30 Days of Sketching!

Day One:

"Yourself" - here's a 10-min big-eyed doll sketch of me...in the midst of being thin. Note, I am idealistically and unrealistically thin! Googly-eyes and uneven lips - wait, why not?

30 Day Sketching Challenge

I'm not even able to cheat! I read today and let my back/knees rest...which lead to laziness.

30 Day Drawing Challenge

Jen has enticed me into doing a 30 day drawing challenge starting Monday, August 22, 2011...it looks good! I like that it's a doodle challenge. That'd a lot simpler for me. If I had to do 30 days of intricate or accurate sketches...there'd not be 30 in a month...too lazy, too distractible, too into my kids and grandson, too...a ton of things.

So fun to come!

Willowing

Willowing is having a super huge giveaway! Join!!

Doll Dreams Basic by Adriana Almanza

Adriana Almanza's "Doll Dreams Basic" is on sale through August 1, 2011.

http://dolldreams.ning.com/

Doll Dreams Basic Class

I'm excited about taking the "Doll Dreams Basic Class" and learning how to draw beautiful dolls for art journaling. Jen started thinking about it and showed me that, through July, she was offering it for $30 dollars and then it was going up to $50 in August. I've seen her work on YouTube and went for viewing more over the weekend. I signed up and am excited about starting. Everything is downloadable, so you have time to study it at any time, any where. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes I took from Suzi Blu and I keep an eye out for other art vids (which I watch periodically).

So, as far as movies go, I'm caught up to "The Deathly Hallows, Part II". Now to convince myself I want to sit in the theatre for it. I loved "Captain America" at the IMAX, but I have to say, I can't get myself fired up for much. Last movie I saw was "Thor" and the seats at theatres aren't any softer or more comfortable for my back/knees.

So the blanket grows by spurts and leaps. So far, I have 11 12"x12" squares, all in subtle, mid-tone blues and greens. I hope it continues to grow. That way I'll have the next 25 squares (ahhh!) done and lots of left-overs for a shawl. Clean your plate!

Crochet - My Fav Pattern

I'm crocheting again and have some awesome things to show for it...scarves, hats, computer sleeves and I'm currently finishing up my favorite pattern for a blanket for a present! I have a couple of rows left on the outside and I'm really happy that it went so quickly. It's soft and verigated - easy to care for and sturdy.

Newsboy Hat

I finished the Red Heart Newsboy hat in 48 minutes on my first try. The pattern is super fast and easy and looks great. My first attempt was in a dark, dark brown - a little too dark to be photographed and posted here, but I'll work on a lighter one for show.

Word to the wise, the pattern runs small if you're on gauge.

Plans for Crafts

Gotta get my head together on things that I can do that aren't back-wrenching for gifts and such. Puts brains on high power. Other than that...I'm still sketching...getting my mixed media journals filled with various things. This one is destined for a journaling page.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/algolmorgan/5670047970/

Artist Resource

This is a fantastic artist's resource for copyright-free imagery. BibliOdyssey has listing that you could spend hours digging into and never come close to finding your way out.

Enjoy!

Art Stuff and Crochet Possibility

Found a great little pattern through Ravelry for a shell patterned bag. I bought 2 lbs of 100% cotton mill ends for $9 today - a lovely teal, brown, verigated-ish yarn. The yarn was on sale for 2 for $9. I probably should've bought 4 skeins yesterday, but that was yesterday. The binomial decision maker didn't give me the heads up yesterday and I walked away. After pondering some bags, I managed to get it with Holly's help.

Art supplies...I had a 40% off coupon from AC Moore and almost bought an $18.99 set of Sharpie poster pens, but instead reigned in my need and settled for a couple of inexpensive, 100-lb bristal pads for $3/each after their in-store 40% off. I found a brayer and used my 40% off on that and whoot...came home with little money spent, but with a nice haul purchased. Toss in a bone folder, a key woobie, two Dover books - both Faeries (one stained glass coloring book and the other a faerie fashion book) for $1.91 each instead of the $6.99 Dover charges....and I'm pretty happy.

Altered Art and Crochet...I'm down to that for hobbies at the moment. Writing is a part of life, so I don't count it as a hobby, but more of a sanity shield.

Enjoy the pattern.

Crocheted Duffle Bag/Purse

Clicky on the title for a great duffle pattern. It was originally made from two strands of DK cotton but one strand of the bulkier cottons would work really well. I'm nervous about the zipper, so I'll probably continue on with my soft summer sling bag for now.

Here's the link on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-duffel-purse

Werewolves

Too damn cute...

Crocheting

I'm enjoying crocheting with this lovely organic cotton. I'm making face scrubbies in my favorite square pattern and discovering the right hook to use with a heavier cotton than worsted weight.

The Art of Silliness 3.0

I joined Carla Sonheim's workshop for the month of January-February for a mere $25. She's the author of "Drawing Lab" and I love her easy-going style of learning art.

http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Lab-Mixed-Media-Artists-Exercises/dp/1592536131

http://carlasonheim.wordpress.com/

Now that I've spammed you with everything wonderful about this lady's work, I'm here to say it's fun to have assignments ...even if they are cute and not torturously laborious. I'm sketching more and loving contour drawings all over again, even if they're in the margins of my journal and not in a valid sketchbook.

Limited other things to tell. I've had the crud for six days now and I think I'm finally making headway into "wellness land". However, I'm noticing the path is thorny and uphill. I had to miss my Methotrexate dose. That blows. I'll ache and hurt more than the cold and the rainy weather have tossed me into this week. Bleh. This, too, shall pass.

Writing tons in a cheap-ass, graph paper Composition book in Breast Cancer Relief pink. I'm hoping it turns out to be worthwhile. I've been working on this one 'book' since 1991. I should have 20,000 pages by now or well past 10 million words. Not. Sigh.

Photos and a new format coming soon!

Reviving Old Blogs for all new Reasons

Altered Art, Poetry, Crochet, original Jewelry, reusable materials...

I recently got a beloved turned on to altered art and a way to make it 'hers'. It's as if she's birthing all of her creative sides at 30...ready to sally forth into the rest of her existence. Holly is knitting for money, crocheting for fun and she's an amazing Mama. Life is messy here, but there are new roofs for the house and garage and the paint, Sashay Sand (? - not familiar with Sherwin Williams) is a match for the house and the valuable homemade brick from the old plantation.

If you decide to return to following me and my other blogs, one is definitely on my little business that now consists of Sacred Art and writing. I haven't thrown out jewelry, books, knitting, crocheting and self care products. Far from it...I'm refocusing. I'm disabled now and my energy is devoted to trying to get better and not to 'growing' a business. The Urban Gypsie is gone and has been for a coupla years..., but I still have a brain and I hope I can collect patterns for everyone, have a place to truly blog and to enjoy what I'm doing.

I can make lovely things even if it takes me 20 times longer. I can also inspire and cheer on anyone wanting to do these things with intriguing photos. Check out this link: http://www.wovenpurses.com/2009/12/hollywood-celebrities-going-gaga-over-gerard-darels-syracuse-24-hour-hand-knitted-bag/ I've got more photos of similar bags and every crocheter knows you can make some wicked things from excellent inspiration.

It's a goodnight for me at the moment, but I'm going to try to get word of this blog and whatnot back out again! Wish me luck!

One of my Faves

I want to come back here soon!

NaNoWriMo and Old Friends

Blog...haven't been here in a aeon...eon...ion..ionic...iconic...

Iconoclastic pyroclastic flows.

So, my friend started a NaNo blog and I suppose I can convert this one, though I'm more oft seen on MySpace as UrbanGypsy69.

I'm back. I'm bringing Karl, my imagination's Toy, with me.

Grin.

Dear God I Thought I Lost My Accounts

Thank the gods that all of the blogs were recovered!

Blogger Deletion

A friend got her entire Blogger and photobucket accts deleted! Was she hacked??