My first Blog award =}

My new blogging friend Lori gave me this award this week =} This is my first blogging award, a HUGE thank you to LORI for giving me this award, I feel special =D


Now, I'm supposed to pick 7 of my fave blogs and nominate them, too.

so here goes.....

Here are the rules:
(1) The winner can put the logo on their blog.
(2) Link the person you received your award from.
(3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
(4) Put links of those on yours.
(5) Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.

So, here are my nominations!

1. Artsy Visions by Kelly Burton- Visions into art, altered art, collage and mixed media.

2. Fresh Picked Whimsey- a wonderfully talented illustrator with so much creativity

3. The Art & Musings of Shellyraewood - An eye popping blog filled with beautiful mixed media creations!

4. The Last Door Down the Hall - A lovely blog filled with all sorts of creations, recipes and more!
5. Misti Rose Ramblings of a Scrambled Mind - A lovely blog filled with deep thoughts and artistic creations

6. Debby's Stuff - A wonderful blog filled with many facets of an artists life

7. Altered State of Mind - A gorgeous blog filled with gorgeous altered/mixed media art

My Wordle...

I was browsing some of my favorite blogs and learned about Wordle. I thought it was really neat! I just wanted to share my little wordle creation.... You will probably have to click on it to see it in larger form :) create one of your own at http://wordle.net/

They arent dogs, they're terminators (lol)

Our dogs Honey, and Cooper LOVE to play with toys, and we try to always go and get them something special to play with when they are good (which believe me is rarely lol) Its hard to find toys for them that they dont obliterate within a few minutes. They love chewing things into little bits and pieces, so that I have to clean it all up (of course) And if it has stuffing in it, FORGET ABOUT IT! Its a gonner in seconds! Soooo Tim found a package of tennis balls that had little bells in the middle. We figured, that typically tennis balls are safe and I've never seen a dog chew a tennis ball into a million pieces so we thought it was PERFECT! Guess... What.... WRONG!

There were 3 tennis balls in the package and so there wasnt any disagreements between the two noggin heads we gave each a ball.... One of the balls was in shambles so badly that I didnt even bother to take a picture of it, I just vacuumed it up and put it to rest... that was Coopers ball. Honey's ball was almost destroyed but I got it away from her just in time to take a picture of it. I put the last new ball beside of it so you could see what it looked like before and then after the terrors got ahold of it. lol. I couldnt believe that they did this. The little bugger's could probably chew steal into tiny bits! lol.

Poor ball... it never had a chance!

'Detach'- Illustration Friday

The challenge on Illustration Friday [http://www.illustrationfriday.com] was DETACH... I instantly thought of that as losing someone or seperating from someone. What is more heartbreaking then seeing a child have to say goodbye to a parent or loved one? Especially seeing Soldier's say goodbye to their families. So I drew this ACEO depicting that. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of the word :)

Wood Carving....

I have been trying a new sort of art form the last couple of days... wood carving. Nothing too detailed or extremely difficult... I am just trying to do something different for a change. My hubby bought me a Dremel Rotary tool over the weekend and I jumped into teaching myself how to use it. So I created this little pendants on a whim. My best friend Ginger liked the W.V one so much that she requested one for her with her initials and her fiance's initials. So out of the excitement of it all, I jumped into making it today :) These are the things I have come up with these last couple of days.....



Im not to thrilled with the way the look using the scanner. Because of the gloss varnish I used the scans seem to show crackles or bubbles or something that arent really there. It must be the glare from the scanner light or something Im not to sure. I think the last 'native' looking set might be made into earrings tomorrow, I think they would be really nice looking as earrings. Like I said, Im not exactly the best at carving but its something different to interest me so that I have a break from drawing that ridiculously HUGE piece I have been working on for the last 2 weeks! Sighs... I was not thinking when I started that sucker!

Art-Is-You

This was shared with me in an art group, and I wanted to share it with all of my art friends....


http://www.art-is-you.com/pages/Swaps.htm

a.. Art Is...Saying a little prayer for me...
This Prayer Flag swap is open to anyone who wants to share a prayer, a blessing, a thought with another. It will be a four for three swap. The fourth flag will be joined into a banner and auctioned for Breast Cancer. Stacey Apeitos has kindly shared this link for the challenge - Prayer Flags.

If you can not attend Art Is... and wish to participate, please send your prayer flags by October 1, 2008 and include $5:00 and address label for return shipping.

b.. Art Is...Walk a Day in My Shoes
Find a shoe (visit your local op shop). Cover it in paper, paint, beads, words, fiber, trim - nothing is off limits! Then in 100 words or less, tell us who this shoe/s belongs to and why.

Please include $5:00 and address label for return shipping. If you would like to swap your shoe with another, please indicate this.

All shoes will be photographed and published with their stories into a once off Zine to raise money for the Breast Form Fund. Contributions should be received by October 1, 2008.

c.. Art Is...Comfort Dolls from Our Community
Comfort Dolls from Our Community is a local charitable organization dedicated to helping children and young adults by distributing hand-made dolls to those individuals who have been involved in crisis situations. Dolls are sent across the USA and around the world - anywhere where there is a child or young adult in need of comfort.

Please consider bringing to Art Is...2008 or sending to us, one or two dolls for collection.Any handmade doll whether made from cloth, clay, porcelain, wood etc will be accepted.

We will photograph all dolls and contributors will receive a small zine with all dolls recorded. If mailing your contribution to us, please include your full contact details. Contributions should be received by October 1, 2008.

d.. Art Is...Home Free
This is a challenge with a twist!

We challenge our Teachers...
We challenge our Blogging friends...
We challenge our Yahoo Group friends...
We challenge our Sponsors...
We challenge You...

These homes are ready to be altered and then auctioned. Proceeds will be split between your group's chosen charity and The Breast Form Fund. For full details, please contact us.

e.. ART IS ... SPEAKING
We encourage you to follow the suggestion of the Yarn Goddess and support ART NOW for Autism, by making a pin. Join Cloth Paper Studio Yahoo Group to post your contribution.

http://www.art-is-you.com/pages/Swaps.htm

Check out this Sale!

In the group Paper Imagery Designs this sale was posted and I wanted to share it with everyone...

This sale is 20% off ALL orders!!! Use coupon code yahoo That makes your collage sheets ONLY $3.20 Lots of new sheets have been added Fairy Wands, Amber and Jenna, DaVinciSketches, David, Madelin, Claire, Animal Prints, Victorian Women, PrettyWomen Inchies..Tim Holtz Stamps only $19.16 to $15.96 Stampington Stamps only $18.36, $14.36 or $11.40 Character Construction Stamps only $12.76 Use coupon code yahoo if you forget to add the code it can be adjusted it for you.

Check it out at:
http://www.paperimagerydesigns.com

Custom Harley Tattoo Designs

I created these 2 tattoo designs this week for my father in law, Bob. He requested a custom tattoo by me, to cover up another tattoo that he has on his arm. I hope he likes them... they were fun to create!

New Drawing- "Dogwood Blossom"

Today I completed this drawing... I simply call it 'Dogwood Blossom' because well thats what it is (lol). I took the photo at the beginning of April at the park and just knew I wanted to draw it. So I did :) Its not a large drawing, just an 8x10 but thats ok. I didnt want to do anything too huge. I have this drawing for sell at Ande's Custom Creations for $40. Thanks so much for taking the time to view my artwork!

Honey's New "Do"

I just had to share a pic of Honey that I took today. Over the weekend I primped Honey up by giving her a new hair cut, clipping and grooming her nails, and a nice long bath (where she ended up falling asleep during the entire experience lol) She's been so perky and prissy the last few days. I really love her new 'do' and I really think she does too! She doesnt like her picture being taken and usually turns away from the camera when I get it out... but today she decided to pose for me *lol* I tried to take a picture of Diesel (the cat) with Cooper and Honey (the dogs) but forget doing that... they are such wiggle worms *lol*

Results of the art show...

So I thought I would share the results of the Art Show I attended last week. :) Im really proud to say that I received 10 ribbons in total :) I received 1 best in show, 2 first place, 1 second place, 2 third place, and 5 participation ribbons :) I was really really shocked and am sooo proud too. I didnt really show how happy or excited I was because I was in total shock the entire time *lol* These are all of the ribbons and I took a few pics of the pieces with the ribbons I received for each one. I couldnt believe that the John Wayne piece was the one to receive best in show and 1st place. I really thought another one would instead....

My friend created a chunky art book and sent it my way to participate in... these are the last 3 pages of the book that I created. I really love the raven/wish page. Im not really thrilled with the Wicked page but my friend really enjoys things like that so I was trying to make a page that went along with things she liked. I was just trying to do a little collage in it. Its really not my favorite but I hope my friend likes it :) Just thought I would share :)

How many have your name?

I really thought this was a cool and just wanted to share it =)

~Andrea~

HowManyOfMe.com

There is 1 person with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?