The -ber Months

 Finally, we are into the months that end in -ber.  Which means fall or autumn if you like, is coming! My most favorite time of year even though there is much nonsense going on on this rock we call home. This has not been a good year for me but I'd really like to try to turn it around in some creative way. So... I had bought these little ornament kits from a dollar store, I think last year. I found them while clearing out some things. I left them out. For months and decided to take them out of their package because they needed painting. I mean anything- anything to get back to being creative. Right? So they sat on my cutting table for another month and last week I did it. I painted the little critters. 

Now when you have inexpensive little kits like this, the longer they are hidden the paint dries. Yep. It was like glue. Good thing I had my real paints, which also haven't fared too well. The hole for dispensing the paint was clogged. In all paint bottles. Okay then. It seems I really must get back to it so as not to waste what's left of my paint stash.

So I did it. This thing called painting. I had something in mind but things weren't going that way so this is what I ended up with. Not great (yes, I started to beat myself up over it) but I finished them. It's a start right? They are now with my other Halloween pieces and that makes me happy.

Onward September!

One Tiny Step

At a time will get you closer to where you want to be. The past two days were horrid. Storm fronts passing by, temps going up and down to quickly, high winds just didn't like my body. Feeling a bit better today and finally got some things worked on. Painted some little faces and everyone got bloomers except Frida. Her's are coming.

It felt good pulling out and working with paints even though part of me forgot what to do first. That will change. But I'm liking my little group. It's supposed to get warmer as the week continues and I hope we don't get anymore storms for awhile.

Still Here!

Yep, still here. It's been rough getting used to being in a new place even though I'm from the state I've since relocated to.  But I am made of some strong stuff and after some creative soul searching, I'm ready to move on. After all, it's my life and I plan on making it special and leaving one heck of a creative legacy behind. I'm still trying to find a blog design that I like and may end up going back to a tried and true one that I've used before. Sometimes change is good, sometimes... not so much.

I've done some more sketches, working on where some things are going but I'm ready to get back to Halloween. That's coming up so fast and I've got an idea for a couple of other projects. Still in the gestational stage but I'm getting a few likes. The little guys below may or may not be totems. I've pulled some fabric and trims. I guess I'll just have to make one.

Missy is so excited about having her school photos taken. She's been waiting a long time.

And I had to sketch out some monsters. Very rough and something more detailed will follow soon. A bit excited about these guys.

Writing is coming along too and I hope to share more information about that. I'll be working on the fourth draft of one short story, third draft on another, and started another. And they are all over the place. Two paranormal and one romantic comedy. More like unusual romance. Yeah, because there may be a body found. That's all for now. Take care.

One Week In

Wow! The new month is off and running. My finger is a lot better. Typing has gotten better. I was able to wash said finger today with soap and water. No bandage. Yay! I was able to do some sketching and painted a picture in my sketchbook. Straightened my work area so that come Monday I can get back to making things out of some Creative Paperclay. I've been writing some and today I will retype a short story. I also want to watch a movie again to look at the costumes because I want to do that too. It will be my take on something. Considering the nightmares and nonsense going on in the world...

I am okay.

These are sketches of forest folk. Just wanting to get into sketching more.

And this is Sania, a zombie, who is ready for spring so she can get some sun.

Acrylic on watercolor paper. Have a great weekend.

Saturday Post

Yep, weird week but I made it. Got back to sketching, prepped my next Redwork piece, painted in the sketchbook. Maybe I can fill it up this year. One can hope. And here are some flowers in the yard. Spring has sprung.

I was supposed to do this Krampus around Christmastime but didn't get to him. So here he is, ready for spring. Maybe I should do a series on Mr. Krampus during the off season when he's not harassing bad children. Maybe this is his end of the school year picture. Ha!

I got my fabric prepped for my next Redwork piece. I used a woven interfacing on the back to see if it's a bit more stable to stitch but not be overly heavy to get the needle through. We shall see.

#redwork #krampus #embroidery #woveninterfacing #pellon #dayofthedead

Hello December -No Pic Post

I keep saying it. Time flies by whether you're having fun or not. We are into the last month of 2016. And even though the bulk of this year sucked like no one's business, I've decided to turn it around. Taking a look back, I have allowed things to happen to me, waited for things to happen to me and be thoroughly disappointed with the outcomes. If there were any. That hasn't been getting me anywhere I want to be. So instead of waiting for the New Year to make those goofy resolutions which pretty much don't work, I'm working on the change right now. No more living for others (I've probably said that before but it's finally clicking); it's time to start enjoying life. I only get one. At least on this plane of existence. I'm finally ready.

I can talk about things that have hurt me in the past without bursting into tears. Although, a good cry every now and again helps get all the toxins out that have built up. I am working on new projects and working on not worrying about things that I have no control over. It is what it is. Things happen. I can be so upset about those things, crawl under a rock and want to whither away or take a deep breath, see if I can fix things or wait for them to play out. I've got plans now. I'm not afraid to wake up and get my day started. I wake up, give thanks that I've been given another day, and get excited about what I will do.

Excited. I can't remember the last time I've been excited about things that I want to do and have started to do. I love getting back to my watercolor painting. Will it bring in money? I don't know. Maybe one day but right now, I'm learning to work the medium again so that I can get comfortable with it. When I paint, it relaxes me. For an hour I can forget everything else and paint. Then when I'm done, my head is clearer and I can do what really needs to be done. I'm learning that being busy all the time is not necessarily a good thing. Rushing to finish things because I think I'm running out of time. Maybe I am for a few things but my point is is that I'm beginning to enjoy the process. Starting with Step 1, then Step 2 and to not think about the final destination and that it should happen like in five minutes. I have been missing the process. And I tell you, when you take the time for the process of a project, you slow down. Our culture is so on a fast track for everything. But I was happiest when I created work when I enjoyed each step. Sometimes things worked, and sometimes they didn't. When they didn't, I didn't get upset. I reevaluated things and kept going. I'm getting back to that. Slowly but surely it's coming back and it feels great!

And I'm working on curbing the thinking. Sometimes I would think so much on a project that I would think myself into not doing anything. Then I'd beat myself up for not doing anything. Really bad cycle. I still have my lists but they are a lot shorter and if a project takes a little longer than the time I'd given, that's okay.  I'm okay. I am a work in progress and I like that. Growing is a part of living, of being human. And I'm smiling more.

After hitting rock bottom in October, pulling myself out of the hole of despair and self pity in November, I'm ready to rock it in December and 2017. Time to reach for those stars.

Two Little Paintings

I am a work in progress. I had a good early part of the week, then I had problems with my sinuses because of the weather and humidity and didn't get much done at the end of the week. I tried to salvage something by doing two little paintings. The mermaid is a thank you card and the other has a letter in it to a friend. I enjoy writing letters to friends and most of the time I add artwork. And I have a short list for today.

Sketchbook

I'm getting better at logging things into my sketchbooks. One is very tiny and it's difficult holding it open while taking pictures. Maybe I can get a friend to do a short video while I flip through some of the pages. My watercolor book if starting to fill up. Being silly. The thing is to do something everyday or every other day to fill the book up. The two below are permanent ink and Ink Tense paints.

This exercise, I wanted to get all the colors of the Ink Tense paints on paper to see what I have.

This lighthouse is watercolor paint and Ink Tense.

Sketchbooks

I have three sketchbooks that I need to fill up by the end of the year. Why? Because I should be practicing in them anyway and I can't buy new ones until I've put the work into the ones I already have. I so love sketchbooks. Big ones, little ones, medium ones, leather ones, handmade ones... you see what I mean. Someone gave me this watercolor sketchbook/journal and I decided to use it. I'm not too fond of the paper, it's Strathmore 140 pound weight, cold press. It doesn't take my watercolor paint that I use very well. It does take the Derwent Ink Tense paints quite well so I will use mostly that in this book. The top one I used Yarka watercolor paints and Ink Tense.

This one I used Ink Tense. I was trying to do bamboo but they look like antennae. That's why this is practice stuff.

Made It

I survived another month. March is now in the record books. It wasn't a great month. Fell off the turnip truck yet again but I've picked myself up, dusted myself off, and I'm looking for another truck to hop on. So here's what happened:

• 2 books read
• 12 days of writing
• 4 business quilts
• 2 preemie quilt tops together, 1 longarmed
• 12 World of Wendy Lu blog posts 
• 6 Wendy B Quilts blog posts
• worked on 3 Halloween projects
• worked on 2 regular dolls
• a lot of bear sketches
• 4 alcohol ink paintings
• 2 art workshops attended
• 1 writing workshop attended

Now that I look at the list, it wasn't a bad month. I will focus on what I did do and not the things I didn't do. I'm okay with that.

Learned Something New

Today, I took a workshop using alcohol inks. Very interesting. I have many ideas that I would like to work on but for now, I will continue to learn the medium. It's actually pretty cool. And can be a bit messy. I'm all for that.

A little Bit...

I promised some friends snail mail art. I've got tons of tiny sketches, I now have to put them on nice paper and paint or use color pencils to finish. Here are the first two.

No Pic Post

Yes, no pics this time round. The quilts biz has been keeping me busy. The weather has been a little crazy too and we've had our fist tropical storm, Ana, a month before the hurricane season starts June 1st. Today it will be almost 90 degrees with lots of humidity. I don't mind the heat but the humidity makes my curls curl.

I've prepped two more canvas panels for painting. I will get back to my room box, I will get pics for that. I put in a floor and messed it up because I didn't stop when I got tired. I kept going and messed it up. I don't know if I'll be able to fix it but if not, I can cover it with a rug or a bed. Note to self: when working with miniatures, take your time and quit when you're tired.

I've started my list for some Halloween pieces. Been doing some tiny sketches, improving on them and take some pics. I'm still a little apprehensive about getting back to sketching, it was one of the things I didn't really like doing when I was in art school. But I really should get my ideas down and then I can see if they will work in the 3D realm.

I've been reading like crazy. Discovered mystery writer MC Beaton who does the Hamish Macbeth series. Like those a lot. And I'll be going to Scotland one day.

A Painting

I finally got a painting done. I had started it a month ago and made time to finish it. I used Walnut Hollow oil color pencils on a canvas board covered with black gesso.

Here is my initial sketch and the transfer onto the panel.

I like how the colors pop on the black background. I didn't like the texture of the canvas panel. So for the next one, I sanded the panel a little to make it a bit smoother. I will then add on one or more coats of black gesso. Such a wonderful idea I got from another artist friend.

We'll see how this one works out. I have a series of mask kids because I have that many panels. Cheers!

April- No Pic Post

April. Here we are again. A new month. The fourth in the year and I feel so behind. But, I have a whole new month to create new things. I didn't work much on writing and that will have to change if I want to get something finished. And I'm already thinking Halloween.

I am ready for spring though. This year I want to go outside more. Go on more walks, go to the park and enjoy the birds and plants. I intend on spending more time out-of-doors and with friends. I see more one day trips in my future too. I will not dwell on what didn't get accomplished last month, even though I wonder where March went? It kind of doesn't matter because it's gone.

I started off the month by getting a commission for four Christmas ornaments. Yes, Christmas. And I got a deposit, which is great. For April, I want to finish and work on a lot. I will put it all on my list and see what happens. I still have my Good Things jar and I can't see the bottom anymore, so I guess I'm off to a good start with that. I've made 12 of 20 pieces of art for Lent and I have eight more to go.

APRIL
Finish:

• 3 rats
• 2 Gail Wilson dolls
• 7 aliens
• 4 bunners
• Regency romance short story rough draft

Work on:

• Halloween sketches for witches and other scaries
• summer blouse for me
• 3 scarecrows
• 3 paintings

That's my update for now. I'll be reporting back in on a regular. Take care.

A Face in Progress

I'm trying a new technique from Linda Browning. You crumple up a piece of wrapping tissue, spread it out on a wet surface (watercolor paper) and then add color. When the paper is almost dry, you peel it off and it leaves lines.

I put down two different blues first, let that dry a little and then added the brown because I want to attempt a face. Linda uses this technique for landscapes. So this should be interesting if I can pull it off.

You can kind of see the lines left by the paper and barely see the brown. Of course, this pic is a bit washed out and looks better in real life. This one will probably take me the longest time to do.

12-29 Faces

Yes, I'm behind, again. So what's new right? I was finally able to get out of my apartment yesterday and today to go to the grocery store. Cabin fever hit something fierce. I have been getting things done, like working on two more aliens.  So here's my Rag Doll Lady or maybe she's a lady scarecrow.

Me thinks I will have to start playing with some photo retouching sites.

11-29 Faces

I painted this face on my Columbian Doll from Gail Wilson's kit. I'm not sure I like it but it's not done. A little sanding and then some antiquing. I want to have her done by the end of the month. Ha, ha!

10-29 Faces

This is washed out looking because I used a gloss medium on it. I forgot not to use that particular kind. Oh well, here she is. I finished her today.

6 & 7 -29 Faces

I'm up-to-date with these two. Bika and Bana in their bunner gear.