An improvement, no?

I did this a while back and meant to post it...When I first saw the cover I wasn't sure who the actress was. It took me a good look to see it was Sandra Bullock. I really, really hate it when they touch up the stars so much you can't really recognize them. At the time I got this in the mail we were slow at work and I decided to do a little touching up of my own.


So what do you think?

Star Catcher

So I have another of the girls I created while taking Suzi's class. This one has been done for a while and I was going to use it for a donation gift at the Funky Finds. I decided I wanted my donation gift to represent my style moreso and than someone else's. So I decided to put this puppy up in my Etsy Shop.

I have got to get it together

I had four files come back on me today. That makes seven - SEVEN! - in three weeks. I went down the hallway to the bathroom and just sobbed. Then cleaned myself up and came back to my desk where I continued to cry off and on until I went home an hour or so later.

One file was from yesterday. I remember that file and thinking it was a weird contract but I didn't catch what I needed to. The other three are from the same time frame in January as the others. What the hell was going on with me then?!? Was I rushing? Was I preoccupied with other things? When did I allow myself to become so sloppy in my work?

I can't keep having these come back on me. I'm seriously going to get fired. I CAN'T get fired! We'll lose the house.

I have got to get it together.

Divine Goddess

I finally got a new piece done! The piece itself didn't give me a hard time. I just got stuck on the background. I originally painted the Goddess image when I was taking Suziblu's goddess class *before it turned into the whole over the top celebrate your vulva class*. I got really into the whole goddess image. I doodled it everywhere, sculpted a clay figurine and painted this.

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. In fact, I'm not 100% sure I want to part with it but sometimes you have to do what you need to do right? I will be posting it in my Etsy Shop sometime this evening.

Thank you!

First and foremost - I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone for all the kind and supportive messages and comments I have received! I feel so fortunate to be a part of a blogging community with such wonderful people!

To answer some of the questions you asked - Shingles is the Chicken Pox virus aka the Herpes virus *but it's NOT the same strain for when someone gets it you know where!* Anyone who has had Chicken Pox runs the risk of one day having Shingles as it lays dormant in your spine until something triggers it. They don't know exactly what triggers it but stress and lowered immune systems play a pretty big role. Since it's a virus there is nothing you can do but wait for it to run it's course. There are some meds you can take after you've broken out but nothing much you can do before so. Just rest, OTC pain killers and a lot of gritting your teeth!

I ended up calling in sick Friday. I think I ticked my superior off by calling in but hey, I can't exactly schedule getting sick around our work load. I slept until 12:30 in the afternoon and felt SO MUCH better afterwards! Isn't it amazing how your body can heal itself while you sleep? I knew we were going to be slammed at work so I went ahead and went in. To my surprise it wasn't all that bad. Since we were going to work today we were able to leave at a decent hour.

I still can't get rid of the back pain and the headaches still come and go but without having flu like symptoms in addition it's tolerable. We had to work today and I called it quits after about five hours. I'm still not 100% and my body certainly doesn't have a problem letting me know it! I plan to just chill the rest of the weekend and watch some movies.

A little whining to complete the day

I have neglected the blog world this week. Actually, unless I'm at work I've pretty much neglected anything to do with the Internet and art. I have posts to type, art work to finish (I'm so close!), work in progress to show and Bloggers to catch up on. Unfortunately, starting late Tuesday afternoon I started feeling like crap! All I have done is work, eat, check a quick email and then go to bed.

Backstory - Back in March of last year I came down with a case of Shingles. I had no idea what was wrong; I just felt like I had the flu and figured I got around something I was allergic to. The rash started on my lower back and was the size of my fist. It eventually spread down my hip and my right thigh. It took a good two months to get rid of as I kept breaking out! The rash didn't bother me as much as the pain did. It was just there - constantly. It would wake me in the middle of the night out of my sleep at times.

Well, guess where it felt like I had been punched by the time I got home Tuesday evening? Since then my back has just been constantly throbbing. This morning I woke with body aches everywhere and chills - no fever in case you're wondering. I did the whole "you'll feel better if you make yourself get up and dressed" routine. Yeah, it didn't work. I ended going into work anyway though. I knew we were going to be slammed and my head isn't cloudy or foggy in the least little bit.

It wasn't too bad today. There were several times throughout the day I asked myself why I came in. By the end of the day I had a pounding headache and the stupid fax machine behind me squeaks like an injured bird every time it's being used. Grrr....I kind of just zoned out in between loans and I took a 30 minute nap in my car at lunch time. The chills come and go and I am able to get rid of most of the body aches with Advil. I wish I could say it did the same for my back. Nothing seems to help that except sleeping. I don't remember it being this painful beforehand last time...Maybe I'm just turning into a big baby.

Jared Knight Workshop/WIP

I decided to join a workshop by Jared Knight. I said I wouldn't join anymore this year because they are a bit wasteful of my money as I never finish the classes. I decided to do this one because it's about abstract painting and I have been doing a lot of that lately and will probably be doing a lot more in the future.

His first video of the class is free. It's quite long too if you are thinking about hopping over there to watch it real quick. About an hour and fifteen minutes I believe. Part of the video is meditation. I can't remember what it is called but you use different tones to go deeper into your state of mind and you have to visualize a scenario. Toward the end you are walking in a dark forest and come to a clearing. As you come to the clearing an animal approaches you. My animal was a wolf. He's suppose to give you something but all the wolf did was snarl and growl and show his teeth and I felt afraid and started to back away. Then it was time to stop.

I came across this video somewhere but for the life of me I can't remember where. It's a commercial for a clothing company I think. It struck a cord with me because it symbolizes the vision in my mind so well. It also got me to wondering if it was fear of failure I was visualizing and felt and all I need to do is stop holding myself back.

So glad the week is finally over!

So Friday the 13th didn't turn out as good as I had hoped it would. We were slammed all morning and didn't get a lunch break. I also had another file come back. Arrgh! I was expecting it though. I always have nothing, nothing, nothing and then BAM! I have a whole bunch come back on me at once. At least this one didn't cost the company any money. I was so frustrated I wanted to cry!

One the lighter side of things, I finished up two paintings and dropped them off at the Coffee Shop. I think I will be switching out what I brought as soon as I am able though. The walls pretty much swallowed up my work. I didn't remember the space being that large! This one is called "Capturing Nature". You may remember my previous post where I said it was done but then thought it felt unfinished. I added some brown and black to the edges and it made it feel a little better.

This second one is called "In Full Bloom". I had shown the WIP pic a while back as well. I'm pretty happy with how this one turned out. The only thing I wanted to do on it was nail some two by fours to the back so the piece will look like it's mounted. I ran out of time before I was able to do that. I will probably do it once I switch it out from the Coffee Shop.

I ended up missing the meeting with the Etsy Mini Team today. Cory went out of town this evening and it was either go eat lunch with him before he leaves (on Valentines Day, no less) or go to the meeting. You can probably figure out which one won. I'm really bummed I missed the meeting. They were going to go over tags, profiles and over all appearance of your Etsy shop. I will have to make sure I catch the next one.

There may be hope for this week yet

Happy Friday the 13th! I always love this day. I don't know why. I guess because everyone thinks it's going to be horrible *Ooooh, it's Friday the 13th. Beware!* I always end up having a pretty good day. I really hope it will be too. I've had a pretty crappy week so far.

We've been working long hours and having to stay in lunch, I've cried four times while at work, had two confrontations with my superiors and three loans I've screwed up come back to haunt me. Two of which are costing the company money to fix my mistake. *God, I hope no more come out of the woodwork*. We won't know until later today if we have to work this weekend or not. We will be two maybe three people short today so it should stay fairly busy.

I did have two good things come of the week! First, I talked to the manager at the coffee shop. He apologized for not emailing be and said he's been crazy busy. I can certainly understand that. Stacy and I are suppose to drop off some art tomorrow morning. I just have to find time to FINISH what I've got. I have two pieces I am going to try to finish. I hoped to have three.

Second, I went to the dentist yesterday for my cleaning and to seat my crown and guess what? I HAVE NO CAVITIES!!!!! I can't say it loudly enough. It's the first time in like two, two and a half years I have been able to say that. I am so happy!

Coming up for Air...Again

A while back I posted a completed piece called "Coming Up for Air". I was suppose to take it to the day spa that weekend and didn't. Something about it bothered me. It looked funny to me. Maybe it's because I them butted up against one another. Maybe or because she wanted a larger substantial piece and I felt it didn't pass the test. I don't know. This past weekend I reworked it and actually took it to the spa. I am pleased how the rework came out.

I think it just needed a little something more. Plus the I think the black makes the other colors pop. I couldn't get a decent photo of it because of the reflective paints and it was cloudy outside. Not to mention I was in a hurry be cause it was about to rain.

Disappointingly I never heard back from the coffee bar. I met with the manager and he gave me the go ahead but when I emailed him I didn't get a response. I waited a few days and the emailed him again at the other email address I had in case it didn't go through for some reason. Still no response.

I love Jesus but I drink a little

I hope this brightens your evening. I had a long day at work and it certainly brightened mine. Enjoy!

Newest piece/Dreamweaver

Mood: Irritable (I have a headache)

I didn't make as much progress this weekend as I had hoped I would. I did get a couple of pieces completed though. This is the one I did Saturday night.


It's a mixed media collage that I put up on Etsy. It was kind of refreshing doing a collage without using images as the focal point. I did six of them all at the same time but this is the only one that got finished. I'm hoping to get the other four done this week.

I bought three new books this weekend for putting together a website. Does anyone have any experience with Dreamweaver? I downloaded the thirty day trial and it seems really neat but it's $400! I don't know if I can justify that price. I'm interested in seeing others opinions on it.

I made a treasury

Mood: Good

I made my first treasury in Etsy today. Some of you may recognize the art.



Be sure to head on over and show some love. Maybe we can get it onto the front page!

And the winner is...

Leanne from Mixed Media Martyr!

Congratulations!

Please email your address to me at blueskysunburn @ yahoo dot com to claim your prize.

I'll have another give away in the first week of March. Keep an eye out!

Redraw for last month's blog giveaway

Mood: Chipper

Okay...the prize for last month was never claimed so I've had a redraw. No goofy pictures of my husband this time. He's still in bed sleeping. I will post another pic of the prize though!

And the winner is...

LINDA of Just My Little Bit!

Congratulations!

Email me with your address at blueskysunburn at yahoo dot com to claim your prize.

I will do the drawing for this month's prize later today...stay tuned!

Latest Pieces

Mood: Groggy but Good

I'm so glad it's Friday. It's suppose to be a long day at work today. We are two people down and we were warned we would have a lot of work. At least we only have to do one more day before we get to rest.

These are the two other pieces I dropped off at the day spa. I meant to post them earlier in the week but got busy. This one is called Sore Thumb. I originally named it this because one of the circles stuck out "like a sore thumb" when I first started painting it. My husband affectionately called it my boobies painting. That's my husband for you - Typical man. I tell you though if I were a man and saw boobs with green around the nipples I personally would be running in the opposite direction.

This piece has the completely creative and original title of Abstract 3. It has no thought behind it what so ever. I just sat down and started painting. I really like how it turned out.

I met with the guy from the coffee bar on Monday and got the okay to put my artwork in there. I emailed him twice about scheduling a time to come in to hang it but I haven't heard back. I am beginning to get nervous but I'm trying to just tell myself he's really busy.

I forgot to show you these! When I came home from running my errands on Monday I found these on my front porch. They are from Stacy for missing me on Monday due to being sick. Isn't that so sweet?

Two in One Day!

Mood: Chipper

Well hot damn! I got in not only one treasury today but two! How cool is that?

A big thank you goes out to Jennifer of MerkabaJewelry for including Ghost of My Former Self in "Totally Unprepared!".

Another big thank you goes out to Kim of KimsCraftyApple for including The Butterflies in "Fly Away!".
I really appreciate it ladies!

Time for February's Give Away!

Mood: Dreading going back to work tomorrow

Is it February already? January just flew by! As promised it's time for another blog give away! We'll make this one short and sweet. This month's prize is the book "Taking Flight" by Kelly Rae Roberts.

To enter comment on this blog post by this Saturday, February 7th. If you want to be entered twice post about the give away on your blog and link back here to let me know. Easy peasy, right?

Oh! Just a quick note - last month's prize was never claimed. If it's not claimed by February 7th I'm going to draw for another winner.

Raincheck/My Newest Piece

Mood: Anxious

I was suppose to have brunch with Stacy today to go over Spring Fling stuff but she and her husband are sick today. I took a raincheck. Nothing is worse than having to brainstorm when you aren't feeling well. It gave me time to come piddle around the house until I have to go meet up with the owner of a coffee bar today. We are going to discuss artwork for one of the walls and I'm kind of nervous. It also made me realize if I'm going to meet with people I need to get a portfolio together. They only thing I have right now is my Flickr account on the Internet.



I finally got pics of the last painting I finished up. I'm really pleased with it. I've already started two more pieces along the same lines. I think I'm going to change up the colors on those though. I may do something along these lines to go in our house. This one is for the day spa. I wasn't able to get the hardware on the pieces to take to the spa today so I'm doing it tomorrow morning instead.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Mood: Blah

You know, if they didn't play like that every time they go outside I would swear my neighbors were murdering their children. It's not just "kids playing" kind of squeals and shrieks it's loud shrill screams. Over and over. They have two kids and I think it's the youngest one. He's maybe four, five? I can't remember how old he was when we moved in. You would think the parents would at least tell him to stop screaming like someone's hurting him or no one would know if he was truly being hurt. I honestly think sometimes they just throw him outside to play so they don't have to listen to it in the house.

Anyway, moving on from my little rant. I've gotten quite a bit done this weekend. I have one painting done, three paintings almost done, and three more to work on.

I'll post pictures in a bit.