Hey everybody! It's been awhile since I've visited with you. It's been crazy busy around here for some reason. Not as much art being done as I'd like, but there's been a lot of family stuff that's had to get done.
Music has taken a lot of time and have a couple of new songs written. I'm kind of cyclical about things. Art takes first place for awhile, then music, and back again. My favorite music is Bluegrass gospel, but will listen to ALMOST anything. Can't say I'm a big fan of rap, but I'm kinda thinkin' the rap world doesn't really care!
Also very busy working on my Medical Transcription training. Finished up another section and will be starting Pharmacology tomorrow. Looking forward to getting it done. Ready to be gainfully employed. But, the new college semester started and helping baby-sit our granddaughter so our wonderful daughter in law can finish up her education. So, I guess full-time work wouldn't work out right now anyway.
Should have some pics of some art-journaling I've been working on posted in the next day or so. I'm still working on that "project" I posted earlier. Not sure which way I'm going to go with it right now, so it's kind of on the back burner. Maybe inspiration will hit and it'll come together soon.
So...'till next time-
26 January 2012
13 January 2012
Mixing Media
Hey everybody! It was a bitter cold night in our neck of the woods last night, but it warmed a little today. I know a lot of folks don't like cold weather but, hot weather makes me so miserable, I totally look forward to a bit of cooling off.
Being a basketball fan, I stayed up late last night to watch a late game. It wasn't worth it. My team got trashed but hey...'ya win some, 'ya loose some. My time would have been much better spent in my work room (although I did spend about half the game in there 'cause it was much more interesting than what was happening to my guys!).
Did manage to finish a couple of pieces of mixed media work. I love this stuff 'cause it's pretty much anything goes. You can really loosen up and just go with the it. I love the fact that if you don't like what's happening you can just float on another layer of paint or maybe some gesso and go at it again.
In fact, these two pages were pretty crummy I thought, so I added a couple more layers of paint and just started adding embellishments.
Being a basketball fan, I stayed up late last night to watch a late game. It wasn't worth it. My team got trashed but hey...'ya win some, 'ya loose some. My time would have been much better spent in my work room (although I did spend about half the game in there 'cause it was much more interesting than what was happening to my guys!).
Did manage to finish a couple of pieces of mixed media work. I love this stuff 'cause it's pretty much anything goes. You can really loosen up and just go with the it. I love the fact that if you don't like what's happening you can just float on another layer of paint or maybe some gesso and go at it again.
In fact, these two pages were pretty crummy I thought, so I added a couple more layers of paint and just started adding embellishments.
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If you'd like a good book about Art Journaling with mixed media check out
"The Art Journal Work-Shop" by Traci Bunkers
She also has a great website at www.TraciBunkers.com
I'll leave you tonight with a shot of my messy corner of the world! Every now and then I dig out and find everything I've misplaced so I can go at it again.
So...'till next time-
12 January 2012
Brrrrrr.......
Well, yesterday we had Spring here in Arkansas! Goriously beautiful!! Temps in the 60's. Even though I think about how awful summer may be if it gets this warm this early, I still enjoyed it. Boy, is it a good thing I enjoyed it!
Spring disappeared overnight!!!
It is Sooooooo cold right now and has been all day. In the low 20's and a wind that will literally suck the breath out of you!
But, oh, it was a wonderful day anyway! As one facebook friend posted today..."don't forget to pray today, God didn't forget to wake you up"!
My mother turned 82 today (so, that should give you a vague idea about my age! LOL)! To celebrate, she got to take a 1 1/2 hour drive for a carotid artery Doppler checkup! Fun, huh? Had to leave around 7 a.m. but, even though it was VERY cold, it was a beautiful, clear day.
Plus, and this is a big plus, this town has a Hobby Lobby! Woo-hoo! And a bigger plus, I had $50 in my pocket my mother had given me at Christmas, so with the 40% off coupon (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE those coupons), the clearance section and pastel sets on sale at 30% off I had a field day! Plus, hubby went in with me(walking all over the store is too tough for my mother, so she waited in the car) and since I just happened to have an extra coupon....
...I was fortunate enough to come home with a new small set of pastels; a set of eight bottles of Windsor and Newton inks; a brayer which I'd been needing for awhile; two bottles of liquid watercolor (clearance); a journal for a friend; a bottle of Higgins white ink (clearance); a bottle of transparent red ink(clearance); and a wind chime for my mother! What a haul for $50!!!
After Hobby Lobby, had to make a trip to Book-a-Million (don't have any book or craft stores in our little town). These are usually the only stores I care about going to when we go out of town as I rarely clothes shop (HATE it!), so after the book store, we decided get some lunch and motor on back home.
Now...I got plans for tomorrow!! Have learned to be flexible with plans but if all goes well...
First off, I've decided I must make a "bucket list". I had done one, although they weren't called "bucket lists" then, years ago when I was around 13 years old. I lost it somewhere down the line and would LOVE to have it back. Don't remember much that was on it, except that I would someday live on a 1000 acre ranch and in the mountains. I didn't get the ranch, but I DID get 40 acres in the mountains. Works for me!!!
Spring disappeared overnight!!!
It is Sooooooo cold right now and has been all day. In the low 20's and a wind that will literally suck the breath out of you!
But, oh, it was a wonderful day anyway! As one facebook friend posted today..."don't forget to pray today, God didn't forget to wake you up"!
My mother turned 82 today (so, that should give you a vague idea about my age! LOL)! To celebrate, she got to take a 1 1/2 hour drive for a carotid artery Doppler checkup! Fun, huh? Had to leave around 7 a.m. but, even though it was VERY cold, it was a beautiful, clear day.
Plus, and this is a big plus, this town has a Hobby Lobby! Woo-hoo! And a bigger plus, I had $50 in my pocket my mother had given me at Christmas, so with the 40% off coupon (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE those coupons), the clearance section and pastel sets on sale at 30% off I had a field day! Plus, hubby went in with me(walking all over the store is too tough for my mother, so she waited in the car) and since I just happened to have an extra coupon....
...I was fortunate enough to come home with a new small set of pastels; a set of eight bottles of Windsor and Newton inks; a brayer which I'd been needing for awhile; two bottles of liquid watercolor (clearance); a journal for a friend; a bottle of Higgins white ink (clearance); a bottle of transparent red ink(clearance); and a wind chime for my mother! What a haul for $50!!!
After Hobby Lobby, had to make a trip to Book-a-Million (don't have any book or craft stores in our little town). These are usually the only stores I care about going to when we go out of town as I rarely clothes shop (HATE it!), so after the book store, we decided get some lunch and motor on back home.
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Now...I got plans for tomorrow!! Have learned to be flexible with plans but if all goes well...
First off, I've decided I must make a "bucket list". I had done one, although they weren't called "bucket lists" then, years ago when I was around 13 years old. I lost it somewhere down the line and would LOVE to have it back. Don't remember much that was on it, except that I would someday live on a 1000 acre ranch and in the mountains. I didn't get the ranch, but I DID get 40 acres in the mountains. Works for me!!!
(View out my north window)
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I've been working on some mixed media journal pages. Trying to learn to loosen up and just "do". I tend to work on 4-6 pages at a time when I do mixed media, so I don't have any finished pages to post right now. As soon as I get some done, I'll get them on here.
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Got my workspace cleaned up enough to work tomorrow, and ready to settle in with a good book for now and listen to the wind whistle around the house. So....
'till next time-
Sherry
(Lillies from my garden a few years ago! I usuallly LOVE winter,
but already thinking Spring!!)
09 January 2012
Oh Blah!
It's one of "those" days. One of those days I just don't know what to do with.
It seems that every time I get a start on something, I find myself looking out into nowhere and getting nothing done. It started out as an errand day, which always tends to turn into a "time-wasted" day. I used to be so unaware of these kinds of days, but as I get older, I am so very, VERY aware of them. And they seem to come more and more.
I have noticed that if I get my Bible study done first thing in the morning, I am much more productive throughout the day. It's as if my mind cannot focus if I don't do what I know I'm supposed to do first. Focusing is such a difficult thing to do. As soon as I sit down to work on something, my silly mind says there's something over here to do. "Wouldn't you rather be doing this?" And as sure as I decide that, yes, I WOULD rather do that! Bam! Look over here! Here's a project you haven't worked on in a while!!
Then, I look at the clock and I've "WASTED" (ugh...wasted!!!) two or three hours!
This MUST stop! There is so much art to do, so much music to write (and play), so much reading to be done...SLAP...SLAP....ok...that should do it!
I will close this post, get into 1st Timothy and study and then do some art!!
Pray for me to focus!! I know you will!
Oh, and Teri, I HAVE finished my first research project in Labratory and Diagnostics. One project and one final to go!!
'till next time-
Sherry
It seems that every time I get a start on something, I find myself looking out into nowhere and getting nothing done. It started out as an errand day, which always tends to turn into a "time-wasted" day. I used to be so unaware of these kinds of days, but as I get older, I am so very, VERY aware of them. And they seem to come more and more.
I have noticed that if I get my Bible study done first thing in the morning, I am much more productive throughout the day. It's as if my mind cannot focus if I don't do what I know I'm supposed to do first. Focusing is such a difficult thing to do. As soon as I sit down to work on something, my silly mind says there's something over here to do. "Wouldn't you rather be doing this?" And as sure as I decide that, yes, I WOULD rather do that! Bam! Look over here! Here's a project you haven't worked on in a while!!
Then, I look at the clock and I've "WASTED" (ugh...wasted!!!) two or three hours!
This MUST stop! There is so much art to do, so much music to write (and play), so much reading to be done...SLAP...SLAP....ok...that should do it!
I will close this post, get into 1st Timothy and study and then do some art!!
Pray for me to focus!! I know you will!
'till next time-
Sherry
05 January 2012
Well, ole man sun has set and the chill is seeping in. I had to stop and ask myself today what month it was! Honestly, if I didn't know better I would have thought it was May! It got so warm at one point, I actually had to wipe sweat from my forehead!! But, it's cooled off and the wind is bending the trees, so it's acting a little more like winter tonight.
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Today was a busy day, but one of those kinds of days where you work like crazy and get nowhere! I did manage to get two more chapters done on my medical transcription course. Making a little progress! Planning to do three tomorrow.
Well, it's getting kind of late and since my dogs barked at coyotes and deer coming up into the yard all night last night, I'd better call it a night. It seems I usually get more accomplished at night, but since most of the world operates on a day-time schedule, I'm expected to comply with them at least to some degree. So goodnight all-
'till next time-
Sherry
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Today was a busy day, but one of those kinds of days where you work like crazy and get nowhere! I did manage to get two more chapters done on my medical transcription course. Making a little progress! Planning to do three tomorrow.
I also got to add some watercolor to some sketches in my journal.
The next picture is of my little Altoids tin watercolor set.
You can find a tutorial at
Well, it's getting kind of late and since my dogs barked at coyotes and deer coming up into the yard all night last night, I'd better call it a night. It seems I usually get more accomplished at night, but since most of the world operates on a day-time schedule, I'm expected to comply with them at least to some degree. So goodnight all-
'till next time-
Sherry
03 January 2012
On a Roll!!
Hey!! Two days in a row! Gonna have to stop this. I'm feeling efficient and that's a feeling I've rarely had in my life. I'm usually the one who skids in at the last minute with that nagging "I forgot something" thought that lingers 'till I get home. Then, I usually find out I DID forget something.
But, maybe you'll be able to glean something from today's post.
Several years ago, I was searching for something to store my brushes in and being "fiscally conservative", I refused to spend a lot of money for it. It had to be able to hold several brushes and travel well. It had to breathe to allow the brushes to dry and not get moldy.
While my hubby was working up in northern (WAY NORTHERN) Minnesota a couple of years ago, we took a short day trip over to Bemidji. The little town he was working in didn't have any kind of craft stores (kind of like being at home!) so when I found a Jo-Ann fabric store, I pleaded with him to stop. While getting my "art and craft" fix I found a bamboo placemat. It kind of rolled up in my hand when I picked it up and I realized it would make the perfect brush holder.
So, I left with a placemat, two kinds of ribbon, needles and STRONG thread, glue and black elastic.
It was tough to sew as the needle wasn't too fond of going through the elastic, but after a few hours of perserverance and a couple of sore fingers, I had a perfect brush holder!
But, maybe you'll be able to glean something from today's post.
Several years ago, I was searching for something to store my brushes in and being "fiscally conservative", I refused to spend a lot of money for it. It had to be able to hold several brushes and travel well. It had to breathe to allow the brushes to dry and not get moldy.
While my hubby was working up in northern (WAY NORTHERN) Minnesota a couple of years ago, we took a short day trip over to Bemidji. The little town he was working in didn't have any kind of craft stores (kind of like being at home!) so when I found a Jo-Ann fabric store, I pleaded with him to stop. While getting my "art and craft" fix I found a bamboo placemat. It kind of rolled up in my hand when I picked it up and I realized it would make the perfect brush holder.
So, I left with a placemat, two kinds of ribbon, needles and STRONG thread, glue and black elastic.
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I stiched the elastic leaving enough room to slip my brush in, but not enough room to be loose.
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The wide ribbon I glued to the outside and used the narrow ribbon to wrap around the whole thing and tie.
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Hope this was helpful to you in some way!
'till next time-
Sherry
02 January 2012
Welcome 2012
It seems like it's been months since I last visited with everyone. I do believe that this year I discovered why there is a song called "The Twelve Days of Christmas"! Due to the fact that most of the family activities had to wait until after the 25th, we finished up the last get together Dec. 30th with my
husband's family.
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We've made some additions around the farm too.
We now are owned by a llama and three goats.
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(Still have to edit the goat pics)
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Three turkeys and seven more chickens.
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(No pics of the turkeys yet!)
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That makes about 30 hens. If we could just convince them to lay now.
Seems they've decided to take the winter off.
Oh well, they're still the best insect control I've ever found!!
BAR NONE!!
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I've had a small upset also.
My waterbrushes are missing.
If I was Matlock or Perry Mason,
I would have this figured out, but I'm not.
My sketchbook, watercolor set, pens, pencil and paper towels in
plastic bag are exactly where I used them last.
The two water brushes...GONE!
Can't find them anywhere!
I'm at a total loss as to where they could be. I'm afraid they are
casualties of the after Christmas cleanup.
Which means, I can probably kiss them goodbye!
I haven't even added any color to any sketches because I'm so spoiled to they're ease of use!! I just LOVE them!
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This is one I did before I lost my brushes!
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I think tomorrow I'll break out the traditional brushes and do
some color splashing!!
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Teri, a report for you: I have finished Medical Terminology (FINALLY!!) and have moved on to Laboratory. They give me 4 weeks, but I'm pushing to be done with it in 3 so I can move on. Getting there!!
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Hope everyone had a wonderful and joyous Christmas season and pray that God will bless you in 2012!
'till next time-
Sherry
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