I Lost My Groove

I can't believe I lost my blog groove! I've looked everywhere! One simple hiatus followed by a trip to Florida and it is gone, gone, gone. I guess I'll have to fake it to make it. Come up with a new groove. Head in a new direction. Play around. 

In order to get the ball rolling, I am starting off with a post of random "stuff" (I love random)...



Florida

stingrays at the aquarium in Tampa

lovely little flowers at Saddlebrook Resort

palm with ferns growing on it - cool!

cypress trees (always wondered what they looked like - here are the bottoms!)

tootsie meets gator

Information

I picked up a book at the library a few days ago.

The Collage Workbook

by Randel Plowman

It's fun, colorful and easy to read. It's also full of good information!

For instance, the author shares some great online resources for downloadable images to use in your art. Some are completely copyright free, others supply notes and restrictions on how the images may be used. I can't wait to check them out!

Library of Congress Image Database (has notes on restrictions & copyright use)

Library of Congress' Flickr Photostream (no known copyright restrictions)

Reusable Art (copyright free in the US)

Karen's Whimsy (free images courtesy of the author)

Public Domain Pictures (royalty-free stock photos)

Artists

Here are a few I have been enjoying lately.

David O'Keefe has so much fun and whimsy in his paintings, one cannot help but spread a smile across one's face while indulging in his art.

Chasing the Moon - an up and coming jewelry artist who just happens to be holding a give-a-way!

Jenni Horne whom I have been a fan of for many years now. She paints, she makes jewelry, she teaches art to young children, she inspires! I just love her whimsical style and her cheery use of color. I always feel good after spending time in her space.

I love her even more now that she has introduced me to these delicious paints! I must get my hands on some. Pronto!

Alrighty. Enough random time wasting. Back to work for me. Now... where did I put that 'to-do' list anyway... (shuffle shuffle shuffle).

Hey you! You still here? Well bless your heart for staying through to the end. I want you to know how much I truly appreciate you, my dear reader. I truly, truly do. Thank you for making me feel even a wee bit worthy of your time. What a precious gift you have given me. Thank you!

Just Because

Took this random shot in the yard the other day.
I fell in love with it.
Why?
Just because.

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. ~Chinese Proverb

Random

Monday

What a day!

Lots to do in little time.

In honor of my non-focused, rush filled day,

I share with you a bit of random.

Going to order THIS for hubby for Christmas.

Or maybe THIS.

Eh, what the heck! I'll get both!

Free photo editing fun for the whole family! Easy breezy.

40 high quality photo effects done online

A gorgeous movement of L♥VE.

Seriously. These feelings flashcards are THE BEST!

Should be in every classroom, every home, everywhere!!!

Love Them!!!!

 I am soooo going to make these delicious tarts!

Gigi is awesome!

Whew! That should keep you busy!

Just for good measure, I will show you my two new Etsy listings as of today.

Quaker vintage Vat fabric

vintage tins

If interested, you can find them HERE.

Random Monday

Lennon.

Cool dude.

Knows how to chill.

I'm taking lessons.

;)

Cool Dude Lennon chillin' in is pad.

Not much time to write today but I

wanted to share a few links with you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The always generous Jerry Jones

from Shadowhouse Creations

is sharing some cool free fonts HERE.

The best of human nature here.

The Prez making home brew here.

The best cure for insomnia

is a Monday morning.  ~Author Unknown

Guerilla Art-a-flopagus

I finished my final assignment for the class

Experimental Art e-course

Buah ha ha ha!!!

What a flop!

Well, not a total flop.

I met a friend!!!

Like as in... met for the first time ever.

We've been chatting through e-mail.

I found her art at a local gallery.

The owner said she was painfully shy.

Naughty me snooped around the internet.

Found her e-mail address.

Approached her via e-mail.

Told her I am also a self-taught creator and lover of encaustic art.

Explained that I understand her discomfort with meeting new people

but thought perhaps we could be e-mail buddies.

We could learn from each other.

She agreed.

We chat often. Sometimes daily.

For my final assignment in the Experimental Art e-course

I was assigned come up with a guerilla art project.

I decided my theme would be 

Random Acts of Loving Kindness.

I chose some pictures I had taken.

Played with them in photoshop elements.

Added positive affirmations and a little note in the corner

(a gift for you - a gentle reminder).

Due to my physical struggles this past week they were not perfect.

I did what I could. I decided that was enough.

I would send them into the world as is.

The printing cut off a letter, cropped a picture too tight.

Some of the font is too small.

It's the thought that counts, right?

So I asked my e-mail buddy to meet with me.

No uncomfortable-sit-across-the-table-and-stare-at-a-stranger meeting.

An artsy meet-up with a project to keep us busy.

We would be placing my photo cards in a public place.

Little gifts for others to find.

Pretty pictures and positive sayings to brighten their day.

Perhaps they would find the right owner.

Someone who would take it home.

Someone who needed the message.

We decided on the library.

It was uber busy.

I spread the picture cards around.

One on the steps.

One on the bench. 

A book shelf here.

A movie shelf there.

By the computers.

On and on.

We parked our fannies, chatted, and watched.

Most people walked right by.

Some people looked.

A few picked them up but set them back down.

Afraid to take them?

Not understanding they were a gift?

Then.....

along came....

'dum dum dum'

THE LIBRARIAN.

She spotted the cards, walked around picking them up

and proceeded to deposit them in the waste basket!!!!!

Seems she did not find our idea cute in the least.

Litter. Solicitation.

Whaaaaat?

She totally crapped on my random act of kindness.

What a jab. Ouch!

Thank goodness my new friend was with.

We decided to laugh instead of cry.   :)

I picked them out of the garbage.

An afternoon in the library and not a single card adopted.

We left.

We went to a cemetery to take pictures of old headstones.

My camera died after a couple shots.

Luck was not on my side.

Time to call it a day.

I dropped my new friend off at her car.

Thanked her for her help and for a fun afternoon.

I headed off to run some errands and left the pictures in random places as I went, this time with no worries as to whether they would be found or thrown or simply blown away.

After all, it's the thought that counts.

That reminds me.

My surprise for today.

I wanted to send two sets of my 

"Random Act of Loving Kindess"

cards out into the world via my blog.

They're not perfect

but

they're filled with

Loving Kindess!

Possible uses

bookmarks

send via mail anonymously

give to those you love

give to total strangers

stick in library books

stick in random places around town

keep them for yourself.

If interested in receiving a set let me know in a comment.

If there are more than two people I will draw names by Friday.

p.s. Thanks to all my loving friends who sent well wishes this past week. My pain is receding, mind clearing and I am on the upswing. Hugs back atcha!

More Random

The weather outside is a great representation of my week.

The word I would use to describe both is...

s  c  a  t  t  e  r  e  d.

So I present more RaNDoM

in honor of my scattered week.

1. Don't shoot me!!! I know it's a picture containing snow but it's one I have been meaning to play with and I am allowing myself that luxury today. I love this picture and I love this quote! Together they are rather magical, don't you think?

2. I heard Pink's song "F*ck!ng Perfect" this morning on the radio while dropping the kids off to school. I just love her! Her songs share such strong and important messages. When I arrived home I looked up the video. Have you ever related to something so much it hurt? I cried like a baby.

3. Darling Daughter presented me with some lovely flowers she crafted after reading Creative Crafts For Kids.

 

 

 

4. In honor of National Poetry Month I am going to share a few poems of my own.

Hands of the clock

Tickety Tock

Seem to be mocking me

As I live on borrowed time

I am forever soul

But the mind wants more

Tick tock, Tickety Tock

 ~ Lynn Retzlaff

 

~ ~ ~ ~

My heart is an ocean

swelling with love.

My soul young and innocent

pure white like a dove.

My eyes are cool copper

giving glimpses inside.

My brain is a wall

where I'm accustomed to hide.

 ~ Lynn Retzlaff

Sharing Random

My mind has been a mess of random thoughts lately.

Rather than fight it and try to pull together a centered post,

I thought I would share some random with you.

A wonderful NEW WEBSITE for those in need of healing

or those who wish to become healers.

I recently shared an original quote of mine
and now I will share a quote from my husband.
It is food for thought.
"Do not judge God by the religions of man."  ~ Scott Retzlaff

Pencils! I love new pencils!!!

They're even better when made from recycled items.

The green are old money, the blue are jeans!!!

Birds!!!!!

Finally, something to leave you smiling...
Laughing Babies!!!!

Miscellany

Due to ongoing exhaustion

and inability to focus

I have chosen to dedicate today's post

to the word

 random.

In honor of today's word

I now throw 

randomness

(is that a word?)

your way.

enjoy!

1. 

My son's creativity.

2. 

Follow this link for a chance at an awesome give-a-way!

3.  

Follow this link to take an amazing test capable of determining your favorite movie.

4. 

Hug quotes

A hug is a handshake from the heart.

~Author Unknown

You can't give a hug without getting a hug.

~Author Unknown


A hug delights and warms and charms,
that must be why God gave us arms.
~Author Unknown

 Millions and millions of years would still not give me half enough time

to describe that tiny instant of all eternity

when you put your arms around me

and I put my arms around you.  ~Jacques Prévert

5.  

Amazing (angelic) talent

6.

A note of appreciation:

Thank you

for taking the time to visit my humble little blog.

I truly appreciate all the love,

support, comments,

and visits

I receive here in this space.

Love to you and yours.

(((hugs)))

 Happy Monday!!!!

Random

It's been random here lately. Random events going on, random thoughts running through my head, random people in and out, random schedule of blog posting.

More Random...

1. Oh my darling clementine.... I thought you were lost and gone forever...

then I found you at the bottom of the fruit bowl.

Yuck!!!! But kinda cool!

2.  I promised my teenager that if the Packers made it to the superbowl, I would build a snack stadium. At the time I didn't know what a snack stadium was, just that my husband and eldest were in love with them. After the Packers won the playoffs, I did my research, produced a stadium and literally ATE MY WORDS!!!! Yum!

3.  Mini-snowstorm out of nowhere. Was not predicted but gave us another five inches worth of shoveling to do. Oh my achy breaky back!

4. Random thoughts keep running through my mind such as... "I really need to make more money. Perhaps I could sell my soul to the devil... except I'm pretty sure the cat already stole it when I had a stare down with him last week."

5.  I've been receiving phone calls I don't normally receive and not receiving phone calls I normally would. Could it be the moon?

6. My dreams are trying to tell me something lately but they forgot to add the interpreter!

7.  You really must check out a very generous and special opportunity to win the gorgeous print pictured below. Head over to the artist's blog HERE to find out how to enter the drawing.