I'm joining the sketchbook challenge....

I have been wanting to sketch more, get in the journal more...and be inspired by others in the blogging world. Here I go!

Stuff I've been making

A new granny square hat.
Experimenting with the plaster pages that Penelope showed us at the last Art Journaling Retreat.

stencils -- yummy!

The best for adding layers and textures to my mixed media work, journals, and the tough ones are even great for little man to play with.

Check out these awesome ones that Mary Beth Shaw has created:


Run on over and play.

more progress....

painting update

Some holiday projects.

In progress.
A mandala for my son's room.
I love the look of snow on the adirondack chairs!
Learning days of the week, and how many more days until Thanksgiving.

Cannon Beach, stormy vacation

What a beautiful boy! And wow, does he love the beach! Running and jumping and climbing and laughing. The ocean kissing his toes (this time of year, in boots!)
The waves crashing on the rock are the best.
The first sunny morning. It lasted about an hour. I do love, love, love stormy weather at Cannon Beach.

be careful with your camera

the long delay with the blog is primarily due to a camera that wasn't working...
I finally took it to the camera shop and discovered...that sand from the last beach trip was fully in the lens, the camera works fine, as evidenced with the camera shop photo with a different lens, the rest of the shots are with my lens, we are going to try to do a little more cleaning at home first before we buy a new lens $150 - ouch!
So, don't take your fancy camera to the beach if it is at all windy!

Collecting rocks and "Splash!"

We do love our walks along the Tolt Pipeline...tossing rocks in to the creek, "splash!"

Artists' Garage Sale

in Everett this Saturday only.
I'm organizing my studio, so I'm bringing a lot of my current and past work for sale at amazing prices. Time to work on my next series...I have cleared space for the easel I received for Christmas, and have 2' x 2' boards lined up to paint - BIG! Woot. So come one, come all to the sale this weekend.

Let There Be Light - class!

Personalize your home with customized light switch and outlet covers. Mix clay colors to match you decor. Whether or not you have worked with polymer clay in the past you will make colorful art for yourself and gifts for all occasions. You will learn the basics of three techniques: mokume gane (multiple thin layers of colors textured and shaved), caning and photocopy transfer.

Saturday, June 19th 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Supply list sent with registration.
Register at The Ranch: Center for Arts and Craft

new journal

Paula started a trend. I love this idea too...just had too many other things on my list to do for the retreat...I'm going to make one soon though....

Went to the United Church of Christ regional conference in Wenatchee. I was super pleasantly surprised by the beauty.

I made a new coptic bound journal. I filled the one I made for a (ahem) milestone birthday. This is what that one started out like. NOw it's filled and more book looking. Will try to post a photo of the completed journal soon.

Stitching close-ups.

Recycling. Cheap construction paper and cardboard containers. Love.

Artfest mini post

My fourth year! Oh how I love Artfest. The best camp experience every year.


Playing with the camera on the ferry ride over to Kingston. I could ride a ferry all day long.


On the Fort Worden grounds, toward the water and Dorm 225. My resting place for five days.


Jesse Reno, beginning the process of completely changing a painting that was finished. What a great spirit he has. Take a class from him if you can, I recommend more than one day, I just started "getting" it about an hour before class was over...gonna have to finish cleaning up the studio post Artfest to break out the easel and paint, paint, paint!


Nearly complete. Now I understand, I've gotta add more random bits of paint and highlight them.



Ta da! I love it!

301 posts! who knew?

...they certainly have been few and far between since little man joined us. I'm trying to increase the blogging time around here...and increase our walks to the lake, hikes in the library woods, splashing in the fountains, and keeping track of his spoken words.

And in the evenings, during naps and in the wee hours of the morning I'm working on these things

Summer Tree. Post sketch, first layer of tree paint


Summer Tree. Second layer of the tree


Summer Tree. final layers on the tree and grass, beginning of the flowers


Summer Tree with first layer of flowers, final tree and leaves, no sky yet

Artfest collaborative book process

I finally sent them in...
This is the process:
The pages were painted first.

The collaged pages


Then I india ink'd some flowers, and other glorious icons all over the pages, to be cut into 4 x 4 sheets.


The completed front page
Another completed front page and a sample of the back