Crib Quilts

It's hot, so I'm doing some quilting again (what's THAT all about?). I got one order for a custom crib quilt (!), so I'll be starting on that--also did one very traditional pink/blue block quilt and this bright one, yesterday. Let the quilting begin! If anyone's interested in one, I can do custom fabrics/colors, including embroidery if desired. Quilt can be hand- or machine-quilted, prices start at $75...

Illustration Friday Twist

These have been very hard for me lately...Maybe it's because the kids are home for the summer? Maybe it's because the topics have been tough ones? I wanted to do something with a dna double helix, but couldn't make it work exactly the way I wanted it to...

These things are addictive--found this one via Elizabeth's blog--I was surprised at the results!


Should you be MALE or FEMALE?*
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Either,You brain is neither specifically male, nor female in the way you perceive your surroundings. As bad as this may sound to some, it can easily mean that you are capable of combining both gender aspects to your advantage. Rather than being genderless you are possibly able think freely. This does not necessarily mean that you are bisexual or androgynous or indecisive.

Should you be MALE or FEMALE?*
created with QuizFarm.com

Either		71%
Female		57%
Male		46%
Neither		29%

Illustration Friday Camouflage

Another one of the collaged and stitched monoprints I've done--The muted-ness of it makes me think of the world that Lois Lowry wrote about in The Giver
--colorless, without texture or surprise. (Wonderful book, by the way--find it in the young adult fiction section).

Once I'd made the monoprint, I collaged cut pieces of magazines on top of it, gave it a wash of watered-down white paint, then handstitched the whole thing together.

Must Read

I spent hours this weekend reading the blogSWEET|SALTY--it will make you cry, but gives hope, too, in the beauty and power of love... Thanks to MAMA LOVES for sharing this link.

Revamped Website

I've spent the last four or five days redesigning my website at KSMITHEY.COM. I've changed the organizational structure of the site, including a change so that when you go into a gallery you can just click on "next" to get to the next piece in that particular gallery--sort of a streamlining effect.

Any comments or suggestions, please share them with me, either here or in an email. As far as I can tell, the site is working the way it's supposed to, but if you find any problems, let me know.

I'm incorporating Paypal buttons for some of the pieces, as well, and my goal for this summer is to learn more about MARKETING MYSELF. (I'm also all ears when it comes to tips on that subject!).

Illustration Friday Rejection AMENDED

Another digital collage for Illustration Friday. I guess the real term for what I've been doing lately is "photomontage"--

Please look at the work I've done earlier this week (click on the blog banner to take you to the main blog)--Thanks so much for visiting!

As an aside--the little girl in this picture celebrated her 50th Wedding Anniversary last summer! I put together a DVD of all the old family pictures and the couple's favorite music (Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett) to show at the party, as well as doing the photography at the actual party itself--When I saw this picture, I asked Nancy if I could use this picture in my art, if I ever got the chance, and she said, "Sure," so here it is. I just love this picture.

Hazel in the Night

More of life under the sea...

From Last Week

Yuck

I've been out of action for two days with some kind of stomach bug. I hate stomach bugs. I've been hospitalized a couple of times with stomach issues that won't stop, so there's a panic element, too. And I think I must have had a fever, this time, because I spent the whole night doing sudoku puzzles and photoshop layers in my head while trying to sleep--you know, the kind of fevery sleep where if you can just get the right answer, you'll feel all better? All of this while swearing I'll never ever eat food again if this will just stop!

Haven't even been able to come out to the studio, because the studio has no facilities and it's a rather long walk, UPHILL, to get to the house...

I've got some critter stories to share--I'll try to get going tomorrow.

Illustration Friday:Suits

Ikept thinking about suits of cards--this is the Two of Gypsies.

Joel's Graduation

Well, graduation's over, I didn't embarass Joel TOO much (I don't think) and the party/dance afterward went very smoothly--By the time we had cleaned up (the local Country Club let us use their facilities gratis) it was 12:45 p.m.--and Joel had to be up at the school at 6:45 this morning for the Magic Mountain trip--yawn!

Since I published a picture of Katie, I figured I might as well show you Joel in all his 8th grade glory, and the movie star (aka Jenny) that he happened to run into after graduation was over.

I'm not sure whose sunglasses she snagged--the tulle was used to wrap around the potted plants--when my friend unwrapped them, she wrapped it around Jenny. VERY glam.

Illustration Friday Paradise

I love what I wrote--

I'll live under the sea
in a forest of anemones
where I can feel the ocean's gentle swells and
ride the furious waves,
where the cold of the depths balance
the heat of my heart's desire...

But I'm not happy with any of the ways I tried to incorporate them. I'm looking for help, folks! Any suggestions are welcome...

This is Exciting!

Now I know that I am a complete dork, but I'm excited because I got a cell phone of my very own!!!!

I turned mine off a few years ago to trim the budget. My very generous sister said "You can't be without a cell phone," and sent me a phone as part of her family plan, but she lives in Michigan and uses Verizon, which doesn't work up here in the mountains. So I've used it sparingly. The voicemail box can't be emptied, and it's 'roaming' just about everywhere--great for emergencies, not so good for regular use.

For Joel's 8th grade graduation (which is a very big deal around here) we'd told him we'd get him a cell phone. According to him, "EVERYONE ELSE HAS ONE, MOM." He'll need it next year at the high school, since the school is 20 minutes away and he'll be involved in sports and marching band after school.

So yesterday I took Joel to town and picked out his clothes for graduation (and let me tell you, there is nothing so frustrating as trying to find dress pants and shirt for a tall skinny boy. Most of the 30 x 30 pants he tried on were way too big. That kid needs to beef up! Not to mention that I let HIM pick out the clothes. I would have gone with khaki pants, white shirt, dark red tie. But, NOOOOO WHITE SHIRTS, MOM! I DON'T LIKE WHITE SHIRTS) After we got done buying his clothes, I said, "How 'bout we go pick out your phone?" You should have seen his face! He was so happy, he even put his arm around me IN THE PHONE STORE. IN PUBLIC. WHERE PEOPLE COULD SEE US.

So I got a phone, too, for signing up for a family plan!