quick update..

Here's a picture of a painting I finished this week for my mother-in-law's sewing room she is remodeling. She bought the canvas last summer, and this has been on my to-do list for a while. Something inspired me this week to paint it. It hangs horizontal though..I now clearly have to figure out how to ROTATE the picture.

DON"T FORGET ...only 3 more days to get your name in the drawing for the March Madness painting. You can earn as many tickets as you would like!!

Create. Even when you don't feel like it, or you don't have time...

Suzy

March Madness continues...

Here's a picture of a small cross SIMILAR to the March Madness prize. I experimented with a smaller size textured cross. It's hard to tell, but I used a putty to give it some dimension. AND Congrats to Jennifer Bailey for sending MORE than the 5 people to my blog and earning her a FREE FACEBOOK FRIENDS sign. You can still earn one, or buy one. They're only $10 for the month of March.

Still not feeling that great, but better. Again, different symtoms/side effects every day. The last couple of days, I've had fever, so I used the time to stay home and relax. It was much needed and I think has helped. No luck in getting an appoinment any sooner, but I am on a waiting list.

My throat still hurts so unfortunately I think I"m going to miss another choir practice tonight.

The boys are having a pretty good week. J.T. placed 2nd in Comp.Science at the Literary Rally Saturday/ Kirk came in 1st and J.T. came in 5th at the golf meet Monday/ and Kirk has a 4.0 GPA which qualifies him for our academic banquet....Did I MENTION I have great kids?

I've added a few more names to the jar. Don't forget you can keep earning tickets through the last day of March.

create.

Suzy

I love contests...

That's one way to get people reading your blog LOL!!
okay...I'm going to try to give a point update.

Melissa S. 2
Tabitha 2
Lori H. 2
Jennifer Sones 1
Jennifer Bailey 5
Kristie 1
Kelly McCoy 1
Nicci 2
Tonya 2
Brandy 2
Angela M 1
Patti W. 1
Judy H. 2

These points are all IN ADDITION to the ones you had already earned. This is the number of times your name is going in to the jar today. Jennifer B. you have sent 4 friends my way so one more and you get the free facebook sign. Let me know your colors!!! And Judy, I show 2 for you (Erin & Tonya). Start picking your colors too.

I"ll have a picture of the cross painting that will look SIMILAR to our prize. The blog prize will be BIGGER...think sofa painting. (Unless you don't want one that big!)

have a good day. and...HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER F.

create.
suzy

Contest update..

Here's some of the pics I promised. This is the painting Imade myself (it matches the colors in my artroom) of the Facebook friends. The jar shows the entries so far. There is a picture of one of the pillowcases I painted, and a picture of one of the notecards I did for a wedding. That's the date stenciled on the card.

For your amusement, I posted the pics out of order again, and sideways, but I did get the uploading figured out.

Here's the new tickets just added to the jar as of 4:30.

Jennifer B (3)

Judy H (3)

Melissa S. (2)

Erin M (1)

Mindy (1)

Carol W (2)

Create.

Suzy

March Madness CONTEST

Time for another blog contest. Here's the rules/details:
1. You can EARN tickets to be placed in my cute bucket between now and the end of March. On the last day of March, I will draw a winner. The more tickets you earn - the more chances you have of winning. You will earn 1 ticket for each of the following things:
(1) leaving a COMMENT on my blog -that's one ticket for EVERY comment!
(2) becoming a "follower" of my blog
(3) referrals: that's one ticket for anyone who leaves a comment, or becomes a follower
and TELLS me you sent them
(4) placing an order with me. That's one ticket for each item ordered.

Beginning with the orders I currently am working on. So, that means Jennifer F. has 2 tickets already (pillowcase and sign) and Joyce T. has 1 ticket (pillowcase) and Beverlee K. has 5 tickets (pillowcases).

I will post a picture soon of the painting that will be your PRIZE. I'm in the process of painting one for myself right now. Basically think nice stretched canvas with a big cross or fleur de lis..textured, funky...with your last name and/ or a scripture. I will let the winner choose their colors, etc. so it will match their home.

Also, for my FACEBOOK friends, I have designed a sign that is too cute and am offering a FREE SIGN to any of my CURRENT "Facebook Friends" as of right now. All you have to do is get FIVE people to leave a comment on my blog and tell me you sent them. Make sure the comment is on my BLOG and they give me your name. The sign is hand painted on a canvas panel and reads " I HAVE ______ FRIENDS on facebook." Where the blank is, I have a mini CHALKBOARD for you to constantly change your # of friends. And if you just CAN'T get 5 people to look at my blog....I guess I'll sell the signs for $10 for a limited time.

You can click on COMMENTS below this post and leave a comment as an anonymous user if you do not have a free google account. SIGN YOUR NAME!

Pictures to come soon of the current things I"m working on. Again, I have a collection of pictures at www.artsonia.com. Enter zip 71038 (haynesville jr/sr high) and scroll down to where it says: "Mrs.Allen's project box". Sorry you have to go to all that trouble. I have strange computer issues.

And, please pray for me to feel better. Over the Christmas holidays my HANDS started hurting really bad. both hands equally....to the point that I went to the dr. Obviously I CANNOT have something wrong with my hands...that is NOT okay! Anyway, they found out that I have thyroid problems. Apparantly not an uncommon thing. For 2 months I have developed every symptom/side effect you can think of. They did an ultrasound 2 weeks ago in which they saw something that needed further review. DEEP BREATH. I received my appointment notification in the mail this weekend with the specialist. My appointment is in OCTOBER!!! YES, OCTOBER. Hello, people ...what IS this world coming to? to be continued....

In the meantime:
CREATE. It's medicene for the soul. Well, for me it is. I could use a little laughter too.
Suzy

Use what you have...to CREATE something better.

As usual, there have been many things in my "project box" lately. I came across a contest that I decided to enter. It's for a magazine that I love "Cloth, Paper, Scissors". They are doing a calendar contest and the theme is: "Life is like a box of"........WHAT? I just had this idea to do a storage box on wheels filled w/ art supplies. You know I had to use the word "CREATE" in there somewhere and the more I think about the saying...the more I like it. Use what you have...to create something better. I am definitely thankful for the things I have, but I sometimes fail to recognize or USE those things. Can be anything from the power of prayer to a ROOM FULL of art supplies. Maybe I'll make a list. I've been thinking about starting/keeping a journal lately. It's not something I do, but I would like to. Good place to start. So what do YOU have? And, what can YOU create? Yep, it's a challenge.

We have a St.Jude fundraiser going on at school. Here's a picture of the painting I did for the basket that we are raffling. It's the HOPE painting, of course.

And, here's a picture of some hand-painted bookmarks.

And, of course NOW I see I didn't not post the pics in order. Sorry. Guess you can figure it out. Atleast i finally have pics, right?

Okay...It's TIME FOR ANOTHER CONTEST...More details later....

create.

Suzy

Go Dawgs.

I actually figured out a way to get photos on my blog. If I upload photos to our artsonia site at school, then at home I can save them to my photos on this computer and have access to them. Life should not be that hard! Not for simple photos LOL. Maybe I just need a new computer. Hum.

So, this is the Tech Bulldog I did a couple of weeks ago. The first original was an order for someone and was done on a large stretched canvas. I could not get any copies made since it was so large, so I painted another one. If you are interested, I had a limited number of prints made and they are only $10.00 each. They would look the best in a 9x12 frame with a black or white mat.

I promised a photo of J.T. next, but I'll do that soon. Poor thing was terribly sick Thursday and Friday. His fever stayed over 103 for much longer than I liked. A shot did the trick. Kirk has fever today, but it has not spiked as high.

I've decided to have certain " projects" for the month that I work on. THIS WEEK I am making some outdoor yard signs. You know, the ones that say things like: "A Tornado Fan Lives Here". (or whatever team you are). I can pretty much customize colors and sayings... They are made of thicker wood and mounted on a metal t-post for durability. Much better than the "campaign-type" signs made of corrugated cardboard. If you would like one for your yard, please call/email me.

I am also working on pillowcases this week. If you have a special rush order for Valentines Day, let me know and I'll see if I have time.

Our Sunday School teacher was out this morning. I think she's on a well-deserved cruise with her sisters. Stephenie did a great job teaching...and that has NOTHING to do with the fact that I think anyone who teaches does good as long as it's NOT ME. LOL. seriously. she did a great job. I have a new blog reader...hey Paige. And, a friend offered an encouraging word this morning that really made my day and encouraged me to be a better teacher.

All for now. I need to go to the grocery store and we're watching a movie (Fireproof) at church tonight. until next time......

create.

suzy