JUST GO WITH IT...

As you all know, I really like taking pictures.

What you may not know is that I also love looking at cloud formations and stargazing too.  I do not claim to be an expert..as a matter of fact beyond Orion's Belt, and the Big / Little Dipper's, I couldn't name a constellation if my life depended on it...but they sure are beautiful to look at :)

I can however tell the difference between the sun, moon and stars :)...that has to count for something right?

Now that we have established that I am not an astronomer, we can move on :)

Photography from August

Looks like it's holding a ball of light

I have recently discovered another wonderful way to share my photos with all of you besides this blog of course  :)...
The Weather Network

 If you happen to be looking through the vast amount of fantastic pics on their site, don't be surprised to find my name under some of the photos :)

This post is basically a continuation of NATURE...Up Close & Personal "August 2014 edition"

NOTE:  I will add a green check-mark to the pictures  I have added to 
The Weather Network

Here are all the August pics I have collected so far :)

I have a bunch, so you might want to grab a cup of coffee and maybe a gooey cinnamon bun...

Can you tell I'm watching my diet?  :(
Ha ha haaaaa...
If you need a reason, have something sweet  for me :)

Tiny Seed

Here is a poem for all of you to enjoy..

NATURE...Up Close and Personal

I would like to dedicate this post to a
lovely couple I met during one of my photography excursions.
 

 

This one's for you Dale and Gord

 I hope it was worth the wait :)

I'm sure you've heard the expression,
"You can't see the forest for the trees"...

When you stand  next to a tree, it's just a tree...
but, stand in an open field and look at a thousand trees...
well that's a whole different thing

I enjoy dusting off my camera now and again and going out on the path near my apartment building and taking photos of nature.
I especially love macro photography because it allows me to see detail that would ordinarily be missed.

So, if you find yourself walking along a path...stop and look, truly examine what is before you, you're sure to see something spectacular.

For this post, I have created a new expression...

"You can't see life for its abundance"

For example...

How many times have you seen grass, heavy with dew,  glistening in the morning light?

Now imagine for a moment how that same dew would look if you were the same size as the grass?

I think I managed to capture it...

I had to crouch down in the grass and got a bit of dew on the camera lens, 

however, the effect actually made the photo look even more surreal.

The CARTOON Craze

I have been drawing cartoons / avatars for the past month...I had a great time doing it and here are the drawings to prove it.

It all started innocently enough...

One night, my husband was working on a maze game design for one of his classes, and happened to mention that his teacher had an alter ego named "Evil Mike" that he would love to be in the actual maze...I didn't hear anymore of the explanation...I just started thinking about "Evil Mike".

I said to myself, "What would Evil Mike look like?  I wonder if I should draw him."

I couldn't resist...

VOILA!  Here he is.

I Learned It From YOU

By Lyann Watkinson

 

The Cat Chronicles...A Comic Strip

WELCOME TO MY WORLD

For all of you who have cats, you know what I'm talking about...

The Wind Is An Angel

The Wind Is An Angel

 By Lyann Watkinson

 *****************************************

I’ve heard it said

That angels are like the wind...

DIAMONDS IN THE SNOW

  This is my 100th post,
which I am dedicating to my Mom.

My Mother and I often speak about GOD...
and the abundance of gifts and talents that He gives to the world.

Also, how we, as people view them and ourselves.

I wish sometimes that we could all see ourselves
the way the
Lord see's us...

I think sometimes though, He grants us a small glimpse.

That small glimpse can sustain us for a long time,
maybe even help us to try and put it into words or song.

Mom, I love you

 &
This is for you...

Gregory & The "GIANT" Sneaker

Do you have a cat?

I do.
Actually, I have two...Magoo and Gregory.

Magoo is an older cat, calm and peaceful. Unless of course he's hungry or Gregory is tackling him...in which case you'll either hear a maniacal meow that could melt your ears or a fit of intense hissing.

Gregory, on the other hand, is only a year old and VERY active.

Don't let this cute picture fool you...Gregory is a terror!
Albeit a very cute one :)

He loves to play with anything...and EVERYTHING!!!

A list of his favorite toys are as follows;

* dust bunnies
* yarn
* thread...especially when attached to a needle, while it is in my hand!  OUCH!!!!!!
* electrical cords
* pulling coats off their hangers
* flashlight beam
...I think you get the picture!!!!!

FAUX STAINED GLASS "Vintage Diner Ad"

                                        

It all started last October. 

Remember I said that I found some FREE windows?

This is how they looked before they were cleaned...pretty gross right?

Posters-A-Plenty

Lately, I have been experimenting with creating posters.

It all started when my husband asked me to create a design for a bulletin board project he had last year...

I designed a science fiction movie theme for him.

The design included a life size painting of Morpheus from the Matrix...NOTE:  I did not paint the face or hands.

I wrote a post about this called  

The empty BULLETIN BOARD. 

I really enjoyed working on this piece, and it inspired me to begin creating posters.

It's kind of like filling in an empty bulletin board, except with paper and markers...don't you think?

Here are more images of Morpheus'  progression from drawing to paint...believe it or not, this only took a few hours to do.  

I even amazed myself at how quickly it all came together :)

The Double Sided Food Bank Sign

My husband asked me to create a medium 

sized Food Bank sign.

Of course, I said yes!

Here is the coloured template I came up with.

La Vie En "ROSE"...

You are going to need a lot of imagination when you see the before picture of this next project, 

it's pretty gross.

UPDATE...I Believe In BARTERING

 I believe in BARTERING...I think it's a fantastic way to live.

In this short post, I will show you exactly what a  

"great" 

trade looks like.

"Sweet Face" The GIANT Gingerbread Man

As I have mentioned numerous times, my husband is back at college.

He was elected VP of Services at the beginning of the school year.

The VP of Services' three main focus areas are the Student Food Bank, Tutoring and Fund Raising.

I came up with a plan to help raise funds before the holiday...I created a series of hand drawn cards celebrating the winter season.

I was all excited, the cards turned out great!
(The drawing of mug, cookies and chocolates above is an example of one of said cards.)

My Mom and Mom-in-law both LOVED all of the images I created...the problem came when I investigated the price of printing :(!!!!!!

It was a great idea, however, the cost of printing was just way too much considering this was supposed to "raise" funds.

I had to try and come up with another plan...

ZOMBIE SMASH

My husband had an assignment for his JAVA class...

to design a game.

 I say HAD because this actually took place last year, and I never got around to posting about it until now.

Sorry!

It is a game with typed in commands...similar to the first games for computer.

Seems like a simple structure when you consider the games on the market today, but it was all about coding.

 

You would not believe how many pages of coding

(a.k.a. gibberish to me no matter how much I try to understand)

When this was initially assigned, he had no idea what the subject of the game should be.

Then inspiration struck him...

ZOMBIES

Is it a pair of jeans "OR" a purse?

The one thing that all crafters and artists need is portable, convenient STORAGE...whether it be an actual  port folio, a painters case / easel or even a LARGE BAG to put multiple craft items all in one place.

My inspiration for this project came from a gift that my mom-in-law Barb,  gave to her sister Brenda.

Brenda, who is also an artist, is currently helping to inspire children to have lots of fun with crafts in a local after-school program...her new denim bag is just the right size to throw in brushed, craft paints, stickers, colouring books, stamps, and whatever else you can think of.

Well this post is about a denim purse...but not just any denim purse, one made from a pair of jeans!

What a great way to recycle :)