What’s in my bag…

I like to read blogs and watch videos about what art supplies that artists like to take with them on the go. So, I thought I would throw in my two cents and show you what I bring with me on road trips. Even if I am driving, I still like to bring these items with me because you will never know when the mood will strike to create something. I will admit that this isn’t too exciting, but for now it is everything that I need or want to bring…minus the snacks of course 🙂

I still have a love/hate relationship with watercolor at the moment but I am hardheaded so of course I have a few supplies to curse at while I’m on a trip.

Strathmore Watercolor Pad

Water Brush

Winsor & Newton-12 half pan travel set

My first love….Drawing….can’t forget that!

Casemate Sketch Diary-

General’s Kneaded Eraser

Black Pearl Eraser

Faber Castell Pencils – HB, 2H, B, 2B, 4B

Faber Castell Typewriter Eraser

Blending Stumps

Click Eraser

Pen Mate Duo Expert Lead Pencil

Kol-I-Noor – 24 Color Woodless Pencils – (Artist quality pencils are too fragile for me to bring along. They would probably be okay but I don’t want to risk it.)

Years ago I use to be into calligraphy. Modern and Brush Calligraphy has really caught my eye….So, have been playing around with that as well. I may want to Zentangle too.

U:create Smooth Paper

Speedball Calligraphy Set

Tom Bow Brush Pen – hard

Tom Bow Duo Brush Pen

Sukura Brush Pen

Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen

Pencil Case- Made for me by SIL Vicki Welsh (isn’t it pretty)

Not pictured that I will usually bring is:

*travel pencil sharpener

*a couple of paper towels

And I can’t forget my kindle and a bit of knitting.

It seems like a lot of projects to bring a long and I may not touch a bit of it but it is there if the inclination hits me. Its better to have it and not want it than to want it and not have it, lol

So what do you bring along with you on trips? What are your must haves?

Be Well and Happy!

scan0001

Diary of an Iphone…

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!

My Week..

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!

My week?

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!

Worth the Likes…

I have a designated studio/office space to house and to work on my hobbies. But usually I will paint in the kitchen, bead and Zentangle in the living room, draw on my bed and I’ll read anywhere!

Did you notice none of the places mentioned was the studio/office space? In my defense, I paint in the kitchen because I need the water and Acrylic can be easily removed from the counter but a nightmare to remove from the hardwood floor or my desk. Also, the lighting is much better in the kitchen. As for the rest, I have no good excuse except maybe I am just an odd duck.

So, depending on what I am working on, one room (if not all 3) is a mess!

One day I came across OrganizedlikeJen. In this video, she was talking about counter space (I think) and as an afterthought really, she starting talking about this bin that she kept on a stool in the bar area of her kitchen. I thought it was such a good idea so I began to acclimate a bin to suit my needs and it has been perfect in keeping the hobby clutter to a minimum. I can take this in any room and at arm’s reach.

In lieu of the fact that I can not find her video, I am posting pictures of my take of the “office on the go” or would it be “hobbyist on the go?”

We are still working on the kitchen and at the moment we have no baseboards…Sorry…. Anyway, this is my portable hobbyist on the go. It could stand be a little wider, but so far it is working well for me.

Normally, there would be a book in there and beading supplies. But I am not beading at the moment and I am reading on my tablet. The planner would be housed in the kitchen, and will be after the remodel.

It holds all of the everyday stuff that I enjoy so much. I can put my things away without actually having to put them away.

And if I wanted to, I could put in my tablet and chargers, throw it in my back seat of my car to take on trips:)

If you are interested in learning more about Organizedlikejen check out her new blog at organizedjen.com and there you will find links to all of her channels.

Be Well and Happy!

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any site, product or third party featured in this post, nor am I responsible for negative experiences incurred from using products or visiting the above sites. My opinions are my own.

Carol Ottaway

Back to the drawing board…

Tag: reading