Holiday Eating Tips....to live by

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS - To help us through the season!

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat.. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? LaborDay?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Hope this put a smile on your face.  Happy Tuesday!!  Hugs, Erin

Wordless Wednesday - Baby Animals to make you Smile

Have a great Wednesday!!

Hugs, Erin

Mixed Media on Canvas - Paint on Waxed Paper

A new mixed media piece done on a 8x10 canvas.  This piece was inspired by yet another online class I'm taking with Junelle Jacobsen. 



Close up of my new piece



Acrylic paint in varying shade were painted on wax paper

Wax paper was then cut into flower petal shapes (and leaves, not shown)



Corrugated paper was cut into vase-type shapes



Vase shapes were adhered with glue; flower petals and leaves adhered with gel medium;
vases painted with blue acrylic paint

 

Close up of a flower - this was stamped with word text, button glued to the middle,
black pen lined the petals and leaves for dimension with white paint pen added for highlight



Final piece - No title yet

Hope everyone had a lovely November (while I was busy with teenagers and chaos)!
Check back for tomorrow.  Hugs,  Erin

Stupid People are Amazing...

While reading two of my favorite blogs, written by the fabulous Amber, I watched this YouTube video about Deer Crossing signs.  Click on the video to hear the conversation.....I am shocked.

WOW - and I thought I had "blonde" moments periodically but this woman is either trying to be funny or is just plain stupid.  It is amazing to me that people like this survive, hold a job, manage to raise children, drive a vehicle, etc.

You can check out my friend Amber for other funny stories.
"Chronicals of Amber" (her personal musings - always makes me laugh)

Or for scrappy/crafty stuff, check her out below.

"Portrait of a Girl Who Scraps"( her crafty/scrapbooking fun - always inspirational)

Happy Monday!  Hugs,  Erin

The Altered Brush Project by Donna Downey

For those that are familiar with Donna Downey and her awesome art, you might already know about her "Altered Brush Project".  She is allowing anyone to create a paint brush art piece that will be diplayed in her studio.  How awesome is that!!  Of course I jumped right on buying my brush and recently shipped it off to her.  And on her blog today, my piece is displayed here.

I'm so proud to be part of her art project.  You can be too, read the details below (directly from her site) or click over to her blog.

Enjoy your day and count your blessings!!
Hugs,  Erin

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The Altered Brush Project

by Donna Downey

Display your creativity, market your skills, join the art collaboration and own a place in the studio.

US Artists $15      International Artists $20

1. Purchase one of our brushes & a spot on our wall. For your purchase you will receive one of our unfinished paintbrushes, space to display your altered brush and market yourself in the studio (price includes the cost of shipping).

2. Alter the brush anyway your creative spirit takes you. They can be as simple or elaborate as you like NOTE: do not obstruct the hole in the handle so that it can be hung on the wall

3. Sign and date the back of the brush giving it your artists’ signature!

4. Attach your personal calling card (business card size) with any information about yourself you feel comfortable sharing that hangs through the hole in the brush handle

5. Mail or return the brush to the studio:

Donna Downey Studios
501 S Old Statesville Rd.

Huntersville, NC 28078

TGIF - Falll Watercolor Postcards

I'm participating in an art swap with a group of ladies that have taken or are taking "The Art of Wild Abandonment" class by Junelle Jacobsen and Christy Tomlinson. LOVE THIS CLASS!!

The second postcard below is the one I sent off to a lovely woman in N. Carolina. The other cards were created just because I wanted to.  I still need to watercolor the last one. It was fun to work in a small size, 3.5x5 inches, which is much smaller than I'm used to.

I hope you are enjoying your week and the upcoming weekend!
Hugs, Erin

Wordless Wednesday - Fall Flowers

Art Journal Watercolor - The Pantry

I am currently taking the online art class, "The Art of Wild Abandonment" with Christy Tomlinson and Junelle Jacobsen.  It is fabulous and Junelle does lots of sketching prior to working in her art journal or on canvas, etc.  I have been happily sketching lots of things and having so much fun.  I was inspired to sketch and then watercolor this detailed image of a kitchen pantry.

I hope you are spending some time creating.  It is a great "down-time" activity and something that is just for me.  I love to sketch in the evening after dinner while the kids do homework.

Happy Wednesday!

Hugs, Erin

Exciting Moments in this Chaotic Life

Hello friends- Life has been busy and chaotic here, to say the least.  Since I have been so busy, I haven't managed to craft some blog posts, so here's a bit of (stupid) facts about my chaotic (boring) life…

Since my last post, here are some of my exciting moments:

• Number of days bank balance was below ZERO = 5
• Number of trips to pick up youngest teenager from somewhere after work or over a weekend = 33 (seriously)
• Maximum number of male teenagers in my vehicle at one time = 6
• Number of drop off locations for said (6) teenagers at respective places = 3
• Number of minutes spent in vehicle waiting for said teenagers = 60+
• Number of Hours I Wished I Could Quit My Job and just work at home doing arts and crafts = 340
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches eaten for evening meal = 3
• Bowl of Cereal eaten for evening meal = 2
• Number of times I wished for a magic wand = 201
• Said a swear word Out Loud = 17 
• Said swear word In My Head = 157
• Pages Read in “50 Shades of Gray” = All
• Number of days it took to read 50 shades = 3
• Orthodontist appointment to be scheduled = 1
• Orthodontist appointment Scheduled =  0
• Number of immunizations needed for teenagers = 7
• Number of immunizations given = 7
• Number of unhappy teenagers after immunizations = 2
• Checked Kids Grades Online = 14
• Number of teachers to be visited at parent/teacher conferences = 11 (for both boys)
• Number of teachers actually visited = 4
• Loads of Laundry Washed = 20
• Loads of Laundry Dried = 20
• Loads of Laundry Folded = 18
• Days Until Said Laundry is Folded = 1 
• Nights we've eaten take out = 1 (see bank balance above)
• Number of pans, baking dishes, skillets, etc. washed = 31
• Times I've planned ahead and used Slow Cooker for dinner = 2
• Number of times I managed to spend time with My Man = 2
• Number of times I wanted to spend time with My Man = 20+

CONCLUSION: I need more excitement that is fun and not domestic-related!!

Happy Monday!! Hope your life was less chaotic 

than mine (but I'm guessing it wasn't).  

Hugs, Erin

(This post was inspired by A Day in the Wife blog, 
written by Julie, go check her out. 
She always makes me laugh!)

Mixed Media on Canvas Panel - Art Table

My newest mixed media piece on a 6 x 8 canvas board.

This piece was inspired by my newest art class

"The Art of Wild Abandonment I"

by Junelle Jacobsen and Christy Tomlinson.

Here's the link if you are interested, AWESOME CLASS!!

I'm only at the end of week one with two more weeks to go.

Painted with an acrylic paints on the background. 

Molding paste was colored with acrylic paint and

then placed thru an awesome alphabet template.

The girl, art table, table accessories and books/journals

 were all created with paper pieces cut by hand and then painted. 

A close-up of the table top after the small pieces were painted

and glued down with gel medium.

And a close-up of the girl's skirt, after some pen doodling...

And a close up of the desk top....

This was so much fun.

Happy Friday Friends!!  Enjoy your weekend.

Hugs,  Erin

Wordless Wednesday: Pretties

 

 

 

 

Happy Wednesday!  Hugs,  Erin

Art Journal Watercolor - Sweet Bird on Branch

Happy Monday Bloggers!  Lots of time to do art this weekend with

the youngest son grounded (no priviledges).  I had free

labor all weekend (and the bonus - no complaining)

so lots of cleaning, laundry and re-arranging stuff. 

I also did crockpot cooking (bbq pork roast and chili)

and made Apple Crisp from the "6 ingredients or less" cookbook. 

One of my favorite fall desserts....Yummy!!

 

And here is my newest sketch done with Neocolor II

watercolor crayons

in my watercolor art journal .

 

"Sweet Bird on Apple Blossom Branch"

 

 

Hugs, Erin

 

 

New Art Piece on Canvas- "Pink Lotus"

My New Art Piece on a 12x36 canvas called "Pink Lotus".  This was created as part of the Donna Downey "Canvas Create" workshop, which is a monthly art class for one year.  This was the session for August 2012.

This is the largest piece I've completed to date.  Most of the background was completed with Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint, Gesso and my fingers.   The black is Ink, drawn by hand with the dropper.  Probaby would be better to use a paint brush next time but oh well.

I absolutely love all I learned!

And the final piece!

Hope you are having a great week.  Tomorrow is Friday.........happy day!

Hugs,  Erin

Sketchbook - watercolor crayons "Bloom"

This was done in my sketchbook with watercolor crayons.

It was inspired by a Pinterest image that I happened upon,

that stuck in my mind for a few weeks

 and finally made it to paper.

I hope you are having a fabulous week my friends.

Hugs,  Erin

Painting in progress

I finally watched the August Canvas Create class

 by Donna Downey. I am working on a 12x36 Canvas

and loving it. Here a few photos of the process so far. 

Hopefully more painting this evening!!

Step one, paint on a big canvas with your fingers

And here is the first layer of paint

And now a second layer of paint

And a third layer ...free hand drawing with ink 

and then more paint with stencils

Hope you are enjoying your long Labor Day weekend
 (for those in the US).
Hugs, Erin

Mixed Media Painting on Canvas board - Orange Blossoms

This is another new Mixed Media painting done

on a 8x10 inch canvas board. 

The flowers are created with a organza-type ribbon

that was painted orange with yellow highlights. 

 and underneath is tissue paper with

the petals hand-drawn with black pen.

The stems are handcut from scrap paper,

painted with acrylics and then outlined with pen. 

The flowers and stems were also outlined with

 Faber-Castel markers for shading. 

Acrylic orange paint was splattered over the canvas board to finish.

 "Orange Blossoms"



 Close-up of the detail

Close-up of the flower dimension

This piece is also for sale in my Etsy store.

Hugs,  Erin



3 New Mixed Media Painting on 8x8 wrapped canvas

Here are three new pieces I finally finished. 

Each started with a layer of gel medium

and then scraps of neutral patterned paper. 

Then the addition of acrylic paint. 

 The flower and circles were done with a new foam stamp

 in two different paint colors.  Then I added ink for additional outline

and finally more acrylic paint for dimension. 

These are much different from my typical pieces

 but it was fun to try something different.

"Serenity"

 "Abstract Circle 1"

"Abstract Circle 2"

I hope you have been enjoying the month of August. 

With the kids starting back to school on August 16th

and then a suprise birthday party for my oldest son on the 18th

and his actual birthday on the 21st.  I have been very busy

but have managed to sneak in a few hours in the late evening

to do some sketching, art journaling and some more new pieces.

These will hopefully go up for sale, in my Etsy Store, very soon.

Happy Monday all!!

More new art coming up tomorrow.

Hugs, Erin

Art Journal - Flower Stencil pages

The cropped image of a 2 page spread in my Art Journal. 

I was with my new flower stencils and acrylic paint. 

So much fun!

This is one side of the 2 page, with a bit of my art table and supplies in the background.

And this is the other page, with more of the paints I used in the background. 

Love those paint dabber bottles. 

Fabulous!

Enjoy your weekend.  It is supposed to be wonderfully moderate temps this weekend.

Should be able to sketch outside without roasting. 

Hugs,  Erin