The troll in my head!

I have not been at all well at keeping up with a blog. My problem, I am a perfectionist. It has to be a perfect blog post before I will send it out into the world. That needs to change. I am going to get real here. How dare me!

 This year I joined life book 2015, in hopes things would change. I am working a little bit more, but not posting my work.

 That stupid troll, the perfectionist!  I think I am going to name her, maybe paint an unflattering picture of her, shame her,  give her a place in my life so I can confront her and she will come out of the shadows in my head to fight fair.

 Or..... maybe I should love her, give her a hug, tell her she has a place in my life but needs to behave herself.  Either way she needs to be addressed. I have lived in limbo dealing with her long enough! She has halted me, scared me, kept me from the life I want.

 How I deal with her I will let you know...or maybe I won't... then you will know she has won yet another battle!

There you stupid troll,  I posted a picture!

 Annette- 1.
 Nameless troll........too many to count! 

I'm in

 Here are some pictures from last fall's art festival at the Legacy center. A picture of my booth and a picture of my messy desk, love it!

 The 24 hour art show was fun . It pushed me to finish a painting in a very limited time, and it worked!

I love the outcome. " Pink Bow" is a fun fresh piece of artwork and I have many more ideas for some sister pieces.

Dreaming..... something I am good at!

Been thinking about my trip to Europe last summer, I wish I was going again this summer.

 I am just in a weird place with my art right now. A couple of discouraging experiences, has me questioning the direction I am going at the moment. So I am shaking it up... well trying. Ok, not really trying, just wallowing. I am just on the computer a lot, looking at other peoples stuff, borrowing reference books from the library, and dreaming of changing my style a bit.
 Did I really have a style?
 Not really.

Well I have been working on a very big project. A donated commission for the Davis County school district foundation. Here is the finished project.

Earning my way to Europe

So I have been sewing for a lady that sells clothing for ball joint dolls. Don't know what they are? Just google them . They are so cool, and way fun to design for and dress.
I am sad my art is taking a back seat, well I just need to make a bigger front sat and fit it all in right?
Anyway I want to go to Europe next June so I have to be a sewing and painting fool for the next 10 months.

Should I stay or should I go?

Well.... really what I mean is, should I keep a blog or not!
Don't get me wrong, my life is full of wonderful things to blog about, maybe too full sometimes!

I have 2 new grandbabies,
I have helped open a gallery,
I am working on an awesome dance dress for my daughter
and going to Arizona next week.
Oh and who can forget the torture of boot camp 3 times a week.

Well I am all caught up, that wasn't too bad.
See ya in 6 months, just kidding.

Summer has come and Gone

Wow this blogging thing is harder to keep up with than I thought.

It is so much more fun to read and explore other blogs than write my own.

So....instead of writing I need to post pictures huh!!!

We will see if I can figuire it out without my daughter helping me!

I am so excited I will have my first 2 grandbabies by Christmas! One in August and one in November.

Made this cool collage for a dear friend who moved away. Forgot to take a picture! Urgh. Will have to make some more.

I will try to post a pic of the darling angel I just finished.

Spring?

I am such a warm weather person!
Yes, I have been hibernating. I want the warm and the sunshine! I have been doing a little decorating and sewing. I have ideas in my head for paintings but haven't got them down on canvas yet.
A new goal is to post weekly!

I am going to be a grandma!
My son Bryce and his wife Anna Marie are pregnant.
I am so excited this will be my first grandchild and the first great-grandchild on my husbands side also the first great- great on his side.
2010 is starting out super:)

So...... just reducing my stress by jamming out to my blog music. So much fun! I know you all do it too.
Dance around the house with the music full blast, freaking out the cats and blowing off some steam.
I highly recommend it.
Just don't let the kids catch you, they will make a note to commit you when you get to old.
Crazy old dancing cat lady!

Dancing on a fall evening

Well not much painting going on at the moment. So.. I helped my youngest daughter get ready for her first homecoming dance tonight. I just love these milestones. Another milestone a wedding. Tonight Greg and I went to a wedding reception for a daughter of good friends of ours. We are at the age when all of ours friends' children are getting married, as have two of ours in the past two years. This is the 4th reception this year. We left as the sun was setting and the father was dancing with his daughter the bride. What a beautiful ending to the string of receptions. What a beautiful night to dance!

Summer has come and gone, and it has been lovely.
I am still trying to keep the tomatoe plants from freezing, I tuck them in every night.
I have so many lovely green orbs on the vine that still need to turn ruby red!
Fried green tomatoes anyone?

Awe Italy !

Yes, thanks to one of my beautiful daughters I have a picture on my blog. This is me and hubby in Florence, seven years ago. I want to go back so bad! I am loving this weather ! The garden is tilled but not planted yet. At least I will have one planted this year. Yeah for more energy !

May is here, but we still have so many April showers:( I really need more sun!!!
I haven't planted a garden yet, but may pick up the plants today with Alissa. I promised to buy a bunch of flowers for her porch for graduation. Yes, my girl graduated from college yesterday! It was so wonderful and we took pictures and went out to eat. So much fun, I just love these type of occasions!
A couple of weeks ago, our family, well 3 of us, traveled to Moab for a weekend. So beautiful, I want to go back with the rest of the family.
My April was busy and fun, we had 3 birthdays. First my Mom's was on April fools day and the next day was my son's, we had the whole crew over for Sunday dinner his favorite, chicken parmesan. Then you have Easter. Then my daughter's birthday on the 14th. ,and we had a BBq at the Hansen's, her in laws. Again a wonderful time! Well April is always crazy.

How Embarassing

Wow it is harder than I thought to keep up on a blog.
I am not one to check in on my e-mails or my blogs on a daily basis. As you can see not even a weekly or monthly basis.
Well that is going to change. To all my family and friends that check to see if I have posted or not. I am making a commitment to check in weekly or by-weekly and keep you all updated with my life, my family and my art.

Holidays, Come and Gone

Wow seems like we were just eating turkey on Thanksgiving.
Keeping up on a blog may take a little more dicipline.

December was great! We planned a few activities for the family. It started with the cookie dough day. Alissa, Anna, Shantel and I made 4 different cookie doughs so that we could bake treats on a moments notice in the month of December. Later that night the boys showed up to sample and watch a game on TV. It was so fun to have a houseful.

The next week we went out to eat with Layna and the girls (Anna's sister and nieces) so cute!
And it was snowing and cold but we went to Temple square, Aggie had never been.

We had the usual parties Cox/Bowman party early in the month. And the Vernon Christmas eve party on the 23rd this year. Freeing up Christmas eve gave us the opportunity for just the 4 at home to go out and eat and rent a movie. I loved extending the holiday for 1 more day!

Oh I have my own studio space set up (Yippee) now that Anna and Bryce have moved into their own apartment. This happened at the end of November.

Well now on to the New Year!
More to come!

Weight for Me

So...... my good friend Liz has inspired me to start on a serious weight loss journey. Or should I say change of lifestyle. That has to be it! This is the end of unconscous eating. So far I have given up all diet coke except for 12 oz in the morning. I have been drinking about 72 oz of water a day. It is not as hard as I thought. I was sipping soda all day so I just replaced it with water. Lots of ice and I take it with me just like I used to take the DC. I just felt like I was slowly poisening myself with chemicals. I can't wait to be totally free, but for now moderation in all things. When ever I am stressed I just gulp some water. Granted the bathroom has become my friend, but I feel so much better, I can't believe it.
I am starting Leslie Samone "Walk Away the Pounds it is a 6 week program.
Wish me luck and maybe even join us. I will try to put a link to Liz.
Bummer of the day I tried to start an art blog and the name was already taken.
Oh her stuff is so cute though check it out. Plumtreestudio.blogspot
Ok what to name my studio......All who know me, any suggestions?