Sunday, March 4, 2012

New Classes, New Blogs, and OLW Weekly Check-In

I wanted to share a few new things at the start of this new week.  First, I'm starting an online class offered by Strathmore. They have a series of three classes, and they're free! You can check them out at this link.  Although I signed up for all three classes, I didn't (yet) do anything with the first one - Doodles by Traci Bautista.  She's a super nice person (I was lucky enough to meet her a few times) and wildly creative, so I do hope to get back to it at some time.  I just started Class #2 on watercolor technique, and I'll definitely learn a lot from it!   I made the art journal page up top earlier this week to celebrate my birthday, and this cute little thank-you card:
The third class (force drawing) intrigues me - it will be interesting to see what it entails.
I also plan to work my way through the new free online class by Alisa Burke called Finding your Muse.  You can check it out here.
Anyway, if you're looking for some new creative inspiration, check these out. The price is definitely right!
I also wanted to share links to some of the cool blogs I found during Ayala's 29 Faces Challenge.  The first one is Ayala Art, hostess of the challenge.  She's super sweet and very talented. The second one is Nordljus, owned by Katja in Switzerland.  I love finding blogs from other countries which give me a sense of traveling there. Katja's painting and photography do just that.  Finally, check out Miz Katie, a wonderful painter who has been blind in one eye since birth. I'm not sure if this is what gives her art such an interesting perspective or not, but I definitely love her style.
How about you? Got anything new to share? Anyone taking the new class offered by Shimelle (Hitchhiker's Guide to Scrapbooking)? What about the new Ali Edwards Workshop Five?
Thanks to everyone who stopped by yesterday for Storytelling Sunday.  To answer your questions, no the photographs were not taken with my new camera. They were taken before I made the purchase.  I have started experimenting with my new camera, but I haven't yet figured out how to download them to my computer (!!!). When I do, I will be featuring my March monthly make.  Also, the boys did win the baseball game! It was a good day.
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Weekly OLW Check-In.  This week, I cleaned out the two storage sheds in the side yard.  Threw out a variety of rusty garden tools; about two dozen deflated balls [you name it, we had it - baseball, soccer, volleyball, Irish football (yes, Henry played a season or two of this sport, also known as Gaelic football, in a San Francisco league; and, yes, he was good at it), basketball, dodge ball, etc. ]; lots of plastic sand toys; leftover hot tub supplies; and assorted other outdoor/garden stuff. I'm readying up the yard because when Deb hosts her pot luck/recipe exchange blog hop later this month (sign up information here), I'll be welcoming everybody out back.  

14 comments:

Maria@BubblegumandDuctTape said...

It's so cool that you take classes, thanks for sharing the links with us. I wish I could take some classes. Maybe when my boys get older. Traci Bautista sure is talented. Lucky you, you've met her a few times. I've only seen her on TV. I love using her products.

I love birds and your paintings sure look nice. Happy belated birthday to you my friend, I hope you had a fantastic day with your family.

Amy said...

I don't have any classes on the near horizon, but I like to see these new blogs you have shared today. When exactly is your birthday by the way? Happy Birthday for when it was! :-)

Anonymous said...

A belated happy birthday and what a cute little birdie x

Lizzie said...

Ooh, I missed your birthday - Happy Birthday for last week, anyway!
Lots of classes to keep you busy! Wherever do you find the time, Rinda? - you remind me of the saying "If you want something done, ask a busy person"! I think you must have a secret time-turner (a la Hermione Granger!).
I love the birdy page and the card. Thank you for all the links - I'll try and get organised to look at these (that's the answer, I think - you are organised, I am sooo not!).
Have a great week!

Unknown said...

Love the bird card. I am also signed up for the Strathmore class and am still working my way through Letter Love. Not going to do Shimelle's one this time.

scrappyjacky said...

It's probably the first of Shimelle's classes that hasn't really appealed....and even less so as the forum is on 2 Peas...and not Shimelle's own...so giving it a miss this time. I may pop and look at some of those ones you've linked to.

laurie said...

your birds are so cute! sounds like you'll be quite busy this spring with all those classes. i can't wait to see what you create.

Alison said...

Sounds like a busy, but fun time for you Rinda..I too am impressed with how you make the time for everything you do!
Alison xx

Sian said...

No, I definitely haven't the time to devote to any classes at the minute, but you know how much I always enjoy reading along as you learn!

..and over here it's the American Football that's the novelty. TTO and his friends were playing in the park at the weekend and they met a guy who used to play for NI's one and only team in the 1990's

Happy Birthday

Melissa said...

Thnks for the links to the free classes Rinda - I'm going to check those out today after I've read some of yesterday's stories!

Deb C said...

Thanks for the links to the classes! I'm taking several classes now. One is by may flaum at big picture. Very cool, with lots of videos and inspiration. The second is a tim Holtz class at online card classes, or something like that. It looks like it will also be full of video. I just love watching experienced folks craft!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Ah! I always admire all of the classes you manage to take! Love that you are working with water colors and looking forward to seeing what you create.

I'm happy to have a list of new blogs to check out, and how sweet are you to mention me at the end of your post? Very pleasant surprise. Can't wait to see your backyard space, I think that's where I'll be on that day too!

Nordljus said...

First of all, Happy belated Birthday to you, Rinda! Your birds are beautiful! Thanks for sharing the online classes links. I saw Alisa Burke's free class yesterday, but didn't know about the others. They all sound interesting, but I'm trying hard not to take any, or at least too many at the moment. There's never enough time to do everything... But I like collecting the links :).
And last, but not least, thank you so very much for mentioning my blog and for your sweet comments on my blog. I find so much inspiration in other blogs, including yours, and I'm so happy if I can give some of it back :). Have a lovely and creative day!

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

Shimelle's class interests me but with my arm issues I just can't manage the computer time. We've got a lot of deflated balls in our yard too, mostly footballs the dog has gotten hold of and chewed.