Goodbye 2010 and new Treasury

Today marks another year gone by. Can you believe it? I've been thinking of things that I want to do or change for my life and self in 2011 much like New Year's Resolutions but not so rigid. Of course lose weight is in there... ugh. But more importantly I'm still trying to figure out just who I am. Still at 40, ha ha... Who am I? Who am I as a mother? Who am I as a woman, wife, daughter? Who am I as a friend? Who am I as an artist?

I intend to explore the last one in great detail this new year. I feel I am at a crossroads with my artwork. I am not satisfied with much of what I've created and feel I haven't really been creating from my heart. What I really want to create. It is easy to get caught up in trying to guess what will be well received and therefore purchased and all the while lose what it was I was trying to convey with my art and get out what I was truly feeling when I started to create it.

Maybe fear has been interfering with the process as well. Fear of letting someone down with what might come out on paper or canvas. My fear that I'm not good enough, which I'm sure plagues lots of us. Fear of just getting it started and a big one for me, fear of it not turning out as I envision it and letting myself down.

A creative opportunity has presented itself to me as of late and I'm waiting to find out more but I have high hopes and it has renewed my creative spirit which is great even if this opportunity doesn't pan out.

I really enjoy keeping up my blog with tidbits from my life and art and I love it that you peek in and occasionally comment. I so enjoy reading about my online friends too and find great inspiration from all of you. May this new year be the greatest year of our lives so far!

Oh and quickly, one of my greeting cards with my photography has been included in a pretty Collection on Artfire. I also have this card in my GeeJayCreations Etsy shop.

An Artfire Collection

Be safe my friends. Let us not forget the past, but look brightly towards the future. Happy New Year!

"This Artists Observations of the Day"

Feeling of the day: Happy and looking forward to a new year!

I'm lovin': getting some snacks ready for a party tonight with good friends

My view: my son watching cartoons

I thought about today: my mom and how her life shaped mine

I miss: sharing talks with my mom

Best thing I did today: sleep until I woke up!

Today I visited: Leah over at Creative Every Day

Test your color vision!

I read this on another person's blog and wanted to test my own hue distinguishing ability with a Color Challenge. I was amazed to have scored a 4, especially since I had barely been awake for a hour! haha  The lower the score the better.

So go test yours, it will take about 10 minutes. They said women are much better at distinguishing the hues than women. Well, yeah! We always notice more things! ;)

go take your test here http://www.xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?PageID=77

here's my results:

"This Artists Observations of the Day"

Feeling of the day: stressed - I'm not ready for Christmas, it's almost here and I'm not ready!

I'm lovin': that song for Target's Christmas commercial Is It Time Yet? I can't Wait

I am wearing: my purple robe, still ;)

I thought about today: the list of a million things to do and there was ice storm last light and the roads are horrible!

I miss: homegrown summer tomatoes and watermelon!

Best thing I did today: take a color test, made me feel that I can do something pretty good!

Today I visited: ArtsyShark find - Yasmin Bseio's Artwork

Making kitty proof ornaments for our Christmas Tree

Star for top of Christmas Tree

Here are some pictures from our ornament making session last night. There was a lot of blood, sweat, tears and glitter glue. The star he's working on is for the top of the tree. We are in my very cramped studio. I still haven't gotten the larger room ready to turn into a studio. Actually, I'm taking over the whole upstairs and keeping this yellow room I'm going to call my "Drawing Studio" because I have a drafting table in it that was my dad's. I'll use the other room for mixed media maybe. I'm not sure yet. I don't know yet if it will even work, but we'll see. See my studio pictures here.

apparently it needed more glitter

Tada!

Well it got ugly before it ended but that's life with a four year old. He's in time out as I write this... haha...

We made more ornaments today and used yet even more glitter and put up the ornaments that had dried from last night. They won't win any contests but we had fun and the memories will last a lifetime, but the ornaments may not last the season with the kittens. I'll just have to take more pictures.

I thought no better the day to start this back up again. It may be sporadic, but oh well, it's here today :)

"This Artists Observations of the Day"

Feeling of the day: relieved (I don't have to get out in the cold!)

I'm grateful for: glitter glue

I am wearing: purple and blue

I thought about today: things I can do once the holidays are over (sheepish grin)

I miss: carefree living

Best thing I did today: Put up ornaments on Christmas tree that we made together

Today I visited: ArtsyShark - Own your identity as an artist

Pizza Yum Yums

I thought I'd share with you my girlfriends concoction I am gonna call Pizza Yum Yums. They are nothing more than french bread cut into about 2" slices with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni (I used turkey pepperoni) on top. Pop them under the broiler and voila! Pizza Yum Yums!

I have been revamping my art studio these past few days. I've got myself a nice U-shaped work area going and hope I can make it up there more often and get back to creating some things. I'm even including a place for my son (3 1/2 year old) to color and hopefully allow me to continue working!

I love to find new art blogs and I've found quite a few good ones lately. See them under my "Inspiration" list. I learn blogging techniques from them and get stimulated to create which is really helpful lately. I do more creating in my head these days than anything else and I'd like to change that.

I'm hoping to see the Central High School craft show tomorrow to see what kind of handmade goodies made by the local folks I can find. I haven't even thought about Christmas shopping yet and maybe this will spur me on.

Now to start something new that I saw on one of the great new art blogs I was telling you about (L. Gruger), I give you my version:

"This Artists Observations of the Day"

Feeling of the day: hopeful

I'm grateful for: pre-made cookie dough

I am wearing: purple and blue

I thought about today: my mom

I miss: Wink (a sparkling drink) and my mom, of course

Best thing I did today: Play frisbee with Asher

Today I visited: http://www.etsy.com/shop/paintallnightstudios