I Am A Robot

Hey look!  I found the painting I did.  It was in my car.  This was done for my son Maben.  He loves robots and when I asked him what I should paint, he told me a robot.

Completed with Windsor Newton watercolors and Staedtler ink pens on Aquarelle watercolor paper.

The Almost Perfect Day

Saturday in south Texas was beautiful.  Not just any kind of beautiful, either.  The sun was out, it was in the high 70's and shorts weather.  Pretty remarkable when most of the rest of the country was dealing with some of the coldest weather they have seen in years. 

My best friend, Sabrina, came to visit and brought her daughter.  We packed up our kids and headed for Galveston Island.  This was my first trip there.  It was ALMOST perfect.  My husband stayed behind to study for the GMAT.  It would have been perfect if he could have joined, but I am more than content to deal with almost perfect. 

The best thing about our kids...they never seem to fight with each other.  They are like three peas in a pod and never seem to have the odd man out.  If one isn't involved, it doesn't seem to bother. 

It was amazing watching the kids play and be kids...HAPPY kids, outside and enjoying all the fruits that nature bears. 

Between playing on two separate beaches and enjoying the walking trails of Galveston State Park, watching a full moon rise over the Gulf of Mexico, and witnessing a fire cloud for the second time ever, life in those moments was rather amazing.

I wish everyone can experience a day such as this.  It really recharges your mind, energizes your soul and brings you peace.  I feel amazing.  My creativity feels like it has been restored.  I don't think I have taken this many great photos in one day since the whale watch last summer.

Thanks Sabrina for coming down and bringing my favorite little girl with you! 

Drawing

I haven't posted my creative goals for 2013 yet.  I can assure you that one of my goals is to draw and paint more.  I want to do at least one drawing or painting per week.  

The rest of the goals...I honestly only remember one other because, I lost my list.  AWESOME.  What a way to start off with some goals, huh?  My other one is to get this house more organized. 

Want to know what else I lost?  The cute painting I did last week of a robot.  (Can you understand why one of the goals is to organize?)  I think it's out in my car, but right now, I can't find my slippers and the pavement is a little chilly and I don't feel like going out there to check. 

So, I will leave you with the one that I did last night.  I'll post the other one when I find it.

This was completed with sharpie markers, pencil and colored pencil.  I also had some classic rock that has been stuck in my head all day.  That may have influenced part of this piece.

Rock on Steve Miller band and Pink Floyd, may your songs in my head be replaced with something equally as awesome.

Organization

I have spent the last three full days cleaning up and organizing the garage.  I got the itch.  Nothing gross I promise.  But, the *Itch* happens to me about 3-4 times per year where I go on a massive cleaning/organization spree.  It will wipe me out in about a week's time, but I need to ride this wave if I want to see some serious progress happen.  Sometimes when the itch hits, it is a little over the whole house, sometimes it is focused on one room.  This time, the garage was the target.

I'm still in the process of cleaning/organizing/sorting/throwing out/etc., so I am going to leave you with a photo of one corner to show you how crazy I have gone in the last few days.

The before is so shameful!  SHAMEFUL!  At least now my husband and I can utilize the lathe and get our stock of pens done. 

Tool Tip

Have you ever had to measure something with a tape measure and then had to bend the tape because the case got in the way? 

Yeah, me too.  Then I felt like an idiot when I discovered this.  Flip over your tape measure.

Look right where I circled.  It tells you the length of your tape measure.  So, when you hit a wall, stop and then add the length of your tape measure.  Mine is 3 1/2 inches.

Not all tape measures are equipped with this handy little info...but they seriously should be. 

Does anyone else have a tape measure with this?

Top 12 Photos of 2012

I decided that I am going to recap my personal favorite photo of each month of last year.  It was so hard to narrow it down to just one!  But, each of these hold a special place in my heart.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

A photo a day is a huge commitment, but so worth it.  It pushed me to learn my camera better, push my creative boundaries, carry my camera everywhere and learn how to capture not just photos, but moments.  

For 2013, I will be doing a recap of my favorite photos at the end of each month instead of a 366 (365 since it's no longer a  leap year).  This year I am going to focus more on the quality of my photos.  

Marker Caddy

For those of you with kids, don't you hate it how your kids lose marker caps?  I swear I can sit there watching them color and they lose the caps.  This marker caddy fixes that problem and it is incredibly easy to make.

I got this idea from my grandfather.  He use to make them for all his grand kids and also use to sell them in craft fairs.  I made a few changes, his was round, I took the easier way out and just used a 2x4.

You will need a package of washable markers, E-6000 glue, a 9/16 inch HSS drill bit, an untreated pine 2x4, sandpaper and your choice of a non-toxic finish.  I used furniture wax. 

Cut your 2x4 down to 8 inches.  Use a ruler to mark off your spacing of where you will place your holes for the marker tops.  I made a template in Photoshop.  I am sharing it with you, but please only use it for personal use.   Drill, your holes where the lines cross.  Sand your wood to 220 grit.  Then apply your finish, making sure not to get too much into the holes.  Glue your markers in and let the glue cure for 24 hours. 

It's a very easy project that doesn't take very long at all.  I do them assembly line style and can knock out quite a few so I have some around when I get the last minute birthday invite.  I usually pair it with a drawing pad.

And best of all...no more lost caps!

Once a marker dries out, replace that marker and don't worry about the cap because it isn't going anywhere.  Just be aware that some small hands have a hard time snapping the marker down tight until the caps are broken in.  So at the end of a color session, just make sure all the markers are seated tightly in their caps so the markers don't dry out.

Linking up at:
Sew Many Ways: Sew Darn Crafty Linky Party
Sugar Bee Crafts: Take A Look Tuesday

Photo 366 The Last Weeks

What an exhausting year.  I will post more about my lessons learned for my photo 366, so I won't bore you with those now :)  Glad that this is done and I can show you the end of my Photo 366, 2012.

December 18 - Colton had his Christmas program and I was so happy that my grandfather (Colton's Great grandfather) was able to attend.  Thank you Aunt Bridgett and Katie for bringing him.

December 19 - Colton visited Santa and was not impressed.  He wanted to go play with the cars and trains instead.

December 20 - The star on top of our Christmas tree.

December 21 - Maben munching on a cookie he decorated at his class winter party.  Colton was photo bombing a kiss onto Maben.

December 22 - Our Christmas tree.  I always admire the trees that look all pretty in photos with the white lights, but I love our tree and it's colorful lights.

December 23 - The one  stained glass ornament that I kept for our tree.

December 24 - Matt reading, "Twas the Night Before Christmas," to the boys.  It's tradition!

December 25 - Merry Christmas!  I hope you enjoyed your Chirstmas as much as we have ours.  Here are the boys with some of their favorite toys.  

December 26 - Santa brought daddy and Maben checkers and chess for Christmas.  Here is Maben learning.

December 27 - An up close shot of one of the Christmas lights.

December 28  - A product shot of one of the pens I have in inventory.

December 29 - Trying out my new flash in a super dark room on the dog.  Loving my new flash and will blog about it at some point.

December 30 - Found a random Chinese cookie on the counter.  I cracked it open and laughed.

December 31 -  The boys and I went out hawk spotting.  We saw 7 hawks, most of them red-tailed hawks like this one.