Last day of 2011

I am feeling optomistic & positive about the new year ahead. The past 2 months have kicked us in the teeth, so it can only get better right?

Other than the afore mentioned past 2 months, 2011 was pretty uneventful and went by pretty quickly.

I truely think 2012 is the year for changes, for the better that is.

I'm not going to make New Years' resolutions or anything, but aim to do better in all I do.

Wishing all my friends & family alike, a wonderful, healthy, happy, joyous New Year!

I did two watercolour paintings today

I am finally getting my art mojo back.

This is my friend Melody's dog Cady.

And this is hubs' dog Kodi when he was a pup. It is outlined in ink then colured with watercolours - it looks more cartoonish.

Each painting took only a couple of hours.

Seems I like to art late at night

I did this watercolour between 11pm & 12:30 last night/this morning.

I have to find something other than Bostons to draw/paint though :)

Click image to enlarge. This Boston is my Peanut.

Other art I have done in past few months but forgot to post :)

Recent art work

I did a pencil sketch of my friend Lisa's Boston Terrier Maggie yeaterday - I spent between 2-3 hours on it.

I think I need to do more pencil sketches, I liked doing it.

Somewhat of an update

I know I haven't been around much other than to post book reviews.

I am going to be somewhat vague here (my longtime readers can email me for details) but the past couple months have been extremely hard. My stress levels are through the roof and I need to get them under control.

Christmas this year will be quiet with only the 3 of us at home. Our usual Boxing day get together has been postponed until Jan 7th. I am hoping the break will help me restore myself. I have been sleeping too much and not well at that. I had lost the few pounds I had regained, to get back to my 20lb loss, but have since gained again.

Things are looking somwhat better, but there is still a lot to come. Starting right after our party Jan 7th, I will be getting back to my lowcarb way of eating - I have been overindulging like crazy and I constantly feel sick. No use trying to go sugar free during the holidays though, so that is the reason for the delay. I will however, do my best to curb the carb craziness somewhat before that.

I'm doing my best to stay positive and keep everyone else positive. I can't belive there are only 4 days til Christmas. Our tree is up but not yet decorated - should probably do that today. I also only have 1/4 of my house decorations up - seems pointless when no one but us will see them.

If I don't get around to posting before Christmas, I want to wish all my lovely readers a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous New Year - may all your hopes & dreams come true and  may you and your families be happy & healthy!

Am loving this song by Adele

Set fire to the rain

My Own Lil Party

My boys (hubs & kid) are going hunting tomorrow morning and will be away until at least Saturday evening, perhaps even until Sunday noonish, if all goes well and they don't freeze.

I will have the house ALL to myself (well, except for the pups).

I plan to get some serious arting done, read some good books while drinking tea, stay in my jammies all day, eat bowls full of popcorn while watching the latest Harry Potter movie and having an all round fun time ALL BY MYSELF  :)

Hope you all have a great weekend too!

Sorry I've MIA

Had company for a few days last week and then things just got busy.

Still no job, however.

I have been perusing Pinterest.com - very cool site.

Here are a few things I like. Click the link in the upper right to see the original posts.

I would LOVE this laundry room.

Or this bath/shower.

Indoor spa retreat anyone?

And afterwards sit by one of these.

And later that night go here or here.

No need for expensive dog toys...

an old bit of fleece and she is good to go!

Friday & Saturday Doodle Pages

And even more arty stuffs

Another page in my doodle journal started tonight while watching another online friend stream while arting live.

This is a bookmark I made for yet another online arty friend - the image is from an old Little Woman book - don't yell at me for cutting up a book - that is what I bought for! ($2 from the thrift shop).

I also made her this cute little ATC using a door image from a Home Depot flyer. Then I decided that is need the entire house around it, so fashioned an envelope into a house form. I think it is cute :)

 

Recent Art & Life Stuff

A doodle page I did last night while watching a friend stream live on Ustream.

I survived mother in-law being here but really do not want to do that too often. She was supposed to be here only a week but that got extended to 2 weeks.

I have been submitted to a few jobs, but still no solid leads or interviews yet.

Technology saved the day today - Jarrod forgot his science project which is due today, at home this morning. His teacher said as long as I could email her a photo to prove he had it finished, she wouldn't deduct any marks - so Jarrod phoned me, then texted me her email address, I took the pic and emailed it to her. Whew - he can hand it in tomorrow :)

A couple more pages done in my art journal.

One last photo to make you smile. Peanut has decided to try to kill my printer everytime it does something. Too funny!

Bostoberfest 2011

Partytime for the pup!

We attended this event last year - I blogged about it here.

This year there didn't seem to be as many dogs as last year. We stayed for about 2 hours - Peanut had a ball!

Peanut is wearing the pink harness.

And now some videos - they are all pretty short.

Only a matter of time

My mother in-law is visiting.

Some of the things I have heard (many of them several times over!)

MIL: that woman is too pale, she should put on some makeup.
MIL: Tsk look how short her skirt is!
MIL: (while watching a cooking show) Is SHE going to eat ALL that!
MIL: (same cooking show) Look at ALL the butter she is putting in!
MIL: Smith?! He is Indian, his name can't be Smith!
MIL: (after reading a crime novel of mine) Why do people write that stuff, it is HORRIBLE!
MIL: She looks like she didn't comb her hair.


ME: (Watching a cop on the news commend rescue workers "My hands off to them...")
"It's HATS off to them dumbass" I shout at the TV

OH MY GOSH - it is rubbing off on me!

5 days to go - pray for me!

On my mind...

On my mind today is my mother in-law. She had been visiting her sister near Ottawa for the month of September. My husband drove out and picked her up last Friday and brought her to stay with us for a few days.

Her memory is getting extremely bad. She mentions the same thing to me with several minutes of talking about it before. Her daughter had her to the doctor last year to be checked for Alzheimer's but the Dr said is is just her age - what a bunch of bunk! She is 80 yrs old and can't remember a conversation from 10 mins ago! that is not normal.

Anyhoo..Hubs drove her to his brother's place yesterday because she had an eye appt that he was taking her to. Shortly after they left, her daughter called (the one she lives with) to say that she was taking an additional week off so Mom could stay here longer if she wanted to.

So hubs has to drive out to his brother's in Toronto tomorrow to pick her up again and she will stay until next Sunday the 16th.

I literally sighed a breath of relief when she left yesterday, now she is coming back. She spoke to hubs last night to make arrangements to come back and then called an hour later completely forgetting the previous call - she didn't remember even after he reminded her of what they talked about.

I know none of this is her fault, but it is really difficult sometimes when you have to constantly repeat yourself - I should be used to this, I do have a teenager right? :)

So tomorrow morning I have a CT scan scheduled and then we will drive out to pick her up again. I also have to plan meals for while she is here - she is a somewhat picky eater.

Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving, so that is one meal I don't have to think about - turkey is already out to thaw. End of vent :)

Have a great weekend all.

On my mind brought to you by Down to Earth

Bits & Bobs

Here are a few artist trading cards I have made and sent to other recently.

Also a pic of my silly dog - she flipped her bed over and this is what she did when she couldn't flip it back.

My First Ever Art Canvas - Sewing Inspired

I saw Jo (JoL946 on Ustream) create a sewing themed canvas. The vintage sewing machine image is courtesy of MaryBeth, also on Ustream.

I liked Jo's version so much I decided to make one of my own.

Here it is in various stages. Started on cheap Dollarama canvas.

And yet another magazine collage - are you sick of these yet?

I am having a great time playing around with magazine photos and arting with them.

Here is one I did with just a bunch of eyes!

I used modge podge for the left page and all the magazine images wrinkled, so then I asked the gals on Ustream and while most suggested gel medium, I don't have that, so they suggested watered down white glue, which I used on the right page to the exact same results. Maybe it is just my technique - even still, I like the end result.

On the left page, I tried to blur the edges of the cut outs with gesso then paint over it - on the right I didn't bother to do that.

In case you cannot read it, the text says...Someone is always watching.