Here's another wonderful doll artist I just found.

I found this lovely lady while reading blogs this morning.  She has the most imaginative dolls and she paints and makes prints, too.  I love the diversity and the use of so many textures in her dolls.  You can visit her blog or you can visit her Etsy shop.  Either way, you are in for a treat!

I found a new website with great online classes

In my nightly surfing, I came across this wonderful site, The ArtTrader Magazine.  At this site you can find all of the copies of the magazine since the beginning of print.  All are available for download, so you can read them at your own pace.  They are full of beautiful art and the articles are informative and interesting.  If you are not into ATC's or mail art, you can simply enjoy the beauty of the pages--they should help to inspire you to expand your artwork.  I downloaded all nine of the magazines and have been reading my way through them tonight.  I hope you will drop by and get your copies, they are free, because I know you will enjoy them.

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Here's a wonderful video about Art Dolls

As I have said before, I am currently enamored of the Art Doll and want to learn how to make them.  I found a wonderful video about the NIADA that shows you a little about how this area of art is growing and that there are really quite talented people working in this media.  I thought I'd share it with you.  I hope you enjoy seeing the beautiful dolls and hearing the artist talking about them.  I know I did.

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I've enrolled in my first online art class!

Several days ago, I posted about a class on faces from Norah'S Art blog.  Well, she finally got it set up and enrollment is now open.  So, of course, I hurried over to pay my money and get myself ready to go.  The class will start on Feb. 5th, but I think you can work at your own pace. So,hurry over and join the fun if that's the kind of thing you like!  If you visit her site, she has a cute video on it where she talks about the class while she is working on a lovely painting.

Another place to visit and learn is Suzet.com.  She runs The Art Studio and has a Ning site with videos and classes.  I found her on YouTube and I recommend her video on sketchbooks.  Below is the first day's video for you to watch, but go to her site and join in the fun.

Life can now be back to normal

Today my baby left to go home to Oklahoma.  I am already missing her.  We had a lovely time and I thoroughly enjoyed every second spent with her and the rest of the family.  As with all mini-vacations, you try to pack more into it than you have time for, so we were all getting really tired last night.

She just called to tell me that she had arrived, safe and sound, so I don't have to worry about her, but I still will.  She is my baby.  I'll always worry about her.

What was really nice was a trip to the local outlet mall here in Austin.  My sister, my oldest daughter, my youngest daughter and me all piled into the car and went shopping early in the morning.  For the longest time, we were about the only people there.  We really had fun.  I love seeing my girls together and getting along.  There was a time when I despaired of ever seeing such a thing.

Here are some pictures of a particularly funny moment during that day:

Here is my sister doing her "mind melding" with my daughters, and them playing the "mind meld" back. 

My baby girl is here to visit!

Just a few lines today because my youngest daughter is visiting from Oklahoma.  She flew in yesterday and will be here a few days.  I will be having fun with her so will have little time to post.  By the way, here are a few pics of my two beautiful daughters.

I actually started another picture! I can't believe it!

With this new year, one of my goals was to do some kind of art every day.  I broke out my sketch book and I have been drawing in it, but not every day.  I found a great video class on increasing your creativity through the use of a sketchbook, so I am about to begin. 

As I was sitting in my studio sketching, I turned around and saw the pencil drawing I had done months ago and put up on my easel.  So, I found my pastels and I started working on it.  I don't think it will be a masterpiece, but it felt good to be working again. 

Here's where I am so far, but there is so much more to do.

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