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.

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.

Maybe being an artist doesn't lend itself to writing a Bucket List. It's kind of depressing and it's limiting. Doesn't leave room to recognize the moment and seize it. But, as I was lusting over some artistic type tools this morning, figuring out how I can manage to get them (oh, and I will get them) I realized that my Bucket List (a wish list of things to do before I die) came in an entirely different form. Mine is a Studio Wish List - a wish list of things to try before I die. So, I have started to create my wish list. I'm dreaming already. 

A Bucket List? No. A Studio Wish List? Yes! Yes! Yes! (Can I use anymore Yeses or exclamation points?) This is the way people must feel about their Bucket Lists, the way I feel about my Studio Wish List. I would give up food for some of these things. Is that sick and wrong? Wait, don't answer that.

Since I am just starting it today, what would you suggest goes on a Studio Wish List? I am so giddy I can't think of them but if you mention one I've probably thought about it before :)

(Reposted from the blog I'm closing.) The Boyfriend built a boat! There was nothing Bitesized about it. Well, except the kid's efforts compared to his efforts (which the Boat Builder was very grateful for but jeez, he built a boat! And it floats!) Since they did add here and there with their small efforts they are invested in the "we built a boat!" My Husband gave them a chance to be part of something bigger than they could ever do on their own. And making more memorable moments has just begun.

I love that man!! Have you ever built a boat?