Tag Archives: art

Filling my time during the Covid-19 stay at home

9 Jul

Before the virus outbreak, I had been socilizing every day and it was quite a change to not see anyone for weeks. This probably wasn’t as hard for me as some people, though, because I like change, in fact I thrive on it.

But as the weeks turned into months, I begin to get a little stir crazy. Somewhere along the line, I started cooking again. As I started searching for different recipes, and experimented with different dishes, I became a little dismayed that I had let other activities rob me on my joy of cooking.

I haven’t been a grocery store since the middle of March, only do curbside pickup every 2-3 weeks. (My tiny refrigerator doesn’t leave me much room for perishables.) I’ve taken liberal advantage of foods from Amazon, ordering different flours, legumes, seeds, and spices.

In late February, I started an indoor window garden (I hope to post about that later) and have had greens of some form and fixed some way at about once a week since they started producing in April. I also have tomato, pepper, eggplant, and melon plants in buckets outside.

I’ve read some books online. I thought I would do more art, but that hasn’t yet become a reality. The same with playing my ukulele and accordian. In spite of not doing any art or music, I’ve done a lot of online browsing on each, plus food, garden, books, etc. I still have many different interests.

And now, I’ve finally started blogging again. When I first thought about blogging this summer, I was astounded that my last post was in 2017! I guess I’ve been so busy living, I didn’t take the time to blog. As I started trying to post and work on my new blog, I realized WordPress had changed somewhat since I had last posted. It was another learning curve to get going again, another learning experience. Like cooking, I’m finding blogging very fulfilling, wondering why I let it slide. What got me going again was the fact that, especially during this epidemic, Facebook just wasn’t enough to satisfy my social interaction needs, nor my love for the written word.

And speaking of the written word, I’ve been doing indepth Bible studies. I’ve completed studies on angels, the Holy Spirit, and am currently on Revelation.

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Keeping interested in my various interests

4 Aug

If you’ve read many of my past posts, you know that I have many different interests.  Some come and go, some continue to be somewhat constant and others resurface later, sometimes years later.  Sometimes I get too many things going on at once and find I need to back off a little.

But this present year, though am doing many new and different things, I’ve been congratulating myself on keeping up so well.  But checking on my blog today, I feel that may have been a bit premature,  I have been so busy traveling and pursuing new interests that I see I have missed replying to several comments on my blog.

So if you have left a comment and I didn’t respond,  please forgive me.  I love to hear from readers.  Also, at the rate I’ve been going, don’t be surprised if you receive a reply on a comment you made some time ago.

This summer I have traveled.  I’ve been through Missouri, out to Nebraska, back to Missouri and amazingly then on to Hawaii!  (Courtesy of credit card points that have piled up for years.). I am presently in Missouri, but will be returning to Florida soon.   I’ve had some wonderful times.  Seen beautiful things and in every trip was able to visit friends and relatives I haven’t seen for some time.  So it has been a rich experience for me.

Needless to say, some things had to be put aside for awhile.  Several of my activities were stopped for he duration of my traveling,  others, such as my art and this blog have only been touched on.  Although for both of these interest–even though I haven’t been doing much, I have been thinking of them..  So many times I’ve seen something only to think–I want to draw that.  Or–hey, I can use that in my blog.  But most of the time they have only been thoughts.  Sometimes I was able to snap a pic to help me remember, but a lot of times we were already passed it.  Some of the things I noticed were little, insignificant things.  Such as the reflection of water, clouds, the patterns of shadows, or seeing people and thinking of writing of the culture in the different areas.

In addition to all the new sites, there is the pleasure of seeing what I hope will be all of my grand kids this summer.  That hasn’t happened for several year.

As I said, the summer has been wonderful,  And now, when it am almost done traveling, I find myself looking forward to return to Florida and all the activities and interests and new friends I have there.  Last week I had a long lunch with a friend.  She said  that she could tell I loved variety,  not everyone does.  We agreed that is probably one reason why I like the Jacksonville area so well–there is so much to do and new things to see.

Only, after being on the go all summer I am wondering if I might want to slow down a little when I return   At least for awhile.  As I think of  this late summer and fall, I realize even if I take a break from some of my more active interests, there are plenty of easy going interests to fall back on.  I’m thinking of taking some of my yarn stash back with me.  I may get in the mood to knit….  Whatever I decide to do, at least I know I won’t be bored!  That’s a great benefit of  being interested in many interests.

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My Art page

8 Nov

Well, after establishing a Facebook page, I’ve finally created a page on this blog titled My Art.  (You will see it at the top right.)  I now have a drop-down menu to separate categories.  These pages are where I will be posting pics of my drawings, paintings, and other artwork.  I have a few posted at present.  After I get a better camera I will be posting more.

I’m hoping the art page will encourage me to actually DO more drawings.  I was doing really well as long as I was taking the lessons, but lately I have hardly drawn anything.  So I’m aiming at posting at least two new drawings a month.  That is in addition to the ones I have already completed but not yet posted.

I appreciate all the Facebook comments I’ve received.  All comments encourage me to keep on.  I’m also pleased that the number of people who follow my blog has increased.

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Artwork on Facebook page

5 Nov

Since I have been focusing on my blog layout, I still haven’t taken the time to learn how to place photos of my artwork on a page.  There is so much to learn regarding size, placement, etc.

Today when I was asking one of my daughter-in-laws about the widget link to a Facebook page, she showed me how to set up a page and post photos.  That is an easier method than trying to post them to a page on this blog.  So, at least for now, please follow my link to my Facebook page to see the artwork.  I have two pics now, one the mask I donated to www.facesunmasked.org and another that I made into a birthday card.  I hope to get more posted this month.

As always I love your comments.  Do you like my blog’s new look?  Any suggestions on how to improve it?  What are your feelings about my art on my Facebook page?

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The broken road of my journey in art

21 Sep

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve posted.  My interent has been very sporatic for a while.  I’ve got my laptop hooked up directly to the satalite modem now to see if the problem could be my router.  I think I have a love/hate relationship with technology!

I’ve been wanting to get some of my drawings posted.  I’ve taken pictures of them with my iphone 3, but unfortunately they aren’t the greatest.  I’ve heard the iphone 4 takes better pics.  But I’m going to attempt to use what I have and see if I can get some posted anyway.

Like my mother before me, I’ve always wanted to be able to draw and paint.  Recently, my brother gave me some of her drawings that he found in storage (we think they are from when she was in high school).  She did self portraits as well as ones of others in her family.  They are quite good.

One of my daugthers is very artistic.  She can paint, draw, decorate cakes, do crafts, as well as make things out of wood.  She is an inspiration to me.

For the last 20 years or so I have done sporatic drawings/paintings.  In the early 90’s I took a Bob Ross wet on wet painting class.  For a time after that I did several paintings.  My daughter did also, even doing some on old saws and saw blades.  I bought oil paints, brushes and canvas.  But unfortunately I didn’t keep it up.

Then sometime later I got interested in acrylics.  Again I purchased paints and brushes.  But it just didn’t seem to capture my attention for very long.  I liked doing it but, as with the wet on wet oil painting, I seemed to enjoy the process as much as the finished project.  And it was completed so quickly that it kind of frustrated me.

Then, last fall I went with a daughter-in-law to a couple of  her pastel painting classes.  I loved it–so much that she gave me a set of pastels!  But though I read books and checked out internet sites about pastel painting, I became frustrated.  I realized this time it was because I didn’t know how to draw.

So this summer I began taking drawing lessons.  I found an art teacher that would give me one-on-one classes.  When I first began I felt I didn’t know anything about drawing.  I would draw in my notebook for the actual class drawings, but most of the time I just drew on scrap paper.  Then, slowly my confidnece grew.  One day I looked at a drawing I had just completed and wished it was in my notebook.  That day I decided I had enough knowledge/skill that I all my drawings would be in my notebook!   It was king of a breakthrough for me.  (Of course, I still doodle and draw on scrap paper when I’m on the phone sometimes.)  So as well as giving me knowledge and skill, I realized the lessons have encreased my confidence.

Surprisingly, when I found an older notebook from a few years ago I noticed some of those drawimgs were quite good.    Of course I didn’t know anything about perspective, but I had captured the feel of the images.   I have learned so much and find that there is so much about drawing that I love.  I can draw something as simpIe as a spoon or work on a detailed animal or landscape.  I can do a quick sketch if I like.  Or, I can work at one drawing for several weeks, returning to it again and again, to add a little detail or change something a bit.  I have not yet tried to draw people–at present I don’t have the desire to.  Some days I find I only want to draw rocks, other days clouds.  Presently I’m intrigued with roads and highways.  I still haven’t been able to capture the look I want with those.  I feel it will take a lot of practice.  I also feel drawing is something I will never get tired of.  Indeed,  I feel this is one aspect of art that I will continue.

Pastels still hold my interest as well.  But I will have to get a lot more knowledge of color and light before I want to attempt much with them.  Also, I would benefit from some classes or lessons.  I can learn a lot via books and the internet, but some things work best with acual people.  Perhaps it is the interchange of ideas I value as much as the actual knowledge.  But pastels aren’t my focus at the moment.   They are probably one of the leftovers I will return to at a later time.

Well this post has gotten quite long and I haven’t even posted any artwork.  I guess I will keep the actural pictures for my next post.  Especially since it will I will have to learn all over again how to post them!  I seem to need to do things over and over to have lasting knowledge.

So I’ll close this post by adding my categories and tags–yes, I did remember them this time.  I hope to get the pictures posted by next week if my internet cooperates.

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Websites I love

8 Aug

When checking my email this morning I realized , again, how much I tend to go overboard.  Because I am interested in so many different things, I visit all kinds of websites.  And, often, I check the little box that puts me on their mailing list.  Such a little, seemingly innocent,  action sure can create a  deluge!  But if I unsubscribe I might miss out on something.  So I usually just browse thru, deleting as I go.  When I see something that looks interesting I may check it out.  Most often, tho, I leave it till later, which only makes the job take longer next time.  When I get more time I scan more closely, saving what I want.  My email folders grow larger.  To make matters worse, when I  visit the sites, many times I will create bookmarks, causing those folders to grow.  It can get a little overwhelming, at times, but at least I always have something to check out!

One site that has me on their email list is www.instructables.com.  You can find almost anything on this site!  Often, something quirky will catch my eye and I have to check it out.  I hardly ever really do any of the activities, but I love reading about them and looking at the pictures.  One that recently caught my eye was this  http://www.instructables.com/id/Magnetic-Sugru-Stix/  This is one of those things like I always wished I could get my kids to try, and now my grandkids.  I don’t know why I can’t seem to want to do it for myself.  I guess I would rather do it with someone.  The Instrucables site reminds me of the “Make” magazines that I get from my son once they are done with them.  After I check them out, wonder about the ideas, then finally realize they are just ideas–not something I really want to do–I pass them on to my grandson.  I don’t know if he ‘makes’ anything or not.  But at least we enjoy reading about the ideas.  We all seem to share the same spark.

Since I enjoy knitting I subscribe to some of those sites.  Purple Kitty Yarns www.purplekittyyarns.com offers some free patterns.  Creative Knitting  www.creativeknittingmagazine.com sends me helpful “how-to” info.  I get notices from two yarn companies, Knit Picks www.knitpicks.com and Loin yarn www.lionbrandyarn.com.  Both offer free patterns as well as other patterns, yarn and knitting supplies.  I purchased a set of interchangeable needles from Knit Picks.

Knitty, www.knitty.com is  another site that has me on their list.   I just love this site!  Unlike Instructables, I actually do things from this site.  I like looking at their knitting patterns–they have lots of free ones, and very helpfulf tutorials.  They are connected to Interweave, http://www.interweave.com which has magazines on crafts and art.   I get emails from two other Intervweave sites besides knitty.com:  http://www.artistdaily.com and www.sewdaily.com,  Interweave sends me offers of  free ebooks that I can download.  You are starting to see why my mailbox fills up so quickly.  But it doesn’t stop here.

I am also subscribed to www.flylady.net.  This is one I browse through.  I send the kids challenges to my young granddaughters.  I usually delete the testimonials cause I just don’t have the time or desire to read them.  I did at first.  I really think Flylady has a good thing going.  This site helps motivate me.  I don’t do ALL the challenges and my dishes aren’t always done, but I really like the looks of a clean, shiny sink!  Like I say, the site helps motivate me.  And I need that motivation.  I like the looks of a clean, well ordered home, but unfortunately I don’t love housework.  But, I think/hope that is improving.  I tend to go in spurts with housecleaning like I do with other stuff.  So any motivation I can get helps.

From the Flylady site I got hooked up with Big Tent  www.bigtent.com    I was subscribing to to some exercise emails, but discontinued them.  It was just too much.  I liked the exercise idea and I know I need to do it, but when  I went to the website I  hated the sound of the  coach’s voice!  I just knew I could never listen to that very long.  But, of course, that didn’t stop my from saving some of the emails.   (Wish I knew how to add a smiley face).

I also get two more emails from the Flylady link, www.savingdinner.com and www.missussmartypants.com.  At least the Miss Smarty Pants is a weekly, not daily one.  I have listened to her radio a few times, but find I would rather just read the emails–I do always read hers, and occasionally visit her site.  I feel they are both good sites, but I am considering removing myself from the Saving Dinner  email and just visit the site.

I recently joined  the National Gardening Club, www.gardenclub.org and get an email called “Extra Dirt” from them.  It features items that members have tested and approved.  I like to see what is on the market.  I wonder if any items I test will end up there?

National Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org lets me know when the subscriptions for my grandchildren are due.  I like giving magazines to the kids as gifts.  Its something fun, educational and lasts all year, not just for the moment.  The older kids are getting too old for these magazines, but the younger ones still love them.  I haven’t found any magazines I want to subscribe to for the older ones yet.  I thought of  “Make”  for one of my grandsons, but it costs too much.    I can afford the NWF ones, it is a good value for my money.

Other places I get mail from are:

www.motherearthnews.com, lots of ideas from this one.  I used to get this magazine from friends when they were done, then passed it back.  This seems to be a magazine people want to hold onto.  You can now get back issues on DVD.  Some other magazines I used to get were “National Gardener”, “Homesteading”, and “Organic Gardening” (I used to have back copies of this one).  But, alas, every time I moved I had to get rid of more stuff, and now the magazines are gone.  But, thanks to technology, I can get the articles via web now.

www.amazon.com (you can get almost everything from this site),

www.tumbleweedhouses.com, The tiny house site is interesting, although I would never want to go as small as that.  And it seems to me their homes cost a lot for being so little.

www.30daygourmet.com,  This one is mostly just ideas and sometimes a recipe I like.  I really haven’t ever done the freezer cooking.  Sometimes I freeze leftover, but don’t plan it.  I don’t even plan menus or meals ahead.  I know all the ‘experts’ say we should.  But every time I try something comes up and I have to change it anyway, so I just don’t bother.

When I started this post I really didn’t expect it to be quite so long.   It’s just that I see something and get carried away on to another and then another thing.  Even though some times it can sometimes be a little overwhelming, at least I never get bored!

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