Zendala Challenge #56
Micron on white created by Erin from The Bright Owl
The center pattern is called Cockles ‘N Mussels. This is one of my all time favorite patterns. And you would think because it is one of my favorites, I would be using it all the time. I don’t though, and I wonder why? Either I don’t want to get sick of it or there is so many patterns and so little time 🙂
Be Well and Happy!
With a few days of scattered showers, I can now tell that our cars aren’t yellow and I can breathe at least half the time 🙂 I still got a few things accomplished and some things started and my week went a little something like this:
A discovery that I liked this book. 
Whew! I finally got through this book. Usually, I can get through a book this size in a couple of sittings (if it grabs my attention and nothing is on TV, LOL) But this book took 10 times longer to get through. What’s to blame?
The first couple of hundred pages was chock full of medical, scientific and historical fact and jargon. If you are the professorial type I see you loving it. But I’m not and I don’t. I kind of liken the beginning of the book to The Big Bang Theory that has been stripped of humor and quirkiness. And then you have to take in account that the author is a History Professor. I gave me a melatonin effect. Zzzzzzzz…..
But when I reached chapter 22 (I think) the book became so fast paced and exciting. And I think that the reason the beginning was so dry, is because the plot is so extremely complicated. And I am certain that if I skipped over the first part that I would not have understood a thing. I thought about tossing the book aside and giving up, but I’m glad I didn’t and ended up loving the rest of the book!
This book contains just about all things paranormal with a little time travel thrown in at the end. I am now looking forward to Book #2, can you believe it? Here is an overview of the book.
Deborah Harkness, wherever you are, I so owe you an apology because even though the beginning was rocky, this was a great read 🙂
I wanted to read something not quite as heavy so I checked this book out from the library. And I’m really hoping that this book is funny. Going by the jacket it is promising. The name of the book is The Cinderella Pact and it is written by Sarah Strohmeyer. Here is an overview of the book.
I also practiced a little witchdoctor’n or am I a medicine woman?
I wanted centerpieces for the kitchen and the living room. And after a little research, I decided on terrariums. I thought they would not only be pretty, but if I managed not to kill them I can repot them in bigger pots. I was really excited to make these. But what was strange was David was excited too. Then I found out the reason he was so excited. He thought, It would have some kind of themed village inside, like the Hobbit or trolls….uhhhh……I have one disappointed guy on my hands.
There was a little art going on, but not much as I have had a headache off and on. This is the red pepper and I have a yellow and green to go. I also started a drawing of a dog. Man, the reference is so ugly that it’s cute. But as I get into the drawing, it’s starting to look kind of creepy. So, I don’t know…I don’t have much time invested in it yet. And it may just be too creepy to invest more time.
And last but not least, I am very glad that I come up with a new title for the posts…Diary of an Iphone..SWEET!
I hope you guys have a great weekend with big smiles and sunny skies 🙂
Be Well and Happy!
Zendare #55 by Erin from The Bright Owl
Micron on Bond
I don’t know about you, but I am really hoping this rain will wash away all of this pollen. It’s been intense around here. I feel like have sand paper in my eyes and my throat and nose are killing me. Ohhhh joy! I’m feeling crummy, I’m going to make this short and sweet.
Be Well and Happy!
Zendare Challenges #53 and #54 created by Erin from The Bright Owl.
Micron on white
Happy Monday!
I’m sorry I didn’t post anything last week. Not much going on I’m afraid, at least nothing you would want hear about in great detail. But here’s the rundown:
~I started my third attempt at a drawing that I can’t seem to get a grasp on (very frustrating)
~I started a trio of peppers that I am drawing in colored pencil (which I’m not too happy with)
~ The meat of my free time has actually been researching oils. Yep! Oil. I can’t make this long story short, but expect a post (or a few) on this topic.
~Then there is the cooking and the cleaning and schlepping and blah, blah, blah…..
See what I mean? How do you deal with days likes or weeks like that? When you know you need to post but you have less than stellar weeks.
Be Well and Happy!
Happy Friday! I hope this finds you in good spirits and geared up for the weekend. I am so excited because it is supposed to be beautiful and I am hoping I can break out those sandals! But right now, the weather still shows signs of not wanting to let winter go but I still had a pretty good week and it went a little something like:
~ Last weekend my sister and I trucked it to Jerry’s Artarama in Virginia Beach. Oh my goodness what a wonderful place that is. I was in heaven. Jerry’s has everything anyone would need in the way of art supplies. Although it took great restraint, I was good. I bought some of the new and re launched (mainly deco) colors in Prismacolor, 2 drafting film erasers, a pack of pencil length extenders, a plastic palette, and 3 pads. But believe me, they had a silk screen press that I had my eye on and I kept reading the box and circling it like a buzzard.
Now my sister on the other hand was not a good girl at all. She almost bought out the store… well…not really but she did some major damage. She got out of drawing many years go but after getting chewed out by me about hundred thousand times she is finally dipping her feet back in. She is so talented and it makes me happy that she is finding a renewed love for art. But with that renewal of love, she had to stock her studio 😉 and the cart was jam packed! I will not tell you the grand total but put it this way, it took almost 30 minutes for her purchase to be rang up and we laughed about how much she spent for days. We do not spend much time together since she moved away, so it was a really nice, if our little sister was with us it would have been a perfect afternoon. 
~It is that time of year again. I guess I should have never stopped walking but I did. I was just tired of walking the same path and was too lazy to drive anywhere to work out. I still am. But I felt better when I walked so I decided to get back on the 10,000 steps a day with a 24,000 goal.
I added weighted gloves into my walk in hopes of getting rid of my bat wings. These weights were only $10.00 at Walmart and really cool. They close up kind of like a brace but they leave my fingers free so I can take a water bottle with me too. Not to mention the weights provide some excellent protection.
I tried it yesterday. I looked like an idiot walking up and down the street flexing and flapping but it was a good burn and I walked a little over 6 miles. Today, I am so sore!!!! My back is even sore so hopefully it will be good-bye back fat too.
~I am still working on the Discovery of Witches book. And I think I may have to call it quits. If you have to make yourself read a book then you are better off not reading it. It’s really a shame, I hate to give up on a book but we will see.
Okay, that is about all the excitement that I think you can handle in one day from me. hahaha
Be Well and Happy!
Zendala Challenge #51 from Erin at the Bright Owl
Black Micron, Graphite on 20 lb. bond
This week sure is getting away from me. I really do not know why, it is not like I have been doing anything particularly interesting but it sure is slipping through my fingers. I was a good girl and completed this week’s Zendala challenge.
I had a good time with this one even though this is my second attempt at this Zendala. The first one was pretty bad. But I like this version a lot better.
Lately, I’ve had the itch to paint. And not just paint anything. I have been wanting to paint a portrait. Drawing people is hard enough, but I have never painted people so I am going to assume that it is a lot harder. Now, the question is, who to paint? Now there are plenty of pictures on Facebook of family and friends that I could rip off or a celebrity that I could paint, but I decided not to go that route. I am afraid that I may think it looks awesome and they may think it looks awful and I certainly do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings. So, I guess I am going to try a self-portrait. I mean, I doubt I’ll hurt my own feelings. Of course, all this thinking and rationalizing may be for nothing and I’ll end up throwing it away. But I think I will give it a go and just see what happens.
Well, I guess that’s about it for me. I hope you guys are enjoying this beautiful day!
Be Well and Happy!
UGH! I do not like that one either, LOL
Sorry, that I have been missing this week. I intended to post, but I haven’t been feeling all that hot this week and it made me lazy and in a bad mood. I guess we all have days like that. I did at least try to accomplish a few things like:
Zendala Dare #50
Micron on Card
By Erin from the Bright Owl
This Zendala contains the most line work that I have ever completed. I think it was a tribute to wanting to get somewhere and sit down, LOL I do like that is covered with pattern. However, the torpedo looking things in the center looks like bees butts and I should have added stingers.
I am still reading this book. I am about 174 pages in and it is getting better, but still very wordy. I am beginning to wonder if plot is going to be so complicated that we need all of the science and genetic research information. There is a lot of it that is for sure. But I’m not giving up yet.
Also, I started a drawing on one of my Once Upon A Time charactors. It’s in the trash now.. after about 6 hours…yep, wore the paper out erasing cause that is how I roll. So, back to the drawing board with that one.
I guess that’s about it for me.
Happy Easter everyone and don’t forget the reason for the season;) Be Safe!
I need to come up with better titles. LOL
Well I do not know about you guys, but someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that it is spring in Virginia too! It was snowing on and off all day yesterday and it is about 35 degrees as of 11:00 a.m. today. People here are optimistic though, when I went out yesterday. I saw plenty of capris, sandals and flip-flops. Can you say CRAZY!
My week went like most others…a little something like:
I am still working on the colored pencil book but I decided to take a break from that and start a drawing project. I only started last night so there is not much to show as of yet.
I have been trying to read The Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. The key word here is trying. This book has had rave reviews like, “A page turner!” “I couldn’t put it down!” “Exciting!” blah blah blah! Me? I’m having a hard time picking it up. Is there something I am missing? When I’m reading this book I have to make myself press on and it is not pulling me in to the story line. I’m still kind of early on, so I am going to make my self read more in hopes that it is just a slow start.
And in the Ottaway household, the youngest Ottaway got her Driver’s license this week and Saturday she gets her class ring. I think she’s excited, but I’m never sure. Good times ahead for Alana… scary and sad times for us. Oh Joy! ~cue Sunrise, Sunset
Well Gosh, I guess that is about it. I hope your week went well and weekend is better!
HAPPY NATIONAL GOOF OFF DAY!!!!
Zendala Dare #49 by Erin from The Bright Owl
Micron on Card
The picture came out a little small, so if you want to see it bigger just click on the picture.
I guess this post was better late than never, as it was supposed to go up yesterday. Unfortunately, I had to hit the floor running. Nothing exciting but I had to do some cleaning, pay bills. Just day-to-day stuff that I had been putting off. I wish I had the ability to make dust disappear as I do our money. OR even better make the money multiply like dust. Now, that would be sweeeet! But until I find dollar bunnies under the couch, I guess those bills have to be paid.
Anyhoo, I really like Erin’s pattern. It flowed really well and the patterns came to me really fast. I only wish I had some bling to glue on. If I had more time I would have used some color, but I really wanted to get this up today.
I guess that’s about it for me today. David just texted that he was on his way home for lunch and after he leaves I’m going to head over to Bright Owl to see what everyone has done.
Be Well and Happy!
Remember this portrait? This is Sheriff Graham/The Huntsman. He was one of my favorite characters from my still favorite show Once Upon a Time. THEY KILLED HIM OFF! I was so upset. But they left a glimmer of hope in me when the last scene was of a wolf running through the woods…I said to myself, Self? At least they left an opening for him to come back. And they are! I am so excited! I know it is lame, but there ya go…
I went home last weekend and was finally able to give my nephew Evan 
this Tiger portrait. He loved it and was rendered speechless. He actually kept saying over and over, ” I don’t know what to say?” So, I guess he was not that speechless. It made me so happy, to be able to make him happy and all it took was a little time out of my days.
I have also, been working on this exercise from the book Masterful Color by Arlene Steinberg. I will not say too much as I plan on doing more of these exercises so I can give you a newbie review.
I’m ready for St. Patrick’s Day nails and all! This color is Miami Spirit from the Wet ‘n Wild Fergie collection. I really like the Fergie Polishes from Wet ‘n Wild. And man, they are dirt cheap at $3.49 a bottle. In the bottle the color has blue micro glitter that is absolutely beautiful on the nail (especially outside). Alana and I both love funky nail polishes. The brighter the better! but my favorite…favorite color has to be and hands down Navy Blue! LOVE LOVE
And lastly, yesterday my glasses finally came in. I had to get bifocals. And it is so very lovely to be able to see and read using the same glasses. I got the progressive lens so, I feel like I am in a fun house for now, LOL But I really think I will enjoy them.
Welp, those were the highlights of my week. Yes, I even find nail painting exciting. You guys have a wonderful and creative weekend!
Be Well and Happy!
Carol Ottaway 