MY BEST FRIEND

While he isnt a fan of getting photos taken, and has quite the temper when provoked, the fellow at the center of this picture means the world to me. I cant go on and on extolling his superhuman virtues, because he is just a man, with strengths and shortcomings like any human being. However he is a great husband, father and grandfather. He doesnt smother or give false praise....he believes in helping make his loved ones strong and self sufficent, yet we all know he is there if we need him. He has helped mold our children into individuals that WANT to succeed for themselves and yet still please him. He is our best friend and partner in life and we are so glad to have him with us everyday in spirit, even if he has to travel to work. Thanks my darling for all you do for us!!

I needed an ornament for a coworkers Christmas party this evening. I wasnt sure how this would work out, but I had seen one while web-surfing the other night and decided I had enough old jewelry from an estate sale I attended to give it a try. It was a messy process but I like the outcome. I am not sure how it will go over at the ornament exchange, but my friends love me and put up with my creative whims.

ABOUT TIME

Its about time I started an art journal. I have hundreds of ideas for page layouts in my head and I love to doodle and try painting techniques. I sometimes stall because I dont want to start a whole new project so the art journal is perfect. I can do a page or two at a time. My first entry is about my facination of Traci Bautista's colorful work. I would LOVE to get to her level of creativity.

LONG DRY SPELL

I havent been too creative lately. I have been through a LONG DRY SPELL. I think I have so many unfinished things going on in my life I am wanting to take con

trol and complete something...anything. Usually it takes an event with a timeline to force me out of a funk like this, and my good friend Kathy has a birthday tomorrow so I decided to put some finishing touches on these two items and sleep on which one I want to give to her. I am trying to encourage her to be creative. She and I share ideas for her girls to create 4-H fair projects. I have her read all my magazines...she shares my love of all things offbeat.

I saw this technique on a craft show. I used tile adhesive and attached found objects, then I used a watered down acrylic paint and finally a coating of varnish with glitter in it. The person on the craft show did a complete lamp base, and I think that would be a neat 2nd project for this.....

I took my birthday off work and played. Besides buying myself a new blackberry as a present, I ended up working on a couple of ongoing art projects. The painting was a result of wanting to try crackle paste, and the wallhanging of wanting to explore paint and stamping on canvas. I need to get the latter sewn together, but I dont like to move too quickly. I would rather think about all my options and take my time.

Online Class at Joggles

I am taking a needlework embellishing class at the Joggles website. We are just wrapping up lesson one and here is my contribution so far....

Labor Day Experiments

I dont really "paint" but I would like to. My issue with that is perspective. Mine needs to be developed and when I try to make anything look realistic it is still just out of my reach. But I still can find a "happy place" when I pick up some paint on a brush, water or gel medium

and go to town. I keep a paper towel and palette knife in the other hand, and if it FEELS GOOD-I DO IT. I think I will call this Sunshine on the Bayou.....

Present For A Friend

One of my friends just had her 35th wedding anniversary. She isnt big on handmade gifts, but I have been wanting to try this technique of using polymer clay on stretched canvas...works great by the way. It would help if you have an idea of what you want it to look like when you are done....but I never do things that way. I had a dickens of a time copying the photo from the local paper and getting it put on the piece without smears or glue drops making a mess. I made several copies of the photo and kept pasting them on top of each other. Kind of a happy accident as it made a lacy outside and raised the subject off the surface. Some of you may recognize the subjects!! :-0

It has been a long time since my last post, but I am still here creating. I find I have morphed into more of a mixed media fanatic. I want to try a new technique every time I sit down. I have a real thirst for books and articles that jump start ideas. I work part time for the Methodist thrift store in our area and I drag home everything that I touch and feel a spark....old lace, plates, hymnals, and anything wool or silk. When I have an idea I can usually just go to my workroom and produce what I need for a project....it is like an addiction...but a harmless one!!