• Art - Blog - Crafts - Creativity

    T Tuesday: returning edition

    June 26, 2017 - By 

    Hello!! I am still here. It’s been a while.

    Gosh, that sounds like the beginning to a song… I’m awful with names of songs/singers/authors/actors/movies/etc…so if it is one…sorry, I’m just not going to be able to commit any brain cells to that information. I have WAY too much other pointless trivia floating around in there.

    So I took a bit of a blog hiatus after mom’s passing and funeral. I just wasn’t able to “find my voice” for the blog. I think my bout of laryngitis is over now.

    During my break we traveled to north to do another college visit. This one was University of Minnesota Duluth. I completely forgot to take any photos on campus likely because our tour remained inside all but one brief walk outside as a shortcut. The awesome thing about UMD is that all the buildings are connected by tunnels and concourses. You literally don’t have to step outside if you don’t want to all winter long. I’d be blissfully happy if that’s where either kid decided to go to school.

    Mini-me and I did our traditional sea glass hunting. The view is lovely…

    and we always manage to find treasures.

    The kids and I walked down to Grandma’s (host of Grandma’s marathon that had been run just the day or two before we got there)

    Both times we’ve eaten there, we’ve been seated right by this sign. Too funny! I didn’t take the obligatory beverage photo but rest assured it was there and it was of the adult variety. Why not…we were walking!

    Back at home I’ve been keeping busy with gardening, driving back and forth to the high school for volleyball and some volunteer work I picked up. The choir director put out a call for anyone with sewing skills to mend the robes before they are dry cleaned to save the program some money. So far I’ve mended 20 robes. 

    It’s mostly split sleeves but there have been some zippers and collars as well.

    It’s all hand stitching and the stitches need to be hidden. Thank you Mrs. Wilwerding for teaching me how to sew in the 8th grade. My kid’s high school also thanks you for indirectly saving them lots of money. I’m hoping when I drop off this latest batch of 6 robes that at least some will have been taken by the others to mend.

    I have been a little creative as well. Here’s a little sneak…

    What are you doing today?

    T stands for Tuesday
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    T Tuesday: twice published edition

    June 5, 2017 - By 

    Way back around the New Year I mentioned that I was sending something in for possible publication.  I was super excited about the piece and shared a couple little snippets.

    On a whim I sent a collection of collage gift bags that I’d been working on as well to Sew Somerset. Much to my surprise, I was asked to write an article about my gift bags…then shortly after I heard that my other submission would also be included in the gallery section of the magazine,

    I can’t even tell you what a lift it was getting this in the mail. Of course I knew it was coming but getting to hold it in my hands really brightened my day.

    It’s a real honor to be included with so many wonderful artists.

    This week marks the end of school…no more middle school for Mini-me. I will have two high school kids next fall! Freshman and senior. Many changes on the horizon. New adventures and challenges alike. It all builds character…and we could all use a bit of character right?! The world would be a pretty boring place if we all were exactly the same.

    What are you doing today?

  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Painting from texture experiment

    May 21, 2017 - By 

    I didn’t set off to finish a painting today. I was more just wanting to play with different techniques in a canvas board. Using different paints and application methods. Even paint removal methods.

    texture study

    I found this very interesting and learning a lot about different body paints and how they react differently with a palette knife for instance. Also the transparency of certain paints…why you want this at times and other times not so much.

    I walked away pleased with my new found knowledge. Later the canvas board pulled me back.

    abstract painting

    I used my fingers to create over top of my experiment. There are only small areas that remain from the learning process.  I really am pleased with the end result. I’m still not quite ready to call it done…I’m still thinking maybe some minor accents of black might complete this one for me. Only time will tell.