Summer Activities

Lina's Bench
After

Trying My Hand at Chalk Paint

Lina's Bench before
$5.00 at a garage Sale

Lexi's Slipper Chair slipcovered

Hand Sewn Journals
Bookbinding

New Computer

I always buy Dell computers.  That is not the learning curve.  Windows 8 is the learning curve.  I have had XP for years and I learned easier, younger!  Oh well, I have had it less than a day and I am learning it. Maybe not learning but getting used to it.  I bought the Inspiron 15 and I do love the num pad.  the screen is wider but shorter so all of my keys are at a different place.

The old computer was full of photos so I am hoping I get get them off before the big crash!

A Great Creative Day with My Granddaughters

Such a Great Day!  I spent the day with my granddaughters, and we created.  Here are Lina's creations.

Old weathered wood, turned into a beautiful wall hanging

 Baseballs!  So Cute!

An old clock turned decorative and modern 

Ahhhhh!

And...Lexi's Creations

A remodeled Vintage Suitcase!  So Cute!  She also made two other projects but they are gifts so Shhhhh!

What A summer!

In an effort to spruce up our Westerville home, we had a new cement (why does that remind me of a "cement Pond" from the Beverly Hillbillies?) driveway installed  Jim fixed the ceiling in our kitchen.  We had a wall taken down between the family room and dining room.  Jim built in cupboards (a gift from our son)and counters in my art room.  We contacted to have an in ground pool installed.  My son John and Jim rebuilt the falling down shed.

The wall with the mirror is now gone!

Jim supervising the cement driveway

Cement truck

Newly decorated shed

My art room.  I love it!

You will notice that there are no pictures of our pool!  We contracted in May and we still have not broken ground!  20 straight days of rain and more rain and more rain!  It turns out that pools can not be dug in the rain according to our contractor.

Journaling

Ever since I went to the Danny Gregory weekend I have been drawing.  I know it seems simple but he gave me permission to not do it perfectly, to draw for me, and have fun.

I always thought I wanted to put a bit of "me" in my watercolors and now I think I know what that means.

Of all the things I love to do with my time, sewing/quilting is one of my favorite things to do.

Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Sum, Summertime

 I do love Summertime!  My plants are thriving (so far) and my veggies are coming on.  My herb Garden is "as tall as an elephant's eye and it looks like they are climbing right up to the sky"  The yellow tomato is in a pot and seems to like it there.

The   Better Boys and Early Girls are in the raised beds and doing great. The plant that was supposed to be English Cucumbers looks like it just may be Zucchini.  Oh well, I like Zucchini too.

This gorgeous Lily bloomed yesterday.  We have three of them and I love the color.  This just might call for a painting.

The Knockout rose bushes were new last year.  I bought them at Aldis.

All planting and loving care comes from my dear husband, Jim.  My back won't allow me to dig so I just enjoy.  Observe 75% of my time, draw 25% according to Danny Gregory.

Me and My Green Chair

I remember swinging my legs after I jumped up in a chair,  I don't do that anymore but I do have a green chair.   I have been criticized for being too honest and open and I know that there is a price to pay for that.  Now that I finally have a voice and now that I know myself pretty well, I take that risk.  NAKED!

Onward and Upward with my Illustrated Journal

 Sometimes, when my pages are messy, I remember that the pages  reflect me and sometimes I am messy!

I was small when we lived on the farm and that times holds good memories for me.  I felt a sense of freedom back then.  We moved into town, my Mother remarried, and my life changed.  When I want to feel small and happy, I think of the farm.

Traditional Spaces by Toronto Photographers Andrew Snow Photography

I love these wings and I have them and didn't know what to do with them.  Mine are carved wood and now all I have to do is figure out the rest.  WooHoo

My First Handmade Journal

 This was so fun and fast to make.  I followed a Utube clip on Coptic stitching and  TaDa.  On to another one!

Weekend in Rowe Mass with Danny Gregory Woot Woot

This is a weekend I will never forget.  I have been drawing ever since.

The Beginnings of My Journal-Drawings and Words

The Lake at Rowe.  I really enjoyed drawing and painting out in the open air.  It's not perfect but I enjoyed it and that's what's important. I have been given "The Creative License" by Danny Gregory.  I already had the book but now I believe that whatever I draw is OK.  Believe it or not, I own 4 of Danny's books and have only looked at the drawings.  I did not slow down enough to read the words.  Now I am drawing and reading and found "The Creative License" invaluable.

I love to create in so many ways that some days I get nothing done.  Draw, paint, hook wool rugs, sew, quilt, and cook/bake.  It's time to start drawing my creations.

This is supposed to be a Canadian Goose and it turned out a duck!

I used to have trees like that!  They split in the snow.  This is the Rowe Post Office.

Since I love to eat, I have discovered that I like to draw food.

The leg on that table is unique!  The chair was try and try again.

Drawing with Danny Gregory

The Old Stone Church

On May 31, we traveled to Massachusetts to a drawing weekend with Danny Gregory.  Jim and I took turns driving , stopped at Niagara Falls for the night, stayed at Howard Johnson's, got my  Kindle stolen, arrived at Rowe Conference Center and jump kicked my drawing with Danny Gregory!  Drawings to follow.

 

Our Napkins

Ok, let's talk about the napkins.  Isn't it funny what each of us remember different things about an experience.  We saved our cloth napkins, put them in a cubby with our name on it, (I was Joyous, I think) and used the same one every meal.  A little weird to me but maybe I have a lot to learn about conservation.  I will keep an open mind.

Danny and JJ

 

 I believe that Danny Gregory is exactly the man you thought he was.  Kind, generous, and very talented.  I have always thought that I overexpose who I am but I feel like Danny gives me permission to say it like it is or who I am.  JJ is Danny's friend and she is lovely and generous too.  They are both very real and I am happy for Danny.

The Post Office

Phone Booth, Are we in England?

Dew on the leaves, beautiful!

The waterfall

Did I tell you that I love Barns?  I took this photo from the car window.

The bridge to our Cabin