The Lazy Days of Summer

The Lazy Days of Summer are nothing but a myth!!  Summer league basketball started for the Newest and Oldest Kiddos the week after school got out.  Beginning with daily practices, they moved into a week of 12 hour days of tournament.  While they did not play the entire 12 hours, their school was the host, so they got to work door, books and clock between their own games.  This week begins the actual summer league games.

And just to prove that I'm the meanest mom in the world, I make all the boys get up and go run before the temperature starts to climb.

'Ain't no rest for the wicked, hehe!!

During the tournament, I had grand aspirations of spending my time between games sketching, doodling, coloring.

Hmmm.  Someone forgot to take into account that any spare time would be spent working the snack bar booth and taking kids to be fed!!

Never the less, I did manage to do a little bit of doodling in my small 9x6" sketch book.  I would say that this was inspired by the popular Zentangle craze, but I would label it doodling.

I used various sized ink pens with some light pencil shading here and there.  I'm still toying with the idea of erasing the pencil shading and adding some color.  Maybe I will just have to doodle another page this weekend while at yet another tournament and add some color!

That's about it for me today! Oldest Kiddo is needing a learn to drive session before he heads to practice and his evening game!! 

'Till next time........

Saying Good-bye

Today is the final blog hop for the E-Team (sniff, sniff).  Like all fun rides, the E-Team has come to an end (more details on that below).

BUT!  Daisy has decided that the closing show is gonna be the BEST!

Visit each blog and leave a comment, between today,Wed, June 27, and Sunday, July 1, for a chance to win  a special blog prize that will be given away on each Team member's blogs!

While being on the E-Team, my love for working with metal from TenSecond Studios grew.  Daisy thought it would be appropriate that my special blog prize share some of that love with you!

Can I just say that I'm giddy about this prize?!!  Seriously, everything you need to get started using metal in your own projects!!

P.S.  Cheryl and Megan have some great videos on using their metal on their site.  PLUS:  I have a few tutorials here.  And, of course, I am more than willing to share what I've learned about this medium with you!!  I hope you leave a comment for the chance to win the opportunity to explore creating with one of my personal favorite mediums!!

Here are the links to the other Team Member Blogs.  You do NOT want to miss out on their projects!

Daisy

Broni

Linda L

Micki

Sherry

Me!

Winner's will be announced on the eP blog Tuesday, July 3.

*****

I don't know about you, but I hate good-byes.  Especially, when I am saying good-bye to people I love to hang out with or if it is something I love doing.

Today, I have to say good-bye to both.

Almost two years ago, I got asked to join E-Team.  Me.  

Now, mind you, I am not "known" in the paper craft community.  I had (and have) been involved in the SCS forums for several years, but really, I am not one of those people who everyone knows their name, oo's and ahh's over each project, companies ask them to be on their design teams, followers ask to take pictures with.

I'm in my own little corner of the crafting world, sharing what I enjoy doing.

Lucky for me, Sherry saw something in my work that she felt could grow with a little push.

Okay.  More like a shove.


And she convinced Daisy of the same.

Oh. My. Goodness.

I was now on the same design team with my "idols":  Sherry, Broni, Linda D.  Then added to the mix were other well known designers.  Linda L, Micki, Latrice.

No pressure here, LOL!

 You know what?!  Grabbing the E-Ticket was one of the most fun, thrilling, enjoyable creative rides I have been on!!  There was moments of panic, laughter, g-force grins and dips in the track (ie, saying good-bye to Latrice and Linda D.).  Most of all, good times with gals who became good friends.

But, like all the good rides, this one has come to an end too soon.  Daisy has decided that it is time she moves in a different direction from eclecticPaperie.

I am sooo happy that Daisy knows which path she wants to explore now.

I am sooo sad that the eP park is closing.

I'm on an emotional roller coast ride now!!

Today, the E-Team is saying good-bye with projects that are inspired by favorite Disney quotes. I decided that sometimes, the classics are the best. And that "silly old bear" summed everything up perfectly.  I drew a pen and pastel drawing with much acknowledgement and inspiration from the original drawing of Ernest H. Shepard for Winnie the Pooh. (page 158 in my book).

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying Good-bye so hard"

-Winnie the Pooh (A.A Milne)

To the E-Team.   I love you all!!

First Bloom

Hey Peoples!  I hope you all had a wondrous Christmas holiday (or long weekend!!).  Our Christmas was good.  Believe it or not, even with working full time last week,  I got most everything done before the family came over for Christmas Eve dinner (who cares that the floors didn't get mopped again? Food just gets spilled, right?!). 

The Toad once again proved that he is a Prince in disguise.  He bought me a wonderful present to feed into my creative side.  He got me a Bamboo Fun tablet and pen.  He thought it might be something that I would enjoy sketching with and possibly could use with the Photoshop Elements 9 program he recently got me for my birthday.  I have snuck a few hours on the computer watching the tutorial videos on the tablet.  Tonight, I decided to jump in and see what I could do with it. 

                                 



I have to say, that for my first drawing on the computer, I am pretty dang pleased on how this turned out.  I obviously need lots of time figuring out the different mediums that can be used to draw and the pen pressure to get the different amount of shading and textures.  Drawing looking up at the screen versus down at the "paper" is different too.  And figuring out what type of file actually saves it looking like the "original" file.  But I think that I will have lots of fun with this.  I haven't really sat down and drawn for more years than I care to remember.  Maybe this will be the nudge to get back into that area of art that I've neglected.

2011. A whole new year to explore something new.  Or the chance to go back and explore something old in a new way. 

Till the next adventure...............