Aggravation

So, I needed to make a journal for my step-daughter-in-law for her birthday and figured she would use it for either taking notes at church or maybe bible study...whatever. So I made pretty covers (I'll post it next) and put put plenty of papers in it but thought I would try cutting a Jesus stencil for the first page to make it a little extra special. I cut my lil heart out for at least an hour, spraypainted the image and scurried downstairs to show Tom, he looked at it for a bit...then a bit longer, finally I asked him if he thought my painting could pass for Jesus - he said "Sure, nobody knows what he looks like anyway" GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Here he is:

He doesn't look like a Charles Manson does he?!? Does he look too intense?  Hmmm, maybe, and perhaps with good reason. 

Aggravated and yet always amused...................at the Shores

FIFA FO FUM

My son's birthday is Sunday, big number 24. It rattles me just thinking about how old my kids are, neither are married nor have any kids but I am a step-Omi to 6 LOL! My step-daughter Randi came over Sunday because this was where she felt like spending mother's day. Her husband brought the two sweet boys over for a little bit and we crafted our butts off for a couple hours, funny how two kids, 6 & 4 have such different artsy styles, we had a blast. They then went on their merry way but Randi stayed and visted more, it was such fun and Tom was over the moon to have his daughter hang out with us for the day/night.

As always I asked Frankie (my son) what he wanted for his birthday, he wanted a authentic Germany World Cup jersey and asked if I would paint him the FIFA World Cup 2010 logo.....the things I do for my kids! Here it is all done, I'm pleased it was an easy one it's 8x10:

It was perfect timing on the jersey, two of my aunts were coming to the US to visit my mom so I asked if they'd pick one up for him - mission accomplished! I am sooooooooooooo happy that when Renee' had her birthday last month she just wanted to go shopping for clothes, I just happened to be in Georgia on her birthday week and happily obliged. Whew! Both done, at least until Christmas.

Here are a couple journals I have ready for etsy, if my new camera ever comes I'll take proper pictures and get em on there, sure have no idea as to how to price them though.

The blue one is covered in batik fabric and has acid free " brown paper bag" paper, the green has green paper and one of my paintings printed onto fabric then sewn to some pretty batik material (have you noticed I am a batik fabric junkie?!)

Welp, that does it for me on this rainy, dreary, yucky-but-perfect-for-artin' sort of day.....................at the Shores

Captured!

Just a quick post today. I've just finished up a "Splatter!" ATC swap:

"CURIOUS"

This swap required a splatter of some sort and I had been hoping for more of a bird poo type splatter (sorry, no other way I could think to put it) it just didn't come out that way but I still like it. I cut a captured fairy stencil and put it all on a brick wall - yeah, I know, another brick wall - I just seem to be in a Banksy sort of mood......................at the Shores

Sweet Day

I tried to make this post last night but really couldn't. You see, I spent Thursday and Friday at a childrens bereavement camp as one of the councelors and emotionally I was drained. Every five minutes I'd burst into tears, these poor children at 6 or 7, the things they have had to deal with is overwhelming - It's hard as an adult to deal with a death of a parent or other loved one. I had one of those little ones in my arms crying, my heart just ached. She then stopped and looked up at me, her eyes still wet with tears and she pasted a bright smile on her face and said "Happy Birthday" - I just melted, that image will be with me as long as I live. 

At lunch the kids and staff sang happy birthday to me and brought out this beautiful cake, I was beyond touched.

When I got home I found an amazing gift in my mailbox, a lovely book. Every single page filled with beauty and color. You see, it was made just for me by my amazing friend Susan. She was a caring, sweet, wonderful person back in high school and her lovliness has only gotten more grand as these years have passed. Thank you, friend - I am speechless at the love you put into making this just for me:

the inside cover

Here are a few pages before my old camera ran out of memory space :o\

This whole book is filled with wonderful things - THANK YOU, again, Susan...my day was truly perfect!.........................at the Shores

Alter-ed Ego

Ahhhh! Had a fantastic time in Chicago, what a great city to play in for a weekend - tons of photo ops but getting Tom to slow down for my follies is tough at times.

 

Here are a couple of some "Wrigleyville" street entertainment, this guy was a nut, he went two full rotations on that bar around his bike (someone PLEASE save me from these crappy Blackberry pix - husband has 4 days to get me a new camera for my birthday)

The only art I've finished lately is for an altered magazine image swap, so here she is - before and after:

My Alter-ed Ego

That's a bazillion (give or take a few) french knots for her hair LOL!! I think she looks quite hip ;o) 

Oh, and I also forgot about a lil painting I did for bandeaus nephew's birthday across the pond in Canada, he asked her to give him some art lessons and she's giving him among other things a  pad of art paper I believe and asked some people if they send some words of wisdom for the first pages, I painted a brick wall, used some stencils I had cut that I thought a young dude would like and added quotes for my contribution:

NO RULES

Gotta tidy up my art space for the next big creative etsy spurt I feel 'a comin along.............at the Shores