art revisited

Ellie got some new art supplies for Christmas.  I asked if I could have some water color paper and some of her paints.  I just wanted to try it and see if I could remember how to paint with water colors.  Its been a long time (15 years) since I last tried.  This is my first attempts.  I can totally tell I am out of practice but if she will continue to share her supplies maybe I will work on it some more.

I do love art it is very calming to just sit with a brush and paint.  To me its like music on paper with colors. Now only to carve out that time to do this fun stuff. 

cheap idea

I saw something similar to this in a magazine and thought, "what a cute idea" So I looked it up online to see how much the fish were.  $15 for one sheet = 5 fish.  that was a little too much for me.  Okay I'm super cheap so it was a lot too much. I have a hard time spending money on a place thats not mine so I had a brilliant idea.  I could just of get contact paper and spray it the color I want, then cut out the fish with a template.  So the whole project cost me around $10. not bad for an entire wall of fish, and the boy just love em.

Teacher gifts

Two days before school was out I realized that I didn't get the teacher gifts yet. This last month has been so hectic but what month isn't hectic. I have just been so overwhelmed with the move to Utah that it seems to be all consuming. Thank goodness for family fun magazine. As I was sifting through I came across these little beauties. Of course I can't do anything without altering it for my own style but I think they still turned out cute. They were so easy. I used scrapbook paper and crayons. For the writing paper I printed it off from the internet on cardstock. Glued it all together and put them in shadow boxes. The teachers absolutely loved them. Ms. Howell said it was the best gift a 1st grader ever gave her. So I guess it was worth staying up until 1 in the morning to finish them. It just happened to be one of those days where I was going going going. At 10pm Scott said "sit down woman and take a break! You are so tightly wound your hair is all frizzy."
(In my defense my hair was frizzy because it has been super humid) But he was right. I feel like I am wind up toy that keeps getting their key turned. I have so much to do that I can't rest. even though I know if I did rest I would be more efficient. Its an awful cycle. I go to bed in the wee hours of the morning, I don't sleep well because I'm stressed and then I wake up at 6am. Isn't this supposed to be summer break where you sleep in and enjoy the sunshine? Oh right that's just for kids.

Busy

My creative juices have been tapped out this week. I feel like I have been rushing, rushing, rushing. Here is what I 've been up to. My friend just bought a new house and asked me to do some paintings for her bedroom. She was doing the room in toile and asked me to paint something that went with the tolie fabric she had. Here is what I came up with. There is actually a third piece that goes on the other side of the couple picture but I forgot to take a picture of that one.


I first started out with some buildings, but for some reason it was not turning out the way I wanted it to. So I gave up on that and went with more organic forms. These were much easier to do. It just feels better for me to do natural things because of the flow. I think my problem with architecture is that you should use math to get the forced perspective just right and I would rather just let the paint brush do its thing.

Next item on my list this week was Mothers Day. I was just wracking my brain trying to come up with what to get my mom. After much stressing this is what I came up with. . . I sent her this poem

For Mothers Day I want to give you

something that I know You'll love

It includes sand from pristine beaches

and warm sunshine from up above

A fresh fruit smoothie in your hand

while sun tanned toes

play in the sand

and on your face the breeze will blow

but sadly my account is low

So, for the greatest mom on earth

this things I'd like to give you

will have to be in mini form

until the lottery comes through

One gift I can give you for sure

the greatest thing I've done

My everlasting joy in life

my daughter and my sons

Because of you, I made a choice

its one I hope you'll like

You taught me how to be a mom

and how to ride a bike

Now I can teach my children

the things that you taught me

that motherhood is more than joy

its love absolutely!!!

With this poem I sent her a "Beach in a box" I put beach sand in a jar with a label that said insert toes here. A personal fan that said "ocean breeze". Some heat patches for the "warm sun". A gift certificate for jamba juice, and a picture of my kids labeled everlasting joy.

I also had her favorite flowers sent to her school with a note that said "thanks for teaching a lefty the Wright way to do things." 'cause its always fun to get stuff at work.

After I got that all sent off It was time to work on Brennen's birthday party. And this was on top of all the other things I had to do this week. I need a nap.

paintings

These are just some paintings I did that I thought I should keep a record of just because. Most of them I did for a friend of mine. She wanted some artwork for her house. The palm trees are the mural I did in my boys room. They have a bunk bed that looks like a pirate ship so I painted this on the opposite side I am most happy with the big leaves I think they look the most real. The ones of the boats are quite large. They are about 4' x 6' I did those for a special church function.