Category Archives: art

Jul12

Believe in Miracles collage

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Here’s another collage I made yesterday. The background is painted blue and distressed with a special crackle paint. I was going to leave off ‘Believe in Miracles’ but decided I like cards with a message.
I went to the doctor for a follow-up. Most of my bloodwork is better (Sugar about 98 when it was 122 before!) and my thyroid is in the normal range. I’ve had slightly elevated liver enzymes for years as has two of my three brothers. He wants to do more specific tests for that. Also my blood pressure could still be lower (I get myself so nervous before going) but he still says he wants the top # to be in the 120s, not 130s. I also have to take a diruetic to see if that helps. I have a feeling I’m not doing to do well with that, crossing fingers. I detest taking medicine and and so sorry I got to 51 and had to start. I still think it all has to do with my age. I’ve lost 6 pounds since my last visit (3 months ago), so at least that’s something and probably helped my bloodwork.
Boy is it hot here-it’s about 91. I think they expected higher, but there’s that pesky heat index that makes it feel hotter. I haven’t even walked around the yard today. I’m afraid to see wilted things!

Jun12

Sightseeing in Baltimore

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I certainly had to make a collage card honoring Baltimore. My guys are great at grabbing brochures, so it was the assembling part that was the challenging. I had a rip off calendar with ships, so that came in useful.
We had a good rain last night, so the ground was nice and soft. I’m starting garden maintenance. Well…maybe. Sean has had a garden for years and lately he is mostly buying the plants and only putting in a few. It was looking bad, so I went to town and planted 18 impatiens he had bought plus a few marigolds! That took me away from the veggie corral which needs a little attention right now. Maybe I’ll do that tomorrow.
The lilies are starting to bloom now along with the Red Hot Pokers. It’s nice to have perennials blooming each month.
Brian came out and planted a few pots of perennials that were hanging around for a few weeks. I have some annuals to finish planting and need to finish with a clean-up project on the back patio.
Busy busy!

Jun10

Speck against the sky

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Last night I sat down at my art desk and looked at some of the saved ‘finds’ I had there. I thought the artwork on the pop-up tissue box was just too cute, so I used it here! I was going to make the bird out of an old book page, but I forget where I put the pages, so I used this nice paper. The music verse seemed to work too.

So little Roamy is flying off to Arizona now! After I mailed him, I hit the ‘Tuesday Morning’ store where they had lots of things for 50% off! I didn’t go hog wild, but I had fun looking for things. I got this pretty tan sweater/shawl with tiny sequins sewn through it for only $12. I know I will wear it a lot. I got Sean a nice navy blue polo shirt (he wears that color with tan pants for work) for $5. Some things I bought weren’t on sale, but I will take a photo of this gorgeous ‘crystal’ ball you hang up. I want to pick the right spot for it.
I’ve lost at least 4-5 pounds since the 25th of May. I know the first 5 pounds is usually water weight in most cases, but since I’ve taken that long to lose that weight, maybe it isn’t! The hardest part is keeping the sugar intake low, followed by salt. And figuring out if I did enough ‘exercise’. Mine is usually gardening and walking. I want to start doing floor exercises again. A friend from high school’s wife lost 50 pounds in 6 months, but she joined the ‘Y’ too. I’m still wanting to try ‘Snap Fitness’ where Sean goes, but that’s more money.
I have a feeling I better get looking for a PT job. Between the dentist, hospital and regular bills, it’s hard for us.
It’s suppose to rain a bit tomorrow. It rained all around us last night, but we didn’t get one drop. I was out watering this morning. Come on rain!

Jun2

Gnomeland

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Gnomeland 4" x 4" Collage Card, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I’m waiting on the arrival of the little roaming gnome from Canada. If he comes in the next few days, we’ll take him on a trip somewhere. We decided we’d like to see something different, just not sure if it’s the beach or what!
This is my nod to gnomes. I had that little gnome a while and I picture this is what his world may look like. : )
Here’s a peek at who Roamy will meet:
Strawberry Gnome Home
Brian went to the dentist today and I didn’t get to go. Something told me to call to check if it was 1 or 2 and I wasn’t on the schedule. So now I have to wait until Monday.
I spent the day tidying up the living room and redecorating. I still had Easter things to put away! I kept saying to myself if I find one more Easter thing and then an egg would show up someplace!

I usually add too much and then take stuff down. The little flickering lanterns are coming down as only two work. I have changed it a bit and need a bigger photo in the shell frame.
So the scale moved down a pound! I’m happy, but I know when you are trying to lose weight it’s water weight first! The app says I’m not eating enough calories but too much sugar. I did eat a lot of fruit, so that may be it. Sean bought some MOi a liquid water enhancer or whatever they call it and it’s good. We have peach tea and sweet tea-no calories but it has Splenda.
Going to a new dr later just to see if I’m acting like a lady my age should act. ; ) I feel better and all, so thinking the second hbp med was messing with me. The new one may not be strong enough. Or maybe the weather is bringing my pressure up a little. I hate taking medicine!

May31

My Fitness Pal

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As you know, I acquired Sean’s ‘old’ G1 phone. So 4 days ago, I started to use the above named app which is also online where you can utilize it for free. The phone app is pretty good and it’s really an eye-opener too. For instance, after eating lunch, I had used all my sugar credits-that quickly. You plug your weight and weight loss goal in. You can even scan the food packaging (you have to download a bar code scanner) and it finds the nutritional info 8 out of 10 times. Then, if you are like me, you eat similar foods and you just check them off and they get added to the correct entry. You also say what kind of exercise you do (mine is mostly walking and gardening) and you ‘get’ credit and can have a snack that doesn’t go over your daily calorie intake. I’m really trying to get serious about weight loss since two of my brothers have Diabetes and I am being watched for it. I’m giving the guys whole wheat pasta and other fiber rich foods. My tummy was making lots of noises this morning-lol. I’m going to go out to eat once in a while. Yesterday was a ‘over the limit’ day, so I ate lighter today. I do like the credit for exercising-you just have to be honest!
Here’s a 4″ x 4″ collage I made over a week ago. Art has slowed down a lot, but I plan to get back to it soon. I had to wait so long for gardening, it’s my top priority. The lady was from a card making kit and I decided to do a collage:
The Hostest with the Mostest 4" x 4" Collage Card
I have an ‘Asian’ garden under the Japanese maple tree-why not! I try and paint the little pagodas, but missed the one last year. I have my Sweet William (Dianthus) under it. I believe it’s a biannual, but I add to it every year. My grandmom loved Zinnias and Sweet William as that was her dad and brother’s name. Princess Catherine had some white ones in her wedding bouquet.

I love them too for their colors. I added some white Impatiens and a few potted plants like Begonias and Zinnias in there too.
Asia garden with Sweet William
The heat here is southeastern Pennsylvania has been miserable the last few days. I am so glad I mulched when it was still in the 80s! A cold front is on it’s way!
Both Brian and I are off to the dentist tomorrow-him for 3 of 6 fillings he needs and me for a chip in a fix-ka-ching!

May20

Life is blooming

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Life is blooming Collage Card, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I really look forward to ‘life blooming’ this time of year. From looking out the window at bleak and brown in the winter to green and growing in the spring just makes me happier! We haven’t had the sunniest of weeks this week. I did very little gardening, but also got to do a few tasks around the house.
I think on Sunday I’ll dig around the basement for a few ‘fairy garden’ props. Really tiny props for really tiny gardens…you’ll see.
So I got a bug punch and wanted to use some, hence this card. I also was making a bug related card to swap with a friend-it’s all hand drawn and I’ll share when she says she got it-it’s nice to get a surprise, don’t you think.
I’ll be taking my camera to the wedding tomorrow-it should be beautiful!
BTW-my allergies seem better, but still achy, but more isolated, so maybe the old medicine was causing more issues.

May10

Snooping around the Brandywine Valley

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Dianne and Miss Gratz the Cow, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Sean and I were going to Winterthur in Delaware to see the azaleas in full bloom yesterday (actually he was just going to take me, he is kind that way). We get to the gate and the gardens are closed for maintenance on Mondays! We were disappointed and headed down Route 1. I asked him to stop at the Brandywine River museum so I could take some photos as I had toted along the camera. We had a nice time looking at the statues, wildflowers and river! Here are a few shots. This is me with Miss Gratz the cow. There is also Helen the pig and a 9 foot statue out front called ‘Boy with Hawk’.
Sean and Helen
Back view of boy with hawk
Wildflowers love this area
Foam Flowers
Lush tree at the museum
The Brandywine on a lovely spring day
View of the Brandywine River museum

From Wikipedia:
The Brandywine River Museum is a museum of regional and American art located on U.S. Route 1 in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania on the banks of the Brandywine River. The museum showcases the art of Andrew Wyeth a major American realist painter, and his family: his father, N.C. Wyeth illustrator of many children’s classics, and his son, Jamie Wyeth a contemporary American realist painter.
Housed in a converted nineteenth century gristmill, the museum’s permanent collection features American illustration, still life works, and landscape painting by Jasper Francis Cropsey, Harvey Dunn, Peter Hurd, Maxfield Parrish, Howard Pyle, William Trost Richards, and Jessie Willcox Smith. The glass-wall lobby overlooks Brandywine Creek and rolling countryside that inspired the Brandywine School earlier in the early 20th century.
The museum also owns and operates tours of the nearlby N. C. Wyeth House and Studio, as well as the Kuerner Farm, inspiration for nearly 1,000 works of art by Andrew Wyeth from the 1930s until his death in 2009. Outside the museum are beautifully maintained Wildflower and Native Plant Gardens.
The museum was founded in 1971 as part of the Brandywine Conservancy thru the efforts of “Frolic” Weymouth. He has been on the board since its founding.
(I see a few places here I haven’t been to!)

Apr24

Here comes Peter Cottontail

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I hope everyone had a lovely Easter today! We reached 81 outside and it was like a summer day and we put the a/c on. I raked the Lily and Iris garden a bit and then put a turkey breast in for dinner. Brian cut the entire yard and it looks better. The trees are another issue. I have never seen them looks so bad as they do this year in the over 24 years of living here. Brian’s going to have to cut down a few shrubs and dead fruit trees, but the ones on the hill that lead to the stream would cost a ton to get cut down. It’s very rustic looking!
Sean had to work and he said it was boring. He is itching to get in the garden center and asked again. He did come home for dinner and enjoyed the turkey, veggies and crumb apple pie.
Off to get my hair done in my hometown tomorrow. After dinner I put together the cutest owl gift box from http://www.myowlbarn.com. All you do is print it out on card stock, cut it out and glue it together. It comes with owl bookmarks too. I made one to keep and one to give to Tori. I will take a photo to share.
My collage was really easy as the bunny came in a package and I glued him on the background of my choice.

Easter roses from Brian
Easter roses from Brian (plus a few left he gave me before Easter)

Apr23

Easter Eve

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We didn’t do too much today as we had more rain and then Brian and Sean went out and each gifted me with early Easter gifts. Sean gave me sunny yellow tulips and a cute stuffed chick and his dad gave me multi-colored roses and candy. I have to watch the candy though.
Brian and I attended the vigil Easter mass-over 2 hours. It’s a very lovely and special service. We go outside and light candles and go back into a dark church and went through the first 1/3 of the service with only candlelight. Then the lights were turned on for the Resurrection part. That is cool. A young lady got baptized and had to kneel in the baptismal font and get water poured over here head.
I came home and put together an Easter basket for Sean and used a mushroom basket which is cute (Bri can share).
I was glad to do a few paper art collages, one for a trade with a pal.
The featured collage was made a number of days ago. The artist here is Margaret Tarrant from the 1930s. Love Alice’s face.
I’ll share another collage tomorrow before I cook dinner.