I've been doing a lot of creating lately but nothing I can share right now. But, I decided to share what's happened with my umbrella project. Six of the eight panels were done. One day it rained here, so I used it before it was finished. Then, it rained the next day and I couldn't find it. I thought to my self, "Self, I just used it yesterday." (Yes, I talk that way.) But, I was in a hurry so I left. Then a couple of days later I walked into the studio to find the umbrella in this condition.

You get the general idea even if you can't see the torn sections or the teeth marks. One word - dogs. Grrrrrrr. I must have dropped it on my way from the car to the house, though I'd really like to blame it on someone else. And the dogs leave no opportunity untouched. Mutilated. Dang it! (We swear with a G-rating around here.) I'm wondering if I should do another one or cut my losses. 

Why couldn't it have happened when only 2 panels were done?  Don't you hate when you're the one who wrecks something you've spent a long time to create?

Take your own photo. This one is of glitter laid out on a piece of white paper, laying on the ironing board near a window. I got really close so that it focused on one area and blurred the others. I could have taken it farther away but it didn't have that great of an effect. The only change I made was to make it a little darker because I wanted to use white lettering. Here is a download if you want to use it sometime.

Add your own text with no more than 2 font types. If you're not sure which ones, just use one. It's better to error on the side of understated. Vary the size of your font, it makes it more interesting with little work. Also, leave a little "white" space. In this case, it's really not white but glitter, but it's space that the eye can rest while viewing. 

It doesn't need to be used for only New Year's Eve, it can be for any type of party in the future.

Go big or don't bother. Well, not entirely true but I REALLY like painting large. It's just that there is not always a market for it. Like where would you but a baby this big?

But big makes such a, well......... BIG IMPACT. It's impressive. It demands to be noticed. It says I'm important and have an earnest message. And the message is usually some form of, "I'm larger than life." 

Here's a painting that I did recently for an international art competition. One of the reasons this contest is so great is because it lets the artist go big, if they want. Most don't. It's usually a gallery space issue. And shipping. And stuff. 

Most of my paintings end up too big to enter competitions. It's a problem but I usually just paint the size the content dictates. So sometimes, go big or don't bother, should be, go big and don't bother. But I still paint big anyways. I can't help myself. 

I don't know what it is about drapery but I love it. Love. It. When I see well done drapery drawings I just want to reach out and touch it. Feel it. Hold it. All that layered, luscious fabric. Maybe it's the seamstress in me that has a tactile connection. Truly, I don't know why, and really, I don't care. 
I just do. I know my little drawing above looks weak next to these below, but I still attempt fabric.

Here are more of my attempts with fabric. In paint.

UPDATE: It was suggested that I  work up a graphic that you can purchase here for $1.00. I did. 
Thanks Kathy for the idea.

Made this little eye chart over at EyeChartMaker, for the Boyfriend. I've been thinking about him a lot. 

What would you put on one?

Create a kit. A date kit. Ready to go, when you're on the go. Sometimes fun can't wait. So don't make it. Be ready. Everything you need for a date (or a group date, or to entertain kids) is in the kit. RTG. Ready to go.

This is the EZ Breezy Kit • When it's a beautiful day, take it outside.
Kit includes: blanket, napkins, drinks, appetizer, main course, dessert, and an activity of playing big ball volleyball.

We tried this out with a youth group and it was a hit. (And we actually did it inside a gym.)

I saw this image on Pinterest in my explorations. It's an umbrella with the Mary Poppin's song, 
A Spoonful of Sugar, lettered all over it. I thought Leen Sadder did a clever job with it. 
Then I said to myself, "Self, I want to do one." So I am. 

Thought the spoonful of sugar song is delightful but I decided on quotes and sayings about art.
I designed the lettering in InDesign, printed it, and placed it under the umbrella.

I traced over it with a black sharpie®, fine tip and regular. Then filled it in.

I've designed all the panels and have finished three of them so far. Here is the first panel.
It rained the day before yesterday so I was able to test run it. And there were no smears or runs. Yay.

One artist tip. If you try this (which is really a lot of fun) decide if you want to write on the inside or outside of the umbrella. Leen did it on the inside, see below, so you can see the writing when looking at the person under the umbrella. I wanted my writing to be seen from the outside, so people could read it from a distance. I don't know how easy, or not, it was for Leen but for me doing doing the lettering near the top is a little tricky. Some of it I have to do standing up with the open umbrella in a chair just because it's awkward for me. 

I'll show you the finished project when it's done. What quotes would you put on an umbrella?

I did another art & craft project like the tattooed totes but on jeans. And I took some still shots while doing it to show the step by step process. I tried to figure a way to make it easy for someone to DIY and follow along, without having a million (ok, not a million but over 100) photos. So, for the inner artist, I put them in video form. The idea is that you can stop/start for each step of the tutorial. Since this is the first time I've done this tell me what you think, what you would do differently or a better way to do it.

This is a Frame Art that I have printed and put in my studio. I really feel that yearning. It's 5.75" x 5.75"
It's also linked on WhipperBerry on their Friday Flair Link Party. 

I'm not obsessed with Shatto Milk Company. Really. Though it might seem so since I've painted their packaging, buy their products (yum), my kids work there, they sell my prints, and we just had my daughter's wedding reception there. Other than that there is no connection for me. Well, except this last weekend I spent the day painting there for their Family Day on the Farm. Yeah, except for all of that, there is no obsession. Right?

Anyway. Here is a slide show of the painting i did. I haven't painted like that, at a public event while people pass and talk while you paint, before. At Shatto they do a lot of farm related things that day and I was there to add a little something different to their farm. I thought it would be fun. And it was. I'd do something like that again.

Do you have a company you obsess over?