Thursday, January 29, 2009

Daily Drawings for the end of January








A few more daily drawings. Okay, I admit they are not exactly daily - I've missed a few here and there, but pretty close. I look forward to creating these little snippets of my life each day. My schedule has not allowed for any time with paint in the last four weeks, but by restricting myself to just a black pen and a small square, I've been able to find 10 minutes a day. Usually. I am actually finding myself reaching for a pen more often then a pencil now - fancy that!

The Word For The Year class is beginning on Monday! Be sure to check back here for the first post, and if you haven't already done so, leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a class kit!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Look who's in Altered Couture!

The Spring issue arrived today!


My work was highlighted on the gallery cover page:


and both tanks were shown on page 142:


I couldn't be more thrilled! I've been dabbling with some fiber work, but these were some of the first clothing pieces I've done, and I loooooooovvvvvveeee clothes! Right now the machine is out because I'm appliquéing felt hearts on 18 t-shirts for Madeline's birthday party (I really wanted to avoid cheap plastic toys or candy as favors, and the t-shirts were on sale at Michael's for only $2!), but I have a whole list of projects to sew once those are done. The clothes pile in my closet is stacking up; not ones to wear, but to deconstruct. I pulled four sweaters out of my give-away pile this morning (shhh, don't tell Matt!) to do a little sweater surgery on. Well, maybe you can tell him - he gave me the book, after all! So hold on, Altered Couture, more is on the way!

We've run into a few technical difficulties with the new web site, so we've decided to post my Word For the Year class HERE! The posts will run daily, from February 2-6. Of course, they will still be here to view, so if you can't check in that week, you won't miss out. This little book is full of some cool techniques (you know I love the technique classes) and quick journaling prompts to focus your new year wishes. To make it an even sweeter deal, I'm giving away 7 class kits! No, you don't need a kit to make the book (you can use your own supplies), but wouldn't it be nice to win one? Just a reminder, we are going to make this:

All you need to do to enter the drawing is tell me, what is your word for the year? Don't have one? That's okay, too. We'll address that in class. You can just leave a little happiness instead! I'll pick a winner Feb. 1st!

Monday, January 19, 2009

The Excitement Builds!

I'm getting so excited about what's in store on Lavender Sky Studio! I can't wait to share more about it, but that will have to wait for at least a few more days...

I am keeping up pretty well in the Daily Drawing department. Some are good, some not, but it's the routine. Here are a few recent ones.







Madeline, my fever girl, is down with one again. Max is still on the tail end of his cold. How do you keep one child from catching what the other has? I sure haven't found a way yet. Quite possibly, because they won't stay away from each other, even when they are sick. I guess I shouldn't complain about that one. We are so fortunate that they are the best of friends.

I will leave you with one last image. As I mentioned in the previous post, I'm trying to make exercising a more creative endeavor. This is a picture from a walk on a foggy morning, taken with my iPhone. I can't believe how good the camera is on that thing!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

So much going on!

Whew! The last six weeks have pretty much been a blur! The wheels are still definitely in motion for me. I can't believe that I forgot to post this:
My heart book was published in this issue, and it's almost off the stands, now!

I was a bit disappointed that they didn't show any of the cards inside. I must apologize for the pictures. It's late, and it's just easier to photograph them on my desk instead of scanning. The book is made of hand painted and stamped fabric and tissue, and on the inside you find:


I've been doing pretty good with the exercising, getting it in about four days a week. Today I did sprints with the dog while the kids threw stones in the creek. I don't think I've run that much in over a year. I'm really focusing on turning the walks into creative endeavors, taking pictures or bringing back ideas to put in my art journals. Today I had the kids bring their cameras along. Tomorrow we'll upload the pictures and see what each of us was inspired by (although I know at least one of the pictures was of the dog's butt...)

So much to share, but it's 11:11 pm (oh, make a wish, quick!) and I still have lunches and housework. I do want to mention an exciting creative endeavor I have in the works with Sheri. I'm SUPER excited about it! Yes, it will be on-line and here's a little tiny sneak peek of what's to come

Stay tuned, I'll have more information coming this month...

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Daily Drawings






So here is the first batch of daily drawings. Some better than others, but it's been a doable task so far.  As for the Dance Dance Revolution I mentioned in a previous post, well, maybe I won't be working out to that so much. I did just fine with the DJ tutorial, but they seduce you into this sense of accomplishment and then BAM! the real song starts. And then little people aren't on the dance pad anymore. And the DJ doesn't call out the steps. And those direction arrows come a lot faster, and you're trying to follow the dancers on the screen, and once second later, you're booed off and the game is over. Thank you Dance Dance Revolution, for crushing any dreams of dancing I may of had, and making me feel really, really old (although the kids thought it was HILARIOUS!)

Monday, January 5, 2009

Day One


Day one. I walked the dog for almost an hour, in the rain, and I've had no sugar today. Yay for me! But it is only Day One. This is the cover I did for the binder we are keeping for the class. I have a lofty goal of an illustration a day. A small illustration, mind you. Now, I know I probably won't do 365 illustrations this year, but I figure if I set the goal at one a day, I'll at least do a few a week, which will still add up to a lot. So there you have it. Day one.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

The Journey begins tomorrow...

I am taking Ashley Wren's class, Love Yourself in 2009, which starts tomorrow. The class is a creative journey marking your progress towards fitness or weight loss. Granted, I'm carrying an extra five pounds now, but I'm okay with that. I am, however, not fit. I admit it. Some of you may recall my Body For Life days, when I worked out six days a week and was so good about my eating habits. Then I had kids. And I stopped exercising. I even stopped my yoga, which I had been doing for over 12 years, and through two pregnancies! When we got the dog, I got back on the wagon a bit, with our walks (and for those of you who know Molly, you know she never "walks" anywhere!) and I actually went under my pre-pregnancy weight. But Matt went back to school and started coming home from work later, so I stopped walking her in the evenings. And I began focusing on my art career, and would work on projects instead of work out. My asthma has gotten worse. 

And these are all excuses.

Because my asthma is better when I am fit. And there is a Bowflex in the garage. And the dog needs to be walked, every day, period. So now it is out there. I've made a commitment. I know I'm not ready for the rigor of a Body for Life program, but I can walk the dog. Or put in a yoga tape. Or play Dance Dance Revolution on the Wii, even if the kids won't dance with me. It's public, and you can hold me to it.