Chocolate Waffles

We spent the weekend with our wonderful, creative grand kids.
My grand daughter fixed her own "chocolate" waffles Sunday morning.
It looked like a great idea to me, so I thought I would post her idea for all the other
chocoholics out there. :>)  She used mini chocolate chips to make her design.This is how in unfolds; if blogger co-operates, the pictures will
be in succession. If not, you will have to figure it out, but it won't be hard to do. :>)

Tangerine Color Challenge

Today is the day to post our creation using tangerine.
Since orange is not one of my favorite colors, I had to stretch a bit.
Stretching is good for us, and I enjoyed using my new Inktense
watercolor pencils to draw the Thai plant in my son's yard.
I used the more subdued oranges and leaned toward burnt sienna.
It is interesting to see what everyone did. There is a link to see them if
you click on the color challenge badge at the right.

TGIF

Liv Lane ask bloggers to make a list on Fridays of things that made them blissful during the week. It's kinda like the "Joy Jam" I took part in last Friday. Blissful, joyful, whatever you want to call it, the process really brings to mind all of the simple little things that we do every day, and don't stop to realize how special they are.

1) I was inspired by Margaret Thatcher in the movie "The Iron Lady". The blissful part was when she finally figured out what life is really about.

2) Reminded that my hubby and I don't have to do something special to have a good time.

3) 74 degrees in January! That is joyful!

4) Another family get together in the works makes me joyful.

If you want to feel good about life, just take a look at some of the joy and bliss here and here, and you will be smiling and being thankful yourself.

WOYWW

What is on my desk, you ask??? Today, I have a mix on my desk. I have been trying to put something in my art journal every day. As you can see I have trouble with the vibrant pens coming through the pages. The journal is on the bottom.

The red picture is my contribution to a color challenge. I used Derwent watercolor pencils to draw the plant, and then darkened it when I applied the water. This plant is in place of the poppy that was on my desk last week. It is really a beautiful plant; I think it is called the Thai plant. Be sure to see what Julie and everyone else has on their desk at The Stamping Ground site. Now I thinkI will get busy on another collage. I love collage!!

Blue Monday

It's time for Blue Monday over at Smiling Sally's blog.
Be sure to join her and see what is going on.
Since blue is my favorite color, I enjoy seeing what is new.
I have a couple of mermaids in the deep blue sea I have been working on.
Also blue flowers in my hair.
You can bet there is always something blue on my desk.

Joy Jam

"Joy Jam" is usually a Friday event, but I just discovered it, and think it is a great idea to reflect on what gave me joy this week. It could be as simple as a new fridge that supplies crushed ice and filtered water at the touch of a lever on the door, or making it is the many beautiful fabric flowers I've been making, or perhaps the many friends who participated in the art show on Friday night, and the many friends who came to enjoy. It is Sunday and I am still joyful and thankful!

Great Give away!

See what this is all about. Go to Mary Meanderings to check this out.

Fabric Flowers

They are everywhere in my studio! I put a few over in an Etsy shop to see what happens. Wouldn't that be nice if I could sell a few so I could go buy more art supplies. Isn't that what every artist hopes for??
I am still learning how to post pictures in the shop. I would like to show how I wear 2 or 3 coordinating colors at the same time, but haven't figured that part out yet. Meanwhile I have to get busy making some little surprise give aways for our Mermaid show tomorrow night. The show really looks nice so head on over to Salado Wine Sellers on Main Street in Salado, Friday, 5-8.

What's on you desk today?

 Yikes! I can't quit making flowers!! They are so much fun to see how each one turns out so different.
I was trying to paint for Louise Gale's" Color Challenge", but I couldn't wait to get back to my flowers.
As you can see, I was even painting flowers. So here is what is on my desk today; Flowers!!
If you like to see what other artists are doing, go here and snoop around. Thanks to Julie for hosting this little get-together every Wednesday. Actually the group is getting bigger each week.

Holiday!!

Today is a special holiday. We love to fly our flags!
Read more about Martin Luther King Jr. Day right here.
Do a random act of kindness for someone today.

Busy,busy

These flowers are a result of much cutting, sewing, gluing etc. They are fun to make because each one turns out different. I just sent a dozen to Brittney and Shawna at "The Dazzling Queen", in Camden, Arkansas. They have a cute little boutique where my daughter and grand daughter like to shop. We were in there recently and I was wearing my flowers on my sweater; that is what got it started. They loved the way they looked, and the fact that you can wear one, or more than one. This weekend was spent replenishing my supply.

What's on you desk today?

On Wednesday everyone over at The Stamping Ground wants to know what is on the desk.
Well, I still have my collage on my desk, however I have added a little more to them.
I have adding layers of gel medium so they will get kinda misty, and perhaps look like they are partially under the sea. I know encaustic wax would serve this purpose, but I don't want to deal with that today, so I am trying gel medium. I read where mermaids often lure the mortal men by chanting to them; thus the music in the background.
I still have to add some dark in the right places.  Also going to make, or find a hibiscus to put behind her ear;  a mermaid's favorite flower. This has been a fun experience; I'm always up for a challenge. Next week I will post the completed pieces before I hang them in the Salado show. Be sure to check out what others are doing here. I'm going to.

Sunday thoughts

Sunday already; I have been very busy preparing for the show on Jan 20th at Salado Wine Sellers.
There will be art from" Beneath the Blue", the sea of course; mermaids, fish, shells, and coral. I have been working on a couple of mermaids, but  not far enough along to know if they are going to be   " show" worthy. If not, I have fish, which I am a lot more familiar with. :>) I carry the memory of scuba diving while in Bermuda with all the beautifully colored fish, and the pink and gorgeous colored coral reefs. All of the artists should be at the reception on the 20th; it would be a pleasure to meet you all there. 

WOYWW

Off to a good start this year. I decided to do a daily art journal, so that will always be on my desk.

The rest of this on my desk is the start of a couple of collage pieces. Theme is mermaids, or under the sea; several gals having a show in Saledo at the Wine Seller, in a week or two. I'm going to try using gel medium on these so it will add some depth to the sea. Haven't decided whether there will be a mermaid, or fish. Swim on over here to see what others are doing today, to start the year off right.

Ranger Color Wash

These spray washes were much too concentrated for this activity and came out too dark;
if I wet the page first, then the stencil smeared. Might be time to get out the white Gesso and smear a little on the dark spots. 

Art Journal

Thinking about making an Art Journal this year, instead of so many things to hang on the wall. :>)
 This book has been in my stash for a long time, just waiting for the right application, so I started painting pages so I can journal on them. Having never done this before, I was a little heavy handed with the acrylic, so it is hard to read. I guess it really doesn't matter because it's just for me to read anyway. I ended up writing in the white circles.
It is fun to use different pens, pencils and paints that I have accumulated.
 A chance to try some new techniques also.
Stay tuned; the next few pages will be much lighter in color. Watercolor should be helpful.