Illustration Friday 1-20-06 Cats

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Whiskers is a watercolor kitten --a greeting card illustration.

Lounging Feline is a pencil drawing of my beloved cat, BJ. This was done over ten years ago and measures approximately 16"x20". BJ is now in Kitty Heaven --I'm sure getting into all kinds of mischief!

The montage is a collection of four cats I did several years ago.

I will post a NEW illustration later on in the week --but in the meantime, I wanted to share a few with you now. Enjoy!

Dolly

Dolly, originally uploaded by beyondhope.

Okay....I'm changing the "eye that is creeping everyone out" to the Dolly.

Here she is...Olivia's Dolly.

You're welcome. :)

Illustration Friday -- E is for....(my second post)

Okay --Even though I said before that I wasn't going to post an elephant...and I did something different....after the eggs digested (refer to previous I.F. post)...I just had to post this pacaderm.

So...here it is: E is for Elephant
(taken from my original pencil drawing which is MUCH larger than this photo. The photo also loses something in the translation as not much of the detail shows. I really, really, really need to get a new scanner. How can you be an artist without a scanner?

Enjoy!

The Eye

Okay...I just got an email from my sister who says that the photo of my eye which appears as my "profile" photo is creeping her out.

I thought it was kind of funny - kind of twilight zone -- kind of artsy --kind of NOW.

Anyone else feeling creepy? I guess I could change it to something else if I have to.....

Illustration Friday -- E is for

Okay --here's my illo for Illustration Friday --E is for... egg. Yeah, I know, not very original. I may try to come up with something more creative and post it at a later time. For now - WYSIWYG. This is done as an Artist Trading Card - 2.5"x3.5" Pencil and marker. No frills. I'm actually not real fond of fried eggs --unless they're made with whole wheat bread --Eggs in the Hole --you know --tear a hole in the bread --butter one side --place it butter side down in the frying pan --crack an egg in the center --fry --add freshly ground black pepper and salt --eat. yum.

more ATCs

Here are some more results of my 'addiction' to creating Artist Trading Cards. Some are sized down to very small images --therefore they've lost some detail --but you'll get the idea.

If the Shoe Fits

Artist Trading Card #170 -- If the Shoe Fits.

My first total collage/decoupage card.

I think it turned out okay. It was fun finding all the components. I started with one sticker of a shoe. That was the inspiration. By the way --you'll never catch me in a pair of those heels. I'm definitely the tennis shoe and hiking boot type!

Self Portrait Tuesday

Another thing to do ---a self-portrait every Tuesday....yet ANOTHER thing to keep me from cleaning my house! I'm lovin' it!

This was killing two birds with one stone because not only is it my first entry in "Self Portrait Tuesday" - but it is also an Artist Trading Card --so it's feeding my addiction!

Actual Size 2.5" x 3.5" --marker drawn on printed cardstock.
mood: I am NOTHING like that person I was at 25 --in more ways than one! It's a good thing!

Keep Creating all!

Artist Trading Card

I sat up until 4am this morning creating ATCs....I really need to stop.

I'm not getting enough sleep these days --my creative juices seem to flow best after midnight when the house is quiet.

Here's one with funky retro wallpaper and an old-fashioned blender.

Lemonade ---sounds good --maybe I'll go make some!

Illustration Friday 1-6-06: SEA

Okay --Here it is --the very first illustration I have done for Illustration Friday. http://www.illustrationfriday.com

I've decided that I need to do MORE ART!!!

So - In addition to the Artist Trading Cards that I've become addicted to --I'm now going to do this Illustration Friday thing....just what I need...more reasons to keep from cleaning my house!!

one month

so what?
it's been a month since I've posted in this blog.
where have YOU been? I haven't seen you around either.
the Christmas tree is still up.
I was asked today if I'm ever going to take it down.
Nope. not until the end of the month. at least.

what have I been doing this past month?
i have a new addiction....it's a good thing
...keeps me from eating so much food late at night.
i'm surrounded by scraps of paper and art supplies.
in the living room.
forget the studio.
this is art - 24/7
i have to have access at all times
because i have to be creating at all times.
it's an addiction.
i can't help it
it's not my fault.
ARTIST TRADING CARDS!!!

If I can remember how to post photos on this blog
(it's been almost a month, remember?)
then I'll post some photos....
my scanner isn't working --too bad - because scanned images would be way better....

anyway...are you an artist?
do you make ATCs?
do you wanna trade?!

later....gotta go create!

Hysterical

Okay...I'm trying really hard not to lose it. My laptop has found itself in this continuous loop ---it will attempt to start ---then it goes to a screen that asks if I want to start it in "safe mode" or "safe mode with networking" or "safe mode with something else or the last known working configuration ....and maybe a few others that I can't figure out. It will count down the seconds and attempt to start - then goes to a blue screen for about a second --not even long enough for me to see what it says - then it shuts down and does the whole thing again ---over and over and over. It's been "looping" for over an hour and I can't get it to stop.

What has me near hysteria is that all my digital photos of Olivia are on that computer --and I can't access them. I'm afraid that they may be lost forever. Can anyone help?

Does anyone know how to stop the loop and get windows to start again?

I'm using my husband's desktop to type this.

When I think of the lost files on my laptop --I could just freak.

Ouch.

Well. My friends and I have been doing a Bible Study together - reading and studying a book written by Stormie O'Martian entitled, The Power of a Praying Wife. I have decided that EVERY married woman should read this book. It is incredible! I've already begun to see changes in my marriage ---which ALL have to do with my attitude changing toward my husband. Ah, yes, the Lord has to change me before He's going to change Randy. That is, IF he's going to change Randy. The Lord created Randy just the way he is --I'm sure that a lot of ways in which I hope he'll change --he won't. And I'm finally beginning to see that that's okay. And something else that the Lord reminded me this morning is that often whenever we don't particularly like something that someone does - or we can't appreciate certain character traits --it's because we ourselves do the very thing that we are most critical about, or lack the character trait that we're compaining about. ouch. Are you a married woman? Read the book!

Fun Website

There are a lot of these little quiz things at this website --here was another one --I am Milk Chocolate. I don't know about BEING milk chocolate --but I know that at this moment I'm CRAVING milk chocolate. Fortunately, for me, I have a stash of Hershey's Kisses in the bedroom! Anybody who knows me knows that I ALWAYS have a stash of something somewhere! (I inherited that trait from my Dad.)

You are Milk Chocolate

A total dreamer, you spend most of your time with your head in the clouds.You often think of the future, and you are always working toward your ideal life.Also nostelgic, you rarely forget a meaningful moment... even those from long ago.

What Kind of Chocolate Are You?

Where Do You Belong?

I did this little quiz thing --interestingly, I have been to Rome and it's one of my favorite places on this earth!

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city girl with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian men - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

December Blues

December didn't start out very well for one member of our household. Chauncy, our beloved pet Lab/Springer mix dog was hit by a car. He's going to be okay ---but it was a nervous night for us filled with lots of tears and lots of prayers. He's going to take some time to heal. And then there's the issue of the masses that showed up on his chest x-ray which are unrelated to the car accident. (We'll deal with those in a week or so after most of his bruising heals and the vet is able to examine him better.) That has me worried. Chauncy still has a lot of life left in him --and I'm not willing to accept that he may have something that would cut that life short. It never ceases to amaze me how a pet can grab hold of your heart. They are truly like members of your family --like your children. And their love is unconditional. No matter what mood I'm in --or if I neglect Chauncy because I get busy with something else --or if I forget to give him fresh water....or no matter that I've committed one of countless other "sins" toward him in his nine years of sharing his life with me --He still loves me - unconditionally. People don't do that. We have baggage. We hold grudges. We live with unforgiveness in our hearts. We criticize. We think we're better than the next person. We put conditions on our love. You know what? We all need to be more like our dogs.

where does the time go?

It's been over a week since I've posted on this blog...how did that happen?

I guess I haven't had anything profound to say ---not that anything I've said in the past has been profound.

I did do something this past weekend which was life-changing for me. A church in a nearby town was hosting a prayer and worship weekend. It was called "Ascribing Unto God". I felt the Lord's presence the moment I stepped into the room. There in the midst of beautiful praise and worship music - worshippers took turns going to different worship stations that were set up throughout the room. Every hour the shofar was blown, calling us to prayer and worship. We were encouraged to move around as we felt led... walk around as we prayed... wave flags... bow... kneel... lay prostrate... dance unto the Lord. We could visit each worship station and stay as long as we wished or go back as many times as we liked.

The whole experience was a journey through life with Jesus and was so awesome. Every time we, as Christians, make a concentrated effort to spend time with the Lord - to sit as His feet - to worship Him without distraction --it's life-changing. He meets us there in that place. He speaks to us, directs us, reminds us of how much He loves us.

I wish I could bring this worship experience to everyone who reads this blog entry. May I just encourage you today to make an extra effort to spend time with your Savior. He longs for your company --and you will come away feeling renewed and refreshed.

Home Sweet Home

Ten years ago today, my Dad went home to be with Jesus.

As I try to think back on all the events and happenings in my life that he has missed, I'm overwhelmed. I remind myself of the Scripture that says "...we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses..." and I like to think that Dad sees glimpses of things that go on in our lives.

The most important events being my marriage and birth of our daughter, Olivia. Grandpa Bob would be so very proud of Olivia. She is most definitely the biggest blessing that the Lord could have ever given me. She is bright and articulate and she succeeds in making me laugh often. Just the other day, she did something particulary goofy, and I caught myself shaking my head and saying, "Olivia, you are beyond hope"!
I stopped when I realized that I said the very thing that Dad used to say to me so often. And then I smiled when I realized that he was up in heaven, looking down and shaking his head in agreement...

I love you -- and I miss you, Dad.

The Bug Invasion

Yesterday was Randy's birthday --so Olivia and I celebrated by going caching. Randy doesn't know this --but as soon as he reads this post, I'll be busted!

At one point, I found myself in the middle of an old cemetary --not an unusual place to find a cache, but this day was unusual in that I was surrounded by hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of ladybugs! And every one of them was yellow! Hundreds and hundreds of yellow ladybugs --pelting me from every direction! I've never seen so many bugs before in one place! One had no spots. I've never seen a 'spotless' ladybug either.

Anyway, after finding the cache, signing the logbook and returning to the van --I had to scrape these bugs off of me so I could get back in the van without filling the inside with flying insects. I went to flick one off my sleeve and noticed that it was RED. Only one red bug amongst all those yellow ones. Odd. I picked it up ---it crawled on my finger and just as I went to flick it out the window - it relieved itself on my finger! LadyBug Pee --on me! ...and it was YELLOW. ...so they WERE all yellow after all!

Case closed.

Olivia Sings

Sunday night in church we had a sectional Singspiration. What happens is every month where there is a fifth Sunday ---the evening service is all music. Several churches in the section get together and anyone who wishes may sing, play an instrument, recite poetry etc. It's always a great night of fun and fellowship. And then, of course, afterwards we all go eat together in the annex.

As I was practicing my song for the service, Olivia said that she wanted to practice a song too. I asked her if she would like to sing in church and she got all excited! "Can I stand on the stage and can I have my very own microphone?!" "Yes, you can stand on the stage and have your very own microphone." She practiced singing her favorite song a few times: Days of Elijah

When it came time for her to sing, she marched right up on the stage, grabbed the microphone from Jim (our worship leader) and looked at it - then looked at me (in the front row) and then looked at the congregation and said, "This is a really big microphone!" Everyone laughed, of course. I asked her if she wanted to sing....she said, "YES!" ...and then proceeded to belt out the tune - several times!
"Behold He comes
riding on the clouds
shining like the sun
at the trumpet call
so lift your voice
it's the year of Jubilee
out of Zion's hill salvation comes"

Except she sings, ...out of Zion's hill salbation comes,

Of course, she received an enormous ovation ---and is ready to sing again real soon. I was SO proud of her! She did an awesome job! We're already practicing our next number for the next Singspiration.