SIGNING OFF...

Well, we are coming to the end of 2011 and it has been a rewarding year in many ways.  I have loved, and I mean loved, all of you in blogland.  I have appreciated each and every visit my blog has received!  The encouragement, education, inspiration and motivation has been amazing.  My art has grown and so have I as an individual and artist.  As much as I love this little personal space I am signing off for now.

I have some family concerns that need my attention and time.  So, as there are only so many hours in a day somethings gotta give, as they say, and its my blog.  I hope to pop in from time to time and check in on all of you.  I will miss Friday Paint Party's with Eva and Kristin - as well as - Sunday Sketches with Sophia!!!So you may get a shout out from me but for the most part I will not be blogging for awhile.

May all of you have a healthy happy and artful 2012!!!!  Much love and cheers, dana

REMEMBER:  MAKE ART, MAKE FRIENDS - SHARE ART, SHARE SOULS

finally finished for PAINT PARTY FRIDAY...

My, An American Girl..a friend asked me to paint a girl riding a bike - hair blowing in the wind, and she added: oh yes, I like the American Flag!!!  So here is what I am sending her:  An American Girl....

In life's journey always take the Scenic Route

Hope she likes it!  I trust that each and everyone has had a Great Thanksgiving and is looking forward to a happy and safe holiday season!  Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting, especially at such a busy time of year!  It will take me all week, as always, to get through Paint Party Friday but it is always worth it!!!!
cheers, dana
ps We went to the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game and came within 15 ft. of former Defensive-end for the Oakland/ LA Raiders....HOWIE LONG!!!!  My husband lovingly tolerated my craziness over it!!!!

p.s.s. should hit 55 today soooooooooooo one more ride before we put the bikes away for the long winter, it will be chilly but we'll be dressed for it and the sun is out!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE IN BLOGLAND!!!!

Sorry I haven't posted BUT (there is always a but) vacation was FANTASTIC and exhausting!!!  Getting home and catching up with: laundry, grocery shopping, parents, kids and grandkids...oh yes, work!!!  It has been jam packed.  So, this weekend of course lots going on but ready to get back into my art-groove!!!
May all of you and yours have a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING WEEKEND!!!

                                      RELAX, ENJOY, HUG LOTS AND GIVE THANKS!!!!



make art, make friends - share art, share souls....thanks for stopping by I cherish each visit from my artful blog family!!!!

cheers, dana

Quick post for Paint Party Friday...

I have added a bit to my bicycle girl but will have to finish her when I return from KEY WEST, yes, in caps because I am screaming with excitement.  I never pack in advance but this trip is long over due and I have had my clothes laid out for 3 weeks... ready to go in the morning.

But, in my tiny sketch book that I carry around I have done a couple quickies that I can share, I hope to share some stuff from on the road but we'll see!!!!

First stop is Lauderdale to see my brother in his Hair & Massage Studio, Dean Allen's!!! 

Then Sugarloaf Key for 3 days then onto Key West for 4 days!!!!  Probably posting on facebook alot!!!!  If you care to join our journey!!!

SEE YA WHEN WE GET BACK....be sure to check out all the great work on Paint Party Friday hosted by Kristin and Eva!!!!!!

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

HAPPY HALLOWEEN and HAPPY HAUNTING!!!!

I love the colors, the pumpkins, the kids, the costumes...everyone is smiling and has a sugar buzz!!!
My small sketch journal halloween page:

so much fun to create halloween spells....so off to work today and hope that some trick or treaters come by:

we've got candy and hope to take some pics ...yesterday it was a Halloween Canine Cruise my first 5k in 2 years...a struggle with my crapped out knees but I made it and the dogs were great!!!

Some of the runners were realllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy scarrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy....
We didn't dress up but will next year...just glad to finish!!!!

My step-daughter Jaimie, her dog Baer, my husband Mark, me and our dog Sophie!!!

so time to climb on my broom and zoooooooooooom off to work!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Thanks to Natasha for hosting this Halloween post!!!!  Trick or Treat!!!
dana

Autumn colors of Michigan for Pink Saturday....

a beautiful fall wedding & we luckily had an Indian Summer weekend !

Before this weekends hauntings begin a few photos that celebrate the colors of fall!!!  Beverly at Pink Saturday's is looking for autumn color....Michigan is a premier state to experience each season and autumn is one filled with color and pungent aromas in the air....take a breath and soak it all in!!!!

Our streets are lined with vivid reds and yellows in every shade...sometimes its mesmorizing to drive thru all this color!!!!!!!!!!

Even the bare trees have color...the golden glow of the sunset lighting them up magically!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds of cheers fill the air every Saturday as we are are proud football state!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The blooms have left the lake for another year....the water seems so much clearer in the fall??? curious!

ducks still swimming enjoying the still waters, no swimmers, no boats and NO jet ski's!!!!

and still a bright yellow gerber after two weeks of morning frost!!!  I have not been able to get anything to grow in this spot for 5 years of trying....and this little beauty is still blooming in October!!!!!

Happy Autumn...Happy Colors and Happy Haunting!!!!  Thanks to Beverly for hosting Pink Saturdays.

cheers, dana

Paint Party Friday and my background....

Yep, still in the works...I ended up using a map of Michigan, some acrylics and plan on adding my girl to it.  It needs some more work, I have some writing I plan on doing with tissue paper then using gel medium to adhere to the canvas. I did some words in the background but don't like them so will be covering them up.  I just have her sitting on top the canvas to give you the idea of where I am at.  I still plan on leaving it light so it pops off the canvas and doesn't just blend in.   Hope to have it done this upcoming week because after that on VACATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Going to the Keys, just taking a sketch book, watercolor pencils, basic watercolor pan paints (like elementary school type), waterbrush, and a pitt pen!!! Won't be doing a painting class, none going on while there and didn't have a structured enough schedule  (I don't like time planned days when on vacation - will have to make a separate trip I guess, yay) to plan a private session.

This past weekend had two of the g-kids overnight. It was great! Bonfire party, then painted pumpkins in the morning!!!! They were soooooooooooo serious. Landon is four and Nolan is 21 months!

We did Halloween cupcakes after that, it doesn't get any better than this!!!

Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting Paint Party Friday!!!  A great place to learn, grow, be inspired and make friends!!!!!

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

happy haunting...check out Natasha May's button on my sidebar to join her Halloween Post!!!!