Photographing Jasen--always a trick...

This little boy is just too funny. I made this here.
I wanted to get a happy face in the middle, but this is what chance brought us. Which, if any one knows Jasen, is probably more accurate. He'll be sweet and patient for a while, then it's "Hurry and take the @!?& photo!"

I love him.

Finding MY style

Here she is--a painting finally all my own, completely my own style. This is just from my art journal--so the surface is kind of ruddy--but I like the face and I like the clown look. I like the dots are her eyelashes. Click the image for a better view




Here's another shot of the gift canvases I made. They are the smaller width, not gallery. I like both widths.
And here's my intentional project for the day--cleaning up after finishing my sculpt. I used to call my daughter Hurricane Stephanie----hmmmm....I think I know where she gets it. I've realized the trouble though--it's 2 part. First, cleaning as I go simply distracts me--I get really into the piece I'm working on and don't like to stop the "flow"--so changing that is pretty much out. Second--cleaning just BORES ME TO DEATH. So I need to find a way to make it more fun and exciting. Good luck. Mostly, I just get excited about how nice it will look all clean, so I can sculpt or paint and make a mess again. Really, that's what keeps me going. I don't love to clean, but I do love a clean area. I think I see a way my kids can earn some extra money cleaning for me--once they get competent enough (and I decide on a place for everything). There are somethings I'd rather just pay for than do, and cleaning is one of them.

Just me...

I found this picture in a newsletter--I didn't realize it had even been taken! That's the peasant top I wore that has a baby-doll cut--and after I wore it to Church one Sunday--I starting hearing that there was a rumor that I was pregnant. Sheesh--it's just style, baby! Not babies. But I guess, when you have 5 kids, you never know. Anyway, I miss my summer tan, but I still have my fun opalite necklace. I wore it first with Randy on a cool trip to Moab.

Well, we took the plunge and are now VIP members with Gold's gym. We've been warming up to it by soaking in the hot tub there a few nights in a row, as we get over our colds. But those weights are calling to me. I get so much stronger. Time to get back to it--it's just in the New Year air, isn't it?

What am I up to? Well, today I started processing the 360 something pictures I took while making the male fairy. That's right--a new fairy book is in the making. They sure are work to get together--hours and hours--but then it's done. I've been so glad people have really appreciated my sculpting books. It's been fun to go through the pics and see the sculpt progress. I'm hoping to get it done within the week--we'll see. I've been getting a lot of requests for the female face & body book, so I need to get that one going as well.

My favorite part of today was taking pictures of Jasen, my newly 4 - 4 yr old. I'll have to post them when I get them transferred over. He's finally feeling better--but coughs up a storm if he runs around much.

Art progress lately...

a painting for my sister, inspired by Papaya. Click for close up details...


And for my dad...



and yes, Mr. Fairy is all done and en route to his new owner.

8 Years in a few seconds

This is cool. I liked watching his hair and also his blemishes come and go. Pretty funny!

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1710434

Happy moments....

My fun sister in law had these shots taken this summer--and it made me happy to see our happy faces. I've got a great family--and I LOVE TO HAVE FUN! This is me, my brother Randy, sister in law Liz, and brother Jared, who can't find the camera. ;)

Then me & Jenna, having a serious conversation, apparently, and my cute boys in the background. I'm almost always playing with their hair--they are good to not get too bugged! ;)


As far as work goes, I'm almost ready to send off my commission sculpt. I'll take pics tomorrow and get them posted sometime afterward. I LOVE finishing a sculpt--Ta-da--I did it!

Off to check out Suzi Blu!

Yummy Salad Dressing

Becky Johnson's Fall Dressing

1 ripe pear
1 ripe sweet apple
1 C orange juice
1 C water
1/4 C pure maple syrup
1 t Cinnamon
dash cloves

Blend in blender. I added pine nuts cuz I like a thicker creamier dressing most of the time. But it fabulous with or without the pine nuts. I would use this recipe as a beverage also.

Anthropologie

Just read a blog about this cool clothing, etc. store. Pricey, but dang cute!

Mosaic How-To

This is a Mosaic from Ali Edwards. I think they are way cool. She posted how to do it, so I'm posting it here below:

Making the Squares
A couple questions in the comments yesterday regarding the collage (or mosaic) of inspiring photos. If you use Flickr you can easily create these mosaics using Big Huge Labs Mosaic Maker. You specify the number of photos across and down and where they come from (mine usually come from my favorites).

I also often make photo gatherings in Photoshop to use in my projects. Or sometimes I just use a square punch. You can read how I go about creating these groupings in Photoshop in a past issue of my newsletter here (scroll down to "Creating Photo Gatherings in Photoshop").

And a few more...

A Santa with bright blue eyes for Grandma...


And a collage piece for Jenna, Kelly Rae style

Some Christmas Gifts I made for Mom...

A collage painting that I thoroughly enjoyed making...


On a wooded stretched canvas--



And a teeny baby--under 3 inches long. Mom hit the jackpot because her birthday is right around Christmas.

I love sculpting little bums and feet! =)

Male Fairy Progress

Meet Gabriel....


With some painted features:


Testing out what he looks like with hair...

Fudge for Jenna - Recipe

We make this fudge every Christmas. It is easy & rich & creamy. It can be enjoyed any time throughout the year.


* 1 stick butter(half cup)
* 2 cups sugar
* 2/3 cup evaporated milk
* 1tsp vanilla
* 2 cups mini-marshmallows
* 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt butter add sugar & milk- cook in microwave for 3 min. on high-stir- cook another 3 min. on high-stir- cook 2 min. on high -stir- then add vanilla, marshmallows, chocolate chips - mix until melted- pour into a greased 8x8 pan - allow to set-up Caution when making any candy in the microwave the bowl & the fudge mixture will be very hot!

Options:
-add chopped nuts
-use milk or white chocolate chips in place of semi-sweet chips
-use peanut butter in place of chocolate chips

From {Sweet Life in the Valley blog}

Beeswax with Suzi Blu

Found this version--Popular

Jenna turned me on to this musical. I love the blonde from pushing up daisies

My life is still unwritten....

Today, I bought a guitar. I love my pretty guitar, but now my fingers are killing me. Did you know you need callouses on your fingers to play a guitar? Hmmmm...maybe I could put a layer of superglue on each finger tip? Why'd I get a guitar? I don't know exactly--it's been calling to me for nearly a year now. So we'll see--Jairen loves them, so maybe we'll learn to play together.

It's fun to try something new--something unexpected. Life is always unwritten until we decide:

A Journey into the past....

Suzi Blu--It's never too late...

Some paintings I've been working on. None are really "done" but I wanted to post some progress! I think I need to make another arm on this gal. I used a canvas board I found at dollar tree--don't use them--way to rough. So she's very textured looking. But I learned a lot. Like if I make the faces too small it's hard to add much detail.


This one is on nice canvas. Just waiting to make a collage dress and wings, highlight the hair and thin out the face a bit. Then I'll play with the background more and give it a brown border. I love brown and turquoise--matches my swimsuit. Mostly I'm waiting for the watercolor pencils from dickblick so I can detail the faces better.

Just another experiment with a more realistic face. Steph said I've learned how to make old people skin. She's right. I'm still working on learning how to layer acrylics. Wanting those pencils...that's how people do the detail work, I've learned. This one looks better on paper--Maybe I took it at a weird angle. I'll fix her up and post when I'm done. =)

Dr. Oz Green Drink?

Hmmm....don't know if I dare try this or not?

Dr. Oz says he makes a breakfast drink for himself many mornings that he calls his green drink.

What's in Dr. Oz's green drink?

• 2 cups spinach
• 2 cups cucumber
• 1 head of celery
• 1/2 inch or teaspoon ginger root
• 1 bunch parsley
• 2 apples
• Juice of 1 lime
• Juice of 1/2 lemon

After everything is combined in a blender, this recipe makes 28 to 30 ounces—about three to four servings. Oprah takes a sip and is pleasantly surprised. "It's a glass of fresh," she says.

I think my chocolate version sounds better. Speaking of which, time for breakfast.