Well, as you can see, it's been 3 years since I've posted anything. Alot going on in life. I have also not done much art in those 3 years, but am getting started back.
Hope you check in once in a while. Will try to post more often.
Have a great day everyone!!

New Soft Block Linocut

Sorry it's been awhile since I posted. It's been a busy week.

I noticed all of my favorite blogs are not listed. I'll have to figure out whats wrong. Still learning this stuff.

As far as job hunting.....I accepted a job last Wednesday....even though I felt uncomfortable at the interview. Needless to say....it lasted 2 days. I should have went with my gut instinct. The Nurse manager was ...shall I say....."different". I decided after 2 days, I didn't want my name on any paperwork associated with that company. I worked hard for my RN license....don't want to lose it.

I interviewed with the nursing home that I initially was interested in. The Director was out last week with a broken foot. I was real impressed with her and the Assistant Director. It is a home I worked in 10 years ago. I loved it then. I see alot of improvements and it looks like it's still a nice one. I find out tomorrow AM whether I got the job or not. It pays what I was looking for too. I feel good about it. I'm pretty sure I got it. A big plus....its only 15 minutes from my house....YAY!! and....weekends off!!

The other job I interview for today was with Poison Control. It's strictly a desk/phone job. They won't make a decision for 3 weeks. I can't wait that long. The pro's....it pays better than any of the other jobs I've interviewed for, plus great benefits....It's a state job. The con's....the schedule is month to month. You never know what shift or days your working until the schedule comes out. May get 1 weekend a month off...no guarantee. I looked at the cubby hole where I would be sitting.....12 hours a day.......don't know if I want to do that for the next 20 years.....LOL.

I have been making art. Nothing finished tho. Mostly drawing...and a little doodling with my paints.

I watched a video on youtube by grittyarts that was about lino cutting. I have been fascinated by that for sometime. If I could put the video here I would.....haven't figured that out yet. Go check her out....her videos are amazing...and her art is that and more. She also has a blog and sells on ebay. Her blog address is http://grittyartsstudio.wordpress.com.

Anyway.....while I was in Amarillo today....I went to Hobby Lobby....bought a few supplies to try lino cutting. By the way....don't buy the carving tools from Walmart....they are worthless. They are frustrating. I paid around $5 there. I bought the ones from Hobby Lobby by Speedball for $12.99......wow...what a difference. Also...don't buy erasers like I did (suggested on a website to try this technique out) also frustrating and hard to cut...plus too small. I bought 4x4 Carving blocks by Staedtler for $2.99 each. The are wonderful.....as the label says....."Cuts "like butter". I love them.

So...enough jabbering......here's my first attempt at soft block linocutting. I used a drawing I did of the calla lillies my daughter bought me for mothers day. It was a blast!! Remember this is my first real attempt....be kind. And thanks Jane for getting me started!!

The first photo is of the actual block I carved. The next two photos are of each time I cut and then printed. I have them numbered beside each one. I'm not crazy about the final cut and print....but thats how we learn I guess. It was alot of fun!!

ps.....I'm having a heck of a time with loading photos...if anyone has a howto....or knows where I can go....please let me know. I know these photos stink.

A wonderful Day

A bad thunderstorm just woke us all up. I love storms as long as there aren't tornados. We were scrambling to make sure all the critters were in and out of the storm.

I was offered a job today. Not in the nursing home I was planning to work in. The Director was out today, she is supposed to call me tomorrow.

I just happened to stop by a Homehealth Agency and apply. The Administrator offered me a job on the spot. Yea!! Talk about a mood boost! I have worked in 3 homehealth jobs. Was branch director in one. When she saw that on my resume (its one of their competition) she offered me the job...LOL

I came home and talked to the hubby....he said take it. I just hope its not as stressful as the last one I worked in. I'll be a supervisor and not the big boss....so maybe it won't be as bad. I have the option of moving to a field position if I don't like it. So that was comforting to know. Good pay too......not as good as the hospital....but and 8-5 M-F job. So alot better hours. Now I'll have to learn to sleep at night again....LOL.

I've had some wonderful comments and messages from this blog.....it's already been worth starting it. I hope to make some lasting friendships on here.

Well....headed back to bed. It's 2:30 in the morning. I have alot of personal business to tend to today, then start my new job on Wed.

Have a beautiful day everyone and Create something wonderful!

A few Doodles

I forgot I had done these doodles last week.
They are sharpie and charcoal on watercolor paper.

I tend to start with eyes when I doodle...and come up with some weird stuff. I get mixed remarks from family and co-workers. It's funny to hear the different opinions.
"OH how pretty....looks like a peacock" "Oh that looks like a mardi gras mask" "That is scary looking" and so on.....LOL.

Again....these are taken with my camera....not scanned...so not the best pictures.

Thanks for any comments

A lonely Sunday Nite

It's 10pm sunday nite. Hubby is gone to bed, daughter is in her room and son is out with friends.

It's times like this I miss my old friends. When I remarried 10 years ago......we moved away from my friends and family. I had 2 best friends, who I eventually lost touch with.

I haven't made any close friendships since. Only people from work, who I rarely socialize with outside of work. Since I don't work there anymore......guess I won't be seeing any of them again.

I have become pretty reclusive in the last 5 years. We moved out in the country. No neighbors for miles. I love it out here....but you can't just run next door, or down the street to see friends. It gets very lonesome out here.

Have you ever wanted a close friend to talk and share secrets with....so bad it almost hurts? I start feeling sorry for myself at these times. When I talk to my husband about this (who has lots of friends...since I moved to the town he lived in) he says....well make some friends. Yea.....hey you over there in the booth next to me...wanna be my friend?? Not as easy as he thinks.

Being an artist doesn't help either......you want solitude when you work. I've tried to connect to other artists....but not alot of luck there.

So........another Whine on Line. Me sitting here...feeling sorry for myself :)

Have a great week all. 1st job interview tomorrow...wish me luck.

p.s. not a very creative weekend again :(

Not a good week

It's been a week since I last posted.

I'm sitting here at midnight....thinking on my life. I made a hasty decision last night (although the right one). I quit my job of 6 years.....walked out.....didn't look back.

I'm an RN. I have worked in an Emergency Dept. for the last 6 years. Although I love being a nurse and have loved my job up until 8 months ago....I couldn't take one more minute.

I was a volcano....waiting to erupt.....and my manager (who I have always liked) pushed the right button last night. I won't bore you with the details of last night.

Eight months ago......in November........I was working the ER.....and we caused a death. A beautiful woman in her 60's....no health problems. What we did.....and didn't do....caused her death....and I will never forget it....and will never be able to forgive myself (even tho.....I wasn't the one that directly caused it....I was there). It was not intentional....none of us meant to harm her....or her family.....but we did.

I almost quit nursing then....and have been struggling to stay with it. After 15 years of helping people and loving every minute of it......it has been very hard. I have frozen a few times.....when I needed to push a medication...and had to have another nurse do it.

I had to leave.....I have hated my job since.......dragging myself to work.....praying to God on the way......not to let anyone else die on me. Needless to say.....I have watched alot of people die since that night....including a beautiful 4 year old....that was backed over by a pickup. I can't deal with all the pain and hurt and death that comes with working in the ER anymore.

I have to do something to make peoples lives better. I have chosen to return to long term care. I love the elderly...love making a difference in their lives. I have an interview on Monday. Pray for me.....I need this.

This was one of the reasons I have been in a block with my art.......no passion....no will to create.

I can't believe I'm sitting here.....telling the world about this. No one will probably read it anyway....but it feels good to put it to print.

God bless everyone that reads and/or comments on this. I hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend.

Finally some artwork

Today was an ok day. Went to town shopping. My daughter Tara went with me.

I ended up at Hobby Lobby...bought a bunch of art supplies. I have been buying art supplies for months now....but not using them once I get home. I keep telling myself that I need this...or that....before I can start painting.

I apologize to my husband for spending money on the supplies....he sweetly tells me.....you can buy what you want/need if you'll just use them. He's always been a big support in my art and messes.

I took photos of the art journal pages I'm going to post, instead of scanning them. My scanner is upstairs in my studio....and it's just too hot up there right now. My studio is in a converted attic room. I have a small airconditioner, but I can't leave it running all the time. It takes forever to cool the room off. I don't think about turning it on...until I'm ready to paint.

My first art page is a girl I tried to paint from imagination. I'm addicted to all the mixed media artists that paint cute girls. I'm a realist portrait painter...so its hard for me to paint this way. It turned out ok....I guess. I like the colors...the tropical feel.
I call this one the flower girl.















The next 2 art pages are a Mothers Day tribute. My 19 y/o daughter bought me a large potted pink calla lily plant and gave me the sweetest card and a large flower balloon. I cried when she gave them to me. I had to save the card...so I decided to put it in my art journal. I painted the calla lillies with acrylic. My daughter thinks these art pages are "sappy"...but I love the colors and how it turned out.

Please excuse my posting skills. The image uploader is giving me fits. The colors aren't perfect...but as close as I could get them in PS.