Cough, cough...

After more than five weeks of hacking, Suzanne dragged me to the doctor yesterday.  Suffice to say, pollution can make it very difficult for people with asthma to recover from a virus.  I had a nebulizer treatment in the doctor's office and was put on two types of inhalers, and an antibiotic. grrrr...  But - I do feel much improved, so thank you darling daughter.

Jeff had to go out of town 'till Sunday, so Suzanne and I are having a gigantic slumber party for the next few days... y e s s s s s!!!!!  :-)  Will be back Monday, see you then... xoxoxo

Mermaid...

Well here she is, all bright and shiny and complete.  Well, perhaps not completely complete.  I think a tiny little shell hanging from her necklace might be a nice touch.

Was she really a mermaid...

She had been away from the sea for to long and could not remember. 

She could smell salt in the air & knew the satisfying vastness of the sea was near... 

The journey was almost over, the adventure about to begin.

You can't see how really pretty she is with the turquoise and green glitter... very shiny.  There is more to her story, but I could not fit it all on the sheet.

That's it for now.  xoxoxo G.

Zendoodle and more...

Zendoodle, repetitive and relaxing... I did this tiny zendoodle this morning.  Oh, and incidentally it's laying on it's side.  The leaves/oysters should be hanging from the top, sorry about that

This is black pen on blue paper...

Small, it measures 1 1/2" x 2"

Sulky looking creature, isn't she.

Here is another Gel Transfer...  I find using these images unsettling, but useful. I don't like using images that are not generated by me.  However using the Gel Medium to transfer the images is a tricky process and the timing takes some practice.  The original image is tan and black.  The added color is watercolor and black ink.  She was extremely strange looking, but I modified her look by altering her mouth, and eyes.

Anyway, I'm off to spend the day playing with Suzanne, Jeff is going snow boarding with some friends.  We will make Chi, and cookies, and comfort food (Mom's recipe for tuna casserole) yum!  And Creative Play, especially creative play!!! :-)  Wish you could join us.

TTFN xoxoxo G.

Gel Transfer

Here's another first attempt... 

Be careful who you tell your secrets to.

I did this, this morning, using Golden's Gel Medium, Soft Gel (Matte), to transfer an image from a magazine onto watercolor paper, then painted and stamped and wrote on the image.  More craft than art in my estimation, but still - Creative Play, and satisfying.  The message at the top of the image says "Tell a Friend, Tell a Phone, Tell a Community... ".   Often, sad but true.  The other two messages, written in red ink, say "Whispers", and "Hush... don't tell...".  You can barely make out the iridescent gold square stamps, but they are there, and add a nice touch.  So, what do you think?

Stamps and Doodles

Still have not shaken this rotten cough, although it is shaking me.  Hope I'm missed, and not forgotten...  Had a bad case of cabin fever yesterday, so I did go out - despite the cold.  Found some transparent stamps in the sale bin at Michael's. 

What do you think?

Added a little watercolor...

Seems a bit washed out to me.

I don't usually use store bought stamps in my work, they feel to generic to me, but I do like the poka dots.

Notice, I dated this piece incorrectly - cough medicine addles the brain.

Thought I'd share my first effort at Zentangle... did this last night too.

Zentangle - Doodling on Steroids.

This was fun!  Next time I'll use larger paper - this piece is small, approx. 2 1/2" x 4". 

Well that's it for now.  xoxoxo to all.  :-)

A simple thing...

Were you ever told "Don't play with your food"?

Why Not???  :-)

xoxoxo G.

It's a new day...

...and I'm starting to feel better.  Finally felt up to doing a small painting this morning.

 This is a 15 minute sketch...

I've been facinated by these seed pods for a long time.

My paint box makes me smile. 

 A view of my studio.

As most of you know, I have very limited space, this morning I started on my bed and ended up in the bathroom.  Well you know the old saying "any port in a storm", and with a cushy cover on the "throne" it isn't too bad of a work space.  :-)

Spent a lot of time watching movies, and browsing the web while I was feeling lousy.  There is an artist on line that I particularly enjoyed, Milliande Art Journal on You Tube.  She is very generous with sharing her techniques, for any of you who might be interested in art journaling.  She is messy, loose, and fun.

Have a beautiful day.  TTFN xoxoxo G.

Lichen Landscape...

Lichen Landscape... I like the sound of that.

Click on this to make it larger,

Do you see what I see?  I'm really diggin' it...

Liken my Lichen Landscape.

This virus has really knocked me down, feels like it's probably going to be another week before I'm feeling creative engergy.  However, my mind has been busy and I've got some ideas in store.  Think I'd like to make a little articulated doll with the paper clay, and have some ideas to lay down on canvas. 

TTFN, xoxoxo G.

Lost in the woods?

Trees, beautiful trees...

Can't see the forest for the trees?  They say, if you're lost in the woods you tell North by which side of the tree the moss grows on...

North side of the tree... 

South side of the tree...

North side of the tree...

South side of the tree...

North side of the tree....

South side of the tree --

Just a minute, sometimes moss grows all around the tree. 

What's up with that?

Sometimes we get lost in the minutia of life.

Pretty, isn't it?

Well, mostly I know up from down, but I don't always know what direction I'm going in.  However, if I set my sites on something tall (a goal maybe) in the distance, I usually end up where I am going.  That's all I have to say on the matter.  TTFN xoxoxo G.

Still sick, but back in blogland...

I'm trying to type with a cat leaning on my computer, and her head wresting on my wrist.  She is difficult to discourage, and keeps mee-arw-ing at me.  She may look dainty, and can fold herself into the size of a loaf of bread, but McKinzey is a Big Girl. 

What is she contemplating?

Here is Goosey,

who's plaintive cries lured me out into the cold on Wed.

This is the best shot I could get!

All those leaves cracking off the branches,

and you'd think I could catch more than these,

but I couldn't 

The back fields were covered with frost.

The leaves have completely fallen from this front tree,

leaving just the berries.

Well, that's it for now - I still feel rotten, but oh well... xoxoxo G.

Sick...

I've been sick with a virus for three days.  Should not have gone outside, but I did.  First the goose needed to be fed.  Then, there was a hard frost on the back lawn, and I did get some pics., also, awesome and wonderful - the air was alive with "crackling".  The leaves were snapping off their branches, and rustling as they fell through the tree and floated to the ground.  Tried to get some pics of this, but don't think I was very successful.  Ack!  Just had a thought, could have videoed it, and would have gotten the sound too.  Have to become more familiar with that aspect of my camera.  By the time I came back in my fingers were frozen!!!  Nothing else, just my fingers.  Anyway, enough blah, blah, I don't feel well, and am going to take a nap.  Hope to post my pictures tomorrow.  TTFN

Tatty garden...

The garden, I think, will soon be just a memory. 

My heart is caught by the little violets...

Brilliant colors...

Beauty in the faded leaves.

I love the way the leaves

get caught between the blossoms.

The front lawn reminds me of

a beautiful fabric print.

One last beauty.

TTFN :-)

A good day to stay inside and play.

Yesterday was a cold, rainy, lazy type day.  Stayed in my "jammies", and played. Restrung, and lengthened a beautiful necklace (not my design), for Roberta, and then played with my own pieces.

I can hardly wait to wear these, 

basic black is always good. 

The rinestone findings are vintage.

This is from one of my previous designs, it was too heavy. 

 Now it should be more comfortable.

Look!  I got presents from my new friend,
Carol Matthers, in Oregon.

She made these, with her own loving hands, for me.

Aren't the pretty? 

Thanks bunches my dear.

These "self portraits" are yellowish because I shot them without a flash, due to the bounce back glare.  The first was taken looking directly into the mirror.  The second, I just held the camera up and pointed it directly at me.   

That's it for now.  xoxoxo G.

Fresh off the stalk...

Cooked a tasty dinner with brussel sprouts, fresh off the stalk.  Should have taken a "before" shot while they were still on the stalk.  Nevertheless, here are the beauties before being steamed.

 Talapia and rice with parsley, fresh from the Farmer's Market...

Made two tasty dishes...

Yummy for the tummy!

TTFN...xoxoxox

Virtual Tea Party...

You are all invited to a virtual tea party, I did some baking today...

Welcome to our kitchen...

 Been baking all morning.

Nothin' says loven'

Like somethen' from the oven!

 Yummy...

 This one's for my sister, Lynda!

 But there's plenty to share...

 We are so glad you stopped in.

TTFN, xoxoxo