Pacific Artist Mom (Formerly Pacific College Mom)

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: Primitive Floss Club give-away, enter now!

2017-01-11T21:07:00.001-08:00

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: Primitive Floss Club give-away, enter now!: Lets start the New Year with a give-away! Is there any better way to start than with some Primitive Limited Edition floss???? Lets giv...

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: Primitive Floss Club give-away, enter now!

2017-01-11T21:06:00.001-08:00

My beach scene

2016-02-27T12:17:00.002-08:00

Happy Saturday!
It is really overcast, but I think I will try and work in my garden today. I can't do as much as I used to, which seriously cheeses me off, but I can't stand being in this box anymore, either! People all around me are braving it and mowing their lawns in spite of the threatening rain, while mine continues to look a jungle. I don't have any moola to pay someone to do mine as well, so sigh, it is what it is...

Here is a watercolor I did a couple of weeks ago, to remind me of the sun!

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: New give-away, new floss boxes, enter now!

2016-02-23T13:26:00.003-08:00

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: New give-away, new floss boxes, enter now!

Please stop by my ETSY shop and see what's new!

2016-02-22T12:51:00.000-08:00

Please stop by and have a look in my shop. I've posted some new things. Thank you!!
My ETSY shop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/269220393/lion-painting-for-the-young-at-heart?ref=shop_home_active_1

The Lion

2016-02-09T00:23:00.000-08:00

I was asked to do a commission. "For the right price, paint me a lion..." I posted the finished piece today and so far, no word~ no comments at all. I do wish they had said something. It's not that I would be whiney or cry baby if he said he didn't want it. He gave me no instructions other than create something based on what I thought I knew of him, which was nothing. So I didn't expect much. I painted a lion, good practice! End of that story. Maybe I can find a place to sell it, maybe not. I think it is to be expected that an artist will come across this type of situation when they are starting. I DID ask for a price, which was good! My backbone grew a wee bit! Its all good!! Goodnight.

Time For Change

2016-02-09T00:11:00.001-08:00

Well, I think I shall re-purpose this blog. I've had it for several years, and at one point used it almost every day! I had lots of people to follow and a few who followed me. I guess the fad has faded, but that is not a deterrent at all, far from it~! It has been said that once something is downloaded onto the internet it never disappears. So this will become my perfect place to put things. Whatever I want, without any explanations....

Where do you find your inspiration?

2015-11-16T12:11:00.002-08:00

I used to be an active artist, and couldn't wait to get my hands dirty in any variety of materials, loving it all. Problem was, I could never decide on only a few mediums~ no! I had to try it all and experience how it worked. Lack of training, though, would soon produce frustration, and I'd move on to a new pretty, shiny way to create. Hardly an ideal way to go about the process, but it was mine, and in a way was very beneficial. It got me to the point where I was no longer trying but doing. Some art forms stayed, and the longer they lingered, the more they were loved. It helped to finally narrow down what I was meant to be as an artist. Sigh, it left a lot of crap in my house, too, that I had to invent a use for. But this had its purpose in refinement of destiny. It taught me to keep at it until the materials were used up, and further cemented the ones meant to continue.

Oddly enough, it was school that eliminated most of the desire to create. I "took the leap" and enrolled in an art academy. It was here that the desire was all but squashed. Don't get me wrong, I learned more than I ever expected to while attending; all useful and necessary skills. But joy was soon replaced with tedium, and desire faded around repeated criticism and bad reviews. All of the professors were artists themselves, but some weren't skilled as teachers and their often harsh attitudes began to wear at enthusiasm. I was working harder at art than I ever had before, amid worsening critiques, and by the end had stopped caring at all. The best thing that happened was that financial aide ran out, and I was forced to quit.

It has taken several years, but the old itch is slowly returning. I AM an artist, and that will never change. Now it isn't new mediums that battle for attention, but dread and fear. Those critiques whisper whenever I start something new, but to replace those negative attitudes, I am blessed now with friends who encourage. They are my inspiration.

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe has three giveaways to enter for the holidays! Please go check it out

2015-10-27T15:38:00.001-07:00

Happy Holidays to you all! If you are interested, Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is running three different giveaways for you to enter! One is what you are thankful for, one is Favorite things, and the third one is a floss contest for a Christmas collection of colored hand dyed floss. I'm so excited, I love giveaways AND the Christmas season!! Links for the three are below, good luck!

http://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/2015/10/be-ye-thankful-give-away-enter-now.html?showComment=1445984022835#c7755259864783902448

http://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/2015/10/favorite-things-give-away-enter-now.html

http://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/2015/10/christmas-floss-give-away-enter-now.html

2015-10-26T16:47:00.001-07:00

Today I received the Halloween Floss collection I won at the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. I was totally surprised when I found out I had won, and even more delighted and surprised when it arrived. It is even lovelier in person than in the photos! This is the best Halloween treat ever!

Thank you Nancy again!!!

New Giveaway at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

2015-10-19T15:09:00.002-07:00

Victoria Motto Sampler Shoppe is giving away more goodies, so I am entering again. I Love entering giveaways, so this is a Banner Day! Her posting is below.

http://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/2015/10/hand-dyed-fabric-give-away-enter-now.html?showComment=1445292290113#c5371693812063279315

Hand dyed fabric give-away, enter now!!

Heaven only knows why I buy so much fabric.....and I don't even have time to stitch these past couple years. If you like hand dyed fabric then you are going to love this give away.

I have 32ct linen in a dozen shades......or if you prefer aida or rustic fiddlers cloth I have that in 14 and 16ct....I need to check on that....maybe 18ct too.

If you like linen I will give you 1/2 yard (30x36") of your choice of colors! I will post colors on the day of the drawing and the winner.

If you like aida....I have 12x18" pieces and you can have three! I have a few larger pieces and need to go through them. I have a dozen colors available and I will be dyeing more in the next couple weeks before the drawing.

Rules:
You must be a follower at the right. Click to follow by faithful friends.
You must post a comment here. Post on your blog or facebook and get 50 more entries! Send a friend to follow and get 50 more entries! I like to give lots of stitchers a chance to win.
Help me move some fabric! I just moved a tub of linen in my storage area....over 100 pounds of linen! I need to start my own stitching marathon and use some of it.
I will have a drawing several times over the holiday season so keep checking back and enter.
Drawing to be October 30th and you must check back to see if you are a winner! You must follow!!

Good luck to all who enter!
Nancy

2015-10-01T00:14:00.002-07:00

There is a new fall assortment of floss being given away at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe! Lovely fall colors, and I would love to win it! Wish me luck please!!

http://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/2015/09/antique-dried-flowers-floss-collection.html

What would I create if I won?

2015-09-08T23:46:00.001-07:00

Well, here I am again, and this time I am trying to win a supply of cross stitch thread, wish me luck! I belong to several cross stitch groups, and we are always making things! If I won I would be making ornaments and useful items like needle cases, all in cross stitch! I am so excited about the prospect of getting this!!!

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ca79419626/

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: Halloween gift box of floss give-away, enter now!

2015-08-20T15:09:00.001-07:00

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: Halloween gift box of floss give-away, enter now!: I dyed some new Halloween colors and put together another limited edition gift box. 12 skeins, 20 yards each, 240 yards of stitching f...

October 8th, Wow, where did the time go?

2014-10-08T02:48:00.001-07:00

I'm very sorry to have left you high and dry for a month, a lot hasn't been going on!

I tore the ligament in my knee shortly after I made my last post, and that has left me on crutches... Boo hiss, no fun for sure! NO walking, not much getting around at all for the first couple of weeks. The world becomes a very small cell then, and even though I am the only one in this place, it got very clostrophobic, very fast! Tolerance becomes your biggest obstacle, because I couldn't do all the things I normally did, and had to let many things hang in limbo that might otherwise be a daily routine. My daughter has been a blessing, coming for three weeks in a row on her days off, just to help me keep things in order. I've also had the help of some very dear friends, who came by to check up on me and to help tidy up the joint. I thank them sincerely for their kindness and assistance! I also want to send out a special thanks for my dear son John Collard, who has been serving in Afghanistan, but yet has been in constant contact, even offering to hire me a housekeeper for the duration! There's a truly remarkable young man, and I am very lucky to have him in my life!!! The leg is slowly healing, and I can at least drive myself to where I have to be now, which improved life to no end! If the medical community would just get their part done, I would be very happy indeed.

And then my computer took it's final breaths, and died. That meant I was without a useable machine for several weeks, what a shock that was! I am a complete and total internet addict, just like the rest of the world. Don't know if it is the alpha waves eminating from the monitor or just that need to be "in touch" with the rest of the world; but whatever has kept me coming back, I went a bit nuts without it! I've finally got a replacement, thank goodness! My darling daughter is the one who is responsible for the end of my trials and tribulations! She gave me her old computer, more than enough for what I do here on the Web! My son keeps me company over the phone, calling several times a week. And Nate, I didn't forget you, you are always close to my thoughts.

So for my dear sons, here are some photos taken a couple of weeks ago in the garden. I can't get around very well out there just yet, but the veggies keep coming, and I still have tomatoes even in October! The peas are just about finished, and soon the tomatoes will be done as well, but the herbs, carrots, onions and potatoes are all plugging right along, and as soon as I can I need to go out and plant my garlic bulbs. The strawberries keep making flowers, but no real fruit, that's ok! There are 7 pumpkins on the plant, three are bright orange now, and one is large and starting to turn, but the last three are recent additions within the last two weeks. They may be small, but they seem to double in size every day, and within the middle of the month, I suspect they will catch up and be as large as the rest of them! I will go and see what I can do about getting some recent pics, so you can see things.
Remember, I LOVE YOU KIDS!

September 4th Getting Creative with Frugality

2014-09-04T22:38:00.002-07:00

You know, my horrorscope told me today to be thrifty, because I have a big bill ahead of me. This hit a bit close to home, because my car insurance is due next week, (definitely a big bill!) So I decided not to tempt fate. And while she ain't pretty, it is definitely frugal and (somewhat) creative. I took pasteboard canned cat food boxes, sliced em up, and added some pieces my daughter started a while back but the cats didn't seem interested in. Two glue sticks and a handful of catnip later, and viola'! They've been back and forth clawing and sniffing their little hearts out for over half an hour! Gonna be some tired sleepy kitties tonight!!! There was a reason I always brought those boxes home~ aside from the fact that they like to sit in them... They're cats! I don't ask.

The wind has been crazy this entire week, and my poor tomato plant has been practically blown apart, poor thing! It is just starting to really put on the ripe fruit, so it has had an extra dose of TLC. I've been able to find at least one or two a day that are red, but never end up making it into the house. Er, hmmm, yeah! Pray it gets through the end of the season after all this windy abuse! The bell peppers are getting heavy, they will be delicious soon. Carrots are now bigger than fingers. Peas are starting to pop and there is one more potato plant that will need to be harvested eventually. The pumpkins seem like they sprang up suddenly,and are now bigger than basketballs! My parsley and cilantro are about done, so that whole end of the box will soon be empty. I think this is where my garlic bulbs will go. The pear is done, and the apple is now dropping at least my largest bread making bowl full a day. There are two boxes of fruit on my kitchen table right now, someone can come get them any time!!!! Please!

Have a great weekend. Tomorrow we get the galley for the Kerf, which means if all is well, the book will be published by next Friday!!! Yeah!! The end of the year, you gottta love it~~~


A bit of time, a little glue and catnip! Ain't she perty!?


Abbie gives it the Feline Seal of Approval!


The old one is felted, they've used it so much... Look at that pretty orange belly!

Gardening into September

2014-08-31T11:07:00.002-07:00

Well, things are progressing nicely. The pumpkins are about the size of honeydew melons, the carrots are getting finished and there are tomatoes and peas popping up everywhere. I get lots of strawberries too. Its going to be bulb planting here any minute, garlic and flowers that bloom in February will all have to be put in the ground. A new project! I have to decide what is going in for the fall crop too. The best part of gardening is that there is always something to do.

The Kerf went off to the printers on Friday, so now it is hurry up and wait. It is a really nice issue. The pears are just about finished, just in time for the apples to start falling in earnest. It all works out, and at least the apples keep better than pears do~ if you don't use them within a day or two, they get mushy and not very pleasant to work with.

More soon, enjoy your week and the good weather while it lasts!

a typical day's harvest

peas are just starting to make pods

all the pumpkins are about the size of a soccer ball

look at how many tomatoes are in this photo! Three different bunches

They keep growing and growing!

Garden update, August 17, 2014

2014-08-17T22:03:00.002-07:00

Does anyone know any recipes for apples and pears? The pears are dropping so fast now! My daughter and her boyfriend came on Saturday and mowed down the jungle under the trees, and now I can see all the stuff I've missed. There is Lots of fruit that is rotting, but I couldn't see it. No wonder there are wasps everywhere. I pick up what I can, but it is far from enough, and more will rot before I can get to it. The dehydrator goes non stop, and I've canned a bunch, and tried my hand at fruit leather. I think it turned out OK, kinda sticky though. I'm exhausted and frustrated. But that is life!

The Kerf should be ready to go to the printers this week, and that at least is good news. It is always exciting to see all the months of work culminate into a book that I can hold. If anyone is interested in a copy, please let me know either here, or on my facebook page.

Johnny, the pumpkin is up to 6, one rotted, but there are still even more flowers coming on. The ones that are developing are now the size of a grapefruit! I will post photos tomorrow. Amanda told me to tell you hello and sends hugs.

So have a good week everyone. I have no idea if anyone even reads my posts, but I keep posting anyway, just in case. I think the Art Challenge has been put on hold for now, I am just not in the mood to create right now. Maybe after the trees get done... Goodnight!

Garden update for Juanito

2014-08-08T22:01:00.003-07:00

     Life is finally settling down after a very busy week of family visits! From the 2nd to the 6th I had three different sets of people stay with me. my daughter and boyfriend; my son, nephew and a friend was two; and the final set was another nephew with his girlfriend and his baby. Lots of people! Mostly I am the sleep spot, shower, laundry and kitchen. About what you'd expect from young people. Oh well... But things have settled down again, and I am getting things back in order.

     Today I worked in the garden for almost two and a half hours. I had to weed-eat the never-ending mass of buttercups and bindweed, then weed and water the planters. But there is some nice progress there, so no complaints! There are many good things to eat in store for the near future. And I have black bell peppers! I've never seen them before. My orange bells are still green, but the ones I thought were going to be purple are black as ink. I don't know if they are ripe yet, though I hope they are tasty. There are handfuls of plump strawberries all over; tomatoes that are finally beginning to ripen; carrots that are almost ready; and at least three baby pumpkins! The pumpkin plant is literally bursting with blossoms, mostly male, although there are several female flowers that are developing, and many just opening, so there will be more fruit in time. I will have a very nice harvest if they all survive! Pumpkin for pies and cooking, yummmm!

   There is still so much to do, though, because the pear and apple trees are both dropping fruit at the same time now! No doubt they are dropping early because of the dry weather, but the weeds are hip deep and I need to hustle and cut them down so I can find the fruit as it falls, and not just walk beneath the trees and hope I can feel the fruit in the grass without stepping on it.

     I've done a bit of art practice recently, but not anything that will produce a final piece. I will have a bit more time to do that again now that the family is tucked back into their nests. For being an art blog, there sure isn't much art to show for it. That's OK, I keep busy and that is always good.
                                                       Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Soon to be orange. Had three others but the bugs got them, grrrr.


These are hard to see, but there are 3 black bell peppers here!

Life is Life, and mine is stagnant...

2014-08-02T00:46:00.002-07:00

I think that somewhere in the world, someone is stealing my fun! I don't have any anymore. There are things to do, not just sitting motionless in the house, twiddling my thumbs (very much) I miss class, and while I am painting some, and working on ornaments some, and gardening a lot; there is a rather large hole in here. Physical therapy shouldn't be the highlight of my week. Even the Kerf is almost finished, so it is down to the work part. But that will be done in a few more sessions.

I just don't have any motivation! Can't tell you why, it's just not there. Sigh...

There are more than a dozen pumpkin flowers open now, and at least 5 females, so far so good. I didn't realize not all the blossoms would end up being a fruit. I will be happy with whatever I end up with, and since they are pie pumpkins, maybe a swap with a few for other produce later on. It is so cold here, surprising they have done so well. Positive thoughts, and tender care for my surprise crop!

My daughter came by overnight last night, and then she went on with her boyfriend up to Oregon to visit friends. They will be back on Sunday. My nephew is supposed to be coming down tomorrow or the next day to stay before he has a job interview on Monday. It will be good to see the kids again. Guess this is destined to be the stay-over place! Goodnight.

Garden update, July 23, 2014 Our first pumpkin flower!

2014-07-23T20:28:00.001-07:00

OMG there are so many tomatoes! They are determined on escaping out the top of the greenhouse.!! There are sooo many flowers getting squished. But a blasted slug has wreaked havoc in there, and ate almost all the basil and part of the bells... But the bells are loaded too. So the hoop house is a complete success! I harvested the celery today, and checked the carrots. They are coming on fast. The rest of the garden is happily progressing right along, too.

But the big news is the pumpkin~ It escaped the box, finally and is working along the ground. And the first flower has bloomed, with at least 6 to shortly follow in the next couple of days. I see at least 16 flowers all over, so I have to decide if I want fewer, larger pumpkins or let them all grow. I know there are two sexes of flowers, so I hesitate on picking them.


snails have been eating my peppers! waaaa

My first pumpkin flower, and at least 5 more!

second bell, loaded with half eaten fruits... *&^%$

strawberries taking over bed, more carrots in tub and the potato.

more carrots, parsley and cilantro. Spinach is starting to flower, wonder if I can get seeds?

my celery, lots of leaves, but that's OK, I eat them too.

more pics of the pumpkin flowers, and all the carrots and onions under it.

hard to see the peas.

They're escaping! and getting squished at the top.

some tomatoes, peeking out.

the pumpkin is escaping, too.

more tomatoes peeking out, and these aren't all of them...

2014/365 day art challenge, practicing! July 22

2014-07-23T00:24:00.002-07:00

Today was busy doing a lot of busy work. Even my horoscope has mentioned being anxious to do art, and I don't know whether the sun and moon influences things or not. Horoscopes are just for fun, I don't take them at all seriously, but sometimes they hit a little too close to home!

I did manage to try my hand at some watercolor clouds. It was fun to see them start to take shape, and with any luck tomorrow I can finish the painting. I have to quit psyching myself out by staring at the darned thing all the time, worrying to do more to it for fear of messing it up. Its only paper! They aren't all going to be masterpieces, and even if this doesn't come out well, it was good practice. The more paintings, the better they will become! Yet, I still hesitate. Which is just plain silly because it feels really good while I'm painting. The process of just to be creating something; good or bad. The itch to create is intensifying, and its because there is no class to get my ya ya's out with.

Wish me luck, and keep you posted!


Clouds. Fun to make, now I just need to finish this!

2014/365 Day Art Challenge,and the sunny, foggy day. July 20th

2014-07-20T22:58:00.001-07:00

Haven't given up on the art challenge, not at all. In fact I painted yesterday! Today was destined for lots of photos for reference and talking to some really nice folks in the bargain! I can't believe I walked into a man's back yard that was facing the sea off a cliff, walked right into his back yard! and asked if I could take photos of his boat. The little sailboat was sitting pretty as you please on an outcropping of rocks, and he was enjoying a beer and painting his back door. Very friendly, and he didn't seem too surprised I was there... Perhaps the lovely thing has been photographed before? Anyway, the Barney B is adorable and by golly, I'm gonna paint her! Haven't decided if she will be set afloat or leave her as she sat in the yard, though. A good day to walk, lots of tourists about, but my goal was perspectives of our lighthouse from varying distances. Sadly, Those shots are all only OK. The lighthouse is a good subject, and the day very obliging, but they just didn't come out as inspiring as I had hoped they would. There was a point when I walked behind the beach front hotel and chatted with the tourists on their balconies while shooting. They were all drunk; either from the intoxicating scenery-- or just drunk. Want an interesting image to ponder? Mennonite women with their little white caps hanging their legs all over the balcony railing and drinking, being rather anti-social! Those hotel rooms must go for an arm and TWO legs, so I hope they got their money's worth. An older couple next to the Mennonite snobs did chime happily into a conversation, though; asking what I was photographing, where I lived, etc. I guess now that my hair is greying people see me in a different light than they used to. I find that the older vacation-eers are generally much more agreeable than the younger summer crowds!

Sigh, our bread and butter in this town...

I need to go out and do those weird shots from lots of angles no one uses, and find something Different. Then do it a great injustice by attempting to put it on paper or canvas. Perhaps an abstract, although I've never done one. Only time and my Muse will tell!

Can you imagine this as your back yard!?

2014/365 Day Art Challenge, sure IS challenging!

2014-07-14T00:31:00.001-07:00

Well, It would seem I am at a loss. It sounded like a good idea, to get out some of the other materials that are all over the house, and start practicing something besides clay. There are paints and pencils of all kinds and lots of papers and canvasses to play with. Not only that, I really WANT to paint, even though it is Definitely NOT my strong suit. Its hard to describe: The urge is like an itch that just won't go away! Started out by doing the watercolor backgrounds in several colors, not painting but allowing the paints to go where they would; to test the paper. Then came samples of watercolor pencils and solid color sticks, to learn about the properties of each item. I've even started a watercolor painting a couple of days ago, although the thing is laughable. Who cares?! This is practice. I hadn't got to landscape painting or drawing at AAU. Nothing wrong with being self taught! I have three good books to guide me, and I did do a bit of watercolors at AAU, so it seems the logical place to start. I may show you the finished painting, but no laughing! More soon.

2014/365 Day Art Challenge, last ceramics for a while

2014-07-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

Tonight we had a potluck to celebrate the teacher's baby, and the end of the class. Most of our work was finished, which was nice, and the food was good, too. I am going to miss it, but found a place where I can go to get my work fired until class starts again. I will be doing my own art work for a couple of months, daresay I need the practice! Here's some of what was completed:

Eddie and the owl. He's about the size of a grapefruit.

Future Ornaments