Final days of December

Final days of December | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

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I hope you're enjoying your week!

Merry Christmas Friends!!

I appreciate you following my Blog and I'm honored that you find my work worth taking the time out of your busy schedule to read, and sometimes comment.  I hope that you spend this Christmas weekend with friends and family, eating all your favorite foods, and remember the birth of Christ (which is why we celebrate right?).  I'll be back to see you on Tuesday. 

Something different

I found some blank blue note cards the other day and since I had just bought a new white gel pen, I wanted to play a little and see if the two worked together.  I'm happy to report I was pretty happy with the results.  I wish the gel pen had a finer tip so the patterns wouldn't seem so big (it's only a 4X6 card) but for a first time try I was not discouraged.  I know when you scan or photo anything dark the color doesn't stay with it, but I do wish you could see the dark blue - it's really pretty.  I thought I would add some embellishments but decided to do it after I posted this since they won't show up anyway.  Sometimes the glitter pens show up a little, but nothing like seeing it in person.

I'm sure you're super busy trying to tie things up for Christmas, or packing to get to that special place, so whatever you do or wherever you go, be safe, have a fabulous time, and be mindful of the birth of Christ.  Without Him we are truly lost in this world.  Merry Christmas my friends!!

Escape from Winter in color

I finally had a few spare minutes last night to color this piece.  After I got it colored I realized where I got the inspiration for the bookmark that I gave to Jennifer.  I'm happy with the way it turned out and glad I had some time to myself to draw/color.  I don't seem to have much of that lately but I'm working on it.  Happy Thursday!!

Challenge 52 - Give again

I've been working on bookmarks and wanted to give one to my step-sons wife when they were here the other day.  I like the way it turned out, except she'll have to read some pretty big books since it turned out wider than I thought it would.  After I added some embellishments, attached it to some textured card stock (thanks LeeAnn for the help there) and laminated it, I was glad I took the time to do it.  Even though the picture turned out crooked, it's just my photography skills (Tim and Jenny I need help!!) the bookmark was actually straight.  Laura hit the nail on the head with her Challenge because it does feel good to make and give something.  It's special for the giver and the receiver.  Happy day my friends!

Challenge 52 - Give

I guess this is the final Challenge for this year.  It's probably good since Laura has so much going on with her kiddo's and if you're anything like me, there's not been enough hours in the days lately so I'm sure I won't have to worry how to fill the time I have been working on the Challenges.  I am looking forward to another year of them come 2012.  Wow - 2012!!!  Weren't we supposed to be eating space food sticks and freeze-dried food by now?  Oh well, just glad we aren't!!!  This Challenge was to give - make something to give a piece of yourself away.  I made this for my step-son as we haven't seen him in a long time.  We've both lived away and are finally moving back a little closer together.  He has a wonderful family (a super nice wife and three adorable kids) so it was great to catch up.  Have an awesome week and be sure to make time for those who mean the most to you!

Floating through the night sky

This time of year always seems to fly by so fast and everyone is in a rush to shop, attend parties, visit with friends and family, and lets not for all the cooking and baking!  Maybe that's why this appears to be so peaceful to me.  Like it's just out there doing it's own thing and following whatever or wherever path it chooses.  Don't get me wrong, I love this time of year for all of the reasons I mentioned above, but through it all we have to take time for ourselves (and to remember WHY we're actually celebrating) so we can have the peace we need to enjoy all that we're doing.  I hope you find time to enjoy some peace in your day!

I've been looking through some old journals and have found some patterns that I haven't used in awhile.  There are SO many patterns that it's almost impossible to keep track of them all.  I tried to make a calendar with them, adding a different pattern on each day, and then I tried making little samples and keeping them together so that I could take them along with me, but even with all of those efforts, there are so many that I know I miss and so many that I've never even seen or tried.  I love looking back at older drawings and seeing the new patterns is so inspiring.  It makes me want to sit and draw, draw, draw without any interruption, BUT since I have to live in the real world, that's not going to happen!!  The next month should prove interesting with all that's going on, but I've vowed to myself that I WILL draw and post!!  Enjoy your Thursday and be well!

Escape from Winter

Even though Winter hasn't officially arrived, the temperatures a definitely heading in that direction.  At home there is snow on the ground, and here the temps are below normal requiring coats and long johns (for those of us that are babies).  We had a wonderful Fall season this year which was unusually long.  Since Fall is my favorite season I didn't mind one bit.  But now with Winter coming on, it seems all I can think about is flowers, sunshine, and blue skies with puffy white clouds - and no jackets!!  I guess once again, we're never satisfied with what we have.  So with that as a reminder, I'm going to try to enjoy whatever the weather is for each day and be thankful that I'm still around to enjoy it.  Today there is plenty of sunshine so maybe I'll find a place in the sun and sit down (inside of course) and soak it all in!  Maybe sunshine in your day is just an attitude.  Hmmmmmm?

Challenge 51 - Fife

This is my last catch up piece for Laura's Challenges until she posts this weeks.  I do hope her kids are feeling better soon!  It's so hard when you have little ones and they don't feel well.  It takes a tole on the whole family but most often the mom carries the brunt of it.  Kids want their mommies when they feel icky!!  Come to think of it, I feel that way too but some luxuries fade away the older we get.  Darn!!  I'm enjoying sunshine here and I hope you are doing the same wherever you are!!

Challenge 50 - Biggify

I'm still trying to play catch up with my Challenge pieces.  If I hurry I might get caught up this week.  I've been busy working on some other projects and haven't had the tangling time I've wanted.  I was able to do some this weekend, so hopefully I can get them shaded and posted this week.  I'm really enjoying being back on my blog.  I'm not sure if anyone reads this (besides Mr. Thisorthat because I send it to him - he he!) but this is a great outlet for me and I truly missed be away.  Well, back to the drawing board as they say......

All hung up

I never seem to be able to just leave a square a square.  I always have to do something to change it up.  This time I decided to make it look like a picture.  The best thing about zentangles is there's never a right or wrong.  I love that!  It takes a lot of pressure off for sure!  Then the art can just shine through.  Happy day to you all my friends!

A String and then some

I started this with the string down the middle and it was too plain for my taste that day.  So I started adding more and more until I felt happy with it.  For some the string is the beginning and ending of their tangle, but for me it's more of a starting place.  I rarely draw a string and only tangle in the string.  More often than not, I draw a string and then add more in sections as I go along, which is what I've done with this one.  Maybe it's because I'm stubborn and don't like to follow the rules, or maybe it's because it doesn't look or feel right so I have to add more to it.  Whatever the case (I tend to think it's the first one) I'm generally pleased with the outcome and that's what art is all about - whatEVER  your medium is. 

And for all of you who know we've been trying to sell our house - IT SOLD!!!!!!  After five months and two different Realtors (it was with the second Realtor only two weeks) we can finally start planning and moving forward with whatever the next chapter holds for us.  Happy Friday my friends!!!

Centered

Sometimes being centered doesn't just mean you're in the middle.  Most of the time for me it means having the things in my life balanced.  It seems especially difficult for women because we wear so many different hats.  We try to balance home life, kids, work, other family obligations, and lets not forget to mention the necessary chores like laundry, housework, cooking, making time for friends, and finally the other things that we WANT to do.  There just isn't enough hours in the day to do it all and do it all well!  Maybe that's the real message - that we all try to do too much???  Do we have to feel centered to feel like we're doing a good job?  Maybe my New Year's resolution will be to be less centered and work at feeling more satisfied with the things I have accomplished.  Are you making your resolutions for the new year yet???

Floating or floundering

As most of you know, we have been trying to sell our house for about six months.  Mr. Thisorthat had to take a job in the city where we're moving to (if the house ever sells that is!!!) so our life has been split up between here and there.  It feels as if we just can't get this current chapter closed and until we do that, we can't turn the page to the next one.  It's like living in limbo which I've decided is no place to be!  Hopefully something will happen soon and then we can get on with our lives together instead of being in this holding pattern waiting for whatever comes next.  I hope you are able to take control of a little something in your world to make you feel like you're not just floating through your day.

Hello Strangers!!!

I'm embarrassed that I've been away so long, especially after making a promise to myself to post everyday.  When I made that promise I wasn't expecting to pack our house and work (like a trooper) to get it ready to sell.  It was a much bigger task than I ever anticipated.  I'm just glad THAT part of it's done!  Now I have to wait for it to sell so I can really get things packed up.  In the meantime, I'm visiting family for the holidays and finally got the chance to play catch up with the things that I REALLY want to do.  This challenge piece is from a few weeks ago, but I figured I need to start someplace.  Happy day to all my Internet friends and followers!

Productive Sunday!



I was so excited to see so many new patterns this week, but sometimes I just browse through them and don't actually use them.  To be frank, one of my flickr friends has been a real encouragement to me and has kept me tangling when I sometimes would rather do nothing.  She always has the nicest things to say and if you ever saw her work, you would feel like I do in that I could never measure up.  Even though we have different styles and her work is truly exquisite, she is the kindest person you could imagine.  SO thank you Carolyn because you have no idea what you kind words have meant to me!!!  You can see her work here.

With that said, I think we need to spend time lifting up those around us because we get so caught up in our own world that we often forget that others are going through rough spots too.  So find someone and encourage them either in their art, their friendship with you, or just because.  Thank you my friends for what you mean to me and thank you for stopping by!!  Hugs to you all!!

Royalty

Some of the patterns I used here looked very regal to me.  Well one sort of has that court jester look to it, but that's kind of regal - right???  When I'm finally able to sit down and draw a little, I've been trying to incorporate some newer patterns.  Sometimes I finish a piece and it looks like something that was thrown together and then I'm not happy with it.  I mean, what's the point in taking the time to work on something if you're not going to be happy with the results.  I know some times it's a learning process but that's ok.  We all experiment.  The problem I have is when you're just throwing work out to get it done - like a competition or something.  For me art is something personal and you have to feel it for it to be completed and to be satisfied within.  Maybe that's why companies find good art (that someone has poured themselves into) and attempt to mass produce it.  It works on some level, but then again it doesn't.  I've been starting to think about Christmas (I know it's kinda late huh?) and the state of our country, so for me, I'm going to try and either make or buy hand made items this year to support our local artist and give money back to the place we call home.

Picture in a picture

First of all let me say that I HATE change (like most people I guess), and second of all, I have my days and nights trying to switch places!  It can be exhausting!!!!  With all of that said, I haven't been tangling as much as I would like but I'm hoping this week will give me some time to do that.  Enjoy your weekend and hopefully you will get to spend some quality time with your friends and family!

Thursday????

Oh my gosh where has this week gone????  Yesterday was the first snow of the year for us here in Omaha.  I would love to say I was housebound and got a ton accomplished - but not so much!!  Actually I did get a lot of computer work done which I really needed to do, so I lit a fire and parked myself with my computer and hot chocolate and stayed cozy all day.  Even though I'm home most days I rarely get the  chance to just sit and work on my computer.  It was a great day!!  Not to mention I was able to take and send some great pictures of it snowing that my far away family missed out on.  Of course they're still running around in shorts so they weren't too upset that they were "missing out".  But today we're back to lots of sunshine , blue sky, and temps in the 40's.  Snow is best when it comes and goes!  It's beautiful to watch fall but I don't think I'm quite ready for a long stretch of it covering everything yet.  I hope whatever your weather, that this is an awesome day for you!!

More old and new

Old reliable patterns are so great to fall back on.   I'm playing with old and new patterns and started with the flowerish part on this one.  Before I knew it, it had grown into this piece.  It's not overly creative (which is how I feel when I use too many old patterns) but I'm still playing with new ones too.  Enjoy your fine fall Friday!

A quiet night

As most of you who read my blog regularly know we've been trying to sell our house the last couple of months.  Since it's still not sold, we've had to split our ever shrinking family up so we (or some of we) could move on with establishing things in our new location.  Good thing when your kids grow up and move on with their own lives - bad thing it get really quiet around the house!  Since we're living in a split world at the moment, the evenings around the house can get quiet which is a good thing for tangling.  It totally serves its purpose by bringing up the levels of zen in a world that doesn't feel very zeny at times.  I hope today finds you in a perfect zen place!

Challenge 45 - Punzel

I was excited to try out this new pattern, but it proved to be more difficult for me than I thought it would.  After I finished the first one (which I'm not convinced it looks like it's supposed to) I decided to change my layout and added some different patterns.  I'll have to do some practice pieces before I attempt another "official" piece to post.  Practice makes perfect - right???

More new patterns

I have to say that I'm so proud of and happy for my fellow tanglers that have such creative minds!!!  There are so many new patterns circulating right now that it's hard not to want to try them all.  Some look so complicated but when you read the broken down instructions, they appear so simple.  I look at some of them and think "why didn't I think of that?"  I guess that's what being in a group is all about.  We can learn from each other and help each other grow.  Some of my new pattern pieces don't seem to flow as well as I would like them to, but isn't it really all about the fun anyway???  Have some fun in your Friday!

New and Old

I've been playing around with some new patterns, but the old ones are always a must!  I always like the layered feel to tangles.  The depth and dimension that the layers add gives each piece such personality.  I'm still learning a lot about drawing (shading, coloring, achieving 3 D looks) so this is just more experimenting on my part.  Experiment on something you've been dieing to try and see what becomes of it.  Sometimes the best surprises are accidents!

Heading North

At the time I was drawing this, I didn't realize that I had been inspired by all the new Christmas items already popping up on the shelves- in OCTOBER!!!!  What are they thinking?????  I can remember my mom saying, "they bring Christmas things out earlier every year".  Well now I've turned into my mom and are saying the same thing!  Don't get me wrong - I love Christmas!!!  Not just the day but the lead up, the menu planning, the thinking of gift ideas, the baking, the crafts, all that stuff.  But not in October!!  Come on!!!!  Every season has it's place in time and we all know that Christmas will be here at the end of every year, so why rush it???  Anyway, I guess I'll have to hang my head as I realize that I too have been sucked into the premature thoughts of this upcoming Christmas season.  Enjoy today and ALL it holds for you!!!

Challenge 44 - Tangle from inside

Yay, I'm back on track!!!  Even though it turned out a little crooked (which of course I didn't realize until I finished) I felt good about getting this week's challenge done. I'm sure I put too much pressure on myself so now I can breeze through the rest of the week.  This started as the Equerre from Genevieve Crabe and honestly I don't think I've used it too much.  I wanted to find a pattern that I could easily add other patterns to so when I saw this it was a winner for me.  I'm sure I'll use it again after seeing how easy it was.  Genevieve always comes up with the best patterns!!!  Anyway, I hope if you're one of Lauras' challengers that your piece comes as easy for you as this did for me.  Happy tangling my friends and a happy day to all!!

Challenge 43 - Sunflower Fun

I know LAST week was the Sunflower challenge, but for some reason I'm having challenge block.  I finally was able to come up with something Saturday night, which was too late to post for the challenge, but not too late to post on my blog.  So here it is - last weeks challenge.  I'm feeling pretty good about this week (it's less specific I guess) so hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to get it posted and be back on track.  I guess that's the good thing about having your own blog - you can do whatever you want - ha ha!  We're having the dreary version of fall here today so I hope you have sunshine wherever you are!

Is this vertical?

Sometimes I'm not sure about things.  When I started this, I thought oh, this would be great if it were vertical.  But after I finished it I had to ask myself, is it vertical???  Does vertical mean it's straight up and down, or does it mean it's just not horizontal?  I know this isn't horizontal so it's vertical - right???? Help me solve this debate (even if it's just a debate in my mind) and let me know what you think. 

Working inside out

This piece I started with the circles in the middle then worked my way out.  No string.  Sometimes I like to work that way and other times I need the string for direction.  We've been over THAT issue before!  Well, even though the house has been on the market for a couple of months, there still is so much to do.  I've been busy painting (wondering if that's EVER going to end) but with Mr. Thisorthat gone, it makes me wonder if I need to check the outside for things that might need some work.  I've always been the inside person and he's the outside person.  That's all messed up right now since I'm the inside AND outside person.  I guess I need to move from the inside out to see if I can work some magic there too!  Happy day my friends!! :)

Change is constant!

There are so many changes going on around me right now!!  Some I like and some I'm not happy with at all!!!!  Since fall is my favorite season, I'm totally enjoying the leaves falling from the trees and blowing around on the back deck.  I love the coolness of the mornings and being able to have the windows open to feel some of the gentle breezes and listen to the crows cawing.  It all makes me want to bake and get settled in for the upcoming winter (which NONE of us are ready for yet).  The sale of the house is dragging on which has brought about other changes (that I don't like), but since there is a time for everything, I'm trying to enjoy what's in front of me right now.  Step outside and take in a deep breath and be thankful for all that you have going on!

Fill it up!

For some reason when I was working on this piece, I just kept going until I had the entire page filled.  I don't know if it was subconsciously intentional or if I just lost track of my design, but it just kept growing and growing.  Obviously I didn't have a string with this one and just added pattern after pattern.  Sometimes I do better without a string and other times I need the structure of the string.  I can see where I would change some of the pattern placements if I could re-do this, but since I can't, it is what it is.  Thanks for taking the time to read my blog my friends!!

Challenge 42 - Hope

The challenge this  for was to tangle something representing Hope. Hope can and is a lot of different things to a lot of different people.  But after thinking about this, I've come to the conclusion that hope is something that spreads.  Even if it doesn't start with us (because we've lost hope due to something we're going through or have been through) the people around you that have hope will share theirs, which ultimately spreads hope all around.  You will eventually find your hope again (yes, I'm speaking from personal experience) and then it will be your turn to spread hope to others.  Really, we all have hope inside of us, we just get overwhelmed sometimes and forget its there.  Share your hope with someone who's misplaced theirs - it's a gift that WILL make a difference!!

Falling and spinning

During the week of the pinwheel challenge I must have started six or seven pieces that never made it to completion.  I just couldn't get the pinwheel concept from my head to my paper.  It was so frustrating!!!  This week I was just playing around and before I knew it, I had these pinwheel looking things staring at me.  How could that happen????  Well I guess whatever the reason is (like I don't do well under pressure, or I'm stubborn and only want to do things in my own time) I'm glad I got this done and it could fit into the challenge of weeks gone by.  Maybe the message is that it's ok to march to our own drum.  If that's the case my friends, then drum away!!!!

Indian Tendencies

I've been a little slow to tangle this week and therefore am behind a little in my posting.  I've been enjoying trying out new patterns and putting them together.  This one seems to have a little indian flair to me.  Enjoy and thanks for stopping by my blog!!

Something borrowed - something new

They say that one mans trash is another mans treasure (and I'm so NOT saying this is trash by any means) but I think it holds true with a lot of things.  We get used to the same things we use regularly but when we see someone else using something that we used to use, they seem to appreciate it more than we did (because it stopped being special to us).  I think it's that way with tangle patterns too.  I use the same ones over and over but when I deliberately seek out new ones, I have a new love and inspiration for tangling.  That's not to say that I quit loving my "stand bys", but it's refreshing to see new patterns in the work of others.  Tangling (and other tanglers) is a constant inspiration to me and I love learning new patterns!  In whatever you do today, I hope you find new inspiration to give new meaning to what you already are doing.

Lost in Space

For some reason when I see black paper it makes me think of outer space.  I like the look and and feel of these kinds of pieces.  It's like they take on a whole different life of their own.  Like the possibilities are endless and your imagination can run wild.  I hope today you can find what's inside you and put it to paper to give your spirit flight.

Phone vs. Camera

The past couple of days I have been taking my pictures with the camera on my phone.  I know I need to take the battery out of my good camera and charge it (or find the extra battery), but since I'm lazy  so busy I've been trying to make due.  For some reason there seems to be a strange shadowy thing thing on the side of this one which has forced me to rethink my camera strategy.  It's not that I mind the shadow too much, but it's kind of an icky color and doesn't do anything to enhance the finished project.  So I'm off to look for my battery charger.......

Sometimes when I color a piece I like to play with the colors in Photoshop after I upload it.  That's what I did with this one.  The left picture is done with prisma color pencils and gel pen.  The right one almost looks like a nuclear fairy garden but that's OK - it was fun playing!  I hope you have fun playing in your day today!

Challenge 41 - Duo Tangles II

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I'm sorry to say that I just wasn't up for last weeks' challenge.  It's not that I didn't try because I have the many pages of my journal to say otherwise.  I just couldn't get my pinwheel to come together.  SO here we are with a new week and a new challenge - YAY!!!!!!  I'm not sure I care too much for the opus pattern, but I was having a hard time with my hands shaking while I was drawing today.  I will try it again another day.  I almost feel a sense of freedom getting this done (especially on Monday no less) so now my mind can go anywhere it wants to go.  This should be an interesting week.  I hope your week goes like that too!

Something old

I spent the day yesterday with Little Miss Thisorthat and didn't get any drawing done.  So I looked through some of my old drawings (like from January) and saw some things that needed a little tweaking on this piece.  It made me see how much my style has changed since I first started tangling.  Not that it's bad, but just caught me a little off guard.  When I first started I thought tangling was just drawing a series of patterns, but after awhile (and after seeing all the awesome and diverse work from my flickr friends) I realized there are different styles and you have to find your own.  Some days I think I have it figured out and others, well - not so much!  I hope your style shines on this fabulous day!

Dressin up

I'm still trying to attempt the challenge (just not as whole hearted as I started out) but in the meantime, this showed up this morning.  TOTAM was here with me and he thought these looked just liked patterns from different dress shirts.  I'm not sure I totally agree with that, but getting a new perspective is refreshing.  You know how you get in a slump or start to second guess yourself, so it's nice to get someone elses outlook.  Of all of my kids, TOTAM is the most complimentary so I always welcome his opinions. I have a busy day on the books today so I hope your day is full of happy things!

Coming together

I  am admittingly (if thats a real word) having a hard time with this weeks' challenge.  I've made three or four attempts to start it but have not been happy with any of them.  Why is a pinwheel so hard for me????  I wanted to get something posted and since all my free time has been spent doing challenge pieces that haven't turned out, this is my substitution for today.  It was nice to work on something that seemed to come together with ease.  I needed ease!!!

On another note, I'm sure most of you know Molossus, whose life imitates doodles (Sandra Strait) well she is having a giveaway celebrating her 300,000 views to her blog.  It's an awesome giveaway and it closes on October 1.  If you haven't checked her work out, you HAVE to!!!  She's one of the best there is and she is talented is so many mediums - a true inspiration to all (not to mention she's uber nice too)!!  So go check it out and enter.  But let me know if you win!!!

A tisket a tasket

I have to admit that most of my drawings I either see something right off the bat or I don't see anything at all.  Don't get me wrong, when I dont' see anything that's not necessarily a bad thing, I guess I mean to me its just undefined.  This one screamed out BASKETS so what better than a tisket a tasket.  I guess I could have colored it green and yellow then it would have been perfect - he he!!!  Enjoy this awesome Monday!!!

Mish Mash

I couldn't decide on a pattern theme, like all grids or all straight lines, so this is a mish mash of the things that were on my mind.  Kinda scary when you think about it.  We're having fall weather in the mid-west (rain and cold) so we're dragging out the sweaters and sweats.  I guess it's true football weather for us here.  Enjoy your day, whatever you having going on.

More love

This was one of the pieces I started for the challenge that took a quick turn into a different direction.  I'm not unhappy with it, but I don't feel it represented the challenge for me.  There are always so many patterns that I love but when I start putting them together, some go together better than others.  I'm not sure these fit together like I thought they would, but I like the piece anyway.  Regardless of what direction your day goes, I hope you're happy with how it turns out. 

Challenge 39 - All you need is love

I thought when I saw the Challenge for this week it would be easy breezy, BUT I don't know how many drawings I started before I got far enough into this one that I finished it.  Love can be so many different things and as I found out, I love a lot of things!!  First and foremost my family, but also flowers, hearts, quilts, and color (which obviously didn't make it here).  Of course there are tons of other things that I love but how do you draw them???  There are friends, books, certain foods, places (like the beach), websites (I love reading others' blogs) and just too many to name or even draw.  So for today, these are SOME of the things I love!  Maybe tomorrow I'll get to the others.

Color again!

When I finished this tangle some of the patterns seemed to run together, like you couldn't see where one ended or even what the pattern was.  That's why I decided to color it and give it some definition.  At first I wasn't too sure it was working then I finished it and stepped back - I was pleased.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the color (like we all do) and other times it's soothing to me.  This was the soothing piece.

On another note I want to say something about our own art. We all tend to be critical of the things we produce but at the same time enjoy the process.  I think that just like in life, its the process that makes it all worth while.  The finished project in the end is going to be a reflection of that.  Therefore, don't be so hard on your art.  It's part of you and it's fabulous!!!  Keep sharing what you love!!!

Spinning round and round

First let me say that I am horrible at staying on task!  I start one project and end up in a completely different room.  One things always leads to something else!  It's like that in my chores, my thoughts and even my speech (which would make since since my brain is like a pin ball game).  The one and only thing I am great about staying on task about is sleep.  I don't require much sleep (5-7 hours usually) but when I lay my head down, the spinning stops and my brain is done!  Of course it starts back up before my feet hit the ground in the morning, but at least I get a couple of hours of nothing (and I mean NOTHING)!  I'm not sure what any of that means except that I hope you are well rested today and can enjoy this awesome day!

Grandma's little helper

Yesterday Little Miss Thisorthat spent the day with me and part of the day we drew.  Each time I would draw something she would say, "grandma let me see".  Then she would either pick the next pattern or say something like you should put a flower here or what can we do next.  I was intrigued by her in active roll in my drawing.  It was a memorable time and one I will forever cherish!  When it was all said and done she was looking for the butterfly she thought should be there, but it never made it to the page.  Instead she drew a butterfly on her paper and was very proud of it.  After having 3 wonderful sons, it's the most awesome thing having a little girl around that interacts so differently than my boys did and I thoroughly love having her around.  Whether it's a well planned event or looking out the window watching the squirrels run along the fence line, please, please, PLEASE make the time to enjoy those you love!

Preclude to this weeks' challenge

I told you yesterday that I had done a trial run piece to this weeks' challenge.  I'm sure I've seen the paradox before, but since I'm not very good with the names of the patterns, I had to review some instructions before trying this one out.  After I got started on it, I really liked it!  It amazed me how by drawing the lines (which didn't look like they were making anything but a mess) ended up looking like this great pattern!  I think I need more work because I would like to be able to make a deliberate pattern, so I'm sure I'll be practicing this pattern more in the coming days/weeks.  I hope you're enjoying awesome fall weather wherever you are!