One World One Heart

I am delighted to be, once again, participating in the One World One Heart give-away. Here are the details:

• This year, I am giving away three (3) handmade pieces of art.
• To be entered to win you must leave a comment on THIS post. Only one comment per person will count.
• Comments must be received by midnight (12 am) Pacific Time February 12th to be included in the drawing.
• The drawing is open to everyone and I must be able to contact you, so please do include an email in your information. It will not show in the comments, but will be in my database here.
• The winners will be posted on February 12th at noon Pacific Time.
• The winners will be chosen by a random number generator. The number of your comment will be your number.

For more information about this world-wide blogging event, please click on the logo above,

OWOH Giveaway #1: Travel ID/Ticket Holder

Prize #1: Travel ID Holder – Made of fabric, with strands of 3 braided satin. Batik cotton fabric; velcro closures on one side for documents.

OWOH Giveaway #2: Vintage Fabric Pattern Mini-Journal

Prize #2: Handmade Mini Journal – Made of vintage sewing patterns, fabric; free motion stitching and 36 acid-free pages of 40# weight paper, perfect for a drawing journal, writing journal, or notepad!

OWOH Giveaway #2: Mini Photo Album with Original Fabric Collage

Prize #3: Mini Album (6″ x 6″) with original fabric collage. Made of pre-fabricted journal with linen purple cardstock cover; satin fabric tie closure 12 acid-free pages for journaling or photos, or whatever your heart desires!

Don’t forget to stop by the One World-One Heart blog to see what other fabulous prizes are available from others in the blogging world! Enjoy and good luck!

heART swap doodle. others can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/artsyinaz/

Thank you to those of you who have sent me emails of hope that there was not a break in the wrist. Luckily, there was no break of bones, but two ligaments were torn. I’m using a wrist splint and will be for the next 3 weeks, when I get to have x-rays and follow-up again. I can use my fingers, which is a relief, especially for typing! However, writing and drawing are difficult when you can’t move your wrist. Who knew?

Before I hurt my hand, I did some doodle drawings for a swap I’m in. I rarely do swaps, but this was one that intrigued me. Mother Henna is hosting it, and her work is so unique that I couldn’t resist. I’m so glad I finished the pieces early, or I would be in a world of hurt right now! Each piece is hand-doodled and numbered. All in pen and ink. I didn’t want to add color for this one, because I liked the graphic nature of it.

Today I am going to try to find something arty to do that doesn’t require the wrist. Perhaps some work on the sewing machine?

Abstract Painting 24" x 36" on Gallery Wrapped canvas

I’ve been painting again! It’s been great to have the brush in my hand on a regular basis. This one is finished. And Dave has claimed it for his office! I had started this canvas a while ago, but until I went to the Chihuly exhibit, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with it. The colors at the Chihuly exhibit were so inspiring that I just let the paint flow through me. I’m working on more, but I just wanted to post this one for now.

Have a great day!

Catalyst 23 - What I collect/hoard

Catalyst 23
Journaling:
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the history of things, especially vintage train cases and old photographs. I can’t resist them! I have 6 or 8 train cases, one is my MIL’s, two others are from my grandmothers, and others I have collected at thrift stores and antique shops along the way. I have a lot of photographs from my family, but I also can’t resist a really cool photo in a thrift store. So, I have a whole train case filled with photographs of those people whose relatives let them “go”.

My other train cases hold other vintage ephemera – book pages in different languages, old newspaper, vintage sewing patterns, and collage sheets from these vintage pieces.

Technique highlight:
Drawing on cold press paper in Pigma Micron, watercolor using Sakura Koi watercolors.

Catalyst 19 - A personal Quirk

Before I left for France, I made myself finish one more catalyst since I knew I would be exhausted upon our return and that I’d have my treatment soon, too. Well, I’m so glad I did, because it’s Sunday again! And Catalyst 19 is now up. It’s “What is your quirk/idiosyncrasy?” Click on the image to go to CreativeTherapy and to see the story behind this quirk of mine and those of my fellow designers!

Technique highlights:
Watercolor crayons used for the background. Text written with Pigma Micron.
Drawing done with Pigma Micron and watercolor pencils.

The good news is that I’m feeling well. I’m exercising regularly, making sure I’m ready for all the walking we’ll do in France. And, happily, I’m also finally shedding some of the pounds and inches that have been bugging me for a while. I’m also sleeping better, which has always been a by-product of regular exercise for me. Though, to be honest, I’m happiest when I try on a top or pair of shorts that are loose, where they either were a bit tight or are fit perfectly. I bought two new pairs of shorts in April and both are a bit loose. I couldn’t be more pleased!

I’ve been practicing my French, though I am sure I will not be near fluent in it. I can translate the jist of the written word, but hearing the words and understanding them is a challenge. Even with the Baha, it’s still an issue with my hearing. It’s one thing to listen to English and to understand because I can make a few good guesses to figure out the words by the context and with the clues of the sounds. With French, it’s going to be a challenge. I suppose it will just add to the excitement of the visit. At least, that’s what I hope!

I’ve been doing some art, but I have not been inspired to do anything in particular. It’s too hot out and the ozone warnings are too high for me to just go and sit and draw. I am working on a painting that I started a year ago that I finally had the courage to start working on again… You know how it is: You get to a point in it and you’re afraid you’ll ruin it. Well, I’m done with worrying. I just dove in. I don’t have a clear vision of where it’s going, but I’m letting it flow. It’s how I prefer to work, anyway. I’ll try to post a photo of it in-process later this week. It’s different for me.

In addition, I do have my CreativeTherapy catalysts to work on and I’ve been doing that. Tonight there will be a catalyst posted along with the artwork from the team, so that’s something for you to check out later today. I’m trying to get the next month’s done in the next two weeks, since I’ll be gone for three of them and then I am sure I’ll have the usual post-travel fatigue.

I’ve also been doing a lot of reading. I just finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl which was quite intriguing. I studied English and American Literature in college and along with it learned a lot about British history. This series by Philippa Gregory has me hooked! I’m now reading the book that came before it, The Constant Princess, which is the story of Katherine of Aragon. I’ve always liked historical fiction, so it makes me happy to read a series like this that attempts to get into the minds of the women who were a part of the history. I know how women were used to build alliances, improve a family’s station in life, etc. It’s quite interesting to read these from the woman’s perspective and to see how the author really makes them heroes for what they did, rather than as subservient pawns in the game. The author shows them as women with ambition, as well.

Dave has been on call this week, so it’s been a hectic week for him. It used to be that June and July were quieter in Phoenix because the Winter Visitors (snowbirds) would head north. Not so this summer. It seems as busy as it was in the winter. But we’re doing fine with it. Unfortunately, Friday evening, my MIL called that my FIL was having some tachycardia again. His pulse was at 150. This is the second time in a month that this has happened. When she called, she had already called 911 and the ambulance was on the way. Dave went and met them at the hospital. Luckily, his heart reverted to its normal rhythm and Dave drove them home. He got in at around 2 am on Saturday morning. Poor guy was tired all day.

So now Dave is rounding at the hospital and will call when he’s headed home. I’m going to have a protein shake and then exercise. When Dave calls, I’ll be ready to go. We’ll go to visit his parents and have lunch with them and see how they’re faring. I hope you all have an awesome Sunday!

I don’t really want to post all of the pictures, (you’ll get bored rather quickly, I’m sure, since the subject is the same with just some difference in gestures, but here are a few of the highlights. For more, you can go to my Every Day in May set in Flickr. Some are good; some not so much! But it’s all practice and I see the proportions much better.

The hands need much more work, so that’ll be tomorrow’s plan, I think. I just posted here one of the hand pages that includes a full mannequin. It’s one of the best. I’m not sure I like the hand mannequins. That may be my problem. But I’ll continue to try and I might get brave and try to draw real hands, too!

Yesterday I arrived at an appointment early. The day was beautiful and I sat in my car blasting Michael Buble on my iPod while I drew the scene right in front of my car. It was the tree, in particular, that caught my eye, but the trash can next to it was an interesting juxtaposition.

I’m sure there will be more drawing tomorrow. Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

After that, I stopped at a quilt shop I’ve been eying for a long time! I haven’t taken the time to visit in a while, but it’s also been a while since I have bought fabric… So, I went ahead and treated myself to some fun fabrics I couldn’t live without! They’re to the right! YUMMY!

And today’s drawing is an EDM Challenge. It’s Challenge #2 – Draw a lamp. It’s the lamp from my art desk. Monochromatic, because the lamp is a brown and white antique-looking Ott Lite. I like it and it’s my constant companion on my table.

That’s all for now. Back to doing some other projects I can’t share until after Mother’s Day!

Today I’m tired and achy. But at least I’m up to posting on my blog! To the right is EDM Challenge 23 – Draw your Foot. Since I went and had my manicure and pedicure while Eliana was here, I figured drawing the foot was a good thing to do. I drew the cool little flower and the lines at the top of the big toe – the only one you could really see (I have teensy toes and even more teensy toe nails!). I decided not to use any color in this and to see if I could create it with just the Pigma Micron 02 and 08 pens. I like how the pants leg came out, in particular. I rarely do this kind of shading, so it was a good challenge.

To the left, you see a drawing of my reading glasses. I have several pairs of reading glasses – mostly from Target’s dollar spot! I buy them in bulk when they have them there. I have found that since my 38th birthday (yes, two and a half years ago!) I’ve needed to wear these reading glasses with my contacts to see up close. Reading without the is greatly straining on my eyes. So, I figure some funky glasses should be owned. The pair depicted here is actually black, clear and gray – sort of a plaid.

My husband is just finishing up doing his rounds at the hospital. He’s taking me out to lunch when he gets here. It will be my first time out of the house since last Monday. I’m sure I will be exhausted when we return home, but getting out of the house is really necessary right now. Have a great Sunday, everyone!

EDM 31 – Draw something you collect.

I brought my grandmother’s vintage train case into the den, where I am sitting in front of the TV. I drew the train case open with the photos in it. My grandmother took very good care of it. Her address from The Bronx is still in it, easy to read! The mirror is still perfect, as well. It’s quite heavy, or I’d use it for travel. For now, however, it will remain in my studio as storage.

While the pictures and the train case were here, I posted more of my vintage photos and cabinet cards for sale on my “Supplies for Sale” page. Take a look. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, send me an email and I will see if I have what you need in my collection!

EDM 164 – Draw your camera.

I also drew my point and shoot Canon Powershot Elph. This camera has been with me for a while. It’s 4 mpx, which was huge a few years ago! It will be coming with me on all my trips, since it fits so easily into a purse or backpack.

Now it’s time to relax and try to keep from getting more fatigued. Hmmm… Perhaps a nap?