Happy New Year 2011 and Happy Pink Saturday

As I look back through the year 2010 it has been a year filled with struggles for my family both financially and medically.  Having had to quit working because of my health issues, this situation came with both good and bad results.  The good being that my health has improved and I'm not having to see so many doctors and in and out of the hospital.  The bad being the lost income and the many medical bills we incurred.  But through these struggles my family has grown stronger as a family unit, so here is yet another good result.  We've learned to do without a lot of the extras that we were used to.  It's taught my daughter the value of money, family, home, health, respect, and pulling together in times of struggle. I'm blessed to have such a wonderful daughter.  It's taught me to be a better wife, mother and homemaker.  It's taught me to treat myself better and not work myself to the bone (I'm a reformed workaholic).  It's taught my husband to communicate more with me.  So in the end the struggles we've gone through have had many more good results than bad.  We still struggle financially, but so do so many others right now in this economy and some are far worse off than us.  My hope and prayer for 2011 is that the economy will get better, people who have lost theirs jobs will find employment, families will come together and lean on one another more and people with poor health will get better.

Now for a little bit of selfishness (he he) I so wish I could wear shoes like these again, but I'm not sure that I ever will again.  My leg (even 4 years later) still gives me problem, even though they've removed most of the hardware.  I fell in 2006 down our stairs and crushed my left leg, dislocated and chipped my ankle and tore all the tendons in my foot.  2 surgeries later and lots of PT I can now put my full weight on the leg while lifting my right leg.  This is just one of the many medical issues I've dealt with.  Here's another pair I found that I would love to wear.

Did I mention I'm addicted to shoes!  LOL.  My hubby asked me the other day while I was cleaning out the closet if I plan to sell any of my high heels.  I exclaimed "Absolutely Not!!"  I plan to be able to wear them again one day!

May everyone have a safe and happy New Year!!

Just a little photoshop deal I made!

New Background Design

After many hours of tweaking and changing, I think I finally have the end result I was looking for.  Being my own worst critic, I see things that I'd like changed but after changing and manipulating it oh about 20 or so times, I'll live with the minor adjustments.  I made a post divider and a new signature too.  Next will be to make some new buttons, some frames with my daughter and my furbabies so I can add them on here too.  Well so much to do, so I must get a few hours sleep.

New Background Design

Well I've been fiddling all day with a new design and making my template a 3 column from a 2 column.  I'm getting there but still need to do a little tweaking.  So far I am liking my design very much.  I'm going with a gypsy theme right now as I am feeling kind of vagabondish and nomadic at the moment.  I'm working on some new art through my new art classes and I'm hoping to post some of my new work soon.    Well off to get tweaking on the background.

Hugs!

Sweet Longing of Love

Sweet Longing of Love

The longing look in your eyes

The silky caress of your hand

The yearning under my skin deeply lies

I feel your breath on my neck behind me where you stand

As I lean into you…

Your arms enfold me in such bliss

Your darks eyes

Your sweet smile

Your silky lips

Your deep embrace

I wish never to be gone long from your presence

  For my heart does surely ache.

A poem by LisaKay Gerow Balazs

Pink Christmas Topiary

Oh Ladies, how I've missed you so!!  It has been some time since I have posted for Pink Saturday.  My heath has given me a run for money the last two months, but I'm definitely on the mend.  I felt so good last night that I started a project at 8 pm and finished today at 2 pm.  I hope you like it.  It is my first topiary ever.  It is made with pink and gold poinsettias, pink, silver and white ornaments, white and green foliage, silver bows, pink trimmed in gold bows, and a pretty bird on top.  Enjoy the pictures.

If you love give aways, and let's face it, who doesn't; check out http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-giveaway-day-3.html.  She has a wonderful blog!

Finally Success!  I have been trying to teach myself how to make blog backgrounds for the last 3 days.  I have finally designed a background that I am very satisfied with.  I thank Sharon at Plumrose Lane for her wonderful tutorial.  She is a wonderful lady and resource.  If you don't have the patience to teach yourself, I suggest that you use her backgrounds or hire her to design one for you.  She is an extremely creative and talented lady.  I love working with pictures and manipulating them and making art collages from my many wonderful pictures and graphics so for me this is like therapy!!  Hope you like what I did.

So for this Pink Saturday I want to share with you something I've been working on.  I never in my life ever thought I could draw or paint anything that would remotely look cute or pretty.  However, I've been taking an art class, which I've posted about on here before and I just love it.  It has been very therapeutic and healing for me. I would like to show you all my sweet little pink princess called "Pinky".

I hope you enjoy her and don't forget to visit Beverly!

As previously mentioned, while reviewing one of the many blogs that I follow, I found out about a free art class and signed up.  Well I've never thought that I ever had the ability to draw or paint and was actually quite nervous to take this class, but I've found Tam to be a wonderful teacher!!  I have been enjoying the last 3 weeks immensely.  Now, my first drawing and painting is not spectacular, but I'm rather proud of it.

I encourage anyone who wants to learn some techniques to take this class.

Well another Pink Saturday is upon us.  Sorry my post is so late, I've been under the weather with a cold and now my daughter has it too.  I don't think we'll be doing any trick or treating this weekend.  Sorry this is going to be a short post.  Here is a clock I repainted...it used to be silver and just didn't go in my studio at all.

here is one of my favorite desk lamps, which is also in my studio.

my daughter got me this cute little hanger for pictures, which I just love.

and here is my first collage that I made.

well that's it for now folks, short and sweet.  Don't forget to visit Beverly our sweet hostess!!

Collage Obsession #30 Creepy

Original picture

Here is my interpretation

Hope you enjoy it.

So I became inspired the other night, or maybe it was really boredom ; ) that prompted me to take the two pumpkins I'd purchased at Joanne's and paint them.  One I painted completely white and the other I sort of whitewashed and added glitter to add a little spice.  Here they are drying.

On the large pumpkin I used the pink ribbon shown on the small one along with a pretty lacy white ribbon and added some little pearls.  On the little one I used a pale pink ribbon and also added the pearls.  Then I took filo clay and made little candy corns and painted them pink, pale pink and white and of course glittered them! I think they turned out rather cute.

Wishing everyone a happy Pink Saturday.  Don't forget to visit our wonderful hostess Beverly!

 

Well I just have to share with you this lovely chance to win a beautiful ATC drawn in colored pencils by Angela Kennedy.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  Please visit Angela's  site for all the details on how to win this wonderful drawing.

There is also a link on my sidebar.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!  Also, check out some of the groups I belong to on my side bar.  There are some wonderful art groups.

Here is my entry for the Collage Obsession Challenge called "Man".  Here is the original picture

And here is my interpretation

I hope you enjoy it.  I'm still very new to this and working with photoshop.