Worried

Worried. That's how I feel today. Not because of big, important things like the world situation. There is not much I can do about that. I am worried about my own little virtual world. I stopped listing on eBay a month ago and now I am scared to start again. Did everybody forget me? Will they find me? Will I be able to produce art to have listings on all the time? Will my listings be interesting? What is it that I want to do?
So many questions... I have many ideas floating around my head but for some reason find it easier to torture myself with questions than to work on them...

Illustration Friday - Match

For some reason I don't take Illo Friday as seriously as I used to do. I keep thinking of completely silly things... Maybe that's good. It's fun and relaxing and the only crazy part is that I decide to share it with the world...
I had no idea what to do with the theme "Match" this week so it became a family thing. My daughter didn't have a problem at all. In a matter of minutes she created an illustration that you can see if you click HERE.
My husband didn't even lift his head from the computer - he just "illustrated" it in two seconds. Then he said that if I add the word 'perfect' in front of 'match' I could draw the two of us... I thought it was sweet so that's what I did. How realistic, isn't it?

An endless river...

My pages are done and I feel so much better now. I am even quite pleased with how they turned out... Thank you for the comments. They help my confidence so much! Hugs to you all!

My first Fat Book

I received the confirmation package for Art & Soul retreat. It came in a shape of a paper bag art book (filled with pockets, ephemera, useful information and fun stuff). How fun! So, it is official.... I'm going! I'm trying not to think about the fact that I am supposed to create in an environment of creative people... It's not real creating, but learning. Right?





Here is a list of classes I chose:
Wednesday/Thursday - Stick & Stones (Nina Bagley)
Thursday evening - Papyrus Book (Dan Essig)
Friday - Luminous Collaging Techniques (Phoenix Forrester)
Friday evening - Family Portrait (Carla Sonheim)

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Up till now I avoided any form of collaborative work. I do participate in swaps but worry too much how my work will be received. It is easier to sell it - people choose what they like... Well, there is a first for everything. I decided to join the "Streets of Paris" fat book swap because I really, really wanted to own one of those books. And I have been agonizing about my page for weeks now. I don't remember that I ever had a lack of inspiration like now... I was in panic panic panic mode. Eventually, I had to start working because the deadline is close. This is what I came up with:

Will it be good enough? Does it need more embellishments? Which ones? Where? YIKES!

I didn't even know that these kinds of books had work on the back of the page also! We were supposed to create something like a vintage Parisian postcard written to ourselves. I think I did that right (and it was fun to do). The picture doesn't show it well... there are more discolorations, water splashes and other 'aged' elements.

Well, good or bad - that's it. All I need to do now is to laser print 64 copies, trim, score, glue and embellish them. I will be so happy when I receive the finished book! I can't wait!

My best art

This is my son, ready to pick up his girlfriend from the airport. They have been dating a little over a year. She was gone just a few days and he had to create this pink-hearted banner. Oh, young love and sweet emotions!

And here is Hana, enjoying a quiet moment on a piece of wood that drifted on our beach.



The two of them - my best art!

Hello! I'm back!

Hello! I just returned from the amazing Smoky Mountains. This was my first visit and I was overwhelmed by the unbelievable views.

I must admit that I didn't miss my computer and internet as I thought I would. Don't get me wrong - I can hardly wait to check what I missed on my friends' blogs... but there were so many other things to do that I really, truly didn't miss it.

We had a great time doing fun things like:

• hiking in the forest:

• splashing in the pool:

• exploring fascinating creatures:

• creating fun hair styles (my sister's handy work):

• visiting the aquarium (these were our favorite creatures)

• doing many crafty activities:
• making silly faces:

playing with beautiful birds:

• and eating ice creams with cherries on top.

And yes - it was very sweet and fun and busy, but to keep things real - spending two weeks with three girls can get challenging. There were times when the "that's not fair" "mommy mommy" "I'm hungry" and etc. were a bit too much. Here is one of my journal entries to prove it. Can you see the three gremlins?

Bye-bye

I am leaving tonight for South Carolina to visit my sister. I haven't seen her in over two 1/2 years so I'm very excited. This is a photo from that last visit.... the girls are so much bigger now. We exchange photos all the time but it is different when you get to really see someone... My daughter is traveling with me so expect a similar, but updated photo two weeks from now.
I miss my husband and son already... So silly. Two weeks will pass in a blink of an eye, but my DH and I are acting as two teenagers in love... having a difficult time getting apart.
Other than that... I was panicking about not doing art, so I prepared a traveling pack that should keep me occupied. Here you see what is packed and ready to go with me: watercolors and the lovely water brush, watercolor pencils, graphite pencils and stuff for drawing, gel pens and such, the little blue cutting tool. I added a little glue and all of that fit nicely in the little red bag.

I printed questions from "Art & Life" magazine that should help for setting goals... and they are in the back envelope of my new moleskin. There is also another moleskin to journal and draw and glue in and a sketchbook where I'm allowed to make horrible sketches and laugh about them.

I feel like a child. I used to pack things like that when my children were little.

Have a wonderful August!
Bye-bye