Memories - Faces

One of my favorite places to go is in Mexico on the Yucatan peninsula.   A friend and I have found a place where we love to be - when time and finances permit. We have taken many photos during our visits. Since he is the photographer, I am in more of the photos. He is "camera shy." 

We visited the train museum which was a open but just to wander through - no guides. 

At a local art museum I was taking a photo of these big dolls.  One of the workers insisted that I let her take a photo with me in it.  I have a big head, but these folks are the clear winners in this big head contest. 

This, as I am sure you can tell, is NOT me. These two guys run a loncheria (a place to eat lunch.) We often used their services as the food was good and the service was excellent. 

Look out!

If you didn't know how silly/goofy I can be, here is photographic proof. I stuck my socks on my ears and made a face while goofing off with a friend - of course he had the camera ready and snapped this. 

Embrace your childlike side. 

Linking up with Nicole for the Friday Face Off. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Sketchy Faces

I have been doing a few quick sketch faces. I did these just for fun and usually just imagined faces. One face however was inspired while I was streaming a video. 

Using an "economy of line"

Inspired by a character in a streaming show.

Hmm.. he seems angry.

Dejected

The one below is for Nicole

Just a bit weird.

The hairstyle looks like the late 60's

 I am linking to the Friday Face Off with Nicole.

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Trunk Show for a Quilt Guild

On Tuesday, April 9th,  I had the pleasure of presenting a trunk show for a local quilt guild. The plans for this started way back in June of 2023.  The lady who was scheduling the programs for the guild had seen my work in the local public library display.  We probably emailed at least 20 times prior to the event.  

I must say it was certainly a fun time.  I arrived early so that I got to see all of the show and tell quilts and items from the guild members. 

Here are the photos of some of my presentation. 

This next quilt is one that I haven't shown on my blog previously. 

It was created from lots of pieces from practicing free motion quilting. The first photo is the "back" 

Then here is the front. Honestly either side can be used as the front and face up on the bed.

Below is my Roy G Biv quilt. The colors of the rainbow set on a field of black.

Below is another bright and colorful quilt in a bargello style. (the group went "oooooh!")

Next is the back of a quilt - no picture of the front of this one here. Bu you can find it 

here

Yes we looked at LOTS of quilts and had a great time. 

As my face is in lots of these photos, I am linking to the Friday Face Off with Nicole.

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

An Old Treasure

A week or so ago, I got a phone call from a dear friend that I worked with in Public Health years ago.  She and her husband have opened a little store selling interesting household items, forgotten treasures and other things.   As we were talking her voice took on some excitement. She said "You will never guess what we found as we were looking for things to put in the store!  I found a painting that is signed E. Black.  I just knew it has to be one of yours. We didn't take a picture of it, because I can't bear to sell it."  I couldn't imagine how it ended up in some estate goods in another county.  So I had to visit the store to see it.  Thanks to Google Maps magic, I found her store which is "in the middle of nowhere."   We had a lovely visit and when she showed me this painting, she asked "Is it yours? I just knew it had to be since it is signed E Black."  

 "Yes it is" I answered. "I remember painting it but I don't remember selling it, although I am sure I did."  

It was a joy to see one of my early paintings and realize that I still think I did a nice job on it. I do remember having this at an outside art sale. A woman told me the tree reminded her of trees that she had seen in Africa. The fact is that this one came out of my imagination.  Possibly she was the one who purchased this painting. If so, I hope she enjoyed having it. 

I told me friend I would be happy to buy it back. 

She laughed and said "Oh no, I have a painting by a famous artist and I am keeping it." 
I am not really famous, but I do hope that some of my work survives and is loved long after I am gone. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Memories

Friday has zoomed around quickly.  So today I am sharing my own face for the Friday Face Off. 

A number of years ago, I went on a solo trip to the England.  I spent a week in London.  Much of the time was spent wandering the city and enjoying meeting people.  One day in my roaming, I came upon this plaque.  It marked the spot of 84 Charing Cross Road.  I simply had to have a photo.  Two young ladies were equally delighted to find this spot, so they used my camera and took my photo and I took theirs. 

As you can see, I had done some shopping and had a bag on my arm. 

At one point, I met this red-haired lady and had my photo taken with her. 

Don't we make a cute couple?

Finally, I will leave you with a song. 

Linking with Nicole for the Friday Face Off.

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Face Off

To be honest, I have a respiratory infection (bacterial not viral) and time got away from me.  So I went to AI for some quick faces.  Here are my results. 

I think I like the top one best, but I wish it had the black background like the last one. 

Linking with Nicole for the Friday Face Off.

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Weaving Detour

It seems that I haven't posted any creative hand work in a while.  But on March 3rd, I ordered a frame loom with a heddle bar to try a different type of weaving. This was shipped from Belgium and arrived on March 12th. (pretty fast I think.)   

(picture borrowed from Funem Studio)

 Honestly it just sat in the box for a day.  Then I assembled the loom (fairly easy assembly) and added a warp to it.  For those of you who weave on various looms, this is probably the easiest warping I have ever done. 

Next I took the materials that I had chosen to start with and started weaving.  I must say that the shed (space where you pass the thread through to weave) is rather tight. But certainly functional.  I didn't like the stick shuttles that came with it.  So I pulled out one that I had for my rigid heddle loom.  And started using it. 

Today I have the piece woven and it is ready to be removed from the loom. 

What will I do with it?  I haven't decided, but I think it would look great

pieced with some fabric for a throw pillow cover. 

For now I am just enjoying the process of creation. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

AI - Boys with Feathers

For the Friday Face Off, Nicole and I had talked about doing watercolor. Of course neither of us had time to actually do it. So we both chose to use AI.  The first one has a watercolor effect background that I love.  The prompt that I gave the AI creator was "boys with feathers" - which it clearly interpreted as "wings."  
For some reason, a lot of my attempts come out looking a bit like anime. 

The second one is boys with wings  in abstract(can't beat'em join'em philosophy) 

This one is darker and a bit mysterious. I like it. 

 I am linking up with Nicole at DVArtist for the Friday FaceOff. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A Visit from The Pink Fairy

Here is a painting that I did years ago. This is acrylic on watercolor paper. 

 I am linking up with Nicole at DVArtist for the Friday FaceOff. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A Couple of Paintings

Here are a couple of paintings that were painted years ago. 

First is a watercolor portrait of a lady who was one of my co-workers. 

Ms. K

Next up is an experimental painting that suddenly started looking like a person. 

I think it has a bit of an Asian feel.

I am linking up with Nicole for the Friday Face Off

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Another Face for Friday

I have pulled out another piece of art from my archives.  This is unfinished - and may possibly remain that way. 

I like the soft and slightly mysterious nature of this piece.

I am linking up with Nicole for the Friday Face Off

Of course some days you just have an urge to make something.

I had that urge during this week. So, I decided to make a notebook cover.

These fit a standard size composition book, so they are very easy to refill once you have used up the composition book that it in it. 

Front

Inside front with pocket and label

Back

Over the years, I have sold a number of these notebook covers (notebook included) to people across the country.  I have also had them sold in an art gallery.  One wish is that I would see someone with one of my notebooks "in the wild."  I would want it to be someone who doesn't know me.  Ha ha. It would be fun to see their face when I said "I think I made that!" 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Fun Art Detour

Some days you just need a fun art adventure. 

I pulled out some pre-fused fabric pieces and played. 

This is what I came up with. 

This is simply a fused fabric abstract collage. 

As the artist, I invite  you to find your own meaning in it

OR

just enjoy the interesting design of it. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.