Connecting the Dots

On my trip to Oaxaca, Mexico in March, I was inspired by color and patterns.  Here is a photo of black pottery on a turquoise background:

I also met many talented ladies in our group and hope I can continue our friendships.

One such friend was Dot.  I was amazed by her beautiful handmade art journal that she  brought with her and she was really good about creating art in it each day of our trip!  🙂

So I asked if she would make me one!  And she said, “Yes!”  I was very excited when this beautiful journal arrived in my mailbox in April:

In exchange for this art journal, I made her this bracelet and earrings – we both love the color orange!  I had to add a few Oaxaca colors to the mix too:

Many of you may not know that I used to make and sell my handmade jewelry.  But I kind of got burnt out on it.  I found it frustrating that people didn’t want to pay for all the time and cost I put into a piece.  I realize now that I was probably in the wrong market.  Anyway, I still have LOTS of beads!  So I enjoyed creating this set for my new friend, Dot.

I loved my new journal but I needed an idea to get me started.  So when Sharon Mann mentioned on her blog that she was starting a new journal with her daughter and niece using the color turquoise on each page, I asked if I could join in the fun!  (Be sure to check out Sharon’s blog if you haven’t already!!  She is one very talented lady and a wonderful friend!)  I was happy that Sharon agreed that I could join her.  🙂

Here is the first page of my new journal:

Now I’m very excited to fill my pages with art!  Sometimes all it takes is one idea to connect the dots and get me started, how about you?

Happy Creating!  🙂

A Dancing Tree

One of the things I enjoy about blogging is the wonderful friends I make!  One such friend is Sharon Mann!  She inspires me with her amazing talent and her beautiful artwork.  Be sure to check out her blog, if you haven’t done so at:  https://mondaytuesdaywednesday.wordpress.com/

Sharon’s pattern play inspired me to start this doodle – a dancing tree:

Sharon recently posted her own pattern “vocabulary” that she used for her beautiful black and white bird.   This started me thinking about what patterns I often use in my doodles.

I previously posted this “wrap” design on a tree last July, that you can find here and here.

I believe that Nature gave me the idea for my wrap pattern from this Oak tree.  Below is a recent photo of it last Spring:

One day we came home from the lake about 10 years ago and this tree was bent over from a terrible wind storm.  We were heart broken.  We didn’t want to loose it so we applied some tree ointment and wrapped it in special tape from the Nursery.  Amazingly, this tree not only survived but is thriving!

What inspires you to create the patterns in your artwork?  I’d love to know!

Happy Creating!  🙂

Feeling Thankful

I found this quote on the internet the other day:

It says, “It is not happy people who are thankful…  It is thankful people who are HAPPY!  😊

it was a good reminder to me.  I hope you like it too!  ❤️

Giving THANKS for all of you today.  Thank you for your encouragement,  friendship and JOY you give to me!

EnJOY your day!  🌈

Reaching for Strength

As many of you may know (from previous blog posts) that I started taking online classes in 2013 from Carla Sonheim.  I started by taking a year long class called, The Year of the Giraffe.

I did not have any particular fondness for giraffes but I wanted to try to nurture my creative spirit again.  It sounded like fun and I was working LOTS of hours at my job.  I really needed more FUN in my life!  LOL!

My husband gave me this large stuffed giraffe for my birthday that year.  I named HER “Jammy.”  I felt like I was finally “jamm’in” to what brought me JOY in life!  ART!

I love creating and I’m so happy I started a blog this year!  As I have made sooo many wonderful new friends!  Like YOU!  🙂

And sometimes I like being silly!  So happy you put up with silly Jilly!  🙂

(BTW – My neighbor thought I was a bit odd when I was doing my photo shoot in my backyard of  a stuffed giraffe!  LOL!  A friend gave me these silly hats, etc for Jammy to wear…)

You see, humor helps me cope with life.  And sometimes (as many of you know)  life can be challenging!

Orange is my favorite color in case you didn’t know!  LOL!

I don’t often share my personal life here because I realize we all have our problems.  But today, I need to share – hopefully, many of you will understand.

My husband’s parents, dad and mom – divorced – and both in their 80’s with dementia are all of sudden placed in our lap for their care.

Yes, they are in facilities BUT they still need our help!  Today this feels a bit overwhelming!  His sister, who was primarily taking care of them, has decided to take a job out-of-town.  Which “leaves” them in our care without much notice…

I want to support and encourage my husband because he helped me deal with both my parents who were ill and passed away.

But sometimes, I just need to LAUGH!

And since giving the “hairy eyeball” to his sister doesn’t work:

I know we will just have to deal with the situation.

Thank you everyone for ALL your friendship and support!  It means more that I can say!  xo

Jill  🙂

 

Birds Of A Feather…

In September of 2014, I joined an online challenge to create a bird a day (any art medium) for 101 days.  I’d never focused on creating art EVERY day or on ONE subject so I wanted to give it a go!

I joined the challenge with two international friends, Corinne and Kathrin that I’d met by taking online art classes from Carla Sonheim

“Feathered Friends”

Corinne set up a Flickr group – 101 Birds or More – where we posted our bird art and shared our journey together.

I learned a lot from this challenge!  One of the things was having the support and encouragement of my friends and others commenting on the Flickr site really helped me complete my goal.   Much like running a Marathon, when one of us started falling behind, the other one cheered us to the finish line!

I also learned that I knew very little about birds!  I was just beginning to touch on this subject and so I wanted to continue my journey.

It amazes me that each of us has continued to create birds!  It is enjoyable to watch our styles emerge and change over time.

We continue to support and encourage each other in our art.  Each of us has started a blog.  Corinne Bekker’s blog is Corinne Maakt  and Kathrin Werner’s blog is Kathrins World of Colours  – I hope you take a moment to visit their blogs.  Corinne likes to experiment in a variety of art mediums like myself and Kathrin’s birds will make you laugh!

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”  – Thomas Merton

Happy Creating!