each post. Jeepers - if I could stop myself I would. At least I don't wash my hands 500 times a day, lol.

I'm also digg'n my new bracelet. My friend Sandy is the designer... and she let me pick one out for my birthday (back in June), but I didn't actually pick it out till today.

Oh, and last but not least, I'm totally jazzed about Tyler's grades. He's not one to put effort into 'boring school' and his grades have reflected that since middle school, until now (his junior year in high school). He's got a B in math class - hooray! Go Tyler!!!

The only thing that's bumming me out is that I have been too busy to work on my creative prompt journal. This am I was unpacking the new 7 Gypsies stamps, then I went to work at Sandy's, then I messed around with this blog all evening. Thankfully I didn't sign up on Rhonna's site... I just decided to do it on my own time. Whew!!!

More changes..... and more to come

Blogger updated so now I can include tags with posts and other easier editing things, BUT I had to change to one of their boring layouts to make the change. I can add my own stuff, like a nifty header now that I've made the switch.... so I think I'll work on my own image this week and hopefully have it uploaded by the weekend.

Creative Prompt Journal * Day 5

Umm, well.... I didn't do this one. I honestly couldn't come up with a thing.
Now I'm super behind, but I'm not giving up..... I'm moving on to day 6.

In other news, I'm getting pumped up about the weather turning to fall. It's getting darker earlier, chillier and just cozier in general. I'm sure I won't feel this way weeks from now, but right now I like the change.

The fall also means my shop (Collective-Artwerx) is getting busier and I like that a lot! I've been ordering some new stuff that should be coming within the next few weeks and FINALLY the 7 Gypsies stuff is starting to arrive! That's right folks, those snazzy stamps are on the UPS truck as we speak. Next week I'll be busy packing them up and shipping them to my awesome loyal customers.

I'm thinking about teaching some classes this winter - I just need to find a good location. I'll keep thinking on that.

Creative Prompt Journal * Day 4

The story.... My stories are two of my favorite memories with Wendy.

• I used the scrumptions digital kit "Art Journal" by Thao Cosgrove

Creative Prompt Journal * Day 3

Lettering is the name of the game today..... so I did up one of my fav quotes.

Creative Prompt Journal * Day 2

This challenge was to practice the the dicipline of following a sketch. I followed Rhonna's sketch to make my layout.

For this page of Tyler skim boarding, I used:

• "Boardwalk Collection" by Sara Carling
• floral band from "Seaside" Kit by Maya of Scrapbookgraphics

Creative Prompt Journal * Day 1

I was browsing my fav blogs this morning and saw that Rhonna Farrer has started another challenge... 10 days of creative prompts. It's on day 4 already, but I'm jumping in anyway. I'll be blending both 'real' and digital, but displaying it all as a digital sketchpad.

Day 1 * The Journal (click the pic to see larger - might be slow to load)

This is the cover of my journal. It's all digital using

• a notebook I got from Stock.Xchng photos
• bird seal from Rhonna Farrer's "Old Stamps" set
  
• papers, etc from Gina Cabreara's "Luky Star" set
  

Twilight and the Cup cake

I found these snazzy paper mache 'plaques' at Micheals, on sale, so I did what I always do and got 3. One to 'try' one to sell if it turns out good, and one to keep if I like it, for another project. I'm weird, I know, but this has worked well when I'm finding/trying something new, and I'm at least 55 miles from anywhere.

So, since I have finally

found my style

.... here is more of it, on my new paper mache plaques! Click to see them larger.

Twilight
*painterly background
*painted papers for the trees
*bird with my signature crystal eye
*sweet sparkle stars

Bon Appetit
*one calorie free cupcake made with painted paper icing
*painterly background
*alphabit tile 'bon appetit'
*too sweet glitter 'sprinkles'
*a painted vintage button for the cherry on top

a gift for Sandy...

Again, a little art therapy is oh-so-good for the soul.... distracting me from things I just shouldn't be thinking about. Click on the pics to see larger images.

I just finished this m-media painting for my pal Sandy. She's a fellow bird lover like me, so I had to include a chirpy in it (with my signature crystal eye).... and a house, because she loves houses, and of course a quote, because most of my work has words in there somewhere.

I'm still in my 'folksy' stage... this one is one a nice 3 inch deep canvas, and measures 4x8 inches head on. The painterly background is done with acrylics... painted papers form the house, heart and grass... words I printed & cut out for the quote, a vintage button and lastly - what house would be complete without a ribbon chimney?

I hope you like it Sandy.... it's been a while since I've done some new art.

refresh!

another new theme ... make sure you hit refresh if this looks like my old blog, because I've 'renovated' once again :)

Lost in deliciousness

The latest issue of Cloth Paper Scissors has been released, and I'm lost in it's deliciousness! If you have never heard of it before, it's a magazine based on mixed media art and it's nothing short of outstanding, each season it comes out. This is the winter edition and there is so much stuff in there I want to try.
If you want to order a copy, you can get it here.

I CAN SEE!!!

This story is somewhat embarrassing - especially because I thought I was doing so well, lol. As many of you know, I took up digital scrapbooking a few months ago. Well I have been creating all kinds of layouts, and showing off my new found 'tricks' as proud as can be. What's so embarrassing you ask? Well.... my computer monitor was old, old, old and getting darker and darker, and because I use it non-stop, I had no idea how bad it was getting.... till I got my pretty new flatscreen with amazing vivid color. Of course the first thing I did was look at my layouts and to my shock and horror the colors are different.... don't coordinate.... faded photos.... the list goes on.
This whole time I've been creating and editing and trying to compensate for my too dark monitor, not even realizing my layouts were turning out like crap!! So now I have to go back and re-adjust all my layouts and repost them. I've probably screwed up my art photos too - I'm afraid to look at those.
I'm so glad I can see now - no more headaches online - and finally I can see colors.

Excuse me, while I pick up my life....

I feel like I just spilled my over-stuffed purse on the ground, and pieces of my life are just rolling out of control all over the floor. You know.... that embarrasing moment on the street or the supermarket floor when you are on your hands and knees, scrambling to gather everything back in your bag? That's me. Try not to step on me while I'm down here, ok?

Studio Friday : Floral Treat

Enjoy this flower for this weeks Studio Friday assignment. I'm trying to work on using my digital camera's settings more effectively. This is a macro shot of a begonia blossom.

EEK

I can't sleep - I can't turn my mind off - I can't stop the scenerios through my head. Have you ever just met a perfect stranger and then felt that your world just spun out of control? I better make some art - I better try to sleep - I better just forget it.

Time keeps on ticking....

August has seriously slipped away in a blink.... and I'm not sure what I've done all month - so it really does feel like a blink. I have been on an art break, a blogging break, an everything break. Let's see, what's happened since I've been online last?

• major immigration issues with my son - I don't even want to write about that, it's too exhausting
• my X has just had is 4th biological child with his 3rd wife (technically his 2nd since we were not married, but you know) but he's really a dad of 5 because his latest wife already had 1. I'm not really wanting to write about that either, since I can't say anything nice
• yesterday was smoke'n hot here in my chilly town - I was lovin' that. Ty and I spent the afternoon at the beach
• I said farewell to 5 of my ocean related collage/assemblages. I was asked to have my art hang in a gallery in Burien WA, so I sent them off with wish to sell sell sell. If you happen to be in that neck of the woods, check out Atlantis Designs on 152nd Street.
• had lunch will Mr. FM - listening to his future plans pretty much assured me that the future misses is a smoke screen, for proper appearances sake. Geez.
  
  I'm just chill'n, waiting for my muse to return.

What's new?

Nothin! I haven't made any new art in a while - I haven't been in any shows to sell it, nothing sells off Etsy, and I even tried the farmers market - but that was the wrong venue. (desperate times call for desperate measures) Anyone wanna buy some art?

The need to create never stops, but I don't want 'unwanted' art piling up around the house so I've been back at my computer, playing with photoshop, making some digital layouts.

The critic....

This was made for this week's digital art journal prompt at DSP.

I'm diggin some of the new techniques I'm learning in photoshop - lots of fun.

My nest

I'm so excited - I bought an abandoned bird's nest off ebay, from a sweet gal in Australia way back in May. I've been waiting for it forever and figured that customs must have stopped it because it's natural they have so many rules about stuff like that - well today it finally arrived!

And these cuties are the former tenants!

Here is the story....

• Built & abondoned by Australian Native Noisy Miners.
• Local materials include: outside: sticks & twigs (from conifers, plumbago, bougainvillea, tea tree), lining: Horse hair, Cow hair, Alpaca wool
• Measures approximately 130 x 70mm outside & 50 x 40mm inside
• These birds took about 2 weeks to build this nest. All 3 eggs that were laid hatched. It was only 2 weeks later that the little one's were old enough to leave the nest. They are now adults and have just built a nest of their own containing 3 eggs!

It's my 2nd real nest. I also have an abandoned hummingbird nest.

counting sheep...

....well not really - I'm totally tired, but I can't sleep. It's 5am and I have not had a wink of sleep yet. There's nothing on but infomercials, my eyes are too blury for art, so I'm messing around in photoshop till I drop, I guess.

Here's a layout created for an art journal challenge on the DSP boards. Today's theme is about altering photos so they look a little artier. I did mine about my firstborn love, Trevor.

Clever eh?

You can't deny the cleverness of this Canadian... CNN.com - Blogger proves one red paper clip can indeed buy a house - Jul 10, 2006

waiting for the robots

Living in a tsunami zone requires a monthly test of our town's tsunami warning sirens (which won't work for the dreaded Cascadia one). The last Friday of the month the sirens go off at 11 am - followed by the all clear chime. I've heard it a million times and although a little un-nearving, no big deal.
Yesterday's sirens were a different story though. I live on a busy street so I hear cars passing by all day long.... the next street over is the hospital, so there's ambulance sirens all time.... and the birds are so loud here, it's crazy (but I like that). So anyway..... it's usually loud in the day - except for yesterday. When the tsunami siren test went off everything was so quiet and it seemed like it bellowed like never before. The sound was just extra creepy and I felt like we would see those robot alien things from War of the Worlds come walking down the street - looking for us. I was totally freaked out.

reliving the race

My husband Patrick was a road racer when I met him. He stopped racing when we got married. I didn't ask him to, so I'm not sure why he stopped. Here's a layout I did for him this morning, remembering his glory days.

things that stir my soul