Yoga, Reindeer, and Art Journal Spread

I went to my second yoga session of the week yesterday; this is my fourth class altogether. I need to find a better yoga mat because this one is very thin and I sweat so profusely that I begin to slip half way through the class. I will never be able to learn these asanas and get into position if I am sliding while trying to hold them. I am so glad that I found classes so close to home, though. I am hoping to become stronger and firmer and so far I am hooked on this exercise regimen. This morning I have my conditioning class followed by floor work.


I had a full day yesterday with Miss Z. She is becoming such a little person. She talks constantly and is always on the move. We spent quite a bit of time out of doors and even though I was lying on the hammock, she kept me busy. The hubster was out with us, so even though I was busy helping her on and off (and on and off and on and off) the hammock, he was keeping an eye on her while she was off.


After her Mom picked her up, I painted the other sides of the reindeer faces and then forgot about taking a picture of the finished reindeer until almost dark. I went out to the workshop and took a photo and then did a quick selection in Photoshop to remove it from the busy background. Isn't he so cute?

On the way back into the house, I stopped at the bottom of the deck stairs to appreciate a beautiful rose and decided to take a pic of that as well. I really must try to paint one of these.

The Tigers were rained out last night, so I spent more time in the art room than I normally would on a baseball night. I began another two page spread and have found another adage to add to all the ones I've seen online so far.  You know you are an artist when....you wake up in the morning with gel medium stuck to the ends of you fingers. Yes, I did wash my hands many times after finishing the pages, but apparently the gel medium had already dried and I didn't scour the ends of my fingertips hard enough to remove it.

This morning I will go to my exercise class, then to the chiropractor. On the way home, I will stop at the farm and pick up my biweekly produce. After a shower I am going into Mason with the hubster to pick up some things at the mall for his show tomorrow and then perhaps lunch before grocery shopping. His brother is coming to participate in the show in Mason tomorrow. He will arrive tonight and stay until Sunday. I think that means that I have some cleaning to do. While the hubster and his brother are at the Mason Down Home Days on Saturday, I will be decorating wrapping paper and getting presents ready and making cards for my two little girls who are celebrating their birthdays this weekend.

What about you? Do you have plans for the weekend? Do they include art? Won't you share?

xoxo

Art Journal Pages

It is a lovely 55º this morning and what could be finer. The weekend was a busy one as usual. We watched a bit of the Olympics - I am still in shock over the Murray drubbing of Federer. And the Tigers gave great entertainment yesterday finally winning in extra innings.


I was able to spend a bit of time in my art room and have made a couple of stamps with the Speedball Block Printing Kit and the help of the first two videos in the online class Stamp Carving 101. I didn't yet make the two that were done as examples in the class, but am having fun so far. I carved a chevron to use as an edge stamp and a bird (you know that I love birds, don't you?).

Here is a two page spread where I've used the stamps. I think I need to add something to the left hand page, although I do really like the grunginess of it.

And I had a two page spread finished just prior to carving the stamps. It is a much busier set up than I usually do, and utilizes more glued images.

We are taking DD and her two girls and the son's older girl up to the condo at Sugar Loaf for a few days this week and I am expecting to have a great time. I was planning to go to my conditioning class this morning (it's been a couple of weeks since I've been there), but DD has an appointment this morning and I will be driving to her house to stay with the girls while she is gone. Then we are going to the grocery to get some staples to take north with us. We usually try to do a lot of cooking while we are there, but this year we've decided to eat more like being on a picnic and hope it will work out for everyone. The girls would much rather have "picnic" foods and fresh fruit than big cooked meals anyway. Miss K will be staying overnight tonight; I'm not sure about the other girls.

I think I tweaked a couple of muscles moving furniture yesterday. After living with old worn (even torn a bit) furniture, we took the plunge and bought a new couch and recliner yesterday. We had to pick it up ourselves (it took two trips with the small truck we have). The hubster and I took out the old overstuffed chair and footstool and moved the existing furniture so I could do a good vacuuming. Then we brought in the two pieces of the recliner and put it together. Then my son came out with Miss K and she and I visited while the boys carried out the old couch and carried in the new one. I think I am going to really like it. Without the footstool, there is a lot more room to maneuver, but without the patterns on the furniture, the room seems more serious and plain. 

I am planning to take art journals and some "not too messy" art materials with us and will try to fit in some art time. We will be taking puzzles and board games as well. If the weather cooperates there is a pool at the place and Lake Michigan is right around the corner. I'm not much of a day time beach person, but love to go to Good Harbor Bay for the sunset. My "good" camera is old and tired and no longer focuses automatically, so I will just take the point and shoot and will hope to get some good pix.

What are you up to these days? Are you being creative? Are you willing to share it with me? I'd love it if you would leave a comment so I could follow you to your blog. I know that many of you have blogs that are on my Google Reader subscription list, but I am sure there are some of you that I've somehow missed and I would love a chance to catch up with you.

xoxo

EDiM and More Old Books

I got all my errands done yesterday and hope to get some work done in my art room today - both in cleaning up and in making art. I have an appointment for a pedicure (first one of the year) and haircut this afternoon and am anxious for both. I am going to my Mom's this weekend and am hoping to be able to show those toes, but who knows. She is 4 hours north of me and right now it is 40º F, feels like 37ºF at my house, not exactly bare foot conditions.


While I was out and about yesterday I went to the Book Cellar, a friends of the library used book store and got a dozen books. I feel like I hit the jackpot. It was quiet and well organized and the volunteers who man (woman) the store were quite helpful and friendly. Here is what I found. If you click on the picture, you will be able to see them better.

I also found a baseball scorecard online at Printable Paper and printed one so I could keep score while watching the game. It was rather fun and I think I will do the same today. However, I was so into the game (The Tigers finally won after a 7 game losing streak - go tigers!!!), I forgot to do my sketch for Every Day in May until late in the evening. 

The task for yesterday was to draw some exercise equipment. I decided to sketch my weights, but then the page looked too empty so I added my balance ball. The ball is a bit wonky - a little too elongate and not quite round enough, but I think you get the idea. I think it is an unbalanced balance ball.

Today I am to sketch salt and pepper shakers. I hope to get to them before 10 pm so that I can take my time and do a better quality job. Although, I must say I really enjoyed sketching the hand weights while sitting on the floor of my closet last night.

Well, I suppose if I am to get anything done today, I'd best get it in gear. Thanks for visiting. It is always so nice to "see" you.

xoxo

I've Been MIA

The last 5 days or so have been very busy, but productive. Unfortunately I pulled a hamstring while helping the hubster move some heavy furniture. I was trying to be so careful of my back and making sure I was lifting with my legs - I think a pulled hamstring is preferable to putting my back out any day. I've been taking Motrin and using a large Salonpas patch on it for several days and think the worst is over.


Meanwhile, I've been playing with grandgirls and cleaning like a mad woman. I can now actually walk in my walk-in closet, the closet in the guest bedroom is cleaned out. I've made a trip to Goodwill and have put the overflowing garbage bin out for pick up today. My art room is clean and beautiful. I relocated a large rattan side table from the living room for the wireless printer and have freed up more work space on the counter top.


While I was cleaning my closet, I found a basket of books that I made several years ago to sell at a show that for some reason or other I had to miss. How fun it was to look through them and remember all the occasions represented therein.  These were printed on 36" x 6" photo paper and then folded. The ends were then glued to covered book board. Here is what they look like:

While I was playing with Little Miss 7 and her 5 week old sister. I was given this lovely piece of art. In case you are wondering, it is the work of Little Miss 7. Baby sister hasn't yet been introduced to my art room.

While I was in the midst of my cleaning frenzy, I almost cleaned off the front of the refrigerator, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I think it is time to commission some more art from the girls to replace what I have now. Here is what it looks like right now:

All three of the older girls are represented here. The giraffes are from an art friend, but I can't quite read the signature.

I made a lovely chicken soup on Saturday using boneless, skinless chicken thighs. I added chicken broth, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, a little basil and some parsley. When it was all done, I put in some leftover rice from the day before. It was delicious and there is some left for the hubster to have for lunch when he returns from making maple syrup. I am expecting him some time this afternoon.

Yesterday I spent time in the living room acting like a man (I was watching two channels almost at the same time.) I was going back and forth between the Tigers vs. Yankees baseball game and the Sony Ericsson Tennis finals between Novak Djokovich and Rafa Nadal. It was difficult to decide when to switch over. I finally figured out what commercials are for. I did spend that time putting the huge pile of papers that were on top of the paper shredder into the shredder and then into a large plastic bag. I was officially a multitasker. 

I'm hoping to get several books made today, so I need to finish my second cup of coffee and then grab a bowl of cereal and get this party started.....

I've missed you - Oh, one other thing, I have to read the more than 100 new posts in Google Reader. I will do that before I move on.

xoxo

Labor Day, Photo of the Day and a Bit of Art

Good morning! If you are in the US I hope you are enjoying a long weekend and are not planning to go to work today. Enjoy!

Today's photo is of a rock that was found in the yard. It is a strange one:

It almost looks like it formed up against a hinge or something.

I had a birthday party on Saturday and decided to make my own wrapping paper and card. I forgot to take a picture of the card, but have a shot of the art on the paper. 

The party was for my "just turned 7" granddaughter.

I've been faithfully walking the treadmill every day for the last week (I was walking just 4 or 5 days a week before that) and on alternate days I do ab work and triceps work. I feel really good about that.

I have not been getting any art started and I am feeling bad about that. I have cleaned up my art space, so I have no excuses except maybe for the fact that the US Open is going on and many of the singles matches are televised and I've been watching the Tigers each day they have a game.

My muse is somewhere around I think - she is probably outdoors enjoying this Fall-like weather. I am hoping she will show up some time this afternoon so I can get something started. I've been wondering if I force myself to start something even when she is absent if that will make her come back. I'll let you know.

Have a great day!

xoxo

Miscellany

I got home yesterday in the early afternoon, watched the first lesson of the free 6-month Photoshop webinar from Creative Techs, and promptly took a nap. The drive home was uneventful, very little traffic; the only problem was that I felt sooooooo sleepy. I ran the air conditioner on high periodically, turned up the music, sang along.....all the things you need to do to interrupt that sleepiness.

I watched the Tiger game - they won!!!

I took care of mail and such and then I played. I brought home an old picture of myself with four of my siblings to scan and had fun playing with it and finally adding a sepia tone. I am the one on the far right. My brother, John, who died of cancer last summer is the baby.



After that I couldn't help myself, I had to play with Photoshop for awhile. I decided it was time to play with brushes and my birds. I drew a bird in black using the pencil tool and then used brushes and layers to add the color. When I was satisfied, I put the black outline in the trash. Then I used the Custom Shape Tool to put a layer of diagonal lines behind the bird. The most fun was using the distort filter to warp the lines. I added a trill of notes also using the Custom Shape Tool and then selected all the layers that made up the bird and copied them. I then merged those copied layers. I then used the Transform tool to make the bird much smaller and then made three more copies. Voila!



Finally, while reading the blogs to which I subscribe I found the Friday Fill-in and had fun filling it in.


I am hoping to find time this weekend to play with clay and try to make a few clay pendants. My Mom gave me a toaster oven that was a gift to her years ago and has only been used a couple of times. She loved it, but her place is so small she doesn't have the counter space it requires. I had borrowed one from my dear friend, Nancy, but now I actually have one of my own.

Gotta go make coffee and get started on the day!

See you later.....

A Superlative Dinner and A Little Bit of Art

Yesterday during the day - at least during that part of the day that did not involve live chat with Fat Cow and telephone support with Go Daddy - I got a little bit of art completed. The first thing I did was cut a few hearts out of a piece of paper and use a bit of UTEE to turn them into "acrylic" bling for my art. They turned out really well.

I had a couple of scraps from the hubster's wood and brass pipe chime making and decided to make a simple design. I am quite happy with it despite the fact that I couldn't get the heart of adhere to the wood. I tried PPA more than once, Elmer's glue, some G-S Hypo Cement. I finally put my milk jug paint brush holder on it and so far, so good. Once I seal it, I think it will be good.



Now to the meal at Claddagh's. I had the Guinness Beef Stew and the hubster had the Stuffed Pork Chops. They were both melt in your mouth, wickedly tasty. There are not enough superlatives to describe to you how wonderful that meal. Of course, part of that is that for the first time in 28 years I tried a dish that had garlic mashed potatoes as part of it. I am severely lactose intolerant and have suffered greatly whenever I have been tempted to try anything like that. I took a couple of Lactaid capsules just before eating and am hoping for the best.

Afterward we went into Barnes and Noble next door. I found a couple of really cute decorative painting magazines, , Quick and Easy Painting and PaintWorks, and I also bought a copy of The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. We then walked around the perimeter and then made a leisurely hour long ride home.

The only disappointment in the day was that the Tigers gave up a 1-0 lead late in the baseball game and ended up losing it to the Mariners. Bummer!

I am on my first mug of coffee and am not yet ready for the day. Nancy is arriving sometime in the next hour and we are headed for the warehouse sale at USArtQuest. Unfortunately it is raining hard - we desperately need the rain, YAY - and I am bound to get wet. The sale is inside, but I must somehow get from the inside of the vehicle to the inside of the building.

Gotta go!!

Back from the great north woods

I am finally back from my Mom's and so happy to be home. I had a very nice, but very busy visit. We played lots of Yahtzee and cribbage and watched lots of Tiger games - most of which they won, I am happy to say. We didn't watch any hockey, but I am so pleased how the Red Wings are doing!

I didn't get any drawing done, but did lots of cooking including pea soup, zucchini bread and several snacks of homemade guacamole. Many of my sisters don't like guacamole, so Mom always anticipates it whenever I am there.

My mother doesn't need constant care, but cannot bend over to put her shoes and socks on; needs help taking a shower, cannot stand long enough to cook a meal, and needs help getting dressed and undressed. She had two shoulders rebuilt (they still hurt and her range of motion is not what it should be) and a hip replaced. However, she will be 85 in the Fall and can still answer more of the questions on Jeopardy than I can. She loves to work really hard crossword puzzles, too. She is VERY GOOD company!

While I was gone, my daughter and her little ones completed their move into their new house. That is not to say there is not still a lot of their stuff here, but I hope to make more progress tomorrow when they come over to help decide into which pile each of the room full of things goes. I am hoping to have a giveaway pile, a garage sale pile, and a "they are taking it with them" pile.

I spent 5 hours this morning cleaning out the closet in the little girls' room, the linen closet, the medicine cabinet in the main bathroom, the hall coat closet, my walk in closet and the laundry room. Now the only really messy rooms are the one that DD and the 6 year old shared (full to the brim with "stuff" to sort) and my art room.

I am planning to do more tomorrow.

I did take time to catch up on the crossword puzzles that I missed while I was away. The hubster saved the Thursday, Friday and Saturday puzzles as they are my favorites.

I am glad to be back and hope to get some art time tomorrow.

Bye!

Detroit Tigers and EDM #10

We went to a Tigers/White Sox game yesterday. It felt really strange to be wearing long underwear in April, but we were so glad we dressed for the weather. We had a lovely time which was enhanced by the face that the Tigers won 9 - 0. We left when the score was 6 - 0 because I had told my young tutee I would meet her in the evening to work on some Precalculus. We got home around dinner and I grabbed a bowl of the pea soup that I had made the night before, changed out of my long underwear and met her at 7. We worked for 2 hours and I didn't get home until almost 10 pm.

I have the baby today until 3 or 4, at which time I am planning to go to the store and get some potatoes and use up the colored Easter eggs to make potato salad.

It is a beautiful day - sunny and expecting 60 degrees. YIPEE!!

I have attempted to draw my hand in a semi curled position. It was tough. I definitely need to practice, but I don't think it is completely awful.






I am hoping to work in my art journal later today. I want to make a two page spread about the game yesterday. It was Jackie Robinson day and all the players were wearing the number 42. A little confusing, but nice.

That's it for now.

Bye!