Memorial Day Art

Not much art today =) Cooked hamburgers with my boyfriend (he actually helped cook AND did the dishes!) and I colored this tree with new colored pencils I bought at the art store. They are prismacolor, and I think I used them like crayons. But I kind of like the effect.

Sewing lessons start in two weeks!

Story of a man and a tree and a sunset

The tree stood tall and empty on the edge of the cliff. A Raewood tree, his father had once told him, the sustainers of the land. To his right, the forest branched westward, the line thinning towards the cliff edge, where only one or two spectacular specimens had not yet given into gravity and plummeted downward. This particular tree hung over the cliff towards the east, its roots protruding here and there from the rock wall.

This Raewood now supported his sweaty back as he dusted the dirt from his eyes and scanned the horizon, one hand bent over his brow. Nothing stirred.  

           
Large roots jutted over the precipice. He swung his pack higher on his shoulders and gripped the protruding edge of the nearest root. It was solid, and did not even budge under his weight. Paper-dry, the wood scraped his hands, and his descent sent clumps of soil plummeting downward. He carefully followed the path of one thick root down to were it curved back into the soil. Many years had worn away the dirt under the tree, and as a small boy he had discovered this hiding place with two of his playmates. A few feet down the side of the cliff the roots had twisted in among themselves hollowing out a sort of earthy cave in the rock. It was invisible from above and below, hidden by the entwined web of roots. Only by climbing over the drop could one access the enclosure. The traveler must also be lithe enough to traverse the root way, as the gaps were lean. His playmates had soon become altogether too large, but as a man he had remained small and skinny.

            
The cool damp of the soil underneath the tree soothed him. Rocks poked into his shoulders and a piece of bark jabbed his thigh as he curled up, inches from the cliff edge. There was a silence here that he had never been able to replicate. A stillness in the air that consumed his entire being until it seemed like he had disappeared and something else remained.

            
When he woke, his hand was tangled in the inner weavings of a root. He ate from his pack two apples and Daei’e meat sandwich while he contemplated his surroundings. The sun was just beginning to set behind the valley, filling the horizon with orange, glimmering light. He had hidden long enough, he surmised; two days in the city, one in the old well by Garber’s place, and then a whole day in this tiny cave, with the sheer edge of a 400-foot drop to this immediate left.

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Just a normal story. More then art, more then anything in the whole world I want to be published and glorify God with my writing. It is the deepest passion in my heart. This is one of the first stories I ever wrote.

Mermaid on the Moon

Recent Watercolor...not very pleased with this, the "sky" looks more like water to me. I painted a mermaid lounging on the moon.  I'm learning so much and I had fun glorifying God with my talent.

Blue Doilies Dress

Made a blue dress. Took about 10 hours. I haven't embellished the top yet, and I'm adding a button to the doilie, and I still need to trim the bottom. But I love this! And I'm going to wear it with leggings =)

No pattern used =)

Card

I don't have to work for a week (yay!) so I've had tons of time to do crafty things! Today I made a card for my mother. I'm mailing it today. I hope she likes it! =P

Alan and I went to the botanical gardens in Norfolk, VA recently and I just loved the trip. Sadly, my camera ran out of batteries but I stole his and took lots of pictures! Here are some of my favorites. The flowers were just beautiful and I loved the photographic adventure as well as hanging with my special someone =)

These are just my favorite photos, you can see all of them on my flickr page here!

More Watercolor

Today was so relaxing. I praise God for it!

After a trip shopping for vintage-y things, I hung out with a friend, listened to great music and then headed home to paint and cook spaghetti. 

Some of these are really dark (bad camera!) but I really love the fairy one. It took me about 2 hours.

I'm learning!!!!!!!

Sewing

Things I sewed over my 4 day weekend =)

I made this cute ribbon necklace! I used an old piece of ribbon and just a tiny bit of fabric. I "rumpled" the fabric and then sewed it straight on to the ribbon. 

It can also be worn as a bracelet. 

I also made this dress. I am going to the beach next week and wanted to make something to wear there. 

It is strapless and just below knee length. I sewed a hem and  two pieces of elastic for the bust. It was really easy. 

The last thing I made was this skirt. Originally it was a dress, but the underarms were yellowed so I cut it up and added some pretty blue ribbon. 

I've never had any sewing lessons, but hope to take some soon, so I can learn to create more complex things and put things together correctly. 

Age

Wow....Look how I've grown! woah!

This is high school graduation, 2005.

This is college. 

Again: Highschool 2005

I feel so old! I miss my hair =( I didn't realize how much I've changed and am changing. Wow. Its like seeing a piece of yourself you miss. New Year Jan 1 2010:

I know I'm not old: but I'm not youthful anymore. That part of me is gone and will never come back. I'm happy with who I am now; with my photography and my water-coloring. I just didn't realize I'd changed so much.

50 in 1001 days

I stole this from Jessica. Basically its a list of 50 things I want to accomplish in two and a half years (1001 days). These are personal goals!


1) Write a Book
2) Make a photography Portfolio
3) Take sewing lessons
4) Sew 5 items for friends
5) Sew 5 items for my etsy shop

6) Learn to watercolor
7) Watercolor 5 things for family
8) watercolor 5 things for my etsy shop
9) frame 3 watercolors
10) buy more watercolors and brushes

11) Find a new job (one that is not at night)
12) save 3000 dollars in my savings account for my wedding (600/3000 as of now)
13) take yoga
14) exercise every day for a week straight
15) avoid fast food or eating out for a month

16) buy black boots
17) buy more nail polish
18) read the bible every day for a month
19) pray every day for a month
20) go to church without missing a sunday for a month

21) take a vitamin every day
22) eat three balanced meals
23) go to bed before 11pm every nigth
24) wake up at 6am or 7am every day
25)

I will keep working on this list as I come up with ideas!

The best boyfriend

So, my boyfriend surprised me with this very large (and very pink) box yesterday!



And guess what was inside!

I can't wait to play with this tomorrow! YAY!

He even bought me a remote for my camera.

I am so blessed to have such a thoughtful and caring boyfriend =P I've wanted a stand and a remote for forever! <3 I think I shall have to bake him a pie, in the very least ^__~

Or maybe a back rub... =)

Couple Shoot

I posted an add on craigslist advertising free photography and this lovely couple e-mailed me and requested a photo-shoot! They were very nice and friendly and I loved working with them.

They wanted pictures with their dogs too. It was challenging and fun working with animals who wouldn't sit still and were forever trying to lick their owners.

I took the pictures at VT around noon. Halfway though it started raining!  We ran under a tree to escape =).

This is my favorite picture. (below) I love the movement and laughter. I took over 300 pictures and mailed them to their address. You can see more on my flickr page.

Wanderings

Psalm 104:24, 30

How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.... When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.

Wandered around my yard today, just in search of some creativity. =) i love using the camera and wish I didn't have to work so much. Hopefully that will change according to His will--and I am praying with all my heart! 

I love flowers. One day when I own my own house, I want a flower garden!

This next picture was edited in photoshop with a stock photo of the galaxy. I think it turned out very well.       ------->

Just a random update today. Now almost time for work =)

JJ Heller

So I stumbled across this artist, and I absolutely love her. I can tell from her songs she loves God with all her heart. Her songs impact me. They encourage me. They show me I'm not alone; I'm a part of the body of Christ.

So, this is my prayer too.

JJ Heller-Only Love Remains

Thats all for today. Wednesday I will take some pictures and practice my art. Thursday I will sign up for sewing lessons! God is so good!

Watercolor

So, I've been experimenting with watercolor recently. I've found it to be a very delightful medium. You work from light to dark, and blending colors if very easy and fun. Here are two watercolors I did while sitting in class with my boyfriend.

I didn't use any picture-influences or stock or models for creating these; only my own imagination.