Zentangle Challenge # 19: A William Morris/White on Black

Well, okay...I don't have a white pen or black paper...yet!  So I am going to cheat a little and ask everyone to pretend and reverse my blacks and whites!  I am also posting some more of past challenges on my zentangle display sidebar.  This one I am showing is Starry eyed...challenge #4.  

And I am posting the "prototype" for my center design.  This is a picture from Nat'l Geographic...it is some kind of underwater plant, I think...but I thought it was a cool shape with neat texture.

  Now that my 30 day challenge with my daughter is over...I will try to post more of what I am doing with my other artsy stuff.

Challenge Day #30: LAST DAY (who do I miss??)

Today is the last challenge...we are finishing up with a picture of someone we miss.  I, of course, miss my parents, my father-in-law, several family members and friends who have gone on...I miss many of the people I worked with and used to see on a daily basis; I miss old friends and neighbors who now live far away.  I miss my girls' and my grands not being babies any more..and are all grown up!  But I think the person I miss the most is my sister.  She passed away when she was 49...way too young!  She was two years older than I am...we had a wonderful time growing up together, having children together, and we would be doing all those things that old women do together if she was still here.  She had two grandchildren when she died; there are now nine and three great grands.  She would have been a really spectacular grandmother...and she would have loved facebook/ computer stuff, etc.  I know she is looking down on all of us with a sweet smile on her face!  Miss you, Judy!

My big sister....1956...her Senior picture!

Challenge Day # 29: Who inspires me?

This day's challenge is to post a picture of someone who inspires me...that could be VAST!!  I am in awe of anyone who makes something!  I am always inspired by my family.  Great works of art, known or unknown always give me a thrill!  But one group of people whom I have known for nearly four years now never cease to amaze me and inspire me to be the best I can be and this group is from my guild..."studioQ".  We are a group of art quilters who get together at least once a month.  We share ideas, techniques, life experiences, food....etc!  And I always come away from a meeting recharged and energized to do something BIG!!  Thanks, gals!!

We are "studioQ"!!!

Day#28: Something I am afraid of!

I am really a chicken about many things...I don't care for carnival rides, fast cars, noisy crowds, but these are all things I can choose not to be part of. The things that really scare me are those out of my control...for example: wildfires, storms, and tornadoes!

MacDonald Observatory-March, 2011 - wildfires (we were there just two weeks before, fires hadn't started yet)

A Texas Tornado (we are "in the season" right now)

Texas thunderstorm...can happen anytime, but especially now.

So I am prepared at all times, ready to go to shelter with my water, cell phone, pictures and computer.  And go on about day to day living.  I try to not let any fear paralyze me!!

Challenge Day# 27:A pic of me and a family member

My baby brother was born when I was nine years old. Even though there was quite an age difference between us, we spent a great deal of time together. When he was a bratty eight year old and I was a teenager, we were still very close!

1950

 And here we are, fifty years later!!

Me and my baby brother!

Day # 26: Means a Lot to Me

The Challenge today, a picture of something that means a lot to me, is a no-brainer...here is the most current picture of my family taken this Easter...what a good looking bunch!!!!

Challenge Day #25: Better at Something

Today's challenge is to post a picture of something I wish I was better at...so here is my picture!!  One of my lesser traits is time management!!  I am usually a prompt person, I am seldom late getting where I need to be, but I can waste more time than anyone in the world when I have no deadlines!!  And now that I am retired and most of my time is mine to use as I wish, I find this weakness is getting worse!!!  I need to set myself up with a schedule...and KEEP to it!!!

Challenge Day # 24: My Day Today

I needed to add a couple of current pics to my blog for today's challenge. We did celebrate Andrea's birthday and Easter together.

The birthday girl holding the Scotty I made for her.

And one is never too old for a good old Easter egg hunt!!

Challenge Day # 24: My Day Today

First of all..I have to add a book from yesterday's Challenge..favorite book(s).  I love "The Color Purple" and had it ready to post but forgot!

Now...today's challenge is "MY DAY" and since today is Easter, here are a few pics from the past to show.  There were the days when we would get all dressed up, go to mass, and come home to a big ol' meal!  Not to mention the Easter Basket/Egg hunt!  We would also often combine daughter Andrea's birthday which is in April and that is what we are doing today....a little Easter and birthday, combined with visiting and eating!

Grandkids-several years ago!

A "timed" photo of the family before grands!

Zentangle Challenge # 18-An Egg!

"Eggs-trordiare: Happy Easter"

Very appropriately this week's challenge is "Eggs"!  With Easter being tomorrow, I, along with most entries, took the theme to depict my Zentangle. I loved the link to the Pysanky Eggs symbols...when I was teaching, my students did a Pysanky egg with the symbols each year.   I didn't care for the center of my egg when finished, so I decided to redo just that part...don't know if it is legal in the "Zentangle World", but it is what is!  Thank you, handy glue stick!!

I am also downloading a new Zentangle from the original list of challenges that were made before I got into doing them.  It is on the left side of my blog..."Eyes Wide Shut".  You can click on the picture and it will take you to the Diva's link with all the Challenges.

Challenge Day # 23: My favorite book

I love books...I had a really hard time coming up with favorites, but these four are a sampling of books I have read and really liked.  I usually like to read fiction, mysteries, human interest, but I also like to read biographies and fictional history, too. 

Challenge Day # 22: Change

Today's challenge is to post something I would change if I could.  I truly wish I had the power to do away with all child abuse!  To me this is the worst possible sin....children are innocent victims...it always amazes me when I have known of a child's background and see how they have overcome the worst possible situations and grow into amazing adults!  In looking for a picture to depict my subject to change, I came across several posters.  Since I couldn't choose which I thought was the best example, I just posted several. 

Challenge Day # 21-What would I like to Forget?

Today's challenge is really a tough one for me!!!  Something I wish I could forget....well, this is pretty lame, but..much as I really like my dentist, I would like to forget that I ever have to visit him for checkups!!  I would prefer to just drop in and say "hi" and be on my way!!

Challenge Day #20: Where to travel?

Today's challenge is to post a picture of somewhere I would like to travel.  We have done a LOT of traveling around the United States and Canada....we love our car trips!  We have not traveled abroad...across the big pond...and I don't know if we will.  There are many places over there I would like to see, but there are still many places right here that I want to see also.

I would like to see all the National Parks I have not yet seen; I want to revisit Washington, D.C.; there are so many things to see there, I haven't seen it all yet.  And there are several other places, too numerous to name, I would like to return to.

Canada, our neighbor to the North, has many beautiful, interesting places.  We have been West, all the way through to Alaska, and we have been East, to Prince Edward Island.  Now we need to see Central Canada.

Day # 19: Something to do before I die!!

 One thing I would really like to do and plan to do before I die is take a ride in a hot air balloon. Now, I am not a very brave person; there are many activities I would not attempt on a dare....but this is an activity I have always thought looked really fun!!

 When we were in Albuquerque this spring, these balloons were taking off in the morning as we were driving out of town.

I think I have already blogged about my plan to celebrate an anniversary in a hot air balloon....I am ready!!!!!

Day # 18 Challenge: My Greatest Insecurity!

I have sewn for years..clothes, costumes, decorator items, and since retirement, I have gotten big time into quilting....traditional and art quilts...preferably the fiber arts.  But try as I might, I am not good at machine quilting.  And my hand quilting is not the greatest!  I love to put color together; creating my own designs; adding embellishments, etc.  but I am very insecure about my quilting!!!  And judges agree with me!  When I have entered my quilts in shows, my critiques from the judges are always "love the color, love the design, but the quilting is really crappy!"  No, they don't really say "crappy"; they are much more tactful, but that is what they mean!!! 

Day # 17 Challenge: What a Difference in my Life!

Today's challenge is to post about something that has happened to me recently that is life changing (or something like that).  Ten days ago I had my second cataract surgery in my left eye...I had my right eye done several years ago.  And for the first time since I started wearing glasses in the third grade, I can see at a distance without wearing any kind of corrective lens!!!  I still need some aid in reading or doing anything close up, but I am amazed that I can actually SEE far away!!!!

Wow...I just realized that my two challenges are overlapping...yesterday was the # 17 for Zentangle and this is # 17 for my "Who Am I" challenge.  But all will change as this is a daily and the Zen is weekly...what a relief!!!

Zentangle Challenge #17-15 Minutes of Fame!#2

Okay....my self-induced competion would not let me stop at one so I am entering a second 15 minute challenge....I like this one much better...this is probably a real good exercise that I should make myself do more often!

Zentangle Challenge #17-15 Minutes of Fame!

Ugh!!!!  I really did not like this challenge!!  For a little explanation....the challenge was to do a Zentangle tile in 15 minutes...including all!!!  So I set my timer, and voila!  here is the mess that I did!!  I really do not work well under pressure!!  But I will take the bad with the good so I am putting this "artwork" out there!!!  I find this to be rather frightening!!  Kind of Insectile-looking!!

Day # 16 Challenge: Makes me Smile

With a "friend"!!

Today is my daughter's birthday...the daughter who is challenging me to keep up with her.  We have a lot in common...we inspire each other (oh, need to save that for another challenge!)  We do a whole lot of smiling together...here is one of my favorite pics with her on  trip to California! Happy Birthday, Andrea!!!  Love you!

The Eyes Have It!!!!


These Eyes belong to my grandson....he is the sweetest, funniest kid!!  He has such a great sense of humor;  I always have so much fun with him..he makes me smile.  This pic was one of those "I dare ya'" things...he dared and I took it!!!  

Day # 15: Cannot do without!

This may be getting a little repetitious, but here are the most immediate people I cannot imagine my life without!

My husband!

My wonderful, beautiful, handsome, brilliant, perfect, grandchildren!

One of my wonderful daughters.

And the other fantastic daughter and terrific SIL!

Day # 14 Challenge: Makes me Laugh!

This Challenge is to be about a picture that makes me laugh...I chose this pic of Kathleen and me at her confirmation...she has just said something really special to me and it makes me laugh because I know what she said!!!!

Day # 13 Challege: Favorite Artist

This Challenge could be taken two ways: musically and artistically so I am going to do both!

Norman Rockwell

Andrew Wyeth

Georgia O'Keeffe

Allison Krauss and Union Station

Any Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber

I still love the Dixie Chicks

Zentangle challenges

The website I am recently interested in has been having Zentangle challenges each week. This has been going on for about sixteen weeks but I have only been participating for 3-4 weeks.  So I decided to look at the past challenges and attempt to do them just for my own benefit/practice.  I am posting them as I do them on the left side of my blog.  If the titles don't make sense to you and you are interested in finding out what they mean, go to the diva's website and look for the past challenges.  The above ZIA is just from my sketchbook....messin' around!!

Day # 12 Challenge: Something I love!

Obviously, I love my family and friends but for this challenge, I decided to post things rather than people so here goes!

Chocolate!!!

Books!!!

Anything art related!

My Home!

Taking pictures of Nature!

Making Art Projects!