Thriving Art

Well, after three days of internet failure, due to something at the main building, and multiple people calling them, they finally seem to have it fixed.  I must say though, my house is all de-cluttered (well almost all the rooms), my laundry is all done, folded and put away, and I even managed a trip to the gym......LOL Week-8-aromatherapy.   Holy cow! we are just finishing week 8.  My "go-to" aromatherapy is the scent of Lilacs.  It is a scent that takes me back to my childhood and the neighbor's front yard, where two HUGE lilac bushed stood.  When they were in full bloom I would stand into the bushes, as far as I could, and just take deep breaths. Now, years and years later, I have candles that are lilac, one in the hall bathroom and one in the spare bedroom.  The one in the bathroom makes the whole room smell good without lighting it.  That room is on the west side of the house and the warmth of the afternoon sun makes the oils in the candle w...

Graffiti meets patterns and dangles.............a little overboard but fun to create.  I see SO much WRONG with this I almost didn't post it, but a friend of ours fell in love with it and convinced me to go forward with it.  Now it is the only record of it, 'cause I sent it home with him.......LOL!! This was a "sofa-dangle, created on evening with an acrylic square as a straight edge and some pens. I do like geometric designs too, so with the same acrylic squares, and my spot on the sofa, this was created.....at least the lines are somewhat straighter.......LOL   For Valentine's Day I had made a Dangle and posted it HERE and also posted it to the 4 journal groups that I belong to on Face Book.  I was SHOCKED at how many comments and how many likes I got on it, but the real surprise was when I was on Pinterest the other morning and Joanne Fink Pinned my dangle !!!!  What an honor......................well, for me it was....grin!   ...

Deep in the dark Dungeons, in the dilapidated house on Weyand Way, sits a desk named Betsy.  A spooky sight for all that drop by to nose around on this WOYWW !  An eerier sight can't be found, a plate of dried paint and a drawer of Gelatos left to their own devices, while journal and painting wait patiently for somebody to return and make a decision.  Discarded bottles of paint lay here and there, and rags that have wiped the paint brush bare.  Tools of the craft stand at attention along the back and me extra eyes lay there with a blank stare....................LOL  OKAY, it's not Halloween!!!  Although that is what this photo reminds me of. It was taken tonight ( Tuesday here) and the only thing that will change is the HAPPY MAIL that came today.  A really cute card AND an ATC, standing behind my glasses. Here is a closer look at them They are from Mo AKA Twinkle Toes   Thank you MO I love them and the ATC is reall...

Here it is time once again to join Elizabeth, and the "Tea" gang.  I found this picture on Pinterest and thought it was just perfect for T-Day, does this say it all?? I do think I might modify it to say "T-day.....The Whole World in a Single Cup"............good idea?? Shafter is having a celebration of the arts, yes this small community is really supportive of all the arts.  Being so small, it means you tend to know almost everybody attending or participating....grin. One of our friends, and used to be neighbors, coned talked me into helping set up the Art Gallery, last Friday, at the Vet's Hall.  I was pleasantly surprised to see some new artists in the area, one lives just a few doors down....who knew???  All I can say is "generation gap"!  No, I did not show at the gallery, maybe next year. program of events Schedule   The DH and I did attend the Art Gallery and the Wine tasting (grin) and Meet the Artists event Sunday afternoo...

 Merry Monday gentle readers!  Today I am sharing four really fun and fast cards that I made over the weekend. I've been doing a lot of art journaling lately and I think I went into card with drawls......LOL!  This was also an opportunity to use up some scraps and die cuts that have been laying about on Betsy.  First up is a green on green with that wonderful pop of black. A scrap of the background paper run through an embossing folder, mounted on black cs and a black die cut sentiment........can it get much easier??? I've also been missing the feel of a stamp in my hand and one evening I stamped a few images that I haven't really used much, then colored them with markers.  Quick matching of background papers, a couple die cut circles, including the image and 3 pre-cut hellos.  Easy Peasy!! Having GDs that like to use the embossing plates does come in handy.  They pretty well keep me supplied with embossed paper.  Die cut the image i...

  Hello gentle bloggers and welcome to the Tuesday madness called T stands for Tuesday  ,one of  the many names, that is put on by Elizabeth, the Altered Book Lover.   Since Saturday was Valentine's Day DH and I decided to go pick up the spring wine shipment from the winery.  It was a super gorgeous day and very warm for the coastal area.    Standing just outside the door looking down into the patio area, many people take their wine down here to sip on it.................mine doesn't last that long......LOL This winery is the one that sits on top of a small mountain, and the view is wonderful.  You can see some that are sipping their sample out here on the wine barrel chairs that are provided for just that.   It was into the afternoon before we made it to the winery, so we didn't tarry around.  We did sample all the wines that are in the wine club case we were picking up.  They also pair all their wine sample w...

Happy Valentine's Day gentle blogers.  Our Journal 52 prompt for this week is Valentines, who would have guessed.........right??   I thought "What a perfect prompt to practice Dangle Designs" and I do mean PRACTICE!  My last WOYWW post  I had shared the Faber-Catell pens I had bought and a book called Zenspitations Dangle Designs by Joanne Fink.  She is a  demonstrator for Sakura products and as I was internet "window" shopping I came across one of her videos.  Well, needless to say I have hit You Tube and checked out almost all her videos!!!  Now, she does work for Sakura and she only uses their products, so by-pass that and watch her work!! If you follow my blog you know that I have a fascination with graffiti and zentagles and doodling.  Well, Joanne rolled them all into one in this book: I normally do not buy art or any kind of craft books, but I had just seen her video and really wanted a reference that I could study....

So here we are on week 6 in the Journal 52 adventure.  This week's prompt is windows.  It took me a minute  ok a day or so, to think about what to do for this prompt.  The GDs were here and playing with the doll house and Megan was looking at me through the window......BINGO!!!  We have a winner! I drew in the window and eye, masked it then added Gesso.  Next was inkiness fun with Dylussions, but the really fun part is dropping alcohol inks onto the wet water base inks..................oh yea!! After a night of drying time it looked a little duller, but I still like the effect.  Using Jofey stamps I stamped and embossed with white powder, then again with black Staz-On.  Very disappointed in this new EP, didn't stick very well and I even turned one spot brown (as in well-done) getting it to set. A few bricks were created with a stencil and modeling paste.  I took a water brush and washed off spots in the stamped images, t...

Time I joined in the WOYWW weekly event this week.  I've been MIA for the last couple of weeks, due to having a bad sinus cold and the G-ma duties.  Betsy is showing off our valentines to ourselves this week.  After a 3 hour visit to the dentist, which just so happens to be across the street from the local Beverly's Fabrics...............well, my mouth was still numb as numb can be, so thought I'd just "look around" to see what was new.  Oh WOW! they had Faber-Castell Mix and Match Stampers Big Brush Pens!!!!! Bakersfield is finally getting with the program on quality markers.  As you can see We got a set of each and a white marker!!  PLUS a new book (something I rarely buy, unless it is a good story, not art books of any kind) I had watched Joanne Fink on You Tube and when I saw her book I just had to have it........after all I had just been to the dentist!!! There is also the beginning of a J52 page, water pot, gesso pot (the black one) second pair...

 Happy Tuesday! and that means it is time to link up with Elizabeth at The Altered Book Lover and join the "T" Gang for drinks.  I had G-ma duty Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning.  Here is Megan setting up for tea.  Thursday was so warm I had the window open to the patio.  She takes her "tea Parties" quite seriously.  It was just her and I during Thursday and Friday, since her sister was at school. The weather has turned unseasonably warm, but we did get a taste of the storm that went through on Friday night and all day Saturday.  The almond trees are just starting to break open with blooms.  So pretty against  the blue sky this morning (Monday)  I was glad I grabbed my camera as I went out the door. When the almonds bloom it is so pretty, but during this season I live on sinus meds.  They are predicting 80 degree weather by the end of the week!  It is WAY too early for those temperatures..........we need m...

Who doesn't like getting Happy Mail?? This came to me from Linda Kunsman who lives in PA and is most likely covered in snow.  I adore this playful ATC she made and of course all the "shinny" tad bits ( you know I like me shinny schtuff)  Thank you so much Linda! Can't wait to have a play with them! SOME NEW FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS    Catie An and her blog is  Catiean's Corner   where you find her flare for all things vintage.  Love mixed media and photography.  She loves the thrift shops........a gal after my own heart!!  She is a true "lover of life" and I hope you will take a moment and visit her blog. Jenni Mills and her blog is Jens Arty Life where you will find some wonderful art journaling.  She is a master at faces and she loves peacock feathers.....grin.  She resides in New South Wales so I hope you will take a little trip around the globe to visit her blog, you will be glad you did. The GDs were here ...

Monday I started a canvas board and shared the very beginnings of it for T-Day , but since this is a new post I decided to do a top to bottom, or start to finish with photos.....LOL The wall decal I found at the Dollar Store, I've had it for a couple years Added some silk flowers   Added a few stamped images So that's it, minus a few photos, I mean this is already a LOT!  Funny, how moving Betsy OUT of the closet makes it easier for me to remember to take photos.  This was a fun project ( what's not fun about messing around with paint???) and it has been something that has been on my mind for quite a long time..............so  now that one has been put to rest.  What's next?????  I really need to get some family photos printed and into a beautiful frame I bought....................but, the weather is very warm this week and the pull to go outside and work is taking over.......................my apologi...