It's been so busy I have had little time to do much creatively, except decorate, bake and shop (a very creative sport in my book). Time is fleeting as usual. Last night I just sat and decided to doodle what is left to complete. It made for a festive page once I added the sting of lights and somehow made it all look more "doable".
Hope all are enjoying their holiday time and relaxing more than I. ( If so, please let me know your secret!!)
And apparently the genes have passed on - to my daughter ( who progressed to the big time jumpers) and to my little granddaughter - Love, equine style.
It's been a Long 12 Days without power/water/heat for thousands in Connecticut since Alfred hit (a Nor'easter that dropped deep wet snow in late October) 870,000 without power at first count in our state alone. A long slow recovery in frigid temperatures. Luckily, we were spared- the shoreline was protected by the relatively warm ocean waters (only received 5" of heavy wet snow!!) The news finally reported All Power had been Restored Finally! As I left work, I noticed the golden glow of the Full Beaver Moon, in soft lavender twilight - through the power lines. We do love our power!
Alfred came a'callin - heavy wet snow 3 days before Halloween, Almost a million without power in Connecticut - MAJOR tree damage, especially in the north part of the state. Today, 9 days after the storm thousands still have no power in these sub zero temperatures (at night)
The year of record breakers continues.
There was no fall here in Southern New England, we jumped right into winter. Even this sky looks cold and omnious. Wonder what will come our way next?
I have been AWOL - I know . Of course it is presumptuous to think anyone misses my posts. But, hey if you are here maybe you did miss me a little ?
Life gets hectic at times, there has been some traveling with my husband, and the usual work, and house work and chores etc. But - -
I have found a new lover (gasp!) For my birthday I got a new 'big girl' Nikon digital camera and it was love at first click. The combination of 10 adorable grandkids, 2 new puppies and the New England fall foliage brought to my attention how miserable my little point and shoot camera is.
And my sketching needed a break, I felt a little burned out and a break can re-juice the battery. So a month has flown by.
So between reading several books on Real Photography and finally trying to understand my Photoshop Elements beyond the 'quick fix' panel - I did a sketch. Just a little black and white - of my new lens ( wide angle) so I can take some goulish picture of the little gobblins coming soon.
My blog is going to morph into a more eclectic montage, some photos (surprise surprise), some life updates and yes still sketching. I want to diverse and experiment and enjoy it all more. Hey I may throw in some recipes I love!
Hope you will continue to come visit and comment and join in my fun. Thanks to all who have and hopefully will!
Sandy (myfiddlestix)
Another page from my Imaginary Trip to Paris with Laure Ferlita. Enjoying the sights, food and museums. Sure wish I was there!
My Imaginary Trip to Paris continues. Lots of fun and laughs with a great bunch of artists and Laure Ferlita (our host). This week we are touring Versailles, and WOW! The assignment was to pick a scene and do a time sketch (the time up to us). I am striving to learn fast sketch techniques and I am happy to say I am!!
I allowed 10 minutes for a quick pen only sketch of the framework and scribbles of the art within of this CEILING view (yes the ceiling is jaw dropping gorgeous). 10 minutes for paint concentrating on VALUES. then 10 or so for text 'back at our hotel'. Sorry my text scanned so faintly - need to up my pen sizes.
There are more pages to post, as soon as I have time ;)
Sloppy mish/mash page as I strive to record some of what surrounds me from Irene remnants. the direct shoreline is so much worse with major devastation than we are. Power companies are struggling to get schools open (already eating up "snow" days). finally there are some gas stations open and a few restaurants and the grocery store. Thee are water refill stations and pot luck suppers here and there, many Good Neighbors. We are lucky Irene was only a TS at time of impact but enough is enough. AND rain and humidity are coming for the holiday weekend - Yipee!
Quite a stint - 3 days down and Many to go. This afternoon I managed to get to my office (long backtracking route to find clear roads) and Miraculously it has power And internet! Miracle - well it is inland from home. We are all fine, I managed one spread which sums up our Irene weekend - except I did not mention the Huge tree that decided to fall on our neighbor's house instead of ours YIKES. We still have a long haul to get power and get any sense of normal tho - Thanks so much for all the well wishes, and I hope other's fared well too!
Well by now we are knee deep in Irene - Living along the coast of CT is lovely - until such events occur. I am posting this Friday - to publish on Sunday - just so I can Feel Connected, but most assuredly I won't be.
Hopefully I will be calmly playing in my sketchbook by flash light sipping a glass of wine ;-) God Bless all in her pathway.
Last Saturday, we were at the marina to check the boat and go to dinner. It was about 8 pm as we left and still twilight - and although storm clouds were moving in, the moon shone brightly above the harbor. A beautiful sight and I knew it would become a sketch. I finished it last night and just before going to bed I added the text using my new Lami Joy calligraphy pen - oops, did not realize I had loaded blue ink - and stupidly I just dove into the text. Certainly not what the page needed, I need to slow down and not hurry as I often do when I think I am late.
Oh well live and learn -maybe.
A quick sketch of a lovely little ground cover I found in Maine, Pretty much actual size here. Each stem appeared to be independent of the others which covered the soft wooded ground. Reminded me of holly. No idea what it is. The scene is our view of the huge pond, then my ramblings on the day. I never know how to finish such a page to give it a homogeneous look.
New England is pretty far from Mexico - but there are lots of Mexican restaurants and I frequently crave the cuisine . I also have found I love Patron Silver Margaritas (using fresh lime juice!) I am pretty fair colored , but I swear there must be some "south of the border" blood in me.
The finished spread, I think it needed the touch of red - but the text? I always wish I had rethought the text placement. Oh well it's only my journal. I think I will re-watch the first movie this horribly Hot weekend.
Sad to see it end, such a fun ride - so much to thrill and amaze and mystify. Harry Potter made me feel like a kid myself.
My 'newest' pot of Phantom Petunias -purchased from the nursery this spring. Still blooming profusely and still quite dramatic! The blossoms are almost black so I would have named them Phantom of the Night!
