Purplepaint's Muse

Sketchbook Project Ltd Edition

2012-01-19T14:22:00.004-07:00

As promised I wanted to show you a picture of my revamped sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project Ltd. Edition. I must say, the middle of winter just does not inspire me at all! I had to think long and hard about what to sketch! I have done a watercolor wash over the bottles and I'll have to post photos of it and my other sketches on my sketching blog:

http://pencil-paper-paint.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for stopping by, two posts in one day! Oh my! :D

I finally made some art!

2012-01-19T07:22:00.004-07:00

Hey peeps! Well I haven't done any stamping in awhile and I am out of practice! I looked at this tag this morning and decided I didn't use enough layers or texture. I just got the new steam punk sheet from Oxford Impressions - love it!!!! And I also made a new bright yellow quiltie that's in my etsy shop.

I have been having a time with my muse, or the lack of it. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with my thyroid being totally wacked out and having the medicine adjusted etc. Seems the higher the dose they put me on the more tired I get.

Well anyway, I'm trying to be a better blogger but I may just have to blog without obligation for a bit, I'll play it by ear.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Happy New Year and Don't Fight the Muse

2012-01-01T08:59:00.002-07:00

Happy New Year!!!

Well I've finally figured it out! Don't fight the muse! If the muse wants to play with fabric let her! If you don't let her do what she wants she will just go away and leave you high and dry! She is a spoiled one, my muse! I've been wanting to do some rubber stamping and she just is not into that right now. Hmmm, maybe I can trick her by stamping on fabric.... :D

The things we do for art! Thanks so much for stopping by, now that I've figured out my muse it's time for you to go figure out yours! :D

Happy New Year!!!

2011-12-30T07:15:00.004-07:00

Hi all! I've been taking a break from blogging for a bit. I so appreciate your patience with me and I love you all! I am truly honored that you take time out of your busy days to stop by my blog! I thought I'd share a couple of hearts with you! The middle one is a chocolate chip cookie that I honestly did not make to come out into a shape.

And... I got my new Sketchbook Project Limited Edition! I have been revamping it. The last one went together much better than this one but oh well. I'll have to take some photos and post them.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome and safe New Years Eve and New Years Day!

Sketchbook Project 2012

2011-12-19T16:11:00.003-07:00

Here's my last spread in my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012! I sketched the wrong book though! I highly recommend Danny Gregory's "Creative License!" That's what really got me sketching and improving so much! One of these days I'll have to post a pic of what my sketching was like before. And of course anything by Cathy "Kate" Johnson! She has several books and is just such an inspiration!

Today in the mail I got my new sketchbook for the Limited Edition so I need to revamp it and get busy!

Thanks for stopping by now go do some art! And I will see if I can find my muse!

Sketch

2011-12-11T13:50:00.003-07:00

I've been finishing up my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Journal Project 2012, almost done... Only one more spread to go! This is just one of my recent sketches, if you'd like to see more go over to my sketching blog:

http://pencil-paper-paint.blogspot.com/

One of these days I will get back to doing mixed media, if I ever get my table cleaned off. I'm down to about a 5" square space to work and it's a hassle. And my fabric has been calling me... Anyway, thanks for stopping by and have a blessed Merry Christmas!!!!

Sketchbook Project Limited Edition

2011-12-07T07:29:00.003-07:00

Photo courtesy of Lighthouse Co-op. I've been trying to decide if I want to do this and decided what the heck! I've been working on a sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012 and I'm almost done! Only 2 more spreads to go!!! I think it's been a lot of fun and I did some great sketches! I'm so proud of myself!

This one is a little different in that it's due in April 2012 and it's limited to 5,000 artists, and it will be published in a book!!! How cool is that?!!! If you'd like some more info here's a link:

http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject?utm_source=Art+House+Co-op+List&utm_campaign=1d5f78f3c3-Limited_Edition_launch11_8_2011&utm_medium=email

Oh come on, you know you want to!!!

My fan quilt is finally done!

2011-11-28T14:38:00.004-07:00

It's finally finished! Whew! After re stretching, pinning and resewing, it is finished! Thank you Jan for the tips on getting the backing stretched! :D I think I'll take a break before I start on my son's quilt... I love quilting but it's still a hassle trying to stuff a large quilt through a machine. I think from now on, except my son's, I will do just large lap quilts. And now it is up for sale in my Etsy shop -

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

if anyone is interested. I wasn't really sure what to price it at, I've seen lap quilts for the same price but thought since it's my first I'd try it out.

Now I can get on with other things! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Can you believe Christmas is almost here? It is still fall here in SE PA, flowers are still in bloom. How weird is that?!! I love it, wish the whole winter would be this nice, but I have a feeling we're in for some major snow. We'll see...

Thanks for stopping by, have an art filled day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T16:56:00.003-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Hope you are all having a safe and wonderful day! I found this gorgeous fall tree one day while I was shuttling kids. This had the whole range - green, yellow, orange and red. Just beautiful! Unfortunately it was in a parking lot but I had to get a photo anyway!

We had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving, I miss my Mom and Sisters and Dave too. But we're thankful to be employed...

Thanks for stopping by and now it's time to get doing some art!!!

A new kind of drawing

2011-11-22T17:01:00.003-07:00

Hi all, the more determined I am to post more often, seems the less I post. So I guess I will start blogging without pressure or obligation, imposed by myself of course. :D

I'm still working on Suzi Blu's portrait class and this a piece I just finished. I really love the styles of faces everyone is doing and wanted to learn how. I highly recommend Suzi's classes! She lets you download the videos and keep them forever, and her classes are a really good price! I made this for someone special and will show you the whole thing once they have received it.

Thanks for stopping by! I am here, and I am being creative, I just don't have a lot of time to tell about it.

My first fall in the northeast

2011-11-13T06:02:00.007-07:00

Fall has arrived in southeastern PA. Wow! It's gorgeous! Beautiful trees everywhere! Unfortunately I didn't get enough photos! I kept thinking I need to bring my camera next time, next year I will get more photos! I keep raking leaves and they keep falling! I can't even remember how many times we've raked now! We did invest in a leaf blower though. That helps a lot! Luckily we have a forest to dump all our leaves in! A lot of our neighbors have to bag their leaves.

Even with all the rain we had fall was still gorgeous here! A lot of the leaves just turned brown because we had a ridiculous amount of rain. I'm wondering if we'll have a ridiculous amount of snow this winter? In Colorado we hardly saw any snow the last 5 or so years, we were in a drought in Colorado Springs. Seems like Denver and the mountains always got the snow.

I am loving the fall here! We've had fall for several months now! That's new! In Colorado you have summer, a week or two of fall and then winter. The skies have been a beautiful blue backdrop for the gold and red and orange trees! And the temps have been in the high forties to sixties! I'm sure winter is going to be hitting soon and I have a feeling it's going to be a rough one. The locals are telling us the leaves fell early this year, and when the pine trees lose needles that means a hard winter. One thing that will be nice though is that it won't last too long! I'm guessing around March spring will be here. AWESOME!!!

I've been working on my fan quilt. Almost done! I just have to sew on a binding and cut threads and it's done! Then I need to finish this watercolor quilt! And I have the fabric to start a quilt for our son, there's no way that will be done for Christmas - maybe his birthday.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Check out this fabulous giveaway!

2011-11-06T04:02:00.004-07:00

All I can say is WOW! My good friend Lynn is having a blogversary giveaway over at her blog:

http://trashtotreasureart.blogspot.com/2011/11/three-year-blogaversary-giveaway.html

This is just one of the prizes! Lynn does awesomely amazing work and is such an inspiration to me! Hurry over and check it out for a chance to win! You have until November 18th!

New fabric ATCs

2011-11-03T07:34:00.005-06:00

Well I finally got started on making some fabric atcs for our Grand Swap over at Fabric ATCs 121! I have 3 done and need 10 total. These are so much fun to make and they're pretty quick, so 7 more should be no problem. They're not due until December 10th or something like that.

Can you believe it's already November?!!!!!! Our grass is still green and some of the leaves on the trees are still green, and today it's supposed to get up to 65!!! That's pretty cool!!!

Time for more coffee and to get going for the day! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have an awesome day!

Happy Tenth Birthday Artchix Studio!!!

2011-10-31T08:38:00.003-06:00

Artchix Studio is celebrating their 10 year birthday this November!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTCHIX STUDIO!!! I know Helga has worked very hard to make Artchix the awesome company that it is! Helga has a challenge up on her blog so I thought I'd play along! This will be a page in my "Stashbook!" I was needing some inspiration! Thanks Helga!

Snowtober 2011

2011-10-31T05:56:00.006-06:00

I can't remember what they're calling it - Snowtober, Octoblizzard... well anyway we survived another rare occurrence here in the Northeast! An early snowstorm. We only had 6" of the incredibly wet and heavy snow! I've heard Massachusetts got 2 feet! So glad we didn't! We didn't lose power, it only blinked a couple of times so once again thank you Lord!!! We're feeling very fortunate that no branches came down on the house or cars. As you see in the bottom photo, I lost the top off my only maple. Darn! I love maples! I think we'll just leave the tree alone though, I'm not cutting down that one.

I have to apologize! I have been slacking lately on blogging! I have been doing some art, just not a lot of time to post about it. I promise I will try and do better!

I have some fabric atcs to scan and show you. Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

I was just getting into fall....

2011-10-29T05:47:00.005-06:00

Wow! It's amazing how different fall is here in PA from Colorado! The grass is still green, flowers are still in bloom, some of the trees are still green and there are more leaves falling than I've ever seen! Or raked!!! Yes, I've been doing an awful lot of raking! These photos are from just this past week!

Today is rainy and we are going to get to experience our first nor'easter! Oh goody!!! Let's see, we've had our first earthquake, first hurricane and now our first nor'easter!

I'm starting to feel like a jinx! I'll be sure and take photos! I just hope we don't lose power or have any trees crash down on the house or cars...

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

I love Hydrangeas!

2011-10-20T17:20:00.002-06:00

Had to share my latest watercolor sketch! I did this in my Sketchbook Project book. I think it turned out really cool! I love hydrangeas! They are fascinating! Did you know that if you feed them with acidic plant food they will turn blue?!!! How cool is that?!!! If you live in an area where your soil is naturally acidic then they will be blue anyway. I am definitely going to have to put a copy of this in my own sketchbook!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Some new ATCs

2011-10-16T07:07:00.004-06:00

I'm feeling much better this weekend! Amazing what sunshine will do! :D Thanks for putting up with my whining. I think I'm done for awhile!

I made up some ATCs for trade over at ATCs for All. The two bottom ATCs use Tim Holtz new autumn colors! Love them! Still wishing Ranger would make them part of their permanent collection!

And now I need to get busy and make some fabric ATCs for our Grand Swap over Fabric ATCs One to One!

Hope you're all having a fabulous fall weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Watercolor sketch, fall leaves

2011-10-12T15:40:00.003-06:00

The leaves here are so pretty, and I think I could sketch them all day! Each one is different and they remind me of the sunrise. I can't see the sunrise because of the trees here, so I guess I might have to get up early every morning and drive somewhere where I can see it. I am really missing Colorado lately, it's very pretty here but it's not home. I miss seeing the moon rise, and the sun rise and set, and rainbows, and being able to see forever. I miss the turquoise skies, and lightning, and being able to go for walks in the summer without getting heat stroke. I miss standing out in the middle of Kansas and being able to tell which direction I'm facing! There! I said it! I'm homesick. Sorry to be such a bummer.

Anyway! These are two sketches I just finished. The top one is in my Sketchbook Project journal and the bottom one is in my watercolor Moleskine. I like to have a duplicate sketch of each one I do in the SP.

So what have I been up to?!!!

2011-10-12T06:27:00.005-06:00

I know, you all think I haven't been doing any art, well this is kind of art... I've been making tiny little skirts and dresses for my Blythe and to sell! I guess some would call it playing with dolls... I like to make them clothes and photograph them. If you want to learn more about Blythe Google Gina Garan. She started the whole Blythe craze.

So that's what I've been up to the last few weeks, and I even got a tag done using Tim Holtz' new distress inks! I'll have to post that soon.

Hope you have time to do what you love!

More on the Sketchbook Project

2011-10-08T18:24:00.002-06:00

Last week I decided I'd better get with the program and work on a watercolor sketch for the Sketchbook Project! I still have 12 spreads to go, and it has to be done and sent in by the end of January, I think. I have some gorgeous maple leaves that I need to paint for one spread too. And I'd love to buy some roses and do a few spreads with those... Anyway, I'm getting there!

Halloween swap!

2011-10-06T04:12:00.004-06:00

I just participated in a swap over at the Vintage Dragonfly, and of course our theme was Halloween. This is my box that I made for my partner. I made her 3 ATCs, a pair of leaf earrings, and I added a bunch of fun little things, tickets, a rubber stamp, some gears and clocks and buttons and a few other tidbits. So how'd I do? I hope she liked it. I'll have to take photos of her box for me to show you!

I'm just getting ready to start running for the day. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Oh my aching knees!

2011-10-01T17:27:00.004-06:00

It is pinned!!! Okay that was really hard on the knees! We have hardwood floors and they are hard!!! I got this pinned the other night and started sewing today and then I noticed that I had some pretty big wrinkles sewn in on the backside. Crap! Now I'm feeling like I should take it all out and re stretch it. Darn it! When I'm making quilts for myself or my kids I'm not that picky but when I'm making them for sale I get really nit picky!

So, any of you quilt? If so, how do you make sure that your back fabric is perfectly flat?!!! Please let me know. Or is it normal to have wrinkles sewn into the backing?

I'm off to go blog hopping, or maybe sew. Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesom one!

Getting close!

2011-09-20T16:15:00.002-06:00

Well, the squares are sewn together. I'm waiting for fabric to come in so I can sew on the sashing and then do the sandwich, pin it, quilt and finish it! I'm planning on putting this in my Etsy shop to sell. It's really tempting to keep it but with two daughters going to college I'll sell it. It's a full sized quilt. Thought it was going to be a twin size but somehow I miscalculated. Oh well, that's cool.

Fall is definitely here in PA! It's amazing what a difference the humidity does to the feels like temp! I'm waiting for more spectacular leaf colors, the oak leaves are just turning brown and falling. The squirrels are pigging out on acorns and burying and I heard we're in for a colder winter here in the northeast - oh joy!

Well thanks so much for stopping by! Have an awesome day and go do some art!

Squeezing in a little art

2011-09-14T17:16:00.006-06:00

I've been squeezing in a little art when I can - just not a lot of time to post about it! :D

Shuttling kids and giving driving lessons is time consuming and tiring! Can't wait til they're driving though! Then they can take turns dropping off and picking up each other! I hope!

Fall is here in southeast PA, at least I think so. It's cooled down to the 70s and low 80s so it's actually pleasant to be outside! LOL! I am disappointed that the leaves on my oak trees are just turning brown and falling off - too much rain maybe? And I am ever so glad the rain is over and hope we don't have that much again for a very long time!

Now it's your turn, go do some art!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

9/11 Never Forget

2011-09-10T19:10:00.004-06:00

It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the 9/11 attack on the U.S.!!! I remember it like it was just last week! I remember hubby called me from work and told me a plane just flew into the World Trade Center. I turned on the news and watched in shock as the second plane flew into the 2nd tower! I was sitting on the steps between the kitchen and family room, the kids were eating breakfast at the table, getting ready for school. It was so unbelievable! Who would do such a thing?!!

I walked the kids to school and came home and watched more news and cried. I was so shocked!

I remember the days after - when no planes were allowed to fly - except for the military planes. It was so quiet. Eerily quiet. It was as if the whole country was in a state of shock. Please remember to put out your flag and say a prayer for all of our soldiers.

And more ATCs!

2011-09-06T17:18:00.004-06:00

I had some more time to play and made some more ATCs using Artchix images. I need to get my art table cleaned off so I have more that an 8" square to work on!

I need to get my fan quilt sewn together and then finish my watercolor quilt! So much to do, not so much time.

It has been raining here since yesterday, I think. We've had too much rain already - wish we could send some to Texas! They so desperately need it! The rainy weather makes me sleepy! We've had 3" already and it's supposed to rain every day through next Tuesday.

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Some new ATCs

2011-09-03T05:31:00.004-06:00

I made some time this week to go down to my studio and make these ATCs. Life has gotten very hectic! I'm running kids to college and work and picking them up and trying to do grocery shopping and all that other stuff in between. Not to mention hauling all the art supplies back downstairs that I brought up before the hurricane. If we didn't have a generator the whole basement, art room included, would have been underwater. I cringe to even think about that! So when does hurricane season end? :?

You know the living room is looking really good for studio space.... LOL!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome week!

Thank you Lord

2011-08-28T16:46:00.004-06:00

Thank you Lord! No trees down on the house, no tornadoes, no flooding of our basement (thanks to our generator). Every one's okay. What a relief! We were without power for 18 hours which was annoying but that's all. We were much luckier than lots of other people!

I hope I never see another hurricane in my life! And now it's about time for a shower and a night's sleep.

Earthquakes and hurricanes, oh my!!!

2011-08-27T06:38:00.003-06:00

I ran across this heart shaped leaf this past week. It's amazing how many times in nature you see a heart shape!

Toto! I have a feeling we're not in Colorado anymore!!!! Whatever shall we do?! Pray Irene goes out to sea ASAP, that's what! Yes it's true, I'm staring at Irene heading right towards us! We're right outside Philly. I never, ever thought I'd meet up with a hurricane! And of course we're in that saturated area where the extra 12" of rain may cause some really big trees to come crashing down. Lord, I sincerely hope not!!! I am holding my breath, trying not to panic, and waiting to see what's going to happen. We've got water, flashlights and batteries, food and a generator and we're prepared for a power outage. Hope not, but it could happen. I'm just hoping my art room, which is in the basement, doesn't get flooded! Of course it's more important that my family is safe.

Please say a prayer for all us East Coasters. Hope to be checking back in next week when all this is over....

Red Lead Rubber!

2011-08-17T10:38:00.003-06:00

I just finished these two pages for a swap over at Red Lead! I have a third page that is drying. Chris and Sharon are so inspiring! So much for giving up stamping - no way! I am having way too much fun at it! Although I may be getting rid of some of the stamps I rarely use... we'll see.

It is actually cooling down here and you can feel fall in the air. I can't wait to see fall here, with all the different trees and colors!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Smashbook, stashbook

2011-08-14T08:51:00.002-06:00

I've been hearing a lot about smash books lately so I went searching on You Tube and found Felicia's fun tutorials under Mouse Potato Designs:

http://www.youtube.com/user/MyMousePotatoDesigns#p/u/9/TBD8zdMmqEs

For some reason Blogger is not letting me cut and paste links to put on my blog so I have to type the whole link in. How annoying!!! If anyone knows what I have set wrong let me know!

Anyway.... I am really into making all kinds of books lately! I love hers, she uses grommets and beaded chain to bind it - very cool! Hers is more for keeping her stash in. I'm making one and calling it a Stash book - I have tons of ephemera that I don't want to use it all, so I can put a piece in here and use the rest on art! Yeah! And some of it I will probably journal on.

Also, I have another sketch for the 2012 sketchbook Project that I'm getting ready to post to my other blog:

http://pencil-paper-paint.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Grungy Monday

2011-08-11T10:14:00.006-06:00

I just joined in on Grungy Monday:

http://studio13.blogspot.com/

this week, celebrating all things Tim (Holtz of course).

This weeks' challenge was to use Tim's technique from his 2010 20 tags of Christmas:

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/12/12-tags-of-Christmasday-10.html

I just got around to trying this - how fun!!! I used Tim's tag die and then stamped it with one of his stamps, also used the big clock stamp, added one of his tickets and the umbrella dude (my absolute favorite)!!!!!! I used the patchwork embossing folder, then I used the turquoise acrylic dauber on the plastic packing material, and wiped it off a little till I was happy with the way it looked. I punched holes and added the brads, plus one of his gears with an arrow and another brad. Then I tied some yarn and ribbon to the top. This didn't turn out how I had pictured it but I think it looks pretty cool!

I'm so thrilled my Michael's, JoAnn Fabric and AC Moore are getting more of Tim's stuff! Wish they would get all of it in!!! I really want to get my hands on the stains!

Hey, thanks for stopping by! Now go do some art. :D

Trying to finish a quilt...

2011-08-07T16:28:00.003-06:00

Yeah! Last square, I think! LOL! This is the last square for the fan quilt that I started in Colorado. I think this will be a twin size quilt, I need to measure my batting. I might have miscalculated how many squares I need... This one will be for sale when in my Etsy shop when I finish it.

I also got a new Styrofoam wall for my doing my watercolor quilts on!!! Can't wait to do one of those now that I have a machine that will actually stipple!!!! And I can stipple on this fan quilt too!!! Awesome!!!!

Hope you're having a great weekend!

They grow Hibiscus outside here!

2011-08-02T16:38:00.006-06:00

Oops! Turns out this is a Rose of Sharon! And what I thought was a yellow coneflower is a Black Eyed Susan! LOL! Okay, so I'm going to ask you all what it is before I write it all fancy in my sketchbook! :D

Hi peeps! I'm still here! It was so nice and cool this morning I sat out on the deck and did several watercolor sketches! This one is for my personal journal, to see more and the one for the Sketchbook Project pop over to my other blog:

http://pencil-paper-paint.blogspot.com/

For those of you just tuning in, we recently moved from Colorado to Pennsylvania. It's like living in another country! So many differences! I saw these bushes with flowers and went outside to check them out and was totally surprised to see they are hibiscus flowers!!!! They grow them outside here! In Colorado we'd never dream of planting them in the ground outside - or if we did they would die over the winter. I always had one in my front window that would bloom all winter long for me. Will wonders never cease! :D

Thanks for popping in, have an awesome day!

Alpha Stamps is having a contest!!!

2011-07-30T16:40:00.006-06:00

Look at all these fabulous Halloween goodies!!! Alpha Stamps is having a contest, wouldn't you love to win all these goodies?!!! There's collage sheets, rubber stamps and more! Pop over there to find out more:

http://alphastamps.com/blog/?p=2122

Your work could also be featured on their blog! How cool is that?!!! I know I'll be giving it a shot!

Rebound - Sketchbook Project 2012 book

2011-07-26T16:14:00.002-06:00

I know, I should have taken a photo of the sketchbook I received for the Sketchbook Project 2012. I was a little surprised when I got it - kind of disappointed that it was so small. And I was excited to get started so I jumped right in rebinding it. It was quite thin and the paper would never have worked for watercolor so I took it apart and rebound some hot pressed watercolor paper, made it thicker and put on a cool cover! It has 20 pages so if I do front and back it would be 40, we'll see. If you'd like to see more photos pop over to my other blog:

http://pencil-paper-paint.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you're keeping cool!

Can you say HOT?

2011-07-23T12:43:00.006-06:00

Can you say HOT? OMG!!! Yesterday the temp in the shade was 105 degrees, with the humidity figured in it was 110-115 degrees. Oh Lord! I am not used to anything over 97! Well needless to say, we've just been staying in the house with the air conditioner running. God forbid we actually have to go somewhere which of course we do. And the women around here look so calm, cool and collected and I'm sweating bullets!!! How do they do it?!!

Anyway, I haven't been motivated to do anything in this heat! I guess I need to go down to my art room and do some art to show you. Well I'll see what I can do... :D

Oh by the way, this is a gorgeous sunset my son and I drove a few blocks to take pictures of.

Thanks so much for stopping by and stay cool!

2012 Sketchbook Journal Project - I'm in!!!

2011-07-15T17:10:00.003-06:00

I am soooo jazzed!!!!!! I so wanted to do this last year but couldn't because we were in the middle of selling our house. So when I saw the link on Anita's blog I went searching to see if you could sign up for this year yet - and you can, and I did!!! I can't wait to get my sketchbook and get started!

It's like a concert tour, but with sketchbooks! How cool is that?! The sketchbooks will travel around the country and lots of people can look at them and maybe, just maybe, I'll inspire at least one person to pick up a pencil and start sketching!!! If you want more info just click on the little globe pic on the right! See you there!

A sketch

2011-07-15T08:41:00.003-06:00

Thought I'd share one of my latest watercolor sketches. I'm sure this is a Lilly, although I don't know if it is a Day Lilly and has a specific name. It's much prettier than the usual orange ones though.

To see more sketches pop over to my sketching blog if you'd like:

http://pencil-paper-paint.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome weekend!

Lynn Stevens is having a giveaway!

2011-07-07T15:43:00.007-06:00

Check it out! Lynn over at:

http://trashtotreasureart.blogspot.com/

is having a giveaway for having 1,000 followers! Congratulations Lynn!!! And she is giving away tons of awesome art! Pop over and leave a comment and sign up and follow her! You've seen her work published in almost all of Stampington's magazines, she does amazing art!

Another swap!

2011-07-06T07:13:00.005-06:00

I've just joined the swap sisters for a swap over at Red Lead! I just love this little pixie! She was looking really flat and that Bingo number was sticking out there all by itself so I got the idea to make her another set of wings and have them stick out! I really like how it turned out!

Thanks again for stopping by, now it's your turn - go make some art!

Altered Book Club's 8th Anniversary!!!!!

2011-07-06T07:01:00.008-06:00

Thank you Lynn and Lynn for your comments, you're right, I can't give up stamping, it's just too much fun!

I did this 4x4 for Altered Book Club's 8th Anniversary swap! I remember the first time I saw one of their group books on Carol Duvall - they all did a page for her and put it together. I had to do some of that! I immediately looked them up and joined the group!

There are 16 of us swapping so that will be an awesome fat 4x4 book! I'll have to show pictures when I get mine back and bound!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Still here and doing art

2011-07-01T04:16:00.002-06:00

I'm still here, and I really am doing some art! This is a card I made for hubby for Father's Day. I've been working on a swap for Altered Book Club's 8th anniversary swap, photos to come.

And I have been doing a lot of sketching and painting. I'm really missing painting, I used to do watercolor and oil paintings and enter shows. I have no room to set up my drafting table so if I decide to get back into painting, somethings got to go. I've been thinking of cutting down on my stamping, and selling some of the stamps I don't use. Hard decision, I'll have to think about it some more. I can always just continue to paint in my Moleskines...

Anyhoo - I have some new watercolor sketches over on my other blog:

http://pencil-paper-paint.blogspot.com/

Go over and check it out if you'd like.

Well I'm off to post on that blog now! LOL!

Have a fabulous and safe 4th of July and thanks so much for stopping by!

Columbine painting/sketch

2011-06-14T07:40:00.003-06:00

Finally had some time to do a quick sketch and painting! I also did an ACEO which I'll put in my Etsy shop:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

I have been wanting to paint these columbine since we moved in, I've never seen this dark purple before. I had to catch them before they all went to seed. It was so nice and cool last night, I sat out on the deck and painted these. They are quite an interesting flower and a challenge to do in pen and ink. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

I'm still here...

2011-06-10T06:33:00.006-06:00

I'm still here! Still unpacking and going through more stuff to get rid of. (I know, I should have been doing that in Colorado...). Also doing all the necessary stuff after a move, getting new drivers' licenses, tags, opening new bank accounts.... All that fun stuff.

We did have a chance to drive out to a spot where we can go to take photos of the sunset. This is the horizon here in southeast PA. One of my kids told me if I called that a horizon you all would laugh at me. In Colorado and Kansas you can see forever, but this is the horizon here. Also some of the beautiful country side. It really is gorgeous here! So green and lush! And humid! We actually had a heat advisory the other day, they even let the schools out early! It was 98 degrees and with the humidity the feels like index was over 100 - not sure exactly how hot but it was hot!!!

I also got a photo of Philadelphia Phil sneaking out from under the deck to do some munching. And my cardinal, we don't have these out west. They're much more red from the front. He was looking right at me through the window but by the time I grabbed my camera he had turned around. I'm hoping he'll drop some red feathers for my collection!

The other day the girls and I went to a little quilt shop, I was so disappointed, they didn't have that much fabric at all! (Like I really need more fabric! LOL!) Yesterday we went to JoAnn Fabrics and I got a little of several different fabrics. There are 3 different art/craft stores in the area - Michael's, A.C. Moore and JoAnns. They seem to work together and not carry too much of the same stuff. I do miss Hobby Lobby though. Oh well, I have enough art supplies to last for a very long time!

I'm debating on hitting some garage sales today or unpacking, or maybe I'll go sew...

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Humid?! NO! Really?

2011-05-30T18:35:00.003-06:00

Wow! It is really humid here! Colorado is known as semi arid, so the humidity is going to take some getting used to. But I'm loving taking photos here!!! I grabbed my camera the other morning and got this shot. Hopefully I'll be able to catch some of the birds and squirrels, fox and Philadelphia Phil, the ground hog we have living under our shed.

All the beautiful greenery and lushness is fabulous! And the plants you can actually plant in the ground here - like cyclamen and kalanchoes! In Colorado those were strictly indoor plants! They'd never make it through the winter! And there are ferns that just grow wild here! It's like living in another country! :D

Hope you're all enjoying your Memorial Weekend, my thanks and gratitude going out to those who are serving our country and those that have served in the past.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have an awesome day!

Still unpacking and adjusting

2011-05-22T05:58:00.008-06:00

It has been rainy all day for 7 days. I did get some awesome foggy photos though! Now keep in mind I'm used to wide open blue sky and sunshine - this is definitely a change. I like it though!

And yes, I am still unpacking, although there's a lot of stuff that has no place to go, and it's stuff we need so I guess I'll just start stacking boxes in the basement. Should be interesting about Thanksgiving when we need the turkey roaster...

I thought I'd be able to get rid of a lot of books but as it turns out, they're almost all art and sewing books! :O I offered to get rid of all my clothes instead of my books, except for of course a few clothes that I need to wear. :D I love my books! I learned to draw and paint and quilt and make jewelry and all the other stuff I do with books!!! And yes I actually do read them and go back to them often. We'll see how this turns out. We are getting rid of a lot of other stuff though and I may be putting some collectible glassware etc in my Etsy shop once things settle down.

Well, hubby is up and going to get frozen cappuccinos so we can get energized and get a lot done.

Thanks so much for stopping by, now if you'd go do some art for me, since I'll be busy trying to get a lot more stuff unpacked today, I'd really appreciate it! And you'd feel better too! :D

I'm Back!!! Did you miss me?

2011-05-11T15:28:00.000-06:00

Our poor tired van! Five people, a dog and 3 cats. What a long and crowded 4 day drive!!!

My new living room.... I keep unpacking boxes and I get up and they're still here! You should see my art room! OMG!!!!!!! We have too much stuff!!!!!!! Time to have a mega garage sale!

See the southwestern ladder at the base of the tree? That is actually 7-8 feet tall! So that gives you an idea of how huge these trees are!!!!

I think this is a rhododendron bush? We didn't have these in Colorado! Aren't they gorgeous?!!! I can't wait to plant a hydrangea!!!

Our back deck.

I'm back!!! Two weeks off the computer, and it wasn't as bad as I thought! I didn't go into convulsions or anything!!!!!!!!! LOL!

We are in Pennsylvania! We moved in last Wednesday, after spending 6 days in a motel. That got old real quick!

It's really green and hilly here, and there are huge trees!!! Part of our almost acre is a forest! We have gray squirrels, a groundhog, bunnies, deer, a fox, tons of birds and something that screams in the forest at night.... I haven't heard it yet but hubby did... I can't see the sunrise or sunset from the house, I have to drive up the road to see the sunrise, will have to find another place to catch the sunset. I'm feeling a little claustrophobic and would love to see for a distance, oh well... But it really is beautiful here, a nice change from the drought in Colorado Springs. And it's warm! 70 degrees! I'll post more when I have a chance, I have to get all these boxes unpacked!!!

Thanks for stopping by and go do some art for me!!! :D

Almost moving day!!!

2011-04-16T17:56:00.003-06:00

Just finished whipping up this quiltie - I entered a swap way back before we had an offer on our house, I dropped but the swap mom forgot to take my name off so I whipped this up for my swap partner. Sorry it's so late! That felt so good to create something! I am having a hard time putting my sewing machine away!!!! It's going to be a long few weeks until I get to unpack it again....

Thank you everyone for your well wishes, I appreciate it! I don't know if I'll have time to post again before the move, so if not, I'll be back in a few weeks. Two weeks without a computer, oh that is going to be the pitts!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by and hope to be back in 2-3 weeks!

We found a house!!!

2011-04-11T19:48:00.003-06:00

Oh what a relief! We found a house!!!! Talk about getting down to the wire! The movers come April 22 to finish packing us up.

This is the family room in what is to be our new house!!!! Love all the windows with the sun shining in!!! I hope the photographer doesn't mind me using their photo. This is not our furniture though. We are so jazzed! It's close to a mall so the kids can get jobs, I may be getting one too if my private contracting business slows down for the summer... and there is a Michael's and JoAnn's nearby!!! My art room will be in the basement, wish I could have this room!!! Oh well, I'll be able to sit in here and sketch.

We are all so excited now that things are getting close - and so relieved we found a house we like, you wouldn't believe all the hunting I've done online! Hubby was out there and checked out several that were just awful. When he went through this one we both agreed this was it! LOVE IT!!!!!

Things are getting crazy around here!!!!

2011-04-06T19:54:00.003-06:00

I've been taking a Suzi Blu portrait class! It's self guided and she is such an awesome teacher!!! I signed up for this before we knew for sure our house was going - now they just have to have closing on April 28th. Meanwhile we are frantically searching for a house out in Pennsylvania-I' m doing virtual house hunting on line and hubby is driving by in person, if it looks good he calls the Realtor. Keep your fingers crossed we find something fast! Otherwise we'll be in an apartment while we continue to look. Talk about pressure!!! Whenever we were relocated before and through another company, they would buy our house, we'd fly out and find a house and the packers come in and pack everything and load it up and off we go. This has been much more difficult! Having to show the house for 6 months, waiting til almost the closing date to be able to really hunt for a house... It's been a very stressful 6 months! Please say prayers that we find the perfect house and that it happens this week. Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll post when I can.

We have an offer!!!

2011-03-26T18:58:00.007-06:00

We have an offer on the house! We're just waiting to make sure that their closing goes through on April 1st. Hope I don't jinx it by telling you about it... Once their closing goes through, we're supposed to close on our house on April 28th. Now if we could just find a house we like in PA. I have been virtual house hunting all day... Can't believe how much more expensive housing is out there! I am so glad I don't have to pack up all our stuff! Can't wait to find a place and get settled in, being in limbo stinks! I guess I'll continue to pray that God will provide the perfect house for us.

I've found a little time this week to play on my sewing machine. I just love it! I also got several more squares done on the fan quilt.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll keep you posted...

Happy St Patrick's Day!!!

2011-03-17T11:20:00.005-06:00

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!!!!!! I had to go down and do some art last night, after sitting at my computer all day yesterday feeling really nauseous! I feel much better today! Daughter is feeling a little better after a late night trip to Emergicare and some antibiotics. She has a really swollen throat but she's on the mend now.

The green tag and background above are for an Artchix challenge. I had fun playing with Ranger's alcohol inks! Don't you just love the stamp of the 3 dudes? I need to make some cool steam punk pieces with those guys... I'm pretty sure that stamp is from Crafty Individuals, across the pond.

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Thoughts going out to Japan

2011-03-16T09:03:00.005-06:00

I'm not getting much art done this week. I'm fighting the flu which one of my daughters has, and I'm just feeling so sad for Japan and the devastation that they are dealing with, after the earthquake and tsunami, and now the nuclear threat - it is just horrifying... The pictures bring tears to my eyes. I cannot imagine going through something like that. Please join me in saying prayers for them.

I try to keep this blog positive and upbeat but I cannot just ignore what is going on across the ocean.

ATCs

2011-03-14T21:06:00.004-06:00

I had a little bit of time to play last week, I used Artchix images. I just love the dude at the top and the cat and this lady with the bizarre outfit! So fun to play with!

Hopefully I'll have some time to play this week, one of my kids has the stomach flu and I'm trying to dodge her germs. I've also been quilting up a storm, working on the fan quilt that I want to put up for sale. And I'm taking a portrait class with Suzi Blu! I'll have to show you some picks of all that when I have time.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day, and now it's your turn to go make some art! :D

Paying it forward....

2011-03-12T08:52:00.009-07:00

I love the idea of paying it forward! I saw this on Katie's blog:

http://ragamuffingalsstudio.blogspot.com/

and decided to dive in!

Here's how it works:

For the first 5 people who leave a comment that they'd like to join, and email me with their snail mail addy I will send you a gift during 2011. It will be either some fabulous goodies or a piece of original art or both! Your part is to pay it forward to 5 more people sometime in 2011. Here are some ideas borrowed from Katie ~ You don't have to have a blog giveaway, you could plant a tree, donate to charity (I know Christchurch, New Zealand and Japan could use some help), volunteer an hour of your time, donate a piece of your art, teach someone to draw, you get the idea. Of course why stop at 5 people? Imagine what a fabulous world this would be if we all did this every single day?! Just to smile to a stranger, a kindness shown here, there and everywhere... So now I need at least 5 comments and snail mail addresses. :D Please send your snail mail addy to purplepaint45@yahoo.com

Also, let me know what you did and I'll post if anonymously on my blog.

I've been busy creating up a storm!

2011-03-04T18:30:00.005-07:00

Well I have been busy!!! I haven't posted but I have been creating! The top is the cover of a journal inspired by Pam Carriker's book "Art at the Speed of Life" and her workshop on Strathmore's site. I am having fun trying out a painterly style - I can do realistic but this is a lot of fun to play with. I just love those three colors together! I'm not sure if I'm done with this or not, we'll see...

And of course I just got done playing on my new machine!!! I am having so much fun doing free motion sewing and practicing! And I made up 3 new fabric atcs to trade in ATCs for All.

And I went out and painted on location this week if you want to pop over and visit my other blog:

http://pencil-paper-paint.blogspot.com/

Now it's your turn! Time to go make some art!

I love my new Bernina!!!!

2011-02-26T19:35:00.004-07:00

I love my new Bernina!!!! I have been working on the fan quilt that I plan on putting up for sale, and I've been using my new machine, a Bernina 230. I love it!!! My Kenmore was okay, but it had a drop in bobbin and if you got going to fast the bobbin would jump up in the holder and mess up the thread (plus it did not do free motion the right way). The Bernina is so much nicer, and when I get ready to quilt I can free motion it!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!

I also made my first mini cq on my Bernina tonight! The embroidery was a bit of a challenge, I actually had to read the manual! LOL! I couldn't get the pattern to clear though, so I just had to keep turning it off and on. I'm sure there's a trick to it other than hitting the clr button, maybe just putting in a new stitch..... I'll have to try that out.

I also got to paint today! I got Pam Carriker's new book so I'll show you photos and tell you more about that in my next post!

Thanks so much for stopping by and now it's your turn ~ go do some art! :D

Mona

2011-02-23T20:52:00.004-07:00

Okay, so I cannot draw people. But I was so inspired this evening by Pam Carriker's

http://pamcarriker.com/

sketch I just had to try it. Granted it doesn't look exactly like Mona, but there is a resemblance. And for me, this is a lot better than I thought I would do! I'm definitely going to be doing more portraits. Pam has a link on her blog where you can take free online workshops through Strathmore and you can see some of her short videos! Very inspiring! Expect to see more of Mona in the future! I'm taking the online workshop I was telling you about where Pam has you use some of your previous artwork...

Thanks for stopping by and have an art filled day!

Surprise!!!!

2011-02-19T18:46:00.005-07:00

Thursday I was in the middle of vacuuming for the showings that I knew would be coming, when my son told me someone was on the phone from a sewing center. Hmmmm, weird. My machine has been on hold while I pay it down. Amy called to tell me that a gentleman had called and paid it off!!! I was so surprised! She told me I could come over and pick it up any time. Well the vacuuming could wait!!! I ran and changed and flew across town, trying not to get a ticket, and picked up my new machine!!!! And then we got hit with showings and things I had to do with the kids so I finally got to get it out of the box and play with it a tiny bit late that night. I played with it some more today. Hubby decided I could go ahead and get it now so I wouldn't have to be tortured for another month! LOL! He knows me so well! I LOVE IT!!!! And if you're reading this, Thank you honey!!! :D

The top photo I was just playing around sewing strips together. Then I made a small quilt square and did some free motion sewing!!! The middle photo is the front, and the bottom is the back. Notice there are no pulled threads and the bottom thread isn't just sitting on top of the fabric!!!!!!! Granted I need a little practice on this machine, my stitches are not the same length and never will be, I'm not that picky of a quilter, but it could be a little smoother. I am just SO jazzed this machine does free motion the way it's supposed to!!!

Now I'm ready to do a watercolor quilt!!! My big board is out in the garage and I don't dare bring that back in the house, the Realtors would have a cow! But I do have a smaller board I can work on and just stick it in the closet when we have a showing. I can't wait to finish it up with free motion on my new machine! If you remember, last time I made one, I had to rip it out three times and ended up doing all the stipple quilting by hand! I am sooooo jazzed!!!!!!!

Thank you again honey! I love you! :D

Artchix ATCs for swap

2011-02-16T07:21:00.004-07:00

I decided to jump in on a swap since it appears that I'm going to be here for awhile. I haven't done a group swap in ages! The top one is my copy since I got a little sloppy with the glue and glitter. The bottom one is one of the 6 I did for the Artchix Sweetheart ATC swap. You know, the Artchix chixies are really talented artists! And I was a little intimidated while making these... I hope they're good enough.

I really love working with this lady's image! She is just so gorgeous and sassy!

I would have printed these out on better paper but it's packed in a box somewhere... One of these days we'll sell the house and we'll move and I'll be able to unpack all my art stuff - airbrush, extra fabric, papers, comp books, Sissix dies, laminator (if that didn't get ruined by the freeze), tins and bottles to alter and tons of other stuff! It really will be like Christmas! :D

I just have to mention that we're having a faux Spring! It's been in the 60s!!!! And gorgeous! Of course, I'm sure it will get cold again but this is just so awesome after the bitter cold we had!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome and art filled day!

Tag Tuesday and pin back buttons

2011-02-08T17:28:00.008-07:00

I've been wanting to to do a tag for Tag Tuesday and finally today I did it! I love making tags! Louise over at:

http://kardkrazy.blogspot.com/

started Tag Tuesday, go over and check it out! You can see every one's tags! Now maybe I can get a Gothic Arch done too!

I listed this one in my Etsy shop, as well as some more pin back buttons that I made:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome week!

Check out this swap and giveaway!!!!

2011-02-08T07:49:00.004-07:00

Isn't this cool?!!!! Roni over at:

http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/

is having a giveaway! She has tutorials on altered charms and she'll be giving away some of these charms!!! And she's hosting an altered charm swap that I would be in so fast if I wasn't in the middle of trying to sell a house.... I may just break down and join anyway. Wonder if I could get them all done in one day? Oh so tempting!!!

Anyway go check it out! :D

I'm still here!

2011-02-08T07:13:00.003-07:00

Okay all, sorry for the break, I'm still here!

I've got a couple of photos for you today, one is a recent Colorado sunrise. The other is a cool still life I had going on the window ledge in my art room - one of my last bits of personality in the house, an inspirational little scene. Well it's gone now... Realtors can be such a pain! It's really a drag living in a house without any personal stuff around! I'm ready to move! Okay, enough complaining.

Once we get moved and I get everything unpacked I'm going to have a big giveaway, just for putting up with me, and to celebrate my blogversary which is tomorrow, I think! :D So hang in there and say a few prayers that we'll get the house sold.

And now I'm off to try and do some art without making a mess...

2010 Dress project - August and September

2011-01-28T19:39:00.005-07:00

I hate leaving things unfinished, so, I've been working on my 2010 Dress Project. I got a little sidetracked what with putting the house on the market etc. The top one is August, and of course when I went to get my tiny seashells I realized they'd been packed, had to run to the thrift store today... My September dress is the shiny seed pod from the money plants I have in the backyard and the top is the seeds. Now I just need to finish October, November and December!

I've also been working on some pin back buttons - these are from some of my photos. I'll be putting them in my Etsy shop. I also have some of Blythe and some of vintage flowers. Hope to get more collages done as well...

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

I just had to do it!!!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!

2011-01-27T08:14:00.004-07:00

I am soooo excited!!!!!!!! I went to the fabric store to check out the Bernina 230 yesterday, I'd been in before, but I wanted to actually do some free motion sewing on it so Amy set me up. Oh my gosh what a difference from my Kenmore!!!!!!! I did some quick free motion sewing and then pulled the quilt sandwich out to look at the stitches ~ AWESOME!!!!! No pulling of the bottom thread, no bottom thread just sitting on top of the fabric! It was a miracle!!! After playing with it some more I put some money down and will have that baby paid off as fast as I can so I can bring her home with me!!! I'm going to have to give this sewing machine a name!!!! I love her already!!! So it's back to work for me!!!!

Thank you so much Jenna for telling me about the 230! This one was expensive but less than $1,000. I just can't see paying $3,000-$4,000 for a sewing machine! Even this one was expensive but I just know she's going to be worth it! Plus now I'll be able to do some watercolor quilts to sell!!!!

I am doing the happy dance!!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Birthday giveaway over at Frosted Petunia!

2011-01-25T18:47:00.004-07:00

Isn't this awesome?!!!!! Anna over at Frosted Petunia is having a blogversary/birthday giveaway!!!! Check it out:

http://frostedpetunias.blogspot.com/

She has a fabulous blog!!!!

A steampunk birthday card

2011-01-25T18:04:00.003-07:00

Finally! I finally got time to do some art! I'm in a better mood this week... I have been wanting to use this stamp! I love this steam punk bird from Oxford Impressions!!! And of course I had to use Tim's dies, love these gears!

I should go do a couple of more cards while I can...

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome art filled day!

WARNING - Got the blahs....

2011-01-19T14:44:00.005-07:00

I've got the blahs, must be the winter blahs...and I'm not in too good of a mood either! I try to keep this blog positive and upbeat but sometimes you just got to vent!

The other day I had spring fever! It was so warm and gorgeous out and I was running errands with my windows down and stereo blasting. Today it started spitting tiny little snowballs! Blech!!!!

The home showings have picked up - which of course means that the creative mess in my art room had to be picked up and put away, just when I got everything out!!!! This is sooooooooo annoying!!!! I made this tag the other day, I just love this lovely lass from Artchix! And this awesome background is from Paper Whimsy! I was gesso-ing two journals for my own use, and I'm tearing paper to make a book.... And it all had to be stacked and or put away! And I was working on a couple of ideas to send in for publishing - my goal this year. I've wanted to do something for several years, just never took the time to sit down and do it, so we'll see if I can make it happen this year!

I guess I'll just have to get my mess back out because my muse refuses to do her thing without clutter all around. Sigh, now I feel better! Thanks for letting me gripe! :D

Thanks for stopping by and I will try not to be in a bad mood next time.

Free motion frustration!!!

2011-01-15T12:33:00.004-07:00

Okay peeps! Here's another cowgirl ACEO that will be going in my Etsy shop.

As promised here is the quilted piece I was practicing free motion sewing on.... The front doesn't look too bad but see how the stitches pull on the back of the piece - at the bottom right? When i try and do free-motion on an actual quilt I spread it out a lot more and the pulling is even worse! Does every one's look like that and am I just being too picky? Or does my machine not do free motion too well? I figure if I'm going to sell pieces with free motion on it, it should look really good. So what do you think? Please let me know!

Thanks so much and have an awesome weekend!

Painting papers and crocheting...

2011-01-14T19:52:00.005-07:00

I have been busy! Going in ten different directions at once, but busy! LOL! I'm starting on another journal from Carole's class - see her link in my sidebar - Open Your Door, I'm not sure if she's still letting people join but you could give it a try, a really fun class!!!

Even though it hurts my hands I've been crocheting up a storm. I just have to ice it at night, maybe I'll eventually get used to it? I really do love to crochet, and I've been making borders for pages and other things. And I finally got my pattern down for a sweater for Blythe!!! Took me quite a few tries, lots of them are huge with really long arms but this one and another turned out great and are now listed in my Etsy shop if you're in the market for a sweater for your girl:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

I have another cowgirl ACEO done and it's somewhere on this messy desk, along with some samples of stippling that I tried... I'll have to post them, maybe I'm just being too picky, I'll let you decide.

Time for me to get back to playing! Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome weekend!

Cowgirl fabric ACEOs

2011-01-06T16:52:00.005-07:00

Did you ever feel like if you don't do something creative you're going to just explode? Well after two days of not getting anything done I finally made myself go downstairs and this is what I came up with up. These are such fun to make! I just love to rip fabric! LOL!

These will be going into my Etsy shop for sale, I'm hoping to make enough to buy a sewing machine that will do stippling. This could take awhile...

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

Anyway, once I get these posted I'm off to play some more, I have to work tomorrow so I have to play tonight!

A pre-Christmas sketch and trying to get motivated...

2011-01-06T11:33:00.001-07:00

I was just over at Creative Carmelina's blog and she had painted a rose right before Christmas too! We must have been on the same wavelength. Looking forward to Christmas but knowing that our artistic solitude would be totally gone for awhile...

As you can see, I did this so fast I forgot to finish the leaves on one of the roses... I got a cheap dozen roses at the grocery store right before Christmas, I was hoping to get a lot more sketches done of them... no such luck. This was while I was burning rubber at my sewing machine to finish the fan quilt!

Now I'm back to working 3 days a week and still showing the house, and I'm having a really hard time getting motivated!!! I get motivated and get my stuff out and then I get a call to have a showing and I have to put a lot of it away... I have one small table in my art room that is piled so high I can't even work on it! Well, except for about a 6 inch by 6 inch square! LOL! I know, I should clean it off, but where to put it all? Oh well, such is life...

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful an art filled week!

Finally got to play with Tim's dies!!!

2011-01-05T07:31:00.003-07:00

Finally!!!!!! I finally got to make one of Tim's tags with the medallion! My center is off, I had to use regular glue because apparently my glue gun got packed. I have had these dies for probably a month and every time I get them out we have a showing and I have to put them all away! That's a little tricky to get the medallion part flat, well, I was having a hard time anyway.

We had an offer on the house and we were countering back and forth and we were just getting ready to accept their offer when they withdrew, they found out they didn't qualify for the loan after all. We were ever so bummed, even though I was trying not to get my hopes up just in case.... Of course we don't have a house on the other end yet, once we get a solid offer we'll fly out and look for a house.

Once we do get to move and unpack it will be like Christmas! A lot of my art stuff has been packed away since July and September!!!! And needless to say, it's getting really annoying! Oh well, such is life. Sorry, but I just had to vent!

Thanks so much for stopping by and now it's your turn, go make some art! :D

Happy New Year and a big sale!

2011-01-02T16:30:00.004-07:00

Hi all!!!! Happy New Year!!! I hope you all have a fabulously fun and art filled New Year!

I really have been doing art! I also started back to work after my long break. I'm having a sale in one of my Etsy shops - lots of altered journals and quilties on sale!

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

I've also started another fan quilt, and I've been doing some crocheting and dying paper, more on that in the next post.

Thanks for stopping by and have and awesome day!!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!!

2010-12-23T10:02:00.006-07:00

Hey peeps! Yesterday we had flurries and a bit of freezing fog which made all the trees just beautiful! I took this photo this morning before it started melting. The mountains west of Denver were supposed to get up to 8 feet of snow, we of course got very little, unfortunately, as we're in a severe drought.... I haven't heard how much the ski areas actually got. I'll have to catch the news.

I also finished this Zentangled spread in my Moleskine last night while watching "Titanic" with the kids. I'd seen it years ago when it first came out so I'd forgotten a lot.

I went looking at sewing machines the other night and found the Bernina's. They have this awesome new stitch regulator that only fits on the more expensive models, that can tell how fast you're moving the fabric and adjust accordingly, this is for stippling and free motion. It's SaWEET!!!!! I'd love to have one of those machines but they cost $3,000 - $4,000!!!!!! Holy cow! I'm looking at one that's around $799 - $999. so I'm going to have to save my money. I'm going to make a quilt and either put it in my Etsy shop or on Ebay for sale, and also be working more and selling other stuff to hopefully raise the money to get a machine that actually does do stippling. If you're ever going to get a sewing machine go to a place where you can try it out, don't just trust what the salesperson or the box says... I've learned the hard way!

Well time to cut back to cutting fabric and baking a pie! If I don't post before Christmas, I hope you all have a very Merry and Safe Christmas!!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

The quilt is finished!!!!

2010-12-18T09:37:00.006-07:00

It's done! It's finally finished!!!! Talk about just in the "Nick" of time! I just finished Ange's quilt Thursday night and put it through the washer and dryer to give it that vintage rumpled look!

These are a few of my favorite squares, I did one of Alice in Wonderland and one of Coke etc. This was a lot of fun, I can say that now that it's done, LOL!

I had several rip out sessions. The first time I got all 56 squares sewn together they were off a lot, so I ripped out every single square and went back through and trimmed them all down and squared them. Once I got it all sewn together before I put the binding on I tried free motion quilting around the border, which my machine won't do, so I had to rip that out. I tried adjusting the tension but no go.... So anyway it is finally finished! And I am so wanting a new machine! I've been looking at the Brother qp 1500, Judy recommended it. I don't want to spend $3,000 on a sewing machine - like the Bernina. I just can't justify that!

Don't look too close, my stitching is atrocious, I'm sure a real quilter would have a fit if they looked at this. I'm a relaxed quilter. LOL! :D

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome weekend!

Burning rubber on my sewing machine!!!

2010-12-13T21:15:00.002-07:00

I'm getting there! I took this photo of my daughter's quilt last night before I pinned the sandwich and started quilting. This is a full size and it's seems really big! I'm machine quilting, I'll definitely be done by Christmas, maybe even tomorrow, of course last night I thought I'd be done today... LOL! The quilting is the part I dread the most, only because it's hard to fit even a full size quilt into my small machine, the throat is only 7"!!! I actually thought about quilting it by hand just because I wouldn't have to wrestle with it, and I might have done that but my hands are already numb and burning... I would love to get a different machine with a large throat, like 12" - 17"!!!! That would be awesome! Every time I make a quilt I go through this... If any of you have Berninas ~ how large are the throats on them?

I might quilt more if I had a larger machine, of course if I had a more expensive machine I'd have to quilt more and sell the quilts to pay for it! :D

Crochet and Zentange

2010-12-11T11:25:00.002-07:00

I got so inspired visiting Carmelina's blog (see my sidebar for a link), that the week before this last week I was in a crocheting frenzy ~ unfortunately my thumbs were hurting like heck so I had to stop, not sure if that's part of the carpal tunnel or what. Bummer! I love to crochet! I finally found some larger thread! Walmart carries Aunt Lydia's size 3! I don't really like the size 10, it's just too fine for my tastes.... The two doilies at the back left are done with size 10 and the three at the front and right are done with size 3, I like the looks of it so much better! I even crocheted some clothes for my Blythe dolls, I'll have to take photos and post on my other blog.

I've decided to post my drawings on this blog instead of trying to keep up with 4 different blogs, I'll just have 3, I'll keep the pencil,paper,paint blog up but post my artwork on this blog from now on ~ it just gets too complicated!

I also had a little time to do a Zentangle. This week I have been burning rubber on my sewing machine, will try and post photos this weekend of the almost done quilt top...

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Quilting away!

2010-12-04T07:45:00.002-07:00

We had an absolutely beautiful sunrise yesterday! They never cease to amaze me! I missed it this morning, I slept in for a bit.

I have been quilting away, trying to finish this for Christmas. I have over 30 squares done, but it seems like I may need more than 56. I'll have to recalculate.... Why do I wait until the last minute every year? Maybe it's the thrill of seeing if I can get it done in time? LOL! I don't have to have it done but I'd like to get it out of the way ~ I hate things hanging over my head. And I'm sure Ange would love to have it this winter! Besides, I might actually make one to sell, we'll see.

I am so kicking myself for packing away my watercolor quilt pieces! I would have loved to have done one of those to sell, of course a big Styrofoam wall in the middle of the rec room is a no-no right now... I am missing a lot of stuff that got packed up on the idea that we'd sell right away, I thought we would have been moved by now, but with this economy I should have known, plus it's not the greatest time of year to be selling a house - luckily we live in a military town and there are a lot of people moving in all year long. Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer. :)

Thanks for stopping by, have an awesome art filled weekend!

If you have a long haired dog you need this Safari comb!

2010-11-30T09:25:00.004-07:00

Okay, I realize this isn't art, but I just had to show you this!!!

The top is not our new dog, really. Our Golden Retriever is 11 years old next month, and ever since we got her we've been trying to find a good brush that will actually do what it says it will ~ you know how they show all the hair they get out? Well this comb actually does that! I was really worried when I first started combing her, at the amount of hair that came out! The comb is bigger than my hand just to give you a reference for how big this pile of hair is!!!! Before we would brush and brush and not get much hair at all, but this thing is so amazing I had to take a photo of all the hair! It filled up one of those plastic shopping bags, and I had to keep pushing it down! It's kind of expensive - $60 but well worth it! You have no idea how much vacuuming I have to do to pick up dog hair! And how much money we've spent on other brushes that didn't work at all. Now you'd think she'd be bald with all that hair gone, but you can see in the bottom photo she still has plenty of hair and she looks so pretty! I just wanted to show you this, in case you have a dog and have been looking for something that actually works, this comb does! We got ours at Wag n' Wash, but I'd think they would have them at Petco and Petsmart. This ends this public service announcement. LOL! :D

I also realized that her winter coat was really, really heavy. She's an indoor dog so she doesn't need all that extra fur. But then I realized that all that extra fur probably meant that we're in for a very cold winter here. And so far it has been! It was a balmy 8 degrees when I got up this morning at 5:30 am and dropped down to 5 by 7:00 am! It's amazing how much you can learn about the weather by watching animals...

Now off to vacuum and do some art or quilting or crocheting or something! Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Nothing like cold weather to put you in a quilting mood.

2010-11-29T12:11:00.004-07:00

Nothing like shoveling snow in below freezing temps to put you in the mood to quilt! :D It's a balmy 21 degrees here at 12:15 pm, it was 18 degrees this morning when I had to go out and shovel snow, and that's not even factoring in the wind chill!

Needless to say, that put me in the mood to climb under a quilt! I didn't, but I did work on more squares for my other daughter's quilt. Sam got her fan quilt last Christmas, we'll see if Ange gets hers this Christmas... Over half of my material is packed so I don't know if I can even finish hers without opening some boxes or buying more fabric ~ we'll see... The squares at the top are for Ange's quilt, I have 20 done now, I think I need 56 total so I only have 36 more to go!

Check out this vintage quilt in the bottom photo! I got this beauty for only $10!!!!!!!!!!!!! I about wet my pants when I ran across this at the thrift store! LOL! They either messed up or they've dropped their prices - this would have gone for $75 before, no kidding! And I wouldn't have brought it home! It has some vintage feed sack fabric and only one tiny area that could use some mending. See how rumpled it it? I just LOVE that texture! That's from repeated washing. That's what got me into quilting! I just love these old quilts! They are just gorgeous! I wish the makers had signed them. I always sign and date mine now. And yes, I realize we're moving and I shouldn't be buying more stuff but I could NOT pass this up!!! I would have been kicking myself for years! :D

Time for lunch - thanks so much for stopping by! You know I love comments - that way I don't feel like I'm talking to myself all the time. :D Stay warm!

2010-11-28T12:07:00.006-07:00

You know how you're blog hopping and you go from one blog to another to another, following links? I was doing this the other night and got so inspired and found a couple of awesome blogs!!! The first one I ran across was Carmelina's blog:

http://creativecarmelina.blogspot.com/

She is into all kinds of different things just like I am! Watercolor painting, crochet, sewing etc. I was so inspired by her crocheted flowers I grabbed my hook and thread that I had out and made these little embellishments. I really like hers better but didn't want to just rip off her pattern.

Then another time I ran across Pam Carriker's blog Living Art at the Speed of Life:

http://pamcarriker.com/

Her journaling is so inspiring! She has been published in Somerset and is the author of a new book that will be coming out! And you know, everyone has been doing faces lately and I've been wanting to give it a try, even though I really stink at doing people... so I thought I'd give it a shot. No this is not me - I don't even have black hair and I don't look anything like this, she just came out of my imagination, let me know what you think.

I'm hoping to do journaling a lot more often, I would say every day but I doubt that that is going to happen, maybe once a week? We'll see....

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you all had a Happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Time for a quick sketch...

2010-11-21T16:33:00.004-07:00

After raking up another 4 huge black bags of pine needles I had time to do a quick sketch of some maple leaves. I hope I did them justice, they were just gorgeous! Someone had commented that maybe that was not normal, well for these pine trees it is normal, of course it has been really dry here, but we always rake up a ton of pine needles! I never knew they shed so much until we moved into this house. We have a fairly small yard and 8 huge pine trees! They over planted a lot! So each year we rake up about 22 of those huge black lawn bags full of needles! We rake and then we have a windy night and it shakes more needles down, we rake, and then we have another windy night and it shakes more pine needles down... you get the idea.

I did this sketch in my reloaded watercolor sketchbook ~ maybe if I get it filled we'll sell the house and we can move.... Frank's been out to the Philly area several times and apparently the temps out there are still in the 60s!! Winter started here back in October, the temps dropped way down. So I'm hoping that we'll actually have spring and fall there, instead of just rushing from summer to winter...

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have an artful day!

A new quiltie ACEO

2010-11-19T17:13:00.003-07:00

I just love the different shades of mint green in this mini quiltie! Once again I ran across a tiny piece of vintage fabric from some one's stash, luckily I didn't pack all my fabric! I meant to do quite a few of these this week but life got in the way... Maybe this weekend I'll be able to make some more. This is now listed in my Etsy shop:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

Oh yeah! In case I don't before then I hope you all have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!!! I can't believe it's that time of year already!

Thanks for stopping in and have an awesome day!

She's back!! She's back!! My Muse is back!!!!

2010-11-14T11:26:00.005-07:00

Yes!!!!!!!!!!! She's back!!! My muse is back with a vengeance!!! She's a little rusty ~ when I think of Steam Punk I think of rust, metal, but usually rusty metal... This morning she took me back to where my mixed media journey began ~ ATCs!!! Artist Trading Cards! I have 3 of each of these to trade! Anyone in? Send me one or two of your steam punk cards and I'll send you one or two of mine. Leave a comment and let me know if you want to trade so I can hold one for you... And then we can exchange addresses! :D

Now I believe I'm off to sew!

Thanks for stopping by and hanging in there while my muse was on vacation...

Some new art!

2010-11-12T07:57:00.003-07:00

Finally getting some art done!!! I did this Zentangle earlier this week and this pink mini crazy quilt the other night. Both are now listed in my Etsy shop:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

Can you believe it's almost Thanksgiving?!!! And Christmas is right after that??!!!! Last I knew it was fall and then bam! Here we are in November! And we had our first snow this past week. And it's suddenly VERY cold here in Colorado! We've been in the 30s and tomorrow the high is going to be 29 degrees! Oh, balmy!!!! Have I mentioned lately how much I hate winter?!!! LOL! I know, I live in the wrong part of the country... Time to stay in and do lots of art and quilting!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome weekend!!!

Zentangling again!

2010-11-07T07:10:00.002-07:00

I finished another Zentangle last night. These are so fun to do! I need to keep some of these and frame them, maybe after we move, this one is listed in my Etsy shop:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

Yes you heard right, I'm still in Colorado. not that I'm complaining. :) The market is awful right now so we're remodeling part of the kitchen, new marble counter tops. new dishwasher, stove and sink. No wonder my muse is hiding from me!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome week!

Finally found my muse....

2010-10-26T19:26:00.003-06:00

I finally found my muse, well, for today at least. Had time tonight to do a quick watercolor sketch of some fall leaves. Had to get them quick since we had really high winds the past view days and there are no leaves left on most of the trees... Now if only my muse will hang around! :D

Thanks for stopping by and have a good one!

On a Zentangle binge!

2010-10-21T19:38:00.007-06:00

I worked on these last night after working in the yard all morning, it was so relaxing! By the time I got to the last one, which is the middle one, I was in a meditative state, which is of course why they call them Zen - tangles. I'm going to have to do some more of these!

These are sold, thank you!

And more Zentangles!!!!

2010-10-18T18:31:00.006-06:00

Some more Zentangles! The two on the bottom are actually some that I had done before. The top one is one that I did today. These are now listed in my Etsy shop:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

These are so much fun to do! Can you see the heart in the top one?

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!!!

These are sold, thank you!

In the mood for Zentangling!

2010-10-15T12:14:00.003-06:00

I just finished this Zentangle tile this morning, These are so fun to do! It is now listed in my Etsy shop:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

I'm hoping to get several more done. I'm trying to get a lot of stuff to list before Christmas. I still can't believe Halloween is almost here!!!! And then Thanksgiving and Christmas!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!!!

Fall has arrived!

2010-10-10T17:13:00.004-06:00

I made myself go back down to my art room last night and I made this piece. I discovered my muse does not like the clean studio so the more I mess it up the more she likes it!!! :D

We had several windy days this week so that meant lots of pine needles fell. I went out and raked up 5 huge bags this morning, and Violet helped. I also found her climbing trees! She's very good at it! See her tiny little tennis shoes?! Aren't those just too cute?!!! I made her beret, shirt and jeans! I really like making doll clothes, who knows, maybe I'll start selling them in my Etsy shop...

Thanks for stopping by and have an art filled day!

Where did my muse go?!!!

2010-10-09T17:01:00.003-06:00

Where is my muse?!!! I can't seem to find her!!! I hope I didn't accidentally pack her in a box....

Rubber stamping these days is like pulling teeth. First I have to remember where all my stamps are, then I couldn't find my Cropodile ~ I know I didn't pack it! Finally found it. Then I have to find my Tim Holtz stamp pads, oh and of course I can't make a mess! This is really annoying! I sure hope we sell the house fast! It's really hard to create when "don't make a mess" is running through my subconscious.... Oh well, this too shall pass. Hopefully sooner than later. In the meantime I'll surely eventually get used to the new places I've stashed everything! I guess I need to march right back down to my art room and make a few more ATCs!

Have a great weekend, hopefully your muse is cooperating! :D

New quiltie...

2010-10-07T17:04:00.003-06:00

I had time to make a quiltie last night. I'm really getting into pink! I'll be listing this in my Etsy shop here in a few minutes. I need to get some more made. I think these would be awesome in a dollhouse as wall art or as a rug. They'd also look awesome with several of them framed.

The house is on the market now, but the market is really slow. Hopefully we'll get it sold soon so we can get moved and get back to normal and I can get all of my art supplies out of storage. I still have quite a few things out but it never fails, the things I think about doing I can't because stuff is in storage. Oh well, it won't kill me.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Smitten with Blythe

2010-10-05T10:05:00.005-06:00

I just finished listing this doll quilt and pillow set in my Etsy shop:

http://purplepaint.etsy.com/

I love to sew and now have a little time! I am totally smitten with my Blythe doll, Viloet. There's another one I want for Christmas that has dark hair.

I know, you're all wondering what's up with the doll on my blog ~ I've never been much of a doll person and in the last few years ran across some tiny vintage porcelain dolls and one thing led to another. I ran across a photo of Blythe on Etsy and had to do some more research! I found out that her eyes change four different colors just by pulling a string and I was intrigued!! I found more and more very cool photos of Blythe and found out about Gina Garan taking photos of her Blythe, if you'd like to learn more check out:

www.thisisblythe.com

I've had my Blythe for almost a year and just realized I hadn't named her!!! Well my Aunt Vi used to make dolls, she painted their makeup and hair and made their outfits, so I figure it's in my blood - so my first Blythe is named is named Violet in honor of my sweet Aunt Vi!

I've seen some awesome Blythes that people have customized, who knows, I may give it a try! So welcome to my new obsession!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!

Painting in Garden of the Gods

2010-09-29T18:55:00.004-06:00

Finally got a chance to get out and do some painting!!! It was gorgeous today so I headed straight for Garden of the Gods. It was 82 degrees, windy and clear blue skies! Excuse my sloppy writing, my carpal tunnel is at it again, all the lifting etc really antagonized it. I go to a chiropractor for it and it helps a lot.

Thanks for stopping by, have an awesome day!

Reopening my Etsy shops!

2010-09-27T07:17:00.007-06:00

Good morning everyone! I've decided to reopen my Etsy shops, since we have no idea how long it will be before we sell the house... So if you're needing any digital collage sheets or maybe some gifts (or just feel like treating yourself) pop over and check them out! Just click on the links in my sidebar!

And as always, thanks for stopping by and have an awesome day!