Magnolia

Ok, folks.  It looks like it'll be awhile before I can work on the painting due to scholastic activities.  But I will leave you with this for now.  I took this the other day and it made me think...a magnolia painting would be fun to attempt!  I already gessoed a canvas in preparation!

In good company...my partners in crime...

My camera arrived JUST IN TIME for the girls reunion weekend. It arrived Thursday night. I knew it was 'out for delivery' at 3:45 AM due my UPS.com stalking. Of course I had to wait around for a 6:50 PM delivery (I am sure the UPS man laughed when the door magically opened the the second he walked up). 4/6 of us have new Canon DSLRs. 3 made the trip. 300 pictures later I think we made some advances. I was in good company this weekend....we had an AMAZING weekend (and best of all pictures to document it ALL). 

Note: The best part about the pictures above is the fact they were not staged.  We are cool like that.

Rebel (No, not the Ole Miss kind...)

Meet my newest toy. 

Between my new art easel, sewing machine, and this, I doubt I will have time to sleep.  The camera is scheduled to get here on Thursday (just in time for my friends and their cameras to come in town).  I can't contain my excitement.  I bought it on a whim from B&H photo.  Ok, I say 'whim' but I have been stalking cameras since April as I mentioned here.  When I saw this Canon EOS Rebel XT, at a price less than my current point-and-shoot elf, I bought it.  (I did make myself wait a few hours before so it wasn't completely an impulse decision.) 

Keep your fingers crossed that it's what I expect.  I need to review what I learned in photography class in college.  Matt and Carol, I am going to need to borrow Toby for action shots.  Thanks.

it's the most wonderful time of the year...

I am writing to let you know I am fully aware that my Bluff Park art show submissions must be ready by April 1st. I am fully prepared to have them done in time. I have a million ideas in my head. BUT because pictures make everything better (in my opinion) let me explain myself....I have been busy and somewhat distracted.

Most of all I have fully gotten into the holiday spirit. It started with the annual cabin trip...

Yes, can you believe it? That is SNOW you see.  And this was our "cabin."  (It actually belongs to one of my best friend's parents.  They have worked hard on it for years and it shows!!! How blessed are we?!) We are actually in Arley, AL despite what it may seem.  We felt like we might as well have been in Montana and not on Smith Lake. 

I cannot take credit for the awesome photos above.  You can tell which ones are not from my camera.  Ann Wade came along with us (if you are in need of a wedding photographer....she is one for you!). She brought along her "backup" professional camera. I am telling you. We had a BLAST with it. The weekend made for some great pictures and I am now convinced I need an SLR camera. Thanks, AW! I NEED one for painting, right? MAYBE that should be my goal to save up my profits on painting (and encourage me to get my butt moving).  MAYBE?  I think that is motivation.  I am leaning towards a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi. I have always loved my Canons....all 5 of them.

When I got home on Sunday I was inspired to craft.  I've been doing a lot of work/calculus and my creative mind needed some exercise.  My friend (thank you Jarred!!!!!!!) brought me some awesome pine cones.  They try to sell ones at pottery barn that are half this cool. I guilded them and put them in my garland and on my wreath and that is what I needed for the finishing touches of my Christmas decorations. Pottery barn...watch out.

That is all I leave you with tonight.  Next time maybe I will have an oil paint related post to share. :)