Out & About, 8

Because I conquered motion sickness with drawing, I was able to capture the low mountains between Nabeul and Tunis from the passenger seat. Along with vehicles and a worker.

Sketching Blind

One of the homework assignments for Sketchbook Skool ("Stretching") this week consists of doing blind contour drawings of someone. I began with three frames, however, how does one stay within the frame if one cannot look? I drew my sketching buddy. No resemblance whatsoever--just fun to do.

Fiddlin' Around

A new semester has begun for Sketchbook Skool and a challenging semester it is. The course is appropriately named "Stretching" and I find myself constantly outside my comfort zone. My comfort zone would be the slow stitching of the Pomegranate Tree Quilt. "Stretching" feels like "Fast and Furious"--I have to buckle my seatbelt. 

This week's assignment: sketch a bit every day, cut it apart, collage it into a sketchbook and see what happens. 

Adding Depth

The Pomegranate Tree Quilt has come back into my life in a regular way. I stitch on it a couple hours every day, mostly hand quilting and adding French knots to create depth around the leaves. The Tree is taking on that quilted look that pleases me so much because it adds texture and dimension, light and shadows. The leaves and pomegranates are beginning to puff out.

A Colorful Week

This was almost like colouring in a colouring book. 

My week turned much more colourful.

Sometimes the mundane can be eventful. That's a week I won't forget!

Out & About, 7

My granddaughters had a piano recital that I attended thanks to Skype. Ah, the wonders of technology. 

And then there were men in the street. The weather is feeling summer-y. Warm coats and hats have disappeared. 

A Week

It finally feels like Spring--gloriously warm weather with lots of sunshine. So I documented the week.

It looks like a colouring book--where are my crayons? 

Out & About, 6

One of the reasons I like to teach is because the school is located in a nice beach town (Nabeul) an hour from home. Lots of things to sketch, like the rooftops seen from my classroom. 

And now, I can sit in the backseat and sketch other passengers--motion sickness conquered! I'm getting kind of wild with the cross-hatching. It may degenerate into scribbling soon!

I find the size of this small journal (4"x6") to be very convenient. Yesterday I took my larger handmade journal to a restaurant and found it difficult to work with in a cramped space (well, duh!). 

Ballpoint pen with Prismacolor pencils added later. It actually takes longer to add the color than to do the sketching.

Out & About, 5

Even sitting in the back seat sketching, I didn't get carsick; it's brilliant! New and productive technique for motion sickness--maybe I should copyright it? 

In any case, my husband said "Who could know that it's me?" So I added a bubble. He's a frequent model, and used to it by now. 

Possibly a Finish

Spring vacation has been productive. Just some circles to sew onto this wild tunic.


I have been reflecting on this piece and its future. It may undergo further transformations...hmmm, yes, into something else. 

Something like "She Ran Out of Time." 

We shall see...time is slipping by...

Doctor's Waiting Room

It's time for new glasses, however, 

that required a two-hour wait at the 

doctor's office this time around.

Fortunately, I had my handy little 

daily journal with me--and a red pen. 

The waiting room was crowded. I provided entertainment.