I stamped more today.

I think I am on a roll here-this is the 3rd day in a row I have been able to stamp something :)

I did a really quick background here-really easy! Drop several colors of Distress inks (reinkers) down on some white glossy. Spritz with a wee bit of water (till its more runny) then place another piece of (same size) glossy on top-apply a wee bit of pressure to spread the ink and then peel off the top piece of glossy. I let it sit for a minute or two, then wiped off the excess ink with a paper towel.

I am attaching the background before I stamped on it, and the card I made with the background.

I like it :)

did a wee bit of stamping

I am feeling some better.........actually cleaned my stamping area yesterday and felt up to stamping. I did a couple yesterday and one so far today. I am revisiting some old stamping techniques-Versamark Resist and The Serendipity technique.

In a Funk

Ugh..........I HATE feeling like this. I am in a major funk right now. I think all this with Gillian has caught up with me-I am just feeling so overwhelmed. And I have not done really any art in a while. I have done some stamping projects-like for a couple swaps , but other than that I really feel like I have not accomplished anything art wise. I have about 6 different canvas here that I have started but need to be c0mpleted. That BUGS me. I want so bad to complete an art project! I want some time to myself, like even a few hours, where I can just be in "my zone" and create to my hearts content. I SO miss that. For a while I was getting to do art everyday and it was so soothing to my soul. Feeling like this, its hard to even start a project. But I know once I start I could really put my soul into it and create something good. That is what happened back in January and it got me into my first art show. Its such a great release. I was trying to tell a non-artist friend about this-its hard to describe to someone who doesn't do art. It probably comes out sounding nuts! There is just something SO healing about it. I think I will just work a short time today then try to get some art time in while Gillian and Aidan are at summer school. For my own sanity, I may just need to do that each day for a while. I may need to challenge myself or something. I need to get out of this funk.

not much happening

The past week has been bad, and to top it off, no art time for me.
To sum it up-all last week basically took my time going to appointments for Gillian to get her back on a service that offers her more resources for help. Psych eval, different assessments and for me, heartache. Psych evals are ALWAYS purely awful. To make matters worse, they told me they were going to give her an IQ test-to test for mental retardation. Oh Joy. Yes, I know that doesn't mean she HAS it, but the possibility of it, along with it destroying my dreams for her, its heart wrenching. They ended up qualifying her, but I am not sure under what basis. She already had the diagnosis of Autism, although high functioning, but I am not sure what they put down. They were VERY difficult and asked some very intrusive questions. It really caused me alot of anxiety. Now we are dealing with another possibility :Hearing Loss. She had it early on in her life, but a few years back it seemed to resolve itself. Now we are noticing little things that lead us to believe she may have it again. And, being a former 23 weeker its VERY possible.
With all the NICU time spent, oodles of meds, and ear infections she has had (quite a few) its a strong possibility. I don't think its a severe hearing loss, but I think there is some. Alot of this I seriously thought was due to her sensory issues. Now we are not so sure-I noticed when the teacher called her last week she did not respond, and he called her a couple times. He has noticed that, as well as the helpers in the class room. So that leads me to believe its more than just sensory issues. Today I am taking her to her reg pediatrician for a hearing test to check-I do hope she cooperates. Later this month we have an appt to an audiologist and an ENT doctor as well. I just want all my bases covered. This time I am not overly stressed about this one-I have just come to the conclusion this preemie journey is never going to end.
I have suffered a headache for over 24 hours-actually now close to 48 hours. Its pretty mild at the moment, and I hope it goes away, but its been miserable enough to not want to do much of anything. Its probably a combination of lack of sleep (quite a few sleepless nights) and caffeine withdrawl. I have got to give up this pepsi! I am not sure if this is a good time to be weaning off the pepsi, but its something thats been bothering me-I am SO addicted to it. I hate that!

I am back!

I am back from visiting my folks for a few days. I had meant to come back on Thurs but I just didn't feel like driving back-so drove back today instead.

I am a bit tired from the drive but other than that, I feel great. I feel re-energized and excited to have had a few days to just chill :)

One of the highlights of my trip was visiting Gina Jrel's Art studio and gallery. She is a local S. Utah artist and I just adore her work. She is awesome too! Such a free spirit, and I love her attitude :)

Anyway, I took a few pics and wanted to share :) I first happened upon her work a couple years ago when visiting a local gallery there. It just knocked my socks off, and ever since, I have kept up to date with what she's been doing . As soon as I found out she opened her studio I KNEW I had to go check it out.

New ATC's I Stamped

Today I managed to get a bit of stamping in :) I did a few ATCs for a swap I am in. I had fun! I was looking through "Art Specially" and I was so inspired by all the sponging I saw in there that I had to do it myself.......Its been ages since I have sponged color like this-I used to do this all the time. I forgot how much I loved it :)

Heading out on Monday for a much needed break for a few days :)

Gillian Graduated Preschool Today

I am so proud-what a milestone! Gillian starts kindergarten on August 22nd. We are excited for her to be making this transition. She will have some preschool this summer as well, but today was her "official" last day. She got an award for being "most creative" and "most imaginative" which of course I am SO proud of :)

What made me so proud today, is that she SMILES!! I can tell her to smile for the picture and she does. This is something I have longed for-to see her really smile.

Here's some pics :)

"Touch"

I have had a fascination with doing stuff with Hands lately. I have had the image of this hand for eons, and have been wanting to use it so I was just inspired to for this piece.

I literally just had fun with this-it was like play. I tried not to be too serious.

its an 8x8 canvas.

Prepared papers, image transfers (the hand), found papers, acrylics and caran d'ache crayons.

Another work in progress

I did this yesterday...........I feel like it needs a little more, but I am not sure. I haven't done anything with it today, but I decided to take a pic of it as sometimes it helps to look at it in a different perspective. I wanted to use hands and have been wanting to use the image of this beautiful bird somehow and it just seemed perfect in these cupped hands. And the window-it spoke to me too........sort of like the bird can fly away through the window....... I dunno.

I really like it so far-now If I can figure out how to finish it off! Its a 10x10 canvas.

Oh CRAP! (Literally!) LOL

Kinda funny..........I decided to start working on a collage today. I am needing to do another one by this weekend and my poor muse has gone missing, so thought I would just start something, despite the fact I just don't feel like doing anything. I got my canvas covered in old book pages.........I pop it outside in the hot sunlight to speed dry it, and left to go get Aidan at school knowing I would be back and it would be ready for the next step when I got home. Well, ahem, not only was it all set to go when I got home, I came to find a little birdie pooped on it LOL
Sheesh! Oh well, it looks like an old coffee splatter or something........I am going to do a light gesso over this anyway, but I just thought it was sort of funny :) LOL