Nourished in the New Year

As the new year approaches, I've been pondering on what I want for myself in 2012 & I kept returning to a need to feel nourished; not just nutritionally, but physically, emotionally, creatively & spiritually.  And so, I'm committing to nourishment of my being starting RIGHT NOW!  Feels sooooo good!

This morning's breakfast

Today I am being creative & completing some unfinished art projects; I'll be posting them here so I hope you'll stop back by & visit to see what's new.

Happy & Blessed New Year to you!

GPP Crusade #58

I wanted very much to take part in Michelle Ward's GPP Street Team crusade #58 "Girls on Film" because I agree wholeheartedly that it's important we do get in front of the camera from time to time; this was the perfect challenge to help me step out of my comfort zone behind the lens & smile for the camera!  These pics are during holiday fun this month.  I'm so glad I did get these photos of enjoying my time with people I love!  Here's a link to Michelle's GPP Street Team site http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/

Thanks, Michelle, for your encouragement to document my life from in front of the lens & not just from behind it!

Cake pop vendor let us us his props for a fun photo

Here's me & my dear friend, Linda, gettin' festive over a holiday weekend getaway.  Top pic is at the Cornish Christmas in Grass Valley, CA. & below is at the Victorian Christmas celebration in Nevada City, CA.  Good times!

Below pic is on Christmas Day, with my youngest niece & my nephew.  Love those 2 sooooo much!

Hoping that you've all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season!

Thrift-A-Licious!

This past weekend I was on the hunt for items (vintage forks, to be exact) to use in an altered art project; so, off to the thrift stores I went!  Not only did I find the forks for my project, but also scored a few other delightful things; my most excellent being 3 lightweight, yet sturdy & just-the-perfect-size chairs for my dining nook-$19.96 total for 3 chairs (no 4th, but that's OK 'cuz 3 fits better into my teeny-tiny dining space).

What a deal!

Snagged a couple of sweet doilies & a wooden spoon that are all destined for future art projects:

A wee bit over $2 for the lot!

And, this amazing basket that I just had to have-vintage masher is woven into the basket for a handle-how clever is that?  Oh, and the price of $2.50 could not be beat!

Next, a lovely, shabby stoneware bucket I'll fill with gilded pinecones for the holidays-won't that be pretty?

I saved the best for last...at least, for me, it's the best; I love Frankoma pottery (my dad was originally from OK & we used Frankoma dishes all during my growing up years).  I've just begun my own collection & looky here what I snagged for $4:

 

Yessssss!  I've never seen a Frankoma 4-leaf clover-oh, lucky day!  It's the sweetest lil' dish & I just LOVE it!

And so, another happy thrifting adventure comes to a close...'till next time!

Mad Scientist

Well....I'm more of a happy scientist, especially when I'm messin' around in some sort of creative way & for the very first time I'm joining Michelle Ward's "GPP Street Team" Crusades.  Current series is "Evidence" (this one is #53-Mad Scientist & is all about mixing colors); go here to read all about it http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that

I wanted some sunset colors & decided to start with an orange-y pink; so, bright orange + salmon

= this:

 I call this "Creamsicle"

 and, though pretty, not quite what I have in mind.  So, next I mix in a great big glob of "Pink Sherbet"

and...TaDa!

I'm calling this new blend "Rancho Rosa"

because it reminds me of  the outside of my favorite market near where I work; the building's colors are just dee~lish:

 Then, after all my concocting & mixing, it suddenly strikes me that this color looks nearly identical to the ready-made bottle of Salmon paint I mixed with the orange to begin with...WHAT? I mixed that up just so it could look EXACTLY like one I started wtih?  Felt like I was going in circles here; but, no, look at the left (ready-made) & my creation (on the right) and they are not the same after all.

Ready-made                         My mix:  "Rancho Rosa"

 My concoction is just the shade I was looking for; had I not played "mad scientist", I would not have had this lovely "Rancho Rosa" to pink up a sunset I wanted to paint on an art piece.  Thank you, Michelle, for inspiring me to experiment with color!

Chaos on Canvas

You may recall a previous post earlier this summer about a canvas swap project I was having oodles of fun creating for in the "All Things Tim" Yahoo group.  Well, the swap took place & I have received my finished work of art back from the swap hostess, Sharona, and lemme tell ya...it totally rocks!  For the participants, Sharona attached the 5 canvases together that each of us was to receive & created a header piece for the top (note:  we all had 1 of our own canvases included in the 5 we got back & I thought that was great because I was rather attached to those I'd made; guess that's to be expected when you put your heart & soul into creating).  So, without further ado, here is the art piece that is now hanging proudly on the inside of my front door:

Sharona's header piece

My canvas

Stephen Jew's FANTASTICAL creation~isn't it wonderful?

Canvas created by Barb Urbassik; LOVE how she cut a "window" into the piece!

Amazing canvas creation from Jason Pettigrew~so COOL!

Michael Farrell's DIVINE vintage Paris canvas...Ooh La La!

Thank you, Sharona, for being such a FABULOUS swap host and also to each of the artists who created such BEAUTIFUL canvases.  I ADORE them all!

2011 Sketchbook Project is underway...

I am so excited about taking part in this artistic adventure that is a worldwide undertaking!  Click on the link at right for more deets & there is still time to participate~sign up by 10/31/10 at the project site.

My chosen them for my sketchbook is "Make Mine A Double".  Wondering what I will be creating in this theme?  Check back here periodically for sneak previews!  I can't wait to see where this journey will take me and I'm tickled pink at the idea of having you along for the ride...whether as a participant in the project or a visitor here to see the progress of my book.  Won't this be fun?