Anniversary

A bit of whimsy this week.  We celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary this week.

I don't have any idea where the time has gone but I do know I would

pick the same guy if I had to go "hunting" again.

Happy PPFwww.paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com

Tipple-Love it or hate it!

This week"s challenge at I am the Diva is Tipple-love it or hate it

I happen to love it but have really been suffering a lack of creativity lately.

Does that sound like a whine?  Well maybe it is!

So, here is my Tipple

And here is why I am tapped out.

I am not a knitter, but am trying to be one.
I am taking a lesson in making socks and decided to challenge myself.
I am doing one on a magic loop and one on 4 needles...and another one on magic loop.
I am fried!
Thus the simplicity of "tipple" this week was a pleasant escape.

Happy Paint Party Friday

My favorite Sharon Balzer Design stencil.

I had a WIP that I had no idea what to do with it when lightening struck.

I traced the design onto the canvas with a Sharpie and then filled it in with black

The canvas was ho hum but I like this.

All of the grandkids are heading back to school.  I try to make a card for each of them to encourage them along the way. 

Here are some of samples

Leftie Challenge

It's Monday and there is a challenge from over at

I am the Diva.
This week we are to do a monotangle with our left hand.
Sounds easy enough, until you try it.
I had spotted Kathy Barringer's "Lovely Loops" and decided they would be a snap.
NOT!
This takes such concentration and it still is all wobbly.

 Then I decided a grid might be easier.

My apologies to Beth Snoderly for my attempt at "Quare".

And last but not least, my final attempt at a grid.

The pencil grid was easier this time, but those hearts!

I was exhausted when I finished.

Great challenge Laura!

P.S.

And after all of this, I see I was supposed to use "bales".  Somedays I should just stay in bed!

I kicked the "monkey"

I hope you have read Danny Gregory's blog on the "monkey".

If not here is the linkhttp://dannygregory.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/fresh-wisdom-to-trump-the-monkey/

You MUST read it!  

A couple of weeks ago the blahs hit.  Even my doodles looked crummy.

Always wanting to keep my creative juices going, I went back to my knitting and 

left my art table alone.   I thought about what I had read in Danny's column but just couldn't shake that "monkey".  Two scarves and a pair of socks later, today I sat down to see

if I could at least add to a page I started weeks ago.

Not done yet but definitely not as crummy as some of the stuff I have done lately.

So I pulled out an old canvas with three layers on it.

And here is number four.

Danny, thank you so much!  I think I am feeling better now

Challenge 130, Henna Drum by Jane MacKugler

I thought I had an idea...but I didn't.

You know how you visualize something and set about putting it on paper

and it just doesn't work.

Well, this is it!

I am back doodling in my dictionary again and I thought this would make a great border.

It does, but just not on a busy background.

Lesson learned but I will post it anyway because I want to share how much fun

the dictionary is.  The pages have been glued together to give it less bleed through.

This is a work in progress with Copics

And then I treated myself to new pens at the back to school sales.

Thank you Laura for a great challenge and Jane for a new tangle!

Two pencil exercise

Perfect timing for a two pencil exercise this week Laura!

I have been taking beginning calligraphy (only two lessons in) and we have been

using two pencils to practice until we got comfortable with the angle of the pencils.

So here is my wibbly wobbly contribution.

Hopefully next time you see my printing you will see an improvement.

Thank you, Laura for another fun and challenging challenge.

I had to share some of the current beauty on my lanai.

These are dendrobium orchids, the kind you sometimes find on your plate

in restaurants.  Mine are all in bloom and quite spectacular right now.