What is happening?!...

...this year is already 1/2 over already! How did that happen?! I haven't forgotten about you... I have taken pictures of all the things I've been up to and will start posting them!

I haven't been painting much this year while trying to heal my painters/tennis elbow, carpal tunnel and other issues. My doctor has figured out what is wrong with me, so it's upward and onward from here after the next round of tests next week!! I am feeling better and it's uphill from here!  It has become really difficult for me to paint on canvas as I use an easel, then paint for hours on end with my arm up without notice because I'm totally in my right brain. So.... now I am trying to work with watercolors and paper. Its a huge challenge for me and I may give up and go back to acrylic on paper but for now I'm trying!  Watercolors are so different in that you paint light to dark and at times very frustrating. A piece can be ruined in an instant at the end when it's almost finished. I also normally paint on black often just adding color and where the black is there is no paint other than the initial black (or sometimes yellow).  Here is my current work-in-progress...

I hope I don't ruin it because I like her !

I will post the final picture soon...

Peace & Blessings

Destination Inspiration...

... Half Moon Bay...

We took a little birthday/de-stress 2 day trip to Half Moon Bay in April.  The stress didn't stop so I could use another little trip again!  This year it's been one traumatic horrible thing after another, but hopefully the tide is changing. I feel like it is; and I am beginning to paint again. I need to paint again. Painting is healing and I have missed it.  Well tucked away in "the vault"  was our trip and thoughts of this huge carnivorous plant place that we went to. It was so cool.  Our cameras died almost the minute we got in there so I don't have any pictures of the awesome displays. 

 

 

 

 

My Beach Angel. View from the top of the cliff...

I did it with my feet!

World's Rare Plants

http://www.worldsrareplants.com/

Looking into the glass globes or potted plants it was like looking into another world. A Jurassic world or Underworld or Fairy world.  The owner was full of information about the plants as well. One carnivorous plant he showed me was 40 years old. He said if you have one you will never have any knats or a fly in your house. hahaha  Fasinating with a little creep factor.

The building was full of fairy & gnome gardens & really unusual things. A large selection of little ceramics to make your own tiny world too.

So begins my new series.... which I'm trying to name... Help is appreciated, just leave me a comment!

"Lovely to Eat You"...

"Full Moon in Half Moon Bay"...

LOL

 

 

I did 2 paintings on pieces of wood...but I think they are so whimsical, weird & wonderful, I am keeping those for myself & hanging them on my patio, but there will be more ...

Coming to a Ebay or Etsy Shop or Spoonflower shop soon!

 

So be on the lookout! You never will know where you might find a little inspiration!

 

Blessings!

 

I'm a Dipper...

...but not a Double Dipper! I love dip. All kinds of dips. Dips intrigue me, so do sauces but that's another story. Actually, it's a love/hate relationship. haha I do feel a little less guilty eating this dip because there is some protein in it! I'm a tofu lover too. :) 

Yummy Garlic Ranch Tofu Dip

1/2 Block of Firm Tofu

(could use soft tofu if you prefer)
1/2 C Sour Cream
1 Tbsp Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix
1 green onion
1 clove garlic
2 Tbsp lemon juice ( may add more if too thick)
salt & pepper to taste

Put all in food processor and blend until smooth.
Serve Cold.

Finish What I Started...

... sometimes I have a real problem finishing what I start before starting something else. Sooner or later I get them done or completely ruin them and start over or toss it, chalking it up to experience. I have been working on these 2 pieces for the past month in pieces at a time. I am hoping to finish one this week and hopefully sell one before going down to Long Beach the first week of June to spend some time with my bff. She is going to the doctor today to have a biopsy on some lumps in her neck. Your prayers for Bobbi would be greatly appreciated.

I started this one at the beginning of the month. I think it's going to be one of my favs when it's done.

Started this one in March... I was splattering paint while watching my little Bubbie. He says thanks for showing me a new way to paint Amma! hahaha  I think I'm in trouble now and may need a tarp. We have a lot of fun painting together and I think he is pretty talented even if he is only 5. oops excuse me 5 & 1/2. haha

I'm almost finished with this one, a little more work...

and I'm still adding paint to this one when I think about her...

Have a wonderful week!

 

 

 

 

What Day Is It?...

... & Where am I? haha I was working so hard on this piece I lost track of what day it was and posted Ta Da Thursday on Friday! Oopsie embaraskins haha  I worked on this piece pretty much full-time for over a week. This is an emotional piece. The theme or message is how beautiful & sweet strength can be.  She has 2 facial expressions, one sweet & one strong.  Roses are sweet & they are strong too, surviving like weeds at my house. The deer enjoy them as much as we do. This piece will be on Ebay for a short time, click on the picture to take her home.

Left Side of Face / Right Side of Face

"The Sweetness of Strength"

No More...

Burning Down The House...

...My knitting needles could start a fire now! I am working on some new patterns was wishing I was much faster.  While on the phone with my Mom she  told me she saw the fastest knitter in the world on Knit & Crochet tv show, so as soon as we hung up I had to find her and see how she was knitting.  The 2010 fastest is Hazel Tindall just click on her name and watch her go! Another knitter to see is Miriam Tegels. They are so inspiring!  
About 2 years ago I taught myself the Continental method of knitting and got quite fast at knitting that way, however, if I was working in stockingnette pattern I was all thumbs when it came to the purl row and would revert back to the English/American style, how I initially learned to knit. So I was going back and forth between the 2 styles moving the yarn from one hand to another.  Then the other day while looking up the fastest knitter I discovered the Norwegian Purl method.  Now I can fly!  I wish I had learned about this method a lot sooner.   I came across this lovely Bee Hive Pattern on Pinterest & had it pinned on my "Hooked & Needled" Board. This was a Free Pattern from BeingSpiffy.com, just one of 52 weeks of dish cloth patterns!

I love this pattern and thought it would be a good one to try out this new purl method.  And WoW! I made this cloth in an hour using the Norwegian Purl & Continental knit stitch.   I love the scalloped edge at the beginning of the piece. The scalloped edge would be great for a scarf, bottom of a sweater or skirt.

 

The Hive Dishcloth

With US size 7 or 8 needles, co 26.

Row 1: Purl across.

Row 2: Knit across.

Row 3: Purl across.

Row 4: K1, {p3, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in front), p3} across to last st, k1.

Row 5: K1, {k3, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in back), k3} across to last st, k1.

Row 6: K1, {p3, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in front), p3} across to last st, k1.

Row 7: K1, {k3, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in back), k3} across to last st, k1.

Row 8: K1, {p3, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in front), p3} across to last st, k1.

Row 9: K1, {k3, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in back), k3} across to last st, k1.

Row 10: K1, {p3, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in front), p3} across to last st, k1.

Row 11: Purl across.

Row 12: Knit across.

Row 13: Purl across.

Row 14: K1, {slip 1 purlwise (yarn in front), p6, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in front)} across to last st, k1.

Row 15: K1, {slip 1 purlwise (yarn in back), k6, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in back)} across to last st, k1.

Row 16: K1, {slip 1 purlwise (yarn in front), p6, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in front)} across to last st, k1.

Row 17: K1, {slip 1 purlwise (yarn in back), k6, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in back)} across to last st, k1.

Row 18: K1, {slip 1 purlwise (yarn in front), p6, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in front)} across to last st, k1.

Row 19: K1, {slip 1 purlwise (yarn in back), k6, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in back)} across to last st, k1.

Row 20: K1, {slip 1 purlwise (yarn in front), p6, slip 2 purlwise (yarn in front)} across to last st, k1.

Rows 21-40 = Repeat Rows 1-20.

Row 41: Purl across.

Row 42: Knit across.

Row 43: Purl across.

Bind off knit-wise.

To edge left and right sides, crochet across on wrong side.

Finish off and weave in ends.  ( I slipped stitched around all sides to finish off.)

 

 

Chop Chop Chop...

... I love chopping it's the best thing about cooking. Oh I love to slice & dice too. That's why I was so excited to see the huge bag of garlic my hubby brought home. I chopped & chopped & peeled & peeled! I keep a little bowl of water to dip my fingers in when they become too sticky.  I decided to make him some potato salad which he loves with lots of garlic & black olives, a little reward.  

I chopped until my heart was content!

 

Garlic Olive Potato Salad

6 boiled potatoes cubed

3 large cloves of garlic

1/2 Fresh Parsley - I used curly type

3/4 C Mayo

2 small red Bell Peppers

1 small White Onion

2 Stalks of Celery

I can of Jumbo Black Olives sliced

1 tbsp. dried basil

Salt & Pepper to taste

 

Hubby was happy! He loves garlic.  The whole house smelled like a wonderful garlic garden. 

I input the recipe into SparkPeople's Recipe Calculator and for 1/2 Cup Serving it has 152 calories. 

I put some whole cloves into olive oil & placed in the frig to use later and I will be using that oil when all the cloves are gone.

I decided to keep some unpeeled cloves in my cute garlic holder. It's so full when you lift the top they tumble out.  Doesn't it look like it's smiling? :)

 

So inspired by this gift of delicious stinky garlic; & my love of  chopping, slicing & dicing; I had to go paint this little ACEO...

"Love Stinks"

(To purchase this piece just click on the painting)

 

It may even smell like garlic! hahaha 

 

Beans...Beans...

... are good for your heart.. and art!

Jelly Beans!

I heart the art of stop motion!

.

The eternal God is thy refuge,

 and underneath are the everlasting arms:

and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee;

 and shall say, Destroy them.

Deuteronomy 33:27 

Pinterest

1, 2, 3...Snap!...

... I embroidered out this free design I found at http://www.embroiderydesigns.com 

and put it in a frame late last night.

 

I changed the suggested color red to brown.

(yes my wall really is dark butterscotch)

All the designs I have sewn out from this site

 have been great except for the pizza slice; it was a little loopy & my embroidery foot kept getting stuck underneath the stitches. I was testing this one out to make a little case

 for my new camera but when it was finished I thought it would be great on the wall in the guys bathroom. 

It has a few puckers because I used a satin type fabric & I didn't pull the iron out. If I have time today

 I will do that but I thought it was so cute I'd share it. 

How many of us have a picture of ourselves as child in the bathroom? hahaha OhSnap!

Mr. President...

 "George Washington"

 

No, it's not who you think it is!  I have a funky wood pile.  I pulled out a few pieces and painted some more of our Founding Fathers on it just for fun.  It was fun! Funky & funny!  I apologize for the bad photo.  I wonder if I captured any bits of their colorful personalities...

LoVe LoVe LoVe

Happy Valentine's Day!
 

Know you are Loved!

 

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

 ( John 13:34-35) 

This piece is on a 5 x7 canvas panel. I didn't start with a black canvas which is so different for me. Somehow my brain sees inside out when I'm painting, if that makes any sense. The black or outlines on most of my paintings is where I didn't put paint.   I have been having fun experimenting with very thin washes of acrylic paint, using them more like watercolors than oils.  I have tried using watercolors countless times just to destroy a piece of good paper & make a mess.  Using a canvas & acrylic paint, if I mess up or don't like something,  I know I can start all over again, I suppose that's comforting in a way, no pressure.  I am planning to do a new video in the next week or so!

 

Happy 4th of July!

Hope you have a Blast!

It's One of Those Days...

No Longer Able To Resist...

My first & perhaps last, Frida Kahlo painting. So many artist paint her & finally I could no longer resist the temptation. I recently watched Selma Hayek's "Frida" for the 2nd time and it's just stayed with me. The movie & the artist compel me to look at things in a different light, it demands that I examine my feelings and what I put on canvas. Frida's story teaches me to paint like no one's looking, what's in my heart. She was in my heart the other night. I regret not going to her exhibit when it was in San Francisco. Next time I won't miss it.

"Frida, The Fierce Side"

One side of Frida Kahlo, so colorful, lively, lovely, flamboyant,

...the other...too painful to paint.

So free, yet so imprisoned.

A Few Finished...

In Loving Memory of "T-Bone Tyson"

Today I finished the large Great Dane painting & my one of my new Hobo Boho Bag designs. I have another I am working on. It's pouring rain so it's a great day to get tangled up in bright yarn! The shoulder strapes can be tied to any length you'd like and the transition from square to strap is seamless. This will be lots of fun to take shopping. I could probably fit a grocery cart in there or give it a good try! I may be selling the pattern in my Shenanagans shop soon.

Low Tide...

...I'm calling this "Monterey" for sure. It reminds me of the tide pools on the coast. I won't share how many times I've crocheted a section on then pulled it out. Contrary to what I thought when I began, this one is going to take a while! I am loving this process.

A Big Shout Out & Thank You goes to Art by Carla Grifo for featuring my Swimmer, Verbena Place for featuring one of my Happy Souls, A Shot In The Dark, AngelinaInspirations for featuring my Incorigible Carnie in their wonderful Etsy Treasuries!