Wanting Wednesday - Cactus

Sometime last year, my daughter ask me to embroider a couple of white kitchen towels with cactus in a pot. I did, not sure if you remember that post.  Unfortunately I cannot find a photo but hopefully by the end of this post, I would be able to find and include it.  Yesterday I decided to paint my mini canvas again. I sat for a while and then I remembered doing that embroidery and thought it would be nice to do something similar. Hopefully my daughter would like to keep it, but if not, I'll hang on to it until she is ready for it.  I started getting all my supplies and began after dinner and both canvas was complete by 900 pm.  Wanna see them?

I knew if I took the time to find where the embroidered towels where, I will find it, and here it is.

Medium Monday - Acrylic only

Aside from watching a lot of Olympics, I was able to break away from the living room and started painting the wine bottles that I have been saving.  Before the weekend I painted the base coat for my bottles using the left over house paint that we found in our garage.  The previous owner left them so we can use them for touching up some of the areas of the house.  But lately I have been using them for painting bottles or canvas for my so called art work.  Please don't think that I have consumed all these wine. They are from the several parties we have had at home and of course empty bottles are left with us.  So I have saved only the ones that I like the shape.  I decided to do the before and after so you can see how I transpire them to what I call my decorative bottles.  Not really sure what I will do with them, for now it will be on display above our kitchen cabinets, just for show.  I started painting each one on Saturday and ended up finishing all the four bottles by Sunday afternoon. An to think that my brushes and acrylic paint are from the Dollar Store.  Can you imagine if I was using the more real acrylic and exceptional brush.  But then again, I don't it's the medium, I believe it's the artist. Medium materials for medium artist with medium creative mind. LOL

A little bit of a mixture of shapes and colors, just an interesting piece.

This one is more of a happy one as you think of Spring.

My least favorite as it is a bit scary. LOL

This is my favorite because I put so much work into it.

Frustrated Friday - Need some lessons

For some reason or another, I am on a roll on painting bottles.  The first few I did was a result of the champagne bottles that we received as a welcome to your new home from our realtor.  Then we had company and two more bottles were empty so I painted them also. Then there was a small bottle, a small can and a small metal basket I got from the garage sale.  At first I used the left over paint that the previous owner left in the garage.  Then I started with the left over paint from our front door.  I have to check previous post to make sure I have not posted the photos of these bottles that I have painted.  After this week, I am done with bottle painting as I ran out of ideas.  Maybe I should take some painting lessons at the senior centre or the local Community Centre.  Notice how I spell the word CENTRE.  I am definitely back in Canada.  This would be a perfect winter class as long as I don't have to travel far and I can do it during the day.  So check out these bottles with winter/Christmas in the North.  Some of these scenes are from memories of what it was like living in Northern Canada.

Freehand Friday - What happens when there's no TV

So what actually happens when you cannot watch TV?  Well for us it was perfect timing since we had to get our new home in order.  Every day we listened to the radio for some news and some music to get us working at home.  After a while we didn't mind it at all, of course we still had our phone to check some news on Flip Board and I usually check Pinterest.  Although there was no TV we were still connected to the world because we have our phone that includes data.  While Jeff does what he needs to do to get the house in order with regards to internet, cable, electricity, etc.  I made sure the kitchen was functional the first night we arrived.  The next day I unpacked and organized all the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen as well as the fridge and freezer.  After a week we're almost back to normal except for a few things which was unimportant.  The second week my room was ready for sewing, crafting, ironing, and whatever I wanted to do except no internet, so no blogging.  Here's some of the things I have completed and there's a lot more on my list.

The red pillow was from our former living room, I added a piece of fabric and embroidered the design.

Left side of the stool

Right side of the stool. 

Top of the stool.

Warm up Wednesday - I thought I would give it a try

Winter in our area is basically just a lot of rainy days and when it doesn't rain, it is just a cloudy day.  Sometimes the we get some sun and the temperature is just comfortable.  For the next couple of months, our golf schedule is more or less a guessing game.  Since I am responsible for booking tee times, I just book it every week in order to get an early tee time.  The sunset is around five in the afternoon so it is important to be able to get out early.  Now when I can go anywhere due to rain, I have to find something indoors to do.  Of course I have my practice putting green that is my go to when I am bored.  Last week I stumble upon a box of oil pastels that was free.  I didn't hesitate to take it home because I have been wanting to try it.  The next day I bought a small size sketch pad to do some warm up drawings.  Since I have not use pastels for any type of art work, I though I should check out what's available online.  After watching a couple of beginner's instruction, I think I am ready to begin.

This looks a drawing by Dora. LOL

I guess I need a lot of practice.  Maybe I should start with one simple subject.  I thought flowers were simple.  Oh bother, I have to read more or watch more videos.  As my sister says every time I try a new hobby or craft, "you can't have all the talents".  I guess she's right.  Maybe I'll stick with what I am good at.  Another saying, "you can't teach old dog new tricks".  I hope you enjoy today's post and maybe it even made you laugh.

Tedious Thursday - Using paintbrush

Do you remember the first time you were introduced to a computer?  It seems such a long time ago but I remember it so well.  My supervisor told me that the best way to learn how to use the mouse is by playing a game or use the simple paintbrush program.  So when I am done with my files for the day, I would spend at least a half an hour just using the mouse on paintbrush.  I would start with something small then erase it and finally I thought why not something bigger. It was very tedious and repetitive at time to the point my fingers would be in pain. The result is very interesting - I ended up with a full painting which of course I saved.  Later on I decided to get it printed and framed.  Sometimes I wonder if I should enroll in a drawing or painting class.  Oh bother, there's not enough days in the week.

My first try and I called it Northern Exposure

My second try and I am sure you can guess the title - Fruit Salad.

Timely Tuesday - Special Clock

A long time ago my aunt and uncle told me I was their favorite niece.  I was young then and I believed it until I met some other relatives and they told me that they were the favorites.  I wonder if those other nieces and nephews have something special that this particular uncle made.  If they don't have one, then I know that I am truly their favorite.  Many years ago after my uncle retired (from being an Architect), he took up several hobbies.  One of them is making special clock.  I believe he even made a special one out of wood and I think it still works.  The one he made for me was simple but funny and once you see the photo you will understand.  When my mother was still alive, I use to take her to visit my aunt (mom's sister) and uncle.  I think when he found out my busy life which includes a lot of travels and of course my sports and social life, he thought of an idea for my special clock.  This clock now hangs in our kitchen wall and it sure gets a lot of attention from our house guests.

My special clock that has kept perfect time for my busy life.

Surprise Sunday - A new painting

Who does not love a surprise? Everyone loves a surprise, right.  It could be anything, any day and anywhere.  Surprise just makes you day.  It made mine this past weekend.  I came home from my errand and there was a package in our front door.  Normally Jeff is the only one who gets packages but they are not surprises.  I checked the sender and found out it was from my daughter.  What could be inside?  It's a big package but very light.  I really had no idea.  In the front of the package was an envelope (open this first).  So I did and started reading.  It was very emotional for me and got me teary eyed.  Now I would like to share with you what she sent. 

My daughter's first piece from her painting class.  Sunset at changing of the leaves.

She took a painting class by herself.  She has never done any type of art since her high school days.  I am so touched that she thought of me for her first piece.  She knows I really miss the changing of the leaves in Ontario.  This will remind me of her, our life together and that each sunset brings another day to look forward too.

Truthful Thursday - Things for our home

My daughter always reminds me that when I see something that I really like that I should get it because most of the time I hesitate trying to save and then decide that I really wanted it.  Of course when you snooze you lose.  I have been doing well for a while and then I started snoozing again except this time, I got lucky because the item I wanted was still there.  

I call this my couple art.  It's handmade from Kenya

Three weeks ago I found a really neat vase for our shelf.  Actually it was the color that attracted me to it and then the shape.  The only problem was that I did not realize that it leaked which was after I made my flower arrangements.  Now I can only use it for silk flowers.

Leaking Threesome Vase

As most of you know, my husband is a bit of a geek.  The good point about it is that I get all these neat little gadgets and I would like to share you my latest one.

Android 8 GB Flash Drive - hiding under his head is a USB plug.

Remember the song of Neil Diamond - you don't bring me flowers anymore?  Well, my Jeff does not bring me flowers anymore but his mother took over that job as each Sunday when she comes over for dinner, she brings me flowers.

Tulips, Gerbera Daisy and Carnations

Next week, I hope to share with you the project MAILBOX that Jeff and I have created.  I was getting tired of looking at the old black metal mail box.  Thank you for stopping by.

Wall Art Wednesday - What do you think?

Finally, I completed the project that I started on the weekend.  Jeff and I worked on it last Sunday and Monday night.  At first it was just going to be branches, twigs and the colored ropes.  Then, I was going to add some other materials, like metal pieces, or ceramic or even glass.  But when I saw some of the wood pieces from the dollar store,  the design was changed immediately to a different theme.  We bought some acrylic paint and different size brushes from Michael's.  We both took all the supplies and spend part of Sunday afternoon working on my project.  This is the final result of my wall hanging art work that is now hanging in our backyard.

 I think Jeff still wants to spray the wood with some sort of lacquer in order to protect the color from bleeding in case it rains, etc.  I am very happy with the results and would appreciate any comment on my first wall hanging art work.