and they call it a challenge

Moses Botkin Challenge for January...there is a real good reason for the word 'challenge'. And that is because some months we need a good swift kick in the butt to meet that challenge. This merry band of artists gets stronger every month when we click that send button for the joint blog announcement.

This was my month to struggle. But, I persisted, finishing my theme painting and knowing that whether it is good or bad, I completed another challenge. Especially because I was the one who, off the top of my head without thinking, chose the subject: An apple, spoon and something glass.

'Baked Apple Reflection'

©2010 Vicki Ross

8x10" oil on panel 

Wooden Spoon and Friends

©2010 Suzanne Berry
10x10" oil on canvas

Apple, Spoon and Glass

8x10 oil on paper

©2010 Robin Cheers

   

"Aunt Bea's Morning Glories"

©2010 Jeannie Illenie

5x5 inches / oil on panel

"Kitchen Lovelies"

©2010 Diana Moses Botkin

7"x5" Oil on hardboard

"Spoon Bridge" 

©2010 Michael Naples

6"x6" Oil on Board

My Roots...and I don't mean hair!

While developing MyArtTutor, I have 'opened the door' to creative thinking. When we had our marketing company my title was 'Creative Actualizer'. That meant that I could be an idea person and have someone else develop the ideas. Kind of appropo for someone who exhibits ADD from time to time :)

Good friend Susan and I were talking about this (her birthday is Dec 6 with mine) when a lightbulb exploded in my head...she and I and another designer touched, designed, wrote around 100 knit, crochet, other stitchery leaflets in the 80s and 90s. DUH. We own copyrights on most...so...MyStitcheryTutor may not be far behind. Then I remembered that my sister-in-law, Lisa had re-gifted me with a sack of things she thought I'd like back. Turns out it was the original baby blankets from one of the books! Talk about voodoo...

Bet you are wondering where this is going, aren't ya? WELL, the other night I realized that while we all google ourselves, how many of us google the 'other names' we might have used? Well, I did it, and found many of these books online...some I didn't even remember! Some I probably shouldn't (remember).

Here is the first I designed all on my own. Happens to be the first ever book that utilized plastic canvas for needlework in 1979-80. I think it sold over 250,000 copies. Isn't this a hoot? BUT, not bad for a weekend flurry of activity...

This second book is what I really enjoyed designing...worlds apart!

And here is a slideshow for another laugh or 2!