Sketchbook and an Inspiration Board

One project from last week's sketchbook class 

was making a collage picture from scraps of magazine pages.

I used a calendar picture of a scarlet tanager as the inspiration for my drawing.

Then I collected red and black areas of color from magazines, ripped

small pieces and collaged the different scraps together.

It was a fun exercise, but messy, and I finished it today!

And I'm still working on getting my sewing room/studio into shape,

so I made an inspiration board to get me going!

My goal is a warm, inspiring, organized space where I want to go

to create. I'm so lucky to have a room of my own, but have so many interests

it's hard to keep all of my materials organized. The sketch in the center is my sewing table 

which is in front of a large window. I'm looking forward to getting everything in order

so that I can go in, find what I need and get to work!

Does anyone else out there have trouble with being organized?

I hope that everyone who reads this has had a pleasant weekend!

Yet ANOTHER snowy day!

I'll start this post off on a cheery note -

Here is a woven ribbon heart I made last year!

Alas, I am not following through as I promised.

I'm finding it difficult to keep up with my heart-a-day idea

and seem to be finding it a chore.

And so, I hope you won't mind if I let it go

and just continue on with other creative pursuits.

 I just got in from a trip to the grocery store and this is what my driveway looks like.

The old snow from last week's and Saturday's snowstorms

is dirty and ugly, so Mother Nature is sending us even more snow today

to freshen things up. Thank you - I think… 

With it looking so bleak outside, I bought some flowers at the grocery store

to brighten things up inside.

Rosie is more interested in the plastic sleeve than the flowers,

but she does make a pretty picture!

I've been doing some sketching in my sketchbook...

and making plans to redesign my studio. I'm hoping to store supplies more logically

and make the space more serene and inspiring. These are just scribbled notes, and

drawings always make me think more clearly.

That is what I've been up to -

I'm off to check out your blogs and see what you have been doing!

Still snowing out!

Hope your day is going well!

Hope you've had

a Happy Valentine's Day!

Another Snowy Day

Another heart for today -

I put this on a card for a friend.

Today we had a bit of everything, weather-wise -

snow, sleet, rain and high winds...

Did some shoveling and will try to finish in the morning

before my husband returns from a business trip.

Hope you've had a great day!

A Little Sketch

Just a little sketch...

Hope you've had a good day!

A Simple Pleasure

A white doodle on brown paper -

what could be more simple?

I have been looking for this pen for a while,

having read good things about it,

and finally came across it in an unexpected store.

I think I'm in love!

There will be more doodles and drawings of this sort -

of that I am sure!

Have a wonderful week!

Catnip Hearts

I just completed an early Valentine's gift for my kitties -

two wool hearts stuffed with catnip!

They love wool and they love catnip,

so it was a no-brainer!

Rosie was instantly in love!!

And Angus barely came up for air!!

Two hours later, I have already mended one chewed up heart

and the other ended up in their water bowl!

A fun heart project nonetheless! 

A Heart and a Sketch

The snow came down fast and furious yesterday!

 Everything is plowed and shoveled out by now,

 the sun is shining, and all is well.

For today's heart,

I came across this cute little country pincushion,

 given to me by my friend Debbie,

and I thought I'd share it with you!

Also, I finished a drawing in my sketchbook

I started out with pencil, then used Micron pen, then watercolor pencils.

I can't look at it too much because I become obsessed with the flaws,

but it feels good to have finished it!!

I hope that everyone is having a great week!

Take good care!

Heartfelt February - Digital Art

Today's heart is digital artwork created by my friend, Andrea Willey,

based on her photo of heart shaped rocks.

Original Photo

Digital Art

Love it!!!

Thank you, Andrea!

Heartfelt February - Mixed Media Heart

My second heart for today!

A combination of silk and flocked paper, with embellishments for bling!

I'll probably be doing hearts less frequently, since one a day is a bit much.

But there will be a giveaway at the end of the month, and I'd love to show others' work if you choose to email me a photo of your heart during February. 

We are expecting a big snowstorm tomorrow!

Hope you're keeping cozy and warm in your corner of the world!

A Green Bough

This heart is for February 3 - didn't quite get it done in time.

I'll have another one later today!

I've always loved this quote and thought it would fit in well with Heartfelt February!

Once again, I used cut paper for this design.

Hope your week is off to a good start!

Heartfelt February - Matisse Inspired Heart

A jubilant heart to lift my spirits - inspired by the cut-outs of Matisse.

My husband and I had just returned from seeing the movie Twelve Years a Slave, which weighed us down, as it should, with details of the slave trade in the pre-Civil War United States. I must say, I'll never again be able to watch Gone With the Wind, with its simplistic take on slavery.

I knew that I wanted to do a Matisse themed heart and I hurried to complete it before daylight faded.

It was fun to make and I got it done just in time to snap a picture on my porch!

Hope you've had a great day!!

Heartfelt February

Last winter, doing 'Heartfelt February' gave me such a lift, I decided to do it again.

Every day this month I'll post a new heart,

either one I've made, or one made by someone else.

At the end of the month I'll have a giveaway of a selection of my hearts.

If you'd like to send me a picture of a heart you've made, I'll be happy to post it here.

Just send it to judyeh(at)comcast(dot)net

Here's to a Heartfelt February!