Been Having Trouble

The past week or so I’ve hit a real block. Every time I sit down to sketch, the page just stares up at me and seems so say ‘I dare you!’ It’s been a real effort to put pen to paper.

Hmmmm…..

So, I decided to do some silly little exercises to see if it would jump start me.

I liked Carla Sonheim’s little Tombow bunny tutorial and thought it was just the thing to get me going.

I swear, someday my husband is going to call the authorities and have them take me away.

Here I sit, drawing mostly unrecognizable ‘beings’ and laughing myself silly.

Ah, Carla, for the ‘art of silly’ I heartily thank you!

I feel sorry for this generation

They are going to come to the end of their lives and look up from all their handheld gadgets and say,

“Oh crap, I was so busy texting and googling and facebooking and tweeting…..I missed my REAL life!”

(I know, I’m showing my age! Lol)

I also….

make soap.
 It all started several years ago when eldest son was still in college. He saw the movie ‘Fight Club’ and thought we could make a bazillion dollars if we made soap and sold it to all of his ‘rich’ dorm mates for exorbitant prices. (watch the movie, you’ll get it.)

I soon found out that ‘Let’s make soap’ meant ‘mom, you do the research, buy the ingredients and make the soap. I’ll sit back in my dorm room and see if anybody beats a path to my door to buy it.’

But I digress.

It turns out that handmade soap is far superior to anything that you can buy. I really like how moisturizing it is. I’ve had lots of compliments on my skin. (Mostly by nurses in medical settings, but still…)

The problem is, the soap I make turns out, um, well, let’s just say I make the ugliest soap on the planet. Don’t get me wrong. It’s great soap, functionally speaking. But it looks just awful!

Needless to say our business did not take off like we anticipated.

See what I mean?

(I know, I wouldn't pay good money for this either!)

‘Babyhair’

Have I mentioned that we like to name things in our family?

Inanimate things mostly, but we also like to make up nicknames for each other. Some are cute, others not so much.

One of the cuter ones was my youngest son’s, ‘babyhair’.


It was bestowed upon him by a friend, actually, because he had the most beautiful silky, fine blonde hair! Just like a baby. He still had this fine wispy hair well into elementary school.

I found this

as I was looking for an old family picture.

 I would like to take credit for it but, alas, I can’t.

 It was done by a very talented young lady at Disney World years ago, as we stood in awe and watched her sketch it in less than a minute!

I think he should use it as his avatar, but I’m only his mother, so what do I know! lol

Okay, all together now.....  'aww'!

out on a limb

I was just fooling around trying to get a better feel for the Tombow. This seemed like a simple shape. I didn't do it consciously!
Hahahaha...out on a limb!
It fits right in with this month's Sketchbook Challenge theme.

Kind of reminds me of the peace dove poster from the seventies. (uh oh, is my hippie is showing?)

Tombow Pens

This week’s lesson for Jane LaFazio’s watercolor class is shoes. I like shoes.
Well, I don’t like wearing them but sketching them I thought would be fun.
And it is.
Except……..part of the lesson was to use Tombow pens. I didn’t have any. I didn’t even know what they were! So, out I go to buy some.
I found a pack with several colors, one of which was pink. Okay, this is good. I’ll do my pink ‘slip ons’ as one of the sketches. I’m good to go.
Apparently I need much more practice with Tombow’s! Bwhahahahaha

Hmmmmm…..

Well, it looks like no one is interested in participating in Pay it Forward.

I’m not quite sure what to make of that.

 Is it because you don't have a blog to continue the event? Or maybe, (gasp) nobody wants the note cards I’m offering! Lol

But I’d like to give the note cards away anyway. No strings attached. You don’t have to join the event (or do anything!) If you’d like a few free note cards, just e-mail me with your address and I’ll send them right out.

Pay it Forward

I am joining the Pay It Forward event.

 I joined up by leaving a comment on Kim Henkel’s blog at 

Letting in the Light and in turn, I will be giving away 5 sets of assorted note cards to the first five people who leave a comment on this post.

Each of the 5 people that leave a comment on this post should then blog about this on their blog and give away five items that are handmade,

and on and on it goes...

If you are interested in joining in this event and would like me to send a set of my

note cards just leave me a comment letting me know!

Each set contains four cards (4.25 X 5.5 inches) and four envelopes. Blank inside so you can add your own sentiment.  All cards are printed on coated digital bright white 80lb. super smooth card stock with Epson Dura Brite Ultra ink. Each assortment is slightly different, but here are the images that may be included.

(I will ship internationally!)

THE INFAMOUS TOMAHAWK STORY

Jeffrey had a tomahawk. It was really just a rock, tied to the end of a stick with leather lacing. 

He kept it on his shelf.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“A tomahawk.” He said.

“What does it do?” I asked.

“Indians used to scalp people with it.” he said.

“What’s scalp?” I asked.

“Like this” he said, and proceeded to show me, grabbing a handful of my hair and tapping lightly by my head with the tomahawk.

“Oh, like this?” I said. I took the tomahawk and……

KNOCKED HIM OUT COLD.

‘Jeffy, wake up” I said. Nothing. I shook him. Nothing.

Oh oh.

I ran downstairs and said to my mother. “Jeffy, fell asleep, really fast. And he won’t wake up!”

I don’t remember if I got punished or not.

He still has the tomahawk.

Finger Painting

When I was in kindergarten finger painting was my favorite activity. I just loved it! What could be better than getting your hands INTO the paints as well as making a masterpiece!

One day the teacher sent a note home to my parents suggesting that they take me to a psychiatrist because all of my paintings were dark and brooding. Perhaps I was fostering some deep buried hostility or depression that needed looking into.

 My mother (being the brilliant parent that she was) instead of running to make an appointment with a shrink, asked me “why do you always use such dark colors when you finger paint?”

 I responded…..”Because by the time I get to the paints, all the good colors are taken.”

 Did I mention my mother was brilliant? She not only saved all that money on a psychiatrist, she also saved me from years of therapy! Thanks, Mom!