Monday, September 13, 2010

A Maternity Inspiration

Found a new Blog today. Just photos. Nothing else... But wow this is going to be the best little Scrapbook ever for the subject of the photos.

Enjoy!

http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Maureen McNaughton

If you know me well you will know that my painting sun rises and sets on Maureen McNaughton.

The very first "Big Brush" book I ever purchased was by Maureen McNaughton. When I took it home I read it front to back. And knew this is how I wanted to paint when I grew up. This was back about 1990 or so.

Later in the 1990's I started to go to the HOOT Convention. The very first year I met and started rooming with a very wonderful and funny lady from California, Kathy Dysert. That year we resolved to room together anytime we attended a convention together. We had so much fun together.

In 1999 Doxie Keller was SDP President. She started a Task Force early in her administration to study and develop a Teachers Certification program for SDP. Two of the people on the Task Force was my friend Kathy Dysert and my painting Hero, Maureen McNaughton.

Unknown to me Kathy and Maureen became good friends while at their Task Force meetings! And that year while at HOOT. Maureen wanted to room with Kathy. While Kathy and I had been going to HOOT for several years, Maureen had not. So I had not met my Hero yet.

When Kathy told me of this dilemma, we decided that we would have two connecting rooms. Sheesh to meet Maureen I'd slept in the bathtub!

I was so thrilled to meet Maureen and found her to be a very fun and gracious lady. One night I was in their room and since they were all ready for bed, I said I would go back to my room and let them sleep. Since both were in their bed, I offered to turn off the light.

Maureen quipped, "And do you tuck us in too?"

Where I responded, "Of course."

I rushed to Maureen's bed and started tucking her in, going from her shoulders to her toes and back to her shoulders. When I got to back to her shoulders I looked her in the eyes and said, "I'm your number one fan......"

Maureen looked over at Kathy, "Kathy I've feeling like I'm in that movie; 'Misery!" If she comes out with a typewriter, I'm out of here!"

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I've had classes with Maureen since then at convention but never a seminar. So I was really thrilled to learn that Darla Foreman of Turtle Hollow, , was having a three day seminar for Maureen in Oklahoma City! I immediately signed up for the seminar and enjoyed the three days with my friend Maureen.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Mrs Hughes and Others...

This past week I was so fortunate to have my friend Dr. Carolyn Martin visit me for a week. She came to visit but we also decided that we needed to make this a fun "working" trip. So. We signed up for a Maureen McNaughton Seminar sponsored by Turtle Hollow Artists.

I'll post my finished pieces soon. I just haven't photoed them all yet... If you have never taken a class or seminar with Maureen, you are missing a special treat! Maureen is The Most Gracious Lady you could ever meet. And to top that she is funny and loads of fun! She is recently engaged, which I am thrilled for her.

One of the ladies taking the seminar shared her love for a comedian who goes by the name of Mrs Hughes. Check her out at the right.... she IS just TOO funny!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Playing For Change

I found this really neat video on YouTube today. Playing For Change. It takes one song sung by people all over the world then edited together. It is so awesome! I especially love the song; Stand By Me. There are a total of six videos uploaded and are part of an award winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music" I added the video widget to my page at the right, you can check out the videos from the documentary.

Google Grandpa Elliot. You will be amazed at this wonderful musician. He is awesome... wish that Jazz was more main stream... he would head up the list!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Spring Is Coming. I Think?


Spring is coming. I think? This past week has been nice and sunny. Warm but with a bit of nip in the air.

I know Spring MUST be coming. After all. Hubby just tilled up his garden! AND cut his potatoes up to plant. Well some of his potatoes... he still has a few yet to cut. Have you ever cut out the eyes and ate the insides of seed potatoes? The best eating potatoes ever.

This week I'm getting ready for my friend Carolyn to visit. She is visiting for a week. While here she and I are going to a Maureen McNaughton Seminar. I am so looking forward to the seminar and Carolyn's visit.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Oh Dear

Well it's Friday February the 13th, 2009. Now I am not at all superstitious about Friday the 13th. I had two grandchildren born on the 13th of their month. While one was born on a Tuesday and the other on Thursday they do have birthday's on Fridays. Which makes those days all so special.

I haven't painted this week, but I did create a recipe card for an exchange. I belong to a Yahoo Group called Chic-Chicks. It's a fun group and reminds me a lot of the old ToleNet mailing list. The above scan of my card was sent to Darlene Iglehart, in Waco Texas. Which thrilled me as we have known each other since 1999, meeting at the Wichita SDP National Convention.









Wednesday, January 21, 2009

What In The World Am I Doing?

Earlier, yesterday, I asked my friend Marcia to verify some information for me. She wrote back and told me to look at her finished project on her Blog. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Then I started looking at the blogs she has linked to. Then I signed up to follow several Blogs I found through her Blog. Then I thought, "Hey I can do that!"

Famous last words huh?

My purpose here is to maybe help jump start me back into more creative avenues. Ant that means Not setting here at my computer at 2 AM in the morning!

My life the last few years has been stuffed full of stuff I'd rather not deal with. But "stuff" I can't get away from. As a result I've lost my way creatively. Put on the back burner. Left boxed up. But I think it's time to unpack those boxes and bring it to the front burner and get on with it!

I definitely have the talent. Not to toot my own horn, but it's there and I need to start nursing it back to health. Me thinks it's ailed for far too long.

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Now for other news. We spent the Christmas Holidays with our daughter and her children in north lower Michigan. If you don't know where that would be just think Cold and Snow!

In March my friend Carolyn is coming to Oklahoma to attend a Maureen McNaughton Seminar in Oklahoma City. (Got her one heck of a deal on airline tickets on Priceline!) I am so excited that Maureen is coming to OKC! She is such a fantastic teacher and wonderful gracious lady. My All Time Favorite Designer. I have many other favorites but she heads my list. One day before her Seminar I'll tell you my "Maureen" story.

My newest toy is a new iPhone. My youngest son is on his second one. My daughter just got her first one while we were visiting her, I just couldn't let them out do me now could I? There is a learning curve with this thing. It works a bit different than other phones I've had. Well shoot they all have their own set of nuances.

As I learn the ins and outs of this Blog I'll start adding other things, like photos and such. Until bye!