21 Secrets 2013 Ending

make room for 2014 everybody, so many changes in life but looking forward not backward.

my bubbles class with Tammy Garcia

Kate Crane was amazing so much so that I purchased her dvds. I want them all!

and Ro - well I can't wait to see what she offers in the way of classes - I want to go to New Zealand and play with her in person.  my handmade stamp person created from junk pieces left over.

New Year 2014 One Word

i was praying the other day and kind of just going about business as usual when a word just dropped right into the center of everything.  so i ask was this my word for 2014 and quite honestly i wanted a more important, more exciting, more inspiring word ....... "thinking".

that must be my new word but i will keep asking to make sure this is THE Word.

this word brought to mind a 60's show with Dobie Gillis, a college student always imitating The Thinker. its so funny how things come full circle.  here we are in going into 2014 and tv shows are reverting back to 60's with a twist.  funny

Community of FAT Friends

this year Constance inspired us with monthly tag ideas and it is now coming to a close.  I enjoyed making and trading all my tags.  this is my December "be creative" tag. using fabric to print the text border, copic markers, free-motion stitch and buttons.

Breathe Art

ok so i awoke this morning feeling nausea. but dirty footprints has a chance to win a spot in one of their 21 secrets live classes so went over to check lisa out AND she encouraged me to use my brand new 36 gel pens i just purchased yesterday.  one thing i did agree with self about - when i buy something within first days use it.

 I created this fast-moving stroking little guy as I was practicing my breathing with music by Mandisa and Toby Mac - their song "Good Morning". "man you morning people. no! i'm serious." sings Toby Mac.  i happen to be a morning person and i love this fast-paced song. so my body is moving and i am breathing.

 look lisa you can see i followed your directions and took notes.

cut out the little face and put the guy in a bird cage - sing for your release - no just kiddin' - i am no longer in that cage - at least not today.  going to finish my drink cozy sleeves for my DILs friend. you go have an artful day and check out lisa

Soul Foodie 2014

another great team of 35 artists team up to bring you wonderful online art classes 2014. Prairie Fairy Studios is offering a free chance to win a spot so hurry on over to her site. I think you have a chance to still win.

an artistic endeavor or desire would be to create a journal page every day. just let loose and art-abandoned.

where life takes you

are you flexible?  knee replacement will change everything, recovery difficult, but benefits worth it.  my hubby loves to walk and it has been way too long - years - he has walked in pain.  last week surgery came and now he is home to recover.  its tough, exhausting, challenging BUT GOD is faithful to see us through.
so many things going on in the lives of family members BUT GOD is faithful in each situation.

major change for my MIL who at 78 lost her job and now begins the process of moving in with her daughter and husband in another part of the state. BUT GOD is faithful

GOD IS FAITHFUL.  HE NEVER FAILS US, HE NEVER LEAVES NOR FORSAKES US.
i am so grateful for the Word of GOD - it is a living breathing real part of life.
i am so grateful for the doctors, nurses and all the people at St Mary's hospital.  what a great place to have surgery.
i am so grateful for home health care and the nurses and physical therapists.
i am so grateful for praying friends and friends that have the gift of hospitality.

i have much to be grateful for and so i say THANK YOU GOD for your love.

late but quietly dreaming

i am so glad i can lay down and type this on my laptop with two of my doggies beside me sound asleep. it has been grueling with the extra doggies here and so hard for hubby to relax over the weekend.  i hate to see him return to his busy work week more tired.

really i would love to be on here right now headed to the Caribbean with hubby.

or on this island enjoying the beach, soaking up the sun.

or

on St Thomas watching the sunset at the end of a glorious day. oh i can dream can't i!

Exhausted

we have been helping out with two of our sons by watching their dogs.  both are barkers - oh my! and after not having much sleep last night our youngest son went white water rafting fell in the water, hit a rock and 5 stitches later over his eyebrow we are back home.  i am ready, more than ready for bed.

still i am grateful my son and DIL made it safely to Wyoming for vaca. my youngest is home safe. my middle son came home after working a shift for the fire dept. and my hubby has decided to schedule knee surgery for end of Oct/nov.  my MIL is back to work after her knee surgery.  all-n-all i have so much to be grateful for.  Thank you Heavenly Father for my art when i need to express myself and can't find the words to do that. Good Night all.

Fabric Journal 2013

someone on one of my classes mentioned Teesha Moore's pillow fabric journals. So I started handstitching (which I really struggle with) pillow squares and put them together to create the front and side. The back is a creation from Ricky Tim's class more than 10 years ago, which I finally was able to repurpose into the jrl back.and Alma Stoller from 2012 Secrets shared about recycling cereal boxes. so that will be my center and some signatures.

and these are some of the front of my signatures - this one using stamps

painted papers and recycled boxes

punches and rub-on letters along with stamp pad and stamps.

I am so proud of myself that I actually am using many different techniques and bunches of my supplies to create a large wonderful beautiful fabric and watercolor paper/recycled papers journal

21 Secrets 2014

great news!!! connie has plans already underway for 21 Secrets 2014.  I can't wait bc I have signed up  for every one since the beginning.  and all the teachers have been wonderful. great price 21 teachers. why don't you join us for the fun new year. check out the site http://bit.ly/10idr19

Palette Garden

today i finished my garden, well almost need to paint the legs. the temps over 90 and i was rolling in sweat. but it felt so great to put this in the ground today. the palette was broken but i repaired it and made it into a flower garden.

 

More Face Sketching

i sketched these guys out last night before going to bed. i am learning to repurpose my art. cut out one of the previous faces to paste onto a small artwork. so satisfying.

Sketcher

yesterday I read mystele's blog about something more. I really am right with her. this morning I awoke wanting to sketch so began with this

 and from there created this page of ladies.

I really like the expressions and how I dared to shade/highlight.  I am not a sketcher.
have a wonderful day doing what you do best whatever that is, enjoy life.

 

Wild Eatery Woody's

santa clause hanging out at Woody's BBQ. really funky art. i love this place.

wiid wood, nails and license plates fish hanging from the rafters.

Police Sculpture

is this not the most amazing sculpture hanging on a building? I love it! hubby and I drove up to ride Monument and eat at Buz n Ned's BBQ on Boulevard. what a great day!

2nd Cut-Edge Page

here is another cut-edge page in my handmade journal.  I love Valerie's class on edging. adds so much to a journal along with flip-out pages.

and here are my two handmade journals - all colored and ready to go. I love this partial  quote "to imagine is everything." by Anatole France

Valerie's Mini Class

 my 16-page journal - the first page i chose to edge in a woman. i love this so far.

rocks and leather

i love these art rocks

and i am having a tough time covering over this leather book cover. can i do it? let's see!

In My Garden

i have two gardenia bushes, one doing great the other transplanted near by to do better. heavenly aroma.

my lantana, love rubbing the petals to the scent of lemon.

mr frog keeps watch over my 2 jasmine bushes.  another heavenly scent. my hubby loves smelling them all.

Hi Ya

isn't this carved man the cutest piece of wood. he is at Woody's eatery on Chincoteague island.  loved this place - great pulled pork, though that is not my thing i shared a bite with hubby. surf boards + stand to eat + old phone booth + so 60's/70s.  great fun

a new home

this property is for sale and i would love to turn this into a home. i think the buildings are so wonderful.
could i list that as a dream of wonderful proportions?!

Big Surprise - MacPro

my hubby and two of my sons went to breakfast but when they returned home had a big surprise for me.  a new macpro laptop. i was totally shocked.

and he even purchased my favorite color cover - orange of course. now to learn how to use this to my full capacity. my son - web designer - loaded all my classes on for me.

God's Creation

such beauty - during the rain last week I watched this woodpecker.

 

Glitter Needle Felting

i have this bowl of potpourri sitting on my table. i used it to interpret my may tag on FAT. the idea to take a photograph of something and interpret it however you wanted.

i

wish i had kept all the pieces together and added more of them. ok try again. this tag is headed to CA.  i used Angelina and crystalline needle felting and glitter.

here is a tag using angelina and crystalina needle felting, a piece of word selvage, few beads and handstitched edging.  i was inspired from a beautiful rose bush in downtown Chincoteague.

i could not stop taking snapshots of all the beautiful rose bushes. now hubby wants a few in our front yard.

are these not wonderful to gaze upon! does this mean more planting for me? lol i included a closeup of some of the sparkle from the crystalina in the flower tag.

Ducks Rule

aren't these the cutiest little duckies and momma! they rule in Chincoteague, stop for ducks.

Puppies

my son's belgian malinois, leonidas, named after the Spartan warrior. he is the cutest thing, but high strung. i see why they make such great police attack dogs. he's only about 18 weeks old.  found him hiding under my bed.

Artist

my playground class with tammy in watercolors hanging on my zipper collection in front of my computer.

Bubbles

I love this class called Bubbles.  this was so much fun! thanks Tammy.

Soul Art Day w/ Laura Hollick

my soul art garden diva is from a broken recycled rake,  and the body will be a cut down tree section from my yard. acrylic paints, torn fabrics, plastic body bottoms painted with sharpies and who knows what else will be thrown into the pot to create her. but she feels right.  so glad i would not let hubby throw away her head.

Hurrying Scurrying Living LIfe as Artist

April tag from FAT

class I am taking - so fun so much to do - did I mention so fun

painting on junk mail newsletter - amazing how this one finished out - only a small snippet of whole piece

Over the Hill and Dale

this is my february canvas using pan pastels and soft pastels. lovin' the outcome.