Kenyatta's Brown Sugar Babies Talk

2012 Sketchbook Challenge: Playing With Watercolors

2012-01-21T21:45:00.001-08:00

Well ... I am still doodling ... deciding to add a little watercolor. I dug out my Twinkling H2O's, and decided to play a little bit. Still don't have the hang of it ... painting with watercolors does not come naturally - not like painting with acrylics does.

I had to walk away from it ... let it dry fully ... and I must say I'm not TOO unhappy with the blending of the colors .. they are vibrant ..and the Luminares always have that sparkly shimmer. All in all ... I think with a lot more practice, I'll get the hang of it.

2012 Sketchbook Challenge: Playing With Color Pencils

2012-01-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

I have never been a fan of color pencils ... I have never been a fan of sketching ... but the 2012 Sketchbook Challenge is slowly but surely changing that. It's all about the comfort zones we find ourselves nestled in .... and creatively - I've been tip toeing out of mine.

Still sidelined with this sciatic nerve ordeal ... but found myself trying, once again to capture what was in my head onto paper using color pencils.

While working on my piece, titled Faith, it suddnely clicked with me why I didn't like using color pencils ... I'm so used to painting and knowing how to perfectly achieve the look - the BLENDED LOOKS - I love .... that not knowing how to achieve this with the pencils is very frustrating.

But like all things...practice makes perfect ... so here is my most recent attempt with color pencils:

Pencils: Derwent

2012 Sketchbook Challenge

2012-01-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!!... I hope 2012 is treating everyone okay. For me, I'm starting off the New Year in pain .... a sciatic nerve in my back has sidelined me from painting, working ... can't do a lot of anything until I work this pain out.

Before my back acted up, I had decided to challenge myself this year and work on my sketching. The 2012 Sketchbook Challenge was just what I needed to challenge my skills.

For January, the challenge is simple doodling....something I do well ... or thought I did until I saw the entries!!WOW . but then I got a grip and decided to settle down. This isn't about other peoples skills...it's about mine...so here is what I did for the Free Doodling ... this was done before my back went out:

Since my back has gone out, I decided to really take the time - since I can't paint - to work on my sketching skills ...so I pulled out my Drawing On The Right Side of The Brain Vol 1 ... and started going through some of the exercises:

Starting Point

Working it Through

Sketch Complete - not bad for my first go round!

Back To Painting ....

2011-12-25T20:45:00.000-08:00

I had a very quiet Christmas ... and I loved it. I didn't go into ANY stores the last week leading up to today ... not even the grocery store. I love this season, and not shopping, but the SEASON itself. I can spend hours just listening to music and looking at my trees..LOL

It's during the Christmas season that I find myself at my most reflective - not New Years ... and this Christmas I have decided to Let Everything Go ... and Welcome "ME" Back Again".

It's feeling like this that I started painting my journals again - something I used to do all the time. I love to journal .... love to doodle...there is something about a blank book that makes me all tingly!!LOL ... and while others are into scrapping and altering ... I itch to paint covers of journals... and here are some that I've done this month.

Have A Wonderful Christmas Season!

2011-12-01T14:28:00.000-08:00

I want to wish all my followers and fellow bloggers a wonderful Christmas! I can't believe how quickly the year has flown by....Christmas is 24 days away! From my house to yours, I wish you the best of seasons- Merry Christmas...and I will be back in full swing for 2012!!!

The Holidays Are Upon Us ... and I've Been Busy

2011-11-23T16:13:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

Can you believe it's Thanksgiving?? .... the holidays are upon us already - this year has certainly flown.

I've been so busy the last couple of months, I haven't had much time to do much of anything but paint. I was invited to do a local Small Business Expo ...and had a lot of stock to paint ... but it was a success.

I made a lot of local business contracts, and was able to secure 2 contracts to supply my hand painted glassware to a couple of concierge shops! So 2011 is going out with a bang for me ... and hopefully 2012 will come in with a ROAR.

Next up - December 15th I will be selling my wares - all Christmas - at a Christmas Expo ... I'll post pics after the event.

Until then ... take care ... and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Playing Catch Up

2011-09-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hello and Happy Fall!

I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone, getting ready for the upcoming fall and winter seasons ... wanted to show you what I mailed off this week. I love mini albums ... so here's one I did, Seasonal Inspirations.

It's Looking Like Christmas Around Here!

2011-09-03T18:39:00.001-07:00

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

It's been a long while since I posted any updates, as I have been busy painting all new designs to update my 2 websites in time for the Christmas season. As anyone who paints to sell knows, we paint ahead of the seasons ... so summer is for Fall and Christmas painting and the winter is for Summer and Spring painting.

So as you can imagine ... summertime is busy for me ... but as soon as my sites are updated with all the new content - I'll be back and posting more progress on my painted chairs.

Basically Bare Is Gettin' Good BUZZ!!! From CHA!!!

2011-07-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

Back in May, the design team members on Scraps of Color were asked if we'd be interested in creating some projects using products from a new company called Basically Bare. Well I don't know about anyone else - but I jumped on it.

Fast forward to reports coming out of CHA, and one of my fav Scrapbook Updates sites has chosen Basically Bare as one of the top 10 companies that they liked! You can read about it HERE.

I've been sitting on pins and needles waiting to show what I created ... and since CHA is over, I'm going to show you the project that I mailed off to be displayed in the Basically Bare booth. Here's a couple of pics of the acrylic album I mailed offhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif.

The good news is that their products will be available soon on Scrapbook.com - and I'm told that there will be a little video clip of the Basically Bare booth where many designers (including myself) had their samples displayed.... so I'll post again, when it's available.

Being ....

2011-07-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite artists, Mystele, recently wrote a post title "Being", and invited others to also post, weekly, about how they honestly feel about this time in their lives, and how they journey to change.

How funny that there are many of us going through this. I don't know if it's a reflection of the times we are living in (all the excess, hate and corruption) ... you wonder if you too have wasted a life you've been blessed to receive.

... or if its just a thing that we all seem to go through - and when we reach out - we discover we aren't alone.

I think the beginning of feeling as Mystele does, actually started years ago ... and for me, when I begin to feel as if I'm drowning - I turn inward ... I withdraw .. and I don't.create.anymore.

THAT is when I know I'm in trouble, when I can't put pen to paper to write, or want to pick up a brush and paint.

It took a lot for me to really look at my life and ADMIT that I was unhappy. It wasn't totally my exes fault .. I took fault too in trying to FIX something that was broken. You can't fix a problem if the other person doesn't want it fixed. I stayed because, I told myself, I wanted better for my son than I had .. I stayed because, I told myself, no one else would want me and 1/4 of a marriage was better than none at all ...

...and then I knew I was staying because I was afraid to admit I was wrong, that I'd made a mistake ... and I was scared to start again, alone.

I won't say it was easy deciding to end things, I won't say life was instantly better .. cause it wasn't and it isn't.

But I can say that my heart doesn't feel as heavy anymore ... I can say that my desire to create has returned full force.

I have lost 49 pounds since last year and I have about 40 more pounds to go ... and for the first time EVER in my life I walked into a gym - alone. I didn't feel as if the whole world was pointing at me, laughing at the fat ass. I didn't feel as if I was the ugliest person on the planet in a room full of beautiful people.

See, I've found that when the one person you thought you would spend your life rejects you ... you think , at least **I** thought ... that the world rejected me too. If he didn't want me, then I had to be ugly ... so the world saw what he saw.

I was wrong.

Shedding the weight, creating art again, starting my life over after 17 years with just myself and my son ... it's hard, but it's also been freeing.

...it's like the Kenyatta that I always wished existed is finally getting to emerge.

ReCycling Chairs - Part 1

2011-06-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

It's been a while since I've posted anything ... life got in the way - in a big way. I'm in the process of moving and packing...and was feeling a bit sorry that I don't have extra cash to get some new stuff.

...but then .. I found these chairs...

And decided to paint myself some new furniture, starting with some chairs! I sorely need new diningroom chairs, and I figure why not paint some. I used 1 can of KILZ Primer on each chair...

...and I took advantage of a cool morning and primed my 2 chairs. Here's a pic of what one looks like, after priming:

Now, I need to decide what I want to paint on them ... so stay tuned!!

SOC E:SPIRE Inspires Creativity for June and July

2011-06-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

The Scraps of Color E:SPIRE EZINE is available and ready for download. Its a wonderful issue full of ideas, projects, product reviews and more! ... and on Page 31, I try to entice you to add a little paint to those pages!!!

Best of all?? IT IS FREE!!

So, take a look and tell me how you like the latest issue!

Reflect On This Memorial Day

2011-05-30T04:38:00.000-07:00

As you go about your preparations today for the last day of Memorial Day Weekend ... take a minute to remember what this day is really about. Our fallen men and women of our military, who gave the ultimate scrifice - and continue to do so - for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Memorial Day Weekend Painting_Work In Progress

2011-05-28T16:52:00.001-07:00

I'm getting a lot done so far. This is the box I worked on today ... still in progress. I had made a video showing my progression, but I had the radio playing in the background and YouTube flagged it!!ROFL ... so I deleted the videos.

This is the point I always seem to get stuck at ... adding the hair. I feel as if I almost ruin the piece trying to put hair on, ROFL.

Spring Has Arrived

2011-05-28T07:42:00.001-07:00

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!! I have decided to have a painting marathon this weekend, and avoid the busy roads. Yesterday, I finally finished my painted box, and thought I'd share.

Painted Mailbox Cover

2011-04-29T13:53:00.001-07:00

I envy those that still have the rural mailboxes, as it seems housing complexes are all getting those PO Box style mailboxes .. I just think it takes the uniqueness out of things.

Soooo ... I'm always thrilled when I get a mailbox or mail box cover order. My latest customer requested a floral mailbox cover for his T3 mailbox. I used my 1 inch and 3/4 inch brushes, painting with acrylics. After drying, I sprayed with 5-6 layers of lacquer.

Work In Progress For Her_Continued

2011-04-24T06:32:00.000-07:00

Ever have a brain freeze on one project, so you work on another? I'm having a lot of trouble finding inspiration for one of my latest design team assignments ... so I am working a little more on my box.

I don't know what this will look like when I'm done, but I have an idea of what I want it to look like - and I'm trying not to rush through it.

I play around with this on my paint table, and then I brush sketch onto the box:

I started adding figures:

And last night, I left off with this tree:

New Work In Progress_Painted Box For Her

2011-04-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Hello Bloggers!

I posted my last work in progress box, that I was painting for my son on my Brown Sugar baby Brushes blog earlier today. So, since turnabout is fair play, I thought I do the other box I'd started for HER.

I posted the beginnings a couple of weeks ago, and this week I added a little texture for the grass using a sea sponge ... and then, going around the corners of the box, I added red circles using a stipple brush - for the roses.

Then, using my tiny angle brush, I loaded my brush and started adding the back petals.

By the time I've added all the back petals, making my way around the entire box, the first bunch are dry. I then re-load and begin filling in the front petals. I work my way all around again, until all the roses are done. Then, using the same small angle brush, I load in a dark green and sporadically add leaves around the roses.

I have no clue what I'm adding to this box, I'm making it up as I go along ... so as I add more, I'll post my progress.

I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Quick And Easy Project For You To Try

2011-04-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

This month on the Scraps of Color E:spire blog, I created a quick and easy tutorial showing you how you can take one element from an item and paint a matching card. I'd love to see some of you guys try it - and post a link in the comments to your finished design.

My Favorite Era Layout - Harlem Renaissance

2011-04-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

On Your Paper Pantry, the 2011 Travelogue Swap is well underway. The latest travelogue I received from Tamara was fantastic - the theme - Your Favorite Era. Only one problem ... I cringe when I have to go back into the past for a favorite era, for a couple of reasons ... but creatively, none of the paper companies seem to want to celebrate the fabulous vintage era of African Americans. I want to scream - WE SCRAP TOO YA KNOW!!! LOL

As much as I love Graphic 45 - it irks me that the selection is next to nil ... but you know what? ... there's this thing called GOOGLE!!LOL

I googled fabulous images and printed them out on vellum paper ... then dug into my stash for mainly black and white paper, charms and other pretties ... and I came up with my Harlem Renaissance lay out.

I found some wonderful charms from a company called Creative Charms ... and it was perfect. I also used some of the stick pins that I'd made last weekend.

The lesson? Don't let commercial unavailability stop you from creating. If you can't find it - make it!

~Happy Crafting!

New SOC Mag Is Out ... and I Have A Project For You!!!

2011-04-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

Happy April!!!

The newest edition of the Scraps of Color Espire is now out - and I have a wonderful painted rose journal I'd love you guys to try!

Click HERE and click on the pic for your free download....and check out my project on page 50.

I'd love to see what everyone finds to do in this issue!

Charming Monday

2011-03-28T16:08:00.001-07:00

Happy Monday Bloggers!

Just sharing a couple more charms I did with some left over beads. I hope the pink beads count as charms - they are a separate attachment .... still trying to get the hang of this.

Stick It To Me Saturday

2011-03-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

After participating in a stick pin swap on SOC, I'm hooked on making these pins. While I was waiting for a particular piece I was painting to dry, I decided to make some pins:

... I even managed to create a few charms, after messing up a couple of pins. So I clipped the stems and turned them into charms:

Thanks For Playing SOC Blog Hop!!

2011-03-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

Even though I couldn't temp anyone to try to do a painted tag - I wanted to thank everyone for stopping by, commenting and signing up to follow my blog.

...I'm not giving up on you guys though - I'm determined to get you to TRY to paint just a little!! You'll be surprised as what little touhes you can add to your creations to make them unique.

That said, keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming issue of SOC E:SPIRE ... I'm hoping my next project will have you wanting to try even more!

Until the next time ... happy crafting!

Welcome To The SOC Blog Hop!!

2011-03-17T23:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Scraps of Color Creative Blog Hop! Join us for a weekend of fun, creativity and prizes! All weekend long you’ll have the chance to create fun projects, be inspired and win! Get your crafty mojo flowing...just follow the 1st SOC Creative Team Blog Hop!

If you are here and following the blog hop then you are in the right place. However if you have just happened upon my blog and would like to join in the hop please start at the beginning of the hop here and work your way through each blog. Please leave blog love (comments) along the way and become a follower of the blogs you like so that you can be notified of their new creations and updates!

My project for the hop is :

Some visual tips to help you get started:

1.Float your color around the edge of the tag - you can practice on wax paper or acetate.

2.Practice double loading your brush and creating a "C" stroke, which will be the stroke for your petals:

3.Randomly paint your flowers ... I like to stick with odd numbers:

If you don't want to paint your leaves and stems, use your rub ons and stickles ... and like I did, use that BLING!!! for your flower centers...add ribbon...and you're done.

And I’m offering a prize for the lucky winners version of a Welcome Spring Simple Flowers Painted Tag. The winner will be chosen by an auto-generator.

Rules:

1 - Make sure you read all the rules at Scraps Of Color Espire.

2 - Become a follower of my blog, Kenyatta's Brown Sugar Babies Talk.

2 - Your tag must have the main elements painted. Its okay if you add some scrapping elements, but I'd like to see the majority of your tags painted using either watercolor or acrylic paints. Sorry, but no markers for this challenge.

3 - When you're done, post your entry on your blog, and make sure you link back here. Let me know by posting in the comments so I can come check it out.

Remember that some of the other SOC Creative Team Members are offering blog candy and you never know where you'll find it. So be sure to visit each participating blog. I’ve made it easy for you to follow, just click the appropriate link below. Thank you for joining us for the 1st SOC Creative Team Blog Hop!

Scraps of Color - http://www.scrapsofcolor.com YOU ARE HERE!
Karen Jiles - http://stampinakapalace.blogspot.com/
Rani Shah - http://www.scrapyoga.typepad.com/
Tiare Smith - http://classycoordinates.typepad.com/
Qadirah Gomez - http://crafty-whimsyone.blogspot.com/
Kenyatta Thomas - http://kenyattasbrownsugarbabiestalk.blogspot.com/
Lorie Moses - http://www.lorie-thepeddler.blogspot.com/
Samara Joseph - http://Honeys-child.blogspot.com/
Camille - http://camikanscrap.blogspot.com/
Aysha Livingston - http://ayday.wordpress.com/
Scraps of Color - http://scrapsofcolor.com

...and keep check back here soon after playing around with your tags ... I'll be posting what the winner will be getting...just a little gift for playing along in the SOC Blog Hop!!

SOC Blog Hop - Two Days and Counting~

2011-03-16T04:43:00.000-07:00

Scraps of Color is hosting it’s 1st ever Creative Blog Hop! Join us this weekend for tons of fun, creativity and prizes! All weekend long you’ll have the chance to create fun projects, be inspired and win!...just follow the 1st EVER SOC Creative Team Blog Hop at Scraps of Color - Friday, March 18 - Sunday March 20, 2011!

..and check back here on Friday when the fun begins!!!

SOC BLOG HOP COMING ...FOUR DAYS AND COUNTING!

2011-03-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

Scraps of Color is hosting it’s 1st ever Creative Blog Hop! Join us this weekend for tons of fun, creativity and prizes! All weekend long you’ll have the chance to create fun projects, be inspired and win! To get your crafty mojo flowing...just follow the 1st EVER SOC Creative Team Blog Hop at Scraps of Color - Friday, March 18 - Sunday March 20, 2011!

There is CURRENTLY some blog candy to be won on the Scraps of Color Blog!!! Visit Scraps of Color today for your chance to win!

..and check back here on Friday when the fun begins!!!

Melancholy March

2011-03-12T13:15:00.000-08:00

Over on Scraps of Color we were challenged to scrap OURSELVES!!!! Here is my Mirror Mirror challenge for March:

I used my April 2010 Treasure Box kit for my materials.

Crop Occasions Event - Feb 18-20, 2011

2011-02-25T06:09:00.001-08:00

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

I've been missing in action recently - my job sent me on some intense training (still studying!!) ... then, I had a little fun time at my first crop! My fellow SOC sister, Pam, hosted a crop event here in Northern Virginia, and I had such a good time!

I managed to complete nine 8x8 layouts and a make and take! I didn't do ANY spending, as I had previously entered a challenge to not purchase any craft related items for the month of February ... but I still had an awesome time.

I learned a LOT from my tablemates, Nikki, Lori and Nadine ... and it was wonderful to meet some local vendors!! I put together a little slide show below, and will be posting more pics soon!

My next trip coming up in October, will be flying to Oregon to paint with my favorite artist Jamie Mills Price!!

Hope to hear from you out there about craft events you've attended recently or are planning on attending!

Feb 2011 YPP Travelogue Ready To Mail ... and Charms for SOC Swap

2011-02-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

It's About Love and Black History this Month...

2011-02-04T17:07:00.000-08:00

February is the month of Love & the celebration of Black History. For me, neither is ever confined to just one month. I celebrate love everyday - and tell those who I love, I Love you, every day. I celebrate my history, every day, making sure to speak with my son each day about 1 little known fact regarding our history.

Whether you are African American or not - embrace your history and share it with those that you love.

I'm Published!!!

2011-01-31T08:41:00.000-08:00

Come celebrate the PREMIERE ISSUE of Scraps of Color Y'all!!! Women of color scrappin' and sharing their love of history through creativity!! You won't see anything like this on the newstands!!!!!

.... and please check out my Painted Tags on page 46!!! I loved painting these and look forward to sharing my love of history and art with you via this venue.

Scraps Of Color E:SPIRE

My Solution To Finding Afro-Centric Background Papers

2011-01-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

Hello Bloggers!

I've been so inspired lately by all the new products being previewed for 2011 ... but I still find lacking different papers with more afro-centric themes. I love vintage, but I refrain from purchasing many of the vintage papers and steampunk themed papers .. but recently, I came up with a way that would give me the look and feel of those types of papers - while still reflecting my heritage.

I posted a couple of YT videos sharing what I've been experimenting with:

Switching Gears - Painted Glass

2011-01-22T06:36:00.001-08:00

Hello fellow bloggers!! I wanted to share with you a set of wineglasses I painted this week. I get glass orders all year round ... and after finishing up my latest custom order, I decided to paint an extra set and list it on ETSY.

I've been painting glassware for about 10 years online!! .. and I never tire of it. Funny though - I'm allergic to wine - so painting the glasses is the closest I get to using them for their intended purpose!

I have more glasses on my paint table that I'll be sharing with you soon.

Stay warm - and be creative!

GITTER DONE FRIDAY

2011-01-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

Lawd ... what a mess. I stumbled across a blog challenge over on the Songbird Is Nesting blog - called Gitter Done. We were to take pics of projects around the house that we have been putting off ... no matter how ugly!! And then, kick in gear and begin getting it done.

So, I decided to FINALLY clean my "hidden room" ... the dreaded junk room. It started out as my son's playroom when he was a toddler, evolved into a guest room ... and when my significant other and I decided to part the ways - it became a temporary junk room.LOL

Well ... over a year later - it's now THE junk room ... and I am ready to GITTER DONE! I forgot to post last Friday, but I am not going to let another week go by and not begin on this room.

Before I can even decide what to do - I need to clean it out. PURGE!!!!!So far ... I have one big box ready to go to the trash heap.

Like Marianne said - it doesn't have to be pretty ... just Gitter Done!!!!

Saying Good-Bye

2011-01-19T06:43:00.001-08:00

How many of us are lucky enough to say they KNEW, I mean REALLY KNEW a Great-Great Aunt? My beautiful "Aunt Bill" passed away this past week at the glorious age of 99 years old.

Ninety-nine years. Imagine all she's seen and experienced. All the changes in this world ... all the things that she went through in her younger life during a time when African Americans were treated abominably. To live to see the first Black President - something she told me she NEVER EVER EVER thought she'd live to see.

I adored her. She outlived both of my Grandparents, and luckily, I was fortunate enough to have had her as a constant in my life. She wasn't someone I JUST saw at reunions. She was someone that I saw, before moving away from New York, on a weekly basis.

I remember being a little girl, LOVING to hear stories of her and her beautiful sisters. I loved flipping through pages of her photo albums, oohing and ahhing at the clothes, LOL.

My family is a close one, and we live far beyond 100 years old .... so for her to lay down and enter eternal sleep at 99 - was shocking to me. I thought she'd live longer. I wanted, selfishly I suppose, to have her be there for maybe my son's wedding in 10 years?? **big smile**

When I remember her life, the life lessons she taught me ... I can't help but think all that we complain about these days are so trivial.

Bless you sweet Aunt Bill ... I'll miss you.

I Have A Project In Toletown's Ezine!

2011-01-14T11:24:00.001-08:00

Toletown's January Ezine is out - and guess who has a project in it?? ME!! My project is the Vintage Valentine Purse - and it was fun to do.

This issue has TONS of projects for the paper crafter and decorative artist alike...and for the price of an e-pattern - you get an issue full of fun and beautiful designs! Hope you check it out!

Get Ready For Valentine's Day!! Part II

2011-01-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

I created this card for Valentine's Day using the lattice hearts I punched out of scrap paper.

Get Ready For Valentine's Day!!

2011-01-09T14:12:00.001-08:00

Guess what I did with this?

I made THIS!!!

I'm Fabulous

2011-01-03T05:36:00.000-08:00

I'm FABULOUS! Aren't you? Yesterday into this morning I found myself slipping back into my 2010 Doldrums ... and decided - Nope. Not Today. I'm not going to do this ... and while looking for a new picture to change my holiday desktop ... I came across a painting that I did last summer ... and had added some words to remind myself how FANTASTIC I am....cause if I don't think so - who else will?

So .. if you're having a bad day ... a slow day ... a sad day ... telling yourself all the things you are not - just remember all the things that you ARE.

My Share For Jan 2011

2011-01-02T11:03:00.000-08:00

I brought in the New Year painting, and this is one of the projects that I completed during my marathon painting & crafting weekend.

For my lettering, I chose to use glitter Days of the Week words by Scribbles. I knew I wouldn't be using these in a scrapbook layout - but loved the look of the lettering, and knew they would be perfect to go around the boarder of my corkboard. So dig in those supplies and use what you have ... or whip out your paintbrush and paint something.

My SHARE For 2011

2011-01-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

I'm not big on resolutions. I'm not even big on making promises. I only make promises that I KNOW I can keep ... so passing out a promise for me is like passing out 100.00 bills. Very few and far between, LOL.

But ... I've been looking at all the blogs and all the "words" folks are choosing for themselves to focus on ... and while I'm not going to do that - I *am* going to start doing something that I feel I've gotten away from in past years.

Sharing.

I am not a very open person. I'm extremely reserved and quiet and I've been that way since I was a child.

When I joined the online world in 2000, I was hooked on the now defunct e-circles and yahoo boards for artists. I found a wealth of sharing and giving which helped me to learn so many different things about art. People shared their techniques, their pictures, their how-to's ... and for a time, it was a very close knit community (I still have friends that I cherish from those days).

I don't know when things began to change ... maybe it was the loss of some of the groups ... maybe it was the growing competitiveness among some of the artists that led to book deals, magazine submissions, product endorsements, etc ... but the "spirit" of some of the very groups I loved began to change ... and with it ... the sharing.

So ... I have decided that while I wont' be able to do this every day or even every week ... I *can* share at least one project, from start to finish ... and if it helps you in any way ... if it inspires you in any way ... then I've achieved my objective.

Happy New Year...

2010-12-31T16:54:00.001-08:00

... and I hope 2011 brings you all the creativity you desire.

For fun ....

Your rainbow is strongly shaded violet.

What is says about you: You are a creative person. You appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Scraps Of Color E:spire is having Give-Aways!

2010-12-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

... all this week SOC E:spire is having fun give aways!!! Don't miss out - read all about it and join in on the fun HERE!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2010-12-24T18:16:00.000-08:00

I wanted to wish all of my online friends the very best Christmas and New Year! My wish for all of you is to have good health, prosperity & blessings throughout the New Year.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Check Out My Latest Project in Toletown's CyberPalette

2010-12-12T08:06:00.000-08:00

Hello Bloggers! I posted earlier that I was so happy to be doing projects for Scraps Of Color E:spire and Toletown's CyberPalette. Well, my Santa Baby ATC card was one of the features in the new Toletown CyberPalette issue! It's now a monthly ezine ... so if you have some extra funds and want to see lots of wonderful decorative art painting projects - subscribe and paint to your hearts content! With the demise of so many decorative art magazines, this is a nice way to keep up with your favorite designers too.

...and don't forget to subscribe to E:spire - it's FREE!! I can not WAIT for you to see the project I have for you guys in February - it's a big one !!!

Happy Holidays!

Inexpensive 12x12 Paper Storage

2010-12-10T06:45:00.000-08:00

... okay...I'm CHEAP. But I just don't have the money to spend on the fancy schmancy incredible storage options I see in all the stores and on the online blogs and such. I don't have a handy man to build me the most FANTABULOUS wooden storage unit, nor do I have the time or the patience ... or the skills to build anything myself. I mean - I'm a do-it-yourself kinda girl ... but I'm not a miracle worker!! When Danah on Scraps Of Color issued this blog challenge - I knew I had to share.

So, when I saw this storage idea last year on one of the blogs (I'm sooo sorry I didn't write down where I originally saw this), I knew this was right up my alley.

Plus, it makes me feel good to recycle all those boxes that keep coming with all my scrap stuff ... and I get rid of all my scraps too!!LOL So, to the original crafter that came up with this idea, THANK YOU!!. I'm just so sorry I didn't remember where I scrap-lifted this from.

That OOPS!! Moment

2010-12-01T02:49:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy December!!! If you're like me, you've spent the past week saying "I can't believe it's December already! Where has the year gone?" The past couple of weeks, I've been running between my paint table and my paper crafting table ... and like you do when you're in a rush - you sometimes have those OOPS! moments.

I was on a roll, stamping sentiments in cards I'd just finished, when I noticed I stamped them on the WRONG side of my card! After swearing, LOL, I stared at it for a couple of seconds, and stamped it on the right side ... still wondering what the heck I was going to do ... cause I was NOT making these cards over again.

I looked over at some of my scraps ... and then decided to "line" the upper portion of my card on the inside. It would hide my mistake, and also give my card a nice "weight" to it.

Niiice!!! LOL ... I loved it ... and I was happy I didn't have to do all my cards over! I think sometimes our OOPS moments, lend themselves to creative solutions which more often than not, make our creations extra special.

Good Stuff Coming in 2011

2010-11-28T10:05:00.001-08:00

Scraps of Color E:spire

As I posted previously, I'm so excited to also be a part of this new venture.
and I wish I could show you what I have in store for you ... but I can't - not yet. You'll have to subscribe to find out what I'm planning for the premiere issue!

Toletown's CyberPalette Ezine

I've been painting at Toletown.com since it's inception in 2002. Lorrie Weber was one of the first artists online to have online painting classes ... and it's where I went from Onestroke to learning to paint tole. Since then, Susan Kelley has joined and between Lorrie and Susan, they have turned Toletown into one of the most comprehensive online painting communities out there. One of the features of Toletown is a wonderful magazine called the CyberPalette. The magazine had previously only been available to paying members of Toletown. Well the good news is the CyberPalette will now be a monthly ezine ... and it will be available to everyone.

There are lots of fun things coming in 2011 ... I'm so excited about all the good stuff coming up creatively in 2011 ... and I hope you'll sign up for these publications and be a part of it.

Scraps of Color E:Spire is About To Launch - and I'm On The Team!!

2010-11-17T04:19:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to have been accepted as part of the first Creative Team!!!

I feel blessed to have been given this creative opportunity. I've always thought in colors, so they say ... and last year after many starts and stops - I found Tiare Smith online, an extremely entrepreneurial sister who is determined to let the world know that Sisters Scrap Too!!.

Tiare is the genius behind Classy Coordinates. I found kindred spirits on her Scraps of Color ning group, other women of color who loved to play with paper. LOL

Tiare is on the move again, launching Scraps of Color E:spire, and has offered me wonderful opportunity to share my art with you and my love of history. I hope you all take the time to join and become a part of this exciting adventure. I can't wait to share with you what I have in store for 2011.

Weekend Craftin'

2010-10-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

I had a real burst of creative energy this weekend, and I've managed to finish every swap project that I had for Oct and Nov!!LOL I guess its true that when the inspiration hits you - it hits you.

All I have to do on Monday is mail out everything.

Santa's Sistah cards, using a print of a painting that I did over the summer.

Santa Tag Cards that I did using one of my favorite holiday stamps, called Stampers Collage.

These are calendars for 2011 that I did, love the colors and stamps. The stamps are from the now defunct ScrapGoods group ... but they were so perfect for this project. The flowers, I bought from Overstock.com - they come blank, and you color them yourself.

This fun little angel is on a 4x6 piece of watercolor paper. I used acrylics and glazing medium...and micron pens for the details.

Getting My Mojo Back

2010-10-28T05:44:00.001-07:00

A little over a year ago, I was in such a funk that I didn't even have the desire to pick up a paint brush. So, like any crafty chick - I switched gears and turned my attention to the paper arts. Scrapbooking in particular. I had no supplies, so I joined some cool clubs like Studio Calico, Treasure Box, Unity Stamps ... and voila!! I was off.

But a funny thing happened on the way to being the perfect paper crafter.

The more I scrapped and made cards ... the stronger my desire to paint became. Every time I stamped an image - I wondered how long it would take to draw. Every time I looked at digital stamps, I thought of all the line drawings I had on my PC, that I could use instead of purchasing a digital stamp.

And then all the papers!!! OOOOH LA LA!!! There are some scrumptiously gorgeous papers out there ... and I'd think how wonderful it would be to be the ARTIST who created those papers.

And then ... slowly but surely ... I began to gravitate back to my painting table. Not with the full force that I'd had for so many years (over ten years) ... but enough for me to start to try again. Another thing that helped, was all the mixed media blogs and you tube videos. WOW. If you want inspiration, there are so many blogs and you tubers out there so willing to share their creative talents.

Don't get me wrong - I love to scrapbook. I love making cards too, but the pull to paint is so strong within me ... I guess I needed that break to make me realize how much I missed it.

In my perfect painting paper crafting world - I am able to combine my love of painting and my love of scrap-booking and card making ... and the fun of it wil lbe trying to get there.

Working Through Painters Block

2010-10-25T03:00:00.001-07:00

I started this piece sketching on it freehand ... and after working on it off and on ...I got so frustrated I'd planned on sanding down the entire piece and starting again. I sometimes think I rush my vision, if that makes sense. I know the traditional way is to paint the background first - but I never seem to do that ... and I'm wondering if that is what is getting me into trouble.

I worked through some of the issues on this piece - its not finished, its still a work in progress. What I learned this weekend was to not force anything..that when I get to the point of frustration - I need to walk away.

Creative Columbus Day Weekend

2010-10-11T18:01:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a nice long weekend ... and for my Canadian friends, I hope your Thanksgiving weekend was wonderfully spent with family and friends.

Me?..I had plans that fell through ... so I spent the last 3 days in my studio/basement going between my painting table and crafting table. I managed to finish all my swaps but one. Here are some of the cards that I worked on:

Last Weekend in September

2010-09-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is enjoying the last days of September. I have been doing lots paper crafting and painting. I completed my first Travelogue, and mailed it off this past week. The book I received had a Charmed theme ... and my page was about timepieces I collect.

I also sent out my ATC swap for Urban Scrappers. Every month everyone picks a letter - and we keep going until all the letters of the alphabet are used. This month, I got the letter "S". My ATCs are named Santas Soul. I really loved creating the background - and I used a Tim Holtz stamp.

Autumn Cards

2010-09-14T07:30:00.001-07:00

I love the fall. I love the crispness in the air .. the beautiful colors of fall foliage ... and it was that I was thinking about when I created these Autumn cards. Now, I fully intended on adding some embossing to these, but BOTH of my embossing guns died over the weekend. They simply shorted out - which is surprising to me, as I hardly ever used them. So, the Autumn tag on the card, which I'd planned on using embossing powder, is actually a piece of acetate that I stamped. I love the way they came out....hope you do too.

I've Been Out An About

2010-08-29T05:03:00.001-07:00

Hello Fellow Bloggettes!! (I don't have any male followers) I'm enjoying the last days of summer with my son before school starts. I hope you all are having a wonderful time as summer wraps up! I've made a little something to explain my Artful State Of Mind.

I've Been Painting ...

2010-08-12T03:12:00.000-07:00

... and posting my progress on You Tube. Please feel free to leave critiques.

Hope everyone is enjoying the end of summer vacation - I can't believe only 2 more weeks and the kids are back in school!

Pattern Panashe on SOC

2010-08-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

Scraps of Color is a great site with great challenges, especially for scrapbooking. I have done more scrapping since January, than I have the entire 5 years I was hoarding supplies!!

This week's challenge, for Technique Tuesday, was to combine at least 4 patterned paper and incorporate into a layout.

Now, this is not my thing, mixing lots of patterns, but I tried it. Now, I'm not on a design team, I don't work for any craft companies ... so when I list items at times that I've used - its only to share.

The papers are by Fancy Pants.
The letters are by Thickers
The *bling* is good ol' Stickles
The flowers are by Dear Lizzy

Playing With Stamps_Celebrate Cards

2010-08-01T07:32:00.000-07:00

I am so hooked on making these little stamps! I accidentally broke one of my soft blocks, so I doodled a little something on it .. and made these cards for a challenge.

I didn't have enough black ribbon, so I used cardstock and vellum. The lettering on the vellum is from my printer. I use a heavier vellum, so it isn't all hung up when I try to print something.

I also don't have swirly bling, so I used stickles for the swirls.

The little beads are floral drops from the gardening section at TARGET...I colored them with some dark alcohol ink.

Jazzy Papers Challenge

2010-07-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

Tenia over on Jazzy Papers has a cool challenge going on! Here's my interpretation of her sketch.

Hello Blogosphere!

2010-07-27T04:55:00.000-07:00

Hello out there in blog land! I've gotten a lot of requests as to the face behind my little drawings in my profile recently. I realized I had no recent pics of me, and decided to say "Hello!!".

I've been on a slow quest to lose weight. I've been lucky so far, as I have no real health problems - and I want to keep it that way. Last year I got a WII for myself, and began the WII Fit program. Its been a slow process, but I have managed to lose about 20 pounds since last year. I've fallen off the wagon a couple of times, but I'm back on now, and recently joined a fun group called ScrapNFit. Tiare runs a fun group, and has different ways to achieve your goals. Right now, I'm focused on portion control and exercise. I don't own a scale, so I depend on my Wii to give me my weight on a weekly basis.

Anyhow ... that's the journey I am presently on, and anyone who would like to take it with me, please feel free to post to me and share your journey!

And for those who wonder about the gal behind the caricature .. here I am ... trying to keep cool here in Northern VA.

Weekend Scraps

2010-07-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

This weekend I took a break from painting, and decided to make cards only using the scraps on my paper crafting table.

A perfect excuse to do this was the ongoing swaps on the Art For The Creative Mind yahoo group. One of the swaps I signed up for, was a card swap with the theme, Games People Play.

Here's what I came up with using only the scraps on my table.

Who Am I?

2010-07-12T04:16:00.001-07:00

So many times I feel we as women look only at what is wrong with us, who we want to be, how we can change. But do we accept who we are right now? I know I don't always do - and I'm trying to change that. In my twenties, I know I was trying to figure myself out ... my thirties, I became a Mother, a Wife ... and now, in my forties ... I feel as if I not only know who I am ... but accept who I am. Is there room for improvement - of course. What I asked myself over the weekend ... was do I LIKE WHO I AM??

Yes.

My Son Was Being Bullied on Facebook

2010-07-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

I'm so upset. My 12 yr old woke me up last night, and told me he wanted me to delete his Facebook account. I allowed him to have an account - which I monitored like the dickens ... and for the most part he seemed to enjoy it. He had a small amount of friends and family - and all seemed to be well.

Until this weekend.

He wanted me to upload some videos of he and his friends skateboarding, so as I was uploading - I do what Mothers do - I looked at his FB page.

Now, I know I am sorta over-protective of my son, and no parent likes to think their kids are doing things that they don't approve of when they aren't around ... but I'm not naive either. I was a smart mouth 12 yr old way back when ... and I remember exactly the things I did and said ... and how "grown" I thought I was, LOL. I was bullied, and on occasions I'd had to defend myself physically. Back then (in the late 70's/early 80's), you weren't kicked out of school - you were suspended. the suspensions were also served at the school, not at home. So when I fought Rachel, the bully who'd tormented me all summer - I spent a week in suspension, in the Principals office!

But these days, bullying is insidious and its often violent, and all I could think of was the kids I'd read about who are bullied online, that hide it from their parents ... and they have taken their own lives. Is it a stretch? Probably - but that's directly where my mind went.

Normally I would not have acted, but this boy threatened my son on Facebook. He basically told him that when the new school term started ... frankly, there'd be hell to pay.

My first thought - what idiot carries a grudge all summer long, over a Facebook page?

Then I answered myself. A Bully.

I had a knot in my stomach, as I read my son's responses to this boy. He cursed at him, and to see the foul language on the page, that I know was written by my son was eye-opening to me. Like I said, I don't put my head in the sand, I know kids do things we don't like when we aren't around ... but this "felt" different to me. What I read on the page was my son "defending himself" as this little boy continued to "go after him with a certain viciousness.

I may have even let it stand, had I not noticed an open chat window that my son left open with one of his friends. In this chat window he expressed not the foul language he used on the page against the boy ... but fear. He told his friend that he was afraid, and that he now dreaded the first day of middle school, because this boy would be waiting for him. He said that the boy was bigger and meaner and he said the only thing he could do was remember all he was taught in karate for 5 years ... and fight.

I started to cry. I remember feeling like that. Here I am, 45 years old and I remember EXACTLY how that felt at 12 years old. Unadulterated fear.

I don't apologize for being a nosy parent. I called my son inside, and I told him that I wanted him to delete the foul language he'd posted on facebook. I told him that as much as I understood his anger and fear, that facebook follows you wherever you go. I told him his teachers, his principal, etc ... that it wasn't worth ruining his enjoyment of facebook.

Surprisingly, my son was not angry with me for reading his page or his chat ... and somewhere deep inside I realized he wanted me to see it. We talked a long time about this ... and his tears hurt me to my core, as well as the helplessness he expressed in "not being able to get away from this boy" who apparently had been bullying him ALL YEAR LONG IN SCHOOL!!!!!!!

I was livid, but at the same time so happy that my son still feels close enough to me to talk to me about his feelings. He told me he wanted to enjoy Facebook, but he didn't think it was worth it if he was going to be bullied. At first I asked him to think about it, to not let one person ruin something that he enjoyed.

I sent the boy a message on Facebook that said the following:

Your parents are more than welcome to call me if there is a problem with my son. _____ parents have my number, if your parents would like to talk to me.

I have already told my son not to respond to you anymore, and I'd appreciate that you do not respond to him any longer.

If I see anymore conversation on facebook between the two of you, I will have to speak with your parents.

The part of me that understood a 12 yr old, knew that my son would not like my message. But the parent in me wanted to shut this down, and REMIND the other boy that parents read these pages.

I am proud of my son. I sometimes see glimpses of maturity and clarity in his decisions ... but for the most part, he is still 12 - and not a 12 going on 20 twelve year old. He's just a normal twelve year old.

Four hours later, he woke me up, and asked me to delete his account. He said he knew he would not be able to NOT respond, and that he knew this kid would continue to come after him on Facebook.

I took a screen shot of the pages, and then, at the request of my son I deleted his account.

Christmas in July cards!!

2010-07-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

Can you believe Christmas only six months away?? These cards were quick and easy to make ... and I wanted to do non-traditional colors, at least with the card stock. The envelopes I used a border stamp and brown Anna Griffin ink.

Isn't She Cute?

2010-07-03T13:47:00.001-07:00

I bought this cute little stamp a while ago ... and finally got a chance to use it. I love her little face.

Sketches_Face Two

2010-06-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

This is the second sketch of the same pic. I tried to change the focus, and the direction of the eyes.

This is an ongoing class at All Norah's Art ning group.

Recycle Project: Foil Box Ribbon Holder

2010-06-19T05:03:00.001-07:00

This was a REALLY quick and easy project, and I still can't believe that I looked at the foil box and came up with this.

**SCROLL DOWN to the bottom of the page and Press PAUSE on the MUSIC PLAYER BEFORE PLAYING THE VIDEO**

Figuring out what I can do with this box:

Getting down to work:

COMPLETE:

6x6 Scrapbook Journal Complete

2010-06-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

I am so happy, I love the way my journal turned out. I think I like doing books best of all, so many possibilities. I also had a lot of fun trying my hand at posting youtube videos .. I will definitely do more of those.

**SCROLL DOWN AND HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON ON THE PLAYER BEFORE VIEWING VIDEO**

Accordion Insert for 6x6 Scrapbook Journal_wk 3

2010-06-13T06:06:00.000-07:00

Before watching video -

**SCROLL DOWN TO BOTTOM OF PAGE AND PRESS PAUSE ON THE MUSIC PLAYLIST**

Week 2_6x6 Scrapbook Gratitude Journal

2010-06-06T14:37:00.000-07:00

I added another weeks worth of pages to my Gratitude Journal that we are doing on the Scraps of Color site. I have been sick so I didn't do a long one, I felt well enough today to just go through the pages I managed to finish. Between my allergies and my asthma, I've had a pretty rough week. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

**BEFORE WATCHING VIDEO, PLEASE SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF PAGE AND PRESS PAUSE on THE MUSIC PLAYER**

6x6 Scrapbook Gratitude Journal

2010-06-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

I took advantage of this past holiday weekend to try something different, so far as sharing my scrapbooking - I made videos! I know to some that might not mean much, but for me, it is.

I worked on a Gratitude journal, a challenge on the Scraps of Color Ning site. We're doing this for the month of June.

Check out what I did!!

Before watching video -

**SCROLL DOWN TO BOTTOM OF PAGE AND PRESS PAUSE ON THE MUSIC PLAYLIST**

Where I stopped on my journal:

Part One

Part Two

To see more of my videos, click HERE. I had a BLAST making these once I got the hang of it.

In Remembrance on Memorial Day

2010-05-28T17:05:00.001-07:00

Before barbecues and parades ...
Before hitting the road to beaches and friends...
Give thanks to the men and women of our Armed Forces who are giving their lives...
And have given their lives ...
To protect us.

Painted ATCs

2010-05-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

I love painting ATCs. The perfect mix of paint and paper ... and I'm in creative heaven. This batch was fun to do. I used my WISP brush (the largest size) to paint the lines. When I paint on paper with acrylics, instead of using water - I use glaze medium. No buckling!

These are for a quick ATC swap on Urban Scrappers.

Rest In Peace Ms. Horne

2010-05-10T16:35:00.001-07:00

Unmounted Rubber Stamp Tip

2010-05-08T16:07:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of unmounted rubber stamps, as I am sure everyone else does too. And like everyone else - I have those acrylic blocks that can be kinda pricey.

Well, this afternoon, I was looking for something to use for a rather long border stamp I have. I thought about putting 2 of my acrylic blocks together - when it hit me I had something even better.

A ruler!!!

I have several acrylic rulers that I knew would work ... and of course - when I need one - I can't find it!!! Soooo...I wondered - would a plain ol' wooden one do as well?

Yep!!

And VOILA!!...I added borders to my journal page!!

National Scrapbooking Day_My First Tag Book_LONG POST...Lots Of Pictures

2010-05-02T10:04:00.001-07:00

For National Scrapbooking Day, I worked on my first Tag Book. I'd actually finished the basic book earlier this week, but yesterday was spent adding lots of details.

The theme of this tag book was Grunge - so after some quick You Tube and GOOGLE searches, I jumped in. Since my upcoming cross-country trip is on my mind, I decided the theme of my book would be Trips, aptly titled Life Is A Trip.

This was done for a swap on Art For The Creative Mind yahoo group. This group is a swapping group, so there is always something going on. If you want to stretch yourself and swap - this is a group for you.

A tip: For the pockets that held the mini tags - I used manila folders to cut out the pockets. I also managed to cut out 5 large tags from one manila folder .. and I am sure you can get at least 10 smaller tags from one manila folder. So, if you don't' have any tags from the supply store - use a manila folder.

AFTCM Collaborated Book Swap

2010-04-23T02:55:00.000-07:00

This most recent swap I participated in was a doozy. Different groups had diff themes, and everyone came away with a book consisting of pages created by different members of that group. All the recipient of the group had to create was the front and back covers, to complete their books.

The theme I chose for my book was, Frogs ~n~ Snails ~n~ Puppy Dog Tails. I fully intended my book to be for boys, as I feel like our boys get the short end of the crafting, paper crafting and decorative art worlds.

I wasn't sure WHAT I would do, but I wanted my book to have that "back in the day" feel ... like the board books I had so many of. Once I received all my pages - I realized I could really make it for my son, and turn it into a journal for him.

Once he saw the pages - he loved it - and he especially loved writing with one of my white journaling pens!!LOL

Now, I'm not going to post the pics of the pages he has already written on - he'd kill me - so I took pics of the pages BEFORE he started his journaling.

I thought all the ladies did a great job with the pages. I added pics that my son chose ... and on those pages, he'll do his journaling.

Front and Back Covers that I did using chipboard, some great patterned paper I had (sorry can't remember who it's by), Anna Griffin ink for the edges, twine and some rings I had. I didn't use my cinch, because there was still one set I hadn't received when I put it together.

Christmas in April

2010-04-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

Today has been all about Christmas! I love painting and crafting for Christmas, and find myself painting for this holiday all year round.

I recently joined a ning group devoted to Christmas Cards, which is what I need to keep me ahead of the game so far as cards. Here are two that I finished today:

These cards were really fun to do, and I used papers from Tiare's Classy Pack.

Two other things I painted today were 2 cute little designs by decorative artist Susan Kelley, for an ornament swap - which is also year round!!

Scrappin' The Blues Away

2010-04-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

I scrap when I get homesick - and today - I was missing my older brother and younger sister. We were tight growing up, and I'm so happy that we remain close. This was such a fun lay out to do, and I have to thank Tiare on SOC for all the challenges. Her challenges are a great way to keep up with the photo's I've collected and continue to collect.

Utrecht Learning Center - Acrylic as Water Medium

2010-03-28T07:01:00.001-07:00

Utrecht Learning Center - Acrylic as Water Medium

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12 Merry Days Seminar_Apple Tree Tole Shop

2010-03-21T17:45:00.001-07:00

What a great seminar!!! This weekend I painted with Heidi England at the Apple Tree in Springfield VA. Three and a half days of non stop painting!! This is the third year I have been painting with Heidi - and it's such a great experience.

I finished most of my piece - I need to add some embellishments, details and antiquing ... but I managed to finish the major parts.

Prepping For Heidi Seminar

2010-03-18T03:34:00.001-07:00

If I was to ever it the lottery - I mean a BIG lottery - I'd spend the rest of my days painting and going to every painting seminar that I could around the US. Alas, I haven't hit the lottery and I haven't quit my day job....BUT...what I am doing is prepping for Heidi's Twelve Merry Days seminar.

The Apple Tree is a wonderful tole shop in Northern Virginia, and I am so grateful for it...as many tole shops are disappearing due to the influx of big box stores muscling out the little guys - THEN dropping all the paint supplies leaving us artists hanging.

The Apple Tree has wonderful wood pieces - and for this seminar, we are painting a 36 inch Santa.

The basecoat was easy to put on - I used a roller.

A good way to "save" your paint is to utilize those baggies! I wasn't sure if I would need more, so I just put the roller and the tray into a large baggie and left it on my paint table ... and after 2 days, it's still fresh.

..and because Susan is nice enough to let us come in early on Prep Night, I'll be finishing the rest of the prep this afternoon at the shop. I can't wait - love when Heidi comes to town!!!

When First You Dont' Succeed....

2010-03-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

...try again. I tried to fix the roses ... I think they look a little better.

Heidi England Seminar This Week!!

2010-03-15T04:12:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited that decorative artist Heidi England is coming to my local tole shop, The Apple Tree. This will be my fifth seminar with Heidi ... and I can't wait to paint this Santa! if any of you have a local tole shop in your area - please, please , PLEASE support it. I know it's easy to go online...or go cheaper at the big box stores ... but these big box stores are putting our precious Mom and Pops out of business. I try to take as many seminars at the Apple Tree as I can ... and Heidi is always fun.

Oh To Paint A Perfect Rose

2010-03-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite surfaces - it holds tea bags. I envisioned roses..found a Marjorie Harris Clark pattern ... too bad Marjorie didn't paint it for me! The thing about painting roses - is you have to just keep doing it. So ... I'll keep painting them. maybe one day, I'll actually be happy with the outcome.

I've Been Scrappin'

2010-03-12T17:29:00.001-08:00

I loooove going through my old family photos. Is it just me, or did the women from the 40's just have that certain PIZAZZ!! Now, don't get me wrong - without a doubt being an African American in those days was awful .. but I look at these photos and just think that the time...the period of the clothes (shallow I know) .. just so beautiful. The women in my family were also seamstresses - so many of the pictures in my photos - they actually made the clothes they are wearing.

Anyway ... this lay out was for a challenge using black and white or sepia tones, on the Scraps of Color group.

Last Set of Pages - Black Cat

2010-03-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

WHEW. This challenge/swap that I participated in on the Yahoo group, Art For The Creative Mind was fun - but challenging.

I finished my last two sets of pages, and they will be mailed out on Monday. I am hoping that my recipient likes them.

Vintage Fashion Challenge

2010-02-27T20:20:00.000-08:00

These pages are supposed to be about Vintage Fashion. Well, my printer is out of ink and I'm determined to mail these on Monday ... so I dug through what I had ... and came up with this.

I tried to "age" the pages using Anna Griffin chocolate pigment ink ... and also stamped over the paper with one of Anna's mini rose bouquet stamps.

I have one more set to complete .... and then this 6x6 pages challenge will be complete.

I felt of of my depth with many of the pages - but I have come away with great ideas on how to build up larger pages with 6x6's as well as smaller ATC sizes. I'll keep challenging myself ... and see what I can create.

If First You Don't Succeed ....

2010-02-27T17:09:00.000-08:00

Try, try again.

Okay, I added another element - and I think I have it now. The theme for these was Gothic Architecture.

BEFORE

AFTER

Painting On Fabric Step By Step_Long Pictorial

2010-02-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

Normally when I paint anything - I take step by step photos. Just a habit I got into long ago if I ever decided to create my own decorative painting patterns, and it stuck with me.

I know a lot of people think painting on fabric is hard - it really isn't ... especially if you use fabric paint and bypass the painting textile mediums.

Supplies I used:

Number 10 flat brush
So Soft paints
Lorrie Weber Court Jester pattern, available at Toletown.com
large piece of cardboard
12x12 Cotton square (which I cut from a well worn - but rarely used pillowcase)

Time allotted:

1 hour

For the Court Jester square, I used So Soft fabric paint - and to me - its the best thing out there to paint on fabric.

The colors are wonderful, the coverage is great - and that little bottle lasts a long time.

For this project, I needed a 12x12 square, which I cut from an old pillow case. I liked the pattern of the pillow case, as I thought it looked like child scribble - which was a perfect background for the Court Jester pattern. To transfer the pattern, you can use a fabric transfer pencil - but I didn't. I eyeballed the pattern and sketched it directly onto the fabric with a number 2 pencil.

Then I took the pencil and a ruler - and made a 1 inch seam allowance around the circumference of the square. For stability, I stapled the square to a piece of cardboard (a piece of an old flat PRIORITY mailing box) to make it easier to paint.

I only needed one brush for this project - and I used a number 10 flat brush with a good chisel edge. I started with So Soft Buttermilk, filling in the face.

Turning the piece, I filled in the hands. I did go over the face and hands twice, to make sure I covered everything...but it didn't take that much paint.

As I was painting, I decided to change the colors of the original pattern which called for blue and green ... to match the background of the fabric that I'd chosen. For the body, I decided on So Soft Terra Cotta. I outlined the body using the chisel edge of my brush, then filled it in.

In no time, the face and body were done.

Using So Soft Forest Green for the base of the crown, I filled it in. Then I outlined the top of the crown with So Soft Avocado Green and filled in.

When I finished, I took a step back to see if I missed any spots. At this point, the fabric will be sticking to the cardboard underneath. Don't worry about that - I didn't even adjust it, just kept on painting. It made for a more stable painting surface.

Using So Soft Gold, I filled in basecoated the bells, then took the tip of my brush and used the same color gold for the tops of the fringes.

And with that- all the basecoating was complete.

Now, comes the shading, which is really simple. The face and hands I shaded with a So Soft Dark Rose.

The top of the crown is shaded with the same Forest green as the bottom of the crown. The bells and shirt were shaded with burnt umber. All the rest of the details - the eyes, smile and fringes, I used So Soft Black.

Though Lorrie's pattern didn't call for it, I added extra details on the shirt and crown using So Soft Gold and the tip of my brush.

And the square is complete.

I will leave what you do with your square, up to you. This piece can be turned into a pillow, it can be part of many squares turned into a quilt ... it can even be painted onto a fabric bag, tee or sweatshirt. Painting on fabric is fun, easy - and quick. This entire project only took an hour to do.

Gothic Architecture=FAIL

2010-02-24T05:46:00.000-08:00

I did these, as the theme was Gothic Architecture ... but honestly? I haven't a clue as to what this is all about. I did a little research and all the projects I saw, the only recurring theme was the actual shape of the "arch" ... so I used a positive/negative theme with patterned paper .... but nothing really gave me that ""AHA!!!" moment when doing this challenge.

Any ideas??

A Simple Thank You

2010-02-24T04:48:00.000-08:00

This year has been a rough one. Back to back blizzards hit Northern Virginia, and in between, I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia and spent almost 3.5 weeks in the bed/at home.

During that time, I found out how wonderful my neighbors can be. I don't see them very often, as I work full time and usually am sitting at my desk at 5am when they are still in bed .. then when I get home at 2-2:30, they are most likely just returning from their lunch breaks.

We don't do cul de sac barbecues or anything like that ... we are all busy working parents just going about our busy days.

...and I guess what they say is true, that you really don't know about people - until something happens.

During the blizzards, I literally could not take a step without reaching for my inhaler ... and as I watched hour by hour the snow covering my truck, I prayed I wouldn't have to go out in the storm - to the hospital ... cause I'd never make it. my son is still young enough not to have all the strength it would have taken to dig me out ... and surely no ambulance would be able to reach me.

So imagine my surprise when all was cleared, and I managed to stand up without hurling, I peeked out the window and there was my truck....all dug out from the snow.

My son and I just stood in the window ... awestruck...and I did something I rarely do.

I cried.

My neighbors, bless their hearts, ot only cleaned off my truck ... but kept my truck dug out the entire time. They told me they were afraid that I would get worse, and I wouldn't be able to dig my self out if I had to go to the hospital.

I thought that was the sweetest thing - because none of them had to do it.

I made them all cards and gave them containers of chocolate cookies ... just something to say Thank You.

Painting On Fabric

2010-02-21T13:02:00.000-08:00

I haven't painted on fabric in a while ... but recently I needed to paint something for a painted project ... and I decided to rummage through my paint stuff to see what I had.

The design is by Lorrie Weber of Toletown.com. I used So Soft fabric paints - which are a DREAM to paint on fabric with. The fabric is actually cut from a cotton pillow pillow case that I had in a scraps box. I love the way it came out, and I'd forgotten how much fun painting on fabric could be.

The Blizzard Of 2010

2010-02-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

This month has been crazy, bringing to me not just walking pneumonia - but 2 back to back blizzards!!! As much as I love snow, I'm ready to get back to normal here in Northern Virginia.

Brrrrrrr..There's a LOT OF Snow Outside!!

2010-02-06T05:15:00.000-08:00

I never believe the weather forecasters when they prdict - ITS THE BIG ONE!!! Welp ... this is a big one. 24 inches and still coming down, here in Virginia. I love it!!!

Leftovers - putting Those Papers To Good Use

2010-02-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

Call me what you want - packrat, craft hoarder, clutter nut ... but I can't just throw perfectly good pieces of ANYTHING away. Last night I had so much trouble falling asleep, fighting a cold - I decided to take some paper scraps and cover some generic notebooks and pads.

Now, in my day job - I use lots of notebooks, pads, sticky notes - and I'm one of those in the office that buys her own supplies - cause I just like to be a little different.LOL

So, what better way for me to stand out a little more, than to cover those office standard pads that I use, by using up some leftover papers and other accoutrements.

I did one for my sister first, as I was chatting away with her on the phone. My sister is a Pastry Chef in Brooklyn..and she is always working on some fantastic little culinary delight.

Then, because my sister and I are collaborating on some things that will combine both of our talents - I made one for myself:

Still couldn't sleep .. so I dug through my purse and pulled out a little notebook that I have - a small Daily Journal that I write my thoughts, frustrations, ideas, anger, etc. The word that I chose for 2010 to concentrate on was Release ... so I came up with this:

I didn't want to leave out the quirky, so I added that cute little cat to remind me not to take life so seriously. To Let It Go .... whatever it is that bothers me.

...and then, because I am always in some type of training class ... I had to do something with the ratty notebook I always keep copious notes in...

...and I'm happy to say that just looking at the newly covered books using my scraps, brightens my day!!

Hmmmm...wonder if I can do anything with that ugly stapler??

Tis The Season To Be Swappin'

2010-01-30T15:49:00.000-08:00

It's snowing outside!!!...and I'm painting inside. Today was the perfect day to knock out all the swaps I signed up for! This batch of ATCs is for a ATC Swap on Toletown.

This was a good opportunity for me to sketch a doodle, and use my H20 watercolor paints. Each ATC took approximately 15 minutes.

Valentines Day

Easter

Independence Day

Christmas Throughout The Year

2010-01-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

The Brush Bunch group on YAHOO, hosts a year round exchange, called CTTY or Christmas Throughout The Year.

I just finished these quick paint snowfaces on canvas coasters...and in the mail they