Two weeks of Baby Sitting

These are my two youngest 'grandbabies'...

not really babies anymore.

Their mother took this photo earlier this summer...aren't they precious:)

Their mother starts her new position August 9th...

and they don't start school until the 19th...

so

Jaime and I will be 'baby sitting'

during that time.

Suffice it to say...

I probably won't be creating too much

during that period...

so I will have to have my

'Joey the Bat'

piece done before August 9th.

A 'weird' week....

Ever have one of those days when everything just seems

'out of whack'?

Well...I'm having one of those 'weeks'!

Not really sure what is going on

with me this week....

"something" just doesn't 'feel quite right.

But then...I could probably drive myself crazy

trying to figure it all out.

My husband used to have 'weird weeks'

every year...

we finally figured out these weeks were right

around the anniversary of his mother's passing

(she died when he was 9).

Once we figured it out...he seemed to be fine after that...

or else, very good at hiding it.

I can't think of anything that would be 'triggering' my

'weirdness'...

maybe it's the weather???

Wordless Wednesday 16

Joey the Bat

I accepted a commission painting to do a painting of

'Joey the Bat'.

This isn't Joey pictured here...but you get the idea.

There is such an interesting story behind 'Joey' that I couldn't

pass up the commission. It just sounded like fun.

Lots of photos and various paintings and other works of art

have been done,

featuring Joey.

He has traveled around the world...and has photos taken in all the

places he has 'visited'.

Sometime in October...many of the photos and art

will be displayed in a gallery in NYC

that will tell the story of 'Joey the Bat' and his travels.

Joey even has his own

Facebook page.

Another New Painting

I usually work on medium sized canvas...

11" x 14"  or  12" x 16"

because I like to sit in my recliner and do my painting.

These size canvas are easy enough to 

put on my lap and work on them...without stressing

my back too much.

Jaime put in a canvas order a couple weeks ago

and I had her order me a batch of 16" x 20" canvas...since I

hadn't worked on that size in a while.

My newest painting,

'Harvest of Hearts' is on one of those canvas.

It took me a little longer to paint...

but I was very pleased with the outcome.

Taking the Tag Challenge...

I was reading one of my 'fave-blogs'---The Rainy Day Wanderer and decided that this little
Q&A might be fun....so here goes.....

When was the last time you saw someone attractive?
I see, at least, ONE of my children every day...I think they are very attractive.
Where's your phone right now?
On the table beside my chair.
Do you have any plans for the weekend?
My usual "me day" Saturday...and it's 'family Sunday' this week.
Has someone ever made you a promise and broken it?
Yes.
Last movie/DVD watched?
Ab Fab
Does anything hurt on your body?
I think I'm good today...hand's still a little sore.
How are you?
I’m excited about all the paintings I got done last week!!
Are you excited for next year?
I've got a lot of 'exciting' things coming up in the Fall...for me anyway...and I look forward to those first.
Is your room clean?
Which room??? That would be a 'no'.
How many pillows do you sleep with?
Two little ones...and three big ones....but two of the big ones are more like a 'head board'...even though I do have a head board.  I'm not quite five feet tall..and I like for my 'toes' to hang over the foot of the bed, so I 'squooch' myself up to the pillow 'head board' while still being able to 'hang ten' over the foot of the bed.
What are you doing?
Reading blogs...writing this...getting ready to take a long bath.
I bet you miss somebody right now?
The LOVE of my life...I miss him everyday!!
What are you planning on doing after this?
A long relaxing bath.
Have you ever read an entire book in one day?
In my younger days.
Who did you push last?
As in...'push to be the best they can be'....my children. And a couple of the older grandbabies.
Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?
my son Patrick.
Do you own any band t-shirts?
No...but I have one that says 'Harley Davidson'...does that count??
What does your hair look like right now?
Like I'm trying out for the part of 'Elphaba' in Wicked!
Has anyone ever told you that you were their best friend?
My dear husband.
Did you get hurt today?
Not yet...but the day isn't over yet.
When was the last time you felt upset?
At some point this last week....probably more than once.
What are you looking forward to?
Wow...I'm looking forward to many things...the upcoming Art/Craft Season...I've got my youngest grandbabies for two weeks in August...lots..really!
Do you currently want something?
My own car...and my own house would also be great!!
What was the last thing you had to drink?
Chamomile Tea
Who was the last person you said "i love you" to?
My children...I tell them whenever I talk to them..or see them.
Where are you?
in my recliner in my living room…
Do you like to walk in the rain?sometimes
Do you like looking up at the stars?
I do...but I don't do it very often these days.
Do you think you are a nice person?
I try to be...but I guess that would be a question for others to answer.
Do you like swimming?
These days...not so much...but I used to love to go..even though I never learned how to swim.
Have you ever swam in the ocean?
I have...both coasts!
 Do you go to school?
Not for a very long time.
Do you want to go to college?
No...I really don't.
What do you want to be?
The best that I can possibly be...at whatever I do!
Do you want have kids?
Six of them....and add to that...nine grandchildren.
Do you like going to the beach?
I live in the Midwest..so not so many beaches here.  I think I'd have to pass, as I get older the heat and sun are becoming a little less friendly.
Who is the last person you went to the mall with?
My daughters.
Have you ever had any x-rays?
Yes...
Who do you hate right now?
I'm not a 'hater'...so no one.
Who is the last person you yelled at?
One of my children...but it's been a while!
Who was the last to cook you food?
Applebees.
Are you in a complicated relationship?
No...
What did you do 2 nights ago?
Painted some new paintings.
Who was the last person you were on the phone with?
My youngest daughter Jaime…
Does a hug make you feel better?
It does...
How long ago did you hug someone?
today, my son Patrick always gives me hug when he leaves the house or heads for bed.
Anything good happening tomorrow?
I hope so...
Have you kissed more than ten people this year?
Kids and grandkids.
Do you have unlimited texting?
I don't text....not sure how.
Will you keep your last name when you get married?
It's part of my 'signature' with my art...but I much prefer my married name...though it's much harder to pronounce until you 'sound' it out for people.

You have to get a piercing, so what do you get?
This is a 'tricky one' for me...I'm a little 'funny' when told I "have" to do something...generally that is a 'deal breaker' for me.
Have you ever felt like someone of the opposite sex truly cared about you?
My dear husband...we were truly 'life-mates/soul-mates'.
Who was the last friend you got into a big argument with?
Oh my gosh...that would have been so long ago that I can't even remember.
Your phone is ringing. It's the person you fell hardest for, what do you say?
If that were possible....I would be 'speechless'.
Will you be in a relationship in the next couple months?
Only with my kids and grandkids.
Did you have any unread text messages when you woke up today?
No...I don't have text messaging.
Do you want to see somebody right now?
The LOVE of my life!
Do you think two people can last forever?
I KNOW this for fact.
When was the last time you had a late night phone call?
A couple days ago...my son, saying he would be later than he thought.
If you could move somewhere else, would you?
No
Would you be able to date someone who doesn't make you laugh?
My dating days are long behind me.
Has anyone ever sang to you?
My dear..dear Husband...he even wrote a song about me. I still have it on tape.
When was the last time you bit someone?
I don’t bite!
Do you think you can love someone without trusting them?
I'm a pretty trusting person...maybe too trusting.
Is there someone who you can spend every minute with and be happy?
My husband and I spent so much time together...we worked side by side for many years...and we were very happy!
Last person to make you smile?
My youngest grandbabies...they make me smile quite often.
Have you ever wasted too much time on a certain boy?
I can't remember that far back:)
How was last night?
Busy...I've been working late nights all week.
If you're being extremely quiet, what does it mean?
I'm probably tired...or worried about something.
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
I HAVE hit rock bottom….more than once!
Do you have trust issues?
Not really....sometimes this comes back to 'bite me'.
I remember shortly after my husband passed away...a gal showed up at my front door at 4:00 in the morning...saying she was desperately trying to find someone to help her get up the money to get her baby's prescription filled.  I gave her some money.  Five visits (and $150.00) later, I finally "figured" out that I was being 'played'.
Was this a good weekend?
I truly enjoyed my Saturday...and the family is coming over...and we'll cook some burgers and hot dogs on the grill later...I think it will be a good weekend.
Were you happy when you woke up today?
I think so....mostly I was tired.

Adding to my "Paradise Lost" Series

This painting is titled...

"One Day At A Time"...

the title is actually etched right into the

painting.

The paintings I listed on my 

Wordless Wednesday post this week...

were pieces I had done in the weeks and months

preceding the loss of my husband.

Very reflective of that time in my life..

mostly the 'denial' and 'anger'

stages of grief.

(We won't even go into the bargaining and depression stages.)

Now that I believe I have finally made it to

the 'acceptance' stage...

I decided to add a few new pieces

to the "Paradise Lost" series.

Even though they seem a bit 'sad'...at first glance...

there's actually an underlying theme of

'hope'

in each one.

What "New" Things Can I Do?

I'm actually 'thinking ahead' to the fast approaching

Fall Season....usually a pretty

good time for Arts and Crafts Sales.

So...I've been mulling over what new

things I can do.

For myself I've done a couple of

'List' Covers...

one that is 'especially'

for my Shipping,
so that I know which list book to grab

just by looking at the design...
and they work GREAT!

I've designed them to fit the little 5" x 8"

yellow lined 'legal' pads...

with a deep back pocket to slip the cardboard back 

in to.

This keeps me from having to have some way of tying it in...

my early efforts had to be tied it to secure them in place.

Now...I'm wondering what else I can do with

unstretched canvas.

Maybe I need a 'stroll through the internet' to come up

with some ideas.

One Day Painting SALE

I'm having a ONE Day Sale on all the paintings in my

Shop.

They are 25% off

and the Sale ends Thursday..July 22nd.

This includes Patrick's paintings, as well as the new paintings

I have listed.

I'm hard at work painting some new pieces...

and I haven't had a painting sale in a while..

so I thought I'd do a one day sale...

since I didn't participate in the

Christmas in July Sale.

Wordless Wednesday 15

My Son's Paintings on Etsy

Well...I went ahead and listed some of Patrick's paintings

in my Rustic Goth Etsy Shop.

Back when we were all listing on eBay...I was quite impressed

that he was able to hold down a full time job

and still manage to paint new paintings everyday.

His art pretty much 'flew' off the site...

and he got a pretty penny for a lot of his pieces.

But...when we decided that we didn't care for

the new rules on eBay and left...

he decided to 

go back to school and enrolled at the

University.

So...his time is pretty much taken up

and his paintings are fewer and further between.

We'd discussed me going ahead and listing the few paintings

he has done this year

(he did them to use as set decor

for a Picasso and Poe play at the

Johnny Carson theatre this past Spring)

and decided that I'd go ahead and list them for him.

So...they're now in his little section in my shop.

I Need a New Sewing Machine

I have an old Brother Sewing Machine

that I bought used...

back when we lived in Nashville.

So I know that it is, at the very least,

20 or 25 years old.

(We left Nashville in '92 and I had it for several years

before moving.)

Anyway...I am really LOVING how the

Checkbook Covers are coming out..

but I can't work as fast hand sewing them

as I'd be able to by machine sewing...

but my poor 'Brother' has really seen better days.

The bobbin side thread (I'm sure there's a term for it

that I just don't know)

is all thready and knotted...so I know it's not up

to the task.

I am really...really...wanting to get a 'bunch' of them done up

ahead of time

so that I have them for the fall shows

as well as my Shop.

They have been a big 'hit' for me.

I've sold several of them so far...with requests for more.

So

I want to be able to get enough of them done up

before

listing...so that I have a nice variety for the shows

and the Shop.

I listed them...a couple at a time...to just kind of

'test the waters'

and I'm so flattered at the response they've

gotten.

It's one of those things that just keeps me

wanting to do more...

and keeps me trying to design and create

new pieces...

needless to say..

I'm LOVING it!!

A Busy Week-end

It's been a very busy week-end.

I finally got my canvas order in...so I started a couple of abstract paintings...

I had shipping to do..

still trying to follow up with folks that haven't

received their items...

(what can I say...the gal I used to contact with my delivery problems...

she's moved on..or something)

so the only way I can really resolve the issue

is to refund payment and/or reprint the order and send it again.

Then...I had a dozen checkbook covers that I had to

hand sew...finish and varnish.

I then measured and cut out the rest of my

canvas...and I'll be doing some journal covers this next week...

I might 'sneak' a couple new checkbook covers in as well.

(The picture above is one of the checkbook covers..varnish...wow...
I'm really impressed with how they are coming out!)

My hand looks really ugly...but it isn't burning as much now..

so I can, at least, use it once again.

My Fine Art America Site

I have 'updated' my 

Fine Art America site

to make...

stretched canvas prints...

large framed prints...

and even Greeting Cards...

of my art

available for sale.

For several years I have searched for

companies that would do this for me,

so that I could offer them in my Etsy Shop

but the price was just too prohibitive.

It's also difficult for me to know which prints

would make the best greeting cards...

and most companies require a minimum order

per design...

so..

Fine Art America does all this for me.

I do have some similar items available in my

Zazzle shop

but what really 'sold' me on 

Fine Art America was the canvas prints 

and

participation in the

ABC/ Disney licensing program.

So...I don't have a lot of items on my

Fine Art America site...yet...

but I will be adding new pieces throughout the coming

days..weeks and months.

I'll have a lot of my Rustic Goth pieces listed..

so that they can be available in ways that I am unable to offer

in my Etsy Shop.

Wished I Could Get Better Photos....

I have a pretty good camera....

it's a Panasonic 7.2 Megapixels.

It tends to get all the flaws and imperfections

almost unseen by the naked eye...

but the photos of my paintings always look so 'washed' out.

So...it's not the camera...it's the 'photographer'.

I've yet to get a really good photo of any of my

fairytale paintings...and even most of my carnival pieces

are much more vibrant than I'm able to capture with pics.

I'd love to find an 

easy-to-follow video somewhere online..

that might help.

I've seen ones that look a lot like a visit to a professional studio...

with huge lights and backdrops...etc...

I'm just not sure where I'd fit all that equipment into my little house...

and how I would find the funding to purchase it all:)

Portable Art -- Checkbook Covers

My son brought a roll of canvas with him

when he moved back 'home'...

so...it's just been sitting there...for over a year now...

and after all the trials...errors...experiments...etc..

I finally got into the canvas and started making

'portable art' covers...

for checkbooks...

journals...etc.

They do take a bit to do...but I'm really liking

how they are turning out.

I was hoping to have a dozen or so of these 

listed by the week-end...

now it will depend on how well the Advil

works...

I was pouring boiling hot water into a container

and poured it right on my left hand...

it burns like fire...

I can't believe I did that...

I guess that's what I get for trying to do too many things

at once.

So...my being in such a hurry to get back

to my painting...I ended up actually slowing myself down.

I had to sit around all yesterday afternoon

with a cold pack covering my hand..

smearing antibiotic ointment and aloe gel all over it

every couple of hours.

Needless to say...all the plans I had to get all sorts

of things painted..

will still happen...

just at a much slower pace.

Wordless Wednesday 14

I'll be Doing Some Abstracts...

I had Jaime add some extra 16 x 20s to her

latest canvas order...

I decided I 'really' NEED to do some abstract paintings.

I find these are such great 'therapy' for me

and I haven't painted an abstract since...

well..heck...I don't really remember.

I'd have to go through my EBSQ Portfolio to see the last

time I did an abstract painting.

This piece was painted especially for the

2008

Art for Aids Auction

held in Chicago in February of 2008....and it was one of

the last abstracts I painted.

Soooo...I'm going to do a couple...

and..while they won't really "go" with my Rustic Goth art...

I'm going to list them there anyway.

Hopefully later this week or early next week.

Shipping Problems.....Again

I am not sure why I have so many problems

with my International packages.

I recently refunded an international buyers purchase...

because she has never received it.

When I check the customs number in USPS tracking...it tells me

the package was 'accepted' by my post office...

2 MONTHS ago.

I've checked other international packages and almost all of them

tell me the SAME thing.

So there's no way to know who has received their international packages

and who hasn't....except on the RARE occasion that they update

the information and indicate when the package was delivered.

Now it seems I'm running into some of the same problems with

my US deliveries.

I discovered...through feedback...that someone who purchased

something a month ago...and lives in NY...has never received her items.

ALL of the other packages that were sent the same day...received their items 

3 or 4 days later.

I know there is talk that the post office is 'downsizing' some of our

local branches...and my branch is scheduled to close

at some point this year.

I don't usually think anyone is purposely doing something wrong...

but..

I can't figure out why some packages are reaching 

their destination without any problems

while others are somehow...

'lost in space'.

If any of my readers are 'waiting' for an overdue package...
please contact me at
RusticGoth@yahoo.com
to let me know.

My Week-ends....

I got this photo of

Branched Oak Lake from the internet...

the photographer kindly posted a link,

with permission for others to post on their blogs or forums..

I thought that was very nice of him.

I do have photos of the lake...but they're on my phone

and I have NO IDEA how to get them off.

My daughter in law took the photos...

(I have no idea how to take photos with my phone either)...

and I guess I'll have to have her show me how to get them

from my phone to my computer.

It's taken me a while to be able to relax and enjoy my

week-ends...(I'm a bit of a work-a-holic)

but now I find that they are simply WONDERFUL.

I tend to come up with a lot of 'ideas' during the week-end...

so I'm beginning to use my 'trusty' little idea journal to capture them.

Otherwise...I tend to lose them.

'The' Experiment

Okay...my son has a roll of unstretched primed canvas...

and I cut a chunk off so that I could

'experiment'

with a refillable 'journal'.

It needs some 'fine-tuning' but I think

it might just work out.

I used a 5" x 8" pad for my prototype...cut the canvas to size

and painted that up.

Then I made a 'pocket' of sorts...to slip the cardboard

back in and stabilize the pad.

I used ribbon...because I didn't have any twine on hand

(I think I'd prefer twine..but we'll see)...to

secure the pad to the top of the 

'journal cover'.

After a couple coats of varnish...I'm all set to use

this for my

'to do' lists.

The front is a cute little creeper under a whimsical tree.

The back is a hedgehog pulling a heart on a string...

underneath which I've put my name...

I'm hoping my sewing machine can handle the canvas...

if so..

I can have a batch of them ready to go

in a week or two...

My Son's Art

I 'LOVE' doing my Character pieces...

but...

I have been feeling somewhat

'limited' lately!

So...I'm doing some new 

Abstract paintings!

Hopefully I will feel a little less

'confined'...and actually be able to do

a few more paintings every week!

I'm also trying to talk my 'middle son'

into doing a few paintings

in his very limited 'off hours'.

He's so busy with school...and now with work...

and his fall schedule is going to be crazy...

but he's the type that needs to be doing something all the time..

and he gets sooo bored when he's not.

So...if he does decide to do a few pieces...I'm going

to list them in my shop for him.

(There is absolutely no way that he could find the time

to run an online shop....though I've tried to talk him

into putting them on his Facebook....we'll just see how that goes.)

The painting I've featured here is one that he

sold through the local gallery we used to work with.

Experiment Week

This week...I'm experimenting!

Some of my 'experiments' are working out...

others appears to need some more work..

or thought.

I will be participating in the

'Christmas in July'

promotion

on Etsy....

so I'm working on some special projects especially

for this.

I'm also working on some new paintings...

very different from what I have

been listing on Etsy.

Hopefully folks will like them.

Wordless Wednesday 13

Recovering from the Week-End!!

I just HAD to use this picture when I saw it...

while we were watching our own little fireworks show on the 4th...

this wonderful old bulldog wandered into our yard.

Poor thing seemed oblivious to the fireworks...

but we didn't know where he belonged and we didn't want him

wandering off and getting run over or something...

so we tied him up in my fenced back yard

and one of my sons looked around the neighborhood to see

if anyone was looking for him.

After a bit..his owners turned up...heading straight for our house...

seems he comes to my house whenever he gets loose...

they found him in back of my house just a few days before...

also turns out...poor thing was deaf...so the fireworks didn't

frighten him...he just wanders off on occasion

and turns up in my yard.

anyway...

so much for us making plans.

We were going to the family reunion...that didn't work out...

we were going to the lake...that didn't work out either..(rain)...

so

even though my house isn't really conducive to my

growing family anymore...

we mashed ourselves into my living/dining room

had our fried chicken and potato salad

and played....

'Rock Band'...

So yeah...I'm recovering today....from two days of

my wonderful family...

even if we were all crammed together..mostly in one room...

Rock Band and Rock Band Beatles....

(it was really fun to see my 6 year old grandson singing

'Come Together')

a little bit of poker...

a few minutes of fireworks...

and a very 'sticky' floor...

(popsicles and watermelon.)

But...we had fun....and that was the main thing.

Early Digital Collage Pieces

These are a few of my early digital 'collage' pieces.

I was really proud and quite fond of each of these pieces...

but I think I was probably the only one.

Though they didn't prove to be

sellers for me...

they still remain among my very favorite pieces..

especially the last two.

Happy 4th of July!!

Early Creepers

These are a couple of my

'early Creepers'

painted in 2007 and 2008.

I began these little guys as 

ACEOs..

and they all sold pretty quickly

over on eBay...

but

that was 

'back in the day'

when eBay was a viable venue

for self represented artists.

A couple of them went for more than $50.00

which I thought was

pretty darned good.