Trial and Error

Movie Trailer Saturday - Avatar

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:10:00 PST

I was really upset to hear the reviews for this movie trailer. I saw it in the theater the other day and decided I wanted to see the movie because of it. I agree the story line looks a bit predictable but it looks like it will have some pretty cool effects with the graphics!

Hopefully the critics won't be as harsh on the actual movie review as they are on the trailer.

*~*Jen*~*

Art Everyday of the Month - Days 6-10

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:55:24 PST

I finally time to upload some of my artwork pics from this weekend!

This one is one of those that have sat on the side lines for a bit. It's still got a way to go but I've made some progress on it. The little white spots you see on it is glitter. I spilled some and it got everywhere.

This one I started when I was mad. I'm not sure if I was going at warp speed or holding my breathe while I was doing it but I was pretty much panting when I was done. I haven't a clue where I'm going with it next.

This one I thought I had finished a while ago. Then one day I looked at it and decided I wasn't. It got a few more coats and splatters of paint. It's now up in my Etsy store.

This one is a left over from paintings I started while taking a Suziblu class. I have several of these I'm trying to finish up and move out. It's got a lot of detail on it but I need to get a better picture. The face isn't really that one dimensional either.

Remember this one? I added a bit more to it but it's still got a long way to go.

What's crazy is that I have several more pieces I worked on this weekend too. I was a painting, playing fool!

*~*Jen*~*

Art Everyday Month - Day 11

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:23:24 PST

I spent the majority of my day working on my website. I've still got a few tweaks to make but it's done for the most part.

Since I was doing my website I didn't get in any actual "artwork" but I did get a little creative with our dinner. So I'm counting that for my notch on the Art Everyday Month belt.

You know those nights when you haven't gone to the store and you have nothing to make but you're still too lazy to go get something? Yeah, that was tonight. So I invented a meal!

I scrounged around and found some canned chicken, green beans and a packet of those flavored rice side dishes. I had found some bread crumbs I wanted to use too but we decided they were too old. Damn!

So I mixed the rice and added some butter and milk to make it a little richer. So far, so good...

I threw the chicken in once the rice started boiling. That looks appetizing doesn't it? Cory still wasn't quite sure about my little project.

Now, I'm not a big fan of canned chicken but I wasn't going to through away two cans when they were left over from a new recipe I had tried. I've been around the bend enough to know something like that comes in handy (even if you don't really care for it).

NOTE: I discovered if you don't wait to put the chicken in the rice until the rice is almost done it turns out really soupy. Not good if you're eating it as is.

Never fear though - I had one more ingredient!

Turns out the sauce thickened up and the extra moisture was just enough to add the green beans. It looked pretty good once it was dished up.

Now for the taste test....Cory and I both liked it. My meal was a success!

*~*Jen*~*

Monday comes a little late

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:03:36 PST

I'm a little late with my Monday post! Thought I would post a quick update but be forewarned...it's the dreaded pictureless post.

Quite honestly I didn't trust myself to type until now. This weekend started out well but by the end of it my feelings were hurt and I felt insulted and angry. Since I tend to overreact a bit at first I decided to wait it out.

On the lighter side though I was able to get a bunch of stuff done! My house is now spotless (with the exception of the floors, durn dog)and I started three paintings, worked on four and completed two! How is that for progress?!?! Now just to get it up and sold.

Also...guess who has almost stopped chewing on things? We can now leave Dixie in a room by herself for more than thirty seconds. Pretty soon we will be able to put a doggy door in. Yea!

I'll post pics of my paintings later. I have to download and edit them first. Hope your week is going well!

*~*Jen*~*

Dream

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:39:42 PST

I went into work to sit at my desk like normal only the office was a grocery store and my desk was the conveyor belt. CP was sitting at her desk where the scanner would be.

I set my stuff down and saw my computer and phone weren't where they were suppose to be. I worried about finding them and getting them in place before AP got there.

My phone was tucked behind the register and my computer was on top of the rack that normally holds all the candy bars and gum. I had to use a step stool to be able to use the computer. I started working with the sense I was behind.

I got down from my stool to look in the mirror in the bedroom because my face was itching so bad it felt like it was burning. When I looked in the mirror I saw my entire face was covered with bright red bumpy welts.

I started to freak! I turned around and asked CP why she didn't tell me my face was like this. She just shrugged, made a face and walked away like I was making something out of nothing.

I pulled up a shirt sleeve and saw my arms were covered with welts as well. I went back to the mirror and lifted my shirt to find the same welts on my stomach and back too.

I told CP I needed to get to the doctor and as I got ready to leave I saw the welts had faded on my arms. I looked in the mirror and saw they had almost completely faded from my face as well.

I was about to say something in amazement when I woke up.

*~*Jen*~*

Movie Trailer Saturday - New Moon

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:00:03 PST

It's almost time! Just two more weeks to go before this premieres. I'm not sure if I will get to see it opening weekend or not with the mass teenage hysteria that seems to be going along with it.

I usually go the first showing on Sunday mornings on opening weekends but I've heard of girls buying tickets already for opening weekend several weeks ago! Is that not just insane?!? So fingers crossed...

*~*Jen*~*

Art Everyday Month - Day 5

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:59:27 PST

I spent the majority of the day cleaning the house and then I had our monthly Etsy Fort Worth meeting so I really didn't make any "art". I did manage to get a little bit of creativity in by redoing our coffee table centerpiece for autumn.

*~*Jen*~*

Art Everyday Month - Day 4

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:05:48 PST

I didn't get a huge amount done yesterday but I did manage to start sketching out a couple of the doodles I did the day before.

This one is on canvas...

and this one is on a small block of wood...

Dream

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:13:28 PST

I had quite a few dreams last night. It's the first time I've remembered them other than brief snippets for a while. Woke up feeling very rested.

I was pregnant and living with my mother. I wasn't feeling well that day and stayed home from work. I went to use the hair dryer and noticed it was working even though it wasn't plugged in. I show my mother in amazement.

Upon inspecting the dryer I noticed it had a battery backup.

Then I was driving down the street in an SUV with the hair dryer in my hand.

One of the other ones...

I was in a parking lot waiting to turn and and SUV backed into the front of my car. He got out and gave my his information and I put it all into my phone. I was amazed at how fast I was entering the information and worried I was doing it right.

Then we were sitting in the food court of an airport discussing things. He said he was from London and he took a piece of the bag of Halloween candy I had out on the table. Then we offered it to his little girl for later. She said she wanted it now. He said no.

She came and sat with us. I talked back and forth with the little girl and she said she was going to get the candy because she was good at convincing grown ups. I said she didn't know me that well.

*~*Jen*~*

Art Everyday Month - Day 3

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:49:03 PST

I did these doodles today as my third contribution to Art Everyday Month. I pasted them all in my idea book for future reference. Since the majority of all my paintings come from doodles of some sort so you can expect them to show up again at some point in time.

*~*Jen*~*

Art Every Day Month - Day 1 and 2

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:29:16 PST

I don't really have anything to show for the first day of Art Everyday Month. I worked on journal pages but it was mainly just gluing and pasting random papers and images onto the journal pages I had prepped a while back but hey, at least I got something done!

Day two I finished up a page I sketched a while back when our our electricity went out from a storm. It's ink and gouache on a vintage book page. I'm thinking about putting it up in my Etsy store but haven't decided yet.

EDIT: The original won't be put up on Etsy. After a second look at the post I realized the error in not looking to see what was being said on the book page. The picture above is the edited version.

If you're unfamiliar with Art Everyday Month you can find out more about it here. There are already quite a few people participating.

If you decide to play along please let me know. I'd love to see what you come up with!

*~*Jen*~*

Happy Halloween!

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:26:38 PST

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! Cory and I didn't do all too much this year. In fact the only thing I really did for Halloween was for work.

Speaking of Halloween...I owe you a picture of my costume! I was suppose to do a sneak peak of it on Thursday but you know how it works sometimes. Can you guess what I was?

This puppy won me third prize in the costume contest! I made it myself with duct tape, paint, cardboard, a couple pieces of wood and paper bowls. You can find the instructions to make it on Instructables.com. I had to rig it a bit to be able to easily get in and out of it for work but I basically followed the same design.

WARNING THE NEXT PICTURE MAY GROSS YOU OUT!

We had a pumpkin decorating contest which I think we ROCKED but we came in as runner up. Better than last but still it was a wicked awesome pumpkin. All the decorations (minus the scissors and bandage) were made from food we had on hand at the office.

Some people thought it was too gross and some loved it. Oh and those are suppose to be brains spilling out in front of him not vomit. Vomit would just be - ew.

One of my co-workers and I decided to have a little Halloween Dessert contest as well. I love making desserts - especially cute ones! Since I made the prize (which I forgot to take a picture of) I bowed out of the running for this one. Here's what I came up with though!

Not to toot my own horn but aren't they adorable? I was so pleased at how close they came to the picture on the recipe. They are really easy to make too! I found the recipe on Bright Ideas. There were a ton of cute recipes to choose from.

Most of the pictures I got were from my phone so they are a bit grainy. I have several other pictures on my Flickr account if you want to see the more.

Other than that we didn't do anything for Halloween at home. Cory decided he didn't want to be home when the kids started trick or treating so we went to see Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant instead. I'm glad we did. It turned out to be a really nice evning with just the two of us.

*~*Jen*~*

Giveaway Winner!

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:01:09 PST

Well, it's the first of November and it's time to announce the winner of October's Twitterific Giveaway!

The winner and new owner of the book Mixed Emulsions by Angela Cartwright is...

Lori Davis of Vintage Palette!

Congratulations! I will send you a private message via twitter for your mailing address.

Now, to everyone else...stay tuned for November's giveaway! I will post it sometime this week. A big thank you to everyone who entered!

~*~Jen~*~

Movie Trailer Saturday - The Stepfather

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:00:05 PDT

I was so tempted to tell Cory we should go watch this movie instead of Where the Wild Things Are the other weekend but didn't. It looks really good!

I haven't heard too many reviews on it yet but I guess that's a good thing. Usually when you hear the reviews without looking for them it means the movie bombed. I'm hoping that's the case about this one.

I'll definitely be watching it when it comes out on video.

*~*Jen*~*

WIP Journal Page

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:03 PDT

I actually started this a week or so ago but just now got around to posting it. It's about three quarters of the way done. Toward the middle of it I thought I had made a complete mess of it but now I really like it.

It contains paper napkins, an altered magazine image, paint, neocolor, a fortune cookie wrapper, eyelets, transparencies, paper scraps, colored pencil, marker and gel pens.

I'm thinking I will do a bit more to her face since you can still tell it originated from a magazine image. Maybe some rosy cheeks and some eye makeup? I also think her blouse will look good a sea foam green and maybe I'll put some words across the top left page. We'll see.

*~*Jen*~*

Sometimes sickly is good

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:03:28 PDT

This weekend was kind of hit and miss for me. I didn't feel that well on Saturday and spent the majority of the day curled up on the couch. I told Cory to go on ahead to the Air Show because I didn't want him to miss out on it too.

In hindsight, I'm happy I made that choice! While I was sorry I missed the air show once my meds kicked in enough that I wasn't couch ridden I went into painting mode! I got SO MUCH done this weekend!

I started this painting from scratch:

Completely reworked this one:

and added to this one:

All of them still need A LOT of work done to them but considering they were either sitting there for months or completely non existent I figure it's major progress.

Sunday I was still battling with headaches but I felt well enough to go to the Huffines Art Trails in Richardson. I went mainly because I wanted to check it out for possibly being a vendor there next year.

I haven't decided if the amount of money they want for the booth there could be justified by the amount I can sell. I have a few more shows lined up before application time comes up for this show next year so hopefully I'll have a better idea.

In addition to all of that I started working on the award for the Dessert Contest we are having at the office on Friday as well as my Halloween Costume. I'll have peeks at both of those later in the week.

*~*Jen*~*

A Cat and a Dog

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:34:24 PDT

Poor Dixie is getting better by the day. In addition to getting her spayed and micro chipped we went ahead and had her double dew claws removed which as the vet said were "an accident waiting to happen". She was so pitiful when we brought her home after her surgery. I felt so bad for her!

We took the bandages off her yesterday and her stitches seem to be healing fine. She's even back to eating random crap around the house that she shouldn't - joy!

Hailey seems to be doing better as well. She's still getting used to Dixie but there is a lot less hissing going on. Also, we thought it was a fluke Thursday night but she pawed at her basket of toys to play (we had to put it up out of the way from you know who). We were surprised to see her doing it again on Friday and then last night, too!

I found if I throw her rubber balls down the hall Dixie does not bother her. She just lays down behind me and watches Hailey play.

We're so happy this is happening! We were worried we would have to end up giving her back like we had to with Martin. Granted, we got Dixie from the pound and we'd actually have to find a family to take her but you know what I mean.

*~*Jen*~*

Movie Trailer Saturday - The Vampire's Assistant

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:00:02 PDT

Woot! Look what came out this week! It doesn't look like your traditional vampire movie either. I really like it when they put a spin on things.

It's got some great actors in it too so I have high hopes for it! If I don't have to work this weekend I may go see it tomorrow morning.

*~*Jen*~*

Etsy Fort Worth is have a giveaway!

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:00:42 PDT

Now is your chance to win Celebrate Your Creative Self by Mary Todd Beam courtesy of Etsy Fort Worth!

...experiment hands-on with dozens of techniques and mediums in new and unconventional ways...artists are prompted to challenge their imaginations by building new painting surfaces, creating their own personal symbols and more.

To enter simply click this link and follow the instructions!

Good luck!

*~*Jen*~*

Bad Mood = Zero Creativity

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:56:26 PDT

As the title implies I've been in a bit of a funk off and on this week. So what happens when I'm in a funk? Absolutely nothing. Creativity? Zip. Not good when I took vacation time so I can get ready for a vendor fair.

Someone put some incredibly insulting and unwarranted things in writing about me and I've been letting it bother me off and on. The whole "bigger picture" approach is only working about half the time.

It's obvious when someone lashes out like that there are major insecurities at play but it doesn't make it feel like any less than a slap in the face. However, allowing another person's behavior to affect my mood is unacceptable. Is that not what I have been trying so hard to work on?

So...I'm writing, taking a deep breathe, letting go and throwing it out like a shriveled pumpkin. Be gone.

*~*Jen*~*

{Photo by Yogma}

Crayola doesn't make a color for your eyes (Video)

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:51:08 PDT

A cheery video to get you to Friday. Enjoy!

*~*Jen*~*

A Twitterific Giveaway

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:59:07 PDT

I bet you were thinking I forgot about having a giveaway for October! Nope, just had some other things on my plate. So without further ado...This month's blog giveaway is for Mixed Emulsions, a fantastic book by Angela Cartwright.

"...explore ways to add color (paints, oil sticks, watercolors, inks), ways to add texture (embossing powders, gessos, pastes, wax), and special effects (printing on unusual substrates, imprinting, photo mosaics, using tissue, fabric, cardboard)."

Since it's already the middle of the month I thought I would change things up a bit and try something new.

To enter for your chance to win simply follow me on Twitter.

Want TWO chances to win? Tweet about this giveaway.

My user name is blueskysunburn. Just click the link here or you can click my little Twitter icon (the blue one with the "T") in the top right hand corner of my blog.

Don't want a Twitter account? No worries! I have plenty of “regular” giveaways lined up for those who do not wish to have one. This one, however, is Twitter-specific.

Thanks for trying out something new with me and good luck!

*~*Jen*~*

Soul Journaling Advanced: Class 1

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:59:13 PDT

So after much deliberation I decided to sign up for Sarah Whitmire's Soul Journaling Advanced Techniques class. I was already signed up for In the Fishbowl and I worried I would overload myself but the latter class is kind of a different set up as it's mainly pod casts.

The first class lesson focuses on adding a variety of windows and altered photos to our journals. These are for the most part new to me. I've never added pages into my journals before and I've only experimented with altered photos one other time.

I chose to use pictures from our trip to San Antonio back in 2005. One, they were the only ones I liked that I would want to use in a journal and two, since I got a digital camera I don't really have pictures printed. Anyone else run into the latter problem?

I have eight pictures done so hopefully that will be enough for this project. I'm pleased with how they turned out. This is the first time I've ever stamped or used watercolors on pictures. Sarah also encouraged us to write on our photos but I decided against it. I'm out of my element enough as it is.

This lesson inspired me to do a bit more with altered photos, too. I found a picture of my cat while looking through photos but it's very dark. I'm playing with the idea of spritzing some bleach on it. It would look really cool with red, splotchy bleach spots.

*~*Jen*~*

Weekend in Review

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:36:49 PDT

This weekend turned out to be a little colder and rainier than predicted but it didn't stop us from going to the outdoor art festivals!

On Saturday we went to Oktoberfest in Southlake but found it rather disappointing. It just seemed to be lacking...something. I think I was expecting it to be more like Art in the Square.

One of the things that sparked our interest at Oktoberfest was the game the kids are playing in the picture above. How much fun would that be for adults to play? Cory and I joked about renting one of them for our birthdays. I am turning the big 3-0 this year, ya know.

Today we went to the Urban Street Bazaar in Dallas and it was much, much better to say the least. Not only were a few of the members from Etsy Fort Worth vendors there but the artisans we so much better in general. We ended up purchasing the coasters below from Kessler Craftsman. Aren't they beautiful?

Cory and I also discovered for ourselves several stores while we were in the area. We stopped by The Soda Gallery, the Artisan's Collective and the Epiphany Boutique. If you've never been to the Bishop Arts District it's definitely worth the trip.

*~*Jen*~*
{Photos by: Southlake Emerald (top) }

She's a Destructo-Dog!

blueskysunburn@yahoo.com (Jennifer Williams "Blueskysunburn") — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:33:32 PDT

Dixie seems to be getting better as each day passes. In fact, this is what we came home to the other day.

In about two week's time we have lost one poor stuffed animal, my bed of morning glories, an extension cord, a pirate costume belt, a grill brush, a pot holder, Hailey's harness and tie-out, a container of pet grass, a welcome mat (yep the one in this picture) and the door to her dog house.

In addition to that we have almost lost one of Cory's shoes, one of my shoes, a paper mache skull, a hair barrette, a phone book, a hand towel, a full bag of dog chews, another container of Hailey's pet grass, another extension cord and a dress sock.

I swear you turn your back for one minute and she grabs something! It probably doesn't help that she's huge. We've learned to shut all the doors, keep all extension cords up and push everything back far enough that she can't reach them. She has a ton of toys and chews but she seems to prefer what she's not suppose to have.

We can't wait for her to get out of the teething phase! Did you know they lose their teeth like kids? It's really weird finding one on the floor. Anyway, we got her one of those Kong toys. Oh, it's a god send! She'll play with that thing for hours whether there is goodies in it or not.

*~*Jen*~*