SLOW, Mom's playing

I was wandering around Half-Price books children's section looking for a book that could teach me some fundamentals in drawing. I spotted a sticker book about SIGNS, so I grabbed it. The book is great! It's loaded with simple graphic designs. It was just what I was looking for. I was drawn to the "SLOW, Children playing" sign. Not only because I love the color yellow, but it made me think of my kids and how fast they've gone thru their childhood.

And well, now I'm in my second childhood!! LOL!! I feel like I'm a kid again, because I'm letting myself doodle, and play with paint and just indulge myself. Because now, I have some time. I think the hardest part for me is to just play with markers and paints. To allow myself to experiment with color and shape and to let it show that I'm a novice. It's so relaxing.

What are you doing that you haven't done since you were a kid?

Mandela and.....

I stumbled upon ihanna's blog and they were talking about Mandala's. Wow, lots of pretty mandala's out there. So, being the adventurous type I thought I'd give it a try. I think it's best if I limit myself to using no more that 4 colors. Because being a color-freak, I get very carried away and it's like mixing paint, if I use too many it'll start to look muddy.

Journal Quote (Norman Vincent Peale)
Believe in Yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy....Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture... DO NOT BUILD UP OBSTACLES in your imagination...Do not be awestruck by other people and try to copy them. Nobody can be You as efficiently as you can. Remind yourself that God is with you and nothing can defeat him.

Yes! The Weekend

I'd like to tell you this is where I'll be this weekend! I'd love to be going to the beach for Spring Break. I have big plans for my Beach Weeks! I'm usually lucky if I get half of what I set out to do accomplished! But what really matters does get accomplished. I come back refreshed, relaxed, a little tanner. Our family has a couple more stories from events. I find there is no place I'd rather go on vacation than a quiet beach. I get to dream here! I get to indulge myself here! I get to challenge myself as well!

But, this isn't where I'll be this weekend......
However, only in TWENTY short weeks, this is EXACTLY where I will be!

Have a great weekend everyone!

What are your TRUE COLORS?

I'm always such a sucker for the quickie quizzes that analyze personalities.
Because I truly believe that the hardest person to live with is the one in the
mirror. I think we can be our bestest friend or our worstest enemy. So, if I
stumble upon a little quiz that takes only a few minutes, I find I always have
the time.

Below is the analysis of my personality, just by answering about 20 word
choices. Here's the LINK. See what it says about you!

Your rainbow is shaded green.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is says about you: You are an intelligent person. You feel strong ties to nature and your mood changes with its cycles. Those around you admire your fresh outlook and vitality.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

These 2 feet

We had this picture sitting around and I was looking for something to do. So, I gridded it up and made a separate larger grid on my art paper.

I drew the outlines of the feet. I was awfully glad I had the squares to keep me in line. Hahaha. Then I traced the pencil lines with permanent marker. Erased the pencil grid and just started playing.


I used some markers and watercolor paints in the background. The paints give it a much more interesting look. They also can be marked over, whereas where I used marker in a colored section the paper tends to hold onto the marker color more. Doesn't lend itself to layering as easily.


I don't know if this is done yet. I'm fighting an urge to doodle all over the place here. I am finding I love using the black/white box strips. It's something that I enjoy doing and it tends to add a lot of POP to the drawing.

I came across this article by Anahata Katkin called "A grain of Salt" where she talks about "art journaling" and the way you use symbols I thought it was so interesting. She gives us permission to use and reuse any elements that we like in our art journals. Here's the Link, it's a really good read and gets my creative juices going. I think this can be applied to many other areas (digital scrapbooking, writing) too.

Unwavering Hope

Unwavering Hope
Originally uploaded by jenlemen

This lady Jenlemen has got some really fun art. I came upon her
thru Kelly Rae's
blog. I love the colors and the simplicity of these.
Just wanted to share.

Post-its

I received a free sample of this Sticky Picture Paper from Post-it awhile back......I wasn't sure what I'd do with it but hey, "it's free" right? Who can pass up free? So, today I created the "Create Everyday" sign with Erica Hite's Creative Spirit Collection from this month's Scrapgirls Club. See collection HERE

I printed it out on the Post-it paper and put it in my new Journal. Isn't it cute?

However, I'm a little disappointed that when it printed it left a white band on one side( see the right side). So, I'll have to play with this next time I go to print something on this paper. I think I'll have to resize to 3x5 then print it on the 4x6paper.

Self Portrait Two

I tried another Self-portrait while waiting for "dear daughter" to get out of school. Done thru the rear-view mirror. I was thinking I'd do a series of these. It would be fun to see how my face changes? In this one I look like I have the full "Angelina Jolie" lips! Yeah wouldn't that be nice! I'd probably rather have another physical characteristic from her other than her lips!


Self Portrait One

Make your own Camera Strap

For a really thorough tutorial, you've got to check out this site from "made by petchy"...Here


1- Gather your fabric. You don't need much.

2- Make a pattern from newspaper. Outline your strap, then do another line about .5 inch out from the first. Trust me it's better to cut more fabric then less.

3- Turn your edges in and sew.

4- Put the strap slipcover on your camera strap, reattach the strap to the camera body.

5- VOILA- you're new camera strap. That can be changed according to your mood. I made two. It can be cleaned if it gets dirty.

Art Journal Zentangle

This started out as an Art Journal page with some affirmations and some quotes. I like to use Red and Green together. They are complimentary on the color wheel.

Do you Zentangle?

Here is my attempt at a Zentangle! This is incredibly relaxing and it really helps me keep my hand steady for the finer lines. The only Fine point Sharpie I had on hand was a purple one. I tried this in another medium, it was an Art Journal page. I'll scan and post next. I find it's important to use a pen you like that really grips the paper. Possibly a color that inspires you. Remember, it doesn't have to be done in all one color. It is alot of fun! Give it try next time you find yourself with some extra time. You may really surprise yourself!!

To find out more about Zentangle, click
Here

Rubik's Cube

I was in college when these came out in the early 80's and they frustrated me then but not as much as they frustrate me NOW! My 20 yr old college student son wanted one of these. So while in Chicago we ran into a Walgreens on Thanksgiving day. When we returned home he played around with it some then turned to me and said, "Mom would you like to time me to see how fast I can complete this"......Sure I said........I hit my watch and kind of ignored him figuring that I'd watch the last part in about 10 minutes.......2 minutes 16 seconds later, he handed it to me and said "DONE".....

Ugh! I then tried for about 5 minutes and couldn't even get one side. He gave me a few pointers but I so lack patience for this. I gave up 5 minutes later! My mind is not wired for this, at all!

But what a hoot that his mind is!

When was the last time you bought a CD?

I am really not sure when I've bought a CD last. I think it was around 2003.
I am LOVING, let me repeat LOVING the way I can get music now! How I wish I had an ipod when I was in high school. I can get any song I want for .99 cents, I can find the artist and the song title in minutes. Downloaded and listening to my new tune within, what? Five minutes? Three??? Not only did I never know who sang the song I wanted back in high school or what the title of the song was. The ultimate embarassment would be when I had to "perform", you know sing a few lines, hum a tune, give them a clue!! Since I can't carry a tune, my friends would laugh and then they'd take over and sing it to the helpful attendant. Then of course, I'd have to fork over $8-12 bucks for the entire CD, and I usually just listened to the one song. As I got a little older I started listening to the entire CD. Then I found out that there were other songs on the CD that I became more fond of than the one I bought it for. Amazing!!

But all that has ended now! Cuz, I'm downloadin' and backing up!
Yep, this is the life!

Yeah.....I think I'll keep my day job!

Came across this site and I was fascinated with the concept of drawing a self-portrait. I wanted to try it, to really s-t-r-e-t-c-h my artistic/creative muscles. Well, as you can see, it really needs more stretching. This was really fun. I only had 15 minutes while waiting for my daughter to get out of school and I was armed with 2 fine-point Sharpies in purple and red. I was lucky I had my sketch pad with me and this is what I got. Looking thru the rearview mirror. I also, took a picture for comparisons sake, but dummy me, I deleted it by accident. Oh well, I'll have to try this experiment again.

Digital Picture Viewer Keychain

My DD knows me well, for Christmas she got me this Digital Keychain. I had
seen them at the stores and I thought they were cute, but I'd never buy one
for myself. The fact that she thought I'd like this made it special to
me. So, I've loaded it up with our Beach pics from last summer and now it's ready to go. It's pretty cool. It has a slide viewer which I can adjust how long
between pictures. It has a clock & date stamp. The only negative is the viewing
field is pretty small at 1.5 inches. It charges thru the USB and takes no
external batteries. The charge is good for 8 hours of "on time".

It's just so cute!

Project 52

I have decided to join in on the PICTURE A DAY project at ScrapGirls. Then once a week we will do a Layout with the 7 pictures we've taken that week. I think this is a wonderful way for me to "get going" on my photography. I hope that it will help me to experiment more with my shots. Know my camera, adjust my aperture and settings.

Well, I plan to post some pictures or Layouts here as I get going.

Wish me luck!!

My Word of the Year

I love to play on the computer and try different things! I was just messing around and came up with this for my word of the Year!

Never drive faster.....

Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly

Ok? Ok, honey?? My youngest is taking her driving test today! Already! She's had her permit for 180 days, she's accumulated the required 60 hours (and more) behind the wheel with ten of them being at night.

But, I still see her as my ....

my baby!

If you have a moment, please say a prayer for her and for all the young drivers that are just gaining their road experience. I pray that they don't assume they know what the other drivers are doing, that they take that second look just before they switch lanes. That they have the sense to put their cell phones down and not fiddle with the radio. That they allow themselves a few extra minutes to get where they need to be so they aren't rushed. That they are quick reflexed, conscientious and courteous drivers. Amen.

Routine

Today, everyone goes back to school or to work after the Christmas break. I'm planning to get back into my exercise routine. I do one of 4 things, I Swim, Step (stationary biking is the warm down), Weights or Run (ugh! Wish I enjoyed this, but I don't. I only do it because it's the best way to tone my legs). Rarely do I walk. I like to walk, but I don't do it as exercise it's more as a "mental escape" or scenery change for me.



About 4 yrs ago, I could never keep track of whether I worked out or not. When the kids had to be carted back & forth and back & forth , and I was doing lots of quilting in between I would think that I worked out "yesterday", but I really wasn't for sure. That's when I started using the kitchen calendar to write my workouts down. It was so easy and Visual. I could see at a glance if I've been slacking off or if I could use a break.


From this I could see how much I exercised that year. I decided to keep a yearly log on my Palm. The categories are the same as above: Swim, Weights, Steps, Run, Bike. It's been a little reward system, if you will. This year was not as good as last year in TOTAL DAYs worked out. Last year I totalled 250 days, this year only 227 days. I've figured out if I work out 5 days a week that would equal 260 days per year and if I work out 4 days a week then I'd have to do 208 days per year. So, really I'm about where I want to be. Not less than 4 days a week.

Quiet Responses........

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

Have you ever tried to argue in a whisper? It is equally hard to argue with someone who insists on answering gently. On the other hand, a rising voice and harsh words almost always trigger an angry response. To turn away wrath and seek peace, choose gentle words.

Rush! Rush! Rush! Hurry, get there, do that! Don't forget! These are the types of statements that on occasion will cycle through my psyche. And with that comes a "hurried response" a louder than I planned response. Sometimes too quick a response. Not only have I not thought it out, it hasn't even occurred to me how the response would sound if I were the one listening. If only I could halt

a few seconds and take a deep breathe instead racing to answer....

As per my word for the year. I'm going to try to START responding more softly in all my engagements. Not just in a possible tiff here or there with my family. But in my responses to the support team on the phone, or some of my excited responses to the people I engage with on a day to day basis at work and the parents I see when attending school or sport functions. I know this may be 2nd nature for many of you, but it's not for me. It will be something I need to be mindful of! It will be another thing I will need to be mindful of!! Oh-evie!