35 things to do before I turn 35 (MSAM)

It's Week 4 of Make Some Art Monday and our assignment was to make a list. These to-do lists are going around all over bloggy-land, and I've been wanting to make one. I won't turn 35 until June, but I'm not quite sure I'll finish this whole list by then. I sure am going to try though! I will be updating on my list so I can share my experiences with you.


1. Run a 5K
This is probably the biggest one. I really need to get my body back into good physical shape, and having this tangible goal will help keep me on track.

2. Be able to do 5 pull-ups
I can't even do one. Can you? If you can you are my hero.

3. Plant a veggie garden
My husband are researching the best way to do this for our type of climate, soil, and road distance.

4. Finish paying off all debt.
I started off last January at almost $30,000. That included student loans, car loans, credit cards, a business loan, and dental bills. As of today we are down to 16,506. By the new year we should be down to 15,000, which is half of where we were last year. However, we did also almost fully fill our emergency fund. So we have made big strides, and I want to continue our frugal savings. Thanks Dave.

5. Mosaic backsplash in kitchen

6. Do a Beth Moore study at my church

7. Make cloth baggies to replace plastic ones

8. Make cloth pads

9. Learn to use my bread machine
I bought a really nice one (I think) for $10 at a garage sale last year and still haven't used it yet.

10. Learn how to REALLY use my camera.
I took a class last year and I'm still not happy with my skills. I would like a new lens but I what I really need to do is practice!

11. 365 photos

Starting in January I'm planning on starting a new blog in which I take one photo a day.

12. Go bowling with the family

13. Play putt-putt golf with the family

14. Update all scrapbooks and photo albums
I am way behind on my kids books, and the pictures are piling up. I've got to get a handle on them!

15. Moo cards

16. Sign at least one licensing contract
I've dreamt of this for a long time, and after chasing this dream too hard, I let it go for awhile. But I still want it to happen!

17. Couples Massage
Just Mike and I

18. Contract fourth book

19. Finish my Master Bedroom quilt

20. Go on a real camp out with the kids.
I may end up regretting this one!:)

21. Weekend trip with Mike
We've been so busy having kids that we haven't gone on a trip alone in five years. So we are going to make it happen this year! (the trip, not another baby...:)

22. Bake an apple pie from scratch

23. Learn to can

24. Reach 500 sales in my Etsy shop

25. Rebuild my website

26. Art retreat
This one was hard for me. I feel like it's a very selfish one, but I would still love it.

27. Take more deep breaths.

28. Pray more.

29. Volunteer with Logan and Ashton
The last couple of years Logan and I did some volunteering together and I think Ashton is ready.

30. Go rollerblading.
I used to go with my bf Courtney all the time. I don't have rollerblades anymore, but we'll see what happens.

31. Get down to $500 a month grocery shopping.
We are currently at $600, and for feeding a family of six that's pretty good. But I know if I was better at menu planning and shopping around sales I could get it down even more.

32. Go strawberry picking.

33. Sew from a pattern.
Not a quilt though. I'd like to try an Amy Butler pattern.

34. Go to the park more.
We have a lot of nice parks pretty close by. I'd like to take advantage of them and take the kids more while the weather is nice and not too hot.

35. Start Ava and Jax college funds.



Okay, I want to see your list. Link up, but please remember the rules:

1. Link to your post, not your whole blog.

2. Please link back to this post so we can get traffic flowing both ways.

3. Leave some comment love for those participating.

Remember you can link up any art you've made, it doesn't have to be in this theme!
I will not be doing MSAM next week because my kids will be out of school and we will be preparing for Thanksgiving. But I will come back next weekend with a new theme.
Okay, time to share!:)

Make Some Art Monday (Week 3)

Happy Monday! Did you make any art this week?
Last week we talked about being inspired by your favorite artist. I have to tell, I am kind of cheating this week. I didn't finish the project I started, so I am showing you something from my archives. This is a mosaic I made for one of my books, and it is inspired by Frida.I have a lot of favorite artists, but Frida is definitely one of my top 5 of all time.
I made this piece using all handmade ceramic pieces. I rolled out clay, cut all the pieces out, fired them in my kiln, glazed them and fired them again, and then made a mosaic out of them all.

Were you inspired by any artists this week? Will you show us what you made?

Remember, show us something even if it doesn't pertain to the "theme". Did you paint something? Knit something? Quilt something? Doodle or draw...? We want to see it!

Don't forget...

1. Please link back to your original post, not your whole blog

2. Please link back to my blog post so people can come back here and look at other people's art too!

3. Try to visit each other and leave some comments!:)

And for next week?

I know y'all have seen these going around:

I think it originated here

She made a really cool one

and my new friend Beth jumped on the bandwagon.
Make some goals! They don't all have to be serious or time-consuming. Look at the ones listed above for some inspiration.

I told my Mom about the theme this week and she said, "But I'm turning 61 this year!" he he

I told her maybe to just start with 10:)

Okay, link up! I'm excited...:)

Make Some Art Monday (Week 2)

Welcome to week 2 of Make Some Art Monday. I hope you took a little time this week to make some art. Whether you followed the prompt (inspiration) I gave you, or did your own thing, I hope you will show us all! Here is what I made:

As you remember, these are the pictures I posted for inspiration. I found them at a Starbucks in the Charlotte airport.
I was inspired by the color palette of blues, aquas and turquoise, and the use of the gold. I used some gold in the girl's hair. You can see I was also inspired by the bird.

I had no plan going into this project. I drew it a few nights ago, and after gluing the scrapbook paper pieces down on the dress, I immediately wrote these words down.
My favorite part of the piece are her legs. I used old dress patterns.
Since I was painting on wood, I played a lot with some textures too. I don't know if you can tell from the first picture, but it's pretty tall. Almost 2 feet high!

Okay, now if you are linking up, please remember these rules:
1. Link to your Make Some Art blog post, not just your blog.
2. Please mention and link back to my post, so we can get traffic flowing both ways!:)
3. Please try to leave some comments for the others participating.Thanks ladies!

Next weeks assignment: If you like having a prompt, here's one for you. Who is your favorite artist? They could be living or deceased. Pick a piece that really inspires you. Show us the piece by your favorite artist, and then show us the piece you created. Or as always, just show us something you made!!
Ok, now link up. I can't wait to see what you made this week!!

Make Some Art Monday

Hello! Welcome to the very first "Make Some Art Monday"!
Did you make some art? I can't wait to see it. Remember the theme this week was quotes. But if you weren't inspired by a quote, or would rather share something else you made, please feel free to share.
This is the piece I made this week. I don't know if you can read the quote, but it says:
Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return. -Mary Jean Iron

While I was gone I was missing my day to day tasks like laundry, packing lunches, helping with homework...all the normal every day activities that we sometimes complain about, but are really joyful common experiences.
I used a piece of watercolor paper cut to 8 x 10, painted the background with yellow and gold metallic acrylic paints, stamped numbers on the side, free-motion stitched around the numbers, and collaged the pictures, text, and paper shapes on.
I added the pom-pom fringe on the bottom and used a hole puncher and ribbon on the top to string it.
I want to hang it somewhere where it can be a daily reminder of how lucky I am to be at home with my kids, even amidst some of the monotonous days...:)
This is the inspiration for next week. I found this large mural in a Starbucks at the Charlotte airport. I love the enormity of it.
Look at the colors, the shapes, the randomness of the strokes...
I am very curious to see how this inspires you to create something. Or show us something else you made!
Don't just sit there...Make Some Art!!
If you are linking up this week, please remember to be kind and don't be a copy-cat!:)
Also,
1. Make sure to leave a permalink to your post, not to the whole blog.
2. Leave encouraging comments for others who are participating.
3. Please link back to this post in your blog entry.
I am so excited to see what you made. (I hope I'm not the only one...that would be terrible!)

Jamie's Butterfly

My Mom doesn't have a blog, but she likes to read mine.
She also has never really done any art, but when she read about the challenge for "Make Some Art Monday", she wanted to participate. I told her I would post her piece.
I was completely surprized when I saw it! I didn't know she could do any of this. You did a great job Mom! I especially love all of your color choices...:)

Make Some Art Monday

I had an idea last night.
Don't say uh-oh...:)
Will you join me?
Every Monday let's come here and link up. We'll show each other something we made during the week.
A painting or drawing?
A mixed-media piece?
A mosaic?
Something you've sewn?
A holiday craft?
Just create Something!

I know a lot of you are artists by trade. You sell your pieces on Etsy or your web site. Some of you want to sell your pieces but don't know if they are ready. And some of you just want to play, have fun, and create things for your house or as gifts. Everyone is welcome! This is meant to be an encouraging place to come and share!

There are only two rules.
1. No copying! Unless of course someone says it's okay, or shares a tutorial.
Inspiration is great, copying is not. If you are inspired by someone's style, please give them credit. But please do not directly re-create someone else's work.
2. Positive comments only. Some of you will be looking for constructive criticism, which I think is wonderful. But please don't go and bash anyone. I don't know any of you that would do that, but I have to say it.

Every week I will give you a guided "theme". If you make something else, that's great. Please still share! But some of you may want a little guidance. This week let's find one of our favorite quotes. It could be something you made up, some scripture, a famous quote that inspires you. Paint it, collage it, experiment with different types of writing...the sky is the limit. I cannot wait to see what you come up with.

Take some time for yourself this week to create something! Will you come and link up next week?