IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON

 IMAGE FROM GOOGLE

I am so happy that we are once again in the Holiday Season. I love the way everyone has regards for one another, I love the special music programming on TV and the Christmas movies on the TV. I love all the holiday lights and the decorations. I love to decorate for Christmas. I love the goodies.  Though, I don’t do much anymore. My son gave me a 6 foot pre-lighted tree for Christmas in 2003 but when he bought his new home I gave it back to him and got me a 2 foot tree, one, that I could manage by myself. We don’t do elaborate gifts. If we do a gift exchange, it has to be small and mostly handmade. But I promise to be festive. My kido’s are all over 50 years of age, and if they want something they have already gone out and bought it for themselves. I feel it is silly for me to try to guess at what they want. And I give all through the year.

My dearest friend had her 85^th on the 6^th of December, and to celebrate, her daughter gave her the gift of a concert to go to see Andrea Bocelli. She planned every early. She called me back in the summer and ask me to reserve the 30^th of November for a concert of Andrea Bocelli. Well that blew me away. That was before her mother have a sever stroke. But mom had recovered enough by the 30^th of November that she could attend the concert.

We were a party of five, the birthday girl her two daughters, the best friend and the favorite niece. The niece picked me up and took me to my friend’s house, because it is a long way to my friends and I don’t drive in traffic anymore. We all went out to dinner before the concert. Anyway, the concert was wonderful. Bocelli sang my favorite arias

Be blessed to be a blessing.

THANKFUL FOR THE GRACE TO BE THANKFUL

 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My precious little daughter-in-love wanted to make Thanksgiving dinner. Which, I was pleased as punch to let her do. I don’t know if Russians have a similar holiday as Thanksgiving. She loves to cook and I don’t. My daughter and I brought some the side dishes. Which, lessened the labor for my daughter-in-love. We had great togetherness. We were to watch a movie but we were having such a great time that we never got around to a movie.

As you are well aware, Black Friday biting on the tail of Thanksgiving Day. My daughter-in-love just could not imagine how bad it could be and wanted to go shopping. I cannot deny her so we went shopping on Black Friday. I never have before and never shall again.

I know that we are going to have a baby girl I decided to buy fabric for baby blankets. I chose several bolts of pink flannel to make blankets. We waited for a full one hour and half just to get our fabric cut. The bargains were great. I spent the last two days making blankets.

I had my final Doctors visit from my rotator-cuff surgery on Monday Yea, and I survived the rigorous rehab. I still have several months of strengthening exercises as yet. I will Lord willing make it, yet

Be blessed to be a blessing

WATCHING PAINT DRY

It has been a little over a month since I have posted. That is because nothing much is happening. Thanks for checking in. I am at the near end of my recovery from rotator-cuff surgery. I am still doing an hour physical therapy every morning and I have gotten great results. Actually it has been kind of like watching paint dry around here but I will try to fill you in on some the things I have been doing. After nearly three years I have been able to use my sewing machine. I can now lift my arms. I have been designing and making maternity fashions for my daughter-in-love I have made earrings and a bracelet to match the dressier set. She is four months now. I call her Sweet Pea because she is as sweet as peas. My images are from Google. I tried to enlarge them but alas I failed

Some of my student and I went to the Southwest Baptist Seminary University in Fort Worth TX last week to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. What an awesome exhibit. There was one scroll that was 22 feet long. It was from Isaiah. Written hundreds of years before Christ and there are no notable difference from it to the 2100 century St. Johns Bible, except in spelling in translation. That just blew me away. If you get a chance to go to an exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls, do! After the exhibit we all went out to lunch.

My husband and I have been exploring the train that runs between Dallas and Fort Worth. We also are learning to use the DART train to go to the Southern Methodist University to check on our insurance. There have been many changes in our insurances this year, so it was smart to check it out. While we were at the University we checked out the Meadows Museum. They have the best Spanish art exhibit this side of Barcelona Spain. I intend to get my students to go on some adventures on the train and check out the Dallas Museum of Fine Art and the Trammel Crowe Asian Art Museum, in Dallas and the https://www.kimbellart.org/index.aspxand the Amon Carter American Art in Fort Worth now that I know how easy it is to use the transit system. I have bee taking computer classes. I thought I needed to brush up on Windows since it has been years since I took classes. I also took Windows 7 taught in Windows 10 :^) I will have to take that one again since it is a massive program and my computer is giving me a headache. I could not do any of the home work. Be blessed to be a blessing

OCTOBER CRAFT SHOW AND DAUGHTERS

What made the craft sale endearing was sweet daughter in love shared a table This week-end was the annual Arts and crafts show. I am afraid that the weather was totally corporative. There was not much of a crowd. I had jewelry of course, but I also had greeting card. While I have been recovering I could only do what I could hold in my lap. So I have been doing doodles after the inspiration of Zen Tangles. Mine are not totally Zen, but relaxing in any case.

with me. She was selling little interior handmade moose. They were dressed like movie stars and singing stars and the royal couple Will and Kate. My daughter came down to share the fun and giggle with us. Their lives are so busy that it is rarely that we all get together. Any day that I can spend with my daughters is a blessed day.

What made the craft sale endearing was sweet daughter in love shared a table with me. She was selling little interior handmade moose. They were dressed like movie stars and singing stars and the royal couple Will and Kate. My daughter came down to share the fun and giggle with us. Their lives are so busy that it is rarely that we all get together. Any day that I can spend with my daughters is a blessed day.

Be blessed to be a blessing

So I have been doing doodles after the inspiration of Zen Tangles. Mine are not totally Zen, but relaxing in any case.

What made the craft sale endearing was sweet daughter in love shared a table with me. She was selling little interior handmade moose. They were dressed like movie stars and singing stars and the royal couple Will and Kate. My daughter came down to share the fun and giggle with us. Their lives are so busy that it is rarely that we all get together. Any day that I can spend with my daughters is a blessed day.

Be blessed to be a blessing

Hey I am back! Recovery from rotator-cuff is all consuming. I have just now been able to make a few clay beads.

I am so happy, happy, I received my Lori Anderson’s BEAD SOUP book yesterday. It is chucked full of yummy beading projects. It is well written and Cindy Wimmer’s photography is outstanding. There are 26 beading artist from 5 contents and 11 of these United States. You can purchase one from www.KahmbachBooks.com

For my birthday last month my sweet daughter gave me her clay beading tools. She hasn’t time now that she is working part time for REAPER miniature factory. She gave me

Her Pasta grinder Her oven

Several books Tons and tons of beautiful FIMO clay

Am I not the luckiest somebody to have such a generous daughter? Also I am happy because I got in the mail a new Zen Tangle book. Called Zentangle untangled by Kass Hall from North Light. I was only able to do zentangles while have been recovering from surgery, because I had to keep my arm down and my hand in my lap. I have made so or so greeting cards from the original that I hope to sell at the upcoming craft show at the local park.

Be blessed to be a blessing

I have just had the most amazing birthday I am now “Older Than Dirt” I got a greeting from my sister –in-love with all kinds of confetti and little plastic words that said “Older Than Dirt” :^) I got a big laugh from that. My husband and children gave me their love. Several friends sent me flowers and cards. My class gave me a surprise party. They gave me a collage of all the class members and a very nice monetary gift and a beautiful bouquet of white roses. They all sang a song that one of the members wrote for me. See here below It’s called “Sandy” to the tune of Candy…by Carl Wells …Nova Wells at the piano Sandy we call out teacher Sandy ‘cause Sandy is really handy, at setting colors free! Our teacher Sandy, we go together grand-ly, like red birds in green trees, were com-ple-men-tary! We wish that were four of her, so we could paint much of her. She has filled our color palette, with Quinacridone and Scarlet_ Sandy—she’s stolen our complete heart. We love her that’s the best part. We need her company. Verse2 Sandy, We think you’re really dandy, Like red stripes on white candy, We need your company. With Teacher Sandy we go together grandly, like blue birds on an orange tree, we’re complementary! Her sable brush shaped like a wedge can find a shape and lose an edge; Add some texture as listen- salt it when it’s lost its glisten. Sandy, Oh please don’t ever leave me, we do not have a plan B we need you constantly. And then because of my surgery I have been out and have been grounded. I missed the day they planned to give the party Carl wrote a 3rd verse to the tune Al Jolson’s Mammy Sandy, Sandy We paint the east, we paint the west, --but we know where we paint the best—with Sandy--- Her doctor had to scold her, because he hurt her shoulder--- She did too much too soon. Sandy---You really NEED that shoulder, improving when you are older, So treat it right RIGHT NOW They called themselves the Senior Citizens Chorale Group Be blessed to be a blessing cause I sure am!

Daisy's by Lee larkin

PICTORIAL ORGANATION

It has been 22 days since rotator-cuff surgery. I was going great guns until I over extended myself and now I am having a little set back. I am an over achiever I (can’t hepp-it) I have been doing zentangles. I have made 8 birthday cards while recovering. I made personalizes card with each name. I promised to give you samples of the things I have been teaching. Last week I gave the Seven Color Contrast This week I will give you examples of the things I taught about Pictorial originations. Some were, Vertical Bars, horizontal bars. curvilinear . oblique , static, cruciform Straight to curve. F.C.squared All od these are creative way to organize a painting F.C.squared Found competation in confusion Curivinular

ObliqueStatic

Frame-in-Frame

Vertical Bars

Crusiform

Be blessed to be a blessing

MY OWN DESIGN BOOK THE 7 -COLOR CONTRAST

Hello out there. Well it has been thirteen days since rotator-cuff surgery. I am doing so well. I have just about worked off all medication. I am still sleeping in the chair however but maybe in a night or two I will be back in my bed. Thanks for staying with me. I had thought I would be able to do more with my hand than I have been able to. I have created three ZenTangle birthday cards. But it took more than a day to do each one. I promised to give you photos of some of my previous creations. In 2006 I wrote a design Notebook. In the book there was a segment about the seven color contrasts: as stated below. Contrast of COMPLEMENTRY COLOR Definition: Using the color plus it’s complement the12 color wheel Contrast of SATURATION COLOR Using the color and it’s complement to gray a color or to set a color in a gray plane. Contrast of HUE Definition: Checkerboard the colors and separating them with white or black

Contrast of WARM Verses COOL Definition Using warm colors and cool colors Contrast of EXTENTION Definition: Using balance of color as in it takes 20% yellow to balance 90% purple, It takes 40% orange to balance 80% blue It takes 50% green to balance 50% red

Contrast of VALUE: Definition: Using lightest value to the darkest value on the value scale

Contrast of SAMALTANIOUS Definition: Using the dominate color + the color to the right or to the left of the complement.

Be blessed to be a blessing

Summer Activities-less Rotator Cuff Surgery

As I said in my last blog there is always something new at our house. The new thing here will be rotator cuff surgery on the 26th of June. Yes that is just two days from now. That means I will not be able to paint, quilt, make jewelry. I will not also be able to mop, iron, cook or vacuum Yea. There will be no driving to the local grocery store, hair dresser or craft store. I have packed away my painting supplies, with sewing machine, my clay, all the jewelry findings and beads. Sounds like a bore. I have kept out the pens to do Zen tangles. I think I will be able to do those after a time. So don’t leave me as I will be posting every now and again some photos of my watercolors In 2008 I did a Job Jar exercise. That means I made a list of 50 commands and cut them into strips and folded them, put them in a jar and every day I would reach my hand in the jar and pull out a command. Whatever those commands said, that is what I would do for that day. It may be a watercolor, or a specific subject in watercolor, oil, a collage. It may be a different technique. I will try to post some of the things I did. I got this exercise from Nita Leland’s book “The Creative Artist” In 2010 I taught my student “Creativity” using some of the lessons I learned from Jane E. Jones. I will try to post some of those photos as well. Today I will give you a sample on a watercolor that got the coveted Grumbacher award. It is given for creativity and imitation. So be blessed to be a blessing