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I finished the canvas and I really like it! Maybe I'm over excited, or to green to see the I'm sure, many flaws, but it's my second canvas/mixed media/collage (see I'm not even sure what to call it! lol).I know it's hard to read the text... it reads..... "Don't look back. Don't look forward. Look up! Keep focus on the things above."
This is the woman I was sketching last night to incorporate onto the canvas. I painted her and I'm really giddy about her! I really really like how she turned out!!
This is only the second canvas I've worked on and on Monday night I base coated it with a leaf green acrylic paint. After that, I had collaged some dictionary paper, some maps and some lace, and covered that lightly in gesso. On top of that, I did a wash of russett brown and let it dry overnight.The dictionary text had the word trust, trusty, trustworthy and other variations. I've always been drawn to map paper, too. I'm not sure where this is headed, I'm just doing it as I go.Last night when I went back to it, I very sparingly put a light wash of the same leaf green. I brushed some metallic amethyst on some bubble wrap and "stamped" that on the canvas. That was a lot of fun! I've never used bubble wrap before and I really like how it turned out especially being that I used a metallic paint. It didn't take long for that to dry and then I stamped some flourishes on it and this is where I'm at so far. The picture really doesn't do it justice. The buble wrap circles are really pretty! They sort of shimmer a light purple and you can't see the green "base" to the background very well, but I'm really happy with it! 
I spent the rest of the night on my belly, on the living room floor watching, "The Shield" and sketching a woman on water color paper. Have a good day everyone~ ! Yesterday is over and today is a whole new opportunity!
As reported earlier, the wedding went very well. Our son asked my husband to be his best man. How awesome is that? I don't know of many young men who would choose their father to be their best man. What an honor that was for my hubby.
Jessica also explained to me that Nolan's mother has her own role as "the mother of the groom" and I have been such a large part of Nolan's life and so supportive of her, that she would also like me to stand up for her. I, too, was honored.
This being said..... since we were both in the wedding, I had to trust my camera to somebody else and ....... the pictures are awful! I have floor and elbow shots! The pictures that are of full people, look like a big blur. So! It will be a little while longer, until I gather pictures from other friends and family before I have anything to share.
The ceremony was beautiful. They were married in the church that we all attend as a family.
The groom ~ Nolan's mother read a small scripture, and his sister (23), sang. She has an amazing voice that makes me cry just at it's sound, let alone that she's singing at her brothers wedding! Nolan asked that his middle brother (25) stand up for him, and his youngest brother (11) light the candles. The position I was standing in with the bridesmaids made it possible to see all those silly faces he made to Jessica, the serious ones, and the lovingly mouthed... "don't cry", as he wiped her tears during the song his sister sang. I had a really hard time holding it together!
The bride ~ Jessica was beautiful! She was proceeded down the isle by her 3 yr old daughter and her nephew, and then walked down the isle by her father. She had two long terms friends, myself and her sister-in-law stand up for her. Apart from nerves grabbing hold of her mid vows and needing the pastor to repeat a few things, she did very well.
The reception ~ Dinner was made by Jessica's family and was absolutely fantastic! My brother & sister-in-law came from out of state and my cousins from out of town. It was so good seeing them. I wish I would have had more time to spend with them, and sort of felt guilty that I didn't. I was finally able to give Nolan's all of his scrapbook from throughout the years of his life, and made a "blank one" to insert the pictures of their wedding, to begin their lives together. Now I have a new "victim" and will have to teach Jess how to scrapbook!
They are happy with their day and I'm so proud of both of them.
Creating~ 
Last night.... with things back to normal, and the house clean again, and laundry on the go.... I just wanted to sit down and create something. ANYTHING! lol. So I sat with a 9 x 12 canvas and started on a background. I have no idea what I'm making at this point, I'm just....creating....and it feels so good.
More on the canvas later.
My son is married~! The wedding went very well. There were a few minor bumps in the road but I think we recovered very well. I am exhausted and have lots to catch up on in the house, and will post more later. Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes. The ceremony ~
The Departure ~
I haven't seemed to have time for much posting, or art, or reading, or much of anything for that matter.My eldest son (step) is getting married THIS Saturday! Of my three step-kids, he is the last to get married. Wasn't it just last week that I was cleaning up vomit as his little round face pouted with fever and wasn't it just yesterday that we sat at the kitchen table with a distraught little boy trying to learn the math principles? They grow up so quick, don't they? His brother, now married for almost 3 years, has two children. His sister, now married a month, with a step-daughter of her own. The eldest is the last to get married and now he too, will be a step-Dad of two. All three of them were raised in our home and I hope every day that I have given them a good base, or example, of what being a "good" step-parent is all about. About never trying to "replace" their parent, but being close to them and there for them at every turn, on THEIR terms, when they...are ready. About never disgracing or belittling their natural parent. About the balance that is needed in not being "too strong" with them and yet not allowing yourself to be walked on....because of. I hope they see that it's about being in it for the long haul and albeit kids may not understand things in their young years, when they grow up, they will see how much you love them. They will see what a blessing and honor it has been to have those kids in their lives. And despite calling you by your name, when you overhear the conversation with their friends, and you are refer ed to as "Mom", or you get that phone call of desperation, needing your advise, or they get that hug that lasts that extra three seconds with a "thank you" or an "I love you".... that it all comes full circle.I've made a lot of mistakes. I regret a lot of things. I have made a poor example in some areas of my life.... but these are the things I can only pray that I have taught..... my children.Now the youngest.... "our" son.... He's 11 and I'm locking him up in a closet until he's 40. That's not considered abuse is it? I'll still feed him, I promise!!
Stacey has a some wonderful Hang tags to giveaway. I love them....go check her out~!
My complete Doodle prompt for my soul journal. This was fun for me. I had a really awful day at work, and when I got out at 5:00, I had to run home and pick up my son for football and be at practice by 5:30. (mind you...that means, drive home, change myself into something comfy, make sure he is changed into all his football gear, get the water bottle packed, the asthma inhaler, be out the door again and to practice all in 1/2 hour) By the time I got to practice I was whipped! Once it got too cold for me, I sat in the car and "doodled". It's not real pretty, or artistic or anything, but the way I see it, is it marred and has marks and imperfections, that make up a beautiful whole piece, much like we are as humans. I am trying to learn to see past those marks to the quality and beauty of the the whole thing in all of us, and everything I encounter.(wow..... that was a lot deeper than I had anticipated!) Anyway.... Thank you Kathryn, I enjoyed this one, too!
This is my completed Healing Love soul journal prompt. It's for a man, obviously, in a lot of emotional and mental distress at this time in his life for both personal and professional reasons.
A friend of mine often writes poetry and song lyrics. I was thrilled when she asked me to read something and wanted my opinion of it. It, and she, is amazing. I cried when I read it.I feel a journal inspiration coming on......Mama made a baby
Daddy went to jail
He drove her crazy
Like a hammer drives a nail
An all-American boy
Rose from the dirt
Went away to the navy
Came home in a skirt
He said Mama can you still love me
Even if I’m gay
She never answered the question
And they still aint speakin today
Somebody needs to love me
Somebody needs to love you
Butter-side up or butter-side down
Somebody needs to love him to
Silver-spoon fed Juliette
Found her Jer-Romeo
Put a bun her the oven
Left her all alone
She said daddy can you still love me
Let me dance at your ball
But the king don’t raise black babies
Inside the castle walls
We've got to… Love – the weak and the weary
Love – the strange and the scary
Love – the bald and the hairy
Somebody got to love them to
Christians don’t like Muslims
Muslims don’t like Jews
My God don’t like your God
Nor the path you choose
So they lead them to the ditch
By staff and by rod
Shoot one by one
Till they pray to another mans god
I just discovered a beautiful blog today, and Pam is giving away two beautiful prints to celebrate 10,000 hits on her blog! Her work is beautiful, check her out~! Pam also mentioned it would be ok to post a picture of her prints..... I love them~!
I completed my lost and found journal prompt and this one was really emotional for me. The background started with blue acrylic paint, then washed with a yellow, and finally I used distressed it with brown distressing ink. Taken from one of the prompts from Sarah's journey, I put a blob of orange paint on the page, closed the book, opened it again, and let it dry over night. The border items.. the "otello" snaps and vintage girl were sent to me in some swap mail I received that day, the string, I found on the ground at my son's football practice (and we tell our kids not to pick up garbage!! lol how funny is THAT?), the stamp was given to me by a co-worker who knows I collect cool ephemera and the buttons and zipper I had laying around the house. The leaf, as instructed in the prompt, has reaffirming comments on it, that were taken from comments other blog readers have left me. The "lost" is sort of personal and is covered with butterfly velum because I don't want to be THAT easily read.I like the border, it was fun doing it, and I'm happy with the overall layout, too!
Wow~ I've never been tagged before and I got tagged twice in one day! I was tagged by Jennifer at Trial and Error and and by purplecats corner!
I have to give seven random facts about myself and then tag seven other blog friends.
1. My parents emigrated from Scotland and despite the miles, we are still very close to our family.
2. I would eat soup and salad for breakfast lunch and dinner if I could convince my family into it.
3. The last thing I do before crawling into bed every night, is read my Bible.
4. Although I love my friends and family, I am happiest when all alone.
5. I was born with a hole in my spine. (no big deal - don't even realize it's there.)
6. When I was about 7 yrs old I played T-ball. After trying to hit the ball, and missing, I quit and walked home. I've never played ball since.
7. I would love to buy a "fixer upper home" on the ocean front, and retire there.
Now the trick is, I'm supposed to tag 7 other people, but I was tagged twice.... so I guess I'm left tagging 14 people. Whew! Here we go.......
KayakChick, Anna, Annette, Connie, Suze, Cheryl, and Dove.
Whew....and another seven, Linda, Karen, Marci, Linda, Christy, Kathryn, and Kim!
Ok girls! If I could tag FOURTEEN people, then YOU can find seven to tag, right!?
I was dreading this, but it was kind of fun! :)
