The Pleasures of Comfort

Another post from long ago that I thought I'd share again.
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While we all want our rooms to look nice (I know I DO), we often neglect the obvious: comfort. If a room doesn't have comfortable seating the room won't feel right. I see a lot of rooms that have stiff formal chairs that in no way would be pleasant to sit on. I've been in homes where the sofa requires an extra hand to get an elderly person up from the sofa. That is too low. Or the sofa that is so soft/cushy we sink into it so much that we feel lost in it. How about the dining room chair that is so hard on our bottoms or back that we can't wait to get out of it?! I've had that happen. A couple of times my back has ached for a couple of days after eating at friend's homes. When dinner is through, retire to the living or family room for comfort.

As we get older we notice these things more, but we should always be aware of and consider these things when we are purchasing items for our homes. I once even bought a new sofa because of the little old ladies who would visit me. I wanted them to sit higher and not so low. Think about it.
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A Rose I'm Happy With!!

I just had to share this rose I did this afternoon and am just so happy with it! I've got one I'm actually pleased with. I'm on a roll now, chicks!! LOL Please click to see it up close. It really is quite adequate. ;-)

A Little Project and a SurpriiiIIIIiisssseee!!!

I've just been informed that it is Shannon who posted this idea about the framed plates. Thanks, Lyn!!! I appreciate it, sweetpea........

A little project I saw the other day. I'd give credit if I could remember who in the world it was! I simply can't because my mind can't keep up. Remember I'm an "old lady" and perhaps becoming senile, sweet chicks?!?! Hmmmmmmm, no matter.......

Anyway, she had some old frames she didn't know what to do with and put some little plates in them. I did the same thing only I did it with butter pats. I have about 7 that just sit in my china cabinet so I thought that since I had some extra frames sitting around here that I'd do the same thing. Little vintage roses and violets butter pats will now adorn my walls.........uhhhhh, somewhere in this house!

I think this is the very first bird's nest that I painted. Not too bad but I'm improving.

This is a special painting I did for someone as a surprise and she'll get it in the mail in a couple of days. It's a giant very whimsical cupcake!! I think she'll be surrRRrpriiiiisssSSSSeddddd!!

And these are my friday, 9/19, practice roses. PinkkkkkK!! When I say it this way it's like emphasizing the K at the end. Get it??? PinkkkkkK!!! LOL

Ordinariness

A post from about a year ago that is entirely appropriate now also. I thought I'd post it again because as I've said, we don't go back and read the old ones.

Some of my old tablecloths.

There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Of course, we have special events in our lives, but ordinary days need to be celebrated also. You have power over your daily life; no one else. What you do with it is entirely up to you. Celebrate even the mundane daily tasks. As I've said before, I like to putter. For me that can be taking apart a sock drawer and weeding out the socks with holes in them to discard or the silverware drawer and cleaning out the little crumbs that get in there. It can be re-arranging my office or a shelf in my office or living room or just the pictures and "fluff" on the wall. It can be "seeing the room with a different eye" and thinking "Ah, yes, I can do "this or that" there and a little "tweak" over here. It can be draping a beautiful silk scarf over an end table or coffee table or dining table. Little things make a difference. Whatever it is, look at it differently!
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Pursuing Your "Passion"!

It was about 2 years ago now that I first gave any serious thought to painting roses. The first picture below was my first attempt at viewing a video while pursuing a fluffy kind of rose. I flunked royally!! I've said it before and will say it again that my roses will never rival the popular artist of the day. They need have no fear of me! Trust me on this, I'm no serious threat to anyone, but I do have an aim/goal in life and that is to satisfy this passion in me to at least paint a decent rose painting. I want them a bit shabby and sort of impressionistic–oh, not in the true sense of impressionism, but in what I would call just a "hint" of being a rose. I think I've succeeded in that. It may not be everyone's "cup of tea" but I don't aim to please anyone but ME. ;-) It has been a real struggle, especially since we have no artists in this area who can or will teach a class and I have absolutely no inherent talent. ;-) Even Michael's recently told me they've cut their painting classes for anything. That was hard to take, but I could get a class on making Wilton roses outta nougat or paste or some such thing. Nuuuuuuu, I told the lady. I wanna paint a rose. She looked at me sadly and said, "Good luck." So I just practice, practice, practice and show my incredibly "unartistic" "ROSE." You can see my "progression" below but just bear in mind that the colors I use are for practicing and I can see how the colors form the rose. I am doing this on that awful ole newsprint and it's kind of a grayish recycled color background so I've made little dabs of color to see how it looks on different colored backgrounds. Some of these practice pages I've shown before but I've gone back over the roses with other colors and "redone" them - such as it is. I'm becoming more satisfied with the "consistency" of them anyway.

Now, why do I post this to show you??? Well, it's not about becoming perfect as an artist; it's about pursuing your passion. I'm a "passionate" person by nature and don't give up very easily on much of anything. But I have a passion for painting a rose or at least giving it a try. If you have a passion - no matter WHAT it is - pursue it. Don't give a hoot what others think or say. Don't even ask for their opinion; although, there are many who will give it without you even having to ask. But don't ask! It is your passion and yours to pursue. Don't listen to them or let them deter you from your passion to do whatever you want. (Within legal limits, of course. I mean I don't want you to become the perfect bank robber!) So that's why I post my "roses" for you to see and to keep me humble. I truly only care about what "I" think. Others can say whatever they want but I don't care one whit. Although, I have to admit my ebay group has been extraordinarily supportive and kind in their comments and encouragement of me. I probably drive them nuts though at times!! LOL Go forth and pursue your dreams. Enough said!!

I have to admit that this one pretty much looks like my hair on a "bad hair day" though!! LOL