stone walls

I didn't take any photos today but this is one I took last week of a stone wall in my parent's front yard. I have always appreciated stone walls. The history. The craftsmanship. The amount of work that goes into them. My dad instilled that in me through walks in the woods in our neighborhood where stone walls are commonplace. Markers of old and current land lines. Looking at them I think about the hands that found each rock and placed it in each perfect spot. They remind me of my Grandfather who was a mason and a carpenter. I'm reminded of my Dad and his livelihood and ability to make anything and have it be beautiful. This is one that he has fixed up in the front yard. This isn't a completely random post like I thought it would be when I started writing. The twopeas blog challenge today was: Do you have any spring projects you are excited to do? This stone wall represents one for me. I used to draw charcoal landscapes. One drawing of a stone wall was part of my series of large scale drawings I did for my BA- Studio Art thesis years ago. It has been that long since I have drawn from life. I miss it. A few weeks ago I bought some charcoal and paper. This weekend I want to pull out my other supplies and as the weather gets nicer go outside and draw more of the places and things I love. I loved the challenge of making something look real. Getting it just right. The smoothness of charcoal. It has been a long time but it is my goal this Spring.

mosaic

This is my first attempt at a mosaic using images from Flickr and the Mosaic Maker. I feel terrible though because I can't figure out how to get back to the page where you copy and paste the credits for the photos. Live and learn. There must be a way to find that information by clicking on the photos or something. Next time I'll make sure to not go beyond that page before I copy and paste it in my blog! But I was having a heck of time figuring out how to make it normal size on my blog. I finally cut and paste the webpage and uploaded it that way. I'm so computer illiterate! But had fun looking through these inspiration images while I'm home resting trying to give my body a break so I can get better.

calendar

Just got back from my class at Absolutely Everything with Robin Beam. It was so much fun! I have never really known much about inks and what to do with them and I learned some cool techniques. We made a calender attached to a 12x6 thick Hambly overlay. Added some chipboard elements inked with a new opaque Ranger ink that isn't going to be out until the end of the month. I learned some technqiues of using the texture of stamps (instead of just looking at the stamps in terms of thier images) and Robin's "Bandana" technique. Here are a few of the calendar pages. I still want to add some embellishments and details with white and black pens, etc. We used Tim Holtz's inks, Pearl Ex., a white Ranger pen, various stamps, Heidi Swapp masks, and a variety of techniques.

The upper part of the calendar with Maya Road Chipboard mounted on a clear Hambly overlay.


One of the pages using a Heidi Swapp Mask and inks.


Page using a wrinkle-free distressed watercolor effect.


Detail of one of the birds inked with a new Ranger opaque ink and stamped using a section of a stamp in Archiver's black. Details added with a white opaque pen using Robin's Bandana technique.

Thanks to those who sent "Get well" messages! Just have medicine head. Might stay home tomorrow and get a day of rest. We'll see. Just a crummy cold that won't quit!

Love/Hate

Just have to say I'm hating being sick...again. with a cold. or something. But I am loving $5 tulips from Trader Joe's! Off to a class at my LSS. I'll post more later...hopefully with a picture of a finished project. Unless I fall asleep at the table under the influence of cold meds.

knitting and random happiness

Yesterday I mentioned the doll I made a year or so ago. I took a class at my local yarn shop with my mom and we made the dolls from the book Knitted Babes. Now, I am not a real experienced knitter but my mom is and she has been teaching me for the past few years. I must be a frustrating student with my "Help!" and "I don't know what happened!" Only recently have I begun to learn how to fix my own mistakes. Before, I needed my mom nearby every time I knitted in case I made a mistake! She has been helpful and its nice having had this connection for the past few years. Anyway... Here's my girl I made...I call her Lorelei (my "girl" name by the way!) She has a lot of hair and is a little top heavy so needs to be propped up!

I've been thinking about making her a friend. With less hair! I mentioned I went to Butterfly Yarns the other day with that in mind. I get lost in any sort of art store. Overwhelmed. I freeze with all the possibilities! I ended up leaving with skein of yarn for a small felted bag. I knitted the same pattern a year ago but haven't gotten up the nerve to do the actual felting step. Maybe this weekend. I have to if I'm going to start another bag or I'll have a whole bunch of unfinished bags to add to my unfinished scarfs! But anyhow...I wanted to share my girl...I think they are so cute and for any knitters out there... actually very simple to make. I even knitted her little hat and dress. Now...if I could only figure out how to knit myself a human-sized outfit/sweater/hat! I did try to make her a cute wrap sweater but it ended badly. That was about 8 months ago and I got so frustrated I put down my needles for awhile. I may be brave and go back to the store and get the yarn to start another doll. She may even get a sweater.

One of the blogs I read through Twopeas, Dana's Cafe, posted a challenge: Write 10 Random Things that Make you Happy. I have been having fun reading other's responses to this list so thought I'd make my list. It's a nice way to end the day.

1. I took a really nice, long walk after dinner tonight and got to relax.
2. Cary and I got to eat and sit together eating our pizza when I got home before he left for work.
3. I have a delicious piece of chocolate cake next to me...
4. Mom and I got to talk for awhile tonight.
5. I have my mental and physical health. Something that makes me feel grateful and happy in light of the experiences I watched people struggle with today at work.
6. It's nice and warm and cozy at home tonight.
7. I have a good book to read when I go to bed that my dad recommended to me Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson. Very funny - great author.
8. I feel prepared for all that I need to do tomorrow.
9. My family makes me happy today.
10. The animal crackers in the traditional box that Cary brought home for me make me happy.

Have a good night!

random stuff

Off to work at the college shortly. Not feeling well. I've been thinking for the past week I have allergies but I don't think it is. My glands were swollen and sore last night and today. Oh well. Cary isn't feeling well either and today is his birthday...Happy Birthday Hon! Tonight I'm not holding a regular class I'm doing 1:1 meetings about their thesis papers. I still have to finish reading a few...ooopps! My plan is to try and get out of the building and walk around the block before I start the back-to-back appts. I really think that my getting sick again has to do with (a) being stressed and (b) letting my walking and exercise come second to my work stuff. Wednesdays are also my day to treat myself to a sub for lunch (which along with the birthday cake I already have - will cancel out the walk!). I am halfway through the crazy week. Just need to make it through to Saturday night and then things should lighten up slightly.

Ohh..hopefully I can post later tonight or tomorrow. I went to the yarn store last night and picked up some more yarn. Like I need another project. I knitted a bag about a year ago and have never gotten around to felting it. I've never done that before. Hopefully this week I can. I'll try and post a before & after. I am also thinking of knitting another doll that I learned in a class. I'll post that too. They are very cute and kind of funky.

Well...off to work....

wishes

Having a trying day at work. I had a minute to read a short chapter and do a challenge in Julia Cameron's book The Sound of Paper and decided to do it to change my focus. {btw - I highly reccommend the book}

A list of 20 Wishes...

1. a new job to compliment my work at the college
2. a vacation. don't even have to go anywhere. just some days off to lounge and do whatever!
3. a new apartment.
4. marriage (eventually...this is a list of wishes after all!)
5. a dog. a labrador.
6. warm, flip-flop weather. today is warm but not sunny.
7. to feel physically better today. a little under the weather.
8. an art studio. a whole room for my art stuff that doesn't have to be put away and pulled out.
9. a part-time job at an art store.
10. a store of my own.
11. children.
12. some fresh flowers on my desk.
13. a best friend. the kind you have as a kid that you can call anytime.
14. to run away. be spontaneous. irresponsible. I'm always the responsible, organized planner.
15. to visit family in California again.
16. a trip to Ireland.
17. a day to play hooky and go on a shopping spree (refer to number 14!)
18. get my routine (exercise) back.
19. a house and a yard.
20. a sense of peacefullness.