Funky Art Queen

I found this great story at a great blog I discovered today called Simply A Musing -go and check it out. I wanted to share this story I read on there with you. I was given permission to share this by the author of that site. The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?" Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?"...

My friend Renea and I had one of our rare occasions where we were able to sit at Barnes and Nobles and look at art magazines and different eye candy and sip coffee/tea. I happened to pick up a book before she got there that we enjoyed looking at together-very much. It was kind of funny, sad, tragic, and horrifying all at the same time. It is called Post Secrets-I believe. I will check for sure. But it was so entertaining and we laughed and laughed and commented for some time. I am sure that the two business looking people sitting next to us wished we would hush. So, how intriguing that people will share their secrets that way. Here is a link to the site that tells about how to mail in your secrets . Even more intriguing is that a book was published with all these secrets and that people like me like to look at it. It is just so real. This is what people are feeling out there. It is a crazy and sometimes funny world. I wanted to show you the third in my series of pencil art/mixed media ...

Wouldn't that be cool? Take a vacation to explore your dream job. I just heard about this on the Martha Stewart channel on my satelite radio the other day. This one lady went to visit a vineyard to learn how to make wine-not as romantic as she thought it would be but still she enjoyed herself. Another went to a dairy farm and worked 12 hard hours to learn how to make cheese. So, I had to go and check out their site. Vocation Vacations What would my dream job be? Well, it would have to be a job that allowed much creativity. I would enjoy having an art/workshop where people can come to learn new techniques and get inspired. Maybe it would be a gallery also to pay for the overhead. It would be a big and roomy place with lots of shelves and funky colors. We would play fun music (not too loud) and have all kinds of "art shows" and presentations about techniques and styles and art history-etc. I think it would be cool to have childrens workshops as well every now and then. You...

First, I would like to thank Stacey for making me want to do a little google blog search for "blog contests". Now I have something else to add to my list of addictions. I'm supposed to be getting ready for work and instead...I am blogging to win an ipod. Further, I can't wait to get home and see what else I can try for. I just found out that Brandon Hopkins is having a contest for an iPod shuffle. All you have to do is link to him and link to this site about free business cards and you’re entered. So now I’m entered. I would love to have an Ipod Shuffle since everyone in my family, including my husband has one and I don't. I feel very behind the times because, I never even got an MP3 player! I'm sure my children will have to show their technically challenged mother how to use this ipod but I know I will have fun with it. I HOPE I WIN!!! Now...let's see what else I can try for! Oh, it's 6:40a.m. and we have our morning meeting at work-(sigh) guess I ...

Here is my trunk that I entered in the Rust-Oleum Sweepstakes. Of course this is the "before" Rust-Oleum shot. This is the after Rust-Oleum shot. I wanted to create a beach scene or beach style trunk. I used the "Harbor Blue" Rust-Oleum to spray paint the entire trunk. Then, I collaged several vintage beach photos on a matte I had cut at the Hobby Lobby to add to the top. I sponged some white paint onto the Harbor blue to create texture. I added some beads and wire to create a handle where there wasn't one. I painted black and white checks all around the top to create interest. What do you think? It would be great to win the $500.00 worth of Martha Stewart Everyday merchandise. So keep your fingers and toes crossed for me. You can read about this contest in the BluePrint Magazine . I could not find the link on their web site so go and get the magazine. This is one of the best magazines for women who are always looking for new ideas to make their house a home! L...

Just another pencil/gel pen work I created this morning. I wanted to share it. Nothing else to say...really!

"Dancing For Rain" 8"X10" Pencil Art By Lesley Chandler Well, this is my attempt at African art. See my last post to understand the inspiration behind this. This was all done on an 8X10 piece of drawing paper. I only used my prisma pencils and no inks or any other media. Can you believe it? Just one media? More later!

OK enough whining! My last two posts were so depressing! Shew! Did I lose you? Hope you were not coming here for cheering up the past few days. I'm better...my son is home for the weekend and I'm getting better at accepting all this. So to lighten things up a bit, I'm sharing this funny baby pic of me. Look at that smile and that big old fat tummy-I don't look much different now...that is in the tummy part! Heehee So, last night I was looking at African Art on the internet. Just an image search for "African Art" led me to some of the most beautiful and colorful pieces. I want you to check it out if you have a chance: Martin Bulinya was one of my personal favorites. You just have to go and experience his art. Then click on "home" from his site and check out many of the others. I'm inspired to do some more pencil works using Martin Bulinya's works as inspiration. So, hopefully I can come up with something to post this weekend. Meanwhile, I...

I'm better now for anyone that wants to know. I am still very anxious but every time we talk to our son on the telephone, he sounds like he has it all so together. I think back to when I was his age, I was pretty much mature and o.k. I was all about making money and getting to bed on time so I would wake up on time to go to work. My husband always reminds me how I made him go to the Scorpions concert with one of my girlfriends because I had to get up early the next morning. I lived with my best friend in a tiny little apartment on the bad side of town. I had survival skills though. We always had food and our bills were paid. I learned so much during those times. I need to let my boy do the same. He is very smart and independent. I know he will be alright. Tonight, I worked on my trunk that I am restoring. I bought some prisma color pencils today to replace the ones that are down to about nothin'. Thoughts going on? I'm of course thinking about my boy, thinking about my daug...

Well, he is really gone away to college. My baby boy. It finally hit me yesterday. The house was so quiet, not as many dishes, less laundry (a lot less) and not as much food is necessary to feed just us three. I suppose I should be happy about all that. But I love doing all these things-I like the chaos. I think we have grown so used to the chaos that this is the glue that kept us together and moving. His dad paced around all day yesterday. He is gonna drive me nuts! I just know it. We gotta find something to do to keep our minds busy! I just need to figure out how to not be anxious all the time that something will happen to my boy. I know he is growing up and I need to let go but I worry, worry, worry about him. I need to let go and let God huh? I know I should do that but I still worry. How do I not be afraid of the telephone? How do I continue on without feeling such a sence of impending doom? Anyone ever been through this? Please send prayers our way and for my Cody. Hugs!

OMB (That's -Oh My Blog)...I have been warned about being a once a week blogger by Stacey. I certainly do not want my tombstone to say this. Sorry to any of my loyal blogger sistahs and fans. I've been busy! We just got back from taking the son to Irving, Texas to get moved in and settled for college. Everything went smooth! Yay! I think he will be fine. I had a little car time to work in my art journals and concentrated on this little island theme. I think I would like to try more of this on watercolor paper. Anyway, back to work tomorrow. But gotta make money to support my art. I'm running low on paint! I have several projects in the works. Sister's Birthday Present- August 9th or all of August actually Renea's Birthday present- July 18th contest for Rust-Oleum-redoing a trunk - before August 18th trying to think of something green for the Somerset Studio call for art - August 13th Stay Focused on the above! Heehee

Here she is! Good Night and Sleep Tight!

Another juju doll. Really it was inevitable was it not? If you know me, you probably expected a winged juju doll sooner or later. I was sitting there working on these juju dolls and it occured to me that wings would be cute. So wings were applied and now it makes me think of a bug or something like a funky fairy. Just wanted to share it with you. Can't wait to show you my latest paper mache dress form doll. Still have to do her arms. Perhaps this evening I will post her.

Don't forget the live tutorial tomorrow evening at 8 P.M. our time (Texas). Here is your ticket. You don't have to have this but I thought it would be fun to create. Just another fun place to visit to make digitial fun things! Make your own concert like ticket here: Make a concert ticket.

I was thinking of this technique my mother used to do with mirrors and I just had to try something with it. I emailed her to ask how it was done and she explained the process to me. You use steel wool to sand off the back of the mirror so that the glass shows through. You only do this in the section you want to see through. Then, you place a picture on the back of the mirror. You can really do some ghostly like altered mirrors -maybe something with an old vintage picture. That is what I had in mind but for some reason, I had to do a mermaid first.

I found this other great site where you can generate your own typography. Go HERE ! Here are a few of mine that I created this morning. After you create yours, you can save them and print them out and add them as a back ground or whatever to your creative journal. One more and I will stop-for now! This one is fun too! You can create your own little seals in all different shapes and styles. FUN! Go Here! Here is mine!

I found some fun places to visit on the web to create fun things you could add to your creative journal or your blog. Just something to do to play and relax! Have fun with these! Create fun labels here: http://www.acme.com/labelmaker/ All kinds of fun flickr toys here-you don't necessarily have to be a flickr member to use some of the simple to use photo toys. I made this stamp using the "Framer" choice. http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/ Or maybe you just want to create a fun mosaic-you can do that too at the http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/ If you know of any other fun digital toys on-line, please share them with me. I love doing this stuff!!!! Hugs and happy saturday.

I used to think my sister just made that word up! " Ju Ju ". You know how sisters are always making up words that only the other sister understands. I knew what she meant when she was saying something either caused good or bad " ju ju ". I just thought that this was our special little word. Then I started hearing it on television or movies and I spotted it in magazines and newspapers. Apparently, my sister did not create this word. (Sigh) It seems that everyone else knew this was a real word and it actually has an origin and can be found at Wikipedia . Click on the word Wikipedia to learn more .( I know that this is not actually the most reliable source, but it is there nonetheless). I started this piece by creating a little polymer clay face with a mold. I then cut the molded clay into a triangle shape. It was so cool to me when I decided I could cut the little,round faces into any shape I wanted. It opened up a whole new creative portal for me! Anyway, I then ...