Birdhouse and a Spring Blog Hop

Snapped a picture of the wren house on the backyard fence with the Indian Plum blooming and wanted to share. It's the one of earliest blooming native shrubs and blooms when the spring weather gets serious about arriving.

And speaking of Spring... two of my favorite artists (I've taken classes from both) are included in a group called ArtSpark. They are hosting a Blog Hop of Spring Tutorials that starts today. How fun! You can get the details here:

Carla Sonheim: http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/artspark-spring-tutorials/
Tracie Lynn Huskamp http://thereddoor-studio.blogspot.com/2011/03/tutorial-spring-day-1.html

I'm off to hop a few blogs and dream of Spring weather!

Still playing with oil pastels & ink

I LOVE the results, when I can get the card to come out. I discovered the paper from my sketchbook and Java Ink works best. Here are the final cards for the swap on atcsforall.com. Check out my techniques page to get details of how this was done.

Happy Spring!

Playing with beeswax and thinking of spring flowers.

A Visit with a Friend

I have made some wonderful friendships online, with artists from all over the world. I had an opportunity to meet one of those friends from the Chicago area yesterday when she was in Seattle for the NAEA conference. Only 90 miles away, and I couldn't resist! We had a quick lunch at a quirky little thai place a few blocks from her hotel, talking and laughing non-stop until she had to return to her meetings.

Then a leisurely drive home with husband (who had been checking out an electric bike shop and his favorite nursery while we met). It was a good day!

Happy St Patricks Day!

May your blessings outnumber 

the shamrocks that grow,  

and may trouble avoid you 

wherever you go.

A green fairy arch to wish you a Happy St. Patrick's Day! Probably should be a leprechaun, but I haven't one at hand. 

Now to find something green to wear, and a green beverage. No worries, it's green tea! 

Cheers!

Thinking up a new pin series... this is a test that needs a bit of something and I haven't decided quite what that is yet. It's using up bits and pieces from other projects, so mostly recycled. More to come...

What I have learned

People grieve differently. Some turn exclusive (she loved me more) Some turn vicious (his things are mine). Some forever alienate people by not considering others feelings or considering their methods of grief. With my daughter's death, I was "discarded" by some of my family. (They knew her better, loved her better) Seriously? More than her mother? Okay. Whatever.

It's sad to see that friends are doing it to each other with another friends recent death. She was just a human, she was not perfect, she gossiped and did mean things behind backs, along with the kindness and love and joy she shared. But we tend to raise the dead to sainthood. I have reached a low tolerance for it at this point of my life. Let go and go on...

And I'm tired after a long day, so am saying more here than I would normally. I choose to focus on positive rather than negative and am tired of those who choose otherwise.

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
Robert Frost 

Spring Journal

I've been working on my little journals... this one is Spring themed. Pages are prepped with a watercolor wash, and the cover has sections of paper napkin adhered with matte medium. Much more to do...

Another OWOH prize!

This arrived in my mailbox yesterday, from Theresa at Design 48. A prize from the One World One Heart tour last month. Isn't it adorable? Check out her lovely art on her blog http://designforty-8.blogspot.com/.

Three Little Journals

I spent a bit of time last night and this morning making some journals, adapting the format from Teesha Moore's 16 page journal to fit 9 x 12 watercolor paper... 'cuz that's what I have. I cut a few sheets into 4 1/2 inch x 12 inch lengths, using 3 per journal. It's a size that I'll actually work with. I am not comfortable in large journals, that's just how I am. :)

One is a black and white journal done for a challenge by a friend from Canada who I see every so often at Wednesday demos at a local crafting store. I stamped the cover with black gesso and a foam stamp. It will get more work, but I wanted to try a bit of painting before sewing it together.

I've started to paint the inside of the colorful ribbon journal. I think it's going to be a spring themed. I am SO ready for spring. :)

Oh! And I'm going to use the cool new Whimsical Lettering I learned from Christy Schroeder yesterday in my journals. She's an amazing calligrapher who has been teaching for several years. Here's my "take home" from class. It is SO much fun! 

You can see I need improvement... but I am practicing. And I will include this cool lettering in these journals!

Art on Display

Last night was the opening of the Allied Arts of Whatcom County Members Show, with my mixed media painting on display along with other fabulous art. It was fun to go see all the art, and then do the Downtown Art Walk. A bit chilly, but at least it quit raining. I forgot to get a picture of the framed piece, so got this not-so-good picture on the wall. I'll try to get a better one using my real camera not the cell phone. :)

Check out this blog giveaway

Just wanted to share a blog giveaway, and a tutorial site recommended by a friend on atcsforall.com. Check it out!

Oil Pastels

My friend Cheryl gifted me a box of oil pastels... just because she's a sweetie. Coincidentally, my online friend Joss from UK just started a technique swap on atcsforall.com using Oil Pastels and Ink... so of course I now am playing along!

This is the third ink type, using Walnut Inks. I found they worked the best... so far. I'm still playing. I could not get an even cover with ink pads, and didn't like the India ink (it's also permanent). Learning by trial and error! This needs a bit of finish work but it will probably be for the swap.

I have started a "Techniques to Share" page on my blog where you can get all the details on how to do this. If you have oil pastels and walnut ink spray, try it out. Oh... you may want to wear gloves for the ink portion, although most of the ink came off my hands in the wash. :)