trying to grab some happy: January 2011

Sunday, January 30, 2011

week-ish in review

things are a bit discomboobulated lately. I am doing things, but without direction. and I am forever stopping and trying to remember what it was I was or wanted to do...I can't keep track of schedules and I forget to do things. a lot has happened in the past two weeks and there's anticipation of things happening (not necessarily good either), AND I got SICK and took a day off from work. I never get sick! still trying to get a grip.

I'm disappointed that I feel like I've lost my mojo/motivation for all my favorite things: Starbuxs (oooh banish the thot!), my journaling (I was ON.A.ROLL, 125 days before forgetting and skipping days here and there. I'm having to start over for the second time!), getting sweaty (I haven't been to the gym in a week!), and even art (I can't seem to find any inspiration.)

BUT...there were dog tongues, and holding new bebe Megan, and tea, and scones, and darling kid friends, and cooking men (Gail's husband!), draft tattoos, home renovations and new paint colors, picture tag, anniversary cake (choco buttermilk with cream cheese frosting), martinis, and cute faces, de-dotted bed-head, and a wedding long time coming, Donna & Als, rainy days (which I love), completing work projects, that was all good. (don't you hate bloggers that go ON?! heh!)

in any event...here are a bunch of photos I've taken:

* * * * *

I got some ATCs mailed off to Marit for a trade...

these are the cards I received, verra cool, yeah?!

and some peeks at the cards I made : x)

o.k. that's that! bring on the new week!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Publishing a Couple of Draft Posts...

Ha, I must have been distracted...I found a couple of draft posts that I never published.
Or at least I think I never published 'em.
If you recognize them, you can stop reading!!!!

; xP

Here's my final submission for Marit's Musical Blog Party!
This was for the 31st, NYE!

Thanks D for the very very cool ROCK duct tape!!!

My go-to inspiration song for my marathons!

I'm hoping to listen to it prior to Disneyworld someday!

Gotta love Freddie Mercury & Queen!

Also, a ways back, Smiley Julie tagged me...

List of Fours!

It's a fun way to get to know your 
fellow bloggers a little better

(???)

1. Four shows that you watch: 
*Dirty Jobs, my new favorite show.  I'm going to marry Mike Rowe!!!
*Ghost Adventures.  "Oh my God, Dude!!!  Oh my God!!!"
*I Survived, Beyond and Back
*Ghost Hunters

 
 2. Four things you are passionate about: 
*My quiet time

*Starbucks

*Arting & Crafting

*Cuties Tangerines

 
 3. Four words/phrases you say a lot: 
*dude (much to my own chagrin)

*wt... 
*faaaahck!

*geez oh pete!

4. Four things you've learned from the past: 
*You can't go back.

*Have no expectations.

*It tastes good going down, but you'll regret it

when you get on the scale tomorrow!

*My intuition is usually right.

 
A FAVORITE quote:

"Do something creative every day."

5. Four places you would like to go: 
*Kauai, HI with the BFF for her 50th b-day this year 
*Sedona, AZ
*Somewhere in Canada 
*To visit all my virtual friends 
 
6. Four things you did yesterday: 
*Got a Starbuxs vanilla latte

*Worked in my art journal
*Blew my nose a lot
*Laundry...exciting, I know!

7. Four things you are looking forward to: 
*Running again

*Tea Party & Crafting

*Getting my taxes done

*New season of True Blood


 8. Four things you love about winter: 
*Rainy overcast days.

*Bare branches.

*Cold temperatures

*Down comforters
 
9. Tag four people to play along:

anyone who wants to join in...

I've been working in my art journal and on some projects, Valentine's cards, etc...

Too lazy to photograph the stuff right now,

actually a feeling like I have a cold (allergies?), which in itself is unusual...

I never get sick.  I eat tons of citrus (vitamin C), and 
I drink massive amounts of  green tea (antioxidants).

Goes to show you, sometimes all your efforts to

preempt illness are all for naught.

sigh.

Maybe I can get to pixs later this week.

Monday, January 17, 2011

project... whatever!

along with new year's resolutions,

there are a bunch of challenges floating around the interwebs for 2011

for example:

project 365

project 52

daily pages

daily photos

daily ATCs

etc...

oh my. tooooooo much pressure.

I am attempting, however, to put something in my art journal at least weekly.

you know, as inspiration hits...

last week I started this and it evolved yesterday and today into this:

(as usual, you can click on the image to see it bigger)

(the text sez: to love requires courage, the ability to take a risk, the readiness even to accept pain and disappointment. Whoever insists on safety and security as primary conditions of life cannot love; whoever shuts himself off in a system of defense and possession as his means of security, makes himself a prisoner. I'm not sure who wrote it.)

thanks Als for the quote, thanks Marit for the tips on how to do the lettering!

I had the next idea bouncing around in my head for awhile.

I saw posters that said the same thing at Renegade Craft Faire.

I wanted to do 4" glittered corregated cardboard letters,

hung like a banner on some jute.

It ended up being this page in my art journal.

I hand cut all the letters and I gold leafed each and every one.

messy,

but really really worth it and really really cool in real life.

I think I used 4 colors of spray ink/glimmer mist.

the photo really doesn't do the piece justice...

went to Uvas with Kath and the kids,

here are a few of my fav shots...

the D's

me & sirius

an accidental effect, but cool nonetheless...

Annie Bananie!

Red Velvet Mushroom???!!!

Awesome!!!

(btw readers, Sunday has two posts...check it out! : x)

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Stand by Me - Scrapping the Music

Oh, and how could I have forgotten my first design team post!!! This week's challenge is to do a piece related to the song, Stand by Me.

I thought I'd use a picture of me and my trusty friend, Smokey Bear. He's been with me through thick and thin. Always present and never impatient : x) Seemed fitting...

Michelle used the version of the song by Playing for Change. You can go listen to it on the blog, and hey... play along!!!

bright, bright, bright sunshiny day!!!

Took myself on a little artist's date yesterday...I didn't even have to go further than my "yard". I took some pixs with my duaflex and my contraption...right around my complex.

I haven't been following Julia lately, even tho' I'm still doing "daily pages" online and long hand in my comp book. Mostly I wanted to get my sorry butt off the couch and outside in the sunlight. Vitamin D, ya know! It was a good way to combine the two...Here are my favs from my little outing.

Photo heavy...

And of course, I took the requisite self-portraits!

I also walked down to the high school flea market and psst, don't tell Venning because we had a deal about craft supply purchasing, but I bot some old zippers to make flowers, a bird, and some vintage tinsel. I think I spent $1.70...about broke the bank, heh!