Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Boom Boom Cards!

 
I will start my first boom boom card today. Don't know what it is? Check out the link!
 
 



Pritti

I know that we are lucky to not have a terrible winter this year.
But these photos from last summer make me long for sunshine on my face and the smell of flowers and fresh cut grass.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Note to self...

Just did my taxes. I've had happier evenings. I just need to take a deep breath and remind myself..
THAT
I may not have very much or make much money but I have beautiful children my feet hit the floor this morning I have a roof over my head, heat and food. I have self expression and passion running through my veins for the things I love. I have a job that is rewarding beyond monetary anything. I have fire in my spirit and a will to live. I have someone who loves me..even at my worst <3 And I know that no matter how hard things get sometimes to NEVER, EVER forget to be thankful and to NEVER think that it can't get worse.
And to 
always
remember
to say
Thank you God
Thank you God
Thank you God
In every tough time, in every happy moment and every night before I close my eyes. Not by any means a religious person but certainly spiritual and smart enough to know..it could be worse in so many ways. So I hush that voice that likes to nag at me so negatively....and know internally that the wheel of fortune (not always relating to money issues) is in constant motion. It never stops turning what goes up must come down and what is down has no where to go but UP...its gotta be on the UP climb...
amen. :)

Sunday, January 29, 2012

A Great Sunday

We finally got a bit of snow today here in Michigan. The most we have got this year at one time so far. It was actually really beautiful. Sometimes it just snows, and other times it is that wet heavy snow that so gracefully sheets the trees and makes them glisten with icy flakes. I use to hate snow, driving in it, cleaning off my car at 5am for work in it, the way it looks when it gets dirty from cars and feet prints in it..but there is something so mystical and whimsical about landscapes of snow that go untouched by man. Took my camera out for just a little bit this afternoon to capture it, made some GREAT Valentines cupcakes and worked on the tag images you may or may not have seen that I posted earlier! Be sure if you haven't to scroll down to the post about LIA LANES GIVEAWAY! She is a fantastic artist and her work is adorable...I am honored to host a giveaway of her two small 2x4 pieces of Valentine Sweetness. Will keep you all posted as to when the lucky number will be drawn, sometime later this week I am sure.
I hope you all had as good of a Sunday as I have..found some time to bake, paint, write or do whatever it is you love to do on Sundays! Here are a few photos from my day! Cupcakes came out yummy! Think Don and I might be heading for a sugar coma tonight! :) Peace and Love






Another tag image

Third and final image for tags. Please come back...
more to come tonight with codes and some more goodies!

Old images made new

This morning I have been working on images of some of my favorite art journal pages making tags to post here n my blog so that my friends and followers can get the code and put a tag on their blog. Here are a couple I came up with this morning and will be posting the code for these by nights end. Have some errands to run and Sunday type things to do. Hope you enjoy and will grab one of these when the codes are posted later and if you do so thank you SO very much for the support. Don't have very many followers but really very thankful for the ones that are here. I appreciate you <3


Saturday, January 28, 2012

Lia Lane Valentine Giveaway!!

Hey everyone!
It is almost Valentine's Day & Lia Lane is having A GIVEAWAY!!

If you do not know who she is I suggest you get right over to her Etsy shop and check her out!
  

She is fascinating and one of my favorites! Here are the little darlings she is so generously giving away to one lucky winner. How do you win? Keep reading!

Size: 2X4in 
Follow me and leave a comment here on my blog about the pieces.  Each comment will be given a number as to order the comments were received and in a few days we will go to random.org have it choose a lucky number and the individual with that lucky number will win these little Valentine Darlings!

Ready...Set...GO!
Good luck!

My Girls

Created this today..suppose to be a representation of my girls Samantha (22) and Kori (17). I battle within because it doesn't really look like them persay...but I like it and thought I would share it. Working on a new collage piece tonight while the seasoned whole chicken is roasting in the oven..spelling oh so good!

Kori left 17 Sammy right 22


Sam left, Kori right...man I miss them little...hold on to those younger years they go by way too fast!

Truer Than True

Who would have thought as an adult, I'd still be learning from Dr. Sues? Certainly not I. I came across this quote either yesterday or early today, but it resonated with me. It is funny when you are in your own little world of making art and artful journaling and creating just for the soul ( yes soul) purpose of creating you think to yourself ...my work isn't all that bad. I have had to teach myself to be sloppy, after a degree in Graphic Design where everything must be perfect and the client is always right and you are not allowed to show any type of personal style in your work or give your opinion on colors and fonts...it is sort of shoved down your throat and it becomes a learned behavior. That is what ultimately led me to creating art trading cards, and then becoming addicted to collage work and eventually art journaling...I had to re-learn how to self express because that was in some ways taken from me..or just tucked away for a bit. So I started with the art trading cards and they were personal, and meaningful and no kidding..a few made me cry when I was done with them and people would say "I will give you three for that ONE" and I would say " NO WAY!" I could not part with them.

Anyways...looking around at some of my favorite mixed media artist and friends I have here and other places on the web where I draw inspiration from and network with like minded people...it is easy to start self analyzing and thinking " My work sucks compared..." and that is because are..our own worst critics. And you get to a place where you no longer care what others think of your work..it is who you are. And no one...is quite like you. Even if you are inspired through others work or you learn something from another artist..you are still an original. You can browse through my pages here and see that my work is influences by those I admire...for instance Teesha Moore! She is brilliant to me and her collage sheets are like no one else's but the very second you look at it you can say...that was made with a Teesha Moore collage sheet! She is so amazingly talented in my opinion and I could read her journals until the sun goes down...so many people inspire me but I am Me..and an original. I still look at other peoples work and say to myself.."Wow I wish I was that talented" or "why can't my work be that compelling?" My sister and I do that thing we did when we were all kids and we colored with our sibling or best friend and you show each other what you colored and say "You color better than me" and cop an attitude lol 

And so...the point here is that this quote by Dr. Sues was a great reminder to me to not worry about my work not being good enough or worthy for anyone else...to be me and do what comes natural to me.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Thinking out loud

Thank goodness the weekend is here. I just read in another blog that there is nothing like the type of day where there is nowhere you need to be and nothing really to do...aside from what you want to do that is. I am honestly thankful for these type of days. I find myself longing for Spring / Summer. Here in Michigan it is almost crazy to even complain about the weather as we have had the most mild winter, with temps in the upper 40's lower 50's. This time last year we had 3 ft of snow but I would rather 3 ft of snow honestly...instead of just gray and dreary. At least 3ft of snow makes for wonderful landscape photography. This weekend I plan on working on a couple of paintings I started throughout the week that I was not very happy with...hope that I can pull something from it that I can be happy with and share.
I have finally found the right graphite pencils and so pleased about that. I have still been struggling and have for a long time with finding the right pens that do not act crazy on things that are painted. Sharpies work rather well but they even act nuts sometimes..so I read in I believe Artful Journaling in one of the sections that I love so much called Ask The Artists what pens they use on painted items and aside from sharpies which were the number 1 response, many people suggested a PITT artist pen. We shall see how it works tonight. Hopefully I will be singing with a glorious smile on my face there is nothing worse than getting the outline or lettering stages of a journal page or work of art and your pen flips out!
I hope you all have a nice weekend and find some time for creating something you are proud of...something that fills your soul with happiness...that thing that you have been meaning to get to. My paint brushes are calling my name...as soon as I get into my favorite comfy clothes and slippers :)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Cutie Patootie

Doodle

Problem....

 I think this is the problem...the graphite that I have tried to use is a 6B Prismacolor graphite pencil..really any feedback would be glorious!

Question for you mixed media artist!

I have had one heck of a time finding the right graphite to work with. It may be due to my lack of knowledge about graphite however, I see these wonderful images and always wonder what you all use for graphite because my attempts have failed. Either the graphite I get is too light almost like a pencil and it shines like led does, or it is dark and chalky and smears everywhere. any feedback would be so greatly appreciated!!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Internal Dialogue Set of Three


New. Very pleased with these. The thought behind this set of three is the internal dialogue I sometimes have. I had fun making this set and the funny thing is...I did not aim for the three of them to be in such an order to overall say "Why fear failure" interesting huh? Point made within...lol
Hope you guys enjoy these as much as I do :)
Why ~ Instead maybe ask why not?
Fear ~ Will you let it define you?
Failure ~ Isn't that when you don't even try?
Each piece is 5x7 canvas
Acrylic, watercolor, ink
Internal Dialogue Series of 3 January 22, 2012

My Secret...

:)~

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Could it all be part of a bigger plan?

I find myself often reflecting on the state of the world. The good and the bad...other countries hardships, failed political systems...our own...so many people are struggling today financially. So many have lost their jobs, lost their homes and it is hard to make sense of it all. After all...we are the United States of America right? Well it is not just happening here, its happening everywhere...and if you think you have it bad...take a look around this world...most of us don't even know how bad..bad can really be...but what I find so incredible is that so many more people are expressing themselves creatively. Young and old...in good positive ways and in bad ways...in creatively inspiring ways and maybe I was just blind to the fact prior to now and am just noticing it more but its really refreshing and inspiring to me. I watch videos like this..and by no means want to take the credit for this miraculous find..A Beautiful Mess shared this on her blog and I am just amazed by it. I went to the vimeo.com website and there are so many more inspiring creative videos there... it seems to me and I could be wrong but people may lose faith in their political systems, in the economy never getting back to good but never in one another or in themselves and what happens in...they turn inward. When a creative spirit turns inward and shares it with the world there really is nothing like it and it's priceless. When there is no real monetary gain..no notoriety for a job well done you just do it because that is what your soul craves and must do...and then you have left a part of you behind when your ticket is pulled for the world to have...for the people who knew and loved you to have this most intimate piece of you. OK..enough babbling...I keep going and going because I always fear I am not expressing in great enough detail, or in the proper way what it is I am trying to convey.  Thanks Beautiful Mess for sharing this link I have shared it this morning with a half dozen others and had to watch it myself twice...it is beautiful and I love what this man says....listen to him closely if you check this video out because he has a thick accent. Hope you enjoy...and my final thought before signing off...maybe this is all a part of the bigger plan....to get us back to ourselves to make us dig deep within and share with one another and find some unity in like-mindedness, inspiring words, color that stimulates interest and creativity....haven't we been about "things" for far too long?


http://vimeo.com/14074949
copy and paste this link...still learning how to use this site! :)



16 Page Journal Cover

New 16 page journal cover...not very happy with it...to me it is a bit sloppy but my journals are for personal growth not to win a prize for artistic talent. I think it is her nose I really dislike...? I will walk away from it and come back to it...not sure if this will be a journal I can love and work in for the next couple of weeks? Time will tell...

Friday, January 20, 2012

I love color!


Honey Bunny

:)
Just something playful and fun I was doodling. 

YAY it is Friday!

Feels so nice to have a day off. Spent almost the entire morning and afternoon cleaning out and organizing art supplies. Let's just say I made up a few new swear words doing so. I have the smallest apartment possibly EVER built and it makes it so hard for me as an artist. I have supplies in bins, organizer drawers, shelf's...everywhere. Feeling much better about it however because during the course of a week I make a nice mess pulling things out for the few hours I have after work until its time for me to get in the bed because I have to work again in the morning. This is somewhat of a cycle for me because every few months, things are just unorganized. I guess I am a bit ocd about it all from what others tell me but I have to be with limited space. I dream one day of having just at least a spare bedroom or basement in a house that I can make my own creative space. Nothing in the world would make me happier. Sometimes when I drive past large old homes, I wonder if the people inside are grateful for what they have and imagine how many rooms must be in their homes...I think of all the fantastic things I could do with just one room they may have that they take for granted and how thankful I would be to have it...someday right? We have to dream...dreams stimulate motivation and action.
And so...it is Friday night I have the rest of the weekend off...few projects I've been working on are calling my name. Showered and dinner is done and out of the way just waiting for Kori to get here. Helping her with one of her college application essays and then going to work on some art...make another mess LOL Hope you all find some time this weekend to do something you love...to let your creative minds wander and explore something new to you....while I was working on my masters degree I couldnt wait for it to be done...I would get off work at 8:30pm and come home, change my clothes and my face was right back in a book ( I work at a college in Learning Support Services) and would do homework and write papers until the weee hours of the morning and get up to do it all over again and dreamed of this time when I would be done and have time for making art and doing projects I had thought of...now I'm here and it feels great only...there still never seems to be enough time in a day for all the things that interest me. I have three books I've started reading...yes three lol...I love, love, love reading for the enjoyment of reading opposed to textbook reading...and had so many books to catch up on. Right now I am reading The Glass Castle, a Robert Frost poetry book..and Sunflowers..a novel about the last two years of Van Gogh's life..borrowed this one from my oldest daughter Sam so I would like to get to it and return it to her. Hate when people borrow books from me and don't return them. Ahem.....or movies. :) I am really curious to read this book as I am an art history buff of sorts and know a great deal about him..it is funny to me how so many different people interpret art and the life's of historical art figures...there is a series called The Power of Art...many of the episodes can be viewed on youtube.com but you have to be watched in sections...the narrator's name is Simon...if you like art history or are curious about any particular artist I highly recommend you check those videos out...their very interesting and made well. I had a Survey of Art and Architecture professor who would make us watch Sister Wendy...a nun who analyzes and interprets art.... I'll probably go to hell in a hand bag for this statement but that woman made me want to cut my own eyes out...lol
And so...this shall be a weekend of books and art...spending good time with my youngest and just relaxing...hope you are able to do the same. Thanks for stopping by and say hello when time permits...while I am 100% okay with talking to myself its nice to know sometimes I'm not the only one listening to me.. peace & love and happy creating!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012


In The Works

Gratitude
She is in the works...started her tonight & had to force myself to put down the brushes for a bit..can't wait to complete her, really happy with her thus far.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Weeknights

I have come to the conclusion that week nights are so difficult to make any real progress with art. I find myself envying those who are able to be stay home mothers and who have time outside of their jobs for such activities. There just is never enough time in a day...by the time I finally sit down on a week night to be able to create things, either I am exhausted from the day or it is so late I have to get to bed to do it all over again tomorrow. I really need to find that balance. All work and no play makes Debbie an unhappy soul. I don't want to make art...I NEED to make art. Like I NEED water, air and food.

Lord let Friday get here soon...my weekend will be consumed with messy paints everywhere my favorite pajamas's and paint brushes and a BIG SMILE ON MY FACE !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLiRGW31nyk&feature=related


Will always remind me of my grandfather...he was my favorite person.
 Visited their old farm house once or twice as an adult and it was amazing to me how small that little garage seemed as an adult.
 Was always with the horses..he raised Kentucky Derby horses and worked on the farm for a living. He worked his ass off...and he loved the horses.
 This one reminds me of how easy kids today have it. They complain about cutting the lawn...they have NO idea. He was the hardest worker I ever knew.


 Here with my mother as a little girl,Mildred, Dovie and Herley Ware.
 Lookin pretty swank Papaw...Sunday digs I'm sure.
 THE BARN...took this photo as an adult..our summers were spent traveling in my moms old cars to Kentucky to see them and escape the life we lived..we would get there and all of us just wanted to take off running up to that barn. Will NEVER forget watching a pony be born one late summer night....we lived in Detroit and every time we visited...I'd get a mason jar and try to bring back fire flies because my friends in Detroit didnt believe that my grandpa's farm had magic bugs that glowed in the dark lol....they died before we even got out of Kentucky...never failed. He tried to tell me they wouldn't make it back to Detroit...I was stubborn even then....
This photo is so powerful to me. This was taken not long before he passed away, and shows him visiting my grandmothers grave. I do believe, they were the cutest couple who ever lived...he missed her so...and I miss them so.
<3

Thank you Lisa...

A short post before I headed to work ...it seems there is never enough time in a day but my new friend here on blogger has reminded me to take a moment and remember the ones we love. The ones we have lost and to never ever forget how precious life is. Thank you for that Lisa...it is not that I ever forget, but life gets so busy.
I lost my grandparents on my mother side as a teenager... the only grandparents I knew for my father was adopted and I only met his foster mother once when I was about 7 years old. My grandparents on my mothers side were the most amazing people. The hardships they had in their lives...the hard work they endured to make a living...and the christians they were is inspiring. I'd give anything to have reached my adult life and still have them around. So many questions I would have loved to ask them, so many stories I would love to hear...Remembering you today Mamaw and Papaw Ware.

Franklin Herley & Dovie Ware

Monday, January 16, 2012

Hold the Moment


Stone

Left hand extended..and you may see nothing. But what I see in this hand is mammoth.
It is love, it is talent, it is accomplishment, it is failure and all its lessons…it is gratitude, it is happiness, it is appreciation for all the things I love about living. It is everything from the roof over my head to the stars in an evening sky, to the amazement of a snowflakes complexity to the veins that push blood through my shell. In this hand I hold everything. Everything.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Freaky Facts & Strange Stories

Best Little Bargain book ever!


River of Stones

I am thankful for all living things, for all things that keep living things living. For bookstores and art supply stores and coffee beans. I am thankful for my family and my children and birds who sing. Sincerely full of gratitude...for everything <3
Grace

Something I really love about her...
and something that makes me want to throw her out the window lol 
?

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Eh...

Thinks that painting is not my forte'...but I love to do it...

Blank Canvas

Sitting with my hair wet in a towel, just primed a canvas with Gesso waiting for it to dry. Thinking to myself as the shine goes matte....ooohhh the possibilities. THIS will be the one I love. This will be better than the last. This one, will be one to share with the world because I will feel so incredibly proud of it when I am done. But wait....I know myself slightly better than that. Despite all the images of work shared, there are so many unshared and that my friends is because I am after all my own worst critic...but the feeling of a blank canvas...a playground for color and texture and technique and exploration...its like nothing else and if no one ever sees it, if no one ever likes it, even if I hate it...I satisfied my soul by trying to create something. That really is enough for me. Not all that I want but enough for me.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Today

One grande toffee-nut latte from Starbucks = $3.85.One meeting for coffee at Starbucks with a dear friend you don't get to see often= PRICELESS.

Thoughts of the morning:

I really am blessed for the people I have in my life. Thank God for friends we can relate to and spend time with and when the visit is over, the feeling of reflecting back on the visit and saying to yourself, it was so awesome to see her/ him.

My sister mentioned something about wanting to start a journaling group. I have for some time now wanted to do the same but also, taking that a step further, would like to travel to different coffee houses and journal / write. People watch and write about the characters I see in strangers. Odd..well that is why this blog is called "peculiar me". I really have started this year out with a much more doing approach to things than dreaming about or wishing for approach so this may very well be in the works...
Looking forward to this work night tonight ending. Thursday evenings are kinda like Fridays for me. I am looking forward to this weekend. Making art....possibly going somewhere I have not been before to take photos. 

And for my Starbucks coffee date today, thanks! It was so great to see you and thank you for being a friend who would drive 40 minutes to meet me for coffee. Sometimes that happens in life, just at a time when you need to know someone would drive 40 minutes to have coffee with you. :)

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. "
C. S. Lewis

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

#28 Bits of Kindness

Hair pulled into a loose pony
cotton T, cotton pants cotton slippers...
The sound of water running to fill my paint bowl.
My table is prepped for creating and I feel happy. I feel content.
I feel as though, I'm being kind to myself
:)

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

#27


Pink and red stones never used. For a fish who never lived.
Clutching new roots in a tall clear vessel;
large petals, leafs of various hues of green
with veins of red and brown like a strong mans hands.
The source of this gift making me to strive to keep it alive
so that in spring it has a place of its own with earthly elements.
Inspired by the control to nurture nature
much like the womb from where I transpired
in essence the same sort of gift.

Monday, January 09, 2012

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Things I Am Happy About Already Today



Shower..no feeling in the world like clean.
Coffee..which is one of five favorites on this planet.
Going to sisters house to do a shoe box art swap YAY!
Smelling Heavenly.
:)


Sleepy Time Tea

Yes please.

Saturday, January 07, 2012

Getting there...

Worked the whole day to get this blog up and running..was slightly frustrated here and there and still have more work to do but please check out the links under the banner for images of some of my work. I will be adding and moving things around a bit but so happy to find start sharing. I still need to add a list of people who inspire me and the blogs I follow. I had this blog many moons ago but just did not know how to use it and now I know several people with blogs here who I would love to follow, once I figure out how to do so lol. I will get it...feeling productive! :)

Friday, January 06, 2012

HELLO World! Slightly frustrated trying to figure out this Blogger gig...but looking forward to getting it up and running and to begin networking with like-minded creative spirits!