paint party friday

Anxiously awaiting Tracy Verdugo's book on Painting Mojo.  I am fasinated with her intuitive painting.  In following her blog & facebook postings from retreat participants, I think I am getting an understanding.  It is time to get my head out of the dark & my brushes out if their cupholders into my hands! CHEERS, dana

FINALLY... THE BEAK

the beak in all its glory

journal page

I can't believe it has taken 6 days of trying to post 2 pics.  One I got to work Monday and this morning after several attempts... here is the full look at my journal.  Man, I need help with this computer.  I can't tell if it's me or it!  Okay,  talked with AT&T tech support, it is a combo....asked them to come over and give me lessons BUT tech support is in India.  So much for what I thought was still an American Company.

I want to share another artist's finished work that she too has had hanging around to complete and did!  If you have followed me for anytime at all you know I have a quilting artist friend, Joy!  For my birthday she gave me the most incredible quilt.  It is sooooooooooo me!  She had found these fabrics a few years ago and I had asked her to make me a quilt.  So - it took awhile as things worth waiting for always do- and she depicted me perfectly!  This quilt is Dana all the way through.  I will treasure this forever!

Click on it to enlarge so you can see the stitching.  People on the beach having fun in the sun.  No, I don't do bikinis on the beach but I am all about the Florida Keys!  Margarita's in the sand and pink flamingos!

Sharing with Paint Party Friday - it's been awhile and not much painting here lately but I am trying to get back in the groove!!!  I love browsing through all the incredible work here whether I have participated or not!  Thanks to Eva and Kristin for keeping it all going on!!!!



cheers, dana

life is short, make sure you LIVE it

all works copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2013

PPF and a busy life

So again, it's Paint Party Friday already and I haven't gotten done what I had planned.  Spent yesterday trying to find pictures of my oldest son who is turning  30!  OY.  My daughter in law is giving him a surprise party and wants a pic for every year.  I have boxes and boxes and boxes of photos - most undated and unorganized.  OMG what a task.  I have managed to get 24 yrs done.  I tried using Shutterbug or whatever it is called and was ready to smash my computer... so have copied to a disc and will be off to the do it yourself dept. after work tonight.

So, this morning just to make sure I started my day calmly... I tried a new coffee in my never ending quest for "the" one.  Although everytime I decide on "the" one, the next time I go to the store they aren't carrying it any longer! Another, OY.

sharing an older watercolor / pitt pen today

This morning Newman's Own, Nell's Vanilla Caramel.... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  What is your favorite coffee????

Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting Paint Party Friday's!!!!  a great place to learn and be inspired!

cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012

PPF and motivation

You are A "rock" Star

We have created  Motivational Monday at work.  It will last to just about Thanksgiving.  Each optician within our district of  the company passes something inspirational-motivational out to each of our 5 locations to share!  That optician then picks the next person to take charge of Motivational Monday.  So, this upcoming Monday is my turn and I spent my day off yesterday getting ready.  I believe that inspiration/motivation can have huge impact on individuals.  I worked for a motivation speaker for 12 years and his teachings gave me skills that are part of my successes!  I hope that these tangible sayings give people a moment to pause, think, smile and improve!
You are A Star is painted on the rock!  Rock Star, get it!  and the ATC says, Positively ROCK your World
on the back I have written:
Positive Appearance, Attitude and Performance = Positive Experience for YOU & OTHERS!

  Sophie and Ollie patiently waited while I worked on this project most of the day.
Have a great weekend and fun checking out all the incredible art at Paint Party Friday!  Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting!

cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

PPF and yesterday's day off

Paint Party Friday and my day off...
It was the best day off in awhile... no one had a doctors appointment!!!  YAY!!! SOOOOOOOOOOO,  continuing my efforts to raise money for Optometry Giving Sight  I was working with POWER TOOLS! 
I had used the plasma cutter last year after we completed Scrap Fest to cut out our local University block letters.  It is quite the rivalry in this part of the state.  The big Blue Block "M" for the University of Michigan and the big GREEN Block "S" for Michigan State University!

I then drilled and pop riveted stakes that Mark was kind enough to make for me and put it all together.  Spray paint and sponge in hand, wha-lah!
$24 a piece or 2 for $40... a portion of the proceeds to Optometry Giving Sight!
  GO TEAM!!!

I also worked on a wreath for a gift I am making!  Spray painted it mat black and am working on the bats that will be added along with some other spirited items!  The bats have a reddish/pinkish metallic undercoat that will end up being the outline!

I can't wait to finish the bats....

Then, just to finish the day with a bang, I baked my secret awesome vanilla

pumpkin cake with a new kick.  Mark's daughter just returned from a trip to

Montreal and brought back the most incredible maple rum sryup!  Yep, put

that in - in place of the vanilla extract and cinnamon..... OMG!  to die for!

I added praline sauce using the sryup again with a splash of dark rum for the topping!  Talk about YUMMMOOOOOO!

So, a very productive day that did include PAINT !  

Here's to a wonderful fall weekend and visits to all the participating artists'.  Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting such a great place to share!

cheers, dana

make art, make friends - share art, share souls

PPF and my mini Angel Eyes series continues...

So much going on but in my artworld...Kat's Liberate Your Art postcard swap has been sooooooo much fun!  I will be participating in her blog hop Sept. 13th so stay tuned to see all the beautiful art that flew around the world!

Then, I did a second girl for my Angel Eyes series - proceeds go to Optometry Giving Sight!  I decided to post my second girl on fb with an explanation and price - SOLD !!!!  I am only asking $7.50 as these are only 4 x 6 ish pieces - matted.  (plus postage please)... Anyway, I really like her - as I do the first one so am thinking of just doing it again instead of waiting until I have all 5 done!  Maybe I'll do 10 if it keeps working!  "Believe" is totally opposite of "we are the world" - hope you like her!

Please be sure to visit all the artists' at PPF!!!!  It does take about the whole week to get through everyone!  I always miss more than I want to but that darn job thing!  Thanks to Eva and Kristin for hosting!

cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

PPF and a cause...

By day I am an Optician... by night I am secretly a caped crusader, I mean a random painter!  Really by early morn.  I am not a night person.  So I create between 5:30 am and 8:30 if I haven't gone on a morning bike ride or put in a walk/ run session.  I really don't have a lot of free time to be in my artroom creating.  I wish I was more disciplined but it is what it is.  When I get home from work it is about 7:30 pm and I have absolutely NO creative juices flowing.  On a day off I am usually found running around like a chicken with my head cut off and if I could ever get it all together I may, just may, get better.  That is why I keep plugging away at it!  If we weren't saving to take our annual Key West trip I would so be signing up for:
Flora Bowley's online class  -OMG- brave intuitive you!!!
or hopping on a plane to England for Lisa Wright's one day class at Highgate House, Creaton on Oct. 20th  http://thewrightbrainstuff.blogspot.co.uk/p/playing-with-your-inner-artist-one-day.html

or... the list goes on!!!!  If you have the means, do it!  Life is short, shorter than you may think!

I am currently doing a few little paintings to sell between $7.50 and $10 - all proceeds going to the organization Optometry Giving Sight.  Some wonderful people go to third world countries and give eye exams & glasses to individuals that would not have otherwise!  They have built labs to make glasses, trained opticians and provided vision for thousands!!!!  Let me know if  you see one you like over the next few weeks or if you can share a post that may bring in a donation - please let me know!

Today is the start of Angel Eyes!!!  No. 1, we are the world!

She is obviously a result of my class with Natasha May, a somewhat Cotton Candy Girl.  I just had to do the glasses!!!
Thank you to Kristin and Eva for hosting our Friday get together PPF - a place to see, be inspired, and encourage others!!!
cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls

all works copyright dana strickland/sinderella's studio 2012

PPF and my first postcard from the swap

Wow , so excited got my first postcard from the Liberate Art Swap... it is beautiful!

                                                           Thank you Kelly Ishmael

The poor postcard got a little beat up in its travels but still a wonderful mix of words and image!

#2 pencil, Ticonderoga, of course! on newspaper!
Jordyn Weiber, hometown hero!  MI- she lives just
a hop, skip and a jump from us!  so proud!

a journal page I am carrying around to finish

All these classes and projects on the table...I have just finally figured out you can have fun with art, everything you do doesn't have to become a painting... a publish-able piece... a masterpiece... a piece to be critiqued.... YOU CAN JUST JOURNAL or doodle or scribble or whatever!!!  Just keep doing because through doing YOU GET BETTER... omg, I think I've heard that before!  So, just sitting around with scraps of paper and my markers/pencils that I keep in my bag.... I just had FUN!!!!  I plan on continuing to do this!!!  It is okay that my mind gets ahead of my writing and I have to fit things in... it's okay if I misspell a word because this is the place to do it.  This is where you generate ideas, thoughts, feelings that develop into the next "real" painting!!!  There is a big smile on my face!!!!

Please be sure to visit all the participants at Paint Party Friday... I have learned so much from many!  So thankful that there is this positive inspiring place!!!  Thanks Alexandra for hosting!  More to come regarding the postcard swap... a blog hop... stay tuned!

cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls!!!!

copyright dana strickland/sinderellastudio 2012

PPF and grandkids!

Our two oldest granddaughters get a special solo day with grams for their birthday.  The oldest of our grandkids is Cloee, she turned 9 in June.  We were just able to finally get her solo overnight b-day visit in!  She is a very busy girl with dance and just returned from a trip to Myrtle Beach for a competition!

Anyways, painting is an expectation when the kids come here.... we did a fun shirt project, then went and painted ceramics at a local shop!  We will get those pieces back in 2 weeks... it was very zenful there.  Cloee is a HUGE reader (thank goodness) and a trip to 2 different bookstores was on the agenda - she went home with NINE new books!!!
We completed our day with a late lunch at Gracie's Place in Williamston where I have another painting on exhibit!

She was so excited to see Grandma's work out in public - and ohhhhhhhhhhh, we talked about my piece in Sue Bleiweiss's book endlessly!
So, now time to recover and get back to some of my serious projects (too many) that are literally on the table!  Enjoy visiting all the participants here at paint party friday hosted by Kristin and Eva.  Can't wait to see the featured artist....
and P.S.
Jenny Lee Wentworth was the featured artist a few weeks ago...she has a dream that we can all be part of fulfilling!  If you have ever had a dream come true...please take time to help make hers a reality!

Jenny Wentworth:http://www.ebay.com/sch/j-went138/m.html?_nkw&_armrs=1&_from&_ipg&_trksid=p3686

cheers, dana
make art, make friends - share art, share souls