Art, cards, and Rangers!

Good morning! I'm really trying to make my blog more active. I know I always say that, but I really am going to try!!

First, I've made some Christmas cards that will eventually make their way into Etsy shop once I get it open!! Here they are!
Obviously, I've been going for the non-traditional Christmas look. I love the retro color combination of pink, teal, and lime green. I just wanted to catch the eye of different crowds! (They aren't too bad, however, I think I may need to shot pictures of them instead of scanning them. They look a little flat and lifeless this way. If I shoot a picture of them, they might look more appealing. Hmm. . .)

Next, I've been taking a class by Tam, aka Willowing. It is called Art, Heart, and Healing. She is offering it free!! She is an amazing artist and person! Check out her website here!! I found her videos on YouTube a couple years ago, and I've been hooked every since!! You can join her Free class here on her ning site! She is incredible! You must try out her class. She will be offering a new class in January as well!

In Tam's class, we are healing through art. I'm nearly two weeks behind on my projects, but that doesn't matter. Week 1's assignment was to create an art journal entry. We wrote our 'inner critic' feelings on the journal page, gessoed over it, and then painted a portrait that was represent us even if it didn't look just like us! Then, we had to reverse all the negative things we say to ourselves daily, and put that sentence on the page facing the portrait! Great stuff, Tam! Here is mine:

One final note! The Rangers play game 3 of the World Series tonight. They had some trouble in San Fransisco, so I just want to say:

GO RANGERS!

NaNoWriMo, etc

Ok, a little over two days until NaNoWriMo, and I still have NO plot! Well, that's not entirely true. I have a whiff of an idea, but I haven't fleshed it out yet. I picked it up in the Adoption Society on the NaNoWriMo forums. I don't want to tell you all yet. I want to see what little interesting tid bits I can add to my idea before the fateful day of Monday. . .dun-dun-DUN. . .November 1 rolls around! I really would like to give this a good shot this year. I just don't feel completey ready. Oh well-perhaps it is like having a baby. . .you never are completely ready!

Speaking of Baby. . .yeah. . .no! Nothing on that front yet!

I'm still looking for a job. I applied at Sublime Chocolate here in Allen yesterday! Still keeping my fingers crossed they will call. What fun would that be? I think working there would be so incredibly enjoyable! And so up my alley! We'll see. (Of course, this afternoon, I had to watch Chocolat! If you haven't seen that movie, you must!!)

Not much else going on for me. I'm working to get things ready to open a shop on Etsy soon. I hope it does well. I have some cards made, but I need to make more. I've ordered some shipping supplies, and as soon as they arrive, I will be in business! *squeal!!!*

Chicken Marsala for dinner tonight. Yummy. Kevin and I will just chill and go to bed early because we both didn't get enough sleep last night- went to bed too late and up too early. Fun Fun!

Oh, and tomorrow, I will make some pumpkin bread and some pumpkin dip! It is perfect weather for both! Yum yum!

Take care all you beautiful people! Hopefully, I'll have some art and cards to post soon!

Let's go Rangers

Ok, first of all, LET'S GO RANGERS! Game 2 of their first World Series!!! Woop!!!!



Second, I'm going to try to do NaNoWriMo this year. You can see it here. I hope to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. I tried it last year, but I did broke the 11,000 mark. I was writing a historical novel, so the facts were slowing me down. Even when I totally changed my direction, I still never finished.

This year, I'm trying to decide on what I will write. However, I'm looking for something with less restrictions. I hope I can do it! I'll try to keep you all posted on my progress. I will need to come up with my plot first! EEEEK! Anyone have any ideas- no matter how crazy!!

Sketchbook Project

Yes, I did it! I signed up for the Sketchbook Project. The theme I selected is "it must be. . ." My plan is to have every page(s) finish that phrase. I haven't done too many pages, but here is what I have so far!!

Goals and other things

Hello! My mind has been racing today. . so many thoughts.

First of all, I keep thinking about a dream I had. I was in a 2nd grade class, but it was like a college class. It was only an hour, but I was with 2nd graders. (I think the idea of the class was to help me be a better reading teacher. What??) Even weirder, one of my closest friends (who is a 2nd grade teacher) was teaching my class. So strange.

Last night at church, our Pastor asked a question: "What are your goals? What are your goals for one year from now, 5 years from now, and 10 years from now? And what are you doing to get to those goals?" The question really stumped me. His point was in Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish. . ." He said the Hebrew word translated to mean 'vision' also meant dreams and goals. It really got me thinking. What are my goals?? Do I have any? He went on to say that people who don't have goals or dreams or something to strive for aside from getting up, going to work, earning money, and spending said money, were often sad and struggled much more. That really got me, too. Lately, this summer, I've found myself very sad. I fluctuate between being happy and content to being completely down and feeling lost and alone. This is fairly normal for me, but the rate at which I'm changing emotions is rather alarming!!

Anyway, so moving on. . .What are my goals? Hmm. . Let's see:

Within a year:
start and finish the Sketchbook Project
Create 3-4 more portraits for friends
Create several more paintings
Get Pregnant
Sell my artwork and cards on Etsy
Start building websites to bring in extra money
Start saving more money and managing my money better

Within 5 years:
Have a baby
Work at home (websites or art)

Within 10 years:
Have two children
Have extra money and a cushion in the bank account

Wow. . I guess I actually do have some goals. More goals than I thought. Hmm . .I'm feeling much better now!!!

Ok, well, today, the plan is to make French Macarons. However, the humidity is currently at 71%, so wish me luck!!! I also hope to paint and possibly finish the first part of a portrait I'm working on!

Have a great day!

Sketchbook Project 2011- Should I? Shouldn't I?

I came across this from a link on facebook.

It looks pretty awesome. You sign up for $25. They send you a moleskine sketchbook. You make sketches according to one of 20+ themes, and then you send it back. They get sketchbooks from all over the world. Then, all the completed sketchbooks go on tour. People all over the country get to look at your sketchbook. After the tour, the sketchbooks will stay in the Brooklyn Art Library where it will receive a barcode and be there for anyone to check out and explore! As the artist, you can even track your sketchbook to find out how many people are checking it out! How awesome!

Yes, it all sounds very cool, I admit, however, I do have some reservations. . .(this is me. . .I can't do anything without reservations! geez!) Just looking at the website and the few samples I could find, my artwork pales in comparison! My artwork looks more like a child's drawing than a thirty-something adult. On the other hand, finishing this would be great practice at improving my art. Hmm... My other reservation is will I get it done. I suppose if I don't, I'm not out much- just the money to sign up. Hmm. . Let's see. . reservations: check. . . convinced myself NOT to try: NOPE. I think I'll try it. I don't have much to lose!!!

Has anyone participated in this before? If so, let me know. I'd love to know about your experience!

Take care all!

Remember me?

Hello all! Gosh, it has been ages since I blogged. I'm so sorry! I'll do better this summer!

Ok, first up, what have I created since February? Hmm. . .I'll post pictures and explain!

My dad's birthday is in February. This is the cake I made for him. He is a Civil War re-enactor, and this cake is the Irish Brigade flag. He loves the Irish Bridgae, and when he can, he likes to 'fight' under that flag! This was perfect for his birthday!


Of course, macarons! I made this in March. Strawberry coconut and Lemon Vanilla! They were quite good, and, as you can see, quite photographic! I have the urge to make macs now, but it is far too humid in north Texas right now to pull them off! Soon, I hope. Maybe I'll make some marshmallows!! Yummy!

On to artwork. Sadly, this is really the only painting I've created! This is a portrait I made for a friend of mine who is a teacher- she teachers the advanced math class hence the numbers around her. She is very special to me, and I wanted to create something for her! I gave it during the last week of school, and she hung it in her classroom. She told me she got lots of compliments on it! I'm very proud. My art has improved greatly since I started drawing/painting!

I've been making cards, too, but nothing exceptional, so I won't post pictures!

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the summer! I'll be back soon!