My daughter is an Artist

These are some self portraits my daughter sketched with pencil

Time Flies when your busy with life

Ok I can't believe it has been well over a year since I have been to my blog.  So much has happened.     I did make my trip to Spain and was successful in getting my research done.  I also did some amazing sight seeing and took some great photographs with my husband's help.   I had to return this February because my Abuela became ill.  I have not accomplished one creative thing in over a year so I am on a mission to get back in my little workshop and create.   I will have to make the time because I am the PTO President this year and it is an unpaid full time job.  Today my project is to clean the house...

See you real soon!

Stained Glass Wind Chime For Abuela

I am making a wind chime to take with me on my "Mission" to Spain.   The wind chime is for my 90 year old Abuela.  The reason I said "Mission" is because I am going to be doing more research for my Abuelas's memoir.  I will be scanning letters, recipes, and old photos.  I will also be asking a million questions in a video interview. 

But for now this is the wind chime work in progress:

 I have three pieces left to foil then I can begin soldering it together and adding the chimes.

Stained glass attempt is coming along

I had my second stained glass class and I completed the butterfly.  I started on my second piece which is a flower.  I chose my glass, cut the pattern, glued the pattern and began cutting out the glass.  I did not finish cutting out my pieces because I broke two of them and had to start over.  I will try to get this done at home before my next class. 

My finished butterfly

The pieces of my flower

Hidden Treasures- Photo tour

 These are the hidden treasures in my back yard

Trying my hand at stained glass

I have a stained glass kit with glass, tool, grinder, etc. I have had it well over a year. I watched the instructional DVD but just was not ready to attempt it. I found a GROUPON,(coupons you can buy buy for cool activities by city) for a stained glass class is my area.  I signed up for the four classes.  They are 2 1/2 hours each.

Yesterday was my first class.  We learned how to cut glass and use the proper tools.  We started our first little project, a butterfly.  We used a pattern, cut the glass pieces, grinded the pieces, and copper foiled the pieces.

Next week I will complete te butterfly by soldering it together.  I will then begin a slightly more complicated project.

This was fun and best of all, I CAN DO IT!  Glad I took the time for this.

I am back among the CREATIVE

Wow have I been gone a really long time.  My quality of life was slowly slipping away.  I was hurting all over and feeling weak and fatigued.  Even though I was going to the gym to work out twice a week I just never felt good.  In June 2010 I ended up with torn cartilage in my knee and had surgery.  I spent about 4 months in physical therapy to get my knee to straighten and bend completely.  It never happened.  I finally went back to a rheumatologist and for the second time was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  That is a diagnosis I just never "believed in."  I was at the end of my rope so I went ahead and took the medication he prescribed.  On the fourth day on the medication I felt like a person again.  My leg was better, my random aches were gone, and I had energy.   Now I am back in the game and starting to live.  I am signed up for a series of stained glass classes, I have sewing projects to work on, a new garden that is dying for some TLC, and lots of reading and learning to do about writing.   I also plan on keeping up with my blogs.