SueAnn's Journey

Silent Saturday ~ Part 107!!

2012-05-26T02:18:00.001-06:00

Our property is filled with the most wondrous sights! Barrel cactus and wild flowers have begun to bloom and it is amazing. I thought I would share these with you.

Amazing, aren't they? Here are some more...

The hot pink flowers are from the barrel cactus...

Have a magical and blessed day!
And a wondrous holiday!
Hugging you
SueAnn

In the Picture ~ A self portrait journey!

2012-05-25T06:54:00.000-06:00

A journey...a self portrait journey. A challenge set forth by Urban Muser. The theme...big world tiny you. In mine..the world has overtaken.

Make sure and stop by Urban Muser and see the fabulous self portraits! Amazing work!

Have a magical and blessed day

Hugging you

SueAnn

Flower Art Friday!! ~ Stop and smell the roses!!

2012-05-25T04:23:00.000-06:00

Stop and visit Leanne at Photos by LeAnne and see the fabulous floral pics offered in answer to this weeks challenge. It is a weekly gallery featuring floral imagery. This is my entry...

Using filters from Bonnie at Pixel Dust Photo Art and an image that I took last summer of cone flowers.

Make sure and stop by Photos by LeAnne and see what others have been up too!

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Photo Art Friday ~ Look Again!

2012-05-25T03:39:00.002-06:00

Our challenge this week is to create an abstract photo art inspired by nature. What a fun challenge!! Soooooo...the images I created are...

Make sure and stop by Pixel Dust Photo Art and see what others have posted. All of them are fabulous!

Have a magical and blessed day!'
Hugging you
SueAnn

Work in Progress ~ And then there were three!!

2012-05-24T01:55:00.001-06:00

It has been a productive week and I am pleased with the results. I had hoped to show you my process on these pieces but I accidentally deleted them from my camera. Ha!! I do have one that shows process. Sorry about that.

Enjoy!!

The gold lines are gold leaf. Fun to do...love the results.

Can you believe it? This weekend is Memorial Weekend??!! Amazing!! Time is zipping by.
We have plans to work out in the yard and the family is coming up on Sunday for a cookout! That will be so much fun. They will stay the night and leave on Monday.

You all have fun too! Enjoy the potato salad!!

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Texture Tuesday ~ It's all about light!!

2012-05-22T07:36:00.001-06:00

Todays challenge...your piece must focus on the word prompt, "light". And we must use at least one of Kim's textures. So this is tough! The texture I chose to use is...

revolution

stay

The images I chose...

Images texturized...

Further altered...

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Random Tuesday ~ Cap and Gown..Number three down!!

2012-05-22T03:27:00.000-06:00

Graduation day for my third oldest granddaughter, Emma!! Woot!! Woot!! What a great accomplishment and she was so excited!! So were we!! Here are some pics of the day...

Fun day!! But hot, hot, hot!! We sat outside on concrete bleachers for 2.5 hours. I got a sunburn but I wouldn't have missed this for the world. What a special day.

After ceremony, we went to Fertelli's Italian Restaurant. Old fashioned Italian. Wonderful foor...great company!!'

Wild fires surround us and the air quality has gone from decent to poor! Not good for those with asthma or any respiration shortcomings. I have been having difficulty with breathing so my exercise hiatus continues. Sigh!!! At this rate, I am concerned!!

My Russian Olive tree started blooming. So fragrant and so beautiful. A smell similar to honeysuckle.

Our Purple Robe (flowering locust) continues to take my breath away. It is so luscious!!

Been working on my smaller collages this past week. Will show pics on Thursday!!

Dr. John has started Book Number Two!! Woot!! Woot!! The first book has almost sold out on Amazon and they are reordering! That is so cool!!

While in Gallup, NM. we stayed at the LaQuinta hotel. They gave us an upgrade! Wowzers!! A two room suite!! It was so spacious and comfy. What a treat! I told Dr. John that this was the nicest room we have ever had here. Then the people moved into the room above us. With two toddlers and no discipline. They ran around the room and jumped off the beds. It was a nightmare!! We had to call the front desk and complain! Can you say...AWFUL!!!! Thankfully, they moved out the very next day! Whew!! One night of quiet!!

My oldest granddaughter, Lisa, also lives in Gallup. She is renting a spacious house and we got to visit her and check it out. A really cool place. Came furnished and has a washer and dryer! Emma will be moving in to the house in two weeks. They will be batching it together. Emma is now working at Home Depot and will be attending Cosmetology School in the fall. Lisa is a teaching assistant and will be finishing her teaching degree in about one year! I am so proud of them both!!

It is only May and I am already tired of the political ads!! Just saying....!!!

Ended up getting a new washer and dryer!! Sigh! Not my red ones but plain old white...top loading..basic machines! Sigh again!! But Dr. John has promised me the red ones when we move to Las Cruces in three years! Woot!! Oh! I got Maytag. Boring!!! But they work great so I am happy. No more carrying soaking wet clothes out to the line to dry! Whew!!

Well, that is the end of my Randomizing for this week. I think I have covered it all!! Don't forget to visit with Stacy at Stacy Uncorked and see what the other Randomizers are\ up too!! It is always fun and totally entertaining. Better yet...join in and do your own Random post!!!!

Have a magical and blessed day.
Hugging you
SueAnn

The Butterfly Effect ~ Saints

2012-05-21T04:52:00.000-06:00

The challenge this week is to play with the idea of "patron saints". How fun is that? So I took one of my friends and made her a saint.

Here is my take on this...

Saint Tamarah...patron saint of the mountains. Enjoy dear one!!

Visit The Butterfly Effect and see what the others have come up with. So cool!!

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Silent Saturday *

2012-05-19T04:31:00.001-06:00

I amat my granddaughters' graduation. So Silent Saturday will be postponed until next Saturday. I know. I should have planned this one out. ! sorry about that.

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Photo Art Friday ~ Lines, Angles or graphic elements!!

2012-05-17T20:08:00.002-06:00

The challenge this week is to do a photo that has to do with lines, angles or graphic elements! Now that is some challenge. Bonnie likes to keep us on our toes. Here are my images...

Make sure and visit Pixel Dust Photo Art and see the other submissions!! All of them are amazing!!

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Work in Progress....Craft Day Too!!!

2012-05-17T03:48:00.000-06:00

sunrise

I didn't really spend a lot of time with the large collage this past week. Have been working outside on that project....the garden!!! Smiles!!

Here is where I am with the large collage...

Craft day, however, has been more productive. Every Tuesday, my BFF and her mom, Louise, decided we would get together and work on pieces for the upcoming art/craft show in November. So besides being tons of fun, we are actually getting some work done.

Louise, by the way, is 98 years young!!!

Cheri is working on a belt buckle in copper and brass. Louise is working on making necklaces and I am working on small, 12" x 12", collages.

Louise and her pieces...

Louise decided on which beads to use

starting layout

first necklace laid out

second necklace

She ended up making two necklaces but I didn't get pics of those. She finished after I left. Doesn't she look fantastic. For those who think that 60 is old....HA!!! She encourages all of us!!

Cheri's belt buckle...

copper plate unpolished

backside with belt loop and hook attached

copper plate acid washed with decorations, unpolished

All she needs to do is attach some turquoise and clean it up and she is done. Butch...don't look!!! Ha!! Beautiful isn't it??

I worked on one collage and then started a second one....

cadmium yellow primrose golden acrylic

cobalt titanate green golden acrylic

turquoise seed beads 11mm

batiked fabric and multi-colored trim and wooden clock face

stencil used to get design on the sky

yellow seed beads 11mm and jeweled gems and bird - steampunk

chartreuse beads and jeweled butterfly and art nouveau print

finished

dylusions stencil, decorative paper in blues, halo violet gold lumiere paint, blue and black seed beads 11mm

As you can see we are having a blast! There is just something so satisfying working with other artists. Fun times!! And productive!!

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

PS. All seed beads purchased at bead show in Tucson, Az. Paints, decorative papers and stencils purchased at www.joggles.com, (link on sidebar).

Texture Tuesday...Free and Easy!!

2012-05-15T03:49:00.002-06:00

In todays challenge, all we need to do is pick a photo and use at least one of Kim's textures. Easy for sure!! The texture I chose to use is...

kk - little things

The images I chose to alter are....

Images altered...

Further alterations...

Be sure and visit Kim Klassen's Cafe and see the other textures created!!

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Random Tuesday.....Sun and a bit of Rain!

2012-05-15T02:05:00.000-06:00

Yes! Can you believe it? We had a bit of rain and I do mean a bit!! Ha! But it was wet and the plants loved it. And yes, I said "wet". Ha! Some times we get rain that doesn't hit the ground because it is so dry. It evaporates before it hits terra firma. I know..weird!! But true!

Spent Saturday weeding. This is endless and at what juncture does it become pointless? Just saying!! Here are some pics of my flowers and shrubs.

All of my plants are drought tolerant and good for up to 30 below!! Tough up here in the mountains but these plantings are doing so well! I am thrilled!

Mothers' Day was special all day. My hubby waited on me all day and took me to a wonderful brunch at the Greenside Cafe which is a quaint neighborhood restaurant. They had a special menu. Both of us got the Poached Sea Bass with Pineapple Chutney and Wild Rice. Yummers! The fish was done to perfection. Then we came home and did some more weeding. This is an endless task!! Ha!!

Dr. John brought me home the most beautiful floral arrangement. Unique and fabulous!

Isn't it beautiful? I could photograph it all week and still be surprised. Thank you Dr. John.
My BFF gave me the most beautiful bracelet and card. I forgot to take pics...will post next week. My mom sent me a very special card with a yellow rose inside. The rose came from her father, my grandfather, so she sent it to me! How special is that?

My Purple Robe is blooming right now....it is so gorgeous. Purple Robe is a locust tree and it is growing in our front patio. Here are some pics...

My granddaughter, Emma, the third oldest is graduating this Saturday. Woot!! She is so ready to be done with school. After graduation, she will be getting an apartment with her older sister and going to Cosmetology School in the fall. She is hosting a BBQ party to celebrate on Sunday. She is so excited.

Last night's dinner was so yummy. Boiled dinner! Ham, potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage with bay leaves and salt and pepper. Cook until carrots and potatoes are tender. I put the cabbage in for the last 30 minutes. Yummers!! Easy peasy meal and oh so yummy!

Today is craft day...Cheri and I decided that every Tuesday we will get together and work on art projects for our upcoming Arts and Craft Show in November...it will be here before we know it. So we need to get some things ready. And I guess I should have a plan of what I want to make. Ha!! Hopefully, something comes to me before 10AM!!!!!

Remember to stop over and visit Stacy at Stacy UnCorked and see what the other Randomizers are up too! Always entertaining and full of surprises.

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

The Butterfly Effect...Underwater Views!!

2012-05-14T11:40:00.001-06:00

Our images this week (or drawings, paintings and poetry) should lead the viewer to think "underwater". What an interesting challenge. I received a beautiful flower arrangement from my husband for Mothers' Day. It was in a large square vase and it had intriguing shapes in the water within. Hence my underwater images.

Visit The Butterfly Effect and check out the other works being offered. Better yet...join in!! What do you think of when you think "underwater"?

Have a creative and magical day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Silent Saturday ~ Part 106 !!

2012-05-12T02:29:00.002-06:00

Shadow Love

She stood on the banks of the river,
hands shielding her eyes from the sun.
She knew if she waited long enough,
he would surely come.

She stood on the banks of the river,

breath coming in gasps.

She saw him walking on the path,

with a love that would surely last.

She stood on the banks of the river,
arms thrust high in the air.
She felt her feet moving towards him,
to find he wasn't really there.

She stood on the banks of the river,

tears running down her face.

She knelt on the dusty river bank,

Determined to hold her place.

No one is left on the banks of the river,
the sun has begun to fade.
She left to discover the horizon,
and to begin her life in the shade.

SueAnn @ 2012

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Photo Art Friday...It's how I see it!!

2012-05-11T07:33:00.000-06:00

Our challenge this week is to post a photo depicting a horizon and use one of Bonnie's textures.

The texture I chose to use...

The photo I chose...

The photo with the filter...

one layer

two layers

Playing...

Visit Pixel Dust Photo and Bonnie. See the other fabulous photos being displayed. Fun for sure!! Feast for the eyes and the imagination.

Have a creative and imaginative day.
Hugging you
SueAnn

Texture Tuesday ~ Doubled up!

2012-05-08T08:53:00.001-06:00

We were challenged this week by Kim of Kim Klassen Cafe, to use two of her textures on one piece. The textures I chose are...

Charmed

Felicity

The picture I chose to use is....

Here it is combined with the two textures..

Hmmmm...I would say fail on this one. Hard pressed to notice the difference. Ha!! I have a hard time with making subtle work. My lack of computer skills at work here.

I used one texture on one side and the other on the right. No difference...!

Let me do some more editing here...

There! That is better...Ha! I like it bold!

Visit Kim and see the other textures presented. Beautiful!!!

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Random Tuesday....Righteous Randomization!!

2012-05-08T04:33:00.000-06:00

Unbelievable! It's May 8th!!! MAY!! OMGEeeeeee!!!! Wasn't that long ago that I had 12 inches of snow! Sheesh!

Had a wonderful time in Las Cruces at the Chi Epsilon dinner. Food was good...martinis were excellent...graduate students were rowdy! Fun times!!

live music

SW chicken dinner

Prof. Dr. John

Prof. Dr. Bandini

Sunrise...

Worked in garden on Sunday but it is not ready for it's final photos yet. Still a work in progress.
Crafted on Monday, but forgot to take pics. I was so engrossed in the beaded bracelet were are working on. Will take some pics and post next Tuesday. Talk about patience. I needed it to work on this piece. A needle and 11 mm seed beads!! Yikes!!

The weather here has been fabulous! 80's and mild winds! I will take it for sure. Then, yesterday, high winds and 46 degrees!! Will this ever end? Had to cover all our plants. Have seeds sprouting and two new tomato plants!! Sigh!! Oh!! And we planted some sunflowers and pumpkins!! Woot!! Remember my pumpkin world from two years ago? Can't wait to see my orange beauties!!

Reading book two of the Hunger Games, Catching Fire! I am really enjoying the book! Quite the adventure and the heroine, Katniss, is the perfect heroine. I know...I am a little late in the fray...but my g'daughters love these books and they finally encouraged me to read them. I went through the very same process with Twilight! And I loved those! Still do! Ha!!

Finished Lee Child's Echo Burning and it was a fun read. Gritty, mysterious, some violence...loved it! Ha!
Lee Child's has a great character in these books...the Jack Reacher novels. Jack Reacher is an army MP and quite the one man army!! He is strong, agile and smart...very smart. Anywho, it is all about his adventures in the army and after he retires as well. I enjoy them! Easy to read and very entertaining, if you like action, adventure.

Also got a copy of Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children. Supposed to be a fun read so I will give it a try.

Riki Jewelry had a contest/giveaway on her blog. She is such a talented jewelry maker/designer!! Anyway, I WON!! I won one of her online workshops. The one I chose is "Overcoming the Fear of Fire". It is all about soldering and working in metals. I am so excited. Artful Gathering 2012 is offering many online workshops. So stop in and see some of Riki's work or visit Artful Gathering and sign up for one of the many online classes!! I have a link on my sidebar!

Time to wrap this up! Don't forget to stop by Stacy's at Stacy Uncorked and see what the other Randomizers are up too! Lots of adventures I am sure.

Have a blessed and magical day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Silent Saturday ~ Part 105 !!

2012-05-05T04:30:00.000-06:00

This is the time to unleash your secret aspirations...

and replenish your creative reservoir...

Dare to be feisty!!

Feisty means bold,authentic, sassy, courageous, heroic, creative and multifaceted.

It's time to envision your dream...

Dreams are like the paints of a great artist. Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas.

Believing is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality.*

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

*(words from Creative Awakenings by Sheri Gaynor)*

2012-05-04T04:30:00.000-06:00

We have quite the challenge for this Friday's Photo Art Friday!! Supposed to come up with a photo that speaks of or depicts a favorite book!! The book I chose is, A Wrinkle in Time by Madelaine L'Engle. So I think mine is pretty easy! Ha! Here is my photo!!

A Wrinkle in Time

The original photo looks like this...

So I had fun!!! Great book too! Love all of her writings.

Make sure and visit Pixel Dust Photo Art and say hi to Bonnie. You just have to see what others have come up with! Quite exciting!

Have a magical and blessed day
Hugging you
SueAnn

Work in Progress ~ Ceaseless Contortions!!

2012-05-03T03:37:00.000-06:00

Exploration, experimentation and pushing forward...

Tried green and it was a definite fail in hue and the emulsion wouldn't set up so had to scrape. Now what to do?? Sooo....

Tried a green handmade paper...wrong hue...just didn't work...so we continue...

still wet

Decided on this yellow design material and allow the green to come through as a shadow. Interesting!!! Ha!!

dry

Now I need to tie this in with all the current elements. Love a challenge!!

Then of course, I had to play with the images and add a few filters!!

Are we having fun yet?? I sure am!!!!

Glad you stopped by...I really appreciate your comments and feedback. Thanks so much!!

Have a creative and imaginative day!!

Hugging you
SueAnn

Texture Tuesday ~ Let's Get Creative!!!

2012-05-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

The Challenge, per our hostess, Kim.....

Your image must contain 2 different textures..... get creative.. mix your blend modes and opacities.... Think outside the box... go back in the archives... Shake things up. Sound like a plan? :)

This is the texture I started with...( called "Stay" )

These are the images I chose to alter...

This is the images with one texture...

Here are the images with several textures...

Thank you so much for viewing my work. Altering photos is such a pleasure for me.
Make sure and visit Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday and enjoy the work of many talented artists.

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you,
SueAnn

Random Tuesday.....

2012-05-01T02:22:00.000-06:00

There is a new love in my life....Recombent Bicycle!! 4 miles every other day...just saying!!

With the high winds blowing all the junk around; it has really fired up the asthma...so....I go to the gym and use the bike...so cool and no wind, dust and pollen!!! Can we say, AMEN!!!

Dr. John is having so much fun these last couple of days...Ha!! He is having a colonoscopy today!!! Poor guy and I get to babysit. Oh what fun!!

I have been having so much fun...and I have been real bad. I discovered some new online fabric stores!! Oh baby!!! www.Contemporary Cloth.com , www.Thai Silks.com , www.Dry Goods Design On Line.com and www.Paper Thread Fabrics.com ...oh I am in heaven. All the new designers have been hard at work producing some wonderful fabrics. Wanna see???

Aren't they all delicious?!!! I am going to have so much fun mixing them up and using them within the collages. Ideas abound!!!

Started redoing my dining room chairs...found some bright and colorful fabric...will take pics along the way. Next week!! The table cloth will match...found it on ETSY. More to come!

Also, started working on the mantel and tree for summer. I mean, the temps have been in the 80's!!! I think we are jumping from winter right into summer!!

Movie coming out November 16th...sigh!! Just saying...!! Breaking Dawn, Part II!! Woot!!!

On a side note...washer is definitely dying..motor is going out and it is 12 years old!! And now the dryer is acting up!! I have been pricing a new set...yikes!!!!! And my lovely red ones are just not in my budget right now at all! Sooo...white Maytag coming up. Will keep you posted.

New scent by Fendi....FanDi. Oh I love it!! But sure is pricey. So my birthday is coming up...hey Dr. John...you listening?? Also Jadore Perfum is wonderful as well. Love me my perfums...wear them every day!

Going to Las Cruces this weekend...just for the night! Dr. John has a dinner to attend so I am tagging along. Hilton Inn here we come. They have a great exercise room with brand new equipment. Woot!!!

May 1st?? WTH!!???

Time to link up with the other Randomizers!! Go and visit Stacy at Stacy UnCorked and see the fun and mayhem that is occurring there!!

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Silent Saturday ~Part 110!!

2012-04-28T01:12:00.001-06:00

Sometimes the journey seems pointless! Wandering from day to day! But if you keep your heart and eyes open, an opportunity will appear...usually when you least expect it.

Embrace it!!

Allow the truth of it to saturate your very being!

Dream!!

Imagine!

Breath!!

Create!!

Then...hold on!!

You may be in for the ride of your life!!!

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Photo Art Friday ~ When Nature Sings!

2012-04-27T02:29:00.000-06:00

Welcome to another edition of Photo Art Friday...sponsored by Bonnie of Pixel Dust Photo Art. Today's challenge is to take one of her filters (which all of them are fabulous) and create a work of art. The photo I chose is...

With her filter....

Now adding my photo...

Then I added several other filters to give a more painterly effect...

Also linking to Flower Art Friday....

How fun is that?? Thanks for stopping by...

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you

SueAnn