catching up in July

Again, I haven't updated in a while but I have been painting ACEO cards on most days. I usually have auctions going on ebay under user ID starrgirlblue.

Here are some recent sketchbook pages. This one is about making bread - this is a great new book on making bread everyday with a very simple method that really works!


This was a "pre-determined" page in my sketch journal. When I first start a new journal, I alter some of the pages to make me think about what to do with them when I get there. This one had some torn paper and paint streaks on it.



Some ivy.


Poor mousie...


I watch lots of movies while painting ACEOs.

catching up again

Well, in spite of the ACEOs that I still work on every single day (I'm totally addicted), I have made some moleskine journal entries lately. I just haven't stopped working on ACEOs long enough to get them posted! So here's some catching up of late.

Have you heard the word "copacetic"? It jumped out at me recently and I had to do a page about it.


Then, in early March, we had a most delicious snowstorm. The timing was grand - it started on a Friday, so all I had to do was get myself home from work that day. I did slide right past my street on the way home, but managed to get on home without mishap. The storm continued through Saturday and we accumulated 12" of snow on the ground. That's just plain gorgeous when you can stay inside and watch it come down. Then, on Sunday, my family arrived to help dig me out. I helped - and then fed them - and it was a grand time.


On the first day of Spring I had a nice outing with my daughter and grandkids...


Later that day I watched a fascinating documentary about ole Ben...


The full moon is always a wonder to me.


And today, of course, was an ideal spring day that I just had to write about.


And lots of ACEOs are in the works, of course. Flowers, dogs, birds...
Here are the current ebay auctions...

more ACEOs

I've spent an awful lot of time lately on making these little cards! They are quite addictive, and hopefully sale-able, so here's the latest. Doesn't this strawberry look yummy?
You can see the ebay listing here.

Maybe radishes make you long for spring gardening...

The ebay listing is here.

I also did a series of spring flowers

(ebay listing of one is here.)

And here is the first series of orchids. These are fascinating plants!

(ebay listing of one orchid is here.)

And after all that, there's more! Later in the week I'll be posting and listing another set of orchids and a full set of ferns. Stay tuned!

latest sketches

This sketch is from last Saturday. It was on one of the "prepared" pages of my moleskine and documents a trip to a favorite market.


On Sunday evening I watched a bit of TV and drew an EDM challenge - #156, Draw a Sandwich. I was so hungry that I ate it before I was finished drawing and had to use a bit of imagination....

postcard exchange

Recently, I engaged in an original art post-card exchange with an EDM member in England. It was so exciting to compose a postcard to her and wait for one in return. I sent mine off a couple weeks ago and today - I finally received hers! This is it! Anita checked out my profile here and found that I do love my lipstick and so that is what she drew for me. It could not be more perfect! I love love love my lipstick and even carried it in my fanny pack when I used to walk marathons. So this is a lovely, thoughtful and cherished post from a fellow artist across a mighty ocean from me. How fun!!


And this was my postcard to her a couple weeks ago. I looked for something unique to draw for her and decided on this sterling cucumber spoon from my collection. Others seemed fascinated by it, as well as unfamiliar with such a thing. Well, guess what? I also have a tomato spoon! It is a bit larger on the rounded end.

And now I will have to watch for others who want to trade artwork - it was quite fun to do and I love Anita's card.

love that pizza!

A sketch from Monday night's dinner decision:

Sunday evening drawing

While the rest of the world watched the Super Bowl, I plugged in a movie and sketched. Here is EDM Challenge 141 - Draw something with Bristles


and EDM Challenge 92 - Draw a Paper Bag


Then I raided the kitchen for subject matter and painted these on Arches 140# paper with W&N watercolors:


and Onions:

I'm loosening up! I ordered some gouache paints this past weekend, so that will be something new to look forward to. Now, off to sketch.

beginning February

A new month has begun! I sketched some fresh flowers on Arches watercolor paper. The drawing doesn't flow as much as I would have liked, but, oh well...


I had some errands to run late today and called my daughter to see if she could go with me. She almost never leaves her little ones but today she did and we had a great time - shopping and eating!


an EDM Challenge (Draw a Lemon) but I forget which one...

wrapping up January

January has been quite a productive month! After barely sketching last year, I somehow got motivated by the EDM group to get going again. I got a goal buddy - Ann - and wrote to her that I would like to get six moleskine page spreads done in the month of January so as to get sketching again. Well....

With these two sketches, done on the last day of Jan '08, I actually did 29 moleskine page spreads and a good bit of knitting! I am very pleased (and surprised!) with this output even though I am looking to change direction a bit and breathe some new life into my artistic endeavors. Oh, and by the way, I was working that pesky full time job all the while this month. Doesn't making a living just totally get in the way???

I recently started a new moleskine and I did "pre-treat" some of the pages with paint and collage a la Roz. This one had a cutout of some African-inspired fabric, so I did a bit of research on little African birds who might enjoy such a landscape. Isn't the Ostrich a hoot?


Yesterday I popped into a shop and picked up a cool magnifying glass with a gorgeous ceramic blue-striped handle. The beauty of that purchase is that I really need the darn thing!

For February I hope to expand even more. I have spent a couple days researching new art supplies like gouache (with the help of Laura) and beautiful Leather Journals (on the recommendation of Bill) so hopefully, new things are in store.

Stay warm and keep sketching/knitting/posting dear friends.

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 -

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.

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!