Art Journal, Sketching and Flowers

I guess I have an admission - I am addicted to image transfer. The more I do, the more I want to do. It is such an easy way to add another dimension to a mixed media piece. I decided to add a bunny from a napkin to the left hand side of the page and some dictionary pages. After adding a bit of watercolor, I looked through a couple of magazines for images and found two that I liked, so I did image transfers using gel medium. This spread isn't done yet, but I am liking it so far.

Here is a close-up of the texture:

While looking for the newer pieces to take pix of to share today, I found a little sketch from Monday while the girls were here. When waiting for gesso to dry, I often find a way to begin another page. This time I sketched a banana and an apple and used a stencil to include a graphic to the page.

And while walking the yard I decided to take a photo of this part of the garden that always seems to me to be calling out a friendly greeting. I really should try to do a loose watercolor of these.

I have a haircut scheduled for late this morning and then when I return, the hubster and I are going shopping to find him some nice casual clothes. We both spend most of our time in messy work play so that our kickabout clothes are really kickabout. I am looking forward to helping him find a couple new things. Later today I will decide what I am taking on the trip to the far north and will get packed.

What are you up to today? Are you finding time for yourself? Are you willing to share what you are working on/playing with? I can't wait to see it.......

xoxo

Sleep Deprivation and Photos

I am seriously sleep deprived. Miss 8 and Miss 4 have the reputation of sleeping in quite late on the weekends, but not while at my house. On both Saturday and Sunday they were up before 8:30. And Little Miss 7 months (who arrived just after the Lions beat the Vikings in sudden death overtime) is teething and has a seriously runny nose and was up at 1:45 am and 3:00 am and up at 6:00 am.

She is napping right now and I suppose I should be also, but I've had my two mugs of coffee and am thinking about breakfast. I have lots of art to do today - a couple of assignments for the Artful Journaling class and more work on my watercolor work in progress. I have the baby until about 3 this afternoon after which I plan to do some painting.


For now, I have some photos to share:

My girls each chose a journal and did some sketching.

This is one of the things Miss 8 was drawing.

Here are my "big" girls helping to take care of baby Zoë.

I started this blog post about 1 1/2 hours ago, but blogger hasn't been cooperating and baby hasn't been cooperating, so I will finish here.

I need to go wash bottles and clean up from breakfast while she is back down and hopefully sleeping.

I hope to have some art for you tomorrow.

xoxo

A New Repurposed Book and Flowers

It is another beautiful morning and we are hitting the road in a couple of hours. I must say sleeping in a queen bed with three little girls didn't work out very well. I started out crosswise along the foot of the bed and when they finally went to sleep I moved to the couch. We will have a king sized bed at the condo so hopefully it will work out better.


Yesterday I finished another repurposed book and I really love this one. What do you think?

I also spent a bit of time out in the yard taking pix and couldn't resist this one. I have one almost like this framed and hanging in my art room, but I am still drawn to these.

I also took a picture of a plant I don't recognize and the hubster couldn't tell me what it is either. Do you know?

I think I'd better get a move on. The girls are still sleeping and I need a shower and haven't packed yet. We are planning to leave around 10. I'll tell you all about it on Monday and hope to have lots of pix to share.

xoxo

Feeling Special

Tomorrow is my birthday, but today I am already feeling the love. I got a lovely card in the mail from Tolegranny of Art For the Creative Mind. What a nice surprise!

My friend, Nancy, and I were to go out second hand store scouting and it was my turn to drive and her turn to buy lunch, but in honor of my birthday she chose to drive AND buy lunch. We had a lovely time and found some goodies. I'll share those with you tomorrow.

When I got home, it was to find a vase of flowers on the table from the hubster:

 

Do I ever feel special! And to top it off, the first grader just called and she, her little sister and her Mom are coming out later this afternoon. The perfect ending to a perfect day.

I'm off to have some flavored coffee with the hubster and watch some tennis.

xoxo

Photography as Art II

I am back from my visiting my sister and her husband. I had a blast! We played lots of Scrabble, cribbage and Yahtzee. The Tigers are on a winning streak - they even beat the White Sox three games out of five. Go, Tigers!

I love taking closeups of flowers.

She has the most beautiful gardens; they run around the perimeter of her back yard and also as islands in the yard. Her front gardens are just as beautiful. I always remember to take my camera when I visit her and spend lots of time taking pictures of her lovely yard.


She lives on the western side of the state near Lake Michigan. We frequently go for rides and sometimes park and walk around. Her back has been bothering her and my legs have been bothering me, so we limited our walking. However, we did park in a lovely spot on the lake and I was able to get a few pix there too. The sun was low in the sky and so the lake is not blue like I like it, but I still liked the pictures that I captured.



I have a pedicure this morning and Payton has her ballet performance this evening. I don't know how I am going to get up the magnificent staircase at the Potter Center (maybe they have an elevator), but can't wait to go and hope to get some good pictures to share.

I really must get into my art room and begin to make things again.

Bye, for now!