It's curtains for 2013

As the curtain falls on 2013, and

we look forward to 2014 let us hope we have learned something from 2013.

Who is the world doesn't desire a peaceful coexistence with their neighbors?

At times it feels like we are moving further away from this common dream

and yet we all desire it.

How does that happen?  Are we making our desires known?  Are we being heard?

Are we open to ideas other than our own?

We are eternal optimists and so we hope that 2014 will be better.

Let's do our part to make it better!

Happy New Year and thank you all for your visits to my blog.  

I have loved visiting yours although I don't always leave a note.

I am reminded with each visit how small our precious world is and how much

we share.

See you next year!!!

Happy "arting"

Word of the year

Never quite finished this one

Part of my way of welcoming the New Year is to pick a 

Word of the Year

That word replaces any resolutions but is in fact a sort of a resolution in itself.

For 2013 I selected "stretch."

I wanted to expand my mind, try new things, go different places,

just s-t-r-e-t-c-h.

I found that even on the wrong side of 70, I could welcome new experiences

and try new things with my word of the year in mind. 

So this year?

Well 2014 isn't here yet but my front runner is 

OPEN

Being of that certain age, it is important to keep your mind open to new ideas.

I want to open new doors in my life.

I want my eyes open to art inspiration

and my heart open to all.

As I write this, it is sounding like a resolution isn't it?

So be it.  

My word of the year is also my inspiration when the 

dreaded white sheet threatens me

So bring on 2014!

I think I'm ready.

Ho-Ho-Ho, Merry Christmas!

Happy Paint Party Friday, Tracey
Wish this guy was on a tea cup!

Things are very slow at work right now, so I keep a sketch book handy.

Yesterday, Father Christmas appeared.

I thought I would share him with you with sincere wishes for a very happy Holiday Season.

I know you look forward to putting 2013 behind you and my wish for you
is a stellar 2014.
Keep on keeping on.  We are cheering every step.

Greeting Cards

The past couple of years I have been sketching cards for different events

in my grandchildren's lives.

With the Holidays upon us, I decided to do a card for each of them.

There are nine and time's a wasting.

Laurie May at "Draw your awesome Life" posted a snowman on Facebook that

was this year's inspiration.  Thank you Laurie!
A few more to go and they will be in the mail!
Happy PPF

A lift on yupo

My infatuation with yupo continues.

In this one I slapped down a thick water color wash, let it dry

and then used graphite paper to lay down my image.

From there, the fun begins.  You just wet and lift (with toilet paper) and your 

images emerges.  For the wetting I used a very stiff "scrubber" brush.

I found one for fabric that was quite small and really made the stripes easier.

Is anyone else out there enjoying yupo?  I would love to hear.

Happy PPF

Boo*Kee

Laura at I am the Diva has come up with one of her own tangles this week.

She is calling it Boo*Kee and gives us easy to follow directions.

So our challenge was to use Boo*Kee in a tile.

It is slow at work at this time of year so I had time to play with Boo*Kee.

Later in the day, I took another try at it.

What I like about this tangle is that it can really have a different look

depending on how it is used.

Thanks Laura.