tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49268818789785328602024-03-14T03:44:57.298-07:00Donnalda Does ArtDonnalda Smolens makes fine art, fine crafts, and loves to talk about it.Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-59779953346988564372017-08-17T12:35:00.001-07:002017-08-17T12:35:10.878-07:00A Little History about the last 5 years It's been five whole years since the last post. So much has happened. I needed a project to distract me after Stephen was gone and also wanted to be more self sufficient because I would now be out here all by myself. I had a garden when we were raising goats and had fresh manure and hay leavings to make compost. The goat pens are empty now but there was still quite a bit of manure left in all three big pens. Plus Stephen was ornery about paying for spent tires when he changed tires out for flats (he always bought used tires because the canal road is so tough on them) so he had piled them on either side of the driveway, sometimes 4 or 5 tires high! I did some research and decided to create a tire garden to grow food. It was started by just stacking tires and filling them with dirt and goat manure. The physical labor was good for my body and spirit. It gave me something to do and the satisfaction of accomplishment. I started it in the Fall of 2012. <br />
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Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-59973669587719890492012-06-21T09:22:00.002-07:002012-06-21T09:33:04.202-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear friends, I have not kept up my regular posts because my husband was having health issues and so was I. He went in for a cardiac quadruple bypass surgery on May 3rd and was doing fine and the doctor was talking about sending him home after about 10 days. Then on Mother's Day, when I went to visit him he was acting funny like he had had a stroke. The next 12 hours were scarey with calls to the doctor, changes in medication and nothing helped. Evidently his liver just gave out due to the surgery, and he passed away on the 18th. I have been really sad and at a loss to do any work online because this was a shock frankly. I have many things to deal with now that are a bit overwhelming, but am determined to get back into the groove. Look for new pages from the travel journal in the Fall. In the meantime I am on Facebook and keeping my Etsy shop alive as best I can. Thank you for keeping the faith.<br />
Donnalda<br />
https://www.facebook.com/donnalda.smolens<br />
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Donnalda?ref=si_shopDonnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-63551811528427495842011-10-06T11:32:00.001-07:002011-10-06T11:54:54.454-07:00New Pages of My Travel Journal<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5SWskDTQHJyC9KIqZHZINE2hdB0u9qL7O_OKlYTgoG5KSErWWxEh_s1RiFW3yj-Bh0SR2UwZdJJQ9zz8ZlrlTp26xOf27WK8rmFmcQh_sc1kjRubilkszsGr0JFgUY35kRwjdksgMSp3/s1600/Blog+Travel+Journal+Information.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660452889187571506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5SWskDTQHJyC9KIqZHZINE2hdB0u9qL7O_OKlYTgoG5KSErWWxEh_s1RiFW3yj-Bh0SR2UwZdJJQ9zz8ZlrlTp26xOf27WK8rmFmcQh_sc1kjRubilkszsGr0JFgUY35kRwjdksgMSp3/s400/Blog+Travel+Journal+Information.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeq6nfDvoWIaDyh9jKgvcAuewkmK8LpAof-k5AzUycsTLGSxUMABHva901W-EMRBm39RqibQ12FsVldcVWQw0t3oei4NjS8uvobnRV1VOkp6vLnxutNx8zToHjkVoCj3zoDKTcWggWMprI/s1600/Blog+Travel+Journal+Two.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660452587352935762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeq6nfDvoWIaDyh9jKgvcAuewkmK8LpAof-k5AzUycsTLGSxUMABHva901W-EMRBm39RqibQ12FsVldcVWQw0t3oei4NjS8uvobnRV1VOkp6vLnxutNx8zToHjkVoCj3zoDKTcWggWMprI/s400/Blog+Travel+Journal+Two.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I hope you have created a journal and are ready to start creating the page designs. I love tabs and created them with postcards glued to the pages with about 3/8 of an inch sticking out past the page edge. After that I glued little titles to the tabs on both sides. You can also trim them with rounded edges. I used the tabs to divide my trips, going to Riverside, back home, and up to Joshua Tree. However, the year isn't over so I have plenty of blank pages to add tabs to when I need more. Consider this a work in progress, rather than something that needs to be finished in sections as you move on.</div><br /><div>On the right is an envelope glued onto the page to hold various bits of ephemera from my medical stuff (the reason for all the traveling this year, and the theme for the journal). On the left is the page with details and little stories filling out the theme. I created story cards from index cards and made pockets on the page by just glueing the sides and bottom of the piece of decorative paper that I added to the bottom. I also added a narrower pocket on top of that one and tore the top edge. I love measuring tape decorations. You can scan your own and print it to use on your pages.<br /></div><br /><div>You can also get out your markers and begin to color the page edges. I do this while sitting in front of the television in the evenings. I like to lay down a band and then work smaller elements into the band. I use squares of a darker color on top of the drawn band, and then little detail elements in the lighter squares, or little detail elements in the darker squares (use a white gel pen for this it is great). You can also use rubber stamps to decorate the borders, and then color them with the markers.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-42529577691741266302011-09-18T15:55:00.000-07:002011-09-18T16:23:09.276-07:00I'm Back (kinda)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV1KcgW_KDWzys4r7zDf_2CJjB3TugYVadQZnUbolQ0VrB9whwrIhXxU8LgB8zpTPElbuen1Xev2nYIE6M12LOIGglf3kZ4NhSrDLrWMB6RiFB2598MI8h74iVLFJG4vD2GH7npa3SEAC/s1600/Blog+Travel+Journal+One.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653843859034390082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV1KcgW_KDWzys4r7zDf_2CJjB3TugYVadQZnUbolQ0VrB9whwrIhXxU8LgB8zpTPElbuen1Xev2nYIE6M12LOIGglf3kZ4NhSrDLrWMB6RiFB2598MI8h74iVLFJG4vD2GH7npa3SEAC/s320/Blog+Travel+Journal+One.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I must say it has been a very interesting year so far. First the medical issue with the possible skin cancer that turned out to be a mole. (I am reluctant to return to the physician who cannot tell the difference and didn't do a biopsy to be sure, hmmm) And the gastric issue that evidently worked ittself out (not to make a pun, heh heh). All taking up huge amounts of time because none of my appointments through the maze that is now healthcare were anywhere close together. And since I had to travel almost 200 miles to get to this health care, I chose to stay with my sister since she lives in the same city as the health care facility. Also the fact that I am now completely dependent on my very small Social Security check each month makes planning anything that costs money relevant to that third Wednesday every month. So I have been home between June 25th and July 25 of this year since February! </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The first time I brought my Etsy boxes and Art Fire boxes and planned on doing business from my sisters computer. I knew I would be staying a while so I packed accordingly. The second time I thought I would only be gone a couple of weeks (Boy was I wrong!) and decided after realizing that this would be a lot longer than I planned, to put my Etsy shop on vacation. But it has made me realize that this was a year to travel. Even though the travel only involved a very small area on the map of Southern California. So I decided to make a journal about it. I needed to do some artwork and had very limited materials (I was only going to be gone a couple of weeks, remember). Now I have decided this would be good for the blog, to inspire experienced art journalers and to be a kind of tutorial for those who would like to try this very fun, creative and inspiring art medum.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>In the coming weeks I will be posting pages from this journal with ideas and noted on how I made them. I will also be adding some of my graphic stuff as treats for those that would like to play along with me.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>So the basics. I started by folding 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper in half to make 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 pages. I nested these into groups of 4 (if you put more that 4 they have a tendency to stick out, if you don't mind that add more to your groups) these are called "signatures". I used bond paper, the cover sheets from the bond paper packages (nice and shiny and thick), construction paper, pages from an old tool catalog (this is a treasure I will be sharing with you later), and some lovely papers from a "stack" I bought at Walmart. Then I bound them together after stacking and marking them. This is my text block. I used the standard bookbinding stitch, you can use that too or any other stitch that holds all the pages together. I had a lovely piece of canvas that someone had had a painting printed on of yellow roses. It is stained beautifully and perfect for my cover. I used the back cardboard of the construction paper pad for the inside cover that I glued the first and last pages of my text block onto.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Then just for fun and to get things started I used postcards and greeting cards that a friend of mine was getting rid of to created tabs for the journal sections. I had no idea how things were going to be organized I just figured it was a good start. I love putting tabs in my journals.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Here is a photo of the first and second page layout. Stack paper on one side and construction paper on the other. The fish were from an invitation card, I cut out the bubbles and made the pink ones look like the thing on my back. I rubber stamped the torn paper before glueing it in and writing on it. The title is from a sticker page that came with the "stack". More to come.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Stay tuned.</div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-4272559949312835082011-03-02T13:09:00.000-08:002011-03-02T13:29:34.973-08:00Book of Shadows FIRE at my Dawanda Shop<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglCDr1ZfZnQCBK172U2N4IZM-XQcMFACt7gjDCI6n_-IgSso8yCBlycjc9708uhw2k2teR3lGrszM9_p450Hr-xBdIU_JL-uU5YH06KQcV_9DBIKVbOSiSTIX8Wb2htn_MrPjybYlR7lm/s1600/Book+Shadow+FIRE+inside+tab+page.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579597169440566274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglCDr1ZfZnQCBK172U2N4IZM-XQcMFACt7gjDCI6n_-IgSso8yCBlycjc9708uhw2k2teR3lGrszM9_p450Hr-xBdIU_JL-uU5YH06KQcV_9DBIKVbOSiSTIX8Wb2htn_MrPjybYlR7lm/s320/Book+Shadow+FIRE+inside+tab+page.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9A776_PgDtrOcLmEPPRRUDXRzNj70HqF2F3xyki4DCIIHwJfnOiKwjdzYL4kpRDVL5XgJZGcjdU0aaeT_iG-25RQSATQZQKZhIqOkfdehCdRUtCDF65tzeHtkvNPTsW0ZIsPC82kXzWT/s1600/Book+of+Shadow+FIRE+orange+pages.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579597167193759010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9A776_PgDtrOcLmEPPRRUDXRzNj70HqF2F3xyki4DCIIHwJfnOiKwjdzYL4kpRDVL5XgJZGcjdU0aaeT_iG-25RQSATQZQKZhIqOkfdehCdRUtCDF65tzeHtkvNPTsW0ZIsPC82kXzWT/s320/Book+of+Shadow+FIRE+orange+pages.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XBRAm-jgBR4eqhSk6SZUNZClSBN6l4yKJSXzcyKzrNVu7j2UqxQp5n-EUN5hfMpuILHE4efgsuMPh6aIVHz6DzMTZawIFWjduHqRwMJqm79NLPaace5XCvt0-1je-JLhsbBkX9gin8CU/s1600/Book+of+Shadow+FIRE+orange+pages.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579596623177878962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XBRAm-jgBR4eqhSk6SZUNZClSBN6l4yKJSXzcyKzrNVu7j2UqxQp5n-EUN5hfMpuILHE4efgsuMPh6aIVHz6DzMTZawIFWjduHqRwMJqm79NLPaace5XCvt0-1je-JLhsbBkX9gin8CU/s320/Book+of+Shadow+FIRE+orange+pages.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftciPgkCHBj4v0Ru7zYy0zRwMKZoQuoZplRsNiKLm4vyiTfyK7ZjUMWHAqc9rj8_IxYiKUCc2KuBNorChed1CK1nvXhAstZYbGY69NXXYrJkF4caDGeTqpCvbPuTsd2FeE4T3dNxM2b_u/s1600/Book+of+Shadow+FIRE+inside+cover.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579596621342301634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftciPgkCHBj4v0Ru7zYy0zRwMKZoQuoZplRsNiKLm4vyiTfyK7ZjUMWHAqc9rj8_IxYiKUCc2KuBNorChed1CK1nvXhAstZYbGY69NXXYrJkF4caDGeTqpCvbPuTsd2FeE4T3dNxM2b_u/s320/Book+of+Shadow+FIRE+inside+cover.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYB_zDP3qgfUYismVJr5vSju0StFCM_BtVCK3IR5TPJ8HvtazqYUFNS3HjNW9eaOk_-g1hSI_fqP9IMp_kNbVDKY3LR56JvLmhf6zhgI3b4Q31R-oBExtWW0sBtZWOJDZisPC7FjvPEB0/s1600/Book+of+Shadow+FIRE+inside+back+cover.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579595830367916002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYB_zDP3qgfUYismVJr5vSju0StFCM_BtVCK3IR5TPJ8HvtazqYUFNS3HjNW9eaOk_-g1hSI_fqP9IMp_kNbVDKY3LR56JvLmhf6zhgI3b4Q31R-oBExtWW0sBtZWOJDZisPC7FjvPEB0/s320/Book+of+Shadow+FIRE+inside+back+cover.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjrLB0qET66s974Dlk0SGtBVsiWzmUNWCELu2mY_JO7vozu8sSaFjRiQT9b3i-XYKevEZLjobw2Nomgyt5iyfG_mCjtZTYpT9iG4ytmY3dHfxbCZioTqXdyaogdbw0BnZbye70WIfmJbD/s1600/Book+of+Shadow+FIRE+AD.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579595832355962466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjrLB0qET66s974Dlk0SGtBVsiWzmUNWCELu2mY_JO7vozu8sSaFjRiQT9b3i-XYKevEZLjobw2Nomgyt5iyfG_mCjtZTYpT9iG4ytmY3dHfxbCZioTqXdyaogdbw0BnZbye70WIfmJbD/s320/Book+of+Shadow+FIRE+AD.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I have had this there for a while but I couldn't post very many pictures of it. So I thought I would put them all here so you can see the book all in one place. This book has about 80 pages so I couldn't show every one but you get the general idea here. </div></div></div></div></div></div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-56608887578027623962011-02-18T15:42:00.000-08:002011-02-18T16:30:45.055-08:00A Fundraiser Sale Item to help Designedby Lucinda<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-uFqmfrsoUt3sN5OOKW88NBUIyYe8mxGX6YGjtkxj82P13kbBjrEWS4wqTCc228NBWqum3gTQ3iQZ5wpzZrIHh639yLFxMyKnl5dy_3MDSUlIciOEGuYVvEYkeM6hwZr_e2vT3ASlwPt/s1600/DesignedbyLucinda+Sale+Package.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 246px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575187656840889698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-uFqmfrsoUt3sN5OOKW88NBUIyYe8mxGX6YGjtkxj82P13kbBjrEWS4wqTCc228NBWqum3gTQ3iQZ5wpzZrIHh639yLFxMyKnl5dy_3MDSUlIciOEGuYVvEYkeM6hwZr_e2vT3ASlwPt/s320/DesignedbyLucinda+Sale+Package.jpg" /></a><br /><div>This is a sale package I created to help a fellow Etsian who has suffered a tragic loss due to an accidental home fire. All proceeds will go to her and her family to help them replace some of the tangible items they have lost. Please take a look, I have offered five journal spots, tags, labels or alphabets (basically, all of my downloadables are included) for only $10.00. This is a great deal and you will be helping someone who really needs it.<br />Here is the link to the downloadable section of my shop:<br /><br />Donnalda.etsy.downloadables<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Donnalda?section_id=5792236">http://www.etsy.com/shop/Donnalda?section_id=5792236</a></div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-12858050551478298442011-01-19T04:04:00.001-08:002011-01-19T04:14:20.108-08:00Alphabets are my new fun thing!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3GAEZrSSoWNArLtwFKSGwSClKzkDzMRcWI-le0LpJR7-7ePVhR-J2zRvZwKj2DkBmek-CPcaT27X7sxef_QHwf2fuEN_akwr6dM3wC_xak8NdNEMOk6aTwjQKPRMFIXrnoequfD3xbVx/s1600/Free+Blog+Sample+from+Romantic+Alphabet.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 90px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563869098237174786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3GAEZrSSoWNArLtwFKSGwSClKzkDzMRcWI-le0LpJR7-7ePVhR-J2zRvZwKj2DkBmek-CPcaT27X7sxef_QHwf2fuEN_akwr6dM3wC_xak8NdNEMOk6aTwjQKPRMFIXrnoequfD3xbVx/s320/Free+Blog+Sample+from+Romantic+Alphabet.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I have been having so much fun making alphabets from my artwork. I am including a free gift for everyone who comes to my blog. This is one of the extras from my Romantic Alphabet. Just click on it and click on "Save Picture As" to save it to your computer. Have fun.</div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-39684165381463160892010-11-17T08:57:00.000-08:002010-11-17T09:34:51.114-08:00An Early Christmas Gift<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9PSql2jaLo9jLeCw-Q78yNYSwTS5DByvQ79sdhwTjEvUJshfl-7I7GBPPs803IwhjaVddZpW1YU9mF0nF9g16nrQB6WDAeToq5ZeQYbEssWUsx7w6R2Za_mixrQGnCsMwYJP_ITx4l_T/s1600/Christmas+Gift+Journal+Spot.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540573218225030146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9PSql2jaLo9jLeCw-Q78yNYSwTS5DByvQ79sdhwTjEvUJshfl-7I7GBPPs803IwhjaVddZpW1YU9mF0nF9g16nrQB6WDAeToq5ZeQYbEssWUsx7w6R2Za_mixrQGnCsMwYJP_ITx4l_T/s320/Christmas+Gift+Journal+Spot.jpg" /></a><br /><div>This is a journal spot/scrapbooking embellishment that I made just for this blog and my readers. Just click the "save picture as" button after clicking on the picture ittself and save it to your pictures folder. If Windows Paint is your only photo editing tool, make sure when you open it, it is set to 1/1 page. You can do this by going into the print options on Windows Paint.</div><br /><div>If you have other photo editing programs you can resize this (make sure to copy and save the resize so you don't lose the original). So it can be a tag, a card (you can personalize it with a photo that has been copied and pasted into the frame) or a scrapbook embellishment or frame. </div><br /><div>You can also scan some background papers and paste this onto it after saving the scan. Add your own decorations with peel and stick jewels or glitter pens. Put pretty ribbon into the punched out hole in the tag that you print on cardstock, or print on paper and glue to a shipping tag and make a personalized gift tag. Anyway, Happy Holidays everyone and have fun!</div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-15655171389026360582010-06-29T12:54:00.000-07:002010-06-29T12:55:38.717-07:00Donnalda Does Art: How to make art without a studio#links#links<a href="http://donnaldasmolens.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-to-make-art-without-studio.html#links">Donnalda Does Art: How to make art without a studio#links#links</a><br /><a href="http://thegraphicsfairy.blogspot.com/">http://thegraphicsfairy.blogspot.com/</a>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-89503073612923342152010-06-29T12:33:00.000-07:002010-06-29T12:59:46.704-07:00How to make art without a studio<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Lj_37lIl6od05o_C8x_U_BjiuxWx4N5TI8ppo-4mzrx6Cfc2yunlp2dY0QBgtGy5-0tUR0kGZsLIDWjkBwjCHI2SEdFvOxoH7s5-8j8ldnsdrKetUj7s6jPPFKn1aDGBB5HrnTYbBppu/s1600/Twelve+Bubbles+Card.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488285372964500738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Lj_37lIl6od05o_C8x_U_BjiuxWx4N5TI8ppo-4mzrx6Cfc2yunlp2dY0QBgtGy5-0tUR0kGZsLIDWjkBwjCHI2SEdFvOxoH7s5-8j8ldnsdrKetUj7s6jPPFKn1aDGBB5HrnTYbBppu/s320/Twelve+Bubbles+Card.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBhtZZR_EwjPoHz6vm2Tv9bi5AmrhYzrc_-ujJHZMALGqlrPt4dTpFX9MsX3sXwmkhSGSlvrQEObsq-MTS8iXVqLcWLMy3gPZrGbjNtDseVP2tXzv27EsIf5atJriCEUss4_we8kR3K0a/s1600/Gypsy+Roses+Card.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488284242894634562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBhtZZR_EwjPoHz6vm2Tv9bi5AmrhYzrc_-ujJHZMALGqlrPt4dTpFX9MsX3sXwmkhSGSlvrQEObsq-MTS8iXVqLcWLMy3gPZrGbjNtDseVP2tXzv27EsIf5atJriCEUss4_we8kR3K0a/s320/Gypsy+Roses+Card.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>My Laptop! I have been playing with Windows Paint again. It is my favorite "toy". I still don't have a workspace (so much to do to make it workable, sigh) so I have been getting my art jones done on my laptop. Here are some of my projects.</div><div>The above post includes a link to the Graphics Fairy's Blog where I got some of the vintage images.<br /></div><div></div></div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-71220494466864600542010-05-21T10:03:00.000-07:002010-05-21T10:35:42.882-07:00Some pics from early this morning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJxyebCdxGuFpp6hAHWCrqYTS0FSKcmk61YzzuyaMRw12VUzoVnixNARBilIPC6ERPXEMynr8HD-xXsmKx-ZlHkxZ4NOPe2p18VlpJj-Nze2EQGd1uEq-JyO0VVZ2Vzf-UTDThfkmDXaA/s1600/Rose+Setee+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 246px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473776150455996274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJxyebCdxGuFpp6hAHWCrqYTS0FSKcmk61YzzuyaMRw12VUzoVnixNARBilIPC6ERPXEMynr8HD-xXsmKx-ZlHkxZ4NOPe2p18VlpJj-Nze2EQGd1uEq-JyO0VVZ2Vzf-UTDThfkmDXaA/s320/Rose+Setee+1.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXtmAMKDvROLCLby-P5xtTbPSdVX8UBkRZsX0GVlV99qRqYh80tTF0C_seLqTXnrAysEE06dATcOLtRwrz7qdWbhOZeqVcX1gLW9W8ngIMGw6O6bVMzC9RvLFkH3RaZPSMiBsAFEW7j-h/s1600/Pomegranite+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 246px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473775615041450226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXtmAMKDvROLCLby-P5xtTbPSdVX8UBkRZsX0GVlV99qRqYh80tTF0C_seLqTXnrAysEE06dATcOLtRwrz7qdWbhOZeqVcX1gLW9W8ngIMGw6O6bVMzC9RvLFkH3RaZPSMiBsAFEW7j-h/s320/Pomegranite+1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRQSryFhHH5hE9WDTxeCYLBv2u1IlY6vq6XjwywThzgfxCtPDeG1taB1_8DHZGE3qAvuJZtXhOUKYwLcx7xxsLCvNTB9qpBHXWw7UiYYsg5dk_hFWKiu0OIhyphenhyphent9wkwOr4paoYGxs7-T-d/s1600/Outdoor+Laundry.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 246px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473773078882551026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRQSryFhHH5hE9WDTxeCYLBv2u1IlY6vq6XjwywThzgfxCtPDeG1taB1_8DHZGE3qAvuJZtXhOUKYwLcx7xxsLCvNTB9qpBHXWw7UiYYsg5dk_hFWKiu0OIhyphenhyphent9wkwOr4paoYGxs7-T-d/s320/Outdoor+Laundry.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99q9-R8y-utZfVdi-DzGvdPmCaOrHmifOZ81oZOULaViOJrQmE6OG7GDZz30imAiMuERgc8ECFg4FJxVm9KDQwomH3vfuqXq4uqx9RA8slDbi48qlP90xmyYXaMZ9c3Bo6kicgXRNg6ed/s1600/Garden+in+a+box.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473770958388705106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99q9-R8y-utZfVdi-DzGvdPmCaOrHmifOZ81oZOULaViOJrQmE6OG7GDZz30imAiMuERgc8ECFg4FJxVm9KDQwomH3vfuqXq4uqx9RA8slDbi48qlP90xmyYXaMZ9c3Bo6kicgXRNg6ed/s320/Garden+in+a+box.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br />The rose settee is made from 2x4's. I have a lot of paint that I get at the "return" bin from various sources. Our house is going to be very colorful.</div><div>The pomegranite tree has finally set one blossom, we will be eating this fruit around Christmas time.</div><div>That is my garden in a box, made from 12 railroad ties. I made a top for it to protect the plants from varmints at night. During the day I leave the top up so things can get pollinated.</div><div>The laundry/shower set up next to one of the date palms (so handy for hanging things). The big bucket is for the washing, the two smaller white ones are for the first rinse and the fabric softener rinse. The piece of lattice is for draining large heavy items that I can't wring out. I also hang my husbands jeans on the palm stubs to drain them between buckets.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-77871730300496316462010-05-12T08:53:00.000-07:002010-05-12T09:02:08.350-07:00Hello Cloth Paper and Scissors Artists and Fans<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_ENru_cuE9Cx5_kdcVW0zdStDCYDLs401pVFWUJtMeNQHgLK1P48SMZBbkXFw8mGSvnAF9JXtPsl6Belk6jtolvFfzqWus6B0z5t9S2KY0w3Mt1YwdIAe3EjBFoqmkTCNjpLmdu20l2v/s1600/Angel+Head+JS+With+Lines.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 306px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470414425108028210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_ENru_cuE9Cx5_kdcVW0zdStDCYDLs401pVFWUJtMeNQHgLK1P48SMZBbkXFw8mGSvnAF9JXtPsl6Belk6jtolvFfzqWus6B0z5t9S2KY0w3Mt1YwdIAe3EjBFoqmkTCNjpLmdu20l2v/s320/Angel+Head+JS+With+Lines.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Hello. I just joined the Cloth Paper and Scissors website. CPS is a magazine devoted to the art and artists working in mixed media. I used to watch their program on KVCR when I lived in the city and developed a bit of a girly crush on Pokey because she was so open to new things and very creative herself. I got a subscription to the magazine from my best friend Judy for my birthday a couple of years ago and found heaven. I also have been a subscriber and contributor to Somerset Studio, and this magazine just blew me away. Everything is so original and inspiring. The website is super because it is a huge community of artists, encouraged to participate in the website ittself. There are galleries, forums and free demos, and even a shop. Just follow the link below.</div><br /><div>In celebration of this I am offering a free journal spot right here on my blog. Just click on the pic and expand it, then "save picture as" to put it into your files. Enjoy.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://clothpaperscissors.com/">http://clothpaperscissors.com/</a></div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-30620885913086066712010-03-11T11:13:00.000-08:002010-03-11T11:33:35.346-08:00New Facebook Fan Page and a GiftI have just launched my Fan Page and have opened up two discussions. I am also offering a gift on the Fan Page. The Fan Page is dedicated (at this point anyway) to Journal Spots. I love making them and using them. I have started a new project called Pirate Map Journal Spots and am offering one of them on the page. Just follow the instructions to capture it and then you can print it, and use it. One of the discussions is for the work you did with it. I will start a Gallery Album as soon as I get submissions. I just love all things "pirate" and last week when it was raining and I couldn't go outside, I decided to try a project from a magazine. It involved National Geographic magazine pages and a Citrus Solvent. I loved the look of some of the results and decided to make them look like old maps. I am going to add some of my drawn corners to them as well. But in the mean time, go to the link and get your map and play with it a little and let me know about it. I will post your work in the Gallery album.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1350140319#!/pages/Donnalda-Smolens-Fine-Art-Fan-Page/340254153261?ref=mf">http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1350140319#!/pages/Donnalda-Smolens-Fine-Art-Fan-Page/340254153261?ref=mf</a>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-81840956051923942010-02-20T11:35:00.000-08:002010-02-20T11:43:13.800-08:00Thank You DebsCrochet for the Sunshine AwardWhat a cool thing to find on my blog today. I love it. Especially considering that there is some real sunshine today when it was predicted to rain. Did this award have something to do with it? OOOOO Spooky. Thanks again DebsCrochet (she has an etsy shop too, same name)<br />Here's a link to her blog too.<br /><br /><a href="http://debs1967.blogspot.com/">http://debs1967.blogspot.com/</a>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-25338815186329169322009-12-29T11:50:00.000-08:002009-12-29T13:12:12.764-08:00Some End of 2009 Musings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvbXzvHvng7aIyFfl22ZpUPuoL4IRLgNghB7VV8Kw5XJa4iKZYWC-Npu1SSAFVH2f-b9aKcSDGDMPbVdFQZNhFYhXkgrOWki2CoAS45Q7r924qZLMqvYju3GaqMzhAwuyV1bU2iO5DM_X/s1600-h/100_2270.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420768891233117794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvbXzvHvng7aIyFfl22ZpUPuoL4IRLgNghB7VV8Kw5XJa4iKZYWC-Npu1SSAFVH2f-b9aKcSDGDMPbVdFQZNhFYhXkgrOWki2CoAS45Q7r924qZLMqvYju3GaqMzhAwuyV1bU2iO5DM_X/s320/100_2270.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5du_pvjlbdYJut2eANXFY0e17qJj3GK9SfYoRgiShJxqJZfnM-PjfF269DrcEgui3f-JjCYOoL5lEn3wa-JdAc7OtlnVlwY7lrn0GOdLZuomN-5jjkiYuK5FKXdNcxDykCLvcThWBAvS-/s1600-h/100_2366.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420768019870620978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5du_pvjlbdYJut2eANXFY0e17qJj3GK9SfYoRgiShJxqJZfnM-PjfF269DrcEgui3f-JjCYOoL5lEn3wa-JdAc7OtlnVlwY7lrn0GOdLZuomN-5jjkiYuK5FKXdNcxDykCLvcThWBAvS-/s320/100_2366.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Well, this last year was certainly exciting for me. I had the experience of being evicted, had to completely uproot in 30 days (no mean feat in ittself), moved back to my desert house, lost my cherished cat (Kitty Boy Floyd, I still miss you so much it hurts) and went on Social Security as my only income.</div><br /><br /><div>Now I am at a very peaceful space. I have been knitting socks, gardening, and still cleaning a house that was pretty much neglected for 10 years. I have learned how to reframe a window, set in glass, make some outdoor furniture, and learn to not hustle for that big nut I used to have to crack every month. This last one actually took quite a while. It was like I was on vacation and would get a sudden anxiety attack about not having gallery showings lined up, or part time jobs to follow through on. I would find myself getting scared and then realize there was nothing to be afraid of, I could just drop my shoulders, and enjoy the here and now.</div><br /><br /><div>Sure I have limits now, but it is okay. My limits are not that bad. Here are some photos of the beauty and peace I am now a part of.</div></div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-84196876565499270062009-10-29T12:02:00.000-07:002009-10-29T12:24:38.325-07:00Some Art Stuff Journal Spots Tutorial<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-0M1qpc05utnAU2bKSDwNsgrqaG2RkHc8a6xtrCdpYEcT6n6kowZJeP3xfAcrQk1y7aSLSMvbewhYZUhWn0U9sVNYEgsMjxvJG9jZ7ZPHF9kUdNvPiWyjJ94DC03tlD7sQ6WPQNCf1GQ/s1600-h/Sun+Journal+Spots+Sepia.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 246px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398104367201710546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-0M1qpc05utnAU2bKSDwNsgrqaG2RkHc8a6xtrCdpYEcT6n6kowZJeP3xfAcrQk1y7aSLSMvbewhYZUhWn0U9sVNYEgsMjxvJG9jZ7ZPHF9kUdNvPiWyjJ94DC03tlD7sQ6WPQNCf1GQ/s320/Sun+Journal+Spots+Sepia.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I love making art on my computer. Journal spots are a great way to learn about what you can do with Windows Paint. This is a program that comes with every computer with Windows installed. It is usually under accesories. The flood fill tool is the little bucket. Just click on it and choose a color for the left mouse click and one for the right mouse click. The right mouse click will be the color of the negative spaces when you cut things out. </div><br /><div>After the flood fill, you can free form cut or use the square to cut out things. Just drag them over to the right like a trash pile. Then you can begin to draw with the pencil or paint brush. There are various widths. Experiment off to the side, you can select and copy to put them into your square. I like to make one cool design and then copy and paste it many times. To get variations, just rotate it from the menu at the top. It is under image. You can flip it or rotate it to make it slightly different. If you think it is too big, just find the little blue dot at the corner and when you see the double pointed arrow on your mouse pointer, drag it to the size you want.</div><br /><div>Now the fun begins, select the parts you want with the square select tool and click copy. Then click NEW from the file menu, don't save the one you were working on (like throwing out the trash) and click paste on the new file. There is your square all trimmed and neat. You can continue this process until you have the design you want.</div><br /><div>To resize or make this ready for printing just select your saved image and use any photo editing tool, or even the printing wizard from windows. You can use the wallet sized selection to make this into a full page of journal spots.</div><div>I made the borders on this one from the above technique. You may use it for free. Enjoy.</div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-73530744346510742302009-10-26T12:07:00.000-07:002009-10-26T12:28:25.198-07:00Photos of Lotus and her kittens<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYW14UC34ygO78lAkoswqlYv4PnYSXE54_FAIz1w-mfgicsQHtNGnqf6XlxF_kEAOi2VUCgUybtdJX51I-RHDZcEME3TfksEMJJRSkjxSha3sePb3W9dUQoeOmGOBnsZwfoYtFhl-00wD/s1600-h/White+kitty+one.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396992680128931106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYW14UC34ygO78lAkoswqlYv4PnYSXE54_FAIz1w-mfgicsQHtNGnqf6XlxF_kEAOi2VUCgUybtdJX51I-RHDZcEME3TfksEMJJRSkjxSha3sePb3W9dUQoeOmGOBnsZwfoYtFhl-00wD/s320/White+kitty+one.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSwikcUT1mmIVRsE9npyvHMmJogxU46d1GsjZFlJ-ogG4MwLW2maq94P0xZ7fqhcj_XKnn-TGMMC1vDAtNBzdtUVCTiWhAEb4tdFFs6xCytE0TjlLdnej3IWnyd3aXdPBUWI9eGIlY0oF/s1600-h/Grey+kitty+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396991250212069682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSwikcUT1mmIVRsE9npyvHMmJogxU46d1GsjZFlJ-ogG4MwLW2maq94P0xZ7fqhcj_XKnn-TGMMC1vDAtNBzdtUVCTiWhAEb4tdFFs6xCytE0TjlLdnej3IWnyd3aXdPBUWI9eGIlY0oF/s320/Grey+kitty+2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56JOvcg8UMeJSABRsRKAGYbhecYSwDaJ2dbB55UecOQAwM0l9U3cjTNImWZh3c041nNzSohHB1JVqHOq0yx20-YRgnmtFbOjDUfG5SqaWZtXy0y5WJRMTFA1E8ohf0mEVs8u9QPVZpg1d/s1600-h/Orange+kitty+one.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 273px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396990529788669650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56JOvcg8UMeJSABRsRKAGYbhecYSwDaJ2dbB55UecOQAwM0l9U3cjTNImWZh3c041nNzSohHB1JVqHOq0yx20-YRgnmtFbOjDUfG5SqaWZtXy0y5WJRMTFA1E8ohf0mEVs8u9QPVZpg1d/s200/Orange+kitty+one.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMGm7SvIg7DDcevHbUa5TwPKpKakXMnuKT0c5UMfAEwuE1ZT_BErDe3okdmwa28TRXkafNL8jJvWnZ6gnA4sJN68g9tyN1Y8Ga90_ANSCxTze7HT61CnhJuKGjDotZKZk5SCiDjjLNXVR/s1600-h/three+kittens+one.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 339px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396989324211211010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMGm7SvIg7DDcevHbUa5TwPKpKakXMnuKT0c5UMfAEwuE1ZT_BErDe3okdmwa28TRXkafNL8jJvWnZ6gnA4sJN68g9tyN1Y8Ga90_ANSCxTze7HT61CnhJuKGjDotZKZk5SCiDjjLNXVR/s200/three+kittens+one.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMvIQwHLEhfTxg5_Y-M4H0gJy8LLp_PZn4-M01WR0JKTrbG8ihCeZf9TbjaKVylkCHrXvuSrku2dROvW48razioGwg6jzWcSJdsbzvr-Q7QVw6lYw3QSnfCj7HJGbc9PRAftZM7PitEQz/s1600-h/Lotus+and+kittens+one.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396988694156134338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMvIQwHLEhfTxg5_Y-M4H0gJy8LLp_PZn4-M01WR0JKTrbG8ihCeZf9TbjaKVylkCHrXvuSrku2dROvW48razioGwg6jzWcSJdsbzvr-Q7QVw6lYw3QSnfCj7HJGbc9PRAftZM7PitEQz/s200/Lotus+and+kittens+one.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Stephen has a much better camera than mine and finally got batteries for it. Here are some of the photos he took in the last couple of days. It is hard to get them when they are being still because they are so darn frisky. So most of the photos are sleeping or eating.</div></div></div></div></div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-32014633908031262342009-10-22T10:52:00.000-07:002009-10-22T10:59:47.430-07:00A Photo of the Afgan I made for my Mom<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijThM5mWaksM3tU0-0DvLRkvz5nTi0qb3x1xnnr1gbHll5R6NL0y1AFpoiNhHJBgZ_eHqXkXek1ezc_L6MbjCURejTJ4jm8UKwESxNy_-C2ZGTt7BPQPO8oDQMEX0v6bOFYbRckaiMuQmB/s1600-h/Mom's+Afgan.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 143px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395485448694436338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijThM5mWaksM3tU0-0DvLRkvz5nTi0qb3x1xnnr1gbHll5R6NL0y1AFpoiNhHJBgZ_eHqXkXek1ezc_L6MbjCURejTJ4jm8UKwESxNy_-C2ZGTt7BPQPO8oDQMEX0v6bOFYbRckaiMuQmB/s200/Mom's+Afgan.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I learned to knit in patterns this summer. Armed with a copy of Adventures in Knitting by Barbara Aytes, and a treasure trove of yarn I keep unearthing from the old craft room, I began to knit. I learned what double throws and triple throws were, how to make yarn over patterns and how to knit onto another square. I made borders and finally crocheted a simple shell around the edge. I even made a little embroidered label to go in the back corner.</div><br /><div>I just got a lovely thank you note from her telling me how it comforted her in her recent bout with a cold. I told her to consider it a hug every time she uses it.</div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-5570968069455088702009-10-02T12:29:00.000-07:002009-10-02T12:42:19.446-07:00Fall is here YayThe days are only in the 90's and the nights require a blanket on the bed. I have actually used the oven. I made a pie crust with olive oil and filled it with hummus and tuna and Trader Joe's Garlic Mashed Potatoes. It was yummy. Had some the next day for lunch. <br /> I am actually looking through my seeds and getting a plan together for the garden. Our best growing season is between September and April. Since the nights are falling into the 50's the seeds will sprout. I can also start to make sprouts for food. Summer time here is low on fresh food, like Winter is in most other parts of the country. The compost pile is cooking away and I have been deciding what to start in pots.<br /> I sent my Mom the knitted throw that I made. It was my first try at actually knitting something with patterns. I used the Barbara Aytes book "Adventures in Knitting" for the patterns. Each square was a different pattern. It was fun learning something new. I made a hand embroidered label for it also. I am now working on a blanket for my great granddaughter Bella. It is going to be a more substantial version of a shetland shawl. I did the center and am starting the borders. I bought my stitch holders for this project from Sevenyaks on Etsy. Great seller.<br /> We have kittens! Lotus had three, white, orange, and grey tiger striped. They are so tiny and perfect. I love to watch them play. Precious little treasures.<br /> As soon as I find my cord for the camera I will post pics to go with these posts. So far the boxes I have unpacked have not yielded any fruit. I will keep looking. It was a great summer and I look forward to the new adventures and surprises that Fall will bring.Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-64021741024619116822009-08-25T15:09:00.000-07:002009-08-25T15:18:03.213-07:00Mesquite Bean Extract and what you can do with itMesquite trees grow all over the southwest. They make long light yellow bean pods. It is the pod that is used for food.<br /> I throw as many beans (whole) as I can into a pretty vodka, rum or whiskey bottle. Then I fill it with vodka. Let it sit without touching it for at least 3 months. It turns golden. I just leave the beans in it as I use it. This is an extract like vanilla and can be used all the same ways. I love to make cool drinks in the summer by using this with fruit juice (like apple or pear) and ice and make it a smoothie with ice in your blender. Superb.<br /> You can also use it in baking. Or behind your ears to smell delightful. I am going to use it as a base for fruit brandy this winter, where you just add canned fruit and sugar every couple of months.<br /> During the winter, I boil the beans on the wood stove to make the whole house smell like apples and cinnamon. Then I use the broth in bread and cakes.<br /> you can also grind the beans and sift out the seeds and use this with flour in baking (like corn meal)<br /> Finally got the printer coordinated with the solar stuff so I can print things. The camera is next, I will add photos to some earlier posts.Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-64020603836405951132009-08-22T14:37:00.000-07:002009-08-22T14:56:37.074-07:00Summer Days CountdownI have been keeping a daily journal since I moved out here. Each day also has a countdown to the last day of summer. It isn't that accurate because here in the lower part of California, we have summer like weather sometimes until October. But it is encouraging the see the days dwindle down and know that eventually, I will be able to bake something, use our refridgerator again, and be able to go outside without having to run back and sit in front of the fan after only about 10 minutes. <br /> I have learned to harvest and cook Palo Verde Beans! They are easy to harvest with a rake and a sheet. Just lay the sheet under the tree and rake the branches. They fall to the ground quickly because they are dry (a nice golden beige color) and many fall off of the sheet for the other desert denizens to enjoy. Hulling them is tedious, and I would have used a flail and basket type method, but some of the hulls had little holes in them and also little holes in the beans! Don't want all that work to be eaten up in the storage jar. They should be soaked before cooking, because those little suckers take up a lot of water. Even after soaking the ratio is about 5/1 for water and beans in the pan. They cook in about 2 hours, and are the consistency of corn kernels. But after that, you can add them to rice pilaf, or salads, or stews. I have used them as a garnish as well. They are black and add a nice contrast to the food colorwise.<br /> Palo Verde Bean Rice Pilaf<br />1 Cup Cooked palo Verde Beans<br />1/2 Cup Chopped Onions<br />2 T. Olive Oil<br />1/2 Cup Canned Corn<br />1/2 Cup Chopped Tomato<br />Saute all in Cast Iron or heavy sauce pan until onions are transparent.<br />Add:<br />1 Cup Uncooked Rice<br />1 T. Chicken Boullion<br />Garlic Powder to taste<br />Saute with other ingredients for about 2 minutes.<br />Add:<br />2 Cups of liquid (water from the corn, stock or just plain water)<br />Cook on high until bubbly. then lower heat and place good fitting lid on pan.<br />Check after about 15-20 minutes, if rice is just starting to stick to the bottom and all the liquid is gone, turn off heat and replace lid. Wait 5-10 minutes before serving. this gives the food enough time to even out liquid wise and the rice will no longer be stuck to the pan. I think it is caused by condensation from the lid.<br />Garnish with: Chopped greens from the garden or chopped green onions.<br />Serve with tortilla chips or as a side dish.<br /> We have been eating variations of this dish almost every night so far this summer. It is quick and easy and lends ittself to any extra items you might want to add.Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-67087516343851184852009-08-02T22:43:00.000-07:002009-08-02T23:00:34.672-07:00Update from the Hot DesertWe are enjoying a little break of under 115 degree weather. It seems so balmy. Our outdoor bathtub has been our little dipping pool. But we realized we needed to shade it when I couldn't even put my feet in the water because it was too hot! So Stephen got a really cheap "gazebo" (I am using the quotes on purpose) to shade our tub. We assembled it that night. Next day was great, cool water all day. Then that night there was a windstorm just before sundown. Even though we pegged it into the ground, it flew up and crashed into the mesquite tree. The cover was surprisingly strong, only a few little holes, but the metal frame bent in a couple of places. After the storm, we put it back with some improvements, using the rope provided in the package, we tied the legs down as well as pegging them and included a couple of tires for balast. Next day, whoops. Now more metal is bent. The connecting roof tarp and the side stitching is coming apart. So we wedged one leg under the tub (cast iron with enameling, not going anywhere) and attached a coffee can filled with concrete to it. The north leg we left down (more shade in the late afternoon and weighed down with tires. The east and south legs are tied to tires and wedged with heavy branches. But because of the bent metal the top connectors keep coming apart, but that is easy to do during the many times we go out there just to pour cool water over ourselves so we can return to the little 12 volt fans in the bedroom and be our own personal water coolers. Today (2 weeks after purchase and original setup) we found all our tie downs broken and the whole "gazebo" upturned and heading for the mesquite tree again. I thought the dogs might have gotten tangled in it somehow, but when we went to retie the ropes they came apart in our hands! So evidently this fabulous outdoor convenience is only supposed to last a couple of weeks because the tie down ropes have begun to self destruct. I wish Stephen had remembered to put batteries in his camera, mine is still packed somewhere in a box. Also one day I was just sitting on the tub enjoying the breeze and shade and my feet in cool water and I spotted a tiny lizard on a branch near the ground. I was in the middle of telling it how cute it was when a gopher snake came out of the bushes and grabbed it and disappeared into the weeds. Well, there went a couple of mis assumptions, 1 snakes eat lizards! 2 snakes hunt in the hottest part of the day if there is shade! More to come.Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-60993704411640937592009-07-01T19:43:00.000-07:002009-07-01T19:57:53.491-07:00I have Moved!!!!Well, it was really amazing trying to get 9 years of living and creating in boxes and out to the desert house in 30 days. We went a few days over and still have some things in the shed, but I am now going through all of those boxes (that I didn't label, I know, I know). It is kind of like opening presents. What's in this box? Alright the kitchen dishes, and pots and pans. I really missed my glass measuring cups for a while. Now I am hoping to find my video games box, I think I packed it with clothing, but I can't remember. It was all so harrowing!<br /> For the first week, I slept a lot just catching up. Now I have a routine that involves domestic duties and unpacking or cleaning. The ex just kind of let things go, so Wow, there is another job. But it's okay because there is no deadline. It is getting into the 110's degree wise so that pretty much slows down any laborious jobs, so I am just doing what I can and trying to stay cool. I love sitting in the old clawfoot tub at sundown taking my bath and looking at clouds. The summer sunsets here are spectacular with pinks and golds. I will post pics as soon as I can.<br />Happy Summer everyone.Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-11481118500640025292009-05-25T15:19:00.000-07:002009-05-25T15:28:17.553-07:00My Watercolor Technique-A Free Lesson<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoplEk-LFfaVQYUUGo-MbUnm88tyI8Mg0_n2v6nM9m0QAW85QuMXjJegN0bp1J6DSl-dRK1Ef07Gk7yGModBdmzTDTpSRerObjXt7U89PwGiAmD6ht3T2kUDJQPzvBtwzjCyE4vpNVbmU/s1600-h/The+Gate+In+Gold.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339891695210956306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 128px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoplEk-LFfaVQYUUGo-MbUnm88tyI8Mg0_n2v6nM9m0QAW85QuMXjJegN0bp1J6DSl-dRK1Ef07Gk7yGModBdmzTDTpSRerObjXt7U89PwGiAmD6ht3T2kUDJQPzvBtwzjCyE4vpNVbmU/s200/The+Gate+In+Gold.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I have just posted this on Flickr.com, it is one of my favorites. It is a demo painting that I do, I have always had fun with it. First, you place the torn masking tape down for the fence, then wet the paper with a big soft brush. Then mix a wash in the lightest color you will use in a small dose cup and pour it over the paper, leaving some white where the sunlight will be coming from. After the shine disappears sprinkle with salt and let dry. After it is dry brush off the salt and rewet the paper gently, using only one stroke at a time so you don't disturb the underpainting. Mix another wash in a dose cup of the second lightest color. Repeat these steps until you have done the middle darkest color.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">After it is dry and you have brushed off the salt, carefully peel off the masking tape and paint shadows and details using the colors you used in the washes and greys made from contrasting versions of those colors. I used yellows so my greys and darks were made from mixing violet and yellow together. You will love the opportunities to play with this technique, do a lot of these. Enjoy. </span></div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926881878978532860.post-57505752117999986302009-05-24T23:13:00.000-07:002009-05-24T23:25:25.123-07:00Moving Blues<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8XM0nixfuyeXYEU3F_Ix7Iv6NyzDuYk4fyBMfqe1kr52ImaYRFEKq0-51ARP8OVBY4ADlqDBvqZJBXbGdEn6vvfBzTN9WUNfiuHQfsP6lopXh7adXyBVJkteAP9RWg1ZqGXfaopp5SKX/s1600-h/100_1650.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339643758769489842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8XM0nixfuyeXYEU3F_Ix7Iv6NyzDuYk4fyBMfqe1kr52ImaYRFEKq0-51ARP8OVBY4ADlqDBvqZJBXbGdEn6vvfBzTN9WUNfiuHQfsP6lopXh7adXyBVJkteAP9RWg1ZqGXfaopp5SKX/s200/100_1650.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGxsOvbNG3BP7vGoIvsE6rwVoVFvaY12fKh751YS2ORvWdqUqrFRr7tTKMXAZVLYu7GDSAH_0aksi494Y8ndBduCMzt8pn_BMMBPFCpP-PGPro3MxrHfw_VKo7jjl0umfzR3SJaVVi8jb/s1600-h/100_1462.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339642938394146450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGxsOvbNG3BP7vGoIvsE6rwVoVFvaY12fKh751YS2ORvWdqUqrFRr7tTKMXAZVLYu7GDSAH_0aksi494Y8ndBduCMzt8pn_BMMBPFCpP-PGPro3MxrHfw_VKo7jjl0umfzR3SJaVVi8jb/s200/100_1462.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I am so stressed I can't sleep until I drop off. I have been just packing, cleaning and sleeping for the last few days. I don't know what time of day it is half the time, I just want to be out of here. I am leaving most of the electrical appliances because I won't be able to use them at the desert house with the limited solar energy. I am freaking out that I won't have enough boxes, or time to do this cleanly. The 31st is less than a week away. Yikes.</div></div>Donnalda Does Arthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17532221238757046963noreply@blogger.com2