April doodles . . .

just because . . .

Yesterday was simply a fun day.
Flowers, polka dots, doodles . . . little stuff that inspired me.
 Inspiration is everywhere if you just take the time to notice.

Then there was Charlotte. . . who seemed to think painting her face at preschool was a good idea.
  She was as wound up and silly as she could get last night.  Grandpa had gotten her some strawberry ice cream for dessert . . . maybe that was why.
She told him that the ice cream must have made her crazy. 

painting paper cranes . . .

Whatever is good for the soul ~ do that!

I am determined to learn a more about painting and to just paint . . .
and I figure I can only improve - right?  

This isn't exactly how I wanted it to look, but I can live with it.  I like the look of the practice flowers in the left top corner better.   

Part of my problem is I tend to get impatient and then get in a hurry to finish.  

I am working on that . . . so I got this far and decided to take a break.  

doodles and paint . . .

"Allow yourself to be a beginner.

No one starts off being excellent."  

~ Wendy Flynn

Sunday Funday . . .

be true to yourself . . .

 Charlotte's drawing . . . .

Happy Friday!

I am always talking about "finding joy in the small stuff" . . . 

. . . such as a hat on the man that you love that simply makes you smile.

(Where did this hat come from?)

Happy Friday!  

Shabby Charlotte voodoo doll . . . Ghislaine

So I seem to be a little bit back on track - feeling more settled and getting some things finished . . . like this little doll.  I am not sure that I like her name . . . I may change that, but there is always something about each doll that I make -  that I like and seems to be the detail that makes me like that particular doll.  With this one it is the little pearl necklace . . . 

Ghislaine is a very clever little voodoo doll

and made with hopefully enough magic that she brings a smile to your face. 

She is nearly always happy, somewhat sarcastic, and also very determined. 

When given a job to do . . . she doesn’t quit until it is finished. 

 Loyal to the end . . . Ghislaine will do whatever she has to do to help the people she cares about. 

Keep this little doll around as a reminder

that life is too short to let anything or anyone bother you . . .

good things this weekend . . .

We decided to hang our chalkboard instead of just leaning it against the wall . . . 

. . . and of course Charlotte had to help Grandpa. 

She measured . . . and marked . . . 

and as usual made the whole process much more fun.  

It may not seem possible to actually enjoy every moment . . . but I can find some joy in every day!

I can find joy in the small stuff!  I can choose happiness every day!

GOOD THINGS THIS WEEKEND!

1. Our new chalkboard . . . and drawing with Charlotte

2. Yard work 

3. Temperatures in the 80's

4. Sitting outside reading

5. Getting up early

6. Visiting Jake and Kasey

7. Painting Charlotte's nails . . . (why don't I have a picture of that?)

8. Hot tea . . . with a message

9. Fresh fruit for breakfast

10. Laughing so hard it hurt

CH is for Charlotte . . . and chalkboard

I've been wanting a large chalkboard and Richard finally got around to making me one. 

I think I will be sharing it with Charlotte . . . all the more fun!  

good things . . .

"Making the simple complicated is commonplace.

Making the complicated simple,

 awesomely simple, that's creativity."

~ Charles Mingus

 This has to be the best theme for a book fair ever . . . as least as far as I am concerned.  

I think I need to dress like a hippy and help out the librarian for a few days! 

I seem to be feeling extremely motivated and creative - with a whole head full of ideas . . . and not able to settle on anything. I have dolls started that I am excited about, I'm reading and writing and jotting down notes, I am playing with paint and messing with journal pages . . . but not settling in and completing anything.  Other times I don't know where to start.  I seem to be inspired by everything I see and everywhere I look colors just make my day.  Now all of this feels like a good thing, yet it is also leaving me feeling a little frustrated.

Work is busy and I like getting so much done there . . . yet, I would like to just walk out the door and keep walking.  When I say "keep walking" . . . I mean just walk until it is time to eat and sleep - and then get up and walk some more.  I am in the mood to wander . . . 

. . . maybe I need to wander!  

Maybe I need to just not think so much! 

Maybe I just need to . . . . ???

GOOD THINGS THIS WEEK . . . 

1.  Making cupcakes with Charlotte

2.  Having Mattea spend the weekend

3.  Flowers everywhere!

4.  Rain . . . and warmer weather

5.  My tomato plants have doubled in size.

6.  Watching baseball

7.  Reading

8.  Walking

9.  Drinking wine and "talking wedding" with Jennifer

10.  The color green!

. . . it's just cool

It wasn't the best day for a car show yesterday - with rain threatening . . . and unfortunately there weren't nearly as many cars as there usually is, but it was fun just the same.  I seem to like the old rusty trucks that aren't finished yet . . . and that turquoise woody.  

I think I just like to go for all the colors and to see what I can see . . . 

No matter where you go . . . there is always so much good stuff to see!