A Lazy Saturday Morning....

I put some new drawings on my art blog last night....one is a bit "odd" but I hope you'll take a peek and let me know what you think.

Today I'm working in the studio....doing some projects that need to be finished up. I'll give you a peek at them later. And I'll also show you the studio after I've worked in it for a few weeks. So far it's working for me and I'm keeping it fairly clean!

Sorry there's not anything to show you (except for the pictures on my other blog.) Still nothing new to report on D. We're all hoping for the best.

Thank You....and a Little Bit of Art

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the emails and comments on my last post. D is still not responsive....but we are hopeful. Please continue to send your thoughts and prayers to him.

I haven't been doing very much on the computer so you may not see me visiting for a few days but I won't stay away too long. You are all important to me but I just have to take care of family stuff right now.

I have managed to keep up my drawings each evening. Somehow it seems to help me relax. So here are the latest two that I've done....





I'll also be adding them to my art blog.

Thank you once more for all your thoughts and prayers for D. They are much appreciated.

I'm So Sad....

I haven't posted for a few days because my heart just hasn't been in it. Some of you may know that my daughter was in a long-term relationship that ended this past year. Although they were no longer "together" she and D remained friends.

He had recently been at her home for a few days visiting and catching up. They had even planned a little trip together. Sadly before they could leave he suffered a stroke and is now hospitalized in a coma. Because my daughter lives in a smallish town he had to be taken by helicopter to a larger city a couple of hours away.

D is unresponsive and doesn't seem to be able to use the right side of his body. My daughter is upset, confused, and generally in a tailspin.

Please keep them in your thoughts.

Stroke Warning Signs

If you notice one or more of these signs, don't wait. Stroke is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 or your emergency medical services. Get to a hospital right away!
The American Stroke Association wants you to learn the warning signs of stroke:

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
5. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Short Post Today....

I can't post much today but I wanted to show you the last couple of pages I've done in my moleskine. They're up at my art blog. I hope you go take a peek.

Some (Maybe) Interesting Things About Me....

I've been tagged by Sherrie over at Happy Tiler to do this meme so here goes....

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
HB and I were in Colorado Springs, CO but getting ready to spend the summer in Crystal Lake, Il....where I would meet my dear friend, Kathy! I was doing a lot of watercolored cards and making little crocheted bags. I know this because I went back to my journals and found an entry for May 18th (closest I could get)1998!

This is one of my cards from back then....



And here are a couple of my little bags....



2. What are 5 things on your "To Do" list?

1. Finish cleaning the garage. HB and I worked on it this weekend.
2. Finish my project for extra gifts on "The Pink Project"
3. Answer some emails.
4. Try some new art technique.
5. Try to stay cool....it's going to be over a 100º again today!!

3. What are 5 snacks you enjoy? (In no specific order)

1. Ice cream....coffee or butter pecan
2. Chocolate
3. Peanut butter cookies
4. Caramel anything!
5. Popcorn

Now here's the kicker!! Everything on that list is a no-no for me now! I have so many tummy problems that my every day snack now is low-fat soda crackers!

4. Name some things you would do if you were a millionaire. As Sherrie said on her list, a million doesn't go very far these days but if I had unlimited money this is what I would do....

1. Buy my daughter a house and a car.
2. Buy my son a house and a car.
3. Make sure my grandkids could go to college anywhere they chose.
4. Give to the less fortunate and make it an on-going thing.
5. Take lots and lots of art classes!!

5. Name some places where you've lived. It would probably be easier to list places I haven't lived but here goes....

1. Decatur, Il....born there
2. Glendale, CA
3. Colorado Springs, CO
4. Edmonds, WA
5. Albuquerque, NM

6. Name some bad habit you have. Oh, sure! Make me 'fess up, huh!

1. I spend waaaay too much time late at night playing games on the computer!
2. I can procrastinate myself right out of the mood to do something.
3. I spend waaaay too much money on books....we've talked about this before!
4. When I am really mad I have a potty mouth! It doesn't happen often but when I do get mad, take cover!!
5. I have trouble throwing things away.

7. Name some jobs you've had.

1. Telephone operator for Illinois Bell (my first job ever)
2. Real estate sales (back in the 70's)
3. Bartender
4. Online bookseller
5. Office manager for a coffee importer/coffee service

8. Name those whom you are tagging.

Anyone who wants to play along!! I always hate to tag people but if you want to do this be sure to let me know so I can come read your answers.

And a little side note....I put a new drawing up on my Artopia blog. The link to it is in the upper right side of this blog.

Living, Creating, and Learning From Friends....

My recent post really got some people talking and thinking....including me. Thank you to everyone who gave a suggestion or an opinion. It's good to hear other people's thoughts on the subject. Much to my surprise, it also went even a bit further as Sherrie did a whole post on the same subject! Be sure to go over there and read what she has to say. If you aren't familiar with her blog you're in for a treat....and if you're like me and like purple then you'll feel right at home!

After all my searching and questioning, I got in the studio and came up with a new ATC. I haven't done any of these for such a long time. I started with a magazine picture and altered it. I like how it turned out.



And it's even a little bit messy!! There's a little black edge all around but it was mostly cut off in the scan.

I also did another black and white drawing but I decided to keep with the woman theme and this is what I did....



I know her eyes are on different levels....but so are mine! I mostly like how she turned out even thought she isn't perfect. Who is??!

After reading all your comments and listening to what you had to say about creativity I decided to go to my favorite place....where else but the bookstore!! I had nothing in mind, just browsing. I'm not kidding! I really was only browsing and had no intention of buying anything. Many times I just go to the bookstore and spend some time there and it seems to recharge my batteries. But while I was strolling up and down the aisles I looked down to the very bottom shelf and in among all the taller books was a shorter one that caught my eye.

I pulled it out and almost gasped at the title. This is what I bought....yes, after seeing this book I bought it. It seemed like a message....



I've started reading it and I can tell you it's really good. After just one chapter I would recommend this book.

Searching For Answers....

A few days ago I talked about how difficult it is for me to do art that is messy. Is it still art if it's neat? Or is it something else? I have a difficult time being objective about what I do so please be truthful about this. I love doing these detailed doodles but is it considered art?



These are so easy to do that I really wonder if they aren't something akin to drawing a box or a ball. Everyone can do it.

I spend a lot of time looking at other people's art on their blogs and on flickr. I'm always comparing myself to them....I know I shouldn't do that but I do! If we're honest I bet lots of us do the same thing. Sometimes I'm inspired by something I see and other times I look at something and think "wow, I can never do that" and I just give up. Again, I know that's not good, but it's how I feel at times.

I have a difficult time figuring out who I am and what I like without being influenced by others. When it comes to art I like so many different styles and so many different mediums that to decide where I fit in is almost impossible. I know I've talked about this before and if I'm boring you I apologize but this is the only way I can work through this. I flit from one thing to another always hoping to find that one place where I belong. That one area where I excel. I try everything. I own so many art supplies that it's almost embarrassing....and most of them have been used once or twice at most.

Searching for my true self is exhausting! When I was 30 I thought I would find myself soon. Same thing at 40, and again at 50, and now I'm fast approaching 65 and I still have no idea where my niche is or what I'm good at or what I want to be when I grow up! I read everything I can get my hands on about this subject (creativity) and it seems clear when it applies to someone else but when I try to put it to use for myself I fail. What is it I'm missing?? Where do I belong in this world of art? Is it just this art funk I'm in that's making me question everything? Do others go through this, too?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this subject.