My good friend Maria.....

"Have you met my good friend Maria  

The craziest girl on the block?  

You'll know her the minute you see her 

She's the one who is in an advanced state of shock 

She thinks she's in love 

She thinks she's in Spain

  She isn't in love 

She's merely insane 

 It must be the heat 

 Or some rare disease

   Or too much to eat

  Or maybe it's fleas..."

 

Someone to watch over me.......

Guardian Angel or stalker.....

you decide

The Wind Speaks.....

"The voice of the wind speaks a language I once knew

but have forgotten."

                                                                                        ~Terri Windling

                                                                                           The Wood Wife

Tread Softly.....

"I have spread my dreams under your feet;

tread softly because you tread on my dreams."

                                                                                           ~w.b.yeats

Peace Out!

It's Saturday......Peace Out!

Dreams of home.....

I miss my mother....

yellow was her favorite color...

she loved to cook and always had

something sweet and a cup of coffee for

anyone who visited.

I miss you..

Mom

One pill.....

"One pill makes you larger...

and one pill makes you small...

and the ones that mother gives you...

don't do anything at all."

LOL....can you tell what generation I'M from?

I saw this on FB.......WANT! WANT! WANT!

Yes.....I do!

Color outside the lines.....that pretty much sums me up!

You say potato....I say poTAto....lol!

This piece was done completely in Procreate.

I love using collaged pieces of old books,

scraps of papers and my own art pieces in

my work. I think this is my fav one so far!

Who knew....?

Brianne Boyd....of Sweet Limes...had a giveaway recently for three lucky

people to win a piece of her artwork. I was one of the lucky ones and picked

these sassy ladies! Love her work!

And on North Light Books'  Mixed Media Blog I entered a friend in an

Art Retreat giveaway. She's had a really rough year and I have my fingers

crossed that she'll be the winner. This morning I received an email from

Tonia Jenny at North Light Books saying I was one of four winners to 

get a free book of my choice from their site because I had entered a friend

in their giveaway. I must have missed that little tidbit when I read the blog!

I picked Art Revolution - Alternative Approaches in Art by Lisa Cyr.

Who knew that when you become ridiculously happy that the Universe

conspires to make you even happier?

Sending up many thanks.......

Hero......

 

I'm thinking of printing up some greeting cards....

I thought maybe for the inside...

"...and I'll always be your faithful sidekick!"

Perchance to fly......

Haven't we all wished this at some point.....

Howling in rhyme.....

"Oh ...love will make a dog howl in rhyme!

~Francis Beaumont

Happy 4th!

Outside the Box

Procreate....a lot like a simplified version of Photoshop

but with mixed media brushes for crayons, markers,

and such. I have to say....I like it!

The picture above was "tweaked" in PS...I added the

text, scan code, and stars on the face.

I started off with a background that I doodled in

Paper53.

I also started the face in Paper53. The brush in this app

allows for a watercolor look that blends well.

After importing the background and face I brought in a

picture of some newspaper and erased parts to make 

the body. That's really neat to be able to take a pic

with your Ipad and import it into this app. The tie, legs,

hair, circles around the green, and the top and right

borders were made with texture brushes. The rest I

just sketched in using the technical pen and ink brush.

I saved this as a jpg (you can also create pngs with

this app by turning off the background before saving!)

and opened it in PS to complete the picture.

I do miss having paint under my nails....and I plan to

incorporate some pieces done in the studio with my 

digital work....but.....this app only cost $4.99. That's

for unlimited papers, brushes, paints, stencils, stamps....

and I can carry my studio (my Ipad) where ever I want

to paint....the park...coffee shop....stuck in traffic....

well...you get the picture. Love! Love! Love!

La Chienne

Artrage......I think I've conquered you!

This is my finished piece....tweaked in Photoshop.

I opened Noteshelf and imported a picture of a

music sheet then sketched a simple dog.

On a new page I imported a background that

I made in my studio and started sketching my girl... then

went to the dog sketch page and cut & copied the dog...

went back to the girl picture and pasted the dog on.

 

Next I opened the picture in Artrage and added her

head, some sketching, and a little added color.

And as you see in the first picture I took this one

to Photoshop and added the glasses, cloud, text, 

and some "brush stamps". I haven't been able to

rotate text in Noteshelf so I used PS.

Moving on to Procreate.....

 

Love is in the Hair......

This one was done using Paper53, Noteshelf, and Photoshop....

 I made the background in Paper53...

 then on a blank page made the girl except for the extra hair and writing. I took the girl to Photoshop and extracted her....saving her as a PNG.....

 Once I opened Noteshelf I imported the background and resized it to cover the entire page. Then I added the girl png and gave her some extra hair, the writing, and a few hearts over her head.

Up next......Artrage!

Tweeting among the stars....

Ok....so I've moved to the next app in my Traci Bautista class....Noteshelf. This one steps it up a
notch from Paper53 and allows you to import photos and cut 'n paste. I gotta say again...I'm lovin'
this class. I'm a visual learner and it would have probably taken me waaaay long to figure out
these apps on my own.

Here's another one I did in Paper53 last night...this style was used in an 'ideas' gallery.

I'm pretty sure my Ipad is my new best friend.....

Girly Girl

I have been taking a class with Traci Bautista....DigitalCanvas. She is showing us how to use

four different Ipad apps to paint digital pictures. This is one of my assignments...my attempt at a "Girly Girl" using Paper53.

I'm LOVIN' this class!

Drumming Girl....

Capricorn Full Moon tomorrow.....

Ready to get your 'howl' on?

Flower Girl

Still playing around with my Micki Wilde lessons...

I bought some off brand wax crayons because of 

my budget and they do NOT give me the results

I'd like. I'm gonna have to save up for some

Caran D'Ache......

 

I also tried to find a Pilot Permaball pen with no

luck. None of the office supply stores had them

and when I searched online the closest source was

Canada. I called to place an order and was told 

they couldn't ship them to the US.....what's up

with that? I haven't been able to find another

gel pen that is permanent ink and won't smear

and Sharpies don't work well over mixed media

surfaces. If anyone has any suggestions I sure

would like to hear them.....

Luciano Polverigiani.....oh my.....

Oh my....I think I've been twitterpated.......

Luciano Polverigiani

a chip off the 'ol block......

today is my Space Cowboys birthday.....

sending hugs and kisses on the wind!

he loved flying and passed to the next

world when his plane crashed.

he would have chosen just that way

to make his exit!

our youngest grandsons fourth birthday is tomorrow.

(he almost made it for his grand dads birthday!)

this year he requested an airplane themed party....

a little guidance from grand dad?

i wouldn't be surprised.

i'm taking an online class by Micki Wilde 

so i made my first attempt using her

instructions to make Landons gift tag.

not perfect but i had fun!

 

 

And I thank you.....

Absolutely......

I Want..I Want..I Want

yes.....i do......

the song of my people......

for everyone who has heard their cat "sing

the song of my people".....

Shaman

.....happy to have paint under my nails after a day

spent in my studio.

Memorial Day 2013

Thank You!

Sol Food Mobile Farm

A greenhouse on wheels....awesomeness!

 

Check it out in this episode of Growing a Greener World that

showcases four young adults traveling from city to city

teaching others how to plant and harvest their own vegetables. 

 

http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/episode325/

Read more about the Sol Food Mobile Farm here.

Beet it.....

Just beet it.... Beet it.....
 No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beet it... Beet it...

Soaking beet seeds overnight in tea for
tomorrows planting....

I've been at war with fire ants in my raised beds.
Normally boiling water works but not this year!
After reading some forums on organic gardening
I tried sugar...plain white sugar....and it worked!
It took a couple of days but it worked. I don't really
understand this...did they 'OD' and die or all rush
out to buy spandex?

Advanced Style...WOW

Yes........I am the worlds worst blogger! 

You would think with all this time on my hands that I could do better.

But honestly....my days have been like my weekends were when I worked...

they fly by!

Puttering around never felt so good! Lovin' it!

I have to share a blog that I stumbled across...it's wonderful!

In his own words, Ari Seth Cohen says:

"I roam the streets of New York looking for the most stylish and creative

 older folks. Respect your elders and let these ladies and gents

 teach you a thing or two about living life to the fullest. Advanced Style

 offers proof from the wise and silver-haired set that personal style advances with age."

There will be a documentary.....

Grab a cup of coffee and check out Cohens blog...

Love...Love...Love! 

Dancin' Queen

"Dancing queen... feel the beat from the tambourine 
You can dance... you can jive... having the time of your life 
See that girl... watch that scene... diggin' the dancing queen ...."

Happy Dance!

Oh.....I am in such a happy place!

I greet each morning at my studio window giving thanks 

to Spirit for giving me this time of being a 'homebody'!

LOVE!

LOVE!
LOVE!

I've been kicking around some new ideas...a different

direction to grow my art. Here are a few things I've painted

and scrounged to scan in for my next digital piece......

My goal is to get published before the end of this year....

and actually put some of my work in my Etsy shop...

finally take down that 'under construction' sign!

I'll have to say...I've been disappointed in RedBubble. I've been 

featured on their homepage and a couple of groups but it seems to

be more about comments and awards than actually selling art. I'm

sure I should be promoting my page to boost sells but I thought it

would be along the lines of Etsy. Oh well....live and learn.

By the way....did I mention what a happy camper I am?

HAPPY DANCE...

HAPPY DANCE...

HAPPY DANCE...

TWIRL...

DIP...

SMILE.....

Blessed....

This rainy afternoon finds me sitting in my studio...the smell of coffee and a fresh baked
lemon pound cake teasing my senses. I come in here often to just.....be....sitting in an old
beat up recliner beside a window facing the woods.

By all rights I should be stressed over the loss of my job....there's no money coming in..
my employer is trying to block my unemployment...no savings to speak of. But instead of
stress all I feel is a profound peace...like a huge burden has been lifted from me. I sit here
watching the birds wing from tree to tree...a rabbit streaking into the brush...I'm toasty
and content...and blessed.

There's a new page that has been turned...spring in season and the beginning of the
next chapter in this crones life. Peace....and gratitude....and love.

Thank you Spirit...Greater Spirits...Angels...Ancient Grandmother...Ancient Ones...Animal
Spirits....and all who guide and watch over me....Ai ya oh ah ya....Ai ya oh ya!

Grandmother Moons Blessing

Spring....it's almost here!

A time of renewal and new beginnings...my flower children

are peeking out all over...

It's also a time of renewal and new beginnings for me....a renewal

of my true self and a new start for the next phase of my life. I've 

spent the last thirteen years working in an environment that was 

so toxic and negative...for me personally... that I feel I've lost who

I truly am. I was a Law Enforcement Victim Advocate...a noble

profession...but one filled with so much pain and negativity...both from

the public I worked with and the judicial system including those working

in it. I've wanted to change careers for a while now but with my 60th

birthday looming I was dragging my feet...worrying who would hire

someone my age. 

Well that decision was taken out of my hands yesterday when I was "released

from employment" by our new sheriff...not because of anything I've done or 

didn't do....that's just the chance we take working for the sheriffs office. 

Every four years we automatically don't have a job and have to reapply

even if the same sheriff takes office.  So as of today I am officially a

lady of leisure. What will I do now? I'm not sure. I hope to be able 

to draw unemployment for a while and concentrate on my art. I've 

never had the confidence to put my art out for sale and I see this as

the kick in the rear I needed to do just that. I do know one thing for sure....

I feel nothing but tremendous relief at being out of all that negative

energy. I've spent today outside thanking the universe for this opportunity

 and remembering as I looked up at the moon last night

how she "smiled" down on me and gave me her blessings.

Redbubble

Do any of you sell your work on Redbubble?

I signed up and uploaded some of my digital art this week and 

received an email this morning telling me this piece had been 

selected to post on their home page for today.

Awesomeness!

If anyone is interested in purchasing a piece of my work

you can find me here.

i already am.......

and this is exactly what i am in the process of doing....

 

i am becoming that which

i already am..... 

Perfection........

Oh my.....

add a glass of wine...

perfection!

 

 

(picture via cookedheads.tumblr.com)

Sky-High

Happy Valentines Day...my space cowboy...

this 27th year finds me missing you...

still....

Standing over his grave…
eyes wrenched shut with the wanting of him…
she caught his smell… felt his embrace…
 opened her eyes to find a single feather
 clinging to her tears....

Underface.......

Wondering today why we feel the need to hide our true selves....

Days With My Father......

I think I may have written about this before when I first

came across Phillip Toledanos blog. Like Mr. Toledano...

and so many others...I...too...lived this heartbreak...only

with my mother. This is such a touching account of his time

 with his failing father...documented with wonderful photos...

I haven't read his book but I'm adding it to my reading list....