Moving! (Just my blog!)

Hi Blogger Friends,

I have decided to relocate my blog.  You can now find me at http://thissmilinggirl.wordpress.com/

Praying for Peace and Joy for all!
Cheryl Ann

The Home Stretch!

Nearing the end of another busy week, but I can happily report that I squeezed a little art in every single day!  Also got to enjoy an impromptu family BBQ at my Sis's house Monday night, and a lovely gathering with some of the ladies in the family yesterday.

Tuesday brought this "Silly Bird" to visit:

And Wednesday felt like "A Slice of Summer..."

Yesterday sseemed like a "watermelon!" day, and also had a trial run at making

polymer clay beads and working on some misc. ATCs for swaps.

Here's hoping that this weekend will provide refreshment through time to dream and create, as well as some time of joy spent with family and friends.   ...and don't forget to take a few moments out to simply be THANKFUL for all your blessings! 

Off We Go Into Another Workweek!

Happy Monday! (Bet you don't hear that all the time!)  It's such a lovely morning.  Just in from watering my patio garden and givin g the plants a little spruceup.  The tomatoes are really setting on, now if they would start to ripen.... I was at my parents house yesterday and came home with fresh onions and zuchinii.  The corn is starting to form ears, so we will be enjoying that soon too. Wishing I had more time to linger outdoors in the cool of the morning with my coffee cup before heading to the office.  Alas, there is work to be done.

Here is my ATC for the day.  A pretty girl Frida to go with yesterday's zombie version. Perhaps this week I will try a couple of more realistic faces.  I so admire those with a flair for portraiture!

**Wishing you a blessed and joy filled day!**

Project 365 - another go!

Early in the year I was working on Project 365, in an effort to create an ATC each day in 2010.  Guess who didn't stay on schedule?  Yep.  Not that I haven't done any art, just not a separate item each day for the Project.  But I have decided that I do still want to have a collection of 365 cards I have created this year, so plan to fill in the gaps and most important start moving forward again and try to follow the daily plan.  To that end, here are my cards for July 17th and 18th:  a pretty girl and a zombified Frida.

Summertime and the Living is BUSY!

Hi everyone in blogland!  June and the first half of July have buzzed right by in a flash!  Where did they go?  Sure hoping to slow down a little and enjoy the rest of the summer at a more leisurely pace.

First, I am happy to report that those tiny plants shown in my last post are still thriving.  Expect to be picking tomatoes within a week or two and am already using the herb plants.  Yay!  Simple joys.

Last month I had the pleasure of a trip to Rochester, NY for an artist gathering.  ArtForAll 2010.  Over 50 fabulous artists to interact and trade with, plus workshops and demonstrations.  And of course LOTS of talking and laughing!  What an amazing experience!  Too much to try to cover in this post, but let's just call it a slice of artistic heaven.

Took the opportunity of being so near to spend a couple of days in the Geneva, NY area.  Lived there for a short time, a long time ago.  I was able to stay at the wonderful Belhurst, where I used to work.  It is as lovely as I remember!  AND they have completed a beautiful expansion project which was fun to see and explore.  Here's a photo that focuses on the original castle building where I worked and stayed.

I also enjoyed a beautiful day at Niagara Falls State Park with my new and wonderful friend Patti M!  What a treat to enjoy such a majestic place with a fun and friendly tourguide at my side.  It was a great way to wrap up the vacation.

Life has been a busy hustle-bustle since I got home, filled with some of the unexpected, and frankly undesired, changes life sometimes throws us.  Praying that things are starting to settle down a little.  I've even managed to create a few new ATCs this week.  Here's a smattering...

I have a few larger projects needing my attention if life allows.  Here's hoping!!

Happy June!  Guess what?  I still remember how to make a blog post even though I've been away from it for far too long....but hope springs eternal and I return to try again.  Same concept with gardening...I have a terrible history when it comes to growing things, but I have been helping Dad get his garden going this year, and as of today have a start on a little container garden of my own.    This is just after I transplanted and watered them...looking at them now they are already perking up and hopefully will establish themselves quickly in their new homes.

Tomatoes, basil, cilantro and flowers of various types.  I included marigolds because I always remember my uncle planting them by his tomatoes.  Companion plants perhaps?  Should probably pick up a couple of pepper plants too.  And more pots, because that's only about half the flowers I bought, lol.  

Wish me (and the plants!) luck.

Sing Me A Song Little Sparrow

I'm having such fun playing with oil pastels!  Here's a sweet little sparrow for my day 88 card for the 365 project.  You should see all the wonderful work being created by the community of artist who have joined with Robby (our fearless cheerleader!) over on her blog.  Click the Project 365 badge in my sidebar to check out the fun!

Day 88 - "song sparrow"