ABC Wednesday - B and C

It is time once again for ABC Wednesday. I missed "B" last week as marking and  report cards took most of my time.
So, today I am combining both letters. They both develop out of the :

Brayer - which led to Colour and collage  on cards

A brayer is used to spread paint on a surface. I have been using a gelli plate lately and used the brayer to spread 2 different colours on the plate. Then stencils were placed on the platetto imprint a design. A paper was then laid down on top of the paint surface. The design was picked up.

Here are a couple of papers done:

From the papers I cut some ATC size cards for backgrounds to create some collage cards.

Be sure to check out how others have approached "C" this week here.

Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

This past week I have actually had a bit of creative fun, even though I have been doing lots of marking and working on report cards. I needed that art break a lot this week.

Joy Cards
I had fun creating some more joy cards:

(The backgrounds were all from gelli prints I made Friday night. See here for the gelli plate fun I had.)

Winter Blogathon Bash

I can't believe I am blogging a third time today! (a first!)  I just discoverd Kathleen Garger's "Winter Blogathon Bash". Sounds interesting and something I can definitely benefit from.

The goal is to work on your blog over this long weekend. It is also a chance to meet others - always a fun prospect.

Here are my intended goals: ( I may not accomplish them all this weekend, but they are goals I intend to pursue until they are done!)

1. Write up some blog posts and schedule them

     I missed ABC Wednesday last week as I was so busy, but I want

     to contiue taking part. Scheduling makes sense.

2.  Add music

     I have tried twice and both times I was not able to complete the

     transfer.

3. Brainstorm ideas for my blog

     Ongoing

4. Post pinterest

     I have already signed up but haven't posted a button ore even   

     to my boards.

5. Backup blog

6. Start an e-book

7. Add a Goodreads shelf

    I have tried this last week and it just wouldn't transfer. Must

    be missing sopmething!

8. Work on my other blog - "A Mother's Makeover"
     Lots to do there - wordpress is a challenge! (3 posts done -    lots  to go)

I am sure there are other things I could do, but will work on these first.

Join in the fun here.

Shadow Shot Sunday

This morning the sun was shining so bright, after days of cloudy, bitterly cold days. It was so cold this week that the children were kept in for recesses most days.

But there were shadows to be found this morning and I captured a few.

This is the walkway at the back of our house and I liked the shadows there as I stood on our enclosed porch.

I wanted to get the fence but realized my shadow was a good contrast to it.

Be sure to check out the shadows from around the world here.

Gelli Plate Fun

Tonight I am still recouping from a looong ride home - a 25 min. drive from school to home, took me 45 nerve-racking minutes. Most of the drive home was not over 40-50 kmph. The roads were slick with snow and luckily, people were sensible and drove slowly.

But after supper, I needed art. I grabbed some new stencils I just bought

and had fun with my gelli plate.

Just laying on the paint and trying different effects.

Here are several of my favourites

If you haven't tried this, you really have. There are many videos on line to explore the how-tos.
Carolyn Dube offers some great ones.


Linking today with:

In the Studio: Sneak Peak Friday

Paint party Friday

Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

During the past week I found my Project 365. I knew I wanted to be more creative and try to create daily. But many times, daily art is just not possible. But that's okay, because there are many ways to be creative and as long as I can be extra creative on the weekend, I can still amass 365 things.

Lost Coast Post has an excellent article on how to start a 365 project..

While searching for some papers, I came across a box of my husband's old business cards - well over 400 of them! Perfect for a year's worth of collaging. So my project began.
This month I have been creating "JOY" cards and having fun with them.

Then I created some with joy quotes:

These are a bit smaller than an ATC, so very manageable to work on, even daily  if possible.

Finding JOY
One of the fun spots this week was finding a new background picture for my computer. As soon as I saw it I laughed and every time it appears it makes me smile. I took this several years ago when we saw the Holiday Train when it stopped in Cambridge. This was a person dressed up handing out treats to the children.

May you find joy in the simple things this week.

Shadow Shot Sunday

What strange weather this past week. Spring weather last weekend with all the snow disappearing and then to freezing weather the past few days with more snow. Then this morning plus weather and the snow melting.

When the sun peeked out from behind clouds this morning, I got a few shadows:

Be sure to check out shadows from around the world here. I never tire of looking for shadows - they are often the first thing I notice!

ABC Wednesday

Round 12 of ABC Wednesday begins this week. I did not take part in Round 11 but am eager to join in once again.
The theme I've chosen for this year is once again an art theme. I will create an ATC in a style or using a medium associated with the letter of the week.

A is for ATCs

ATCs are Art Trading cards and are a fun exchange of cards (sized 2 1/2" x 3 1/2 ") with people from all over the world.
One site for trading cards is at ATCs for All. All mediums and themes are offered. I have just finished hosting 2 swaps:
Christmas Zentangles and Christmas K.I.S.S.
Once you choose a theme, you create 3 cards in that theme, in the posted medium. Then you send these cards (and usually one to the host) with postage. Once the deadline is reached, the cards are then swapped by the host and you will receive 3 cards from 3 different artists.
Lots of fun, a way to meet others and make art!

Here are some of my favourite sets I have created:

                            Sunflowers

               APC (Art Playing Cards)
              Vintage ladies

         
                   Zentangles

Be sure to check out all the ways A is celebrated around the world here.

Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

I decided I finally needed a header for my weekly summary. ( First attempt - will have a final version for next week).

Writing
This past week I spent more time writing:

I had a letter to the editor of the Toronto Star published.  I write way more letters  than I submit.but the issue of "Idle No More" and the hunger strike of Chief Spence has really bothered me. These letters help me to blow off some steam.

I wrote several letters re the teacher protest in Ontario. Those were fun to do! At least we did not have to protest on Friday.

I wrote a post for Jennifer of Studio JRU. She is doing a whole series in February of  " love stories only God could have written'. It was such a joy to write (and remember).

I am still working on my picture book,  hoping to finish editing it and then to submit it by the end of the month.

I am also working on starting up my new blog "A Mother's Makeover".  I am slowly learning wordpress - not as easy as I though it would be.  But I have been making headway with my makeover journey. The first week has seen just over a 2 pound loss.

ATCs

I have worked on a couple of ATC swaps this week as well, although I only scanned one set before sending the sets off.

Finding JOY
I have decided to add a little section about where and how I am finding joy each week.
It is always surprising that when you choose a word, it has a way of popping up in the most unlikely places. I find it often when I am reading.

I was swapping out a swap that I hd  held called the Christmas Zentangles., and one of the cards created by one of the artists, Shawn,  said JOY.  I was to choose one card as a hostess gift and guess which one I chose? It is lovely.

 Each night I list several things that I have been thankful for each day. This gratitude list really does help to see the joy in each day.  Ann Voskamp of "A Holy Experience" wrote an amazing book called "A Thousand Gifts". On her blog each Monday , bloggers share their gifts each week.

Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

                                                                    Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up


While visiting Daisy Yellow today, the quote that introduced her post was so bang on.

“It's not hard to decide what you want your life to be about. What's hard, she said, is figuring out what you're willing to give up in order to do the things you really care about.”
Shauna Niequist

I know that I could accomplish so much more. But, I get caught up online or watching a show I'm just lukewarm about or other time-wasters.

I chose for my word of the year "JOY" and part of its power may be to force me to face my time-wasting and concentrate more on what brings me joy - art and writing.

At Daisy Yellow, i Hanna and Creative Every Day, the goal is to choose a habit of creating every day - whether it is collages, painting, drawing, or photography. I am following their lead. I want to create daily - even if it is only  a sketch or taking a photo.

Here is an excellent article by Anne Lamott on creating the rich life you deserve - "Time Lost and Found".

I am already on the way with creating daily. Here are some of my pieces:

Visionboard

Joy

 

I am taking part in 12 x 12 - with the goal of writing 12 picture picture books by the end of the year. I have already written one and began another. I am so looking forward to this journey.

I am also starting a new blog "A Mother's Makeover" I turn 61 tomorrow and I am so tired of being tired, overweight and in pain. I really have to do something! I have tried here to start 100 days to better health, to walk more, eat better. But without much success. 2013 is going to be different. My son and daughter are helping in this journey and I should have the blog ready by next weekend. Wish me luck.

Wishing everyone a blessed New Year filled with               creativity!

Shadow Shot Sunday

As I went around today and yesterday looking for shadows, I captured these prints (they were actually only about 3 to 3 inches long).  Raccoon?

 This is a shot of the jockey we usually have at the front of the house holding a big container of flowers. Loved the shadow he created.

Our hedge of cedars creates these wonderful lacy shadows throughout the winter.

Be sure to check out all the shadows from around the world here.

Inspired by Joy

The choosing of my one word for 2013 was an easy one. And since then, that word has sprung up everywhere now.
It has inspired me to complete 3 art projects in the past 3 days:

1. My word for the sidebar

2. The word highlighted in many ways:

And3 , a vision board for the winter months.

The snowflakes came from our Christmas crackers - i saved them because I loved them.  While looking at my Fall tree of intentions, the idea of using the snowflakes just fit. I  then brainstormed goals to achieve in  the 5 areas of my life:


Creative

Health

Spiritual

Carer/Intellectual

Social

My word and my vision board will helpguide me through the next few months.