Merry Christmas to all...

Christmas is the day that holds all time together.
                     -Alexander Smith


To my family, friends and fellow bloggers...

May all that's happy, all that's festive, all that's beautiful, warm and bright be yours this Christmas.

May you end the year with a smile and start with hope for another year.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
   
                                     Beth




Thank you Erica Bercich of Porcelain Photography for the beautiful photograph.

One Year Anniversary

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change opportunities into blessings."
                                      - William Arthur Ward

Today marks the one year anniversary of starting this blog.

At that time I expressed gratitude for all the blessings in my life. For all my loved ones and their continued good health, happiness and well being.

Now, a year later, I feel even more blessed. This past year I have developed friendships with many artists and creative people from around the world. They have shared their love of art, their personal creations and have provided support and daily encouragement. My life has been made fuller because of them and I want to say thank you.

I especially want to thank "my boys": Michael, Emmett, Aiden and Mason. They are the reason why I started this blog and the reason why I strive to be the best person I can be...for them. They are my future...

Every day I thank God for them being a part of my life. I love them with all my heart.

Thank you boys, for all your love and support.

DIY Watercolor Sketchbook (Accordion/Flip Style)

"There seems to be some perverse human characteristic that likes to make easy things difficult".
                                                                        - Warren Buffett -


Have you ever wanted to make a hardbound watercolor sketchbook but thought it would be too difficult or take too much time?

In my YouTube video I show you how to make a watercolor sketchbook from a single sheet of Strathmore 400 Series, 140 lb. watercolor paper. There is no sewing, stapling or taping necessary because the sketchbook is made from a single sheet of 22" x 30" watercolor paper. It's folded, cut and re-folded in what I call an "Accordion/Flip" style and you can complete the text block in less than 5 minutes. I added a cloth-bound cover for added protection to the watercolor paper and an elastic band to hold it securely together.

This is one of the fastest, easiest methods to make a watercolor sketchbook. You can use a single sheet of your favorite watercolor paper. Or... here's an opportunity to try out a sheet of another brand to see if you like it before you purchase a pad or block of it. The design and weight of the paper allows you to paint on both sides of the paper. The finished sketchbook is a standard size of 6" x 8", but if you prefer a different size, try one of the designs below to make an 8" x 8" square sketchbook or an 8"x 10" sketchbook from the same 22" x 30" size sheet of watercolor paper.

Just a reminder....these sketchbooks would make wonderful gifts!

Beginning a New Adventure

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
                                             - Lao Tzu


It's exciting to be able to revisit the beginning of a new art adventure. That's what happened this past weekend with my grandson. Emmett, who is seven years old, has decided he would like to learn how to do watercolor painting like his grandma. A new adventure we can share together.

The first step we needed to take was the selection of his paint palette and then the decision on what paints he should use. He decided to go for a metal paint box because as he put it, " the metal box was stronger than the plastic one." Then we selected his paints. I didn't want to start him out with Crayola or Prang, even though they are both good products for children. Instead, I started him out with Winsor & Newton Cotman paints. That's what I started out with when I was his age and never regretted it.  I'm still using their product today and find it to be of the highest quality. I wanted him to feel confident in knowing he was using real artist's paints and not something meant for a child to play with.

The next step was becoming familiar with his paints and knowing what colors he was working with. This he did by making a swatch card to put in his paint box. He painted swatches of each paint color and was surprised by how the colors appeared different on paper than they appeared in their pans.

After he completed the swatches, he was ready for his first watercolor painting. I didn't want to interfere with his first creation. In fact, I was eager to see what he came up with. His first endeavor  was on a small scale but it was what he could handle. His drawing was of his own creation and he began to paint it without hesitation. Of course, there was a special story about the picture and each color he chose to paint each item.

For his first attempt I think he handled it like a pro.

Midori Style Traveler's Notebook

"We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are".
                                                       - Max Depree-


I have an old messenger style leather purse that I loved dearly. Unfortunately, I loved it so much I wore it out. So what do I do with it? I'm still emotionally attached to it and can't throw it away, but I don't want to put it in the closet and have another thing cluttering up the house. Solution...take it apart and recycle the leather into something usable.

I've always admired and wanted a Midori Traveler's Notebook but I could not justify the cost of the leather notebook and the inserts. However...I now have the leather to make my own beautiful handmade traveler's notebook and I have all the papers I enjoy using to make the booklets. I also love the idea of repurposing something "old" into something "new" that I can use every day.

Follow along as I show you step-by-step how I used the leather from my old favorite purse to make a Midori style traveler's notebook. I break it down into easy steps and give you all the measurements to create not only the leather notebook but also the booklets to insert into the notebook.

Of course, if you don't have an old leather purse to use, you can purchase new leather from the craft store or fabric store. Then you can make the booklets from your favorite choice of papers.

Try making one for yourself, I know you'll love it as much as I love mine.

How To Make Your Perfect Sketchbook

"I have learned that what I have not drawn, I have never really seen."
                                                 - Frederick Franck


The most important thing for an artist is their sketchbook. It's where we work out ideas and get our practice, but most importantly it's where we express ourselves. Every artist has their particular preference about the size of the sketchbook and what kind of paper is inside.

We go into the art stores searching for our ideal sketchbook. Many times we either come up short and can't find it or worse yet we find several sketchbooks with different types of paper that meets our needs. We can't haul around all these sketchbooks so we end up restricting ourselves to the sketchbook we have on hand.

What if you could have one perfect sketchbook with all the different types of paper in it that you enjoy using? Would you choose sketch paper for working out that intricate design? Perhaps toned tan or gray for your portraits? How about watercolor for that spontaneous landscape?

Now you have that option. You can create that perfect sketchbook in the size you want with all the different kinds of paper you adore using. Best of all you can carry this sketchbook with you where ever you go and have the option of using any of these papers whenever you want.

It gets even better... you can remove the pages of this sketchbook and draw or paint with whatever medium you choose and then photograph it or place it in a scanner and then put it back in the sketchbook. Yes...you can remove the pages, move them around and put them back into the sketchbook in any order that soothes your mind.

It's not a fantasy, that perfect sketchbook does exist and I'll show you how to make it.

Summer Vacation

A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you've been taking.
                                                 - Earl Wilson

The best part of working in education is summer vacation. Especially this year. I didn't think I would make it to June.

When I first started this job our school was just a small country school. It consisted of 20 classes and I was the librarian with a library collection of 8000 books. I loved my job and arrived every day with a smile on my face. I couldn't believe I was being paid to do what I loved.

As the years progressed so did the school. The enrollment increased, requiring additional classes and textbooks were added to the library duties. Shortly after that we began a new program called Dual Language Immersion and I not only had more classes but the number of textbooks doubled and were available in both English and Spanish. Recently we began checking out Chromebooks to the children and starting next year I will be converting a section of the library into a MakerSpace area.

I'm no longer a librarian. I perform multiple duties and the school has grown significantly. I now have a library collection of over 17,000 books, an additional 6,000 books are checked out to classroom libraries, over 100,000 textbooks, consumable workbooks and teacher's resource materials in English and Spanish distributed among 44 teachers and...953 Chromebooks.

I definitely need a vacation!!!

I'm looking forward to spending time this summer with my grandchildren, family and......my art materials!!!

In case you thought I was exaggerating!

Lessons I've learned from my mother.

Motherhood: all love begins and ends there.
                                           - Robert Browning



When I was a little girl my mother took me everywhere with her, whether it was running errands, on personal visits or when handling business transactions. She took me places where children were usually not allowed but because I was a quiet, well behaved child they would allow or tolerate it. She would always tell me, "Bethie...this is a wonderful lesson for you...watch...listen...and learn."

I loved watching my mother because she was a remarkable woman. She was intelligent, loving, beautiful, brave and she had great passion for everything she did. She also had the most amazing people skills and could hold a conversation with anyone on any subject.

Like most women of her generation she put her family and home first. Her children's needs and desires came before her own and she was responsible for holding the family together, solving problems and maintaining a happy, healthy home.

As I grew older our bond grew stronger. I knew I would never have the people skills my mother had but I did develop a different talent...a creative talent...and we balanced out each other. My mother taught me not to be afraid of hard work, that if you wanted to accomplish something great you had to take chances and no matter what...you have to have a dream.

So we worked hard together, laughed at our mistakes together and dreamed big dreams together. We were supportive of each other so we felt braver...safety in numbers I suppose. Time passed quickly and my mother's health began to decline. We didn't take on new projects or work as hard and our dreams were replaced with health concerns.

When my mother passed away a part of me went with her. I lost my sense of direction, my balance and my best friend. I felt so empty and alone inside.

I'm in the process of learning how to live without her...and that is the most difficult lesson of all.

I love and miss you so much Mom.

Dedicated to...Violet Elizabeth Franks (August 19, 1925 - October 22, 2014)

Sundays at Grandma's

"Think of your family today and every day thereafter, don't let the busy world of today keep you from showing how much you love and appreciate your family".
                                                       - Josiah

When I was a little girl we lived a long distance from my grandmothers, so I only saw them on holidays and special occasions. They were both remarkable women, amazing cooks and a wonderful combination of warmth and kindness, laughter and love. I wanted more than anything to live near them and see them more often.

When my first grandson was born I decided I wanted a closer relationship with him. I wanted to be part of his life... every day. When the twins were born it became almost a necessity in order for their Mom and Dad to get a moment of rest.

We have settled into a routine where I visit them during the week, but every Sunday Daddy brings the boys over for breakfast and playtime. It gives me a chance to treat them to their favorite foods and spend some special time with them. The twins are almost two years old and are tornadoes of energy. They are constantly moving, touching and exploring every thing in the house. That's fine with me, the house is child proof.

After several hours of endless play, the twins are winding down, about ready for their afternoon nap. Daddy packs up the car, buckles them in their car seats and as soon as he pulls out of the drive they are fast asleep. The sign of a good, active day.

My oldest grandson stays behind for an extended visit. We spend the rest of the afternoon drawing and painting, building Legos and, now that the weather is getting warm, working in the garden together. This is our special bonding time.

I love my time with my grandsons. I can't imagine a day without talking to them and with the magic of technology we can video chat several times a day. My grandson can't wait to call me after school to tell me about the spelling test he passed, or to show me a picture he drew, or to tell me what color his behavior was that day. I want to wish him a good day at school in the morning and sweet dreams at night before he goes to sleep. The twins are now beginning to talk and they wave to me on the phone. These are all the important and special moments of their lives and I love being a part of it... I don't want to miss any of it.

I don't want to be a long distance grandma...I want to be an every day grandma.

Dolce far Niente

"I use this time to think."
     - Anthony T. Hincks


It's raining today. A soft, gentle rain. The kind of rain that makes you want to curl up in a chair by the window, with a hot cup of tea, and watch it coming down. That's exactly what I have been doing this morning.

Well...that's not entirely true...I started watching the rain, but then my attention turned to a snail crawling up a large, leafy bush. I have been watching this snail for the past half-hour moving it's way along the wet, green leaves. It's in no hurry to get anywhere or do anything. Unlike me, I need to write a blog and draw or paint a picture to go along with it and instead of doing that, I'm sitting here watching a snail.

Am I procrastinating? No...I'm "pausing". I'm allowing my mind and body to take time for a break. I'm taking time to reflect on the past several weeks. Work has been extremely hectic, the flu has passed through every member of the family and it only rains for a brief time in Southern California and then nothing for many months. So...this is the perfect opportunity to "pause".

My Grandmother used an Italian phrase, Dolce far Niente, which means "how sweet to do nothing". That's exactly what I am doing this morning...nothing! So like my little friend, the snail, I'm in no hurry. I'm going to let my mind and body rest, regroup, and prepare for the next onslaught of life's daily happenings.

In fact, I'm going to make myself another cup of tea, curl up in the chair by the window and watch my friend crawl down the large, leafy bush.

Why keep an art journal?

"Inside you there's an artist you don't know about..."
                                                                - Rumi -

The other day my grandson, Emmett, and I were drawing when he asked me when I started to draw in an art journal. I told him that I started when I was very young, probably about his age. Upon hearing this, his curiosity took over and he wanted to know what got me started and why I continued doing it.

Truthfully, I don't remember thinking about it ... I just felt a need to do it. However, how do I explain that need in a way that a 6 year old will understand. So instead, I took him into my bedroom and we sat on the floor in front of a wooden chest that holds all of my finished journals. We began to flip through the pages of each journal.

There were sketches of his twin brothers, when they were born and how he became a big brother. There were earlier sketches of him when he was a toddler. Sketches of him with his Great-Grandmother, who is no longer with us, and they are reading books, napping and playing together. Sketches that brought back memories of special moments they shared with each other. Then he was able to see sketches of himself as a baby that he couldn't possibly remember ... but I do.

As he looked through these journals I explained that each sketch told a story about special moments in our lives. They were captured with a drawing and a few choice words so that I wouldn't forget them. How drawing a picture gave me time to savor that moment longer than merely snapping a photograph. How it helped me see the value of each of these moments and how blessed I am to have them.

I also explained that keeping an art journal was a form of meditation. I'm not one who likes to sit still for very long, this was something a 6 year old could relate to. I'm always on the move and have multiple projects going on at the same time. Drawing is my way of meditating. When I'm drawing I'm unaware of anything around me, all my senses are focused on a single subject.

After seeing the journals and talking about why I made them, he looked at me very seriously and said, "I would like to keep an art journal too." Another special moment. So ... we went to the shelf where I keep a variety of sketch journals and he picked one he liked. Then he opened it, and without hesitation, he began to draw the story of his life on the first page. It was one of my proudest moments, not only as a grandmother but as an artist.

So ... no matter what your age, whether you're 6 years old or in your 60's. No matter what your drawing ability, pick up an art journal and a pencil and begin to draw and write about the special moments in your life that tell your story.

You'll never regret it ...

Being creative in our lives

"Creativity is seeing what everyone else has seen, and thinking what no one else has thought."
                                                                                  - Albert Einstein -


We are all creative, whether we realize it or not. It is part of human nature to constantly assess and evaluate each situation in life and find a creative way to accomplish or improve it. Sometimes, it's so instinctive we don't realize we're doing it.

Many of us think creativity is exclusive to artists, writers and musicians. However, it takes the same amount of creativity to raise children, manage a household, run a business or any other activity that makes up our lives.

Research has shown that participating in creative activities can increase our well-being in a number of ways -

* It engages us in the moment and helps us stay focused on our lives. It calms our nervous system, reduces stress and anxiety and helps restore balance.

* It strengthens our feelings of self-worth and because we feel fulfilled, our happiness expands into the rest of our lives and we have better relationships.

* It increases our focus on positive life experiences and opens us up to new possibilities and opportunities.

* It helps build character through effort, persistence and dedication and these are highly transferrable skills.

* It requires us to seek new ideas, new ways of doing things and continual learning and growth.

So come up with creative ideas and ways to make your life more fun and enjoyable. It will improve your physical, mental and emotional health.

Remember you are a creative person and...

we were created to be creative!

Life is a blank canvas

"Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can."
                                                                                   - Danny Kaye -

As the New Year begins, I look at my life and my future and I see a blank canvas before me. It's up to me to decide what picture I paint on it.

As with all blank canvases we are faced with the anxiety of what we should paint. What is the picture we see? We are also faced with the fear of making a mistake and ruining the picture. Facing the unknown can be frightening.

Yes...with all new beginnings there is that element of fear, but there is also a sense of excitement. The excitement of a new adventure, a new opportunity to do something you always wanted to do and the ability to change your situation.

I look at the canvas before me and realize that I am not alone in the decision of that picture. There are loved ones to take into consideration. My grandchildren are watching my every move, the choices I make and how I live my life. I am an example to them.

So...Grandma is not going to worry about the future or dwell on the past. That is all out of my control. I'm going to put my faith and trust in God, pick up my paintbrush and throw all the paint I can at that canvas!!!.