Even with "Good Intentions".....

I've managed to get side-tracked. I still need to hook up the printer in the house and the scanner in the studio. I'd love to get some artwork uploaded!

Another whirlwind week....but things are getting accomplished. Don & I managed to get the watergarden clean out and Shawn fixed the cord to the fountain and pump for me. With any luck this year, Don will remember to unplug it before mowing, LOL! At least until we can purchase the electrical conduit and run it underground. I noticed yesterday that I'm loosing water so I'll be patching it one day this week --- if we get some "dry" weather.

Deb and Jackie came over last night to play in the studio. Deb brought a friend, Tina, who is just learning scrapbooking. Tina's definately a natural and took right off to it! We all seemed to have a great time ---- Jackie cut out some envies from one of my templates; Deb worked on some SB pages then created a new envelope book structure to work in; while I made some more ATC's and created yet another whimsical writing page with instructions for the Journal RR.

This coming week's agenda: hook up printer and scanner --- will have to watch for weather and plan accordingly as the storms moving through have been strong at times and I'd hate to loose electricity during the process; get Flat Stanley finished and mailed; mail some RAK ATC's out and a "Pack Your Bags!" ATC Swap, and finish a collage for the Journal RR and get that postal. I may yet make it out to studio today to finish up some of this. Happy arting!!!!!

A Day in May....

Trying to make it out into the studio everyday in May is turning into quite a challenge! I've made it several times, but not every one. I discovered I'm simply too busy!!! Last Friday, I worked on Mel's Flat Stanley book. Decided I didn't like the look of the bright colors I'd previously completed, so I removed the items and started all over again on 8.5x11 pages which I'm planning to add to a 3 ring binder with page protectors to get this finished and sent off. I worked on 14 pages which I absolutely love! My new goal is to work on an Art Journal, get it sent off and then finish the Melanie's Flat Stanley book. I believe I'm simply going to extend the "Day in May" concept into June, LOL!

During the week I worked around the house and in the studio. Packed up for a 39 hour NSD crop that was held Friday at 9 a.m. and ran through Saturday at 12 midnight. I cropped 34 hrs. out of the 39!!!! came home at 5 a.m. Friday morning for 4.5 hrs. sleep and returned around 11 a.m. on Saturday. I managed to complete an ATC swap which I haven't signed up for yet; more ATC created for RAK's; took an Envelope Book class in which we constructed the book from an Accu-Cut template, then assembled, and were left to decorate on our own for a bit before returning to yet another class on the embellishments. {which Chris, Jackie, Deb, and I didn't do as we worked on our books in our own altered style!} A lot to the other participants flipped over our books once completed; each filled with eye candy, very unique and personal! I'll need to scan and upload mine........ once I manage to hook the scanner back up to the computer in the studio ---- I've still haven't managed to find the time to get that done. Another item to add to my ever-growing and changing "To Do List", LOL!


The weekend was one of the funnest times I've had in a long, long time. I discovered I really enjoy getting out and going some where different, mingling with like-minded artists, and the "Fabulous 4" {Deb, Jackie, Chris, and I} simply do not get together often enough.... we're going to have to rectify that! :)

Today's Agenda.........

Wow! Where did the week go? I cannot believe it is Thursday already.......... the good news is I've managed to accomplish quite a bit that I set out to do. The Art Journal RR is mailed; Christy's Whimsical Writing Pages are created and ready to be packaged up; all the ATC's I created and RAK'd are sent; Melanie's pictures of Flat Stanley are developed; an additional ATC Swap is mailed and I should be receiving one.

Yesterday, Don & I went to Target where I purchased another printer! It is the same one I have currently and have yet to find the lost USB cable for. I knew my black ink was getting low and after pricing it and a USB cable {along with the chance it might not work}, it turned out to be a bargain just to purchase an entirely new printer! Today's agenda is to hook up the USB cable, replace the black ink cartridge, and get a few things printed off that I'll be needing later as the journal RR continues.

I sorted through one box from the living room remodel and created two boxes from it! Sheesh.... anyways one goes out to the studio to be sorted through once again and put away.
My studio is in a state of disarray! Inks, supplies, and paper everywhere. I'm hopeful to get it straightened up once again. At least in a workable state. I'm really missing my scanner; so I'll be looking for the software to install in the computer in the studio so I can upload some new art soon.

This evening, Patti, Heaven, and I will be going to the Moose for family night: Pizza and Karoke!!! It will be great to have a distraction and get some R&R in. I'm hopeful to get the studio cleaned, more organizing done, scanner hooked up to the computer in the studio and begin figuring out what I need to be packing up for National Scrapbook Day crop on May 7th and 8th. Sounds like next week will be fffflllllyyyyying....... by too.

What a day yesterday was! A little too much excitement for me....... Don & I decided to go out of town for a steak dinner late in the afternoon. It was still snowing lightly as we headed out, the roads were wet but not frozen, as we hit St. Rt. 23 heading towards Columbus. As soon as we passed the St. Rt. 95 exit, our hood on the Jeep flew up! and came back at us hitting the windshield. Luckily, the hood hinges didn't break or the windshield and we managed to get off the road safely. After making sure the hood was once again secured we turned around and come home; exchanging vehicles. I was so shook up that I lost all desire to go out of town, so to Bob Evans we went.

Today, Don took the Jeep into Jerry, who fixed the hood and will be removing a hood latch from another Jeep he has for parts. It seems the latch simply rusted. Thankfully, we are both safe.

I'm working on cleaning the house up from the weekend; I got a little lazy, LOL! Spent the day Saturday in the studio and Sunday lounging around. I offered 9 ATC's for RAK in an online group so I'm checking in off and on in between cleaning as I'll be going to the P.O. later this afternoon. I'm hoping to sort some of the boxes, purging, finding homes for keepables, and moving some things out to the studio to get put away later this week. Looks like my workout will be waiting until early evening but I'm still doing it!

Ready for Monday........

What a week! this past week has been. Although, I managed to get a lot accomplished, there is always more to do. I'm hopeful after attacking the house today that I can get some of the boxes of things I've packed up gone through. Some contain art supplies that need a home in the studio, while others are odds and ends from the living room remodeling. I cannot stand boxes of stuff!!! So, it will be a week of sorting, purging, and organizing the "keepables"; hopefully, fixing the shelf in my studio that has fallen.

I had a wonderful time in the studio this weekend. Friday night, Deb, Jackie, Christine and I got together and created and played. I don't believe I've laughed so hard in a long time, as Chris and I got a little spunky making some *risque* ATC's ---- probably best kept for a "private collection", ROFLOL! I also "fried" my heat embossing tool! Not paying attention to what I was doing, I set it down, while on, right on the barrel. Thinking, "okay, it is just a safety feature, it will come on after it cools", I set it aside. A half hour or so later, I checked and "yep, I killed it!" I guess that is as good as excuse as any to go shopping! LOL!

Yesterday, I recreated 9 ATC's for a "Winged Things" swap. There was nothing wrong with first batch I created earlier this week, I just discovered another design idea I liked better. So, I offered the 9 previous ones for RAK's in a group I've been a member of for a year or so.

I also discovered, I've a major problem.... A squirrel has decided to make a new home in the wall of my studio! It liked to have scared the be-jesus out of me yesterday when I first heard it chattering, then, scurring up the outside wall. So a search for where it got in will be underway along with a trap set to catch and relocate it; hopefully, it won't return.... Don thinks we can capture it. Lord, I hope so....

Tying up those loose ends.......

What a week! I've been so busy that even my head is spinning. Our living room is finally painted. Furniture where I want it and things are really coming together. I managed to get the computer in the amoire as well, although I've some mixed feelings of how well I like it. It is great when closed, all the components being out of sight; it is adjusting to using it that is so different. However, I believe it will grow on me. I ran into two problems.... one my scanner doesn't fit so I think I'm going to hook the scanner up to the computer in the studio since it is mostly used to upload artwork anyways; and two, somewhere along the way, I misplaced my power cord to my printer... urgh. I'm sure I'll find it, and if not maybe a new printer is what I need! Sometimes it is cheaper to buy an entire new printer than it is ink refills, LOL! So we'll see.

Anyways, I managed to get the rest of the house cleaned yesterday. Found a little time to simply lay on the couch and relax. I did bring in a bit of supplies to create 10 new ATC's, packaged up a swap to be mailed today.

Deb, Jackie, and Chris are supposed to come over and hang out in the studio tonight; hopefully the thunderstorms we're supposed to get won't interfere with that. It is going to be a wait and see type thing.... I believe I'll create more ATC's tonight so that I'll quite a stash to last me a little while. I received some wonderful ATC's in a return swap this week, one had me laughing so hard I almost cried. I love humorous ones... the theme was "Going Postal" and the ATC contained a glassine envy with a "Dear John" letter. I loved it!

I'm planning to post some artwork soon... so stay tuned.

A good quote!

I receive an email that sometimes contains some great quotes. I really like this one and the concept behind it because it reminded me of starting and growing as an artist.

There is no need for comparison
"Nothing is good or bad but by comparison."
-- Thomas Fuller

We are each unique, so comparing ourselves to others serves no purpose. Even comparing myself to how I was a while back is not usually helpful. Typically, comparison just brings the ego a false sense of either superiority or inferiority. If we let go of comparison and choose instead to completely accept where we are, we can enjoy both peace and growth.

I believe as we grow artistically there is alway a need to compare the artwork that we create to other artists who are creating in a similar style. I feel we are often our own worse critics of the art we create. This quote is great for it reminds me not to compare myself to others or my artwork to their artwork. Resisting that urge and desire truly allows us to grow and we learn to love the art that we create. There is no need to feel under-appreciate or overlooked. My artwork can simply be and extention of me capturing my thoughts and feelings in a moment in time; without rhyme or reason. I feel by simply accepting it for what it is, I can grow more creatively as an artist, explore freely, and develop a style that is unique only to me.

Maybe I should print this out and hang it on my chalkboard within the studio for a while. What a great affirmation! and a gentle reminder to be good to yourself.