New Year & a Clean Slate

Breathe, Love, Share Digital Journaling
Currently a student in Jessica Sprague & Nancie Rowe Janitz's Digital Art Journaling 

It's been forever & a day since I've posted.  I have a list a mile long of posts that I never got to.  I've decided to forgive myself & Let It Go!  Sometimes I wonder if blogging is the correct vehicle for me.  I spent so much time & energy on the minutia of protecting my work via digital editing - scaling the photos down, putting a watermark... Sometimes it took away the joy of posting & sharing.  Since we're so far away from loved ones, I posted all the time on FB, which also has potential issues, but still not to the extent of how often I'd love to share my work.  I guess I'm going to have to figure this out!

WIP Background in Traci Bautista's Doodles Unleashed Class
FYI, it's a FREE class & Traci is Awesome!
Acrylic paints, india ink on 8x10 canvas board

I am currently taking a few classes on-line.  I need to learn to pace myself.  There have been a few times I've gotten in a pickle & not finished a class.   Ha ha, something else to add to "the list" - I don't do resolutions, more goal setting if you will.  I stumbled upon Michelle Ward's current crusade - Make a Tada list.  I am so on that & hopefully it gets posted as another Jan blog post & not a few months down. 

I promise to not be a stranger on my own blog!

Happy New Year!  This was Kuwait on New Year's Day

Love & Lucky 13

I had a bizzar last week full up life's ups & downs.  I never posted this & I want to, so better late than never!

13 years ago I married the love of my life.  I always talk about fate & God & how we were meant to be.  After graduating from college I picked up & moved to Mobile, AL for a new job & life.  I didn't know a soul.  I even laugh now because the job I turned down was a buying job in Miami, FL.  Anyone who knew me back then would have pegged me for the Miami job.  But 13 years, 2 boys, 2 dogs 7 states & 2 countries later I love you as much now as I did when it all began.  Thanks to my hubby I never turned out to be a broke bitter single gal with a bunch of designer shoes chewed up by my untrained dog.  I love you sweetheart!

Join Us at the Trashion Show

Last year I attended this show as a judge, spectator & whatever else they needed me for.  I'm happy to say the 2nd annual Trashion Show will be tomorrow night at the Holiday Inn Salymia.  All proceeds benefit women in need here in Kuwait.

I'll be working with Trash to Treasure again this year as a photographer.  I have not had any sort of sneak peek of the work & cannot wait to see it.  My volunteer work has been more behind the scenes & unfortunately has been placed on the back burner of late date.  I hope to one day be as involved as I used to.

The pictures that follow are from last year's event.  The last photo is of my good friend Cheryl Spessert.  She was one of the visionaries that began Trash to Treasure.  She is no longer in Kuwait but she will be at  the event in spirit.  

Come out & see the show Tuesday November 1st at the Holiday Inn Salymia at 7pm.  Tickets are available at the door.  

Perspective Series: Looking Up

I've been on a photography roll lately.  I wanted to do a series of posts on perspectives.  My favorite challenge of photography is finding that perspective that tells the story you may not see right away.  The first one is looking up...

All these photos were taken in Athens last year.  I did not post many photos from our trip & really should have.  I have some beautiful shots - not to mention silly ones of the boys.  They were bored to death of all the "old stuff".  (Note: the photos without captions are because I can't find my notes on the names of the actual places.  Sad!)

Acropolis

 My favorite shot of the Acropolis 

Acropolis

Acropolis - notice the scaffolding on the side - there was some major work going on while we were there

Acropolis

I have a fascination with looking up & shooting a picture.  What do you see when you look up?

I'll have more pictures "looking up" in Kuwait.

Blue

Blue Flower Doodles WIP 8x10 canvas panel - ink

WIP crochet necklace with Czech firepolish beads

Blue WIP 3x12 gallery canvas - acrylics

I've been thinking a lot lately.  There has got to be an end to these feelings.  3 1/2 months of emotions due to all the change came piling on me this week.  I feel like I'm at a crossroads - roll up in a ball & disappear or take the bull by the horns & run.

Blue Flower Doodles WIP  detail

We Remember

I had a discussion with my children this morning about the somberness of today.  I got goosebumps just speaking with them about September 11, 2001.  After I began the conversation, then I started having the questions of "how do I describe this to my 6 & 8 year olds?"  (I probably should have thought that through first)  The important part is that they know about the sacrifice many innocent people made that day for our country, the professionals in the first responder sectors that worked so hard to help others, and the sacrifice those that protect our country continue to make.

God Bless America

The Week in Pictures

 The last hurrah for summer! Did some last minute shoe shopping with my oldest son (lunch included) & lunch (again) near the Kuwait Towers.

Momma cat is back!  I've missed her.  There have been a few sightings but Rick wouldn't pull over the car or loop around.  Yes, I love this cat but this cat only!

My Byzantine Queen earring kit

Thanks to LB o'Jzazz for the terrific class.  The fruits of our labor.  A class picture after finishing our first earring.

Family lunch at Organica - again.  Picked by Josh.  Yummy fresh lemonade!

Can they be any cuter?  The Force Luke, the Force.  Thanks to our friends for the Jedi capes - now a necessity to play Star Wars Lego on the Wii.

The training continues.  I had a bit of a rocky patch with a sick bout.  I was off the treadmill for a week & a half.  I'm back on the program & have recently accomplished a personal best.  3 continuous miles under 45 minutes.  That is blazing for me!  I used to run 18 minute miles & now I'm hanging out in the 14 minute mark.

Is it the shoes?

What is this you ask?  I call it the Pile O' Green.  This is the pile of herbs & leaves I must maneuver every week when I go grocery shopping.  The weekly questions include:  "Is there any cilantro here?"  "Which one is spinach?"  and  "Did I just buy parsley 3 ways?"

but I'm not a painter

Believe 4x6 flat canvas panel - acrylic & ink

Sometimes I just gotta laugh.  I get all up in arms about others setting my boundaries, preconceived notions, prejudgement... yet I do it to myself all the time.  

Me to my card making group "but I don't really make cards".  

Vogue 4x6 card various decorative papers, German foil, stickers & vintage Vogue cover.  The fleur de lis & crown transfer are also digital clip art I printed but the seller is  no longer on-line.

Me to, not 1 but 2, beading groups "I'm not really a bead weaver or seed beader".  

All classes taken from LB o'Jazz.   Peyote
Ring Squared,  Luscious Lariat, Arabesque Earrings

 

Me to myself for most of my life "but I'm not really an artist".  So down comes, "but I'm not really a painter".

dream WIP 8x10 flat canvas panel - acrylic & ink

Thanks to wonderful classes I have been able to take on-line by Christy Tomlinson & Traci Bautista.  I have learned how to become comfortable working on canvas.  At this point, it's more than comfort, it's forever love.  I'm at the point that I will probably never stop working on canvas.  More & more I've become more comfortable using less paper.  Don't get me wrong, I still have a strong love for paper, but I've been going a bit out of my comfort zone.  I've found a style with ink & acrylics using quotes & words.