Artist Trading Cards (ATC's)

A sample of each category that I did to send to Mom and Theresa.  The categories are:  black & white; fish; fairy godmother; and self portrait.

 One of my black & whites.

Another black & white.

Two of my self portraits.

Two of my fish.

A fairy godmother card.

One ATC from Theresa, Mom and I in the fish category.

The black & white category.  One from each of us.  Mom put a note on hers saying that she ruined it.  I thought it was cute.

Fairy godmother samples from each of us.

Our self portraits.

So Theresa challenged Mom and myself to make four different ATC's each month.  Of course, we have to make three of each one so we can send them to each other. So technically 12 altogether.  Then, because I got the first themes in the middle of April I thought that we weren't starting until May.  Then, I learned to my surprise, that no, we had to do these for April.  So I am just finishing mine up tonight and will send them tomorrow.  I already got Theresa's and Mom's.  Hopefully I will be quicker this month.

Art Room Challenge....

This is Don's anniversary present from me.  It's a timeline of our 25 years together.

My art room is a total mess.  I have everything strewn around.  I don't even want to go inside of it because I can't find anything.  Of course, because of that, I have projects on my dining room table, things sitting on my stairs (waiting to go to my art room) and I haven't created anything of value for awhile. 

I did work on a little scrapbook for baby Emma's first birthday.  It turned out cute and I think I want to work on some more books.  I really need to get motivated.  I am going to have a booth in June for Union Gap Days.  So now I have to decide what am I going to sell?  Purses?  Hats?  Scarves?  Journals or scrapbooks?  Help me please!

I think I am going to have my housekeeper (Danae) come and clean my house tomorrow so I can work on my art room this weekend.  Maybe this will inspire me?

Sock monkeys!

I finished the head of the baby sock monkey I'm making for Ayden's birthday.  I hope he likes it.  I'm making it black and white with coral lips and blue eyes.  I think it will be cute.  I am hoping to finish it this weekend. 

We are in Everett staying with Derek.  He has a very nice apartment.  I am going to visit with my Mom tomorrow.  We brought her some fruit snacks from Costco.  She will be soo excited when she sees them.  She calls them her treats! 

We're over here for Grandpa's funeral.  I am sure it will be very sad tomorrow during the funeral.  I will be knitting however.  It will keep me centered and will hopefully stop me from crying.

First hat done!

Finally, I didn't think I would ever finish this hat.  I'm not sure I'm totally happy with it but one is always ones worst critic.  Right?  I am going to adjust it some but am posting pictures here.  One from the top and one on me.  Only 39 more hats to go for the year.  I am going to knit some purses out of another book that I bought so think I will alternate.  So now on to a purse.  Tomorrow I think. 

I found a knitted sock monkey book today.  They are sooo cute.  One reminds me of Terrie.  She is a secretary at our school.  It is a secretary sock monkey with an updo, heels, pearls, and carrying a purse.  Too cute.  I might have to make one and take it to the school along with my dolls of Tom and Rick.

I'm also posting a picture of Terri with the planner that I covered for her.  I've been blinging her planners for about the past three years or so.  I think this one turned out cute.  Let me know what you think.

Facebook challenge...

I saw a post about a week ago from one of my Facebook friends.  It said that she was going to pay it forward to five people by making something and giving it to them (sometime this year-2011).  The whole deal was that if you accepted her handmade challenge that you would have to then post it in your profile and make some handmade items to then send to the first five people who accepted your challenge.  I thought what a fun idea and of course accepted the challenge.

 Of course, now I have to decide what I am going to make for these five people?  Should it be all the same thing?  Probably not.  I actually had a guy accept the challenge so do I make something for him?  Or something for his wife?  I want to focus on my knitting this year and am working on knitting through a book of hats, so that is something I could do?  In fact I am hoping to finish my first hat tonight and then can post some pictures.  I also bought a book with knitted purses that fit the different seasons which would be fun.  I am thinking about knitting a hat and then a purse, then a hat, then a purse, etc.  I could also work on something more mixed media, such a a journal or a picture done for a holiday and framed.  Decisions, decisions......Please give me input.  My creative juices are feeling a little stifled as I have been sick all week.  It has drained all of the life from me.

My hat project

I have been working on the first hat in the book, "Hatitudes".  The part I am on is taking awhile.  It is a 3knit 3purl ribbing.  I have to do the ribbing for four inches and then I have to go around the the top of the brim and make i-cords that wind up the hat and tie up at the top of the hat.  I am doing the brim in a very pretty teal color and the top of the hat is done in a multicolored, variegated yarn that has teal in it.  I will take pictures as soon as I am done with it.

 I obviously am not sticking to my goals too closely as it has taken me ten days to get back to my blog.  I have spent some good quality time with Ayden though.  He is such a sweetheart.  He runs over to me and hugs my legs and gives me kisses.  He's 11 months now.  He had his first visit, since June, with his Dad yesterday .  He did okay, but I think just because Don and I were here with him.