Did it!

Whew!! Laura's Diva Challenge this week was to tangle some beads for Beads of Courage. (Click on either link for more information about this touching program for kids with serious illnesses) I honestly didn't think I'd get this challenge completed in time even though I knew in my head what I wanted to do. So I sat myself down and drew it out, shaded and colored all in maybe half an hour? I so love tangling and completing a project in such a short amount of time!

I wanted my string to be a heart for these precious kids who are so brave and then when I'd sketched in my beads, I realized I had a bead for each letter of the word Courage, so each tangle pattern begins with these letters (Cack, Ojo, Unyun, Rose, Aah, Gewurtz, Efilys) and the heart is just for love.

TaDa!

Zendala Dare #27

Well, I managed to finish a dare on time this week-Erin's Zendala #27 from over at the Bright Owl. I spent some time yesterday morning at my sister-in-law's while she took her father to a doctor's appointment. I hung out just in case Mom woke up. I addressed all our Christmas cards and then tackled the Zendala dare. A very productive morning. Brought it home to fill it in and shade and viola! Here it is:

 



 

I'm missing color. I really want to play with my Tombows and Aquamarkers...I know I should be thankful to have the time and state of mind to be creative but, still...I want to do more!! I'm hoping to get Laura's Diva challenge done today or tomorrow (wishful thinking since it's not even started...)

The good news is that I received my first commission this week-a pet portrait of a sweet little dog I used to pet sit back in PA who sadly crossed over the Rainbow Bridge recently. I'm excited to break out my acrylics, brushes, and slates again, though a bittersweet memorial...Miss Holly was such a love. I'm hoping I can capture her sweet spirit.

I'm also hoping to make it to a pumpkin patch today or tomorrow--Halloween is knocking on the door already and we have no pumpkins! I learned I'm dreadfully low on our stock of candy according to the bus stop moms (actually two grandmas and a dad...) They say they go through a good fifteen to twenty bags of candy every year and I don't even have half of that...Seriously?? Craziness....

So, time to scrounge up some breakfast and start working on Laura's challenge while the house is still quiet...Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

Artful Wednesday from New Bedford!

Well, I certainly didn't expect to be posting anything this soon after our move, but I had a great day yesterday and managed to get quite a bit done art-wise! I'm still behind schedule with the weekly challenges, but definitely on my way to catching up and that feels pretty good. First is my Zendala from the Bright Owl's Dare #26. It was to have a fall or Halloween theme to it and that really threw me off for some reason--I LOVE fall and Halloween but for the life of me, I really struggled with getting this one finished:

I confess the 'Nzeppel in the middle was a cop out just to get this finished...had no idea what to do with all those little spaces!! Then I knocked my water bottle over on it-lid shut but it still dripped a wee bit and blurred a spot...grrrr!! So, glad this one is finally done!
 

Then the Diva's Weekly Challenge #90 was to use String 001 from TanglePatterns. Fortunately, I had already started this triptych before we left PA, playing with the scrolled feather patterns from Helen Williams at a little lime when I realized I had String 001 already drawn in for the center tile--talk about perfect timing....

The dragonfly was inspired by my sister-in-law, Cindy...think this could use a little color...

And the piece that got me really moving this week was sitting myself down and doing my Idea Journal page. These have been so simple but bright, cheery, and fun to do and look at, it really helped get the creative juices flowing again:

A little autumn tree and squirrely contemplating those tempting acorns....done with my lovely set of Inktense watercolor pencils--sweet joy!!
 

A few more quick pics....

These little beauties are the Halloween ATC's I received from our Zentangle group swap--love them!

This is my view overlooking our patio, the leaves just starting to change but they don't stay up for long after they turn here.

Tucker's new couch and he loves his new view out the front window!

We were given this gorgeous Tiffany lampshade by Bill's sister, Cindy--looks perfect in the kitchen nook!

So, there you have it...Hoping to get this week's challenges done before the weekend...if I can keep on this roll, I just might get myself all caught up! I'm also starting to plan some slate paintings to try and sell here--some lighthouse, aquatic themed pieces...obvious touristy sorts of stuff--when in Rome, right?? Thanks for stopping by! Have a great rest of the week!

Zendala Dare #25

I'm getting down to the last minute nitty gritty here for packing up my art toys before we hit the road this week, so I'm happily getting in the final challenges and dares while I still can. Snuggled up on the couch, watching the Half Blood Prince, I worked out this response to Erin's weekly Zendala Dare #25 at the Bright Owl:

 

I adapted Helen William's beautiful scroll work after watching her video tutorial here at a Little Lime (a favorite zentangle blog to follow!) So much fun to play with. Helen's work is so inspiring and beautiful-I was thrilled to see her video and variations, and to try my hand at this wonderful, swirly pattern. I wanted to keep the rest of it simple: a basic ribbon border, the pie shape slivers demanded some angular lines, then a splash of purple--and I actually managed to leave a section open (aside from a wee bit of shading)--that's huge for me!

Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in the Diva's challenge tomorrow before I pick up my hubby at the airport Tuesday morning. I expect the rest of the week to be a whirlwind of tying up loose ends, final packing, and then that long road trip north...Then the unpacking and settling in begins--hopefully it won't take too long to get back in the swing of things so I can keep on with the weekly challenges once more!

So thanks for stopping by--hope to see you all again very soon!

Diva Challenge #88: IX

The Diva's challenge this week was to include the new tangle pattern IX (that's Roman numeral nine--not ix, like fish ich(s) but I digress...) I had already started this little triptich and had no intention of throwing IX in there--okay, I actually had no intention of doing this challenge at all since I am not, er, was not, a big fan of the pattern...until I looked at some of the other challenge responses...There are two amazing benefits of participating in the Diva's weekly challenges (and Erin's zendala dares):

 

1.) They push you to try things you ordinarily wouldn't even think about and get you out of your comfort zone, so you actually learn and grow rather than stay stagnant, and...

 

2.) Looking at all the other artists' renditions is a constant source of inspiration and encouragement, not to mention super fun seeing all the beautiful eye candy rendered up week after week!

 

So here is my IX (middle long skinny part up the middle of the top left 'tile') Michael thought it was cool and that's pretty much all the gratification I need, to impress my Bug =0) For a pattern I thought I'd never draw, I now will definitely play more with it and see where it takes me! You can check out more challenge responses here-I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Ix, 'Nzeppel, Tipple, Fife, Pearls, Crescent Moon (sort of-more looks like Kunstler...), Printemps, Bumps, Verve

 

As for the rest of my week...I'm putting off packing my art supplies as long as I can (though the paint brushes did get tucked away the other day...*sob!*) The Great Move loometh ever closer--Squeeeee!!! I'll be squeeing all the way from Butler to New Bedford when we finally get our butts going!! (Channel the piggy from the Geico commercial...yeah, that'll be me!!) But I'll play and post as much as I can between now and then, and hopefully will be up and running online as quick as possible once settled.

 

 

Oh, oh, oh and OH!!! My dearest friend, Missy, just gifted me with my very own copy of Sherwood Forlee's Walls Notebook (major MAJOR SQUEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) (AND a set of Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils!! AND the 2013 Song of Ice and Fire calendar!!!!!) So I sat in awe last night just flipping through the pages and pages of blank walls to color and play on, brain a-swimming in utter happiness---definitely looking forward to playing and sharing from that gorgeous piece of funtasticness!! Aaahhhhh!! Joy squeeing from my pores.....Yay!!

 

Have a great rest of the week--which is almost over, really. September is almost over!! Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you'll come back again soon!

Zendala Dare #24

Wow, I think I did this one in record time...This week's template was very square and I was so determined to NOT fill in every little space. You see how well I did with that! Haha! I even had to go outside the border and add more!! I think I might be hopeless...Plus I'm feeling very 'Sepia-ish' this weekend, be it that autumn is finally upon us and I'm channeling those hues, or maybe it was just the muddy pawprints all over my kitchen floor that inspired me...I like all of it except for that dark Umble round the middle...hmmm. Anyway, a big thanks to Erin at the Bright Owl for another wonderful weekend Zendala Dare!

 

International Day of Peace

Finally caught up on the week's challenges here! This week's Diva Challenge was in honor of Pinwheels for Peace, celebrating the International Day of Peace (Sept 21st)  I simply thought of Stars 'n Stripes as our troops are continually protecting our peace and striving to ensure peace around the world, and this became my pinwheel:

 

 

And this is my rendition of the week's Zendala Dare #23 from Erin over at the Bright Owl:



 

I even managed to get one more little Zia done this afternoon--String 18 from Tangle Patterns with a little Kunstler and eyeballs ala my hubby...I so wanted to draw eyelashes but decided not to...I love this tangle!

The Nest



So I'm all caught up just in time for the start of next week's challenges! And I even managed to get some packing done as well today--getting a little closer to Moving Day!! WooHoo!! Thanks for stopping by--have a great weekend!!