Birds and Bees and Birdhouses

Well I can't believe this month is over. As the buyer in a general store, I am working on buying for the Spring of 2011.  The deadline is August 10 and I finally had time at my desk to open the packet yesterday.  I got pretty far on it yesterday so today I am ready to do a ruff draft. I will have it done on time but hate deadlines. And it is hard to think about Easter Baskets and Bunnies and such in July. 

We had a wonderful visit with our Son(took this picture) and Daughter-in-Law and our two wonderful Grandson's.  The visit was short and we don' get to see them as often as we would like, but we cherish the time we have together and take so many pictures and jam so much into our visit that it will have to sustain us until next time.

I made these Birdhouse magnets for a swap I am in.  Can't wait to see which ones I get.  The group has alot of awesome people/artist.

Have an awesome weekend blog/art/buddies.........DIANE

LIFE IS TWEET.....................

Blue Heart/Think Pink

Week number 26.  My Sister is going through breast cancer treatments.  I haven't been able to talk about it until now.  I still get so close to tears but I can control them some.  I have sent her a little package every Monday since she started her treatments.  Just a little something to brighten her week, something to look forward to.  It has been fun trying to think of something different every week, tea, lip gloss, a scarf for her head or a bracelet with words of encouragement. She loves Sunflowers.  I sent her a beautiful box with sunflowers, to keep some of it in.  I got the idea from my Mother.  When my brother was in Vietnam, we made cookies every week and sent a package with dry socks, Sterno, different things to eat that would keep on the trip over there.  Sometime he would get five weeks of boxes all at the same time.  He always shared and was very popular on mail call.  My brother has been cancer free for three years. Agent Orange. Stage four lymphoma. Stem Cell transplant. War on cancer.

So as my sister fights her war on cancer.....I will send her a package every week. We skype when she gets it and laugh while she opens the package.  Closer by technology. WE WANT A CURE FOR CANCER................AMEN.       DIANE

Hands in Art

Who would have thought your could do something so simple as trace your hand and turn it into a journal.  These were the hands I made that didn't fit the swap I joined so I am making my own little book. I made six of these and I will show you the book later.  I think I may chunk it up a bit..  Anyway I made six more for the swap using the same quotes so it went a little faster.  I am putting them in the mail today. I am anxious to see my returns.  I have seen a few I would really like to have.

I am glad today is Friday...only one more day of work and then I have Sunday off.  It is suppose to be 105 today.  Uggggg.  At least the store has air conditioning so it isn't too bad.  They started the mural across the street on the side of the Post Office.  They painted the sky and started the mountains.  I should take some pictures to share..Have a great weekend........................DIANE

Summer, Sun and Fun

Summer finally got to our neck of the woods.  We had a very long cool Spring, with lots of rain and night time temps. in the 30's and 40's.  I was wondering what July would be like this year. The heat is finally here, it will be interesting to see if we have a early fall.  I was feeling like summer would never get here.

I finished my HAND'S for the swap but haven't scanned them to post.  I might just mail them off.  I am really at a loss for words today. I know that happens to all of us bloggers.

The main thing I wanted to share is the tree on the left.  It is a Catalpa Tree. It has leaves as large as a dinner plate and huge bunches of little white flowers that look like orchids.  So tropical........DIANE

Happy Hands

These were made for a swap that I joined.  If you haven't traced you hand since you were in grade school you just have to do it...all those memory's of your youth will come flooding in. The Art Quote is on the back so you are looking at both sides of two hands.  This swap was 6 for 6 and I think I will make alittle book.
Today was my morning to read the blogs of my friends and leave a note so they will know that I stopped by.  It is so fun to feel the connection of others even thought we have never met face to face.  It is a wonderful time we are living in.  And for a short time we can pretend that all is right with the world.  Peace.......DIANE

Art Comes in All Sizes

Working on the smallest size has never been easy for me.  These are 2.5" x 3.5".  I finally got around to buying some clip art from "iTkUpiLLi"  I have  been following her work for over a year and just love what she does.  I would like to learn how to use the Adobe program or one of those photo pro. I have been playing a little with Adobe but it frustrates me and seems difficult.  I got to be pretty good with Windows Picture It, but it wouldn't work with my new Windows 7 PC.  I will keep trying until I get it, she has a tutorial here     http://itkupillishop.blogspot.com/2010/01/paint-shop-pro-tutorial-how-to-cut.html She uses Paint Shop Pro.

Anyway I bought a sheet with backgrounds, a sheet with fish and a sheet with lady's and butterfly wings. I added some rubber-stamping and some gel pens and carefully cut her elements to add to my design.  I have two more on my table that I will share soon. Meanwhile have an artful week...........DIANE

Where is Marsha?

It is time to catch up with friends....Funny how in this busy world of ours we can reconnect with friends in just a CLICK..I haven't been writing in my blog as much as usual.  I haven't had much time for art lately. The yard and spring cleaning has been taking up most of my time.   Today I went on strike...and spent my whole day in my studio.  I bought some new clip art.   The fish on her head is one of the things I bought. I had to cut the tail off to make a hat out of it. My friend Marsha has sorta disappeared lately.  I know she has taken on alot of new ventures and is making a big splash in the art world. http://www.deviantscrap.com/shop/home.php?cat=249She is wonderfully talented and I am sure she will be quite famous soon.  She has a magical style all her own and has gone into selling some of her stuff to the rest of us so we can make some magicial, fun things too. She inspired this 4" x 6" little work of Art that I did today.  Hope you are having fun Marsha,http://tumblefishstudio.blogspot.com/    Love and Hugs, DIANE

P.S. I will tell you about my other cool artist that I found and bought down-loads from in my next post.  Stay tuned.  HINT she did the fish that I used for the Hat.

Bohemian Lifestyle

Well, my little book of the decadent times in Paris in the 1890's is finished.  The theme is Moulin Rouge. I used Wikipedia to get some information on the life and times of this wild and rowdy place.  The artist Toulouse-Lautrec was a prominent figure around the club.  I love his art and the art of his friend VanGogh.  I never knew he was only five feet tall due to health problems as a child.
I am off to work.......so have a great week.   Hugs, Diane