Happy New Year

Not very festive but it was fun working on the original Rock Paper Scissors while I went back and forth between a sappy Hallmark movie and the U of M game last night.

I'm glad to say good-by to 2016.  There were some ups but a lot of downs too.  I wasn't feeling the downs so much until I began to look back on the year.  Oh well, it's past.  Looking forward to 2017 and a good outcome for my brother's surgery on the 3rd.  His cancer news was one of the downs for 2016 but he has a positive attitude and that goes a very long way I think.

One of the ups, our trip to France, was truly a highlight.  The trip was cut short because of my husband;s knees and hip pain; however, we had a wonderful time while we were there and saw most of what we wanted to see. I love old textured walls and they were everywhere.

So now I'm thinking about what is to come.  My goals, my word, what do I want to improve, what do I want to eliminate.  Well, eliminating is the first thing and an easy one... eliminate negative thoughts. There have been a lot of them this year because of the political scene and my husbands joint and blood clot issues.  No matter what in 2017 I want to concentrate on staying positive.

And speaking of concentrate.... that's my word for this year.  CONCENTRATE.  I thought about many, focus was in the running but I realized what I really meant by focus was to concentrate on the thing that I am doing at the time, get lost in it, put all of your focus on that one thing while you are doing it.  So concentrate is the word for 2017.

Goals... finish the winter blanket I started how many years ago.  That's been a goal every year, maybe this year I will be able to check it off my list.  Another goal, learn something new, a new skill, a new language, Maybe this will be a year to concentrate on abstract art, maybe learn more about a particular artist.  I don't yet know what but to learn something new is always a good goal I think.

Resolutions... I usually don't do those but it's time I got back to painting and a daily practice is good.  At one time I was in the practice of drawing something every day.  Somewhere along the line I got out of that habit.  It's time to get back to something daily and I'm torn between stitching and painting.  So, something to get me started during the day, play in an art journal.  I'm not going to say I will do it every day, rather I will try to do it every day.  And stitching... that's something I can do in the evening while he is watching television and I'm just sitting with him because it's what we do.  If I'm not paying attention to his program he won't care a wit.

And here are a couple new works that will be in the January show at the Gallery Uptown.  Both are collaborative pieces; starts by Annie Morgan, finish by yours truly.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas

Sinterklaas is out along with a few Santas that haven't gone to Marshall's yet.  Not this one; I made this guy for my husband.  

Most of these are Marshall's.  The exception it the tall one in red.  That one is mine, made from one of my dad's red sweaters.  And the next one, made from a patched Pendelton shirt of my husband's.  Of course, eventually they will all go to Marshall but for now they live here with Ed and me.

This little green Santa goes so nicely with the three green trees, He will live in the den this Christmas

My collection is angels though my Grandson would just as soon I not put them out; he doesn't like girl angels.  Most of mine go on the tree but I have a few that get scattered around the house.

And finally, the tree is ready with the lights on.  Now it waits for Warner to help me decorate.

Meanwhile, I have more Christmas to get out.  I've been doing a little bit every day, singing along with the Carols that are playing on my computer.

Back to Stitching & Some Painting

Years ago I made a simple table runner for a table that sat in front of our living room window in our old house.  One side was Christmas fabric, at least I thought of it as Christmas.  I was with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law at the time and they didn't think it looked like Christmas at all.  We all have different taste don't we.

Anyway, the other side was just plain burgundy so when Christmas was over, it was turned over and pretty much stayed there all year.  Eventually the fabric faded badly along with the boarder binding which showed on both sides so I put it aside planning to throw it away.  That was probably 20 years ago.  Every time I went to get rid of it I looked at the Christmas side and put it back on the shelf.  I still love the fabric.

Finally, this year I decided to forget the bad side and just put new binding on so I can use the Christmas side.  Here is the bad side...you can see it once was quite nice

And here is the Christmas side with the new boarder.  Not a perfect match but close and now I can use it again.... for many more years since it will only be out for Christmas.

I've also done a little more painting, working on some starts that my friend Annie Morgan gave me so finish.  They aren't finished yet, I have to sit with them for awhile, they'll tell me where to go next, I hope.  These are mixed media pieces which is something I've been playing with for awhile.

I added the pears, no I brought out the pears on this one, added more white for contrast and gave more definition to the line work.  Much of the color was there but fainter, I added to it.

On the one below the lower left side and making the whites whiter and the golds golder is all I've done and I am thinking this one may be done.  What do you think?