100 Themes Challenge

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A lot of people have seen these 100 themes challenges before, since they are all over the internet. My sister and I complied this list and we are going to try to complete it at random. Well, for me it's random. She's doing her in order from 1 to 100. I don't think I could do it like that. I like to be as random and disorganized as possible.. I work better that way.

Anyway, after each theme is completed, we are going to post it on our blogs. Mine will be on this blog and my sisters will be on her blog. Hopefully, we'll be able to finish the challenge and not quit while in the middle of it.

New Sketchbook and the First Pages

I just got a new sketch/watercolor book and I love it. Since there isn't a specific front cover, I decided to make is one especially for my left-handedness. So here is what I have so far...

 

Here is the cover page and a detail shot.  It's nothing special, just a cover, a starting page. I used mostly warm colors. There is a bit of purple in there because I wasn't paying attention to the color I picked but I like it anyway.

The first page. I added some writing to it after I took this picture. This isn't my best sketch but I like it. Actually, the shadowing doesn't look half bad on this shot. I might have to go back and look later. No detail shot for this one, I'm afraid. I'm trying to figure out a way to make it better but it might just have to stay this way.

Sorry, about my workspace shot. It's a bit messy but my brother, sister and I were having a bit of an art day. And look, my Koi watercolors. They are my favorite brand. I have two of those field sketch boxes (one for home and one for travel).

I just finished this a few minute ago (at around 11pm). I had a lot of fun with this one. Anyway, this is the second page of my sketch book. I'm still getting used to the kind of paper this book has but I think I'm getting the hang of it.

I hope you enjoyed this little preview. I usually post pictures of my sketches on Instagram but I might make a "set" on flickr just for my sketches. I haven't decided.

-Tracey

Reading Material of Choice

Books, books, books! I love them. Reading is probably one of my favorite hobbies...only one of them. Lately, I've been balancing reading as well as writing and creating. And what I've been reading is way out of my usual type of book. Normally, I read fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi and all YA. There is a reason for my love of Young Adult novels. It's because it's simple and quick to read. I find that Adult novels have a lot of excess material and I don't particularly enjoy the extra stuff people add in. I just want the story. YA novels are also good for people who don't have a lot of time on their hands. It's nice to complete a book in a short amount of time. I guess that's also why I like the new genre New Adult. It's almost like YA but with mature content. Can't complain there.

For the longest time, I avoided romance novels. Why? Because I didn't see the appeal. For the past year, I've been reading more and more romance novels as a bit of research for a story I'm writing. I started to like them more and more. Since then, I've been reading everything under the sun that catches my attention but there are certain elements in novels that I avoid.

1. Love Triangles - I hate them. Every story it's the same. Now, there are some that I can tolerate. The ones that are subtle and don't interfere with the main part of the plot are the ones I can stand. I find that love triangles tend to create more drama and pull away from the story line...no thank you. 
2. Vampires - Twilight ruined vampires for me. After Twilight, everyone was writing a vampire or werewolf romance novel and it drove me nuts. 
3. Drama Llamas - Now, drama in a book is fine, but when an author goes over board, I'm done reading it. Drama shouldn't take over a novel; it should be woven in and presented at the right times. Too much drama is repetitive and boring.

It's hard to avoid love triangles and drama llamas by reading the back blurb. So, I just try to get through it...unless it gets too bad. Then I have to set the book down all together.

 As of right now, I'm reading Boycotts and Barflies, again. I, actually, plan on writing a review for it on my other blog. This is a book I read when it was a fanfic. The book itself is like a massive ball of foreplay but it's funny and I think that has to deal with a certain character gaining a little more confidence in herself rather than it is about the little bet they have going on.

I could go on and on about books and writing styles but I'll stop myself here. You should check out what other people have to say about their reading material on Create With Joy's Friendship Friday or click on the button below. I'm sure you'll find something of interest on there.

Getting Back Into Sketching and Photography

I've been in the mood to sketch again. I haven't felt like doing this since I went to Florida for Spring Break. I've been so caught up in other things that I feel like I just never have time to relax. Sadly, art never came into my mind. In the last year there have been a few art journal pages that I've completed but my mixed media work isn't that great. I just can't let it flow that well. I'm not giving it up, heck no. I'm just getting back into some work that I loved doing before.

For the last few days, I've been wanting to do something artistic. Whenever that feeling came around, I had nothing to use. No pen or paper or napkin. Sometimes, I was driving. It was kind of random. My muse likes to work at strange times, it always has.

I finally sat down and did something. It's not big or anything. It's not even that great but I did it and I'm satisfied for now. I also found my other Koi Water Colors Pocket Field Sketch Box that I usually take with me when I'm out and about. That was rather exciting. I have some water color paper that I'm going to cut and make into a small sketch book that I can take with me while I'm working. I find that I'm inspired when I'm working so I might as well take advantage of nap time while I can.

Another thing I'm getting into again is photography. I got a little uninspired carrying a large camera around with me so I kind if gave that up but my phone has a decent camera and I can connect to the Internet. Less hassle. So, yesterday, I signed up for an account on Flickr and now I'm doing a daily photo just for that account. Instagram is okay but I like the organization that Flickr gives me. I'll still be using Instagram for my project and Etsy stuff but my daily photos and my artsy photos will all be on Flickr. I guess I could just use both.

My Flickr Account

Just Another Day as a Nanny

Yesterday, I was told Little One was with a pacifier for nap time. I wasn't certain how she would react but I had a feeling that it wouldn't be good. So when I put her down for her nap, she threw a little tantrum. You can't expect immediate acceptance from a child who loved her pacifier as much as Little One. Sh did eventually fall asleep thanks to her dad. She just needed some reassurance. Her pacifier was her safety blanket for a good part of her 2 years.

When I got into work today, she showed me her new baby doll that she got as a present for sleeping without her pacifier. Unfortunately, she didn't nap today. She isn't my child and I just started working here at the end of October (and only for 2 days a week). Give it time and I'll be very strict with her...well not very strict but strict enough. I already took her sucker away and she isn't happy about that but there is a rule with candy that I've used for the last 6.5 years. Kids have to earn it.

Well, now I have a grumpy child to deal with but that might have been because she was hungry. Little One can eat like a beast, that's for sure.

...nope. She is still grumpy.

Now, with her big sis thrown in, it has gotten...interesting. The Older One (5-years-old) has the tendency to want everything to go the way she wants them to. There are times when it gets out of hand but she can correct herself every now and then. She threw a little fit because I didn't want to get in the tent. It was a small tent and I told her no. She stormed to her room because of it. Man! What is with these kids today? They aren't always like this. Maybe my sleeping issue and the weird weather is causing us to go all crazy. Who knows? But today wasn't the best day at work...better than some of the days that I had in the past but not a good day at all.

It's clear that there are still some things that the girls and I need to work on. But I think right now I'll deal with that slowly. Little One is testing me to see how far she can go to get her way. I'm going to have to crack down on nap time so she won't pull that on me again.

*this was typed from my phone. Sorry if there are a lit of spelling mistakes.

Craft Time With the Girls: Grape Lip Balm

The girls and I made grape lip balm yesterday. While the color didn't turn out the way I planned, it certainly works just fine. It smells like grape and it heals chapped lips. What more can I ask for? I will probably make more another time...in a much smaller portion. Heating up Vaseline took longer than I thought.

Well, I'm about to head out for another day of work.

New Items

This is a rose ring I made a few months ago. The rose is hand painted. I really like these metal roses but I can't find any more. I'm going to have to hunt some down or make my own.

 This is Scotch. One of my new characters for On the Rocks. This is Scotch, the Mayor of On the Rocks. He will be in my shop soon but not right now. I have to get some good lighting for him and find my SD card. I misplaced it somewhere.

 This is a pocket watch that will be in my will be in my shop soon.

I saw this bracelet on Pinterest and decided to give it a try. I'm wearing mine right now. I think it's an easy enough project to do with the girls. I'm going to see if they want to try it.