Showing posts with label Sally Russick. Show all posts

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Week 19: Capturing Hope

Hope: to cherish a desire with anticipation; to expect with confidence.

What a perfect word for this week...as I am living deep with anticipation of the HHG (household goods...everything has to have an acronym) pack and pickup next week. I am down to less that two weeks left until I say goodbye to my Langley family and start my Charleston adventure.

I hope for the continued success of my wonderful team here in Virginia...we've worked hard on so many things and have (for the most part) stayed positive through it all. I can't believe I've been in that office for three whole years...and now I have to start closing it all out and handing it off...I hope it goes smoothly!

I hope I can keep my sense of humor through the next two weeks. I almost had a nervous breakdown when I saw a bug on my windshield the other night while driving through a tunnel. Uh...seriously? Relax. I got the bug out and got home safe and sound, but it made me realize just how nuts I've gotten. Plus, stress makes me get weird rashes and I don't need any more of those! haaaaaaaa

I hope my cats enjoy the roadtrip next week with me and Ma. They are not happy travelers. Heck, I hope my Ma enjoys the roadtrip with the cats!

Cherished anticipation. Excitement. Awesome.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Week 17 - Can't Get Enough Color

My Week 17 picture is all about color and the joy I had making a mess with it at Art & Soul in Virginia Beach! This was my Friday class: "Tango with Acrylics" with Sandra Duran Wilson. It was awesome.

I've been getting into painting more and more and really want to be able to add depth to my two-dimensional work. (Wait, that would make it less two-dimensional ... hmmmmmm). We spent the entire day playing with various mix-in media that can be used with acrylic pigments to get all kinds of great effects. My friends Bette & Laura were sitting in front of me and Bronwyn was sharing my table. Sandra gave us excellent direction on all the various "white pastey things" we could use to create new textures and glazes and such. Then we had plenty of time to play. As you can see from my tidy workspace, I had a bit of fun trying out various techniques with all my favorite colors. I ended up with a few great journal pages and lots of works-in-progress. Plus, I took the paper from the table when I left because it was one of my favorite color mixes from the whole day!

And so I share it here, a week late, but with all the enthusiasm a Week 17 post can have!!!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Week 13 - Have Faith...Spring Will Arrive Soon

Many of us have been stuck in the midst of crazy weather patterns...the buds are out and covered with snow! Seriously?! I, for one, am craving sunshine and can't wait for the days of milder temperatures and brighter colors in the trees and gardens. Luckily, I have faith that those days are coming. Soon.

I'm actually hitting the road today for a trip to Charleston to start looking for a place to live. In the military, we're lucky enough to have a wonderful network of housing professionals who help with this search. Plus, there are fellow servicemembers around who own homes and need someone to keep them occupied when they move on. I don't have much of an agenda set up for this trip because I really just want to look around and get to know the city and the suburbs. It's a unique opportunity and I have faith that I'll find something perfect.

About the photo: It's a Hipstamatic shot. There was a special last weekend with some new lenses and films and I am in love with this "tintype" version. My friend, John, and I were walking out to the car and I saw this nest and really wanted the shot. He stared at me as I explained that I needed to try out some new film and lenses. Then he reminded me that I was holding my phone...haaaaaaaaaa Whatever...I live in a world where a phone has film and lenses and I love it!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Week 11 - The Possibilities are Endless

I missed last week. But, I'm okay with that. My life has been a little bit off kilter lately. But, again, I'm okay with that.

I made up for it this week by exercising. I hate admitting that exercise actually makes me feel like a more positive, productive and overall normal human being. But, it does. I'm okay with that.

While out for a run today, I saw this bit of junk and saw the possibilities. It's a flower. It's flowing. It's paper. It's layers and layers of exploration. After a few miles (okay, just two) my mind was 100% off of work and the frustration and ludicrous (my boss's word) issues we've been working lately and fully engaged in the world around me. A little '80s rock in some new kickass headphones helped, but I didn't even have to try to see things more clearly. They were just there...in a pile of construction trash.

I'm ready to move. Okay, not really. I'm mentally ready to move to a new job, but I have a lot to do to transition. The possibilities, though, are amazing...and that's what matters this week!!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Focus on Life: The Journal Page as a Doorway

My life has been really undramatic lately. I guess I wouldn't call it boring, but it's really not all that exciting most of the time. I can go through a whole weekend day and not speak to anyone. Isn't that weird?

I was home a lot this week after getting some periodontal work done (i.e. gums cut to shreds!!) so I didn't think about Sally's prompt until this weekend. I've been doing more painting, lately, and love the feel of a squiggling swirling line. I played on this journal page trying to open up my mind and get the positive energy moving. So, I can go loose on my interpretation of this week's prompt and say that this journal page worked as a door to bring some creativity to the surface.

And that's about all the excitement I have to share. Time to get back to Roger, my couch, for our Sunday nap ritual. :)

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Focusing on Life: Monochromatic and Percolated

I'm a photo app kinda girl. I love me some quality time on the iPad with some creator's inventive way to manipulate and play with photos I've taken.

For this week's "one" photo, I went back into my vault of black and whites...keeping it monochromatic...and tried out a new app that I found out through some friends on Facebook (thanks, Sue & Nancy). It's called Percolator.

It was hard to step out of the colorworld, since I was feeling pretty colorful this week. But, following Sally's prompt, I enjoyed time in the grey world.

This is a shot of a gorgeous chandelier in the Bellagio that I took when I was in Vegas for Mother's Day last year with my ma. It's all dotted up and ready to go. Love the tones and the texture. I think it'll have to get printed....and at least put up on the fridge.

Tons of friends have joined in on the "one a week" idea to focus on life. They'll be linked over at Sally's Studio Sublime.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Focusing on Life: Capture a Heart

Sally tells us this week to take notice of all the hearts that end up in life everyday. I looked past just the shape and thought about "hearts" and came up with a couple of things...

It's the driver of a healthy body. A racing heart and a sweaty forehead actually feel good. Sure, it's probably just the endorphins making me feel that way, but it still counts!

It's the passion behind doing what you love. My friend and trainer, Andi, is following her passion to help people and grow a business.

It all came together on Thursday morning at 0700 when she had me squatting across a room and doing all kinds of things that make it hurt when I laugh the next day. My heart was racing as I jumped up and down while she yelled at me...well, she actually just encourages me firmly and makes me laugh. She had me rolling in sweat in the first 15 minutes of our workout.

So, that's us, sweaty and pretty in the gym!
Our hearts' efforts on display. :)

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Focusing on Life: Fresh

Fresh is the word that's going to drive me through 2013.
Fresh is how I'm going to wake up and look at each day and each opportunity
Fresh is the joy I'm going to look for in things that seem rote and boring and old and tired.
Fresh is my outlook on frustrations.
Fresh is my view of crafting and creating and challenging myself to try.
Fresh is how I'll savor the little things like a new tube of mascara or a perfectly salted pistachio.
Fresh will get me to take a deep breath and stop on the way to work on the King Street Bridge on Langley to take a picture when the water is so smooth, there's a duck-looking bird eating fish, and the cars are honking hello. (I was late for work, but it was worth it.)

So, that's it. Fresh. That's my word.

There are others out there sharing their words today...

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Focusing on Life - Week 1 - A Pondering Woman

That's me. The pondering woman.

I'm thinking of all the things I'd like to do this year and how I wish I had the energy to do them.

I'm thinking about how I want new glasses.

I'm thinking that I should wear eyeshadow more often.

I'm thinking that the skin on my nose is really dry and it's a mystery.

I'm thinking my haircut is cute and I'm relieved because I had to try a new stylist because mine moved.

I'm thinking I should get my eyebrows waxed more often.

I'm thinking I should get some bigger diamonds for my ears.

I'm thinking about being less frustrated by my job.

I'm thinking about going to the gym.

I'm thinking about the next 51 weeks and the photo journey I'm on.

I'm thinking that I compare my life to others' too often.

I'm thinking I'll get another beer (lite, of course) and go play.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

One Color Crayon Challenge: My Purple Went Exotic

Here she is...my little tribute to the purple crayon:

I think it looks like some sort of tile or carpet from an exotic land. I created a kaleidoscope image in Photoshop Elements using an original painting and a Kim Klassen texture.Here's a little background on the hop...~Sally Russick decided to host a little monochromatic challenge on her Studio Sublime blog.

~ She invited 65 of us to pick one of eight basic crayon colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown or black.

~ Then, we had to create a monochromatic design with the color we picked...focusing on a few or a lot of that color's hues.

~ The cool part is that it's not just about jewelry...she opened it up to any medium! That's what got me started thinking about painting and mixed media

I pulled out everything I have in my arts and crafts supplies that could be anything close to purple. I posted about that earlier this week. I spent lot of time with ink and acrylics coming up with some cool designs. My favorite ended up being this one:

After studying it and thinking about using it as the background of a collage, I decided to go down a different path and try something I've been wanting to do for a while: make a kaleidoscope image. I used this tutorial from the Scrapper's Guide that I found a few months ago. I was scared to try it, but it ended up being pretty easy and I'm tickled with the end result.

There are 64 other blogs to check out today...see how many took the deep dive into just one color!