Create!

Create!

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Art Journal

 Being creative is my soul food. Trying new creative endeavors challenges me.  As a result I tend to flit from one creative avenue to another. This process or habit of mine has been good and bad.  It is a "jack of all trades, master of none" scenario. 

Going down the Art Journal/Junk Journal rabbit hole is fulfilling on many levels. I can use artwork that I didn't consider framing because it was a random creation from my "flitting about trying new things" habit. 

These are some pages from an Art Journal I am currently working on. 

The page on the right is original artwork by me. Having fun kind of doodling with paint. The page on the left is from free downloads of adult coloring pages.

More art on the left and coloring page on the right.

This pocket holds a tiny notebook and a journal card. The pockets can hold photos and memorabilia. 

Some random original artwork by me with Dr. PH Martin Hydrus watercolors. They have a unique property in that they become permanent when dry vs regular watercolors that will react and change when water is added after drying.

Playing with gouache paint here.

The pages in this journal include space for writing thoughts, goals, memories etc. There are also pages to color and spaces to add doodles or your own creative marks.

 The peace for me is in the process, the hope for me is that someone will find that peace in using this Art Journal as a prompt or space to fulfill that need to create or reflect. 

This Art Journal is available in my Booth# 16 at Downtown Alley in Bridgeville, Delaware.  Downtown Alley is a fun vendor mall full of antiques, collectables, hand-made art and home decor finds as well as a huge K cup coffee selection! Stop by and treasure hunt!


Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Journal Tags

 A new rabbit hole for me! Journal making is new to me but a culmination of so many hobbies I have enjoyed over the years.

Here are some tags I have finished this week.


I am loving the cluster of tags on the right!


Fall is coming!



Getting a little grungy and loving it!

I don't want to do anything but play!

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Painting on Vellum

Trying something new again! I really love the botanical watercolor paintings on animal vellum. They have such a soft look. 

This is one of my favorite botanical artists.

Dianne Sutherland  

Check out her website.

The goat skin vellum is expensive to me but I received some as a Mother's Day gift! Yay!

I tested a few things on a small piece. There is definitely a right side and wrong side. The side where the hair pores are is the right side to paint on. The paint lays on the surface so a very dry brush has to be used. It also has to be painted in layers. Here is my first attempt. 


I am happy with it. It is also fairly easy to lift up areas that you want to redo. 🤪 You also can't use too much water or it buckles. 

I have more vellum to play with! I love my kids! 


Monday, May 1, 2023

Comparing Paints!

Comparing paints. Dr. pH Martin Hydrus Watercolors and Derwent Inktense color blocks.

I  have been painting with Dr. Ph Martin Hydrous watercolors lately. I love that they are more permanent than the Daniel Smith tube watercolors that I have and do love. You can buy them on Amazon.

There are 3 color sets. The biggest difference in using them is that they are staining and you can't lift or rework like you can with the Daniel Smith tube paints. They also have a white that makes life easier. 

I wanted to compare them to the Derwent Inktense paints that I have used in the past. They are also more staining and colorfast compared to regular watercolors. I'm not worried about my paintings lasting for years! Hahaha! I do like that you can't change the first layer because of the "staining" or more permanent color and because I paint greeting cards which get handled and not always framed.

They are also available on Amazon.

So I painted two similar yellow poppies. The one on the left is painted with Derwent Inktense. The flower on the right with Dr. pH Martin hydrus watercolor paints.

They were similar to work with. The Derwent Inktense paints are more permanent with no time to rework.  The Dr.pH Martin paints are a bit more forgiving. I like them both. 

Derwent Inktense.        Dr.pH Martin.

Now I want to get my Derwent Inktense pencils out because I have a set of 72 colors in the pencils.  I do wish the Dr. pH Martins had more colors. They have 36 colors available.  I do mix colors but it's nice to have a "for sure" color match sometimes. 

These work for me because I do smaller work and greeting cards. A 5x7 card is the most common size for me.  And often I will do miniature work.  

I enjoy painting with all three watercolor mediums. Don't get discouraged if you purchased either the Derwent Inktense or Dr. pH Martin Hydrus Watercolors. Try smaller paintings and keep at it. You can also use all of them together.  The permanent paints are great for a soft background that won't lift when painted over with regular watercolors.  

Back to painting... after I find my Derwent Inktense pencils! Hmmm.

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Histamine Intolerance


I have been struggling with an extremely itchy rash that moves around my torso and legs since July.  My doctor put me on prednisone for 5 days. It went away but came back in a few days with a vengeance. 

My doctor was concerned and thought I should have a biopsy done. He sent me to a dermatologist who couldn't see me until May of 2023. Through a series of events I was able to get into a doctor in the dermatologist office who does surgery and knows about skin conditions.

 He said it was a histamine rash and put me on a 28 day regimen of prednisone and told me to take Zyrtec and Allegra as well as Pepcid which is an antihistamine. The rash subsidided considerably but I could tell it was still there. 

In the mean time I was researching possible causes.  It seemed to be related to what I eat but I couldn't pin down a particular food. I also have other mild allergy symptoms that I ignored because I have always had congestion of some sort. I thought it was genetic.  I came across Histamine Intolerance on the internet.

I was trying to maintain a low histamine diet for about a week before the prednisone would be done. I was concerned about the rash coming back. It is so uncomfortable. 

There is conflicting information about what foods are low histamine.  I found a low histamine food list here:

https://www.histaminintoleranz.ch/downloads/SIGHI-Leaflet_HistamineEliminationDiet.pdf

And a blog that has some great recipes here:

https://www.throughthefibrofog.com

One that I recently tried is Nomato Sauce. Made from carrots and beets.... it amazingly tastes and looks like tomato sauce. 


I have found several low histamine accounts on Instagram and Pinterest.   However many of the recipes aren't low histamine if I am looking at the SIGHI list.

Of course main stream medical practioners are not familiar with Histamine Intolerance.  My doctor was willing to look up a suggested enzyme supplement to take before eating known histamine foods.  It is called diamine oxidase or DAO.  He said if it works he didn't think it would hurt. 

So my saga continues.  I am currently trying to stay with low histamine eating and taking the DAO if I am not sure what is in food while eating away from home. I am also taking  Allegra, Zyrtec and Pepcid daily. I have not had the rash flare up like it did before.  I do still feel some itchiness and think I am keeping it under control to a point. 

In addition to the histamine issue I also am lactose intolerant.  Interesting that both are from enzymes that my body is not producing adequately. 

I am going to try some "gut healing" supplements from a company called Silver Fern Brand.  I will keep you posted on how that turns out. 

 The  reason I wanted to blog about this was my amazement at the Nomato Sauce recipe.  I never thought beets and carrots could tastes like tomatoes! 

After thinking about it I wanted to share my experience because there is not much information out there and it is often conflicting. It seems that each person may react differently to different foods. 

I am cautiously trying some higher histamine foods after taking the DAO enzyme.  I can feel the itchiness level rise sometimes but it hasn't come back with a vengeance.  

I have always enjoyed fermented and pickled food which are very high in histamine. Aged meats and cheeses are a "no".  Beans, boullion broth and some spices are high histamine so my favorite soups are off the list for now. Also food should be frozen or eaten within 24 hours of making it. It has not been easy but neither is having the rash. 

I would love to hear from anyone else who might be going down this same rabbit hole!  

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Tis the Season!

My wish for you this Holiday Season!


 I have been busy creating and painting and having fun!

You can find my art at Gallery 107 in Seaford Delaware. The Gallery is open Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 5 and Saturdays from 10 to 4. There will be a Winter Reception this Friday from 5 to 7.


I also have some artwork at The Mispillion Art League in Milford, Delaware. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 5. 


Now you can also find some treasures at Downtown Alley  in Bridgeville, Delaware.   I will have a selection of hand painted Christmas and Holiday cards, hand painted bookmarks and some 8x10 matted paintings.  You can find them in Booth #22! It's in the front of the store! Downtown Alley is open every day from 10 to 6.

From traditional to whimsical cards for you to send to loved ones!



Energy in Abstracts! 8x10 matted paintings! 




 Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! And best wishes for this Season for whatever you celebrate! 


Saturday, March 12, 2022

Boho Tiered Tray Decor

 I love the tiered trays that are everywhere now. It's so much fun to have a small seasonal decoration.  

I do appreciate the current decor trends. Look how adorable this St. Patrick teired tray is that I found on Pinterest. 


My creative endeavors always tend to more boho, repurposed found treasures. Here is the one I decorated. 


Mine is not as colorful but it has treasures that I love! 

A tin that I thrifted a while ago! 
A thrifted white bird and a clearance shamrock from Hobby Lobby. The stem is missing but it hides well!
A thrifted sheep. A handmade spool with old buttons.
A tiny vase that was gifted to me by a friend who traveled to Ireland years ago.
A wool felted gnome that I made.


Handmade paper shamrocks that I made.

A pot of gold. From a shiny ornament that I put in a thrifted tiny silver pot. 
A sign painted by me.

So much fun to put together!  It gives me a new purpose when thrifting and creating. Hope you try one. There are a gazillion examples on Pinterest!
Happy 17th  of March to you!