late, late Wednesday

I can't stop sketching! I haven't found my new direction yet, but I am definitely loosening up and feeling more freedom in sketching. Here is Every Day Matters Challenge 143 - Draw an Herb or Spice


And while I did that, I baked a pie from a pumpkin that I cooked up a while back -

I've been Tagged

Ann tagged me to tell five things you probably don't know about me. I wonder, when you put your life out on a blog, is there much not to know? But here are five things anyway...

1. I usually run late. It's a bad, disrespectful habit, I know, but I hate waiting around or having extra time with nothing to do. I hoard my personal time and try to arrive at meetings, appointments, etc right on time. Of course if anything goes wrong, then I am late...

2. I've known for sure that I was an artist since I was 8 years old. I was on a school field trip and the class was spread out on the lawn with drawing paper and poster paints to draw the historical home we were visiting. My drawing just flowed right out of the brush and I was amazed by it. I've been hooked ever since.

3. I hate clowns. They creep me out.

4. Can't tolerate roller coasters, either. Heights make me woozy and dropping from the sky is not a thrill to me - it's a death wish. But put me on a spinning ride and I'll stay there with the giggles all day.

5. I grew up on Bluegrass music - my family had a band. A very very good one, actually. As a teenager I was embarrassed by the down-home-pickin' (I wanted to be a hippie and follow the Beatles) but now I love it and the family recordings are a treasure.

And now I'm supposed to tag five others, but I think I won't. I'm not active enough with other art bloggers to tag them, but I enjoyed playing. Now, off to sketch.

owl or lark?

This is one of my biggest dilemmas. (In other words, if this is one of your biggest problems, then you've got it pretty good!) Still...

exceeding january goals

So my art goal for January was to do six page spreads in my Moleskine and get them posted. Well, I'm over twenty now and may just even out to one per day. The key to achieving anything seems to be getting started...

I've been trying some different things and I really like how the Pilot V Razor Point pen writes on Moleskine pages. Smooth to sketch with and lays down a nice line. It is extra fine, which is ok for everyday stuff. I could fill in with a very fine line Micron if I wanted to.


One of my "prepared pages" had this floral magazine cutout pasted into the book for me to work around. It reminded me that I really miss flowers this time of year.

new moleskine

Starting a new moleskine and still looking for a new direction...

last page of this moleskine

This is the last page of this moleskine. I love having another book under my belt and I'm ready for some changes. I hope to try some new things in the next book. Meanwhile, I'm a bit happier with this sketch.

a few more sketches

I am definitely back into sketching and I find I'm getting bored with what I am doing. I need to change it up based on these recent sketches. They are so boring to me now. I'm not sure what I want to do, but I want to get away from this cramped, overworked feeling I am getting in these sketches. This lipstick holder did not come out at all like I pictured it.


In an effort to just draw with the pen and keep going, this awkward little vignette came about. Again, my hand is not getting the feeling I sense in my head.


This sketch is darker and more worked-over than I was going for. It's ok, but not what I wanted to do.


I'm not saying these sketches are bad - they're just not what I see when I sit down to draw. I think it is partly the materials. The moleskine is such a great book, but I don't like what I'm using in it. It doesn't take well to watercolor and the watercolor book is a different layout. I think I need to stick to watercolors in the watercolor version. Meanwhile, what can I use in the everyday sketch book that will give me better results? I think I'll go over to the EDM forum and get a consensus...

EDM Challenges

Been drawing a little between work and knitting. Here is Everyday Matters Challenge #153 - Draw Something Wrapped in Plastic. I chose the caramel cream candies known as Bull's Eyes.


EDM Challenge #108 - Draw a Lightbulb. These are so ho hum.


So I tried again.


I'm not sure of the best medium for the moleskine yet. I love gray markers, but they bleed through. Watercolor takes only so well. I could get different sketchbooks, but I want to use these fabulous moleskines! aarrrgghhhhh.

baby gift

I actually think I out-did myself on this one ~ a hand knit layette set for a workmate.


The kimono sweater in lavender for baby Lilianna, who is scheduled to arrive on 2/14/08. The newborn size is so precious!


Coordinating cap with a burst of flowers on top. The hat is Twist and Twirl and the floral top was my own addition.


The Mary Jane style booties are just too much! You can find the pattern here.


The decorative bear completes the set.


Oh those booties!!


All handknit in Baby Bamboo yarn, 80% bamboo and 20% wool. Deliciously soft. Sweater and Teddy Bear pattern by King Cole Ltd, England, leaflet 2768.

the rest of the past week

I actually did stay busy drawing and knitting in the evenings this past week, but did not take the time to scan and post. Here's the activity.

The story of Baby Jeff-Loretta


The reason I had BJL was to make a hand-knit sweater like the one I made for Cherry, my grandaughter's bear.


EDM Challenge 117 - Draw something round


I just love these new shoes!


A creative look at dirty dishes...


a fabulous movie!!


My oldest grandson doesn't have (or need) a teddy bear, but he did request a scarf for his favorite stuffed animal. He has cast his Tigger into the role of Hobbes from Calvin and Hobbes and wanted him to have a classic long red scarf just like Hobbes wears in the comic strip. I was glad to oblige!


Oh how I do love to draw!

everyday stuff

I honestly had to laugh at the crazy lunch hour I had today. It was one incident after another in such a short time!


At home in the evening I did a rare bit of ironing. But only after sketching the iron and mini ironing board!


I hope your day was this interesting!

January woes...

Winter is here in Ohio and that makes for a mighty cold house! I am pretty frugal while on my own and it is very expensive to heat a whole house for one person. Sooo... I rely on small heaters to keep me warm in whichever spot I am residing while home. Thank goodness for individual ceramic heaters!


Meanwhile, another big expense when you are on your own is PLUMBING!! I was not happy to come home today and discover the bathtub leaking in a steady stream. But I DID drag my chair into the bathroom and sketch the offending faucet. So there!!

I must be back to sketching!

I am finding great solace in the drawing challenges at present. Once again, I am losing myself in a drawing to relax at the end of the day. Drawing truly is my first love. This one is a bit dark perhaps. Just a sketch, not a masterpiece. It is EDM challenge #139 ~ Draw something with a handle. I went in search of "handled" things and found all of these in my kitchen: a tea kettle, a mini china tea pot, an Italian espresso pot, a percolator and a china sugar bowl. All have glorious handles! Don't you just want to pick them up and play house?

starting on 2008 goals & drawings

2008 is starting off quite wintery and cold here in Ohio. And so it has been perfect to stay indoors with the sketch book. The Every Day Matters Sketch Group has been busy setting goals and I was inspired to participate. I've been paired up with Goal Buddy Ann from the Blue Ridge Mountains and we hope to encourage each other. I did very little drawing last year but I do still read the EDM messages and some of the blogs are quite inspiring. Check out some wonderful artwork by clicking on the links under Arty Links in my sidebar. This is the goal page in my sketchbook, scribbled out on 1/1/2008.

And this evening after work I did EDM challenge 150 - Draw a candle or candles. These are some candles off my fireplace mantle with a metal candle snuffer.

More of the Socks

My son sent me his pics of the group wearing their new socks at dinner the other night. Here is a nice cozy one...