new metal journals and a funny picture

Last summer I took a journal making class with Tracy Moore. I finally got around to making a few more on my own. I so love the feel of these two small journals. The smallest is 2.5 by 3 and the larger one is 3.5x3.5 SOLD!
. They are so fun to make. Both are for sale. Each for $50.00. The small one has 108 pages (counting both sides) of 130lb watercolor paper. The larger one is 96 pages of 90lb watercolor paper. Closer details in photos below.


Don't you love trying to take pictures of your pets. Dylan, the closer on and Zen.


Patina Key Journal - 2.5 x 3 leather and copper handmade $50.00


Secret Journal - 3.5 x 3.5 leather and copper handmade $50.00 SOLD!

RIP Maggie Meww 200?-2011

My grand kitty Maggie was put to rest last week. Her kidneys decided to fail on her and there was nothing they could do for her.
When my daughter moved to Japan for a year we took care of her two cats, Maggie and Miss Kitty. Maggie was one of those cats that was not a people cat. She hated to be held, only wanted you to pet her when it was on her terms and did not sit on your lap. She wanted her water fresh from the bathtub faucet. She hardly ever purred, or if she did it was so low you could not hear it. Maggie was so tiny I don't think she even weight 5lbs? Put we loved her so much. Maggies greatest love was the laser light pointer she would chase it for hours. We are going to miss you little Maggie, Mags.


Journal Pages from a round robin journal group.



And some doodles.

01-11-11

Not sure anyone even stops by here anymore. I sure don't seem to.



Had such high hopes for the year 2010. But nothing really happened. My own fault. I am such a procrastinator and if I don't have a deadline I never seem to get anything done. Heck even with a deadline sometimes I seem to fall behind.
Didn't get as much painting done as I had hoped. I keep telling myself I will do better this year but will I?

Here are 3 new paintings I did do in 2010. All are small about 2.5 by 4 ish on wood.
And heres hoping that I keep it up and get some more done this year.

What I did on my Summer vacation.

August 14th and 15th we (my bff and daughter) drove to Issaquah Washington so that I could attend the Hand Forged Metal Journal Class from Tracy Moore.

This little beauty is made from cooper with leather spine and measures about 3x2. Turned out so cute.





Cooper 5x7 leather spine


And my dear sweet young pups. Dylan and Zen.

And Zen by herself.


The two of them keep us on our toes and drive the older dogs crazy.

ArtFest 2010 - Day 1 & 2 - Jesse Reno

Day 1: Jesse Reno



Day 2: Jesse Reno - Not completely finished.



And this I did last Friday at a friends house. We had so much fun working in this style. Not sure she is finished yet.

Happy Birthday Mama

Lonely Little House


Today is Mama’s birthday. She is 74 or 75 years old today, I don’t remember which and I know she doesn’t either. The fact is she doesn’t remember much of anything anymore. My Mom has Alzheimer’s.

I haven’t seen her in two years and she had no idea who I was then. We (my sister and brother) tell ourselves that is was probably a blessing that she got it, though we always feel guilty when we say it, my mother was not on a good path with her life and we were all afraid that she was going to drink, drive and kill someone. My mother also suffered from manic/depressive disorder or as they call it now bi-polar disorder. We all had volatile relationships with Mama, each of us in different ways. If you have ever seen the movie ‘Ya-Ya Sisterhood’ you would kind of know what our lives were like only worse. But I have come to terms with my childhood, my mother’s illness and our relationship as it was before she became ill.

But there are times when I truly truly miss her. Because as we all know along with the bad there is good. She always let us voice our own opinions and we would have some lively discussions. She loved to play games, card games, dice games and loved scrabble the most. So when we would go to visit, we would all sit around the table and play games for hours, laughing, talking and just having fun.

So today when I realized that it was April 13th and it was her birthday, I had to fight back the tears. I seem to be missing her more lately than ever before and wish like hell I could sit at the table with her one more time and just talk.

I am planning a trip over to Oregon later this year to see her and pick up some things of hers that my sister has been saving for me.

So Mama I love you and I miss you sometimes so much it hurts and I wish we could celebrate your birthday like we used to.

Happy Birthday Mama.

Back again with doodles and more artwork

All the below doodles are done on 2.5 x 2.5 yellow post-it notes. Some may become paintings in the future.







Our local visual art group has decided to do a 'circle journal'. You create a journal and each month we pass it on to the next artist (aka round robin). This was our first month and below is what I did in my co-chairperson's journal. She loves daschund's so has a nice long watercolor pad for her journal.



And here is Dylan in his 'cone of shame' and confined to his crate (which seems a little small for the cone and him). Last Sunday Dylan ate one sock to many and the tube sock got stuck. He has eaten 4-5 socks, dishclothes, potholders and also last Sunday ate Zen's brand new rope toy. He had always thrown the other items up or came out the other end with no problem but we knew it was a matter of time before something got him. We have tried so hard to keep things out of his reach but he is a BIG dog and always seems to find a way. We are going to have to be way better as we can not afford another vet bill like last weeks. Am so hoping he grows out of this.