Artistic license

One thing I love about art is that it’s so individual. I can create whatever I want…as long as my skill and ability allows. Blue green poppies are a thing, right? Well they are in my minds eye.

Artistic license blue green poppies

This was a canvas that Mini-me had played around on and no longer wanted. Gesso to the rescue. Artistic license blue green poppies

I almost think I like painting on a canvas for the second…third…whatever time better than the first go round. The added texture pleases me. Or perhaps its all psychological. The thought being: It’s no longer a blank canvas…the mistakes have already been made and now I’m saving it.

Artistic license blue green poppies

This was what I would call a speed painting. I did this in about 5 minutes. I didn’t overthink it, mess around with it, retouch or take myself too seriously. I just let it flow. WHY don’t I just do that very same thing all the time. Not put pressure on myself to perform in a certain way. Just create from my gut and not worry or be concerned about the result.

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Looks familiar

There is a new theme over at Art Journal Journey…Back to School. Well that certainly is a timely theme since mine have been back for a week now.  On typical years the kids don’t go back until after Labor Day but ours went back early to make up for the week they’ll have off at the end of September.

Looks familiar AJJ: Back to School theme

Of course school as we knew it is gone. No black boards…they have been replaced by first white boards then smart boards.

Looks familiar AJJ: Back to School theme

And remember these…you’d look up the book you wanted in a card catalog then check it out by writing your name on the library card which would be stamped with the due date. That system has been dead a very long time. Bar codes and scanners with emails to remind you of due dates is the way of today.

Looks familiar AJJ: Back to School theme

This page is a tribute to school the way we knew it.

Art Journal Journey

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A second look: Dream world

Today I’d like to give a second look to the art piece that I eventually edited to become my blog banner.

I know I’ve said it before about some of my other artwork but this is one of my favorites. I guess I should say that I have lots of favorites. Different mediums, styles, challenges, etc…they all seem to have a stand out for me. A piece that I’m happy to share over and over. Obviously, I’m happy with this one otherwise it wouldn’t have become my banner.

Take a look….eyes

11/9/2009

I love playing in this board book. I’ve been using a Kelly Rae inspired background technique on all the pages. The book has no other theme or direction. Maybe I should call it Random Inspiration. Hey, I like that!

The little girls came from a sewing book. The watering can girl reminded me a Alice in Wonderland. It all came together in my mind after that.

It feels a little trippy to me. All it needs is the caterpillar with his hookah.

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And that boys and girls is how my blog banner came to be. :)

Thanks for taking time out for Second on the 2nd this month hosted by Elizabeth.

Secondlook

I know I’ll be checking out the posts that others have dug up from their archives as well.

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T Tuesday: cats edition

Last week for T stands for Tuesday I had wanted to share a video with you. I am 99% sure it will work but first I want to give you a little back story.

We have a stray cat that keeps coming around. It’s really friendly to a point…such as it rubs itself all over you but if you pet it “improperly to its standards” it will spit at you. I have yet to figure out if its a boy or girl or if it still has front claws. Close inspection is definitely not allowed with this one.

pumpkin

Look at it’s funny tail. It’s curly like a pug dog. So weird and cute at the same time. We’ve taken to calling it Pumpkin for the gender neutral name. We do feed and water Pumpkin when he visits usually once a week. It comes when I call to it so it makes me think that it has a home but for goodness sake…keep it inside then.

Marvin is an inside only cat so these two have only met through the window screen. I think Pumpkin wants to be friends….

[KGVID]http://www.halleshobbies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/catmeeting.mp4[/KGVID]

We’re thinking about building some sort of shelter for it as we are not sure if this cat has a safe and warm place to overwinter. Since Pumpkin is quite feral and possibly belongs to someone we hesitate to bring him in as well as the fact that we know nothing about his health.

We are in search of another kitten though. We’ve visited a few and fell in love more than once. Who can resist a fluffy, playful kitten?!?

I’m battling a sore throat currently…more tea with honey and lemon is in order.

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What are you doing today?

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DIY workstation ironing board

Lately I’ve been feeling the urge to make another quilt. A fun, random scrappy quilt. A real scrap buster quilt.  I have several totes full of fabric. I’d say about 1/3 of it dates pre 1980’s. Of course not old enough to be really cool retro fabric…just that awkward 70’s fabric that really doesn’t mesh well with today’s patterns. However I do believe it will work well in a scrappy quilt because it will be small pieces and hey, its scrappy.

One of my main issues with quilting in my current space is that I don’t have room for both a cutting station and small ironing board. It’s one or the other so usually I set up my tabletop ironing board on the game table and am constantly walking back and forth.

sewing space

Marvin is also an issue. He is not good about obeying the rule of no cats on the table. It’s a constant battle with him. I’m afraid he’s going to either burn himself or knock the iron down and have it burn the carpet. Either way it’s bad.

While browsing around at Goodwill I saw this wooden TV tray for $3.99 and was inspired to create my own ironing board that is perfect height for ironing while remaining seated and folds away when not needed.

DIY workstation ironing board

I knew I needed special batting for this project. I researched a bit then found the product I needed on Amazon.

DIY workstation ironing board

At this point I turned my TV tray upside down onto the batting and traced around. I then cut another piece of batting about 2 inches bigger so it would wrap around the outer edge of the tray. I then cut a piece of vintage tablecloth about 3 inches bigger than the previous batting piece. I just eyeballed all the pieces….you know me, I hate measuring.

DIY workstation ironing board

I used a staple gun to attach it to the underside of the TV tray in the same way you’d upholster a chair seat. You basically alternate stapling from side to side pulling the fabric tight as you go leaving the corners for last. The corners are mitered by folding then stapling. There are lots of tutorials and how-to videos out there for this if you’ve never done it before.

DIY workstation ironing board

After getting the fabric stapled down good and tight I used my scissors to trim away any extra. The underside isn’t really ever going to be seen so I don’t care if it’s perfect.

DIY workstation ironing board

Ta-da! Now I have my new work station ironing board and no excuse not to get to that scrap busting quilt.

DIY workstation ironing board

Or have I just made an upholstered cat stand? What a turkey!!

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T Tuesday: painted poppies edition

I was really hoping to share a video today for T stands for Tuesday but I’m having trouble with it. Perhaps next week. Instead I’m going to share the canvas painting I did yesterday.

IMG_1415

I’m fairly happy with how it turned out. I must admit though after I was interrupted by a phone call I had to take, my painting mojo kind of wavered. I’ll likely do another as this one has already been claimed.

After painting and a cup of green tea….

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I was energized so I got to work cleaning and organizing some spaces that have been on the list for a while. No photos…bummer.

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After following me around for a while Marvin was exhausted and put himself to bed in his kennel. This where I put him when he comes in before the alarm wanting to talk about things. I’m not interested in talking about things before the alarm…at all… I carry him downstairs and stick him in the kennel. He settles right in and is fine with it…and quiet until I actually get up. He may look small in here but keep in mind this is a dog kennel…not the tiny one either. Its the mid-size one.

Today is another action packed Tuesday. It’s the last Tuesday before school starts. Summer is all but over.

What are you doing today?

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Impressionist poppies

Yesterday a recommended video came through a YouTube update email. Normally I ignore those but this one combined with the fact that I actually had the time to watch one made quite the impression…or perhaps that should be impressionist. *wink* Thanks Jane.

I was instantly inspired to give this technique a try. This also gave me an excuse to start another journal. Yeah I know…like I really need another journal. This one is actually a Creative Memories scrapbook album.

album turned journalI decided to get real with myself.  I’m never going to scrapbook. And certainly not in this album. It’s the same as some of those clothes in my closet. I’m never going to wear them so why have them unless they can serve another purpose.

Since Creative Memories albums have a metal edge on each side of the page, I decided to cut a piece of scrapbook paper down to the proper size to fit in between. IMG_1391

I had originally intended that some of the original pattern would show through but evidently I was heavier handed with the paint than expected.

Impressionist Poppies

I created the page in a similar manner to that described in the video. I really like the result. I’m not into recreating others work but I do really appreciate the inspiration and willingness of others to teach and share.

Mini-me saw my practice page and said she’d really like a painting of this in her room.

Impressionist Poppies

I think it would really look great on the grey walls. I’m sure there will be a few more practice attempts before the real deal on canvas.

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