Sketchbook Project 2011

Inspired by a friend, I decided to sign up for the Sketchbook Project 2011 sponsored by ArtHouseCoop.com . They send you a sketchbook, you choose a theme which you either stick to or branch out, your decision. But you "make art" in the pages from the day you receive it until January at which time you return it to them. Each book receives a barcode so you can track it as it goes on an art tour around the country.

One of the stops is Washington DC so I'll be able to go see it. In between the pages you can use any medium you want. This will be so much fun. I am not sure if I have time to do this but I will make time even if I have to dedicate an hour a day to working on it.

The theme I chose was Make Mine a Double.........I have all kind of ideas!

Artists may sell their books and they can also have a digitized copy made of the book for a fee. I have chosen to have a good digitized copy made.  I'm pretty excited by all of this. It's my intent to post the completed pages as I work on it on my blog from time to time.  If you go to the site and search by artist, you can find me under JYWheeler.

It's Fall....



Available on Etsy...click on photo

 ...but in many ways it still feels like Summer to me. That's fine with me as Summer IS my favorite season. But you can tell that Nature knows it's Fall. The trees are changing even though the temperature has not been cool. Then there's all the pine cones in my yard. Well actually reminants of pine cones are there. I have these 40 ft. scrub pines in my yard and there are lots of squirrels who live at the top of those trees.

In Fall they all go crazy chomping on the pine cones. The pieces are all over the place, my patio is covered and every other day I have to go out there and sweep. I hate those little pieces because you can't go in the yard barefoot. They have little sharp edges which end up in your foot! Ouch! But I know those little squirrels are happy to have those tasty pinecones....they must be good as I haven't seen any whole ones laying around!

News Truth Stranger Than Fiction

So this morning I'm watching the news and checking email and I hear something that gets my attention. The UN is appointing someone to be a contact for aliens. Now I don't mean the illegal kind that come over the border. No I mean the ET PHONE HOME type.

I found an article online. It said "

Ms Othman, currently the head of the UN's Office for Outer Space Affairs (Unoosa), recently told fellow scientists that mankind needed to be ready to deal with alien contact." Click the blog title for the article.

Now the UN can't deal with affairs on Earth and they want to have an Office for Outer Space Affairs. Maybe they think it will be easier!  I have an idea. They should appoint Stephen Colbert. Maybe he can restore Sanity to the Universe.

Friday Feature-Sierra Winter Designs

So today's Friday feature is not one from one of my Etsy teams or someone who I just happened to find online but someone, extremely talented in my own family!

It is Sierra Winter of Sierra Winter Designs. She is a jewelry designer with some awesome things in her Etsy shop. She recently graduated from the University of Kansas with a BFA in metalsmithing and jewelry designs. Her inspiration comes from her doodles, native american jewelry, and just admiring her surroundings. She says, "The more I play with metal, the more I fall in love with it"
 
Drop by her etsy shop to see her delightful designs. The one pictured here is her most recent item in her shop and one of my favorites.
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I know this is Saturday....I forgot to post it yesterday! :)

Friday Feature

My Friday Feature today are members of two of my Etsy Teams.  The first one is from Old Farmhouse Gathering Team (OFG Team). What wonderful things you can find from cottage to primitive with this awesome team.

Signs of Patriotism by JaNae Manley

Her shop name, Signs of Patriotism, came from her son. He came up with this name when hercrafts business evolved into a sign biz with a heavy emphasis on military signs. Her inspiration are those who serve in the military and sacrifice for their country so that we can enjoy our freedom. JaNae has been on Etsy for a year. She has some awesome patriotic signs as well as some more humorous like my personal favorite that is pictured here. Her favorite item in her shop is a sign that says  Home is Where the Military sends us - because it creates conversation between new and old friends and sparks great memories from different duty stations we have served. She also sells on Ebay, has a website and is in several brick & mortar stores around the country.

Next is someone from the Designing Artists Womens Group (DAWG Team) LeePierce 

Lee has been working on watercolors since 1998 and she says it's still an adventure. She does beautiful work. I especially like her new series of shells. Of course I'm partial to anything having to do with the ocean.

This one is one of my favorites. I have one of her starfish framed in my home. It was on the front of a card for one of our DAWG Team swaps and it was so beautiful that I framed it. Everytime I look at it I think of her! Most of her work is in small format or ACEO's (always 2.5 x 3.5 inches).

Drop by these ladies etsy shops. I made it easy for you and made a link above. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Small World of the Seafood Festival

Today Glenn and I went to the Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point State Park. It's funny how things happen. I was walking pass the Verizon Wireless stand and some lady says, "the first 5 people who show me their Verizon phones...' So I pull it out and she hands me a bag, lanyard and some other stuff in it. I had no idea what I was winning. Luckily I'm good on the draw! Shoulda been an outlaw!

Then after eating, we are walking through a tent and see some of my former co-workers working an exhibit I created. It was nice to see them. Walked a little further and ran into another former co-worker working at the Fish Mobile.

Giant was passing out samples of Phillips new seafood dip....yummmm....I can highly recommend it! For lunch I had the fried rockfish platter. It too was very yummy. The day was very pleasant. Sunshining, cool, breezy. The perfect day to stroll by the Chesapeake Bay. Tomorrow I'm there again, this time to volunteer to work the Diamond Jim Fishing Tournament.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/10473542/

Available On Etsy Click Here