I’m making Vin Chaud tonight! And I’m very excited about it. I’ve been wanting to make this all winter to keep us warm on a cozy evening under blankets with candles aglow and a good movie going. I got the idea on a cooking show before the holidays and was doubly inspired by Deezden post about her version of this mulled-spiced wine. I bought a nice rich cabernet and some brandy to boost the warming effect of this treat. I’ll post my recipe for it after the fact as I’ll be making my own version based on what yummy spices I have in my treasured spice cabinet! ~ Flavor makes the world go round. Until then, here’s a bit of knowledge about this sipping success! I do believe this is my first “Fun with Food” post on my blog, … that is unless you count the “accidental art” with the flower shaped cutting board. Heh! Tomorrow, more art will be up, I’m working on a “Flower Child” which I’m doing on bristol board. I miss the wood surface, but change inspires growth. So until later!… think warm thoughts. =
This is my first attempt at this type of collage art. I call it “Twinkling of an Eye.” I’ve seen a few of these done and really loved how they looked, Here’s the ones that inspired me to give it a shot. I pretty much guessed at how it was done and obviously I didn’t get it right on, but thought it was “almost” good enough to share with you. The collaging papers I picked for the background were rust in color and I accidently overpainted them so I added to the background with rubberstamps.
It’s a lot harder to paint on a surface that’s been prepped this way so the face is a little iffy. It’s actually a fun process to layer the papers and add the texture. I’ll have to study more of how Purplecats does these and give it another try. I have more of these board that my dad cut for me in the same size so I’ll be able to do a small series of them. It’s something challenging to pass the time till my class starts at Willowing’s Wonderful World of Whimsey ~ I’m VERY excited about her class, if you haven’t checked it out you really should! That’s it for now… I’ll be around later this weekend! Enjoy! =)
I had a wonderful 2-day ~ 2-night visit with my parents. Mom and I talked painting, she showed me a few techniques, took me on a drive to my old neighborhood, and we hit The Dollar Tree for a fast paced 1/2 hour of power shopping. We had to get back to her place as my niece, who lives next door to them, stays with them after school till her parents get home from work. It was a treat to spend time with all of them and I’m planning on making it a monthly get-away. It will be fun to spend more time with them before we all head out to Michigan on the train for a week or more in May. We’ll have a chance to re-adjust to each other’s idiosyncrasies too! Yesterday evening we walked around outside and ventured far into one of the hay fields to take a few pictures of some unique trees. I managed to capture this one as the sun silhouetted the branches.
I have more pictures to share as well but as it’s Friday and I haven’t seen my DH in 2 days I’m going to go get cleaned up and ready to go out to dinner. Spend time with those you love. Laugh at how much you are like them. Rejoice in your family while you still have them with you! Connect with your roots. This was a wonderful time for me and I’m looking forward to my next visit. And as for art, I did manage to get 2 pieces almost half way done while I was there. I’ll share more throughout the weekend. Happy Almost February!
I’m off to my parent’s house for the next few days for a nice “long” visit. I’ll be back here Friday with something new to share. I’m taking my art pads and pencils and I’ll have a new drawing or something fun to share with you upon my return. Also my blog will be getting a facelift soon. My DH has been working on the technical part of it while I focus on the fun part. =) I’m looking forward to it. See you Friday & have a terrific week!
This was pure joy! Sometimes when a painting’s done there’s a moment of sadness because the process was so much fun and so fulfilling. The camera didnt’ capture all the underlying hues and textures of this piece, but then again it never does. Elements and mediums used for this painting include, crumpled tissue paper layered over pre-painted surface, text pages, collage papers, texture medium, Pearl Ex metallic powders applied using Mop and Glow floor wax – makes them really pop and helps them keep there shimmer, gel pens, rubberstamping inks, acrylic and watercolor paints. I still need to varnish this, and once I’ve done that I’ll be adding some pearls to the bubbles in the water. The sadness is over as I’m already on to my next painting of a Matryoshka.
On a side note ~ Global Warming my hiney! It’s snowing again and not only here but from Texas to Maine as well. Cuddle up in a cozy blanket and grab your sketch pad and pencils. It’s cold outside!
Here’s what happens when a flower shaped cutting board gets stuck to the bottom of a cookie sheet that gets tossed back into the oven. Doh!
Or if you prefer to put a small wattage light bulb in we can always make “Lamp~Art” Heh!
What fun huh? You can get your cutting boards for the impromptu project at Fred Meyers! Let me know about your “accidental art!” =) Happy Monday!
Avante Garde Oven Sculpture ~ No I’m not into oven art, or sculpture as of yet. This was purely by accident and I’ll share it before the weekends over. It’s what happens when you “accidentally put a small flower shaped cutting board into the oven that somehow got stuck to the bottom of a cookies sheet. Art by accident ~ coming your way soon. Heh!
This award states:
“This
blog invests and believes the proximity – nearness in space, time, and
relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers
aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or
self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of the prizes
are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more
attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers, who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award.”
This award was given to my by Lisa and now goes out to ~
Barb at Craft Therapy ~ Barb is always encouraging me by leaving inspiring comments on my work. She’s got a very cheerful and bright blog of her own with some wonderful tutorials that you must check out! Thanks Barb for being so inspiring to me!
Karen at Purplecats Corner ~ Karen is very creative and is always making something wonderful and awesome! She’s got some darling paintings and adorable clay dolls that you have to see for yourself! So very cute!
Lisa Cole ~ Lisa’s art is awe inspiring. She’s a true talent and her work has be seen for yourself to truly appreciate how awesome her talent is! She definitely has the WOW factor in her work!
Stacy at Tunibug ~ Stacy’s blog will make you smile. She has the cheeriest pictures and wonderful art. Take some time out of your buzy day to visit the cup-cakey goodness of Stacy’s blog!
Verlene at Alison’s Heart Sings ~ Verlene is a very sweet person. She’s constantly encouraging others and her faith speaks through her wonderful paintings. She’s not only talented with art but she’s got a way of sharing herself with people that’s truly inspiring.
Meek at Artiste Nouveau ~ I first came across Meek at Suzi Blu’s Les Petit Dolls, we were both late starters and she came running out of the gate so fast and her work was awesome from the start! She shares her art and her interest in reading on her blog. Be sure to check her out.
Teri at Inspire to Believe ~ Not only does Teri have awesome journal pages but she also speaks openly of her faith. That’s always a “You got me at Hello.” So many people thank the universe for what they have, as if they are afraid to say God or Jesus. I’m inspired and gladdened when people speak for the Lord! Thank you Teri for sharing your faith!
Mary at A Splendid Adventure ~ Mary is another blogger who’s not afraid to voice her love for the Lord. So incredibly inspiring to me when people do this. She has a very bright and cheeful blog that you’re sure to smile each and every time you visit. It’s truly a blessing to find so many Christian women online.
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This award speaks for itself. ~ Link to the person who gave you this award. Thank you Lisa! Pass it on to deserving recipients of your own.
I’m passing this forward to Barb at Craft Therapy. Barb leaves comments on each of my blog posts and it’s amazing how much I look forward to hearing from her! She truly does brighten my day with her hellos to me. It makes blogging that much more rewarding!
Here she is in all her flower glory! Grow With The Flow is complete. What a FUN painting this was to do. The colors are vibrant and sparkly. I used some metallic paints and some iridescent mediums to add zest to the paints that weren’t metallic. The flowers are shaded with metallic gel pens that I just smeared around with my fingers. The centers of the flowers are decoupaged with yellow wrinkled up tissue paper and then smeared with orange metallic gel pen. I simply put gel medium on the flower centers and smushed the tissue paper on in large pieces and when it was dry I carefully tore the remaining tissue paper away. Super simple! The ladybugs are rubberstamped on and painted with red paint and zig markers, I added some DecoArt Craft Twinkles in red to make them pop a bit.
I’m rather sorry to see her finished as she was SO MUCH FUN to work with. Now I’m off to work on “Let Your Heart Soar.” Tomorrw I will have the blog love up for everyone. It’s been fun searching through other blogs to find the ones to share the love with! AND! Tomorrow is TGIF! YAY!
Taken with my new digital cameria my Dad gave me. As you can see, I have a bit to learn yet about the camera but this is the first picture I took with it. (so far!) This is my current work in progress. I’ve come a little ways with it since the photo earlier this AM. I had a nice lunch break w/my parents for Chinese food and now I’m tinkering with some glittery colors on the painting. It won’t be done till tomorrow but the woodburning on this was FUN FUN FUN! I plan to do more this way. I’m also busy making my blog love list so that will also be featured this week. There seriously not enough seconds in the minutes, minutes in the hour, hours in the day, days in the week, nor weeks in the month for all an artist needs to do! Want to buy more TIME! =) As well as more art supplies. =P I have a painting sketched on wood that I’m wood-burning now as well. “Think… Beach!” It’s going to be another fun project. I hope to take my origionals down to a Folk Art Shop downtown to see if I can sell them on commission…. do share ~ how are all of you selling your art? Share your success secrets so we can all be successful in our art endeavors! What are some of our favorite artistic tips? What’s your favorite medium? What’s the one you struggle with the most. Let’s help each other! Hugs till tomorrow! My tip for today is Gel Pens work great on birch wood! I’m having great success embellishing edges of flowers and leaves with the glitter or metallic Gels!
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