It's almost 100

Wow. Post #99. The next one better be spectacular...or should it be ordinary? It is the 100th post. I'll have to think about it. But for now, let's catch up on the world of Blanco Bunny.

So I have been very antsy lately. I do not know if this happens to you, dear reader, but I get it a lot! I decided to channel this extra energy into online research. What kind of research? Well, I found a few possible venues to exhibit my work and sell it (YEAH) AND I looked into going to get my MFA! I KNOW!!! So exciting. I have been putting off the MFA because I did not want to spend the money. Seriously, how stupid is that? I am my best investment. Plus I bet I can find some scholarships or grants or something. Anyway I requested information and joined their mailing list for my school of choice. Now, I have to put together a stellar portfolio. So look forward to lots of progress reports, pictures and stories of a wanna-be grad student.

Also Project 365 is going pretty good. I actually forgot to take pictures for two days in a row. My punishment? Take extra pictures and post them TODAY. Or else. I am not sure what that or else is, but I know it is terrible. Horrible. Ugly.

I had Ammon do the honors of drawing in the coffee table book. I have been trying to come up with some great, catchy title for this thing. I'll think of something. Do you have any ideas? This also was forgotten about so we will do extra doodling today. I am hoping to get Eli involved. He creates some wonderful pictures and has the best stories to go along with them. Kids are great, aren't they!

On that note, I am going to sign off for now. I have some major cleaning, washing, housekeeping to do today. I have seriously been slacking in this department. I would really like to get my house to a point where we can all pitch in, do a little work and then it is clean. We'll see about that. Have a great day and I will be back later with pictures!

Update

So I actually DID purchase a new sketchbook for the coffee table. It was not exactly what I was looking for, but then again I do live in a small town with only a Meijer and a Wal-Mart and an art store that should really be called Scrapbooking-R-Us. But, I found a square one, cool, but will have to do something about the cover. It is not very aesthetically pleasing. Fortunately this is easily remedied! Anyway the doodling will start tomorrow, which is so exciting. I love thinking of the possibilities with this book. Maybe Fridays will have to be the day that I share my favorite entries.

On a side note, I really, really, really want to go see some art in a gallery somewhere. Soon. I am going through withdrawals. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's boredom. Maybe it's both. Who knows.

Also, check out this lady's work right here. I love it. I am going to make a quilt for my bed inspired by one of these lovely paintings...or maybe a floor cloth or rug. Wouldn't that be sweet! I dug through my modest fabric stash today (a-hem) and found oodles of solid fabrics just waiting for me to do something, anything to them. I mean YARDS of fabric people. YARDS. My head is spinning with all of the possibilities. So much fabric, so little time! Good thing I am teaching a fabric class that I will HAVE to be FORCED to make an example project for. Sigh. It is a sacrifice that I am willing to make.

Holy Cow...what happened to Thankful Thursdays?

Oh, Thankful Thursday. I have not seen you in such a long time, dear friend. You are truly important and I do apologize for my absence. So here we are, together again.

I am thankful for my boys. They make me smile. Especially when Ammon sings to me like a rock star at dinner time. He has no front teeth. Hilarious. I also love what happens when I tell my Eli that I think he is wonderful. He always says, "No, Mom...I'm not wonderful. I'm Eli." Rightfully so.

I am thankful for glue and gesso. DUH!

I am thankful for my husband who told me that I should go back to school and do my dream instead of just dream about it.

I am thankful for my Canon DSLR. Love it! Everyone should have one.

I am thankful that my grandpa is going to be alright after emergency surgery. Phew.

I am thankful for avocados.

I am thankful for scarves and slippers and tea when it is so cold outside.

There. I feel better. I love you Thankful Thursday! I am going to go to the store today to start a coffee table sketch/doodle book. I was going to alter an old book, but I think I will buy a nice new one instead. I think the first book should be a new one. The second one will be an altered one. Plus I want to start it NOW so I will get started on an altered one to use later on...or maybe in addition to??? It is a guest book, of sorts, where people can write, doodle, draw, scribble, etc. Then I get to keep it. Isn't this a great idea?

Some more glue and gesso, plus ideas

Seriously...I think I could glue things and paint with gesso ALL DAY LONG. I love that stuff! I have several projects in the works right now, a few are experiments. I am trying to find my voice again and decided that the best place to start is nowhere at all. Sort of Dada in spirit. I guess I am hoping for that moment when you feel yourself let go and just go for it. No reservations. No education getting in the way. Just you. I think I am at a good point in my life for this kind of work. Pictures to come...soon. I have to remember to take them first! I am actually thinking of having my boys cut out words from newpapers, magazines, etc., and place them in a bag. Then I will draw out three of them, randomly. Sounds like fun, huh?

Lots of glue and some gesso

That is what I did today. I used lots of glue and some gesso. I decided to act upon my artistic urge instead of just daydream about doing it. So I did lots of gluing and some gesso-ing. I love that stuff. I have an altered book at the mid-point stage, three square canvases BEGGING for collages, an old book cover that I will collage onto and some experiments. Like I said, I was busy today. I am also so excited about what they will become! Oh, I almost forgot...I took apart this really tacky "Bless This Home" sign that someone gave us when we moved. I am so sorry if I offended anyone who has one of these country-crafty things. It's just not me. But it soon will be. Like a dummy, I forgot to take some before pictures. Bummer. Oh well! So, I will take some in progress pictures. I am always curious how different artists create and you can never find in progress pictures. Only finished images. Well dear bunny readers, I am off to make dinner and then, hopefully, do more gluing and gesso-ing after the kiddos are asleep. Ciao!

When life gives you cold weather, bake cookies!

That is what I have planned today. Bake cookies like a mad woman! I am going to send out some care packages to Texas, filled with wonderful, sugary, butter-laden goodness to my dad, my brother and my friend. I hope they enjoy them. I will definitely keep some for me and the kids, too. Cookies are magical aren't they?

What happened?

Seriously, Monday was just a day ago and now it is somehow Thursday. Where does the time go people! I have lots to show and tell you, but right now I have a meeting to go to at the community center. I am going to be teaching art classes again. HOORAY!!!

Random thoughts

Today was a fun day. I went to lunch with a friend of mine while my boys stayed at her house and played with her kids. It is so nice to get out with just adults every once in a while! Plus the kids got to play with other kids, which is also a good thing. The bummer part was that I forgot (shriek!!!) my camera, so I did not get ANY pictures for Project 365. BUMMER! I did tell Sandy that I would be back to take pictures, since she has a new puppy AND baby goats as well as a plethora of other animals. She is the one that I gave my horse to for her daughter to use. I will definitely take some pictures of my horse...he is gorgeous.

This morning my boys were trying to play Indiana Jones and Star Wars at the same time. I thought this was a good compromise since they did not want to play the same thing at the same time. However, it did not take me long to realize that Jedis and archaeologists/action heroes do not get along very well. At least not today they did not. Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day. One can only hope!

I made chicken pot pie for dinner tonight and used phyllo for the top crust instead of pie dough or puff pastry. This one did not have a bottom crust, either. Delicious. Simple. Lovely.

I am going to remember to take photos of my bag that I am making AND post them here. I promise. I mean it this time. This bag is SO cool! I needle felted some fun designs on the inside for a hidden surprise for its recipient. I hope she loves it. I do and I already have plans to make one for me. Yah, yah, I know. Add that to the growing list of projects I have going on!

On that note, I am off to take some photos for Project 365, which I have been so good at doing. I will post them tomorrow when I have some quiet time. Plus my sewing machine is calling me....

Fabric remnants are abundant

Oh boy did I hit the jackpot at Joann's yesterday!!! 70% off the LOWEST price for ALL fabric remnants. Soooo.....guess what I bought. Yup. A whole lot of fabric remnants. And, on that note, I am going to go sew my purse and then print on some fabric.

BTW I have some Project 365 photos for you later. So far I have taken photos everyday!

Resolutions

I am not making any this year that I cannot keep. Yup. So instead, I am going to do Project 365, starting today, hopefully. I think I can manage to take a photo before the day's end. I came down with some nasty flu virus thing that seriously kicked me in the butt yesterday. I am feeling a little better today, although right now my head feels really loopy. Also, I read in a cookbook...and I will have to think about which one...that the author, instead of making resolutions for the new year, would choose a new cookbook to cook from for that year. I think that sounds good, too. Good photos, good food, good fun. Welcome, 2009!