Kitties & Cupcakes by Lori Ramotar

Head on over to my new Art blog!

2011-07-18T18:01:00.004-04:00

We are finally settled in our new home (though I have now moved on to pretty-ing up the outside), and I have sat down and made some new goals and plans. Each year is different, things are always changing, and I feel myself headed down a new, exciting path. I have a big love of vintage items, creating art, and making unique accessories, so I thought I would combine them all and create a new website. Hip Heart Studio is my new website, and I will be selling from it, with payment available through Paypal. I am still on Etsy, but due to the onslaught of resellers (selling imported items and claiming they made them...when they are usually made in a factory in China...) I really want to transition to my own site. I hope you will enjoy it. I am also picking up on an old blog I had started, but got distracted from. If you like tips, coupons, sales, tutorials, and free clip art, head on over to Thrifty Artist. I will be posting something new each day....I PROMISE! Thanks for sticking with me. Let's enjoy this new path together.

Movin' right along...

2011-05-06T07:39:00.002-04:00

The past month has been a whirlwind, and I have a feeling that these next few weeks will be also. We are in the process of preparing our new house for us to move in May 21, and that are SO many things to do. I have lots of painting to do, and today I am shopping for a garage door opener. Thank goodness for my Dad, as I would have had no idea what the heck to buy. There are chain, screw, and belt models. Some are noisy, some aren't. There are several brands to choose from. Let's just say that picking out paint colors was a lot more fun! lol I haven't had much time to create, but am looking forward to getting settled in this month, getting my studio set up, and getting back to painting on canvas instead of walls. I am also itching to get back to making some jewelry and felted flower accessories! Hope everyone has a safe & happy month....I will check in later!

You know it's been a long time since you blogged when....

2011-04-03T17:53:00.003-04:00

....you realize that you can't remember your blogger password. We've been super busy with new events in our life. We are in the process of buying our first house and are supposed to close around the end of April. I have also been working part time at my husband's dental practice. As such, I haven't painted or made any new accessories in weeks. I am having creative withdrawal. I have a ton of ideas to explore, but they may have to wait until we are moved into our new home. I will finally have a large, tiled room on the first floor to paint in. For the past few years, I have been sequestered to my tiny little corner of our kitchen. I hope everyone is enjoying the arrival of spring! I will check in again....hopefully SOON!

My Article in Somerset Apprentice!

2011-02-28T14:49:00.005-05:00

I received my copy of the March 2011 Somerset Apprentice magazine, and it was so exciting to see my work published. I wrote a step-by-step article on how I created my Alice in Wonderland mixed media painting. I am on page 100. I do have the original painting and prints available in my Etsy store, if you are interested. I do have to say, that the photos in my Etsy store are more true to color. The background is more yellow in the magazine, and it is a pea green in person.
I haven't had much creative time lately, as I have started working at my husband's new dental practice. I spend most of my time in back, sterilizing equipment and getting surgical supplies ready. We've also been house shopping, which is stressful, confusing, and exciting...all at the same time. I just finished a black cat painting and will post it soon. I just found out I have the day off, so off to paint I go! Have a super week, and thanks for stopping in!

To sleep, per chance to wake back up and...

2011-02-10T07:32:00.003-05:00

keep thinking about ideas for paintings! Last night, I tried to get myself in "sleeping mode" but it didn't work. I was obviously tired, but found myself out in my tiny "corner-of-the- kitchen" studio, playing around with an abstract painting in a dim light (so as not to wake my hubby). When I finally did go to bed, all I could think about was more painting ideas and colors.
My arms have had some nerve pain "flare-ups" lately, so I have been working on some more abstract & expressionist paintings. My book proposal was denied, but I think it was a good thing. There are a lot of things going on in our lives right now, and writing a book suddenly seems like very bad timing. I am meeting with my local neurologist next week to discuss a referral to the Cleveland Clinic for a nerve biopsy, and any further testing they can do. Until we can figure out what is causing this, I have to remain on medicine that prevents us from trying to have children.
I was able to find time to list some art on Ebay this week, including my Alice in Wonderland painting that is featured in the next March issue of Somerset Apprentice Magazine. I have 2 other paintings listed, and a few prints.
I have some felted accessories to list in my Etsy store, but need to photograph them.
Today looks like a great day to stay indoors and create. I woke up to a still, cloudy day. Rain is expected, and we need it! Hope everyone has a good weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

I'm not sleeping...I'm just resting my eyes!

2011-01-26T07:31:00.002-05:00

I haven't blogged in a while, and thought I would start my newest post with one of my favorite "Mom-isms." Did your mom every say this to you when you were little? I find myself using this phrase myself. Life has become pretty busy lately and naps are sounding like something that once existed in some far off fairytale land. I will be working part time at my husband's dental practice, still running my Etsy stores (which entails finding time to create...that's the hard part), house hunting, and attending meetings in various towns for a new church calling I just received that involves working with our Young Women's group (the teen girls age 12-18). I hope that I can do a good job of juggling everything and do well with the new journey I've been given. I will close with a common "Teen-ism." I have to laugh whenever I hear a teenager complain, "I'm bored!" Just wait a few more years and you will never utter that phrase again! Hope everyone has a fabulous week! I will do my best to pop in again soon. I am working on finishing a 3 part painting and will have some more brooches and hair accessories in my Etsy store soon!

A terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day....

2011-01-05T12:51:00.003-05:00

I started coming down with a nasty cold yesterday and feel a bit useless right now. I am a busy body by nature, and when an illness wipes me out and leaves me a foggy minded, sleepy, stuffy nosed person, I become extremely annoyed at that fact that I can not keep up with my to do list. I have decided to give in and try to sleep this thing off. I can't think straight and I am certainly not in the mood to paint, sew, or design some jewelry. So, off to la la land I go....hope everyone is doing well. Take those vitamins and if you are sick, stay home so you don't share it with someone else!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T16:16:00.004-05:00

I can hardly believe that today is the last day of 2010! It flew by in the blink of an eye, it seems. After a computer crash, lots of errands, and hours of creating & photographing, I was finally able to add a load of new items to my Etsy store, TheRoyalBead. I will be getting back to doing some more painting and jewelry making soon too. I've been pondering goals for 2011 during the past few weeks, and I hope to press forward and succeed. I wish you all a safe & happy New Year!

I'm back!

2010-12-23T21:18:00.003-05:00

We just returned from our 5 day cruise today, and my Etsy stores are back open for business. I've been cleaning, running errands, doing loads and loads of laundry, making some more Christmas gifts, and catching up on life in general today. I hope to pop in soon with some new pictures and a better update. I hope everyone has a fabulous holiday! See you soon!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.....

2010-12-18T07:57:00.002-05:00

or should I say, "Have yourself a hugely joyful Christmas!" I will be doing a bit of traveling, and have put my Etsy stores into vacation mode. I will be back with more new goodies after the 23rd. I have new brooches done, new hair accessories, and will get back to working on some new paintings! I won't be able to check my email or phone messages for a while, so please don't get upset or worried if I don't respond. I wish everyone, a happy, healthy, tasty, relaxing holiday!

My poor, neglected blog!

2010-12-01T08:20:00.004-05:00

The holiday season has crept up on me, and my to-do list is getting longer each day. This is the first year that I haven't put up my Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. In fact, I've decided that this year, we might just do a Christmas wreath instead. Rob is doing a lot of traveling for work, we are planning on going on a cruise, and when looking at the calender, I realized we will barely be here to enjoy a tree. It reminds me of the time in college, when my roomies and I didn't have a tree. We had a large house plant, which we put lights on, and a "Christmas chair." Yes, we decorated that chair!
I finally had to sit down and make a to-do list this morning, to keep me on track. Updating my blog will be the first thing I cross off today. I've had some exciting opportunities pop up recently that will happen in the new year. I will have my artwork and an accompanying article published in one of my favorite magazines, I am sending out two book proposals, we will be purchasing our first home, I will be helping my husband out at his new practice, and I am already setting some New Year goals.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I will try to post more often on my blog. One of my goals is to get more paintings up on Ebay each week, so hopefully, I will be able to start on that goal very soon. Thanks for stopping in, and here's to a happy & safe holiday season for all!

New paintings, new projects, new hobbies....

2010-10-18T08:11:00.007-04:00

I never tire of learning new things and exploring! Unless of course, it involves anything with extreme heights, deep water, or creepy crawly foods! I've come to love antiquing, and it's one of my favorite "girly day" activities. One of my best friends has me hooked. She finds such cool stuff and is great at refinishing furniture. I just picked up a handmade vintage table on Craigslist this weekend and will be refinishing it. I'm thinking of either deep red with white crackle, or sage green with antiqued brown glaze over a crackle finish. I'll post before and after pics!
I also want to learn to sew with an actual machine! I've known how to hand sew since I was a little girl, but never progressed from that. I've been buying lots of wool & cashmere sweaters, felting them, and making beautiful flowers to sell in my Jewelry & Accessories store on Etsy. I've become a button collector and renewed my addiction to thrift store shopping! I've found all kinds of deals. I just have to do a bit of driving across town.
I've been blessed to make a few new friends, get in touch with old ones, and do a better job of finding the blessings in the trials I've been handed.
All and all, this fall is starting out wonderfully. Autumn is my favorite season. I usually get all pumped up to try new things, get busy, and prepare for the holiday season. Here are some pics of a few recent paintings, and a peek at the flowers I am working on!
Thanks for stopping by!

My favorite Cupcake Frosting Recipe!

2010-10-09T07:18:00.004-04:00

I made some super chocolate-y cupcakes last night for a group of gals I am going antiquing with today. I had to use all of my self control to keep from licking every last bit frosting from the mixing bowl after I had finished frosting them! Here is the recipe I used....

Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting recipe:
Makes enough for 24 cupcakes (halve it if you are making a smaller batch)
16 oz cream cheese (at room temp)
1 stick of butter (or 1/2 cup at room temp)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups sifter powdered sugar
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup cocoa powder (I used Hershey's Special Dark)
1 cup Ghirrardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions: Mix/beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together until creamy and well blended. Mix in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Last, add cocoa powder and whipping cream and mix until well blended. This frosting can be piped on or spread with a knife. It is creamy, but stiff enough to hold shape. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Keep cupcakes refridgerated.

I took a little vacation from blogging....

2010-10-04T09:31:00.003-04:00

I realize it's been over a month since my last post. After my nerve pain medicine kicked in and I could finally paint and make jewelry, the last thing I wanted to do was spend time on the computer. I have a slew of new paintings and jewelry listed and have even started working with fiber/fabric and leather. The good news is that my nerve pain is not related to an auto immune disease. We have finally figured that out. I've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Repetitive Strain Injury. I've been told I still need to get an MRI done of my arms. With RSI, all of the nerves in your arms (ulnar, median, radial) can be affected do to over use and swelling of the muscles/tendons in the affected area. I will have to remain on my medicine and work on strengthening exercises. It may go away, or it may be chronic.
The bad news, is that my meds aren't working as well as they did a few weeks ago, so I am getting less done. My painting style has had to be adjusted, my jewelry will no longer involve metal work or lots of wire wrapping, and I will be spending less time on the computer.
I look forward to sharing my new work with you! Thanks for checking in, and thank you everyone for the nice comments and prayers. They are very much appreciated!

Progress

2010-08-13T08:32:00.002-04:00

After 2 months of being in severe pain, I am finally getting some relief. At the highest dosage one can take of my medicine, I can finally do some things I haven't been able to do in a while...like clean my own house and pick up my cats. Heck, I even opened a soup can yesterday without wincing in pain. I went and got a second opinion with my regular doctor, and he agrees with me that something is definitely going on that needs some more looking into. He believes I have some type of Collagen Vascular Disease (Sjogren's, Lupus, ect.) that is doing this to my nerves and causing a variety of other symptoms. So, I am headed to the Mayo Clinic next month for a nerve biopsy and 2 days of testing.
I have still found that being on the computer (the typing and the mouse) for extended periods will lead to pain, so I am limiting that. I believe that my painting style, which was very tightly rendered, will be taking a big turn in another direction. I am going to focus on abstract mixed media paintings. This week, I've been making my own mixed media papers to use in collages, just to get into the swing of things, and test what I can do as far as my pain level is concerned. I have not gotten back to jewelry making yet, but if and when that happens, it will also take a new direction. Right now, I am proceeding slowly, and just being grateful that I finally have some relief, and may get some answers in the near future as to what is going on in my body.
Thanks for checking in! I hope to share some new work with you next week!

Open for Business!

2010-08-04T08:16:00.001-04:00

Finally, after 2 months of waiting, my medicine level has been increased and I am finally getting some relief from the nerve pain in my arms. I was able to clean my own house ( except vacuuming..that is now hubby's job) yesterday for the first time in a month. I had been using a gal I found online that did a super job and was a real sweetheart.
No exact cause has been found yet for my neuropathy, so more tests and visits are in order. The good news is that I finally reopened my Etsy stores this morning and hope to be back to painting soon. In fact, I may play around with some paint today. Using the computer for long periods of time is still causing me some pain though, so I will keep this short. Thanks for checking in! Hope everyone is having a good week! Try not to melt in this heat wave!

A Special Thank You...

2010-07-20T10:49:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to say thank you to those of you who have offered kind words, deeds, and prayers for me. I really appreciate it. My medicine dosage increased today, but it can still take a while, or a higher dosage for me to get relief for my nerve pain. So far, there's no change for the better. I have some days where I can do more and drive short distances, and then have parts of the day with horrible flare ups. The nerve pain in my arms is running a bit past my elbows now. I was told that iron has nothing to do with it, so it is still a mystery. As soon as I have more "better" days, I will open my Etsy stores back up. I hope I can soon return to painting...even if it is looser, more abstract work. Thanks for stopping by, and thanks again for caring.

Etsy vacation

2010-07-14T12:31:00.002-04:00

Hey there,
You might have noticed all the empty boxes on my blog....they are where my Etsy store links used to be. For the time being, I have put all my Etsy shops into "vacation mode" until my arms start to feel better. My test results came back today for blood work, and everything looked normal, but the Dr. didn't check my iron. Anemia can be a cause of neuropathy, so that needs to be looked at yet. At least I don't have type 2 diabetes. I am grateful for that. So, until I can do more typing, writing, packing sold items, and driving them to the post office with less pain, I am closing up shop. I am sorry for any inconvenience!

Diagnosis

2010-07-08T08:20:00.003-04:00

So, this will be short, but just wanted to update. I had a Nerve Conduction Study and an EMG done on Tuesday. It turns out that I still may have carpal tunnel, but in addition, I've been told I have Peripheral Neuropathy. It is affecting both my arms now and after testing my legs and feet, it is there too. My nerves aren't firing as fast as they should for someone my age. So, I started on Cymbalta for the nerve pain in my arms, but it could take about 2 weeks for it to start to improve that. In the mean time, they will try to find the cause. More tests for me. I will still be meeting with a hand surgeon in August, but they want to do more tests first. I will keep you updated. I am itching to paint! I sadly, will not be going back to doing any of my metal work jewelry. The hammering and cutting of metal is just too much on my arms. Any pieces left in my jewelry store on Etsy that are this style, will be the last ones ever. Once it's gone, it's gone.
Hope everyone else had a nice 4th. Thanks for stopping by!

The descent into insanity....

2010-06-28T11:48:00.003-04:00

Want to know how to push a creative person over the edge? Take away the use of both arms. Instead of getting better, I now have flare ups in both arms. I'm wearing a splint on each one. Tasks as simple as opening my toothpaste cap are becoming painful. I am typing this with one finger. Next week, I am being hooked up to Electrodes and having a nerve conduction test that lasts 1 1/2 hrs. I can't get a consult with a hand surgeon until August 4th. I don't know how I will last over a month like this. I am sorry to be a "Debbie Downer" but this just plain sucks. I am a busy body by nature, and not being able to use my computer much, write, paint, draw, do my hair, drive very far, etc is making me nutty. I feel like a prisoner in my own house. If it wasn't 95 degrees out, I could at least go for walks. I don't handle heat well, nor do my swollen arms. A lot of people seem to think that carpal tunnel is just numbness and some stiffness in the fingers. It can be that, but it can also be nerve pain in your forearms that feels similar to when you hit your "funny bone" on a wood table. I won't be doing much blog updating for a while, and have stopped using twitter. I will keep my Etsy stores open ( going to need surgery money!), but won't be adding new things anytime soon. I have some finished paintings, but don't think I can handle all the typing needed to do the Ebay listings. Too many pictured to resize, and html to write.
Thanks for listening. I hope you'll start visiting my blog again when my hands/arms are better and my creative life can resume. Take care friends!

The verdict...

2010-06-18T13:55:00.002-04:00

I got back from the doctor today with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel AND tendonitis. I wasn't expecting both. He thinks I already had the carpal tunnel for a while and the tendonitis is making it worse, and most likely occurred from lifting heavy items (i.e luggage) while I was on vacation. That's when the pain started. So for now, he has me on a super-pack, one week dosage of Prednisone, Aleve for pain, and if that doesn't take care of it...off to the occupational therapist for shots or surgery. If I can get rid of the tendonitis and do the suggested exercises for the carpal tunnel, maybe I won't need surgery. I worry because my husband works long hours, and we don't have any family nearby to help me with daily stuff that requires 2 hands/my right hand. Right now, I am off to ice my arm and relax a bit. Have a nice weekend! I will check in next week.

Update on life in general....

2010-06-17T10:27:00.003-04:00

I took some time off from blogging to rest my right arm, and learn to use the mouse with my left. It took about 2 days to master it. I can't really do much in Photoshop with my left hand though. I'm not THAT ambidextrous. I've scaled back on phone calls too. I've been trying to pick things up with my left hand and do other things, like vacuum and clean with my lefty. However, somethings...like putting on my makeup, getting dressed, shaving, doing my hair, and cooking are a wee bit too dangerous to attempt with my clumsy left hand. I have my Dr. appointment tomorrow morning. I don't know if there are any specific tests they will do. I guess I'll find out soon enough.
In the mean time, I was going stir crazy not creating ANYTHING. I decided to set aside my "tight" more detailed painting, and mess around with some collage mixed media work. I've been spending a small amount of time on a painting each day and just have a few finishing touches. It was fun to get a bit loose and take a break from painting faces. I have given up on my stamped jewelry all together for who knows how long. Hammering sends shooting pains up my wrist to my elbow.
So, that's what's going on in my corner of the world. I'm pretty much staying inside until this horrible heat wave weather in Florida is over with. I hate the summers down here as much as I hated the -20 degree weather in Minnesota. Our air conditioner is having a hard time keeping up with the 96 degree temps and hot sun beating down on our house. Ick!
I will check in later, when I have pics of the new painting. Take care!

Art and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

2010-06-08T14:32:00.005-04:00

Well, this is my fabulous new fashion accessory. It makes using the computer very difficult and painting pretty much impossible for now. While on vacation, I started waking up at night with numbness and tingling in my wrist and forearm. Then, the pain kicked in if I picked up anything over 6 pounds or moved my hand in a funny position. I had noticed stiffness in my fingers and hands after driving, long before we left, but figured it was just because it makes me tense. I've had tendonitis before and know the drill, so I started on Advil and got myself a wrist brace as soon as we got home. I can't get into the doctor's office until June 18th, so I will have to wait for a verdict. It sounds like Carpal Tunnel though. I was really depressed for the first few days, then looked up artists with carpal tunnel on google. I found blogs and other stories of artists being able to eventually return to their creating after surgery, so that gave me hope. I wish I would have been doing better arm exercises in the first place. If you create with your hands, I suggest looking into it now, rather than later. I may have ended up with it anyways. Women with a history of hypothyroidism and a small frame (both of which apply to me) are more likely to develop it. So, I will share pics of 2 paintings I finished prior to vacation. They may be all there is for a while. ) :

Upcoming vacation

2010-05-19T08:02:00.003-04:00

This month has flown by! Heck, before you know it...it will be Christmas again! ( : Gosh, I hope it doesn't go by that fast. I just wanted to let my customers know that from May 27th - June 6th, my Etsy stores will be in "vacation mode" and I will not be listing anything new on Ebay until after June 6th. I realized this week, that listing anything now, would have them ending when I would be gone. I am looking forward to visiting with my parents. So, if there's anything in my Etsy stores that you've been procrastinating buying, if you want it soon...better snag it now!
I am still working on the "rework" of the painting I started over on (with a much better canvas surface) and am nearly done. I think I may finish today. I usually start painting in the afternoon, but am tempted to just stay in my pajamas and start painting this morning! I will post a pic as soon as it is done. Hope everyone is having a good week!

Starting over...

2010-05-15T17:36:00.002-04:00

I can't remember ever getting so upset with a painting that I had to start completely over on a new surface. The painting I started 2 days ago, got to be a big mess due to an awful painting surface. I had wanted to try Ampersand Gessobord afer reading so many good things about it. I am RUNNING, not walking, back to canvas. The surface absorbed my paint so fast, I couldn't blend anything. I tried adding a "slow-drying" medium to my acrylic paints, but that did nothing. I finally gave up after the paint layers started to build up and look chunky. It was FAR from smooth. It's hard to give up on a painting. I am not a fan of giving up, but I knew I would never be happy with it, and I didn't want to waste a good painting idea on an icky surface that was just going to quadruple my painting time. So, goodbye Ampersand. Maybe you work for oils, but acrylics and you just don't get along well.
On another note, my painting angst was quelled with an antiquing shopping trip with a good friend today, so I am ready to start over and relax. The Chinese takeout helped too. ( : Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Finally....

2010-05-13T19:32:00.002-04:00

I finally started on a new painting today. So, I don't have anything to show for this week, but hopefully will soon. I plan to spend more time listing new paintings on Ebay. I will still list new prints on Etsy, but probably won't be listing my painting there. Due to some changes they have made over the past year, I have pretty much fallen out of love with Etsy, and don't know if it will ever be the same again. A lot of sellers are feeling the same way.
Since I don't have anything creative to show you, I will end my post this week with an impromptu picture I took of my cat last week. Consider this your weekly dose of cuteness! Have a great weekend! I have a date with a pint of Haagen Dazs and the DVD of New Moon. ( :

Crazy weekend....

2010-05-09T22:50:00.004-04:00

This weekend has been...shall we say..."interesting." Last week, the front of our Mustang got damaged when a semi-truck kicked up a blown out tire at it. I had to take it to the dealership for body work. Thank goodness for insurance! So, they gave me a rental car...a Chrysler 300. Let me tell you...I think they should be recalled. On Sat., we had an appt. at 10 am in Orlando (a two hour drive away). We left in the rental car and shortly after getting onto the highway, we heard a horrible noise coming from the bottom of the car. I had to quickly pull off. A huge panel had dislodged from the bottom of the car and was dragging on the road. The pull had loosened the entire front bumper. If it had come all the way off, we could have had an accident, or cause someone else to. So, that had to get fixed. We had to take our Honda instead. Today, I hit a squirrel on the way to church. It was my first non-bird road kill. I cried. I think the rental car is evil, at this point.
So, this afternoon after church, I took a nap. After all the craziness, I figured I deserved one. Tomorrow is a new week....one that will hopefully bring no more car problems. It could be worse...my parents got snow this weekend ( in the middle of May! Crazy, huh?) and nearly hit a black bear while out driving today.
Hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day. I am just a fur-baby momma, but I did get some snuggle time with the kitties today. ( :

Frustration

2010-05-06T11:27:00.003-04:00

I am completely confused at how some people do it. I tell myself every week, that this week, I will get at least 3 small paintings done. It is Thursday, almost noon, and I haven't had ANY time to paint this week. No matter what I do, stuff keeps happening to prevent me from having the time to do so. Between running errands, doing ALL the housework, cooking, making phone calls, keeping up with church stuff, keeping up with social networks (which are a must these days to get your work noticed), listings for Ebay & Etsy, car repairs, and more things than I could possibly list...I just don't have the time. I wonder...do these other people who do manage to get 3 or sometimes up to 7 paintings done in a week do any housework? Do they have assistants? Are they speed painters? Do they sleep? Cook? Does anyone have an answer? I just had to get that off my chest. I have been feeling overwhelmed lately, and feel like there are many things I need to be doing to further myself in my art career, but just can't.
Well, maybe someday I will have a room I can paint in at night when I should be sleeping. I think that is the only time I will have. Right now, my studio is the kitchen, so any lights or noises (we have a ranch style house) keep hubby up.
I had better go hop in the shower. It is nearly noon and I have spent all morning doing laundry, cleaning, and preparing a slow-cooker dish for tonight. After lunch I will have about 2 hrs. till my art lesson student comes, then husband will be home for supper. I think I need a chocolate bar....

New Auctions on Ebay tonight!

2010-05-03T19:39:00.002-04:00

Late tonight, 8:30 PDT, I will have 8 paintings up for bid on Ebay. The auctions will run for 7 days. To view them, simply click HERE and it will take you there....or you can click on the button in the left hand column of my blog that says "My Artwork on Ebay." Remember to save me as a favorite seller! I want to have more of my original pieces on Ebay in the future on a regular basis. Hope your Monday wasn't too hectic!

My new shop on Etsy....

2010-05-02T19:19:00.008-04:00

I finally got around to adding some new designs to my new store "HipHeart" on Etsy, and am gradually moving my graphic designs over from my ArtworkByLori store (which will now only house my paintings and prints of them. I hope that makes sense. ( : I am sharing some new designs with you, and you can visit my shop by clicking on any of them. I will be listing some paintings on Ebay this week. I had hoped to over the weekend, but decided to revamp my Ebay template, which let to an html headache. So, here they are....hope you like them!

The Kraken is finished....

2010-04-30T17:49:00.008-04:00

In addition to working on a huge custom stamping (sterling silver discs) order, I finally finished my Kraken painting. For those of you who may not know what a "kraken" is, it is a mythological sea monster, usually depicted as being a giant squid or octopus. Kraken from Greek mythology were sometimes depicted with dragon like features. I think octopi are pretty darn cool, so that's the interpretation I went with. Provided I have time tomorrow, and don't run into an obstacles, I plan to list the painting on Ebay, along with a slew of others that are waiting for homes.
I also decided to open a different/new Etsy shop, just for my graphic designs. I plan to offer prints, tags, and possibly cards and digital scrapbook sheets. My graphic work is different than my paintings, and the whole look of my ArtWorkByLori store is a little off because of it.
I'll introduce my new store to you in a few days. I have my banner made, now I need to do an avatar, shop policy, announcement, and set it up to process payments. I have a lot of new graphic designs to add to the shop right away, and will be moving my other graphic prints over from my other store.
Well, hope everyone is having a good start to their weekend. I got a lot done today and plan to reward myself with a movie and "loaded" nachos. ( :

RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

2010-04-22T12:25:00.003-04:00

I've been driving my husband crazy with this phrase for weeks now. Before even seeing "Clash of the Titans" I would bust into laughter every time the phrase was uttered in the previews on TV. It led me to looking up Kraken on Wikipedia and lo and behold, I got sucked into sea monster mania. I decided I just HAD to do a beautiful sea kraken painting to get it out of my system. So, I sketched it out yesterday and got started on the painting. It is 11" X 14" and I have a long way to go. All the "octopus" suctions cup things on her tentacles will take a long time! ( :
So here is the start. I also made chocolate covered bacon yesterday...but that's a whole other blog post!

2 New Mixed Media Collage Paintings

2010-04-20T15:39:00.005-04:00

Hello again! I promised pics of the 2 new pieces, so here they are. I will either be offering them in my Etsy store or in Ebay auctions. I haven't decided yet. Today was a wee bit crazy. I went to get a new key made for the new car (it only came with one set), and that took about an hour...and cost...wait for it.....$100! All these fancy micro-chipped car keys make me long for days gone by. After that, I was to take the car to another dearship to get the racing stripe decals taken off, as my husband didn't like them. Well, along with the stripes, some of the paint came off in a small spot. After sitting there for 1.5 hrs, they finally came and got me.....and told me the bad news. They are fixing it free of charge, but send me home with a loaner (which started running on fumes on the way home...no gas!). So, back to the dealership I go tomorrow morning. Tomorrow we are getting some interior work done on both our cars. They humidity down here has a bad effect on the adhesive used to attach the cloth upholstery to the doors. We have a neighbor who is coming by to fix that.
I haven't gotten much painting done this week, and tomorrow is already Wednesday. I was planning on making chocolate covered bacon today, but it will be a tight squeeze for time. It sounds like an odd treat, but hubby is begging for some. Who knows? Maybe it will be divine. I could use some chocolate-y relief after dealing with all these car problems for the past month. I DESERVE some chocolate covered bacon, darn it!

Cruising along...

2010-04-19T16:46:00.002-04:00

I've been cruising along again, and forgot to post. I do have two new pieces to share (both mixed media collages) but need to take pics of the second one. We finally got a second car to replace the one that broke down about a month ago, and it is nice to be able to go wherever I want to go now. I was beginning to feel like a prisoner in my house. That's a surefire way to snuff out the creativity for me.
I will stop in again soon to share the pictures. Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Red Poppies Painting

2010-04-08T20:35:00.006-04:00

Well, here she is! This is the monster painting I have been working on since last week. Each panel measures 12 X 24 inches, so the combined width is over 36" when hung on the wall. As usual, photographing was difficult. We finally had some clouds roll in so I could get some outdoor pics, minus the sun shadows. I just listed it in my Etsy store. I have always wanted a red couch, and this set would look so fabulous with one! The background of the panels is really neat when you look at it up close. I used an acrylic texture paint and then did some glazing techniques. The flowers took me quite a while with all the shading!
I hope you all have a nice weekend. I finished a mixed media collage painting today and will try to get some pics of it tomorrow. I may also offer it as a print. It's a happy flower piece! See ya soon!

Stuck at home

2010-04-07T16:53:00.003-04:00

While I've been away from my blog, I've been painting a 3 piece, red poppy painting and trying to get over a mystery illness, which I am pretty sure is now walking pneumonia. I am going to be starting on some medicine tomorrow. I've been sick for 7 days now, and instead of a normal "cold" where your symptoms get better, I have gotten worse. Hopefully the medicine will help. I am beginning to feel like a prisoner in my own home! Between being sick and only having one car right now, I haven't gotten out much. Hubby brought me home my favorite Chinese food last night, and a funny T-shirt. There have been a few days where it has been hard to even get myself to paint, because I am so tired that I would rather sleep or I feel like throwing up.
So, if I am somewhat silent, I am just working on getting better. Nothing much to report. Sorry for the lack of excitement!
I'll post pics of my new paintings when I get a good day outside for taking pics. It's been too sunny today. I need some clouds (but no rain!) for a good picture day. ( :
Take care!

Howdy!

2010-03-25T15:21:00.003-04:00

I am finally feeling better...as far as my back is concerned. Some rest, and doing my stretching exercises each day has really helped. The past few days here in southern Florida have been lovely and it has been nice to get some fresh air in the house. Usually, it seems we have the air conditioning or the heat on. This has been an odd year for weather here. Currently, hubby and I are on a car search to replace one that is out of commission. That's been taking up a sizable chunk of time. I did finish one painting, so I will share it with you. It is listed in my Etsy store as of today. It measures 12" X 12" and is titled "Hope." Hope you have a great weekend....I hope to get more painting done next week. See...we all need hope! ( :

Still here....

2010-03-19T13:33:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted much this week, and I apologize. I've only finished one small painting. I've been busy with art lessons, cleaning, and dealing with car stuff. We still haven't found another car. I hope we have time tomorrow. There are two church things, one in the morning & one in the evening, and Saturdays are our only day to look. There's just not enough time to spread around. My back is still killing me, and I don't really know what to do about it. I'm supposed to "rest and take it easy" but there's no one to help with all the random stuff that needs to be done. Just reaching for things in the cupboards is causing pain.
Anyways, that's where I am at. I may not be posting much until things get a bit better. Hope all is well with you! I'm off to take some more Aleve.

Introducing Yee Kwan of The Glass Turtle.....

2010-03-15T19:43:00.004-04:00

I've known Yee for a few years, and met her via an online forum for glass bead artists (lampworkers) and jewelry designers. Some of you may remember that I made lampwork beads for 4 yrs. before moving down to Florida. She does lovely work, is a nice person, and deserves some bloggie-love! Here's a short bio from her:
"About me.....

I was always somewhat artistically inclined (at least I like to think so!). Grew up playing the piano, flute, and cello. Teachers in highschool thought I should have tried to get an art degree but my parents (typical Asian parents) would have disowned me on the spot!!

Took a very long, winding detour but finally got back into artsy things when I started making custom handbags. I first came across lampworking when I was looking for enhancements for my bags. I was really looking for unique zipperpulls and in my searches came across a lampwork beadmaker. I was intrigued! After much research I thought "I can do this!" and that's how it started. I got a HH, cleared a little place in the garage and it wasn't long before I moved on to a "real" torch and was collecting glass just like the pros

I've been at the torch for just over 5 years now and am constantly discovering new things. I think my style has changed a whole bunch. Mostly I think I was "known" for floral pressed beads but recently have moved away from that and am trying to my hand in more organic stuff. I don't have much time for glass these days in between school and working as an ICU nurse.

Hubby fully supports my hobby and even converted the pantry in our house to a very mini studio so I can torch year round. I currently work on a Cricket on household NG powered by a Regalia. Am hoping that my Scorpion will be ready sometime this month

Pictures of beads are readily available on my website (www.theglassturtle.com) and pics of the studio are available on my blog (theglassturtle.blogspot.com)

The Mad Hatter & the Door Mouse

2010-03-15T16:28:00.002-04:00

I promised I would share my newest addition to my Alice in Wonderland themed paintings, and here it is...The Mad Hatter & the Door Mouse! We finally got to see the movie this past weekend, and it was very enjoyable. My husband fell asleep during the movie, but I loved it. I definitely recommend seeing it in 3D, if you aren't once of those people who gets a headache from it. I've finished up the series, so it is time to move onto different subjects. I will be listing the actual painting on Ebay later this week, but if you are interest in the print, it is available on Etsy. Hope everyone is plowing their way through Monday. I started out the day at 5:30 and I am losing momentum!

Such a pain in the neck....

2010-03-12T18:46:00.003-05:00

I haven't been spending as much time on the computer this week, because it is quite literally giving me a pain in the neck...and shoulders...and back. I finally went to the doctor yesterday, as I have had shoulder/back pain for almost 2 weeks now. The day it started, I could barely move my neck. It turns out that (according to my doc) I have a Rhomboid muscle spasm and sprain. I've been trying to avoid things that make it worse, and sitting at the computer is one of those things. For now, I am on muscle relaxers for about 5 days. It is helping a bit, but I am only on day one. I was also given some exercises to do.
Our older car is out of commission, so I have been stuck at home. Since we had 6 inches of rain today, and I'm on meds that make me sleepy, I guess it's not a big deal. The last time we had 6 inches in one day, we had flash floods and I got stuck in one. I am perfectly happy to remain in my home....safe & dry.
I did finish my Mad Hatter painting and will probably be sharing it with you on Monday. Hope you all have a safe and fun weekend.

Monkey Jungle

2010-03-07T15:46:00.005-05:00

This weekend, we headed to Miami. My husband really wanted to go to Monkey Jungle and we had a great time there. Basically, it is more like you are in a cage, and the monkeys have acres and acres to roam freely. You can feed them via little pails that they pull up with a chain through the fenced roof. They also had some members of the ape family, whom we found very amusing. The rest of our Miami trip consisted of driving around getting lost (our GPS kept giving us messed up directions and telling us to do U-turns), dealing with huge noisy crowds, honking drivers, and a pack of dudes on motorcycles going at least 150 mph on the interstate like a bunch of crazies. Um....just a little stressful. I'm sorry Miami, but I am just not a fan. There is also a big homeless problem there. A lot of the crime involving gangs and drugs is making its way up the coast to our town.
This week I am working on a painting of the Mad Hatter. I would love to finish him up over the next few days and get him listed on Ebay. We weren't able to see the new Alice in Wonderland movie yet, but hope to go this weekend. Have a great week!

Paintings starting on Ebay tonight!

2010-03-04T18:26:00.004-05:00

Hey there, it's been a quiet week on my blog, which usually means it's been a "noisy" week in my life. Lots of stuff going on! I have no idea where the week has gone, but it seemed to fly by. My back went out on Sunday and was very painful for a few days. I did some logo work. I just finished teaching a private art lesson and that was really enjoyable. I've been working on an owl collage this week that took much longer than expected. I finished it this afternoon and will try to get a pic available tomorrow. It will be headed into my Etsy store. In the mean time, my 2 newest Alice in Wonderland paintings are hitting Ebay late tonight and will end next Thursday. I also adding the painting below (a few posts down) of the gal holding the bird nest.
Well, I hope everyone had a good week. I hope to get more made next week! Have a super weekend!

New Alice in Wonderland Paintings!!!

2010-02-26T20:49:00.006-05:00

I haven't blogged all week because I was busy getting 3 paintings done. I had some requests to do some more Alice in Wonderland themed paintings (for Ebay), but went ahead and put the prints in my Etsy store. The "Alice & Cheshire Cat" is a two piece painting (on 2 separate canvases) and will be sold as a 2 piece print set in my Etsy store. The other painting is of the White Rabbit, and is called "Late for Tea." I had so much fun with the mushrooms! I do think I may need to sit down with a pic of the Cheshire Cat from the new movie and see if I can get that done this coming week. Hope you enjoy them, and have a wonderful weekend!

Gorgeous Organza Flower Brooches and Hair Pins!

2010-02-19T12:40:00.002-05:00

I just added all of these beauties to my "The Royal Bead" shop on Etsy! I've been wanting to make these for a while, as I am a wee bit obsessed with brooches and hair stuff lately. ( : My favorite is the cream colored set. I'll be making more, so keep your eyes peeled, or let me know if there is a specific color you would like! Happy Friday, & have a lovely weekend.....I am off to clean the house and get back to work on another Alice in Wonderland themed painting....

Finished painting...

2010-02-17T14:49:00.002-05:00

Well, here she is! I don't have a title yet, but have an idea in mind for one. I will eventually have the original painting itself on Ebay, and will offer the print of it in my Etsy store later tonight.
I made a flour-less chocolate cake today, and that cut into my creating time. I don't think I will regret it once I eat it though! I love baking. If only there was such a thing as calorie-free baking! Once it passes the taste test, I will post a link to the recipe online if you would like to try it. Hope everyone is having a nice Wednesday.

Cupcakes!

2010-02-16T23:05:00.003-05:00

Today, I was able to really hunker down and get some art "done." I finished my large painting that I gave you a preview of a few days ago. I will post a picture of it tomorrow. I've had a few requests to do more Alice in Wonderland themed paintings from my Ebay customers, so that is on the to-do list. I also finished a cute art print designed with Photoshop that has been floating in my head for over a week. I just had to find the right quote to go with it. I just listed it in my Etsy store, so it is available for purchase. It would be a sweet addition to the decor of your kitchen, teenage daughter's room, or any place else you need some cupcake-y wisdom. ( :
See ya tomorrow!

Back from Orlando

2010-02-14T21:46:00.003-05:00

Well, our trip to Disney's Animal Kingdom didn't go as planned, but we found other things to do. There are never any issues with being bored in the Orlando area. My husband had a business meeting on Friday. It rained all the way there, and at times, we couldn't see very much at all. The temperatures dropped so low the weatherman was threatening us with snow flurries, so it was at that point we decided against Disney. Instead, we went to the Orlando Museum of Art, which was sadly a LOT smaller than my favorite back in MN...The Minneapolis Museum of Art. There was a special event going on called Arts Fest, so it was free. In the auditorium, a "bird's of prey" rescue from Maitland had a bald eagle, an owl, and a falcon to meet. I say "meet" because we were able to go pretty close to these beautiful creatures and they looked us right in the eye. They were tethered and out in the open. It was a really cool experience. Outside the museum, there was a lovely park. I was able to get a great snapshot of what is believed to be the oldest oak tree in Orlando. It is named "The Mayor" and is said to be at least 225 yrs. old! After that, we went to a huge outlet mall and walked around until my feet were very sore. While there, we stopped at another display with a 4 yr. old alligator. I was able to run my hand along his scaly back and rub his belly. His mouth was bound, of course. Rob actually held him. Later that night we went out to eat, then headed to Downtown Disney to walk around. We shared a decadent chocolate sundae at the Ghirhadelli cafe. So, that about sums up our weekend. Here is the picture I took of that beautiful tree. Hope you like it, and hope you had a great weekend!

Not your normal, everyday fortune cookies...

2010-02-11T22:06:00.003-05:00

I had saved some fortune cookies from one of our many "Chinese Take-Out Tuesdays" and just had to have some fun with them. I have found some truly funny ones before, some that were inspiring, and some that made absolutely no sense. So, I made two of my own. ( : Hope they make you smile!

A work in progress...

2010-02-11T14:10:00.005-05:00

I promised to share my step by step progress this week, so here she is! I have a long ways to go yet. There have been a lot of interruptions and I had a problem with the opacity of the paint on her face. I am considering giving her either a deep purple or dark yellow/mustard colored dress. There will be a bird sitting on the back of the chair and she will have a nest with eggs in her lap. I'll probably be finishing her next week. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

Car craziness...

2010-02-10T09:14:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts so far this week. You could probably hear the crickets chirping! Monday started out with my husband getting rear-ended by a 16 yr. old new driver who looked at a flashing light on her dashboard and didn't see my husband had stopped in front of her. She hit him, and it shoved our car into the car in front of us. To make things even more interesting, her dad showed up and said he had "forgotten" to put her on his insurance policy. So, both of our cars have been rear ended in the past 4 months, in nearly the same location. The dad paid for the car to be towed to a body shop and is supposedly paying for the repairs. I have no idea when we will get it back. Then, this morning, I woke up to hear on the news that our only working car...the Civic...is recalled. Lovely. I've been pretty grumpy and have been sitting at the easel, trying to paint my grumpiness away.
I am working on a larger painting right now and will show some pics of the process soon. Hope everyone is having a nice week...at least better than mine. Oh well, at least we don't have 40 inches of snow!

Alice in Wonderland painting series on Ebay now!

2010-02-05T12:36:00.006-05:00

I forgot to mention, that all of my Alice in Wonderland ORIGINAL paintings (not the prints) are available on Ebay for bidding. They end this Sunday evening.
I am going to try and sit down to start a painting this afternoon and end this rut I am in. I've been doing some graphic design stuff and some personal crafty things (like making flower brooches and hair accessories) in the mean time. My hand is feeling better, so back to painting I go!
CLICK HERE to see and/or bid on my paintings! I also relisted a few that hadn't sold last week, in case you missed them! Have a super weekend!

There, is this one better?

2010-02-03T17:17:00.003-05:00

The face in the previous one was a wee bit creepy for a few, so I removed it. I made the last house smaller, but making it taller wasn't working. I switched that and added a quote I had been thinking about. It's supposed to be a bit "busy" with the different paper prints and collage elements. I think I may finally be happy with it. I am kind of a quote freak.

Like it? Hate it? Opinions please!

2010-02-03T11:50:00.001-05:00

I was playing around in Photoshop making a collage yesterday and came up with this. No one commented on Facebook, so I am coming here to get your opinions. I won't have my feelings hurt, so don't worry about that. Do you like this? Do you hate it? Would it look better is I added a quote in the empty space below the sunshine? I don't know whether it is ready for my Etsy store or not. But then again, there are people selling pieces of cheap paper with small squares cut out with an exacto knife for $125 on Etsy (and making the front page with it), so maybe I shouldn't be so critical of myself. LOL

Win a Free Art Print from by Shop!

2010-02-02T07:55:00.002-05:00

Head on over to Steals & Deals blog today to register to win one of my art prints from my Etsy store....you're choice! Just follow the steps listed. She also has ways to earn more entries. Steals & Deals posts great money saving tips and finds awesome products. It is run by two wonderful sisters I have become friends with via the internet. Good luck!

Ebay Auctions Ending Tonight!

2010-02-01T11:49:00.002-05:00

Just a heads up, if you haven't seen them yet, or are planning on putting in a bid....my painting auctions on Ebay end late tonight. Click HERE to see them.
The weekend was not that great. I got up early at 5 am to do a community garage sale. The PTO running it didn't do much for advertising, to not many people came. By the time I got home and put everything away, I was too tired to go to the art group later that night. Instead, I spent the rest of the day sleeping, eating soup, and watching chic flicks. Sunday involved more napping and today I went and got my bloodwork done. I've not been feeling like myself lately, and think that either I have low iron problems again, or my thyroid levels have changed. Whatever it is, I hope they can figure it out and come up with a solution. I am tired of my body feeling 20 yrs. older than I am. My energy level is practically non-existent. Well, sorry for the pity party. I haven't gotten much painting done because of this, so that's why I haven't been posting much. I hope I can get back to feeling like my normal self....energetic, happy, and excited to create.

Find Your Inner Peas .....The weekend has arrived!

2010-01-29T16:31:00.003-05:00

Another weekend is here, and I am trying to "find my inner peas" right now. It's going to be a busy one. I signed up to do a community yard sale down the street at a local school a few weeks ago and have been cleaning out closets and pricing stuff. Now, the weather people keep going back and forth about whether it will rain tomorrow morning. I guess we will just have to wait and see. I would hate to get set up and then get rained on. Florida rain is usually downpour rain, not sprinkles. I am totally a type A personality and like to know what's going on and have things mapped out.
Saturday night I am getting together with a group of local artsy gals to chit chat, eat junk food, and create. I've never met any of them before, and it will be cool to meet some local people who are interested in art too.
I will be having a giveway of one of my art prints on Steal Deals blog next week, and will keep you updated when that happens.
In the mean time, enjoy my new graphic illustration. It is available for purchase in my Etsy store, should you find that you just have to have it! LOL Have a great weekend!

The Day She Flew Away...

2010-01-27T19:23:00.005-05:00

Sometimes she would look up at the beautiful blue sky and imagine all of the possibilities in her life, and just for one lovely, incredible moment she would feel weightless. She could feel the wings sprout from her tired back and bend upwards towards the energy of the sun. Slowly and without effort, she would delicately begin to float upwards, the wind pushing under her new wings. Her tired feet would happily dance in the air as they left the ground and she would feel her heart swell with happiness. Up, up she would go, far above the trees and houses...joining the clouds on their daily stroll through the sky. She would giggle with delight when she was joined by the birds who glanced at her and wondered how she had learned their secret. She would smile at them as she drifted upward, humming a song along with them. She knew why the birds were always singing. How wonderful to have such freedom, to feel the rays of the sun so warm on your skin! How splendid to have such a wonderful view of all the world; thousands of colorful flowers blooming below. She felt no fear and felt as if anything were possible. She passed by a beautiful butterfly who momentarily landed on her nose and paused, as if to ask her where she was going, and where she had found such fabulous shoes. She always thought there was something special about her red shoes...as if she could do anything when she was wearing them. Perhaps the shoes had been what caused her to be able to fly. Maybe it was something bigger though...something more magical than shiny, red shoes. Love, maybe? Whatever it was, she knew that this was the best day ever. She closed her eyes and felt the clouds float past her. Tomorrow will be another day, but she knew it would be great because today she had let her dreams take flight.

Paintings starting on Ebay tonight!

2010-01-25T17:22:00.003-05:00

I've decided to give Ebay a whirl at selling my actual paintings again, and leave the prints for Etsy. Until Etsy gets their "stuff" in order, I am going to keep searching for additional venues. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket....especially when they seem to disappear in the basket and are unseen.
So, I have 4 auctions starting tonight and you can see and/or bid on them by clicking on this button!

Sometimes I just hate coming up with titles for my posts. There, that's my title.

2010-01-25T14:10:00.003-05:00

Monday has arrived, and a fresh week has started. I think my muse has finally returned, as I am once again in the mood to paint. I took a week off while I nursed a sore index finger (which flared up after my last painting) and was generally in a yucky mood. I let out a primal scream in my car today with the windows up, and I think I screamed the yuck away. LOL
I am contemplating putting some of my original paintings on Ebay again, starting tonight. Ebay is so odd...so many things to think about when listing. You have to make a fancy listing, make sure you use the right categories to get the best exposure, and then you have to really think about other people's daily habits. For example, if a show like American Idol or Lost is on, I will not end an auction on that night. Like me, there are a lot of other TV show addicts out there. We all have our favorites. So, I'm thinking Monday would be a good night.
Well, on that note, I better scarf some lunch down (it's already after 2pm) and get to work. Before I know it, the day will be over.
Hope everyone makes it through their manic Monday!

Curried Chicken Salad Recipe

2010-01-21T16:33:00.001-05:00

I threw this together last Sunday when I got home from church and was feeling too ravenous for soup to do the job of filling my belly. Hubby and I really liked it, and if you are a fan of yellow curry, you might too!
Ingredients:
2 cans (well drained) Swanson Canned Chunk Chicken
1 cup Mayonnaise (feel free to use light or fat free)
1 1/2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce (we used Low Sodium)
1 Tablespoon Yellow Curry Powder
1 Teaspoon Ginger Powder
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small snackbox (handful) of raisins
3/4 cup peanuts (smashed to crumbs)
dash of pepper
Optional: diced Sweet Red Peppers or Apples

Directions: Whip the Mayonnaise together with all the spices, lemon juice, and soy sauce. Once well mixed throughout, take a fork and separate the chicken chunks until they become more "shredded". Mix the chicken into the mayonnaise mixture. Add peanuts, then raisins (or pepper/apples) and stir well. Serve on warm toasted bread or in pita pockets. Refrigerate any unused portion. Makes about 4-5 sandwiches.

Drive by posting....

2010-01-19T21:34:00.001-05:00

Just stopping in to say "hey"! I will be back with a longer post tomorrow. I have a yummy recipe to share! If you like curry, or would like to try it, this may be a great one for you. See ya tomorrow! It's lights out for this sleepy gal.

My newest painting! Is she an angel, fairy, or a pixie?

2010-01-18T17:10:00.003-05:00

What do you think she is? I didn't plan for her to have wings. I kind of just started sketching her, painting her, and as I got closer to finishing, she just HAD to have wings! This is one of my favorites so far, and it was fun working with an oval shaped canvas. The painting is a 20 inch X 16 inch oval canvas. I created her with acrylics, ink, and paper collage. I still don't have a title though. I always struggle with this. Any ideas? I will be offering this painting as a print. It is in the works and will be available this week! Hope you like her...drop me a note if you have an idea for a title!

The bad thing about painting....

2010-01-15T16:08:00.002-05:00

The bad thing about painting is that when you are doing it, time goes by SUPER fast. You find yourself lost in only the thoughts of color, blending, and the movement of your brush. Suddenly, you look at the clock and realize 4 hrs. has passed. That has been what's been going on with me this week. I've been working on the same painting and it seems like it was just Monday...and then BAM! Friday has arrived. I neglected my blog this week. I am blaming it on the angel/fairy winged creature I've been working on. Hopefully I will finish her sometime soon, so you can meet her. Right now, she is bald, and I am contemplating a hair-do.
I hope you all have a nice weekend. It sounds as if we are in for another rainy Saturday. It will be the 4th one in a row. I am pretty sure it will be a dinner and movie, followed by pajama lounging kind of day.

New graphic illustrations in my Etsy store!

2010-01-11T14:32:00.004-05:00

I'm in the middle of Monday errand running, but thought I would pop in and show you my newest prints in my Etsy shop! Now...off to find a huge box for the painting I sold yesterday. Sadly, my usual shipping store went out of business due to the economy. Another victim....so sad.

The fastest week EVER!

2010-01-08T22:17:00.002-05:00

I don't know where the week went, and what I did with it! I feel like I didn't get much accomplished this week. I did finish up 3 new graphic illustrations to add to my Etsy store, but it is so late right now, that I am nearly falling asleep on the keyboard. I will do my best to post them this weekend. I'll share them with you here too.
Yesterday, I spent 3 hrs. getting my computer up and working after something crashed my virus protection, then my husband came home for a long lunch, and right when I was finally going to sit down and get some work done....a lost dog showed up in our backyard. I went out front, and he was running around in the street. He was a little Yorkie, and when I called him, I saw he had a tag. Long story short, I met a lot of new neighbors, and though the address on the tag was wrong, the phone number was right. The owners were reunited with their fur-kid. The gentleman does car detailing, and as thanks for taking the time to find them, he offered to detail and shampoo my car today. It was long over due and I was so grateful for the service. He did a wonderful job, and his girlfriend works at a local salon...so I may try her the next time I need my hair done.
Tomorrow, I have another eye appointment in the morning. It will be my 3rd or 4th one. I am starting to lose count! Hopefully they will be even more healed.
Well, have a wonderful weekend. I hope everyone stays safe and warm!

Introducing JENNY FRISKE-BAER of Divine Sparks Designs!

2010-01-08T11:17:00.005-05:00

Jenny makes really beautiful borosilicate (boro) lampwork beads and also uses them in her original jewelry designs. You can find her items for sale in her ETSY STORE, or on her WEBSITE,

Here's some background info on Jenny:

"My name is Jenny Friske-Baer and I started Divine Spark Designs in December of 2002. My goal is to provide beautiful, unique, handmade lampworked beads, glass and jewelry that will reflect the love and good energy gone into their creation and perhaps inspire others to discover their own Divine Spark within.
I started beading over 10 years ago (who can remember?) and I blame the addiction on my sister Gretchen! She got me started and soon after I often couldn't find that "special" bead for a project. All of you fellow beaders know what I'm talking about - that perfect bead that has to be a certain color or shape or texture to finish off a project (or maybe even start one!). So I decided to try and learn how to make them myself. After sitting at a Hot Head Torch for an afternoon under the expert and patient instruction of my dear friend Kandra, I was hooked! I played for about a year on the Hot Head - saved my money - and now I work on a Bethlehem Barracuda Torch as well as a Lynx Triple Mix torch from Glass Torch Technologies.

Everyday I feel blessed that I am able to sit down at the torch to try and create something that others might find beautiful and full of good energy. And I feel blessed that the love of my life enjoys working side by side with me in our studio (a fancy word for garage!) creating many wonderful fused pieces and stained glass works of art."

Introducing lampwork artist Elizabeth Wait of BetsyBeads!

2010-01-07T18:05:00.003-05:00

Elizabeth Wait makes gorgeous glass lampwork beads that have a very organic, yet ethereal look to them. Some of them look as if little universes are trapped beneath the layers of shimmering glass. I've chosen two photos to share with you. If you would like to see more of her work, you can visit her Etsy store!

Here's a little about Betsy (like many other artists she is an animal lover!):

"I retired from my day job several years ago when my son had graduated from high school, and now enjoy being able to work from my nice studio that my nephews made from enclosing our porch. I share my studio with my ferrets, cats and my Pip dog, who's favorite spot in the morning is sitting in my chair, wedged between my back and the chair back, while I read the news and email.

There are still lots of things I would like to explore with glass, and I've been getting the urge to do some pen & ink drawing, and painting, and quilting, and, oh, did I mention I bought an embroidery machine?"

The Mad Beader: Lampwork Beads by Bindy Lambell

2010-01-06T14:35:00.003-05:00

Today, I wanted to share another lovely artist with you....Bindy Lambell. She creates adorable glass lampwork beads and makes lovely jewelry. In fact, several of her designs have been featured in prominent beading magazines. She sells her bead sets, focals, and jewelry at her website, www.bindy.com I've included a pic of a beach themed set of glass beads she made, with the cutest little octopus bead! Since I live in Florida, I especially like this set. I hope you enjoy viewing her work.

My first portrait painting experience...

2010-01-05T16:12:00.004-05:00

I just wasn't in the mood to paint today. I am trying to get myself motivated to start the last painting in my Alice in Wonderland series...The Mad Hatter. The problem? I haven't painted a man since 6th grade. It was my first ever "portrait" and is the reason why I was terrified to start painting actual faces again until last year. I was placed in a gifted and talented program in 6th grade, whisked away from school for a day, and instructed to paint Patrick Swayze in oils. What I walked away with was a "being" with Popeye arms, a mullet, and really long eyelashes. It looked like a She-Man. My mother kept it in a closet for years and every once in a while, we would pull it out and laugh hysterically. I am comfortable with painting female faces now, but I fear my Mad Hatter will end up looking like a transvestite!
So, instead of painting today, I finished one of my New Year's resolutions...to revamp my website again. I'd love it if you take a look! It looks so much happier! I expanded my gallery, changed the template, and I feel it is more in sync with the style of my work. You can visit my website here: http://www.artworkbylori.com

Introducing Alicia Helsley of Fat Daddy Sweets...

2010-01-05T13:35:00.003-05:00

I was recently introduced online to Alicia Helsley of Fat Daddy Sweets. She is such a sweet person, and I wanted to share with you a little about her and her business. Take a look at those Raspberry Truffles! Yum!
Here's her bio, and you can click HERE to visit her website, www.fatdaddysweets.com

"As far back as I can remember being in the kitchen watching my mom and grandma cooking and baking. When I was about 9, they started teaching me how to do everything they did. As I got older, I was always the one in the kitchen, especially near the holidays when I would bake up a bunch of goodies to share with family and friends. Then in November of 2008, I attended a cookie exchange party with a group of local moms. A couple of weeks later, one of my friends sent me an email that I needed to sell my goodies. I started my Etsy shop in December of 2008, and started with cookies and other baked goods, it was when I started adding the candies that things really took off.

In March of 2009, I was contacted by Martha Stewart Weddings, who wanted to have my truffles in an article they were doing.

I truly enjoy creating new chocolates to share with my customers, the best part is seeing the look of genuine pleasure that crosses someone's face when they taste my creations. I look forward to creating more in the years to come!"

Lydia Muell of Ashton Jewels

2010-01-04T15:09:00.003-05:00

I will be featuring a few ladies here on my blog, and the first one is Lydia Muell of Ashton Jewels. She makes some of the most gorgeous handmade glass lampwork beads and also incorporates them into jewelry. I've admired her work for some time now. Here's a little about her:
"When I began playing with glass in 2005, it was not with the idea that I would become a career lampworker. Rather, it was to be a stepping stone to larger work. Glassblowing was my mission back in those days and I thought lampworking would be the gateway obsession that would eventually deliver me into the moderate sized hot shop that I so desired. I wanted to make functional art glass pieces like candle holders, huge glass beads that could be used as drapery finials, blown glass spice jars for Tuscan style kitchens. . .I had to crawl before I could walk and somehow I found myself on an unexpected path.

Today, I am a career lampwork beadmaker who takes each day as it comes, rarely questioning tomorrow. Today provides the same challenge as yesterday and tomorrow will provide the same challenge as today. . .Evolving my skill at the torch, searching my soul for the inspiration that always seems to be communicated with strong classical influence."

Please visit her website to see more of her gorgeous work!

Perfect Pose

2010-01-04T12:11:00.004-05:00

I took some cute pictures of my lynx point Siamese kitty a few days ago with my new camera. I printed this one and I love it! She is a plump, 15 pound kitty that we rescued from the Humane Society a little over 2 years ago. She sometimes sits on the couch like a person, displaying her velvet belly. I took this shot from the chest up. It's hard to photograph cats, especially ones that are easily distracted by the swinging strap dangling from your camera. I was lucky to catch her in this pose long enough to take such a cute picture.
I'll be back later today or tomorrow and will be blogging about some creative women who make wonderful things! See you soon!

Part four: Alice in Wonderland Series...The Queen of Hearts by Lori Ramotar

2010-01-02T18:42:00.003-05:00

Just popping in tonight to share my latest mixed media painting for my Alice in Wonderland series.... The Queen of Hearts. I just have the Mad Hatter left to work on this week for the series to be complete. I will be offering The Queen and the Hatter as prints and the paintings will also be for sale.
New Years was busy...mainly a lot of cleaning and organizing. I got a lot done, and am ready to start the year with a non-chaotic living environment. LOL!
I hope everyone had a safe and happy start to the year. I'll pop in again on Monday. Thanks for stopping by!

Everything is fixed....

2009-12-31T10:58:00.004-05:00

We got our cable turned back on, so the landlord must have taken care of whatever the problem was with the housing association. I just opened my Etsy stores back up, so everything is back to normal. What are you doing for New Year's? I will admit that we are simply going to our favorite pizza buffet and watching a movie. We don't drink and I don't like to be on the roads when I know there are people drinking and driving, so we are going to stay close to home. I hope everyone has a safe and happy 2010. Goodbye 2009! A lot of us are glad to see you go. Now Shoo!

The joys of renting....

2009-12-30T19:11:00.003-05:00

I am just popping in briefly (we are actually picking up internet from a random wireless in the neighborhood on my husband's laptop) to let you know why my Etsy stores are in vacation mode and I won't be posting online anywhere. Because we are not "settled" here in Florida, we have been renting since got here. The community we are in has an HOA and the cable and internet come through them and are included in our rent. Well, we have run into landlord trouble AGAIN. We had to hastily leave our last house because it was in foreclosure. Our cable and internet were shut off without any warning to us today because apparently, our landlord is behind on the HOA payments. That is not a good sign. I have left messages at 2 numbers for her, and so far, I have not heard back. So, we may have a very long weekend (or longer) without service. I will miss chatting with you all. If by chance my husband gets his laptop fixed (it's battery is no longer working and has to be plugged in) I can open my stores back up and stop in at a coffee shop to check sales and emails. This is such a mess. I apologize if you were planning on purchasing anything. I hope to be up and running soon. However, for all I know, we may have to move again. Ugh. Chat with you later...Lori

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes Recipe

2009-12-29T13:33:00.002-05:00

My husband wanted me to try this recipe for our Christmas desserts, and they turned out to be very yummy! I would love to put out a challenge to myself & my readers to tweak this recipe to make some mini cheesecakes in other flavors! You'll need a muffin tin to cook them in...

18 paper baking cups (I prefer the foil ones)
18 gingersnap cookies (the size of vanilla wafers)
12 oz of cream cheese
1 TBS cornstarch
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or 1/2 tsp. cinnamon + 1/2 tsp. nutmeg)
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin (not the pie filling)
1/3 cup light corn syrup

Place a gingersnap cookie in the bottom of each baking cup, and place the cups in the muffin pan. Beat softened cream cheese, cornstarch, sugar, and spice until fluffy.
Add eggs; beat well.
Add pumpkin & corn syrup, bead until well blended.

Fill each muffin cup 3/4 full and bake 30-35 minutes (my oven took 35) at 325 degrees. You can check to see if they are done by inserting a knife near the center to see if it comes out clean.
Cool on wire racks for 30 minutes. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours before serving. Leave any uneaten cheesecakes in the fridge. Serve with whipped cream or Cool Whip and crushed gingersnaps on top.

I survived Christmas!

2009-12-27T18:02:00.001-05:00

I survived Christmas, but I am not so sure about my stomach. I ate Godiva chocolates for breakfast on Christmas morning, and that was followed by pumpkin cheesecake...which I have also had for breakfast a few more times! We had a rather quiet Christmas with just the two of us, and went to see Avatar. We watched it in 3D, and the visual effects were wonderful. The plot was somewhat predictable, but a lot of movies are.
Today, I almost broke my new camera by putting the new memory card in wrong, and getting it stuck. I about had a heart attack. So far, it is working fine, and the pictures take and transfer. I am hoping for some opportunities to put it to good use. We have had some icky weather since I got it. It has been pretty cloudy and bleak for Florida, anyway.
Well, I just wanted to pop in and say HI. I do plan on posting the recipe for the pumpkin cheesecakes I made. My husband got the recipe from someone at work. You bake them in foil cups in a muffin tin. I plan on tweaking the recipe and making some chocolate cheesecake ones. Yum! Hope you had a nice Christmas!

Who pushed the fast forward button?!

2009-12-23T21:44:00.002-05:00

Like everyone else, I can hardly believe Christmas is here already. Other than cooking for just the two of us on Christmas, I have everything done. Now I can sit back and relax. All of our water finally dried up, it cooled down, and now it is warming up again. You just never know what you'll get this time of year in Florida.
The coming year brings some excitement for me, as we may be moving at some point, and my jewelry will be published for the first time (in a book coming out around May). I am keeping my fingers crossed on getting a painting published. We are still trying for a little one, but no luck in that department.
I wish all of you a lovely holiday! I hope the New Year brings good things for all of us, and the economy begins to pick up. I wish you and yours health, happiness, and to be blessed with the things you stand in need of.
I will leave you with my newest graphic illustration "A song of the heart can never be caged."

The rain came down and the floods came up...

2009-12-18T12:01:00.002-05:00

Well, we came through with a dry home last night. It is still raining today, so if it gets heavy again, we could have flooding tonight. We do have a tornado watch, but it looks pretty calm outside compared to yesterday's torrential rains and flooding. I am not leaving the house today, as some roads are still bad. I could barely sleep last night because I was still stirred up about driving home through the flood. Just down the street, at least 20 cars were completely ruined by flood waters in a parking lot. Some water was waist deep. I didn't wake up to an alligator on my screened porch, so that made me happy. ( :
On a happier note, I can now offer some of my larger paintings as prints. Here is the first one that is now available. The original is 20" X 16" and the print is 8" X 10". You can find it in my Etsy store, ArtworkByLori.
Have a great weekend! I'll check in later.

The most terrifying experience of my life

2009-12-17T21:12:00.002-05:00

It started raining today, and it never stopped. I had a church thing to do tonight, and on the way there, it wasn't horrible. There was some standing water in places. But by the time I left, what would normally be a 15 minute drive, turned into a horrifying 45 minute drive home. The closer I got, the higher the water got until I could feel it rushing against my doors. It was behind me and in front of me. I kept praying and driving toward my house. It was dark out, so that made it even scarier. The road leading to my house was not even visible. We have alligators here. That made it even scarier if I got trapped and had to ditch the car. I finally made it with a lot a praying, shaking, and crying...to the entrance of my housing edition. My car almost got stuck in the water there. I was soooo close. I finally made it home and still feel like crying. I hope this rain stops soon and our home doesn't flood. Did I mention I hate living in Florida? I suppose you can having flooding anywhere, but this town has the worst drainage system. I am grateful to be safe at home (which I hope will remain dry) and glad that Heavenly Father answered my prayers. I was in a very dangerous situation.

A Resuce Pet's Christmas Poem

2009-12-17T10:05:00.002-05:00

I saw this online today, and thought it fitting to share.

'Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
Every shelter is full - we are lost but not found,
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
We hope every minute that someone will care.

They'll come to adopt us and give us the call,
"Come here, Max and Sparky - come fetch your new ball!"
But now we sit here and think of the days
We were treated so fondly - we had cute baby ways,
Once we were little, then we grew and we grew,
Now we're no longer young and we're no longer new.

So out the back door we were thrown like the trash,
They reacted so quickly - why were they so rash?
We "jump on the children, don't come when they call",
We "bark when they leave us, climb over the wall".
We should have been neutered; we should have been spayed,
Now we suffer the consequences of the errors they made.

If only they'd trained us, if only we knew,
We'd have done what they asked us and worshipped them too.
We were left in the backyard, or worse - left to roam,
Now we're tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us goodbye,
"Maybe someone else will give you a try".

So now here we are, all confused and alone,
In a shelter with others who long for a home.
The workers come through with a meal and a pat,
With so many to care for, they can't stay to chat.
They move to the next kennel, giving each of us cheer,
We know that they wonder how long we'll be here.
We lay down to sleep and sweet dreams fill our heads,
Of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.
Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears,
Our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.

If you can't adopt us and there's no room at the Inn,
Could you help with the bills, and fill our food bin?
We count on your kindness each day of the year,
Can you give more than hope to everyone here?
Please make a donation to pay for the heat,
And help us get something special to eat.
The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
And more of us will if more people give.

Author unknown
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT PETS ARE NOT JUST A CHRISTMAS GIFT, THEY ARE AT LEAST A 15 YEAR COMMITMENT TO ANOTHER LIVING THING!!!!!!
PLEASE HAVE YOUR PET SPAYED OR NEUTERED!!!!!!!! WE CAN HELP STOP PET OVERPOPULATION!!!!!!

Alice in Wonderland series....Part 2 & 3 White Rabbit & Alice

2009-12-16T15:37:00.005-05:00

I've been so busy painting, preparing for Christmas, and keeping the house in order that I haven't posted in a few days. This last weekend, we went to a Cat Show in Vero Beach and we both really enjoyed that. I fell even more in love with hairless Sphynx cats. I think hubby did too. We brought home a new toy for the kitties and they have been fighting over it all week. I got my new camera (an early Christmas present) so I have been learning to use it and installing stuff on the computer for it. I hope to be able to use it for my artwork. My other camera is only good for close ups, which is what I need for my jewelry. I wanted one with enough megapixels to actually be able to print the pics out and have exceptional quality. Currently, I have had to keep all my artwork under 8 X 10 inches for scanning.
I have all my "far away" family's gifts shipped off, Christmas cards are finished, and I only have my husband's gift left. He keeps changing his mind. Santa is growing impatient.
I hope all of you are enjoying the season (and all the many baked treats that come with it!)
Here are my two newest pieces of the White Rabbit and Alice. They, along with the Cheshire Cat are all available as prints in my Etsy store now. Chat with you later!

Alice in Wonderland series....Part 1

2009-12-09T21:56:00.002-05:00

Some of you may have seen my post a few months back that showcased a larger painting I had shipped off to Somerset Studio in hopes of making the March 2010 issue dedicated to Alice In Wonderland. As per their guidelines, I may not receive it back until 9-12 months after I shipped it. I've wanted to expand on this theme and do some smaller 8 X 10 mixed media collage paintings, so I started on that this week. I plan to do the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, Alice, The Mad Hatter, and the Queen. Here is the finished Cheshire Cat. I will have the print and the painting available in my Etsy store in the next day or so. I started on the White Rabbit today. Hope they make you smile! I'll have the newest one to show to you soon!

Sharing time

2009-12-07T14:27:00.003-05:00

It's Monday sharing time! I have 9 pieces of new jewelry to list in my Etsy store tonight so I thought I would share a pic of one of the necklaces I am diggin' right now. Some of you know I am obsessed with birds. I often find ways to add them to my paintings and jewelry. So, here's a happy yellow birdie necklace, and a pic of my two kitties (who normally despise each other) sharing a "blanket fort" in the recliner last night. ( : Snuggly kitties always bring a smile to my face! Check out my store later tonight...there's still plenty of time to pick up some online Christmas gifts! All the new pieces will be under $35!

Do your OWN stinkin' laundry!

2009-12-03T11:22:00.002-05:00

This lady may be smiling, but deep down, she's ready to tell you what to do with all that laundry. Perfect for all the mom's and wives who long to be free from the piles of laundry that continually multiply like rabbits. I created this after doing 4 loads of laundry yesterday. LOL I also have a Sepia (brown/neutral) one available on Etsy.

Holiday Deals sales have ended, BUT....

2009-12-02T11:16:00.002-05:00

I plan to still offer a Buy 2, Get the 3rd print free sale in my Artwork By Lori store on Etsy for the rest of December.
I just added a new print on Monday, and will be adding the actual painting it came from soon.
Here's a pic of the painting/print. I am off to get dressed and run some errands, then hopefully back to creating. My bad mood over the past few days caused my Muse to take a hike. She was feeling sad and useless. I am pretty sure she was sitting in a coffee shop in Minneapolis somewhere, sipping hot apple cider and watching snowflakes fall.

Holiday Deals and Black Friday Sales!

2009-11-25T15:43:00.001-05:00

Just a quick post to let you know that I am offering FREE SHIPPING & A FREE GIFT with each order from my The Royal Bead jewelry store on Etsy!

Also, in my Artwork By Lori store on Etsy, all my prints are BUY 2, GET ONE FREE WITH FREE SHIPPING! These sales will end Tuesday, Dec. 1st.

Different, yet still the same.

2009-11-24T19:37:00.004-05:00

Here's the painting I have been working on for the past week or so. The title is "Different, yet still the same." As people, we are all unique, but as women, it is important to remember that we are so much alike...we share a lot of the same feelings and experiences. We are all connected. Also, while it's great to have things in common with your friends, the differences make the relationships even more interesting. We can learn from each other and share our view points and talents.

The painting is mixed media (acrylic paint, ink, colored pencil, paper collage) and measures 20" X 16". I will be adding it to my Etsy store within the next day or so.

It's been a while...

2009-11-21T15:13:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I posted. I didn't realize it had been over a week. I don't even know for sure what managed to suck up so much time, but I know the past week has been very busy, and I feel like I've spent a lot of time on the phone, ordering supplies, painting, cleaning, getting more car repairs, and my most favorite...watching NEW MOON!
I went last night with a gal pal from church, and we had a blast. I couldn't do the midnight showing on Thursday. I don't operate well on little sleep. We really loved the movie, and because we purchased & picked up our tickets ahead of time, everything went very smoothly. We got there an hour before it started and got perfect seats. There was a lot of estrogen in that theater! LOL My friend said it felt like a huge slumber party, only at the movie theater. I think she was right.
This morning I had to get up early to go help with practice for our church's Primary program. The youth, ages 3-11, will be speaking and singing during sacrament meeting. I came home, ate some soup, and ended up napping. Now, I am going to work on my painting for a while and hopefully get it finished by Monday. I need to put together some more jewelry too. Busy, busy.
I hope everyone has had a nice week, and will have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. There are so many things I am thankful for. I'll be sharing my new painting soon. Hope you'll stop by again!

It's the little things you miss....

2009-11-12T17:01:00.003-05:00

It has been, what seems like, ages since I've been able to open a window in this house and let in some fresh air. The sticky 90 degree weather finally took a hike (at least for now) and it was in the 60's and cloudy today. I don't mind the clouds, because they keep the heat down. I am happy to report that I did not sweat today. ( :

I am currently working on a new painting titled "Different, but still the same." I've been busy designing and posting on my new blog, Thrifty Artist. I also have something else in the works, but I won't know if it's 100% till tomorrow, so I won't mention it just yet. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I got a Fortune cookie today that said, "He who goes after what he wants, gets it." I hope that comes true.

Well, I have to run and fix some dinner. I am making a new recipe I tried out while Rob was out of town. Its a Chinese Ginger & Scallion Noodle dish. Delish! Take care, and stop by again soon!

Looking to create art economically? Everyone needs to save some money!

2009-11-10T17:03:00.001-05:00

I just started a new blog! I'll be posting tips on creating economically & great deals on art supplies. I plan to share some of my own tips/secrets and host guest posts also. Guests will get a link to their website or online store along with their posted tip! http://thriftyartist.blogspot.com/
I hope to share my first tip on Wednesday! Stop on over, and don't forget to become a Follower so you don't miss out on anything!

All in all, it was a good weekend!

2009-11-08T21:14:00.000-05:00

My only sister got married when I was 12, so I spent a lot of time being, what seemed like, an "only child." Therefore, I learned at an early age to keep myself busy. I enjoy being around others, but I never get bored by myself. My husband was out of town for the past 4 days. I went shopping by myself for some new fall clothes. I went to a new craft store and got some fun supplies. I watched Twilight for the 3rd time (yes, I am pathetic) while eating chocolate ice cream. I finished a 3 piece painting, cleaned the house, cleaned the car and got an oil change, and even managed to go through my sock & underwear drawer and get rid of old stuff. I magically found time for a nap. All in all, it was a good weekend. I did my best to keep my mind off of the news. So many bad things had happened this week and I could feel myself slipping into a dark place. There are very many angry people in the world. It is impossible not to occasionally be angry BUT how we deal with that anger is what's important. People these days immediately act on their feelings without thought of consequence or caring for others. We really need to stop and ask ourselves if we are treating others as we want to be treated. My thoughts and prayers go out to those that lost family and friends in the Fort Hood and Orlando shootings last week.
Anyways, painting always helps me get my mind off things. I hope you all had a good weekend. Here's the Triptych painting called "Chocolate Circles" that I listed in my Etsy store tonight.

November is here! Hooray!

2009-11-02T07:58:00.003-05:00

I am very much looking forward to cooler weather, which hasn't arrived yet in FL. It is still near 90. I am actually enjoying the time change. I seem to have more energy, and am waking up an hour earlier on my own. I got more done this morning, and was actually awake to do it!
I spent Sunday afternoon and into the evening sorting through 2 boxes of photos and old mementos. It took a long time to get everything organized into albums, mainly because I had to stop and reminisce and have a good laugh at most of the photos. I also found a packet of old family pics from my mother's side of the family that I had used for a family tree project in college. I will be giving them back to her, so I did some scans for my personal collection. I found one particularly lovely picture of my grandmother from when she was a young woman, and decided to spice it up in Photoshop. It had some defects and spots from age, so I fixed those, added a touch of color, and an antique looking worn finish to the edges. Here's the final pic! I plan to send a copy to my mother too, of course! Have a lovely Monday!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T17:45:00.002-04:00

BOO!

I Halloween'd myself in Photoshop for fun. ( : I didn't buy anything at the bead show yesterday, and it ended up being a total waste of time. I won't bother driving to the Orlando G&LW show again. Too many people (some talking on their cell phones and blocking booths), wholesale prices were closer to retail, and most of the booths didn't have their strands even priced. You had to ask, and there weren't nearly enough workers to get an answer from. The one company I had hoped to buy a lot from and set up a continuous shipment of beads, didn't even bring their beads. They told me they were too lazy to pack them up. I was told I should come to their Dallas showroom instead. Yeah, like I am going to spend a couple hundred dollars on airfare and hotel. That eats into the profit I wanted to make from selling them as supplies. There was a horrible accident ahead of me on the way home, and 2 people were ejected from their car and died. I had driven 40 minutes and had to turn around and drive 40 minutes back to get on the turnpike instead. It was an all in all bad day. I was just glad to make it home safe.
Hopefully this week will be better. We get our car back on Wednesday. I'm glad I was able to catch up on cleaning and laundry today at least.
Well, hope you all have safe and fun Halloween! Talk to you soon....Lori

I'm a bad girl

2009-10-29T14:54:00.002-04:00

...when it comes to blogging lately. I remember when I used to do it pretty much every day. I've still be dealing with car repairs, car rental, phone calls, house work, and church activities this week and feel like I haven't gotten any art done. I have been trying to do some of the painted beads I used to make. I needed a little change. I have a 3 panel painting in the works, but haven't been able to dive in yet, because of all the car craziness. Boy, I wish Progressive could reimburse me for time lost due to this mess. Our car won't be done until next Wednesday, and I am driving a rental until then. I am grateful the driver who hit my husband had insurance and that it is all being taken care of though. Everyone is fine, and no one got hurt. Glad for that too. Well, I gotta drag myself away, and get back to painting some ceramic beads. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I am (hopefully) headed to a bead show in Orlando tomorrow. Yay!

Glad the weekend is over

2009-10-25T20:44:00.002-04:00

I usually don't say I am glad a weekend is over, but this one wasn't very pleasant. After I posted about the computer crash, etc....my husband came home and informed me that he had been rear ended by a tail-gater. So, we will be down to one car this week, and that one car is the non-dependable one. The good car got smashed up. It was only a matter of time. People here in Florida drive like a bunch of nutzos. Sadly, I may end up missing the bead show in Orlando I have been planning on going to for months. I haven't gotten to go in 2 yrs. I am considering renting a car for a day so I can go. I will just have to see how the week pans out. A good friend of mine has had a loss in her family, and I just found out. It's been a rather sad weekend.
Hopefully I will have something more positive to share this week. For now, I will just leave you with a pic of my newest painting. Still stuck on the bird theme. LOL

Crash, fail.

2009-10-24T12:03:00.002-04:00

My lovely computer crashed on me this morning. I had been up most the night, tossing and turning. I got my regular flu show yesterday morning, and my art hurt so bad I couldn't get comfortable enough to sleep. I took an ibuprofin at 6am, went back to bed, and woke up at 9 am. I turned my computer on, and chaos ensued. Three hours later, it is fixed and everything is reinstalled. What a pain in the butt. I also had a fever this morning....another side effect of the shot.
I am hoping the day improves. Sadly, it is half over already! I am still in my pajamas, and it is noon.
I did finish another painting yesterday, and hope to get it photographed and listed soon.
I added this new graphic art design art print to my Etsy store last night. I have it available in blue, tan, black, and green. I had to do something humorous to lift my spirits!
Have a great weekend!

New Jewelry Monday!

2009-10-19T10:10:00.003-04:00

I started adding new jewelry to my The Royal Bead Etsy Store last night, and just finished this morning. I'll share a few pieces with you. Mondays are busy days as always, so I have to post and run. I'd love to stay and chat, but the clock is ticking! Have a super Monday! I'll check in later when I have slowed down a bit. ( :

My newest painting...it's a BIG one!

2009-10-12T10:47:00.006-04:00

Here's the painting that I finished last Friday. This is the one that on Monday I hated, and by Friday, I was in love with. Sometimes, the paintings that give me the most grief, turn out to be my favorites. Odd, huh? This one measures 24" X 36" and is done a stretched, canvas with staple free sides. It is a mixed media piece done with acrylic paint (including textured paint), vintage text paper, scrapbook paper, and colored pencil. I can't seem to get away from the bird theme these days. ( :