Sunday, February 14, 2010

Oriental Art



Lotus blossoms are a grand art challenge.

I have always loved the look of the whole plant, and many years ago I had a pretty arrangement of dried lotus pods.
Seeing them blooming on a pond in China, near ancient ceramic kilns, was a thrill.
~~~I will be adding more oriental designs to share. The lotus card was done in colored pencils.

In the oriental grocery, this past week, I saw lotus available for cooking. I need to look it up, as I have not a clue of the recipes for this.
The time has come to sort through my rubber stamps as well as the clear stamps, in my messy collection. Having supplies handy should help me to be more creative.

Here's a Valentine Cup of Cheer!


...hope your V-Day was as nice as ours. We loved the performance of the Salt River brass at the Mesa, AZ Art Center.
Wonderful!


Saturday, February 06, 2010

A Birthday Happens...

Nice to have a birthday, but I say: once a year is enough!
I plan to do this only on 2/6 every year!


Boy these suit me to a T, especially #4
[Thanks, Cat]

This discribes the REAL Me--->
"One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries." A A Milne

I know anyone reading this, is nodding... yes, yes.


I have enjoyed Oriental Art forever.



I just joined a stamping group to do these interesting projects. Luckily have a lot of oriental stamps. My favorite unusual stamps are ones for marking fish boxes from packing houses of the west coast fisheries .
They are Chinese or Japanese graphics. I am not sure which, but they represent names of types of fish. This was a great find at a garage sale.

Another new endeavor is to make some exciting new ideas up with Michael Strong stamps. These should work up well with an Oriental flair. I joined the MS group of talented artists. When I receive my order of 5 of his stamps, I will get started and add a scan on this page.





Back-atcha, soon!

Monday, February 01, 2010

Motivating everyone else, and here I sit.
Bogged instead of Blogged!


Yay! I made it out of Blog - Limbo!


I guess it's TIME to CELEBRATE!!


A lot has happened since we began a fall renovation...this seems to happen once a year. New tile on patio and utility this time. Finished up...Then a decision to do more tile. [!] Looks good and is very easy to keep clean as the hall is so much nicer with tile. The tile guy did a lovely job of setting a design to tie in the kitchen, utility and bath entries with the hall.

In the "art department," I am loving doing the ATCs, doodles and cards so this is my challenge for February, for myself:...completing swaps on time, and having fun with it all.

If you knit or crochet, you will be happy to hear, that we who do Sunshine Sharing, have finished 120 items for the oncology clinic patients and Am. Cancer Society kid's camp.


I always say this, but I really do want to set up my blog, at least monthly...for 2010.



...hand of friendship...Barb

Thursday, September 24, 2009

End of Summer Hello



My usual end of Summer Hello!


Haven't had time to get on here to do much so will just give a quick resume' of what been happening. Admittedly, it is pretty boring for anyone else, but seemed busy to me.

New lap top, that was a fun $$ trip to the store.

More knitting of course, and I tried some different patterns.

Right now I'm working on a ski hat for our grandson. It's black and white with vertical stripes, being done with bobbins, which are a pain.

Hemming many, read that GOBs of jeans, for our granddaughter, a last minute project.

I'm so happy with my garage sale find: A great little sewing machine..

It was a laid back summer, good weather and have had fun doing some paper art and of course enjoying our knit group.
I had a nice trip to visit my sis, and to see a good friend, on the OR coast.
It will be hard to leave Central Oregon, but it's time to get home to Arizona. The heat is still there, which I hate, but the season for cooler weather is fast approaching.

Looking forward to sharing the wonderful scarves and hats made by the gals in Bend knit group as well as those done by others. That will provide an interesting picture for the blog in October.

They are for the Oncology Clinic in Maricopa County; Phoenix area, in AZ.

[If anyone reading this can knit or crochet for the project or donate yarn, please leave a comment so I can contact you.]

The van is getting packed. It will be too full, as usual.

The cats will like being home with more space to roam. Trailer living is fine, but they will like a regular house to gallop through.


Thanks for being here on my blog.

I want to try harder for content and pictures when I get unpacked and settled in AZ.







Sunday, June 07, 2009

Whining

GAA!
Missed posting for SO LONG, too much to do, too little time.
Yes, I am whining.



Graduations are in style at this time of year.

Happy Graduation Wishes
to our Olivia!

Had a swell party, and made a card for our Valedictorian granddaughter. [!]


Fun at our niece's son Max's family gathering, too.
Both are off to new adventures!

There are so many differences in scanning programs and the one I am using on the lap top right now is not as versatile as on my desk computer. Silver paper from a coffee can top had the butterflies stamped with black, they just don't come out with the metallic backing. The pearled grey paper also is lost on this scanner program.

~~Scarf and Hats report:
9 scarves made by friends, two finished by me. A whole bunch of hats made by another friend...WOO! This is wonderful. I will be so happy to deliver the fall goodies to the Maricopa County Oncology Unit.
I will continue sharing my reports.
~~Would love to hear from anyone wanting to contribute knitting/crochet scarves, hats or yarn, to this charity for cancer patients, in AZ.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Yarn-Needles-Paper-Glue..."This is my Life!"




Making scarves, playing with needles that Bob made.
Nice big ones, they are about size #17. Not too long, just perfect to make quick scarves for the folks in the oncology clinic.
He made them out of wooden dowels and they are great!

I'm hoping for lots of helpers on this project. SUNSHINE SCARVES.
Of course I can't do it alone.
If anyone can help or knows anyone who knits or does crochet LMK! My e-mail addy is listed on a previous day, below.

When you enjoy paper as I do, the rest...including glue and such, comes right along. There have been some fun cards and ATCs [Artist Trading Cards]that were created on my worktable this week. I seem to come to the table with an empty mind...no smart comments please, and then something prompts me to grab some stamps and paper and AWAY I go!
I had fun with the bright pink card and folded paper that made up the layered "flowers."

Monday, April 06, 2009

Anyone out there?


Where is everyone?

I am hoping that the diet is going well, the needles and hooks are flashing, and that any paper art is becoming a fine creation on your work space.
There that covers about everything. I wanted to know about. Tell me about your progress!

I finished several ATCs, Kitty Fairy is above...and now for that pile of sewing I harp about often.
The sewing fairy has not come in the night and finished it. Boo-hoo.

I am excited that I have had some response about the Sunshine Scarves for the cancer patients. By fall, there should be a pile to distribute. I meet with the oncology department coordinator on Thursday.
If any one can HELP, let me know. PLEASE.

Printer ink is goofy and the printer won't recognise the replaced ink cartridges. More coming from Epson. If these don't work I am going to run screaming into the night, because that means a new printer, yet again.

Clearing up the work room today to be ready for more paper art projects...see, I am trying to avoid the sewing corner!

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Need People and Yarn!


A new special project.

I am asking for help from knit and crochet folks who have time to donate scarves for cancer victims in Phoenix AZ.
There is a need for this as a comfort and a nice gesture to those going through treatment.

If you read this blog and can help, please let me know. Post your comment and if you have advise with this idea, all thoughts are welcome.
If you aren't into needle work, pass this call out, to others.
We also need donated yarn and will try to supply yarn to those who can do the labor but can't afford to donate yarn.

Send replies if you wish to: kipper38@gmail.com
Thanks a lot!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

DOODLES...What?


I have been really enjoying doing DOODLES...What?

~~You know the stuff you do when you are on hold, on the phone...and scratch around with paper and pen.

This has been fun for me and I hope to pass along this interest by sharing a few Doodles, here. They really are easy-peasy. Just let your imagination take you on a trip of fantasy on a small peice of paper. I use a 2 1/2" X 3 1/2 " section of white paper to work on.
There are other variations and I will share them as time moves on. Tell me if you enjoy this "art."

Everyone is welcome here; please comment.

I need to eat Radishes, but want Bean Cake!!



[Radishes, are low in calories!]

Things are going well around here, but not the weight loss.

Honestly, I think I need to live far away from all the temptations. Even so, I could exist and gain, by making myself the easiest food, which I like, such as baked goods. Since I pursue all the vegetarian recipes and such, even they aren't free of calories! [Radishes, yeah, dipped in Ranch Dressing!]
~~If you are going to eat, try this one:
It is good, but try to have just a thin peice with a bit of fat-free whipped topping as a garnish!

Nutritious Bean Snackin' Bread/ Cake

Mix wet ingredients together

1 can brown or red beans [drained and mashed]
1 1/4 C. water
1 egg or egg sub.
1/3 C honey

Mix dry ingredients together:

2 C low fat biscuit mix
3/4 C Splenda
1/4 C cornmeal
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 C cocoa powder
1/4 C wheat bran
1/2 C oatmeal

Add wet mix to dry, combine well.

Pour into 9 X 12 pan or one slightly smaller for deeper product.
Bake at 375 until test tooth pick shows it is finished!
This is a thick product, so about 25 minutes or more is needed, according to pan size.

To change this from chocolate: add 1/4 C. less water and add instead of the cocoa powder use 1 cup of pumpkin.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!


~~You never know what will pop up here.

~~Happy Saint Patrick's Day from my whimsical Doodle Leprechaun!


Enjoy your day of wearin' of the green!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Friday the 13th...FUN!



"Death by Dessert"

In honor of Friday the 13th...Something FUN!

When you are stressed, turn it around. It spells desserts.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

First Recipe... for Healthy Eating Shares

Thanks to Whole Foods Market for this delicious start to my sharing for Healthy Eating. They have a wonderful website to draw from.
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

I'd like this recipe for Tofu salad served hot as well as cold.
I would add some fresh orange slices or spiced pineapple chunks as a finish.

Spiced Pineapple Chunks
Drain a can of pineapple chunks, heat the juice with 1/2 t. of cinnamon.
Simmer a bit to reduce the juice and pour over the pineapple chunks.
Chill and serve.

Quick Noodle Salad with Tofu and Vegetables

salt
1 (8-ounce) package pad Thai-style rice noodles or whole wheat linguine
1 cup bean sprouts
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 (8-ounce) package baked tofu, cut into small cubes
1 large carrot, grated
1/2 cup prepared peanut sauce ...or use recipe below

1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped roasted and salted peanuts

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add noodles and cook until tender. Drain and rinse in cold water; drain again and transfer to a large bowl.

Add sprouts, green onions, tofu, carrots and dressing and toss to coat. Transfer to bowls and serve garnished with cilantro and peanuts.

Peanut Sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons tamari
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
3 tablespoons water
1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 teaspoons German mustard
1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon ginger, minced
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes


Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Healthy Eating Chat Coming Soon!


I plan to be covering some Healthy Eating Chat here in the near future.
Friends and acquaintances all seem to be watching what they eat and I find this to be a very interesting subject. I see so many good things that are available as tools to better health and weight management. So I plan to add that to my blog ASAP.

Monday, December 08, 2008

December Sneaks Up On Me!






I wonder if December shows it's self in this sly mode for others?
I seem to feel fall is still with me, and then December comes FAST, and it sneaks up on me!
It totally eclipsed November...Well, I have been pretty busy!

Trying to get into the "mood" for the holiday ahead is hard, when we really don't do much celebrating. Family is 1,200 miles away and it isn't snowing here.

Snow does set the scene doesn't it!

A blessing to distances is...that I never Christmas shop, just write the checks, so that nasty part of Christmas is avoided.

I can see I am sounding rather Scroog-ish!

The knitting has been fun, for we in our group are making another [the last before Christmas] blanket for the Child Crisis Nursery. It's red and green. I have two 8" squares done. The blanket takes 12, and we are all contributing to it. One lady is putting it together. Let's hear it for crochet! I just do plain stuff in knit.

I have a few paper art swaps to complete and some cards to make.

I am sweating the repair of my CPU. It has some serious stuff wrong. I can't get a lot of my scanning done until I get it back on the desk. Sure miss being able to use my printer.
The laptop has it's own printer in Oregon, so I am just waiting to get this feature back on line when the big guy comes home from repair.

I don't realize how much I print, until I have to scribble out [by hand!] paper art ideas and recipes with a pencil!!

Learning to do what I *say to others so I will try to CREATE today!
*Just Do It!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Return Via Fall


Arizona sunsets are especially lovely in the fall.
This card was made to show sunsets, to share with friends in an AZ Stamping group

Perhaps it is symbolic that I would finally return to my blogging in the fall.
I do like this season a lot, as things change not only in weather... but in activities and the return to AZ from OR makes life interesting and different.

All things considered, it was an uneventful but safe and enjoyable trip back to AZ and the only earth shaking thing that had to be taken care of was the unpacking and none of that is new news. This complaining I do every year is about the same. My worst scenario is never really getting things put away "nicely." It seems in the final moment, that tossing is the easiest and speediest way to unpack!

So that is done, except the large amount of stamps that still sit in a box and a large woven basket. They are my reality of life, nothing is ever complete in my studio. I promise it will be better each day, but those stamps mock me!

The kitties and doggy were good travelers and seem to be glad to be home. The cats must live with no outings in the 32 ft. 5Th wheel all summer. Trudy does love her visit in OR, where she can run around with her doggy buddies... but is doing fine here.

Bob completed all his many clean up chores in the out and inside areas. He had the biggest job in the return to AZ, as driver stevedore and yard man.

He is back to bowling, limited tennis, until more players return; exercising and riding his bike.


As many know, I am really working hard on my eating toward a healthy lifestyle. So far the vegetarian with some additional fish /shell fish has been helpful to me and now to Bob too, in our weight loss. I guess that style is called pescatarian.
There are so many good vegetable recipes out there and with commercial faux meats available, it is fun and interesting to plan good meals.

Today it was fish sauteed with a coating of ground walnuts and a bit of flour and spices, peas and carrots and would you believe...oatmeal muffins with baked beans mixed in the dough. These are delish.
Our fresh fruit was marginal. I think fruits are too long in cold storage and then never really ripen properly.

If nothing else the new way of eating has prompted some different recipes to try. We had a very tasty pie...only the filling no pie shell. It was a mock coconut pie, made with cooked spaghetti squash instead of coconut. Basically it is a custard pie. The cooked spaghetti squash needed to be chopped, as the long spaghetti strings were still in tack even after baking. Still this pie is a success and very healthy. Here's a tip: If you make a custard pie, use egg substitute and half Splenda for your sweetener.

My paper arts chores are coming along with some pretty stamped leaves and a wreath to set them onto, as well as a basket theme card that is in the works.

Because I complain wildly about the weather in AZ being too hot in the late spring summer and early fall, I have to give a thank you to Mother Nature, as today is cool, with much lower temperatures. We actually have re installed the electric blanket onto the bed, anticipating cool nights, at last!

Nice to be home and settled in.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Packing for the Summer Escape!

Ah yes, it is time to pack for the "summer escape."

Did you know that Hades is synonymous with Mesa, AZ in the summer?
We would melt here in the summer I think.
[Hope to never have to find out.]
Think of all the AC power we save.

On to Oregon!
This means decisions on what to pack in the totes, yarn, art supplies, clothes.
I am actually cutting way back. We started out with a 5th wheel trailer and then just the large truck with a canopy, then a smaller truck with a canopy and now a Dodge van. Impossible you say? Nope. Cats in their big cage, doggy has her space, totes of supplies, and even my porta potty fit in. The bikes are going too, in a rack that fits on our new hitch!
Bob really slaved getting that attatched !

I have finished my charity knitting and started a cute multi color kid's vest.
I found the yarn at the Goodwill for $1. YAY! I really needed more yarn.

I don't knit on the trip as I am too concerned with the traffic on part of the trip and the wonderful scenery. I love the outback route we take through AZ, NV and CA. So much to see; with awesome mountains and wide open spaces. We have very little boring city traffic. We zip past Vegas and Reno on the outskirting freeways.

This year we have some upgrading in the trailer to do, and will put in a short line to the sewer system. Not fun but much needed.

I am excited to meet this year with a new stamp group that Char heads up. It will be great to get back to the knitting gals that Patti introduced me to last year. So stamping and knitting will not be left out of the summer lazy days.

It seems that the more interests I have, the more lovely people I meet.
See you again soon!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Trying to "Keep Up"

It's hard to keep up.

Life tosses in too many obstacles...anyone else feel that way?

Even cooking a meal you are hungry for often interrups the arty flow!



The doodles are sort of like a muse that keeps callingfrom somewhere in the forest and you hear it, and yet don't have the time to find the path there.
I can get so tied up with any paper art! I've enjoyed adding color to my doodles

The weather in AZ right now is great and believe it or not I actually have been riding my bike. It has been nearly 2 years. The pain from my arthritic hip kept me off, the hip replacement operation and recovery kept me off, and the slight fear of falling has kept me off. But I got on [!] and like they say: "You never forget, once you learn to ride a bike, it stays with you!" I am riding pretty much every day.

Because of our "vacation," from the AZ heat, I have to begin planning my list of what to take to OR. Not nearly as much as before, as I am learning to travel light
I forget there are stores there. Ha!

The next international trip we take, we are toying with the idea of carry-on bags only. Can trip clothes and needs, for two weeks, be stuffed into these?
Help! Any suggestions?

I am rather proud to be working on my fish and veggies only, meal plans. So far so good. There are a LOT of alternate protein sources!

On the table today:
Stuffed poblano chilles...Quorn chik'n, oatmeal muffin mix with chopped olives, extra oatmeal, a bit of Mexican BBQ sauce. This is topped with cheese and a sprinkle of the chopped olives. So far it looks good and smells great.
Baked Hubbard squash and fresh squeezed orange juice.
[No-meat-meal ideas are welcome!]

OTN:
A rather attractive blue beanie hat. Simple with rolled brim in medium blue worsted yarn, some lighter blue: K2 P2 rib rows; then back to the darker blue for the of the hat. I will share the pic, later.

Time to squeeze the AZ Sweets!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

First post in a month, but I am here!




This is my latest doodle.

It has been a long, Gee, nearly a month, since I had time to check in and post.
So many days of computer gazing...which is mesmerizing. The hours fly by!

Knit Report:
I am trying my best to finish and send all my charity projects before we travel to OR for our hide-away from the AZ heat.

One more button to sew on a vest for Warm Woolies, have two to send.
href="http://www.warmwoolies.org/">

Nearly finished with a man's scarf for Scarves from the Heart; three to send.


I have a shawl ready to complete the last 5 rows, for myself. [!]

Paper Art Report:
The doodles, previously Zentangles, are coming along, what fun!
The doodle above is the first done with my technical pens. They are great, but I have to get used to them.
Cards are on the work space and ATCs are near completion.
So, not is all computer gazing! ["Rolling my eyes."]

Great participation in our ATC-International group, so we are be moving forward creatively. It will be swell to se the next swap, which is stained glass/outlines.Everyone will come up with some neat shares, which we all enjoy. Mine are both stained glass and use of outline stamps.

Waving bye for today! I promise to be a better blogger!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Returning after a long hiatus!


Nice to be back.

It took too long to accomplish all the things we added to the house. Seemingly, with all the muss and fuss, I just lolled around not being motivated.
I will try to improve.

Carpets are now cleaned, which means I think the renovation is over! Yay!

I continue my Needle Notes, twice a week. I believe I will put them on the Knit Groupies Jabber Yahoo group. It is easier to do this on that site, as then the links are activated automatically.

Not a lot of progress with my art but I do have, a little bit of paper art now coming across--> called "Zentangles" [One of the Zens, is the image above.]
...actually they are pen and ink doodles.
Paper doilies are my card and ATC projects, which are on the art table now.

Knit: Working on a pretty soft mohair-with glitz, shawl, for my sis. I will make one for myself, if I like the drape and feel of hers.

Continuing to enjoy the Sun's basketball games and plan to see a few more hockey games soon.

I think this catches me up.
I will try harder at setting down at least weekly blogs, in the future.