The kids were all home for the holidays. It was wonderful having everyone here! The boys were outside throwing the football around so I decided to get in their face and take a few shots. Of course they were being awfully silly!
Avery found a neighborhood kitty around my sister's house. It was such a sweet cat that we would have taken it home if it were a stray. Unfortunately it had a collar on and its name was SPARKLE.
I know nothing about the technique of water coloring but decided to teach myself. I bought a Cotman Watercolor Compact Set by Winsor & Newton. Decided I wanted to use these instead of Prisms Markers in my journal writing for a while. I might have to ask my neighbor who is a watercolor expert, to give me a few lessons.
Then I read about these wonderful KOI waterbrushes. I ordered them from Amazon.com this morning. They are great for traveling because you just add your water into the barrel of the pen before painting. No spilling in the car or anywhere!!! 
I am very proud of this capture! I was heading into HEB in Austin to do some grocery shopping for my sick daughter. My husband and I had just gotten in to town and this was our first stop. I normally don't take my camera grocery shopping but I didn't want to leave it in the car. Yep, we had a cell phone stolen in my vehicle and now I won't leave ANYTHING in it!!
So since I had my camera around my neck, I decided to ask this ladies permission to snap her picture. I told her not to pose because she really perked up when I asked. She was so proud! I love street photography...
Our monthly assignment was to make a minimalistic photograph. That wasn't easy for me! You don't realize how hard it is to take just ONE subject in a shot and make it look minimal. I had taken this shot while on Lake Travis in Austin. It is a buoy sitting all alone in the water. I took out the color of the water so that the buoy would be VERY noticeable.
Notice how the sun is in Yogi's eyes!
My daughter took all these photographs before starting an art project. 
She always works from her photographs when making a painting. This assignment was to draw a bicycle. Since she wanted it to be a creative endeavor, she decided to take a toy bike and show it in different ways. This was the photograph choice she decided to use and they are my hands by the way!
It looks just like the photograph but it is drawn with graphite on bristol paper. Isn't it amazing?
During class this week we discussed one of our next projects. It will be an assemblage piece which is FANTASTIC! Assemblage is an artistic process in which a three-dimensional artistic composition is made from putting together found objects. I have finally found out what to call myself after all these years. I am truly an ASSEMBLAGE ARTIST!! So stay tuned to see what I come up with.
I don't know why I love candy so much! In fact I could eat everything in this store if I had the time. But lately I have been reading about going RAW and eating only a RAW diet. Then all this would only be "EYE CANDY" to me from now on. The more I read about going RAW the more it makes sense to me. If you know anything about it I would love to hear from you.
Sherriequilt is an avid art quilter. Her mission by writing this article was to make quilt connoisseurs of all of you.
I wanted to share her words with you!
(Rule No. 1 of quilt appreciation: Don’t call them blankets.)
A good word to throw around with quilters is “stash,” as in: “I think you need that fabric (thread, gadget, $12,000 machine) for your stash. You’d better buy it.” Good stashes are bursting with “fat quarters.” These are quarter-yard pieces of fabric cut the fat way, which makes them cuter, and that’s all you need to know.
A “rotary cutter” is like a razor-edge pizza wheel that slices through six layers of fabric as if it were milk chocolate. All quilters have rotary cutters, so if the quilter in your life wants something new for the stash, you’d better just say, “Yes, you do need that. And some chocolate, too.”
So, basically, today’s quilters (and we are all around you) cut perfectly good fabric into little pieces with their rotary cutters and then sew them back together with expensive machines into colorful “quilt tops.” The top gets placed on top (get it?) of the “batting,” which is the fluffy filler. The “backing” fabric goes underneath it all, and now you have a “quilt sandwich.”
Then the layers are held together with “quilt stitches,” which can form a whole new pattern that overlays the fabric design — unless it’s “stitched in the ditch.”
Tidy and compulsive quilters “bury their tails” instead of snipping them off. (I’m talking about the thread tails; what did you think I was talking about?)
Not being one to follow the rules, I like to let my “tails dangle.” I use glittery gold thread, so dangling tails reflect light and add another design element. So do beads, shells, feathers and just about anything else that can be tacked on.
“Art quilts” have no rules and are made to hang on the wall and to be enjoyed solely as art. They are totally original and often use fabric that the quilter has first dyed — or painted, foiled, screen-printed, rusted, ripped, whatever.They have a quilt’s basic elements — layers held together by some type of stitching — but you can have an art quilt without a shred of fabric.
I like to use those shiny wrappers from chocolate kisses that come in seasonal colors. Or you could use window screening, net produce bags and balloons all “quilted” together with staples. In fact, many art quilters build up their stashes at the hardware store.
Art quilts can be quirky, humorous, pretty, political, abstract, experimental — just like any other art.
We went to Austin for Labor Day weekend to watch my oldest son Brent run in a triathlon. It was actually the first time I had ever watched one (other than an ironman on TV). I remember when I was his age I used to do the circuit of fun runs around Houston. But for someone to actually swim a mile, bike 26 miles, and then run 6 miles... OH MY GOSH!! I am so proud of him. I know he trained really hard for months. I am now inspired to get out there and start working out again. I would like to lose those 20 pounds I have put on over the last 20 years!
Here is a link to all the photos if you want to see them. http://gallery.me.com/kathyzieben#100382
When we went back to their hotel to visit I thought I would take a walk on the beach by myself. I was so tired of sitting! Let me tell you... the smell hits you first and then the warm water hits your toes. I was thinking
Cake and Shake
The Rickshaw Dumpling Truck
The Fojol Brothers
Border Grill Truck
Skillet
GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN tells me that I am now like Israel. How about you?
THE GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN Between 1 and 80, a man is like Iran, ruled by nuts. THE END.
This guy is unbelievable! He carefully carves the tips of pencils into amazing micro sculptures! Dalton Ghetti is a professional carpenter who used a razor blade, sewing needle, and a sculpting knife. He only gives his art to friends as gifts. I WANT ONE!!!
http://kronikle.kidrobot.com/pencil-tip-micro-sculptures-by-dalton-ghetti/
I am listening to his music while I am trying to organize my "NEW" studio. How cool is that for me to say? It is awesome having my own space to piddle around in, do what I want and that is just mine!!! I can't wait till it is all set up and I can start creating art!!!
I recently returned from a mini vacation in Santa Barbara. Got my batteries recharged while enjoying the marvelous weather they were having. One day Phyllis and I visited the Santa Barbara Mission. I captured this photo of a young boy leaping over his parents. They were having so much fun that I decided to snap a photo of it.
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