Norah'S

Photoshop Fun and more

2012-01-28T09:34:00.000-06:00

I've been playing if Photoshop Elements this week and learned something new and very very fun. Here is what I did:

So, that's what I did. I pulled two images into Photoshop Elements. Next, I dragged and dropped the pencils on top of the face. Next, I used the layer menu and chose various layers and you see what happened.

FUN!!!

All this fun was had during my "morning art" period and don't you know I had a reason for the fun.

I was designing a DVD cover for my latest offering. This is not a new lesson. It is the DVD of my on line class Inktense Faces on Fabric. After receiving a few request for the DVD, I decided to do it.

Here is what you get with this DVD:

2 hours of viewing

A printed supply list

and

A small print of one of the faces demonstrated

all as shown above.

$39.00

includes shipping and handling

---------------♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥---------------
I can't help but share with you some of my students Inktense Faces on Fabric projects.

Student Showcase

for

Inktense Faces on Fabric

by Suze Rose of New Zeland
and Sam Johnson aka Gollywobbles

What's in your water heater closet?

2012-01-23T09:35:00.001-06:00

What's in your water heater closet? Maybe you should check. You might find one of these.

"One of these" is defined as a work of art from long ago. I'm sure you have them stuffed somewhere. Don't you?

We recently had to replace our water heater which is housed in a little closet that opens from the master bathroom. There is room for the vacuum and all its attachments. But there is also room for one (or more) of these.

Imagine my surprise when I emptied the closet to discover that she matches this master bathroom color scheme and now hangs proudly in there.

I created this batik many many years ago. I would say at least 30+ years. Long enough that I cannot remember what my reference was but I would guess a picture in National Geographic.

I haven't any new art to share so I just thought she might interest you; as well as, remind you to go and see what is in your water heater closet.
Sharon

PS: Thank you so much for your sweet, thoughtful and encouraging words after my last post.

What do you want from me?

2012-01-19T10:01:00.000-06:00

I can't get this question out of my head where it popped into several days ago. Furthermore, it has absolutely nothing to do with the below photos that I started to share several days ago. You see, the correlation of the two is only that it happened the same day.

I've been to Arizona to celebrate the Golden Birthday

of this child who was 12 on the 12th of January 2012.

she likes to make faces to the camera.....she is only 12!

Here are close ups of the project I shared several post ago.

We celebrated with more than one jewelry making party. I made the charms for incorporation in their memory wire bracelets ahead of time.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Here is a little pictorial with a tip or two about pouring Ice Resin.

Here is the simple lesson I learned. I knew when they pooled over that the first side would be ruined if I let it set. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I just picked them up and with a paper napkin rubbed off the resin. I was able to polish off the wet resin and lay it back down and pour again. It didn't even leave any napkin fuzz.

Then there was Lizzy! I tend to want to add one-too-many drops of resin. Can't help it. Fearless. But Lizzy's must have been just ever so...not level. It didn't pool over until it sat for a while. So, it was good that I used the glass cake dome because I could walk by and take a look. I really doubted the last time would work because the resin had been mixed for at least 1½ hours and was really stiff. However, I think the stiffness is what kept it from going over again. I'm very pleased with how they turned out. They were all so near perfect. And they were a huge hit with all the girls.

♥♥♥♥♥♥

So, I don't know who the question, "what do you want from me", is far, but if you would like to address it. Please feel to share in the comments. Perhaps it will help me get this off my mind.

♥Sharon

Me

2011-12-29T09:56:00.002-06:00

I backed away

without

intention

I lost my voice

but

didn't know it

and now

I sit here

wondering

Mr Klimt

could have

been

inspired

butterflies

such as these

I am

Project Updates

2011-12-18T11:22:00.000-06:00

I ate four more boxes of Laughing Cow!
(not really)

This project is a secret so that is why you can't see it so good.
(to the mother of the golden birthday daughter...please don't show. Keep the secret)

Class Videos start tomorrow

2011-12-14T15:47:00.000-06:00

Hey all,
Of Towers and Turrets videos start tomorrow. Then some on Friday and Saturday. All the class videos will be up for viewing in the next three days.

We have a great group of students already there and waiting but would love to have you too.

Also, Faces in Collage is still going strong. You won't believe what they are doing and I plan to have another student showcase soon.

None of that has anything to do with this picture. It is just a little project I'm working on.
Wishing you all a great season and Merry Christmas.
And thanking you all for being a part of my life.
Sharon

Laughing Cow Tutorial

2011-12-11T16:43:00.001-06:00

I'm in full out Christmas mode this weekend. My kids and grand kids expect, want, and ask for money for Christmas. Each year, we give it but I must have fun with it and present it a little different each year. This year, I discovered The Laughing Cow Creamy Swiss Cheese. Oh my it is so yummy. But the little boxes are adorable and I just could not throw them away. Soooooooo,

.........today was the day. Here is what I did. I drew a circle around the inside lip of the opened box. This is so I could get the smallest circle.

Since I don't want the text to go all the way to the edge, I cut it out using the pencil guide but cutting it smaller. It doesn't matter if it is exact or not.

Then I used Golden Matte Medium #3530 to glue the text on the top and bottom of the box. I painted the inside of the box with Lumiere #561 Metallic Gold. It is very pretty because the inside of the box was white.

Now for the napkin. I want this circle to be larger than the box so I held the pencil next to the lid to mark the circle.

Then, I tore the napkin following the pencil line as best as I could. Again, it doesn't have to be exact.

Here is another. I think right now would be a great time to find some beautiful Christmas napkins. I happen to have this one in my huge napkin stash.

Make sure you only use the top layer of the napkin. Most napkins have three layers.

It is very important that you use Golden Matte Medium to glue the napkin down with. I'm sure something else will work but it should be very runny. Other Golden gels are too thick and don't absorb through to the top side which make them more transparent. Paint a generous layer of the medium on the box and then lay the napkin down onto it. You can't move the napkin so place it carefully. Then, with some medium on the brush, smooth the napkin out. You might even use your finger a little but the napkin begins to deteriorate quickly so work fast and then stop. Let it dry.

Notice how I let the napkin go over the edge and also notice how you can see the text through the napkin.

Today, I made four. Here they are drying. I painted on two coats of Golden Self Leveling Clear Gel. It gave them a very nice high gloss finish which is what I wanted. I might even add a third layer tomorrow.

Next, I designed a little strip label. I wish I could have been more clever but it has the recipients name on it which is really sweet.

I'm holding the label in place and showing that I brushed a layer of Lumiere #553 Brass which is very very translucent onto the label. It gave the label a beautiful gilded finish.
I haven't shown you the last step because I don't have the big bucks in the house yet. But when I'm ready to close up the gift, I will run a red thread around the groove that is left when the two box parts slide together. Then I'm going to use a glue stick to apply the label. A red thread tail is left out so the beautiful little box can be unzipped. You will see how that works when you open your Laughing Cow. So cool!
Supply List:
Laughing Cox boxes (eat the cheese)
Text page
Golden Matte Medium #3530
Napkin
Lumiere #561 Metallic Gold
Lumiere #553 Brass
$500.00 (gift) or any other small gift
Golden Self Leveling Clear Gel #3001
Label strip designed by You!

Have fun. If you make a gift box, I would love to see it so come back and leave me a comment.
♥

Visual Tutorial An Alteration

2011-11-30T09:09:00.001-06:00

Of Towers & Turrets Session 3

2011-11-29T08:45:00.001-06:00

another alteration!

I'm working on a little tutorial for you.

But I have run out of morning art time for today.

♥♥♥

What I really want to tell you about is:

Of Towers and Turrets

Session Three

is now open for registration!

This is the wonderfully successful class that Deryn Mentock and I created. And it is back by popular demand.

The class will begin on December 15th and all of the videos will be posted the first three days of class.

You might want to gift someone this wonderful online class that is full of mixed media

and

mixed metal

Or you might want to gift yourself.

Class example

Remember these pendants?

You will learn all the skills to create one for yourself in

Of Towers and Turrets.

For more information, and a paypal button, visit my class site on Ning, All Norah'S ART.

I'll be watching for you,

♥

about lemons sort of

2011-11-27T10:09:00.001-06:00

I don't have a title for her yet. I must sit and stare for a while to hear the title. She is "an alteration of a basket of lemons".
My Faces In Collage students saw it.
♥

Student Showcase

2011-11-26T08:53:00.001-06:00

Faces In Collage

where

Images Inspire the Story

Do you believe this amazing student ART? Oh my! And there is more.

I have added a special "Classroom" for those of who may feel like they are not ready for the "Gallery". This classroom is a place to share works in progress at any stage and ask specific or general questions.

It is a place where no talking is allowed except by the Artist and Teacher.

An example:

Hello Malinda, First of all, I don't know why you feel a struggle with acrylics because It certainly doesn't show here. You have created a powerful and dramatic story with these images.
♥She is mysterious. And I think the juxtaposition of her with her swans is very interesting. In the moonlight, they are "black" swans....sorta like her. I think you might define the swans right where the body is touching the water with a very tiny tiny hint of a white (irregular) line. In other words, separate them from their shadow. It is like a little reflected light at their edge.
♥The mystery of where she is continues and we are wondering, if that is a window to her world. I think you could give the bars a hint of being a window with a dark line at the bottom of the bar where it connects to the horizontal bar. And then a miter/diagonal line at the corner. That would be enough but if you wanted to carry it a little further, load your brush with a very very light load of paynes gray and run a very tiny stripe of it on the left side of each bar and along the inside bottom bar. It will add a little depth to the flat bars.
♥I like the drama of this piece. I like that she doesn't look like Jennifer and I would not have known if you hadn't told us. I like love her green eyes. And her voluptuous lips.
♥The limited color palette works wonderful. I can see just a hint of her lip color in the cityscape of her world and I wonder how maybe a few more tiny dots of that would work. I wonder if it would be like markers on a map. Part of the mystery.
You have created a wonderful story with the few images you chose. Next time we want to see the "before".
When you feel like you are all done, please do show in the Gallery because this piece makes us want to respond to it. That is what ART should do.
Hello Students, just wanted to remind you that this is the Classroom where no talking is allowed. Just watch over our shoulder and then when the piece is finished, the artist will post in the Gallery where talking, shouting, clapping and jumping up and down is most certainly allowed, appreciated and encouraged. ♥

Her response:

Oh Sharon! My husband is laughing at me now because I am crying tears of joy! I never imagined you would find it a powerful and mysterious piece, even though my husband had told me the same thing and his usually pretty honest.
What he can't give me is all of your very detailed and thoughtful feedback. You look at EVERY aspect of the piece and then give suggestions. I really do love your way of teaching ; ) and I am going to add those touches you've suggested. Wonderful suggestions, each one of them made me think, huh, I should have thought about that! Thank you for doing the heavy thinking for us ; ) And thank you for your compliments, that should keep me on another cloud for a couple of days at least!!
And yes, I'm disappointed too that I don't have the before shot, that's half the fun. I won't make that mistake again.
Warmest regards and hope your coffee was perfect this a.m. I'm sipping mine as I type from my bed with my MARTHA STEWART magazines that just came in the mail while I was responding. Now I can find cool things like bowls of lemons and stuff ; )
With much warmth, Malinda

Now, I'm going to finish a masterpiece. I'm having a great 4 day weekend!
♥

Bouncing Last Week

2011-11-20T07:15:00.001-06:00

Last week, I found my self bouncing.

From one thing to the next.

It happens when inspiration and panic set in at the same time.

And when things are not going just right,

I abandon it.

Let it sit.

In a mess.

On the desk.

And then I calm myself with stitching.
Stitching dragons in moons.
♥
I'm thinking I will be taking a little blog break this week.
Unless I have time to paint a masterpiece that I simply can't wait to share.
♥

Student Showcase

2011-11-18T07:25:00.001-06:00

It occurred to me that art retreat teacher come home and showcase their students class art. So, with permission from my online students, I'm posting a few Faces In Collage.

Since this class is ongoing with new students arriving constantly, I look forward to sharing more in a Student Showcase.

I debated about weather on not to show the "before" collage but it is just so interesting to see how they started. Aren't they all so fabulous!
♥

My Garden Lemons

2011-11-17T09:16:00.001-06:00

My Garden Lemons

The last group of videos are up today. This is the "before" of the above class sample.
♥

Today

2011-11-13T09:57:00.001-06:00

seven:fifty

all done

before
♥

Goddess of Sea and Earth

2011-11-10T19:49:00.001-06:00

Goddess of Sea and Earth

The second group of videos were added early this morning to Faces in Collage. And all my wonderful students are knee deep in collage papers and faces. Goddess of Sea and Earth was the subject of today's videos. The creation from start to finish is all there.

It's not too late if you would like to join the group. You would be so welcomed.

♥

Faces In Collage - Me

2011-11-08T07:44:00.001-06:00

Me in Collage

Yesterday, I wanted a new profile pic. I'm finally getting OK with taking my own picture, droopy eyes and all. I recently discovered my bathroom is a great place to do this. Good light.

I could be the last one to figure this out but here is how I do it. Maybe you can tell I'm holding the camera. Well, I'm sitting in front of a big mirror and I'm holding the camera lens facing me. I can see the camera view screen in the mirror and I can see when I'm in the right position and have an OK facial expression and my double chin is stretched and I can't do anything about the baggy, droopy eyes. Then, without moving anything but my eyes, I either look straight into the lens or away. And snap.

I have even videoed myself...........this way.....
I'll share.

Granny's Spirit

2011-11-06T10:11:00.001-06:00

small pocket folders on my desk

I have discovered being "organic" in my new class gives me a little blog fodder too. Today, I posted an impromptu tutorial that I worked up last night (not the folders) which led to a discussion about decorating our folders with collage. Of course I had to show my little pocket folders.

However, what I want to tell you is the little picture that is clipped onto the front of my letter/folder holder is my Granny and me (circa 1982). I keep it there so I can feel her spirit. Flowers was one of her personal symbols too.
♥

ps....I know someone will ask, the little Klimt inspired doll and owl were made by and gifted to me from Jacky.

silly me profile pic today

Profile pic today is obviously before my nose job. Do you see how crocked it is?

Feeling Gratitude

2011-11-05T10:25:00.000-05:00

silly me profile pic today

Today, I'm feeling gratitude. I am so full up to the top grateful for the excited group of kindred sister spirits who have gathered to enjoy my new class, Faces In Collage.

I'm already getting great reviews after the first group of videos. Like this one from Kate,

Sharon, I am so happy I am taking this workshop! So often I never know where to start and I can see the magic in this process. I am getting ready to go over my stash. My husband always teases me about all my loose magazine images. He just doesn't get it! Happy, happy I am in this class!

".....I can see the magic...." that's my favorite part. Because it does feel like magic!
Thank you Kate and thank you to all of my students. And thank you to all of my blog followers too. I am so grateful for all of you.
♥

It Starts TOMORROW

2011-11-03T08:11:00.000-05:00

this is me today. it's a crop from a
larger piece. I call the crop
"big mouth"

I'm already having so much fun at the workshop, Faces In Collage. And class hasn't even started yet.

If you are as confused as I have been, you will be glad to know that the Start Date is TOMORROW! It seems that I have posted conflicting dates and my wonderful students set me straight.

Yes, we are already busy talking and interacting. And that is the fun I'm having. Each morning, I have been adding a little early morning audio just for fun. And I have been changing my profile pic each day. More fun.

If you haven't already joined me, I hope you will. OK, I'm going to ask. Will you join me where "images inspire the story"?
♥ Sharon

Socks and Warts

2011-10-31T07:44:00.000-05:00

Hello beautiful scary friends,

Yesterday, I sorted my sock drawer.

Yes, I really really did.

and

In this picture, I Photoshopped the warts off my neck.

Yes, I really really did.

I have no secrets.

and

Over the weekend the very cute and talented Carrie of Hip Chick Designs did an impromptu interview with me.

So now that you know about my socks and my warts, you might want to pop over and read more about me.

This is Carrie, I know you know her.

Thank you Carrie.

What a Great Question

2011-10-30T08:59:00.000-05:00

In my haste to announce Faces In Collage, I do believe I left some things to your imaginations. There were several questions and I would like to address them here and now.

1. How long will I be able to register? Will you be closing registration?
As with all my classes, once I open the registration, I don't close it. That means, if you can't jump in right in the beginning, you can sign up any time after that. Anytime.
2. How long will the class be available?
My classes have no end date. This means the class material and videos will be there for you to visit and watch when it is convenient to you. If you have a conflict after signing up and can't get back for three months, it will all still be there.

3. When can we get the supply list?
I'm hoping that I will be able to send out the classroom invitations today. The supply list is one thing that is holding me up mainly because it is so short. I know. Makes no sense.
4. Will we be able to download the videos?
For now, I don't plan to make download available. But you will have access to them for an indefinite time period in the classroom.

5. Do you plan to offer a DVD of the class?
At the moment, no. But I'm still on the fence with that and so as they say, never say never.

6. Is the class interactive?
This is such a great question. And yes, I do consider all my classes interactive. And I feel like the interaction is so convenient because it is all within the classroom.

One thing I do that I think is a little different in my classes is the Gallery(forum) that is within the group/class. I encourage the students to share there finished pieces as well as "in progress" pieces. Then I give them a gentle critique or answer questions they might have. I try to do this early in the morning and easily spend as much as 30 minutes on each critique. When I say gentle, I mean constructive in a teaching way. Then the other students are there to give support and encouragement. I also have my forums and comment walls set so you can get an email with the full text and don't have to POP over to the site if you don't want to. I encourage students to "follow" all the class forums because there is a lot of information shared through interaction. The class is very organic in that way because a lot of knowledge is shared through interaction as the class progresses.

So if you have a question that I missed. Please do ask. I will answer them in the comments. But if you want to email me at sktomlinson at g mail dot com.

Thank you for the great response to this course. I promise it will not disappoint.
♥ Sharon

New Class Announcement

2011-10-25T14:49:00.000-05:00

Class Name: FACES IN COLLAGE

Cost: $ 68..00

Registration: Open

Classroom Invitation: November 1, 2011

Start Date: Friday, November 4, 2011

I continue to be obsessed with faces and painting faces and now, I have added collage to the mix.

This is a mixed media workshop about painting collaged faces and discovering that the collage images inspire the story. It could be a story that you have no idea you are going to paint. When that happens, the thrill is huge and that is what I hope to share.

Additionally, I want to share with you how I got comfortable with all the collage fodder and where I look for more and how I organize it.

Most of all this is about painting collaged faces. I demonstrate using metallic paints for flesh as well as other paint media.

The class is full of videos demonstrating my painting techniques from start to finish; it is all there.

The supply list is short and is available on the main page in the classroom

Class Collage in Progress

2011-10-23T16:33:00.000-05:00

The weekend is almost gone but I have worked my fanny off on my new class, Faces In Collage.

I'm dying to show you the finished painting from this face in collage.
Can't do it.
It's in the class!!!
Now I'm going to sit and conjure up all the details so I can announce them to you.
♥

Audio Test

2011-10-21T12:15:00.000-05:00

Wishing you a great weekend with the test audio!!!!

Faces In Collage

2011-10-18T07:56:00.001-05:00

This is what I'm up to.

Coming Soon!!!!

a new online class

Faces In Collage

I will have all the exciting details very quickly.

♥

Do you have one of these?

2011-10-17T14:01:00.001-05:00

I woke in the night remembering that I had this Jeep Collins hammered brass necklace. I had a piece that dangled from it and I don't even remember what that was.

But look look look how perfectly it holds my pendant!

I'm not a big jewelry wearer, but I can do this.

So perfect!

I still have several pendants available in my shop.

All Norah'S Art Shop

And here is a site that has some variations of this necklace.

And here is an Etsy that has one.

♥

Collage Crazy

2011-10-11T11:27:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, I start painting the face first. This time I started with the background. I stepped away from the desk and when I came back, my eye translated the green leaf as a bird. That is what I love about collage.

Then I started painting the face and I got excited about purple lips. And so it goes. Purplish face. That reminded me of my Faces In Technicolor class (still available).

At some point, I saw the little green tip of a leaf under the purple bird as a bird head so I painted it and realized it was the whole bird. That is what I love about collage.

I think I said that.
♥

Collage Obsessed Now

2011-10-08T09:50:00.000-05:00

It's official.

I am totally fasinated with collage.

But I still don't like:

collecting papers

storing papers

the mess of papers

Going now to clean the mess of papers.

♥

Another Collage in the works

2011-10-07T12:25:00.001-05:00

I'm working on the inside cover of the record album.

Turns out it is the ladder and of course the circles that I find appealing about the magazine photo of the last post.

I'm still working on this and I don't think you can tell but I used metallic paints again on her face......

which is my new favorite thing.

Gotta go....

Have a great weekend.

♥

More about collage

2011-10-03T11:09:00.000-05:00

There is just something about this magazine photo that I like. I can't say what it is. But I have been staring at it all weekend. Maybe you like it too. If so, I have left it HUGE and if you click on it you can capture it and save it to use in your next collage.

Before I share with you more about collage, I want to thank all of you you for the at-a-girl about my last collage painting. You have no idea how your words feed me, warm me, and make me smile.

I'll be brief now:
1. I don't like the time spent trying to decide what collage papers I should glue down.
2. For that matter, I don't like the time spent collecting collage papers.
3. I know there should be a certain amount of spontaneity.
4. If you don't have interesting collage papers, you can't make an interesting collage.
5. I'm not crazy about the mess of papers.
6. I like the painting part and once I get the paint brush in my hand, all the uncomfortable stuff goes away.

So, after all that, I think the most important thing is having a nice mix of interesting collage papers.
♥

2011-09-29T11:22:00.000-05:00

And so, that's what I did.

Morning Art time today was a fabulous adventure.

(Although, I skipped my 1.5 mile walking in beauty)

I could have probably kept fiddling with this but my time was up.

I'm showing the collage again so you can see the changes which I think is very interesting and though you might think so too.

At some moment I thought it began to have a "Klimt" vibe to it.

A Klimt vibe in Norah'S sort of way.

This is painted on a 78 record album cover. I'll do the next collage on the inside.

Can't wait.

♥

Oh, I forgot to tell you, I used just about all metallic paints. Wish you could see it IRL.

♥♥

Collage in progress

2011-09-28T10:23:00.001-05:00

Believe me, I don't really know where I'm going with this.

Just thought I would share this stage since I can't be a home playing ART.

I brought it to this desk in town but left the art-to-go-bag behind.

I'm enjoying Katie's instruction and as ever trying my best to get more comfortable with collage.

****

♥

Things that flutter forth

2011-09-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

I have to tell you this. It is another little story about inspiration.

She is from Thursday's Art-at-the-desk. And I'm so proud that I pushed myself and actually started on the first page in a new blank Strathmore Visual Journal (5.5' x 8in)
So proud because I have a hard time with white pages and especially the first one in a journal.

But about the inspiration, I was all done except I hadn't actually finished the background. Nothing was happening. The flow was over. I had to pack up and head to my cozy art nest at home. That's when a part of a butterfly wing fluttered forth from under stuff. I heard that little voice that said, "just glue it down". So, I did.

Friday morning while "walking in beauty", a place for exercise of the mind and body, I was on the sixth lap when I began thinking about the background again. I spotted a fence line bush with small leaves and I just snatched some as I went by. The first thing I did was use them to stencil around and then I painted the little stalk of leaves with Italian sage green and stamped the leaf image around the background.

That helped but the page still needed more. So I used the white gel pen. About that time that little blue silk sari ribbon fluttered forth from under stuff. Again, I immediately heard the voice that said, "attach it, don't think about it just attach it". So, I did.

Later, I realized the connection was more than color. It's about the delicacy of the silk and butterfly wing and they even share a tiny pattern. The stitching is a connection to the cloth side of me.

When I returned to the office Friday morning, I found the other part of the wing on a different desk....fluttered forth....the voice.....and so, I did.

When inspiration passes you or flutters forth....see it...hear it...use it.
♥ Sharon

Art at the desk

2011-09-23T04:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, with my little art-to-go-bag and a little extra time at my desk in town, I enjoyed some fun techniques that Katie is presenting in her online class, Layered Impressions. By the way, Katie has a book coming out by the same name, Layered Impressions: A Mixed-Media Approach to Painting and Poetry.
I betcha, it will be just as good as her class.
♥ Sharon

Art-to-go-bag

2011-09-22T05:30:00.000-05:00

Look here. My little art to go bag holds everything I needed today for some art-at-the-desk. It has paint, collage papers, mediums, brushes, palette knife, palette, journal, rags, Stabilo pencil.....like I said.

Everything.

Sharing Secrets

2011-09-21T08:34:00.001-05:00

Found In My Tree
Print now available

Remember Her?

I'm sharing her secret today.

Don't you love her hair?

I do.

When this painting was "in progress", I was watching one of my favorite soaps.

Tis something I do every evening when I get home.

To unwind.

And when I saw this hairdo, I knew it was so perfect for my girl.

Yep, I keep my camera at the ready.

Picture quality doesn't matter. I just want to remember the inspiration.

It was so perfect.

Always always be on the look out for inspiration. It's out there. You just have to be tuned in (pun intended).

♥ Sharon

Here is another secret. Large prints are now available of Found In My Tree.

And another secret. I will be listing the original soon. The delay is, I haven't put the final protective coat of varnish on it. Another secret. $250.00

New and Old and Random Business

2011-09-19T13:30:00.003-05:00

New Business

Sorry for the poor photo quality.

I'm still limping along without my good camera.

I'm finding the large journal very hard to get good pics of. I'm hoping it is the camera.

I used a lot of collage papers on both pages and the dried seaweed is also collage.

Old Business

The winner of Friday's First Print Giveaway is:

Cathy Bueti said...
Sharonn I love this print!! So beautiful!! and I am a big fan of Project Runway too, haven't seen last nights episode yet but I know what you mean about the designers this season. Still hoping one of them jumps out at me to root for! lol
I think this would look lovely on fabric!

Thanks to everyone who played my giveaway game. I ♥ and appreciate all of you!

Random Business

(1) If you guessed that I was the third one over in the fifth line down in the Class of '62.......that's me!

My high school sweetheart was in the class of '61 so he's not in the pic. He was Mr LHS of that year as well as the president of his class and one hot center on the football team.

And I Got Him!!!!

The dinner was lovely even though not many there from our age groups. It was fun to catch up with those who were there.

(2) Have you noticed what blogger is doing now when you click on a picture? I don't necessarily like it simply because it opens all the pictures in the post instead of just the one you want to see. That's all well and good if I'm here at this desk-in-town. The desk at home is on slower than fast and faster than slow internet and I'm too impatient to wait for all the pictures to load.

Well, I just don't like that.

I think I should tell them so.

Meeting adjourned.

Class of '62 and their hairdos

2011-09-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Look at us.

We showed up for senior pictures 50 years ago (fall of 1961) with the same hair do.

My high school sweetheart (class of '61) and I will be attending the annual ex-students alumni dinner tonight.

I'm all set with a fresh haircut and a new outfit.

Slept an extra two hours so I will look rested and 30 years younger.

I Just have a couple of things left to do.

Toenails and whiskers.

♥

Friday First Print Give-Away

2011-09-16T07:27:00.000-05:00

Heart Memory 8 x 10 original available

I watched Project Runway last night. Do you love that show? I do. However, I tell you, this year doesn't seem to have many real designers. Or is it just me?

I mean really! The designs they are showing just seems so simple and........well.......ugly.

If I were on that show, I'm sure I would try something like these two sisters in Heart Memory.

As a matter of fact, yesterday, when I made a print of this original painting, I thought exactly that. As much as I love fabric, I should try this in fabric. I'm wondering, would you wear it?

I'm offering this original in my shop now. And did you know, I always make a print while I have the original to compare it to? Yesterdays first print was so gorgeous! I was so excited that I decided to have a give-away with this first print. And call it Friday First Print Give-Away.

You know what to do. Comment. I'll post the winner Monday.
TGIF
♥ Sharon

PS Thank you for loving my pendants. Some are still available ;0)

Make your own Day Panner

2011-09-14T14:33:00.001-05:00

A Tutorial....of sorts

I didn't want anything fancy. I just needed something I could write "The Plan" in. I found this Composition Book and I chose it for the size. I liked both the 7.5" x 9.75" size, as well as, the number of pages size. It has 100 pages (counting front and back = 200). I also like that the pages are stitched in as I thought it might accommodate me adding stuff.

The inside front has good information and I don't plan to cover that up. The inside back cover has conversion tables that I like. However, I will probably cover up the multiplication table. Don't think I will need to refer to that.

The first thing I found out was the paper doesn't really like wet media. I have resorted to using masking tape to scatter my ART through the book. I found an online source for a blank Calendar Template that you can download. You can resize them and type in information before printing. I tried to use a glue stick with this September calendar and it wrinkled. I'm OK with it....I'm OK with it....I'm OK with it............................. see this doesn't need to be perfect. Just a place to write down "The Plan". (but October will be perfect)

When adding the print, I left the top open to create a pocket. I actually like the way the masking tape looks and feels. I like that it is transparent and you can easily write on it too. I'm sure I will add other pockets as needed.

So, I have already started using my day planner. This is how I organize my shop listings. I need a visual to connect to the name of the item. Thumbnail prints work great. (It just quiets my brain) The glue stick worked fine with these small images. While editing the listing photos, I name them and write them here next to the thumbnail. This makes listing so much easier especially when you are listing 12 items at the same time. It is a nice record too.

Today my friend, Susan, stopped in with these little tabs she cut for me. That was on her "plan" for today. I will add them as needed. I'm all set with my day planner. It fits into my purse and I expect it to be full of plans. I expect it to keep me on target with all the things that I wish to do. That I day dream about doing. That I plan to do. That I need to do. That I don't want to do that I have to do. etc etc etc.
♥ Sharon

PS Isn't this picture great? Well, I took it with my repaired camera.

EXCEPT MY #$#*(*%&#($*#& blank-a-t-blank CAMERA IS NOT FIXED. Only the Macro setting will focus. It took a while for me to figure that out and I'm having to send it back.

PSS This little angel pendant is still available. ;0)

Angel Pendants

2011-09-11T09:31:00.000-05:00

Last year, when I was so willingly sucked into making jewelry, with my friend Deryn, my greatest desire was just to be able to make bezels to showcase snips and fragments from my own art.

Last weekend, "my plan" was to construct 12 pendants, all one of a kind and yet using the same angel bezel design.

Yesterday, I added the finishing touch and have them ready for listing today.

I feel the rotation back into my painting now and may not make more of these for quiet some time. There is great satisfaction in finishing a plan. I'm thrilled with the result.

Memory Journal by Zorana

2011-09-09T08:51:00.000-05:00

Oh yes she did!!!!! She went straight home and made this beautiful little memory journal and mailed it to me. You see, a couple of years ago when I visited her, I took her this very little blank journal that I made for her. She saved if for just the right time. I guess one could say it is a memory journal collaboration because it still holds memories of my trip to see her and is now full of our memories of her trip to see me.

And do you believe this!!!!! She sent me CDs of all the many photos that she took while here and she made this special little case for them. Thank you dear friend for being so thoughtful. xo

And that reminds me, my repaired camera is expected today and I will be back in business and I can't wait.

♥ Sharon

About Summer Break and Making The Plan

2011-09-04T08:44:00.000-05:00

My summer break is over. And I didn't even realize I was on one until last week after my friend Zorana was gone.

I have accomplished a lot this summer but in reflection, I realized I have sort of been on an ART summer break.

I have stayed in-the-moment through this summer just doing exactly what I wanted to do and not doing anything I didn't want to do, in-the-moment. For example, my bedroom got a makeover and that has been on my to do list since....forever. Also, I made huge progress on Tim's Cloth and even set up a separate blog to document the process. I renewed my passion for the Garden Palace while getting ready for Zorana's visit. I revived my love of gardening somewhat. And best of all, I had summer company. One of the two sweetest brothers ever, as well as, one of the sweetest bloggers ever came for a visit. I've also enjoyed Sunday evening dinners with my kids. AND I did in fact paint a beautiful canvas, The Tree of Life, that is intended for an Etsy listing.

I've had a great summer break. One of the things Zorana and I talked about was the fact that if you want to accomplish something, you really really must have a plan. The Plan should be written. Otherwise, it is not a plan and will most likely not occur the way you have day dreamed it.

So while she was here, we talked about my plan. The end of my summer break coincides with the start date on my plan which is this 3 day holiday weekend. The first thing on my plan is to make twelve pendants for an Etsy listing, similar to the ones she and I made.

I'm on-target with my plan and presenting you yesterdays progression shots. Now, I'm off to continue working on The Plan.
♥ Sharon

New Art Supply

2011-09-01T12:27:00.000-05:00

Moleskin Journal 5 x 8 page

My friend Zorana brought along a little inspiration clipped from who-knows-what. She said it had been floating on here art desk for quiet some time. I know how that is and you probably do also. Well since it floated along with her to Texas from California, we decided to use to as our first inspiration piece when we started painting. The above journal page is my interpretation of the inspiration and Zorana is sharing her's on her blog.

She tells the story best on how we ended up with the same new supplies to try out together. Gouache is basically an opaque watercolor. Zorana paints faster than I do and I could have diddled with this little painting for another couple of hours. But we had more fun things to paint. Will show another next.
♥ Sharon

We Played Hard

2011-08-25T15:55:00.000-05:00

She came. She's gone and we played hard. I love this picture.....it is like she is "flying".

Well actually, she did. But she is already back home now.

What a grand visit we had ....
non-stop
talking
bird watching
jewelry making
painting
painting
talking
bird watching

Jude's Magic Feather Project

2011-08-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

Because you may not have heard, I have something to tell you about feathers.

Magic Feathers.

Jude Hill of Spirit Cloth blog has a new project. You can click over to this post to get the whole story but in essence, she has invited anyone who loves to stitch to send her a stitched-by-you magic feather. It is for a special project she got cooking.

Jude is offering a free Magic Feather workshop for the month of August where she shows and tells all the hows and whats and ways you can make magic feathers. Jude's goal is to collect 1000 feathers. You can also watch the Gathering of the feathers. As of today she has 54.

We have Blue Jays this year which we rarely see here. And last weekend while in the yard I found two Blue Jay feathers. It was like magic. Magic Feathers and magic inspiration.

I'm off now to get ready for my special company. Lots to do.
♥

The Elephant in the Room

2011-08-18T14:47:00.000-05:00

backdoor window

Dear Friend,
I'm so excited about your visit that I can think of nothing else. I am counting down and OMGoodness, it is three days and a few hours!!!

So I have decided to reveal my surprise before you get here because I know how you are. I know you are all in a dither because I said, "I'm working on a surprise for you. But it's not something you can have. It is just something to look at while you are here." I told you it is "no biggie".

Well, guess what? It is a biggie. It is the kind of big as "the elephant in the room".

kitchen window

Although we call it The Garden Palace and it is not in the room, you can see it in view from several rooms. When anyone sees it, they instantly want to go closer and go inside. That happened last year when my friend Deryn was here. It is a curiosity. But I just could NOT let her go in.

The fact is, The Garden Palace is mine and I have neglected it shamelessly. Here is the problem. While I have not been tending to things over there, I have had some seasonal (winter) guest move in. You might even call them squatters, of the furry type. They found the accommodations to their liking but oh my they are a messy bunch. I have been so overwhelmed, crushed and disgusted with myself for letting this happen, that I couldn't face it. So no one besides me has been allowed inside The Garden Palace for quiet some time.

And there really is something quiet fantastic to see over there. And it is only natural that you would want to go over there. And it is something that I love showing off. And you simply can not come all the way from
California and then have me say, "sorry, no, you cannot go inside." It is just a great big little play house full of things and projects.

It has a wonderful story to tell and I am excited that you are coming and I want you to see it. I am cleaning up the mess so it is somewhat presentable. I didn't start early enough to get everything done that needs doing. But I will let you go over and go inside and we will sit and visit about things.

That is my surprise. The elephant in the room. But now it really feels like it is more for me than for you. I think I'm confused.
♥

bedroom window

studio Window

At-the-moment

2011-08-17T07:09:00.000-05:00

Hello friends and followers. Creatively, I have mostly been stitching. Mostly because I can do that while resting in the chair zone. Lately, I have been inspired to do other things around this home. Things that I am feeling a renewed passion for like the yard work and other little projects.

I have become very aware of the fact that I am content to do the things that inspire me at-the-moment. I'm not sure you know what I mean by that but I guess there are so many things that are always on my mind that I wish to do and sometimes, I let the weight of all of these thoughts slow me down. That is not what is happening now. Now I am just content with what I manage to do at-the-moment and let the enjoyment fill me.

Of course you know, I would probably be sharing more with you if I could get use to my temporary replacement camera that seems to always need charging. I'll be so happy when mine gets back from repair.

I'm off now for a secret project I'm working on each morning. Because I'm expecting a Dear Friend late Sunday who will be here for a few days.

I'm blessed and so are you.
♥

Tree Of Life

2011-08-08T08:25:00.000-05:00

"Tree of Life"
24 X 30

I'm without words.

Thank you for being there and cheering me on.

♥

2011-08-04T10:43:00.000-05:00

Good Morning,
She is still on my easel. During this morning's art period, I was ready to start painting her face. I don't know why but I have been avoiding the face. She is still a work in progress but it does help to console me if I can bring her in picture form with me for the day to this desk in town. Isn't is odd that one can see the little things that need changing when looking at the screen.

I wish I were at home with her and still painting.
♥

Weekend Plan

2011-07-30T09:22:00.000-05:00

I have a quiet and maybe productive weekend planned.

This list just about covers my expectations.

Because mostly, I'm in a stitching mood.

♥

Playing Dolls with my Sister-in-law

2011-07-28T13:03:00.000-05:00

You can only ask a really really REALLY good friend or Sister-in-law to help with a project of this magnitude. And so, I admit that I took full and unashamed advantage of a really really REALLY sweet Sister-in-law last Friday. I'm so excited with the results that you know, I must share.

The underlying purpose of the project was to combined all the original dolls, reproduction dolls, finished dolls, naked dolls, arms, legs, heads and parts into one of my two glass front cabinets that face each other. Therefore, creating space for all of my jewelry making paraphernalia.

And did I tell you that nothing had been dusted or polished in years? Kristin removed everything out and onto the studio work table. She dusted everything. She polished the glass shelves and mirrors. And then I did the easy part. I put them all back and their new spots. And I ended up with plenty space for all my jewelry stuff.

All of the above pictures are from one side and the below pictures are from the other side.

notice the doll reflections in the bead bottles and in the boxes below...cool!

Two of the three sections of this side is for my jewelry making stuff. I haven't rounded it all up yet. This is just the tools and supplies that were on the studio work table. I will continue to gather the jewelry stuff this weekend and I sure am missing my really really REALLY sweet Sister-in-law.

♥

About my Arizona Company

2011-07-26T12:54:00.000-05:00

The first thing we did before the to-do list was posted was to show and share in the sewing studio. Kristin and the girls brought their aprons-in-progress for me to see and I was so thrilled with how they each made them so personalized with their own likes. Of course I showed off my aprons and my quilting projects too.

I thought we might have time to start the free motion stitching on the aprons (number 3 on the list) but we ran out of time.

They wanted to make charms for their ankle bracelets so we got started with that early Thursday morning so the charms would have time to set up hard. They selected and strung their beads and then the next day we attached the charms.

We had enough time to make memory wire bracelets too.

On Saturday more family came for dinner and I spent the day in the kitchen. I managed to get 2 food pictures. Edamame Salad and Stuffed tomatoes. Both were yum. We had 26 at the table and everyone enjoyed the get-together.

Everyone left Saturday night and I pretty much crashed all day Sunday.

Then Monday morning Kristin called to say they wanted to come back for a couple of hours. We managed to have a little Inktense on Fabric class and when I looked at this picture this morning, it looked like they each painted self portraits. Funny how that happens.

We didn't get to "take a break to wash windows" but Mark (brother) and Andy (nephew) did that Saturday. In other words, they came to play and I put them all to work.

We did pretty good with the list. I will tell you about number 6 in another post. We didn't make the peanut butter cookies and didn't get back to the sewing studio to free motion.

They stopped back by this morning on their way back home to Arizona. A good and fun time was had by all. I just wished they didn't live so far away. I'm thinking my SIL and I could really get into some fun stuff together.
♥ Sharon

Stepped Out

2011-07-22T07:58:00.000-05:00

Sorry, I forgot to tell you that I was stepping out for a bit.

Have Arizona company here.

We are doing fun things in the studio.

Of course you know, I will be showing and sharing.

BUT......

MY CAMERA PROBLEM IS THE CAMERA AND NOT THE BATTERY. YES, I AM SCREAMING ABOUT THIS!!!

Sick about it.

Not sure what to do just yet.

But I'm sure realizing my old camera was not-so-good.

Back later,
♥

Morning WIProgress

2011-07-14T12:30:00.000-05:00

This morning I had a clear head and motivation to start again. I find it very easy to get clogged and distracted to the point of stopping if I let myself think about the whole finished painting before it is finished. It is a trap. I warn you, don't do it. Of course, I also had a life distraction this week and sat on a jury trial. But all in all when I feel this clog happening, I just stop and tell myself the time is not right for me to continue. I don't feel a "flow" happening. So, after a very short break, today I show more work in progress from my morning art period.

The way I start again when there are so many different ideas that I have floating around in my head about the possible outcome, is to start back with something that I am sure I want to add to the painting and put all other ideas out of my mind. This one thing then unclogs and lets the inspiration start to flow with reason.

In other words, I think the composition has to build. The story has to be revealed little by little. How can I know exactly what will be in all areas of this canvas from the beginning? When you start to read a story, you don't know the ending until you get there.

Enough for today.
Sharon

WIProgress Big Mistake

2011-07-10T11:57:00.000-05:00

Big Hair Mistake

Change is easy

More WIProgress

2011-07-09T19:08:00.001-05:00

My Progress is slow.
My nap was great.
My old camera....

Saturday WIProgress

2011-07-09T11:50:00.000-05:00

Here is a start and I'm totally bummed! My camera battery just conked out....like it won't charge. And I can't exactly go and get one and I just want to take a nap now.

Thanks to all who are commenting on my last post. I'm getting you added to my blog list. xo

Maybe I can use my old camera. I'll check.

One more thing. I used the "original size" photo on this post. I love love big photos but does it give you any problems?
Thanks,
Sharon

On my easel

2011-07-08T13:20:00.000-05:00

On my easel

This is what is on my easel right now. And I don't care if the studio is a mess, I AM GOING TO PAINT THIS WEEKEND!!!

But what I want to talk about is blogging.

Have you noticed that I have changed my header? Slowly but surely I am trying to get it looking a little nicer around here. But that's not what I wanted to talk about either.

There are two things I want to talk about.

One is about comments. (I LOVE THEM!!) About a year or so ago, I read a blog post about making it easy to leave comments. I'm sorry I didn't bookmark it and it is not a blog that I read but was blog hopping and somehow ended up on this blog that had huge following like seven thousand or more. Really. Anyway, it was a good post about spam and making it easy for your followers to leave comments.

I can say that Blogger is on top of the spam issue now. I haven't had any of those nasty spam comments since they started their spam filter. So, I took the advise from the blog post and went about making it easier to leave comments at my blog.

Here is what I did: Go to your Blogger Dashboard, then to Settings, then to Comments. Scroll down to "Show word verification for comment" and click the choice to NO. For a while, I moderated comments older than 14 days because that seemed to be where the spam was landing but I don't do that anymore. I made these changes more than a year ago so you want notice any difference.

Next, did you notice that I added the Blog List that shows a little picture of your post along with the post title. It is in my sidebar and I gave it a title of "My Wonderful World of Bloggers". If you want to do this, go to Design, then to Add a Gadget, then select Blog List. There are options and you want have any trouble with that. I only wish I had realized that I could add several of the gadgets because I would have organized my list into blog themes, like art, quilting, photo, etc etc. I might get around to that some day.

But what I really want to say is I have reverted back to my original method of reading your blogs. That is to say, I come to My Blog and scroll down and pop out to Your blog from my Blog List. It is so nice that the new entries are at the top. I still have you all in google reader but it is so cold over there. And there is so much clicking to do and the truth is, I don't leave as many comments when I have to click and click and click to get there. And when I get behind and can't keep up, the number of unread drives me crazy with pressure. I know, I am crazy.

But here is the best part, I enjoy seeing your beautiful blog with your beautiful header and all your sidebar thises and thats. And I am likely to leave a comment unless I am sneaking over for a quick peak when I should be accounting or selling insurance at this desk in town. It just feels like a real visit when I pop in and see your personality showing through in you blog design. Actually I find it inspirational. You all look the same in Google Reader. And if I get a post or two behind, I don't feel any pressure because when I pop over and scroll down, I know immediately if I have read everything or not.

I didn't mean for this to be so long but ....well it is. Now, I have a favor to ask , I don't have all of your blogs in my list yet. I am slowly but surely getting there but if you notice that you are not in my list and you want to be.......well just tell me in a comment and I will put you there.
Thanks, watch for me.
Sharon

Big big huge gigantic rip roaring task is finished

2011-07-07T13:37:00.000-05:00

triple dresser
top drawer is store bought finish
middle drawer is one coat of paint
bottom draw has dark wax over paint

end table
showing the cream finish that was on the end tables and head board

end table finished

head board and light fixture finished

odd table

dresser finished

me finished

The big big huge gigantic rip roaring task is finished. I can't believe I did it in one week. After I mentioned on an earlier post that I was about to undertake the project, Lisa gave me a gentle reminder about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I remembered when she posted about using it and what I remembered is that she had to order the paint and that it was expensive.

So with her nudge, I went on the internet to review and lo-and-behold, I found a cute little shop in Waco that carried it. You know that Waco is my go-to big city just about 35 minutes up the road.

Here is what appealed to me about the paint. NO PREPARATION necessary. No sanding, no stripping, no nothing. I have only dreaded this chore for about umpteen years because in the early nineties, I used a high gloss cream color paint on this 1960s furniture. And I never managed to finish the chore as evidenced by the triple dresser.

So, I hopped into my car last Monday afternoon and high-tailed it to Lily Lane Home which is located in Spice Village.

Oh yes and one more thing, I didn't even empty the drawers before I painted the fronts. Just pulled them out and painted right there in the bedroom. It could not have been easier. Yes yes I did put a big piece of cardboard down to work over.

I painted 5 pieces plus the two little light fixtures and didn't use a whole quart. I also bought the book, Quick and Easy Paint Transformations which is full of projects. The color I used

is Graphite with the Dark wax over it and it gave a soft black.....perfect!!!!

Here is what I know, without Chalk Paint, I would still be daydreaming about this project. I was dreading all the drawer emptying, and dragging each piece to the garage to prepare. Well, it just would not have happened this summer.

Coming up next:

ART

Random Winners

2011-06-29T13:21:00.000-05:00

The big big huge gigantic rip roaring task has begun.
Stay tuned for the-rest-of-the-story.
Another Day.

Pay no attention to the picture. It has nothing to do with announcing the WINNERS of my CELEBRATION.

I did the Random Number Generator thing and you know that I don't know how to put the evidence on my blog. Furthermore, I didn't want to learn.

But first of all, let me tell you that I am exploding with all the goodness that you left me in comments. You give me joy. You give me confidence, You give me smiles, You give me happiness and so much more.

Second, I am sorry that I kept you hanging on the Winner Announcement.

So here is what I did. I went to Random.org and punched in the Min # 1 and the Max # 116 and that little box generated the # 14. That was fun so I did it again...Min #1 and Max # 116 and hoop-tee-do, it generated the # 68. Whoa! this is so fun so I did it again...Min #1 and Max # 116 and hallelujah, # 21 came up. About this time I had the crazy thought that if I generated a number, that meant that I would want to give a prize to every number generated. I just wouldn't be fair not to. I really started to keep going ........but I thought I best not.

THE WINNERS:
# 14 will get the big Found In My Tree Print.
Gill M said...

Oh Glorious, I would love the chance to win her! She would make any room a delight to be in.

JUNE 24, 2011 3:48 PM

#68 will get a different print

Lizzie said...

I am so happy Sharon, to have the opportunity to own artwork created by your hands; especially a creation so wonderful. I have only begun my journey with you and your blessings of wonderful talents.

I signed up for your Technicolor Faces class and then I had to go out of state a while to help my daughter with her art studio/shop in Florida. I am back home and ordering all of my paint supplies online tonight. I have watched your videos so many times that I may not have to watch them to paint the faces :) I actually already feel like I painted them :) I'm excited to take more of your classes.

Please continue to use your God-given talents so we can all benefit. I love you for it.

JUNE 24, 2011 9:36 PM

#21 will get a different print

Sunny Carvalho said...

No, pick me (holding Carol's hand down)!!! LOL Seriously, I totally love that painting.

JUNE 24, 2011 4:16 PM

Congratulations to Gill M, Lizzie, and Sunny. email me your street address so I can get your prints in the mail.

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP FOR MY EMAIL. IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE dvd ORDERS. i ♥ YOU ALL.

Behind Curtain # 1

2011-06-28T11:03:00.000-05:00

Old bedroom curtains that I made about 25 years ago.

Still loved them.

But.................................

I'm feeling such a need for ♦ Change ♦ Simplicity ♦ Lightness ♦ and ♦ Darkness

As you can see the old curtains didn't close.
No need.
I'm in the country.
Now, I'm ready to be able to drop the curtains to close.

One thing leads to another.

I had to recover the window seat pad.

The next thing on the bedroom make-over list is to repaint the bedroom furniture.

That my friends is going to be a big big huge gigantic rip roaring task!

I'm up for it though.

♦♦♦♦♦

We have a winner on the Celebration giveaway.

Comments have been closed on that post.

If you got my newsletter this morning, you got a little clue who.

I will give that news in another blog post.

But not before I say Thank You all from the bottom of my heart for signing up for the newsletter and also for dropping your name in the hat for the giveaway.

I ♥ you all

Sharon

A Celebration Give Away

2011-06-24T14:00:00.001-05:00

I'm celebrating!
♦ My First Newsletter is just about ready to send. It has only taken me one year to manage and I'm thinking the hard part is just doing it the first time. I was just dreading all the new learning curves one has to conquer and navigate around.

♦ I'm holding the "send" button a couple of days to give you a chance to sign up if you haven't already because there is a "special offer" for newsletter recipients.

Scroll down my side bar for the newsletter sign up link.

I'm celebrating!
♦ I will start listing my little stack of Original mixed media canvases soon.....maybe this weekend.

I'm celebrating!
♦ I will also be listing prints. Prints of my new larger pieces will be large format prints as shown above.

I'm celebrating with a print giveaway!
♦ Do you see the front print above that is way on the side of the paper? Well it is a good print except I was messing with the placement and messed up! Large format prints are a lot more expensive to produce and mail for obvious reasons and this print is too good to discard. It is suitable for framing.
♦ Sooooooooo, I'm going to have a comment drawing for this very print.

♦ You don't have to jump through any hoops. Just leave me a comment on this post and I will draw a name next week.

Thank you for celebrating with me!

Inspiration and Me Today

2011-06-21T11:19:00.000-05:00

Me Today

I am new to the blog White Hot Truth,

written by Danielle LaPorte.

In today's witty post she made the following statement,

"Insight may come in a flash, but it's the result of accumulated noticing--whether you notice it or not."

Danielle, in her witty and truthful way goes on into more detail resulting in a great post you will want to read.

However, "in a flash" I mentally changed the word insight to Inspiration and read the statement again. And again.

Because it took me back to Sunday morning when "in a flash", I had a burst of inspiration concerning my next online face painting class. It was one of those moments that builds and builds until I'm feeling that stirring and swirling in my heart and soul. Until I know that I must act NOW. Until I can't do anything else. Until that one moment changes the rest of my day. I hope you know that feeling.

And the thing is, Sunday morning, as I was deep in thought I realized the inspiration was a "result of accumulated noticing".

That is to say I had been studying hard on the what, where, when, etc etc each morning while walking in beauty.

It was the flash of inspiration that connected all the studying that I had accumulated.

I knew I was feeling a passion build and I knew I would need to act on it now while the passion is at its peek.

I am and I show you Me Today

BoHo Peek BoHo Bliss

2011-06-20T15:55:00.000-05:00

My friend Deryn's new class is just about to start. She offers this little BoHo Peek for your viewing pleasure.

Go here to read all about the class.

Here is a little sample:

Or how about this......

Can you believe it?

BoHo Bliss!!!!

Honoring My Father

2011-06-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

I would much rather remain in the back of the room quietly watching and listening and learning. Because I think that’s where I come from. But I step forward today to tell you….honoring my Father

I COME FROM
By me, Sharon Tomlinson

I Come From parents of the depression.
I am a baby boomer.
I come from poor middle class although I didn‘t know it.
I am frugal.
I come from a Father who always had extra jobs.
And taught me to measure twice and cut once.
I am a carpenter.
I come from a stay at home Mother
Who taught me to sew, cook, clean, and play with baby dolls.
I am a Wife and Mother.
I come from a Father who thought I could do anything
And taught me that I could.
I am a dreamer.
I come from peanut butter and banana sandwiches
Jello
Polly Pop
Fried potato sandwiches and
Home made fudge on Sunday afternoons.
I come from hide and go seek and chasing fireflies after dark.
I come from climbing trees, swimming in the stock tank and
Driving a tractor before a car.
I come from riding bicycles on gravel roads.
Push mowers and cloth lines.
I come from sadness and grief from sister loss
Not once but twice.
I come with guilt.
I come with two brothers.
I come from Sunday dinners at Granny’s with fried chicken
Gravy
Corn on the cob
Fried okra
Hot rolls and chocolate cake with powdered sugar frosting.
I come from peach tree switches.
I am good.
I come from honesty.
I come from Love.
I am loved.

2011-06-17T11:32:00.000-05:00

Photo from the internet. It is a Texas rat snake.

Dear Mr Snake in my garden,
I did not enjoy sharing my path with you this morning and cannot thank you this time for showing up. Why did you do that? Why were you stretched out across my path with your head raised? Why didn't you just slither off into the tall native grasses? That is where you are suppose to be. You are in charge of rat control. I have the path reserved all the minutes between the 7th and 8th hour of each morning. You do not need to be there. I was OK to stop and wait for you to leave. But you didn't. I had nothing more than a few straw like sticks to toss at you. You never flinched. I talked to you. You never flinched. I found another little stick and I found my courage too. I started to turn back but I know you are harmless and so I passed by you with my head held as high as yours Mr Snake in my garden. I held that flimsy dead stick in my hand and again you never flinched. I turned and looked back and you had slightly changed positions. You gave me a lot to think about as I circled the path. And I was glad you were gone when I came around again. I wondered if the encounter was about finding courage or being brave or slowing down, or being thankful or just walking in beauty. Please remember my schedule and if we should cross paths again, please go.

My laps went by quickly this morning with all this thinking I had to do. I'm looking forward to the weekend....as usual but this weekend I will be in the Sewing Studio. I've already finished my weekend laundry and I am making new curtains for my bedroom. I started them this morning and I don't expect them to take very long to finish.

2011-06-16T09:49:00.000-05:00

I believe I haven't done a good job of telling you about my

Inktense Faces on Fabric Mini Class

Did you buy a set of Inktense when they first became the rage?

And then did you set them aside not knowing just how to use them?

Or why they were so great?

I'm guilty too.

I think I had them two years before I realized the one thing that set them aside from all other water soluble pencils.

The secret the hold is they become permanent when dry!!!

Of course Inktense was not put out there to use primarily on fabric.

But, what fun I discovered when playing with them.

This is a "mini" class because all the face painting videos are from the

Tree Castle Apron Class

which is still available.

There is no sewing in this "mini" class.

And even though my technique is for fabric, I can think of several fun ways to use your fabric art.

I'm hoping to have time to make a textile wall hanging and incorporate a piece.

I'm going to incorporate some faces in quilts I'm working on.

And what about the Tree Flags?

Do you remember the Tree Flags?

I'm going to make some of those too.

Why is this a "MINI" class?

♦ It only cost $40.00

♦ The supply list (shown below) is minimal

♦ It will travel with you on summer vacation very easily.

and

♦ The big class, Tree Castle Apron included a whole lot more sewing and pattern instruction video and fun PDF patterns.

I look forward to you joining the class.

♥ Sharon

p.s. I have DVDs ready to go. Order now and they will ship today.

p.s.s. thank you to all who have ordered already.

p.s.s.s. thank you to all who encourage me with your words. xoxo

Found In My Tree

2011-06-14T10:59:00.000-05:00

Found In My Tree

12 X 24 canvas

is finished

It took me more than 24 hours to go ahead and listen to Norah'S

suggestion to put the bling in the tree.

The simplicity of the unadorned tree appealed to me.

She won, so this morning I added the bling to the tree.

Then, and only then, did I realize it was part of their story.

I think it would be fun to hear "the rest of their story" from you.

Sharon

WIP Morning Art

2011-06-09T11:47:00.000-05:00

I've started another and I tell you I wish I could have stayed at home with this one today. I think I could get lost in it. I'm very excited with how I left her. She will draw me out of the chair zone for sure.

I share the work in progress because it seems that I mostly want to share my art here and when I wait for the finished piece, well, who knows how long between post that becomes.

I must tell you how very appreciative I am from the bottom of my heart and middle of my soul for your comments and support of my last piece. I confess that I love it and still need to just stare at it so I will be ready to part with her when the time comes.

Also, want to thank you for buying my lesson on DVD.
Big hugs,
Sharon

My Pretty

2011-06-07T12:26:00.000-05:00

There is no doubt that I was inspired by the decorative paintings of Gustav Klimt. It was intentional from the beginning to study his work. I especially enjoy studying his unfinished pieces. All the time that lapsed between the beginning of the piece and this past weekend when I actually sat for more than 15 minutes gave me the feeling of being ever so tired of the piece. While I didn't work on it I was tired of it. I couldn't seem to pick it up and start.

This is what I learned:
♦ I wasn't tired of the painting, I just needed to have the unlimited time to sit and paint. I am tired of not having that unlimited time. It is a bit disturbing to have the feeling of being tired of a painting.
♦ I learned what fun it is to use dip pens and ink. I used the dip pen as a tool with the Lumiere. I wanted the line width to be uneven. The pen worked great for this as it wasn't really loading with Lumiere. After that I remembered that I had some gold ink and I also used black and brown ink.
♦ The best thing I learned was that it is OK to paint a decorative bird. In the past, I always felt awkward about painting a bird that wasn't from real life. Thank you Mr Klimt for showing me this.
♦ I learned that I could have gone on and on and on and on........you can probably see that.
I hope you like it as much as I love it.

My Pretty

(working title)

12 X 24 wrapped canvas

Today's Mission

2011-06-04T09:07:00.000-05:00

My Big Mission today is to spend hours and hours on the think-tank outside going around and around after spending a couple of hours with that nifty weed-eater.

My mission for showing you this is:

a stalling tactic for the Big Mission
to show you what I am doing at this moment because I gave myself a little time to feed my soul
to show a little progress on this painting
to inspire you to get your dip pen out
to show that I'm using a lot of gold on this painting
to say hello
and thank you

It's in the mail

2011-06-03T16:39:00.000-05:00

On my holiday day off Monday, I enjoyed a bit of cutting and pasting and ended with these three mail art postcards. They are magazine faces and some I scanned and printed copies. Others I just used the magazine image. I liked that they are all different sizes and that inspires me.

I forgot to bring them with me today so they didn't get in with this batch of DVDs that left ....or will be on the 5 o'clock truck out of my little town today.

Thanks so much to all of you who purchased a DVD. That thrills me and gives me such a great feeling going into this weekend.

As always, I have more planned to do than I will get done. But I'm OK with that.

Have a great one!

Sharon

DVD ready to go

2011-06-02T11:10:00.000-05:00

I am so very proud of this! And excited to share it with you, my dear sweet beautiful captive audience.

Pansies In My Garden is my first Morning Face lesson on DVD. This is a lesson painting this face and her hair. Unfortunately, due to the time element, I did not video the background painting.

This is a great lesson in painting a profile with a fun hair-do. My style of teaching on video is basically talking myself through the painting process and sharing many great tips and techniques along with my do-overs. Yes inevitably, I need do-overs and I share them to encourage and show that you can have do-overs too.

Morning Faces is a series of paintings that I work on during my early morning art period. Earlier this year I shared one painting from start to finish for your viewing pleasure. You can watch those online by clicking on the tab above named "Morning ART Videos".

The DVD will arrive in a bubble-pack envelope and because it fit, I am enclosing a small print of the original Pansies In My Garden piece.

Cost is $37.00 which includes postage and handling.

How do you order? Well, if you click on the tab above named DVD Shop or click on the DVD in the top sidebar, you will find the paypal button there.

Other post about this project: The Lesson on DVD

Thank you all for being out there in the WWW. I appreciate your following so much.
Sharon

Too Much

2011-05-27T13:36:00.000-05:00

I have so many things going on right now that I can't even be still in my chair.

Wiggle wiggle wiggle.

Do you do that?

I will first list them.

Then maybe I can calm down and actually tell you a little more about them.

I'm ready to take orders for The Lesson on DVD. (See DVD Shop tab above)
I have listed my first Mini ECourse. (It is the Face painting videos of the Tree Castle Apron class.
Well, there is this project (above)
I have added a video classroom for students who took Of Towers and Turrets. You should have received a message from the group. If you did not, please go to your classroom for the info.
And the painting I'm still working on. But that's at home.

Now, I must tend to this desk and do some Friday chores.

So happy about a three day weekend.

Breathe...........

2011-05-26T11:24:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Hey Hello My Friend,
I thought you were daring me yesterday and so I went ahead and told about the snake. It was all true and I can't seem to stop thinking about it. Today I just wanted to show the salad spinner. I think I have a new routine of harvesting the lettuce each morning after I have been Walking In Beauty.

You know that is what the snake was all about. Don't you? "With beauty before me I walk.....With beauty around me I walk." For me, my path is so spiritual and I'm realizing that is the tug that takes me out there each morning. It is good.

Last night while watching A Idol, I sat with my huge Klimt book. You know the one. Guess what? Remember I told you that I needed to do what ever it is I do when the flood of inspiration hits me. Well sitting with this book drinking it in is one of those things I do. It is just like when I'm in the "zone" with a painting or doing something else creative. It's like there is a part of my brain that continues to swirl in a magic state of something and has lots of cracks that lets little things drip in and then commingle with other things and then I feel it in the pit of my stomach and my heart and soul. I am going to take your advise and write down these floods of inspiration because as strong as the inspiration is, I lose the passion and forget the inspiration if I'm unable to act on it immediately.

I hope to show you my painting soon. I am slowly making progress. The whole reason I was looking at the Klimt book was to study the closed eye. Many of Klimt's ladies were painted with closed eyes. I haven't done much of that and I especially was looking for one in profile. But as I said, I was drinking it in and I never got to that page.
More later,
xo

Progress and Big is In

2011-05-25T14:32:00.000-05:00

I have made some progress,

not done yet but progress.

But first,

I have another letter to write.

Dear snake in my garden,

Thank you for showing up yesterday.

Your color and the pattern you carried on your back was beautiful and I held the vision of that close to my heart all day long. Thank you for giving me a little fright as you snaked across my trail and off into the beautiful green native grasses. It is so good that you were there to keep me on my toes, so to speak. I wonder, did I scare you? Or maybe you were totally unaware of me. I didn't see you this morning. Did you see me? I know my path is large enough for the both of us. So.....

I'll be watching for you,

sssssss

So, Have you gone BIG yet. Everybody is doing it. Michaels had a sale on canvases and I'm going BIG too. I bought a small stock of BIG. But look at that crazy zebra-ish pattern that my blinds reflected onto the cello wrapping. That's just plain inspirational to me. How about you?

♥Sharon

Good Morning Friends

2011-05-24T11:22:00.000-05:00

Hello,

I'm backing up here because when I looked for the email with the address you wanted, I found this email from you. I still haven't managed the mail art to send her but I will.

I swear, I remember getting this email; however, I don't remember a reply. The reply that I don't remember is to the painting that you shared here. Oh my, I don't know what to say about it. It is so "out there" like I guess "outsider" art. Don't you think? I really like it and it makes me want to get loose and do something like that. But I don't know where to start. Maybe in a dark closet without that other me. One thing I can say is your being at home and with all the time in the world does make a difference in your art. I just feel so pent up and tight and controlled and this morning I saw a huge snake on my walking path. I'm sure it was harmless but it is scary.

I went out a little early this morning because I felt like I had so much on my mind to think about. I was anxious to get started. The walk went by so quickly while I was hashing out stuff that I don't even remember now. At the end of the walk, I stopped in the garden again and picked several heads of lettuce. While I was cooling down from my walk, I washed it in my salad spinner. Do you have one of those? I'm not sure if that is what it is called but it is the best invention since sliced bread.....as they say. Then, I made my lunch salad. It is huge. Big enough for two and I wish you could join me.

I did have time after all that to paint a little bit on my latest. I worked on her hand and did get some color on her face. I'm always changing up how I paint a face and this one is on the bare canvas. I really prefer painting faces on paper like paper collage on the canvas. I also like to paint the face over a prepared background but on this one I did my sketch on one of my new canvases and so I just went with it.

The morning is getting by me and I need to tend to this desk a bit.

♥Sharon

2011-05-23T14:35:00.000-05:00

Evidence that I did in fact start.

Five other things I did:

♦Spent about 4+ hours on the lawn tractor.

♦Watched movies.

♦Cooked new potatoes from the garden.

♦Worked on a Mini ECourse.

♦Went to the health fair and had my cholesterol checked.

♦Ate pudding. Chocolate. Sugar free. & Coolwhip.

The Lesson on DVD

2011-05-20T20:51:00.001-05:00

Hey all,
It's me watching me on my big TV and excited about it. I feel like I have conquered one of the tallest mountains around. And I'm almost to the top.

I have some pretty lousy excuses for not showing up around here. But some good ones too. I won't even go over the lousy ones except to say I have been doing a little brooding which doesn't accomplish much at all.

The good excuse is that I have been working on this DVD project. The DVD is Pansies In My Garden Morning Faces. The Lesson is painting the face and hair of the painting.

While I was painting this I videoed just the face and hair painting hoping that I would be able to offer a DVD. I'm really really close. I have a few more details to work out but I will be offering this DVD soon.

I'm heading into a busy Artful and Art filed weekend. Hope you are too.
♥ Sharon

Mother's Day Collage

2011-05-09T11:54:00.000-05:00

This very cool Mother's day collage is from my sweet grand daughter Ashley.
and looks great on my fridge....don't you think

My day was great.

Hope yours was too.

♥ Sharon

Heart Memory

2011-05-07T14:05:00.000-05:00

In case you have forgotten, I started this 8 x 10 canvas last September. I showed here. This was the painting that I discovered I cannot start painting the face when I only have minutes ahead and know that I will have to leave it be until the next session. After that great insight, I left it right there at my right elbow eight months. I must say I went through various stages of dislike. To tell you the truth, I really thought it was hopeless. And then for some reason this past week I picked it up with a determination that I had to take it all the way through the ugly, hopeless stage. For eight months that little ugly shoulder demon had been sitting there scaring me into thinking that maybe I couldn't when actually, it just wasn't time yet. I don't know how it would have ended last September. I do know that it would not have looked like this.

And now, what's next?
♥ Sharon

Dirty Trick

2011-05-02T12:52:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry. That was a dirty trick sharing "with purpose" the dark beginning of In My Pansy Garden. In my mind, the darkness was a metaphor for me being so deep inside myself. Just as the painting is now a metaphor for me finding my way out. I will leave it at that as I have often expressed, I'm frequently at a loss for words after painting.

♥ Sharon

2011-04-29T11:42:00.000-05:00

Thoughts on going inside myself

I did that.

And didn't even realize it; even tough, I am constantly tuned into my moods and trying to understand.

Sometimes, I get so tired of thinking, thinking, thinking.

Why do I need to know, why?

The other morning, I touched something on my desk and felt the inspiration.

I felt the excitement of knowing that I was about to start a new painting.

I was fully aware that it had been a while.

But I never get stressed about that.

I always know that when the time is right, I will paint.

However, I can't help but be curious about the calm feeling I have knowing when I am "in waiting" for the time to be right.

I find this hard to explain.

The thing is, I didn't realize I had gone so far inside myself thinking, thinking, thinking, that I hadn't thought about not blogging.
I love blogging and I love hearing from you and
Thank you!

So with purpose today, I share this dark beginning.

And when the time is right, I will share a new painting.

♥ Sharon

2011-04-19T07:26:00.000-05:00

Sunday's Harvest

Sometimes, no all the time, while on my walking path, I get things-to-do in my head.

The list is long and sometimes I wonder if I will ever manage them all.

I tell you, it really doesn't matter if I do or don't.

I think it is a game I play with myself.

My brain never stops chatting to me.

Our little estate is covered with wild crow garlic.

Hence, I harvest a little ever year as needed for salads.

But this year year I found this recipe and couldn't stop thinking about it while walking around and around.

When the beautiful little white flowers grow out of the cluster of bulbs that form at the top of a green shoot, you know there is a tiny dime-size bulb underground.

The onion fragrance so powerful.

Sunday, I harvested.

All parts are edible and so I pickled all parts.

Must wait 3 weeks to sample.

Now, I'm off for my walk where I will be thinking about the next thing-to-do.

♥ Sharon

2011-04-16T13:27:00.000-05:00

Yes, I was Klimt Inspired

Last Saturday's inspiration found it's way into my Jewelry Journal.

Woke up Friday morning needing to cut and glue.

♥Sharon

2011-04-14T13:47:00.000-05:00

Miss Ashley Kay came to watch a movie with her Nana this past weekend and of course they, the grand kids, always have to endure their Nana's show and tell.

Well well, when Miss Ashley saw the chunky pink plastic beads in the bead box, she knew immediately that she wanted a piece made with them. She doesn't have any problem expressing what she wants. Loud and clear she said, "Oh Nana, I want one made with these".

That was so perfect because I bought the package not knowing they were plastic. I hoped they were big chunky hunks of glass. I ♥ glass beads.

So, Morning ART this week has be the making of this necklace which she also specified the length of. I decided to use some of my practice "S" links and the hook and eye latch. I love the big hook and eye and I put it on the side so it would show from the front.

I'm pretty sure she is going to like it.
♥ Sharon

Lazy Saturday

2011-04-09T17:39:00.000-05:00

I'm having a lazy Saturday just chillin mostly.

But I did finish this birthday piece of jewelry.

I took it outside with a great big coffee table book of Gustav Klimt.

Sat in the grass and had a little photo shoot.

Now I'm itchy and inspired.

Hope your are having a wonderful lazy Saturday too.

♥ Sharon

(the image in the focal is from this collage sheet)

Beads Birds and Hands

2011-04-08T12:58:00.000-05:00

Here's a Friday update.

The morning went beautifully.

I managed to get all the pdfs loaded to the Apron Class.

(I was sweating that)

Walked a mile on my path.

Worked on a Birthday Present.

It's Friday!!!!!

Baby Bird Update.

There were four.

I just wanted to share this close up of the hand.

You can watch the hand happen in MorningART Video

(#10)March 31 and (#11)April 1

***

I can't predict the weekend happenings.

Maybe a trip to the son's for a DIL Birthday dinner.

Wishing you all a wonderful relaxing couple of days.

♥ Sharon

MorningART series conclusion

2011-04-07T10:52:00.000-05:00

I have been burning the candle at both ends while stirring too many pots on the front burners. However, I didn't get burned by the candles nor the boiling pots. I just exhausted myself.

I finished my MorningART series of this painting in 14 videos. All are on my You Tube channel but probably easier to watch from the first video to the last right here on my Morning ART page.

If you only want to see a "start to finish series in review", watch the conclusion video. The review starts at about the 8:57 minute mark. I think it is pretty cool to see the progression of this painting.

By the way, my stove only has one front burner. And that's a fact.
♥ Sharon

Student Showcase

2011-04-02T07:27:00.000-05:00

Just in case you were thinking that my Tree Castle Apron class is just about making an apron, Think Again!

I simply had to share this student's first piece with you this morning because I'm blown away.

Here is what she said when she posted this in the class Gallery:

Hi Sharon , I was stuck in my studio today keeping my dogs out of trouble with the telephone man! He was here for several hours??? Darn the bad luck ...so I just had to play art with you! LOL This is somewhere between # two and # three face videos when I lost internet and just went on playing by myself and the dogs!

Stephani first signed up for "Faces in Technicolor" at the end of last September. Then in October she signed up for "Faces: All Norah'S". She had never painted faces before.

This painting is a technique that I demonstrate using Inktense watercolor pencils on muslin. It's not all about making a beautiful apron. The class includes nearly 2 hours of face painting instruction.

I'm just one proud teacher this morning. As soon as I do my morning walk, I will continue with more MorningART videos.

Morning ART

2011-03-30T12:46:00.000-05:00

For today's MorningART, I made these bezels. Now that I know how to actually make a piece of jewelry, I am excited to make more Of Towers & Turrets. (session 2 starts Friday) I haven't poured the resin yet but the image that I used is from this collage sheet.

The current MorningART videos continue and 7th in the series was posted today.
Enjoy,
♥ Sharon

We Have Babies

2011-03-24T11:55:00.000-05:00

They are fresh.

Not sure if the 5th egg will hatch.

Maybe this is too soon for your viewing but I think it is a beautiful thing.

Go ahead, click on the picture.

♥Sharon

3rd in series of Morning Art videos is posted

Good Morning World

2011-03-23T12:59:00.000-05:00

I am feeling so full of some kind of cosmic energy today. I can't explain it. It is just when you feel like you need to be doing three or four different things all at one time and you actually do manage to pull it off.

I rose early this morning feeling so rested and ready. First thing I did was edit a new Morning Art segment. I uploaded it which takes a couple of hours on my faster that slow and slower than fast net connection.

While that was happening:

I edited a couple more Morning Art segments.
Took down the Christmas stockings and put them away.
(Yea me! The tree is next)
Walked a mile on My Path.
Discovered that I uploaded the wrong Morning Art file. Deleted it and started again.
Showered and made ready for office. Made my lunch.
Videoed another segment of Morning Art which means I painted.
Grabbed my lunch.
Jumped in the car.
Start engine.
Radio is on classical which always makes me take a deep breath and totally release and let go and move into the day ahead.

Tree Castle Apron

a mixed media face painting and fabric collage class

starts in 2 days

PS....in case you missed it, I added a little 3 minute video at the top of my page here of actual class footage. Take a look-see.