Circus Time, Our Midweek Muse

I've never been to a real circus, but as a kid I always wanted to go to one.   

At my current age - definitely a senior citizen - I'm conflicted about circuses.  I don't know how circuses are considered nowadays, but I think some people worry about the animals.  

I think the athleticism and expertise of the circus acts are commendable and very exciting, the clowns are funny, but have always scared me a little, and I guess I must worry about the animals a bit, too, because this is how my artwork turned out for this challenge.  

Originally my plan was to do some art containing a happy clown, but I just couldn't make that happen.  So here we are.  I do love elephants, but I don't think they are still workers in current circuses.

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time...

Bad Hair Day, Our Midweek Muse

 This week's Challenge is Bad Hair Day and below is my artwork:

Well, I have to admit, this turned out exactly as I envisioned it, rocks in her hair with trees and feathers and birds and butterflies... but in the end, it's not exactly a bad hair day.  When she was finished I really loved the way she looked and I figured after sleeping on this hairdo, she'll wake up tomorrow with a really messy mess, so I decided she could stay.  The Bad Hair Day is coming tomorrow. 😁

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time...

Making Memories, Our Midweek Muse

The Challenge this week is Making Memories.  I think the time in my life when I made the most memories was the seven years I spent living mostly off grid in my motorhome with my little Chihuahua, Katie.  It was an experience that only another full-time traveler would understand, especially if traveling alone.  Such a great time in my life.  

These are some photos I snapped along the way - just a very few of thousands:

I wouldn't want to do it again, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.  😊

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time...

Weather Forecast, Our Midweek Muse

It's so nice to be back doing digital art challenges again!  Here's my artwork for Weather Forecast:

I've never played soccer in the rain, but I guess it doesn't matter what the forecast is.  😊

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time...

Two - Take a Word Art Challenge

Our challenge this week at Take A Word is Two.  Two of anything, so I decided to do a cat and bird.  A cat lounging in the bird's feeder.  The Red-Winged Blackbird is giving the cat quite a lecture!

Actually the cat is mine - Baxter.  (I lifted him from the original photo and placed him in this beautiful scene.)  I had Baxter when I lived on the western slope of the Sierras in Northern California.  This is the house I had there, I just loved it:

I loved the way the sunshine filtered through the trees. 

Funny story - It had a ton of cedar trees front and back and all around it.  One winter we had an enormous snow storm and the top of one of the cedar trees broke off and fell, pointed top first, like an arrow into my roof, through the roof and the ceiling, and hung there, a real cedar tree hanging upside down from the living room ceiling.

It was super early in the morning and made quite a loud crash.  The master bedroom is below the living room, and we ran up the stairs to see what the crash was, and imagine our surprise when we saw the tree top there.  It was three or so feet long that we could see.  Stunned silence.

Anyway, on the left side - in the photo - was a deck on the second story accessible from the living room.  One morning I went out to the deck to water some plants, and this is what I saw in the bird feeder which was nailed onto the corner of the deck railing:

After that day, Baxter often made himself comfortable in the bird feeder.  He was such a beautiful cat and had great personality.  😍😀😗

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time...

Faces - Sunday Postcard Art Challenge

Our challenge this week at Sunday Postcard Art is Faces.

Many years ago when I lived in Placerville, CA, my friends and I drove to Folsom to attend a Psychic Fair.  I'd never heard of such a thing, but it was really fun and fascinating. There was one woman there who, for a nominal fee, would study you and "see your guide."  And then she would do a chalk drawing of the guide she saw.

When it was my turn, she said I had many guides, and she wasn't sure which one to choose, but there was a young Indian warrior who seemed to be strongest, and asked if I wanted her to draw him.

I was clueless and said, sure.  She asked me what color I wanted her to use, and since I had just decorated my bedroom in pink flowers - my only "girlie bedroom" ever (and I LOVED it!) - I said pink.

She said, "Well, he's a very masculine presence, but okay, let's use pink.  That will work."

I've always loved this chalk portrait, it's pretty old now and the pink colors are faded.  It's the only framed item I brought when I started full-timing in my motor home.  I took photos of everything hanging on the walls that I loved.  Somehow I feel protected with him looking over me.  Like a Guardian Angel.  Who knows if the whole "guide" thing is true, but wouldn't it be nice if it is?

So, this is from a photo I took before leaving home, and I added a few elements to it.

My Guide.

Thanks for visiting...  see you next time!

Clowns - Sunday Postcard Art Challenge

Our challenge this week at Sunday Postcard Art is Clowns. 

You know what?  I hate clowns!  But I found so many really nice clown elements to use in this challenge that weren't ugly or scary.  I was surprised.  I guess I don't hate clowns.  Just the ugly, scary ones.

Stephen King said, "Nobody likes a clown at midnight."  And I guess that just about sums it up for me. 

Thanks for stopping by - see you next time...

Balloons - Take a Word Art Challenge

Our challenge this week at Take a Word is Balloons.

This is a photo of my motor home on Forest Road 525 in Sedona, AZ in the fall of 2016.  I was lucky to get the only campsite with a tree!  Yay!  There were cows in the area, and hot air balloons landed right near us almost daily.  It was a really fun campsite that year!

So this is an actual photograph which I ran through an app to give it more texture, then added some elements for more interest.  That's my trusty travel companion, Katie, in the lower left corner.  LOL

Thanks for visiting - see you next time!

Renaissance Woman, Sunday Postcard Art Challenge

Our challenge this week at Sunday Postcard Art is Renaissance Woman.   As usual, I really enjoyed this challenge, and not surprisingly, I've learned a lot while figuring out how to join in the challenge.

I hate to admit I wasn't sure exactly what Renaissance Woman meant.  I had only a vague idea so I did some research, and I found two descriptions, one the original and the other a current description. 

1.  This is the older description from Merriam Webster: 

Renaissance - capitalized  The transitional movement in Europe between medieval and modern times beginning in the 14th century in Italy, lasting into the 17th century, and marked by a humanistic revival of classical influence expressed in a flowering of the arts and literature and by the beginnings of modern science.

So I guess a Renaissance Woman is one who lived during these times.  And from the photos I found, they seem to have dressed very well, with lots of velvet, fur, and shiny gold materials.  Or at least the rich ladies who had portraits done...

There's lots of information online about this period in history and all the changes that occurred during the Renaissance. 

Or

2.  The modern description: 

Noun, (sometimes lowercase)  A woman who has acquired profound knowledge or proficiency in more than one field.

The amazing thing is:  I've discovered I am a Renaissance Woman. And many of my female friends are, as well.  Here are some of the things I found that I answer YES to: 

7 Signs You May be a Modern-Day Renaissance Woman 

1.    You still don’t know what you want to be when you grow up—not because nothing interests you, but because so many things interest you. 

2.    You can think of at least three ways to earn a living, and the idea of having to choose one feels suffocating to you.  You love the idea of having multiple streams of income. 

3.    You’ve worried you may be a Jack-of-all-Trades, even though you’ve developed a level of mastery in many or even all of your areas of interest.  You sometimes feel like a fraud. 

4.    You’ve felt ashamed about your inability to choose one thing, lest you’d appear scattered or unfocused. 

5.    You’re a natural multi-tasker.  You’d think nothing of doing one thing from nine to noon, another from one to three, and a third from four to six.  You love variety in your work. 

6.    You want more freedom.  You gave up something you enjoyed because your full-time job and personal responsibilities left no room in your life to pursue it.  Yet, it’s always on your mind—a subtle, but ever-present reminder that makes you think it’s not meant to be forgotten.

7.    You’ve often wondered if have ADD.  In fact you’d almost welcome the diagnosis because it would explain why you can’t pick something.  The trouble is, you really don’t have a problem with focus.  You generally finish what you set out to do.

I've never thought I had ADD, so that one doesn't apply to me, but the rest of them do.

I love it!  I'm a Renaissance Woman!  Are you?  (You know what they say about believing everything you read on the Internet - but I LIKE the idea of being a modern Renaissance Woman!)

Thanks for visiting - see you next time...

Book Cover - The Three Muses

This week's challenge at The Three Muses is Book Cover - with humorous title or author name.  

The Painted Ladies of San Francisco popped into my mind at once - with Sam Francisco as the author.  Funny how sometimes ideas just happen, and other times it takes some work to figure out how to put the challenge together.  This one was easy peasy!

"Back in the day" I used to have a beautiful coffee table book of the Painted Ladies that included their history with lots of pictures.  A very enjoyable read. 

I bet if these Painted Ladies wrote a memoir, it would be sizzling!  Imagine the history they've seen.  😍

Thanks for stopping by - see you next time...

It's Showtime - The Three Muses

The theme this week at Three Muses is It's Showtime!  

This little happy band of skeletons is putting on a SHOW in this old ratty theater, but one of them just couldn't put up with the makeup any more.  She says, "I'm getting too old for this!"  

Looks like the rest of them are having a good time!

Thanks for stopping by.  See you next time...

Hats - Take a Word Art Challenge

This one was FUN!  I have a folder full of Hats and put them to good use in Take a Word's theme for the week. 

I love all these critters in their hats!  💙🙃

Thanks for visiting!  See you next time...

Mail Art - Sunday Postcard Art

Our theme this week at Sunday Postcard Art is Mail Art.

My first thought was "snail mail," so I used a snail mailing a letter.  😀

Thanks for stopping by.  See you next time...

Time - Take a Word Art Challenge

Take a Word's theme this week is Time.

I've been saving these ballerina elements to use - and found a good theme to pair them, young and old ballerinas.

When I was a young girl I took dance lessons, tap, ballet, acrobat, and hula.  All four in the space of an hour once a week, with my best friend, Kathy.  

Kathy and I were older than the other students, and while they continued to learn ballet positions and little dances in their ballet slippers, Kathy and I progressed to "toe."  I remember my pink silk toe shoes - just like the ones above.  And being surprised when I first got them, how "hard as a rock" the toes were.  (You have no idea how hard it was to balance on those hard toes at first!)  And the beautiful pink ribbons I wrapped around my ankles, just so.

I wish I still had them, just for the memories.  :)

Thanks for stopping by.  See you next time...

Sea World - The Three Muses

Our theme this week at The Three Muses is Sea World.  

I've decided to populate this part of the sea floor with some mermaids.  They have quite a life - just sitting around being beautiful in their Sea World. 

You know, I've neer seen a mermaid who wasn't beautiful.  😉

Thanks for visiting - see you next time...

Bright Colors - Take a Word Art Challenge

Bright Colors - Colors of the Rainbow is the theme this week at Take A Word.  Well, I was able to find lots of elements with rainbow colors!  I think half the fun for me in doing these art challenges is finding all the challenge graphics every week!  I'm accumulating quite a collection.

Thanks for visiting.  See you next time...

Water - Sunday Postcard Art Challenge

This week's challenge word at Sunday Postcard Art is Water.   It's pretty amazing how many creatures I found made out of water, so I created this little grotto for the Water Creatures to play in! 😁

I just never know where these art challenge words will take me, but it's always an interesting or surprising place!

Thanks for visiting!  See you next time...

Black and White with a Splash of Color - Take a Word Art Challenge

The theme this week at Take a Word is Black and White with a Splash of Color.

I love putting together black and white images and then adding some color.  This Audrey Hepburn image came with the Tiffany Box - and I added more of that famous blue to some of the other elements.  Fun!!!

I've always loved Audrey Hepburn and all her movies.  And Moon River was the theme of my Senior Ball in highschool - Hi, Pete! - so that's a special song, too.  ❤

Thanks for stopping by!  See you next time...

Splash of Red - Take a Word Art Challenge

Our challenge this week at Take A Word is A Splash of Red.  I really like the challenges with colors in the theme.

So this is the Before & After Spa Treatments shop, although the "before" woman going into the building looks as good as the "after" woman coming out.  Just a little whimsy...  🤩

I had a good time putting this one together.  It's funny how there will be a blank page on my laptop -  what to do?  What to do?  Then suddenly inspiration!  And its on....  that's when computer art collage is really fun!

And P.S.  It's true - Happy Girls are the Prettiest! 

Thanks for visiting.  See you next time...

Sunday Postcard Art - Postage Stamp People

This was an interesting challenge, one I haven't done before - or for that matter, even heard about.  The challenge this week at Sunday Postcard Art is Postage Stamp People.  The piece ABOVE is my entry and I think I've done it correctly.

Okay, so since this was a new one on me, I had to figure out with a little research what Postage Stamp People were!  I loved the samples I found and the collage below is what I made at first. 

But this morning after looking at more Postage Stamp People art when I followed the links at Sunday Postcard Art to Marion's works, I realized I should have a real stamp with a face and add a body to that stamp that flows down nicely.

So I pulled up my first try, which is below, and kept the Abe Lincoln face on the stamp and worked it so that he and my cowboy fit together nicely.  Interesting, huh?  I liked this challenge!  😊



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The Three Muses - Hand

The theme this week at The Three Muses is Hand. 

I wanted to use the graphic element with two baby monkeys in a woman's hand, and built the rest around that.  :)

Thanks for stopping by.  See you next time...

Sunday Postcard Art - Sewing

Our challenge this week at Sunday Postcard Art is Sewing - must have a dressmakers dummy.

I found a photo with five mannequins and decided to dress them all up as members of the Red Hat Society.  In the foreground is the poor woman sewing more purple dresses.

Another FUN challenge!

A strange thing happened when I was searching for a photo of mannequins/dressforms/dressmakers dummy.  My own personal photo popped up with the others labeled Mannequin.

When I was selling all my things before I took off on my motorhome trek, I snapped photos of lots of my things that I was selling in my estate sale.  This mannequin stood in the corner of my bedroom and I used to hang scarfs, hats, jackets, etc. on it. 

I posted about the estate sale and included the mannequin picture in one of my RV blog posts.  It must have been lifted out and placed in a search engine.  Weird, huh?

Thanks for checking in,  see you next time...

Take a Word Art Challenge - Wings

I love this one!  The challenge at Take A Word is Wings - bird wings, angel wings, fairy wings, any kind of wings.

A bit ago I got this cool element of a dolphin coming up out of the water.  Then right after the Wings challenge was posted, I came across these wings made of water.  Perfect match-up!  Isn't he cute?  Dolphins always look like they're smiling.  😇

See you next time...