Germany - I've Been Everywhere Man, I've Been Everywhere (Almost) . . . .

It's Always Christmas in this German Town!

Rothenburg, Germany

The Famous German Christmas Store!

I just love this photo opportunity!  

I did pick up two hand crafted Nutcrackers for Christmas during our European vacation this past April!

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The Art of Writing . . . and Creating . . . Do You believe?

Do You Believe in Magic?

I seem to remember a song in my teen years that I would hear over and over again on the radio.  I just loved to sing along to that song and the words were so powerful to me!

"Do you believe in magic in a young girl's heart?  The music is clearer whenever it starts.  It's magic." 

I DO believe in Magic. 

Here's the thing though with Magic . .  . it is really magic, or is it just . . . . .whatever!  

When your art comes together for you . . . . is it you, or Magic?  No, its not really Magic at all. No, no, but wait!  Yes it is!  I say it is!  It is for me.

CONSIDER THIS:  its just what happens naturally when you align yourself with the power of your purpose and the sparkle of your soul! The Magic already lives inside of you!

There - settled.  I DO BELIEVE IN MAGIC!  How about you?

(Taken in part from Andrea Schroeder, Grow Your Dream Wings).

Cockoo Clock from Germany

Hand made in Germany

Picked up this sweet purchase while traveling the Romantic Road in Germany last month!

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

Every day in June 2016 Art Challenge AND Friday's Favorites!

DAY 2 - Theme:  Within 3 feet of you
and
Fridays Favorite is magical!

Sketch in Ink

Don't lever let anyone tell you that fairy tales are not real.  I drink a potion made from magic beans every day, and it brngs me back to life! 

Textile Art; Needle Work - T-Shirt Quilt

Needlework is another term for the handicraft of decorative sewing and textile arts. Anything that uses a needle for construction can be called needlework. The definition is often expanded to include craft using a long and thin tool, such as crochet hook and tatting shuttles.

Before the free motion quilting was completed.  This was my first T-shirt quilt and I absolutely love the way it turned out!

The Art of Writing - YOU are a Creative Genius!

Of course writing is an art!  In today's fast paced, high tech world, letter writing has just about died out. But I do it - I believe in it - and I love wax sealing and placing my H (for my last name) on the back of the envelope.  Sometimes I add a pretty ribbon!

So here are some written words on YOU being a creative genius!

When you see that you are a creative genius, capable of creating anything your heart desires - then you will see that everyone also is a creative genius, capable of creating whatever their hearts desire.



(Taken in part from Andrea Schroeder, Grow Your Dream Wings).

Textile Arts; Needle Work - A Quilt

This is a twin size quilt made with the finest of fabrics from the local quilt store.  I am a strong believer of supporting my community.  

This quilt has been hand pieced and then free motion quilted on my Janome sewing/quilting machine.  

When I see this quilt, which is daily because it currently resides on the back of my favorite chair in my living room, it makes me feel warm inside.  It makes me think of Southern comfort - the warmness of the South; the hospitality we extend to family, friends, neighbors and even strangers; the  different foods we prepare and the way we present them to those sitting at our table.  Our openness and willingness to help those in need.  And without forgetting our one most favorite saying: "y'all come back now, ya hear!" 

My New Adventure - Art Journaling Book Two!

This journal is quite different from my Art Journal One which is a composition note book.  This journal is a Mixed Media journal by Strathmore!  You do not need anything much more expensive than this.  As a matter of fact - just use a hard cover old book.  You will need to tear out some pages because when you add your art work it will create a thickness.  

I am also loving working with this one too!

I am very excited to see how these two journals come together and will be sharing some, not all, of my work.  Like a good friend of mine tells me often . . . .Theresa, you do not need to share everything!  BIG BIG SMILES!

My New Adventure - Art Journaling Book One

As usual I hardly ever do anything in a simple manner - so this also would include my new adventure into Art Journaling.

Instead of working on beginning one, I have decided to start working on two (of course)!  Two very different styles!

Because I have just returned from France (including England and Germany) I thought this would be a wonderful way to explore art journaling!  This book is an inexpensive composition book, mostly used with elementary school children.  One can purchase these at your local dollar store.

Because the pages are very thin, it is suggested that you glue two together if you chose to paint on them with acrylic or markers.  If you chose to use watercolors be sure to prepare the page properly to accept the watercolors.  AFTER gluing two pages together, apply Absorbent Ground  - the Absorbent Ground will make the paper act like watercolor paper~  Just a little something new I just learned!

If you are going to write in the journal - which these lines composition pages are perfect for then there is no need to glue them.  

Another post for book 2!

Sketch of Hedge Hog

Ink Sketch of Hedge Hog

Practicing my cross hatching!

Every Day In June 2106 Art Challenge

Day 1 - Theme:  Artist's Choice

Scaredy Cat
Graphite Pencil

Young Girl with a Camera

Young Girl with a Camera

Ink and Watercolors

NeedleWork - Sausage Pillowcases!

The Art of Sewing (Textile Arts)

One Word:  Adorable!

Meet Blossom the Giraffe!

Blossom

Watercolors!

Another Grumbacher Artist Trading Card Posting

Grumbacher Artisit Trading Cards

2 1/2 x 3 1/2

Watercolors

Theme:  Artists' Choice

Grumbacher Artist Trading Cards

Grumbacher Artists Trading Cards

2 1/2 x 3 1/2 cards

Watercolors

Theme for this month's was "Coffee or Tea"

Updated painting

I added watercolors!  He's cute!

Skinny Water

Skinny Water - and it tastes delicious!

1 lemon, 1 cucumber, about 10 mint leaves and a sprinkle of grated ginger root.  The taste of this water will surprise you!  It is delicious!  Detox's the kidney and aids in the relief of inflammation!  Keep it ice cold in the fridge!  Will keep for days.  Just keep adding more water to the pitcher. 

Homemade Raspberry Sauce

Homemade Raspberry Sauce

Y.U.M.M.Y.

Made this to pour over some homemade frozen vanilla bean yogurt!  Super simple! 12 oz of fresh or thawed frozen raspberries.  White granulated sugar to taste, and a pinch of orange zest.  Because I love orange zest - I used more than a pinch - so add the zest to your taste.  Throw it all in a food processor and mix up well.  I use a mini food processor.  I do have a larger one but its just too big to bother with.  Will go great on ice cream or pancakes!

Paris - I've Been Everywhere Man, I've Been Everywhere (Almost) . . . .

Taken from a Post Card I picked up while visiting The Effiel Tower during our visit to Paris, 2016

Dreaming of Paris

Watercolors

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Grumbacher post!

Another Artist Trading Card posted by Grumbacher!

Grumbacher has a trading card post each month requesting certain subjects to be drawn, painted, sketched . . .  whatever suits you  . . . you then submit and they post!  Some very lucky person will receive your drawing and you will be the lucky recipient of another person's art!

This was a free choice month.  Mine is watercolor and ink.

Also, these trading cards are 2 1/2 x 3 1/2!  Quite challenging!

Tools of the Trade . . . .

Watercolors

Swimmers of a "certain age"

Sketching of swimmers with Graphite Pencil.

When one of my fun girl friend's referred to our group of 'mature' women as "women of a certain age" I grabbed hold of that saying and have used it often.  I just love it.  

Gelato anyone?

Found these at Hobby Lobby while looking for some paint 

pens.  They looked like fun! Absolutely use your 40% off coupon because they

don't give these gel paints away! Now tell me one person

that can resist Gelato!

Flowers ... . . .

Fun with watercolor flowers!

Sketching and Watercolor Pencils

Girls Night Out

Sketching with Graphite pencil and then filling in 

with Watercolor Pencils (pencils give more control over the 

watercolor medium).

France - I've Been Everywhere Man, I've Been Everywhere (Almost). . . .

France, 2016

So sorry for my lapse in posting.  Been fortunate enough to travel through 3 European countries.  England, France and Germany.

I think of Shakespeare's sonnet:  How do I love thee, let me count the ways . . . .So love Europe! Oh and yes, we did visit his home and the cottage of his wife Ann Hathaway (not to be confused with the movie star - whom I also love).

So I have done a few sketches of my time there and will post them soon.

I will share these two with you -- oh, not a sketch  but a photo! Paris - our last evening, hubby just felt like he had to try this Parisian dish!  Eh - no not me, thank you!

Partridge

And A Partridge Not In a Pear Tree

Graphite Pencil Sketch

Not in a Pear Tree came to mind when a friend made the comment "well, where is the pear tree" - in case you forgot . . . it's the well sung, well loved Christmas song . . . The Twelve Days of Christmas.   In reality, I only wanted to sketch a bird to see if there was any interest in sketching birds! Eh, maybe not too much!

Just saying . . . .

Just Saying . . . .I share this because I love it.  I hope that I live it.  I try to.

She's so Fine . . .

She's so Fine

It's All About the Teenage Girl

Watercolor Fun!

May 2016

Art Words from Andrew Loomis's book on Illustration

Andrew Loomis wrote this in 1937 and it still holds true for today . . . .

About Art . . .

Making Art Cards . . . .

Watercolor cards for my plant sitter and kitty sitter . . . 

Sketch of the Day - April 11, 2016

F.U.N. 

In all CAPITAL Letters . . . 

Because the use of Capital Letters in writing means the beginning of a new sentence/thought.  Or shouting when used in text messaging, or in this instance, excitement and fun!

First I sketched this with graphite pencil - a light image.  Then I bravely, but nervously,  picked up my Micro-Line Studio Series ink pen - .005 and finished the sketch.  Using ink is a brave step for me - no erasers!

Going to add some color using watercolors!  You will see another post of this!

What Artist's are really Thinking . . . .

Another Just Saying . . . . . .The Power of Words

Just Saying . . . . 

The Power of Words 

Sketch of gym class - water aerobics

Water Aerobics

Sketch in graphite pencil

Fun - ladies of all sizes!

A day at the beach

sketching 

A Day At the Beach

Graphite pencil sketch and then a vert light watercolor wash

Sorry for all the wrinkled paper but this paper is for dry mediums only.  It doesn't like water!

Unlike the character in the sketch who seems to be having quite a good time in the water!

Just saying stuff about art . . .

Just Saying  . . . .

 This message is certainly about me and my journey through art and creativity!  There are plenty of erasers, paper, paint, fabrics  . . . . whatever products your creativity causes you to use!

Home drawing completed

My Home

Built in 1996

Graphite Pencil

My Not So Finished drawing of my Home

Home Sweet Home

Graphite Pencil

Built in 1996

About an Artist

About an Artist

Spring Flowers in a Water Pitcher - Watercolors

Spring Flowers in a Water Pitcher

Watercolors