Valentines Day

You might think it's a little early, but I don't. Perhaps my birthday being three days before the holiday of love is the reason for my affinity. Perhaps it is the red and pink colors, or the hearts galore. Whatever the case, I have always loved Valentines Day. This year is no exception, I have been browsing Pinterest, thinking of red decorations, and working on a few small pieces of art. One is a red pomegranate, the other a little hot rod love.

They were fun little projects to do while the boys worked on watercolors the other day. If you are interested, the hot rod card will be for sale on my etsy shop, Bombshell Tees. Have a great day!

Markin' stuff off the list!

*Spoiler alert* If you are my mother, close this page down now! If not, please, carry on.

Okay, no day job today so I took a few chunks out of my long to-do list. One of the most unfun adult chores, paying the bills, was done this morning. With that out of the way it was time to do some more pleasant tasks. Lots of creating going on these days which, is lots of fun, but can also be exhausting.
Case in point, last night this Mama had had enough and promptly took a drink and a hot bath!
I found my mother's Christmas gift last month which is amazing, but I wanted to add something homemade from the boys. I believe I saw this idea on Pinterest, and did a similar project this spring for Mother's Day. Simple and fun personal art with my boys, that's right up my alley!
My sons each did their own separate canvas board, but I connected the lines for them so she can display them together as one. Now I can mail out her package tomorrow and check two more things off my list.

I love their little fingerprints for the colorful lights.

Art with my boys

Last night Harlon asked to paint with watercolors. I love that boy dearly, he reminds me of the painting I should be doing. Unfortunately I was in the middle of a Mrs. Claus costume for the school Christmas program, so I promised him we would do watercolor tonight, which ensures I will get some painting done too! I let the boys use my college watercolors, not the expensive paints but not the cheap crayolas. Tonight's theme? Well the boys have received many fascinating stories and wondrous gifts from the ocean via my aunt, and it is her birthday this Sunday SO I thought we'd create her some art. The boys had fun filling their page with some of the items she has sent them and other various mammals. I decide to paint one of the lovely cowrie shells she sent. The ocean has such beautiful treasures. Here are the results.


Harlon painted the large pinshell on the upper right painting.
James painted a conus seahshell on the upper left painting.
 

I loved spending time with my boys and watching them create. Plus I got to teach them ( and they didn't even whine about it), I showed them how to pick up paint with their brush when they got too much on their paper. Then we shared a pear and some cheese while reading, all in all a really great night. Not bad for a Monday, not bad at all.

Spendin' time

Recently I spoke with a fellow pinup artist to see if she had any suggestions for getting some art sales. My goal is to get enough freelance work to stay home part time or full time. So far I have only sold one art print, and thrown lots of money at it. This is very discouraging and some days I feel like throwing in the towel. Still something seems to drive me to create. I am not merely content with a "normal job", in fact it bores me to death some days. There is some balance to this, a day job keeps me in a schedule, something I think might go awry if I was a full time freelancer.
Back to my conversation with fellow artist, she had great suggestions, most of which I am already implementing so patience and persistence are the biggest factors. Not being my strong suit, I better figure out something to do in the mean time. So far I love making gifts for my friends and family, counterproductive I know, and it does take up some time. Currently I am making personalized Santa bags for my boys. More for my benefit, there is no wrapping, just a bag with their name on it filled with gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. Well, it makes me happy anyway, and hopefully inspired to work on some more of my art.

Day Off

Today I had a day off from work, which I live for. I have so many things on my to-do list, it's nice to have some time to catch up. I often feel overwhelmed, but today I had goals/deadlines. So it helps me focus more. Daddy-O's birthday is nine days away and I usually drive myself crazy thinking about what to get him, and then end up getting us a room at his holiday party when I come up empty. This year his birthday party and holiday party are farther apart and I wanted to make him something. I am also on a very low budget this year, so I was cruising the net for ideas (again) and came across one on my favorite blogs, I am Momma Hear Me Roar. She has boys as well and has some great ideas. I tend to think that boys are harder to come up with homemade gifts for than girls, but surely there are some things that are easier with boys no?
Today my goal was to work on Daddy-O's gift while he was at work. The boys and I made him some work snacks, from a guest post of I am Momma Hear Me Roar's author, Cheri. I added the mustaches, which are definite giggle getter's. I had a lot of fun making this gift, and I used up some scrap booking materials.


James picked Whoppers, and his label is "sweet", Harlon picked peanuts and his label says "a real nut!" Mom picked out chocolate covered Ritz crackers and her label says "irresistible". Are we talking about the snacks? or the characters? :)

Daddy-O will also be getting some flannel pajama bottoms. The flannel is supreme, and so was the price but it will be worth it to call him Fancy pants. I got the majority of them sewed before I had to clean up for his arrival home.
Since the boys were at swim lessons, I did not help out at school this week, but I did bring home Ellie the elephant who needed some major surgery! So far I took out her insides, made pattern pieces and cut out some new pretty lining for Ellie. I hope to finish her up soon so she can return to reading to the Kindergarten class!
I also got some gold one shot delivered the other day, but did not get to that yet.
Lastly, my son came home last night and claimed I could color in his coloring book photo on the front of his folder. I started coloring it last night, makes me happy coloring, but didn't finish it. This morning I awoke to crying about how I wasn't supposed to color the whole thing in and his lips looked like girls. The whole nine yards. Thank goodness the school secretary came to the rescue and printed him out a new one! He told me tonight I could keep the colored in one. I think I will, and finish coloring it too!

Christmas! AHHHH!

Okay so I snuck into my sewing room tonight to make some neck warmers for the boys since our walk to school this morning was a bit nippy on the face, and I accidentally caught a glimpse of my other sewing projects. (gulp) Well let's see, there is a cute top that I happen to have some white shantung like material for. This shouldn't take long and it would be perfect for that New Years party I'm invited to. There's some flannel waiting to be transformed into Santa sacs and flannel pajama bottoms for Daddy-O's birthday. Oh and there's a cream cable knit poncho that's destine to be throw pillows or a tree skirt. I also unearthed a bra, who's straps have lost their elastic that will work perfectly for some angel wing caps for my niece. So many projects so little time! I can get this done, I can do it! I better stock up on sugar and caffeine!

Time? Does anyone have the time?

Ahh the holidays are here and the time is escaping me! November is coming to a close and so is the end of the year. December is a very busy month for me and I don't expect to get much art done at all. Daddy-O's birthday starts out the month and my son's ends it, plus squeeze in holiday parties, and the holidays and my December is GONE!
So tomorrow my plan is to start my Lincoln in watercolor. There should be enough leftovers in the fridge to keep me off meal duty for a long enough stretch. Looking at other art online inspires me to get into some paint.
I have started promoting my art for custom portraits for the holidays. It would be great to have some work orders in.
How do you keep in touch with your art during busy times?