“I’m late, I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date!” That is the refrain that runs through my head almost constantly, these days–I write and write. I LOVE this book. And yet I wonder sometimes if I will EVER finish it. It is my most challenging book so far, I do believe, and yet I suspect it is also one of my very best.
We are having the most amazingly beautiful summer here in Spokane. Thanks to my modest foray into the world of gardening (and memories of last winter’s blizzard), I’m appreciating every sunny day, every rainy day, and every day that falls somewhere in between. There is something so calming about tending plants, watering, and fertilizing and weeding–before dinner, I like to sit on the deck among my lovely plants sip a glass of wine.
I haven’t had much time for art, regretably, but I do manage to fit in something most days–even if it’s only preparing a background for a future piece or an ATC. I’ve begun trading cards with my great-niece (by marriage), Karmen. She’s a lovely, bright, capable girl, and a very talented artist. It’s so much fun to swap with Karmen–her cards are GREAT–and that’s just one more reason I love this hobby. Karmen is 12. ATCs are fun for all ages. In fact, I’d like to trade cards with my other nieces and nephew–Chyanne, Sydney and Jerome. (Anna, I will drop some blank cards in the mail for the kids. Next time we get together, I’ll be ready to trade.)
I faithfully TIVO an arts-and-crafts show called “That’s Clever”–Sadie, Bernice, Cha-Cha, Jitterbug and I usually watch it in bed at night–and I learn something from just about every segment. The other day, a man used parts of one of those net bags you get with onions or garlic (and lots of other things) at the grocery store to create texture on a canvas. He used gel medium, but it works with gesso, too, and modeling paste. I used gesso–putting a thick coat on an 8×8 wooden support and then laying the netting in the gesso. I waited maybe 20 minutes, then carefully peeled away the netting. Supercool texture this morning! I’m letting it dry for at least another day before adding any paint. I swear, I’m like a kid on Christmas morning when I try something new like this–while the dogs are out doing their business in the yard, I sneak into my studio to see how last night’s experiment turned out. 🙂
Since I haven’t been smoking, food tastes better, and I’ve been trying out some of my herbs in different ways. Last night, I ate yellow squash for supper–literally fresh from the vine and grown by me. It was delicious!
Well, I’d better go back down the rabbit hole and see what my characters are up to.
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date.
Have a good weekend.
