Quilting

This year my wife made quits for three of her grand children and I helped by doing the hand stitching of tieing and sewing the binding. You will have to click on the images to see them large enough to really see the pattern. Making quilts has been a hobby both of us have enjoyed for the past several years and a lot of grand children have enjoyed (hopefully) their quilts. You are never sure with kids. They shipped out this last week. I have been drawing more ATC cards and have at least one on the way here. I am also looking for more people who want to trade. Next time I may post some of the cards I have received.

I went to my son Mike's for Thanksgiving and took my Mom. It was very nice letting my kids take charge and do the cooking after all these years. I am thinking we have established a new tradition.

Small Art

There are many artists today who draw very small pieces of art. The reason being to trade art with other artists. They create what are called artist trading cards. They are only 3 1/2" by 2 1/2". The same size as other trading cards such as Pokémon and baseball. Here are two examples of ATCs that I have created. I have created quite a few more but I don't want to show them until I arrange a trade because some people prefer to be surprised. If someone asks to see what you have first to find out if they want to trade you can do that also. Also some people like to collect trading cards of certain subjects. Some might like to collect flowers others might like to collect buildings and others might like people. It is very special to have an art creation from one of your friends

Difficult subject

First I am wondering if I should make my goal to post once a week. I would have a hard time doing that lately. I have been asked by another family member to draw a portrait of my sister Pam who lost her fight against cancer this past summer. I didn't know it would be so hard to do. It seems it is stirring up more emotion than when she died. At the time I think I was just very glad to see the suffering come to an end. Everyone did. Doing the portrait has brought back every memory I ever had of her though. Of course when you remember everything you also remember the things you wish you had done. Please spend the time to be with and do things for and with your loved ones. Your opportunities may not be there tomorrow.

I am still drawing and sewing, As soon as we get photos I will post them. Here is a drawing I am working on.as you can see I have just started. It is only 3.5 x 2.5 inches so it really is that small.

Gossip

I have found out that some people in the small town where I live are enjoying gossiping about what I write here. I think that is great! It keeps them from gossiping about someone else for a few minutes. I had no idea that my life or my opinions were worth gossiping about. If you have an opinion about something I write act like you have a 'little' courage and post a comment. It isn't hard if you can type and you can even post anonymously if you are afraid to let people know that it is you.

The image I posted today is form and ATC. An Artist Trading Card. They are the same size as other trading cards which is 3.5" x 2.5". Artists who like your work offer to trade a card they have drawn for one of yours. When I get the one I am trading for I will post it. This little drawing of mushrooms is what lead to my creating the large drawing because my friend said she liked the drawing, but that it was too small for her to see easily. I guess I will have to draw another mushroom picture if I want to keep one for myself. Actually I am doing another ATC size which has already bee spoken for. I do know know why mushroom are so popular.

For those who are keeping track of my health, I am feeling much better. About as good as I ever do which is about how must people feel if they have been up for 2 days straight with out even a nap. That is when I am sleeping good. I have a couple friends who are having health problems but I won't share those to be gossiped about. They do not live here anyway.

I will try to fond something juicy to post nest time so you won't be so disappointed and soother people will be spared your attention. Come to think of it you will probably gossip about the fact that I know you are gossiping. If I told you what I think of people who talk about others behind their back instead of to their face (or in this instance by posting a comment) you would really have something to talk about.

If I decide to write about you it will not be behind your back. It will be in front of the whole world.

Binns House

Here is my latest graphite drawing. This is the house that belonged to my grand father's sister on my dad's side. They were fairly well to do and the house was pretty fancy in it's time. This is the best side of the house now. The other side has a collapsed roof with a huge tree growing up through it. I took photos of it this past summer and got poison ivy for my troubles but I got a good feel for the house as I walked around it. It helps me to draw a building if I can establish some sort of feeling for it or connection to it.

Winter Has Arrived

Not officially, but it certainly feels like it has. I am finding I am affected more by storms and barometer changes this year than last. I am still trying to get to the point I can get enough sleep to function normally if there even is such a thing. Anyway I have not been posting much because it is hard to do a lot of things. I have been helping Sue Ann make quilts for grandkids Christmas presents. She is slowly making one for every grandchild. We are doing three more this year. We also made one for me to use when I am sleeping in my recliner. I posted a photo of it when it was partially finished but the ones here are of the finished quilt. I picked the cloth, made the pattern and cut the blocks. Sue Ann sewed them and then I tied it and we both did the binding. She stiched one side on the machine and I hand stiched the other side. That is the quilt I am posting photos of today. I will post teh ones for grandkids in the next few days as they are finished.

I had no idea that getting my medications messed up would take so long to recover from. I am just now getting back to drawing. Having Chronic Fatigue does not help much either. The drawing on the left is the latest I have done. I have a very dear friend who is 80+ years old and she loves mushrooms. I had drawn a small artist trading card of mushrooms but she couldn't see it very well. I decided to draw her a larger picture that she would not have any problems seeing. It is 8"x10". She loved it by the way so I accomplished what I wanted. I hope to get back to posting more often, but I am not going to promise every day again.