Home again, home again.....

This blog hasn't been high on my list of priorities lately.

Some of you know that I've recently bought a small condominium instead of continuing to rent an apartment, and others of you know that I recently took a two week trip to the UK.  Between traveling, packing. planning, keeping up a bit with a few small art projects and doing some kidsitting with my grandchildren, there just hasn't been time to post.

I did take LOTS of photos in the UK, and am going to throw a few of my favorite ones at you here!!

If you want to see any of them larger, please just remember to click on the image ;-0

Leaving on a jet plane.....

Victoria Station, London

Who would think in the middle of Bath, in a crack between ancient cobbles there would be a tiny, hot pink Mickey Mouse head sequin - is there no escape?????

The abbey, Bath

River Avon in Bath

Being an early morning tea drinker, i was thrilled to find these kinds of tea services wherever I stayed.  The electric kettles heat up super fast and really heat the water, real milk comes in the little blue-topped containers, and there were usually biscuits (cookies) too!  

Can you believe I rented a car and drove on the "wrong" side of the road for 11 days!!!  As you can see, thew steering wheel is on the "wrong" side of the car, too, but it really wasn't too difficult to master a new skill.  Did get beeped at a few times and the occasional irritated look.  the roundabouts are the worst, but overall, UK drivers are much more polite and patient than we are!! ;-0

Probably should have a separate post just for all the wonderful churches I saw, but this country steeple really caught my eye, so am including it here.

My first real pub!!!!!!!  Had a tasty sandwich and a half of the local ale - delish!!

At Graylake Nature Preserve

Lovely roadside scene on the way to Cornwall

Bluebells and snowdrops

Green!!!!!

This very clever hand washing device was at a local parking spot in Port Isaac, Cornwall, UK.
It is soap, water and an air drier all in one.  

Fabric Collage

Thanks to 3 Creative Studios and guest artist, Donna, I had fun this morning playing with scraps.  I'm taking a trip in a couple of weeks and will need a few special hostess gifts (for some very special hostesses!!!) so thought I'd make a test piece to see how Donna's tutorial would work.  I tend toward precision in all things, but this free-style approach to small art pieces really appealed to my inner playmate and here is the result. "Sunflower" - a 5 1/2 x 8 inch mini 'quilt' in some sunshiny colors plus B&W for the pop factor....... Guess I could add beads or buttons if I wanted to, but am very eager to get on with the next experiment!

Please click to see larger image ;-0

Just in case you're thinking my squaring-up skills are lacking,  this is meant to be wonky ;-0

The Diva's Weekly Challenge # 16

Sixteen weeks, going strong and growing!!!  That would be Laura Harms' Zentangle© challenge.

This week the tangle is a new one, Mooka, that was designed by the originators of Zentangle©.  You can read all about it on Laura's blog, and if you follow the hyperlinks she provides, you can see an absolutely nifty YouTube tutorial by tangling gurus, Rick and Maria.

Unlike some, I don't even try to draw a tile every day, but this new Mooka tangle is absolutely the most pen and paper fun I've had in a long while.  The continuous line of this new pattern just  flows from the pen by itself.....  I've been decorating my grocery list and a file folder, in addition to creating several tiles and it's still only Monday ;-0  The pattern seems to work well in any size - large and full-blown or small and precise.  It's time for supper, or I'd start another tile!!!  Anyone for dessert?

Please click for closer look.....

Rainy week... and an art challenge

So far it's been a rainy time in Florida the past few days.  We certainly need the rain to nourish trees, grass and shrubbery, but the downpour just awhile ago was nearly scary, and I love rough weather!  Took a couple of photos of wind and rain from my porch.

Sheets of windblown rain acting like a curtain

Rain pouring off the roof in two streams.....

Since this sure wasn't an afternoon to be outside, I decided to play with the monthly challenge from the Sarasota Surface Design Guild.  We were given a photo copy of the outline of a hand and no further instructions.   I've been wanting to trace my own hand and create a piece of ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art).  Thinking about the henna decorations on bridal hands set me on this path with my trusty sepia-toned Sakura micron pen.......  I took several different photos in different light, with and without flash.  These two  photos seem to show detail the best.  The name of the piece is "Eye-Hand Coordination" 

Please click for larger image

Please click for larger image

 

Never too busy to tangle.....

This is usually so true, but last week was a bear!!  A whole family full of company in my tiny apartment and I broke the little toe on my right foot by catching it on the coffee table leg..... ouch!!!  We had the best time, however - you know how it is when you see old friends.  Lots of laughs, plenty of good food, a couple of picnic adventures, and always, the beautiful beach!!

Missed Laura's "straight lines" challenge, but wanted to try it anyway as the challenge this week is to use only curving lines.  The Diva wants us to see if we feel any different drawing curves than straights, so had to do the straight first......  I'm usually into curves, but actually enjoyed working with only straight lines and felt a bit more inclined to keep adding tangles.  What we learn about ourselves and our drawing because of these challenges!!  It's great ;-0

So, here's my curves tile followed by the straights tile, and then a few cute pics of the good time I had with my company..... enjoy ;-0

 (please ignore the little blob of white paint in the upper left corner - the phone rang, my pink marker slipped, and I had to do a wee bit of repair ;-0 - WHY does this happen only when you're about finished?????)

Please click for larger image

Click for larger view

These pictures are of dear friends - it was the little kids' first trip to the beach - I'm so happy I could share this exciting event in their lives!!!

The sweet mom and her boy, my godson ;-0

Big sister....

Sunset - can you believe these luscious colors!!!

A fellow "beach bum" offered to take our picture!!!

The kids on my porch

Daddy Matt with his first-ever RAW OYSTER!!!!!  (He liked it, and ate some more..... ;-0

Quilts for Japan

No photos with this post - just a link to a  Quilter's Newsletter post about a way to send comfort quilts to those in need in Japan.  In the comments section, several people have raised some valid questions about this effort, and also offered suggestions for making this a successful project.

I am neither endorsing nor discouraging participation, but after reading the QN post and all the comments so far, I do feel comfortable about sending at least one quilt from my stack!

Non-dominant hand tangle #2

Can hardly believe what a glutton for punishment I am!  Going out of my way to draw a second tile with my non-dominant (right) hand......  This was a real challenge, and it has piqued my interest, thanks to Laura.  Have never posted two challenge tiles in a week, but somehow just couldn't resist showing off a bit ;-0

I need to apologize for not responding at all to everyone's tangles for this week.  It hasn't been a great past few days for several reasons, but I'll get through it.  Knowing that there is still creativity at the end of most dark tunnels and a friendly gathering of fellow tanglers,  has kept a bit of cheer in my heart most of the time.  I did look at all the tiles and think we did an amazing job!!!

I drew this one on a 5x7 piece of paper intending to make bolder strokes, but ended up with patterns about the same size as I usually draw, just more of them and lots more white space.

Please click to view a bit larger