Rising Moon

Has the month of May gone already!?? Where, please tell me, where did it go? I suppose, and people have always told me that time becomes so fleeting the longer we live on this earth. I believe it. Time was so plentiful when I was Jaron & Sierra's age. No feeling that the days slip away so fast. Don't get me wrong....I enjoy every one of my days and thank God for them! The days are poetic, like many different textures sewn together, over and around each other...they are truly the days of our lives-rich and often beautiful.

Here is another promised page, several weeks in coming but finished today...It was inspired during our drive back from College Station one night when the moon was large and orange on the horizon, so beautiful. I was actually feeling kind of blue at the time, upset about...something that I can't remember now...but upon seeing it, in contrast to our chaotic world, it was a vision we can count on, every month or so. The thought and site took my breath away and inspired me to praise God for His constancy in my life.....

She's So Beautiful.....

Well, I've had this finished for some time, but just no time to sit down and put it online! I'm really like this one a lot because it just took me on a journey...I read once in an artist's blog (I believe it was Anahata Katkin) that you have to just START...glueing or painting, whatever you're doing and the let the journey take you where it will.... It's sort of a scary concept, because I'm always (at first) afraid of "messing up." But, I am discovering there's really no such thing. Although-- I did start over on one of the previous pages because I just got the wrong color on the page. No, I'm serious, it looked like blood on a page talking about LOVE. Yes, I realize that love can turn into something rather bloody at times...BUT it wasn't what I was trying to portray at the time!!

I have several projects in mind for the next few weeks. I am waiting on some ink-jet transparencies that I will be experimenting with transferring images via an acrylic gel medium. I will, of course be continuing the art journal, with some suggested themes on some of the Yahoo groups I've been lurking on. That's what they call it, when you just read the messages, etc. and not really participate. .....Also, I want to do some things a la Nick Bantock. His art is so very cool and out there! I have some old (and new) foreign paper money I may use with stamps, and pictures from old books....Please, as always, stay tuned. And, thank you for doing that, I know I keep you waiting a lot........

Art Journal 3

And here is my latest Art Journal page!!

My First Mosaic....FINISHED!

I'm so excited to have this finished! I fretted and babied it, filled in the narrow spaces with little beads. It's been sitting here for about a week or so staring at me. I kept asking it, "Are you finished?" Sierra answered for me, "It's finished, Mom, it doesn't need anything else." I thought she was right. I know she is. I sat out in the sun this morning after spraying some archival acrylic spray on it. It seemed to dull the shiny stones and such somewhat, but does not seem to take anything away. I wanted to preserve it since it will be actually USED as a small tabletop. And not just hung on a wall. I do like that type of art form. Usable or useful ART! I am quite pleased with the outcome. And I really hope you all like it too!

GLUED!!

Enough testing different glues on different surfaces for different lengths of time....! Sometimes you gotta just dive in and DO it! It's a little difficult to see but I painted my board a iridescent copper using a heavy body Golden acrylic. Then, I used Weldbond adhesive to glue each of the iridescent blue and copper colored glass tiles on the border. The Weldbond instructions say the longer you wait, the stronger it holds, so I'm going to let it set for several days weighted down with some heavy 12 x 12 leftover floor tiles we have hanging around. Cross your fingers! If all goes well, I can begin gluing my homemade tiles. I borrowed some more stamps from my friend Sally T. You wouldn't believe her studio (was a garage!), she's got bins and bins of stamps, mounted and unmounted, and she says I can borrow whenever I want. Check out her blog (IMAGINE THIS), if you haven't already. She is a fabulous artist, and relatively undiscovered (not for long!)....Stay tuned!

Art Journal2

2nd Entry....In some ways school-girlish, other ways seeking to say SOMething about the good and painful side of LOVE. I like it. It's part of me. I'm learning to relax and let my art be. No perfectionism allowed! It's VERY freeing. It's very good for me. I tend to over-think everything, and beat myself over the head, if it's not what I originally had in mind, but isn't that what art is all about, FINDing your voice, not PLANning IT!

Art Journal I

While I wait on some more stamps to arrive in the mail finish out the mosaic, I am starting an ART JOurnAL. I realize you've seen these before, but I wanted to find a place to display them, and I think this is a good place to start. I will be using this journal to express my thoughts and emotions, day to day happenings, artistic leanings, etc. I'm very excited about it! I'll share as soon as I finish a page. This is sort of expressing what was going on in February....ie not much time for hands on, so digital art was a good alternative, all of these I worked on sitting up in the stands at th A&M Rec center during the kids' swim practice! A good time for it....

Mosaic II

The colors and vividness never come out as well over the web, but you get the idea. A few more tiles added. I am also waiting for some additional ornate rubber stamps to arrive this week to fill in the gaps....

Mosaic...coming along.....

I thought I would start putting together the tiles I had into some sort of order...I suppose I still have a lot of work to do, but it's coming along(!) don't you think?? I plan on visiting my friend, Sally Turlington this weekend. She lives right here in Huntsville, and she's a brilliant artist! She's invited me to come visit her studio in her garage! I'm so excited! She's fabulous....I need to learn from her and others of this caliber......Stay tuned!!

Here's Another One!

These are really fun to make!!

More LOVE!

There's always a need for more of that! And not just on Valentine's Day!

Digital Valentines

Been doin' some digital stuff cuz there's been no time for hands-on....but this weekend...there's no swim meet... basketball... work duties...or women's retreat (went off fabulously) pressing so my hands will be dirty! Count on it! Happy Valentine's Day! (Early)

New Projects

I received some truly exciting and wonderful art technique books for Christmas, and have been working on some new projects. Well, actually I have been kind of in-between because I wanted to begin work on a mosaic table top, but needed to collect some supplies first. One of the books I got for Christmas from Matt's brother Paul and wife Cindy is Laurie Mika's Mixed Media Mosaics: See Mika Arts

So, I've been ordering and collecting materials such as Sculpey Premo! and iridescent and smalti tiles, Pearl Ex pigment powders, acrylic metallic paints, ornate rubber stamps, tile nippers, etc. so I can assemble a beautiful mosaic table with a combination of bought and handmade tiles! The first photo above shows what I accomplished yesterday with the Sculpey polymer clay (rolled, out, stamped, then baked in the oven to harden) and painted with acrylic paints and pigment powders. I am so proud of my first tiles...they look so cool, don't they?

The second photo is the finished tiles, some yet unpainted tiles and some of the bought iridescent and smalti tiles. I think they are just beautiful. After I've completed quite a few, I will start assembling on the board Matt prepared for me, I have some other things like charms, jewels, and gold leaf on the way, and I've got some seed beads to fill in the cracks!

The third photo is utilizing a few of the techniques featured in a book Eunice gave me for Christmas called Mixed Emulsions by Angela Cartwright (remember Lost In Space?). It's a book to combine different art techniques with your own photos, something I've wanted to experiment with for a while. Stay tuned...there will be more!

Breath of Heaven

Christmas time is upon us! Our church choir is preparing our Christmas music to be presented Sunday morning, December 16th at 10:20 am at Elkins Lake Baptist Church. I will be singing this beautiful song as a solo! Please come if you are in the area!

Here We Go!! TOBYMAC!!

All Right! The big concert is upon us. We saw TobyMac for the first time about 3 years ago at the Woodlands Pavilion. At the time, he was the 2nd or 3rd opening act, not really that well-known. We came to see Third Day who I love. But we had no idea about Toby. WOW! Did he put on a fantastic show. It was awesome, high energy crazy (guys doing back flips off the stage, etc) music that the kids (and I) loved! All in the name of the Father!! We were jumpin' up and down with our hands in the air!! He's an awesome example of what God can do in young people's hearts--speaking their language. He's incredibly talented..although, I guess some people wouldn't like the rap, all I have to say is just listen to the message!! Tomorrow night at the Berry Center at 7pm, I'll have Jaron, Sierra, and 2 of their friends. I went on line the first day the tickets went on sale, and the server got jammed, there were so many people trying to get tickets. This concert is SOLD OUT! and they are filming a DVD. We are so excited!! I'll probably have photos to share.....stay tuned!

Some New Stuff

Well, obviously I haven't mastered the best way to photograph my art work. If anyone has any suggestions....When I use a flash, the light bleeds out detail, and when I don't use a flash, I get camera shake. Of course, when I get my new lens, (someday) it will be a different story, hopefully. I have found that natural light is the best all the way around digitally, whether I'm shooting my kids swimming or still-life art work.

I'm Still Here!

I wanted to submit this scrapbook page of Sierra to let everyone know....I am still here...I'm still functioning. And I will go ahead and say it, even though it's so boring...I am really busy! It's a trend in my life. I do not deny OR regret it, though! I hereby commit to post more this week. I have some art projects I have completed, so I promise to share..... I'm having a great weekend, aren't you! The weather is perfect!! Stay tuned, I have some time these next few days. I'm off on Monday....my birthday!

Philadelphia

I'm in Phillie for the American Dietetic Association Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo! In order to keep up my registration as a dietitian, we are required to have 75 credit hours of continuing education in 5 years. Well.....I'm behind. They are due this year in May, and I only have about 36 credits going into this conference. Soooo...I need to get a lot in a hurry. Some of the students were going, so I got the bug. I said, what the heck, I'm going to submit it, and see what they say. They could only say NO, right? Well, they (the hospital) approved it! So, I'm here staying at the Hyatt on the Delaware River with a fantastic view just like this one out my 21st floor windows! I didn't bring my camera, I wish I had, but it seemed a little too bulky to keep up with. I probably need to get one of those smaller digital cameras for times such as these. I missed some good photo ops. There's beautiful architecture in some of the downtown buildings, but I was also told not to walk around downtown or in the tourist areas alone. Several dietitians told me stories of pick-pockets and muggings. The cab driver on the way over said that this city is one of the most violent!! I didn't know that. I'm enjoying myself, though, and learning a lot! I'll be back late Tuesday, back at work on Wednesday....

Activity Central

Tell me you haven't given up on me! We are deep into it...it's fun, though! Jaron's having fun with soccer. He scored the only goal in their first game. The guys are getting better everytime they play together....Sierra is the libero, which is a defensive specialist on the "A" team in volleyball..you should see her dive for those balls, and she usually makes the save! Stay tuned, I'm going to be better at posting! I promise.

1st Day of 7th Grade!

New shoes, new uniforms (size), new watch, skirts 2 inches max above the knee.....lots to get straight before the first day of school, but we made it through. Alpha Omega started Wed., the 22nd. The public school will start Monday. Sierra had her first volleyball game(s), she played on both the A & B teams, and played hard. Jaron began soccer practice this week....he's very sore! It's going to be a busy year with two other sports, in addition to swimming, piano, and Oh yes, that's right....schoolwork! This is the first year they change classes...only 5 minutes between--demerits if you're tardy....Stay tuned, I'll try to be better about posting, but the first week was rough!

Take your mark.....GO!

I posted another photo on JPG. This was taken last year of Jaron "& friends" at TAGS when he got his T-16 time in the 100 Back. It looks like I'm in the running for this one, I'm getting a lot of "Yeah" votes, and encouraging comments. I need your vote too!!

The Volley Girl

Volleyball practice has started this week....here are some practice shots in the backyard!

Listen to the Music

Okay, with all other things aside, and with a little more time on my hands in the evenings and for a few more weekends, I felt it was time to get back to creating! And I am really having fun with the smaller canvases. I have been really just playing around, experimenting with the different mediums, finding my voice, so to speak....stay tuned, I've got more coming! The above creation says: Listen....the music is everywhere... The background is acrylic painted, the blue strips are scrapbook papers from Erica Hite's Nessa collection, and the gold on black is a french text stamp with acrylic paints....The vintage image is from Enchanted Mercantile.

A Few Submissions...

I uploaded these photos and another one to the JPG photo magazine....another cool online site. I will be submitting more, stay tuned and please vote!

TAGS Photos #2

TAGS Photos #1

TAGS 2007

We are here! But I think we are developing heart failure! Sierra and Jaron are having a great meet! After tapering and shaving, yes, shaving (Jaron, too)! (You would have to understand the mental benefit it gives them! Jaron has made finals in every event so far (he got 4th in the 50 Back). He dropped his time significantly 35:23 from a 36:24! He hasn't broken 36:00 for 2 years! And Sierra dropped 2 seconds in her 100 Back today! Check out the Real Time Results
Prelims/Finals results all weekend! I've got some great photos too, stay tuned...probably up tomorrow or tonight!!

Singin' at the Lake

Well, family! I don't know about y'all, but I'm ready to convene at the Lake!! I found some old pictures...brings back some great memories. Everybody likes to sing at the Lake!!

Textures

O my, how cool are these!! Check out this site for free textures!
You can about ga-rone-tee I will be using some of these for backgrounds on some future projects....Just wanted to share! Toodles!

A Peaceful Mind

Is that not what we are all yearning for all the time?! We glimpse it at times, and it is so refreshing. This was created digitally...this is what I do in the 2 hours during swim practice! I am also working on another mixed media collage piece...Stay tuned!

Gulf Champs

A sampling of our 4 day regional meet at

University of Houston

We just got back...Although the kids didn't make any finals, they swam well, got a few best times, and we used it as a tune-up for the big TAGS (Texas Age Group Swimming Championship) in 2 weeks! This was really a tougher meet, because 11 and 12 year olds are scored together. And, there is a BIG difference between 11 and 12 year olds. With a few exceptions, the 11 year olds often look like 10 year olds, and a lot of times the 12 year olds look like 14 year olds! It really depends on where they are in their maturity cycle! But, at TAGS, the 11 year olds are scored seperately, so that's the meet they are peaking for. It was fun, but we are tired!

Parting Ways

We are finished! Parting is such sweet sorrow...I felt a need to resolve and part ways with my beautiful painted lady, and I am happy with her outcome! The details just don't come through as well as I would have liked, BUT she's magnificant, don't ya think? I bought some iridescent gold paint this weekend at Jerry's Artarama in Austin, so I gave her a sort of halo, and some golden eggs as well. Fun. I find if I just trust my own instincts, instead of trying to copy someone else's technique, I have much better results. Hmmm....did I learn something? This is giving me confidence and excitement about future projects; as I said before, smaller canvases. I have some vintage ephemera and some cool art stamps from PaperArtsy that I will be playing around with. Stay tuned...!

Making Progress...but slow!

She's coming along nicely, don't you think? I haven't a notion why I started out with such a LARGE project. Maybe because I was working with the tags for a while, I needed a departure. Hmm...the next question is: where shall I hang it? There is suprising lack of wall space at our house. The next projects will be smaller...probably. I'll have to take a photo of the drawing by Sammy I had framed a few years ago....many of you haven't seen it. It's a horse done in Magic Marker! on plain old manila paper! Signed--SAM. The woman fussed (in a good way) about how brilliant it was, taking everyday elements to create art, and how we needed to preserve it. I'll share in the next few days. I also wanted to share this digital collage....I hope you can read the words: "Dreams are illustrations...from the book your soul is writing about you."

Getting there....

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted, oh, but on second thought, yes, I can believe it! Bible school wore me out last week, but I so enjoyed the kids this year. I did music with ages kindergarten through Jaron and Sierra's age--6th grade from 9:00 am-12:00 pm Monday-Friday, then I worked late into the afternoon. Now we are back to a fairly normal week. The above image was taken last week; I'm actually a little further along, but I'll keep you guessing until tomorrow or Thursday. I hope to work on it extensively on Thursday. Thanks for being patient with me!

Art in Everyday Things

This is my jewelry tray...I just think it's so beautiful. The mirrored tray was Mom's, and the fancy perfume bottle with the bracelets draped on it was Nanny's. The carved crystal bottle I found at an antique shop in Shiro, TX . I do think it's nice to look at our everyday things, and admire them, and even think of them as art. Anyway, it's just a beautiful, comforting thing that greets me every morning and every evening!

Creative Process....Parts 1 & 2

This is a piece I am working on, actually inspired by one created by Misty Mawn in this month's Somerset Studio magazine. Again, stay tuned! I will post at least one more "creative process" and, of course the finished product! Happy Sunday! We've had a wonderful. restful day...although probably the calm before the storm. Vacation Bible School starts next week--I am doing the worship rally music, complete with sign language and music, it's lots of fun...my 3rd year to do music. It's actually the kids' last official year, since they are 6th graders. Chris, our youth minister uses this time to prepare them for Youth Group! They will work the puppets, they are pretty excited, and so am I!