Mermaid Tag

I have really neglected my blog while recovering from spine surgery. I had my back surgery last September, and due to complications, was in the hospital for a month. Lots of fun. I'm still on a walker and have had more doctor appointments than I can shake a stick at. My art has really suffered. I have done some art, but...I'm hard on myself, my worst critic.  But, I did this tag I'd like to share. I've used an image from AlphaStamps.Thanks for taking a peek.

Getting Ready for Halloween

I've been away for quite some time. But I've been doing some art. Not really participating in the online blog challenges. Somehow I can't get myself together to do those. Maybe after my upcoming spine surgery and I get all that stuff and nonsense out of the way.  I suffered another loss...my dog Oliver went over the Rainbow Bridge.  I was really attached to him.  I knew it would be hard, but I didn't know how hard.  Maybe someday I'll get another dog.  Not now, tho.  Anyway, here's some Halloween art.

Art Journal Journey - Home/House

 I kept promising myself I would start journaling...and I kept promising. I scoured all the books and on line sites I could, but yet, I didn't start.  And one day early this month I saw a contribution to this challenge site that Patty S. did and I thought "awesome"! I need to really start...and still I procrastinated until the next to the last day of the month.  I'm really not thrilled with my journal piece, I like the bg, but the rest...well, I rushed it.  But I started - Glory Be!!!  I simply love the ink sprays from Red Lead and their ink pad color blocks.  The "wish" cloud is a Paperbag stamp on some crushed up tissue paper, and I used Modge Podge to adhere it to the journal page.  The stamps are from Unity Stamp Company...I've had them for a long time and hadn't used them...finally!  I was going to draw my house, but I waited too long!

Three Moos

I created 3 moos for a swap I'm in at Altered Designs.  I had a lot of fun making these.  Hope you like them.  In the meantime, I'm going to find a canoe...we need it, it's been raining buckets and buckets here in Virgnia!

Take a Word - Green

I haven't participated at Take a Word in ever so long, but I'm trying to get back in the saddle on the challenges I've enjoyed.  I mixed up some inky greens, used a stencil and came up with this piece. So here it is.  I'm trying to ignore the snow that's falling, too!

Poor Old Blog

I certainly have fallen away from my blog.  Well, I'm going to try to get back to blogland and maybe to a challenge or two.  We shall see how well I can manage to keep my promise to myself.  I was going to try to learn PS, but discovered the license I thought my son had he did not give to me, so no PS while I was recuperating from knee surgery.  I think I'll have to go out and but a copy and try to install it myself.  Anyway, here's a little thing I created for my group at Altered Designs. 

Three Muses/Grunge/Print Background

I haven't participated at Three Muses for a while.  So, I decided I'd try to jump back in and see if I could dust myself off and get going again.  This is a steampunk horse and I actually overstamped it with a sepia and then a black ink.  Closed my eyes, crossed my fingers and hoped I hit it right.  Seriously!  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  Hope you like it.  Glad to be back, hope to do more art in the future.

Skelly in a Coffin

Are you ready for Halloween?  I think I decorate until the last minute.  I love the holidays, all of them, but Halloween and Christmas are my favorites.  I participated in AlphaStamps coffin tag swap and made this coffin that I'd like to share with you.  Now, I have to go count the bags of candy and hope I have enough! I live on a main drag and I've seen people drive their children here from other areas.  We get itty-bitties to big teens who don't even come in costumes!  But, it's all good...maybe I'll go to the store and get some extra candy just in case...hmmm, do you think I should get pencils to hand out instead of candy?  LOL!

Merrifield Garden Center

We have a wonderful garden center in Gainesville. It has so many wonderful specimens of flowers, herbs, trees, bushes...and a small cafe and a shopping area that has lots of unique items.  The ladies responsible for decorating for the holidays are phenomenal.  Christmas is so beautiful there, I hate to leave.  I usually go there once or twice, have lunch and just sit and relax.  Talk about stress relief!  They have a garden advisor and everyone there is very helpful.  Right now, they are set up for Halloween.  In the greenhouse, they have several fairy gardens and three are set up for Halloween.  I took a picture of one...and here it is.  Gee, I think I'll have to have lunch there this week!

Eden Grace

I don't think I've participated at Inspiration Avenue, but when I saw the theme, I had to for the first time. The face I chose is that of my granddaughter, Eden. She has so many "faces", but she is so full of grace, which happens to be her middle name, that I am tickled pink to see her.  And since she lives across the street from me, I see her often.  For a toddler, she's amazingly organized, I could take lessons! She brings happiness to all of us. I hope you enjoy this picture.

Are you ready for Halloween?  I've done a few things...swaps for Alpha Stamps and Red Lead and my group, Altered Designs.  In fact, we just did an Edgar Allen Poe swap.  Here's my Poe (in a Gothic arch). Thanks for looking!

Autumn

My blog and I seem to have fallen into a black hole.  Grief over having lost my mom and aunt within the space of 11 months hit harder than I imagined and my art really suffered.  I made art, but wasn't crazy about what I did.  I certainly lost the drive to participate in any weekly challenges, which I loved.  However, I still care about designing for Moonlight Journey and my little art group, Altered Designs.  I love Autumn and this piece came together so quickly, I was surprised!  All the elements are from Moonlight Journey collage sheets, bless their creative hearts.  And now, I'm late sending it off to my partner at Altered Designs!  So, I have to get my envie ready to send it to her with some art sugar, as another A.D. member calls it. Anyway, now to Halloween art...a favorite holiday theme.

Time Flies

I've let my blog go since my Aunt passed away May 19th.  Then, of course, the first year of my mom's passing came in June...my art has really suffered.  I just haven't wanted to do much of anything.  But, I'm doing some art now...and I did this piece for Moonlight Journey (Lynne and Becky have been so good and understanding with all that has happened to me the last few years, I've worn out several violins!) Anway, if anyone remembers me, here's my timepiece!

STEAMPUNK DRAWER

This is a little project I've wanted to do for a while now.  I used elements from Moonlight Journey and charms from various places (and a lot of glue - that dates back to my kindergarten days, I guess). Finally paid attention to the label on Golden matte gel about cancer causing agents in the stuff noted by the state of California, so I've begun using palette knives to apply.  I'm working on moving my craft room.  It's taking time, but when I finally get it set up, it will really be a sweet treat!  Anyway, I hope you like this piece.

TAKE A WORD - MOTHERS

I haven't done a blog challenge in forever...so I've got to get back into the swing of things with one of my favorites...Take a Word.  The theme is Mothers and I've used an image from Moonlight Journey and the lamp is a resin piece painted with a bit of metallic gold.  Thanks for visiting!

Poor Blog

Seems like I've abandoned my blog.  Knee surgery knocked the wind out of me.  It certainly didn't go as expected...not a piece of cake!  Not a comedy of errors, just problems and infections and strains.  Geez!  Anyway, I didn't feel like making art, I did some things...threw away things too.  This, tho, is a canvas I made a while ago.  The BG was made a long while ago, the woman's picture was found and then very slowly I chose items to put on the canvas.  Then, last night, a title came to me.  I think it's a result of the surgery...the word can't be seen very well, but it's ESCAPE.  :o) 

Teddy Bear Tag

My friend, Vicky, at Vicky's Place is hosting a new challenge called "Teddy Time". Who can resist a teddy bear?  I just happen to have painted one on a wooden tag.  His name is "Happy".  If you'd like to submit a teddy for the contest, here's the link to Vicky's blog:

http://vickysplace2010.blogspot.com/2013/03/newteddy-time-challenge.html

A little bit of snow

Here it is - 6 March - and we finally get some measurable snow in Northern Virginia.  Oh well, it's spring. That's okay.  I spent the day just doing a little of this and that, otherwise known as not much of anything.  But I thought I'd share a creation I made for Moonlight Journey.  The background is wood and I have a small splinter to prove it!  LOL!!  But it was lots of fun to put together.  Hope you like it!

Thought I would share a matchbox creation I made for my group. I'm late mailing it out...have been down and out with a really hideous sinus infection (guess I've been making up for not having one last year, maybe?) Anyway, you'd think I'd be making lots of art, the only thing I've been doing is sitting around wondering where the energy went.