Trading Cards

I worked for two days on my trading cards. I finished several each for the Chimneys one and the Anything That Doesn't Walk. I mailed 4 today and will mail another two tomorrow. Hopefully I will get those finished up soon. I still have one more person to do a pet portrait for. And I lead the next Drawspace trade which will be posted on the first.

Here is the latest Pet Portrait Card that has been received at its new home. This is Comfort. 4x6 inches and colored pencil with a touch of ink.

Wow

I guess I have taken a break. I didn't know I had taken a break but I haven't posted for a long time. I have no idea why. I have no reason, no excuse.

I have done a few cards lately. I finished my trade cards for the Zentangle II trade on Wetcanvas. I mailed all the cards either Saturday or Friday. So far I haven't heard if any have been received.

My nephew and his fiance (now wife) had their wedding yesterday at the beach. It was a very wet wedding. Rained all day. They did the ceremony in the rain as there were no other alternatives. No place inside where they booked it large enough. They did buy awnings to put up over the tables but everyone still got very wet. But at least it is over and they can get on with their lives.

When I went into my bedroom tonight where my birds are, I found my parakeet dead in the bottom of the cage. Poor Freebie. It appeared that her neck was broken. I have had her for a couple years. I know she had a good home her last couple years and enjoyed listening and talking to the birds outside when I would open the window. That's just about the only time you heard her get loud. I will miss that happy sound. But just one more loss among so many this year.

Goodbye my sweet little bird.

Rocks/Stones Finished

I finished all the cards for the Rocks/Stones trade on Drawspace. I had 9 to do. I decided to do this trade in graphite. I like to do that every so often to get back to the basics. I miss graphite when I constantly do colored pencils. All of these were from my own references. They are all in the envelopes and ready to mail on Monday.

The two cacti were at CSUB (Cal State Bakersfield University). They have a program called FACT where they nurse birds back to health and reintroduce them back into the wild. Some of the students work there. It is outside and has a small pond with brush around it. Cages for the birds, lots of native trees, and a huge area with native cacti. We went there for one of our plein air outings.

The rest of the photos were taken at the cattle ranch where my friends Shari and Ron work and live, and the small day park we went to at Stallion Springs in Tehachapi. Both were plein outings as well.

I also finished the zentangle cards for the Zentangle II trade on Wetcanvas. We don't have the list yet so they aren't ready to mail yet. I can't show those as they are supposed to be a surprise. I never know how many of the participants check my blog.

Now I have to concentrate on the other two Wetcanvas trades. "Anything That Doesn't Walk" and "Chimneys". And I joined for the 3rd year the Christmas Portrait Swap on Wetcanvas. Looking forward to it. They are still signing up for that one.

Nothing I can Show

I haven't done anything this week that I can show. I have been working on some Zentangles for the trade on Wetcanvas and some Stones/Rocks for the monthly trade on Drawspace. I have 5 of each so far. And one finished for the Wetcanvas Trade called
"Anything That Doesn't Walk" A little bit of a mouthful isn't it?

Yesterday I worked on Bible study questions. It was really a good study. Today I did nothing. Well that isn't exactly true. I slept some and worked on a blouse I ordered. It was too big so I decided to fix it myself instead of sending it back. I don't want to pay for the extra postage. And if I got a smaller size, chances are it would be too tight. Can't win for losing so they say. So I pay a price just to remake it. Fun, fun, fun.

I actually don't like to sew any more. I did when I was younger. Is that because I was younger and had more patience? Is that because I could see better and my hands worked better? Is that because it was cheaper back then? Well all of the above is true.

The patterns today are an outlandish price. They cost as much as the Vogue patterns did "in the olden days". And we poor people couldn't afford the Vogue patterns back then. And the Vogue patterns were more like "Project Runway" compared to what most women wore back in that more conservative time.

My hands are terribly arthritic, my eyes have the start of cataracts, and I pull more stitches out than I put in when I sew. And there is where the eye sight comes in to play. Try taking stitches out of black fabric that has been sewn with black thread and then get back to me. Also try it with your eyes closed. That pretty much sums up what it is like for me. fun huh?

But like other problems for people who carry too much weight, clothes aren't made the way I would wish. The sleeves are way too short and tight for my "wings". The length is too short for my backside and belly. And I can guarantee you that no one wants to see my midsection sticking out from under my blouse or anything else that might be in that area.

Yes maybe I am a prude. But I don't think anyone has a good enough body to go around showing their mushroom over the tops of their pants. And it is annoying to watch someone forever pulling up their pants every few seconds. And for the view, you don't want to see mine and I don't want to see yours.

So I still make my tops. And I still buy my pants with elastic and make sure they fit "at the waist" and not hip area. The biggest part of me is not where I want the focal point. I will continue making my tops with long loose sleeves, my long tailed hems and loose sides as long as I can manage, and keep from frightening myself in the mirror or viewers on the street. I know what's under there but don't find it something I want to see every time I pass a mirror, or share with anyone on the street.

Now have a good day, take a look in the mirror (front and back) before going out, and pray that my hands and eyes hold out until I at least am in the throes of dementia.

Scavenger Hunt

I was the host of the latest scavenger hunt on WCd. This was the last day and I got one item sketched and posted tonight.

As I was watering my back yard, I picked up several leaves that had fallen and sketched them for the hunt. They will come in handy as a leaf is on the next hunt also.

I will be mailing out one more pet portrait today. I have 7 more to do. Then I have the October trade at Drawspace to do which is "rocks". And 3 trades at Wetcanvas to get started on. Another pending project is the Sketchbook Project for the Art House Coop. I have it started but haven't gotten very much done (the inside cover and a couple pages or so.)

Plus my Bible study started again in mid Sept and we have daily homework for that. If I don't wade thru the debris in my house and do some housework, I soon will get lost as a wander thru the house.

The sketch is done in colored pencil and outlined with a marker pen.