Happy Mothers Day! *and explaining the symbolism part 2

Just wanted to wish all the moms out there especially my very own and my future mother-in-law a Happy Mothers Day! It was great over here--we had not one but TWO bonfires! Mom loved it. And the weather was *mostly* nice! I worked in the floral department today too and was kinda shocked when I got there--almost all our flowers were wiped out! I wouldn't have been so surprised had we not had boxes and boxes of them yesterday--so many I wasn't sure we'd be able to sell them all! AND our manager went and go three more loads of flowers! I spent most of my shift washing out empty buckets and trying to make what we did have left of the flowers looking nice and as "full" as I possibly could.

Wanted to finish explaining the "beaver baptism" commission picture as I wasn't able to get to that the other day ago. I got to go to a dance and it was amazing--it's been a while since I went and I learned the basic foxtrot--something I've been wanting to learn for a few years!

So back to the picture--if you haven't seen it, is is the last image in my last post. A beaver baptizing a loon for a friend who is a girls' Confirmation Sponsor. The girl isn't just having her Confirmation though--this Easter season she's entering the Catholic Church! So she also was having her baptism (hence the beaver priest baptizing) her First Holy Communion (so I put a "stained glass" Jesus window depicting that in the top, and the Confirmation--symbolized by the Holy Spirit descending upon her. I also put Jesus' mother in the window to the right--she loves us so much and helps lead us to her Son. Something that might hit as a bit odd in the picture is how though this is inside the Church, it has grass and a stream. The stream under the Baptism font represents new life in Christ. Essentially that is also why the ground is clothed in new spring grass (and the Easter season is about newness in Jesus) and the lilies can represent two things--growth and how, after being baptized and washed of her original sin and other sins, the new Catholic's soul is so pure and clean! That's all I got for that but it IS fun to do symbolic pieces I find :)

One last thing that is kinda "newsy" is for the last three years I've been working with NET Ministries (www.netusa.org) on the first Saturday of the month at something called LIFELINE. It is a Mass and talk after that for youth (mostly around highschool age). We have people come all throughout the state and even occasionally from elsewhere (we had Canadians yesterday--they drove all the way here for that!) I have been working for a real volunteer TV company the past three years to film it so we can put it on local TV on Sunday. Well, yesterday was my last one. Probably ever, since when I get married, I'll be moving from here. It was bittersweet--a little hard. I got engaged at the NET Center, have really enjoyed working there and meeting people on occasion. Last year especially, I had made friends with a number of the enthusiastic youth. So it was a little hard to say good-bye. Nevertheless, Jesus will be calling me to work for Him elsewhere and as a friend of mine said "at least it won't be the last time you'll be praising God!" so that was comforting!

Confirmations!

Hi everyone! It's been a lovely and I do mean LOVELY day! I got to drag out the ol' bike for the first time this season after work! I wanted to see how long it would take to bike to work in case I find myself able to do so (based on time and what time of day) sometime soon. It only took about half an hour so not bad! I also made some lovely enchiladas for my family. I prepared the recipe last night because I had to make dinner fairly early today so those who were around on time could eat as a family as my little brother and sister were going to go see a movie. It went well! Everyone seemed very happy--it is one of our favorites! I will try to type up the recipe soon for you if interested!

Tonight is our youthgroup's once-a-year dance they started a couple years back called "The Black and White Affair". It's a lot of fun the only qualm I have is the color scheme--my best dresses are in other colors! I'm going to leave shortly for it. I wish my fiance didn't live halfway across the country because I'd love to have brought him along hehe. But it will good to see my friends all together to be sure!

I know I have been promising to show some art so here a few are. If anyone knows how to have more "control" when posting pictures I'd love to hear! I'm having some difficulties placing them--it isn't agreeing much with me and I don't know how to add captions! I'd greatly appreciate it if you could help me out in this area!

The pictures are all for upcoming Confirmations. One of my many sisters is getting Confirmed and my youngest brother. For them I did pictures in Prismacolor Markers. (I love those--they work so clean compared to cheap ones!) They were going to get Confirmed on Easter vigil but rules have changed but I think it will be soon never-the-less! The other picture is a commission by a friend of mine. She is a girl's Confirmation Sponsor and the exciting thing is that girl is entering the Catholic Church this Easter season! Her favorite animal is a loon so I tried to draw her as one (kinda tough as I didn't' have a photo to go off of so I had to rely on my friend's description of her personality! I hope I did ok showing some of her.) I LOVE drawing people as animals. Since her friend is a loon she requested I make the priest a beaver or something northwoodsy. I also added lots of symbolism. I'll explain it in a bit but right now I have to go get ready for the dance! More to come!

Finally have an "About Me" Page!

Just wanted to let you know that I finally have an "about me" page posted! Check it out and if you have a question, feel free to ask!

Also since it's been years since I've had a super-active blog (did one on Xanga starting back at the end of 2005) I'd LOOOVEE suggestions from you on how to improve this place and make it more cozy! Thank you all!

A little update on today: got a few projects done! A friend of mine commissioned me to do a Baptism/Confirmation/Holy Eucharist picture which I will post once I scan it! I also finished painting the toppers that will go on top of our card box at our wedding! Pictures to come soon! I'm also going to get to give some boy scouts a tour of our store today haha I hope that goes well.

Two Months to Go!

and I will be a married woman! :)

Sorry for the lack of posts as of late--so so much has been happening! :D Been doing more art--some commissions and yes, SOME DAY I want to post some up here of what I've been up to! In fact, today I'll post one of the recent ones--a phoenix a friend commissioned from me. :)

This picture was done in Prismacolor markers with a fine-line Sharpie outline and some silver Sharpie for accents

I just got a used airbrush I have no idea how to use Sunday too--I have a feeling once I figure it out it will be highly useful. If any of you know how to use one let me know! I could always use tips!

Other things that have been going on--planning planning planning! And being all-around crazy! The wedding is now in just 2 months! I can't wait! my fox and I have been engaged since August 15 (the feast of the Assumption) 2009. A year and 8 months has been quite a while but it has been a blessing too--we've learned so much about each other in that time! I'll tell more of that story another time though if you are interested. Yesterday we picked out our Bible verses we'll have at our Mass. Last Friday and Saturday a friend and I did our flower arrangements! They are amazing--it's going to be a dream wedding! I'm doing silk flowers so I could pick the colors I needed and also we won't have to worry about them wilting or anything during our wedding. They were also cheaper in the end than real ones I think--though they look very very real! Let me know if you want to see pics and I'll post them! :)

From now on I am going to post at least one thing once a week so stay tuned!

Updates on Life!

Yes, I know what you are thinking. Dead again? I know. I keep telling myself I'm really going to get into this blogging thing, and I think I will eventually, but for now I guess I'm going to remain kind of sporadic. I will tell you some updates though! :)

First of all the above picture is just one of the many pieces I've created over the past several months. Many have been gifts for Christmas or Birthdays. This one was a birthday picture done in Prismacolor Markers (with a finepoint sharpie outline--sharpie's have become a good friend to me as the alcohol in the markers doesn't make them bleed like other mediums!) I also just this past week finished a large acrylic painting of a cat--a commission for a fellow co-worker and friend. I hope to put up a picture of that sometime too. It's exciting to be done with him--it was a fun but challenging piece that was pretty large but took quite a while!

I have only a few more weeks left of my two art classes I am taking. One is quick-oil studies and the other how to draw Renaissance style. They are 8 weeks long and I am thinking of going farther in the Renaissance class one more time...

One more time that is until I get married! I can't wait! It is nearly only 4 months left to go! It's been a nice but long engagement (a year and a half so far) and my man is halfway across the country and we don't get to see one another too often in person so you can see why I am especially looking forward to it. :)

Something else that's been going on is I have just applied (and have been accepted) to be an Inker (kind of like a clean up artist) for an indy film that's been in progress the past few years called "Wolf". www.wolfmovie.com Essentially what I will be responsible for is taking animator's work and going over the drawings with a clean, crisp digital line. (hence inking). That way it'll be ready for the next person--the person who will add color. My hopes and aspirations for that is in doing my inking work, I'll begin to have more practice in animation again (it's been years since I last did a good amount of it and I was never overly impressive) and I'll learn to draw the characters accurately and speedily. I'm pretty excited about this!

I think that's all for now! Sorry for being so boring as of the um.. past few months, folks. I do appreciate your feedback and the fact that you are watching my blog though! God bless you today and always!

Ravenwood Whimzies Ornie Swap!

Hey everyone! Yes I know it has been a while and I apologize. It is currently Birthday Season (followed closely by Christmas Season) around here so I've been doing projects like crazy! And.. as always, trying to clean my house :-P but that tends to be an ongoing thing too.

Recently at Ravenwood Whimzies, my future Mother-in-Law had an ornie swap! I joined in, and though I could have done something in clay much easier, I decided to try my hand at sewing again. It has been years since I did a plushie project like this--and I had no pattern to go off of so it was interesting--and fun! (but also time consuming haha) Here is the results! Enjoy!
(also I have been requested to perhaps do a pattern for this thing.. I am interested in hearing what you all think! If I do I will have to make another one of these little guys again to re-figure it out haha)

I used upholstry fabric scraps for the hat and scarf and star!

Here is a back view and bottom view. He was completely hand-sewn!

Here's a side-view of the little guy.

The ornie with a little card I sent along with it to Tammy! :)

Life is Busy!

Hey everyone! I know I have been absent for a while--I'm going to over the next few weeks starting to slowly work on this more in earnest! :) Lots has been going on lately. It's birthday season around here so I am needing to work on pictures to give away as gifts! Plus I have work and have been running around doing lots of things--such as hearing the Preacher to the Papal Household, Fr. Contalamessa speak! Great stuff and God is good!

I have some good news--today I have finally completed my part for the ornie swap! I shall post pictures soon but I'm currently typing this from the library. It was made freehand with no pattern and I haven't done a project like this in I would say, a few years. But I think it's decently successful! I'll leave you in suspense for what it is until I can get up photos--hopefully later tonight :)

If anyone has tips for starting out here let me know! Blessings!