Happy Valentine's Day!

Sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Wasn't planning or hoping for anything special. My husband, the chef, would be working again! The kids were with grandma anad grandpa, at the movies and I was home with the pup. I decided to take a trip to the store to get ingredients to make these cute pastry hearts that I found on a great blog created by Diane.



While at the store, I decided to rent Julie and Julia. I figured it was a good time to watch something I wanted to watch, since no one would be home. Then my cell phone rang. It was the chef! He was on his way home at 5:30!! He had to pass the store, so I told him to meet me there to get something for dinner. There was a special on two steaks and two lobster tails for $9.99! The chef grabbed a few extra ingredients and we met back at home. He whipped up a gourmet dinner, poured two glasses of wine and we watched Julie and Julia. As you can see, the chef didn't make it through the whole movie. But the attempt was appreciated and the dinner was superb!



Well, the chef is back at work this morning (since 5:30AM). I spent the morning with my other two Valentine's and made us heart shaped pancakes!



I hope you have a happy Valentine's Day! Go with the flow and enjoy!

See more lovely mosaics at Mosaic Monday @ Mary's Little Red House!

Mind over Matter

I wasn't going to write a post today. I received a call this morning to sub at my son's middle school. I heard the phone ring, I was sleeping snugly under my warm covers on this cold February Florida morning and to be honest, I did not want to answer that phone. Reluctantly, I got up from my cozy bed and answered it. I agreed to sub but my heart wasn't in it.
I've been in a mental funk lately, moody, depressed, unfocused, just feeling foggy in the head. Not knowing how to shake the feeling, I decided to just go through the motions. I turned on the shower and gathered my clothes while the water heated up. I got in the shower and started thinking (that's where my best thinking occurs. Maybe because that's where I'm the most relaxed).
" I have to shake this feeling. I can't stand in front a classroom of kids with these negative feelings." Whatever I'm feeling will be reflected back at me(that would be scary). And knowing how I was feeling, I did not want 25 students facing me with my negative attitude. I had to turn these feelings around and quick!
I remembered what I learned in "The Secret". Your feelings are a reflection of your thoughts. The quickest way to change your thoughts, which will change your feelings, is to start saying what you are thankful for. So I did! "I"m thankful for my children, my husband, my shower, my dog, the warm water on my face, my health etc..." Not paying attention to the effect this was having on my mood, I continued to get ready. Then a realized I was feeling good, happy, energized! It's that simple! It's amazing!

If you are feeling down today, for whatever reason, try turning it around by saying what you're thankful for! I think you may be amazed to see your day transform. If you feel yourself starting to slip do it again and again. It is hard to be unhappy when you are truly thankful!


See more doodles at Doodle It Up!

Have a wonderful day! And remember, it's all mind over matter!

Learning Photoshop CS4

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am taking a photoshop class at the local college. I'm hoping to continue taking more computer graphics course to pursue a career in computer graphics and web design.
For our first project we had to create three 3-D forms using the airbrush tool. One requirement was to create a cover for the project. We were given complete creative freedom for this part of the project. I like that!:)
I used one of my Creatively Fit photos for the background. It just so happens that this picture was taken on campus. Here's the original photo.


And here's the photoshopped version.



To give the cover a more cohesive look I used the cutout filter on the photo and increased the color saturation to match the vibrant hues of the forms. I added the airbrush at the bottom of the page and the little Ps logo the the left column.

So what do you think? Do I have a future...? I am really enjoy the class!

Paper Mosaic Table Top-A Group Project

Another Elementary Spring Arts Group Project. Every second grader from my children's school contributed to making this faux mosaic table. The table was purchased at a garage sale for $3, years ago. It sat in my garage for a long time before it found its purpose. It was auctioned off at the fair. Each student completed one 2"x3" paper tile. The tiles were mod podged on the top of the table in a specific arrangement (see grid paper) to create this design. The table was varnished for protection. Another way to protect the surface would have been to cover with glass.





See more crafts at


So busy blogging, going to be late to school now:( I really need to stop blogging! It's going nowhere.

Mosaic Monday! Doodle Recap!

This mosaic is a round up of my first week of doodles that can be found on my new blog Doodle it Up! I started this blog to keep a record of my doodles and to get my creative juices flowing! Plus, it's much easier and quicker to try and do a doodle a day than a painting a day:) I also try to offer some tips on doodling-yes doodling tip!



Well, time to get ready for the week, laundry, shopping (done), bill paying, homework (I'm in the fourth week of my photoshop class), more shopping, a mural for the scholasitic book fair, mail chalkboards, exercise, cleaning and doodling! I think I'll write a to do list. It helps keep me on track for the week.

How bout you? How do you get organized for the week ahead?

See more beautiful Mosaics at Marys wonderful blog Little Red House

A room of many colors!

This room has seen many colors over the years. When we moved into this house it was my older son's room. His favorite color at the time was red. I couldn't see painting it all red so I painted just the bottom half red and a red strip across the top. The top half of the room was a peachy tan. I painted native American Indian symbols in black and white. This color scheme lasted a few years.

Next, this room became a room for two, my two boys(the other room was turned into a play room for a while, which has a whole different color story!). The bedroom was painted green (my older son's new favorite color ) and brown.

After a while, my older son moved to the other room ( the play room). His room is painted in a faux metallic silver finish with a blue base. (his new favorite colors!)

The green and brown room belongs to my younger son now. His current favorite colors are black and gold!! I couldn't see painting a whole wall black. Knowing how many times I paint a room, I thought black would be too difficult to cover up. I decided to paint the top part gold(flat finish) and the bottom white(semi gloss) and added a chair rail. Black came in with the bedding. We will buy a new bed and some wall art, shelving and of course I'll make a beautiful black chalkboard with a gold frame!

Here is the room of many colors


My post title is a spin off of a song that I love by Dolly Parton. I don't sew and we are not poor but when times are tight paint works magic!!
I hope you'll take a few minutes to listen to this sweet song. Even if you've heard it before, you might like to hear it again:)

Group Tapestry- First Grade

This is a project that I created last year for my childrens' elementary school Spring Arts Festival. I was asked to create a group project for every grade. This was a group tapestry for Grade 1. All of the first graders contributed to this tapestry.
All of the pieces created were auctioned off at the festival. They did not ask me to do it again this year. I'm a little sad but also a little relieved, it was a major commitment.
I posted these projects on my other blog Art Spectrum(now gone). I will post another one of these group projects next week.


Materials:
1. Painters canvas drop clothe 6'x8'
2. Canvas Sheets (you can by a pad at a craft store)
3. Primer
4. Acrylic paints
5. Mod Podge
6. Scissors
7. Varnish
8. Rope


Process:
1. Prime canvas
2. Block in colors with paint
3. Cut flowers, leaves and squares out of canvas sheets
4. Have students paint cutouts
5. Glue painted cutouts to canvas.
6. Make tabs out of canvas and sew to tapestry
7. Varnish tapestry
8. Slide wooden dowel through tabs
9. Drill hole at the ends of dowel. Thread rope through and knot ends
10.Hang and admire!

See more creative ideas at



I also started another new blog Doodle it up!! I hope you'll stop by and check it out!:)