Inspiration!

Sometimes when I don't know what to paint,I'll flip through magazines and art books looking for inspiration. I also search the internet. This time I found some inspiration in an art magazine. I love this painting done by William Meyerowitz. The more I paint the more I love the work of impressionists. What inspires you? Have a great week!

Sometimes all you can give is a prayer...

God showed me something today,he opened my heart. I was driving my daughter to school today and I was deep in thought worried about money problems. I just was argueing with my husband the night before over money and we usually don't do that. After I dropped niki off at school I'm driving home still worried and you want to know what I was worried about? My grandsons birthday is this weekend and I told my daughter I would buy him this toy that is alittle costly but trying to be a good memaw I said oh I'll get that for him and anyway things are really tight for us right now and we just don't have that extra money this week. Yup you heard it right I was worried about buying my grandson a toy! I argued with my husband over a toy! Guilty!!! Well anyway back to my driving home as I was worried and talking to God about it I looked over on the side of the road and there was a family a mom and dad and a little boy about the same age as my grandson,they were digging in the trash,I don't know what they were digging for but I just started to cry because I was worried about how I would buy a toy and God showed me how some people don't even have food. I wanted so badly to pull over and give them money but that made me cry more because all I had in my wallet was some change, I said I don't have anything to give them and then I realized or as I like to believe God whispered in my ear and said you have a voice,say a prayer. I love when God does that!

Another online workshop,new art and new moleskin

I've been on a roll,I love when that happens! Things just work out,go smoothly. You just have fun,no stress. I don't know about you but sometimes when I work on things and they don't go smoothly I get alittle stressed about what to do next or if I should just trash it. These pieces were just stress free!

I also bought a new moleskin journal,my other one is all filled up. I sold a piece of art and decided to treat myself to a new moleskine. Besides they were on sale at barnes and noble. 20% off so I couldnt resist. I love the look of my filled up journal but theirs something about a new journal that I love to. It just sat there for a day,(I didnt want to mess it up) but then I just started writing in it and painted some white paint over the writing. I added a picture of my sillohouette and painted over that too,journaled around the silohouette(is that how you spell it) and now its broken in.

I"m taking another journal class by LK Ludwig. She's having a sale right now. Go and check it out. I love her journals. I'm not much of a photographer but I'm having fun using my own images to journal with. Thats where I got the idea about the silohouette and the picture of my daughter and her cousin at the beach. Thats called vingetteing. (spelling again? ) Well anyway if you like to journal her class is worth taking. Off to walmart(UGH)hope everybody has a great week.

Trying to find the time to paint...

I'm trying to find the time to paint this weekend but family keeps popping in,which I love and would'nt change for the world. I just get frustrated when I start something then the paint drys and I have to go in a different direction. Hope everybodys having a relaxing weekend.

Mom was down!

My mother came down for a visit,so when she comes down I put my art aside and bring out the sewing machine. She doesnt like my art,well thats not exactly what she says,she says that I should stick to my sewing and stop wasting to much time on my other art. When I told her that I sold a few pieces she said well you are getting alittle better. Ugh. Those kind of comments hurt alittle but I'm getting better with accepting the fact that not everybody is going to like my art but some will and I'm not gonna stop because it makes me happy. Anyway we had a couple of days just sewing up a bunch of things. Some of you know that I own a real country store that sells antiques,country decor and candles. And this stuff is all for my store. I love the way the pillows with the doilys came out,then theres the pin cushion and the pumpkins are made by Niki(my daughter) I'm so proud of her. She whipped up about ten of these pumpkins and I already sold three of them for her. I give her a percentege of them,that way she has a little extra spending money. Oh and the other day I came home from work and she made a bikini out of and old tshirt.

I finally had alittle time after mom left to finish up a piece that seems like I have been working on all summer,just adding alittle here and then alittle more there. Well hope everybody has a great weekend and thanks for listening to me whine about my mother.

The Evidence and the Culprit. Plus an image transfer.

This is what happens everytime my grandsons come over. I find pieces of clothing heading right for the pool. They just strip down (to nothing),no time to put one of their 5 different toy story bathing suits on. They just walk in and say hey Memaw and start stripping. Next thing I know their in the pool swimming,of course mommy makes them get out and put their suits on.

The journal page is a image transfer of my daughter blowing bubbles. I took the picture because of the lighting that was coming in. It made one side of her face completely dark and the other side completely white. I then just painted the face as I saw it,and since it was black and white I made the bubble gum pink. Have a great week.

Rainy days and starry nights...

We had a little tropical depression come through so it was rainy for a couple of days. I enjoy it when it rains,its a nice change from the heat and plus it gives me a reason to stay home and do some art. Not that I need a reason, I think I just feel less guilty. Did a couple of journal pages. My moleskin is finished. I just love it,its so thick ,with stuff sticking out of it. This is my second completed book. I always have two or three going on at once. I really don't know why but from what I read on other blogs,I'm not the only one.

My daughter goes back to school next week. I'm always sad when she goes back. I think I just know that it means she's getting older. I always cry alittle on the first day. I know thats silly. Off to do more school shopping. Hope everybody has a great day.

Back from vacation!

and the only picture I got to show you is my pile of dirty laundry. We were in orlando and at the waterparks all day so I did'nt bring my camera with me but I have lots of memories so thats all that matters. We had a great time,even though we're alittle burnt from the sun and exhausted from trying to keep up with a 13 year old and my neice who is 11. I worked in my journal alittle,did a quick sketch of a lady relaxing in the pool and another page about the beauty around us. How everyday we walk through life and not taking the time to notice the beauty around us. I hope you find something beautiful about today!

The sweet side of summer!

Hope everyone is enjoying the sweet side of summer too! You know what I mean the fresh blueberry muffins I made last week,the sweet plum tomatoe salad to go with some grilled steaks and corn on the cobb. And we can't forget everybodys favorite the Popsicle! Remember when you were little? That was the best part of summer!

Summer Fun! Warning! A little naked hiney ahead..

Why have'nt I blogged in so long? Well just trying to have some summer fun. I signed up for Mary ann moss's class remains of the day for a project for me and my daughter(niki) to do together. She's been bugging me to teach her how to use the sewing machine, now thats she's learned she's out of control. Besides the book shes sewing pillows, dog beds and anything else she can think of. I'll show you some pictures of the books we're doing later. You can see her at the sewing machine in action above,notice she also has the phone on her ear. I always have to concentrate when I sew. LOL .

Of course I'm also enjoying the grandkids in the pool. Its been so hotttttt. They love to ride their bikes over and then jump into the pool to cool off. And as you can see no time for potty breaks! As my husband says at least they don't go in the pool.

And also trying to find alittle time for art( I get cranky if I don't). Hope everybody else is enjoying summer!

Another journal page and journal classes!

Just wanted to thank everybody who recommended some online journal workshops. I did sign up for a few of them,yes you heard right a few more then one! My husband thinks I'm addicted to online workshops.(Which I am but I won't let him know that). As I was signing up for one then another,then another, he ask me exactly what I was looking for in a workshop, I thought about it and said well I just want to paint, collage ,draw and get my feelings out and then he said "so do it" "why do you need somebody to show you how?". After telling him he just doesnt understand and then dwelling on it for a couple of days I came to realize he was right! (I hope he never reads this,I'll never live it down) After signing up for all the online workshops,I decided just to do what I want to do in my journal and now I'm happy. But I did have fun in the workshops and I did learn a couple of new techniques. I think the most important thing that I learned is to just do what you like to do whether that be just smooshing on a few drops of paint with your hands and adding random papers that match the paint and journaling some, to the more extreme where you make a whole story on a journal page. Its all up to you,have fun and let go. Will I continue to take some more online workshops?? Yep because I am addicted and they make me happy!

Just enough time to journal.

That seems to be all I have time for these hot summer days. Hope everybody had a nice fourth of july. I did, we celebrated a special birthday, Austin (my grandson) turned two. Then we went to the beach to watch the firework. Plus we had family come and stay with us. This is the time when I love my journal,I can always find alittle time for art in there otherwise I get alittle grumpy. Speaking of journaling I'm wanting to take a new online journal class can any of you recommend any. Thanks have a great week!

An unusual dream and playing with crayons.

I've been busy as usual,I think when the kids are out of school I'm actually more busy! I only have my daughter left in the nest and she's 13 so I'm just trying to enjoy her because I know time goes by fast! We went away for the weekend,which was really relaxing. We had an out of town wedding but we just made a weekend out of it. I just sat by the pool all day. Of course I brought my journal with me but a sweet lady caught my ear all afternoon so I didnt get much done as far as journaling. Hope everyone else is enjoying summer! Have a great week.

Gods little miracle and another journal page.

See that baby swiming in my pool,thats the same baby that we almost lost two years ago. He's just amazing, all I can say is it was all God,he is truly a living miracle! He's also very determined,he has an older brother(only nine months older) but he wants to do everything his brother does and of course he wanted to swim just like his brother but we kept saying no and one day he just jumped in and started to swim to the steps of the pool or to the wall which ever is closer. We just stood there in shock,my daughter was in the pool just in case. And ever since them he just jumps right in. We 're always there because well you never know. Any way I just wanted to share my little miracle with you. And of course theres another journal page. I have been in the mood to journal alot lately,I don't know why.

An itty bitty journal and another journal page.

Look how tiny,I just love small things! I made this over the weekend. I actually made two,one to sell and of course one to keep! I also did another journal page. Plus I even had time to play with the grandbabies. A great weekend!

Oh my gosh,I am so dumb when it comes to the computer. I was trying to add a picture,write alittle then add another picture but as usual it didnt work. Whatever!