A Little Over It

Hello Everyone!

Happy Summer!  It's been a little over a year since my last post. Once again I managed to fall off the blog-O-sphere after trying to re-establish the SketchyGirlz blog with my best friend last year. It just was a bit overwhelming (to both of us) trying to keep up with two blogs, working full time and creating art. That's how it happened....Now, it is time for a fresh start once again.

How is your summer going?  Are you working on anything new?  Living in south Florida, the average temperature each day is in the 90's so it may seem a bit strange to know that knitting is one of my hobbies.  Most people think of knitting as a winter activity but because of the warmer hot temperatures here, it becomes a summer activity for me.  I enjoy looking for knitting patterns and taking classes online during the summer months and have several knitting projects going.  In the knitting world, these are called WIPs or Works in Progress. My latest WIPs are a sweater knit-a-long (KAL), a few baby hats (charity donation) and finishing up a cabled pattern blanket (almost done with that project!). Any knitters out there that can identify with the WIPs?  I'd love to hear from you.

The Knit-A-Long (KAL) is where you join a group of knitters for a specific project during a period of time.  The KAL is new to me, my first one!  I'll talk more about it in an upcoming post.

On the ART palette are several works that have been completed and another ICAD project (Index Card A Day) which I'll be sharing with you soon.  Each year I challenge myself to do the ICAD for 30 days.  You can see my previous works by clicking on the side bar. Meanwhile here's a glimpse of the recent challenge and I'll be posting more in the coming weeks.

My daughter and family visited recently and we had a great night out at "Painting With A Twist". This was a totally new experience for me, painting in a group setting where everyone paints the same design and it was SO much fun!  We painted a beach scene and every single painting was different! Fun seeing what everyone was doing and how they interpreted the theme.  I'd definitely do it again and would encourage everyone to try it at least once!  Take a group of friends and enjoy the evening painting and having a blast.

Let me know what summer projects you've been working on!  I'd love to hear from you.

Bee Creative,
Suzy

INSPIRATION COMES

Hi Everyone!

The “Design” notebook began when I wanted to replace mini blinds in the studio. 

With two windows in the room, there is a semi-need for privacy, especially with the window facing a neighbor and a partial view to the street. Researching Roman Shades on the Internet was slightly overwhelming, with SO MANY options for shades available. There are the How To's and Custom Made's and with each one you must chose style, colors and patterns, etc.  When I thought I might be at wits end, I came across appliqued pictorial landscape shades and the light bulb went off:   “hey, I thought, I’m a quilt maker why not make patchwork shades of my own”! I knew I'd never make the landscape appliqued shades (too much work, not enough time) but patchwork was certainly an doable option! Ok, with that decision made I can let it percolate in my brain for a bit, mentally working out patterns. A few days later, an email pops up from a quilt shop in the In Box offering a Kaffe Fassett Roman Road Quilt Kit. I'm a big fan of Kaffe Fassett, so I opened the email to see what was what.

 Ah ha, there was the idea for the “Roman” quilt pattern and the name (Roman Road/Roman Shade); well it was just meant to be!! Unfortunately, the cost of multiple (4 x $79.99) kits was more than I could afford for two windows. 

Still I loved the pattern Roman Roads and it just so happened to be the perfect piece of Kaffe Fassett fabric in my stash closet, just waiting for this occasion! Love when THAT happens! I worked out the color scheme, pattern and dimensions visually in the Design Notebook all centered around the Kaffe Fassett fabric!

Ta Da! Here's the Roman Road Quilt pattern (turned horizontally) on the side window facing my neighbor's house (it stays down for privacy). And the window facing the backyard stays up. See how the colors are illuminated when the sun shines in the morning? 

         In the afternoon, the larger shade lights up too! It is like having stained glass windows!  I fell in love with the Kaffe Fassett fabric!!!  

                        
                           I painted a page in my journal!

                          But that just wasn't enough.

                                                     

                                  Totally inspired!

                       I painted the flower shapes three times!                               


Three years later, I still love the Roman Road shades and these paintings inspired by Kaffe Fassett fabric!

Look around to see what inspires you today! 

Bee Happy! Bee Creative!! Have Fun! 

Suzy 

Linking to: Paint Party Friday, Sew Many Ways;Crafty Thursday Obsessions

The Ordinary Life

Hi Everyone! 

It's been awhile but I found myself playing in my art journal this week between working and caring for my grandchildren.  In my Monday night theology class we were discussing the spirituality of vocation and the fact that God is in everything we do, our work, our relationships, in our ordinary life. I was thinking that my vocation and ordinary life intermingle and sometimes it seems that my life is mostly the same day after day.  Maybe you feel that way too. It's not a bad thing, the ordinary and I'm not complaining, I'm just saying there is comfort in living the ordinary life. Looking around and seeing the blessings of each day, in the ordinary. So this week I suppose I was recording ordinary life in my journal pages. 
You can check out this ordinary life by clicking on the page tab above: ART JOURNAL. I'll share my personal art and stories behind the art with you. 

I

Tell me, does your art imitate your personal life, your vocation and your relationships? 

Happy Painting!
Suzy

Linking to: Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Every Day,

New Baby....Chinese Coin Quilt.......Nursery Canvas Art

Hi Everyone!

Yeah, it’s me again.

Posting TWICE in one week…must be some kind of record.

I couldn't wait to introduce our new grandson, JACKSON and to share two of my latest art and quilting projects with you! Earlier this week I shared the Lap top sleeve I made before jetting off to Texas to visit our daughter and hubby and our new grandson. 

So here's what we've been waiting for: Official photo of Jackson with his Mimi! 

To hold him in our arms at last!  Precious, precious, precious! Mimi and Papa are over the moon in love with Jackson!

You might remember, I was working on a Chinese Coins quilt for Jackson and I promised to post a photo (or two) of it when it was finished. 

  

Last minute Suzy was putting binding on just before we left for our trip. LOL!

You can see that Jackson loves his new quilt! In fact the whole family loved it so much, each person used it while rocking the baby (and napping too).

I also painted this 8" x 10" canvas for our baby grandson, keeping in mind his mommy’s simple yet modern style (and color request of green, brown and blue). 

Although Jackson doesn’t officially have a nursery yet, it will be a great addition to his room. 

Just can't resist sharing one more photo of our little guy! 

Happy Weekend!

Suzy

Linking to: Sew Many Ways; Paint Party Friday,Sunshine & Summer Breezes

CELEBRATING MILESTONES

Hi Everyone!

I'm taking a special trip soon to visit my very best friend! We are celebrating a milestone in her life of 65 years and who better to celebrate it with than family and your very best friend.  We've been friends for 38 years so that makes us family! 

 To surprise her I've been working on these little paintings.  

To Live Simply With Purpose & Gratitude

I've chosen a graphic Spoon (Knife and Fork are on the sides) to represent my friend's gourmet cooking skills. She is self taught and one of the best cooks I know! The graphics are from The Graphics Fairy.  I've included a poem written by Henry Van Dyke "A Mile With Me", you can find it here. My friend and I have walked many "miles" together in our years of friendship. And written in purple is one of my favorite quotes (so sorry, I don't know where I got this from, but if you know this quote, please let me know so I may give credit to the author).

Using the KISS (Keep It Simple Suzy) method and the Less Is More theory to paint the Live Simple design, and Yes, it is simple in design, I collaged scrap papers onto the canvas and textured the papers with random stamping and a dab or two of paint. The flowers are freehand and highlighted with Twinkling H20's to give them depth and sparkle. I love the simplicity of this canvas painting. I think my friend will like it too.  

Live Simple. 

There's a new grandson in her life too! So we are celebrating that too! I've known Brody's father since he was 4 years old and I wanted to make something special for his new baby. The inspiration for this little painting for the baby's nursery came when I saw what Ashley was doing over at Lil Blue Boo. 

You can see the multi-talented Ashley Hackshaw's adorable creations over at  http://www.lilblueboo.com/baby!   I'm also working on a quilt for baby Brody but it isn't quite done yet, I'll post pictures of it next time. 

Bee Creative,
Suzy

Linking to: Paint Party Friday; lilblueboo; Sew Many Ways

TWO NEW ART JOURNAL CHALLENGES BEGIN

Hi Everyone! 

I'm off on not one but two art adventures for the month of November! Yes, they both coincide this month but I'm going to give it a shot! Check them both out!  Art Every Day Month (AEDM) and is hosted by Leah over at http://creativeeveryday.com.  I hope you will join me as I start this very special challenge of making art every day! I'll be posting it on my blog once a week during November on Tuesday. An Attitude of Gratitude (AAOG) is hosted by Bernice Hopper over at http://www.anattitudeofgratitudejournal.blogspot.com. I'll be posting here on Flicker http://www.flickr.com/groups/2100586@N21/and also on my blog on Thursdays.  This is a very busy month for me between starting two new jobs, care for my grands and having family in for the holidays. Really, is this too much??? 

The process of making art is something I feel compelled to do, on a daily basis if at all possible.  We'll see how it goes during November. I need your support in cheering me on, especially as the time for the holidays starts to draw nearer! 

Thanks for your support and I appreciate each comment and read them all! I hope you will also be inspired to try a 30 day challenge yourself! It is amazing to make a series of art journal pages and to watch your creativity blossom when you step out of your norm and into a world of creativity that is within you.  I encourage you to try it! Just go for it, do your own art and find what makes your heart happy. Experiment with new colors, new ideas, try a new product and enjoy the process! Have fun! And if you are so inclined, please send me a photo of your work! I'd love to see it! 

Happy Creating (with Gratitude) Every Day! 
Suzy

Linking to: http://creativeeveryday.com;http://anattitudeofgratitudejournal.blogspot.comhttp://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Li'l Journal Project Week 4

Hi Everyone! 

During Week 4 of the Li'l Journal Project we were asked to make a Job Time Line, do some mapping with a twist, make a diagram of our social network, remember a trip or vacation and look at magazines subscriptions. 

It was a very exciting week for me, some of the prompts we were given had me digging deep and realizing I've have a blessed life. My attitude of gratitude is renewed for the many gifts I've been given. 
Here's what I learned:   

• God is the director of my social network
• Blessed to be a Wife, Mom & Grandmom
• I have a Adventurer's Heart and an Artist Soul 
• Love to travel, but Home is where this heart resides.
• Love magazines 

You'll get the scoop with each page if you click on the Page Tab above marked Li'l Journal Project.  Here's a Sneak Peak of my favorite prompt: 

 Ashley is taking a week's break with the journal prompts so this is a great time to play catch up on your pages or jump in and start a Li'l Journal Project of your very own! You can check it out by clicking on the link below.  I hope you will consider joining (let me know if you do!) and I promise you will have so much fun! 

Go Make Art!
Suzy