VISIT FROM A BLOGGER FRIEND

Me (on the left) and Ginny Stiles.  Her husband, Greg, took our photo - and since he likes trains,
Ginny suggested we pose in front of my train painting.

Ginny Stiles and her husband, Greg, stopped by on their way from Wisconsin to Florida.

Ginny and I met through our blogs, and met in person a few years ago when they were also passing through the area, but this was the first time they came to our house.

My husband "treated" them to a ride in the Gator to view the property and animals.  Then Ginny and I bonded over a cup of coffee while Greg and Mike investigated more of the property!  Unfortunately, Mike and I had to be off around 1 p.m. that day, or we would likely have spent more time together.  Ginny is enjoyable to be with, she is so full of energy and so involved in her art!

I know they planned to stay in Cincinnati overnight, and believe they toured the Cincinnati Art Museum before they headed down South. Hopefully they will return some day when we can spend more time together.

I've met so many great people through art and blogging!

BLAME IT ON GINNY STILES!



Uh, oh - not Zentangles!!!!!

Drat that Ginny Stiles!

She has been creating Zentangle art and posting it on her blog.

She even sent me a Zentangle birthday card!

The nerve of that woman!

At first it just looked interesting – a harmless enough observation.

Then it looked more interesting, but I decided it looked too involved to try.

Then I decided, “well, it DOES look INTERESTING and it couldn’t hurt to look into it a bit more.”

Then I bought a book on Zentangles from Amazon, but only because I was already on the Amazon site for another purpose and I could use an additional item to get up over that free shipping point.

Then I received and opened the Zentangle book but didn’t have any Micron pens, so I was still safe.

But yet another email from Jerry’s Artarama boasting yet another sale prompted me to place an order, and, of course, just a bit more would get me to the free shipping point, so a set of Micron pens would put me over the proscribed total and, it couldn’t hurt, right?

Then I had the Zentangle book and the Micron pens, but no appropriate Zentangle tiles. So what, I’ve got more than a fair share of watercolor paper which seems serviceable.

So I cut out a few 3.5x3.5 pieces of watercolor paper, picked up the Zentangle book and Micron pens, and sat down to begin reading.

It didn’t take long and I was learning my first “tangle” pattern. Then another. Then I tried them both again, and began to learn a third, into which I incorporated circles, which may or may not be another “tangle” pattern, I’m not that far along in the book. But, I can’t let that stop me, now, can I?

My 2nd and 3rd Zentangles.

A trip to the mall for tires created a need to drive on down the road to Hobby Lobby on my way home to check out the pen section. BE ADVISED, Nanoliners are no match for the Micron pens (they bleed). But Pilot Precise V5, purchased at Staples, are very fine and seem to work just as well as the Micron pens and are less expensive. And they come in colors!

“I wonder if I could create a chicken Zentangle?” (I bet I can . . . .)

“Could I incorporate some words into a Zentangle?” (We shall see . . . . .)

I put down the Zentangle book, but it called to me every day.

I don’t think I’m addicted, I mean, I CAN put that book and pens down any time I want to. I really can. I don’t have to pick them up and “doodle”. No, I really don’t . . . . why are my eyes and fingers twitching? . . . why is drool coming from my mouth . . . . why do I have to draw more. . . MORE . . . MORE . . . could it be that I’m addicted to Zentangles? Oh, say it ain’t so!

Ginny Stiles, I’m coming to get you . . . . . you are a BAD woman!

Meeting a Fellow Blogger

Last Tuesday morning I met Ginny Stiles and her husband, Greg, for breakfast in Harrison, OH. They were on their way from northern Wisconsin to Florida and were passing through the area.

This is the second time I've met another fellow blogger in person (other than those I already know!) The first time was at an art show in the area when a friend was going to take my photo with my painting and a woman was standing in front of my painting. When we approached she just said "Hello Deb". Well, I had no idea who she was, and then she introduced herself as someone who followed my blog! We chatted a while, and now I have re-met her at our GCWS meetings in the summer and we sometimes email back and forth.

So - even though we do sometimes live far apart, and I'm sure we all figure we will never meet - never say never!

The photo above is of Ginny - full of oatmeal!!!! - standing in front of our local Cracker Barrel. Sounds like she and her husband are having a pleasant trip, visiting their way home.

Perhaps we will meet again some day!

p.s. In the event that Ginny posts a photo on her blog of "someone" who she claims to be me - unless that person is tall, blond, thin, young and gorgeous - it is an imposter!!!