New Sketch Book

 Kool sketch book with prompts.

Keeping Crafty in a Busy Life

 I recently moved to Florida so life's been a bit hectic. Working, settling in and all that stuff. Then there's that nasty covid thing. So far we've been lucky and vaccinated, but still it's a big issue in meeting people and making friends.  

I've still been painting and trying to keep crafty but it is a challenge. The house we're renting is small and my craft room is a jumble of stuff that doesn't fit any place else. Isn't that always the way? It's like the world sees our craft rooms as that spare place to store stuff. Frankly it messes with my creative flow. It's like writer's block. Crafter's Block? That has to be a thing. Most of the stuff that used to be out and in sight is stuffed in a box and crammed into a closet. 🤦

One of these days I'll reveal the before and after of this craft/office/storage fiasco when I can figure out how to reorganize it (again.) But right now it's just too much. 

And my piano desperately needs tuning. - but that's another topic. 

Then I painted sunshine gnome just because. 

One Aimless Writer: NANOWRIMO Approaches... Are You Ready?

One Aimless Writer: NANOWRIMO Approaches... Are You Ready?:  Love this time of year when we prep for NANO.  What? you don't prep for NANO?  I guess it comes down to a plotter or a pantser or even ...

Easter Porch Board - Admitting Mistakes

Needs work! 

This is a four foot board about 10" wide. 

First it was washed with light blue. Let that dry. Then sketched the Gnome in chalk. Mistake? I used bright pink chalk that was hard to cover & hard to wipe the extra off. 

After sketching it was just coloring in. 

If I had to do over here's my list of needed corrections or changes;

Darker background

Hat bigger/longer

Background beard with violet before adding long white hair so it has more depth. 

The green in the hat needs to be smoother. 

Lettering would have been better if the background was darker or done on the Silhouette so they're more even.

Easter Egg needs to be decorated. 

Hands outlined

When working in a width of 10 inches you have to keep everything narrow. If I was painting this on a wider piece I would have had more room to make the hat a little floppy and made ears angle off to the side and maybe a few more eggs around him. I did decide on purple shoes because there's a little green grass by his feet. I almost gave him a pink hat but that would have had to be darker than the ears and nose. Not sure that would have popped too much/little. 

Next? I need a bunny on a porch board. 

 

Bird Bath Cover Up

There was this ugly sewer tap in thing in our back yard. I hated it from the minute we moved in and thought long and hard on how to cover it up.

So, what does every back yard need besides a bird feeder to attract those cute little feathered beauties? 

A Bird Bath, of course! 

Hubby made this box from plywood. Just cut four equal pieces and nailed them together to fit around that sewer pipe.

Next; Bright blue spray paint. 

Then I took chalk and drew some flowers and birds and painted on some whimsy. 

After it was all done I used a spray sealer with UV protection so it would withstand the rain and sun. 

Once that was dry we glued on one of those bottoms to a flower pot. I think it was maybe $3 in Lowes. We used an all weather glue to hold up to the elements. 

Finished! Easy Peasy Bird Bath Cover Up! 

Craft Room Re-Do

I moved 900  miles in the last year and my old craft room is still in boxes. :(

Our temporary home is only two bedroom and my hubby thinks we should share that room as an office.  >insert hysterical laughter here<  However can we really share our craft room? I mean, isn't space necessary to spread out all our goodies?

So I waited. Set up my desk in the corner, put up my peg board (A BIG must have for any craft room) and waited.  I wanted to see how much space I'd actually have to give him. I mean, all he does is work on the computer so why does he need a room? Or even part of a room? Isn't the kitchen table good

enough?

It's been a few months and he's shown no interest in the room. Mostly it's just a pile of (my) boxes. Maybe that threw him off? If I have all these boxes maybe the kitchen table is looking better?

So, I'm going to attack that room and set up my stuff. I'll need my work bench first. Which he has to put together - I'll work on that - and need to fix the storage. When I moved I gave away my cubes and for the life of me I can't remember what happened to my other storage stuff.  Hey, 900 miles is a long trip. Did I sell this stuff at a garage sale? Give it away? Is it in one of these boxes?
I have work ahead and I'll be posting progress reports as I go.

Wish me luck!

Hooked on Paint & Sip

I have to admit I'm hooked on these paint & sip places. They're much better than sitting in a bar or just going to a movie. I mean, I love movies, but it has to be the right one. There are so many duds among the great ones.

So, these places where they show you how to make a painting while you sip some wine (they have beer, too!) are the perfect mix between a nice night out with friends and trying something new.

I did the lion and had a great time. Now he's hanging in my office. :)
Monet's Waterlilies were next. That's now hanging in my kitchen.

Tomorrow they run a special and now I really want to paint this dandelion!
There's an old saying; Some see a weed, some see a wish. It's about perspective. Like the world show's you things and you can make the best of them. I love that. If I ever get another tattoo it would be a watercolor dandelion with the words "See the Wish" under it.

So, I think this painting is talking to me. Check it out here.
I gotta make some phone calls and see who wants to go!
See the Wish!