Annette's World

Lace and Paper

2012-02-13T20:06:00.000-06:00

You know my word for the year is EXPLORE. Now that as you know can mean many things but right now it is exploring in the art world. Right now it is kind of like seeking it all and having fun doing it.

Now bookbinding is certainly a trip I do believe. I did not realize there were so many forms of it and so many ideas about them. I did a little mini book in Zinnia's Artful Gathering last year and will hunt the photos of it, and I have just made some squash books. No not the little yellow vegetable you eat, fun though that is what I thought when I first saw the word.   Those are both little treasures, pics a coming.   I file them on the computer and it is almost as bad a a shoebox we use to use to store pictures. They are on the computer and it is truly a hide and seek game looking for them. Oh but I won't tell you about that.

This one is a sewn book with signatures, not the kind you write but sew in. I didn't have any chipboard for the front and back so I just cut up the watercolor backing of that pad. There are no backs anymore on any paper pads in our house.  They are now recycled pretties and they weren't even finished with the job they were doing. I guess they were jumping ahead of their time weren't they?

The only bad thing about this journal it is one  I am working out of now and I am afraid I will mess the front and back up so it now proudly wears a little coat of plastic to protect it.   I do hope it isn't the same as the plastic covered furniture people use to do when they didn't want anyone to mess their living room furniture up.

Here is the front of my first type of journal like this. Just kind of glued and played to my little hearts content.

This is the spine of the journal with ribbon and some pearls and crystals. I do have to admit they are not real though, the pearls and crystals. This was certainly a learning experience and I though hey I can do this and was fun. That is the most important thing I think.

Well that is my exploring today. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. xox

Paint Over Collage

2012-02-11T09:30:00.002-06:00

Paint over- funny how words reminds you of other phrases isn't it? When I typed in paint over I immediately thought of sleep over. Like when our daughters would have friends over, sleep and I do use that word loosely and lots of giggles. I remember one morning and there were girls all over the place some on the floor, on the sofa. I don't remember the occasion but that was OK, we never minded at all. Now I have to be truthful here every once in a while I would mind, not all girls are well mannered and certainly act differently when not at home.

Alright back to the subject, you know I stray a bit don't you? As you might or might not remember I am taking a Life Book class at Willow. This week it was Paint over Collage. You get this face from a magazine, don't you know these pretty little models would get unhappy to know I did that to their faces? Sorry girls I enjoyed your ad but now to recycle it. Then you collage a page and paint over the face and add stamps and stuff.

My painting over the face project always turns into bye bye pretty model face and hello whatever Annette paints you like. I lose the face but then I guess I always make it mine? Now remember we are not suppose to make these gals in correct lengths of arms and legs and bodies, part of the fun of it I do believe.

I forgot to take the picture before I started painting, but trust me she did not look like this and she did not have this hair. I added the vintage image to remind me of where we come from in years past and the cute kitty. The kitty reminds me of Lulu a pretty Tabby we had for 17 years. She was the best cat, would greet all my clients at the door like they had come to visit her. She would just sit at their feet and always would try to get in their photograph.

Here she is all duded up. It is funny how these evolve though. I was going to put a flower, heart or something like that in her hands and lo and behold a book got there. It was totally not planned at all. I added a great saying on my page also. It is so interesting to see what the other students do and how differently we all make our girls

I don't know but I think you can still sign up for the class it is a year long. It makes you push yourself which is a good thing I think. Sometimes we need an inner pushing, not sure if that is a bonafied statement there but bet you get the message.

Once again thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. xox

Surfing

2012-02-10T18:27:00.001-06:00

Hello and bet you think I am surfing on the water. Nope, not I and besides we have no water here to do that. You have to have some big honkin' waves for that. Waves that mean business. There were some in Hawaii we saw years ago, those were waves let me tell you. That is reserved for Piper in Florida. I think on down the line I had posted a painting I did of her preforming her amazing talent.

I was surfing my cookbooks. Always trying new recipes even after 51 years of marriage and started to look for side dishes beside the potato (yum) type. The pasta recipes that Eldon does NOT like at all. The meats they are down pretty pat but the sides or go withs as I call them, I am always on the look out. I pulled out a cookbook I hadn't looked at in a while and found one with pineapple. Eldon's favorite fruit I do believe. Remember I make him Pineapple upside down cakes ? Well I came to a screeching halt on that page and thought TA DA I have to try this. It had pretty simple ingredients so to the kitchen I marched like a good trooper. Of course I had to change a little thing or two but on the whole it is a winner and a repeat performance in our home.

Here you go, I know you can't smell it but it was yummy. I think I will put it in my recipes here on the side bar.

Now tomorrow and Sunday the weather is suppose to be a high of 36 degrees so I can already hear my oven clicking on and saying OK I am ready to bake. I know that is what you do when it is cold. I certainly don't want to disappoint the oven now do I?

I have been doing some art work today and will let you see tomorrow, I don't want to wear your eyes out on here.

So this is what is going on in my world today. Thanks for stopping by. xoxox

Mary Green's February

2012-02-07T17:56:00.000-06:00

I am not a contest entering person. Well I did enter one time, one click for the HG TV Home giveaway. My feelings are if I was meant to win the house one entry is all I need. Mary Green on her site has a monthly contest and you create a page with the images she gives you to play with. You enter and fingers crossed you win.

Now remember I entered on Artfully Musing and actually won one of Laura's beautiful ATC Cards. She also has giveaways one a monty.  It is hanging where I can admire it when I look up from the computer. Did you know we are suppose to look away from the computer after twenty minutes of use ? I bet not a one of us reading this right now do that. I don't.

I have been thinking maybe I need to have a giveaway. What do you think and what should I give away?   Something to think about isn't it?

Alright art readers here is the sheet we were given and then what I did with the images.   You are suppose to use the pieces all or some of each.

I kind of sort of modernized her a little but had fun adding the lace and paper lace and button. The text is on the background and then added some music and some paint to blend it all. I couldn't see her hair well so why not add her some hair ?

There you go this is what was going on in my world today. Mary, found on my side bar had sent a note that the contest entries are due by midnight tomorrow so I thought get on the ball Annette. Just a fun no pressure art page to do. xoxoxo

Close to Home

2012-02-03T17:27:00.000-06:00

Happy February by the way. Whew, where did the month of January go?   Course that means closer to warmer weather for some of us and cooler weather for others. Pretty soon I'll be saying happy March, the month of wind blowing. HA !!!!! It blows all the time here, but that is the saying March winds so we will go with it.

Isn't it funny that sometimes what you look for is close to home? Now this instance I am talking about when Hubby and I went up to Yellowstone a few years ago and did see a few Elks. Wonderful looking animals and just pretty good size I must say and certainly larger than our fur babies that we have living with us.   It was rutting season so we were certain not to get in their way just watch from afar. Not close enough to get any pictures, well if I would have had a super duper long lens, but I didn't so we just enjoyed watching all the animals. IT is so peaceful to watch them in their natural habitat. Now we did get close and I mean close to some giant Buffalo but that is another time.

On the road to the south of us we were tootling along and lo and behold what did we see ? Some Elk !!!   Yes you read correctly Elk. We didn't even have to leave the state of Texas and there they were, a lot of them. The Elk were just grazing and doing what Elks do. Certainly surprised us and there we went off to other parts of the western states to see them.

Now here they are, I don't remember now how many there were but several more than I have here.

I guess this big guy wanted to pose for me. I was not the only one there who came to a screeching halt when we saw them.

I had to show this one, beautiful pose of this wonderful animal but also our landscape around here. It is I would say without a doubt flat as a pancake and the trees are the ones we plant around our home. It doesn't look like the Elk country I had thought they lived in. Now we have some Buffalo and Camels we found just recently living close by. I don't know but I would guess they were shipped in. I don't think they stumbled in here and thought ----Hey this is a great place to be I think I'll stay.

Yum yum hay . I wonder if it tastes like Shred of Wheat cereal. Now don't get me wrong I like the cereal but you wonder what hay tastes like. Or at least I do.

Now here we are fixin to test who is the strongest and lets butt heads a while. No wonder the antlers are broken here and there.

The call of the wild or whatever you call it when they make their noise the bellowing sound they make. It kind of makes chills go thru you.

Now on another subject the Life Book class I am taking besides the Strathmore class. I love these online classes you can do them when you want to do them and can wear your pj's if you want to and the computer doesn't care.

This page is for week whatever and we are making transfers of a photo of us and apply a reversed one. Now we were suppose to, I think , leave it the black and white but I just didn't like myself grayish. I thought I looked like one of the Greys that landed in Roswell. Actually I have about 6 of these under this one, flubs I think you call them. I think this piece of paper weighs a ton. I had to add a little color but did leave some of the grey. The paint is thinly applied and some lace. Everyone's art looked so different and is fun to see them. Any who this is me with my Goddess crown on. I really don't have one but was fun to do.

On Roses on my Table this month we are doing how we are unique and different. I just played and did this one. Really like Dr Seuss saying also and used some fun thingies around with some molding paste also.

There you go what is going on in my world today in February. Thanks for stopping by and see you next time xoxox

It's Green and not even St. Patty's Day

2012-01-28T14:18:00.000-06:00

The end of January is almost and positively here. Sorry January you are usually brown and grey and cold So I try to think of a cheerful color and green was the winner this day. I know when I think of Green it is St Pattie's Day with the luck of the Irish and maybe a little Leprechaun at the end of a rainbow with a pot of gold. But wait that is in March and when the green beer is served. I guess I am getting ahead of myself here.

When I started painting this next background I just saw a tube of green and cobalt blue paint and started playing and paint was a flying. One of my shirts proudly show the battle scars of the paint. All random strokes painted and to the tune of some pretty song and Criminal Minds on the TV. Yes both at the same time and with sometimes our fur babies laying at my feet giving me the stare that dogs give us when they really want a treat and look like they have no friend at all in the world. Funny what I paint to now, pretty music and the TV going full steam ahead. Well now I do mix it up sometimes and watch NCIS also.

I created a wonderful swirly stamp I made with rubber bands, my new best art friend and used my brushes and puncinella ( aka sequin waste) and just played to my hearts content. Then when it was done I thought what in the world am I going to do with this? Well guess who chose to appear ? I call her the Brazilian Mardi Gras girl. Pretty and sassy and lots of personality in her headdress.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO here she is.

Hope you like her and the ribbons of color in her hair. What am I going to do with her? Don't know but she was fun and danced across my page.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. Hugs xoxo

Color in the Sky, Ground and Paper

2012-01-25T12:01:00.001-06:00

Alright I had said ugly things about our sky and weather the other day, I do hope Mother nature didn't mind to much but it was true and the sand in the air left for today. Maybe. That is another wonderful thing about West Texas, our weather changes almost hourly. So I was up day before yesterday as the sun rose. Now that may be front page news because I rarely see these phenomenons. I kid you not. Sometimes I think the world should not have to function til 10 A.M. Now I know a lot of you and hubby are early birds but I can be if I have to but 7:30 a.m. is early enough for this Texas gal. Well once while in my photography business I did get up, got ready and photographed a couple like at 7 A.M. Special duo to us but guess it was love for them also. When I helped hubs at the farm I got up early but not the happiest camper in the world but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Now sometimes we would get up around 4 A.M. and move water lines but that was before our wonderful circle systems came into our life. YEA !!!!!

This is a sunrise out our back door, taken from inside of course. In the summer the tree is just to full to see it from this view. A Tequila sunrise possibly?

Same sunrise just a few steps over. It is funny how quickly sunrises and sunsets change as the clouds move and the earth twirls. All the pretty purples, reds and oranges in them. Lots of color here.

Now also yesterday it was close to sunset, that I see and am up and certainly chipper. Looking out the front window there were literaly hundreds, I kid you not, of Robins. Big, pretty and hungry Robins. We had run the water to settle all the dirt in the grass that had blown in during the dust storm. We stood and watched them flying in the air, filling one of our trees and covering the ground. I suppose after watering it washed something in the little trench between the concrete and the grass. We looked this morning and it is picked clean.

Now after watching them for a while, the movement of our bodies scared a lot of them off but just thought you would like to see some of the brave ones that stayed to dine. It was a grey day yesterday evening but you get the idea.

Their colors were really pretty and they cleaned out the little trench.

One more image of them. You know cameras and the fingers they just don't know when to stop.

One good thing about digital you can see what you photograph right now, but you know there is something to say about film. You compose the image correctly in your viewfinder, send it to the lab to print and get it back and you have a perfect photo. Not spending lots of time in front of the computer. Just my thought on that topic.

Now on to the art part of the blog. Now you know I have taking some FREE classes from Strathmore and Traci Bautista has been teaching it. Well this is the last week for her class sadly to say and just had to share my first Glam Girl. Talk about letting loose and having fun. That I did. Not sure what I am going to do with them but doens't matter at this stage in life does it? Just creative juices flowing and your muse let loose.

I started with one of the backgrounds I had done last week, I didn't care for it so thought what the hey if I mess it up I mess it up. I have painted in with some gesso I had tinted first and then glued some doodles on the background secondly. Just wanted you to see where I was going with this.

Here she is Glam Girl all doodled up. I did get carried away but my muse kept saying go with it girl. So I did.

There you go that is what is going on in my world right now. Thanks for stopping by and see you soon. xoxox

60 Miles an Hour and a Tad of Art

2012-01-22T16:22:00.000-06:00

I know it is winter in a lot of the world but today looks like a good ole West Texas day in the Spring. Spring should be a doozie with no rain and lots of dry red dirt when it blows in here. The sienna sky , sounds like a pretty color but not good for the sinus or can you imagine the messed up hairdos? The flags fly out straight and you acquire leaves in your back yard that are not yours. Little whirlwinds gather at your back door and the assorted leaves just dance around like they are thinking this is so much fun. 60 mile per hour gusts are a tad windy but we I would suppose we get use to them. Or at least tolerate them. Now mind you I didn't say we liked them but we get them all the while.

Here is a quick shot outside our back door. Now you ask why in the world do you live there ? Well we have a lot of good friendly people and that counts for a lot. You will meet no strangers here in West Texas and we don't have big traffic jams either and we can't forget the wide open spaces where you can see the sun set and rise. The song from Roy Rogers of Don't Fence Me In is one that I always think of.

I took these off of the weather channel, it was showing some scenes around town. The visibility is pretty good for a sand storm like this.

A scene on the interstate.

Now just a thought off the top of my head but don't think this little shed was tied down well. Wonder how many times it tumbled?

In my art room where is is calm and nice and cozy I create and play and be so thankful I don't have to be out in the wind. When we are at the beach we don't mind the wind but do you supppose it is the location that makes our mind think like that?

One of the Mandalas that I painted at the beach. On watercolor paper and I used the Neocolor II watersoluble wax pastels. Carran D'Ache ones are small and in a cute little tin. It is the container that counts doesn't it? I used them with a paint brush and water , like wet brush to the end of the crayon method. I think you are really suppose to color the paper and then add the water but it worked that way. It maked the colors deeper my way. I sketched it first then lastly went over with one of my black Pitt Pens.

My fairy I did in the calm of my beach trip. I haven't put wings on her yet but did enjoy the watercolor this way. Is it perfect ? Nope don't think so but that will come with practice practice.

There you go now you know what is going on in my world today. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by. See you soon. xoxoxo

Mad as a Wet Hen

2012-01-19T16:38:00.000-06:00

Do you ever think of WHAT IF? You know what if something didn' happen the way it did would it have panned out a different way? So many thing in life just follow a path. I wonder at times what fate has in store for us and guess life would be dull if we knew ahead of time.

Now what if we hadn't been in San Angleo Texas at this particular time in our life? Here's the little story I had thought of ---we were in our van, when van's were popular. We were always hauling kids of all ages, our daughters and their friends around taking them to Six Flags over Texas, the beach, ball games, in fact when we traded it off for my little wonderful red sports car our nephew said we needed to put the van on blocks and make a shrine out of it. The van held lots of fun memories. One daughter use to take it and a crew of friends to the movies quite often. Anyway we were going thru San Angelo and just outside of the town cars were pulled over and a stock trailer was also pulled over and the back gate was open. We stopped and wondered what was going on? Well, hubby got out to see and then very soon he jumped back into the van and said a bull, a big one, was out and wandering around the highway. Well just a few seconds WHAM the bull head butted us several times. I do believe he was mad as a wet hen. Well if they got mad when they were wet, but a good saying anyway. The bull was really mad and our van looked like the one he would take it out on. The only damage to our van was the outside wheel cover had a nice rounded dent in it. Now the bull? Bet he had a massive headache, if they have headaches that is. They finally rounded him up and got him back into the stock trailer. Even after we drove off he was running at us trying to get us one more time. It was something for us to giggle about and certainly a memory we would not forget. Now what if we hadn't have been there ? Would the bull have head butted some little compact car and really hurt the people inside or tried to take on an 18 wheeler truck and hurt himself? You wonder how things would have turned out differently.

Now another question in my mind is would hubby and I have met if he would have not moved back to Seminole when he was in the 5th grade after living in Portales New Mexico for a year? Would he have gone into the Navy with a couple of friends or been drafted by the Army (beginning of the Viet Nam era)? Would we have been soul mates for 51 years if my Mother would have taken my little brother or one of my other siblings to live with her instead of me? I think somehow or another we would have met, it was fate that we were to meet and be together. Makes your imagination go kind of wild there doens't it? Many stories could have evolved there.

How about if I had entered the contest from artfullymusing earlier or later and not won a prize. I am not a prize winner, yes in life I am I feel, but prizes from contests ? Nope -nada- no.

BUT

look at what I won. It came in the mail today. In a pretty red envelope, I looked at the envelope, you know how you look at an envelope like it is going to say "I know what is inside and you don't" hahahaha. You all have done it I bet. I carefully opened it and here was the wonderful prize. An ATC of some of Laura's beautiful work. I think I have looked at it and touched it til it is worn out and examined it carefully.

So if I hadn't entered when I did I would not have been a proud owner of this New Years Girl. So many thanks Artfully Musing. You made my day.

There you go this is what is going on in my world today. Thank you so much for stopping by and more in a couple of three days. xoxoxoxx

Luck and the Frozen Tundra

2012-01-08T14:38:00.000-06:00

Now what do y'all eat for good luck at the beginning of the year ? I could almost bet, if I was a betting woman and I am, that everyone has some sort of tradition at the first of the year that will bring you good luck or prosperity. I guess our main one is don't take the Christmas tree down before the first of the year, but that isn't food is it? My Mother, being from England always said that. So it is certainly a tradition we observe. Only took it down once before the first of January and will never do that again. EVER. One tradition that we do for luck and prosperity is eat some black-eyed peas on New Years Day. Ugly little things but with ham and a few jalapeno peppers they are tasty. You can also add some cornbread and you are good to go.

I went on wikipedia to find out something about the little peas and of course there were lots of words and paragraphs about them. The main little paragraph I was looking for is that the tradition dated back to the Civil War. Now that is before I was born, believe it or not. It said when the Union troops, especially in the areas targeted by General Sherman, didn't say why they picked on his area though. Anyway the soldiers stripped the countryside of all stored food. At that time the Union soldiers thought the black-eyes peas were food for animals and didn't take or destroy them. Good for us because they aren't bad to eat.

Here is a photo I got from Simple Daily Recipes, just thought I would show you Black-eyed peas. Just in case you were wondering what they looked like and it ever came up in a conversation.

Now one thing I wouldn't do is put them into the frozen tundra if you have any leftovers. Now what in the world is that you ask? Ours is disguised as a freezer. You put "things" in there to save them for a later date, then you go back to the tundra and you look for the "thing". I do believe they hide in there or morph into something else and turn into some dried up looking mummified piece of stuff, something that you carefully wrapped, dated and labeled. You look at the package and think what in the world is this? I am sure no one has done that ever. You know thinking about it there was a movie I went to in the early fifties and they have had a remake of it since, but it was called---- THE THING and was in a giant block of ice. Do you suppose ? Naw surely not.

There you go that is what is going on in my world today or was on my mind anyway. Thanks for stopping by. Catch you later . xoxoxoxox

Explore !!

2012-01-06T14:09:00.001-06:00

Hello and hope all have a great 2012.   Here we are into a new year with hopes and dreams of what will come to us.   I feel in my heart it is a year of change--maybe the on going of the Aquarius age.

My friend Bev had a word for this year--Contentment. She is gracious enough to share it with me as a good friend would do, but I thought you know I want to grow and explore this year also. Trying to catch up with her and several other artsy friends means get with it Annette. So how about grow I thought? Well, have to be careful about the words we pick-grow-now that could mean several things.   Like grow the hips?   Nope not that word. WHEW almost did myself doom for the year.   So I thought how about Explore?   Explore in Art, explore techniques in Art ( guess that is the same thing ) and also explore in traveling. to name a few.   Now a Lewis and Clark or Christopher Columbus I am not, had you fooled there didn't I? We do like to wander and explore when traveling, not so much for the shopping, which we do little and I mean very little of that. Just to discover the country sides of where we go. Simple things like that and being us as we go.  So my word for the year is Explore. There that being settled on with something arty I am exploring.

Strathmore offers free and I did say free online workshops. This year one of the instructors is Traci Bautista. I had never heard of her but she is a good and pretty teacher. Her four week class is Doodles Unleashed : Mixed Media Techniques.   I have watched the videos and thought OK you like to doodle so off I went. Paint, pens and markers just dancing across the page like my Muse was taking over. Layers and layers of paint and marks. Even my tee shirt I was wearing got into the picture of painting, it proudly wears some pink paint.

Here is a section of my first doodle. I didn't have all the supplies but did just use what I had. It was fun and I think you could use sections of the whole piece for other work additions.

One more cross section of the main painting doodle.

It was hard for me not to let loose and do more of my pen line drawings-tangles but tried just to let loose.

The final piece of art or doodle. I can see so many things in it, guess like looking at all the shapes in clouds. A tad colorful but might have gotten that out of my system but kind of doubt that.

There you go, that is what is going on in my world at the moment. More to come and thanks so much for stopping in and seeing what is going on in Annette's World. xoxo

So Long, Farewell and Good Bye

2011-12-28T11:40:00.000-06:00

Here we are at the ending of 2011.   Seems like just yesterday I received an email about making resolutions for 2011. I don't know about you but that seems like a total waste of time to me. I cannot think of one person that makes them and keeps them. So out the door RESOLUTIONS, one more thing I don't have to do or worry about. I never made them anyway.

Just enjoy the moment and go on with your life the best you can and I bet it will certainly be less stress. Well this is not a dyed in the wool promise but hey it can't hurt a thing to think that way. A large part of the time we cannot predict what will happen in life anyway. Now GOALS are a different thing I do believe, write those little critters down, put the piece of paper away. You know a place that you totally forget where you put it and when you find it------TA DA- most of your goals have been accomplished and you didn't have to stress over it.   Be sure and sign it and date it. You don't know how many times I and hubby have done that and then discovered that the goals have been met. We just high five each other and usually make another sheet of goals. Humm I wonder where the last list is?   It will turn up when I am not looking for it, I know. So onward and upward we will all go together for 2012.

Art and things related to it are in my life big time right now and as you know ART does HEAl. I think I have said that before. but it is ok to repeat myself it is my blog and I love doing it for you.

Here is a few Mandalas I have done the last few days.   Some are with watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons and a combo with real watercolors.   You know like in a tube?   I have very few of those but all together is a good combo..

I am not certain if I am finished with them but thought hey my blog buddies might tell me if I am.

This one kind of grew, I have seen paintings with things overlapping but wasn't sure if this is how it is done. Still trying to decide if I want a black background or maybe just a black matt around it. This one was done, yes watching TV. I did with my watercolor crayons and just a tad of water. Something else to do while watching TV. Yea, if not I just go to sleep. That can't be good company for hubby.

This one the colors are a tad different than the others. Grandaughter wants these framed together and may be her birthday present. It's ok I don't think she comes and visits the blog so we won't ruin the surprise.

There you go the Mandalas. It was fun to combine the zentangels and the compass work. I hope you enjoyed it and so looking forward to 2012.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. xoxo

A Christmas Treat for All to View

2011-12-23T12:10:00.000-06:00

Well it is getting close to December 25th. Oh the bright lights and celebrations and wonderful childhood memories all come back to you.   I certainly remember one Christmas, I think and not sure about the location but think we lived in Tacoma Washington at the time and the Department store was so beautifully decorated and the long line to see Santa and everything looked like a fairy land. A night time parade and being with my Daddy and Mother and siblings, the excitement was more that our little hearts could take. This was probably in 1949ish. I was about 4 or 5 as best as you can remember way back then.

Christmas cards are such a delightful part of Christmas , well so many events happen during the season but this is one that gets to be written about today. I do love sending them out and receiving them is a treat. Seeing what the postman brings us in the mail is like getting a present. The e cards are also a treat and we did get a beautiful one or two of those. Such technology for today.   OK a bit of silliness-do you think when the Indians sent smoke signals around the Southwest that they would have ever thought about the Internet sending the e cards? Can you imagine how pretty they would have been floating in the sky? I mean they created some pretty awesome pics in the sides of stones. OK, sorry about that had to stray a tad there.

If you remember I had posted about the White Donuts and how that sharing of them helped me find some long lost Aunts and Uncles and Cousins over in England and Australia .   Well in the mail I received one beautiful card, not that we ever get an ugly one and I think the ones that send them to us know our personality and they all are perfect for us. I save everyone of them and look at them during the year also. I just had to share this card, we have never seen one like this and so beautifully sewn with jewel toned threads and the sine of them. You know how I love bling.

This is from cousin Janet in England and I asked her if it was OK to post this. I just had to share it with you all. So Merry Christmas to all and please enjoy this card.

This is the whole card, I couldn't believe it when we opened it, the sewing skills it took and the hours to create this.

Trying to get a different view so you can see all the stitching done with love. What a talent.

One more view all sewn by hand and on paper.

One more view.

So there you go, my little treat to you all. We are wishing you all a Merry Christmas and my goodness what will 2012 bring to us? I can bet some wonderful experiences. I don't know if I will post again until 2012 but if not have a Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world. xoxoxox

The Princess Package

2011-12-19T22:41:00.000-06:00

It is funny how things are changed or re purposed or morphed into something else. Now I am not talking about the beautiful butterflies that go from a caterpillar into something graceful and light as the wind or how a little black seed turns into a fragrant flower.   It is hard to imagine how all that comes about, at least to me it is. I know it is suppose to in God's plan of life and I certainly believe in the miracles of God. It is still a beauty to behold though.

   I guess how I reuse "things" now is morphing into something beautiful. We use to call it make do but now it is called recycled. So what ever it is I am doing some of it now.   One time sweet grandson called me a trash digger with his winning smile and I just smiled back and said yes I guess that is my new occupation now.   Eldon even puts things by the trash to make sure it is trash or one of my treasures that I must play with. It certainly makes me think of what can I do with this?

Day before yesterday my friend, Alexis, first texted me and asked was I up and home and then called me and she had found a beautiful site on the Internet. On the site of Bluepurpleand scarlett.com she had found something to do with old newspapers. Well I certainly have lots those little critters, they are like rabbits and coat hangers they just multiply like crazy. We recycle them like good little troupers but still have an abundance of them. My package flowers are not exactly like demonstrated and I added some pearls and some lace but certainly was a great inspiration for me.

So wanting to make something pretty for the Princess, I made the package of all packages. It is truly Princess worthy.

I first dyed the paper with food coloring but the color wasn't deep enough on the pink/red so I used some of my old photography dyes and mixed with a little water I was a newspaper dying mad woman.  I was spraying ink and water everywhere. It took longest for the paper to dry. I then tore it up in strips and made "roses", now I use that term loosley because I just kind of rolled and wadded them up and thank goodness for glitter, it hides all sins.

So here you go the Princess Package.

A closeup of some of the newspaper tearing, I guess I liked it because it is just tearing paper and I can do that like a pro.

The "Roses", I think I need to go to you tube and study a bit but certainly enjoyed doing this and with my trusty stapler, I got it done, well and my B6000 glue.

One more view, I used some of burlap for the base of it and pulled out some of the strings for a little interest.

Here you go the finished Princess Package, afterwards I thought should have made it Christmas looking but guess the glitter will have to work double time on this one.

Thanks for stopping in and seeing what is going on in my world today. We even got maybe 1/2 of an inch of rain. Yea rain. xoxoxoxo

It's Foaming !!!!!

2011-12-15T18:31:00.001-06:00

Now in my cooking experience, which started in 1961 with NO experience what so ever- nada. I would read my cookbook like a school history book from cover to cover. I have only had one cooking experience that made me panic. The cooking of gravy ? Nope, not even when I tried making it for the first time and used like 1 cup of flour in 1 tablespoon of cooking grease. Grease back then it was called. Talk about a glob of mess and I mean a glob. Looked something like the Blob, if you ever saw that old horror movie. I didn't even panic when I tried frying Eldon an egg and it turned out like some horribly deformed alien.

Now what do you wonder could make Annette panic ? I mean I love horror movies and not one of those treasures made me panic or think anything other than great movie.

It was cooking Peanut Brittle. Yes, a sweet sugary concoction of Peanut Brittle. I followed the recipe Eldon's mother gave me, which was given to her from my brother -in- laws mother. I was feeling pretty cocky, thinking man this is so easy. Well when I put baking soda in the pan I was not prepared for what happened. It made the golden brown sweetness turn white and foamed and foamed some more even to the top of the large pan I cooked it in. I thought what have I done? Have I totally ruined my sugar and corn syrup ? Well, after collecting myself together ( I was probably 18 at this time) I poured it into the buttered cookie sheet and immediately called Eldon's mother. She just laughed and laughed and said yes it is suppose to do that and it was not ruined. The soda just helps make it crunch and I cooked it correct so will not be gummy. Whew that was a relief.

Now here is what the brittle looks like when cooking to the correct temperature of golden brown. You will notice that I use pecans instead of peanuts. Seems after growing peanuts for so many years and eating the goobers Mr. Eldon is allergic to the peanuts. Not like he is to onions to the point of throat closing up but close. So pecans to the rescue. I did not take a picture with the foaming of it, goes to fast and sorry it was either good brittle or a picture for you.

Here it is, so good and crunchy and no calories at all, at least in the picture.

Now it was snowing that day so candy or some kind of cooking is what I like to do on those days or make bread. I felt sorry for the fur babies and let them in. They look like they are planing something here and I caught them red handed, but no they are actually on point waiting for me to drop something so it can be swept up with the lick of a tongue and a wag of the tail.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world. xoxoxo

10 Seconds on the Lips and 10 Years on the Hips

2011-12-12T16:42:00.000-06:00

I just love that saying. 10 seconds on the lips and 10 years on the hips. I believe my friend Jane from Italy said that one. I actually know who one of the "they" are.   A very talented artist also I might add. It doesn't seem fair that things that are good are either fattening and or not good for you.   Now they have all the good food groups but guess the way they are put together is what makes it bad for you.   Kind of like Chocolate cake, eggs and milk are certainly good for you but when thrown into a CAKE, it seems like it turns on you.

OK enough of the rationalization of goodies.   Here is another one that I am not crazy about making and are a time consumer but oh my they are good. Yes you can buy them ready made but just not the same I am thinking.

Now candy making and baking is definitely an art, just like cooking and the kind of art that gets the fingers messy with paint and glue.   I love love love to do candy creating and baking but there comes a time, sadly that your body just can't handle a lot of it. So just enjoy looking at it and no calories will fly off the screen and hook itself to you. I do firmly believe though that when you lose weight the same little innocent pounds just hover around you like a little cloud and if you let your guard down-poof it attaches itself back on you. I am not a scientist but do think in my heart that is what happens.

So what is on the agenda for today you ask? Millionaires. A good little combination of pecans, chocolate and carmels. Now that is Eldon's job to unwrap the carmels. I don't count how many is in the package so not sure if some sneak into his mouth while doing that job for me.

The shine on them is the combination of melted chocolate chips, shortening and paraffin. Yes paraffin the kind you can melt and put on top of homemade jelly to seal it. Don't put to much of the parrafin in the melting bowl and it will bind the chocolate perfectly.

I just had to share what the inside looks like. See no calories at all. Sorry Santa had to tell a little story there.

There you go, when it is cold or ugly outside I like to cook and this is my tidbit for today.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today . xoxoxox

Who Names These Anyway?

2011-12-11T10:59:00.001-06:00

You know it is funny the names "things" come up with. You wonder who names them and how do they come up with the names?   There is a poem or saying that says a Rose by any other name would still be a Rose. Now I could get carried away with this, but for the sake of Christmas I will not.   Maybe.

I am on a cooking roll, that time of year where you hips say no and you mouth say YES !!!! I do hope you don't get tired of looking at some of them.

These treasures are called New Zealand Holly Cookies, so that made me wonder do they really eat these in New Zealand? Are they a tradition and Santa won't come see you if you don't make them?    It takes a while to make them, so I only make at Christmas and only if I have time and not mess around with anything else that day.   You make a sugar cookie kind of concoction and gotta have tops and bottoms, then jam between the layers , then frost and top with Red Hots and then the fun part ----- paint the holly with a little brush.   Oh I know it is a job and doesn't make many but they are good. The crunchy cookies soften to wonderful goodness with the jam in the middle. Well you are suppose to use raspberry jam but Eldon likes strawberry and I had a little of that and a lot of Apricot jam so a combo of all. No not all flavors on one cookie but each 1/2 teaspoon of jam on each cookie.

So I had to show them to you they are so pretty. I put them on a plate I had china painted years and I mean years ago.   I had hoped to do a whole set but by the time I finished 12 plates I thought hooey with that.

There they are, now it makes more that this but I didn't want you to have Holly overload.

Now if you want the recipe just tell me and I will post here somewhere.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what going on in Annette's World today. xoxox

Christmas Angel with Texas Hair

2011-12-10T14:28:00.000-06:00

Well Ho Ho Ho to y'all. You know Texas Hair is big or so they say, whoever they are. The big and poofy hairdos? Now I am not saying we all have hair like that nor do we carry six shooters and ride horses everywhere. I guess we could if we wanted but our personal steel stallion has about 405 or 406 horse power, Now if you think about it you would get a big chuckle of us, I guess like the chariots, riding a metal thingie with 406 horses my goodness that would stir up a tad of dust.

I took a class off of Christy Tomlinson named She Art 2. Now a sweet friend, gone to heaven now, had told me about this class so when part two came up I figured that was a sign to take it. A lot of the techniques is what Zinnia on Roses on My Table taught us so it was like old home week for me. OK enough babbling and wandering. So where is she you ask? She a comin I promise. I also took some close ups so you could see all the textures in it. In the Artful Gathering that Zinnia taught a class in and ramrodded she taught us about lace and textures so I think these gals are all so talented and just share all they know to us.

Canvas was suppose to be the base of this but I didn't have one so some hard board was the next best thing. Use what ya got. Right? So here in the next few pics are some close ups with the textures, glitters and just stuff.

There you go, now that is some texture isn't it? I cut up, gasp, some old Christmas cards and just used pieces of them for the skirt. I believe Christy said her husband thought of that. This is just a fun thing to do and certainly won't shake the world but thought you might like a bit of whimsy for today.

Thanks for popping in to see what was going on in my world today. Wait til you see what Zinnia has cooked up for us this time. I will be getting back to my painting soon. A new computer makes things actually flow like it is suppose to. It is not like a battle royal every time you turn it on. Course I can't complain it was over 8 years old.

Thanks again and see you next time xoxox

December for Green Paper

2011-12-06T15:51:00.000-06:00

OK I am on a roll, well sort of. Mary Green has a monthly contest if you will. We take her furnished images and play with them and then post on her blog. It is just a fun thing to do and sometimes my muse works overtime and other times it is there and makes me do it myself. I personally think Muses are little fairies that just play with you.

So we were furnished a little calling card with a hand and roses, a black and white Victorian lady and a world map. This is my rendition of it. I also used a stencil with words and keys, printed up the card a couple of times for the hat and bottom of the bodice and some fun feathers I have been anxious to use. I wanted to play on the idea that she was a traveler or a dreamer of traveling and I think they gussied up.

Where is this smashing lady you ask? Ready for a grand entrance?

Taa Daa here she is.

I just had to add some color to the little thing and make her some hair. I don't have a clue how they could wear those giant hats but they were tough.

That is what is going on in my world today. Thanks for stopping by. xoxo

A New Tradition?

2011-12-05T12:36:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, when life changes things, you might have to cultivate the old traditions and then make new traditions. Our precious Granddaughter suggested this to be a new tradition. Even after walking a ways to our car.
After the Amityville Thanksgiving 2010 we thought we needed a treat, so a treat we did do.

Now I know some about football and especially when Grandson played in high school and before that. To me they wear colorful costumes and just run about chasing the ball and listen to lots of crowd noise.
Never in a thousand years did imagine this treat would be such a production. Not one second was dull, not one. I thought hey Annette, you can do this again with Hubby, wonderful grands and 100,000 other people. At least I didn't have to cook for them. Just think of all the dishes.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo a picture is worth a thousand words so here goes. Now I didn't take tons of them but I think you will get the idea of the production and grandure of it all.

Here you go the surprise. it was certainly an awesome stadium and I think this TV screen may even be bigger than our TV at home.

Here are the loves of my life. I just had to get up high enough so you can see the whole shooting match. We were in nose bleed section but the view was spectacular. Now Allex is holding her new Dallas Cowboy T-Shirt almost ready to be a good fan with it on.

Close up of my favorite people.

the opening ceremonies are just as spectacular as the stadium. Makes you proud to see our flag and the service men holding it.

Now this is an entrance. I can't remember but don't think they did this when we got to the stadium.

You could watch the field and then see close ups of coaches, players and the Cheerleaders of course. Oh the game also. That is why we came isn't it? Whew almost forgo there for a second.

The half time show, now what can I say that would top all that we have seen this day. It was presented by The Salvation Army. We saw people rolling out all these metal things and thought what are they doing? Well in about 7 minutes they put this stage together. I kid you not. When they announced who the concert artist was Allex and I looked at each other and grined real big and said OHHHHHHH. Well Eldon and Addison weren't near as impressed as we were. But they probably enjoyed the Cheerleaders more that we did so was a good trade off.

Here it is the 7 minute stage, had fire and all coming out. They let the fans in and the ran to the stage. Had we have known what to do ahead of time Allex could have been down there. Hopefully next year we can get her there, wonder who they will have next year?

Just had to do a close up of him. Oh and he can sing also

There you go, just had to share with you. Some people call this Jerry's Place or World but I think it is still a woderful place for the Dallas Cowboys. Oh did I mention they won at the very last 3 seconds? I won't mention the game of December 11th.

Thanks for coming by and seeing what is going on in my world today. xoxoxox

Birds of a Feather at the Water Cooler or Stop and Smell the Roses

2011-12-04T15:23:00.025-06:00

There are little sayings in the world which I know everyone has their favorites. There is one about birds of a feather flock together. Now I could almost guess that one is semi correct, I am known for not getting the sayings right. BUT, I think this one is close enough. Now you wonder what the little things visit about at a water cooler, or you may not have thought about it at all. Maybe some idle chatter or wondering where they are going to fly when it really get cold. You never know what the little feathered friends are chattering about. Sometimes they are pretty noisy about it.

We have a little fountain at our back patio in a close area where we can view it all year. Water trickles thru it most of the time. Not that it is like Niagara Falls but the birds love it. Being as my blog is decorated with little birds for Christmas I just thought I would post them for you.

This little guy was the first to arrive, perhaps he is just looking for his friends and saying come on over it's good water. Of course he had to flutter around and take a bath in it also.

Yea his friend came to visit, looks like a female came over to get a drink. For some reason only two or three come at a time. The others just waited their turn on the edge of the patio chair. Really couldn't take their pics because if we moved ever so slightly off they would fly.

We just had to keep taking pictures of them they were so cute. We haven't seen them lately I suppose they got to cold and off they flew. It is good to stop and smell the Roses and enjoy some free things in life.

This sweet little fairy has been part of our life for many years. She just sits patiently waiting for the seasons to change. Love her little face.

This is what the pretty Oak trees in our front yard looked this year. They certainly out did themselves.

There you go what is going on in my world today. I have a fun trip to share in a few days but didn't want to wear your eyes out. Now off to go and do something else. Thanks so much for stopping by and hugs to all. xoxoxo

Geometry ? Who would have thought ?

2011-11-19T21:16:00.001-06:00

In High School Geometry I remember doing some wonderful designs with the compass. Now truthfully I don't remember another thing about geometry except the designs. If you would have told me that I was making Mandalas I would have said what ? No way. I wouldn't even have know what one was then. To me it was making pretty designs and not having to mess with numbers and formulas.

I am taking a FREE class over at Willowing and friends. The class is led by Guadalupe Brizuela Cabal, a very talented lady and artist. She is offering the class on Mandalas and teaching it so well. She furnished a template for week one but me not reading instructions very well just made my own on watercolor paper. I first used, probably an antique compass and on my trusty watercolor tablet started creating per her instructions. Such a peaceful art I thought. I then used my watercolor pencils and watercolor crayons and just played and played. I thought it needed some bling so added some tangles to it and it is finished. My first drawn Mandala. Earlier in the blog I had done one with a paper painting, where I painted the paper and then tore it up and made the design. This art way just has a different feeling to it.

Here you go, it just kind of evolved to this. I didn't start out with anything in mind, in fact what I first drew was nothing like what I finished with. funny how that happens, guess our Muse just takes over.

I also have been getting back to sketching. I know all these goodies I have been doing are going to meld together and something will come out of this. I do have to stray a tad here--- melding. Now when I think of that word I think of Spock in Star Trek mind melding with someone. OK, just a short subject stray here for me.

I used a mechanical pencil, never really used one before but now it is my most favorite pencil. It has been years since I have sat down to draw faces so still a bit rusty, but of course the fairies had to pop in there.

So there you go my sketching and coloring. Just some peaceful art play. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. xoxo

Don't forget about me !!

2011-11-12T14:41:00.003-06:00

It is funny when I was dressing up my blog for Christmas all the while I was thinking what about Thanksgiving ? I mean there it is kind of sandwiched between Halloween and the cute trick or treaters and Christmas-Jesus birthday, the most important holiday to me.

I can remember on Thanksgiving, I was maybe in the 4th or 5th grade and just moved to a new town and a new school. I usually went to several different schools a year. So I was nervous when our teacher gave us an art project and I was thinking I don't know what they have been doing here.   After I finished my drawing, I can remember it to this day. The drawing, with crayons I might add, was of corn stalks staked up in the cones as you see them in the pictures with a child and dog playing around it. I do not remember if it was from my head or a picture. I can't remember everything can I?

The teacher came over to me and looked at my picture and said come with me. Now you can imagine how I felt, I thought going to the principals office already or even worse kicked out of school and I loved school.   She took me into the scary room-THE TEACHERS LOUNGE !!!!! To my relief she just wanted to show off what I had drawn and then we did go to the principals office but for praise. WHEW !!!!!! I will never forget that the rest of my life. What happened to the picture-- only the picture angel knows that.

Now Thanksgiving always to me is a gathering with no pressures and lots of pies.   I hope you did read about last Thanksgiving's story. It was a story. We do have so much to be thankful for and yes "things happen" but hey that is life and I do believe we just get stronger because of that.   I just can't imagine the Pilgrims and the Indians years ago eating together it could almost be a tough dried turkey but hey it was the togetherness I do believe that mattered.

I went on line and found these little pictures of Thanksgiving at a free vintage site, tried to down load their button but it didn't want to play with me. I will keep trying though.

There you go. I just didn't want to leave Thanksgiving out, I mean hey I might not get any pumpkin pie.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

The Wind and Fairy Dust

2011-11-08T12:20:00.002-06:00

The wind is blowing today, as usual, but I think a cold front is coming in. Time for the jackets and sweaters. You know, the clothes that weigh a lot and not as comfy as our summer clothing. We could call them outfits but don't think guys like their "outfits" to be called that. Funny isn't it what we all call things according to our gender.

When the wind blows all little pollens and dust particles are in the air and you wonder what else is in the air floating around.   I like to think fairy dust is there also spreading their magic and good feelings around.   So that made me think of doing a little painting.

I drew a little fairy, made her hair with tangled line drawings and just had fun with her. I then scanned her in and colored her in the Corel Painter. You use a Wacom tablet, you could draw with it but I just have not mastered fine drawing with it so a pencil and paper will just be good enough. I mean it was good enough for the old masters so should be good enough for a West Texas gal don't you think? Funny story, when I first started painting back in the olden days I always thought if I bought the perfect brush like the teacher had I could just go to town painting like he or she.   Strange what you think at times isn't it? Nope, not the brush, it is what is in your head. When you convince your fingers to cooperate you have it made in the shade with you art, wellllllllll until you try and learn something else that is.

I then added a beautiful image of the roses from Vintage Catnip I do believe and also added some fairy dust from Painter.   Such a sweet little brush. I chose yellow for mine. So here she is. I added the roses in the background and lowered the opacity and then added the same rose in the front. I added some pastel pencils to kind of tie it all together. Just playing and seeing if I could still remember what all I had learned during the years.   I am loving the art journaling, the drawing and painting and most of the time the computer so will see if they can get along together.

Here she is, not sure about it though, still just playing around with the several medias and seeing if they will gel together or not. Be sure and click on her to see her bigger. If you want.

Well thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. xoxoxox

Letters and Contests

2011-11-06T17:30:00.002-06:00

I am not a contest enterer, not sure if that is a word but Mary Green on Green Paper.typepad.com has a monthly contest and I thought hey why not? I think it will push me more to do art journaling and some more mixed media and make my mind keep plugging along. I think any kind of art is good for you and certainly is good for you. Mary furnishes three images and you play to your does heal little hearts content creating whatever you want. Like Zinnia on Roses on My Table does. No rules -just do it. Hope Nike doesn't get me for using that saying.

So here is what I came up with, I used molding paste, wonderful stick on diamonds and ribbon and lace. Now somehow in the scheme of things stick on diamonds just really don't jive together do they? Actually they are stick on somethings but I call them diamonds. So enough of the build up, I know you are sitting on the edges of your seats wanting to see my play for the day.

There you go, she was fun to do and just stretching my wings. I was wondering what the letter said on this. Hope it wasn't a sad letter just something saying I am here and feeling fancy with my new wings. You know a sweet letter.

Funny you know thinking about it, people just donn't really write letters anymore. They email and Facebook but letters are scarce. I am a keeper and even have all the letters my brother sent to me when he was in Vietnam. We use to talk about nothing which I thought was good for him to keep his mind off of what was going on over there.

Ok enough for today, thanks for stopping in and seeing what is going on in my world.

xoxox

Fall and Puffer Fish

2011-11-01T16:15:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to November. You know it seems like yesterday that we were talking about January. They, whoever they are, say that time flys by when you are having fun. My friends we must be having one great big party here.

Now I think you know that Fall is my favorite time of year. Every once in a while our leaves here in West Texas do turn the beautiful goldens and reds that you see. I can't remember if I posted this painting or not but it is pretty enough to do again. I did this from a photo that Karen Bonaker shared with us and it is a digital painting. It is with the Corel Painter program and you do stroke by stroke and don't have to just click a button and the computer paints it for you. Then in turn you can just whip out your traditional paints and add your own touches to it. Now if you haven't tried it please do so it is fun. You can get the little Bamboo tablet for like $99 and then I am thinking it has a little painter type program with it. I paint traditionally also but sometimes it is just pure fun to mess up something and just delete the layer. Then tadaaaaaa you have a clean slate to create. I could use my imagination and say oh this scene is just down the street. Sorry just in my imagination is where this rests and Karen's photograph that is.

This post will be a tad long but pictures will just help it along. It has been a few days since I posted and have to make up for it.

Does this not look inviting? Welcome to our home type setting? Of course we don't know who will rake all those leaves up.

Now this is in Montana one year while we were doing one of our wandering trips. Where you leave your home and not really knowing where you will wind up. The grounds were just beautiful and such a tapestry of colors.

Now talking about imagination. How many times in your life have you seen a grown lady sitting in a chair holding a puffer fish? Now I can imagine a lot of things but never this. On Roses on My Table Zinnia is giving a quick class about banners and the discovery of more mixed media. The messy kind of art, that your fingers are all gummed and gooed. We ordered some digital images from Land Of Nod and instantly they were on my computer to print up.

I gathered my goodies together and this is what I created. I didn't have all the "ingredients" but that is the good thing about mixed media, I don't think it matters.

Here you go, two of the pennants, now don't get to excited these are not real pearls. They are from the bridal department at Hobby Lobby.

On the left is the "momma" with the puffer fish. Can you imagine how it smelled? Pee yew. Does make for a pretty fun image though doesn't it? The little girl with her fairy behind her? Yep she is holding a zebra, this is believable. Children often had their little pet toys they carried.

The end little boy, yes a little boy. You wonder why they dressed little boys like that back then, maybe not enough money for boy clothes and everyone shared the same dress. I put the little boys on the end so they could protect the family.

Here is the "whole nine yards" as I say which means the whole thing, the whole shootin' match. I have it proudly hung up in my art room.

Sorry to be so gabby but just wanted to show you some fall and some fun.

I hope you all have a good day and see you down the line. Thank you for stopping by to see what is going on in my world.

A Treasure Hunting Adventure

2011-10-21T16:17:00.000-05:00

You know sometimes you go on a quest for one thing and then find a hidden treasure ? Well, the other day hubby found in the newspaper a few addresses for Estate sales. I don't know about you but to me they are still garage sales but with higher prices. We ventured out on a Friday and found one that the treasures were higher than a cat's back but then one we went to, we only went to two, had some bottles that we were looking for. The Vintage Art Bottles that I am doing right now ? Giving the untold stories of the bottles new stories and a new life? I was going to check out and what did I see? A lamp, now I had no intention of getting a lamp and for $15? Not that $15 is a giant amount but I didn't need a lamp. Or so I thought.

We came home and I washed the bottles and thought about what new story were they going to get today ? Well, when I woke up the next morning I told hubby I have to go get the lamp. I was thinking ----what a Polly Anna I was. That lamp will be gone and for only $15 some decorator or antique person will just sweep it up. We got ready for the day and off we went to rescue the lamp.

Lo and behold, there it was THE LAMP. It was sitting there with the other lamps that were uglier than sin. I am sure they were thinking we will get purchased today and you won't. You know how lamps are all trying to out do each other. It had even been marked down to $10. My heart was thumping loudly and I even had to push, gently, a lady aside. I did say excuse me though. The lady said it was at least 80 years old and it had been her mother-in-laws lamp. I thought why had no one purchased it ? This was meant to be my lamp.

We have an eclectic decorated home and this will go perfectly in the corner of my part of the bathroom.

I gently dusted it with a soft rag and the carving and beauty just was there begging to be looked at and loved. It was an oil lamp and still had the goodies with it and the owners had converted it to a new fangled electric light. A glass globe was used but I think a shade with some pretties on it is just begging to be joined with it.

The little cherub holding up the globe. His or hers little foot is cracked but some Gorilla glue should fix that.

The base of this $10 beauty. This is brass and heavy and even made in America.

The whole lamp. I do believe it was meant to be ours.

There you go, our little adventure . I do hope you enjoyed it and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world. xoxox

From Sand to Bottle Art

2011-10-06T18:42:00.000-05:00

Here it is already the 6th of October. I believe it is going by to fast and the little trick or treaters will be coming to our door wanting candy. I use to make or bake home made treats for them but with the meanness that there is in the world just the prepackaged goodies will have to do.

Of course the month flying by could be because our wind in blowing like crazy here with gusts up to some hair blowing straight out MPH. Our sand here is reddish in color so it makes for a colorful sky color. Now at times I wonder what in the world is sand good for besides growning great peanuts except to get into your shoes and places we won't mention while at the beach. It does filter into your house so it looks like you never dust just fine little granules. So what else do you think? Yep it makes glass. Now I went on the Internet to see how they do it and you wonder how they did it years and years ago? I am certainly glad I didn't have to think of it.

I have been on a glass bottle hunt for the Bottle Art I have been making. I guess pretty soon it will have to be plastic. I have become a glass bottle hunter at the grocery store also and am surprised how many are plastic and not glass. We might even have to change what we eat for the glass. No plastic for me right now. I can imagine how many of them I have thrown away in the years of my being.

Earlier here I did post a couple or so of the bottles that I created. So here is the lastest group of them I have created last week. You don't know where you are going when you start with them and then your muse just takes over and tada it is done. Now I tried to copy the yellow one like I made Grandaughter and it was hard to copy it. My muse kept saying NO I want to do this and I want to do the yellow one. Needless to say I won that conversation. this time anyway.

So here is the crew of last week. I even used a photograph of Paris that Grandson took last year on one of them, it is the one on the right front with the red do dad on it. I used some of my paintings and drawings and actually whatever I could find. The toppers I got a little creative with, you can't have an empty bottle top. There you go, hope you enjoy seeing what I did last week.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world. See you next time.

Car Talk and Crayons

2011-09-25T12:16:00.001-05:00

Car talk, you know when you are in the car with your hubby going places and you solve the problems of the world ? Well, hubby and I have been married for over 50 years now and for the last five years, he says a thousand years but five years is more like it, we have been "joined at the hip". We have most always traveled together and that is the time when we solve the problems of the world. When I would go off and photograph weddings and proms he was always there for me. I really don't think the world listens to us but we try. Makes for good conversation while traveling in a not to exciting stretch of road. Now when we go to town and buzz around it is not serious problems we solve. Like a mile and one -half from our house is a "pond" of sorts and when it is full of water the migrating Canadian Geese fill that little thing up and right now it is nearly empty and two or three long legged white birds are living and walking around there. Now where will they go when it is totally dry? A sub division we drive past are building two new "doll" houses next to one on the corner and what new business is going in down the street? Those are the town problems we solve and goings on we observe.

Somehow the subject of crayons came up. How you ask? Who only know but hubby said he remembers getting a box of 64 of the beautiful sticks of wax. 64 !!!!! Now that sounds like manna from heaven to me. I remember the biggest box I ever got was a mere 24, it was usually the 8 count ones but I loved all of them. I would get a new box of 8 and color til my hearts content. It would be tragic when I had to peel the paper back to release more of the beautiful colors. Inside the lines I would color, making sure all the strokes followed the contour of whatever I was coloring and outlined each and every picture.

One day we were going to Wally World AKA Wal-Mart for some treasure and hubby said "I'll be right back" well, me being Miss Nosey Nurse I had to go see what he was doing. He had picked up for me 120 count of crayons. Yes your read correctly 120! This just made a tear come into my eye that he bought me crayons.

The Crayola Crayons were packaged in a big box with a box of 24 and two of 48. These are the colors in the 24 package. Color names like tickle me pink and robin's egg blue.

The two boxes of 48 with wonderful different colors. They proudly sit in my art room now at a place of honor on my table.

Now September is coming to an end and the first day of Fall or Autumn was Friday September the 23. So happy Fall to you all.   Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

Can't wait to show you all the bottles I have been decorating but that is for next time.   Don't want to wear your eyes out.   xoxoxox

No Earthquake Today, Frida and the Borg

2011-09-18T13:40:00.003-05:00

No earthquake today for us. It is not to unusual that we have any here in Texas but last week we had a 4.4 one last Sunday. In fact we had three total but two were baby ones about 77 miles from our home. It just shook Eldon's chair and rattled the globes of the chandelier we have in the bedroom. I actually thought Eldon was playing a trick on me. We found out though that our area with Oklahoma and New Mexico have had more than a dozen earthquakes in the past two years. In 1931 we did have a 5.8 shaker and no I wasn't around then. Just a little excitement around here, Mother Nature just clearing her throat. She is giving us a beautiful fall so far and as you know it is my favorite time of year.

I have a sweet friend that surprised me with a pendant. In the mail was a little package, you know good things come in little packages. It was a pendant of Frida Kahlo. I wore it a few times but I try to surround myself in the bathroom while getting ready with things that I enjoy looking at. So I had this sweet little frame and Frida is now hanging in a place of honor along with my photo of Eldon and I with space guns on a Borg spaceship and us with the race cars. Good memories to view for me. On the back, which you can't see is the saying of Art Heals . Love that saying. If you don't know Frida, she is a 20th centruy Mexican artist who was a great artist and a had a strong will. Please google her if you want. There was a movie about her also that was interesting.

Here she is proudly hanging on my wall. The frame I did have to overhaul but it cooperated quite nicely and I thought the butterfly on it went well with Frida.

Eldon and I with the Borg. Just in case you don't know about them, they are nasty things on Star Trek. Their ships are large cube looking contraptions. I have a small one if you ever care to see it. Once a friend who owned a Hallmark store called and said "Annette, the ornament this year is a cube thing and my mother collects the Star Trek ornaments. Would she want one of these" ? I promptly said you bet and save me one while you are at it. I cannot get enough of the sci fi world. I know it doesn't go with some of the frilly things I create but there are different sides of all of us-possibly.

There you go a quick peek at what is going on in my world today. Thanks for stopping by and see you next time. xoxo

From the mid 70's to an Altoid Mint Tin

2011-09-10T13:42:00.000-05:00

The 70's, my that was an interesting era. Don't think I want to go back to it with bell bottom pants and some pretty wild colors. So much going on during that time in our life and certainly the world.   WHEW !!!

Now when you do a short lived, you noticed I said short lived, hobby back then and saved it with all of it's doings I certainly think you need to make a special display out of it. Now what was this hobby you ask? It was TATTING !!!!   You have this special little shuttle, holder of a bobbin with fine thread and spend hours and hours to make 1/2 of an inch of it. Not only was it slow but very hard on your nerves.   I made about 18 inches to one yard of it. Closer to 18 inches though. this has got to be a lost art that our little great grandmothers did and some grandmothers made. You used a tiny crochet hook with these little torture instruments. It is pretty on clothing and hankies but I would have to have naked hankies if I carried one.   Naw, Kleenex is a good thing to have around.   I just hated to give up on it and declaring that a little piece of thread won but it was the winner over me.

Cristina Zinnia Galliher of Roses on my Table is teaching some great techniques on her site and one is Shrines. I didn't have a clue what a shrine was in our art world but if something is calling to have a shrine made of it tatting is.   So after some extensive digging, I hate to throw anything away, I found the pretty doings and the instruments you used.

Meet the Altoid Tin, I did forget to say they are some curiously strong mints made in England and they come in little tins. On the outside of the tin is a little hint of tatting. I slightly altered the look of the tin, warning they do not come decorated like this.

The inside of the little tin. Of course you can see the shuttle, holder of the little round bobbin with some of the tatting spread around both sides of it. So now the tatting and its torture parafanilia have a little resting spot and trust me I will not ever use the shuttle or any of it again. I did think the lace is pretty and now certainly appreciate it. Inside I wrote tatting is patience and it is if you do any of it at all.

I did line the inside of the shuttle section with gimp. If you look very close you can see a section of it. This is gimp. When I went to a local store and said something about gimp the lady looked at me in discust. I don't think she knew what this was called. The goldie gimp and the pretty lace I used in this was from some of my Gilded Girls Stash Society. The treasures you get are to pretty to use but trying to use them, some of them.

There you go this is what is going on in my world for the moment. Well, this is over and onward and upward to another project. I still do believe ART HEALS and it does. Thanks for stopping by. See ya later. xoxox

Hog Heaven

2011-09-03T20:06:00.002-05:00

Hello and welcome to September. I can feel it in the air, well after today when it gets to the 80's. It should be the last of the 100 plus days. The weatherman says it. So that should be gospel in TV land.

I remember when fall came while our daughters were growing up.  Fall meant kids starting back to school and a schedule of sorts. Fall sports of Volleyball and Football and the ending of the baseball series. Of course the grass slowing down in it's growing and less mowing for us and we get to put up our fall decorations of the colors of oranges, reds and yellows.   I may have been the only mother in the world that enjoyed the freedom of the summer and no set schedule, but I bet not.

I have discovered this group called---get this-Gilded Girls Stash Society.   Isn't that a great name for us Stashers ? I need to take pics of the goodies you get once a month. Everyone needs more stash to play with don't we ? So it was to die for and I hope they aren't like some of my other wonderful treasures, to pretty to use but I am going to try. The beautiful laces, that I am a sucker for, and fabric and just findings in general. It is a tad pricey but you know trying to find them on the Internet or even shock upon shock actually going in the automobile and hunting for them in the stores.   I do remember one day our beautiful daughter Debra came to see me one day, she lived in another town and was a second grade teacher. She had this big sack of lace for me. I don't know where she got it but there were yards of it and she wanted me to have it to play with. So of course I had to use it and create. I just found the box that it was stored in and was in hog heaven. Guess it doesn't take much to make me feel like I am in hog heaven.

This month I was sent in a pretty glass vile some beads and findings for making jewelry. I have never in my whole life made jewelry like this. I did use to do beading in the 70's, it was fun and I gave away a bunch of it. No one seemed to mind to receive it. I even made toe rings for our daughters. They had toe rings on when they went bare footed. Pretty cute.

So Annette you say, quit teasing us and let us see what you did.   Well, you asked. It is not perfect as it is the first piece I have created but certainly not the last.  It has the beautiful fall colors that redheads can wear with ease but the rest of us wear it also.

Be sure and remember to double click on the pics and then you can really see them.

A close up of the beautiful vintage glass flower that I put together. I was so excited that I didn't break it.

A side view of the glass tulip and the other pretty crystal bead.

Another view but with some of the pretty greenish beads. There were little chains that I took apart and everything. I felt like I worked at Tiffany's jewelry . Well not really but did feel pretty good about it. I put it together while watching the Texas Rangers play ball.

The completed necklace. Now I didn't design this beauty. Shea did one of the owners of the Gilded Girls, she and her mother. A couple of talented ladies. I feel like jewelry design and making is certainly an art. So many types of art out there isn't there?

There you go my fun little project and what is going on in my world. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

Live in the Moment

2011-08-24T22:09:00.001-05:00

Here I am with another one of those little sayings. LIVE IN THE MOMENT. I am thinking what does this mean to me? Eldon and I agree that it means live for today, not to worry about tomorrow or yesterday. Kind of like the present? The little gift you give yourself. Today is your present. He says I live more in the moment more than he does. I do wonder about if I could have changed anything and I think not, what it is -is what it is. I just try to live day by day, even when I was growing up and a teenager I never really thought, but once, what was I going to be when I grew up. I figured I would do what I was suppose to do. Now you are asking what in the world brought this little subject up to Annette?

Well, remember the Artful Gathering class I am finishing up with? The bottles and textures ? I thought alright lets do a cute bottle for grandaughter, she loved the one I did first, not her colors but the whole concept of it. So I created this bottle , showed it to her and she loves it. I feel like pleasing a busy little 19 year old was like hitting the jackpot at Vegas. To me anyway, probably cost me a lot less dollars also that going to Vegas.

I drag out the paints and all the goodies to create this beautiful bottle, paint, glue and things go to flying like a mad scientist building their whatever they build. I have a wonderful 2 foot by 3 foot matt, they call it a misting matt by Tattered Angels. It is pink, which is a good color almost as good as red or yellow, right up there anyway. It is a silicone matt that our glue doesn't stick to or the paint but remember it is not a cutting board. I keep the newly discovered error at the back of my work table now.

Here you go, the bottle. The sunflower is from a painting I did earlier here on the blog, the jewelry goodies is from a bracelet I cut apart and the little medalion at the bottom is stating to LIVE IN THE MOMENT. Now you know where my saying came from I put other words around on it also. This was fun and Zinnia might have created a monster here, making these pretty little things.

This is the next bottle I created. Lace, ribbons, flowers, charms,metal dragon flies and words. I also added a painting I had done of grandaughter during her Senior year of high school. It was an antique bottle we picked up earlier. The saying on this one is in the garden of life you are the rarest of flowers.

There you go and now you know what I have been up to the last few days. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world. xo

The Three Lighting Effects

2011-08-18T19:23:00.000-05:00

Hello, been out of pocket for a while but I am back. Funny saying isn't it ? Out of Pocket.   Not sure where that saying comes from, we have so many sayings now days. Some of them do mean differently today than they did years ago. OK, enough of reminiscing.

I took an online class, ---it is a wonderful way to take classes I do believe. You can sit in your jammies and be on the computer anytime of the day or night and be in class and not be tardy or have to walk a long way or sit by someone that you don't care to sit by.   I am loving all of these classes that I am taking nowdays. They give you new wrinkles in your brain and keeps it functioning well I do think.

OK, back to the class. It was with Karen Bonaker and a digi painting class about lighting.   The effects it has on a subject. So I took a photograph of the same subject at three different times of the day. Very interesting and was fun doing these little sketches of it. the softness of the lighing, the harhness of day lighting and the coolness of the evening. Well the colors weren't to cool at the evening painting but it sure was while taking the photo.

This painting is in the early morning. Yes early morning. It is not my nature to get up early but for Karen and a class assignment I did it. I really like the lighting on this and how soft the colors were.

Can you tell when this one was taken ? Pretty much in the heat and I mean heat of the day. Like in the 100's, sort of toasty warm. The warmth of the colors were really pretty here and the shawdows of course were stronger and more pronounced in the bright daylight .

This was a night- who would have thought it ? I lit it with just the outside light on the patio. Certainly did change it totally the colors and the mood and just the whole nine yards of the painting. I thought it was an interesting assignment. I did do a painting of a village in Italy our daughter took while she was there and turned it into night and added a little creature that isn't alive any more, I think. Whew, that was a excitement there about the next painting. Enjoy.

OK, my imagination did go a little wild here but it could have looked like this years ago.

There you go, just wanted to share these with you and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

The Wind Does Blow

2011-08-07T11:58:00.001-05:00

The wind does blow here. A healthy blow it is and even to the point that one of the decorations on the walls of the freeway is a beautiful statue thingie of the Blowing Wind. I forget what he is called but you know the man blowing the wind. Some people objected because it might be Pagan. In fact they had to put a new statue up and higher up on the wall someone destroyed the last one. Pagan? I don't think so. Give me a break it is Mr. Wind. Now we are talking 20-60 miles per hour here, not a gentle breeze. Some days more and very very few days less plus 100 degrees of nice warmth. But that is West Texas and we have great people here so we just have grown to take it and go on about our business.

I know you are asking what kind of flowers grow here? I did forget to add that our water, we have a well, is a tad salty here also. If the wonderful cool and most needed H2O hits the leaves you might as well say grace over whatever it hits. BUT-- Eldon has devised a watering system for our patio plants where they get plenty of water and none of it hits the leaves or blooms and the plants and the water go hand in hand. The plants bloom their little hearts out.

Here are some of the tough guy. Forgive me but there are several of them here.

The Geranium always a good heat soldier. Tough guys but no water on the leaves please.

Our little oasis here, the Bougainvillea love the heat and we keep these in the fur babies tropical hideaway in the winter. In the background you can see some new Desert Willows we planted, but that is another story.

Close up of the Bougainvilleas, they come in all colors to white and peachy orange and purple.

Another view of the tough warriors.

Crepe Myrtles, oh what beautiful plants. From bushes to tall guys. Now they also come in several colors and we planted a giant one in the backyard this year. Had to get one tall enough so the water won't hit the leaves. I tell you it will kill them dead.

The Gerber Daisey. Such happy little things and wonderful bright colors they come it. I love them but they do die out in the winter. A good little Annual for us here.

Roses love the heat here but not the water on the leaves. This is a climber where it doesn't get hit by the sprinklers so it just laughs at them, the sprinklers, and says ha ha I am safe from you.

The day lilies, we have several colors of them and such cheerful and blooming plants. They named them perfectly thought. The flower only lasts for one day, but they do bloom well.

There are some of our beautiful flowers that we have that can with stand the sun here. Now I use to have beautiful plants like fox gloves and bleeding hearts but that was at a shadier home. What you say? Nothing for the humming birds? Yes we do but that is another post. I don't want to wear your eyes out. We had a shade garden but even the 3 hours of sun it got was to much for the delicate plants. We will try again next year and see what happens.

Thanks so much for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

Summer, Art and the Internet

2011-08-02T22:19:00.002-05:00

August is here and to me that means Fall, my favorite season is nearly here. When all the flowers are still pretty and the grass is green, well not this year with the terrible dry spell for here but usually it is green.   Some how the Internet reminds me of the season changes.  It has lots of changes here and there  and so many beautiful things going on with it, well in my part of the cyber world at least.

I have discovered new friends, lots of art of all kinds out there and now getting to know some of my family across the pond.    Only thru the Internet would this have happened. It just makes so many things happen in your world.

With the help of Ancestery.com we have discovered new family members that we have been looking for a long time. It is just so exciting to find out who they are and what they are doing and to know you have kin across the waters that have been lost to you. I know this will be good for the heart as well.

I am also taking online art classes, stretching my mind and keeping my art muse on the ball and maybe panting along the way. She is probably saying "OK Annette, enough is enough, slow down some". She doesn't know that I have a lot of catching up to do in the art world.   I guess like the busy little ants gathering their food for the winter, I am gathering up all the knowledge I can.

I am taking a class from Zinnia on the Artful Gathering. What a collection of talented artists, sharing their knowledge with different classes of all kinds to interest so many different people.   It is winding down now but bet next year will be just as good. Zinnia also has the Roses on My Table site and so much to share there also.   She is teaching textures right now on the Artful Gathering. Well textures I am learning.

Be sure and double click on the images to see all the texture.

Now this little bottle has a story, we needed a bottle to make pretty with textures and whatever you could think of. I loved doing this project all the way from the photo on it to the tippy top of the bottle with the bead. My friend Bev suggested some silver or gold on the cork so I have to go back and do that. I needed a bottle and thought I don't want to go buy a bottle. Well in our cabinet was this little thing holdimg Peppermint Schnapps that I used for the yummy chocolate cake last year. So I just poured the remaining part into a water bottle and labled it and taa daa I have a bottle. Sort of free of charge. Sort of. Well in Annette logic anyway.

We also made this cute little book and learned lots of tecniques with the inside pages. Here is the cover of it. I did get carried away but gave me lots of food for thought with it. Hummm maybe I am like the little ants getting ready for winter ? If we have a bad one here this year I can play to my hearts content.

There you go this is what is going on in my part of the world . I do thank you for stopping by and seeing what is going on here. xox

Paths that Cross

2011-07-24T17:12:00.001-05:00

Sometimes something can be so simple but beautiful. It doesn't have to have bling, which I dearly love, or any frills. Even like a wonderful friendship that you have had with someone close or far away, dear ones that you have met face to face or one of my beautiful new friends that we have met on the art halls of the Internet. It is funny how art does bring us together, be it in an art gallery or just sharing classes or sharing the same fun and struggles of creating art or life to be exact. I do believe we all cross paths in life for a reason and so glad you have crossed my path.

I painted these sweet little flowers many ways and then used a simple and fun approach to them. I painted them in Corel Painter program and used a fun brush called leaky pen for the splashes of blue color. No frills with this little painting. They are just sweet and simple but certainly tell a little story.

There you go, July is almost over and the toasty days of August will be upon us. I just thought these sweet little flowers would be cooling for the heat that is upon us. Now I know my Australia friends are in winter right now, so keep this post and just look at it in the summer. I will post something snuggling warm for you soon.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. xo Annette

Sparkles

2011-07-20T11:05:00.003-05:00

You know sometimes when something just catches your eye and sparkles and looks like so much life is in it ? Like a little drop of dew in the morning on a leaf of a plant or the sparkling of the stars at night when the sky is clear and they just look like diamonds? Or even some one's personality across the room or when you are shopping somewhere.

I was on a quest the other day, one of those things you need to do and just set out in the morning and say OK I am doing this today even if it hair lips the Governor? There are several fabric stores here in town and I needed some of the brass looking buttons for a blazer that I was changing buttons on for Grandson. I went into one that was higher end that I use to shop at all the time. Well, it is now a quiting shop, nothing against quilting and quilts I own several of the beautiful things. I asked about the buttons and the lady took me into the back room and she said we don't reorder buttons any more, people just don't sew like they use to. We looked in several boxes and found nothing that I could use. BUT --- TaDa, there in one box were four beautiful buttons, sitting there in their boring little white box for who know how long. Thinking, if buttons think that is, is no one ever going to find me and take me home ? Well, being the soft hearted soul that I am I picked one of them up, they were pricey but thought why not ? I closed the box and then thought better of it and just took all four of them. I didn't want one to say ha ha she took me and cause problems in button world. What am I going to do with them you ask? I don't have a clue but I bet when I do create something it will have some beautiful bling on it. I have been surfing the Internet, trying to get inspired and in the back of my mind I do have a couple of ideas.

I did go to another store and found the buttons I needed and what happened when I was walking down the isle? Yep you guessed it another little package just called me -ANNETTE- peek over here. So they now join my beautiful buttons. With the Art Journaling that I am dong now, I know I have a perfect place for them.

Here they are the whole little collection I purchased, the bling ones, the two art deco looking ones and the sweet little package of vintage looking ones.

The bling ones just need a photo up close, so you can see all the sparkles in it. they were made in China and I don't know if they still make bling for us now but here it is shining and still talking to me. Be sure and click on the pictures so will be larger, don't want you to miss any sparkle at all. Our beautiful grandaughter use to call them lights when I put them on her clothes or bought any new outfit for her, need lights.

That is it for today and thanks so much for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. xoxo

Horses of Many Colors

2011-07-15T17:10:00.002-05:00

It is funny how names are used on items. Like in the Wizard of Oz the Horses of Many Colors were some pretty ponies and they changed colors as you watched this wonderful movie. A coat, as in Joseph's coat of many colors in the Bible.

I know little about horses, and don't mind telling you either, except they are wonderful and majestic group of animals. Now I might have told you before that my Daddy use to raise Appaloosa horses. Indian horses I called them and I checked and sure enough they were Indian horses. The Appaloosa horse, spotted horses were on the earth before prehistoric times I found out. Pictures of them can be found in many caves across Europe. They could be found in China as early as 206 B.C. That is as close to knowing about horses as I get, well besides baby sitting our grand horse for a few months. That was a delight for me. The smell and just watching him was a joy for me, looking out our windows with his tail swishing and just ambling across our back 2 as I called it.

OK, below is my painting of horses of different colors. I think my imagination did run a little wild there, but I did draw the horses , free hand and then just played with color.

There you go my rendition of a horse of a different color. Be sure and click on the painting to see it bigger.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world. I have been absent to my blog but you know sometimes life just doesn't let us play when we want to.

Down Fairy Lane

2011-07-06T16:41:00.000-05:00

You know there are little sweet creatures that live in the gardens and woods. Well, there could be if you let your imagination run just a little wild. Pretty little things that flit in the air from flower to flower and possibly fly with the dragon flies and peep around the trees as you walk in the woods. Now we aren't talking the woods where mosquitoes and flys, snakes and ants live, but the pretty things like butterflies and lady bugs and dragon flies and fairies. It could happen you know.

I am taking a little traditional watercolor workshop off of Monica Zuniga and it is a fun and fanciful way to paint flower ladies. Well I let my muse go and this is what I came up with. Now some of it does have a tad of acrylic on it and most is watercolor. So thinking as I do sometimes I just let her be a fairy. I have been playing with fairies in my art for a while and they are fun.

Here she is. This is the third one I have done for the class. Loved her wings.

Don't know if we were suppose to do fairies but I don't think Monica would care. I am a BIT rusty on my faces, but I think seeing thousands of them thru my camera viewfinder had bound to rub off on me.

That is it for today, just had to share another new adventure with me. I am loving just being an adventurer in art and seeing what is out there now.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world. xo

Time and the Frog

2011-06-30T13:49:00.001-05:00

OK, can you believe the Month of June is almost positively gone ? I mean it is the 30th of June. I know that before we know it Christmas will be here. Now they say, whoever they is, that time flys when you are having a good time. We must be having a major party everyday then. Not to mention the wind blowing all the time but guess that has nothing to do with time does it? Sorry, sometimes I kind of wander, sort of like the tumbleweeds do when the wind blows.

I was mowing today and our two fur babies, Jewel, the matriarch and Libby the youngster of the duo, were digging frogs. Even in this dry weather and heat of over 100, we have frogs. Now they don't come out voluntary but I saw the fur babies really busy in the yard. So nothing doing I had to stop the mower, get off of it and go into the house to get the camera. I was hoping all the way, please don't stop doing your thing little fur babies. Well lo and behold they didn't let me down.

Now when there is a rabbit in the yard there is a LOT of action but the frogs it is mostly digging, following and then just ignoring them.

Hello to Jewel, we think she is nine and oh such a good little digger.

We have several holes like this and have to fill them up every once in a while, well more so than that. Miss Jewel will sit forever at the holes and I guess she smells them out, don't know how she knows where to dig. But dig she does.

Thought you might like a close up of the hole.

Now once the frog pops out Libby, who we think is about 6 or 7, is there at attention. She usually lets Jewel do the digging while Libby's fluffy tail just wigs and wags watching intently.

Now this is not for the faint of heart , but she isn't eating it. She grabs it ever so tenderly and then spits it out and shakes her head. This little game goes on for a while and then they get bored with it and the frog hops off going to his party or whatever he does underground. Today was a bonus, they dug up two of them.

I know you are thinking is that all Annette has got to do on a hot summer day? Probably not but just had to share on the last day of June. I do have some art stuff to share in a day or so.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in Annette's world.

Small White Donuts opend a Great Adventure

2011-06-24T21:32:00.001-05:00

You are always taught to share, starting young in your life. Share your toys, your crayons and just share. Well, even after all my years, we won't say how many, but more than 20 years. Eldon and I were at a Lodge a couple of weeks back. We went into the breakfast room and a lady was looking at the little white wonderful donuts that come 6 to a package. I said you know I like the donuts to but 6 are to many, would you like to share a package with me. So we shared donuts and got to know two great couples from Colorado.

One of the ladies did a lot with genealogy and I had told her some of my givings, like not being able to find out a lot about my family, even the Salvation Army, years ago could not find out much. Well, by that afternoon this sweet angel had discovered that I came over to the United States on the USS Washington. How excited I was. That was some Annette history.

Eldon has just joined ancestry.com , how exciting to find out I was not hatched and there is proof that I came over on a fine Battleship. Now if I hadn't shared a package of little white donuts with this lady I would never have know this. I had thought that I came over on the Q.E. but it was my daddy that came back from the war on her and not I. Funny how things fall into place. I have always believed there are never accidents, that everything happens for a reason. We may not like it happening but it does happen and we may or may not know why. Kind of like when you meet someone, either for the reals or on Internet, they have crossed your life's path for some reason.

The USS WASHINGTON---this is a USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakals

Now is that not a SHIP? The larger turrets are 16 inches, in my book that is big. She was one of the first ships to have radar. Admiral Harold R.Stark, commander of Naval Forces, Europe flew his flag over her as well as Rear Admiral Willis A. " Ching" Lee, Jr. and Admiral Pete Mitscher. Vice Admiral Frederick C. Sherman was in overall command in 1945. ( I hope I didn't leave anyone out )

She went to Southampton, England where , I am almost positive, a cute little brown headed prissy girl boarded the USS WASHINGTON with her mother and 7 month old brother. I came across on March 1946. The ship also carried our troops and I am sure they were on board as the same time we were. It is to bad I wasn't old enough to remember all this fantastic adventure.

This was a commemorative post card for the USS WASHINGTON, courtsey of Robert M.Cieri

There you go , a little history lesson I suppose. There was so much information on the battleship but remember I am not a historian, but did want to share this with you. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world. You just never know.

Pink and Fords

2011-06-20T22:43:00.000-05:00

Fords, what a concept that Henry Ford came up with and now look at us. Driving these motor cars everywhere and at a higher speed than , what 20 mph, that they drove back in Henry's day? Open aired and your hair probably all over everywhere, that could be a modern day convertible today but back then not so. Can you imagine the thrill of riding in one of the olden open aired cars?

Now I remember riding in a black something, like in 1949 or so. It had some kind of tar paper or something on the roof and really made a mess of your fingernails. Of course I know we probably shouldn't have scraped the roofs but being a young girl it was just to tempting. The back seats were giant and had so much room.   I remember riding in a back seat and going up a hill and looking out the front window thinking oh no, where is the road ?    I was thinking we are going to fall off the face of the earth, guess like Christopher Columbus felt. Funny thinking about that now, we were just on top of a hill and I couldn't see the road from my birds eye view.

So how is this story tying in with my painting ?   Well after you look at it, guess.

When I was looking at the painting, of course it has a Ford in the background. This is on my web site and my side bar here but just had to tell you about it. This little sweetie lives in Orange County California. You just want to give her a big hug.

It is funny how something will trigger your memory?

This was done in Corel's Painter, it is a digital program and a 21st century painting media. I do really like it, you can add your own colors and just paint to your heart's desire. Just like in traditional painting you may use your own colors, strokes, ideas and inspiration. Now I have said before I don't use a filter to do these just what comes out from my mind to my fingers. I mainly did this painting in pastels. I thought you might like to see the before and after of this painting.

I am still doing traditional painting and just combining all that I have learned new with what I know of traditional methods. Just a fun adventure.

There you go my Ford and Pink story. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world. I have a fun surprise in the works for you. Also a combination of what is going on out there in the art world. See you later and hugs.

Memories and Little Miss Pink

2011-06-15T17:54:00.000-05:00

Hello, we have been gone on a little trip. We are still celebrating our 50th anniversary. Trying to celebrate all year. Eldon keeps looking for the expiration date on the marriage license. I have told him there is not one but he keeps looking. Just a little game we play. All the time, while I co-pilot our steel stallion, I was thinking of different things I wanted to blog about. I certainly needed to write them down. Do you think I did? Probably not, but I was bound and determined to touch base and blog. I certainly didn't want to forget how to do it.

There are so many good things to remember as your days go by. Even if nothing really happens that would shake the world, little things make up our lives. There is a saying by Robert Brault-Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. I like this saying and Robert Brault, I think, talks like me. Scary isn't it ?

I found this painting of this pretty baby on the computer I had photographed and then painted. I thought now someone might enjoy looking at it as much as I did painting it. My style, as it should, has changed but just wanted you to enjoy it as much as I did.

Here she is, Little Miss Pink.

She was first photographed by myself and then I painted her digitally. Remember, not the push of a button trick but stroke by stroke. Sometimes I like to do realistic and sometimes not. Guess it depends on my mood and how much chocolate I have eaten. I do enjoy painting this type of painting for clients. Just a feel good experience.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is happening in my world today.

The First One to Pop into My Head~~Lyrics

2011-06-05T20:07:00.000-05:00

It is funny that some days certain songs or poems or movies or just memories just pop into your head. Nothing really spurs you to think of them they are just filed away in your head like a little filing cabinet I suppose.   What do you think ?  Possibly filed under pleasant memories ? Maybe a butterfly floats along in the sky and makes you think of a peaceful place where you have been and butterflies were in the picture.

On my art journal adventure, I do believe art is an adventure, Zinnia had the prompt of Lyrics. So many subjects could come up.   Growing up in the , shall we say middle 40's to 2011 there are a lot of songs you could think of. Well, some of them you could get out of your head as soon as you heard them. Even "Down At Pappa Joes "is a pretty catchy one.

I remember going to the movies and for a whole 25 cents you could get a coke and popcorn and see the movie.   Cartoons were shown first or second, not for sure now and always Tom and Jerry was one of them. Then the newsreels, we saw the world news, not that a child of few years would watch that part. There was no TV you know. That was before Bennie and Cecil or even Howdy Doody.   I bet that shocks some of you. We actually use to listen to the radio and listen to Little Orphan Annie, The Shawdow and other goodies like that.

One of my favoites was Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and his wonderful horse Trigger. One of the songs he sang was------"Don't Fence Me In" Why I thought of that I don't know. But I did so that is what I chose to art journal on.

Don't Fence Me In---- I had to use rafia around the edges, didn't have any leather laces to play with. This was from a knapkin and the horses were to pretty to trash. I even found a little map of Texas and marked where we were.

I used some of the tape that you use to fix sheet rock with. Hey it is texture.

I hope you enjoy it and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world. I guess I could sign off with Happy Trails.

Pans ?

2011-06-01T16:18:00.000-05:00

Hello there and Happy June. Where does the time go ? They say, whoever they are, that time goes by quickly when you are having a good time. I must be having the party of a lifetime here.  Come join me.

Now this thing about pans.   You know there are cooking pans of all sizes and shapes and oil pans under your car just to name a couple   I have a nice collection of pans to cook with and I am sure our Steel stalion (aka automobile) has an oil pan. Funny I use to help hubby work on cars and could help tear into pistons and all the goings on of an auto, but now days when you open a hood it is all full of stuff.

Back to the subject here Annette. I have discovered, not a country or anything like that but something called Pan Pastels. Man those are the best things since sliced bread, I kid you not. I have, I could safely say hundred of soft and hard pastels. They do make dust and dry your hands out but just feels good like a first grader playing with colors.   I drug them out and straightened the up from their 25 plus years of vacation. When seeing about the Pan Pastels I thought nope I don't need them, until I saw them in action. The company has their own website about them and Christy Tomlinson of Scarlet Lime showed their wonders and magic on a journaling class I am taking   "She had three hearts." I have to get these.   So I went online, my favorite source nowdays and of course Dick Blick has them on sale. Yep a SALE !!! So I figured out which set I "needed" and even got the tools and sponges in the kit for $64 and bought seperately a little plastic case for a whole $8 plus change.   People I am in hog heaven.

Here you go the Pan Pastels, the case and applicators. Mana from heaven to me. The sponges, applicators and all the colors. There are 80 colors in all but figure I can get into trouble with 20.

Now the main question is----do I leave them pretty like this or just mess them up and use them ? Zinnia, on another forum says we need to use our supplies. So use them I will use them and post something that I do with them soon.

There you go and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

Song of the Sunflower

2011-05-30T21:33:00.002-05:00

I remember when we bought a farm, close to our other farms, that it had sunflowers. Lots and lots of sunflowers. These were not the big pretty ones you see in a field and in flower arrangements. They were little pest cousins of the big flamboyant ones. They hogged all the water and just flat got in the way. We had them hoed down, the real arm swinging chopping down type of hoeing.   Then we used-gasp-chemicals
It was WAR !!! They were stealing the moisture from our cotton and peanuts, our lively hood. After a good lengthy and costly battle we won. At least for the time being.   Now we have sold the farms and do hope the new owners are continuing the battle of the sunflowers.

When hubby and I are driving around and see how pretty the little pest ones look on the side of the road, we both say I hope they don't lose control of them.

Now here I am painting them. Not the pests but the big flamboyant ones. They are so pretty. I have done several paintings of them and enjoyed them all.   This painting is done for the Open Studio class with Karen Bonaker. She shows us differnt techniques and just to let ourselves go and play. So play I did. Getting back into the swing of digital painting.   This is certainly not done with a click of a button either. Lets see a button do this. Guess that could be a challenge of the buttons? Kind of like the sunflowers I suppose.

                                              Here you go the Sunflower's Song

Well, actually it is the music from The Stars and Stripes Forever but just thought the notes were pretty.    Sort of a watercolor and paint combined.

May is coming to an end. I cannot believe how quick the months just fly by.   The wind is still blowing quite hefty. Now we are talking 30 to 50 mile an hour winds. Some years it just blows forever, then when you think you can't stand it anymore it quits. No rain though since October. We'll see what June brings to us.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in Annette's world.

WAX and IRONING

2011-05-25T17:35:00.000-05:00

In my adventure to figure out what I want to do after retiring, as I might have mentioned, my friend Bev suggested Roses on my Table. I am a member of the group R.A.I.L. Every month Zinnia posts fun lessons for us to play and create.

Take a little quilting iron, nope don't iron clothes with it, I do love to iron while watching TV, and bees wax and just have a good time.

Here is what I created with her instructions and going to do one more before we go on to a new project.

I can't remember where I got this beautiful image,   I think Vintage Catnip. Here is the art piece, I loved the whole process and just a relaxing and creative process. Like I said it has been over 25 years since I have played with any type of traditional art. I hope you enjoy it.

Now Saturday I am starting a digital painting class with Karen Bonaker on the Digital Art Academy classes. These are always fun and gets my painting muse going and working overtime.  I always try the new brushes and explore them, but go back to Marilyn Sholin's brushes. Guess you just can't break old habits.   I always said I am not going to do more than one class at a time and here I am fixing to do three. What is the third one you ask? Well, just wait and see I say.   I watched the videos and will start playing soon.

There you go and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.    Of course I will share more artsy goodies with you.

Cardboard, Wood and Batteries

2011-05-19T14:50:00.003-05:00

Several years ago hubby, of now 50 years, and I took one of our "trips". These are the kind that when we back out of the driveway we really are not sure where we will go. This trip we wandered some in Oregon. Just a tiny ways from Texas. We were surprised how different the East side was than what we thought. We thought all of it was lush and green, not so for the East side, or at least the part we saw. Along one of the highways were rows and rows of trees, planted close and reminded me of corn and how close they plant it. We just couldn't imagine planting trees that close and why.   Well, our question was answered at the next stop, besides buying gasoline you have to buy "junk" you know the kind that is bad for you. We do off set it though with a Sprite Zero so it all kind of balances out in the scheme of things.   The trees were Popular trees and planted for harvest, I am thinking they said every seven years. And what do they do with the trees you ask? They make cardboard. I haven't ever really thought of where cardboard came from but then I don't think it really cares if I knew.

So how does this tie in with my story? Well, do you think that possibly the cardboard used in these ROBOTS came from Oregon?

Yep you read correct. ROBOTS    We met this sweet young lady at Thanksgiving and she told us that in her class they were going to build robots. Now that certainly sparked my ears up.   ROBOTS?   Sounded like a wonderful thing to go watch to me.

It seems that this college in a nearby town has two campus locations. One in Levelland and one here in Lubbock. They compete in the making of the robots and then have a little battle so to speak.   Well here we were, reminded me of the Romans watching Gladiators fighting it out. There was even one that had a wicked looking blade on it like in Ben Hur with Charleston Heston. The one scene with the chariot race?

The students built their robots out of cardboard, wooden frame and batteries and drills. All had turning, whacking and one had a thumping type weapon.   They had to get in the corners and then come out fighting. Each team had a 10 minute time out, to repair or get their little robots together again and they had to keep moving around on the floor. Here goes the pics.

Calli and Tri, robot builders extraordinaire. They were ready for battle. The workings of Rocky. They all had to have names. There was a photo of Rocky Balboa on the top of this robot. Check out the batteries, the strapping, the drill ran the wheels.

The time out, both creators had to help their robots along, just a little.

The battle, sadly Rocky lost, his remote control burned up. Please excuse the reflections, there was a protective plastic to keep the flying pieces from hitting us.

This was the first set of robots to battle. Under Cut lost, but certainly put up a good battle.

Can't remember the names of these but the square one got a pretty good beating and quit running, maybe inch or two but not enough to keep in the race. They had to move and the moving parts had to move, the students got the grade and the rest was fun.

This stream lined robot was the winner for the year and gets to be proudly on display until the next round of wars. He was pretty low to the ground and certainly streamed lined. I think those were flames painted on the side.

There you go, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing about it. Thanks for seeing what is going on in my world at the moment.

Oh don't forget to click on the photos that makes them larger. Probably the whole world knows that but me.

Beef and Salsa

2011-05-17T18:20:00.002-05:00

I don't read the paper as much as hubby does, I read the local news and see the front page of the paper and look at the front page of the sports to see if I am on there.   I am rolling on the floor laughing at that one, like I am the most nonathletic human there is on the face of the earth.   Of course when grandson was small, maybe three to five I could be the coach and player and cheerleader of his teams.   I was pretty good at multitasking at those jobs. Now when we played basketball, I would grab him as he dribbled circles around me and give him a good Nana kiss. He would tell me in a cute 3 year old voice, love those voices, that was not in the rules.

There is one section of the paper I do hunt for though~ the one where the post a recipe every once in a while and the American Profile little booklet that comes some day of the week, I never remember what day but Eldon knows not to chunk it until I look for   A NEW RECIPE !!!!!!!   He must still like them though or he would probably just tell me it is not in the paper this week.

Looking thru the pages I found a recipe!!  Surprise upon surprises.   It is Peppered Beef with Pineapple Salsa. Now what could be wrong with this combo ? I mean it has BEEF, Eldon's favorite and salsa, my favorite.   Pineapple Salsa with jalapenos at that. Now I made it and he like it as I did, even though----gasp---- I am not crazy about beef steak. I know how could I be a Texas and not like beef steak you ask. Remember I was not born in Texas so that probably explain the earth shattering puzzle.

Now I will make again but cut back on the jalapeno pepper this next time. But I did get the go ahead from Eldon to make again.   A success in my eyes.

Here you go the steak and salsa. Now Eldon likes his steak pinkish inside, I had to get a meat thermomator to help assist me in this task. I just thought it was so pretty so had to share. Fresh pineapple by the way and cilantro also.

I thought I would add a PS here---- so P.S. here is the recipe if you might want it. Several have asked for it.

Peppered beef with Pineapple Salsa

Salsa:

1 cup peeled and diced fresh pineapple
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

1/4 cup diced red onion ( you know I omitted that little killer of Eldon)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

2 teaspoons minced fresh jalapeno pepper ( I am going to cut to one next time I make it, was a bit warm, either that or I used to much jalapeno

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/2 coarse salt

fresh ground black pepper ( I just used coarce ground pepper)

Beef:

1/4 cup jalapeno pepper jelly

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 1/4 pound beef flank steak ( I think any type of steak would be good here ) blotted dry on paper towels

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspon freshly ground black pepper

1. To prepare salsa, stir together all ingredients. Cover and set aside.

2. To prepare beef, melt jelly in a small pan; stir in Worcestershire sauace and set aside.

3. Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking. Sprinkle both sides of steak with salt and pepper, place in pan and cook about 4 minutes per side, turning once, or until desired degree of doneness.

4. Reduce heat to low and spoon on jelly glaze. Cook 1 minute longer, until thoroughly heated and beef is glazed. Remove from pan, divide among 4 dinner plates, spoon on salsa and serve.

There you go, thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. Oh, a hint to for the next blog ~~ cardboard, wood and batteries.

Lark Art and Smiles on a Plate

2011-05-13T20:12:00.000-05:00

I am still playing with the pictures we took of our Sedona, Arizona trip. I don't take as many of Sedona as I use to, not because we like it less but sometimes I just flat get lazy about photo taking. I mean it really wears you out to push the little button and snap you have a picture and we were on vacation you remember.   Not really, but sometimes I do get lax on taking them. I guess all of the years of doing it I suppose.

Now you will have to excuse this next picture. It is a camera that hides in my purse. It is not much of a camera and every time I use it I think- throw this thing away. Then I put in my purse again and it just hides thinking --WHEW !!! I missed the trash one more time. I won't mention the make but think it is really going to the trash this time. Had a great "purse" camera but after two days, on a bench, outside and sitting under a sprinkler systen for two days just didn't want to work again. I mean it was good, Eldon took it to Brazil and all it just kept perking along before the bench sprinkler incident.

When were were in Sedona, enjoying the beautiful scenery, we forget about all the art galleries. So this trip we played sort of tourist and went to some galleries. One in particular was Lark Art. One talented ladie's work is hanging there and that was a goal to check it out. Now the name of the gallery is Lark Art. Loved the name and has some of the most unusual animal paintings and art work I have ever seen.   No here I am with the owner, who was so kind to pose with me. Oh, I am the one on the left, I know you thought I was taller, but nope no such luck. One good thing is I am not shrinking so here I am in all my 5'1".   The painting is one of Elizabeth Nelson's. The paper painting lady. I purchased one of her DVD's, so well put together, and just am having a good time doing her style of painting.

Elizabeth's painting is so colorful and the pictures just don't do it justice.  We got to view several of them that were on display there. Felt like it was such a treat to see them in the reals.

Here you go, the Rooster of Elizabeth's. I just thought it needed to stand out and we are just the adjectives in the picture. Like the "thes" and "ors".

On another note :

Coming back we did stop at a Johnny Rockets to eat and when your order comes out they have this cute little plate on your order. Just to give you a good day or evening smile. Just thought it was cute and here I am turning into one of the ladies that take pictures of everything.

We didn't really order three things, but they had to redo from scratch Eldon's burger. They put onions on it and you may remember he is deadly allergic to them. So the good side of this was we got three smiles that evening and got to see the servers dance. Hey it was a win win situation.

There you go and more to come. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

Roses, Zinnias, and Fun oh my

2011-05-11T16:32:00.002-05:00

Now in my adventure of finding what I want to do in my life and after a couple of careers.   I am still exploring.   So much out there and so little time. Well, you could not sleep I suppose but I don't know about you but I get pretty grumpy if I don't get sleep. We won't talk about the dark circles under the eyes will we ?

A sweet friend of mine, Bev, who I have never met but I do believe she would fight a buzz saw for me.    She lives in Australia and I have "played " with her for I don't know how many years. Now the ones that know me, know I have kind of hard headed. A shocker isn't it ? Well, Bev kept saying you need to join this group you will love it. So finally I did and what a sweet group of artists it is.   I am involved with the group of art journaling journey.   I thought what is this ?   Fun, just pure fun and I can use all my scrapbooking supplies I already have plus getting to buy more supplies.   You know that is half of the fun. Shopping for thing that you have to have.

I have posted some of my beginner journaling art here on the blog and if you are lucky will get to see more.

So I just wanted to share Zinnia's banner with you on her blog. Just check out all the goodies going on there.   That is part of the fun I do belive.   I think, jokeingly my grandson called me a trash digger and hubby never throws anything away now without me checking it out and seeing if I can use it.   We use to call that making do but nowdays it is recycling and art.

Now I know I may sound like an ad or something but nope just Annette loving what she is doing right now and wanting to share with you. I can't share my cooking, litteraly with you but I can share my art goodies.

Here you go, the banner from Zinna's blog. Zinnia's web site for the groups is Roses on my Table.
                                                            http://zinniasart.blogspot.com

There you go, and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

Our Beautiful West Texas

2011-05-10T16:02:00.000-05:00

Hi, this is short and sweet. Please click on the link my EX son-in-law sent to me for Mother's Day. It has beautiful photographs and music.

Enjoy !!

http://www.wymanmeinzer.com/west-texas/

Warning Will Robinson-this is not good for you

2011-05-08T18:29:00.000-05:00

We have been gone for a while and have returned rested and ready to tackle the world again. sometimes you just have to do that. For our birthdays, Anniversays, and holiday gift doings we just back out the drive and tell each other Happy everything.  Sometimes even not knowing where we are going.  Our trusty steed, aka our automobile, and map in hand.

I have a few posts to do to catch up and some are about our little trip.   Some of the titles will be Lark Art and Cardboard, Wood and Batteries.   Now that one will be a fun on for you I hope, it was certainly fun to watch.

Where did we go you may ask ? To Sedona,Arizona, it was snowing and sleeting around Albuquerque, New Mexico. On the way to Arizona for us, being as we live in Texas. Now this is the first of May and this Texas gal is not use to weather like this in May. What is Mother Nature trying to tell us ? Hope she isn't just clearing her throat, with all the floods, tornadoes and fires that have been happening.

There use to be a TV series called Lost In Space.   I hope some remember it, a family stranded in space and they had this giant robot. Everytime Will Robinson, the son, would get into trouble or there was danger around he would say Warning or Danger Will Robinson. So this is a little warning to what is coming in the next few pictures.   The pictures may not be good for your health. I think calories just wander in the air and jump on any unsuspecting soul. Sooooooooo Warning !!

Eldon's birthday is April 30, time does fly by when you are having fun. So I am thinking what kind of cake can I make him that won't kill us, you know like a good giant yummy chocolate cake that you have to eat ever bite of it and every single crumb. I mean it would be ashame to let any of it go to waste and I am sure the neighbors are tired of me sharing goodies with them. The last time I brought something over the husband said oh no, we are on diets.   So that in mind, I made a Pinapple Upside Down Cake. One layer of goodness and probably no calories at all.   Right ?   This is one of his favorite cakes. We went to the store to get the goodies to make it and lo and behold there was this cute little pan for Pinapple Upside Down Cakes. Now I know I can make it without the pan but it was there on the shelf lonely. Several big bundt pans around it so off it went home with us.

One of the views of the cake. It is pretty delicious, even if I say so myself.

Just a little close up, just incase you couldn't see it really good. Mean aren't I ? I think you can smell the pineapple and the brownsugar.

Here you go a birds eye view of the Pinapple Upside Down Cake. Happy Birthday Eldon. the recipe ? I would be glad to share it if anyone would like it.

There you go, thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

We had the dryest March ever !!

2011-04-25T19:59:00.003-05:00

I am posting this wonderful photograph taken by Frank Cianciole. It is in the Davis Mountains and the Hobby-Eberly Telescope dome is in the right side of it. The fires combined with our terrible winds, it and the fires are just playing havoc with our wonderful state.

I didn't want to be very wordy with this blog I thing the photographs certainly speak for themselves. Our nephew and his friend sent these to me. I will not say enjoy but just wanted you to see what is going on here in our state. We live in Lubbock Texas and in our backyard the other day there was smoke and the smell of it when the wind shifted. We give thanks for all of the volunteer firemen, firemen and firemen from all over the country risking their lives to help these fires go by the wayside. Thank you so much you brave guys.

We also have a link for more photographs of several fires in our wonderful state.
It is

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/04/texas-wildfires/100050/

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

Potatoes falling from a Wagon

2011-04-19T23:06:00.000-05:00

My mother had a saying when it thundered that potatoes were falling out of God's wagon.   We were very young and the loud noises thunder made would scare us. That was a fun way to calm down the fears a child would have of the noices of thunder. Now thinking today, wonder what kind of wagon would it have been and those had to be some big potatoes to make some noises like that.

I just like to think of laying on your back and looking at the clouds imagining what shapes were in them. A dog, a rocket ship a kitty or a bear ? Maybe even a clown with a big and fluffy round nose. They were just so fluffy and soft looking. Like cotton candy even.   Today when Eldon and I are on a driving trip, our favorite kind, I look out the window and see shapes and image all kinds of stories about the clouds. I see the shapes and then in a few seconds they have changed into something else.

It is coming to the time of year when we have thunder heads. I mean some big and fluffy clouds that say I AM A CLOUD. You have no doubt what they are, not the little wispy "scouts" as I call them   The little ones that seem to be out looking for other clouds and then they all gather together and tada ---- a thunder head.

                    So here you go a couple of picture of West Texas thunder heads

Now this cloud says I AM A CLOUD, no doubt in your mind that it means business

There you go I just wanted to share some of our clouds with you. I do have one more saying mother use to say. You know when it rains, it will one day, and the sun is shining? Well that is the devil beating his wife. Just thought you might like to know that little tidbit of info there.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

Spring Feelings

2011-04-17T10:07:00.000-05:00

Spring always means freshness and revival to me. What is the new year bringing and just trying new things and adventures.

Blooms from our Bradford Pear tree, so fresh and the bees really love it .

I have several friends that are eating healthy for various reasons and I thought maybe we should, well to a point you know.   Eldon is definitely a meat and potatoes man and he is not eating very many potatoes but the meat ?  I just cooked a brisket yesterday and it was yummy even if I do say so myself. Marilyn and Mikey are one couple that first come to mind about eating well and healthy. So I wanted to share this recipe with you all, it is a salad and very good. Sometimes when you try a new recipe you have to make it a couple of times and tweak it to your liking but this one was pretty well right on.   I did half it, there are only two of us. Well, the furbabies but they didn't get to share with us.

                                       Artichoke and asparagus salad

2 bunches asparagus, ( I snapped the bottoms off of them )
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar   ( I used rasberry balsamic vinegar)
1 teaspoon of lemon zest ( did't have it so used some orange zest )
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1/4 cup olive oil
two 14 oz cans drained artichoke hearts ( I cut them up)
1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Set a large bowl of ice water next to the stove. No, not to put out the fire you might start, it does have a good purpose.

Place the asparagus in the boiling water and blanch until bright gree and just tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer the asparagus to the ice water to cool and stop the cooking .   Drain well.

In a large bowl, whisk together the mustard, sal, pepper, lemon juice, vinegar, lemon zest, thyme and oil. Gently toss the drained asparagus spears and the artichoke hearts in the dressing. Serve sprinkled with the feta cheese.

There you go, I think a healty dish.   Well, it is more healthy than potato salad but I love that also, a good southern dish.

That is it for today. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

A Make Believe World~sometimes

2011-04-13T17:40:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you just need to live in a make believe world. When you were a youngster, we all were at one time if you remember, and played Cowboys and Indians or the Queen and your sister had to hold an umbrella over your head so all the make believe flowers people were throwing to you wouldn't mess up your hair? You know that kind of make believe. Making mud pies and pretending they were the best in the world.

This sweet little fairy is one of the make believes. I painted her in Painter and just played and had the best time, no pressure just paint. It was for a digital class and was so easy breezy. I did add clothes though, you know my southern upbringing sometimes pops up. I call myself southern, I did get to Texas as soon as I could.

Picture the night glow on her flowing hair with fairy dust sprinkled around her. Now there is a wonderful brush in painter called -fairy dust. Now isn't that the coolest name ? In my make believe world, it just rocks. I painted layers and layers on this little fairy, to make the wings sheer and sketched and as you can see just had some fun. I can almost bet that I used pastels, seems to be my media of choice on the digi paintings.

There you go and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

Our Metal Stalion

2011-04-09T19:15:00.001-05:00

Living in Texas I know it is thought we have horses and cows and six shooters.   In the wild west days I bet we would have but today,  we only have a 400 horse power wild metal stalion that is red and will run like the wind.   When our red metal stalion was new he smelt like the new car smell they have but only lasts a short while. That is not the same as the wonderful smell of a tried and true horse. The kind with 4 legs and that are such magnificant animals with swishy tails and ears that never stand up when you want to take a photo of them.

I was not raised with horses in my life growing up, but my Daddy raised Alpaloosas and my half sister was quite a horsewoman in her younger days. I know I would have been just like she was with the horses all the outfits adorned with bling and riding like the wind on her beautiful horse.   The wind blowing her hair back as she rode with such confidence looking majestic as her four legged friend.

We and our daughter went together and bought our grandaughter a red horse. Not sure what he is called in horse colors but red to me. We got go baby sit him for a little over a year and it was wonderful. I got to love on him and watch him graze on our "back 2 . Actually it was our back two acres but we called it our back 2. The tail swishing and just watching him run with the neighboring horses and the sun shining on his coat.   That was a treat for us to be able to do that. He later was sold but the memory of him was great for me.

I do like to paint them though so here are a couple of paintings I have done of these magical animals.

This beautiful paint was at a horse show we went to a couple of years back, he was tied to a trailer all by himself and I just had to paint him. His ears perked up so pretty when I walked up to him and just talked and talked to him. He made the wonderful sound they make when talking back to you. Like hello Annette thanks for taking time to come and see me.

This handsome fellow is my rendition of an indian horse of sorts. Just had to give him a little paint and some fancey feathers. A tad make believe here but it could have happened at least in my world.

There you go, thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today..

The Taffeta skirt

2011-04-05T20:17:00.001-05:00

Sometimes you just feel like swishing and swirling with your colors and your brushes. You know like when you would wear a taffeta skirt and it made the swishie noise when you walked. You either hated it or thought here I come world watch out. This is what this little painting made me feel like when I painted it. The colors and just the shapes were fun and I culd have been wearing that taffeta skirt when I was painting it. It felt that good. Now I am sorry to the guys reading this, I now you never wore a skirt that gave you confidence like that but I am sure you had a shirt or some new tennis shoes or that one special thing you wore that made you feel pretty good or to use an old word ~ Dapper.

I know this is a little different from what I usually paint but just had to throw some spice in here every once in a while. Please enjoy the colors and the movenment.

Thanks for stopping in Annette's world today and seeing what is going on.

My Paper Dolls

2011-04-04T23:09:00.002-05:00

I wonder if girls play with paper dolls anymore? You know the kind that you cut out so patiently around the little white tabs that hold the clothes onto the paper dolls ? Their paper shoes, dresses, hats and scarves? I use to love cutting out all the high fashion clothes and using my imagination and seeing what kind of lives my dolls would lead.   I remember having an Elizabeth Taylor set and a Doris Day set of paper dolls. We would play with them for hours and having their imaginary boyfriends and dressing up these little pieces  of paper dolls. I do wish I had those dolls now, but alas they probably got torn and wrinkled and tossed away in the trash. Maybe even one of their arms got torn off when we were dressing them in a hurry to go on a paper doll date.

On my art journal journey with Zinnia, on Roses on my Table, we are doing paper dolls. Yep you read right. Well not exactly like Elizabeth and Doris but still dolls. We are making queens but my dolls just sort of wander and not sure what they are.   I have one set that are kind of frumpy and the other set I am pretending they are the daughters or grandaughters of the frumpy ones.

I am having fun with the art journaling and learning lots everytime I play with it. Of course buying new supplies certainly does not hurt my feelings. I am surprised how many of the supplies I already have though with scrapbooking and my photography supplies and the art supplies I had from years ago.

Here you go the frumpy ones. Now the sweet ladies here are not the frumpy part, I do believe it is their clothing. My fashion of lace and paper I suppose. Still they are paper dolls and had so much fun playing with them.

Here are their daughters or grandaughters, beautiful lawn gowns for the garden tea party made out of fashionable tissue paper and a tiny bit of lace. Something every young lady needs in their closet for the garden party.

There you go, Annette's paper dolls of 2011. I am fixing to start on a larger version of these little treasures soon. So will see how much I have progressed with them.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

The Blue Door

2011-03-31T17:47:00.001-05:00

This being the last day of March, I thought one last post for the month.   It is March and what is the saying ~in like a lion out like a lamb ? Well here in our part of the world it is a beautiful day. The wind isn't blowing a million miles an hour, which is so West Texas in the spring and the temperature is perfect for most people. The golfers, the yard workers and just the walkers should love it all. I know our fur babies, Jewel and Libby love it also.

My sweet friend Mandi took this photo and I just loved it. It is colorful and just says Santa Fe, New Mexico to me.   She is a great photographer and has such a wonderful career ahead of her. I remember when I had such enthusiasm about it as she does. She is such a delight and she wants to be the best and I do believe she is certainly getting there. She has been gracious enough to let me use any of her photographs and I am sure you will see more of them down the line.

The painting was done in Painter and I added lots of colors stroke by stroke to it. The top part of the gate door, I think called a header possibly, did bother me composition wise but it is so traditional to have the top piece going over it I just let it stay there.

So here it is and thanks again Mandi for a beautiful photograph.

The Blue Door

I hope you enjoy the painting and seeing what is going on in my world today.

The Kite

2011-03-28T14:35:00.002-05:00

This young man was about 5 years old when this photograph was taken. We were at the beach on a little vacation and he wanted me to take his pictures. I have taken his photographs his whole life and now he is 22 and still he will pose for me and just smiles and thinks "Nana " ! Every once in a while he was growing up he would say "no more pictures". Even for his 21 pictures, we photographed when he graduated from college, he as so patient.

I loved it because he had his little hat on, way to big being as it was an adult size but he didn't care and neither did I. It was grandson and the grandchildren can do now wrong in any grandparents eyes. His colorful swim trunks were just him. I remember when we bought the kite, oh he was proud of it and came strutting out of the store with it in hand. I do wish I had it today, I am sure it got thrown away during the past years, to put on the wall with this painting. I wouldn't care if it had an elephant on it at all.

I have made limited editions of it and it was featured on a calendar that Karen Bonaker makes every year and I used it as my favorite painting when she honored me as one of the featured artists on her forum. I got to share with all how warm this painting makes me feel. It is done digitally with pastels as the media, stroke by stroke it was painted and remembering all the little things we use to do together.

So here it is and please enjoy it and the little story that goes with it.

This is just a close up of part of the photograph of how the sand and how all of the sea weed had washed up on the shore. Didn't smell to good either and of course being on the beach the wind was blowing quite well.

There you go, that is what is going on in Annette's world at the moment. Thanks for coming by and looking forward to see you again.

My sweet little Owl

2011-03-24T22:23:00.002-05:00

I belong to the Journal Journey group on Roses on my Table. My friend Bev encouraged me to do this and it is fun and I love it. No pressure just play and mess and gob all you want.
This time the prompt is Owls. Now still being new at this fun art technique I have watched several videos and didn't realize this is a going thing. The art journaling and mixed media art work. Remember I have been in a sheltered world for the last 24 years and just now immerging like a butterfly I suppose out of it's little comfy home. Well, I am certainly not a butterfly but you get the picture.

I discovered the magazines from Somerset Studio magazines, oh if you haven't discovered them and want to play with the mixed media or any of their many subjects RUN to the book store. These magazines are a treasure to behold. Several years ago, I mean several, a sweet friend--Lynn, gave me one of the magazines. I was so busy with photography then I just glanced at it, thought it was pretty and then put it up and thought one day I will have time to look at it. Well I did and oh what a treat it was, so wondered if they still printed it. That was the discovery of the century to me. Now nothing like Christopher Columbus did but in my mind it was.

I was looking at one I purchased and there were the cutest owls in it. So I looked and read the article and thought I might use it one day. Well lo and behold our journal prompt for this time is Owls. The artist is Juliette Crane and she gave wonderful directions on how to paint these little guys. So this is what I did for my prompt.

There are lots of layers on text, paint of all kinds on here including acrylic, oil pastels, water soluable wax pastels and the wonderful words I added Someday I will fly.

I drew the little owl and painted her and she was the last thing I applied to my journaling pages. I hope you enjoy it. Oh be sure and click on the picture and you can see it larger. Have fun if you try it.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

MIss Tiny Feet

2011-03-18T13:51:00.002-05:00

We went on a shopping trip with our beautiful granddaughter, I know now I sound like a Nana, but hey I am one.    We surprised her with these beautiful shoes. The store here in town had not even put them out on display yet.   We were hunting around the store like a couple of raccoons, digging and looking everywhere hunting for a treasure.   I have been painting some shoes and she said Nana I don't have any cute shoes. Well little Princess I think you forgot about these.

I did the method of paper painting, just love this way of painting and found some rice paper to play with it also. The paper was hiding in a cardboard tube and I released it to the world so now it can proudly be of good use. So painted the paper and just had fun. I added a few notes to her in the painting and a couple of hidden images in the painting also.

Now these shoes had studs all over them and I thought how in the world am I going to get this effect. I did buy some liquid silver leaf but that just did fit the ticket. So I dug around in my scrapbook supplies and lo and behold there were these cute little hole punchers.   I am talking tiny little holes. Found some of my grey painted paper and just punched to my little hearts content. It was kind of relaxing as this whole method is. I then sprinkled some of them on the painting. Some landed grey and some white but I think it worked---Sparkles or as granddaughter use to call them when little "Lights".    Granddaughter after my heart there, you can never have to many "lights"

So here they are. I have done a few more tweaks with it since I took this photo of them but can't you see her prancing around in them? I put a glossy black frame on them and she will be getting them soon.

She has tiny feet and such a wonderful personality.

Well, that is what is going on in my world at the moment. Did clean the front windows after our last sand storm but don't think that is why you came to see what is going on in my world.
Thanks for stopping by.

Three Zentangles of March

2011-03-12T20:21:00.000-06:00

I am finishing up a sketchbook of zentangles. It had 100 pages in it but I think I have used some of the pages for other things, but I would think at least 85 pages are zentangles. I am doing a little larger ones now. I have colored some of them and they seem to be evolving into something. No not like a caterpillar into a butterfly but just evolving. I really can't explain it but looking at my first ones compared to these they are doing the job. Hummmmmm maybe they are turning into a butterfly.

I need to figure out something to do with them I suppose, the sketch book is enjoying them and I enjoy doing them. They are good therapy also, so calming and you just forget about things of life while doing them.

I hope you enjoy these and we will see where they go the next time I post them for you to see.

Here you go, I think part of the fun is looking at them and seeing so many things and shapes in each one. Each zentangle seems to have a personality of their own.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

The Wonderful Shoes Show Up Again !!!

2011-03-02T16:40:00.002-06:00

First I would like to welcome March into 2011.   Here in our part of Texas March means WIND and lots of it.   It has not let us down, with gusts to 60 miles an hour I think March has arrived. March does bring spring so that is absolutely a plus.

I hope you remember these wonderful shoes from a few posts ago. I love them but unfortunately they don't fit, they are to wide and way to long but Eldon said keep them anyway.   One of my young artsy friends Suzanne Clemm Wheeler said " Annette just paint them " So I did keep them and the sit proudly on top of my scrapbooking cabinet. Taunting me with their splendor and saying ha ha you can't wear me. They are from England and European sized but I have had some before but I just guess it is not meant to be.

My sweet art buddy Marilyn Parigian gave me a prompt of shoes---so shoes it was and this pair was the ones that would be immortalized.   Paper paintings would be the media. Thanks to Elizabeth Nelson for the inspiration. I know I have said this before but I love this method of painting, it is just to fun. Well, most of the art is fun to play with and just doing it right or wrong is good for the soul and helps you not think or the trials of everyday life.

The sketch done with a mere pencil. I am recycling a canvas that was a blub up of a printing job. Gotta do the recycling bit, use to call it just making do but now has a fancy smancy name.

The blocked in stage of the painting, do have to remember not to fall in love with the blocked in stage.

The finished beauties. I did change the blue part of the shoe to a less green color and added some cute polka dots that were on the bows.

There you go THE SHOES !!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping in and seeing what is going on in my world today.

Paintings and Effects

2011-02-26T16:06:00.002-06:00

I just finished a sweet little painting I am calling~~~~ get this ~~~~ Trees. Pretty original title isn't it ? One thing I absolutely hated when I painted traditionally years ago and when also entering my photography in shows is the titles. So now I just name them what they are. Kind of like you get what you see or some wonderful saying like that.

Karen Bonaker provided this photograph so I painted it first and then used a filter, which I am not a fan of at all. The use of filters that is, I guess I just don't feel comfortable with filters. I do have to admit she and I like this effect. Now the question is it cheating ? I really don't think so, I did paint the original painting and then just ran the filter over it . I don't want anyone to think that digital painting is just running a filter over a photograph and then you have a painting. Not so, it is a stroke by stroke process just like painting with oils or pastels or any other media at your fingertips. Am I going to make a habit of it ? I don't think so I just wanted to play a bit. Karen teaches Open Studio at Digital Art Academy. Open studio is about four times a year and like the saying--teach someone to fish and they can feed themselves forever. Now I am horrible at getting the sayings right but you get the message I hope. Karen teaches the program and some great art theory.

The original photograph Karen took.

The painting, certainly Ben Konis influence here. He is the artist I took so many lessons off of, close to thirty years ago. His words are coming back to me, slowly. Karen, when teaching sparks little things in my head, which in turn my little voice in my head says --Hey this is what Ben said to you. Guess I am never to old to learn or relearn is more like it. I wanted to put some water reflections in the trunks and just a little texture going on in the bark. I haven't ever been an abstract painter more of a realistic painter. To the point of painting with oil on the smooth side of Masonite with a sable brush. Like photographic with the oils and Masonite.

The same painting but with the filter over it, certainly looks different, kind of watercolor looking. I used Marilyn Sholin's messier brush on the painting and with my wonderful pastels. I think they are my safety net being as I painted with them for so many years.

Well I will be back with some more zentangles, paper paintings or something that is sparking my interest at the moment.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

Pretty maidens all in a row

2011-02-15T13:33:00.000-06:00

     When we went to Dallas in October, Lane and I went to a mall and she knew of this wonderful store. I don't even remember the name of it but I am sure it does remember it's name so I guess that is all that counts. It had a wonderful assortment of goodies to keep us occupied looking for a while. Well lo and behold but there was this stand filled with wonderful knobs. Yep knobs. I had no idea what I was going to use them for, but had to think fast to justify why I should buy some. Ladies do have to be able to justify their purchases you know. OK, I quickly thought, I have this little cabinet thingy that I use to hold some of my jewelry in. Not really a jewelry ( whatever the fancy French name for cabinet is ) but just a little thingy. So that is where they were going to go. Lane helped me pick them out and off I went with the knobs in hand and I was happy as a lark knowing they will be in a happy place.

I got home and put the knobs by the cabinet and there they sat, something in the back of my head kept saying is this really where you want to put these jewel of knobs ? Guess not, because they sat for a couple of months.   Every time I looked at them I thought poor little things they don't have a home except for sitting in the closet at the fancy smancy dressing area.

If you remember we bought this wonderful black scrapbooking cabinet. It had and you notice I said had, plain black knobs and just plain black fronts.   Well not any more. The knobs are proudly displaying themselves on the cabinet where I can enjoy them daily along with my shoes I bought that are just to cool but way to big for me.

Here they are all lined up ready to be attached and shown off.   The fronts of the cabinets are still plain but hopefully that won't be for long.

There you go the pretty maidens all in a row.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in Annette's world.

A Paper Painting or Collage or just a spot of Tea

2011-02-05T21:19:00.000-06:00

Painting in any media is a challenge sometimes. You have this wonderful idea , sketch it on you surface and think oh man this is going to be so fun.    It started out that way and then just kind of grew into a two or three headed monster.   First I was going to make it just a pure painted paper, then go on from there.

I blocked the painting in, that was a good thing.   Martha Stewart sorry that I used that phrase for a painting but it was for the moment.   I was getting a little sure of myself and thought hey hey this is going to work.

Got the painted started and was having a good time and then one morning came in and looked at it and thought OMG, texting slang there and sometimes it just works OMG. That background or something is not working. Now it has been years since I have done traditional art and remembered to turn it upside down. Well at this point upside down, sideways or just the backside of it wasn't going to help. A friend, Marilyn suggested to hold it up to the mirror. I had forgotten that, thanks Marilyn.

I was tearing paper, remembering that in scrapbooking if you tear a certain way you don't get the white edges.   Then I thought OK, how about some lace and a dryer sheet ? That would work. So that came next. I knew the dryer sheets were good for something else. I don't really use them but had read somewhere that you could use them.   so now I proudly have a box of them in the utility room ready to do their job of softening something and then to the art room. I did use one to make my fairy Gossamer Moon Dancer. So why not a teapot ?

I then found a broken Christmas star thingy and cut it up. It was like a capiz shell or whatever you call it  and thought that would work also.   I just glued and cut to my little hearts content.

Here is the sketch, it is on a recycled canvas. I did have a cupcake on there and thought no don't want that, might make me hungry while painting it.

The blocked in painting, still a cupcake but not for long. When you block them in sometimes you can see your problems. I guess I just was not looking good enough or my eyes were looking at the cupcake wondering what wonderful flavor it was.

A close up of the shell that I added to the painting. Now remember these things don't look to spiffy up close.

A close up of the lace and dryer sheet. Don't you know it thinks it is the cat's meow for not ending up in the trash and on a painting. Well, if dryer sheets think that is. I don't think they do.

Here you go the finished painting. I changed part of the background and left some pink showing thru and thought that was the culprit. It just had to much reddish going on in it. Needed some more of the foreground color somewhere else in the painting.

OK, that is it for now. I have another one in the works and it should be fun. I know this was suppose to be also, but this next one should be. Well, if I don't get to detailed with it. I do have to remember when I painted traditionally that I use to work on the smooth side of masonite to get a super real looking still life with my oil paint and a wonderful sable brush. Oh that felt good to paint with a sable brush and was so nice and smooth. I painted forever on a subject. We are talking layers and layers. I keep reminding myself if I painted this digitally I could just delete the layer and go on my merry way.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in Annette's world. You just never know.

A few more Zentangles

2011-02-03T17:56:00.001-06:00

Happy February, we have to write and read fast. This month, even though it is just two days short seems to just fly by. It is a good time to trim roses , usually valentines day it the target day and then you get beautiful roses in about 6 weeks or so. If you miss it by a day or so I don't think they will know the difference. I have not noticed them wearing a watch or checking the calendar.

OK, I know these calming pieces of art work are fun and so habit forming but I just had to post a couple more of them. I am doing several a night.   Every time I get by the TV watching chair, that pad and pen just jump in my hand. Now grant you other activities happen in the chair besides watching TV. The list starts with petting our fur babies, eating a snack, petting the fur babies, reading my art magazines, doing Zentangles and petting the fur babies. Now these babies are not inside dogs but we let them in to get love while Eldon fixes their food and of course getting a snack for them.

The last few nights have been so cold, I mean massive cold---like zero, 5, and 6 ish. that is to cold even for them to go to their tropical hideaway. Which we don't tell them is the back garage for the plants and have a couple of heaters in there for the plants. We just disguise it as a tropical hideaway.

Back on track here, so I am showing you a few more Zentangles. If you haven't tried it you really need to, I know you are saying I can't do it. Yes you can and after the first one is done you think hey that was OK and I need to do more.

The leaf, well it started out as a leaf. If you really look you can tell it is there.

This one may be one of my faves, if just started growing and finished up all on it's own. They do that, just take their own little personalities.

The little dragon flies, I love them in the late summer. When I am mowing the back, Eldon does the front, they just follow me around. Not sure why, maybe the hat I wear with the hot pink and lime green hatband. Maybe they like those colors also. This one I started with the little dragon flies and built around them. The little curly ques are just so easy and cute.

OK, I promised not to get to carried away. I hope you try some of these. Remember just paper and a micron or fine tip pen and you have all the supplies you need. These in real life are 4 inches or so, no bigger. I have tried a few bigger ones last night. My friend Suzanne is doing full page ones, she is the brave one.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

GOD, Mandala and Paula Deen

2011-01-26T18:22:00.001-06:00

There is a bible verse..... "Be still and know that I am God" Psalms 46:10.   Now I am thinking that this is prayer or can be meditating. Right ?  To keep our minds focused and clear of clutter.

A Mandala is a circular design .   It is a pattern to which to meditate.    They express completeness and invite us to experience ourselves as a whole being, an individual.   I took this partial sentence from a book of Susanne F. Fincher.    She has some coloring books, if you will, of different Mandalas and you may color them any way you chose and it very relaxing. I have not colored any but have studied the book. Susanne's Madalas are beautiful and help with Balance, Harmony and Spiritual Well-Being.

Eldon has another book with natural Mandalas in it.   A beautiful one with nature all intertwinded as nature is. The title is Natural Mandalas all of nature to help find Peace and Awareness in the beauty of nature. This book is by Lisa Tenzin-Dolma.

Now I wanted to share this little bit of info with you to help explain just what in the world is Annette doing ?

I first started out with one Mandala drawn and then went a whole and totally different direction with the creation of it. I used my new art friend ' painted papers '   and just played, This is what developed.   The words I used in it all talk about Mandalas. It first started out simple with hearts, like with the compasses you played with in school and one of the assignments was to make a design and color it with the awful map colors. They were so pastel.     I did love doing those also and usually would do several for different ones in the classes because they didn't want to do them.  I wonder if the teacher ever noticed they were all kind of alike but with different students names on them ?   Probably but I never got into trouble doing that.   This one definately is not pastel, it did change colors many times until I felt good about it.

I just wanted to share this one with you and intend on making more, probably with the 'painted papers' and some with pastel and acrylics. Just playing with them feels good.

Close up of the center of the Mandala.

The whole painting of the Mandala. I loved the colors and just wanted you to wander around in it for a while. Oh, the little T's at each corner do not stand for Texas Tech. Just a little FYI.

That is if for now, just wanted to share another paper painting with you.

Oh and what does Paula Deen have to do with this ? She has a quote or saying that I love and I think we all should go with it-------" A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand " --Paula Deen.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today. Looks like I have made January a happy month and now it can stand proudly with the other months getting several blogs in under it's belt.

New Sketch Pad Needed

2011-01-23T16:59:00.000-06:00

Here are a few more Zentangles. My goodness this is habit forming and now I need to go buy another sketch pad and pen. I ran out of paper in my pad and ink in my pen. This is so relaxing especially when watching TV. I found the Zentangles blog and they had lots of pretties on there.

Hope you enjoy this, I am ready to go to another step with these now.

It amazes me how different they all are and all have such a calming feel about them.

One more Zentangle

I tried a rectangle one here with the new little prompt from Zentangles blog.

I know this is a short blog and not to long winded from me. It is really Annette doing this one, believe it or not. I'll post the blog for Zentangles on my side bar.

Now off to do a new journal page for Roses on My Table. Whew, I am going to wear my little fingers to the bone. Well, not really, just enjoying myself.

Thanks for stopping by Annette's World.