Watercolor Madness

Got the itch to do some painting lately. I found a cute hummingbird tutorial on YouTube so gave it a try.  Might make this into a birthday card.

While on YouTube I found a very interesting video about a "negative painting technique".  This is supposed to be good when trying to reproduce a photograph which is right up my alley. Basically the background is painted first - layer on layer until you get to the most important part.

I decided to give that a try. The ugly stuff you see in the early shots is some watercolor mask I used to cover up the main images while I painted the back ground. The masking stuff was no longer fluid and I should have thrown it out and bought some new stuff but as usual I was in a hurry so I used it anyway.  It worked - sort of.

Sketched a couple of passion flowers and stems them covered them up with masking gunk.

Covered paper with lots of water and dropped in some yellow and blue and let it blend to get shades of green. Then sketched in more stems and leaves and painted around them.

Added another layer to the background using lots of the blue to darken it and added a few more leaves.

Added detail to the leaves and started adding color to a few of the stems. (I wish I had left the stems alone)

Removed the masking - I really like this but I see the masking did not cover as well as I hoped.

Introducing the third color - red. Lots of water gives it a pink shade and a touch of blue the purple I wanted.

After the "red" dried I wanted more, but I lost the tube! Oh well - I found a tube of pink.

Decided to smooth out the flowers by adding white around the edges.  FINISHED!

I think I'm done, but then again maybe not.

I'll be shopping for a new bottle of masking fluid soon and give this technique another try.  I wonder what happened to that tube of red???

Reporting the news (my personal tirade)

When did news reporting become more about the reporter and less about the news?  News reporters and journalists should not BE the news.

This morning's news on NBC is all about Matt Lauer riding a bike; and Mike Jacobs retiring. Matt isn't the first person to ride a bike to raise awareness and money; and Mike isn't the first person who has retired. REALLY? Time to switch the channel!

Television scandals regarding Brian Williams (NBC); George Stephanopoulos (ABC); Dan Rather (CBS); Bill O'Reilly (FOX); Lou Dobbs (CNN) prove my point across all networks. And don't get me started about Wolf Blitzer! 

Once about a time; there was a separate segment on TV news called "The Editorial". Very clearly, they would state the following is an opinion of the newscaster.  Now, all TV news is an editorial.

My message to reporters and journalists:  It Is Not About You!  Just report the news and if you have an opinion or are slanted in anyway - say so. I don't need anyone on TV to tell me what to think - I'm quite capable of thinking for myself - what about you?

One Ball...That's All!

Having just ended my second season of league bowling today, it thought it might be time to express some thoughts on this sport.  Bowling seems to weave in and out of my life.

My favorite thing about bowling is the sound. As soon as I walk into a bowling alley the sound of bowling balls hitting pins make me smile; and the sounds of people cheering and sometimes groaning also makes me look up to see what just happened. I like it that the scores are visible.

I remember going to bowling alleys with my parents when they were in leagues many years ago. One of the alley's they bowled at was the Bluemound Bowl, and it is still there. Just recently I went there to practice and it brought back many memories.

My first experience of league bowling was in high school. We got out of school about an hour early once a week and were bused to the "Rose Bowl". That alley, most recently named AMF West Allis closed last year. Too bad - it was really nice and had a lot of parking.

Once I started working. I joined several teams with the ladies. I also bowled on a few couple leagues with sweetie and one season joined a church league. I also remember a few years bowling on a league that started at 9 p.m., which while late, allowed me to put the kids to bed before heading out for a few hours. Actually, in those days the men's leagues got the prime time and the ladies had to wait until they finished.  A few years ago, my daughter and I joined a women's league and that got me back into the sport. We did several city, state and even a National tournament. I also was talked into the women's Senior tournament; and a couple of "500" tournaments.

So...back to the present. After retiring, I joined a morning ladies league and really enjoy it.  My bowling keeps getting better and I won enough in the City Tournament to buy a new ball.

Next season in addition to bowling in two morning leagues, I'll be in the State Senior Tournament in October; and the State "600" Tournament in November. The National's will be held in Las Vegas next spring - I haven't committed to that one yet.

A Neighborhood Intruder

An ongoing battle with the U.S. Postal Service is with the delivery of my mail. 

Living in the City of Milwaukee with sidewalks, my mail carrier drives their vehicle from block to block then walks from house to house delivering the mail. As is typical in the neighborhood my mailbox is attached to the house next to the front door. 

Since being retired I've noticed a new mail carrier every few days and about half of them do not use sidewalks. Instead they walk from front porch to front porch across lawns; through the snow banks and right in front of windows. I've been taken back frequently when I see a head pop up in front of the front window. 

There is a website that I continue to use every six to eight weeks reminding the "powers that be in the world of mail carriers" that I do NOT want letter carriers to walk in front of my windows as it frightens me. My sidewalks are kept clean and free of snow and ice so they may easily get to and from our house. 

Even though I continue to object and get promises each time it will stop it doesn't. Probably because of the turnover. 

The following is now printed on bright neon yellow card stock and taped to the inside flap of my mailbox so they can't miss it.  We'll see if it helps.

MAIL CARRIER - CAUTION...

TO AVOID BEING MISTAKEN AS AN INTRUDER PLEASE USE SIDEWALK

Watercolor Jewelry

The Tuesday Craft Club teacher suggested we try making jewelry with watercolor paper. The bracelet she made sure interested me.  I missed a class one week due to nasty weather but kept thinking about this craft. After viewing a few YouTube videos I gave it a try.  Here are the results of my first set!

I started with a pendant

Two views of my second piece: A bracelet

Topped it off with a pair of earrings!

It takes quite a bit of time but quite satisfying. If you're interested in learning how - go to Pinterest and look for my "Watercolor Jewelry" board. I've pinned the videos.