Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Birthday




Happy 37th Birthday 8x10 canvas panel: acrylic, marker, ink, rub ons, glitter, vintage dictionary text
I marked my birthday with the creation of a new canvas for myself.  It is a great indication of where I am with my art right now.  It's playful & whimsical & completely me with the glitter, pink & crown. 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Happy Birthday Dad

The fam in St Augustine (minus my sis & lil J is in my belly)
Mom & Dad celebrating his birthday
Nice Hats
Nice Aprons
I tried to find some vintage photos, but didn't have any luck.  I scanned some last time I was home & have no idea what has happened to those files.  Bummer, I had some good ones.


Dad, I hope you have a wonderful birthday.  I miss being in the same country with you!  You are such a special dad & I miss being near you.  Looking forward to seeing you this summer.  I LOVE you!

Things I've Learned from Christy Tomlinson


    WIP: 8x10 flat canvas panel Acrylic & Modeling Paste
  1. Yellow is awesome!  And yellow & grey is just beautiful. 
  2. I've been introduced to modeling paste & wondered why I haven't used it before.
  3. It's okay if rub-ons & rubber stamps don't make a complete & perfect impression.  Really, it is!
  4. I'm using stuff I've had in my stash for the first time.  Seriously, some of my cling stamps, embellishments & canvases were in the original packaging - for a year or two...
  5. I must order more canvases stat!  With the canvas shortage I'm looking for new surfaces to attack beautify.  I have some birdhouses I bought last summer & they have not been touched.
  6. I've found a use for dried up baby wipes!  They make awesome "paper towels" for cleaning brushes, stamps, fingers - all sorts of messes.
  7. It has been liberating to be able to let go of the "perfectness" I feel should be in my art.  If I mess up, I work with it.  There's always gesso available as well :)
If you are looking for something to do, go join Christy's class.  You won't be disappointed!  As a matter of fact, I can't stop!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Home is Where the Heart Is

Being a military family, you move around a lot.  My husband & I joke about what we will do when we have to live in an area for more than 3 years - that has been our longest time frame in one area.  Our shortest was 8 months.  Prior to living in Kuwait we moved every year for 5 years, sometimes twice within a year.  The crazy life we lead, but it's ours!

Crystal's creation is on the left, my original is on the right.
Shortly after we got to Kuwait & settled into our life here, I decided to make a canvas, Home is Where the Heart Is.  I have all these little hearts of the places we've lived.  My sweet & creative friend Crystal made a comment way back when that she'd like one of those canvases for her.  Almost a year later we finally got together & made one.

Crystal & her new canvas
We spent the day chatting, laughing & creating.  I had to laugh at her FB post that she didn't know if she would be creative enough.  The joy of crafting with others is learning from them - you get a whole other perspective.  She even taught me a few things :)

Crystal's Home is Where the Heart Is - 10x10 gallery canvas - acrylics, inks, paper
Crystal is one of my friends leaving this year - she'll have a new heart to add.  While moving to different locations is a constant in this life we live, you never quite get used to it.