Catching up after a vacation is always somewhat overwhelming.  

 

Loved walking down this walkway to the beach each day.  Anticipating what was on the other end. 

This is the second year we headed to Pensacola Beach, Florida to get away from the snow and the cold.  Last year we went in January, right after Christmas.  Because it was a little on the cool side, we decided to wait until the middle of February before we headed out this year.  

Well, guess what!  It wasn't and almost seemed cooler.  

We didn't let it stop us though.  Loved the morning walks on the beach finding wonderful treasures along the way.  Feathers, shells,starfish (above photo), stones, lucky pennies,textures, sand castles and footprints in the sand.

We did have a few warm and sunny days and enjoyed every minute.

Stopping for a cold drink on the Bay side on our way home from shopping the local shops.
The local restaurants were so fun and unique.  Ate my share of fish for the week.  My favorite was the fried grouper sandwich and fried green tomatoes. 

The drive home was a bit unnerving.  We ran into a snow storm the last 100 miles and saw cars sliding off the road and a couple of accidents. 
We are home again, shoveling snow.  We shoveled before we left and again after we came home. 
Another snow storm is headed into our area tomorrow.  What?  Take me back to Florida, it may be cooler than normal, but the view is worth the price of admission.

Now faced with the reality of laundry, organizing and catching up with work.  It is more fun to pack, plan and travel to your destination. 
Feeling a little overwhelmed and let down.  But, the memories, photos and all will carry me through to next year.

Spring is just around the corner!  Isn't it??
Ursula
xxoo

 

Listen to Your Heart

...and nothing can keep you from reaching your goals.

This is a painting I just did while playing around with watercolor paper and DecoArt media paints.  It's funny how a painting evolves at times. Sometimes a totally different direction than planned and takes on a life of it's own. I didn't have a plan, but I knew I wanted to add the flowers somewhere in the painting.  As I began, I decided to add a few collage papers to her dress and to the center of the flower................
Half way through the painting, I was ready to scrap it and start over.  But, I kept going and I started having fun with it.  So, I listened, kept working and finished the painting.  Layers and layers of paint were added to achieve the finished design.
It may not be perfect, or it may not appeal to everyone, but I am happy with the finished product and happy that I did not give up and kept at it.

For the past year, I have wanted to get back into teaching art and tried a few different options.  There just aren't the small specialty shops any more.  Painting and wine parties are popular and Michael's and Hobby Lobby have classes.  I tried both, but options on what to teach and reaching students, were limited at the larger stores.

I found a wonderful network that invited me to be one of their instructors.  Creativeworkshops.me accepted my work and have been so gracious in helping me get my first class off the ground.
I can't say there weren't any challenges.  For someone that is a little computer illiterate, this was not always an easy task. As I viewed other on line classes, it always looked effortless to me.  Painting the project was a piece of cake compared to everything else it entails.
But, I am proud to say; "I did it" and learned so much in the process.

"Let's Play Dress Up"  went live on Monday, February 9 and I actually have students that signed up!  You can still sign up, class and videos are available for a year.

Today I will be working on the next class, "Floral Expressions".

Listen to your heart and you never know where it may lead you. 

Ursula

 

Love What is...

 As I was cleaning out my closet today, I thought of this painting I just completed.  I wanted more storage, more organization, less clutter and a closet that looked like the ones I have seen in magazines.  It is never going to look like that and I have to accept and learn to love what is.  

I would love to have storage shelves instead of just one long shelf above my clothes.  Shelves to put my shoes in, so they stay together and are free of dust.  Oh, and a chandelier would be nice hanging down from the center.  I can keep dreaming, but the reality is I have to make the best with what I have.  Get creative and find fun and interesting ways to store my items.  

I won't have this closet (sigh), not in this house anyway.  So, I took some storage baskets, hooks , a vintage mirror, some art work and a small chair and a plant stand (for a jewelry tray) to tuck into the corner.   It's not perfect, but it is clean, organized and items are easily seen.  Made two piles of clothes that I don't wear any longer.  One to take to a cute local resale shop and the other to throw out or donate.  I wonder why I hang on to things as long as I do. By making these changes, I can accept what I have and realize that it is enough. 

Now onto the bedroom!  A little easier than the closet, as I do like the room and the layout.  But, a little organization is in order.

See you soon!
Ursula

We have had a mild winter so far.  Some chilling days, but no snow to speak of and a few days of sunshine.  Quite different than our last Missouri winter.
The sun has only been out a few times, making it seem just a little dreary.

Winter is a time to catch up on reading, putting away the last of the Christmas items, studio time and watching movies.  I like to leave a few of the wintery things out for a while and still have pine cones sitting in a bowl.  
My husband and I have had fun claiming Saturday nights as movie night and caching up on movies from this past year.

We have had a few mild days of late, reaching 60.  I have to chuckle when I see people out in their shorts and flip flops while I am still wearing my scarf and boots.  Knowing those days are short lived and the air is still not quite warm enough.

Days are beginning to shorten and it does give us hope of spring and warmer days. 

I have visions of walking on this beach again real soon.  Going out in the early morning hours, alone and enjoying God's handiwork.  Spending time with Him and soaking up the sun and His blessings.  

Last year was our first, joining other snow birds along the gulf shores of Florida.

My excitement began as I walked along the sand each day.  Never knowing what the wind and water would deposit on the beach.  Even the sand formations were different each day.  Creating all these wonderful textures and designs, giving me tons of inspiration.  These textures would be great for a mixed media project.

 
In the mean time, I will be painting and teaching in my home studio.

If you always wanted to take an on line class, winter is the time to do it.  Join me on creativeworkshop.me and paint a fun project along with me. Forget about the cold and grab a warm cup of hot chocolate!
In the meantime, think warm thoughts.

Hope to see you in class!
xxoo

Do you remember playing dress up or watched your children or grandchildren play?  A wonderful time of innocence and wonder.

I remember doing just that during the long summers in Ohio.  I would spend a week with a friend who lived in a large house that had an attic.  We would spend hours up in her attack, going through boxes of clothes, shoes and jewelry.  Just like you see in the movies.  There were hat boxes, pearls and a trunk full of clothes.

Love this quote from Kate Spade; "I think that playing dress up begins at age five and never truly ends."  I still like to play as my makeup dresser and closet attest to just that. 



I have had the opportunity to join a network of teachers and will be starting my own mixed media class. 
The title of my first class is "Playing Dress Up".  
www.creativeworkshops.me

This class will demonstrate a layered and textured background using both acrylic and watercolor techniques.
Taking you back in time as you create your own personal background and style.

Join me as we Play Dress Up together!

Ursula
 

Looking ahead.....

The year is coming to an end.  Always a time of reflection on the past and wondering what God has in store for me in the new year.  As a child and young adult, it never really meant more to me than celebrating and staying up late to ring in the New Year and watch the ball drop.  Never thinking much beyond the celebration.

This painting signifies my thoughts and dreams for this coming New Year.  As I began to layer her hat in my journal, I began to build one thought upon another.  Wishing, hoping, health, happiness and so on.  Building a foundation, so to speak.  Without a foundation, we have nothing to build our hopes and dreams upon.
Nothing to catch us when we fall or stumble. 

As the year, 2015 begins, I want to make sure I keep that foundation solid.  We never know what a year can bring.  As I reflect back at this past year, there were many challenges that we did not foresee.  Disappointments, illness, set backs, family issues and so on.  Things that never entered my mind as we ushered in the new year with good friends.  
We will celebrate with friends, once again.  A nice dinner, laughs, memories, a game and a champagne toast at midnight.  Thanking God, once more, for his faithfulness, my foundation. 

May you have a blessed New Year with lots of love, hope, health, prosperity and art!

Ursula
xxoo

A Time for Giving and Crafting

Enjoy making your own gift cards and ornaments.  I recently took an online class and got inspired to make some of my own.  I don't always have all the supplies that are listed in the class menu, but usually find a way to substitute items on the supply list and try to make it my own.

These adorable miniature journals are so much fun, using tea bag paper.  Yes, a great way to recycle your used tea bags!  Inspired by Jenny Wentworth.

Here is a picture of one ready to go, along with a tea bag, tea bag string and washi tape.  Just dry and carefully empty the tea bag, remove the string and fold it open.

Here is a pic of most of the supplies used.  Love these little packs of watercolor paper I found on ebay.  I have used them in a variety of ways and they were perfect for this project.

Cut your watercolor paper, approximately 2 1/2 x 2 1/2.  Also cut two sheets drawing paper twice the size

of the watercolor paper.  Fold in half and put aside.  With Matte medium and washi tape, attach both front and back of journal.  If you want the border edge wider,  add another strip to the front.  Allow tea bag to dry and carefully open it up and dispose of the loose tea.  Then, proceed with cutting the tea paper the size of front and back cover and attach with the Matte medium.  I like to use DecoArt.   While cover is drying,  attach tea bag string inside, to the fold of the journal.  I like to use Tacky glue.  Proceed with the two folded sheets and add the glue onto the folded edge. You should then have four pages.  You now have a perfect little journal!

For the tree journal, I cut out a stencil from a card.  Using texture paste, stipple into the cutout with a stiff brush.  When dry, stipple in shades of green and white high light.  The star was cut from carboard.  Antique with brown paint around subject and edges of the journal.  Add silver and grey metallic for added interest.

I like to draw and paint my design on a separate piece of paper and then attach it to the tea paper.  Just in case I do not like how it turns out.  I did that with the face and with my Santa.  Then, add texture paste in an around the hard edges so it blends into the paper and does not look like a cut out.  Use any Christmas stamps to stamp the backs of each journal.

Here is my Santa sketch with texture paste added to the tree and fur onto his his suit.  He was inspired by a little antique Santa I have in my collection.

 I not only used my old playing cards for stencils, but also made them into fun little gift tags.  This is from a child's card playing deck.  I used old Christmas card images, a verse of Silent Night and attached them with gesso.  Cut and gesso a tree from burlap, dry brush with two shades of green and add a stem.  Punch a hole for your ribbon or jute.

My neighbors and I had a fun afternoon making these wine cork ornaments.  A great way to use old jewelry finds, buttons and for all those corks you have laying around.  If you do not have any, you can purchase them by the bag at Michael's.

 
I hope you try and make some of these ornaments on your own.  A special touch attached to a gift.  They will love that you made it especially for them!

If you have any questions or would like to post some of your own hand made journals or ornaments, I would love to hear from you.

Have a very blessed Christmas!