Creating Learning Flying

Dream Board

2012-02-27T09:00:00.002-08:00

dream...

the full warped board. When you work with cardboard, even if you start out with perfect edges, you'll end up with a curves in the board. I actually love this, as the whole process is just so messy and organic. But it doesn't do me good when trying to crop and nice foto!

I just started this board in such a random moment. I love carving words from cardboard, so I just went at it. I didn't journal my dreams so much, but rather how important it is to have dreams, and to dream in color. There are many layers of writing within these paint layers, and I just love how this turned out. It is pretty large, perfect to remind us to keep our dreams alive.

and I took a bunch of instagram work in progress pics.

I made this with a mix of cheap craft paint, good for writing on... nice paints, PITT pen, and white out pen, a little paper and nice gel medium. It is, obviously, make on a big piece of cardboard!

I love this converse pic with the pink and black board. I actually wore these today, it wasn't a pic set up! I looked very 50's today on my outing...I wish I would have taken a selfie!

Now I have one funny story. So, I noticed a couple weeks ago that my gesso, I buy a huge gesso, had some weird coloring, and maybe was changing in thickness, and maybe was smelling. yes, I kept using it. No wasting gesso!!! So Friday night, when I suddenly had to do this project, although I am way behind in LifeBook!!! I opened the gesso and almost died. I was like how did a dead animal get in my gesso? (There was no dead animal, but it smelled as if there could have been.) Nasty!!! Yuck Nasty Yuck! So, I trashed that and headed to buy some new fresh gesso. Now before I did I stopped off at Barnes and Noble, because my mom came and took the Paiger on an outing...what, no Paiger!!! So, off I went to get coffee, although I had Chai, and sit and read art books. I was in my little corner, on the ground, looking really cute and 50's-like, and I pulled a new book off I hadn't yet heard of. I opened it to a page on gesso, and you know the first thing it said? Never put a wet paintbrush into your gesso! It cannot handle the foreign bacteria and will grow mold and get really sticky! Whaaaa? That is what is happening in my trash can right this moment. I am a huge gesso dipper, double and maybe triple dipper! Learn the sticky way! ...and I went off to buy my gesso, with a sqeeze top so I cannot dip!

I will add now that this board is for sale, and if interested, please contact me! I am in so hurry to sell, and it doesn't that is ok too. Just putting it out there if interested! Woot!

Some Instagrams for the week!

2012-02-25T10:05:00.002-08:00

Did you know I am having a love affair with Instagram? So true! Here are a few from my week. If you have an iphone, Instagram is a free app, and it would be so fun to connect on there with YOU!!!

Happy weekend! I really want to paint and paint and paint, but right now, it is in the 50s!!! and sunny, so I must do the good mother thing and get us out! Maybe I'll even take Mr. Real Camera on an outing today!

Sunshine, the sleeping baby has been in our family for over 11 years now! This other freaky baby, only a couple years!

growing old friends

2012-02-24T14:12:00.000-08:00

A dear old friend of mine asked me recently to paint a picture of her. I was so thrilled she would want me to, and her birthday was near, so I set to work. But, as I started working I just had to paint one of friendship instead. The quote says, it takes a long time to grow an old friend. How true this is. My dear friend and I don't see each other often, but it doesn't matter. We are ever so close, despite our lack of time together these last years. When I gave it to her she instantly shed a tear of joy. There was so much expression in her face and her hug so tight...I knew it was the most perfect gift from me to her.

And my dear old friend, her name is Jodi!, said to show this off, so showing off I am!

Happy Happy weekend to you all!!!

Etsy Banner

2012-02-21T09:59:00.003-08:00

I have slowly, SLOWLY, been working on getting an etsy site up. I just cannot find time to do anything! Let me tell you with three girls, hubs always gone, a house, a dog, cats, a bird, dirt, working out, cooking, errands, cleaning and cleaning and cleaning... Finding time to do these little things that are important to me are hard! But, pecking away at them I am! Do you want to know how I paint? Seriously, I have taken over part of the kitchen now as my studio space. You may be able to guess this, but I spend a lot...A LOT, of time in the ktich! so, why not fit in my "arting" too. Yes, I used arting as a verb. I have no issue with this!!! Now, back to my little life revelations... So, in between dishes, and washing veggies and cooking wonderfully complex meals for my gaggle (ok, not so complex) I make a mess of my own. From time to time, or very often, my kids are like...are we going to eat soon??? Yes little mini mes, we are, as soon as I am done with this hair! haha.. My middle Maddy has taken to helping me cook, so I am starting to rely on Miss almost 10 year old to do lots of the cooking! And that is a little piece of my life!

oh, I hate how freaking tiny these banners have to be. So hard to do anything awesome sauce...really!

Now, on to something that just makes me so happy...

Have you seen these? Here is one I just love!

Drool...

Paint Party Friday, and LifeBook!

2012-02-17T13:10:00.000-08:00

So, If you're having fun with LifeBook, you may see I just made up my own assignment. I really wasn't into the lesson, and although I do want to learn from everyone and learn all styles to figure out my own, it just wasn't a priority right now. I had sketched this face a while back from Tam's faces, and I thought she was perfect to play in with the second lesson of the yin and yang of sorts. I started with a very clean sketch, and moved to painting my way, with mostly my fingers. Very loose. Very quick, and very messy. She does represent me in so many ways, and she represents many sides of myself.

More completed Styrofoam heart fun!

2012-02-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

Many of you might remember my instagram pic of the top one. Maddy got in on the fun and helped with the second, and she made some of her own too. They are really fun, and if you are beginning to figure me out, I love using landfill in every way possible.

All you do here, is take a piece of cardboard for your base. Yay! Then gesso, and paint as you wish. From a large cup, we cut out heart shapes. Glue down, and then weigh down with heavy books until dry. Styrofoam likes to pop back up! Then, tear or cut, little shapes from left over pieces of styrofoam, and glue down again. Then pour in your gel medium, or mod podge works great, and paint and glitter to your hearts content! I stamped the board and edged with watercolor crayons and water!

So, if you must get styrofoam, and it does seem to happen more than I care to admit, then make some fun stuff out of it. Remember those ice cream cones. I made them in the same way. You can see them HERE!!! Happy creating!!!

Mini Photo Shoot Failure

2012-02-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

The funny thing about working with three kids (your own three kids), one of which is really young, one of which is really not wanting to take pictures, and one perfect model is that no matter what, you're not going to get what you want. So I had this brilliant idea to do an impromptu shoot after school, before sun down, and being that is was a nice wintery day, not freezing!!! ...I thought we could pull it off. Ha! So, the little old abandoned barn I eye almost daily on a quiet street was suddenly a speedway during traffic time! The barn was crazy close to a street with no side walks, the kids weary, I finally said heck no, this is not worth the risk. Ok, we will find some brick wall really quick. Moan...groan... "Ugh, Mama, I am totally coming off a candy rush. I am crashing!!!" Oh geez! Well, too bad because all I want for Valentine's Day is a little foto shoot! "Ok, Ok. Maddy, I need some of your candy to wake up!" "I want CANDY!!!" screams toddler. UGH...

After too much of this, and finding nowhere possible, we drive home. URG. So the threesome sit on the ugly step in front of our ugly door, and... I got one picture. Ha, I am not really content with this in many ways, but I'll take it. It was starting to get way too cold to bother. As the kids run in I yell, You know we're totally doing this again! ...we know we know is all I hear as they slam the garage door. Ah me.

Heart and Stuff

2012-02-14T11:19:00.001-08:00

This is today. Pretty simple. A bit tiring. Paige needs something more to do. I am going to bribe the girls this evening for a mini photo shoot. It may happen, and if it does, I will be happy with today. If not, it is just another day and that's ok with me too. Hubs works all day, and work is a blessing at this point. I really have never cared for the big V day, but little treats here and there are a fun too!

I yes, I have officially blown my awesome eating for the day. Hubs did bring me my fav treat and I ate three! Oopsy!

Two Girls, Two Journals, One Week!

2012-02-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

Do you remember this phone shot? I posted it not too long back. I had a date with myself at Barnes and Noble and got my fav soy latte and grabbed Artful Journaling and I was very happy. I posted this pic and that Darling Kristin, you know her... Kristin aka Twinkle Twinkle was like oh my goodness, I went on an alone date that same day to Barnes and Noble and got a drink that looked just like yours and grabbed the same magazine. Well, of course you did! So we decided to give artful journaling a try. Given our busy lives, we agreed on a one week art journal that we would do at the same time, and then see come together one week later and share what we came up with. Fun, right? ...here is my One Week of artful journaling!

and now you must go visit Kristin to see her gorgeous journal. You know hers is gorgeous right. She is very gorgeous, and I am very very messy indeed! Isn't fun to see what two people did with one concept, we both wrote a lot about parenting and love, and what totally different books we made!

oh, and my book was made from a J Crew catalogue. Pages glued together, gessoed, and then loved!

I wish I were here today.

2012-02-06T17:16:00.000-08:00

Everyone was so happy. What is it about the beach, the ocean, messy sand? I need to have a day that feels like this soon. This is what life is all about! Feeling this much joy.

This week in art!

2012-02-05T13:04:00.000-08:00

I am working on a very special little, or rather huge (size is all relative isn't it?), project this week. I am getting closer to its completion and cannot wait to share the specifics. But for now... some peaks!!!

Happy Sunday!

oh, one more. A full spread. I love how the layers are peaking out from underneath.

Some cardboard, cups, glue, and paint!

2012-02-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

oh, and some ink too!!!

In my bag!

2012-01-31T13:31:00.000-08:00

I have been asked recently what kind of equipment I have, use. Well, I'll share my dears! I want to start off by saying though, that I am a little spoiled, have grandparents in the field and all, and get some pretty great software and equipment as gifts. I can in no way afford this great stuff, and in all honesty, you really don't need it. However, there are a few items in my must have bag...

First off my main squeeze is my Nikon D7000. This is my baby, my love, and also an incredible gift from my mother. I also have Nikon D5000, and if you would like to buy it, no lens though, let me know. It is smudged a little with gesso! Not kidding! For my everyday lens, I keep a 18-108 3.5, but I prefer my prime lens, 35mm 1.8. If I were loaded, I would go for the 1.4, but anyways... I would love a macro, but that just won't be happening for a while. I am a huge lover of DSLR's. I used to use a film SLR and I love being able to change lenses for what I need. Since I mostly take shots of kids, I need some serious fast shutter speed. I have never been able to get clear kid shots with a point and shoot! ...I love talking light, f-stops and the such. I am a little nerdy in that way. I also have a fisheye adapter, this is a cheap $20 plastic lens, that fits on a basic kit lens, but I don't have a lens like that anymore. However, it does fit on my 1.8 but only gives me a wide angle effect. For $20 you can't beat it. I took these with that adapter!

hehe...this last one is of Hogwarts at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando! Woot! If you think this adapter is awesome, let me know and I will send you the link! It takes full fisheye that look like this...

You can crop this image into a nice square and you won't see the circle. I do it all the time!

Now, I firmly believe you can get incredible pics without all this great stuff. Light, knowing how to use your camera, and creativity will let you get great shots with any camera. Just look how much I post pics from my iphone!

Now, software. Well, honestly, I have it all. But what I use for simple things, for layering textures, and for doing templates into books, is Elements. But, what I really use for everything, and I highly recommend if you can or want to edit, is Lightroom!!! I also have full photoshop, and honestly, I just don't go there.

For my video, I used my oldest daughters video camera, and she has a SamsungOIS or something. It is in full HD. Lucky her to have this great camera, she saved!!!, and lucky me I get to use it!!! I edited my video in imovie. Yes, we are a huge family of mac heads! (FIL law used to work for Apple, and you know what they say...once you go mac, you never go back! HAHA, that was naughty!) ...If I didn't have her video camera, I would have used my phone which takes great video as well!

I don't have a speedlight, yet, and I rarely use my built in flash. If I were to use that flash, I would recommend putting a white card in front of the flash to soften the pics, or to buy a plastic puffer. They work well, and are only a few bucks. I would rather have a soft pic than ugly flash face! Just my opinion.

Oh, I also have a tripod, but not a good one. MUST get a better tripod. Such an amazing tool to have. I also have a cordless remote which is awesome sauce! I have some filters that make fun twinkles in lights, and I think that is about it!

here are some twinkle lights!

Here is a pic from last year that I layered in Elements. I just layered one shot over the other.

Having a 1.8 will give you the tools to make bokeh!!!

I heart bokeh!!! and that 1.8 will be able to give you depth of field like this one below.

So, that is what I have, in my bag! Hope you enjoyed. I love reading what others have and use!

If you've been reading my blog for a while, sorry for the picture repeat. These shots were already shown in the past. I just thought I'd share again!

...and I am putting together a slide show to share, hopefully tomorrow or the next day, of shots I took at the beach last month. They show such joy!~

...and excuse my ramblings...I tend to do that!

Letting Go...

2012-01-28T18:38:00.000-08:00

Letting go must just be a life lesson. So many things get bottled up, and really we just need to breath and let go. And this is true for this long cardboard painting I made in early fall called Live a Colorful Life. Right after I made it, and posted in on FB, I was asked by an old friend from years back, if I was selling it. Immediately I said no. I just couldn't let go of this, but in reality she has a great home for it. She just opened her own Montessori school, and how wonderful that she would like to make it a home there with her students. So, I told her I would make her a painting, but I never did. This painting just rests on its side in my room. It has never had a true home. My husband asked what was to become of it, and I just said I didn't know and that I keep wondering if it is meant for that school. He said it must be. So, I am shipping it off as a gift, for an old friend with a perfect home.

Sometimes I wonder if I was holding on to this happy place in this painting. I don't feel happy often. I don't really talk about it much, but in all honesty, my days are dark. I feel dark. I struggle and struggle raising these girls, and I just know I am not all that good at it. I love them, and I want to give them a life like in this picture, but I am not like this painting. It is so idealistic though. A dream. (ok, I will add, it really has just been a bad dark week. I don't think I feel this bad that often. I am really just writing from where I am at right this moment, this week.)

I was told recently that I do seem to paint in lots of color and lots of pink. How odd really. My walls are burgundy, I wear tons of dark clothes... but color does come out all over my life.

So in the dark, I see bursts of color, and in the struggles of Aspergers, needs, tantrums, noise, and need need need, color still shines through.

A post of this and that!

2012-01-26T20:40:00.000-08:00

oh this week...this crazy whirlwind of a week. I am so glad we are nearing your end! I have no painting for this friday, but I am ok with that. This week has been one of those just-get-through-the-week kind of weeks! Ups and downs and all arounds...here are a few iphone pics, Instagram of course!!! to share with yoU!!!

So first off, something random and exciting happened. I got an email from someone that saw this on another site, and was interested in buying the original. After much thought and excitement and talking, I decided to price as I would like, and not sell myself short. I have not heard back from the lady if she would still like it, and I am ok with whatever happens. I don't want to sell something cheap just to sell it. I think this is something we all need to think about. How do you value yourself, your time, and your art. It really is something to give a lot of thought to!

ok, I cannot believe I am posting a pic of myself without make-up...haha, but seriously, I did take this odd shot, and it was in my phone waiting to be seen! hehe...

Mmm, avocado!!!

This is a journal page in my Smash book. Yup, I am a sell out. I don't make everything. My girls love to Smash as well... it is a family affair! This is a pic of my friend Amy and I when we were like four. We are still friends to this day!

Today was a sun shiny day in Colorado. I was curious if my phone would capture a swing shot, and holy moly, it did! This new iphone rocks my socks!

That's my babe, in our house. My floor is always dirty like that as we have three kids, three cats, and a dog, and a bird. I really do clean it all the time!!!

And last, but most happily not least, is my new wall of AWESOMENESS. I am painting my hallway, just white again, and re-doing all the pics. I am pretty pleased with this arrangement and will continue it like this down the next wall! This is about as creative as I got this week!

Happy Weekend to you all! Eat some pizza!!!

Just a pic today

2012-01-26T09:42:00.000-08:00

This is my oldest daughter Kelsey. For Christmas we were in Northern California visiting family. We spend one day at Half Moon Bay. Like all kids, and just about everyone I know, the girls love the ocean! Here is one from that day. I have so many to edit! So behind!

Vision Board

2012-01-23T15:33:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note today. I am feeling really rotten and just plain not great. ... Uber lethargic, but there is so much housework to do. Boo. I took a two hour nap with babe, but I'm not feeling any better.

This is my Dream Board, I call Vision Board, for Lifebook. I am going to add this page into the book itself. I don't like or dislike it, but journaling your goals is always good.

I think this week, I am going to focus my learning on editing, and work on my home. I have a couple sets of pics, I shot in RAW (made the switch) and manual (I am so proud). One set is from Half Moon Bay from last month. I really want to see if I got any good ones. Also, a trip to the zoo this weekend with my chicks. And my home needs some love.

See you all soon, and I'll post some pics throughout the week, if they are any good!

oh wait, I'm not done. See, my posts can't be too quick. Suddenly I am feeling a wee bit perky!

On Sat, after the zoo with my babes, I went on an alone date. Can you tell I was happy!!!

And on Sunday, I went scrapping with the girls, and Miss Maddy too. I worked on my altered cereal box journal...which has turned into my pregnancy book! (Pregnant with Paige that is!)

I am pretty excited about this book, and hope to dabble in it a bit this week, you know, during all my down time! :)

Three Ice Creams Please!

2012-01-19T20:34:00.000-08:00

I am so humbled and grateful for all the feedback last week on my video. It means more to me than I can express. I am so pleased it was so well received and I enjoyed making it so much! Thank you Thank you Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

My little foursome is complete and happy. The three girl canvases each represent one of my girls and their love for ice cream cones after a day swimming in the summer. This came to me after making the little ice cream cone page in my altered journal out of styrofoam. I thought it turned out so great, and with such great feedback, I would make a canvas with styrofoam as my key ingredient. Once I had that vision in my mind, I knew I had to create this foursome with my girls and their love for ice cream. *kelsey and I these days are only eating almond dream, but hey, you know!!!

...and I just looked left, and saw that I have 99 followers! I guess one more and I will have to do a give-away!!!

also linking this shot of the styrofoam ice cream up to Texture Thursday!!!

another little peak

2012-01-18T12:26:00.000-08:00

Good day to you! I have for realz finished my four canvas set and I am elated by the outcome. I learned a lot about my style, or lack of a clear-cut style, and how valuable experimenting and playing it to finding what really is mine! I am excited to share these, and my goal for tomorrow is taking all the shots and putting them together to tell my little, very silly, story.

Horsey here is protecting the kitchen, turned studio, from clean-up! She does a good job at it I think!

I have also thought a lot this week on where I need my focus to lie. Networking, blogging, making my shop yes, but I think creating must come first. This past week I completed four canvas pieces. I let go of a lot of other important things, but I feel practice and learning must come first for me to get where I want. I think those other things, which will still happen all year, will come naturally, but this is my year to make lots and lots of art! (within the art spectrum, I also mean my photography, which btw, I have gone completely manual!!!) ...and with making lots of art, means submitting lots and lots of art. This is my year, I tell you, and I will shine!

Sneak Peaky 2

2012-01-16T15:48:00.001-08:00

I am overwhelmed and elated by the feedback in the past post about my video. Thank you to everyone. I am strengthened by you!

Here is the last canvas of the four...well, just a peak. I am still finishing the third, as I gave up some painting this weekend for family and old friends.

I can't wait to share the completed foursome, on friday!

Oh, can you tell I am in major love affair with Instagram! You should too! And join me!!!

Two of Four, and a VIDEO!!!

2012-01-12T20:20:00.000-08:00

I have a goal to complete tomorrow. This is Four Square Canvas Foursome, 10x10 each, that was sparked by a challenge. Nearly three are finished, and tonight, on this grand night before Friday, I will share with you two, and my first video!!!

I really just made this video for fun, and to see how to do it. One of my besties wanted me to take a photo of the WHOLE process of making a girly painting, and I was like no freaking way! But, I can make a video! So I did, and I am very pleased. It is a bit over 6 minutes, hopefully not too long. To keep you entertained, I added fun captions, and the end a slide show of these photos here. It was great fun, and my 11 year old taught me everything! Kids these days!!!

(oh, funny quick tale. My mom got an ipod touch for Christmas. Teaching her how to use it and load music was the greatest laugh ever!!! She's old school!!!)

So here we go. First two, of four... and the video is of the first painting!

Can you guess the theme, or what I'll do with the last canvas?

and here is my very first video!!!

Untitled from Daniele Valois on Vimeo.

Linking up tonight with

Brainstorming

2012-01-12T17:57:00.000-08:00

a post for me. Have to put my notes down somewhere, and somewhere someone may read...thus, holding me accountable!!!

Hmm...

Finish canvas foursome by tomorrow!

11 digital pages this weekend!!!

Start painting scrap page I have been letting marinate...

Clean other two toilets!

Start Dream Board

go to Michaels, need gel medium!!!

Dinner with the Toffolis!

Mop floor!

Paint one more hall wall this weekend!

...and sweet talk hubs into finishing bathroom cabinet!

Respond to emails and comments to awesome people!

a little peak...

2012-01-09T18:34:00.000-08:00

This week, I am doing a little series of canvases, four, that are all to be grouped together when done. I painted the first one today, and...made a video! So, now, I don't know what to do with the video!!! Another thing for me to learny learn! This was sparked by a challenge, I may or may not submit, and I will show a little piece of it everyday, and on Friday, our favorite day, I will show you them all, and hopefully a fun video too!

here is the peeky peek!

I was so much more free-form today and I loved it. I was sloppy and not to concerned about perfection and details. I love the outcome so much more than my last painting, and I spent very little time in comparison! I think Mindy is in my head, and I am just getting myself ready to paint like a child.

Happy Evening, and wish me luck with putting together my video!

oh, a little bit of fun info... I will be adding stryofoam cups to this collection! Yay for garbage!

Paint Your Story

2012-01-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

More than any other online course this year, I am going crazy happy that Mindy Lacefield, my absolute fab, is having an online painting course this spring! Her paintings move me deep down in my gut. When I look at her work, I see the childhood I craved when I was young. Those visions are still with me, even if today's life is so very different from this dream. Well, I hope some of you join me here. I will be putting my heart and soul into this workshop!And of course, I am also doing LifeBook with Tam, like so many of you, and I am so excited that so many artists in my little circle are doing this as well. What a community I am finding myself within!

Beginning of a new year...here we go!

2012-01-05T18:38:00.001-08:00

I love the start of something new. Anything new. Birth. Possibilities. Friendships. Goals and Dreams.

And so I began my first piece, for LifeBook, of the new year. It is nearly done...just the writing and flappy thingy do! I have so many thingy poos to do this year. I am eager and ready. I feel it is my year. It is my year! hehe...

So, a nearly finished painting...and I head back to Paint Party Friday too! Oh, I have missed you all!

and oh my goodness, I just opened at Etsy shop! It is not all up and running completely, but here it is. I know, it needs work...but yay...I am putting myself out there!
CreateLearnFly, My Etsy Shop!
oh, I have only loaded a few things. This will progress, naturally!

Back and ready to work!

2012-01-03T12:40:00.000-08:00

Hello hello!

I had a great vacation with the family to the bay area. I am so happy to be home though. My pants are tight tight tight from all the fabulous eating... Noooo!

I want to quickly share one little piece of my trip that make me more excited than you can imagine. I went to Dick Blick in San Francisco! I was like a little girl in a candy shop. So happy. I took my Christmas money and bought...

I seriously spent a 100 on crayons! oh yes indeedy I did! I also got some fun colorful papers, a few PITT pens (my fav) in different colors, and a little this and that. Oh what fun I had. Then I took a pic of the outside of the store, as I was so happy with my venture, and I think I turned my phone off before it finished loading...boo. It was happy fun. Very close to Union Square, night, lots of lights and people. After my fun, we went to the Burger Bar in the Macy's building and I had the best veggie pesto burger in the land! Then Maddy, my middle, and I had $10 milkshakes that were worth every cent! Thank you for the fabulous night oh sister-in-law!

Here was our view from dinner!

and a few from dinner because she is just so cute!

Maddy was seriously not posing for this pic. Oh, love this girl!

oh cupcakes! glad it just closed. That milkshake was rich, and if this little shop of cuteness was open, we probably would have had a cupcake too!

It was a pretty nice trip indeed. We went to Half Moon Bay and ran around the beach. We went to many pretty parks, had family dinners, and I re-met my cousin once removed...I call him my cuz cuz.

I am so happy to be home, eating healthy, soon to be back in the gym, and soon to be learning and creating. Life Book has begun and I am eager to start this as well. But first, I have to unpack, and put away Christmas...boo!

See you soon!

Happy Holidays to You!

2011-12-25T09:59:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is where they want to be, celebrating with loved ones. I am.

All my loves on Christmas.

And a little Christmas Bokeh for all you Bokeh lovers!

I'll be back after the new year, excited to start a new year of creating, learning, and flying! but for now, I'm off to California to play!

New shop coming, and 1 print, and iphone cover up for sale!!!

2011-12-21T13:29:00.000-08:00

Whole shop coming in January. And I totally just ordered my own iphone cover, for my new iphone, with my own art. Too much fun!Adding lots of colorful fun soon!

Artist Swap

2011-12-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

and let me tell you, I am the luckiest girl in the land! You all know Kristin, Twinkle Twinkle! She hosted Summer of Color...you know her! She is the sweetest mama in the land, an extraordinary colorful artist, and so pretty too! We started talking about how we needed to use our pictures more in our art, and one thing led to another, and we agreed to an artist swap using shots of our babies as the focal point. She sent me pics of her darling Kendra, and I sent her ones of my Paige. Lots of anticipation and excitement, our packages arrived at the same time! I called her, and we opened our gifts together, giddy and happy the whole way.

I seriously cannot explain the happiness of opening my gift. I was so so so so nervous making her piece, but I knew her gift to me would be so fabulous. And, it could not be more perfect. Kristin's style shines in every corner. The colors are her, the text is her, the sparkles and darling details, so her. So with so much joy...Kristin's gift to me!

Paige loves her new bracelet!

Kristin used the back of a watercolor pad as the canvas. If you have been following me, you know I am always finding whatever, garbage really, to use as my base. And, then she did this for me. Do you feel the love?

Here is the original pic I sent her...

and her is the whole piece. Paige calls it "My Special". "Mama, can I hold my special?"

Thank you so so so much Kristin, from the bottom of my heart.

You can visit her blog Twinkle Twinkle to see what I made her!

Paint Party Friday! Woot!

2011-12-15T19:52:00.000-08:00

I have lit up inside. I love my my new girl. And she loves her hat!

ok, I do have one little fixy-do, but then I wouldn't be able to take another photo and share with you now! I am going to balance out those pinky-do dots, as they are irregularly irregular. I like to find balance in such things as dots, and when I was fixing a messy-uppy, I covered up my favorite dots. Favorite dots are essential, don'tcha think?

Happy Wintery Day, and remember to wear your favorite hat!

Fusing Plastic

2011-12-13T17:06:00.000-08:00

I gave it a go. My first time, not bad. I think I need to practice a bit, but I don't have lots of fun bags. I can see that different plastics work better, but what fun to take some discarded blah and make...

do you know what I used yet?

How about now?

ok, you should be able to guess with this last one!

This was made for my Kels, but my model is Maddy. She now wants one too! I think I will show her how to do it and let her do the work!

oh btw, has anyone ever had Sam'l Smith Organic Fruit Ale? It is the best beer in the world, of course out of England...love England!!!, and I am happily drinking the Cherry brew before my 10 day cleanse starts tomorrow. No alcohol, no sugar. boo. My hubs is doing it too. We try to mix health with beer!

Picture Happy

2011-12-11T15:48:00.001-08:00

First a few from our weekend and then a few from a shoot...

My Paiger!

and a few of cute boys!

We went to a winterfest fun thingy in the FREEZING cold... Lot of lights and crowds, and really expensive food! Lots of shots, but it was one of those nights I didn't get many good ones. Boo Boo! But I think I may be able to put something together to share soon!

I love all the lights during the holidays, but man, I need to walk around with a tripod and mannequins for kids if I want good shots! Oh well, maybe next year I'll invest in some dummies! hehe, kidding!

and I am hating the big watermarks, but I am also hating people swiping my shots. It has been done, multiple times. One was my baby's butt. So, no more bootie online, even when it is young baby bootie! Boo.

Time to learn how to store my own prettier watermark in LR. I know how to make it in PS, but how do I use it in LR? I know there is an answer!

Friday Free Night

2011-12-09T15:26:00.001-08:00

This week has been busy, and fast and busy and fast! I worked out 6 times, sweat pouring off my eyelids hard, in the past 5 days. Girls to school, Xmas party, hangin' with my mom, baking, homework, and some more sweat! I have never felt so much relief, as I do today, for a friday to roll around. I feel I can breathe. And I want to paint! I have been inspired by so much this week, but no time to do anything about it. And then Christmas, and soon-to-be traveling with my gaggle, and I feel I shouldn't stop. ...but tonight I will. I don't know what I will do, but do I will!

Oh, and this week, I did my first plastic fusing, and make Kelsey a belt from garbage! Woot! I will take fotos this weekend, and share so soon!

happy friday free night!

oh, and one last thing! Do not, ever, bite a rock. You will chip your tooth! Boo!

Supporting Artists. Lia Lane

2011-12-06T20:47:00.001-08:00

Well hello! On Cyber Monday I bought a darling ornament from Lia Lane, she's on facebook and Etsy! I adore it! Lia Lane makes darling encaustic pieces and I fell head over heals with this little lady!

Forget buying a collage print from Target and Pottery Barn, support the real artists who make these lovelies. And they come wrapped so cute! It makes me simply giddy inside and out! Seriously giddy.

When Christmas is over, I am adding her to my wall of awesomeness! (My wall of awesomeness is currently being redone...I will share it with you when it is all ready! Giddy!!!)

Potato Stamp Christmas Wrap

2011-12-04T19:13:00.001-08:00

I do not pretend to have invented this concept. I have done this before, and see it often. I just thought I'd share how I am wrapping presents this year.

Start with a potato, or a sweet potato, or yam...or an eraser! Carve shape!

Add dots of paint with pencil erasers, and outline with crayons, or watercolor crayons/pencils!

then I tried it with Stayz On Ink. Worked great too! I love how the ink stayzzzz on my tree!

This is a fun projects for the kids too and the results are endless. Make it neat and pretty, or messy like I did. Here, a blog friend of mine, made a beautiful rose pattern with celery. Celery Stamping Art !!! Scarlett's blog is by far the most beautiful blog out there. She is so inspiring and her beauty shines everywhere, even through celery!

So grab some newspaper, and make your own one of a kind wrap art! I think I'll be making more all week!

Photo Session with some Besties!

2011-12-03T14:12:00.001-08:00

Now I need to find someone who will do this fun stuff for me and my family!!!

Painting Styrofoam!

2011-12-02T12:28:00.001-08:00

So, this here is just my practice book, made from cereal boxed and such. I really just wanted to get a feel for possibility. Here I just broke up a styrofoam cup and glued it together in the ice cream form, painted with acrylics, and added gel medium and glitter. Like I said, this was just a practice, but just imagine...

So go out there, find garbage, and use it!

And...

Last night I braved the slick roads and went to Whimsy, a paint studio and bar!!!, my favorite little outing. It was one of those nights where they teach you a painting, but of course you can do as you wish. I always choose to do as I wish, but still keeping in with the theme for the night. It was all about colorful butterflies, and I knew this would be a perfect Christmas gift for my little painter. She adores painting faces now, and loves girl everything. This measures 16x24, I think. A colorful addition to Maddy's new space. A little mix of me, and a whole lot of her! I was a bit sad not to start with collaged papers, but even I, at the young age of 35, must let it go once in a while!

a little piece of my home, a gift, and a question

2011-11-28T17:22:00.001-08:00

I thought it would be fun to share a little piece of my home once a week or so. Isn't our home a reflection of us, and an art within itself. For today, I am starting with a messy board I made out of packaging from my dishwasher. It is just a wood frame. I added chicken wire and there you have it. The problem is I can't stop adding, and now it is just a big ol' mess. I sorta like chaos in a clean space. Funny! A happy mess!

Can you see the chicken wire in the upper right hand corner?

That pic in the lower left corner is my first babe, when she was a babe, and Mister Husband. I like to add cute cards people give me, random scraps, old and new pics, and anything I need to put away, but I don't know where to put it!

This was a recycled lid project I made last year. The boxes on the right are old cereal boxes, one for each girl, to throw more random things in, to be put away...someday!

I am wrapping up this to send to my Grandma for Christmas. Somerset has had it for a some time, and decided they didn't want it. I think Grandma will love it!

So here is my question, my thoughts? I would love to talk about rejection. I want to know why I care so much anyhow? Isn't this all for me, and my family? Apparently, I need more. This month Somerset has sent back 5 of my favorite pieces from last year. I seriously think they are some of my best, but I guess not. The funny thing is they have been publishing the stuff that I don't really thing is so great! So what now? I don't want to create for the masses, but I still like to send in my stuff, I guess to be acknowledged. I would also like to make art into a business soon, and that is a whole world of scary!

I was honestly pretty bummed about the whole thing. I got over it, of course. But it is still with me. And I wonder why I submit my stuff, and if I should still. I have been in the past 6 issues of Somerset Memories, but I would love to branch out. Creating time is a huge hurdle. I don't honestly think I have found my groove completely; I am still figuring myself out.

I would love to hear any thoughts about rejection, or why you create. I would love to hear it all!

And I did just post a late PPF in the post below. And as you'll discover, I am just in a artistic rut this week!

It's all good though, I promise. I had an incredible cup of coffee and a run this morning! Woot!~

a late late PPF piece

2011-11-28T15:54:00.001-08:00

and I am not so certain I am happy. I made this for a trade gift for a wonderful woman who knits old sweaters into new everything. She is so awesome, and she asked me if I would paint her something. Well, I sat down, grabbed what I had closest, this clipboard, and went to town. She told me she likes the faces on the little people I paint, so this is all I had in mind when I began. Sadly, it is just not working for me. I have been struggling to send it. I added the finishing touches last night, and I am just not sure. My husband says I have to send it to her, as I painted it for her. I have lost my confidence here. What to do? I'm vexed, and I did not send it out today. Boo. I am so critical of my work. I have had issues with some of my photography lately too, although the receivers have been so pleased.

Well, here it is. For better or worse, she is done.

this joyful lady is also pregnant, as my trade's daughter was expecting when I started this. Sadly, I just found out she has miscarried. She has a little one now, and I am certain there will be more. When I think of my trade friend, I think mother, grandmother, woman, friend, optimist. I wonder if this would now be a sad reminder. Ah, vexed I am!

and so late this week, linking to the fabulous Paint Party Friday! party!

Thanksgiving Happiness

2011-11-26T10:09:00.001-08:00

After feast fun at Grandma's!

I love Thanksgiving so much. I feel it is the most important holiday and changes our focus, hopefully, to what we actually have and to appreciate it. There is always so much to moan about. This is true for everyone, as everything really is relative. This past year I have tried so hard to change my focus from venting, I leave it for my husband, mom, and besties, and focus on what I really do have. I have an abundance of love in my life.

For our Thanksgiving we spent it with my mom in her first first home in Colorado. This retired woman is living the life now! Beautiful home, here with us, and a visitor to share in the celebrations.

Then we decorated my mother's first tree in her new home...and all is well.

EEEeee!

2011-11-22T22:24:00.001-08:00

I am so excited. I just had a little blog make-over and I am loving it!!! Erika @ The Fairy Blogmother helped me all week to make my blog, really mine. She was so patient with me, and I am thrilled. I made the little border around the header, and if you scroll down, she used the border also for post dividers! I am just so giddy!

So, I am thinking it is time for a little photo session of ME!!! so I can add a shot of my lovely face, haha! Speaking of photo sessions, I have been swamped in editing. I should be done this week, and I think that will do it for me this year. I learned lots and will share soon!

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. There really and truly is so very much to be thankful for!

Happy Day to you!

Love Daniele!

and one last thing. I have had many people ask me to purchase this print, or make cards. I loaded it to Fine Art America and you can purchase it through them. Or you can ask me directly. I also have it set up so you can order cards, and very soon I will have it set up to make my own. There will be no watermark on the prints!

Thank you Thank you!

edit: I guess the link didn't work. I will get back to it later!

Art Angel

2011-11-17T19:21:00.001-08:00

I started this way back during Tam's Heart Art and Healing Course. Well, baby and I were at the table today, baby painting and making a massive mess, and I thought I would take those pieces she was tearing up and collage with them. Then, I saw this lonely little angel and just went to work. She was a mess to put together, and has a rather messy face, but it all fits, doesn't it? Ok, in all honesty, I am not happy with her face, and will most certainly change it tomorrow. I am done for the night! ...um and the color, not right. Indoor nasty lighting, but I will make amends tomorrow, when she tells me she is ready!

Last week, I wasn't able to link up, but I did paint a piece for the party!

and here SHE is...

I wonder what her story is? I don't know it, but I know where she is headed!

I am so happy to have found this great party. Keeps me working, learning, and connecting. Thank you thank you ladies!

Missed my puter and bloggy friends!

2011-11-15T19:13:00.001-08:00

I am been gone, yes indeedy, but I am back. My puter Max crashed on me, and it was a whole week of retrieving all my goods! I love Max so much, and I just don't want him leaving me.

But I have been busy. I took lots of photos this week, and now I have loads of editing fun to do! This photo is of my friend Shannon and her hubs, and I took lots of their whole family. So excited. I feel these are my best fotos ever.

I also played lots and lots of pics I took of my trio, for Christmas. Then I put them all over FB and now I have no surpise pics for cards. But honestly, do people keep these cards? If the family pic is just tossed, should I bother? I don't keep each and every photo card I get! Ya, I said it. I don't.

So, here is a sneaky peak of my first little 5 min session I did with my girls.

and this last one is from another family, way behind in their editing too, but loving this one.

Hold on Tight

2011-11-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

This is on an 8x10 canvas board. I found this pic in a pile. One of the girls had already cut it up, and discarded it from whatever they were going to do with it. I took it, found a piece of cardboard, covered in paint, and went to town. I am in LOVE with how this turned out! I haven't made anything in a long time that made me this giddy. The girls, Kelsey and Madison, before Paiger, were about 3 and 5 I think.

Paint Party Friday

2011-11-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

I wish that I had something more complete and new to share. Another busy busy week in my land. I did share this photo, as well as a few more, in my last post this week. This was my greatest painting accomplishment, with my babe. The photo though, in my opinion, is my greatest artistic accomplishment this week. So here it is, one more time.

This week I also make one scrapbook page, from an album I am trying to finish, from 2007! It is nearly done, and thank goodness for that! I am also finishing up 2008, a completely different style, and would love to move on to more current memories!

This page is pretty important to me. I journaled on the base layer, then taped, then journaled, then gessoed, then journaled, and taped and gessoed some more. There is lots of journaling depth here. I love how it turned out, even with silly chip board letters that I found in an old stash, very hidden away!

And in keeping with the PPF theme, there is gesso and paint all over this page!

Cereal box is a layer under the pic! Love those boxes...I use them in everything!

The photo color is horrible, I know. I always, until this very night, take my pics in natural light, but I really wanted to get my post up and done! The overhead light makes for a yellow mess, but you get the idea.

and my table tonight. Starting some new new... and an awful happy mess!

2 full weeks

2011-11-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

and I was really sick! wow. Today I woke up, and felt pretty ok. Horrible voice, and coughing, but I really did feel good. So I took myself to the gym!!! ...and.... walked! ha. I walked! I have been so sick my whole body has turned to mush and crud. Well, I am eager to become me again, and get back to all that I do. And my house, remember 2 weeks!, needs some serious cleaning!

What I did do...was have a fun Halloween with my babes, hubs, and mother. I did paint pumpkins with baby, and I did do a whole lot of editing in Lightroom!

A few pics from the week. Some shots are old, but I just got around to editing!

Painted pumpkins!

(These pumpkin shots are unedited. I think they look rad as they are!)

and editing...

and this one is from today. Babe eating snow!

Table gone painty!

2011-10-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

For painting this week, I sealed our table...a result of many hours of paint play!

Baby did the handprints all on her own. I was doing something, and suddenly I hear, in a loud proud tone, HANDPRINTS!

There are some cool patterns deep beneath lots of baby blobs. I used paper towels to mop up the mess, and voila...paper towel prints!

All of us girls had too much fun with with window crayons. It totally covers little finger prints!

see...we got snow!

and because I love whipping out my fisheye/wide angle adapter!

Have a joyous weekend!

I am going to hang at home, and try to get over a monster cold.

I'll probably pet a bunch of cats, much to my dismay. I'll cuddle with my dog lots, and talk to our bird.

I probably won't eat a lollipop, but you never know...

and btw, this is our eating table too! fun!

It's OK to eat Ice Cream in the Bathtub!

2011-10-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

Who knows this book? It's cute. We have had it for years and years, and now babe reads it. There is a page that looks like this...

Whenever I read this book, all animated and cute, I say "It's OK to eat macaroni and cheese in the bathtub...NOOOOO!" haha, if you know me, you may be surprised that I don't. I am huge on letting the babes make huge messes for fun, and it gives me time to do something I want. It gets cleaned up! ...but when it comes to pasta in the tub, and clogging that drain...I just have to say no to that one! And Hubs would kill me if he found pasta clogging the drain!

but... Ice Cream, I can do!!!

and that best part...she is already in the tub to clean up the sticky mess! See, win win!

and a little side snapshot, because oh how I LOVE watching my first baby play flute...

She's so grown up!

a kissy couple

2011-10-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

I took fotos this past Sunday of a newlywed couple and their children. We headed out a little too early, so we have shadows, but I am pleased, and even more pleased that every time I said Now Kiss, these two totally started kissing. It made me very happy.

Here are a couple, of the kissy couple, and two little boys, both of whom were not interested in me and my beloved camera!

So last year I found this blog, she called it Photo Freak, but that is not the address, so I cannot find her! Well, she had this great post and linky on the "Almost Kiss". It was really cool, but I hadn't yet taken shots of lovey couples...but look! It is an "almost kiss"! Freaking cool!, even with the shadow across his head!

and...

ok, you can get critical, and I did shop off Mr's rear, but there was a kid head sticking out from behind it, and I tried and tried to photoshop it out, but it was awful, so I chopped the head off! Not too bad? Right? Please, tell me it's not toooo bad!

So this amateur is enjoying all the kissing. I wonder what my next couple will have in store for me?

Kiss the ground, this painting is complete!

2011-10-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

a bunch of fotos of my love, obsession, vexation, and happiness these past three weeks. When things get a little crazy, just start painting...

One Year Ago...

2011-10-19T17:18:00.001-07:00

and my, how they change.

little different editing style...

Dark night.

2011-10-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

more darkness, but light and answers too. My Kelsey is quickly becoming a woman. Today we will celebrate, in her way!

Taken last night. So many emotions.

remember when they were just little girls? Sweet. Happy running through the trees. Life seems so simple then

long road

2011-10-16T22:07:00.000-07:00

don't we all seem to have such a long road ahead of us at times?

I found this pic in my phone tonight. My daughter Kelsey took it last week, and today she is suffering from some serious depression. What 11 year old should say I just want to hide away and not be seen? This photo just seemed so suiting.

She usually has a couple rough days a month, and a not-so-good day once or twice a week. Then, the rest of the time she is functioning so well. It is my greatest pain to watch this. I am going to go talk about this tomorrow, and I am going to let her stay home and do her school work. This is why we homeschooled. She needed the freedom to go through her darkness, and not miss school. Now, she loves her new middle school, but still misses so many days. I got a letter saying she is being screened for gifted and talented. But what about her emotional stability? On the upside, this road keeps going, and we keep going, and she keeps going, and on and on we go...and she, with every year, gets better and better. Oh, my love.

The new Somerset finally came. This is a pic of our piece. It is a little canvas called This Very Moment and is about my middle girl Madison, letting go of her role as the baby. It was a tender and scary moment, and one she is now adjusted to, although still doesn't always like!

I took Madison out on an errand date today. She loved being alone with me. We went and got salad, and then to many stores for some paint and out for lots and lots of veggies and fruits. We hit all the sales! Tonight, after dinner, we juiced for our dessert! It was so awesome and yummy. (Today I ate about 75 percent RAW! and 95 percent Vegan ...Woot!)

So, I haven't painted this weekend. I am nearly done with the Montessori painting, and now the girls are expressing massive love for it and don't want it to leave our house! Kelsey says it makes her so happy! How can you take that away from a family of girls? Hubs this morning, after getting up early with babe, came up to me and told me how much he is liking this painting. Really? I didn't think you cared at all about these cute ones!!! Well...he must! I was giddy. He is my favorite man!

To end this post, and my night, I went into to see if Kelsey was asleep. This takes her a long time sometimes, especially when she is blue. She was all curled up under her blankets and with her huge tiger and soft wolf. She looked so peaceful, and I am happy. Then, looking back at Paiger on her little bed, I just feel so lucky, so loved, even if these kids make me completely crazy!

new post, no pics

2011-10-11T21:09:00.000-07:00

Today I have been thinking a lot about the home, what it means to me. I have been thinking about what is important, and what is really not. I have been struggling with some decisions others make, and tell me about, yet I have no business to interfere or go off about how those decisions are bad ones, and that they hurt us all. I have been thinking about true friendship, about mothering, and who to encompass. (should that be whom or who? Oh, the whom who issue!) Maybe instead of pushing the others away, can I positively influence them? And why am I so righteous? Do I sometimes take part in what I think is wrong? How can I live that good life, do everything that is "right" and not judge others?

Honestly, do we try to surround ourselves only with those like-minded? I have always kept people in my life that others don't like. I try to find the good and hold on. Sadly, I don't always see much good in the end.

Just thoughts.

on a more uplifting note, I have been really thinking about bunnies. Really cute bunnies. I finally just finished my second story for my mentor, ok...nearly finished, and I am finally happy with the story, full of bunnies, and little girl magic hands! Then, I found a little pet shop bunny yesterday, and I am so excited to do another little pet shot painting this weekend, like I did my birdie HERE!!! last summer. Go bunnies and magic hands!

little behind, this and that, etc...

2011-10-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

ok, so as always, I'm a bit behind...on everything I do.

I have worked on the board for the Montessori school. It will be done by the end of the week. Here is a camera phone peek...on my messy piano, with controllers, Harry Potter, and Pride and Prejudice. The man in the middle is a robot man! I love him. Obviously, I am mostly working left to right. I am ready to finish this, and hope lots of little ones enjoy and play along.

and here is more random mess and tidbits all over my living room. That painting in the middle on top I did last night at a cute little paint studio, and bar! ...I left off the e in breathe because I think my drink was too strong. I have never painted anything like this, it was fun, although not me. I really like the vibrant colors and I think I will gift it for Christmas, or not. Who knows. I will add the e though. I do know how to spell, sometimes.

And this week I did my first pencil sketch. I prefer painting. This is from Tam's Fabulous Faces course. I got it with my Life Book ecourses, for next year. I am stoked about all the different teachers and la la la.

Today we put a twin bed down on the floor next to our big, marital, bed, and Paiger is napping in it now. So sweet, but I am certain she will be in bed with us tonight. Baby steps says Bob!

I think I'll link this to PPF, although I always seem to link up on Sunday.

And the new issue of Somerset Memories, that I am in, still has not come. I had to go check it out at Barnes and Noble. I took a pic of me and my mag, but I looked horrible last night, says all photos I was in, and so I think I will just refrain from sharing.

And because fellow PPFer asked, here are my answers!

1. what is your name and stuff? and any other good information. like bank account details.Daniele aka Hot Mama!
2. what is super hot about you? <--- don't you Dare skip this one. answer it.Hubs loves the rack and the ass, I like my shoulders and back when all toned.
3. don't lie or cheat: what is under your couch right now?Too much yuck, that's what!
4. when was the last time you shaved your legs?yesterday...ah, all better.
5. what did you have for breakfast?Diet Coke! Seriously. That's it. Then I got all sick and nauseous a couple hours later when I took my vitamins and then realized I only had Diet Coke for breakfast. So, ya, that sucked settling my tummy.6. if you could choose a new name, what would you name yourself?Lacey (a character in my mind)!
7. have you ever had plastic surgery?Yes! I had a mommy makeover after number two, then we had number three, and I nursed, and milk only came in on one boob, and now I have one low nah nah and one almost perky one! It's pretty.
8. are you afraid of the dark?no.
9. are you a hermit?yes and no.10. why do you blog?Because I love myself so much and I want others to love me too. I actually started this blog, as opposed to just a family blog, to find other artists, and mothers with aspie kids.The End.

More pics of new baby!

2011-10-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

I could totally get the hang of doing this for work!!!

Random Tidbits Floating Around My Brain

2011-10-03T21:33:00.000-07:00

I have missed both deadlines for my second story. I MUST finish asap!

Kelsey needs to get to sleep, or tomorrow will suck.

I worked on the painting, continued from post below, and below. I am really starting to love it.

Today I spun my face off, tomorrow we stroll.

My imac has officially been renamed isuck.

I want to be an artist when I grow up.

I want my Somerset to come in the mail. Still not here!

I have lots of fotos to edit!

I think I am nearly ready to sleep now. Most family is nestled up in bed. ...ah, I hope Kels gets to sleep!

I like this picture of me, from our Pumpkin Patch outing Sunday. Must go through those pics as well.

I am such a poser!

I love sun flares!

Will this cold ever leave my body?

I love that I sleep with my babe. I have always been a huge co-sleeper. Can't help it. Never could.

Only two more from Sunday. Seriously, when imac becomes isuck, editing and such takes forever!

and I leave you to this cuteness...so now I can go to sleep.

Good thing I had another babe, those olders don't put up with me and my Nikon love much anymore!

Giddy

2011-10-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

I was certainly not going to go here with this painting. ...but it was silly fun! You know I am surrounded by silly girls everywhere! I am really not interested in making cutsie little scenes like this. But man, they are kinda fun to paint. I know that this art thing takes lots and lots of learning and practicing to find you, to have skillz...hence the reason I am here. So I will share my mediocre and my successes, and possibly my failures too.

This is actually that massively long piece of cardboard, I was working on in post below, and similar to post below that!!!, but I think I am going to cut this off, and continue on with my original plans, and keep this small and cutsie pie! oh, by the way, this is not done...I just took a pic of the done part...you see the corners all bold and just not done...

and you know babe is always painting! ...and reading!

This evening we are going to our fav pumpkin patch for some end of the day shots...of you know, pumpkins, but really kids! My kids are dying to go, and ready long ago, but I was like, no way, homework, housework, and I need the best light for our shoot. Ohhhh MOM!!!

Work in Progress

2011-10-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

as babe is not interested in letting me do MY thing this week, I have only started my next piece. And...it is very similar to last weeks because a lovely lady wanted to buy my Live a Colorful Life for her new montessori school opening. Well, I just couldn't sell it. However, I decided to make a new, similar, painting and see if she would like to purchase it. I struggle letting go of my paintings. Every one holds emotions so dear, even though I am painting this with her school in mind. Exciting though, to have one of my pieces, possibly, hanging in a school!!!

See...Babe had her own agenda for the evening!

and work in progress, taken with my phone.

And I am eagerly awaiting the new Somerset Memories. Should be here today. I am featured in the Family Memories section, I think... Can't remember. But a dear bloggy friend saw it two days ago, and I still don't have mine! Boo. Can your hear my tantrum? Oh, that might be Paiger! Hopefully a happy present from the mail lady today!!!

Live a Colorful Life

2011-09-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

Pieces...

the entire piece...

Sitting down friday night, and babe wanting to paint with "Mama" paints, I knew I was ready to start playing again. I have these long pieces of cardboard that I know would make great long scenes, and I really needed to paint in color! I am so tired of being frazzled, blue, busy, tired... When I sit down to paint, it has to be colorful. My inner happy coming out! I hope you enjoy and my happy land painting gives you a smile!

linking here for the first time!

Vegasy Fun, reality, and a new baby.

2011-09-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

We only used our phone this weekend, as we were not there for site seeing! We had loads of fun, with no guilt, loads to drink, with no guilt, loads of food, with no guilt, and lots of pool time and happy times! We saw a show, dressed pretty, and I made it a over two days away from Paiger. I was very happy to get home to my babies though. Very very happy. Now what do you think of my dress up pics up there? Misses Mia Wallace?

Grainy but awesome! After O, feeling all lovely and stuff!

and one more collage of phone fotos, for your viewing pleasure!

ah, back to reality, and boy has reality set in. 2 year old Paiger, whom I've never left more than a few hours, loved every second with Grandma, and all the attention. Sadly, 11 year old Kelsey pretty much shut down while I was gone, and has been struggling to come up ever since. When things started looking up and up, a sudden down hit, and tonight has been hard. After cuddling babe to sleep, I then got in bed with Kels, and also, rocked her to sleep. After some deep breaths, I can only now hope that tomorrow she wakes up well, and stays in school. I'm not going anywhere for a long long time!

and just for fun, I got to take some photos of a newborn today! Here are a couple I love.

Guess What?

2011-09-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

I am totally going to Vegas this weekend to have crazy fun with my hubs and my married besties! I have never been away from Paige. My mom, who now lives here (woot woot) is staying at my place, filling the girls with weekend fun, and even going to co-sleep with my co-sleeper! Yup, I am not even nervous. I really need to take a break. And although the thought of locking myself in a hotel and painting and scrapping all weekend sounds just as fun, I am going to have Vegasy fun! So bring on the margaritas! I am leaving on a jet plane! Back next week, hopefully refreshed, and ready for fall, runs, art, and baby lovin'!

Painting Paiger

2011-09-13T16:30:00.000-07:00

no editing here. I think these pictures are so pretty and perfect.

What makes me feel good?

2011-09-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

Real people. I am one of those that just cannot keep up with my perfect friends, or seemingly perfect blog friends. I know so many moms, and man they seem to have their you-know-what together. Me, not so much. I always have my hair pulled back in a pony, or a head rag, or even a cute hat. These days I am almost always in workout clothes, but I do workout LOTS! After spinning or something, I take a shower, and put on clean workout clothes, and that is how I stay all day! I do my hair now like 5 times a year. Although I do love a little make-up! I rarely put on heals, although when I do, I feel like awesome sauce! I don't have time to learn the things I'd like, I don't get my writing assignments in on time, I don't keep up on fb, and my house, although I clean alllll the time, is always a mess. I rarely ever scrap and paint, but I long to do so.

Since school is back, and I am not homeschooling anymore (big jump for joy) I have decided to dedicate any spare time I have to getting myself back into really great shape. I have always, before Paiger, made fitness and health a serious priority, and turning 35 this summer made me come to terms with how I want to enter the next stage of life. Sadly, to do this, I have put away most of my art supplies. They will come out, I just don't know when. I hope soon. And until then, I have a phat D7000 in my hands everywhere, although I don't know how to use it!

Today, the fam and I went to an outdoor charity concert that my friend big D was singing at. I was crazy happy with my new camera. Here is one from today.

Ya, he rocks. My oldest was very excited when he went a little metal, and my youngest talked about Devon singing all night! Excitement for the whole fam!

My friend Kristi grabbed my camera and got nice and close. Thanks K. I look swell! Ha! And my hair was totally, in a pony!

Hey, good luck balancing my big Paiger with your skinny boy! ha...these two are actually going to get married. Already arranged! ...That dancing queen back there is my oldest, Kelsey. Dancing to her own beat, or maybe Devon's!

and just for cuteness sakes... ya, that's my cute son-in-law to be!

First day with my new love, and no subjects.... self mirror portraits just because. This one was my fav, minus the nasty yellow lighting. Must edit this one soon.

So, thank you to all of you that don't sugar coat your lives. If you're a mom with 5 and you always look awesome and your house is clean, more power to you! ...but just don't come over unannounced.

And this week I took rad pics of my baby painting. Maybe a post for tomorrow?

still giddy

2011-09-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

and in love! My mom took my phone and took some silly pics of me and my new love.

HA! They are so funny, I could pee. And sorry for the bad hair, pony tail again!!!, and bra strap. I was in gym clothes! I never am really prepared to have anything taken of me. Must change that someday! I am now wondering when I'll find time to learn this big boy!

oh dear sweet baby, he came!

2011-09-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting oh sooooo long for this baby. A whole pregnancy, and finally, he came!

My first boy. Well, I think he looks very manly, so my Nikon D7000 is a boy! I am salivating. I am giddy. And I don't have to wake up in the middle of the night to nurse! Oh, love at first sight, let me tell you. Battery is charging. I cannot wait to start shooting, learning, playing. Oh me...

Changes are coming!

2011-08-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

Fall is getting near. I am suddenly energized to work. Bringing my home back together, after a summer of fun, children everywhere. I am ready to write, to shoot, and to scrap. I am eager to make huge messes with paint, and wear it everywhere! I have been sleeping lots, and am rested during the day. I can take on this thing called life, at least I know I can today!

Packing up some paintings to submit. Fingers Crossed!

Back to school. My oldest started middle school. Life is changing.

And when summer is nearing its end, we have fruit!

and babe made her first collage!

Longing

2011-08-23T12:48:00.000-07:00

It has been so long since I have blogged. This is so very unlike me. I am ever so overwhelmed with three chicks. Back to school fever, and busy to dos, toddler so active and busy, heat so intense... I have not picked up my camera or a paintbrush. I feel I am waiting for fall. Cooler days, nap times, and everyone settled in. Life is just a rush right now, clothes to put away...I shouldn't even be writing this now.

I will be back soon. Very soon. I feel fall is so close, but I can't yet touch it. My pumpkin vines are stretching, but not yet showing me any fruit.

Finishing up

2011-08-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

Summer of Color How wonderful it is to be in a community of artists. I am so grateful for this experience, and have created new pieces I would have never created! I am excited to spend some time looking at all your collections this week, and hope to catch up on those I missed. Loving this journey!

Sitting pretty on my piano, until I know what to do with them! ...here are a couple pics of my daughters colorful works too!

Click here for my slideshow!

I just love colorful play everywhere. My house is filled with it. And although I may go crazy each and everyday, I would not trade my colorful life, just as it is, for anything! It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to!

Despite the intense heat, Maddy is back to school this week, and Kelsey about to follow. It has been a crazy summer trying to keep these girls busy. But don't worry, we have had plenty of movie and Xbox too! I have been in do mode, but not really accomplishing anything. I suppose that is the glory of summer! My DSLR took a bad crash this summer, and I have been mostly taking pics with my phone. My little backup has turned out to be great fun for me. Here are a few pics of my gaggle this summer.

We have spent lots of time running around in grass, swimming, and...

napping!

I really fell in love with my new shelter girl Bella!

and I let baby makes lots of messes, cuz that's how I roll!

and Paiger turned two and I set up a little photo shoot on my deck.

Kelsey tolerates my picture taking...

while Maddy poses and poses!

Baby plays with her babies all day, and loves pictures!

And we all have fun at museums, especially is wacky mirrors!

and once in a while, the olders make me dinner. They throw beach towels on the table and cook pasta...and give me a diet coke, even though I had already had my quota! And they serve me on Power Puff girls plates!

All in all, it was a pretty nice summer. I am eager for Fall, the smell, the colors, the coolness. I am eager to have the olders in school so I can to to the gym. I am looking forward to getting a new lens, and taking new fotos, and maybe developing more of my style in photography. ...lens baby anyone? I am eager to work on my writing, and get my projects into my mentor on time. So here's to fall...I hope it comes soon! Happy happy end of summer days to you all, and don't drink too much diet coke, let's have an iced coffee, shall we?

Orange

2011-08-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

I believe this is the last week of Summer of Color, and I must say that I am relieved. I have had so much fun painting and playing along. I am thankful that I have opened myself up to new, and made so many pieces that I would have never made, but I am full, and need to welcome fall with rested arms, and focus on my girls.

All the writing here, comes from Oh, The Places You'll Go! Dr. Suess. This book has been my favorite since Kelsey was very small. I always knew she needed more guidance and this book always seemed to fit. Many years later, and at nearly 11 years old, her struggles continue and grow heavy. Last night, this book seemed so appropriate, and I am hoping we can sit together and read it again. I am at a loss for how to walk her through life. This is nothing new, but it weighs me down, and our hearts, together, are so heavy at times.

I worked a little different this week. I found a site about Fearless Painting. Have you heard of this? I must find her blog again and share. I read a bit and watched a little video, and decided to paint fearlessly, paint like a child. This is where it took me, and I am so pleased.

I am looking forward to fall. Perhaps a little time to me, getting back into some photography, and more learning, and lots more running! ...see those tired swollen poor feet? I did some serious interval sprints, and it's hot (certainly you know this) and running and heat make my feet look like pregnant feet. Poor feet!

Purple!

2011-07-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

Purple became my therapy last night, as I was eager for sleep, but babe had other plans. We sat together at the table, not knowing what on earth to make. I rummaged through my supplies and found that I had...no purple! Well, barely. Can you believe it. I have one color of dark acrylic, and barely any left! Limited supplies aside, I took a piece of wood fence I found on a walk, and had a wonderful, purply, time.

Funny enough, I am so into purple this year. I carry a purple purse, I have purple toes this summer, and I am wearing a purple shirt. So, where are my purple art supplies? I told myself, during this summer of color fabulous event, that I was not going to buy one art supply, and I haven't yet! Working this week with nothing was tough, but worth it! Click on my Summer of Color thingy dingy in my sidebar to see all the great purple art!

Red and Brown, Way Behind, I know!

2011-07-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

Hello, Hello! I cannot believe how long it has been since I blogged. (Mandy, I am totally fine, just so busy. Thanks for checking up on me. I feel loved!)

I am behind in the Summer of Color too. I thought summer would give me so much more time, but I am so mistaken!

So, about the pieces. First off, this weeks Red. If you know me, I battle addiction to Diet Coke. This summer I have battled hard, and I am down to half my normal, drinking only about 2 cans a day. This is huge for me, as I was at around 5! And if I went to a movie, oh ya, I would suck up that chemical awesomeness and then refill, peeing about once or twice in the process. Yes, I do miss movies because of this! I had great fun making my DC devil!

For Brown, which I found very hard and colorless!!!, I wrote, Brown, so colorless, so blah. How you vex me so. But from you, dear brown, we have the earth, and from the earth we have life, and in life, we can wish upon the stars. I really like this girl reaching up for the stars too. Simple, yet playful and good fun.

so, want a few pics from here and there this summer? Sure you do!

I love this one!

Hey, just so you know, this bottom pic is after-swimming, so hence the horrible hair and such. and my hair is not short like that...horrible pic. I have a pony in! be kind! Here is my cute family!

ok, this just makes me laugh!

and one last one. Summer of Color, right?

It's Yellow Week!

2011-07-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

I am so short on time, which makes me short with words. So unlike me. Yellow was a challenge, until I just gave in and decided to play with magazines. And then, what fun I had!

Pink, do-over.

2011-06-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I re-did this piece about 6 full times. I came to the decision these girls just needed to stand alone.

I am stopping now, and moving on to Yellow.

I do not like my Pink! Boo.

2011-06-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

This weeks Summer of Color (notice thingy in sidebar) is Pink! Sadly, I am not loving my pink. I don't know, it just didn't work the way I wanted. Ugh. However, when I think pink, I think love! Don't we all? I also think the Dr. Seuss line, But when my days are happy PINK, it's great to jump and just not think!" hehe. So, I have actually worked in a lot of pink this year. I have had a tough year, and often, when I am creating, I either focus on my my pain, or my joy. Sometimes I force myself to focus on joy, and it helps me out of my pain. So, here it is.

Edit!!! Here is my new Pink!

I added in a horizon line, my first time. Not sure how it worked. I was going for a double horizon line, see bottom pic, but whatever! Can you tell I am displeased? Also, the writing it is brown, but I think the brown too dark. I may change this, but I thought I should quit for now.

This is where I was going, and now I wish I would have stayed working with this, minus the butterfly.

and I took this photo today of my roses!

(unedited)

and here are some pink pieces I like from this year!

This piece will be in the Fall Somerset Memories under Family Album! I don't know if I am suppose to say that or not!???

My first face!

I love these letters! Hmm, they may be more red than pink!

Um, ok, this looks more blue, however in person the pink shines! There is pink glitter everywhere too!

My first attempt at a Julliete Crane Owl!

So this has been my year in pink! Thanks for looking, and I am excited to see all the pink this week!

Green Girl

2011-06-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

This weeks Summer of Color is Green! This is of my Green Girl Kelsey. She is very very "green"!

quick post

2011-06-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

You would think, being summer, that I would have loads of extra time. Ya, not at all. How to keep all these kids happy and busy? It is a full time job, and now less time to clean. Paige had gymnastics this morn, and then lunch with a friend. Now, how to get her to nap? Walk Bella! and then off for a night at the Children's Museum and park. That should wear them out, right? I hope to stay up tonight and finished my GREEN painting for this weeks Summer of Color. I am loving it thus far and can't wait to share! ...here is a pic I took this week of P trying to feed Rose her granola bar. I am just loving it!

a few happy shots

2011-06-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

Paiger finally turned 2. This was a celebration for me more than anyone. I made it two years with the hardest, most needy, child ever! It was so hard to get her to take pics. She doesn't like to stop moving. So, I set up this little stage on our deck, and got a couple cute ones. I drank a little too much at her birthday, yes...I drank at her birthday, but all in all it was nice to celebrate this little lady! Now, as long as i survive this year, I think I'll make it!

Blue

2011-06-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

It is just how I feel sometimes.

I have two minutes before that birdie wakes from her nap, so I am short on words today. I have many internal struggles as a mother. I would not change my life for anything, I know, but deep inside I long for other things. My last babe has made me feel very trapped. She is very needy. But all in all, when the day is done, and I have painted a little and I reflect on my truth, I know it is as it should be. Perfect. Complete. Loving. True.

Linking up for a colorful summer here at Twinkle Twinkle!

Happy week!

Summer of Color

2011-06-07T08:19:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to participate. This will be my first time I have ever done something with an online group of artists. But it is summer after all, and I am making time for this, for me.

So every week we will make art, any art, with the week's color prompt. We link it back to Twinkle Twinkle and share are work. There are giveaways and all. So, come join me! It may put a twinkle of color in your summer!

So I am quickly suppose to give a glimmer of what I will be doing, but I truly have no idea! But I know it will be inspired by Blue!

Blue
Motivated, dynamic, refined, youthful, introspective, conservative and patient.
(from Twinkle Twinkle)

oh edit. I do know. I am going to make something around the idea of a boy. I have a deep gutted longing for a son, but I have come to a huge realization that I cannot really handle having any more kids. Three girls is a load of work, and in all honesty, I don't know how great I am at it. I can never shake the idea of a son. So, that is my blue.

time

2011-06-05T16:13:00.000-07:00

where have you gone? I want you back, tucked deep inside, for me to pull out whenever I need you. But alas, you're gone. You've left me, and the moments keep ticking on. I cannot slow you down, or stall you a bit. I miss you.

a little cursive practice. I woke up and my words to myself, my late night play time, were still there, telling me, reminding me. A little piece of last night still present. I think time slowed just a bit for me. Thank you.

new painting, in the works, and a bloggie award!

2011-05-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

little pieces for you. tease.

I am so in love with this texture!

This canvas is huge. Huge, I tell ya. I have never worked on anything so large. I am excited for what awaits us tonight, in the quiet hours, when I should be sleeping. There is a sense of darkness here, but so much light too. I think that is what I always do, and always come back to, in the real world...the land of Valois! And those little houses and triangles, clearly not glued on, are just my little way piecing it all together, before I...piece it all together!

Now, I got a blog award. How fun. I guess some love my candid, no frills, tell it like it is, side. Honestly, I can't live in a fake world and sugar coat anything. I struggle. I write about it. And I feel better after I do. It seems to work for me, and really bonds us mothers together, eh?

So, Karen, from Ow, My Angst, found here, I humbly thank you.

And maybe I overdo it a bit. Maybe I should just call a friend. But I am a writer. A screamer. A let it all out-er! I can't help it. It puts my world into perspective for me, and somehow helps me cope. And this is my one tiny space, so I roar!

finding

2011-05-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

balance. balance. balance.

today, this is what I will live by.

brutally honest moments

2011-05-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

I have to have them. This is where I release them.

It started off two nights ago. I took two of the girls to Barnes and Noble, and I met a very nice lady at the Thomas the Train set. We had grown up talked, and I really liked her. She had two little ones, only a year apart. When I see this, my eyes bulge. After telling me their ages, and oh so optimistically, she just said, it is so fun! Wow. Fun??? My answer is work, and tears, and screaming, and that is just from me. Add in the tantrums, the demands, the moments she still often wakes in the middle of the night, the pulling on my everything!!! and fun is not my truth. I so wish it was.

Clearly, there are so many fun moments. I know this. I suck it in and try to hang on, because it can change in an instant, and this is true for all my kids. This is true for me. But I remember the days, not too long ago, and I dream of them. I crave them. I remember the olders getting to that stage where everything is getting easier. Not easy, never, but at times rather wonderful. And then we are all hit in the face with the reality of another child. A DEMANDING child. And suddenly, my olders don't get what they need. And it has not changed in two years. This is not fun.

Today, driving Miss Social Butterfly to a friend outing, Maddy said to me, remember when it was just me and Kelsey. Remember we used to do so much stuff all the time. Now we have Paige. And sadly, I think this sometimes too. I don't want to, and Paige IS our love. She has a house full of people wrapped so tight around her every demand. No wonder she kills me. She is the center of all our worlds, but it is so exhausting. Sooooo fucking emotionally exhausting. Clearly, it is for Madison too, and how horribly sad this makes me.

I am hopeful that changes are coming, but holding back the tears until it gets here.

...and when all is said and done, I sit back, and try to let it go. The house right now is peaceful, for a few minutes anyways. And I look at happy photos, and all is better this moment.

sometimes a little corny.

2011-05-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

and I write little messages to my hubs, for our 13 anniversary, like this. Our little love owl made him smile, and that makes me smile!

Juliette Crane has quickly become one of my favs, and recently she shared her secrets to owl making in Somerset Studio. She also has an ecourse which looks delightfully fun, but I just followed her simple outline in the magazine and closed the book, wanting to make my owl mine. I love her, and my hubs does to, so I think our love owl will live on! Here is Juliette's site. Her paintings are incredible, and I only hope mine will be one day as well! http://juliettecrane.blogspot.com/

A good moment, a rotten day.

2011-05-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

I would say the average for rotten days is around 50% these day. It is depressing. It usually is from my lack of patience, sleep, and Paige only weeks away from turning two. Add Maddy's moods, and Kelsey's needs, and woe is me. My hard hard hard baby Paiger is turning into a hard hard hard toddler. I wonder how to do this all over again. However, even during the most trying days, there always seems to be a little sunshine, even as we are flooded with rain. Our moment yesterday was playing on the stairs, in my shoes.

Today's highlight was walking downstairs to babe getting into my ink and sprays. I cannot believe I left them out last night. See, too tired to care. I call this one Puppy Nose.

a good weekend.

2011-05-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

taken by hubs at a party. I love the warm colors, and my new necklace! Paige walked around all day showing everyone her butterfly!

I got to spend time, individually, with four of my favorite friends. These days, that just doesn't happen. And I even had a lunch date, and a milkshake date! I also took photos of my friend's cute little 1 year old girl.

not really sure which foto to share, so here is one of my favs! I am now in total editing mode. I wonder what boredom is?

Last weekend was a busy one too. Of course my middle girl turned 9. We had a party as skate city, and babe skated! It was crazy cute to see such a little person skating. And she was fantastic!

These took some excessive editing, as it was like pitch black! I got some cool action shots with the lights and disco ball, but have yet to tackle those.

All and all, there have been some trying days this past week, but the weekends have made up for them. The girls pull me all around, and in all different directions, when honestly, I just want my me time. But, summer starts for us this Thursday, so I am thinking things may settle a little for summer. Now, how to handle all the fighting! ugh, a constant challenge!

Her many Colored Days

2011-05-13T14:00:00.000-07:00

read here about projects beginning, meaning, and words to My Many Colored Days, Dr. Seuss

Classic Aspie face, long ago.

Page with a different feel, as light colors also feel our hearts.

To my Special K

details

2011-05-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

Madison's birthday and her quilt.

2011-05-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

It is joyful to see this all done and together. So loved. ...lots of love, and blood, in the process, but I finished it around midnight, exactly on her birthday. She loves it! Kelsey asked I make her one now, but with NO hearts!!! I have until August...I think I'll do it!

Everything was made from scratch and pieces of material, old blankets and sheets. I did not buy one single thing for this project, not even thread. That alone, is pretty amazing!

I'm going to try to get some nice photos of it tomorrow, when the sun shines through our room, and gives me her lovely light!

sticking with the hair theme

2011-05-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

I took these of my stylist after my appointment. So fun.

I love this first one. I think I'll make it b&w!

aside from getting my hair done this week, I keep on mothering. I have two days to complete this quilt for my M and it is not even close. Paiger just doesn't make doing anything, for anyone else, easy. But, being a procrastinator at heart, I believe I will finish! late nights for me...

ok, one more...

Happy Again!

2011-05-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

oh dear red hair, I love you and you make me oh so giddy. And thank you to my daughter Kelsey, not yet 11, for taking this shot for me to show off my happy hair. Yes, obviously edited, but it seriously is this red in direct sun! Happy Day!

New collages, partly done.

2011-04-30T22:47:00.000-07:00

I am overwhelmed with to do. And more to do. Happily, I snuck away this evening to go write at b&n. Is there anything more fun? I think not! I have my first story, and letter to my teacher, due May 30th. Writing tonight put a lot of things in prospective for me. Thankfully! But Holy Moly, how will I ever fit this in? What have I gotten myself into?

Here are some artsy works in progress.

My first attempt at collaging with beeswax. Encaustic art, if you will. ...this is nearly done, which definitely means, not yet done!

and a second layer of butterflies for this beauty. I do not know where this is going. I love this simple butterfly beauty as is for now. ...Can't you tell that I am very pleased with this week's work. Don't forget that scrappy quilt for Madison's birthday. Still giddy, yes indeedy!

no editing today, forgive the darkness!

Our Apple Tree in Bloom!

2011-04-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

ah, glorious spring!

Sewing Sewing Sewing

2011-04-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

My deadline is quickly approaching. Madison turns 9 in less than two weeks. I have work to do! I will admit, this is not an easy task with Paiger near by, but we're doing it, and I am giddy with the results. I am seriously feeling joyful once again.

(I've been sewing sew (hehe...so) much, Paige woke up and told me "I want to sew Mama!" haha, not even 2 yet!

Go here to see the first pics of these shabby, organic, adventure of mine!

I'm thinking

2011-04-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

I may send this one in.

Suddenly this little piece is speaking to me, and I think it may be my favorite. I don't want to let it go though.

Hubs says I have to blog like everyday. Funny, since I don't seek out new readers, but if I am to listen to my heart, and work, write, and create, I guess I must start truly blogging. And since it is just a do day, and I know I've shared this piece before, I now share again!

My week has been dark. Really dark. So much pain and sadness. Melancholy, certainly. But anger at myself as well. But this afternoon, I had a release, and I feel good again. Let's hope for cheery skies soon. And I am going to create tonight!

In contrast

2011-04-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

to yesterdays post, here is a little more in Kelsey's book, and a background/journaling piece I started.

This is an OLD one of the girls. So long before Paiger! My journaling here and in the next page (not shown yet) is about Kelsey's faces.

This is a fab background I made, well fab to me! This was an exciting day for me, and I saw new dreams form, and realizing that they can come true.

Thanks for understanding yesterdays post. And thanks for the wonderful comments. Lovely to know I am not alone and am free to say what I need to say!

Anger

2011-04-20T17:46:00.000-07:00

I woke up angry. Angry I don't get enough sleep. Angry that I have to homeschool. Angry that babe is nearly 2 and loud and full of her own anger. Angry.

I was then angry at how hard it is sometimes to get Kelsey to function. I am talking real anger. I thought my head was going to rip at some seam, and my screams would shake our house. Angry.

Last night, watching Parenthood, I got angry. When Adam yelled at Max, I thought good. Max needs to see how absurd he acts. My daughter has AS and she gets it, because I cannot sugar coat everything and have us all live in denial. Then Max asked his dad if he was angry at him having Aspergers. No, of course not. But the sad thing is, I was like YES! I am angry that you have Aspergers. I am not mad at you necessarily, but I am mad at it all. Why do we have to struggle like this? Why can't you just get it? WHY? WHY? WHY?

When our morning school struggles hit, and Kelsey's nasty mess of a room and bathroom, I just couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to scream I am so angry at this. I hate that you are like this. I hate it. ...but I love you. Completely. I love you, but why??? and why? and why?

I didn't say this to her. I was thinking it, while my head nearly ripped apart.

I wanted Adam to say this too. I want to feel ok for these feelings. But Parenthood is a tv show, and I am living with it for real. And my daughter will always struggle.

Then the baby poured milk all over the table and all over the floor and all over the bench. And I went from angry, to pissed.

It was not a fun morning.

and then I calmed down. I know baby is sick and she is crabby and 2 year olds left will indeed find a bowl of milk, that Kelsey did not put away, and will spill it everywhere for fun. Of course they will.

The rest of the day got better. It always does.

I made these a few years ago. They were my second and third published pages. I love them as they really reflect the mothering struggles and joys I felt, all within a 24 hour period. I wish I had time to make some pieces now. I know it would help. But I don't have the luxury of time, and that also, makes me very angry.

A tiny project, con't

2011-04-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

I worked a little more, and I mean very little, on this book about Kels this week. My mom was in town, and we were busy buying her a house! ...and we went shopping and on dates too!

I posted a little about this book a couple weeks back. It is really my therapy about my Kelsey, and her struggles. I am so happy with how it is turning out. And when I think about her, and her hardships, and the energy it takes at times, I always come down to the simple truth that she is my girl, and I think she is perfect.

These are a bit dark, I know. I am not in editing mode today, and the skies are gloomy. There are black pom poms on the top! Down below is a work in progress pic!

Decided on no buttons. Not really Kelsey.

This mini book is simply paper. Most of it is doubled up and sewn together. I love the colors and crazy mess which really is Kelsey. The text is the story My Many Colored Days, by Dr. Seuss.

Some days are yellow.

Some are blue.

On different days I'm different too.

You'd be surprised how many ways

I change on Different Colored Days.

On Bright Red Days

how good it feels

to be a horse

and KICK my heels!

On other days I'm other things.

On Bright Blue Days

I flap my wings.

Some days, of course,

feel sort of Brown.

Then I feel slow

and low,

low

down.

Then comes a Yellow Day.

And, WHEEEEEEEEEE

I am a busy buzzy bee.

Gray Day...Everything is gray.

I watch. But nothing moved today.

Then all of a sudden

I'm a circus seal!

On my Orange Days

that's how I feel.

Green Days. Deep deep in the sea.

Cool and quiet fish. That's me.

On purple Days

I'm sad.

I groan.

I drag my tail.

I walk alone.

But when my days are Happy Pink

it's great to jump

and just not think.

Then comes my Black Days.

MAD.

And loud.

I howl.

I growl at every cloud.

Then comes a Mixed-Up Day.

and WHAM!

I don't know

who

or what

I am!

But it all turns out all right,

you see.

And I go back

to being...

ME!

Spring pleasures.

2011-04-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

and so many thanks to Audrey at The Daily Wyatt for picking my first foto here for her top 5.