blog's: December 2010

Happy New Year!

What a crazy year. Seriously, ups, downs, middles, late nights, early mornings, great people. I truly have loads to be thankful for as this year comes to a close. I have wonderful friends and loved ones, I'm employed, and I've become friends with all of YOU! You all have been such a huge part of making this year what it has been, and for that, I'm eternally grateful! You helped me reached my goal of 365 days, and helped me make the decision to keep going. You've understood and been patient when there are days (or multiple days) since I got the second job where I really just don't have the time to create a nail design and post it. You've emailed me ideas, you've offered both praise and criticism, and most of all, you've changed my life.

As we embark upon this new year ahead of us, I will do my best to continue to make this blog a place for inspiration and laughs, and make it a place you still like to visit.

My blog resolution is to make more time to respond to emails and posts (I DO read them all!!) and make sure I get swatching and reviews done in a timely manner.

And, now to the nails...

I used Orly Luxe as a base, with Color Club Sultry Diva over it. For the New Year Baby and Old Man Time, I used American Apparel Mannequin for the skin, American Apparel Hassid to outline, and MAC Vestral White for the white on the robes, sashes, and diaper. For Old Man Time's beard, I added a touch of American Apparel Hassid to the white to paint the beard, and for the scythe I used American Apparel Raccoon for the handle, and China Glaze Millennium for the blade. Topped it all off with 2 coats of Seche Vite.

So... Happy New Year! May 2011 be the best so far, but not the best to come.

2010 - WHAT A YEAR!

This past year I:
• had paintings published in a book, The Best of American Watermedia, Vol. II;
• was featured on Chris Beck’s blog, Brush-Paper-Water; http://brush-paper-water.blogspot.com
• was in my first invitational show “My House” at Art Beyond Boundaries Gallery in Cincinnati, OH in April/May with one piece sold
• taught several Art in the Country! weekend workshops in my home;
• taught three Saturday classes for DHAC;
• taught three series of classes for the Cincinnati Recreation Commission;
• taught two workshops for local organizations;
• chaired the ViewPoint show for the second year (click here for a list of artists; click here for photos of the winners;
• attended a Nick Simmons workshop;
• went on two of my husband’s cattle seminars, one in Chattanooga, TN and one in Holmes County, OH;
• traveled with friends;
• attended my annual painting retreat;
• once again had 3 paintings accepted into the Bethesda Foundation show;
• had paintings accepted into both of the Georgia Watercolor Society shows, and won an award and sold one painting there;
and last but not least:
• had a heart attack.

Following the heart attack, I have stepped back from some activities – I just can’t push myself so hard any more.

2010
My last year’s resolutions were – and their result is:
Learn to paint portraits – yep – this one follows me around like a bad penny and is on the top of my list again this year! - (This is ditto from last year!) Obviously, I failed miserably at this one.
Post 104 blog posts for 2010! – I made this goal, having posted more than 120 in 2010!

2011
This year I resolve to:
Learn to paint portraits. (You will be sick of seeing this one!)
FOCUS and spend more time painting for ME!
Take a few short trips with friends!
Take better care of my health.

Here’s hoping that you all have a safe, joyful New Year, filled with the love of family and friends.

See you in 2011!

Happy New Year! Thrasher's Skatepark ROund up!

From al of us at Vans, we wish you a happy new year.
Here's some of the best of Thrasher's Skatepark ROund Up
with the Vans team to send off 2010 in style:

Anticipation

by Kelli Pope

" The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings." Dave Weinbaum

As the year comes to a close, I usually find myself looking forward to some "down time". Months of art shows, private showings, and making jewelry during the Fall and over Christmas usually leaves me longing for time out of the studio. While things will be less hectic, I am anticipating new projects in the new year. Early this year, with the very gracious help of Mary Ann Carroll, and some private lessons with a local potter, I made some of my own ceramic beads. It was SO much fun. I was lucky enough to be at the potter's when they opened the kiln after firing the last of my beads. It's like that feeling of seeing all the gifts under the tree on Christmas morning when you're a child. WOW!!!! It was SO cool!!!

I knew I was hooked, and would have to create more. And I knew I could do better. These are my first runs.

"All glory comes from daring to begin." Eugene F. Ware

I've said all year, my goal was to purchase a kiln, and start that new adventure. Unfortunately, as often happens, life got in the way, and I did not get my kiln. But I anticipate it will be a purchase in 2011. Until that happens, I have a WONDERFUL friend who has agreed to fire my beads for me. So instead of "down time" this winter, I'll be making beads, and will finally, finally, finally get to play with some of the beautiful patinas I purchased from Shannon LeVart. Can't WAIT to see the creations, that now, I can only imagine.

" Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." Maya Angelou

May you all have a very successful 2011.

On the Beat with Christy Hemme

Wizard World is one of my favorite conventions. I have attended and covered several of the events in Chicago and elsewhere and have always had a great time. The vendors, artists and celebrity guests are all very people (and reporter) friendly.
At the last WW con in Chicago, I caught up with Christy Hemme. I have interviewed Hemme a couple times in the past and she is always ready to talk about her music, travel or wrestling. She is an excellent spokesperson for TNA Wrestling.

Fans can knock TNA Wrestling for a lot of reasons, but one thing nobody can deny is that they are extremely fan-oriented. They have a lot of fan events and much of the talent is accessible. At WW, fellow TNA star Mick Foley also talked to us and Kevin Nash posed with us, but we missed the interview times.

Thanks to Wizard World, TNA Wrestling and Christy Hemme for the time and consideration.They never tell me to write nice things, but this is what they deserve.

Haunting of Harrowstone

Hey everybody! Heres something I did for Paizo publishing a little while ago. Theres a lot more of these coming, been having a lot of fun with the covers!

I'll post up the process soon when I have a bit more time :)

(click to enlarge)

Metal! W.A.S.P. - The Torture Never Stops

A Forever Message...

by MaryAnn Carroll

With the year ending and a new one beginning, I want to thank everyone who has followed our blog, participated in both our giveaways and our Call-to-Create challenges. One of our members, Mary Jane Dodd so often shares a part of herself and her wisdom with others. In 2010 many of her pieces were created with a message that the owner will wear and share with others each time they put it on. For the new year, here is a compilation of messages that might touch you as we approach 2011.

Happy New Year...

A minute of Van Wastell Footage

The Radio Active Kids posted a minute
of Van Wastell footage from his stay in Berlin in 2004.
Van, you are missed.

Radio Active Kids - Radioskateboards Part 05 from radio activekids on Vimeo.

Two Classics: Hosoi & Dollin

If you're snowed in here's 2 classics to keep you stoked.
Hosoi in Speed Freaks from 1989 & Dollin in On Video from 2003:

On the Beat With Greg Evans

Yesterday, I wrote about receiving a signed Luann comic strip and a personal note from Greg Evans, the creator of Luann. I decided to try to contact Evans and ask him a few questions. Evans responded very quickly and positively. My questions and his answers are below.

Q:How have you kept Luann fresh and relevant for so long?
Evans:The evolution of Luann has been unconscious - that is, I've been led by the characters steady development over the years. As they've grown more complex and "real" so has the strip. They've never been fixed in time; they live in today's world.

Q:How did it feel the first time you saw Luann in a bookstore and were asked for an autograph?
Evans:GREAT! Until I noticed that the store had 4 copies of the Luann book and 185 of Fox Trot. Being asked for an autograph is a genuine compliment to me. I've never considered it a nuisance or invasion - unless it's "Could you sign your name and draw all your characters on this stack of 3x5 cards?"

Q:Have you given thought to aging Luann into an adult?
Evans:If I keep aging Luann, she'll turn into Cathy. I'm not sure I need to go there. Again, the characters will tell me when they're ready to age.

Q:Have your children ever expressed concern that part of their lives would end up in a Luann strip?
Evans:No. In th early years, when my kids were teens, I was careful not to put anything in the strip that might embarrass them. For instance, when I did the story about Luann getting her first period, I did it well in advance of my own daughter's experience.

Q:What is your favorite location?
Evans:Home. I like to travel (well, actually, I hate to TRAVEL - I just like BEING somewhere. Give me that Star Trek Transporter, please) but I'm always eager to get home. I like the comfy rut.

Evans has been creating Luann strips for newspapers since March 17, 1985. He has tackled socially relevant and important issues over the years, while always keeping the humor and warmth that Luann fans enjoy. Luann has aged a bit since her debut and her world has expanded, but we can always count on the comic strip to brighten the day. Evans has created Luann, her family and friends with
Evans has had more than 20 Luann books published, including his latest Luann 25 Years, which can (and should) be purchased from the Luann site. If you order from his site, Evans will sign the book and the first 200 people will get a free Luann Musical cd (yes, there also was a Luann musical. How cool is that?).
Thanks to Greg Evans for answering my questions and for so many years of enjoyment from Luann.

Bye 2010

I willingly decided this year to spending New Years Eve in my room at the computer, depriving the world of my company.

Oh, fret not fair world! For I have made a list of some of the cooly-est things of this year, based on my own biases opinion.

This year wasn't too bad and there was a pretty decent amount of awesomeness to it.

Feature Film:

- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World / Inception

Music Album:

- Best Coast | Crazy For You

Television:

- Adventure Time (cartoon network)

Video Game:

- Vanguard Princess 1.07c (doujin pc game)

Anime:

- Katanagatari

Unexpected Coolness:

- DC Universe Animated Original Movies:

> Batman: Under the Red Hood (Didn't think it was going to be good... and I was wrong)

Patchwork mani

I was extremely bored last night and needed some ideas of what to do with my nails. I didn't want to do any Konad or any difficult freehand design. I was reading everyone's blogs and I ran into a post by Chloe of Chloe's Nails of a Patchwork mani. I thought to myself how do you do that without it being to messy and I read on and she made a wonderful tutorial! So I followed it step by step and here's what I got.

I used China Glaze Pool Party,

Wet N Wild Black,

Sally Hansen Nail Prisms Purple diamond

Mani reminded me of the 80s so I decided to put on a 3 finger ring.

I got into it with a shovel and as you can see the shovel won!

I think this was very sucessful thank to the wonderful tutorial by Chloe! Check out her blog she has great designs.

It's a TWO-fer!

Hey all!! Two things for you today…

I know I've been kinda M.I.A. lately, I promise I'll be back! Been working from 8 am - 11 pm every day, which means i don't usually get home till 11:45-midnight. After this week and the holidays are over, my life should be ever so slightly less chaotic, so I'll be back to posting more regularly!

Also, there is a CROWN Brush sale on Hautelook today! I have a couple of their brushes that I purchased at the International Beauty Show this year, and I love them! :)

The sale includes several different types of brush sets, travel, professional, synthetic, non-synthetic, as well as a few different eyeshadow and lip palettes!

It's a great way to start a brush collection if you're starting out!

Check out the sale HERE!

TNT footage on Thrasher

Thrasher posted a little Christmas Sprinkle with Trujillo

Torch-Fired Enamel Beads with Murrini

by Barbara Lewis

Hi all, I'm getting ready for To Bead True Blue and the Tucson Bead Show by torch-firing some enamel beads with murrini. I am loving the way these beads are coming out. These 16mm beads are incredibly lightweight because they are hollow.

The green speckling is a result of overfiring in certain areas. Copper oxides bubble up and break through the surface of the white enamel. The darker areas of the bead are where the oxygen has been reduced during the firing process. The pink dots are created with a stringer of glass.

More green speckling and smoky hazes on white enamel created by flame adjustments.

If you're planning on being in Tucson during this big bead event that attracts customers from around the world, please stop in and say "Hello." I'll be at the Doubletree Reid Park from January 30 through February 8. I'll also be teaching workshops on how to create your own torch-fired enamel beads and pendants. More details are available at my website: www.paintingwithfireartwear.com. You can also register for a workshop there, too!

Autograph Tales

Many years ago, I wrote letters requesting autographs from several cartoonists. Most replied with a signed index card. Greg Evans, the creator of Luann, surprised me with the biggest response.
Evans sent me a hand-written note on Luann letterhead. He also included a signed copy of a Luann panel.
Evans has been producing Luann since 1985. The strip follows the adventures of a teenager (Luann) and her family and friends. Like some other more recent comic strips, Luann has aged since her debut. She isn't aging day for day, but her and her friends have grown a lot since their debut.
It's always extra special when you get more than expected with a through-the-mail autograph request. Evans certainly went above and beyond.

Milani Purple Gleam and Blue Flash

I absolutely love glitters and Milani One coats glitters are my dream come true. I don't mind doing 1-4 coats with glitters but I am very impatient sometimes and as most know if your coat is not dry before you start a new coat its going to drag which sucks! So a one coat glitters is the best my perfect polish. Purple gleam and Blue flash are beautiful they have some black glitter in it that make them very unique then any of my other blue and purple glitters. These polishes dry gritty but a top coat fixes that problem.

Used one of my girls at work as my hand model

With Top Coat

My new favorite polishes!!!

December Mini Haul

So I had banned myself from buying nail polish for month of December because I had alot of Christmas gifts to buy. I did pretty good but I received some Christmas money from a couple family members and my boss so with Christmas money your suppose to buy stuff for yourself most of the money went to buying clothes but I could help but buy some polishes.

* Hawaiian Makeup bag (to carry my nail essentials from place to place)

* Milani Purple gleams

*Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Sonic Boom

*Sally Hansen Insta-Dri french manicure Purple pop/Lickety-split lime

*Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Quick Sand

* Sinful colors Hottie

* Sinful colors frenzy

* Revlon Purplex x2

* Color Club Revvvolution

* Claire's gold glitter top coat

* Sally Hansen Gel Cuticle remover

I got alot of these is drug stores like CVS and Walgreens the rest at Claire's and Christmas Tree Shop (which is now my go to store!). During my crazy Christmas shopping I stopped at Christmas tree shop to get some bags for the gifts and I wondered into the cosmetic section and found this huge wall of polishes and all nail accessories! I was in awe when I seen they had Color club! I have never seen Color club in any store before I was beyond excited because now I don't have to order them online instead of paying for shipping I could be buying another polish.

I also got a couple of polishes for Christmas from my cousin and co-worker.

* L.A. Color craze Radiation

* L.A. Color craze Atomic (already have it so Ill probably give it away)

* L.A. Color craze Shock

* Milani Gold glitz

* 5 Color Club art club stripers

My Birthday is right around the corner so I will be doing some massive hauls! Can't wait till January to start crossing out a lot of stuff of my wish list. So many polishes being released in January so ill probably go back to doing my Sunday haul posts. I plan on crossing out half of my wish list by the end of January!

Book Review: The Jewelry Architect, by Kate McKinnon

by Patty Lakinsmith

I buy very few jewelry making books, and was delighted to receive Kate McKinnon's new book, The Jewelry Architect: techniques + projects for mixed-media jewelry, for Christmas. While I haven't yet viewed the DVD she included, I have been through all 143 pages and found it very inspiring. Possibly inspiring enough that I might actually attempt some of the sewn beadwork projects.

I first met Kate about 5 years ago, when she lived and worked in nearby Pacific Grove. I had stumbled across her excellent blog and saw that she was having an open studio (a rare event, I gathered, given the stern warnings on her website about drop-in visits), so a friend and I made the hour long drive. From the moment I met her she was free with her knowledge, and even helped me to solve a crimping problem I was having that very visit. It was enough to encourage me to sign up for her PMC class, which taught me how to make my own handmade fine silver clasps and more. Her previous books on Structural Metal Clay are valued residents of my bookshelf.

Kate's Ouroboros bracelet features a handmade fine silver (PMC) clasp, lampwork glass
beads (or felt, as you choose), and delightful sewn beadwork.

This book is a delectable smorgasbord of color, material, and technique, which not only enticed me to try some of the projects but to dream up new ones on my own. She offers basic skills in beadwork, metal clay, and stringing that you can incorporate into your own work no matter what style you embrace, and she teaches you how to build it so it will last a lifetime. I value books that can give me a foundation in some area that I may build upon later with my own experimentation.

If you're keen to learn ways to create your own handmade components that will enable you to build lasting, functional, beautiful pieces of jewelry, I highly recommend this book. I follow Kate's blog regularly and own most of her books, and found plenty of fresh inspiration and information in this one.

Kate's book is available at your local bead or book store, or you can get it from Amazon.com.

A new print and an artist page from my journal

I have always loved this bird guy that I painted about a year or so ago, so I am making him available as a Giclee print,,,he will be in my shop later this week.

Here is another page in my journal. If I can paint a page a day I should be finished with this artist journal in a couple of months! Does he look like anyone you know? :)

ENGAGED!

Last week my daughter’s boyfriend asked my husband for her hand in marriage.
I immediately began crying - tears of joy!
My son, in the same room, almost choked on his drink and asked “WHY?????”
My husband said “She’s all yours!”
Joe didn’t say when he was going to pop the question, and was “working” on the ring.

I didn’t expect it to be Christmas. It wasn’t – it was December 23! And he almost had to by then – since she saw him driving into the jewelry store which happens to be right next door to her salon.
I and my friend are being blamed for that chance meeting – since she stopped by here on her way to work and we chatted for several minutes. Had she not done so, she would have been inside the building when he pulled in and would not have seen him.
He put tea candles in the snow and spelled out “marry me” when she drove in that night.
She said yes (thankfully!).
All’s well that ends well.

The ring is beautiful and will match her grandmother’s wedding ring (which her grandmother gave her last year) perfectly – they actually look like a matched set.
Which, of course, made me cry!
No date set; could be a while, or not – guess we’ll find out!

Priyanka Chopra barefoot

Photos of the sexy Priyanka Chopra barefoot from various magazine photoshoots and original shots.

Cute Tamanna

The topmost actress of Tamil cinema presently, Tamannaah Bhatia made her acting debut in her only Hindi film so far, Chand Sa Roshan Chehra, before working in the major South Indian film industries.

Extreme high resolution photos of Tamanna with fellow actor Naga Chaitanya

All this week Nieratko posts 50 pro skaters New Resolutions,
naturally with a number of Vans riders included.
Day one J-LAY & Alex Olson.
Check it out HERE.

Andrew Allen Remix on Thrasher

Thrasher remixed Andrew Allen's PREVENT THIS TRAGEDY PART:

Celeb Rookie Cards #33 Emmy Rossum & Ralph Macchio

They aren't perfect, but hopefully they are getting better and are enjoyable. In either case, they are Celebrity Rookie Cards, my attempt to join the world of virtual card creations.

Emmy Rossum is a young actress-singer. She was nominated for a Golden Globe award (for Best Actress in a musical or comedy) for her work in The Phantom of the Opera. She became the youngest person ever to be nominated for that award. As prestigious as that was, I am sure she would be prouder of her appearance on a Celebrity Rookie Card in New Jersey Devils garb.

The next Celeb Rookie Card features Ralph Macchio, who seems like he has been around forever. Macchio is posing in an Islanders jersey, a photo I later learned was used for a ProSet card in the early 1990's. Although it goes against my basic mindset (like there are rules involved in this?), I had already made my card and didn't want to be wasteful.

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