Knock! Knock! Knock!...Housekeeping! (I wish!)

     I have done some housekeeping on my blog in an attempt to avoid actual housecleaning in my home.  I found a few pics that missed making the gallery.  Hope you enjoy.  I'll make this short and sweet because if I don't go to bed soon the kids will be ironing their own clothes in the morning and making their own lunches and I will be to tired to clean house. Oh Darn!  If you neglect to do what you ought to be doin' because you were to busy placing your art order in time for Christmas delivery, well, that's alright with me!  Ho! Ho! Hurry!

Who uses words like "Cockles"? Sadly, I do.

     It has been brought to my attention that I have not updated my blog in quite some time.  I am out of blogging shape, so I do this at great risk of pulling a muscle in my typing fingers. 
     Who am I kidding?  Anybody who knows me knows that I exercise these 'typers' daily (Okay, hourly) on Facebook.  I love Facebook.  It's the first time in my life I've received over 90 well-wishes on my birthday and what a joy it is to let the whole wide world know that I've reached mile-marker forty-two. 
     Technology is sometimes an awful reality of our lives, but sometimes it can just plain brighten your day.  Perhaps you did not know, but I'm a humungo Dolly Parton fan (perhaps 'nut' is more appropriate) and since the publishing of her new book she has been on every TV interview show known to Earth.  That alone brightens my day, but more so, I got plenty of messages to alert me that she would be on the Kelly & Don't-Know-the-New-Guys-Name Show (I'm not sure if that's the official name of the show or not).  Though they were all meaningful, the most blessed of reminders came in the form of a text to my cell phone from friend.  This friend is in the trenches fighting breast cancer and rather than wollering in what is happening to her, she found a moment to think of me.   As we say in the country, "That just warmed the cockles of my heart!"
     So, when you send that little message to someone, maybe you're doing a greater deed than you could ever have imagined and couldn't the world use a whole lot more 'greater deeds'?  With that in mind, I think I will take a moment to send out a few more messages a lot more often.
     Now, for the reason I have this blog (In case you've forgotten, it's to sell my art).  There is still time to order custom art for the holidays.  Popular ideas are portraits of children or other loved ones, animal portraits or even funny caricatures.  If you're stumped for a Christmas gift, ask how I can solve your problem.  Don't wait too long, I need time to fit orders in.
     I have posted a picture of my latest work, a mural in the office of Dr. Carrie Wilgus at her new business location of Southside Pediatrics in Hastings, Michigan.  The mural measures approximately 5foot by 7 foot.  I can do a mural for you too!  If you're new to my site, I can most easily be found on Facebook by searching Christine Terpening or Moonshine Fine Art Studio.

    In case I neglect this site again I better say it now...Merry Christmas to you!

LIBERTY LIL IS NOW AVAILABLE!

   Now available!  I have published my book, Liberty Lil, for immediate download at www.barnesandnoble.com and at www.amazon.com  I hope you buy it today and share it with the children in your life.  Not only will they learn a lot about history and government elections, they will laugh, cover to cover (if you can say that about an e-book).    Here is a brief overview of the book from Liberty Lil herself:

      Don't roll your eyes at another book about a school election. I, Liberty Lil, will keep you laughing while glued to your e-reader as I struggle to climb the rickety ladder to political popularity. This story is filled with hilarity, from the first page to the last, as comical embarrassments happen to poor, unfortunate me.
      I, Liberty Lil, am an unpopular, uncoordinated and unlucky sixth grader at Maple Street Elementary who dares (and dreams) what seems to be the impossible-- becoming President of the United States of America. When my irritatingly popular arch-enemy, Bobby Olson, gets wind of my aspirations, he tells me that I can't be President because I'm a girl. Can you believe his nerve? Though I pride myself on having a perfect behaviour record, I respond with impulsive anger (which he totally deserved). I have a hard time keeping my thoughts from exiting my megaphone-mouth, which leads to a not-so-fun visit to the Principals office. Along with my friends, Josey and Scout, I will get the gumption to jump into the sometimes mud-filled pool of politics. Armed with my imaginative dreams, good friends and even a visit from Abraham Lincoln, I, Liberty Lil, will survive...but will I become class president?

 .....................................................................

  
     Liberty Lil is getting rave reviews from my mother and daughter!  Biased?  They may be, but take my word for it, it's a hoot!  Also, for every one person you share this with you will receive ten good citizen brownie points, awarded by me personally. Worthless?  Maybe!  But, you will get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you've helped my daughter afford another (yes, another) pony!
   Enough of my kind of crazy for now!  Thanks for your support!  -Christine

     Howdy! Howdy! I have finished the cover of my story, Liberty Lil.  What do you think?  I know that's a dangerous question, but it's rhetorical.  It's too late and I'm too pooped to take hecklers!
     Since I'm posting the cover, I'll add just a little from chapter eight that makes me chuckle...but to tell the truth, it doesn't take much to amuse me.  Here it is.....

Can you imagine a year with Bobby as class president?  Unfortunately I can.  If he had his way Science would be replaced with robot doodling, math with power napping and English with an arm-fart choir.  I’m pretty sure the job market is slim to none with those stellar skills.

“Mrs. Snodsnucker, can you explain the Electoral College,” I asked hoping I could suck up as much knowledge as I could in case the Doodle-Nap-Fart-Master won the school election.

...And that's all for now!  I attend a writing conference this weekend and will then be a little bit closer to being able to publish Liberty Lil on e-readers.  Technology can be a real head-scratcher!

Take care, Christine 

Is that China I see?

     Have you ever tried to dig a hole to China?  I have...with little success.  At the farm where I grew up we had sand dunes in our back pasture.  I would take Dads shovel and begin, with all seriousness, digging to China.  I still do that today...in a way.  I am up to my ears (Yes...I'm breathing through a straw right now) in a project that I started some three years ago.  Although my talents lie in the fine arts, I have tried my hand at writing.  I started this not-so-little story entitled "Liberty Lil" three years ago and I am finally able to see the end...China.
      In order to quit disappointing myself I have quit making deadlines for this book, but since it has a political theme (stop rolling your eyes...it's a hilarious political theme) I would like it available soon.  Here is a little taste of Liberty Lil (preproofread by someone who is handy with a red pen):

Without the watchful eye of my dweeby nemesis, I could finally concentrate on my schooling.  Much to my delight, we are studying government elections.  Though I was eager to learn, I couldn’t help notice how some of my classmates endured what they considered excruciating boredom.  I kept both ears on Mrs. Snodsnucker but my eyes wandered around the room.  Allie, always with her hair placed in an up-do used a bobby pin to clean out her ear canals only to stick the pin back in her hair when she deemed herself wax-free…Roland tried repeatedly to make his ears wiggle (at least I think that’s what he was doing)…and then there was Shawn, thinking he was so cool, swiped his snot-reservoir of a nose with both palms straight up coating them with next week’s flu virus and then styled his faux-hawk to perfection with the germ-laced gel (Cue vomit!). 

Deciding that being aware of my surroundings was to gross, I zeroed back in on the teacher and the lesson I’m sure we would be tested on later…Elections.  They can be tricky to understand, even for me…especially the presidential election.  There is the Electoral College, Democrats and Republicans, popular vote, super delegates, primary and general elections.  Whew!  It’s enough to give anyone the kind of headache you would get if you tried to divide thirty seven into three thousand, six hundred and sixty three…in your head!

____________________________________________________

   

There is your taste!  I better get diggin'!  Don't forget that I am also an artist for hire if you would like to prolong this story even further. 

Zài jiàn (that's 'goodbye' in Chinese...I Google!).   -Christine

Studio Update!

     I was finally able to upload a few new pieces to my blog.  Here are a couple of signs that I painted in addition to the cowboy Santa.  I can paint or draw on most anything.  Signs like the two shown can be painted reflecting your business, home, campsite, ranch or farm or most anything you can think of...and better yet...if you can't think of anything have me put my brain to work for you.  Interesting stuff comes out of this noggin!  Don't forget to check me out or even contact me on Facebook, Moonshine Fine Art Studio on FB, or by calling (517)726-0817!   

Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa Claus is coming to town!

       Im here!!!  I bet you all thought I lost my blogging compass.  In a way I sort of did.  The story that I am sticking to is this...months ago I hollered at my son to not spill his cereal that he was teetering over my laptop. The bowl was filled to the rim with milk and fruit loops and it was rocking back and forth in what seemed like slow motion as I yelled "nooooooo"!!!  Due to the fact that he must have some kind of good luck on his side he didnt spill it.  Five minutes later, as my kind of luck would have it, I spilled my glass of milk all over the keyboard.  It was touch and go as I performed a delicate operation with tweezers, Brawny and a blow dryer.  My G & H keys fell victim to my clumsiness.  So to make long story short, it is a pain in my fanny to type and then copy & paste my missing letters.
       I should really steer clear of technology but I wanted to post my latest artwork.  The Cowboy Santa is 18x 24, pastel and is sold but I am working on getting prints made of him.  If you are interested in a print Facebook message me "Ho! Ho! Ho!"  Much of the art in my on-line gallery are for sale so if you see anything you would like please contact me. There is still time to order custom art and have it delivered in time for Christmas.

     Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S...Dont forget to find Moonshine Fine Art Studio on Facebook!

"I could do great things if I weren't so busy doing little things!"

     Summer finally managed to arrive in Michigan...kicking and screaming.  We've had enough rain to make a grown farmer cry.  But the good Lord takes care of the world and we've had a steady breeze for the last several days.  Everything is finally drying out and the farmers are beginning to get their crops in. 
    I used my rainy day time to create a Facebook page for Moonshine Fine Art Studio.  If you check it out and click the "Like" button I'd be eternally grateful.  I have some mighty fine friends who have done it already and I'd love it if you did too!
    I've also had time to finish my children's chapter book.  There is a funny thing about being done with a creative project-- every time I call it good and done, I go to sleep and wake up with something to change, add or do better.  I'm sure that I am not the only artist to find imperfection in everything they do but it sure does feel that way sometimes. 
     I am at the point of tidying up my manuscript and writing my query letter.  Then I will send it out to publishers with the hopes of it being published.  My fingers (and toes) are crossed.
     The main character in my book is Liberty Lil, a young lady who knows exactly who she wants to be when she grows up...the President of the United States of America.  Nothing can stop her except her own insecurities and the announcement by her rival that her dreams can not come true because she's a girl. Lil doesn't take the news very well and lands herself in the principals office.  With the encouragement of her best friends, Josey and Scout, Lil runs for class president.  Though she is the perfect choice, her opponent shows Lil that politics are never easy. 
    Along the way, kids will learn about America's history and it's politics as well as life lessons too.  Liberty Lil is a funny portrayal of the insecurity we all feel, friendship we all want, and misjudging people, which we all do. 
     I'm still working on the illustrations for Liberty Lil...when I am finished, I will post her image.  I have a magnet on my refrigerator that reads "I could do great things if I weren't so busy doing little things."  Certainly the things that keep me from creating art and writing are not little things by no means, but I do wish there were more time in the day to do it all and money to fund it.
     I find that when I publicly post what I have rattlin' around in my brain it helps me conquer my procrastination condition.  If I tell you I'm going to do it then I will get it done, but if I don't...well...it stays rattlin' around in my brain and never gets done.  Simple as that!
     On a different note, my latest artwork is added to the bottom of my blog.  I did a caricature for our local FFA chapter which my son, Marcum, is a member.  It was auctioned off to benefit the members at their year-end awards banquet.
     I just glanced at the clock...I have to go!  My husband will be home soon and I should make it look like I've done something besides write today.  I make him sound mean, but he's absolutely not.  Just the same, I better go do a few dishes and holler at the kids to quit arguing.

Take care! 
-Christine
(Artist for Hire!)
   
   
    

       Hey all!  I hope everyone had a great Easter. My husband and I spent the morning tag team parenting.  We had one boy volunteering at church making breakfast and the other sick at home.  My husband, we'll call him Eric, went to help at church and as my daughter and I left for church service he came home to be with the boy who was sick.  As luck would have it, about noon, an Easter Miracle (as my mother called it) occurred!  When it was time to go to grandmas the sick boy was healed and able to go to Grandmas to fish, go cart, and frog spear his way through the day!  But as all good things come to an end, so do Easter Miracles...Monday morning school was a 'no go'!!!
      Fever, cough nor tummy ache will keep me from putting three kids on a bus tomorrow morning.  It is the end of April and the Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival is fast approaching.  This is the weekend that I have to laminate my schedule and keep it in my back pocket so I know where I need to be and when.  Boy Scouts, Dandy Lions, Church and 4-H all have me running.  My daughter has also been chosen to present flowers to the Maple Syrup Queen and she is also running in the princess pageant.  I somewhat envy those who high tail it out of town this weekend.
      Who am I kidding?  I haven't missed the festival in all my years...and that's a lot of years!  Even the year I had the Chicken Pox, Grandpa Marcum loaded me up into his old Ford and found a place to park where I could see the parade.  No rides, no games, no friends to run with.  I still bare the scars of that weekend...and I have a few from the Chicken Pox too.
     While I have been spending much of my time writing, I have to switch gears back to getting some drawing done.  I have committed myself to donating some art to the local FFA chapter.  I should be committed because I only have a couple of weeks to get it done!  I'll find the time.
     With that wrote, I better get at it!  See you all at the Festival!

-Christine

I'll have the Linguini!

      Hello All!!!  I am having a hard time thinking of things to blog lately.  Is it possible that I have already spilled all of my knowledge out for all to read?  Yes...It is possible!     
      I have been writing a lot lately, excluding my blog.  Over the past couple of years I have been working on my writing skills by going to A Rally for Writers held each spring in Lansing.  I have always felt more than unworthy to be among writers.  I have always maintained the thought that wearing a cowboy hat does not earn the title of  'cowboy'.  But still I go, learn and try to  improve.  While commas, word structure and adverbs are still a mystery, I will draw from my literary hero, Nancy Drew, and solve the case of "the inexperienced writer".
       I had the opportunity to have the first ten pages of a manuscript I wrote read and critiqued by an editor, Teresa Crumpton.  I'm sure if Teresa were to read my blog she would be in editors Heaven.  Meeting with Teresa gave me validation as she loved my book and said "The story voice is fabulous. This is what agents, editors, and readers love."   This validates what my husband and mother have thought all along!
     I haven't much else to say so I thought I might add a little poem I wrote after a little elderly lady read a poem at last years writers rally.  I was inspired to write the following poem:

I’ll have theLinguini

by Christine Gardner Terpening

She read a poem called “Linguini”
Although she didn’t write it
Boy could she recite it
She was little and frail
This woman of seasoned age
Her voice bubbled and cracked of Italy
She read these words with passion…
“Lightly oiled, stuck to hips
Lavished with sauce, Kisses and fettucini”
Her voiced dropped low
“Rubbed, twining and braiding, cappellini
Lovers and Little neck clams”
Her voice climbed high
“Glistening, formagio, pinched,
Romano, twirled, vermicelli, long and smooth”
It was almost too much to take
We all shimmied in our seats
We tugged at our collars
Lips were wet and hungry
Our swallows we choked
And when she was done
We all needed a smoke!



    

Where have I been?

    I just have to say "it has been a long winter"...and it's not over yet.  Event after event has kept me from blogging the past couple months and I have been reminded of that often from a loyal reader.  I've had busy kids and a few deaths of loved ones and friends loved ones but one in particular that has kept me in a funk lately.  My horse, Moonshine (of Moonshine Fine Art Studio), passed away on a chilly Sunday morning in February.  I was fortunate to be with her and hold her while she passed.  As hard as that is I've had movies playing in my head of all the amazing things that horse and I did together in our youth.  She was 30 years old so I can't say it was totally unexpected but I love her very much and she will be greatly missed.  It certainly wouldn't be Heaven without horses and now the best is there!
    On a much brighter note, my sons, Marcum 12 & Dillon 11, became proud Shepard's of a bunch of little lambs this January.  They saved their money from 4-H and their ewes from the past couple of years and purchased a flock of ewes and a ram.  The lambs were born in January so they will be big enough for their local fair.  I was so proud of them as they pulled their first lamb together from the mother.  Many more followed.  I spent many nights sleeping in the barn as to be there for any middle of the night births.  Cold would not be a strong enough word to describe the barn conditions those nights but thanks to good friends and family I had electric blankets and a good dog to get really cozy with.
     I have done a little art in between wrestling season, lambing, scouting and everything else that my 3 children have been into.  Most recently I produced a portrait for an Eagle Scout ceremony.  I have posted pictures below.  Due to the fact that I'm not all that computer savvy, one picture is really big and one is really small.  It was presented locally in my home town and well received.   Eagle Scout, Zachary Siple, was very excited to receive it. 
    Both my sons are scouts and have made it their goal to receive the same rank and my daughter, Josey, is a Maple Valley Dandy Lion.  That is a local club of little do-goodin' girls focused on learning and fun while serving their community.  My  Boy Scouts are busy collecting sap from the maple trees.  The sap is running as fast as a kindergartners nose and keeping up during a busy schedule is next to impossible.  I must have super scouts because they are getting it all done.  The rewards will truly be sweet!  I know...that was sappy!
    Well...I better git!  Take time from your busy life to do something fun and selfish and I will try to do the same!  God Bless!    -Christine

Cowboy boots!

     In the gallery below you will find a drawing I did today while helping a young lady learn to draw.  I set up a still life of some old cowboy boots around 5pm today and now, at 12:18 am I am finished.  It didn't take quite that long to draw & render but I had motherly chores to do in between...make dinner, do laundry, rock a little cowgirl to sleep...the usual. 

Newest Gallery Addition!

     I recently finished a new piece of artwork.  So recently that I still have pastel on my hands and I'm dizzy from the fixative.  I decided to take a break from my normal style and try something whimsical.  I call it "Whimsy Pasture."  It's media is pastel and its image area is 25" x 15 1/2".
    This piece is for sale but ones like it can easily be ordered and customized to your liking.  I can add your family/farm name, quote, brand, or welcome to the clouds and I can change the animals to a different species...whatever trips your trigger.  
     The price begins at $200  matted and framed, additional requests may be subject to additional cost.  Half of the total is due upon ordering.  Shipping and handling extra.
     There is still time to order in time for Christmas...but you better hurry so I can beat Santa's deadline! 
      To order call 517-726-0817...ask for Christine...but honestly, who else answers the phone around here?

      Hey all!   I can't believe how busy life gets when school starts.  I am, for the most part, a stay at home mom and I have a hard time keeping my head above schedule...I mean water.  I think women who hold down a household, raise children and have a full time job are amazing. 
      Halloween was fun...I went as a French artist of course. I had the beret, pencil thin curly mustache and all.  I looked very authentic as I painted faces in Mrs. Billings 3rd grade class.  I even did my best to speak French...Wee Wee...No No...but that's all I know. 
      Volleyball season is over until next year.  That has lightened my load.  I had an extremely smart girl on my team who would correct me when I'd say "come on girls, we are only down by 4!"  To which she would reply "Um, Coach!  We are down by 6!"  Call me an optimist or a poor mathematician, either way artists are generally not known for their math skills.  She would also read something that someone else had written and giggle and point out the grammar & punctuation errors.  Needless to say, I hope she doesn't read my blog...it's an editors nightmare!  Anyhoo, I really loved those girls and had a 'ball' with them.  I'm proud to send them on to JV, hopefully having grown as athletes.
      Elections are also over which, being election chair in my township, has kept me hoppin' for some time.  I won't bring politics into this blog.  My mother raised me right...politics & religion are best kept around the kitchen table.  I do love to sit around mom's table and listen to her and my Aunt Lou discuss the latest happenings in Washington while I sip on a hot cup of coffee.  On occasion I might get in a word or two.  We three were cut from the same cloth...about politics and religion...so we can let our opinions fly at moms table.
     I have been doing a little bit of art along the way.  Now that things should quiet down for a couple weeks I have a list of 'art' projects to get done.  Since I took a little nap during Toy Story 3 I might be able to get something done tonight yet.  By the way, how sad was the ending to that movie?  That is the last time I allow my husband to pick the movie.  Of course I guess I was the one who wanted to see "Up."  I began crying at the beginning and never got it together again until the ride home.  I'm really not that soft but Walt Disney knows how to choke me up.
     Old feelings are starting to appear...getting teary...better go take my mind off children's movies.  Have a great night!  -Christine

The latest in what's rattling around in my brain!

     Howdy friends and neighbors...Its been a while since I've had a moment to post.  I apologize to my loyal readers (ok...reader.  Thanks Mom!).  What's new in the life of this artist?  My days are usually spent in preparation for my 3 kids after school activities:  Cleaning uniforms, gathering cold weather gear, putting supper in a crock pot to be eaten at 8:30 at night...usual stuff every mother has to do.  I have been coaching 8th grade volleyball and then going to football practices each night and keeping up with everything else those yahoos are in to.
     I have a story to tell you.  Please don't think I'm so pompous as to think my kids are any better or nicer than the majority of others because I don't.  In fact I'm very lucky that they have surrounded themselves with a great group of friends.  That takes a lot of the worry out of mothering knowing the group they hang out with know right from wrong.  With that said, here goes my little story.
    I love football season but I'm also glad when we can get back to nightly family time (for 2 weeks before wrestling season starts).  I don't like to brag...who am I kidding, yes I do, I just try to refrain...as I was saying, I don't like to brag but my boys are pretty nice boys (and my daughter is very nice too) and sometimes it takes pretty nice boys a little longer to find there groove in aggressive sports.  Well they've found their groove...It just took my 2nd son a little longer.  They have become such great football players, not because they are natural talents but because they know how to work hard, give it all they have and keep a good attitude, win or lose. 
     This has been on my mind a lot lately since I saw a post on Facebook. A gal wrote about how proud her son was that he broke another kids arm in football.  "It's a boy thing" she thought. 
     That really bothered me. After all these years of raising nice boys I had hoped that learning to be aggressive at sports has not challenged their basic principles.  So I called the boys in and asked them, "How would you feel if you accidentally broke another kids arm in a football game"?  Their response made me sigh with a great deal of relief.  With a disappointed look as if they were shocked that I'd even ask such a question they answered, "BAD".
    I think it sometimes gets lost, in the heat of competition and wanting our children to be 'the' best on the field or court, that athletics are a small part of their life.  Their core personality and moral beliefs have got to carry them through their whole life.  Being kind, considerate and happy go lucky doesn't make them weak.  I think we as parents need to be happy that they are 'their' best on the field or court and in life in general. 
    Why am I blogging about this?  I really don't know!  I'm usually not to philosophically deep.  You caught me on a deep thought day.  Maybe it's running into to many people who are wearing their bad day all over their face.  What a cliche it is to say but here it goes...Life to short! 
    I'm not saying I don't have problems...all folks do.  Believe me...I can get my dander up!  What I am saying is that you have to find a way to fix what you can, accept what you can't, and move happily on!
   Feel free to remind me of my words if I'm not living up to them.  Shame on me for lecturing.  My mother, who will be reading this, will certainly remind me.  Mothering never takes a holiday.  I have learned that "that's a good thing" (pardon the Martha Stewart moment).
     Well that's all I got.  Don't blame me, blame the Skinny Artist website guy who told me to write often on my blog even when it has nothing to do with what I'm selling. 
     In the infinite wisdom of Roy Rogers, "Happy Trails to you until we meet again."

-Christine

Hello my long lost blog!

     This seems like unfamiliar territory...I almost needed a compass to find my blog.  School is back in session and it seems I have lost all control of my schedule.  It takes a community to keep me pointed in the right direction.  I am knee deep in important matters such as Boy Scouts, youth football & volleyball, dance & fiddle lessons.  Then there's the pesky business of feeding children & helping with homework.  I bet I don't have to tell you that as an artist...7th grade math is over my head!
     This year I have taken on the task of 8th grade volleyball coach for my local high school.  I haven't played since high school...a lot has changed in the last 10 years (...or so. I told you I wasn't good at math.)  We had our first game last night and we lost.  The good news is that I learned a lot and so did my team.  We get to play them again & then watch out...they won't recognize us with all our improvement.  We'll see how this plan plays out...it looks good on paper.
     Life often gets in the way of art.  The busier I get the further I get from my career goals.  I do try to remind myself that all of these life experiences make me, hopefully, a better artist.  I get inspiration from the things I do and the people I know.  And the busier I get the more I appreciate the quiet time when I get to sit down and create something special. 
     Enough of the 'Hallmark' special.  I'm really not that sappy of a person.  In fact the older I get (29 in Chrissy math) the less serious I am about most things in general.  Everyone should learn to let things slide off  off their back a little more... like water off a ducks butt (or was that a ducks back...I can't recall).  I too need to be reminded of that when I sometimes get my dander up about something...usually when I think my child has been done wrong.  But then I always remember my dad's words of wisdom, "just simmer down."  Sound advice!
     Well that's all I have rolling around in my head tonight.  I'm off to do something creative...Just what I don't know...I'll try not to be such a 'blog' stranger.

-Christine

Favorite Websites!

      I have recently added links to my favorite websites on my blog...I mean 'on-line studio'.   I still think 'blog' is an ugly word.  I have a couple sites that are for artists, one site is for fellow Dolly Parton lovers (Holler if you're out there!),Miss Rodeo Americas website because I am a pageant alumni (hard to believe it's been 18 years since those wild and woolly rodeo days) and my favorite site, instructables.com. 
      The instructables site is great for everybody...especially scout leaders, teachers, & anyone just looking for something fun to do.  I've been a scout leader for years and finding this site has saved me.  Say you have an abundance of paper clips, just search the site for paper clips and find out everything you can make or do with them.  I have also used some of the things I've found for fund raisers and did really well.  Check it out...I bet you'll be there for hours...like I tend to do!
     I must go to bed.  It's the end of the Labor Day weekend.  We took the kids camping at the best campground ever (Grandma & Grandpa's pond. Sorry... there's only one plug in and we've reserved it indefinitely!).  After packing up about noon we cleaned up & took the kids school shopping.  Maybe I procrastinated that chore til the last minute but it was still a good time.  Although...taking 2 boys clothes shopping is a challenge on any woman's patience.  It's funny the difference in their attitudes between Kohl's & Gander Mountain...if the latter wasn't so expensive they could totally outfit themselves for school there, however, I have a hard time seeing how a new .22 is a "school supply." 
   Goodnight readers!  -Christine

Artist for Hire!!!

Hey Everybody!  I have been working on some watercolors lately.  I have a couple drawn out so all I have to do is paint, paint, paint!!!  I will be donating something to the Thornapple Arts Council benefit auction and to the local United Way auction...just what I don't know yet.  Sometimes great ideas hit me at 2am...currently it's 9:24am so I'm a blank on great ideas at the moment.

Only one week left before school starts.  I wish it would go on and on but I know that I will have more time to work on my art with kids gone for the day.  They just seem to want to be fed 3 times a day...that really breaks up a gals creative flow.

One last thing before I go...I am adding my email address & my facebook to this blog so there are more ways to contact me if any one needs to hire an artist...for art, not the dishes!!!

Everyone have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!!!  Honk if you read this!!!

Take care, Christine

Update on nothing much!

     I have internet again...Yeah!!!   If poor internet service is the only set back for living in the country then I can endure. It's amazing what I can accomplish when you take away my toys.  I haven't been doing anything "artwise" for the last week.  I have been trying to get done the things I neglect when I'm in the "creative zone"...Yes housework, I'm talking about you!!!
     I have a portrait that needs to get out the door soon & then I am excited to start another original piece of art that I have kicking around in my head...What will it be?  We shall see!!!  Let the creative juices flow! 
   

Honk if you read this!!!

     Howdy to you all!!!  Well, the Gun Lake Art Hop was a little slow...more of a crawl than a hop...but I was tickled to be there none the less.  Thanks to Petra Hinkle who kept her business open late to host myself and Sue Sawyer, a pottery artist.  Hinkle's Body Shop was a really neat place to be.  The office part of the shop was a museum for car lovers.  Stop in & look around...you'll be pleasantly surprised.
     My next show will be in Delton in December...here's hopin' anyways...my truck prefers to start less when it's cold.  I'll get there even if I have to hitch a ride with an Amish neighbor.  Giddy up!
    So I hustled to get the pastel of the cowgirl & pony in time for the show for few to see.  It is for sale & will be on display in Delton if I still own it.  While I sit here chit chatting I'm missing out on some time I could be getting something new started. So with that said...I'm off to get busy! 

      Have a great Sunday!!!    -Christine