Happy St. Valentine's Day suckers.

So St. Valentine's Day isn't anywhere near a favorite holiday for me, but I do have this really cute guy in my life... we'll call him "Cupid" and he is making my Valentine's Days better each year. I love you my little "Cupid"!

Hope your Valentine's Day has been better than mine.

My Funny Valentine and a Giveaway Teaser

My husband didn't forget me on Valentine's Day like he has in the past. I've now grown smart to remind him by point blank asking him if he's got me a card yet a few days before. But the flower was a surprise. I had told him to not get me flowers because they cost a lot of money and though I love them, they just don't fit in the budget right now. While this kinda looks like he bought this single stem at a gas station, I'm not complaining. It is beautiful none the less. I made him a peach pie and it is almost gone, so I guess he liked it.

I had Asher try to contribute to his Valentine's for classmates and teachers but his attention span was won out by a video game so I ended up doing most but he did make this for his teacher.

all him! I just folded it.

inside with his signature and his drawn hearts (I helped a tiny bit with the hearts)

I'm so proud! But then when I picked him up from Pre-School he told me he had forgotten to even get any of the Valentine's out of his backpack!!!! Jeeeesh. Well, I look like the big loser mom who doesn't do anything now don't I? I told him a few times "your valentine's are in the bag" and I even showed it to him before I dropped him off! His response was I forgot. How could he forget as he was happily scooping up all of the Valentine's for himself???? Good grief.

In other and in the category of fantastic news.... I've won a give away at Jen's art blog Trial and Error! I am so excited! It is an art book called Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed Media Artists by Ann Baldwin. I'll post more about it when I receive the package. Jennifer Williams is the owner of Blueskysunburn Creations, and her blog touches on what’s happening in the studio, upcoming shows, book reviews, movies, family life and more. I've been reading her blog for a while now and she is a great artist and as a plus, she's had a lot of giveaways. I'm so happy to have won one :)


OWOH is almost over. I can't believe how fast it's gone by. I have met so many great people and am now following quite a few new blogs. Which reminds me... Welcome! to any new friends I've got now reading this! I'm not sure how I'll keep up with everything, but it's going to be fun to try. I am so revived creatively from seeing all the talent out there. I'm also loving all the tutorials out there. I'm always amazed at how so many are willing to share their techniques and ideas. Just a bunch of giving and sharing people. 


So in keeping with that sharing spirit I will be announcing another giveaway of my own after the door prize giveaways for OWOH which is February 17th (Just this Thursday!). Stay tuned to learn more about it :)

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

Did you make your Christmas Wish?

I always make a secret Christmas wish on Christmas Eve. Usually around 3 in the morning while I'm still wrapping presents. This year, I'm wishing to not be such a procrastinator. Ha Ha, we'll see.

Here are some pictures from Asher's very first school program, the Christmas Program. It was so cute hearing all their songs and seeing their performance. What big voices from tiny little mouths! They were all little elves. I volunteered at the school to help make the hats and made about 12 of them or so. They ended up looking like shower caps, but still darling. Each child picked out their tissue paper color and tinsel for the rim. They were so proud. I was in the front row and Asher was having a great time as you can see from the pictures.

Asher laughing and enjoying himself

Preschoolers and Kindergardeners together

Me and my little Elf

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and took a moment to remember why we celebrate that beautiful day. I believe Jesus was born the Son of God and He is my Lord and Savior. What ever you believe, I think most people take comfort in knowing a Higher Power and He is mine. Bless you all.

Christmas Decor tour

Welcome to our Christmas Home Tour!

I've got lots of pictures, so I'll try to keep it short and sweet.

Our Christmas tree, as you may know, didn't get it's usual decadent treatment this year due to the kittens and Asher. It's a pitiful little thing but it does have some ornaments that we've made together to liven it up that I'm sure I'll treasure down the line if they make it past this year! Ha ha...

Let the embarrassment begin.

Poor crushed tree

Our tree started out looking nice and fluffed up. For about a hour. He started to put the cats in it and just flattened it and then the lights started getting pulled every which way so I gave up. That's when I came up with the home made ornament idea and thought I'd dress up other areas of the house that I'm going to show you :)

Star cut out by me and glitter by Asher.

Ornament shape

Star topper

Here's what I've got scattered around the living room, dining room and entry.
So when you enter my home the first thing you see is our staircase and my old upright grand piano all decked out with shiny tinsel.

Stairs that lead to my studio to the right

An angel that my mom gave me. I'm afraid to add her to the top of tree so I added her here

I like the white from this magnolia. I wish I had bought more last year when they were marked down so cheap.  I may do more white in the coming years because my house is so dark.

As you turn left, you enter the living room and see the fireplace glowing with my poinsettia garland that I added twinkle lights to.

and the stockings all hung from the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicolas soon would be there

I like this the best I think, the fireplace with this garland.

So as you walk towards the dining room, the stairs to the basement gets gussied up with a wreath.

Here's my snowmen gourds! Yes, I kept them ;^) I normally have my grandmothers very old nativity set here, but thought it best not to get it out with the kittens jumping up and playing with everything.

Snowmen gourds

And here is a print out of all these pictures I took of Asher during his first Christmas. I keep meaning to find a cute frame for it to display better, but I just have it leaned up in this area for now. He was 9 months old. Oh, how cute!

Look at that toothless grin!

So here is the same hat, same kid... only here he is 4 and three quarters! My how time flies!

With the twins...

Asher, Lightning (L) and Thunder (R)

Finally with Zoey...

Buddies

So I tried to get cute and put the hat on the dog, but she just wanted to chew on it and now it stinks like dog. Thank goodness for Febreeze.

That's about it. Notice there are no presents under the tree because Santa hasn't come yet. At the rate Asher is going he may find out what a lump of coal is this year. Sorry this turned out to be longer than I intended but I felt you all needed the details of the tour... hee hee

Merry Christmas to you all my friends!

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

Snowmen Gourds!

White Snowgourd

Here are the cute little snowmen I told you about Sunday. Aren't they the cutest little guys?! Oh I wish I could take the credit for these. They are made from gourds! I bought these from a super nice gal, Lori Allen, of Carmi Illinois. She was at Christmas in New Harmony and I hope she did well. Her pieces were all so nice. These snowmen accommodate a battery powered tea light to light them from within and they are level on the bottom to stand up perfectly. She carves out designs on them and also has some that she wood burns on. See her website www.gourdsbylori.com for more of her designs. She also makes bowls, baskets, vases, birdhouses and more!

Snowgourd buddies

Adorable!

I originally bought one for me and one for a "dirty Santa" gift, but they look so cute together that I think I'm keeping them both for myself! I know, I'm a grinch for keeping all the presents. I'll find something else, this time maybe I ought to buy something I don't like... haha yeah right.

Oh, if you don't know the "Dirty Santa" gift exchange, here's how we do it: Each person buys a gift appropriate to their gender and wraps it up pretty and it goes under the tree without a tag other than it's for a male or female. We take turns opening up the gift, boy girl, boy girl style. When the first girl opens a gift she keeps it by her until the next girl's turn. When it's the next girls turn, she can open up a gift, or she can go "steal" the already open gift from the other girl, then that girl gets to pick another unopened gift. It's a lotta laughs. Last year we had a downright feud going for a red leather purse!

Kitty Update! The little beasts are still inside... I've had to bite my lip a few times. I'm still having some poop issues here and there and I found my mop bucket full of pee the other day. I'm still giving them a chance, who wouldn't? Look how cute they are. And it's sooooooo cold outside. I'm such a sucker.

Asher and Thunder, both happy

Ready to roll