Monday, November 30, 2009

Lynn's Page and some cards

Miss Em got a workout this week, I mean - what else are you gonna do when sitting in a hospital for 3 hours every day beside knitting. Drawing of course, and MIL helped me with ideas and little details. She loved sparkles so we used alot of that, and lots of crystal-things.





We ended up with about 8 Miss Em cards - fun to do - the Chanukah one is going into Etsy, the rest I just might actually USE!

Here is Lynns page for the "Girlfriends" sketchbook - this has alot of elements in it. I started with a decorative napkin gelled to paper, then stamped, and painted, and added mesh, more paint, heated for the bubble effect, transparencies, etc etc.

Interesting to do all these collages - I need to branch out more and love the opportunity to try new techniques and themes.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

i'm BAACCKKK

I came home today, but left DH down in Florida to continue being there for his mom - who is just today getting transferred to BIG city hospital for them to decide what the next steps are. Surgery? Watch and wait? - who knows! Poor MIL, having to spend a week in the hospital with really nothing to show for it. Hopefully they will resolve things this week, but we'll just have to take it day by day. Despite it being a good week for her, and a "holiday" week for us - we are both exhausted and grouchy. I feel bad for DH having to stay down there, but we're going to have to take turns with her for the next few weeks.

So, came home mid-day today and got to work on the Girlfriend books that came right before I left. Here are pages for 4 of the 5 books that I received, the other one is drying downstairs.

Suki's page


Karen C page


Joss page


Bab's page

Lynn's page is drying. These will go out to Suki this week - awesome work in there ladies- just amazing.

I have to catch up on/with friends, emails, blogs, posts, etc etc, so will see you all soon.

I've missed you all,

Friday, November 27, 2009

update

MIL still in small local hospital waiting to be tranferred to "real big city" hospital where they can do her surgery. We are tired and worried but are trying to enjoy family as much as possible. Nerves are frayed...but thanksgiving dinner was good and fun and somewhat relaxing. I'm heading home this weekend, DH has to stay to see what happens. Then we start to take turns coming down.

It should be an interesting December!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Drawing on the plane





Drawings done on the plane ride down. Strange scanner down here does not capture the whole image even tho it does appear to fit on the scanner bed.

First one is a strange late night TV Codfish Host introducing a new "Starfish-lette" in the recognized tradition of my fishy subjects. Second one is an odd couple, Aquaman and Medusa, taking a walk on the beach. Her head is supposed to show, but I think you can still see the snake hair ponytail.

What can I tell you? Plane rides are boring!

MIL is in hospital, has to have more surgery for a collapsed lung. She's in great spirits and this will be a bit of a setback but we'll deal with it. Weather down here in "sunny" florida is overcast and cool. So....oh well.

Hope you are all well. I miss boring, I really do. I'm tired of excitement and changes.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Posting has been tough lately



(Before you read this post, let me state here that I know how lucky and blessed I am to have what I have in my life. To be able to gripe about flying to Florida for a Thanksgiving feast with a loving family is a blessing in an of itself. I am no saint, I bitch and moan way too much...but believe me - I also count my blessings every day. That said...let the complaining begin)






These were some drawings from Thanksgiving last year - we're getting ready for this year...and I feel the same stress!

Like everyone - things are getting busy and then busier at this time of the year. I often feel overwhelmed with all of the things that need to be done, and the visits that need to be made. The holidays are the times when I wish my family lived closer instead of in Florida and California and Italy. We are never home for the holidays, unless we can persuade family to come to us. But it's so hard! Come to rainy cold New England for Thanksgiving or go to sunny Florida with the rest of the family and cousins. Not a hard choice. So we are off to Florida tomorrow for a week. I'm entitled to a little bit of bitching right? Okay then - my whine is that while I have to take vacation time to go see the family, it isn't a vacation for me in any way shape or form. We'll stay with my MIL, who is still recovering and will be pretty needy I think. She has Dr. appointments and we need to figure out why she is out of breath and so tired. And she also needs a second surgery and we don't know when that will be. Her apartment is very dark, and there is no place to escape to for any alone time. She's lonely so she talks to me. Just to me. Directly.

My niece will be at my mom's with her three year old - maybe! As of last night we didn't know if she was coming or not. So my moms house might be an escape hatch...or not. We'll see. My brother and his family will be there, which is great. Probably about 50 others also, and while I love seeing everyone - it gets overwhelming to me - everyone talks so loudly and it often becomes a competition of who can be heard over whom. And then there's the competition of who lost weight this year (not me!) and who has a new ring, or other new items, or hairstyle or other crap that I hate. I have 10 male cousins, and while their wives are mostly lovely women, they are mostly stay at home moms, with lots of bling on their hands. I can't tell you how far away from my life style is theirs. My two female cousins are more like me - we've all worked hard to make our lives, we are creative, and while none of us would refuse new jewelry - we prefer handmade, one of a kind stuff.

Here's an example of why I feel like Alice In Wonderland sometimes when talking to my family. I was complaining that I hadn't heard from one person that I sent a present to (a handmade quilt). The explanation? She's "so busy! She goes to aerobics every day, and pilates and also has to take the baby to day care, or to the nanny, so she has no time to call or drop an email". This to a woman who has a full time job, a house, a husband, responsibilities. I would love to have the time to go to aerobics every day at 9:00 am...not at 5:00 am.

Oh well, I know it sounds like sour grapes - and I have the wisdom now to stop trying to prove myself or change anyone else. I do try to enjoy things when I get there, and try like hell to enjoy my cousins, aunts and uncles. But frankly, if I could stay home - I would. And I look forward to coming home already, and I haven't even left.

No Internet at MIL's unless I steal wireless from the neighbor - but I have to go to the driveway to do that. So probably no posting for a week.

Have a good week everyone - I'll try to pop around to visit!

(just read this over and I did a good job of complaining - didn't I? Glad I got it off my chest)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Animal Wednesday - Parrot collage

A collage done on a rainy Saturday - definitely multi media. Printed organza, which was gel matted to a watercolor paper which had been painted gold and silver. Magazine image of a bird, Lipsum orum printed text on adhesive vellum, card stock butterflies, gel-image transfer of the sun.

Whew!

Please click here for the Animals (an ASPCA site)

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Miss Em Cards

First of all - the Miss Em books should be going out this week, thank you for your patience! The first set did not come out the way I wanted so I redid them and they are much better.

Now the minx shows up in cards - gotta get them into Etsy. Enjoy!





Saturday, November 14, 2009

Six Word Saturday - Winner

And the Winner is:

Ms Soulbrush


Yes, our Joss is the winner of the 900 post giveaway of a box of goodies and junque and all sorts of tactile things. Look for this box in the next few weeks my friend and enjoy when you get it. I imagine we will be seeing your usual awesome artwork with some new materials mixed in.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Lisa's ArtySoulSisters book


These are my pages for Lisa's book - which is amazing in it's awesomeness of artwork. Wait until you see it Lisa, it's a treasure. This is my little addition!

Postcard Friendship Friday

I've gotten a lot of postcards from friends this year and am going to post them - starting with this wonderful vintage picture one from Gina in Ireland. Isn't it amazing? Look at the size of that boat, and imagine those men fishing from that boat - wow! Thanks Gina - I love it.

Thanks for all your advice on the fence color. The funny thing is that I was leaning towards a pink color but was thinking that it might look like an Easter egg. Great to have the support of my buddies! Here it is with a pinkish fence (no polka dots KJ - altho the idea was attractive). This is going out to my friends today for their collection. The one below is from last year. I can see that I've gotten a bit more confident with colors!


Isn't it funny how you can look at something and think of changes you should have made? The first one...I should have put an airplane towing a banner with "First Annual..etc." sign, and in the second one, I should have put the 2nd annual notice on a towel hanging on the fence. Live and learn....

Have a wonderful Friday everyone.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

official artist

I have appointed myself the official artist for our "Foundations Club" (because we all wear them) girlfriends weekend get away. Last years was on the beach, this year in the Hot Tub (not room for 4 in the picture, so Miss Em got to stay out)

I'm trying to decide if the fence should be dark brown so as to make the heads pop a bit more - any thoughts?

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Animal Wednesday - Salamander

We saw this fella when we were kayaking recently. He was a bit more brown thru the water, but I like the red tinge with yellow spots. There were hundreds of them around that day, slipping and wrigging thru the old leaves and twigs. Fun to watch, impossible to catch, cool to draw.

HAW all!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Photos from a gorgeous New England fall day

Gorgeous warm weather for what might be one of the last off pavement bike rides of the year for us. When it starts to get slippery we stay on the rail trails.

It was fun to be outside, breathing in that slightly cool, pine scented air. Lot's of horses being ridden on the trails, dogs being walked, bicycles ridden. 8 miles off road, lots of heat forming up hills, and terrifically fun speedy downhills.

Photo's 5, 6 and 7 are my faves today.

Enjoy the scenery.






900 posts

This is my 901 post - I can't believe it. What a blabbermouth (or blabber typer) I am. But also, what a wonderful journey.

I can't get too maudlin, cause DH and I are going bike riding on a beautiful Sunday, and I hear him getting ready - but I am going to do a giveaway related to this 900 milepost.

The Giveaway Grab-bag

Vintage and antique books waiting to be altered, or old pages torn out for use in other projects. Mostly from the 40's and 50's - along with old magazines, vintage papers, some watercolor pens, some embellishments etc, etc, etc. Some fabric and ribbons. Some buttons and things of that nature. A mix of things that will be near and dear to your creative hearts.

Leave your name in the message post area and this fun grab-bag is yours. I'll pull names at the end of the week.

Have a wonderful Sunday (by the way, I had a ball with the girlfriends! - woo hoo!!)

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Illustration Friday - Blur

Caption for this something like "Lizzy took off her glasses so that the world would be a blur". Do you blame her? Having a family like that I'd want to take off my glasses also.



While I was going thru some folders on my computer, I found the photo below from last winter. If you enlarge it, you can see that it's blurry - I was fooling around with the camera or with photoshop - I can't remember which - but I liked the effect.



It's all one big Blur sometimes

Friday, November 6, 2009

Friday morning - SO tired


I got back late last night from PEI, had a good trip there and worked hard. More work today, a full day, and this weekend I have an overnight trip with 3 longtime, loved girlfriends. Last year the 4 of us spend the weekend on Martha's vineyard - and we had a great time. This year, because none of us had time to plan, or money to spend, we are spending the weekend in NH at one girlfriends house. But we are going to go to the Quilt museum in Lowell, eat and drink and talk and maybe watch a movie. I'm going to look up how to get supplies for Fish Printing - and maybe we'll buy a whole fish and give it a try.

The problem is that I am exhausted, not so much physically as mentally. This year, which is coming to a close, has been tough. Dad died, watching over mom and her shenanigans, working with lawyers, MIL getting sick, just found out that my Brother in law has cancer, and no time for vacation for DH and I....which we need. We haven't been able to prioritize ourselves. Personal space and time is on the backburner, hence I have become less social, more introverted - to try to get the time I need to recharge...at least halfway...my batteries. Yes, we have done alot of great bike rides, but they have been rather desperate ones and are squeezed into any space that we have.

Believe me, I know that I have tremendous blessings. DH is healthy, BIG blessing. I'm healthy, so is most of my family - much to be thankful for. But honestly, we need time away together, without family obligations or worries. I guess that's asking for the moon when you have elderly parents - isn't it?

So, instead, I am off with my girls - will have a great time, but there is a piece of me that will be home, wishing I was lying in bed on a Sunday morning, the two of us home alone.


PostScript: Odd thing just happened. I got an apology and 25000 miles from Delta Airlines for a delayed trip. I don't even remember the circumstances! But, maybe this is a message - 25K miles is a free trip - if DH and I can find someplace we'd want to go via commercial options - this makes it cheaper. WooHoo!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Animal Wednesday - a summer turtle

We saw this turtle on a bike path this summer, he was crossing the trail and almost got slammed by me - but I stopped and "rescued" him (or her). Since I love turtle shells, and am traveling this week - hence plenty of time in a hotel room and on an airplane, I will attempt a turtle drawing sometime this week.


Yup - off to Prince Edward Island again for work - should be interesting. Last time I was there, I dashed home and dashed off again to Florida to MIL's surgery. I am hoping for little excitement this time. MIL is now home, and hopefully happier than when in the rehab.

I think what I love about turtles so much is their inclination to pull their head and feet inside - what a lovely trick.

He/she finally got up the courage to walk away into the brush.


Don't you just love these little tanks?

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Ya'll seemed to like the last one so...

These are little study- pieces that I did about over a year ago, when I was starting to play with paints. I thought you might like them - I've posted them before but it was a long time ago. I still need to figure our perspective as I would like some depth. I know that smaller things are further away, and darker things are closer but it all still eludes me. Either way, I enjoy my little funny world and hope you do too!