WOYWW #613

Good Wednesday all my crafty friends!! Well.....somebody went MIA last week......any guesses (*wink)? Yep, life.....life just rolled right on by last week and I hadn't a minute to spare!! LOL That's pretty bad! LOL  But this week I'm heading on over to Julia's Stamping Ground to give a little peaksies to my desksies!! Come on over to check out all the other lovely crafters! :)

So my last turn up here, I might have shown the chaos of my desk, with goodies of course, but it's still a hot mess, except it does have a mess of projects on it!! I'm at it with my dot arting and having a great time. But today my desk reflects that I can't keep my mind on one thing at a time. I think I have discussed before that I may be working on something and start thinking about something else and have to put the work in progress to the side to work on the newest thing that has popped up in the old noggin!! It's terrible and I'm terrible!! LOL  I wish I could say that, that might change somewhere in the future, but I'm thinking that's a big NOPE! LOL  So here's the photo as it was last night.

Projects, projects, projects!!!!

So three of the projects that I am working on are being given a sneak peek here. I'm not through with either one, bringing to the surface my aforementioned problem! LOL Anywho, to the left, is a wooden canvas board with a dot pattern on it. As I was following along with someone else's pattern, I'm not sure I am through with it. They were using different tools than I have and my proportions didn't come out as theirs so geographically speaking, I feel like I have too much space left as you can see by my gridline patterns still showing. Not sure if I will stop or add to it yet?

Then to the right is a dot owl that I am working on. This one got put to the side for the project in the middle, but mainly because I couldn't decide where to go next in my mind.  I always draw my initial pattern on the piece, but sometimes it drifts. LOL Anywho, I will get back to it. BUT, the piece in the middle has been heavy on my mind and I wanted to get started on it. It is a sugar skull for my daughter!!

Remember I told you that my sister had a list of wood pieces to cut out for me on her docket?  Well, this is one of the pieces! I have been wanting to do a sugar skull dot art for awhile. So far, I have only prepped it with sanding and several coats of paint. I always draw my pattern out first on just plain paper and then depending on the background, transfer to the piece with either graphite or chalk paper. So you can see his beginnings here! I just can't wait to get this done for her! Below, you can see all the pieces I had my sister cut out for me. I got quite a few in each pattern, which means.....I have my work cut out for me!! LOL

Lastly, this is what I was working on really late last night. I cleared off the mess and made way for this background page that was then cut into ATC's.  I am now a member in three, yes three swap groups for ATC's. The problem is, I said I wasn't going to do that this year, but here I am!! LOL I couldn't help myself because two of them I was asked to join, so I felt so honored that I couldn't say no! LOL Oh well, it's all arty fun isn't it? I haven't a clue where I am going with this background, but I got to get my thinking cap going though because two sets have to be at their designation by the 15th!!! Yes, I do this to myself!! And no, I shan't complain, because of the previous statement! LOL

ATC's in the making!!!

So last week my taxes came in...hip hip horrayyyyyyy!!! Not sure if you file taxes across the pond, but that's our yearly task in February. I do mine (well my lovely assistant does mine...hee hee) online and so it comes back pretty quickly!! I got back a good bit this year, so enough to FINALLY get me a new phone, a new vacuum, wahooooo, and still put some into my savings!! The phone was great, but I was really stoked about the new vacuum! Life made so much simpler right????? So yay me!

So right now in my state in the general assembly, we are fighting to have House Bill 290 passed. This bill brings a lot of controversies, but if passed into law, the legislation would prevent hospitals and nursing homes from putting a policy in place to keep family members away from patients and residents during a declared health emergency like the most recent COVID-19 pandemic. Trust me, I understand why it was put into place, to keep those people safe, however, so many like me, have not seen their loved one in almost a year. My mother lives in a nursing home. Or, so many people lost a loved one in the hospital and did not even see them before they passed. I think it's inhumane for the person in the hospital as well as the one on the outside desperate to see them that one last time! There are so many good arguments either way, so I will not get into them as we all have our own opinions. But for me, I will be the first one to throw a party when and if it passes! 

As my own mother is one who has been living with these conditions, I can fully say that I know she will be the better when it passes. She sits in her four-walled room 24 hours a day 7 days a week and can't leave her room.  Imagine that being you? She can't go out of her room and no one can go see her. Now imagine that for a year!!!!!!!! Her whole countenance has changed since this whole thing has started. She has lost so much weight and really doesn't feel like she is here for anything anymore!!! She has had four of her friends die around her since this has started. I'm simply desperate for this bill to pass so that we can physically go see her and possibly touch her and bring life back to her body!! If it passes, it won't be effective until July 1st, but I will take what I can get! We will be able to see her for two hours a day!! We live an hour away from her, so that won't be possible for me daily because I work, but I will be able to at least go back to seeing her on the weekends like I used to!! I miss my mother!

I MISS MY MOTHER!!!!

Well, my friends. Here's hoping you have a wonderful Wednesday and fabulous rest of your week! I will do my best to pop on over to everyone's blog. We have a Council meeting this week and as our COVID numbers have gone down considerably, we will finally be opening our building to the public with restrictions of course.  So I will be preparing for that. Blessings to you all and I hope you are all continuing to stay safe and healthy!

WOYWW #611

Good Wednesday all my crafty friends! It's Wednesday indeed and time to hop on over to Julia's Stamping Ground and share with the rest of my beautiful arty friends what is going on, on their crafty desk. Let's see what I can share today.

First off, like so many of us, I am just heart-stricken over the loss of sweet Shaz. I did not know her as most of you wonderful over-the-seas ladies, and so my sympathies and blessings go out to you lovely ones who knew her as a close friend. Doug and their family have also been on my heart and prayers. Life is no small thing. A life, makes an impact in this world (whether they knew it or not), and on so many different levels. I think as humans, we truly forget how much we impact others without even knowing it. It's inevitable really. Some more than others, but we DO make a difference in this world. And so each life is meant to be celebrated! So today I celebrate Shaz, whom I only knew online, but whose crafty talent did make an impact on me all the way across the sea. She will be missed in our community and in so many hearts!

So what's happening over on my desk? Well right now as I am writing this and looking over to that said desk, a MESS!! I still have several projects going on and simply not enough room to house all those projects on my desk at once. It gets exhausting rotating those projects out for one to dry, while I work on another, or if the old light bulb comes on in my head about another and I swap out before I forget! Why you ask......BECAUSE I HAVE NO MORE ROOM ON THE FLOOR!!!! LOL As I have mentioned before, my craft desk is in my bedroom and there is simply only so much space in there!! So I have piles surrounding my desk on the floor like land mines!! I just keep moving them around and rotating them out and stepping over and around them! With all that bending over, picking up and stepping around, you'd think I'd be in shape, but sadly, that is not the truth! LOL

Poppy addition to the altered journal

So first share is my finished poppy in my altered book journal! I liked how it turned out and really enjoyed the process as I went through painting it. I'm still working on paint to water ratios with my watercolor painting. It's so hard to gauge and it's very frustrating to me sometimes. I know it will sort itself out over time as I get more familiar with the process. Unfortunately, I am very impatient, so let's all hope that sorting goings quickly! LOLOL

February ATC Swaps

The next share is the finished ATC's that I showed you last week! I think they turned out pretty good. February, luckily is an easy subject month with it being Valentines, so "love" was the theme for me with this swap group. This is my first swap with this group, so I hope that they received well and enjoyed. I ejoyed doing these because I pulled out some techniques that I had not used in a while. It made me think about all the tags I used to do and my mixed media journaling that I haven't done in quite some time. May have to pull some of that out again soon. Lord, what am I saying.....where in the world will I find the time to do that???? LOL

So yesterday I had an Oncologist appointment. I think I have mentioned before that my doctor is about an hour away in a town that has one of my favorite big box craft stores. So, of course, I hit that place just about every time I have an appointment. I truly did need to go this time however because I have run out of substrates for my dotting projects. My sister is still cutting out some for me and I needed some things to work on until she gets those to me. Plus, I needed some substrates other than what she is getting me. 

Goodies Haul

So you will see this happy mess of goodies in this picture. The feature pile in the middle are three sizes of canvases. The only store in my small town that does carry canvases for some reason only has sizes that aren't even? It's so odd to me...no pun intended!  So yesterday I got two each of 12x12, 6x6 and 3x3. They are so much easier to work on when you are considering mandalas. Odd-sized canvases can work, but it's so much easier when they are even. The Woodpile packs to the right are rounds that I can work on and then I also got small crosses (sitting on top of the canvases). To the left is a big roll of magnet tape. So the plan is to work on the small rounds and the crosses and make magets out of them for gifts. We shall see how that goes. The other small round packs, towards the bottom, are already magnetic. They are canvas on the front. So I can do the same with those. I also got some more medium that I am about out of and them some pouring medium for those thick paints that need to be thinned out for my projects. I also needed some fine liners, so this little fillable bottles in from of the medium to the left will come in handy for those jobs. At the very right, you get a little sneak peek of a current project!

Leaning tower of....PAINTS!!!

So this last picture I just had to share. I found this three-tiered basket stand yesterday at the same store. It was 50% off, so that was a no-brainer! LOL Anywho, I got it because I have paint all over the place in my craft area and mostly in drawers. That's fine for the most part, except that I can't see what colors I have unless I go into the drawers. Lazy and frustrating all at the same time! Oh the woes of us crafters! LOL So I thought if they were out where I could see them, it would make my dotting projects easier to plan. I had originally thought about using something that would hang on the wall, but I couldn't find anything like that. I'm sure I have seen folks do something similar with their paints before, but it is cute, easy and ON SALE...duhhhhhhh, as my daughter would say!! LOL  I wish I could say that this is ALLLLL of my paints.....nope.....paint glutton that I am!! LOLOL  What do you think?

Well, that's all I can share today friends! Here's hoping that you all remain safe and healthy! Happy Wednesday to you and many blessings!

WOYWW #610

Good Wednesday all my crafty friends! It's time to jump on the Julia train over on Stamping Ground and share what's what at your craft station!! Last week I didn't get round to a lot of your stations because I was so busy at work, but maybe today I can put on the brakes a little bit and visit!!

So this week is a bit like last week in that I have several projects going on and not one of them finished! LOL The good news is that....I have SEVERAL projects going on! I don't want to jinx anything, but I can remember in the not too far away past, where I was in an art slump and the old noggin was void of creativity. I know we all go through that from time to time, but what's so hard about that phenomena is that I LOVE art and LOVE to create and so when I'm in a slump it makes me really sad because I love sharing with others and bringing a smile to someone's heart that may need it at that moment! So.......for now, the wheels are turning and turning and I'm loving it! LOL

ATC Swaps!

So these are the second set of ATC's that I have up for February! I was honored when someone hit me up on Instagram and asked me if I wanted to be a part of another swap. I was stoked that someone gave a nod to my creativity and wanted me to join in their fun! The first swap group that I am in is every other month, however, this one is monthly, so I hope I honor them back and keep up! LOL It's all good fun and as Valentines Day is this month, it wasn't hard to find a subject! Lately, I have been doing a lot of watercolor projects, but for these cards, I pulled out my Golden High Flow Acrylics. I love, love using them! The colors are so rich and yummy and just a joy to create with. I wish I could afford more of those guys, but the teeny tiny bottles is all this working girl's budget could afford! LOL I also pulled out my heavy gesso and stencils, which I haven't done for some time. It was great fun and will share the fnished cards next week.

Coming up poppies!

The next thing I'll share is my newest page in my altered book journal. As I previously noted, it's not finished, but I at least finished sketching with my dip pen and ink. I LOVE poppies and wanted to add one to my journal. One of my favorite scenes in a movie is when Dorothy, Toto, and her pals are running through the poppy fields to get to Oz!! I always thought that would just have to be the bee's knees to do that! Of course minus the old witchy curmudgeon chanting.....poppies, poppies! LOL  Let's switch the gears and maybe think about running through the poppy fields in Italy to get to a beautiful winery where I will be met with a gorgeous glass of red and bread and cheese board!!!! Sounds soooooo much better doesn't it Auntie Em? LOL

Well the race is still on to find art products! It's gotten to be a joke really, but it does make one say a few not so nice things under their breath! LOL  I did finally go straight to the paint company itself, instead of distributors, to get some paint, and even then, THEY were out of a lot as well! But I was able to get quite a few bottles of paint to restore the bad paint I had on hand. I'm not finished, however...you can NEVER have too much paint! LOL  

Where are all the art products!!!!!!!!!!??????

A couple of you last week and I think a post before asked how I was doing the crosses - was it paint or the diamond art so many are doing. My crosses are paint dotting and so much fun. Hence the mad search for every color under the sun! LOL But I also do canvases and I have other projects in the wings using paint dot art that I also want to do. Again though, supplies have been hard to come by. If anyone has a good retail distributor in mind that carries craft blanks for projects, please do share! It's a burr in my saddle right now that I am having a hard time finding one, save Etsy and they simply love their supplies TOO much because I won't pay the prices they want for their goodies!

My sister is almost through cutting my wood pieces for my upcoming dotting projects and I'm getting excited to start on those and get ahead on Christmas 2021! Here's hoping I get everything done that I want to!! But 2021 sees me up for the challenge!

That's really it for me today crafty friends. Hopefully, more finished projects to show next week! Can't wait to get around to you all today! Cheers for a lovely Wednesday and rest of your week! 

Blessings

WOYWW #609

Good Wednesday all my crafty friends!!!! Is it February ALREADY??????? My mind simply cannot wrap my head around that!!! I was just wrapping Christmas gifts!!! I truly believe I live in some kind of time warp that has many stops, twists, and turns, but ultimately just keeps blazing me forward with a "no brake" option!!! LOL When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was "grow up" and it seemed like I NEVER would!! Now I am ALL GROWN UP and the merry go round won't stop turning! Aren't we fickle creatures!! LOL It's a good thing God is not shocked by my idiocy and provides a light at the end of that time warp, to where, I believe, I will understand all this craziness in the snap of a finger! Thank you Lord for care and protection as I bumble along time warp through life! LOL

Well speaking of time warp, it's time to warp on over to the lovely Julia's blog and share what's on all our desks this week! Her special place is one of those stops on the warp where we can share creativity, make friends and glean from others' amazing talents!! Thanks Julia being our gracious host! 

My desk is a hot mess that can't fit another thing on it, therefore I will only be showing close-ups of my projects! LOL It's killing the OCD side of my and she don't like it! LOLOL This past week was a flurry to get a gift done for my beautiful sister-in-law who just happens to be my "bestie!" We have walked many a mile together she and I. Most of those miles have been great times together and some were hard times, but through it all she has been my constant source of bestie advice, even if it hurt a little, and amazing friendship and love!! They say if you have at least one of those in a lifetime, you are blessed. And so I AM!!

My ex-husband is her husband's brother, so naturally, we did a lot together! Not only were we besties, but we were camping buddies. When I was married, we had a camper and so does she and her hubby and we went on trips everywhere! Camping is one of my greatest joys next to arting. I miss it terribly and all the good times we had!! I am a hiker, and we all had some great hiking times as well! I no longer have my beloved camper, but this Christmas my boss got me a ten-man tent, so guess who can't wait to get back out to my lovely adventures with my bestie!!!! My girls and their boyfriends are also ready to get back in the saddle with their fun Aunt Ang, as they call her!! I have been gathering camping items for about a year (hubby got the camper when we split, so I had to start over), so a trip is in the plans! Yayyyy! Happy trails once again!

Anywho, before I got sidetracked, LOL, here is her gift that I worked on
last week. She recently lost her precious, precious mother to COVID, so I made this for her Birthday in memory of her mother. Would I could, I'd give her the moon, she deserves all that and more!! Her favorite line to me is "I love you more than a hog loves slop," and so I love her completely right back......oink oink! LOL 

Memory Cross

I will also now show you my February ATC's for my a3atcswap over on Amy's Art Alchemy on Instagram. I don't like showing them until I know she has gotten them and has had time to look at them first hand. Weird, I know, but there you go.  This month I obviously did the theme of love, although she doesn't put themes on them, you just do what you want, but "love" is an easy one to do because who doesn't love LOVE!!! LOL I had lot's of fun doing them. 

February Swap Fun!

These were "true" mixed media this month as I used acrylics, watercolor, dip pen and ink, ephemera, fibers, stamping and embossing. I just pulled out all the goodies this month! LOL It really was fun and I'm already planning my April cards!!

Well, that's it for me this week crafty friends! I am amidst a deadline at work, so I will try to get to as many of your desks as I can!! Many blessings to you ALL and as always, stay safe and healthy!!

Happy WOYWW!!!

WOYWW #608

Happy Wednesday all my crafty friends!! Well, we have made it round once more for expressing and the showing of our arty sides through snapshots of our crafty and sometimes sloppy (ME) desks over on Julia's Stamping Ground Blog!  It's a great opportunity to see what like-minded folks are up to, making friends, and maybe even be inspired by others' wonderful talents!

Out of the gate today, I just want to stop and truly thank all you lovely folk who take the time out of your busy day to pop on over here at my place and leave encouraging and kind comments!! I work full time and it takes me at least half a day, in between doing what I am supposed to be doing, which is work, to go by and visit each and everyone that I can and leave a comment, so I KNOW what it means to do that! So again, thank you ALL so very much for doing that for me! That being said, I think I recall in all the stories leading up to the "600" post for Julia that when this idea was at its beginnings there were up to 100 folks participating!!!! Did I read that somewhere?  All I'm thinking is how in the blazing saddles did you all get round to everyone and comment???? LOLOL I can't even imagine? We usually have up to 30 or more now, and that's a labor of love, so can't quite wrap my head around larger numbers!!! LOL So good on ALL of you for participating!!!!

So my head is STILL swimming with ideas and projects! I write them all down so I don't forget and trying to start looking for supplies to get some of these projects started!! I must admit, if it weren't for Google, I'd be lost! Never thought I'd say that one! LOL That being said, even with the almighty Google, I am still having a hard time finding some supplies. A lot is due to low stock because of our arch-nemesis, the COVID, ut a lot of it, I don't know the proper "key" words to search for things or where to find things. But onward ho I go! LOL

Altered Book Cover

Today I will share the finished products of things I showed you last week! I am having a blast, I tell you! So the first is the book turned art journal! This turned out to be a little more different in my mind than what came out. I was hoping I could use my gelli print to do the cover, but....that didn't really work too well. After about three tries, I got completely frustrated and chucked that puppy to the side! I then just went back to good old stencils and acrylic paint!! It turned out pretty good, but still not exactly what I was imagining. So, that just leaves room to try again. Anywho, I am satisfied with this for right now. The main stencil on the front was from my trip years ago to Donna Downey's studio. I so enjoyed that trip, seeing her studio and meeting her staff. It says "artists create from emotion and truth." I LOVE that and feel it is so true! So had to put it on the front!

Watercolor Flower in altered book journal

I pasted the book page watercolor flower I showed you guys last week, in the front, and then did this watercolor flower over the weekend! I really enjoyed doing this one. Really, I just really enjoy doing it period! LOL I can't wait to fill this journal up with many more of God's beautiful creations!

Wonky pattern, but fun!!

I finished the second cross that I showed you last week and then actually have been so excited about these guys that I did another one! LOL Honestly I don't know where all this gusto is coming from, but I love it! Both of these crosses were from a local big box store that has like two craft aisles, so they aren't from a craft store. That being said, I feel lucky that they carry any kind of wood pieces, but they just aren't symmetrical and even all around, so when you try to measure to do things, it inevitably turns out to be off or wonky. So, there are some obvious flaws regarding that, but hey, it's all for fun right???

Top view but has a shadow

Different view to see dots!

I think they both turned out pretty good in spite of my goofs. Also, I think I mentioned last week that these two were two-tiered, so a true pattern was hard to do, but I made due. When my sister cuts me some new blanks, they will all just be a flat piece and better to work with.

I'm definitely NO expert at this, it's usually trial by error.....A LOT of error!!! The hardest part for me is getting the consistency of the paint just right. But what I have found is that just plain old DecoArt Americana Acrylics are the best. But as I alluded to previously, paint and other crafting supplies seem to be hard to come by these days. Not sure if that is happening everywhere, but it sure is in the states! So I had to order more paint and it took a minute to get to me? Oh well, I should have enough paint for upcoming projects...I hope! LOL You know how we are crafters......there is ALWAYS ANOTHER color that we just HAVE TO HAVE!!! LOLOL But for now, I'm good.

Well, that's about all I can show you, today friends. I had someone reach out to me last week about my crafting and I joined yet ANOTHER swap group! I know....where in the world will I find the extra time? But luckily it is just another ATC Group, so, small treasures AND.....I love expressing, so there you go! LOL Hopefully be able to show both sets next week!!

Happy Wednesday to you all and stay safe and healthy!

Blessings

WOYWW #607

Good Wednesday all my crafty friends!! So last week was a big gluttonous post, so I will try to keep that to a minimum this week! LOL I still have the whirlpool of ideas swirling around in my noggin and have been trading out projects around my craft desk as one dries, I work on the other. You all know how that goes! I'll share a couple today over on Julia's blog for WOYWW this week. Click on over and join!

So this first photo was actually from the weekend as I was working on my cross-project.  I love crosses and have done projects with them over the years, either painting, collaging, or sort of steampunking for loved ones, and also sent them to people as RAK's who may have been going through a hard time or sick.  It really is a labor of love and fun to boot! This time, however, I wanted to pull out the dot arting and try that on them. I love to dot art, although I am not very skilled at it because as I am sure you are aware, that is something you have to keep at to get better, just like anything. Well, I do things for a minute then move on to the next "brilliant" idea!!! So......I never get better at it! LOLOL Then, I think of it again and here we are! LOL Yes, that is a sneak peek inside my chaotic brain!

Getting started!

So I had a handful of crosses, that I keep in my stash for said occasions, and started with these two. The smaller one is chunkier, which I like, and the larger one is thinner and had a little raised area on it as well. Right now, to monopolize on all things COVID, wood is hard to come by. Or at least in my area it is, so my internet search has come up short as well. But luckily, I have a sister that also crafts with wood (you will remember my Project Mom Christmas project) and she has agreed to cut various sizes for me as well as some other images so that I can dot them as well. This is me getting a head start on Christmas 2021! LOL

So this is the finished smaller piece that I just kept really simple. I think it turned out pretty good and now I will tackle the big one. Thank goodness for Pinterest that we can find a plethora of color and pattern ideas! What I did find out is that over my two-year hiatus from crafting that a lot of my paints dried out (BIG surprise, huh? LOL) so I didn't have a lot of colors that I wanted. THEREFORE......uhhh ohhhh, that's NEVER good....hee hee.... I HAD to order more! We really should call our hobby a sickness!!! LOLOLOL However........once again, and even more so, paint is REALLY hard to come by right now! It really is astonishing to me! So I did order some and hopefully, they will be coming in this week! Good thing about this project, since it's also involving Christmas this year, I can't just "think" about it and move on, it will be ongoing this year. So, maybe I'll learn something! LOL

This other project on my desk late last night is one that I have been wanting to do for a while and just now getting around to it. As you know, I love watercolor and discovered that I like to watercolor on book page, so tada....new project! I have been scouring second-hand stores for old books that spoke to me. Specifically, I am looking for an old ledger, you know, like shops used to use for accounting before the computer! Well, they are either a hot commodity or people just toss them when done because I can't seem to find one. I saw some on ebay, but apparently, they LOVE their ledgers because they want a mint for them. My pocket was thinking a couple of bucks at best! LOL So, I'll keep searching!

Anybody with paint ideas on book cover? Let me know!

In the meantime, I found this great book written by George Washington about his expense account and have taken several pages out of each signature so that it's not so thick and it would lay flat when I paint. I love this book! I almost hated ripping it apart because it was very interesting, but went on with it anyway! Since then, I have gesso'd the cover and it's at the ready for paint! Hopefully next week I can show you the finished product! I'm excited to have this journal that will be designated for my watercolor painting flowers and nature. Neat idea, huh? Fun at any rate!

Several posts ago, I shared that my daughter brought me some flower sunshine surprise and last week, she and her precious boyfriend showed up at work with another parcel of love! She truly is a dolly and seems to know just when her mama needs a little extra love and encouragement. It's never been something that I had to have often, although I do love flowers, but it's extra special when your babies shower you with love! I'm a blessed mom for sure!

Love from my dolly!

Well, that's it for me this week guys! I do pray you all are staying safe and healthy and I will try to get around to everyone and see what you are doing on your desk! Happy Wednesday!

Blessings

WOYWW #606

So happy Wednesday all my crafty friends!! I didn't get to make it last week, it has been a complete madhouse in the town I live with Covid cases. Our location is in a terrible hotspot and cases have skyrocketed and are off the charts.  As I work for the local government, you can imagine that we have been on high alert, and trying to mandate orders has been a nightmare! I don't understand how solid numbers, hospitals full and loved ones sick and or passing doesn't make people stop and think that they need to take extra care, wear their masks and above all stay home!!  Unlike our across the pond neighbors, we are not in lockdown here, although maybe we should be, but they still are not supposed to "gather," and folks seem to have the "it won't happen to me" syndrome! Honestly, I will be soooo glad when we can all get back to some semblance of order! I hope it's soon!

So as a part of what's going on over on Julia's Stamping Ground blog, I want to share what I have been working on and what's on my desk! Literally, my mind has been a flurry of creative projects!! I have had a bazillion ideas swarming around and I, of course, want to do them ALLL!! LOL  The problem, of course, is that I work full time and there aren't enough hours in the day! Go figure, huh? LOL I tell you though, I have feverishly written all these "amazing" ideas down and I want to try to get to all of them this year! I think that arty ideas are what keep us creative people going. I'm so thankful for my crazy mind! LOL

Hopeful dot art palettes!

I am at the beginning stages of this project that will reveal over a little time due to the fact that it will probably take me ions to do! LOL But I love crosses and have always done some sort of crafting with crosses, so this is just a new project. I have been wanting to drag my dot art painting back out again and wanted to give it a whirl with some crosses. I have seen other folks do crosses before, so it's not "new" as such to the dot painting world, but new to me. So I have just started with base coating these guys. There is a method to the madness. along with just having fun, I am also trying to plan for next Christmas.

I also have some watercolor painting on my craft table. As time has gone on with all my mixed media fun over the years, I really have decided that watercolor is my favorite medium. I still love acrylics and such in mixed media projects, but watercolor truly has my heart. What's so funny about that is that I still consider myself a beginner! But never the less, it really makes me happy to watercolor. This idea was inspired by an artist I have followed for some time over on YouTube, Susanne Rose Art. She had been doing some watercolor on book page and I never thought to do that, so I wanted to give it a whirl! I loved it! Now it's brought up some other ideas to do! LOL It's an evil cycle! LOL

This past weekend and this week has been like Christmas all over again for me!! Yay! I have had happy mail galore. The first picture truly is happy mail from Amy who is the host over on Amy's Art Alchemy, which is the ATC Swap Group that I am involved in. She truly is a treasure and a special person. We connected right away and several levels, but specifically in our spirituality.  I've learned that God places people in our lives for His purpose and I believe she is one of them. So this journal was truly a blessing from her and one I will treasure.

Happy Mail From Amy's Art Alchemy

I love rag paper or handmade paper of any kind. I love how it feels and I love doing art on it! I have used Khadi papers before and totally loved it, so when I saw that they make journals I had to have one.....or maybe two....LOL, Of course, I have big plans for them, don't we all when we "just have to have them!" LOL But in all seriousness, I had in my mind to use these for my birds and flowers. We shall see how that goes!! The Pentel Arts Portable Pocket Brush Pen I have seen several arty folks use and I really wanted to try it out with my watercolors and mixed media! It is always hard to find a pen with multiple uses that won't clog when used or bleed when used! Hope this one works out! :)

Can't wait to use these guys! 

Lastly, I will share this holy grail package from one of my favorite places, Nippon Kodo! I am an incense fanatic. And not just any incense, Japanese incense. I will only buy Japanese incense because it is the best. When I buy, I usually stock up for six months to a year because where I live, I cannot get the incense I love anywhere under a 200-mile radius!! So it's online all the way! I love the art of incense, the ceremony of incense, the history, and of course the aromatherapy of incense. I so admire the Japanese culture for savoring and continuing their blessed culture! If you haven't tried Japanese incense, you should!

My LOVE for incense abounds!

Well, I shared wayyyyyyy too much this week! But it has been a buzz around my home! Both girls have started back college and I'm prayerful for this new semester! It's so amazing to see your babies grow up to fine young adults! I'm so, so, blessed as a mother! I'm also prayerful for you ALL during this continued COVID crisis! Stay safe and healthy everyone! Happy Wednesday!

Blessings