Sometimes I wonder about this blogging or maybe it is just me!!!

While I was visiting with my grandkids yesterday I did this freehand drawing by Lauren Gray.
Lauren is an amazing artist and I love her work. Since I could not draw at all whatsoever and my friend Ana Bettencourt Tirolese came and did a seminar in my studio a few years ago and taught the grid....I was amazed....I progressed from grid to freehand now if look at Lauren's work you will see that I have a long way to go but I wanted to try and draw her design...
I can't draw out of my head as yet...I have to have something to copy from.... my grandson Jacob helped me by telling me where I was going wrong....he saw my crow was too skinny and the beak too small....so I adjusted trees and bird and it is looking much better...Thank you Jacob.
Jacob and Nicole are amazing young artists and I learn a lot from them....

Anyone can dabble, but once you've made that commitment, your blood has that particular thing in it, and it's very hard for people to stop you. (Bill Cosby)

today I am trying a freehand design of Rene Mullins. I received in a swap a christmas tag with her design on it and thought I would try to interpret it freehand style.....I did the snowman on the front and put sheet music on the back and brought the scarf around and up on to the sheet music...now I will add the finishing touches and put him up....you can give me advice and help as I am trying more and more freehand these days but have a long way to go....


Even when you paint, you never stop drawing

Igor Babailov

I was looking at a group I belong to called Artchix. Helga had a challenge on her blog and it was of a vintage postcard with a butterfly on it...we were to make a postcard that inspired us from that picture...do you see any butterflies on my postcard? Noooo I added a piece of music and a bird...I looked at that postcard and was immediately inspired to do this one of my Dad...go figure....
My Dad had the most beautiful voice and sang at weddings and funerals. We always tried to get him to record but he would not far to humble...to this day when Irish Eyes are Smiling or other Irish lyerics come on or hymns from Church I tear up as I can still here his beautiful voice....



You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.
Desmond Tutu

I have been busy working on a couple journal pages for a swap. They were a lot of fun and I just kept adding and finally had to tell myself to stop!!! They are in the mail and sure hope my partner likes them.....

Now I am on to the next pages and doing the homework for the workshops I belong to....

"When I think about the things that formed my sense of self as an artist, I always return to ...lessons from the garden. The garden heightened my sense of observation, awakened my sense of curiosity, and made me comfortable with solitude. It opened my eyes to an appreciation of colors and shapes, and brought me wonder at its different cycles."
by Nancy Azara

BEST POEM IN THE WORLD I was shocked, confused, bewildered As I entered Heaven's door, Not by the beauty of it all, Nor the lights or its decor. But it was the folks in Heaven Who made me sputter and gasp-- The thieves, the liars, the sinners, The alcoholics and the trash. There stood the kid from seventh grade Who swiped my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbor Who never said anything nice. Herb, who I always thought Was rotting away in hell, Was sitting pretty on cloud nine, Looking incredibly well. I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal? I would love to hear Your take. How'd all these sinners get up here? God must've made a mistake. 'And why is everyone so quiet, So somber - give me a clue.' 'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock. No one thought they'd be seeing you.' JUDGE NOT!! Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car. Every saint has a PAST... Every sinner has a FUTURE! Now it's your turn... Share this poem.

Boxing Day Official Holiday (big smile)!!
I had a wonderful but sad Christmas. Just before Christmas my Uncle passed; then I learned that my soul sister may have cancer and her hubby has cancer; lastly, my cousin's (second cousin) hubby has swine flu and is in an induced coma and critically ill...this is so sad to begin with but they just had a baby and were visiting his parents so they could enjoy the new baby.
My heart goes out to Faith and I pray her hubby will pull through...a little prayer please!!
So there are other things that are making me sad also but I'll get through them.
I couldn't settle myself to do my art before Christmas so I am going to make a concerted effort to start now and finish up the things left undone.
On the brighter side my darling husband redid two laptop computers for the grandkids and they were so happy...that made us excited for Christmas to arrive because they have wanted laptops for a couple years now and had just given up on getting one each....hahahaha..
I got the best buttertarts in the world from my grandaughter (10 years); Mom coached her along in baking them...oh thank you Nicky....hahaha now when you are being bratty instead of saying go to your room I will say go to the kitchen and make me buttertarts!!!!!
My grandson Jacob (13 years) did the most beautiful card that I am going to have to put up here I think for everyone to enjoy....he wrote a note about the things I did for him and of course both Grandpa and I cried. He did the most beautiful zentangles on the back of the card....I am so impressed with his art....
I must say both Jacob and Nicole are naturals for art...they come up with the most beautiful work. It makes me so proud!!!

Actually, we have no problems - we have opportunities for which we should give thanks... An error we refuse to correct has many lives. It takes courage to face one's own shortcomings, and wisdom to do something about them.
Edgar Cayce

Tuesday morning and feeling okay!!.....
Working on some art and swaps which I will put up later... meanwhile here is a picture of my Cali Cat...she is a big girl for four months and likes to help me on the computer...here she is taking a break.


"After scolding one's cat one looks into its face and is seized by the ugly suspicion that it understood every word. And has filed it for reference."- Charlotte Gray

I have just uploaded some journal pages...I love my journaling!! I am having so much fun doing this...just a beginner but hey we all start somewhere....

I tried a word program for one of the pages....and stamps on the Teesha style page and one of my favourite artists DJ Petitt ....I tried drawing one of her portrait faces and altering it a bit....made lots of mistakes but have to look at someone's art to try and draw to get me going and I love her work....if you haven't visited her blog or website run your fingers over there because this womyn is an amazing artist....

I have spent two days tryng to get in to my blog....grrrrh....after 3 more attempts this morning a light went on and I tried something different and it worked....I have no patience with the little people inside my computer....I call them "thumb" people and they are always playing tricks on me......

It is a winter cold windy day outside and that alone puts me in a rotten mood...Why am I in Ontario you might ask if I hate winter so much.....duh me!!! I want to be in Vancouver and maybe one of these days I will move there.....

so much for my bellyaching....I am supposed to be a positve person after all....so here is my gratitude for the day....

"I woke up this morning"......

Today I am uploading some pictures for you ...
the first one is from my dear friend Maer. Maer sent me this lovely atc on a card...what a great idea...of course being a female "Milton Berle" I will steal her idea....(anyone out there remember Uncle Milty?)....and I have put up the envelope also because a lot of patience and work went in to it and my hubby thought it was too beautiful to open....Ya like I am going to leave it closed and just gaze at the envelope.....

the Second one from my new wonderful friend who happens to live in the part of the world I want to be in....teehee...Sox...
she sent me postcards and they are beautiful !! I love what she did with both....
Two very talented womyn and I am so lucky to have them in my life......

Enjoy....

I will use the quote that was on the inside of Maer's card for my quote of the day (I'm a redhead).....

"Red is the cure for sadness"......Bill Blass

Now go make yourselves a wonderful day....

oops I didn't do that winter wonderland with striped paper I did a page with alcohol inks and then did computer altered art to make it winter wonderland...I guess the back if effecting the brain....

Some people skate to the puck. I skate to where the puck is going to be.
Wayne Gretzky