The year is winding down...

Last thing I remember, it was June....Swoosh.......................Were did the time go, my dad always told me the older you get the faster time goes, he was right. Then a saying comes into my head; *don't count the days, make the days count*. It is true, when I am real productive and get alot done, be it work or fun, I find the day stretches out, filled right out to the corners. I go to bed happy that I did all I could, and fall to sleep with a good kind of tired. I am not perfect, and this isn't a scenario that I can practice consistently...cuz, sometimes I just want to sit and relax. Which has its own merits. It is only an observation, that the more I fit into a day the longer the day seems...I want my days to be stretched to the corners.
This weekend, I moved the treadmill into the bedroom, (it was there once before). Our house is small, so anywhere it would go would be in the way. It folds up, which is a good thing. It was in the garage, and it is too cold now to use it out there. If anyone had a video camera on me trying to get it into the house, it would have made a good you tube show. It was a challenge, but I did it. Most all of our snow is melted now, and just ice remained on our patio, which made is very slippery, and after a couple near falls, I threw some rugs down and got some good traction, and a couple heave hos I was able to slide it through the patio doors. All cleaned up and in its place. The electronics don't work on it, which is disappointing, so something happened with the move. So I wore my pedometer for cals, miles, steps...only thing I was missing was speed. I can guesstimate on where I set it. I walk 5 min, run 5 min. to start. for 30 min. Its a start. I have used it, once at night and once in the morning....I am not sure which I like better...(probably night)....

The First Day of Winter

Its cold...........real cold. Wind chills are -20*. I didn't want to leave the house today, but I had to. Tomorrow sounds like more of the same. It will be a White Christmas here in Michigan. I think the temps will be a little higher, which is nice. I couldn't imagine a Christmas where there was no snow, tho...which I really don't mind, because I used to ski, and snowmobile, and snowshoe, (In the U.P), now I will X-Country ski, if there is enough snow down here (Lower Peninsula). I do like the silent sports, getting back in the woods, gliding across the snow. Chickadees darting from tree to tree, keeping pace. So pristine, and clean. I think I need to invest in a new pair of boots, as I think they need to be upgraded...I have had them around 20 years, and I think last year the Squirrels decided to chew on them. I guess storing them in the garage wasn't such a good idea.

After today, three more days until Christmas...It is very hard to believe. Are you ready?

I am looking forward to the new year, and fresh starts...and the settling in for the long winter. I need to really focus on getting some of my *pending projects* done. I have enough to do, I would never have to leave the house.
The new winter schedual was just publish at the local museum, and I don't see any classes I am interested in this time around, which going out at night when it is so cold isn't too appealing anyway....I don't feel that bad about it.
So until next time...keep warm and safe, and enjoy the holidays!

Kathy Tesslings Fantasy Falls....

These beautiful pieces of art are done by fellow artist Kathy Tessling. Check out Kathys website to see other displays and wreaths; http://www.fantasyfalls.com/ be sure to click on the picture to get a larger view.

Update....

Well, my classes are over; watercolor, and digital camera. Since the watercolor class is in the daytime, (as it was this last session) I won't be taking it. Too hectic trying to fit it into the work schedual. Camera class however, I will be taking again. I enjoyed it, however I am a little concerned about getting out and about with my camera is cold weather.
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Other things I am working on; I decided to get back into doll making. The book I got from the library is; Creative Cloth Dollmaking, by Patti Medais Culea. Very *arty* dolls. I have attempted doll #1, and it is, the body that is, near completion. Then the challenge of designing her. Tonite I will attach her limbs to her body, and maybe do a base paint on her. I have to think this out, as the book has lots of ideas, I am not sure which direction I want to take her. I know I want a theme.
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I feel sometimes that I am constantly bouncing from one creative venue to another....but so much interests me, I just have to keep my mind stirred up with it all. The next thing I do plan on fitting in is a colored pencil class online, which I believe starts in Jan. I have had the pencils and even went as far as ordering three projects to draw, and they are still in the packaging. I am hoping Cathy Johnsons class; http://cathyjohnson.info/ will give me the confidence to try the projects.
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Ella Sharp Park

Trellis's at Ella Sharp Park.

The is the entrance to Ella Sharp Park Museum of Art and History. This is where I am currently taking my watercolor and DSLR classes.

This is *Ella's house* at Ella Sharp Park.

This is a cabin at Ella Sharp Park. Our lesson this last week was Lines.

Here is a sampling of what I shot this morning at the farmers market. Under the catagory of *color*

A Touch of Frost

Work up this fine Saturday morning to frosty windows...and 35*. More than a chill in the air. To tell you the truth, to me it feels good. My plans today are to go down to the farmers market and get some pictures for my photography class...hoping there are a lot of bright colors....since that is one of our assignments. I am thinking pumpkins, squash, Indian corn, I may be lucky to find some late red tomatoes....we will see...
Fall colors are just starting, I was thinking a nice crimson maple against a cerulean blue sky would be a nice photo opt, if I can find the right setting..suppose to be a bright sunny day...I will post pictures of my ventures today...stay tuned.

Hermans Royal Lipizzaner Stallions

Jackson, Mi--08-07-08--

Point Iroquois Light

Located 7 miles W. of Brimley, Mi....on Whitefish Bay.....a beautiful lighthouse, with a planked walkway down to the beach. The beach is colored with multicolored beach rocks.

Pond Lily

cone flower

A close up from my garden....

I Have a new camera!!

I took the plunge...I bought a new camera...Canon EOS Rebel XSI 450D. Lily's picture was taken with it. I have so much to learn. I hope to post more pictures in the days to come.

June 12, 2008

Full swing of summer.....but officially not for over a week....High temps in the upper 80's, I know it could be worse. Michigan is humid, and it is HOT.....and muggy. We got our little swimming pool up, and it offers relief.
We have had a few storms blow through, some tornado watches but no warnings in our area. Some warnings north of us. We have a trap door to get into the basement. We have never had to seriously use it yet, I did once cram two dogs and four cats into the 6 x 6 bathroom.....durning a warning last year, until we all went crazy and I opened the door, and told everyone to fend for themselves....My husbands work had a lock down, mine advised us not to leave....but when I left it wasn't bad. Nothing happened that time, the storm passed with little damage. The year before we had a lot of trees down in the area, and I remember leaving work, (when they let us)...frantically driving home, seeing fallen trees all the way home, and turning down my road seeing a big tree uprooted in our yard and on our house. We were out power for four days, lost everything in the freezer and refrigerator. We went out and got a generator that storm. Haven't had to use it since, but we have it. We are lucky as I watch the news today, with all the tornado's and floods....to see those houses and lives touched.....how can you comprehend all of that, how can you have a house today, and all of its contents, and then tomorrow have it all wiped away...everything lost...how do you even sort it all out in your head. I think to my self, and I have been trying to do this...downsize, have less. Less to lose, less to keep track off. Less to be attached too....I have too many things, too many that I can't (and don't) use them all. Sometimes it get overwhelming, what to do. When I am not at my job and have the free time...seems like it all gets taken up with housework, laundry, lawn work....how do you decide in the down time what, out of all the projects, what to do.....There is so much I want to do....Its almost like I should set up a schedule and follow it, til things eventually get done...the unfinished afghan, the colored pencil kit, the soldered necklaces, the woodcarving, the wood burned gourds, the feltwork....I could go on and on.....several of these *crafts* are in various stages of completion....but I want to do them all....and then there is the Fair, have to pick up the tags the end of June....This year I plan to enter, well, I will get tags for 6 items....we will see how that goes....I will post pictures of what I entered.
I am planning, a quilted wallhanging, a painted rock, a gourd windchime, a welcome sign, and a photograph....I will get tags, doesn't matter if they get used or not....but you have to have them by the end of June...or you are out of luck....NO EXCEPTIONS.....

non artistic painting

I took a couple days off work, (plus the weekend) and painted the kitchen. It was a sage green, with gold curtains..I sewed a valance onto the blue tab top curtains, and the small kitchen window has the valance material curtain, that covers the whole window. It does freshen it up.
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As far as the outside...Have mowed the yard three times so far, and the temp. are more normal. We did have a bout in the 80's, but it is back in the 60's now...much more comfortable. The bleeding hearts are in full bloom, as are the tulips, irises, and the ants are working at opening the peonies. Hostas are growing and are going to be huge this year...stretching out and unfolding their leaves into large canopy's. I want to get a dogwood tree, and seen one I wish I would have bought...I love dogwoods. Their white flowers (I would get white) are like porcelain...crisp and sturdy, but delicate.
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Artistically I am working on a rock, with a picture of a dogs face. Progress on that will be posted on my other blog, speakswithpencil.
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Spring time......

Its been awhile since I posted, and no, its not because I have been busy drawing on my other blog... speaks with pencil .... Spring has come to Michigan (or has it). Weather Channel is calling for snow, 33* next week.... I have been busy with raking and hauling leaves and brush, trying to beat the grass, and today actually it looks like the lawn mowers will be out. After a long winter it is nice to get out and smell the fresh spring air, and hear the birds singing away in the trees. The trees are starting to leaf out, tiny little miniatures unfolding. My cherry tree has one bloom on it so far, last year the Japanese beetles got to it, this year I am prepared, I am hoping for some Cherry's. We moved into this house 11 years ago, and I wish I would have put in some apple trees, maybe a pear. I suppose I still could, I don't imagine we will ever move....As far as projects, I am experimenting with wool sweaters. I will post my finished item when I get it done...Not sure exactly what direction I am going but thinking mittens and purse sets....

a change is taking place

I decided to make a drawing only blog, so I will no long be posting pictures here, they can be found at; http://speakswithpencil.blogspot.com/
This blog will just be for the regular day to day........

Maybe its a sign....

Maybe its a sign....maybe I don't need what I lost....maybe its a sign to downsize. Many have lost more...I am over it. When you think of it, its just *things*, things can be replaced. I have lately been trying to downsize, to rid myself of material things that just sit around and collect dust. I am not fanatical, don't get me wrong, but the mindless collecting, and buying to buy....sometimes we go so long without buying anything...that we just say, I have been good, I need to buy something...do you? Is it something you need. Do you need it for survival? Most likely not. I have so many *pending projects* I would never have to buy another thing for years, I could draw, paint, crochet, carve, woodwork, solder, do clay work, mocacis...write....I have over the years collected many projects that at the time sparked my interest, my interest change with the wind...I am interested in so many things, that I can't settle on one...but I do have enough to keep me busy if I never buy another project...happiness consists not in having much,but in being content with little. It takes a little time to change a lifetime...but we don't have to buy into the commercialism, we don't have to keep up with the Jones', we don't need someone to tell us what we need. What we do need is to take a little time out and get in touch with ourselves in the quiet of our own souls....turn off the TV, turn off the computer....get outside, take a deep breath....and let your sense of smell, sight, taste and touch take over...get up....and do it all over tomorrow....take time to appreciate what you do have, not what you don't

US AIRWAYS--LOST LUGGAGE

Vegas Vacation.....I know I am not alone, but I never realized until I got home and read the horror stories, and unresolved intances of lost luggage with US Airways....

Here is MY story:

My husband and I planned our 10 year wedding anniv. to Vegas in October 07, at the time my dad was sick and concequently passed away in Sept. 07 because of this we cancelled our vacation until March 08. Like the silly woman I am, I overpacked and bought new clothes. I just wanted everything fresh and new. I had two perscriptions also in the bag, and our traveling partners had one of the same meds, so I was able to borrow pills until I got home.

I had just sent two large garbage bags to goodwill, and I bought these new clothes for the trip, and to wear to work, with spring coming on. Clothes, swimsuit, (80* in Vegas, was looking forward to some pool time...after the long Michigan winter), make up, toletres....my new Danny Gregory book, creative liscence...ALL LOST!..We called US Airways EVERY day, several times a day, as they told us to keep checking after each new flight came into Vegas from Detroit...still nothing.....I am home now, still no luggage. I filled out my forms, contacted the CEO, Vice President, Public Relations people of US Airlines...but again, I am not holding my breath, as I said I read as much as I could of the similar stories of lost luggage, with no resolution with US Airways. Thank god I packed my cameras and sketchbook with my carry on. The lesson I learned is this, take only what you can pack in a carry on bag!!!!! PERIOD. If anyone out there has any ideas of what more I can do please let me know....I almost feel like this is a criminal act that US Airways is running, go on line and read some of the stories and see if you don't agree. I never seen any money from US Airways. I went out and bought some basic tolletries and a shirt. I just refussed to go out and buy more clothes after spending so much for the trip in the first place. I was very upset the first day, but I kept hope up that the bag would be found and sent to my hotel room....We were only in Vegas 3 1/2 days, so I had to compose myself and put it behind me and enjoy myself inspite of it all....I will keep on bugging them until I get my bag back or the cash to replace the contents....

my ending comment..DO NOT FLY US AIRWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://usairwayshorrorstories.blogspot.com/

A PLACE TO BARK...and meow

http://aplacetobark.blogspot.com/

Please visit Bernie Berlins blog, and also scroll down on the right of my blog for other information about her wonderful cause.

lesson in drawspace.com

*baby cameo* I don't think this was a bad first attempt, head may be a little forward. I am please with it, all things considered. What do you think...I am just beginning here, so all kinds of critique is welcomed....

On The Cusps of March

February 29, 08. it’s a Leap Year, we won’t see February 29th for four more years. We have a fresh blanket of snow…When I lived in the UP, we referred to it as rotters snow.. The snow pack up there was more than down in the southern part of Michigan…so the give and take with winter, was more pronounced. The days seem to be getting longer…lighter now when I get out of work…a nice feature of the winter months, is not feeling guilty to crawl into the old pj’s at five at night…after all it is dark out…soon it will be 11:00pm and still light out, and mowing the grass around 9:00 isn’t entirely out of the question. Swimming at 10:00 entirely not out of the question as we have done it when the nights were so unbearable to sleep, and a cool dip was enough to temporarily break the sweat….tonight though its blankets upon blankets with just a nose peaking out for breathing purposes….

Spreading the love........

I seen this on Anita Davies site http://artbyanita.blogspot.com/. I thought it was a wonderful idea.

This excerpt is taken from the site. http://www.payitforwardday.com/ *There is tremendous power and positive energy in giving – it is a shame that not enough people have experienced it to the fullest. Pay It Forward Day is about all people, from all walks of life giving to someone else.
To encourage all of us to embrace the incredible power of giving.
To show each other that we care and that there is love, hope and magic all around us
To know that we may be only one person in this world, but to one person, at one time, we are the world.

Make a difference and experience the true power of giving on 4 April. Thank you for your support.
A message from Blake Beattie (Pay It Forward Day Founder)
‘Pay it Forward Day’ is a brilliant concept by Catherine Ryan Hyde from her book of the same title. Some people were originally quite sceptical of the whole idea: they said that it was good in theory, but not in practise. I challenged this point of view believing that people are genuinely giving by nature, but many get caught up in the hustle and bustle of every day life. April 4 is a time when each of us can get to experience the ‘Power of Giving’ and the ripple effect begins.*

For the first three people to send me your name and physical address via my email drocks1@yahoo.com (please put PAY IT FORWARD in the subject line). I have pledged to send you something I have made. You must then promise to send something to three other people, with the same instructions. Please allow 4 weeks for me to make my *gift* and get it to you....The three people will be announced here on my blog. The three people must in turn post on their blog the three people they promise to send an act of kindness gift. Gifts should be handmade by you.

@

EDM CHALLENGE #33 DRAW AN EYE

This is a drawing I did in a couple nights, I was pleased how it turned out, eventually I want to add color with colored pencils, in time. I am still in the practicing stage.

EDM CHALLENGE #83 DRAW DRAW A BODY OF WATER

This is drawn from a photograph, which was taken on the shores of Lake Huron, south shore of Lake Huron, in the northern part of lower Michigan.

EDM CHALLENGE #44 DRAW A PET

This my first attempt at adding watercolor to a drawing. I have a cool KOH-I-NOOR Watercolour Wheel Stack Pack, 24 colors, 4 round trays, that screw together, its very portable. There is a cool *self contained* brush, that holds water in the barrel, that you can buy to make the whole deal very portable...Anyway, I was up til 2:00am, in bed painting this...http://www.dickblick.com/zz003/81/, check out this site for the Wheel Stack.

new links

http://www.crafterschallenge.com/paintedrocks.html

This is also listed on my links. It is a cool site I belong to also. www.crafterschallenge.com. I wanted to you to see another dimention to my artistic background. Still interested in painting on rocks, but focusing on drawing at present. I have a website also www.paintedrocks.homestead.com, which I haven't, wow, been to in a long time.....just stating it here for anyone who might want to look....

EDM # 1 draw a shoe

This is the First EDM challenge...draw a shoe. I drew this in 2005, so it isn't recent work. I wanted to get something out there, I don't think I will go through the whole list, but ya know, what a challenge that would be. I want to keep active with these challenges, drawing....eventually adding color, pencil, watercolor....

Creative Liscense.......

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK:

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. "
Ralph Waldo Emerson

l

ok....This is something, different. When I am not on the Drawspace.com site, (which unfortunately)is down this morning....I am currently reading, *Creative License*, Danny Gregorys new book.....pg 36.....grab a chair and some paper and head for the bathroom....

This is a quick sketch of my bathroom cabinet, atually it has three shelves, but...(artistic liscense)....so I have two.

l

I also went to the library, yesterday on break from work, (library is right across the road from my work). The three books I picked up, couldn't be any more different....1. Creative watercolor workshop. 2. Sasquatch, legend meets science. 3. Nature/Walking...which I am reading first. It is a little book that combines Ralph Waldo Emersons, Nature, and Henry David Thoreaus Walking. I have just started this book, but I am anxious to get into it. I read the 10 page introduction last night, before I got too tired to continue.

Good Sunday Morning

Quote for the Week: " Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." Scott Adams

l

The thing with art, especially a beginning artists is just to *begin*. To create, mistakes and all...everyday day try to put something down. Read, research, discover something new everyday. Get the wheels going in your head. See things as if seeing them for the first time. Take your tools with you, keep a bag with an extra sketchbook, pencil box, erasers, and grab it up every time you leave the house. Grab your camera too! You never know when an opportunity will come up.

l

I am happy to say, I have received all three books I sent for, Creative License; by Danny Gregory, How to make a Journal of your life and Moonlight Chronicles, by Dan Price. These books are informative, inspirational, and entertaining....Especially Dan Prices adventures.

l

Well, on a personal note, I haven't done a whole lot, this week (not even my drawing lessons on Drawspace.com). I have been sick for a week, with bronchitis and a high fever. The high fever was only for a couple of the days. I am finally feeling like myself...so hopefully today I can get on with the lessons.

l

Today decide to learn something new. Give your mind a challenge. Do something you wouldn't normally do. Be as a child, and learn how to *walk* again, in a different direction.

A new tree

This is drawn a few lessons later......

Saturday, January 12, 2008

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

"I have written my life in small sketches, a little today, a little yesterday... I look back on my life as a good day's work. It was done and I feel satisfied with it. I made the best out of what life offered......."Grandma Moses

Goodmorning...This a a project from the http://www.drawspace.com/ free drawing lessons, I am doing. I think I am happy with it. It is all done with *squiggles*, I am on D9 of the beginner class, I am not even a quarter of the way through, then its on to intermediate, and advanced....I have quite a way to go...I am excited, because there are a lot of challenging lessons to come. I also ordered three books from http://www.amazon.com/ Danny Gregory's Creative License, Danny Prices' How to Make a Journal of Your Life, and Moonlight Chronicles. I got Creative License already, and I am also going through his lessons. He uses a pen, which is unforgiving, but I guess that is the point.

Its 12* here this morning...and a windchill of -1*. A good day to stay in and keep warm and be creative. I have a few things I would like to tackle in the coming year. It is a little difficult (altho not impossible) to work on projects after work, I prefer the weekends, at least to get something in the process so it could be worked on at night after work.

l

Go out and have a good week, do something good for someone else....do something good for you...

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Good morning....another week has passed. I did find an interesting site, called drawspace.com. Last weekend, I was looking around for drawing lessons, and this site offers free, yes free drawing lessons for beginner on up, laid out systematically right from buying the tools. I am working my way through the beginner section. I didn't know this but I had a book by the site owner already, Drawing for Dummies, I didn't go through it all yet, (I must have moved on to something else then.) Really I do want to learn how to draw well, so I am hoping to stick with it, and soon I will post my progress, which actually I could start, (and should) post one of the first lessons as a starting point....so progress can be marked, since that is the point of this blog, accountability....it is also in my plans to purchase Danny Gregory's newest book Creative License. The bottom line is, you can read all you want on any subject, but you will never be good at it until you start practicing....practice does make perfect. I always remember Jonathan Livingston Seagull....."You can't fly into flying"....it is true.....It is also true that I am impatient.

Saturday, Jan. 5th, 2008

10:24 in the morning....searching the Internet for motivation....I joined EDM, in hopes or spurring me on to sketch. I am new to blogging...so I am still navigating my way around. I would like to do a trial run at publishing a photo...because I would like to post my journey with you....ok....(that was easy enough!). I am using a new laptop, and this was the only creative endeavor I had uploaded to it. Its a painted rock I did for an exchange in another club a year or so ago. As I said I just joined, well actually two groups, a crafterschallenge group, newly formed and EveryDayMatters (EDM), which I believe has been around awhile...I seen a very interesting book that Danny Gregory has just published called; The Creative License, which for me looks very promising...because, I need the push to see *creatively* what is inside of me...because I feel I have something there. I have been procrastinating taking another drawing class, hoping a different teacher could unlock the door to my creative soul...or show me the map, so I can find my way myself...I have so many books....I could do it myself through my own studies and searching the Internet for inspiration....or possibly spending less time talking about doing it and actually facing the responsibility of actually attempting doing it....what a novel concept....I think I am afraid...afraid of failure, but isn't there failure in not attempting at all.....so this I guess is the point...to put it out there....to share my fear, my failures, my attempts.