New Blog

This blog has moved.  My new blog is Yak Yak Art.  Simply put, I love making art and talking, thus the name!  Click the link above or click here to go to it!
Thanks everyone!  D~~~~ 

Flower Play

In between trips to the nursing home (Mom is not doing too well), I've been trying to find a little time to play. It's so relaxing, and gets my mind into a different mode.

Below is a very busy and very colorful canvas that I finished last week.

I got carried away playing and playing and playing as you can tell! 

I couldn't stop! 

I was having a blast so I kept adding and adding and adding! 

Too colorful? 

Not for me. 

Fun? 

Without a doubt.

Overworked? 

Yeah. 

I did say I couldn't stop!

12-Step Program needed to know when to stop?

Perhaps.

Created with puff paint, tulle, Sharpies, 

a little collage and a lot of machine stitching. 

I don't know if I'll back this one 

and make it into an art quilt. 

Doubtful.

Have a Creatively Colorful Day,

D~~~~

Work in Progress

This is a peek at a project I'm working on during this icy, snowy, frigid week.

I cannot believe that it's Super Bowl week here in North Texas and we're having the worst weather we've had in 20 years!  I really feel for all the good folks who have worked hard planning this event for the last four years only to have the weather put a huge damper on so much of it--cancelled parties, cancelled flights, and lots of other issues.  As I write this I just heard that ice has fallen off of Cowboys Stadium injuring six people, one critically.  Yikes!  I hope they're okay!

Hopefully, tomorrow and Sunday's weather will be better.

That said, I actually love the weather but I do wish it would have waited another week.

Wishing You Many Snowy Creations,

D~~~~

P.S.  Go Packers!

Canvas Love?

I created this 9" x 12" art quilt on canvas using acrylic paint, collaged tissue paper, and decorative stitches.  It was so fun to do too!  I made it with Valentine's Day in mind but in the process I discovered that I love working on canvas so I think I might name it something like "Canvas Love!"

I really need to get into Photoshop and figure out how 
to remove the background (showing on the sides).

Please ignore it for now!

I have an idea in mind for hanging it that's a little bit different.  I need to experiment with it.

I only have three more pieces of canvas in my tablet.  When I go to buy more, I'm going to get a variety of sizes because I will definitely be using canvas regularly!  This was oh so fun!

Many Happy Creations,

D~~~~

Highly Prized #2 & #3

Last week, my Mom who lives in a nursing home now (due to Alzheimer's), ended up in the hospital for a couple of days.  Even though I visit her often at the nursing home, I was reminded just how highly prized she is while sitting with her at the hospital so I took my sketchbook with me and did some sketching.

The sketch cracked me up from the beginning!  

I had the bed looking like one of those 

race car beds for kids so I decided to go 

with it and contribute to the whimsy!

Of course, it doesn't actually look like her 

but she'd be happy to know she looks younger!

Like the first sketch that I posted on January 16th, the one below was started with Diana Trout's Drawing Doodle Game which can be found here.  I highly prize color so this time I started with purple dimensional paint on canvas.  The rest was done with acrylic paint and Sharpies.  It sure was fun!

Creative Sketching,

D~~~~

Highly Prized

I'm participating in The Sketchbook Challenge and this month's theme is Highly Prized.  There are many things that I highly prize like my family, friends, pets, home, etc., but in this sketch, I went for something a little less obvious--my morning coffee.

I watched Diana Trout's Drawing Doodle Game video on her Hububbery blog which you can find here if you are interested.  I used Diana's fun random drawing without crossing any lines (although I did cross in one spot a bit) for the aroma of the coffee.  I thought filling it in as she did in the video would make this too busy but I may have to try it sometime.

I don't have any sketching experience but as I understand it, we are to have fun, and that's what I am doing.  In the process, I am learning and will continue to do so.

Happy Sketching,

D~~~~

All About STUFF (and SNOW)!

I've been packing up the studio/office to move out to the garage.  Even though it may be a month yet, I'm excited and I want to be ready to go so that once it's completed, I can move right in!

Geo started last weekend.  After some inside tasks as shown in the post below, this is what it looks like where the garage door used to be!  He got to this point in only three days!  I'm lovin' it!

Moving out there entails packing up mostly all the STUFF below!  Two closets where about 75% of the stuff goes with me.  As you will see, STUFF was everywhere and it was/is all a bit overwhelming but I am making lots of progress!  YAHOO!

If these closets were rock stars they would be:

 Supply Closet #1 Unplugged

and

Supply Closet #2 Unplugged

More STUFF!

And even more STUFF!

Oh and more STUFF!

Oh but wait!
More STUFF!

And this is how far I've gotten!
STUFF packed and ready to go!

But there's still this STUFF.

And some STUFF left on these shelves.

There's also this STUFF to go through!

I've learned a lesson about color!  I love color but I will not paint my new walls bright like I did these walls.  I want to hang lots of colorful artsy STUFF on the walls, and I think they will look better up against neutral colors!

Here's what the closets look like now!

The first is mostly office supplies.

There's room left to grow too!

Yeah, cause we need to accumulate more STUFF!

Speaking of snow!

This is what is going on outside,
making me a very happy gal!

Backyard

Backyard

Taken off the front porch.

Many snowy creations my friends!

D~~~~

Happy New Year All!

I have not been a very good blogger this year for many reasons.  Quite a few of those reasons have been resolved, and I'm looking forward to being a more active blogger in 2011!  


First, I plan to participate in The Sketchbook Challenge which starts tomorrow.  I don't know yet what my exact level of participation will be but I will create at least one thing to contribute each month--maybe more.  Does that sound a bit sketchy?  If so, I am off to a good start!  In any event, I'm curiously awaiting the reveal of the first theme tomorrow!


Another thing I am absolutely thrilled about for 2011 is that, as I type this, my dear hubby is enclosing the garage so that I can move my studio/office out there.  Woo-hoo!  I am so excited that it calls for several exclamation points!!!


The part I am not so excited about is the overabundance of STUFF that I have to go through to move out of my current creative abode.  Even though the room may not be completely ready for a month or more, I started going through STUFF in this overflowing room today.  


I am concerned that if I stay in this room sorting, clearing, trashing, etc. for very long, I may never be seen again!  If you don't hear from me soon (especially since I have vowed to blog more), please send in a posse after me, preferably one with boxes, and excellent sorting and organizing skills.


Here are some pics of the garage conversion progress.

I wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy and Blessed New Year!  

May it be your most creative EVER!

Many Happy Creations,

D~~~~

International Quilt Festival ~ Houston

As usual, I had a blast at the Int'l Quilt Fest in Houston.  I'm always thrilled by the amazing eye candy, astonishing craftsmanship, abundant vendors, and buzz of activity!  

For me, it truly was a party!

There were picture frames  

Pashmina Scarves

Beads and Jewelry supplies

more beads 

and jewelry supplies

Jewelry

and more jewelry

Lace, stones, and baubles

Baskets

Purses and purse making materials

Santas

Christmas stuff and more

A photography and haiku exhibit.

(I just read on another blog that photography was not allowed here but I did not see any "No Photography" signs.)

And Dolls!

(I could not read the doll makers names because the info was too far behind the rope. I didn't bring my binoculars either or I would have happily added their names! There are some that can be read though.)

I have recently developed quite an affinity for dolls, and I plan to try my hand at doll making in the next week or two! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next up, the quilts!

Wishing You Many Happy Creations,

D~~~~