Monday, April 20, 2009

Back with new art! (And an Award!)

Ok, so I've been gone for a while. My husband and I have had so much happen! My husband's grandmother (who we have been living with) took a fall at the end of February. She broke her hip. She had replacement surgery. She was in rehab and then a nursing home (to continue the rehab). Well, last Thursday, she fell and hit her head. She died that morning. My husband was devastated since she raised him. He took all of Easter weekend off for her and for the Easter play we were in at church! That weekend was nuts. I'm glad to say my husband is doing much better now- he misses her, but he isn't sorry about the choices he made. We are now trying to get her stuff taken care of, the house cleaned up and fixed up and then we plan to sell it. We are starting to look for a house of our own. We basically put our lives on hold to help her out; we moved in to help her not even a year after we were married. Now, it is our time to have a home and live as newly weds! (Please don't think I'm selfish!)

Second, I have many paintings in the works, etc. This one got finished this weekend!

What do you think? I really like her. I've been a member of the World of Whimsy class with Tam here. She has taught me so much! This is one of the first works I've done since the class. I actually based my girl's clothing off of Emily at the Black Apple. Here is her post where she is wearing those clothes (more or less!) She has an incredible blog if you haven't run across it yet!!!!

I guess that is all for now. I hope to have more art and more posts! Don't forget me even if I'm gone for a while.

ETA: I just found out that Anne nominated me for the Renee Award!
The Renee Award was created by Bella and Ces in honor of their friend Renee.

In Bella's own words: "this is a brand new award and I have the pleasure and honor of spreading the seed, watching it grow. I hope it finds it's way to those who are like Renee: the acorn, a small package becoming a tall and sturdy oak, giving more acorns, becoming tall and sturdy oaks, giving acorns..."

There are no "rules" for claiming this award, but I would suggest the following:
  • Thank the person who nominated you for the Renee Award.

  • Click on the picture above to see it larger, then download it and post it on your blog.

  • Mention the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.

  • Nominate others to receive the award.

  • Comment on their blogs to let them know you nominated them.

  • Visit Bella, Ces, and Renee and let them know you received the award and passed it on. Consider linking your blog post to them, too.
Now, I need to nominate others for the award. I know so few of the actual bloggers of the blogs I read. I'll post the ones who have really inspired me (in no order)

Emily at the Black Apple

Shonna at Twisted Figures

Tam (Willowing) at Willowing.org or her ning network here.

Nicole at A Roof of Ones Own

Nancy at Vintage Papers


Those are just to name a few. There are so many! Maybe I can add some more later.

Kristin

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Good News and Bad News

Good News: There is another giveaway of some very beautiful cutout (collage) sheets! Check out Kristin at Retro Cafe Art Gallery! She is giving away some awesome collage sheets and cutout packs! Go check her out- but do it soon. Her giveaway happens tomorrow!!!

Bad news: my husband and I lost another cat today. Our cats live outside- they are basically strays we feed and take care of. They live in our backyard which isn't fenced. Well, this morning, there were two pit bulls and another mutt running around. They attacked one of our cats. She had been picked up by the dogs. I believed she died instantly. We chased the dogs off and buried her. She was still warm when we put her in the ground. This is the third cat we've had to buried due to violence. Two were attacked by dogs- pit bulls at that. One was shot with a beebee gun!

It aggravates me greatly that I live in a neighborhood where people are so careless to let their dogs run free with out consideration of the consequences. Please, I beg you, take care of your animals, and whatever you do- DON'T take them for granted.

As far as my art goes, I hope to post some more soon! Sorry for the delay in posting new art! Hope to be back soon!

PS: I'm attempting Macarons again today. Cross your fingers!