Back for a moment. . . . . . with a tribute and a wish..

Aren't these little puff balls just adorable.

The one at the top is a Cavashon.

The ones on the bottom are cockapoos and the one in the middle is a Shitz Zue.

I really want a little puppy to love and care for.

Now if I can just save up the money.

Tribute to Diana

I need to take a minute to pay tribute to a dear and wonderful lady. My friends, community, family and I lost a dear and special friend to a very long and painful battle with cancer last night.

Diana Wheeler was the classiest, most caring, most thought and unassuming person I have ever know. Diana had a flair for decorating, cooking, entertaining and just making others lives joyful

She will be miss by many but especially her husband Paul, son Cole and wife Megan and two little girls AmaLia and Vivvinne, and son Justin along with many other family and friends.

We will miss you and always love you Diana. Know you are in a place where you no longer have to endure the pain you were going through. I am glad you were in the end blessed with a quiet and peaceful passing with your dear husband Paul at your side.

This is not working any longer.. . . . .

This is goodbye to blog world. I have realized I just don't have the time, nor energy for it right now. Hopefully someday I will be back. Until then, enjoyed getting to know you all

Martha

Artful Journaling Assignment. . . . .

Butterflies, Beautiful Flowers and Blogging !!!

I had a great time doing this final project for our Artful Journaling Assignment. ( Well I guess our cover was actually last ).

This piece was so fun to do. I struggle at times doing realistic pieces. I tend to do art work that is more graphic design in looks rather than realistically true. I was pleased with the butterfly, didn't think it would come out this good.

Just thought I would share a couple of butterfly pictures I have along with this painting.

Here's to Laure Ferlita http://paintedthoughtsblog.blogspot.com/ thank you for a wonderful experience.

Doing the Blog sometimes makes me crazy.......

Okay, I am going to have to have someone give me some lessons on designing blog posts.

I get so mad and frustrated sometimes trying to place different elements on the page.

I think I have it just right and it looks perfect then I click on publish post and then view blog and it looks completely different. Words are not by pictures I put them by, pictures are not the right size and words are not where I wanted them.

OKAY, I am done venting now.!!!! Thank you one and all, I am going to master this if it kills me.

Martha

Finally time to do a little artwork. . . Sunflowers

Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers

Whimsical Smiling Sunflower

My sunflower Journal page for class

at right a Sunflower

by Georgia O'Keefe

One of my favorite artists is Vincent Van Gogh. I am sure most anyone who has ever seen his work, is aware of how famous his "Sunflowers" painting is. I know countless art teachers who have used this piece as a starting point for many an art lesson.

I have had students do them with real sunflower seeds for the centers, paint them with a vase like VanGogh and make them like 3D pictures with construction paper. Whatever way I have ever taught them they have been a big hit.

Sunflowers are a beautiful, amazing piece of this world we live in. Living in Missouri, means I am next to the "Sunflower State" of Kansas. You have never seen anything until you have seen fields filled with Sunflowers.

In the latest Foundations of Artful Journaling class assignment I did with teacher Laure Ferlita, I decided to use sunflowers and summer as my theme. This got me to thinking about all the wonderful art besides VanGogh's Sunflowers that is out there.

Above is the piece that I did and then I thought I would share some other artists work using sunflowers.

Oh my where do the hours go............

I almost adopted this precious puppy last

week, but, he was not healthy and I was not

ready to take on a sick puppy/rescue for

$375. He was so precious.

Great Niece & Nephew Troy & McKenna are here to
visit this week. So precious

I seem to be running so far behind these days, I don't know what happens. Last week I was busy because I was working alot, so I could take Sat., Sun and Monday off, now this week I am working alot to make up for taking Sat, Sun and Mon. off.

Did have a wonderful birthday. Went out to lunch with my sisters and cousin, and dinner was with my son and his fiance.

Now. I have go to get with it. I am behind in my blogging, my Foundations of Artful Journaling Class and a myriad of other things.

I was so pleased to find out this morning that I am going to squeak by and not have to sell my patio home/ condiminium. I love it because it is quiet, has a great back deck with a pasture behind that and is so convenient. So. Ms. Frugal I am going to have to be for a year or so.

Will be back doing some art hopefully soon. Meanwhile, hello to everyone and I love seeing what everyone else is doing.

Have a great rest of the week fellow blogging friends and artist. Martha

July 4th 2009 to July 4th 2010. .. . .. . .

Oh my goodnesss.

So much can happen in a years time.

Scott and Erika in the second picture became engaged. Andrew and Stacy in the first picture are in a relationship and moving off to New York City together.

I no longer teach art but now I teach dogs.

I am getting ready to downsize my abode to an even smaller one.

I have made it through 4 years of working with my therapist and am beginning to see the end of the tunnel.

I am getting to do more of my own artwork.

Just think a year ago today July 4th 2009 I was on the eve of turning 60 years old, and in the Cascades Mts. of Washington State.

Oh my goodness where did the years go, how could they possibly have passed so fast and how could so many dreams, ideas and expectations have happened and not happened.

Tomm. I will be 61. I wonder what the next year will bring. The thing I hope for most is contentment with myself and my life, and happiness for my two sons.