Lexi's Painting

This painting was so fun for me. It hit every creative hot button, from my graph paper and colored pencils, to trying different designs, to the fear of actually starting, to the light bulb moment of discovering what it needed.

 



I'll probably add a few more leaves, but I wanted to keep it simple. Oh, if I only knew how to paint a little bird! I'd perch him on top of the X! Can't you just picture that! Then maybe one more flying towards the x, under the L. Maybe someday.

But for now,

Decisions, decisions...

I've been messing around off and on for the last couple of days with my graph paper and colored pencils. I want Lexi's painting to be feminine and girly (yes, there is a difference), but not so sweet that it becomes obnoxious. Know what I mean?

I started with a background of pink and yellow plaid, but decided it even made my teeth hurt. I guess the bookshelf and magazine table I did in those colors several years ago used up any sugary leanings I had at the time. Next I tried green and yellow plaid with a darker green skinny line and black and white checks on the outside. Definitely no.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love graph paper and colored pencils? When I dream of designing something, which I have never followed through on by-the-way, out come the pencils. I am no artist, but if I draw suggestions of how I want something, I'm happy. I even bought water color pencils at one point, but don't really understand how to use them. I'm such a dork.

Anyway, today I decided on the colors I'm going to use and the pattern of the background, and actually put the first coat on the canvas.

Knitless

Since finishing Shannon's scarf, I've made two cowls (neck warmers), one out of the softest furry yarn ever, Carabou, and the second out of a yarn I didn't really care for but had started knitting with it anyway. Eh. Maybe it will soften up after being washed and blocked.

What to do now? Hubby is working on his audio book, adding snippets of music and station identification jingles to his words. And frankly, I need something to occupy my mind to block out listening over, and over, and over to his book. After 18 years of listening to production edits of radio commercials, TV commercials, and on-hold messages, I've become quite adept at tuning it out. He he.

So I thought I'd buy a blank canvas at Michael's Arts & Crafts store today and make little granddaughter Lexi a painting of her name to hang in her room. Hopefully it will come out well enough that her dad won't be too embarrassed to hang it. :) I'll post a picture, maybe, if I'm not too embarrassed.

Daughter Gets Her Present!

WooHoo! Finally finished, albeit after Christmas. Better late than never, right Shannon? 

First time using a chart, and that was a wee bit confusing for me, but as usual I learned so much. And guess what? I love charts! Its just seems so much easier to follow where I am on the many repeats of the pattern.  This is far from perfect, but wrapped around her neck, nobody will notice. If I decide to make another for myself, I'll know better.

This was before being blocked (washed, stretched and opened the lacework).

This is after blocking. I swear it's like wrapping yourself in a warm cloud! 

The pattern is #151 Samantha Featherweight Lace Shawl on ravelry.  The yarn is Elann Silken Kydd which is a laceweight yarn, 70% mohair, 30% silk. Yummy. It's pretty slippery yarn and I was always scared that I would drop stitches because of it. After a while, I learned how to hold the needles in a way that wouldn't let that happen. 

BTW, I did change my browser to be able to post pictures. I don't know, maybe I just needed updating, or perhaps it's the fact that I use Picassa to process photos. I don't know enough about technology to answer that.

My header doesn't fit anymore, but I'll get around to that. :)

Posting Pictures, or Not!

All of a sudden, I can't post pictures. I just can't figure it out. I click on the little picture icon and the window comes up for posting a pic, but there's no browse button.
Any ideas out there?

Getting Close!

The first days of 2013 have been exciting ones for us. We have a release date for Hubby's book...April 6th!

As we get closer, we've gone through 2 edit phases, and now have an actual formatted copy. THAT'S EXCITING! It has the finished bookcover, the copyright information, pictures, chapter titles, page numbers, everything. He has also started on the audio book. Since that is what he does for a living (uses his voice), it's a natural.

We really had no idea when we started how to work with a publisher, or the many phases of getting it from his written beginning, to a hold-in-your-hand book, an e-book, and an audio book. As we get closer to that magic date, I'll start posting teasers from the book, and maybe even his book trailer!

Thank You!

 

Lovely Hesper over at Little House on the Prairie had a giveaway! And I won!

 

Such a generous giveaway, and I love it all! I've been looking for something "seasonal looking" to hang in the front window of the motorhome, and this wonderful metal snowflake will be perfect! And who wouldn't love tea and cookies? And candy?? And lavendar soap and body butter??? And then I can wash and dry my tea cup with this adorable dish towel! :) Thank you, Hesper!