I decided to try painting again but this time with watercolor. First I sketched out my image in pencil. Because the last face I drew looks so creepy I decided to draw a different face rememberinng to space my eyes better.

Then I just start painting with my watercolor paints. I tried to paint lightest to darkest but that makes things a bit more difficult for me. With acrylic paint I don't really plan what I am going to paint as much but with watercolor I really have to think about what colors I am going to use and where before I start. It really makes me think differently when painting.

After I had the painting the way I wanted it I went back over my lines with a fine point black pen. I like how this technique looks.

I spent part of yesterday painting. The other day I ran across a painting by Sunny Carvalho where she painted a background and then drew an image over it. She then painted over the area not contained within the lines of her images. Very cool. With all of my paints out I thought I would give this technique a try.

Here is my background. So far so good. Now I needed to decide what image I would draw over it. I decided to use some Suzi Blu images that I have from her La La La La class I am taking.

I didn't trace the images, just looked at them and then drew them the best I could. My face doesn't look much like Suzi's. The eyes are too close together. I also added the mushrooms. I figured the bird needed something to sit on. Here is where I veered away from what Sunny did. I started to paint over the background but then found myself painting over the background in the images too! I realized that leaving the background inside of something like a flower was cool but leaving it inside a face wasn't as cool for me. So I painted over that too.

At this point I decided my girl looked too old. So I decided to "fix" it. The last photo shows the last changes but I am not sure if it is any better, just different. It's a learning process. A fun learning process.

Ok, so neither one of these things has to do with crafting, but I promise the crafting bit is coming! So, you may remember that I was raising some pigs? Well, on Friday we took them in to be butchered. That is where I received one of the biggest compliments I have gotten in a long time. The guys running the shop helped us onload the pigs and as we were herding them into their stall for the night he says, "those are some nice looking hogs." Nice looking hogs! Yes. He said that. I was thrilled. I think it is funny that I reacted that way. So, not only do I get to enjoy his compliment but I get a chuckle too! Nice hogs. Who knew I could raise nice hogs? 

This one sees me with food and is making a bee line to me. I think she is more curious than hungry. One of the things I learned doing this is that pigs are very curious.

This is the other pig eating from the wood trough that she layed in and broke. Something else we learned, pigs will walk on anything so make sure it is sturdy enough to hold hundreds of pounds.

These pictures were taken 5 days ago. Check out the view from my back door this morning. I am thankful that I don't have to go out and feed the pigs. 

Yes, it was blue. I love it when it snows and the sun is just coming up. What a pretty picture. Again, I am thankful that I can look out my backdoor to this view. Because of the weather, school has been cancelled. For some that may mean less work is done, but for me that means more. Without having to go to basketball practice in the middle of the day and with a bit of company from my daughter, I find it much easier to get work done. Yesterday I finished recording the next show and I made a felt scarf and the start of a felt wallhanging. I'll post photos soon.

Well, it's a new year and it is time for me to get back to work. I had a great time in New York over the holiday.

Here we are with George Stephanopoulos outside of the Good Morning America studio. We just got lucky and happened to be in the right place at the right time. I can't wait to show you better photos though of the Lion Brand store window dislpay. Love it!

I was also able to spend some time at home with my family. I already have a new show started and hope to have it finished by the end of the week. I also will start sorting through my email and responding to those of you who have emailed me over my break. Thanks for your patience!