One Bead At A Time

Another day another bead, or should I say BEADS?! I took a mini workshop on this beaded bead pattern using right angle weave stitch. It was challenging at first, but let me tell you, after making six of them I can do it without looking at the written directions. That's how I learn stuff. I have to physically create it and then it is embedded in my brain forever. I like the way the units come together. They somehow remind me of Japanese patterns and this bead can be created with a lot of variations. That's good for someone like me that suffers from never ending curiosity and bead obsession.

Signs of Summer

Today is the first day of summer vacation from my teaching job! A Second Grade student gifted me with the above drawing. I loved it, so I am posting it here. Another sign of the approaching summer are the hot air balloons that float over my yard every morning just about daylight. It is quite a sight to see and hear as the balloons "breathe" right over the rooftops of my street. I never get tired of this sight. The sun is shining and the road back to the beginning of a new school year seems far away........

It's Not the Destination, It's The Journey

Who would have thought that I would spend days working on this little beaded flower! Not me, that's for sure. I decided to overcome my fear of following written instructions and attempt this beaded pattern. I am so visual and learn quickly if I can see the object first. So this was a real challenge to follow a numbered sequence and finish this piece. It only took  four times! I love to bead. It is intimate and portable. The textures and colors of beads intrigue me and distract me. Now I can move on with a bit more confidence and make some more pieces and expand on this idea.

Tools Of The Trade

A spool of baker's twine, a worn brush. a rusty washer, an Ebony pencil, a well used eraser, some beach treasures, and a rubber tipped shaper are some of the tools I use to create art with. I seem to find  a use for just about anything that crosses my path. But these are just a few of my favorite things. I love the look of worn tools used by human hands and wonder what others made with them. What are some of your favorite tools?

I am also a slave to technology and would have difficulty not having that one big tool, a computer. Once in a while I am tested, like today when it seemed like my whole pc had crashed and there I was faced with a black screen and not a lot of options. Fortunately, it was not as bad as it appeared and I am once again connected with that invisible electronic highway. I panicked for a moment, feeling like I lost an appendage. Silly I know, but then comforted by the much more primitive tools that I am surrounded with each day and have some control over. Ahh bliss.

Rainy Days and Art Delights

It's raining here in "sunny" California today. Actually it was pouring and then sunny, and then windy. A good day to stay indoors, look out the window, sit, and paint. I don't mind the weather a bit. In fact I enjoy the dramatic visuals of dark and light through my front window. It gives me a breather from the outside "to do" list to being able to create indoors. I have painting a lot and here are two new Miniature Masterpiece mixed media paintings now available in my Etsy store!

One day a long time ago.........I was born.

Yesterday I celebrated another year on this earth. It was a great day and this is going to be a great year. I can feel it. Being grateful for the small things and trying not to over process the world at large helps a lot. Once I have aced that, I will write a book and give it away to everyone!

Thank you for all joining me here with your interest and support of my art!

The winner of my blog card giveaway is...Margaret from Sacramento, CA !!

Congratulations and thanks again to everyone who subscribed. More fun to follow............

Blog Winner!

Hi Everyone! Thank you for all of your subscriptions. I have selected a winner for my blog giveaway. I wrote everyone's email on a piece of paper and put it in a bowl and pulled one out. The winner has been notified and when I hear from them, I will post it here. I plan to have more blog giveaways in the future, so please stay tuned and I hope you  enjoy following my musings and artful creations!

Blog Giveaway!!

I'm having my first Blog Giveaway! All you need to do is "subscribe" to my blog and you may be chosen to win these 4 neat cards created from my original paintings!! Subscribe to my blog on the upper right side of page. Winner will be selected and notified on May 5, 2011!! Good luck............

Bubbles

Here is another new small work I finished this weekend. Carefree and calm. Painted on a canvas panel with texture on top using acrylic and pencil, 6" x 6". Trying to catch bubbles is tricky, but a lot of fun!

The Peacemaker

Another day of painting! Life is good and sweet for sure. I painted this piece, or should I say "peace" on a some handmade  watercolor paper with acrylics,ink,and colored pencils. It measures about 5" x 7" and may a donation for a fundraiser. Take flight and enjoy your day!  

Miniature Masterpieces!

Check out my new and vibrant "Miniature Masterpieces" in my Etsy store! They are adorable, framed under glass and ready for display or gifting. Shipping is included in the price too.  I created these from watercolors, ink, and colored pencils. Some even have some interesting collaged accents in the background. It is pure joy to sit and paint these.

Bird Boy

Another new painting! The texture of this piece is very dense and bumpy up close. I have used acrylics and ink with a lot of gel medium to achieve a translucent feeling. It is painted on a piece of unusual handmade paper that has an uneven deckle all around. I wanted to paint a face and this character showed up.......with his pet bird. You never know who is going to show up around here!

King of Spring

I just finished this sweet little painting last night. It is created on a piece of handmade paper with acrylics, ink and some acrylic gel medium. Creating texture in my work is something I am working on and I am having fun carving and scraping details  into the surface. With thoughts of Spring, this piece seemed like a natural entrance into the season.

Sweet Home........Chico.

Yesterday, I participated in a boutique show in Chico, CA. Chico was my home for twenty years and holds a special place in my heart. The town was in full bloom with bright green trees and the light scent of jasmine wafting in the background. It was wonderful to see some old friends, albeit briefly, and receive  an unexpected phone call from a long time friend (wow!) and enjoy the warm welcoming atmosphere of the place I called "home" for so many years.

The show was fun and swift as I watched a lot of my small works of art find new homes. This colorful floral encaustic painting went home to a collector of many of my mini works! I am excited to see my new paintings being positively received. I suppose no matter how long I have been at this, I still love the validation of people appreciating my art. It really touches me on a deep level and makes me feel more connected to this human experience.