A little Paint Play

Last night, I just went for it. I don't know thing one about painting, but I've always wanted to. I recently bought a beginner set of watercolors and one of acrylics. I used the watercolors last night. Here are the results. The two bottom pieces were painted as one and cut in half. It was fun. The only one I really like is the top photo of the blue and orange painting. I call it Three Rivers. Yes, the "rivers" are orange and the "grass" is blue.

Sometimes I Wonder....

Sometimes I wonder if I have the soul of a flake or an artist.

I started expressing myself in artistic, crafty ways when I was a small child and my mother taught me how to embroider. I was 6 or I may have been even younger. I dabbled over the years, making necklaces from Goodwill finds and loop loom potholders and pillows made from washcloths and yarn. I even remember making a jewelry box from a book. My mother was horrified over that one. The next thing I remember learning was decoupage. I taught myself by reading about it. Probably around 10 or so. I tried to learn to sew in Home Ec class, but I was truly horrible at making clothing. I don't remember learning any other crafts until I got married and moved from Dallas, TX to Biloxi, MS to be with my Air Force husband at the ripe old age of 18. I explored some and came across cross stitch at that point. I cross stitched for a long time. Then I found quilting. I love quilting. I made traditional quilts for years. Now, I'm branching out into art quilting and my own original designs. I've taken photography classes and done some scrap booking. I also started to make jewelry that doesn't fall apart because I use the proper stringing wire instead of thread (like I did on my Goodwill necklace).

There is still so much more out there that I want to learn to do. I want to learn to paint with both watercolor and acrylic. I want to knit scarves and dish cloths for everyone I know. I want to work with stained glass. I want to learn to make more expressive, nontraditional jewelry. I want to take better photographs.

As it is now, I have so many options, that I am often slowed down by just trying to figure out what I want to do on any given day when it comes to creativity. Still I add more ideas and plans for others types of expression. Does this make me a flake or an artist at heart?

Thank You, Charmaine!

I've shown you the photo I took of my son and father before. Now, you get to see it with the painting my wonderful, talented sister-in-law Charmaine painted for me. I'm just in awe over her talent! You should see her quilts. Her applique is amazing. Now, she's taken up painting and after just a very few lessons, I think she's ready to teach. I hope to have her paint our Elly next year. Elly escaped our fenced yard and was hit by a car that ended her life last April, in the prime of her life. She was only six and a black German Shepherd dog. I miss her so much.

Charmaine has been such a blessing in my life. I met her when my mother-in-law (her mother) had had a heart attack and she, my hubby (her brother) and I were going to drive to Mississippi together to see her. As it turned out, we didn't make it in time, so we went there to plan and attend her funeral. That was in 1983, I think. Since then, she's always been there when I've needed her. She's a true friend. A sister. I'm blessed to have a sister by birth, a sister by marriage and a soul sister. I have an extremely good friend too and a mother that I love and get along with. Who could ask for more?

Thank you, Charmaine. One more thing -- I did have trouble deciding where to hang the painting. I knew it deserved to be in the living room where everyone who visited could see it, but I wanted it in my bedroom. That way, if there was ever a fire in the middle of the night, I could save it. Now, I just hope that if we're ever unfortunate enough to have a fire, that I'm wide awake and I can get it and the watercolor of our home that is upstairs.