Lesson learned, Little Gems and Some New Things

 

First, the lesson learned…. don’t wait, scan or photograph and download every day.  I haven’t done it since I returned from up north and it took me all morning to get images ready to post.

Now, Little Gems.  I’ve been looking at everything I did up north and trying to decide where to go next.  I had some I think I like but not sure and some that I knew I didn’t like but wasn’t sure where to go with them.  I finally decided all I could do was do something, anything, just start so here they are at a stage I’m happier with but still not sure they’re done.

I’ll have to look at them for awhile before I decide.

Meanwhile, I have been doing other things.  Do you believe your guardian angel puts things in your path?  I do.  When I was in Petoskey with my friend Terry, we were in a bookstore, not to buy, we just love being around books.  I happened upon something colorful, opened it up and discovered something I’ve been playing with ever since.  The book (which I bought) is Zenspirations.  Here is one of my first attempts…..

I love the dangles.  While the Zentangle phenomenon is fun, it’s more structured which just isn’t me.  This is structured but only slightly. 

And they are perfect for a new sketchbook I have.  Mike VerDuin of VerDuin’s Printing here in Grand Haven is a family friend, Rather than throw some paper away because they could no longer use it, he made a few sketchbooks and gave me one.  It’s great paper for pen and ink and just a bit of watercolor, perfect for the dangles.  It has become my morning practice.  Today I did one that allows for journaling too.

Now, back to work and I will try to remember to scan or photograph at the end of the day.

More Progress???? and a tree trunk

I love the texture or old tree trunks; this one is at the end of our walkway here at Bay Harbor

One of these days I’m going to start a series of tree trunks and sidewalk cracks.

I’m not sure where these are going but here are a few.  I don’t think any of them are done yet,  I’ll be packing up to head back home tomorrow.  Maybe when I get them out again I’ll know what’s next.

Now it’s time for a glass of wine…..

More layers and 4 done (maybe)

I’m in Petoskey, been busy with more layers.  These are drying so I can move on to another layer.

These four I think are done.  My opinion on that may change as the week goes on but for now I’m calling them done….

Time for lunch……

Ready to pack for Petoskey

 

Normally I have my grandson on Friday but he isn’t here today so I got a lot more done than I planned.  Good thing probably because I’m working at the Gallery Uptown tomorrow and may not get into the studio except to pack up art supplies.

Sooooooo, today I started with this one….

Then I was sorting stencils and stamps thinking some could go to our garage sale and some to the trash.  On the other hand, some might work nicely with the geli plate.  After I cut some paper to size for my trip north I thought what the heck, you’ve got some time, try some of the stamps.  So I got out the geli plate and here is the rest of what I’m taking to Petoskey for my “Little Gems”…

And now I’m off to have the new hearing aids adjusted.  I probably won’t post again until near the end of next week….

Today’s Start

Today’s start is a long skinny one, wide enough to get at least two 4x4 pieces out of it.

After posting yesterday I did a bit of stitching but no photos of that.  I usually have my grandson on Friday but his mom has tomorrow off so he won’t be here.  I’ll miss him but that means I can get more sewing done. 

Just because I don’t have a picture of my stitching, here’s a picture of the little guy that I’m going to miss seeing tomorrow.  He is fascinated seeing how the colors change when they are mixed.

I’ll be back tomorrow….

Another Start plus this and that….

Here’s my start for today, just color and texture and it’s just past noon.   I still have all day to do more… or go stitch.  I think I’ll stitch.

This and That….

Yesterday I was fitted for hearing aids.  My hearing is not totally gone but between the tinnitus  and a slight hearing loss it was/is difficult to hear people who talk very softly. Besides that I learned that I also don’t always hear numbers correctly.  At the gallery last month when someone told me a price was $45, I heard $35 so undercharged.  Fortunately the price was still in the case when I checked it so it wasn’t a total loss but… that prompted me to make an appointment.

So, I’ve got two months to give them a good try and see if I feel an improvement that is worth the dollars, hearing aids do not come cheap.  So far I haven’t been in situations where I really need them but I have noticed some sounds I hadn’t heard before – like silent light switches – they aren’t silent.  The bell on the microwave is much louder than I thought it was and the phone rings louder so I may hear it sooner.

They are also suppose to block my tinnitus but that hasn’t happened yet, It isn’t any louder but it’s still there.  During this next 60 days they will be making adjustments so I’m not giving up on them based on hearing sounds I didn’t know I was missing.  Though I must admit, the new sounds are sounds I could easily live without ever hearing again

Now off to the sewing machine…...

Three more starts

So far so good, three more done today….

This one is 8x8 and will eventually be cut to give me 4 little gems.  And the next two are already little, but not gems yet.

I think I already have enough to keep me busy next week so the rest of the week I may just get one 8x8 done every day.  I have some stitching I want to get done before I leave as well.

Starting “Little Gems”

 

I was inspired by Jane Davies four by four project.  She’s doing 400, I’m thinking 40.   Anyway that’s a start, I may add to that.  She calls hers teeny tiny art which is appropriate (they’re 4”x4”) but I didn’t want to copy and thanks to my friends,  Annie Morgan and Catherine McClung, I came up with, no, they came up with…. Little Gems. When both of them said it, I decided that’s got to be it.  I hope that’s what they turn out to be. 

I’m posting it here and I’ve asked the Tri-Cities Historical Museum if it will be my venue for Art Walk this year. I promised the Museum at least 10.  I’m committed.  So, here’s my plan for this month.  Every day this week I’m going to do at least one, hopefully more, starts.

I’m not thinking design yet, just getting some color and texture on the paper using paint and collage elements. 

Here’s June 1 starts…

And today, June 2

5 more days to do starts and I’ll be posting every day. 

Next week, everyday, work on the next layer of these starts, at least one every day.  I have until September; however, if I’m lucky and get 10 good ones this month I may be able to show them at the Gallery Uptown this summer.

Stay turned as I post the progress….