I'm here, I'm here!

LOL! I have been busy but I am being creative! I wish I can get on the blogs more but work is so hectic this time of year. I am lucky enough to telecommute but I get nothing done! I have been able to squeeze something in the past few days.

I was lucky enough to get some calendar orders, yay! So i decied to typeset the months to give them a more polished look. I used a different typeface for each month. It felt like the righ thing to do. So I'll be using alot of my twine to pack these sets up:)

I'm also managing to do a little doodling here and there. Mostly during conference calls because its alot of listening. I listen better when I sketch and draw, don't know why but it works for me. As you can see I have the holidays on the brain, and who doesn't? I hate to admit this but I still have alot more to do. Thankfully I have a whole lot of free time on Saturday. That is when I finish up. I try not to stress, everything will be okay in the end :)

I did this painting a week or so ago and put it to the side in frustration and guess what? I discovered this going through my pile last night, picked it up and fell in love. Go figure. I bet this happens to alot of people..So I am calling this one "Discoveries" Hope everyone is having a great day and having fun along the way.

Humble ball of twine

I've journalled about my string:) It's been indispensible to me this holiday season !

So simple yet so vertisatile! Hope everyone's going to have a great Friday! One more week til vacation , woohoo:)

Take care and have a good day, a good evening, depending on where you reside.. all that good stuff to you !

My 2012 Calendar

Hopefully the people on my gift giving list are too busy to read my blog this holiday season because this weekend I created a calendar that will be their gift. YAY! I designed one for a gift swap we had last night at our Art (that matters) collective and in the middle of doing it figured out a way to do it faster. The one that I created for the exchange is the original art, as that was the critieria for the gift swap (which I understood). So, I am going to recreate and print the months off my color printer. I attached a few photos to show how the calendar for my artist gift recipient came out. I used an Ikea frame that is one of my favorites but I guess I could use any type frame. Maybe I will do that so that the gift is less generic..



March is my favorite.

There are more months you can view on my Flickr photostream

I had so much fun doing this and want to do a couple of other designs to mix it up some more, or perhaps change up the colors. I just feel relief that I know what I am going to do this year. I told some people they were getting homemade and I was racking my brain. I am still going to give some paintings as well. I love giving art as a gift! I also love getting art too! I received a terrific piece at the gift swap last night and will post that soon. My first gift of the season...its starting! Have a great day!



Scrapping Sunday

I was able to get some Christmas cards done this weekend:)

I worked on the pieces this week in between the raindrops so that made it so easy to assemble and add the extra touches this weekend.

The sparkles have been a challenge and I learned the hard way that I have to spray a fixative on them RIGHT AWAY. 

 Because handling them to chalk and glue leaves you open to messing them up! I use some lovely ribbon I got in a recent swap and, of course, used paper from my stash:)

 I have a few more to make....will see what more I can fit into this day.

  I've got more to do into the evening! I have to make a gift for our Art(that matters) holiday party.I hope everyone has a very happy Sunday!



Take Care II

I was a day late last week with my Take Care thought and glad to be on track today and linking up with Lynn's blog! I felt like there were so many moments for me this week but I would have to say that a little note I received today was my 'aha!'  for the week. I have just started trading some ATCs (little 2.5" x 3.5" works of art) with some terrific artists and I received a card today from April Cole. She sent me a wonderful little package of goodies along with the card. Most importantly she gave me a wonderful message and that is to always remember that "Art Heals". You have no idea how much I needed to be reminded of that.  I saw this just last night with my husband. He has been working so hard and gets so stressed out with work. When he got home last night I could tell he'd had it, work, long commute, you name it, was bugging him... Oh, he was so grumpy. However, he had to practice Christmas songs as he is in a group that is performing at their Christmas party next week. Well,  after singing and playing piano for five or six songs, a wonderfully happy man emerged. His art truly healed him that evening. It was just amazing how he transformed! My art does the same thing for me. It calms, me, takes me away from my troubles and lets me  s t e p  a w a y.

Thank you, April.

And I love my card!

 Two gifts.

Happy Friday!
Frannie

Paper Daze and White Lights

So I've put my brushes and pens down for a bit. Work is getting super busy now that the year is ending. Its hard to focus on being creative for long periods of time. Once upon a time I was a rabid scrapbooker and I am left with a huge box of papers and more ephemera to know what to do with. I can open a shop! I am seriously in love with paper and literally have to hold back when I see scrapbook paper or any other for that matter. I have been really pretty good these past few years with the paper hoarding..So during the holidays I try to make a few cards for people. I don't do everyone on my list but try to do ten or so.So I'm doing little things here and there. I take a quick 5 minute break and punch some snowflakes here, stamp and glitter reindeer there.  I broke down this past weekend and got this GREAT stamp and glitter kit at Michaels 50% off. So it worked out to be $10. A great deal right? Well then I discover shortly after that I won a scrapbooking basket at a church fair. It was an auction and I only put one ticket it! My scrapbook store grows!

My winning basket!

Once I've completed some  I'll post my cards here after I am done. I'll probably put some together tomorrow.
I did get one of my new ATCs in the mail. I swapped with jk bees and I love it!

thanks Janet!

I think the dots are terrific. They looks so great against the dark background, reminding me of lights. I saw lots of twinkling ones on my walk this evenig. My husband has been giving Einstein nightly walks for the past few weeks I do the mornings now...I took him for a walk tonight and it was cold but clear and beautiful. Everyone has their decorations up and on:) This time of year is so nice....

 

they're waiting:)

Good night!

FranT

More White On White...and then some!

Here are some photos of things I am trying out. I went to our ATM Collective meeting on Monday and there are a few more spots available for our White on White show next week. We have alot of work already but there is alot of wall space:) I am trying out another paper collage. I want to go bigger. I am so used to working at 4x6 or 5x7 sizes that when do something about 11x14 I think I am going really large (LOL) and, nope, I'm not! I gotta break free and go BIG! So I tried to fold some paper and cut some squiggly background. I am not certain this is what I will end up with but I am having fun!



on a white background



other shapes



 While looking through recent photos I realize that I have a bit of an affinity for white these days. Must be on the brain due to the show. Here are a few that I pulled up when I was picking out the others above!

Red Velvet cupcakes

Flowers at Adams

Frosty ;D

white tree, that I like and hate simultaneously

Gorgeous

the endless cup o' joe

Are you finding that you are drawn to one color lately , or maybe more often than that?

I was reading a favorite blog the other day and she posted all about red. That's what inspired me with posting my white photos, thanks Carol! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

A small lesson in ATCs and ACEOs

 





Some of my ATCs

 Frankly I have to got to Mr. Google to find out the exact differences between the two. I found a good description here. The bottom line is that ATCs (Art Trading Cards) are traded only, and the ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) are made to sell.  I have been spending the past few days swapping cards and having some fun. I was just telling another artist that I tend to make alot more art than I can "get rid" of. I like the idea of swapping! I really like to sell art but swapping is another kind of fun because I'm getting another work of art back. I'll post photos of the ones I receive..And I just wanted to post that if anyone is interested in trading I'll be glad to do so. Just check my flickr link here, that will take you to the Art Trading Card set I have. You can message me on flickr or here!
I went to visit a cousin this weekend about 3 hours north of where I live. I took my son and we went with my parents. It was great to see everyone and catch up on how family is doing. I was delighted to find out that my cousin's two older girls are so creative. The two of them are artists and very talented! The older girl paints in an expressiontist type of style and the younger girl likes making manga art. It was great to talk art with them.

Heather's art

On our way back home we stopped in at a local market called Adams. They had the most amazing garden center. I am so used to the badly kept HomeDepot center near my house I was taken aback by how beautiful and healthy their plants looked. The most fun was checking out the different poinsettias they have. I have to draw a few in the coming days. I have sort of relaxed abit after going full steam in November.

  

I am a little late with my 'Take Care' post too. I have to say I had a "Take Care" moment while visiting my family. It dawned on me while I was there that I need to put more priority on keeping in touch with family. They are my link to the past and its so important to tap into that every once in awhile. I had lived in another state for almost 7 years and I have been back for 2 years. And I realized that it had been about 10 years since I had seen my cousin Nancy. We always keep in touch by writing, emailing and calling. However getting to see her was so wonderful and why deprive myself of that? I don't do it intentionally but I find I do it alot. I put off seeing friends, family, because I am 'too busy'. So thank you Lynn for hosting this December linky and allowing me the ability to actually reflect upon this.



Little Jenny



Joe goofing around



My Aunt's handiwork - here is some of her beautiful cross-stitchery

Happy Sunday and have a good week everyone!

Fran

AEDM Day 30 - I did it!!

I can't believe I did it! I am so proud of myself :) I really didn't think I would be able to do AEDM for the entire month *wow*!
I create an illustration of  this quote as my last entry because its one of my favorites, because I love to illustrate quotes and it means alot to me. Most importantly because I find that I have been using my age more and more to avoid or make excuses to not do or try something, whether its new or scary or... whatever. It's all in my head - just words. This is a great reminder!

I am also so glad I did this challenge because I got to meet so many terrific people! I can't wait to see what everyone continues to do and I look forward to keeping up with all my new artist friends! I have already signed on with Lynn at Blue Skies to participate in her December Linky! You can go to the Blue Skies site and find out more. Here is a bit of info, but do visit Lynn!

When:

Every Friday in December.

(2, 9, 16, 23 and 30th)

Where:

Blueskies 

Every Friday for the month of December, (the 2, 9,16, 23 and 30th)

you can join in. Share your moment that you were able to "TAKE GOOD CARE OF."

Post it on your blog, link it to this Blue Skies and we can all encourage each other through the month.

Happy Holidays in December to everyone and I am looking forward to seeing all the art to come in December and in the new year! I hope people still keep visiting me and I love love love comments and conversing with you all! Bless your face ;))

Day 28 + 29 More Ink and Doggie Treats

 Double duty here at the end of the month! Work is pretty busy and creating artwork is




Moleskine sketch of Dog Biscuits

 taking a bit of a back seat for me these past few days, unfortunatley. I really would like to keep at creating at least once a day, after the challenge is over....we'll see:)  The art group I am in will keep things busy but I think that I can do even just a little something on a daily basis. I really ought to work on Etsy a bit more but I am pretty discouraged with my shop for the moment. I need to refresh!




Continuing with my color inks. I like this quote and have done it several times!



Through this challenge, I have met so many nice people who happen to be awfully good artists! I love jumping on and looking at all the terrific blogs. Off to look at some now!

AEDM Days 26 + 27 - INKYDINK

 On Saturday, Day 26, I visited Michaels and purchased these W/N Inks. I had a 50% coupon so I had to get them ;) To hell, with Christmas shopping! I tried them out last night and continued on this morning, Day 27. I tried using a brush as well as my calligraphy pens. They aren't too forgiving so  typical method of 'winging it' isn't working out as well as it usually does. LOL!



My attempt at using the inks like watercolor. They dry super fast! No chance for fooling around and pushing colors..






George Eliot quote

 








I love this Buddha quote... I just found it recently

 So this is the last day of the long weekend. We're going to run over to IKEA and then off to our friends' home to help them trim their tree. They are much organized than us. We're trying to remember where our tree is:) Last year we had a real one but this year I'm going to stick with our lovely artifical tree. It really is so lifelike and easy! Have a wonderful day and happy Day 27!