Cactus Monday - Our Personal Saguaro

I decided it was time to do a sketch of the Saguaro in front of our house.  When we moved here there were no arms and now we have 9 in various stages of growth.

No one knows why a Saguaro grows arms but it is said they need to be about 75 years old and since ours is about 25 feet tall (that is about 75 years), it was due.

Notice how the ribs split as it grows and widens.

Okay, my biggest fear is that someday it will fall on the house.  We had a cactus expert look at it and he said there is a 50-50% chance it will fall.  That was helpful.

We don't really want to cut it down as they are so precious so I won't worry........

Happy Cactus Monday everyone!

Mr Linky is here to take your Cactus Monday url.

Church Couple

I have seen this couple before and he always has his arm around here. They are in their 30's and I can't figure out if he is just protective or possessive. 

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Illustration Friday - 'Entangled'

Illustration Friday was so late yesterday that I am posting it today.

The theme word is 'Entangled'.

I bet no one is surprised that I found these daises all entangled!

Happy Illustration Friday on Saturday!

Memory Sketch From Childhood

First of all, I have waited all morning for Illustration Friday to happen and they have never sent the theme word out so I gave up.

This is the first memory sketch I have ever done and what a fun thing to do.  You just need to think of a past memory and start writing about it (and I added illustrations).

 It amazes me when I start out with one thing in mind and end up somewhere else. I was thinking of the house I lived in until age 6 and wondered what I remembered of it. The floor plan itself came right back but what I was really looking at was the long hall closet where I had my first artistic adventure. My older brother (by 4 years) and I (I must have been 4 or 5) went into the closet with a box of crayons and proceed to decorate every blank wall we could find. I can see it like it was yesterday. We had a ball, giggling and drawing, and my parents about had a stroke.

While there is lots of writing in this one I wanted to get the idea across with all the kids scribbles on the paper.

Try it sometime, lots of fun.

Happy NOT Illustration Friday!

A Trio Of Turkeys

A trio of turkeys are wishing you, "Happy Thanksgiving"!!

I am so thankful

For my family and friends

They are my world!

Happy Thanksgiving Day everyone.

Animal Wednesday - Cat and Ducks

I took a walk the other day (when I was not so sick) and saw this cat in the west window soaking up the sun.   I have seen him do this before but I never had paper and pen with me.   I just love the 'cat-ness' of it and perhaps someday I can do a 'good' painting of it.

The ducks were at the lake and what a crowd of ducks there are!   Lots of 'snow birds'; people and ducks.  lol

I saved this for Animal Wednesday.

Happy Day to all.

Blooming Maple Leaf Zentangle

I did this a few weeks ago and it works for me today.

I am feeling better today.

Thanks for all the good wishes.

Have a happy day everyone!

Cactus Monday - Gifts!

This is what I received in the mail the other day from Margaret!!

She saw this boot card and said it had my name all over it so she sent it along with a zentangle!

Isn't that just awesome of her?!!!!  So thoughtful.

(Talk about shaking things up-doing Thankful Thursday on Cactus Monday!)

Since I'm still sleeping in my chair with a self-diagnosed sinus infection and no energy (going to the Dr tomorrow if I'm not better) I thought her timing was awesome!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH MARGARET!!!!
I love that boot!

I also wanted to mention that our good friend and faithful CM member, Judy Butler,  is going through a rough time in her life and I know she would appreciate a hi from you all.  Her Blog is here and she is also on Facebook.

Also, I have been getting a flurry of spam so had to put my word verification back on for awhile.

Happy Cactus Monday everyone!!

And here is Mr. Linky!

Church Sketch - Day For Black

First of all I did this way too fast and got the seat back so wrong.

It is interesting reading people. The young boy on the left is frequently in church with his parents and always wears black; black clothes, black hair and black glasses.

Another bit of interest; notice how the two guys are holding their arms? avoidance?

Next time I promise to take a bit more time to do the sketch right. lol 

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Daily Journal Page

This is my daily sketch from Thursday.  I have been trying to do a page a day.

I spent the night in the chair because of my cold and not being able to breathe while laying flat.

When I got up in the morning I noticed the quilt, blanket and pillow made a nice composition so I stopped to sketch it.

The right side of the page is our poinsettia plant that we got last Christmas and put it under the grapefruit tree for the summer.  It must have been the perfect spot because the leaves are starting to turn red naturally...something I have never seen before.

Hope you are having a fun weekend.

Illustration Friday - 'Music'

The theme word at Illustration Friday this week is 'Music'.

I have done a lot of music sketches over the years because of a local Tucson band; Old Pueblo Brass Band.  My friend is their librarian so I got to enjoy a lot of concerts.

For more of my 'music' sketches look here.

Happy Illustration Friday everyone!

Thursday's Coyote

I have been concentrating on watercolor journaling of my day.   I

We live in a retirement park that is fenced and gated and this am I saw a big coyote running across the street to our little lake--probably looking for a duck breakfast. I sketched him from memory. I heard tonight that they found three holes under the fence and his obvious entryway. Two years ago we had the same problem and once the holes were repaired we no longer had a problem. It will be a fun few days while the rumors roll around.

Life is so interesting and I love when I can capture something like this. 

As you have probably figured out I am changing my normal theme days for awhile.  Sometimes a new challenge is needed.

Agave

I was walking through the shopping center after my class for my Macbook and saw a small wall with cacti and succulents planted on the top.  I dropped everything and sketched just this agave and brought it home to paint.

I think I got the color almost perfect and discovered that watercolor pencils are perfect for those small areas.

I am pleased with the results.

Have a great day everyone.

Part Of a Journal Page

I did this page in my personal journal and cropped this section to show you.

I have my Macbook Pro's background set to random photos and they fill the whole screen so when I saw these pink daisies come up, I stopped what I was doing to sketch and paint them.

That's the great thing about a personal journal, you can do anything and mistakes only mean you are trying something new.

Happy daisy day to you all!

Cactus Monday - Buds and Blooms

This painting is based on a sketch I did last year when the prickly pear cactus was in bloom.   I don't usually do another painting from a sketch but, I don't usually design boots either. lol

Sometimes the creative urge just takes over.

Happy Cactus Monday everyone.

Please leave your Cactus Monday URL with Mr Linky.

Church Sketch and Boot!

In years past this elderly couple has always sat in the front with their adult Down's Syndrome daughter.

When we came back this year I did not see them until this Sunday.  The mother was looking very frail, but worse, their daughter was not with them.

I wonder what happened in their life since last year.

When you go to the same church and sit in the same pews you become familiar with the people around you (who also sit in the same pews).

Ta Da, the Sunday's Boot Scootin' Church boots.

It is also the end of my boot series.

I think.

But you never know when they might pop up again.

:)

Thanks for enjoying my week of boots.

Boot Scootin' Saturday Party Boots

Since the heel broke off my boot yesterday I had to get a new pair for the party tonight.  Disco party that is.

Hope you are all having a great Saturday.

Illustration Friday - 'Unbalanced'

The theme word at Illustration Friday this week is 'Unbalanced' and that is exactly what happened to my boot when I was ready to go dancing....the heel broke off and I was too unbalanced to walk much less dance!

Happy Illustration Friday everyone!

Thankful Thursday

These next three ATCs are from a swap called "Found Poetry".  I showed the cards I made some time ago.

The idea is to take a page from anything and cut out words to make a poem and then put them on the background of your choice.

The above card is from Jennifer in Connecticut.  It is amazing how well each poem fits the picture.

This card is from Jennie in California.

Great message and the background is shiny like a cigarette package.

This card is from Sylvia in Texas.  I love all the poems on these.

This gorgeous unicorn was created by Marianne for our ABC/ATCs Around the World.  It is SO gorgeous as is all her work.

Marianne always includes extra ATCs.  This mandala is full of delightful bright colors!

And this one came also.  She knows how much I love daisies!

Thank you SO much Marianne!!!!

This 'X' for xylophone is from Lisa in the same swap.   The paintbrushes posing as the sticks is just perfect!  LOVE it.

Thanks so much Lisa.

Our alphabet is done for this year and as soon as we get all our letters we will post them.

You can visit our ABC/ATC Blog here.

We will start again in January, 2010.

And what would Thursday be without a 'Thankful Thursday' Boot.  :)

Boot Scoot'en Daisies Wednesday's Boot

I really am on a kick here with these boots.

Yesterday 'Artist Unplugged' suggested the name of "Boot Scootin Daisy Boots" for my boot business.  I liked it, thus the name today.  Thanks AP.

Each day designing these boots is more fun than the last.

As Marianne said, "I wonder what Sunday's boots will look like".   Hmm, I'm thinking on that one.

Happy Animal Wednesday everyone.

ps, did you spot the gecko?

Tuesday's Blooming Boot

I had so much fun making my boot yesterday that I decided I should design a Tuesday boot also. (see how my mind works...if one is fun, two will be more fun...)

I get the feeling I may have a whole closet full of boots by the time this creative urge leaves.  lol

Cactus Monday - Cactus Boot

If I were to design a boot for me this is what it would probably look like; a cactus on the side among a zentangle pattern and a daisy on the heel.

Yes, I had fun making this one.

Leave your Cactus Monday url with Mr Linky so we can all visit you.

Church Sketch - Day For Tan

I don't normally focus on what people are wearing until I start sketching them.
This lady was dressed in tan from collar to cuff.  Kind of boring.


Have a great Sunday everyone!

He Joined Me in Sketching!

We went to "Macaroni Grill" for lunch and I saw these beautiful bottles high up in the window with the sun shining through.

So I started to sketch them.

When I looked back at DH he was sketching on the paper tablecloth with crayons.  This restaurant has crayons on the table for the kids or whomever wants to use them.

He was sketching the wall but added his own drinks to it.

Well, that was an interesting lunch!  Maybe I'll have to carry another sketchbook with me.  lol

I had to redo this whole post as I unintentionally deleted the photos from Flickr and you couldn't see them.  Still learning about my Macbook.

Illustration Friday - 'Blur'

The theme word at Illustration Friday this week is 'Blur'.

Time is almost a 'blur' between Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Happy Illustration Friday everyone.

Happy Birthday Cari!

Today is my baby's birthday.

Where has the time gone?!

She is a wonderful daughter 

and 

a wonderful mother!

These coneflowers are from her garden
and the blue flowers are on her card.


I am so lucky to have two such wonderful daughters. 


Love you!

For these two girls and their daughters I am truly thankful!

Animal Wednesday - Fish and Bug

I have been so busy learning about my new Mac that I nearly forgot about Animal Wednesday.  I happened (read, I frantically looked) to find these 'twinchies' (2 inch ATCs) that I did in September and they were close enough to be considered animals.

Phew, so glad i found them.

No competition to Mim, our resident fish expert.

I have not been doing much art except on the run so I need to get back to it!

Happy Animal Wednesday everyone.

Blooming Tuesday - Autumn

When we had breakfast on Sunday, the restaurant, Jerry Bob's, had this little pumpkin on the table.  Took me about 2 minutes to quick sketch it and then paint it at home.

While it was all artificial I tried to make it look real.

Happy Blooming Tuesday everyone!

Cactus Monday - LandscapeI

I came across this painting that I did in 2006 and it is probably one of the first and rare landscapes that I have done.   It is amazing how much more I like it three years later.

Happy Cactus Monday everyone!

Please leave your Cactus Monday URL with Mr Linky.

Church Sketch - Looong Sermon

Somedays the sermon is very looong.

Have a great Sunday everyone.