Jun 30, 2012

Blank Soul Book

So, I've gotten a little work done...

I find I am a little nervous to actually DO anything to the pages... that, and I have no pictures of myself to add to the pages. SIGH.

 Old sheet music and scrapbook paper.
 Raw cardboard painted green, dots using paint and stencil.
Vintage wallpaper, fabric.
 Stampington artist paper.
 Artist paper and decorative tape from Stampington.
 Scrapbook paper and fabric.
Painted cardboard, alpha stencils.
 Painted carboard and artist paper.
 White washed paper, fabric, scrapbook paper.
 Decorative tape, fabric, paint samples.
 Unadorned back cover.

Watcha think??

Jun 25, 2012

5 Truths

I copied this title from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer over at Balzer Designs. Julie is a very talented artist. Her blog is packed with photos, how-tos, and just tons on inspiration!

Her latest post is talks about some ART things she knows.. this was my reply (with a little more detail added here).

1. Inspiration can be found almost anywhere. Most often these days, I read a sentence or hear a line to a song and think about an image that would go with it. I find that the colors and font used in magazines and advertising can be quite good too-  this month's Better Homes and Gardens used teal, orange, coral, and aqua. Check out new catalogs- West End has a good one out filled with great images that could be the base for a piece.

2. Sometimes just puttering, sorting, weeding out stuff in the studio is enough to keep me going. I have tons of stuff in mys studio. I am sure you're like me, hoarding grabbing and saving all sorts of things to use "sometime."  I have so much to share, and recently sent out a bunch of RAKs over at Paper Digital Arts. I'm offering boxes of all sizes for sale- just email me.

3. Art becomes all I can think about if I haven't been able to get any time in (like now- full on house renos to sell the house).  It's a bit obsessive, actually. The problem is, I have so much to do in the house that I can't let myself go spend a day in the studio. I feel guilty. Or, I go in  and just stare... hence #2. I dream about big canvases, paint, ink. Stuff. I am not a trained artist, which slows me down sometimes, because I don't have the know-how to get the stuff in my head out into a concrete piece.

4. A kids area in my studio, with the ability to use almost anything as long as they ask first, is key to a. getting anything done, and b. inspiring the artist in them.
This is Adam, who is working on his own paitning after being inspired by my sister-in-law's painting that now lives with me (SCORE!!!). He looked at it and said- "Mom, I think I have to copy Aunt Jose's painting." How COOL is that??

 5. The process is important, and it's OK to throw stuff out if I don't like it. That's a tough one. I have worked hard on some things, then chucked them! It's OK! You can do it too.

So, what are your 5 truths??

hugs, Lee

Jun 18, 2012

Aqua Pura

That's the name of the paint color I chose for my new bathroom (the one I'm hoping will help sell this house). Behr Aqua Pura. Hopefully we'll be finished soon, like in the next few days, but here's a sneak peek:

This vanity:
This top:

This floor:

Keep your eyes peeled- I should be will be posting pictures this week.

hugs, Lee

Jun 12, 2012

Dead Is Dead

I'm sitting here wasting time on the internet when I should be studying. I have ACLS tomorrow (Advanced Cardiac Life Support). I have to recertify every 2 years, so this is what, my sixth time?? You'd think I'd get over the nerves already...

The newer ACLS online course is really hard. I think I killed each of the "patients" at least 10 times before I saved them and moved on to the next one!! hahaha It is incredibly detailed, and stuff you do automatically as a healthcare professional you must check off in the correct order and timely fashion to pass each scenario. Oh, did I mention you have to click back and forth between 4 or 5 tabs... seriously, who thinks this crap up?

The title of my post- dead is dead- is what they teach us in class. Because honestly, if you are coding someone, what you do can't hurt them much more.

So, get out there. Learn basic CPR. If you see someone go down, good CPR is what will save them, otherwise dead is DEAD.

hugs and chest compressions, Lee