Sunday, May 31, 2009

My Next Visual Journal Book Found




I found the most incredible recycled notebook for my next visual journal. I loved this particular book and it was the display one (not wrapped like the others). I went to the counter with the wrapped one and the display one (because it had no price tag). I went to the check-out counter and said to the guy, "Ok, I have a silly question to ask you, can I get this one?" The guy said, "Well its kind of beat up, are you sure you want this one?" I would have felt really silly to tell him that this was one of the main reasons that I loved it.

If you like to paint and/or glue in your journal. I highly recommend it. The pages are perfect to withstand the different mediums. Barnes & Nobles ($18).

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Eclectic

This is a patio area outside of a winery. I love this style, very eclectic. Some day I want to learn how to have the most random things paired together and yet create a beautiful setting.

Friday, May 29, 2009

SMILE:)

The blog, First Born Studio Journal, listed/link on the side had a post last weekend with the following title, "Who Puts A Smile on Your Face?"

I have to say, this cute little donkey with its designed donkey collar makes me smile:)

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Color

More colors found in the desert (other than brown).

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Smoke Captured

I thought this was so pretty, the smoke rising above the mountains. No worries, the smoke is from a power plant not from a fire. When I took this photo, I thought I would try to find a quote that is befitting of the picture. I don't know if the quote exactly fits the photo, but it resonated with me (trying to work on this - worrying less, enjoying life more).

“Worriers spend a lot of time shoveling smoke.” by Claude McDonald

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Journal Entry


I really struggled with this journal entry and felt like the final product was a disaster, hence the title, "mess" on the left side of the page. Sometimes it comes easily and other times I feel like tearing out my hair. Hope next time, is the easier one.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Think Monday, Think ATC

The theme this week for TMTA was wild animals. I couldn't think of a better "wild animal" then my crazy German Shepherd.

The Gray House

This is one of my favorite houses. I have been fascinated with it since we moved here. It was falling apart when we arrived and was concerned the renovations may spoil the charm, but they left its charm intact. Love the gate, see the sunflower pattern in the gate. I'd love to meet the person that purchased this home, just seems that they must be inviting and have a creative soul.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Blossoming


One day of rain and the desert comes alive. These flowers were blooming throughout the whole desert, made for a scenic trip. My husband and I kept commenting on them until he said, "Let me pull over and we will take some pictures". Mind you there really isn't a good place to pull over when everyone is going 70+, but we risked it for my blog!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Doors







"May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door." Irish Blessings quotes, author unknown

Friday, May 22, 2009

A Gift


It felt like a gift today, to have rain. It has been months since one rain droplet fell from the sky. Now, I am not complaining because I love the sun and the warm weather (one of the benefits of living here), but I find myself wishing for rain some days. To day was a perfect day for rain, a day free from work so I can sit, relax, curl up with a good book, watch a chick flick, and look out the window and not feel one ounce of guilt about staying inside all day.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Twisted Tree

I don't know if you can see it in the photograph, but its really the trunk of the tree that I found interesting. It was a twisted tree. For some reason, it made me think about the Secret Garden or a scene in Notting Hill (the garden). This tree looked misplaced. It should be in someone's beautiful, landscaped backyard with a swing hanging from its branches, where a child plays and a mother takes comfort.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Texture

I plan to use this photo as a collage background. Feel free, to take and use in your collages. Love the texture of the object.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Ducks

only one yellow duck

Monday, May 18, 2009

mONday


This is how I feel on Monday: A little down, lopsided, and wishing it was still the weekend. I keep saying to myself - enjoy everyday. . . enjoy every moment . . . even MONdays. My new mantra!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Pink, Purple, Blue

We just so happened to take a different route because a road was closed. I loved this little place. Color is everywhere, just have to look for it.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

My Discovery


“Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”

by Franz Kafka

Friday, May 15, 2009

TGIF


Look even my dog's smiling. He knows its Friday, he's ready for his long walks and trips to the dog park! We are celebrating together.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Little Cafe

Color in unexpected places, I love this red chair. It's so inviting, makes me wish it was the weekend and I was sitting in that exact place, sipping iced chai and enjoying a grilled ham and swiss sandwich with green chili and tomatoes. Counting the days to the weekend . . . . 1 more day to go. . . almost there . . .

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Who needs curtains?

Who needs curtains, when you have Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) to display? It looks a little crazy, but I like that I can see all my ATCs at one time. I just used small hooks and clothespins to display the artwork.

Monday, May 11, 2009

TMTA - Jewelry

Money in the hand = Jewelry:)

Juggling



Ever feel like your trying to juggle too many things at one time? This is an entry that I created today in my visual art journal. This is a picture of me trying to juggle roles and responsibilities, the only difference here is that all the balls are actually up in the air unlike my daily, crazy life!

Celebrating a Work-Free Monday


A work-free Monday is like eating an ice cream in the hot baking sun, trying to get every last lick of ice cream in before it ends up on the sidewalk. Here's to a day full of creativity (or at least an attempt) in the art room, eating lunch on the patio in the sunlight, and spending time with my daughter. My goal today is to feel like I enjoyed every bit of the day, hence no ice cream left on the sidewalk.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day

My daughter did the sweetest, most thoughtful thing for Mother' s Day. She didn't enlist any help for her surprise. She had it planned for a week. She went to the store with a friend after school, spent her own money that she earned from babysitting to buy me this gift. As you can tell from the picture, she even bought a gift bag and tissue paper. When she came down the stairs with this gift this morning, I thought that my mom or my husband must have helped her. This was the most special surprise today.

To my Mom, wish we could be together today. I hope that you are having a wonderful Mother's Day full of surprises and special moments. Love you & Miss you Always - Happy Mother's Day!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Saturday

Loved this picture, a man in his jeep riding with his dog. When we passed him, my husband said smiling, "He looks like the kind of guy that would name his dog, dog". To me the man reminded me of everything I love on Saturday: Being Carefree, Relaxed, Bathing in the Sunlight, Enjoying the Company of a Dog, and the Beautiful Scenery of the Mountains. Life is so good on Saturday.

Color

tulips found in the southwest

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Visitor


A bird kept landing on my office window ledge today. I loved the distraction. I wish that I was able to capture the markings on the bird, it had bright blue coloring all around the eyes. This was my first sighting of a bird in a year and a half that I have been in that office, so it felt like a sign of hope for things to come to be visited numerous times in one day.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Soul Mates

This is her last entry. I loved this sentiment.

Friends Journal

You may remember from an earlier post about swapping journals with a friend that lives a long distance away. I loved receiving her journal in the mail, I laughed and cried while reading her entries. This is a great idea for people that are separated, a way to keep connected.

My friend loved the journal I sent her. She said that she has a new addiction, shopping for scrapbooking supplies:) I can relate to that problem! Now I need to go start writing and collaging in it, since I was supposed to send it out this past weekend (a tad late, gotta love UPS next day air shipping!)

Colors



While trying to find vibrant colors in my everyday routine, I noticed the colors that I chose for our living room. These were not the typical colors that I chose in the past. I was typically drawn to blues, greens, and whites in the past, but I chose to decorate my living room in reds, oranges, and yellows. I watched an interesting show on hgtv about the colors we choose for rooms. The decorator mentioned that it was a good idea to shop at the grocery store and observe the various colors in the fruits and vegetables and create a color palette from those colors. Can't you just see lemons, red peppers, sweet potatoes, and green grapes in my chosen color palette? Maybe a stretch, but I thought it was a cool idea.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Yellow


Seeing the sun set, it created a beautiful yellow glow and cast a dark shadow across the mountains.

Brown


Lately I hear myself complaining about the ugly brown landscape. This is the time of year that I really miss my home in the Northeast region. I long for the smell of the blooming tulips, the look of the luscious green trees after the long winter, and the blue ocean among the rugged coastline.

While riding in the car, I was reading the new Artful Blogging (by Somerset Studio) issue and came across an article of a woman that went on a search for the color aqua and posted on her blog all the places she found the color. This inspired a new goal. To find vibrant colors among the backdrop of brown. This is my last picture of the brown landscape -here's to color!