Love Changes Everything

Another water color painting I've done recently.

Creative: Making a Fence

Getting back into my creative challenges.  I've missed doing them.

At Three Muses the challenge this week was "fences".  I did this background page for a mixed media project I'll be starting soon.  It is done with chalks using stencils for the patterns.

Linked at:

http://thethreemuseschallenge.blogspot.com/2017/06/fences.html  

Art and Craft in January

January has been a great start for my creative New Year of 2017!  I've been cooking, doing makeovers, and working on my KonMari project. I've also raised the bar on my creative arts and crafts.  Classes, workshops, challenge groups, and fun in my studio all play part.

I did a canvas painting workshop with the 'Red, White, and Blue' group.  My painting is called "Northern Lights over the Koyukuk River".

And a short time later I did another night sky at a free painting class at Michaels' craft store.  It's called "Blue Moon Over The Mountains".

I played around sketching copies of the rooster off my grandmother's "Poppy Cock" plates.  I did four them on backgrounds with Chinese writing.  I call the series "Year of the Red Rooster".

I had some fun with a post card swap with the theme of "snowman".

And I attended an interesting workshop on making bath salts (or scrubs) using essential oils.  The salts smell SO good!

I think I've gotten my routines pretty well in place this month so I'm looking forward to being able to add more creativity next month!

Nest Sweet Nest...A Chalkboard Birdhouse

My intense focus lately on getting home organizing and yard work done is so I'll have free time to do fun things.  I hope by the end of October to be in a state of maintenance with both.

Even now I'm having more time to play... and to start doing creative challenges again.

House of Hoff has a DIY challenge to use chalkboard paint.  I decided it would be fun to do a birdhouse.  The extremely textured wood made drawing a straight line impossible so I went with a folk art look.  I think this will make a perfect home for a bluebird, don't you?  They can fly right on in and have the cutest nest in the yard!

http://www.housebyhoff.com/

http://anythingbutcutechallenge.blogspot.com/2016/06/challenge-14-birds-and-bees.html 

http://takeaword.blogspot.com/2016/06/take-word-home.html  

http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/2016/06/i-believe-i-can-fly-is-our-new.html

"Over 50 Years Old" (Cee’s Black & White Challenge)

After I started working on my photos from the Threshermen's Show, I thought some of them would really look good in black and white.  Then I saw this week's photo challenge and that was the needed encouragement to pick out a few to work on.

I think they turned out pretty nice.  There's just something about Black & White photos that makes them look timeless.

http://ceenphotography.com/2015/07/16/cees-black-white-photo-challenge-older-than-50-years/  

A Passel of Tassels

I'm working along in my studio, getting everything organized so I can start having some fun.  It is coming together enough that I can actually start thinking about decorating.

And my one thought on style of decor is "Boho".

And so I have started making tassels.  This large fabric tassel is my first of many (many, many, many) that I will be creating.

It's very simply constructed.  Torn fabric strips that are mainly from leftover fabric from the kids birthday banners (can you see the 'John Deere' peeking out?).  I started with a button on a long-ish piece of embroidery floss and threaded on the fabric strips and some ribbon pieces.  I bound it with a strip of fabric that tore out very thin.  The leftover floss was looped to make the hanger.  Done!

It was so easy that I could do it while shooing Persia off.  She decided that it would make a perfect new play toy.  

Ummmm... No.

http://www.punkprojects.com/2015/07/make-things-week-7-challenge-fabric.html

Doodle Style

Last week I decided I was tired of my Bible case.  Not its function... in that way it was perfect.  But it was sooooo boring.

Bleh from the front...

... and bleh from the back.  

Though my photo-bombing kitten is a distinct improvement!  LOL

Then an idea came to me as I was getting ready for church.  I doodle as it helps me to focus on the lesson (otherwise my monkey mind wanders no matter how interesting the subject).  Instead of drawing on an index card as I usually do, why not work on my Bible case with a Sharpie?

So I did!

Nothing like a bit of ink to bring in some style!

http://www.punkprojects.com/2015/06/make-things-week-4-challenge-markers-or.html 

Travel Theme: Off Center

I have found a lovely travel blog that hosts a monthly photo theme challenge.  What a great way to share some of my travel photos!  This month's theme was to show photos that the subject is off center.  I thought this would be an easy on for me to find, but I've discovered I like to take photos that fill the space.

This (pretty?) boy was strutting his stuff somewhere along the Natchez Trace.  I think we were in Alabama.  Himself and I pulled over and watched the competition; there were about 15 tom turkeys in the field.  They were still going at it strong when we pulled out.

I took this shot at "The Shack-Up Inn" in Clarksdale, MS.  Himself and I spent several nights at this awesome get-away.  The artfull vibe of this place is incredible.  We'd wake each morning to blues and jazz musicians jamming in the 'front yard'.  I can't wait to go back someday and spend more time.

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Shiloh National Military Park:  Tennessee.

A monument in the park.

Somewhere in Mississippi.

Some of the most beautiful and meanest looking thistles I have ever seen!

Budapest, Hungary:  Gellert Hill

Himself looking at the city.  We were in Budapest for almost two weeks, exploring a different area each day.

Alaska

Alaska

Adak, Alaska

A Bering Sea fishing boat.

Masai Mara, Kenya

A fuzzy little zebra colt we saw on our safari.  I didn't know that the stripes on a zebra foal are brown and as he gets older they shed into the dark stripes of their parents.

Everglades, Florida

Masai Mara, Kenya

One of the three balloons in our group.  We flew over wildebeests and zebra starting The Great Migration to Tanzania.  After a nice long ride, we set down for a brunch on the Mara.

Guatemala

Mother and daughter heading down the street in the beautiful cloth woven by her people.  I brought home several pieces.

Missouri

A rare visit of a Bald Eagle near my parents home.

Donnybrook, North Dakota

The barn on Himself's uncle's farm.  I envy that rock pile 'out back' and have brought many a stone home from our visits.

I hope you've enjoyed my photographs from here, there, and everywhere!

http://wheresmybackpack.com/2015/06/12/travel-theme-off-centre/

The Color Purple

Needing a small bulletin board, I found inspiration in a challenge to use my favorite color to craft something.  

I had an extra long clipboard in my stash and all it needed was to be covered in this pretty fabric to become something special.  I used homemade 'mod podge' to adhere the fabric to the clipboard.  I chose to leave the clip in its original rusty shabby glory.

My wee cork boards are two gold frames from Old Time Pottery.  Tho they don't show in the photo, what looks like white lines all through the fabric around the flowers are actually gold lines.  So when I spray painted the larger frame I did only one coat so the gold still came through.  The smaller frame has a heavier coat of paint, though you can still see just a bit of gold.

I've glued the frames to the clipboard with heavy duty glue.

Perfect for the corner next to my computer desk!

http://www.punkprojects.com/p/craft-challenge.html

http://www.punkprojects.com/2015/06/make-things-week-2-challenge-favorite.html

http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/new-challenge-anything-goes.html

Inspiration Photos

In decorating around my computer desk, I decided I wanted to have some inspirational quotes to hang up.  I found a couple photos I'd taken that looked good in black and white.  In Picasa I did the switch to B&W then added the quotes.

The first one is my "manifesto" so to speak.  It's what I want to remember every day.

This second one how we view our home.  I haven't decided the size and where I want to hang it, so it's not printed and framed yet.

It's been a while since I've done anything with my photos.  This was a fun boost to get my back to working with my photography.  I have several other projects in mind now!

http://www.punkprojects.com/p/craft-challenge.html

Blue Ribbons, Red Ribbons

This year I was able to get some creative pieces together for the annual Extension Homemakers Regional Cultural Arts competition, a nine county event.  It is the qualifier to compete at the state convention in May.  

I am so pleased with how I did.  I entered 9 items and came out with 7 ribbons of first or second place.  The first place pieces will go up to Louisville in May.

Black and White Photography

"Storing Up Summer"

Jewelry - Beaded

Asymmetrical single strand, using new and vintage beads.

Jewelry - Mixed Media

"Boho Button Necklace"

Buttons, beads, and wire on a chain.

Photography - Color

"Bob White"

Drawing - Colored Pencil

"Carmen's Home"

Miscellaneous Class

"Old Rugged Cross"

Mixed Media art

Ceramics - Hand Formed

Small tray