Trick or treat!

Happy Halloween!  Hope all the tricks are fun and all the treats are sweet!  Enjoy. 

Winnie the Pooh Adventure for Fall Fearless and Fly

I am loving the Fall Fearless and Fly prompts at Artists in Blogland this season.  This week's themes (and I am coming in at the tail end) are: 

Headline Prompt:  Taking a Chance:  When did you take a chance or a leap of faith?  How did it turn out?  What did you learn?e

Color Prompt:  What color do you like least? Use it!

Quote Prompt:  "Don't refuse to go on an occasional wild goose chase -- that's what wild geese are for." Anonymous

Sometimes I worry that I am too risk averse and that I don't take enough chances.  As I was contemplating that issue this past week, I realized that, when it counts, I follow my heart and that has worked out wonderfully for me.  Fortunately, one of those leaps of faith led to my having a great partner in crime who keeps life interesting and ensures that its full of great adventures! 

Overheard

The theme for this week's List it Tuesday at Artsyville is Overheard.  I've always been a big people watcher and am intrigued by the snippets of conversation that one overhears in day to day life.  While traveling last week, I tried to pay even more attention than usual and to capture some of the tidbits that were particularly funny.  

Flowery fireworks

Think happy. Be happy.

EDM #240: Draw a pencil

 

 

It looks like I drew that blue inktense pencil with a very wonky tip... but in fact, most of my colored pencils actually have tips that look like that because, more often than not, I apply my brush to the tip of the pencil instead of using the pencil directly on the watercolor paper.  As a result, my colored pencils are all a bit askew... just like me!! :-)

 

Heading home today... woo hoo!  Hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

 

Linking to Paint Party Friday!

Love makes the world go round

Great week... looking forward to getting home!

One minute sketches

EDM #16: Favorite tools

I have a lot of favorite tools so choosing really depends on the day.  Today, these are among the favorites.

EDM #82: Art space

One of my favorite things about art supplies is that they are so mobile.  This week, I am traveling but tucked into an overnight bag, I managed to pack a few of my favorite tools so my art space is wherever I happen to be! 

 

 

 

What I love about where I live-List it Tuesday

This week's list for Artsyville's List It Tuesday is what I love about where I live.  It made me think not only about where I live now but about all the places I've lived.  Each place has things that I love... But I realied that what truly makes me love any place I've lived is not so much the characteristics of the place but the people with whom I've shared the place.

Creating shade

The leaves are finally starting to really change color here.  It's an amazingly glorious show by Mother Nature... Like the landscape has caught fire.  Maybe it's a last consolation prize before the austerity of winter.

Glad to be back with Sunday Sketches this week!  

Raw ingredients

Hope everyone's got all the right raw ingredients for a fabulous weekend!

Antique sewing box

I have zero ability when it comes to sewing.  I'm not saying that I can't turn drapes into a wardrobe for the entire family a la Maria Von Trapp in the Sound of Music. I'm saying that one time I attempted to hem a pair of pants and ended up with a huge hole in the thigh.

Despite that, I love all the accoutrements that go with sewing.  I love the idea of creating something beautiful.  I love the feel of gorgeous fabrics.  My sister is a quilter and she makes the most wonderful handmade creations.  I see old fashioned sewing machines and I'm filled with a sense of nostalgia (I have no idea why...  I don't remember my mother or grandmother ever sewing either).

I found this antique sewing box at an estate sale several years ago.  Initially, I didn't even know that it was a sewing box.  I just loved its simple elegance.  Of course, in my house, it holds nothing related to sewing... Instead, it's filled with little things that I have found over the years that have captured my attention, although I don't always understand why.  Maybe one day, I'll draw the things inside as well...

This was a quick sketch done with a Rotring pen with water soluble ink. I used my waterbrush to blur the edges a bit.  I liked the watery, black and white technique to represent the old-fashioned feel of this piece.  (And, I was quite proud of myself for resisting the urge to use any color!)

Linking to Paint Party Friday!

Happy hump day!

More than halfway through the week--- and halfway through Blogtoberfest! 

Twinkling flowers

 

 Today needed a bit of sparkle... although I'm not sure the sheen from the twinkling H2Os is coming through in the picture. 

 

I hope everyone is enjoying a little sparkle in their lives!

I'm a Sucker For... List it Tuesdays

 

I don't think I've quite gotten the hang of getting these lists posted on Tuesdays yet, but I do love participating.  There are so many, many things that I am a sucker for.  This list barely scratches the surface.  But, there's nothing wrong with getting excited over the little things in life, right?

 

Linking to List it Tuesdays at Artsyville!

EDM#300: Draw something bright- Colorful art cart

I found this cart at Michael's ages ago.  At the time that I bought it, I knew it was ridiculous. It was on sale-- I think I got it for about 50 bucks-- maybe less.   It's got plastic drawers that don't stay on their tracks all that well.  It's pretty narrow so I've filled it with lots of little things-- making each drawer a veritable junk drawer-- or treasure chest, depending on how you look at it.  Since I got this many moons ago, I've bought all sorts of smart looking cabinetry and drawers and designer furniture. But for some reason, this cheap little stand with its rainbow colored drawers makes me smile every time I see it.  I can't bear to toss it so it sits in the corner, like a sore thumb, filled with treasures/junk, STUFF that should also probably be tossed.  Maybe one of these days I'll have a huge yard sale.  I probably shouldn't have said that... I think my sweetie is already starting to advertise! :-)

Hope everyone has a great week!

Fall Fearless and Fly: Week 1

With the onset of fall, artists in blogland is hosting an exciting challenge called Fall Fearless and Fly. Every two weeks between now and January, a different artist offers up three prompts for inspiration:  a headline prompt, a color prompt and a quote prompt.  

This week's inspiration comes from Jessica Sporn and Carolyn Dube.  

Headline Prompt:  Inventing the Future:  Where do you want to be 5, 10, 15 years from now.  What's holding you back?  What's propelling you forward?  What do you need to do or stop doing to create your future?

Color Prompt:  Warm colors (reds, oranges, pinks, yellows)

Quote Prompt:  "The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time."  Abraham Lincoln

Check out the link for this great challenge and see what other artists did with these prompts.  And watch for the next challenge, to be offered by Ronda Palazzari.

Still going strong with Blogtoberfest, too! 

EDM #69-Draw a beverage for PPF

More cold, rainy days. A quick stop at Starbucks is the ideal break....The sweet frothy, heavily caffeinated decadence of the caramel macchiato serves to keep my hands warm, fill my nose with that delightful smell of sweet deliciousness and give my taste buds and energy level a good kick start.   As long is it is piping, Piping, PIPING hot, it can ensure that I am off and running during a busy day...
with no looking back!

Hope everying has a wonderful Paint Party Friday.  Don't forget to visit the other partygoers and leave your comments!

And have a great weekend!

EDM #42: Draw Something You Are Thankful For: Spa Days

 

 

 

 

I know, I know... I'm supposed to be saying that I'm incredibly thankful for the wonderful, loving family members who keep me going through good days and bad... or I'm beyond thankful for the wonderful career I have that keeps us well fed and well heeled and even does some good for the world... or I'm over-the-top thankful to live in a democracy where I can campaign loudly from the rooftops for the candidate I believe in without fear of reprisal (well, the only reprisal being if the other guy gets elected) or I'm fabulously thankful to live in a country where I am able to have a successful career and speak freely and love my family and fly my flag (no matter how freaky it might or might not be). 

 

But some days, I have to admit, it is each one of those things that I treasure so dearly-- the family, the career, the county, etc...-- that drive me screaming toward the soft music, peaceful aromatherapy, soothing lotions and strong hands of my favorite spa!  This weekend, in the midst of all the melee that is my life, that is what I will be most thankful for!

 

Colorful doodle

 

 

Quick sketches on the go...

No time for much of anything today other than a quick 5 minute sketch while on the run.  Not very realistic... I think I must have been channeling my old favorite cartoon-- doonesbury! 

Hope everyone's having a great week! 

Full Speed Ahead

Another rainy Monday here... but it 's not slowing me down! I'm on a roll.  I've passed the one week mark for posting every day consecutively.  I got a lot of organizing done this weekend and it's got me rarin' to go and get even more done.  I'm trying to make the most of all this rainy weather.  At least it's keeping the landscape lush and lovely!

I used a new Rotring Art Pen with ink that is not waterproof on this quick little sketch, so it ran a bit when I added some color, but I really like the smooth flow of this pen.  I'm looking forward to playing with it some more. 

List It Tuesday- 15 Minutes of Creativity

This week's theme for List It Tuesday is "Creative Things I Can Do in 15 Minutes or Less" and what a great theme it is.  I started creating a list and realized that it could go on forever.  So, I decided to think in broad strokes instead... 

Squeaking in with my October 7th post for Blogtoberfest... 

Toddler's phone

 

Last month, I spent several days with my brilliant nieces and nephews.  Not only are they gorgeous, but they are, of course, the smartest and funniest kids on the planet.  They had me in stitches all weekend.  Perhaps it is because, as the oldest just turned six, they are just about the right maturity level for me!  Always good to go home!

Linking to Sunday Sketches!  Also, day 6 of Blogtoberfest... still going strong!

Friday at last

TGIF, at last!  This week seemed to last forever. I'm not sure why I've been so rarin' for the weekend.   My plans mostly just include getting some organizing done.  As life gets crazier and crazier, I feel the need to put things in order.  I got some great new shelves with drawers that will hold my oversized papers.  I can't wait to spend some time figuring out just how I'm going to use them!  Some people long to be famous athletes, great novelists, brilliant politicians.  This weekend, I hope to channel Martha Stewart! 

And, when I'm not being an organizing fool, I will be spending time visiting friends at Paint Party Friday, which I am linking up with very late in the day this week.  But, on a positive side, this is day 5 in a row with posting for me-- I think that may be a record for me! 

 

 

Happiness is a sunny day

Rain, rain, go away, come again another day... 

Where are all those crisp, CLEAR, cool autumn days?  We have had rainy, muggy heat for days now...  Bring on a sunny weekend!

Wednesday Journal

Usually, I find that time flies, especially when I have more to do than I can possibly get done, which is basically how I live my life.  This week, however, despite being incredibly busy, time seems to be standing still, torturing me.  You'd think that I was a kid, expecting Santa down the chimney this weekend, but no dice.  I'm not quite sure why I'm so anxious for a weekend this week, but ready I am!  

In the meantime, here is a little snippet of doodles from my Wednesday journal page:

Three days in a row for Blogtoberfest-- woo hoo!

EDM #17: Musical instrument

Okay, I can already tell this blogging every day thing is going to be a tough one when I'm only at day 2 and am just hours away from missing it.   But in the interest of keeping up with Blogtoberfest and starting a habit, I'm submitting a EDM sketch of a pseudo-musical instrument.  It's not really a musical instrument, it's just a little brass ornament, but it was the closest thing I had available that fit the bill.  I hope to come back to this very primitive sketch in the future and work on capturing the shape better as well as the metallic coloring. 

Nostalgia

Happy October everyone! Where did the summer go? We've been having a lot of rainy days here lately... and while we haven't felt those true crisp autumn days yet, our temperatures are dropping day by day. This may be the first year ever where I'm not already nostalgic for summer and am looking forward to cooler temperatures and enjoying the beautiful fall foliage.

Speaking of nostalgia, Aimee at Artsyville has revived her List it Tuesdays and this week's theme is Things That Make You Nostalgic. This was tough, because I could fill journals with things that make me nostalgic... I guess that's both the blessing and the curse of growing older. I sketched a few ideas out on a journal page and these are some of the things I came up with.

 

Today also marks the beginning of Blogtoberfest at I Saw You Dancing.  This challenge provides daily prompts and encourages people to post to their blog every day during the month of October.  That is a real challenge for me, but I'm going to give it a shot.  (Today's prompt is to set intentions.)  What are your intentions?