Still Life Sketches and Blog Links

So I played with the still life set ups a bit more yesterday and then got out my sketchbook and gave it a try. I did these fairly quickly to get an idea what it is I want to start with on watercolor paper so I can try to paint one of these.

I think I like the one with the three pieces of fruit and the empty pitcher better than the second one. I like the fit of the pitcher behind the books better than in the other one. Perhaps today I will get it onto watercolor paper and get the paper taped onto my board so I can begin painting.

I don't know for sure what else I am doing today, besides cleaning. On Sunday when three of the grandgirls were over for dinner, they were playing with cardboard boxes making houses with them. Apparently one or more of them had some styrofoam packing material in them and there is a mess of little white pieces that really need to be swept and vacuumed before the baby arrives tomorrow for her stay.

I made a quick bratwurst soup the other day, but it is too thin. Today I will doctor it with either barley, rice, or more veggies and cabbage. I haven't decided yet, but I must rescue it. I really don't like thin soup and neither does the hubster.

Later today my daughter and I are planning to go to the gym and work out. There is a gym in Jackson that is $10/month with no contract. They are open 24/7, which works really well for the daughter as she works late several days a week. It will be interesting to see what they have to offer for this ridiculously low price. And speaking of gyms and workouts, yesterday at my personal training session, I was actually able to balance on the ball on my knees for several seconds. Now just to get it so I can stay on indefinitely. 

Some time ago I was talking about all the wonderful blogs I read and that I should provide a few links once a week and I did once, but I've forgotten about it, so today I would like to do that. Here are a few links to blogs that I look forward to each day.

View From the Oak - Lin Frye

Dandelion and Daisy - Daisy?

The Fading Rose - Gillian Mowbray

A Painter's Year - Susan Abbott

Art Hearts Place - Barbra Joan

So, what are you doing today? I can hear the rain beating down outside my windows, so a morning walk in the yard is out of the question. I can't decide whether to get started on the housework and be done with it or procrastinate here in my art room for a bit.

xoxo

Carving, Spraying, Stamping

I finally got out to the hubster's workshop yesterday afternoon after Miss Z went home so I could try out the Liquitex Watercolor Spray paints. Although the page wound up looking pretty good, I didn't have a great deal of success using them with stencils. They produce a much wider spray than I was ready for. I know I need to try them again, but for now they are not at all what I was expecting. So I came in the house and mixed up a little acrylic paint in a small spray bottle and added a little bit of water thinking I could use this with stencils. Hrumph! The nozzle clogged before I could even get a good sample. I know I've seen people on videos using a small spray with color that I think they've prepared themselves - will you share? will you help me to figure out a way to get this to work?


Here is the page I was working on. I love the colors, but didn't get the effect I was really looking for.

While the paint was drying I came into the house and selected a new book to alter as this one is down to just a few pages left. I selected a slender volume with pages similar in size to this one. It is just a bit wider. I began on the inside cover and just played a bit. I also carved a quick flower stamp with a bit of leftover rubber from one of my previous stamps and used it here.

This was the point at which I tried to make my own spray paint and couldn't get it to work. So I took a variety of colors and put a bit of each on a paper plate and used a flower stencil and a pouncer to add color. Then with the remaining paint I began to pounce around the rest of the page. This is not in my usual style, but it was a load of fun.

This morning I am going to the conditioning class, stopping at the farm to get my biweekly produce and then coming home to shower and get ready for a trip to town with my friend, Carol. After that I will come home and try to get some art time in before going to my personal training session at 4:30. Miss Z is arriving this afternoon and will be with us until Sunday afternoon, so this is going to be a very busy weekend. I'm hoping the weather is nice as I like to get her out of doors when I can. I have the umbrella stroller in the trunk and am planning to take her for a walk on a paved trail in Mason on Saturday. What do you have planned for today? what about the weekend? are you  making time for yourself and your art? Do share.....

xoxo

A New Camera

My new camera arrived yesterday and I couldn't wait to go outside and try it out to see just what 20x zoom really is. I went out to the swings where the hubster and I sit to enjoy out afternoon coffee and took a photo of the backyard and the back of the house.

I'm not sure if you can see in the photo above, but there is a planter on the edge of the deck just to the left of the trumpet vine bush. Still sitting in the swing, I zoomed in and this is the photo I took.

As you can see we've had a frost and the flowers are not very pretty any more, but I think I am going to like this camera.  Then I walked around to the front of the house and stood across the street and took a photo of the front yard.

Can you see the reddish flowers along the front of the house? Still standing in the same place I engaged the zoom at full capacity and here is what I got.

At this point I am quite happy with the camera. Now I just have to go someplace with mountains or cliffs or ocean vistas - or maybe to one of the Great Lakes and see what this little powerhouse can do.

I am quite surprised this morning to find that I am not sore from yesterday's assorted workouts. It makes me a bit afraid that tomorrow I won't be able to get out of bed. I began the day by driving to town to get DD's little girls to school and then went to my conditioning class followed by my 30 minute ab/core floor work. After getting home from that, I got around and went to Meijer's to pick up a few necessary groceries and came home and made some Chorizo White Bean Soup - easy and delish! Then I headed for my first attempt at the personal training workout. There were four of us there - two usuals and my friend Nancy and me. We started out by doing several balancing maneuvers on both a Bosu and a balance ball. Then we did some stretching over the ball and some exercises utilizing the ball without weights and then we did some weight training using the ball as our bench. It was a wonderful workout, but I expect to feel some pain at some point. I am definitely planning on going back. I am thinking two times a week for awhile and see what kind of results I can achieve.

I got home in time to get showered and eat dinner while watching the Tiger game before little Miss Z arrived.  I didn't last very long into the evening though. I put Miss Z down about 8 and I was in bed by 9. I slept like a baby.

I've been reading some very interesting blogs and looking at some splendid art. I think today I will share links to a few of the blogs that I subscribe to in case you would like them too. I am always amazed by the wealth of wonderful blogs out there. I have my subscriptions in order in files whose first one is called Art Journals, so here are a random five from that list. I'd love to hear if you know these arty people or if you've found another favorite among this list. I will try to list a few of my favorites once a week.

A Colorful Journey - Carolyn Dube

Passions of an Odd Chick - Peggy Krantz

Random Acts of Art - Janet K Briggs

Sallyhow2 - Sally Rose

Sasifricious - Molly

Today I will have Miss Z until around 3 and then I am either going shopping and out to eat with my friend Carol or I am doing some art. If Carol and I don't go out and about this evening we will go in the morning. What about you? What are you doing these days? Do share...

xoxo

Art Journal and Exercise

Did you see the Djokovich/Del Potro match last night? Holy moley! Del Potro was playing really well, but Novak was untouchable. That must be so frustrating!


I went to my conditioning class this morning for an hour and then stayed for the floor exercises for another half hour. When I got home, I found that the hubster had made a banana/blueberry/strawberry smoothie and he used my lactose free milk. And there was a large serving left for me! Yummy!!


I noticed that there was a bit of cold coffee still in the carafe on the cupboard, so I took some into my art room and stained the next two page spread in my art journal. I don't know for sure what will come next, but will keep you posted.

Miss Z is coming to spend two nights and I am expecting her around 3 this afternoon. That means that I need to vacuum, sweep, and make time for art before that time. I have an appointment at the chiropractor's this afternoon and since they have a play area and they have expressed an interest in meeting my little sweetie, I think I will take her with me. I will have her until mid to late afternoon on Sunday. I think there is some kind of harvest festival in Rives on Saturday afternoon and if the weather is good, maybe I'll take her and an umbrella stroller to check it out. I may even get pix.

What about you? How are you keeping busy? Are you taking good care of your physical self? your mental self? Are you working on an art project that you'd like to share? I surely hope your muse is staying around for you these fine days as summer winds down and Fall begins to show its colors.

xoxo

Busy Weekend Again

Another busy weekend that just seems to have gotten away from me. I can't explain where Saturday went, but I did watch part of the Wimbledon women's final match, did a bit of house cleaning, made a trip to Meijer for odds and ends, mostly cleaning supplies and cleaned up my art room.


On Sunday, I spent the morning at my daughter's house with the girls. They are going with their Dad on vacation for 5 days and I wanted hugs and kisses. Then I came home and did the hour workout with Cathe, walked a mile on the treadmill, and later when my daughter came out for a visit she and I went for a 2 mile walk. So I guess my body has had a pretty good workout, but my muse hasn't been participating much. It was nice to have temps in the 80s (usually much too warm for me) rather then pushing 100.


I did find time to start a watercolor of a vase of flowers. It is not nearly loose enough, but it was an exercise with that medium and practice is what I need most.

Today I am headed for my conditioning class and then my friend, Nancy, and I are going to Chelsea for lunch and to do a bit of drawing. Later this afternoon when my daughter gets off work, she and I are going to walk for an hour or so. I will try to begin a new watercolor this evening. The Tigers are off until Friday because of the All Star Game break, so my evenings will not be spent in front of the television set.

I hope you are happy and healthy and that you are finding time for yourself and your creativity. I hope to have something to share with you tomorrow.

xoxo

Physical and Mental Exercise

I was awakened by loud thunder this morning and it is quieter now, but still raining. I read a bit of the ebook I borrowed from the library and then got on the treadmill. I jogged at 3mph for an hour and am so glad that I did. That is my physical exercise for the day (I may have to do a bit of cleaning later and that, too, will count).


As for my mental exercise, I brought up a photo I'd taken some time ago of a woodpecker at the bird feeder and did a quick sketch. He is a red bellied woodpecker, although the read is on top of his head and around back to the nape of his neck. I think I made his body too squat as he looks longer and thinner in the original photo, but so it goes. This is my mental exercise. I suppose my hard crossword puzzles and my reading count as well.

I believe Miss P is getting her braces on today and she and little sis, M, will be spending the night tonight. I think I will try to do some sketching this afternoon as I'm never quite sure what the girls will like to do. While Miss M is pretty predictable (she likes to play hangman on my computer - with my help, and loves to put together jigsaw puzzles - also with my help), Miss P can sometimes be a surprise. She may have a good book to read, or some game to play on her iPod touch, or she may want to play board games or do some art. Who knows? I always try to accommodate them as they are so much fun to interact and I feel that if I don't actively engage with them (not every minute, mind you), then I am just a babysitter and Lord knows, I don't want to be that.

I took a nap after taking some Ibuprofen yesterday afternoon and was awakened a couple of hours later by the hubster telling me that dinner was ready. I had a lovely baked salmon filet, along with a side salad with tomatoes, avocado and dried cherries and 1/2 a baked sweet potato. A delicious dinner indeed.

Right now I am going to go thaw a bit of blueberries and strawberries and have a bowl of cereal to get this started. I truly hope you are well and are finding time for yourself and your loved ones.

xoxo

Exercise, Tennis and Faces Sketch

The exercise class was different yesterday. My friend, Nancy, was there with her friend, Julia; and there was some talking at the beginning (good stuff, but it lessened the actual exercise time), which seriously altered the amount of exercising to be done. I know I'd get in trouble if I said this in class, but I really wish it lasted an hour and a half. It sure was nice to work out with Nancy and Julia, though. I hope they come again. I am hoping to get to this class three times a week.


There is tennis being played in Key Biscayne, Florida, and I caught some of it yesterday. I felt so sorry for Cibulkova, who was seriously beating up on Azarenka, but ended up losing. And it was sad to see Ivanovic lose to Venus (it was great to see Venus playing again, but Ana was playing much better than I've seen her play in a long time). I didn't see the Roddick/Federer match, but was pleased to learn that Roddick won. I'd like to watch the Na Li/Sharapova today. I just wish Maria would stop with the screeching so I didn't have to turn the sound down so much. At least she is not playing a person who also screeches - the match between Maria and Victoria Azarenko earlier was sure to ruin eardrums.


While watching the tennis and during commercials I spent a bit of time sketching faces from a magazine. The man is supposed to be Dr. Oz - the face is not long and thin enough. The other two are anonymous women in ads.

I am going to Menard's later with the hubster and then walking with my daughter. We will walk Miss M to preschool and then spend about an hour in the neighborhoods around school. We usually get about 3 miles in - a good workout and so much more fun than walking the treadmill.

I am going to try to get some tennis sketching in again later today and hope to have something to share tomorrow. It feels so good to be back blogging again.

Before I get in the shower and go off for the day, I need to open Google Reader and look at all your beautiful offerings. You who reside in my Reader really enrich my life.

xoxo

PES and Bird Sketches

I love acronyms, don't you? I've decided to call my condition after doing new exercises to the max Post-Exercise Soreness, or PES. My thighs are burning today after doing three sets of very low squats yesterday. I love this kind of soreness because I think it reaffirms my belief that the workout yesterday was a good one. Now that the hubster has cancelled his out of town trip for this weekend, I may leave the baby with him and do the class again tomorrow morning.


Because I am expecting little Zoë this afternoon and overnight, I've vacuumed the living room and down the hallway. And while I was up and about, I also made my bed, picked up and swept the entrance, shook rugs and put some window screens up. Ah, fresh air.... Right now I have the first load of laundry in the dryer, with a second load waiting. Just one more load and the dishwasher to run and I will feel like I've really accomplished something housewifey (I know - I just made it up) today.


While the laundry is drying I decided to do a bit of sketching. I haven't sketched any birds in awhile and now that so many of them are around and with the windows open I can hear them, it seemed the thing to do. Here are three different ones. As usual when I get done I wish I'd used watercolor to sketch them instead of pencil. Maybe later I will have to use this sketch as a guide and do just that. Stay tuned.....

I am never quite happy with the picture I take. It is hard to adjust the levels to get both the whites and the darks to look good. I decided to use the invert option and really like how this turned out. Which do you prefer?

It is warmer today than it was yesterday. I am in shorts and a tee and bare feet and loving it. I think there is a chance of thunderstorms later in the day so I need to get out on the screened porch and enjoy this warmth and sun while I can.

I hope you are doing well today and that you are finding time for yourself and your creativity. Take care,

xoxo

Exercise Class, Mother Nature, and Sketches

My friend, Nancy, told me about a class she'd read about that was held in Munith in the former Katz Elementary School building that meets M, W, and F from 9:30 to 10:30 and costs $2. You don't have to sign up in advance; you can just show up. I was supposed to go with her on Monday, but I am extremely lactose intolerant and even though I am very cautious, I apparently got some and I was miserable. Nancy was unable to go this morning, but I went. I loved it. There were about 30 people there. We worked all the muscle groups, a few standing and many seated. We used exercise bands for resistance. I am looking forward to the next time.


I fully intended to come home and get right on the treadmill, but it was so wonderfully sunny and warm that instead I got my camera and headed out of doors. Here are a couple pix from the yard:

While I was walking around I noticed my neighbor to the north planting something near the road across the street, so I sauntered over and sat with her for a little visit. It is so nice to be out and about again, but it is awfully early for such springlike weather.

I did spend a bit of time out of doors on Monday even though I didn't feel well at all and tried my hand at a couple of sketches - nothing to write home about, but I am pleased that I got out there.

I have begun a small watercolor as well. There appears to be some blossoming in the sky  (they were supposed to be clouds) and I will have to decide what to do with that. I haven't decided on the middle ground or the foreground yet, but will share my progress as I go.

I had Zoë overnight on Friday and she was a joy. I have her again tomorrow night and am hoping for warm weather so we can spend some time out of doors. Here is a cute pic of her with a friend rocking.

That is all I have for now. I don't have a plan for this afternoon yet - maybe I will work on my little watercolor or try my hand at some kind of sketch.

I hope you are finding time for yourself and your creativity and that it is really nice where you are so you can enjoy Mother Nature and this lovely sunshine.

xoxo

Magnificent Monday

The sun is shining brightly and all appears to be right in my world. It seems like a really long time since I've posted to my blog - like maybe my last post was last year :-)

In this new year, I've joined two very different journal projects and have combined them into one. I am not sure how long that is going to last, but for now I am enjoying it. I have a link to each of them in the sidebar on the right - The Sketchbook Challenge (which I shall refer to as SC) and Milliande Art Journal January 2011 (which I shall refer to as MAJ). I have been a fan of Milliande's for a very long time. She has lots of wonderful, creative videos on YouTube as well as a wonderful community site online.

Here is my first day's contribution:

The SC theme for January is "highly prized". I read that while enjoying my first mug of coffee so I began this page by drawing my coffee in my favorite cup and then I felt a bit guilty for thinking of coffee first, but I was in the moment. I was thinking about the things that I prize highly and trying to think how to incorporate them on this page while reading the blogs to which I subscribe and found myself reading the one on Milliande's blog which contained the first video of the month for MAJ. Her video which you can watch/download here was all about patterning and zebras. That might explain the rest of this page.

The hubster and I went up to the Maple Street Mall in Mason to set up a small booth which includes a a cabinet he made for my handmade journals and as we were setting up I sold the small travel journal that was listed on my Handmade Books page. I was thrilled. The booth looks great and focuses on my handmade journals and the hubster's custom signs. I should have taken my camera so I could share a picture with you. I will take one next time I am up at the mall.

When we got home I watched the second day's video for MAJ in which she did a mandala with three zebras and then cut it apart to use on a page spread. I am not sure yet that I am going to be making collages in this book, but who knows??? For my second day, I did a two page spread featuring a bit of doodling and the oldest two of my three grandgirls.

I used the light box that my friend, Nancy, loaned to me to get a quick likeness of the girls on the right. It felt like cheating, but I really wanted it to look like them and my drawing of them freehand is still not always successful. I am planning to do some sketching of them later in this journal and then I will not care so much if they can tell it is them. They will, of course, be asking to see my journal next time I see them. They are my biggest fans and give me lots of praise and encouragement. You know that my next page (today) will have a picture of Little Miss 3 on it. I didn't forget her. As a matter of fact, I have the cutest picture of her from ballet class.

I wish I could somehow slow down this year so I could keep her 3 for a long time.

Today I have to run errands - the recycle bins are overflowing, we are out of water, milk, oj, eggs and salad fixings. I have a flannel shirt that the hubster got me for Christmas that is too small to take back and trade for a larger one. Office Max is having a "take 20% off everything you can fit in this bag" sale and I may stop there for some lined paper and printer inks. 

I have a date with the treadmill later this afternoon. I've added a page to keep track of my mileage and so far in just two days have jogged/walked more than 5 miles. I decided that posting my mileage would help me to keep those dates with that machine.

I saw a great tut on making a journal at The Sketchbook Challenge website and am going to try to make one with lined paper to take to Florida in February in which to document our trip. I will share it with you when I have it made. I am already thinking of ways to switch up the stitching to make it more my own.

If I am going to get to all the things I have planned for today done, I'd better get on my way. I hope you are all well and happy and having a great 2011 so far.

xoxo

My Addictions - Photoshop and Exercise

I don't know which is more likely to draw me in - Photoshop or exercise. I just finished a 30 minute built in program on the treadmill and was tempted to do another right after. My saner self intervened in the nick of time, so I got off and stretched before grabbing a bottle of water and heading for the computer.

It is supposed to be near 60 degrees today and the sun is already shining. I feel energized and hopeful for a full, productive day. I need to do some art, a bit of grocery shopping, and visit with the daughter and her two little girls after school.

I have been practicing more repeating patterns in Photoshop and would like to share them with you. I am thinking of offering them for a modest fee for use in art, scrapbooking, and card making. What do you think? Would they sell as digital downloads? Or should I just sell the .pat file for people with Photoshop? Or maybe both? Or perhaps I should offer them as .png files so they would be on a transparent background?

I think I am going to get outside (it's only 32 degrees right now, but the sun is brilliant!) and take some pix before fixing myself a bowl of yummy cereal with blueberries for breakfast. Then into the shower and greet the day!

xoxo

EDM #23 and CED2009

I found myself barefooted this morning and decided to tackle EDM #23 - your foot. I used a 2H pencil and just did a quick sketch. Except for the fact that I think my foot is longer and thinner than this (must be something about the perspective) and far better looking %-), I think it is an okay sketch.

I have had my coffee this morning and a bowl of Shredded Wheat and Bran with a sliced banana and some fresh sliced strawberries and think it is about time to head for the treadmill. I've already had a shower so am not all that fired up to get hot and sweaty, but tomorrow is a weigh and measure day and I think every little bit helps.

That's all I have for now. Don't forget to sign up for the book giveaway on a previous post. I will be drawing the winner some time tomorrow.

Bye!

A New Product and More Exercise

Whew! Just finished a 30 minute ball workout and an hour on the treadmill. This tired old bod is going to get into shape whether or not it wants to. Seriously, I have to be careful not to overdo. Each time I get myself into an exercise regimen, I tend to get overzealous and want to work out every day. In reality, this is too much, so I am only allowing myself to work out every other day. So far it is working and I am really beginning to change how I look and how my clothes fit.

I mentioned in a previous post how I had brought home a new sparkling watercolor palette from USArtQuest, and today I decided to make a double page journal spread about them. I couldn't decide how I was going to use them when I saw another blog where someone drew the colored pencils she had just gotten - voila! great idea.




This is not a perfect rendition, but the colors show up nicely. These were a joy to work with - creamy and beautifully sparkly. I drew the palette, but apparently not carefully enough. The last three pots I drew overlapped. This is not a true to life rendering as the pots really don't overlap. This is the pastel ('Pastelle') palette. I think they have 4 others. This company is also the company who make the fabulous Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA). If you are unfamiliar with this company, just click on the link above to check them out; or go to Sue's blog for more info.

I've been reading several posts about a sparkly/shimmery product that is no longer being produced and thought maybe this is the product for you.

That's all I have for today.

Bye!

Good and Not So Good Squared

I think I will start with the good.

I am quite pleased with how the tissue box turned out. The only thing is that I chose a cheaper Spartan brand of tissue in order to get the square-ish box (all mine are rectangular) and the box is a little too tall to get the bottom of the holder back on and the tissues are of very poor quality. The next time I am at the store I will get a box of Kleenex and see if that doesn't make it better.




Now for the not so good.

The first not so good is that I weighed and measured this morning and I don't see any difference in the numbers from last month. Lots of variables in this process; firstly, the scale is a dinosaur that has a needle that swings back and forth wildly before stopping on a number. I am going to pick up a digital scale next time I am in town. Also, I am taking my measurements with a somewhat stretchy old measuring tape and I don't always know the exact spot on my thigh, bicep, hip that I measured last time. I can tell by how my clothes fit and by looking in the mirror that my figure is changing for the better, so this is not going to stop my workout regimen. I may, however, really limit those snacks (even the healthy ones).

The final not so good news is my girl. Yesterday's lesson was to add hair and brows. I am not very happy with mine. I wanted the hair to be a believable red (kinda a reddish brown). I am not sure that I achieved that. Then I put a second layer of lighter brownish red on and I think it looks pretty bad. I am going to let it sit for awhile and then decide if I should try something else. I am thinking maybe a light wash over the hair just to unify it more.




I really wanted to paint the brows as more single hairs, but my picture is too small for me to have that kind of control. Somehow in my adding hair and brows and using a damp brush to correct mistakes running to the face, I had a yellowish forehead, so I cleaned it up with a mixture of Titan Buff and Titanium White. I need to be careful when I do the final shadow and highlight layer to get her to look more dimensional. She is looking pretty flat right now.

I was supposed to have the girls today and then not again until next Tuesday, but I don't have them today, but do have them tomorrow and Thursday. Their Dad is having some surgery on an artery in his leg tomorrow so I am rearranging my schedule to accommodate that.

That's it for now. Bye!

End of March and CED2009

Can you believe another month is just about over? Where does the time go?

I have been working out really hard this month. This morning I worked a balance ball workout for 30 minutes and then walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes at an incline of 3 degrees at 3 mph. I am beginning to see a difference and feel different. Tomorrow is the next weigh and measure day. I hope the results are as promising as they seem today.

When my daughter moves into her home (she is expecting to close sometime in the next 2 weeks) I am planning to paint Elmo onto a canvas to hang in the baby's room. So I did a practice sketch in my art journal. I think he is very cute, although I must say I have listened to him way too much this year, so I am finding that his voice is beginning to grate.



Payton was quick to tell me that I made his body too long and that he needs legs. I apparently have some more practicing to do before I commit to canvas!

I also rediscovered a tissue box that I bought unfinished at Michael's several months ago and decided to play with it. So far I have gessoed, painted, glazed, stamped and collaged. I am planning to paste various letters from different sources to spell blow, wipe, and either sneeze or achoo on the three sides that are not collaged.




Meanwhile, I have an ATC swap done (the yellow pages) and will take that to the post office after I get a shower. And at the same time I will mail the Chinese Painting book that Katina won. Then I will come home and work on more ATC swaps that I have signed up for before watching the latest video in the Faces class.

I have the two girls tomorrow (Payton is on Spring Break) so I don't expect to get much done then, unless Payton and I can do some art while Morgan is napping. At any rate, I will post again when I have something to share.

Bye!

Another Rainy Spring Day

I went for a short walk around the yard with the hubster this morning in a fine mist. By the time we had only walked around about 1/2 of it, the mist had turned to rain. It sounded like Spring, it looked like Spring and it smelled like Spring. Ergo, it is Spring.

Yesterday morning I decided to mix up my workout a bit, so instead of doing Cathe's workout, I got out a ball workout and did that one. It was a great workout and I am a little bit sore today. I used 5 lb weights for the lighter weights and 10 lb weights for the heavier weights. The woman who leads the workout has a British accent and at one point while working on the glutes, makes a comment about how this exercise is so great for the "back yard". I love that expression for referencing the bum, don't you? I followed up the ball workout with a 30 minute walk on the treadmill. I am really getting anxious to see this month's results when I do the weigh and measure next week. I am reminding myself that muscle weighs more than fat, so the number may not have changed much, but I am expecting the measurements to have changed considerably! We'll see. At any rate, I am addicted to working out every other day now and that is not going to change regardless of this month's results.

I worked on my Face in progress yesterday and am pleased with the eyes and mouth so far.


The next lesson we will be using Neocolor II crayons to add another layer of color to the face and to shadow and highlight the lips. At least, that is what I think we are going to do.

I also spent a bit of time in my art journal last evening. It had been quite a long time since I felt I had time to play in it. I dropped some Rosy Posy craft paint on each page and used a scraper to move it around. When it dried I applied a bit of Sunflower craft paint and did a similar thing. I really like those two colors together - kind of Springy, maybe even Eastery (I know, it is a made up word, but you get the idea, don't you?). Later in the evening while trying to decide whether to paste cuttings from magazines or doodle (I am still anxious about trying to doodle, but am determined to just try it - some day), I decided to do a big face and then color the eyes, lips and hair using Neocolor II crayons. I purchased a cute set of alphabet stamps called Fun Type from Michael's yesterday (that's a whole 'nother story), and decided to give them a try. They are cylinders of wood with a letter at both ends. For all of the letters up to the "d" in haired, I just looked at the letter on the other end and if it was upright, I got the upright letter when I stamped using the other end. However, as you can see, even though I was looking at the "c" on the other end of the stamp in the correct orientation, I got an upside down "d" which looks like the letter "p". My 6 year old grandgirl thought it was a hoot!




I do like the look of the stamps, though!

A reminder, if you haven't left a comment on the giveaway post from several days ago, you still have time. I will be drawing the winner on Friday. Good luck!

Bye!

A Day Off and CED2009

I have the afternoon off and decided this was a good time to mix up my paints for the face I am working on. My medium skin tone is much lighter than Paulette's in the video, but then I am of Irish descent and my skin is very fair. I am not sure I am satisfied with the shadows and highlights, but then the colors looked so different on my palette than they do on the face.



I began my day with a banana and then did an hour with Cathe and my 5# weights, followed by 30 minutes of walking uphill on the treadmill. I am feeling really good with this regimen. I don't weigh and measure for another 12 days and am feeling that if I can keep up this every other day 90 minute workout, I am sure to see results. Now I have to continue to watch portion size and not get in the mind set that since I work out I can eat more. It kind of defeats the purpose.

I am going to spend another hour or so working on swaps I am working on and then try to get outdoors. It is not going to be nearly as warm as it has been the past couple of days, but it is sunny and in the high 40s. If I stay out of the wind, it might be just right with a hoodie on.

See ya later......

St Patrick's Day

Each day on St. Patrick's Day, I again resolve to visit Ireland some time soon. I hope to go there within the next 10 years. I want to go to Bagenalstown in County Carlow, which is where my Dad's father's family emigrated from. His grandparents were Edward Fenlon and Mary Murphy. When I was teaching, there was free access to genealogy websites through the library and I thought that it would be a simple thing to find these two. Alas, in that town in the 1880s there were a bazillion Fenlons and Murphys. So far I can trace no further back. I have been much more fortunate on my Dad's mother's side and can trace her father's family back to the late 1500s. At one time, I was totally absorbed in the puzzle of my forbears, and have my family on Geni. If you are not aware of the Geni website, you should check it out. It is a free family tree site online in which you can input your tree and invite living members to join and add their information. One of the members of my Dad's mother's side of the family has the first name Eliphalet. When I first saw this, I thought he would be easy to find - I mean how many Eliphalets could there be. Honestly, in the late 1700s there were a large number of men with this first name. Go figure!!

I am diligently working on my third assignment for the Faces class. I am not totally happy with the eyes yet, but each time I put on another layer and reinforce them, they are getting better.



Today I will mix up my skin tones and begin the underlayer with shadows and highlights. I am a little nervous about this, but plan to take my time and do my best. I have two older canvases with faces on them, both of which really need some shading. Hopefully, I will be able to improve them with my new knowledge.

It is supposed to be in the 60s today and partly sunny. I am hoping to spend some time out of doors, perhaps finishing my novel. I need to do a bit of a workout. I am a little sore from Cathe's muscle max from the day before yesterday. I think I will go through it again today, but just use my body and not my weights. That way I will still get some stretching and reinforcement, but not hurt my already sore muscles. I will also do my uphill walk on the treadmill. I can't wait to weigh in and measure again at the end of the month. I sure hope I see more progress.

I've got a lot to do today, so better get started........

Faces Class and CED 2009

I downloaded my first lesson video for the Faces class yesterday and couldn't wait to start practicing. I have done one page each of eyes, noses and mouths; but I know I will do many practice pages of each until I get something I consistently recognize and like. I then tried putting it all together in a girl's face. I don't think it is too bad for a first attempt, but hope to get better and better with practice.



Yesterday morning I spent with an arty friend playing on her computer - and let me tell you, if laughter is the best medicine, then we are good for each other. She is always great fun to spend time with.

I tried out my daughter's TomTom GPS and it performed pretty well. It did, however, try to get me to turn into a person's yard that apparently once was part of the road that now takes a 90 degree turn and changes names.

Once I got rid of my sinus headache this morning, it has become a pretty good day. My daughter has accepted the counter offer for the house she wants and so we were a little busy today, but she is sure this is the house for her and her two little girls so all is well.

When I put the baby down for her nap, I spent 40 minutes on the treadmill walking hills and burned a whopping 314 calories. It feels so good to work that hard.

If you haven't yet left a comment on the giveaway post, do go there and leave one. I will be drawing the winner on Friday, March 6.

Go play and have fun!

March Resolution - Blog Everyday

I know I have somewhat MIA, but February was a very busy, complicated month. Thankfully, it is the shortest one. March has arrived very cold and snowy. I am hoping this qualifies as "a lion" so that she will go out like a lamb.

I have been exercising religiously and am happy to report that in the month of February I lost 3 pounds and 3 inches. This makes a total so far this year of 7 pounds and 10 inches. I am thrilled and so sticking with it. As a matter of fact this morning I walked for 40 minutes between 5 and 10 degrees of incline and between 3 and 3.5 miles per hour for a burn of a whopping 307 calories. I think I could become addicted.



My goal for March as far as cyberland goes is to blog every day. I need to get back into doing art every day. Hopefully every one of us is over the February blues and head colds. I have done a little bit of drawing and would like to share it.







Tomorrow begins my Faces class with Paulette Insall and I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I have purchased the supplies on the list that I didn't already own and absolutely can't wait for the first video lesson. I have tomorrow off, but am going to a friend's house in the morning to help her with her computer. As Paulette is on the West Coast the lessons are promised by noon, which is 3 pm my time. I will post my first attempt when I have it.

'til then, enjoy the moment!