September 13, 2014 Knowing

Even if something is personally experienced, all experiences are unique to each individual.

In a universe that is full of differences and change is there anything that is without exception? Yes! God's love. That is the only thing that is never changing. All else is wrapped in vagaries. We all age and we all have our issues whether physical, emotional, mental, relational or what have you. Seeing so many of our friends with problems and loved ones that are seriously ill is heart breaking. It is also part of life. Every incidence is different no matter how much it is identical. Our experiences are a strengthening process. It is a place where a kind of common ground is reached to allow the heart to understand what only the heart can understand. The ability to feel the hurt, the emptiness or grief of loss let alone the power of love is only possible from the heart. Because you experience these things only means you can understand what someone else is going through. It does not speak for the uniqueness of their situation or condition. Only they know what they are living through unless you are living through it with them. Even then it is still unique to each as two separate lives and individuals. It is the feelings and the emotions that you can connect with and experience with someone. It is where bonding, comforting, sympathy and many other things including love happen. I know God loves us. He is the connection to and of the heart. Without that connection there would be no hope. Without it we cannot exist. Without it everything would count for nothing.

My dear friends, let us love one another, since love is from God and everyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever fails to love does not know God, because God is love.

The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (1 Jn 4:7–8). New York: Doubleday. 

I would like to amend this post to acknowlege that I have won the "Cherry on Top" Giveaway at Kristi Schurr's blog, Paper Creations. She will be redesigning her blog with more content and tutorial videos. She expects to begin about the beginning of the new year. Stop by and see her work and share some comments with her. You will not be disappointed. Thank you for the gift certificate. It will be put to good use.

I have done some painting but not as much as I would like. There has been some progress though. Here are the colors used.

Some were used by themselves and some in combination. Some were very thick but not completely dried out. A drop of water or more to hydrate the paint. Here is the current progress of the painting.

As you can see it is coming right along. The cliff area will be pretty much done with the next update post. This represents the largest numbered areas. From there it will be harder. Hope you like it thus far. 
That is it for this week. Thank you for stopping by and if you leave a comment it will be appreciated greatly. It is also a sure way to get me out to look at your current creation and I will comment. I love returning the courtesy.

Remember to LOVE THE DETAILS.    

September 9, 2014 Love #2

Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back."

Plato

This week Cherokee is helping Irish do post. Since Cherokee is not very good at comments, Irish gave Cherokee something to post instead.
 

“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”  

 Bob Marley

Great Spirit was good to Cherokee when he give Maw Squaw to me. She tough cookie but Love just the same. We take good care of each other and even hold hands when no one looking. Cherokee sensitive that way. Maw squaw just beat up if some one not like it or say bad thing.

Irish give Cherokee that look. You know, that "OK, move on" look. Irish create card for you today. Says need break from painting. Here is front of card Irish made.

Irish say no coloring on this one. Irish says he will tell Cherokee what to type so here goes. Card stock is dark navy blue so does not show color in picture. Die cut is Benjamin Border from Memory Box. Use die on dark navy blue and white card stock. Keep punch out scraps and use blue center diamonds to fill back in. To do that, used embossable window plastic from Gary M. Burlin & Co  to mount and hold die cut and diamond centers in place with Tombow glue. Window platic bought at local craft store. Glue Plastic to window in card with Chinaman. OK. How Cherokee know that. Fasten with Sookwang Tape. (How you spell that?) OK. Fold Doily in half and fasten with tape. Why Irish chuckling? "Sorry!" Sorry accepted. Back of card look nice too.

 Inside of card is surprise to Cherokee. Cherokee likes inside.

 Irish says die cut is exact opposite of front. Blue die cut and white diamonds fill center. From front window looks like shadow. Stickers in top left and right corners. Sentiment is computer generated and printed on Old World Mat Stack paper and design fussy cut. Not know what fussy cut is! "That is the same as cut out just modified crafter language."
OH! Crafters talk funny. Not know what you tell me to type means. Use Chines tape to fasten sentiment to card. "Sookwang tape." Yes, That.

How Cherokee do? "Actually not bad for your first ever Blog post. If you learn more maybe you can do more." Cherokee not sure about that. Learning to understand your language bad enough but this Crafter language give headache. Need one of Irish's Headache pills. "I will explain some of this when we wrap this up."

 Remember to always LOVE THE DETAILS. Cherokee do happy dance. Post done. Now go lay down until headache go away.






 

9-4-2014 Thank You

Before I start I would like to thank everyone that stopped by and commented on the last two posts. You have made an exceptional year into an extraordinary year so far. Our anniversary was the best we have ever experienced. Much of the credit for that belongs to all of you. Thank you one and all and may the good Lord bless all of you and this includes even those that stopped by but didn't comment. I am well aware of the number of hits I get and they are growing. I cherish all visitors, whether you comment, join or just look and , hopefully, read the posts. If the post inspires then it has done what it is supposed to and I am blessed in return. Thank you again and GOD bless.

 So then, as long as we have the opportunity let all our actions be for the good of everybody, and especially of those who belong to the household of the faith.

The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (Ga 6:10). New York: Doubleday. 

I added a new brush to the brushes I use for the painting. It is an American Paints 5/0 #4650 Spotter brush. The bristles are about 1/8" (3.1750mm) long and 1/32" (0.7938mm) wide. (I hope I got that correct for the metric user's out there.) This allows for more control and greater coverage where needed. Now there is no need to switch brushes as much.

As you can see, it is very hard to see the bristles and that is why the explanation.

With that out of the way we can get to the update of the painting.

First let us see some of the equipment and paints used to finish to this point. 

8 paints were used either by themselves or in combinations to get the painting finished to it's current level.The syringe is for adding the precise number of drops of water when the paint becomes too dry. The little cup of water for cleaning and for the syringe and the paint tray so the little paint cups don't dry out. Now to the painting.

 As you can see there is progress but there should be even more. Before explaining why, Jill brought up an interesting point. I never explained how the starting point on this painting was chosen. Since I am right handed and want to do a complete color set once I started, it is crucial to understand that anything on the right hand side of the canvas needs to be done last. The upper left hand side is where you must start if right handed and the upper left hand side is where you start if you are left handed. This is done to prevent you putting your hand or arm into new wet paint as you progress.

That said, the reason the painting should be further along is because the light colors in the sky needed to be done again to cover the numbers. It actually took three coats on some of them to cover the enough to hid them. Still want to do a paint by number? If you do not mind backing up once in awhile to catch what you missed, and you WILL miss some, trying to get coverage especially with acrylic paints and the fine detail of a painting like this one, you will do fine. Patience is the key. It is also required that the paint brush be cleaned OFTEN to remove drying paint and to keep the brush itself fresh. Keeping a fine point on this canvas is critical.

That is it for today. It is a short post but it was promised. Just remember to always LOVE THE DETAILS.