Have I Told You...

Just how much I appreciate all of you....my blog friends. You all encourage me to be.....well, me. I appreciate your wisdom, kindness, and all out acts of friendship! What an amazing group of people each of you are, and today, I am most grateful to you all.

Thanks so much for all of the blog love!! You guys are all so amazing....and today, I am grateful.

Gigantic smiles over here...

Until next time,

Ophelia

Just when you get relaxed and settled into the weekend....Monday morning slaps you in the face....UGH!

This is the beginnings of a page I'm working on..not quite done yet because Monday morning interrupted and came too quickly...UGH!

Enjoy your day everyone.

Until next time,

Ophelia

Got Something....

In my mail and I wanted to share.... Erin sent this to me as her lucky blog giveaway winner...

Talk about instant inspiration...

Enjoy your Saturday,

Until next time,

Ophelia

Letting them GO.....

I am certain this has been said before...but honest, where does the time go? I can't believe that its that time for me...though.
On Tuesday, I registered my daughter for Kindergarten....I CAN'T Believe it myself!!!
And, that 4 pounder that I had 10 years ago...will be heading off to MIDDLE SCHOOL! So, in the same day, I let them each go in different directions...Look out world! Talk about Bittersweet!

Its so hard to watch them grow and become their own. I remember being so sad realizing that they no longer needed me....to hold their heads anymore....or carry them because they learned to walk...simple things that are all a part of just letting them go...
And...the girl (our homerun hitter) will set this world on fire! She will kick down the doors of her elementary school and announce that she is here....while the boy will quietly take his place amongst his middle school peers and be brilliant in his own way...I am amazed at how different they truly are, and I'm so excited for who they will become.
Until next time,
Ophelia

More Photos..

Of my day at Jerry's. Thanks Christina for sending these to me!! First thing I thought as I saw these was that I REALLY needed to step away from the cheesecake...but, a good day was had by all!

This group was so much fun! Thanks girls for making this such an amazing day!

I just noticed that they all have matching shirts!!!!!

There is nothing more inspiring to me than art supplies.... play, play, play!!!

Hope you are encouraged to go and play...looking at these makes me want to go and play...unfortunately, time is not on my side this morning...

Until next time,

Ophelia

Searching.....

Lately, it seems that I have not been myself....just feeling BLAH...and not sure why. I'm not content at all with anything...just kind of going through the motions. My muse is so elusive lately...as though she knows something is going on as well. I head up to the studio daily, but nothing comes...I feel as though I'm searching for something, but I'm not sure of what...just kind of wandering through life these days and not feeling whole. I started this page, but not sure of what I want to do to finish it, so for now, she stays as she is...

Maybe I will get back to myself and get out of this creative funk soon.

Enjoy your day...

Until next time,

Ophelia

In Full Swing...

With Springtime, its baseball season here in our little corner of the world...and, this year, its even more hectic...


Meet our newest homerun hitter....

With her brother playing and she is too....we have been busy on fields all over.....
Have I mentioned, I'm not an outdoor kind of gal!
I will hopefully get back to the studio sometime this weekend and get to play...
Until next time,
Ophelia

I Have to Admit...

I have been told...more times than I care to recall to "get my head out of the clouds".....you see, I'm a dreamer. I am a dreamer in the worst kind of way! I can sit all day long thinking...dreaming. Then, I will write out my plans for making those "newly thought up dreams" into a reality....then I go back to dreaming.

Believe me....there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a dreamer. I am quite comfortable there, but there is something missing for me....Action!

I constantly go from dreaming....planning my dream, but never ever taking the first step to making my dreams true...and that is where I truly get frustrated.

I have lost sight of a lot of these dreams....some of which, I would really like to accomplish. Those dreams, however, are written lovingly on some piece of paper...or somewhere in my journals, and have been forgotten, because they are still in dream stage.

I guess what I'm trying to say...as now, I am starting to ramble senselessly is that I have to be more disciplined to act on these "dreams" of mine....and not stop until I see them into being...not just thoughts on papers....but actually doing it!

Thanks for listening...

Until next time,

Ophelia

Talk About Living Your Dream!!!

Today was the day that I taught the art journaling class at Jerry's Artarama!
First, a gigantic thanks to Sharon and Christina over at Jerry's for even making this type of thing possible for me! What an amazing day I had....and, once again, I found myself realizing that I could happily do this type of thing every single day for the rest of my life. I was walking by to go into the classroom to set up, and saw this sign...

The bum part was when I turned on my camera to take the picture....my camera was out of memory because my card remained at home...bum...
But, I did erase a picture so I could capture this...and Christine graciously agreed to email pics from the workshop so I will post those...
I hope you all out there had an amazing day....I sure did!
Until next time,
Ophelia

Why is this so Terrifying?????

It's only a canvas, right....so you say...but gosh, what is it about working on a canvas that drives me to a sleepless state!



So...here is where I am so far.....I think I got a bit too carried away on the gel medium stuff...but I wanted to try some texture...which I over did.
I peeled off the wrapper on yesterday and started....and this thing has haunted me since then. I so envisioned myself being free.....you know, putting on some rockin' music and creating something....um....fabulous....well, that didn't happen. At least not in this try! But, there are others of its kind sitting in my studio....the wrapper on tight...calling me to give them a try....and I will....one day.
Until next time,
Ophelia

A Girl's Gotta Love....

Spring Break!!

The warm weather also brings Spring Break...and that for me is long days of nothing but playing around in my studio. This week has been flying by...but I have used every single minute very, very wisely! I get up, play around in my studio, take a nap, play some more.....and when I hear my husband's car pulling into the drive, I drop my paint brushes, run downstairs and turn on the dryer...which makes it look like I have been knee deep in laundry....and order some take out!! He of course realizes that there is no laundry washing going on...but for some reason, I still turn the dryer on!

Anywho....

I did this...among other things on yesterday. For me....my dream life would be to live in my studio all day for the rest of my days. My car has honestly not moved out of my driveway this week... I just love being at home....on no clock but my own, doing what I love to do. If my current studio had a view of the ocean...life would be REAL GOOD!

A while back while doing a demo at Jerry's, I met a gal by the name of Denee- who is by the way, a ROCKIN' artist..(I wish I had a website for her, but I don't). I was working in my art journal, and she was shocked that I could confine myself to the 9x12 sheet of paper that I was working. She thought that I would be working on a ginormous canvas. I told her that I had never ever worked on canvas...and honestly, I don't know why. Something about it...just makes me freaked...not sure yet of what.

Fast forward a bit, and on my demo at Jerry's this past Sunday, I was walking through the store and saw a lady carrying these really big canvases...her arms were full so I offered to help carry them for her...she later stopped by the area where I was demoing and we started talking....

She is Michelle Alexander. Holy Smokes Batman!!! She ROCKS! Her artwork is AMAZING! And she once again inspired me to try out a canvas.

So, I got myself a canvas.......
OK....Its still sitting there snickering at me from the corner...but I will pull it out and post to you what I do....its just soooo scary!

Until next time,

Ophelia

Jumping In.....Finally

For a long time....since December, I have been wantint to play along with Kate over at The Katryn Wheel. She is doing a calendar challenge....and for the longest time, I have wanted to play. I'm not even sure of why I haven't just done it...but I haven't until now.
So...I decided it was time to get off of the sidelines and get myself into the game....and I did!! Well, kind of...I at least started!

I started an April page....and I'm pretty pleased, I guess. I know we usually think of April showers, but around here, its been dry as a bone...and YELLOW! Ugh, the pollen has been killer! But, that means that the garden is in full bloom...the birds are singing, and the weather is so warm. I love the idea of actually doing a calendar page to mark the beginning of each month in my journal. I will do a better job next month...as I really wanted this bird to fit, so my calendar is a bit off kilter...oh well, I am now in the game.
Kate's blog is just amazing, and she is an incredible artist. If you have not been over, I encourage you to check it out! Filled with lots and lots of eye candy....and totally makes me want to go shopping!
Until next time,
Ophelia

Easter Day....Demo!

I spent some time on yesterday doing a demo at Jerry's on Acrylic Inks and did I have a blast or what!!

First....these Liquitex Acrylic Inks are my absolute favorites! You can do so many amazing things with them...they come in so many colors, and you can mix them to make to make the rainbow! I originally found these guys when I attended Art of the Carolinas a few years ago, and was impressed that I could use them in a pen and nib to write in my journals and they wouldn't skip over so many layers of "stuff" that I have in my journals...these inks are amazing...truly they are!
They are fabulous for writing, but they also do so much more!!!! I spent the day playing with some incredible new friends.......

Meet Tama....she was making some fabulous stuff as we played around with painting paper and Yupo!!!!

Lisa stopped by and even showed me how to play around with some baby wipes to make even more magic....thanks for sharing Lisa!!

Within a short amount of time, we made so many amazing painted papers that can now be collaged into our journals, cards, atc's...whatever you may want!
If you have not tried these inks, I encourage you to do so.....
Make some magic of your own...
Until next time,
Ophelia

Sheer Bliss

Here are some photos that I promised to unload from the day of painting bliss at the Jerry's Art-A-Thon event.
As I said....and I repeat....I could spend the rest of my days doing this type of thing....

Carissa in the orange t-shirt was the mastermind behind this event....and while she worked like a mad lady....the event ROCKED!!!

THE WALL OF WONDER!!!


There was even art going on outside......there was magic everywhere!!!

Here is a photo of my "spot"....my painting in the beginning was titled "I have not a clue"!!! I honestly had no idea of where I was going...but boy oh boy was it a great feeling!!!

And....she's done...."Hope"

Penny was my partner for the day....talk about a fun day!!

Sharon and Joe making the magic....I did say there was magic EVERYWHERE!!

A great day was had by all.....
I didn't get to take many photos as now I realize that I should have....I was so concerned with actually getting my piece done so it could be hung in time....whew...the pressure!!!

Until next time,

Ophelia