Playing While I Can

I am trying to spend as much time in the art room as I can these last few days before driving to the "far north" with my Mom. I am also planning to take some supplies with me, but haven't decided which ones or how much yet.

For today, I used a drawing from "Art Projects for Kids" by Kathy Barbro to make a practice drawing so that I can do another with the first grader who is getting off the bus at my house on Friday. She loves to do art and has told me that she prefers it if I have a plan when she gets here.

Here is my little elephant:

I need to come up with a way to make the tusks stand out, though. I don't want to introduce her to masking fluid yet, but maybe we will make a template in the shape of the tusks and use them to keep the area a bit more white.

I am pretty sure her picture will be much more exciting and interesting than mine and I will share it with you if she doesn't mind.

For today, I need to go into town to shop a bit for the trip north and mail off my zendalas to Janet. Oh, freebird, thank you so much for your input. I did add color (black actually) to the one spoke that was left white and I like how it looks. I looked at the first one again and decided that I like it for the flow of it. I see it as some, more, most. I don't know if I am explaining it well, but I like the way it draws my eye across from least to most.

I think I need to go get on the treadmill and then get in the shower, grab a bite and get this ole body moving. So much to do so little time.......

xoxo

Zendalas

I think I have finished the zendalas for the swap. I worked feverishly played all morning to get them done as I thought the deadline was April 15, but I went to double check and I have until April 25 to get them to the leader of the swap.

Here they are:

Can I get an honest opinion? Would you be happy to receive one of these in a swap if you were sending 6 of your own and got one in trade? Is there any one that needs more? needs to be axed and another made to replace it? Be honest! I can take it......

And, just because I couldn't help myself, I made a zendoodle in Photoshop just for fun!

Goodness, I just looked at the clock. It is 2:09 and I haven't done anything except work, work, work, play, play, play in my art room since I got up. Time to make some flavored coffee and work a crossword  puzzle, I think!

Please give me some feedback about the zendalas......

xoxo

A Birthday and More Zendalas WIP

My firstborn child turns 30 today. Where in heavens did the years go? She is now a grown woman with two little women of her own. P is 7 and M is 2 1/2 and I am sure she is already asking where the years have gone. I am taking her and the little one out for lunch today (the 7 year old is back in school after Spring Break). Her father and I bought her a lawnmower (a pretty practical gift, but one she really needs) and he will be tilling her garden and delivering the mower this afternoon.

Meanwhile, I have been working on my zendalas for the exchange I am in. I have done the rough outlines of the last three I need to make and now just need to add color (and in the fish one maybe some bubbles).

I am also working (at least in my head) on the Bob Dylan lyrics themed ATCs for a swap I am in. So hard to narrow it down to just three!

I am not doing the treadmill this morning. I have a huge blister on the inside edge of my left foot below the ankle. I walked an hour yesterday anyway by applying some moleskin with the center cut out and walking in my Teva walking sandals. I experienced no pain at all, but this morning my feet are crying out for relief and so if I walk at all it will be much later in the day and for 30 minutes only (unless I get started and don't want to quit).

The hubster has finished a custom order for a rustic bench and we delivered it yesterday. It was a lovely day for a drive and we listened to the end of the Tiger game on the way. It is a lucky thing I wasn't driving or I might have driven right off the road at the way the game ended. GO TIGERS!!

I've had a huge mug of coffee and will not get in the shower so that I can go to the daughter's house and spend time with her and the little one.

Hope to see you again tomorrow!

xoxo

I'm Back - But Not For Long

Life sure can get complicated. My sister, who lives next door to my Mom, is a sick woman. She seems to suffer from severe depression and has for as long as I can remember. Perhaps because of that and the fact that she smokes, drinks soda, and doesn't watch her diet and is sedentary (if she could she would spend all her time reading or sleeping), she also has physical problems. She thinks doing a load of laundry is a huge chore, hates shopping of any kind, and is usually unpleasant company. She thinks that because my Mom is 85 she should no longer care about taking care of herself, especially when it comes to eating wisely by avoiding sugars and sodium.

At any rate, she has decided she cannot help Mom out any longer. My Mom doesn't require a lot of help. She needs a bit of help showering, preparing meals, cleaning and doing the laundry. She is great company and loves to do crossword puzzles, play cribbage, yahtzee and other games, and has a great memory. This allows for great conversations. She loves it when she can get out of the house (she walks with a cane, but can't stand long). She enjoys second hand stores, grocery shopping, garage sales (if there is somewhere she can sit), eating out and visiting.

I have told my Mom that I will take her home (my sister took her to another sister's house before Easter) and stay with her until another sister gets out of school in early June. I will be able to have periodic internet access (I have to drive into town - about 8 miles) so will try to stay in touch. I am planning to take many art supplies and will try to do some art while I am away. But mostly I am going to enjoy my Mom's company and take her out whenever she wants to go.

Enough about my personal life.....

Here is a picture of the "Tin Can Alley" bots my friends made when we met in Ohio in March. I didn't finish mine yet, but will (probably when I get home from Mom's), but aren't these wonderful?!

And here are the zendalas that I started while visiting my Mom at my sister's house earlier this week.

The butterfly needs some work in the background, but that makes 3 of the 6 done. I am eager to finish this one and start on the rest.

I will post again when I have more to show you.

xoxo