I'm still alive!

So, after over a week of thinking that I would never feel better - today I finally feel like I'm coming back to life!

The first thing I HAD to do today, was get started on  sewing on the dreaded buttons on the fabric bracelets that I have to send down to Mount Dora this week!  I say "dreaded" because I am a complete klutz when it comes to any kind of hand sewing!  I have these fat, short fingers that I somehow can't control.  I stab myself with the needle, drop the button, and just generally have a rotten time doing it!  But, I can't NOT do it, since these things have been selling like hotcakes - and I really do like getting those checks each month!

I'm hoping that once I get this latest box in the mail, I can get into the studio and create something!  My mind is reeling with all the ideas I have!

Down Time

I feel bad that I haven't been able to make any new art for the last month!  Where does the time go?  I was busy making things for Mt. Dora, reading books, and then 2 days ago I got sick!  My throat feels like there is a fire in there - and my head is kinda woozy.  Hopefully, after the weekend, I might be back to normal - and when I am, it's back to the studio for me!

Lazy River

 Today is the first day of "Art in the Park" at the Rainbow Springs State Park here in Dunnellon, FL.  Donna and I went to have a look around.  I used to show and sell my watercolors at this show, and it was always a great weekend!  Unfortunately, it has become a very small show, and the crowd is a lot smaller.  What a shame.  But, it is a beautiful day, so I snapped this photo of the folks in kayaks on the river.

In other news, I've been working on more bookmarks to send to Mout Dora.  My favorite way to make these is by painting my own tissue paper, then using it to glue onto the bookmarks!  Here are a couple of sheets that I painted yesterday:

And this is what the bookmarks look like:

 

Be Happy!

So, this is my second collage in the "Be" series.  I kinda like her!

Pan Pastels

I've been watching a lot of Donna Downey's videos, and was intrigued with the idea of Pan Pastels.  Of course, Donna's look so wonderful!  So, not knowing exactly what to order, I discovered that she offers two sets of pan pastels (I ordered mine from Blick Art Supplies) , and they each include a different video lesson!  Yay! 

This is my first attempt, and I can see a lot more practice in the future!  This was made using crumpled paper applied to the canvas, and modeling paste for the flowers.  I don't think that I've mastered the ability to enrich the scene with layers of colors like she does.  But, I did enjoy the process!

Be Yourself

I decided to try a different approach to my "Be" girls.  I really didn't like the way the first one turned out.  I'll sit with this one for awhile and see if I like this.  I am happy with more collage - less paint, though. 

Today, I received my Pan Pastels!  I watched a Donna Downey video that made me want to try them.  I'll let you know if they work for me.