Graphite on Smooth Bristol    (cropped from a photo taken by mural-artist from Wet Canvas)

This is one mean looking dog.   You can almost see him gearin’ up to take a chunk out someone’s hind end, can’t ya!  At first, I meant only to sketch him for colored pencil practice, but after I got started on that fur….I just couldn’t help myself.  I ended up completing a full fledged drawing.  I did make adjustments to nose after I uploaded this image, but that was the only problem that come up.   I love this drawing and I can’t wait to get him started in colored pencil.

   These are the last two pieces that I completed. The necklace on the bottom right is a polymer necklace.  The doughnut and the blue beads are handmade.  The jewelry party went pretty good, but most importantly is that we all had such a good time.  I never did make any earrings, but I will make up for that (eventually).  

     I was going to post this yesterday but I had a sick baby girl that needed to be spoiled with extra attention.  We piled in my bed for just about the whole day.  She watched TV in a medicated state and I got some drawing in.   By 8:00 that night she tied a circle  thingie to the top of the bed,  balled paper balls and started shooting hoops.  I knew then that she was well enough to go to school today.  She never did have a fever or anything like that, I really don’t know what her ailment was.  I told you, we’ve become a sickly bunch this winter.   But hopefully winter will be over soon and spring will be around the corner.  Yeah, right!

   This is a Valentine that I made for Alana.  I made David one too.  There wasn’t much to his though.  I found a quote and I wrote it in calligraphy on a card with some hearts.  I thought it was a beautiful quote and being that it was straight forward and not as dramatic as most cards seem to be, I thought he’d get it and appreciate the fact that it wasn’t mushy.  I think he liked it.  (I still don’t think he got it though) and Alana loved hers.

      I had planned some time back to do some candy ACEO’s for Valentine’s Day.  But my two Valentine’s Day cards were about it.   I was sick for about a week and I thought I may have gotten a stomach virus, but there were two obvious symptoms that I won’t name that you could probably guess that I didn’t have.  I was just weak and nauseous and I couldn’t eat.  But it left as mysterious as it came.  I don’t know what it was.  I thought when you quit smoking this new healthy and energetic person would emerge, but heck, I have been sick ever since with something and I am pretty sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.  I told David if it kept on I was going to start back. 

      Last week I switched gears and did a lot  of beading that I will probably post tomorrow.  It’s a nice change from drawing.  I think it’s good to have more that one hobby even though it isn’t too good for your pocketbook.  

      Well, the dryer is buzzing.  So that’s a little clue of what is in store for me today.  Oh, Joy!

         This is some glass that I wrapped with wire and a washer that I also wrapped a while back.  I intended to enclose memory wire in hemp cord using the square knot pattern to make a choker, but now I am leaning toward suede or silk cord.  This isnt’ sea glass, although putting it side by side, I don’t see any difference.     

     Just in case you wondering… sea glass is glass from broken bottles, dishes, or anything glass  that has been thrown into the ocean.  Then, the sand and waves acts as a tumbler polishing and buffing the edges and gives a frosted appearance. They end their journey washed out on the beach like sea shells.   We only live 45 minutes from Virginia Beach, so when it warms up a bit I want to go out there for the day and go scavenger hunting, before  the touring season hits. 

     On the art front, I am working on a picture in acrylic that I got from Vicki.  And I am in the process of doing some Valentine ACEO’s involving candy.   Alana and I keep eating the props so that project is iffy at best. 

      This a picture of a bridge that Alana made in Technology Education.  The bridge was in a designing bridges competition and she won 1st place for the most creative bridge.  The green stuff is glue that the had to use.   She is definitely following in her Daddy’s footsteps. 

    This is her medal and certificate.   I promised Alana that I would post this on my blog.  So here it is.  Congratulations Sweetie and keep up the good work!  We are very proud of you!

     Yes, this is a cop out.  It means that I haven’t done anything  post worthy.   But, these are some old sketches of flowers that I completed when I first started learning how to draw.  I found them on my computer and I don’t have these anymore.   I gave them to my brother-in-law and he framed them in beautiful black frames.  I must say that no matter how bad you think something looks, you mat and frame it, it makes it look alot prettier.  He emailed me a picture of them hanging on his wall and I wished that I would have kept the picture to show you.

    Everything is getting back to normal around here.  THANK GOODNESS!  With my sinuses, David’s back and Alana getting a cold it has been nothing but somebody complaining about everything  24/7.   But, I have been wire wrapping glass for pendants and I’ve also made a couple of necklaces that I will post soon.  I have also been trying to learn how paint  Alana’s portrait in colored pencil.  I’ve been working on it for a week.  Over and Over. I still can’t get it and I am completely frustrated.  I probably started the picture 10 times and scrapped each and every one of them.   So today I put it away for a while and made Valentine’s Day cards for Alana and David.  I really enjoy making cards, and took my mind off the fact that Alana’s color portrait tanked.  –Can you say, “Instant Gratification.”