Shabby Chic Sunday!!

August 11, 2013

Hi ladies!!  Bet you think I have fallen in somewhere, but alas I am here and have a new post. It has been a scorcher of a week, and if I didn't have to get out, I stayed in and tried to stay cool. My daughter invited friends over yesterday for a swim party, and it was so fun to see them all having such a good time in the pool, staying cool!! My little grandson Ian loved jumping off the side of the pool, his first time to do this so far this swim season. By next summer I think he will be without his floaties and swimmin like a big boy!!

The great job search continues, with 1 rejection and numerous resumes sent online. Nursing is not what it used to be and I am having a hard time with all of the changes in the job market. Just use to walking into an office, handing them my resume and references and waiting to hear back for an interview. Now you do everything online!! However, I think tomorrow I will actually resort to my old tried and true method and deliver my resume locally to a few offices not far from me. Will keep you updated, but know that it is going to take much longer than I anticipated!

I have been creating flowers this weekend after seeing a tutorial by jennings644 on you tube. I have had so much fun and they are so easy. I used what I had on hand, and like how they turned out. Don't know what I will do with all of them but am sure they will be showing up on some of my projects this fall and for xmas gifts!! My Wild Art Summer class ended last Saturday, and I am so sad. But, our facebook group is going to continue with weekly projects to do until Junelle's next class, hopefully this fall!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week, and will be back to post soon, hopefully with some good news at some point!!

Just Julie

Sandcastle love!!!!

Happy Friday Ladies!!

Hope you have all had a good week and will have a wonderful, fun filled weekend. I have been busy with family this week for a funeral. But that is done, now I have to get back to my regular routine!! I am continuing with my job search, but things are so different looking for a job this day and time. Even for an RN! Never dreamed it would be this difficult to  get feedback regarding my resume, but it sure has been painful. Oh well, I am sure something will turn up when it's supposed to. I even applied at my favorite scrapbook store, The Crafty Scrapper, in Waxahachie,Tx. Would just love working there surrounded by all those goodies. Hopefully something will happen there if it is meant to be. Then that will be my sign!!
I have also been finishing up my continuing education credits, lots of reading to do, then faxing in the course evaluation. Which, is much better than having to actually take a test! That needs to be completed by the first of the week so I can have that done, then renew my nursing license before August 31st, since mine will expire then.

I am posting some pics of 2 art journal pages and one watercolor that I did yesterday. Am so sad that Wild Art Summer class with Junelle Jacobsen is coming to an end this Saturday. Her projects have been so fun and inspiring to me, just what I needed this summer at this particular time!! I tend to put her videos on when I am creating so it seems like she is right there with me, so much fun

Having dinner with my daughter and grandsons tonite, always fun to see them and get to smother them with those Granny kisses!! Have a good weekend and will be sure to post some projects from Saturdays final class with Junelle!

Just Julie

Lazy Sunday!!

Hi there Ladies!!
Sorry for the delay in posts this past week, but you know how things go sometimes.  Have been busy following up on my job applications, applying for more positions, and working on my CEU's to renew my nursing license.  I am hopeful that some calls will come in this week for some interviews. On a sad note, we have had a death in the family and the funeral will be on Wednesday. So my week is starting out busy already.  I am posting some pics of 3 canvases I made last week. They are all done with acrylic paints with a lot of texture and layering.  I don't want Wild Art Summer to end, but next weekend is the last class.   I have enjoyed the class,projects and our facebook group sooooo much!!  I hope we can all continue to grow in our art and stay in touch to learn and encourage each other!!

My best friend had a bday yesterday and some girls I worked with at my last job and I took her out for dinner Friday  I miss them so much and am glad we get together as often as possible to catch up on things and celebrate milestones in life.  I will also post a little pretty I made for her gift. One is a small gift box I turned into a little scene, and one is a paper cupcake I made after watching a you yube video. Forgive me for not remembering her name, but you can search "puffy cupcake" on you yube and watch it, there are 2 parts.  Makes simply darlin gifts!!

We kept our grandson last night, and always have so much fun with him. He is 3 and is a delight to have, it just brightens our day.  Plus, he is so stinkin cute with those dimples!!

Alrighy then, I have bent your ear enough,  so I will load up the pics to share and call it a nite. Hope you all have a wonderful week, and I hope to be back to post again midweek, depending on all of the activity around here!!

pkease let me know if you have any questions on the projects I have shared!

Just Julie

Relaxing Sunday

July 21,2013

Good evening to all.  It has been a relaxing but productive Sunday here at my house.  I created another pretty peat pot to send to one of my Mother's friends.  I am mailing a package to my parents tomorrow.  So hope they will like their little pretties and that it will brighten their day.  I also did 6 small watercolor projects yesterday.  They can be mounted on a canvas or a card front.  I will post them below for you to see.  I continue to work on my watercoloring and penwork.  I have got to relax more with my penwork so that it is loose and flows better.  Always something to work on!!  Anyway, I have fun when I am creating so that is important, right?  I have a new paper goodie I found on you tube tonite using peat pots and shabby flowers to make a little cupcake pretty. I will post a pic once I have done one and figured out the process.
I  made some delicious enchiladas tonite for dinner, then we had some fresh strawberries fordessert.   Have been watching HGTV design star finale and will watch the new series Brothers Renovation in a few minutes.
Have to take care if some bills and proceeding with the job hunt tomorrow. Will let you know how that is progressing as new info becomes available.  I did go to a job fair on Saturday so resume is in someone's hands for review.

I am looking forward to videos of CHA Summer 2013 to watch this week. I always like to see the new things that are coming out, don't you?

Ok, til next time girls!!

Just Julie

Terrific Thursday!!

July 18, 2013

Hi girls!!  Ok, I am going to try a post tonite and upload pics correctly.  I apologize for yesterdays post as I was doing it from my new tablet.  I am lovin it but have to work some of the kinks out, of my brain that is!! Just had to figure out how to upload my pictures since this camera is so terrific!!  And I think I have figured it out!!

I did a lot of watercoloring practice yesterday and will post those for you.  Then when I sat down today to create, I got sidetracked with my thinking and ended up making some little pretties instead!!  I found these seedling starter pots (peat pots I call them) and decided I would make one for my Mom and then one of her friends that is ill.  You know, just to brighten their day!!  I just love giving pretties to others, especially when it makes them smile!!  I will mail them along with some handmade cards I make for my Mom to use and the pretty peat pots.  I did watercolor a thank you card for my parents but dont want to spoil the surprise.  For those of you that are in Wild Art Summer, you can see it on the Facebook blog!!
Well that wraps it up for me tonite.  I am visiting  a good friend tomorrow who is going through a difficult time and will be gone most of the day.  I will post again sometime this weekend.  Happy creating to ya'll!! 

Just Julie

Still raining in Texas!!

July 17,2013

Hi ladies.  Havent forgotten you, have just been busy with stuff!!  Today is one of the first days I sat down and practiced my watercoloring for the class I am taking.  I did create a pretty yesterday for a wedding gift and will post that for you to see.  I love the large paper mache letters you can buy at Joanne's.  So I got one if those for my niece and covered it with pretty scrapbook paper and flowers of all sorts.  She came by to oick it up tiday and said she loved it!!  So glad.  I had asked what her colors were in den and kitchen so that helped.  Then I went to a movie with my neighbor.  We saw "The Heat".  It was ok but nothing I would see again .  The language in the movies these days is awful, need I say more!Then I came home and played with my water colors.  I was quite productive and pleased with most that I did. Always room to learn and improve!!

So I have a Dr appt in the am then some chores around the homestead then I will create some

more.  Still cloudy and rainy here and I am not complaining because it keeps the water bill down!

Hope you are all having a fabulous week!!  Will post again soon.  Take care.

Just Julie

Rainy Sunday

July 14, 2013

Hi Ladies,
Just a note to say the pool party yesterday was a big success and everyone had fun in the sun and the pool!!  There were littles crawling all over the place and lots of family to pick them up and love on them!!  It was hot here and the pool felt great.  There was water volleyball, and kids in their floating boats as well as parents and grandparents (me included) relaxing in the water and having a nice time.  There was of course plenty of food, and then some!  Needless to say, I was a bit tired today, but managed to do some wash and create a new watercolor painting today.  It has been overcast and raining at a nice slow pace today, which for this time of year in Texas is wonderful!!  

I am posting a pic of my husband with our youngest grandson Zac, he is such a cutie!! He wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or cry!! Then, the painting I just finished not long ago, I apologize as the lighting is not good for my old iphone at night!!  

Hope you all have a wonderful week and will be back to make another entry soon!!

Just Julie

Shopping and Sunflowers!!

July 11, 2013

Hello ladies.  Boy have I been busy today.  Shopping for food and gifts for our pool party this Saturday.  I hit Bath and Body Works, Costco, Kroger, and managed to fit in a pedicure around lunch time!! And it was a scorcher today, over 100 degrees here in the metroplex, and I had a headache to prove it.  Once I was finally done with all the shopping, (so I didn't have to do it all tomorrow), I sat down, ended up taking some ibuprofen, and rested a little in my recliner.  Not for long, cause then it was time to get the spaghetti sauce on for dinner.  In between cooking the sauce and emptying the dishwasher I checked our Wild Art group on facebook.  And to my surprise there was a new post from Leslie of a beautiful sunflower she had watercolored!!  Oh bestill my heart, it was gorgeous!!  I left her a comment and said I would be copying it so I could have it to look at whenever I wanted to.  I then searched some more images on google for sunflowers and found some pinkish orange ones that I sketched in addition to the one Leslie did.  Instead of transferring all of that to watercolor paper, I used colored pencils, then outlined with pen.  Then I just had to put down a watercolor wash on the background, even though I shouldn't have done that in my sketch book.  But, I am the boss of me!! So, that's what I did. Anyway, just wanted to check in with you all and post some pics of my sketch.  The first pic is of my bracelet that my friend Cindy gave to me yesterday at our craft session.  I just love it, it has a little sunflower dangle on it.  Then you will see a pic of my pitcher that matches my dishes, with sunflowers on them!! Finally, my sketch, that I am quite pleased with.  
Think I am gonna go get my pj's on and see if there is anything on tv that interests me.  It has clouded up here, so may get some rain overnight, hopefully.  Have a good rest of your evening!! Until next time.

Just Julie

Crafting with a Friend!!

July 10, 2013

Good evening to all.  Hope your day has been a good one so far.  I spent my day teaching a friend how to do some paper crafts here at my home.  Her name is Cindy and she lives about an hour from me. We became friends through our children, who are friends from college.  She and her husband have retired to this area to be closer to their grandchildren. They had a studio built behind their house which contains their supplies to do stained glass.  Cindy and I are alternating going to each other's home once a month to learn a new craft and it is really fun to collaborate with someone who is as passionate about creating as you are!!  Today she made 2 gable gift boxes for her granddaughters, probably for Xmas time.  Then she also made a gesso canvas with all kinds of goodies glued on it for her Mother. It was covered in gesso, then sprayed with Dylusions and a final spray with copper Perfect Pearls for a bit of shine and patina.  Her mother loves roses, crochet, and the colors red and pink, so that's what she gave her.  We tied a ribbon through the holes at the top of the canvas that are meant for binding rings, then punched a hole for some old jewelry beads to dangle from the bottom.  I just love these little works of art.  I discovered these chipboard pieces covered in canvas at Michaels and bought several shapes to keep in my stash for quick gift giving or just to create when the mood strikes!!  I think a package is $2.50 for 6 of them. Pretty good deal I would say!!  Also, Cindy made me a wrapped wire beaded bracelet with a sunflower dangle charm on it, simply darlin!! Sorry I don't have a picture of it, it's too dark in the house now to take one, but you get the idea of it.  So sweet of her to make a special bracelet for me.  Guess she will have to teach me how to make them at one of our craft sessions.

So that was pretty much what I did today.  We chatted the whole time, had lunch, then chatted and she finished her projects before heading back home.  A great day, just what I needed!

I was so wrapped up in my creative play that I forgot it was Wildflower Wednesday in my Wild Art Summer class, so I will definitely watch that before I turn in tonite.  Will have to practice my wildflowers tomorrow.  So, see you all later!

Just Julie

Little Pretty for a Friend

July 9, 2013

Hello girls!!  Hope you had a terrific Tuesday and were productive in one way or another.  I had to get a temporary crown on today, hate that.  Was eating a red hot last week and broke off part of a tooth.  Serves me right, shouldn't have been eating that!! Anyway, that is fixed for the time being until the permanent crown is in.  Then I had an interview with a medical placement agency here in the area.  They match applicants with employers in the medical field.  I also went to my favorite store, The Crafty Scrapper, in Waxahachie.  Love that place.  Have been reminding them everytime I am there (which is fairly often) that I am interested in working there when a spot opens up.  It is not in nursing and would be a completely different job for me, and something I think I would enjoy doing as I am so passionate about papercrafting of all kinds!! So, will see what happens.  On the home front, getting ready for a family pool party here this Saturday.  Should be a lot of fun seeing the relatives and littles that will be there with their parents.

Tomorrow I have a friend, Cindy, who is coming to my house to learn some papercrafting.  I went to her house about a month or so ago for her to teach me stained glass.  I did a small project and was quite proud that I could do it and it wasn't as hard as it looked.  Now, it was a small project!! But never the less, it was a great time and now it's her turn to come to my neck of the woods and learn something new.  So I am looking forward to that.

So, the first pic you will see is my project I created at Cindy's house. The next pretty is a little something I made as a welcome to give to Cindy tomorrow.  Just cause I wanted to.  I made it with the little starter peat pots you buy for seedlings.  First saw this idea on Bona Tran's Live Love Scrap on You tube a few weeks ago.  They are really cheap ($1.58 for 6 pots!) and you can do a lot of things with them.  I just threw in things I had here at the house along with a few little spools of thread for decoration, since Cindy likes to quilt.  I painted the pot with gesso, then filled with shredded paper and scrunched ribbon that I made.  Found the cute little bird at Michaels and couldn't resist it! There were 3 to a package, different colors.  So with a little glue gun, paint, and Wild Orchid Crafts roses, and of course some stickles here and there, it was done.  I am not endorsing products listed, just giving you information if you wanted to know where to purchase.  

Guess that is enough activity for today.  Hope you all sleep tight tonite and will show you what my friend and I create tomorrow.
Til next post!

Just Julie

Working on Sunday??

July 7, 2013

Hello ladies!!  Yes, I was a little worker bee today in the scrap area.  It was a disaster and needed to be tidied up a bit before the pool party this Saturday, here at my house!!  So, I dug in, reluctantly.  I kept wanting to sit down when I found something I hadn't seen in a while and create. But..... I didn't.  I persevered and got a lot accomplished.  Funny how your head clears up when it knows things are organized and in their place huh??!  Well, at least for the time being.  I know how I am when I get in there and have a project I am working on, I make a mess. Kinda fun since I am a perfectionist of sorts.  I am sure it will turn trashy sooner or later, but hopefully not again for a while.  I would show pics but will try to do that tomorrow when I have more light.  My Iphone tends to be on the dark side.  

Well, have to go to dentist for piece of old filling that came out on Friday when I was crunching on that red hot candy I shouldn't have been eating.  Darn it, I was busted.  Oh well, gotta go and there is no getting out of it.  Then have to get my eyes checked in the afternoon.  I can't even read with my current bifocals!! I have been resorting to my cheaters on a regular basis.  And it's not fun having to carry around 3 pairs of glasses.  Prescription sunglasses, bifocals, and cheaters.  Oh my,  I have to get this fixed and quick!!

Hope you all have a mellow Monday and will post my Dr adventures and anything else of interest tomorrow.  Until then, ta ta for now!

Just Julie

Swimming Saturday!!

Hi friends!  Sorry I haven't posted since the holiday, just busy with odds and ends around here.  I have done some watercoloring and continue to craft, almost daily.  It makes me happy!!  We did some planting in a flower bed where we buried my dear tiny toy poodle last year, Zoe.  It looks better than it did, but will look even better when it fills in with growth and color.  Just a start you know!  Then the grandkids came over this afternoon for a swim. Always love seeing them and smothering them with kisses.  Ian is 3 and is getting more brave in the water this year, thanks to his fantastic swim vest his parents discovered!  Zac is 9 months, working on his top teeth, and lights me up with his laughter and smile. Please be patient with my bragging, I am the granny afterall!!

In the crafting realm, Junelle's Wildflower summer's 3rd week class started this morning, and of course, I was right at my computer to watch and participate.  A little more challenging this week, drawing faces with a guest instructor, and learing to take pictures from all different angles to discover things in new ways.  I continue to work on my watercolor as well, and still need practice, especially with my wildflowers.  I was so frustrated yesterday with myself because they didn't turn out like I had hoped.  Then I remember what Junelle said, "watercolor teaches you patience", so that being said, back to the drawing board!!

So, there you have a little update from the past few days.  Have a wonderful and relaxing Sunday!!

Just Julie

P.S. The last pic is of Zac's fat little baby foot, just love baby's feet!!

Wildflower Wednesday!!

July 3, 2013

Hello ladies!  Time for a peek of another couple of pages I completed today after watching Wildflower Wednesday with Junelle.  I have a hard time coming up with drawings of flowers on my own without help from google images, or in this case, watching someone.  My delphiniums turned into a 2 page spread, it just worked out that way.  I loved doing raised petals for texture on this piece!! I did buy some heavy bodied titanium white paint especially for this as I had never used it before and wanted to give it a go.  I love using it and love how it mixes with other pigments to give such a rich color.  I have been looking for the Uniball white pen, and there are none to be had locally.  I was about to order from Amazon or Two Peas in a Bucket, but decided to wait until after I went to Michaels for white paint.  Well, I found a Gelly roll white pen I thought I would try, and to my astonishment, it worked!! So, in case anyone out there is having the same issue looking for white pens, you might consider trying this.  It is a fine tip, but gets the job done.  It's the little things that make me happy!
Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday tomorrow and flies their flag proudly.  I am thinking of a flag project, but not sure yet what it will be, I may surprise myself when I come up with an idea.  Have a great evening, until next time!!

Just Julie

Make something to give to others!!

July 2, 2013  

Good evening ladies!! I wanted to share with you a card (actually made 3 of the same) I made today to send to the loved ones of a childhood friend and a friend of my parents, both of whom passed away very recently.  I was looking at another blog this week and saw some cone flowers, and thought I should try sketching/painting them.  Then I knew I needed to send some sympathy cards out, so decided to mount the watercolor onto a card and give them a gift from my heart!!  I think they turned out cute, and they really weren't that hard, AND I had fun doing them.  That's the important thing, at least for me since I tend to be such a perfectionist, haha. So these will be mailed tomorrow with the hope that my greeting and flowers bring comfort and peace to the families who lost a loved one.  I apologize that my iphone doesn't take very good pics, even though I take it in bright light, it still comes out on the dark side.  One of these days, I will upgrade my phone.  That is after I am employed again!!  I recently left my job and am in search of a new one as we speak.  
Hope you all have a wonderful evening and will catch up with you tomorrow.  If you are taking Junelle's Wildflower Art class tomorrow is Wildflower Wednesday and it looks like a good one from the sneak peak!!

Just Julie

First Monday of July!!

July 1, 2013

Happy July!! Can't believe it is already July, time is flying by fast this year.  We have had a break with the Texas heat lately, which is fine with me.  However, while cleaning the house this morning, still had to turn on extra fan as I was workin up a sweat!!  So after my chores were done, I was able to sit down with my watercolors and do some lil campers, they are so stinkin cute!  My sister is having a fit over them.  She loves all things camping.  Anyway, as always I have to have Junelle's videos on when I am creating, in case I need to see how she does a certain technique.  I finished 3 campers and you can see them below.  They did turn out good, even though I was a little skeptical about doing the foliage, that is something I am not too good at yet.  But, in the end, the pen work really helps define and hide any areas I didn't like.  Let me know what ya think. Now will be attempting a tent tomorrow, but may need to get some heavy bodied white paint in order to get the texture I am needing.  Also need a white unipen, which I  may have trouble finding.  If I remember correctly I had to order one online the last time I bought one.  Oh well, not to worry, I always seem to need something to do what I am working on!!

Well, not much else going on here, just relaxing this evening with the dear hubby and enjoying this cooler weather.  Have a good evening and will check in with you tomorrow!!  As you can see, I just had to give the first little camper a sun hat even though she was parked close to a tree!!

Just Julie

Texas Hill Country!!

June 31, 2013

Well hi, I haven't forgotten about ya'll.  Just had a few things to do after getting back from our mini vaca in Fredericksburg!  It was sooooo hot, but we enjoyed ourselves despite the heat.  We ate at the Hill Top Cafe, shopped, went to Wildseed Farms, and hit the Fredericksburg Brewery and the Sister Creek Winery. I would say we covered quite a bit in 2days, wouldn't you!  Will post a few pics below that I wanted to share with you.  There is one, of a 4x4 canvas that I saw in an art gallery on the main drag in Fredericksburg.  The closer I looked at it, I realized I could do that!! It was heavy bodied paint mixed with color in multiple layers on a white canvas, that's it!! I so wanted to see the asking price, but the store didn't open until 10 and we were ready to leave town as of 9:40.  So, a pic is all I got.  Anyway, see what you think when you look at it and compare to any canvases you have seen or done and let me know what your conclusions are!

I have been back in the crafting studio after watching Saturday's class #2 of Junelle Jacobsen's Wildflowers- Wild Art Summer online series.  I just love watching her!! I dreamed about new crafties I could make using her ideas all night.  So silly, but fun.  I got stuck on some card/picture holders I saw on our trip for sale in a shop, and it was another one of those I KNOW I can do that! kinda things. So, that's what I worked on today.  It uses a large wooden spool, which I covered with paper, trim, lace, etc, then put a paper clasp on top, which hold the tag or picture, and they are just adorable!!! Let me know if you have any questions and I would be happy to answer them.  Hope you enjoy the pictures and I will be back tomorrow with some more creations, this time, watercolor camping trailers and camping tents, oh boy, can't wait!!

Just Julie

Traveling Thursday!!

June 27, 2013

Hi all from the Hill Country of Texas!!  We drove, and ate and ate and drank today.  Covered a few hundred miles, and now I am pooped and ready to call it a day.  More shopping, eating and wine tomorrow and then will probably head home Saturday.

I will upload some pics when I return.  Am hoping to sketch and watercolor some places when I get back home, hard to do it when you are on the move all the time.  I plan on going to an art gallery I saw tonite on our way back to Hotel.  I spied some 4x4 mixed media canvases in there and they looked like something I could do. So..... anxious to see how much they are selling them for.  If I can, will take pics if they allow it.

Ok, nite everyone and stay cool. It is terribly hot down here, so the air conditioner is on full blast!

Just Julie

Wildflower Wednesday!!

June 26, 2013     It's a wildfl ower Wednesday!!

Hello there.  I started off today watching Junelle Jacobsen's Wildflower Wednesday.  For those of you who haven't discovered her blog, yesandamen.blogspot.com, you should really go there, quick! She does wonderful watercolor, mixed media, sketches and stories to go with them.  This is the 3rd online workshop I have taken with her and I enjoy it so much.  Which is interesting, because before taking her classes, I would tell you that I couldn't even draw a stick man!  Junelle breaks it down to manageable sketches and teaches you how to draw things simply and embellish your images with watercolor, paper piecing, mixed media, etc.  It is truly awesome.  Below you will see a small canvas I did of macaroons, love them and so does my dad. I will usually take him some homemade ones or store bought ones when I go back home for a visit.  Hope you enjoy the canvas.  I used watercolored paper that was used to practice making ribbons of color, and paper pieced the macaroons onto a little cake stand.
My  husband and I are taking off for a few days to the Texas Hill country in the morning, so I may not be able to blog while gone.  I will definitely let you know when we are back and will hopefully have some new sketches and or artwork or canvases to share.  Have a great rest of the week and wonderful weekend!!

Just Julie

 

Well, I did it!! I now have a blog.

I have been contemplating this for a while now and finally decided, with a push from fellow artist friend, to go for it.  Not sure how to do this, but will learn as I go. Don't know who I am talking to out there, so that's kinda scary, but exciting also.  Hope to make many new cyber friends and share lots of artsy crafty goodness. Stay tuned in the upcoming days for some pics, if I can figure this out!!!

Just me, Julie