July Garden 2011

The weather has gone into Inland Empire summer mode – this is the time of year when I dream of my beach cottage getaway. I would leave in May and not come back until September, possibly October.  Despite the heat, my garden is doing great.  My melon patch has turned into a rogue squash patch.  Last year’s goose neck squash kept popping up, so I let four of the plants grow.  Well, here is the result.  I even got some strange hybrid? white squash looking things.  Not  sure I will even try to eat them:

And here is my beautiful Temple Fire Bougainvillea making a comeback after winter exposure:

Bird A Week Challenge: Week 27/52

After meeting DH for coffee today, I decided to check in at our local bead shop downtown.  I’m usually not a big fan of cloisonne beads, but these were the exception:

They are lightweight, and the colors are beautiful. I added smoky topaz faceted rounds as dangles – a perfect Bird A Week peacock earrings!

Drawing Lab 2011: Your Flag

This weeks lab assignment was to draw a flag. I chose to digitally create a collage of flags:

The flags featured all have special meaning to me.

Old Glory: Our country, sweet land of liberty…

Rising Sun: Country of my birth

Croatian Flag: Country of DH’s birth

Lone Star State Flag : Birth State of my boys

Aussie Flag: Country of my daughter’s birth

Dutch Flag: Where DH & I met

Golden State Flag: Our home sweet home State

And I added the “Big Hat Lady” for fun 🙂

Credits:

All flags: Google images

Big Hat Lady: Rian Design

Overlay: Lindsay Jane Designs

Art Journaling Challenge 7 & 8

Here are the two final art journal challenges from Catscrap.  The theme was “Schemes” (or, plans):

Like that old Nike commercial “Just Do It!”

And, really what’s important:

Art Journaling Challenge 5 & 6

Catscrap journal challenges for weeks 5 and 6 were “Goals”.   And here are my two journaling layouts on “Goals”:

I am constantly second guessing myself when it comes to parenting.  You would think by now, I would practice what I preach, but parenting is an ever evolving challenge…

And, as Oprah says:

Zentangle Challenge #29 String Theory v.IV “Creative Genesis”

For this week’s challenge, the Diva assigned us to create an initial string by using a string with a weight on it, and draping it over our tile.  I chose a silver pendant and chain that my mother-in-law had given me.  I draped it over the tile, traced it, and created my tangle:

For some reason, I felt the need to draw the girl inside the tangle.  She kind of reminds me of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Happy 4th Of July, 2011

Have a wonderful & safe 4th of July:

Art Journaling Challenge 3 & 4

Catscrap journal  challenges for weeks 3 and 4 were “Dreams”.   And here are my two journaling layouts on “Dreams”:

Do you ever dream that you can fly? It’s my favorite kind of dream 🙂

Art Journaling Challenge 1 & 2

Catscrap hosted an eight week art journaling challenge that I participated in.  The theme of the challenge was Hopes, Dreams, Goals, & Schemes (Plans).  The first two weeks were “Hope”.  And here are my two journaling layouts on “Hope”:

I am really liking the concept of digital arts and journaling.

Bird(s) A Week Challenge: Week 26/52

This bird a week challenge is really turning out to be a challenge of endurance! We are halfway through the year, and  I am determined to make it to the finish :-).

This week, I pulled out a drawing book of animals that I have by Ed Emberly.  Mr. Emberly draws the most whimsical little characters, and shows how easily it is done.  I had fun drawing these birds:

If it’s not obvious, (L-R, T-B): chick, purple bird, owl, crow, pelican, green bird with long neck, and a rooster.

Sliver Clay Pendant & Earrings

It’s been a while since I made anything with silver clay.  So, here are some earrings. I used a mold I made from vintage glass buttons, pressed the clay, fired, polished, and combined it with bali sterling beads and champagne freshwater pearl drops:

And here is a pendant I made.  It is decorated with a “Maneki-neko”, beckoning cat.  In Japan, Maneki-nekos are a symbol that beckons or welcomes  good luck and fortune:They can both be found in my Etsy Shop.

Zentangle Challenge #28 Trip To Tripoli

This week, the Diva’s weekly assignment was to do a tangle using “Tripoli” – three sided polygon:

I thought this would be an easy pattern, but I was wrong.  The more I drew, the more distorted it got.  So, I just did a small section, and filled in the rest with whatever :-).