So I Was Just Thinking

So this month at Sketchbook Challenge the theme is Unfurled . When I first read it, all that came to mind were flags unfurling. I couldn't get my mind unwrapped from that idea. Then it hit me -- FLOWERS. So here are my latest in my flower series. They are sort of "tulipy." When I finished the three, I was then inspired to start a line of flower fairies based on those flowers. Here is the first one. She is just a trial. There are things I don't like, but that is my self critic. It just means that I have to make more opportunities to make her better. When you work on a project, whether it be art, or written, or whatever, how long do fiddle with it? When do you leave well enough alone? Today's Music Note: You are listening to DANCE OF THE SUGARPLUM FAIRY from the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is my all time favorite ballet. I loved when band directors would chose selections from The Nutcracker's score. It is usually associated with the Christmas season, bu...

Well, as a family we were all going to use the long weekend to trek down to Texas and rip out carpet and paint walls. Come to find out, Gary doesn't have Monday off so it would make a really bad turn around time. So...we decided to stay home and make plans to go another time. Meanwhile, all I can envision is the money pouring out of my already empty pockets into the mortgage and utilities for a house we aren't using. :-( Now, I will look for some free activities to do in the city for the Labor Day weekend. I have seen several advertised on tv. I hope the temperature stays cooler than yesterday (102F.) Yesterday I lazed around the house feeling a little sorry for myself wondering why I don't have a job yet. So I got out my sketchbook and calendar journal and fiddled around. I have been thinking about working on a set of note cards to sell at some local gift shop. They would look like some of these: I just want to unify the theme of them so they seem more like a set. ...

The kids enjoy going fishing with their daddy. Gary used to take Caitlin quite often, but for some reason they hadn't gone in a long time. James had been begging to go since we moved to Missouri. We certainly live in the perfect place to do this, surrounded by numerous lakes and parks. When they go, I see that time as my quiet time. I get on the computer, I watch my shows, I paint and sometimes I get in the car and explore my town. Saturday while wandering the historic district, I found a really cute diner called the Neighborhood Cafe. I noticed there was a big cinnamon roll on the awning. When I sat down, I found out why. The first thing the friendly waitress asked me is, "Would you like a cinnamon roll?" It seemed such a strange question that all I could do was say, "Yes??" As I was waiting for her to return, I was reading the menu. It had the history of the restaurant written on the front cover. After ordering a club sandwich, I read the long story and...

... is a blessing for the whole day. ~Henry David Thoreau Wow! School starts early here in the Kansas City area. I used to think Texans started early, but today is the third day of school. I am glad I didn't wait any longer than I did to get up here. If I had waited for the movers who, by the way, are coming NEXT week, They would have missed a week and a half of school. Although the house we live in is too small for four people, we are making do. The best part about it is that James's school is only two blocks away. He is excited to walk to school every morning with me. (I don't think I will ever let him walk alone since I can't see the front of the school from my house.) After dropping him off today, I had a really nice walk home. Having come from dry, hot Texas, I have a real appreciation for trees. I had fun picking up leaves along the way. When I got home, I got out my little sketchbook and started painting the maple leaf I found. If you notice, I p...

Here are the latest in the water coloring attempts. Some are imagined or from a distant memory... but the last one is based on my virtual friend Cazjane's photo of a dahlia which she has posted on Flickr. She is quite handy with the camera and finds the prettiest flowers. I told her she was giving me great subjects to paint. Tomorrow I will share with you my doodle-a-day page.

We made it to Missouri. We have been here a week and a half. I really like it here, but I don't have a job yet. In between the time I am applying for jobs and taking my kids to enroll in school and dance, I have had some time to play with water colors. First up is my completed July calendar journal . I am proud that I have kept up with this as long as I have. Click on images for clearer, larger look . I also have August's ready to be filled. (I have September's, too, but you will have to wait for that one.) I completed 30 days of creating faces . Most of them are female, but there is one questionable one and one definite boy. Don't forget to sign up for Julie's Art Journal Every Day. Finally, I have been inspired by this lady . Her flowers are so bright and vibrant! Paint and I are just getting to know each other so I have tried painting some flowers. Although they are nothing like hers, I am pretty pleased with the outcome. I feel I have neglected my blogging, but ...

Time is drawing near. I still don't have my house moved, but I have obligations in my new town and will have to leave the large things behind. (I will be shoving as much into my sedan as possible.) So what does one do while waiting for Godot? You help your mother move. You go to the laundromat because your washer and dryer choose to die at the same time like an old married couple. You read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Mostly, you pull out the sketchbooks and get creative. Here are some scans out of my sketchbooks. I have been playing with water colors a lot while painting a face a day for 30 days a la Julie Fei-Fan Balzer inspiration. You can see I was a little unhappy with some of my first faces. I then tried to draw some girls, but for some reason they don't have arms. This led to painting to one. My son saw me doing this everyday and grabbed a pillow, lay down and said "draw me." And of course it wouldn't be my sketchbook without my doodles. It is now to p...