Friday, April 29, 2016

Thursday, April 28, 2016

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. 

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

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.  

Monday, April 25, 2016

doodles and paint . . .

"Allow yourself to be a beginner.
No one starts off being excellent."  
~ Wendy Flynn



Saturday, April 23, 2016

Friday, April 22, 2016

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!  


Tuesday, April 19, 2016

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 . . .

Monday, April 18, 2016

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

Saturday, April 16, 2016

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!  

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

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!

Sunday, April 10, 2016

. . . 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!