I love art, especially photography and painting. My next addition is crafts or primarily needlecrafts. And as if that was not enough, I am a genealogist.
This is my first post. A little about me. I am a senior citizen and at 68 while my body may be aging, I still love to try new things and experience all that life has to offer. My loves in life are my family, photography, art, crafts, camping, music and any other mischief I can get into at my age and get away with it.
I am a nut for cloud formations. As an artist I try to make anything look good. Being artistic brings out something in me that nothing else does. This is just the beginning so I hope you will keep coming back to see what I am into.
As much as I don’t approve of AI, I have been trying to give it a fair chance. So far, I have only found two uses for it.
Currently, I am using what most people are, and that is Canva and ChatGPT. So, to date, I have only used these for image creation and publishing.
I have already published a book about my dog through Amazon Kindle which is a children’s book but because of the demand by Kindle that it be 72 pages for hardback it is currently available only in ebook format. The cover and the images were created from ChatGPT. Here’s what it looks like:
Today, I recreated a cover for a previously published book. This time, I used the Canva AI feature of Canva. I found that with Canva, I had to be more specific because the image it created the first time was completely wrong. I still had to do some editing, but it came out much better. I felt like I was talking to a child, giving it instructions. Here’s that image:
In other words, for intellegent people AI will prove to be just a mediocre tool. When I have to spend more time editing than creating, AI will never prove to be that beneficial to me. Can it save time? Yes, when it works correctly. Is it better than what the human brain can generate, absolutely not. When you rely too much on AI you give up creative and that is something I am not willing to do. Will I still use it, maybe in a limited capacity but for the most part I would rather be slower and more creative. AI would never be able to create the wheel without first creating a square. Not sure it would even know the difference.
Anyway, everybody will form their own opinion about AI. I just caution you don’t let it consume you because that is what its creators are counting own. Continue to be your own person and maintain your own intelligencce and creativity. The future of humanity might one day depend on it.
Have a great weekend.
Don’t forget to check out my books on Amazon Kindle and my Etsy Store (folkwayscreations2). Here’s what’s new in my store:
In a world where AI is trying to take over, there are still things and techniques that have and will survive like quilting.
I was first introduced to quilting in the early 70s when I took a class at our local community college and then life took over. While on occasion I would make small quilts like baby quilts I didn’t make my first full size quilt until a few years.
I have made lap quilts for donation which is what I am currently doing now. While there are great quilt stores you can make a quilt top inexpensively by purchasing material or clothing at thrift stores and sometimes auctions.
While some quilters enjoy the piecing and construction of the quilt, I prefer the actual hand quilting. Quilting is becoming more and more popular. You can make quilts for your own home, give as gifts or pass down to your grandchildren as an heirloom. It’s the journey to create that matters.
Here’s the lap quilting I am currently working on and no it’s not perfect. You may see a few seams that don’t match up. I just try to make things fit. I consider it a part of the character of the quilt. If you spend a lot of time trying to make it “perfect” you will be spending time that you could have spent embellishing your quilt.
Build A Block
This is a super easy pattern. I wasn’t able to get a link to it, but you can go to YouTube and find Tammy Jones Hometown Quilt Company/Building Blocks Quilt and watch her make these simple blocks.
I made ten blocks fairly quickly, so it’s not just simple, but it’s fast.
Get started on your quilting journey with your first quilt top.
While the world is full of mayhem, you can step into a calmer world by just making a few stitches. Anytime when I am feeling stressed I will either pickup a paintbrush or a crochet hook. And yes, this is for you guys too. It might bruise your ego a little but it won’t kill it! In a society where there are more people now than ever with high blood pressure and heart disease what is more important. What is the primary cause? Simply put, stress.
If you Google the question of how crocheting will help this is what you will get:
That is the key to relieving stress. Once you distract the brain from the subject of stress it is easy for the brain and the body to relax. The end result being lower blood pressures and less damage to your heart.
An extreme case of stress is Broken Heart Syndrome. This occurs primarily after the passing of a loved one. While grief is never easy in these situations the person is so overwhelmed with stress and sadness that the effect is a sudden and fatal heart attack. That is why if you are struggling with grief and feel overwhelmed there are churches and agencies that offer grief counseling.
Relieving your stress whatever the cause is important.
Here’s a beginning video particularly for you guys.
For great free patterns here’s a good place to start:
I learned how to hand sew at an early age. I didn’t use these techniques again until 10+ years later when I took a quilting class.
On the left side to applique this heart I did a simple whip stitch. (Create by sticking your needle into the bottom fabric and back up and the up through the folded edge of the heart and pull tight enough to hold but not so tight it puckers)
On the right side, I have gone back over the whip stitch with a chain stitch to cover up the whip stitches and make it more finished. (Pull your thread up and down a short distance. With your thread on the left side, stick your needle from the top where you began under the space you left and back up just slightly where you went down. If you did correctly it should look like a loop.
Yes, I know you can do this on the sewing machine, but applique is a satisfying take-along project for those commuter trips or even waiting in the doctor’s office.
If you reviewed my previous painting, the Colonial Madonna, you probably would have seen what I did. This was a painting that needed dimension, something that would make it seem real. Here’s what I added.
Added lace.
While the lace was not easy to apply because it kept coming off, it achieved the look I was going for. Now, it has both texture and dimension. I did not have a strong glue , which I highly recommend, so I used double-sided tape and painted.
Since my lace was not the same color as the dress, I needed to paint it anyway, so this was not an extra step. The final step was to paint out any of the red that was overflowing onto the floor.
Adding lace, fabric, twigs, or any other lightweight objects to your painting can take your good painting to the next level.
Don’t be afraid to venture into the unknown or add the odd or not so normal touch to achieve your desired effect.
Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! This is one of the most profound statements that is in the Bible.
Think about what that means! We are in a time of spiritual awareness. While some days it may seem like evil is all around us, those are the days when thousands of angels surround us.
The faith of one person can save an entire family. If you have faith in your relationship with Jesus, there is no fear. During those times when you question how you will get through the day, just whisper His name.
That’s right, just a whisper can send demons running. I kind of gauge faith like a thermometer. You are either on fire for Jesus or you are lukewarm and are waiting for a nudge. Then there are those that are downright cold!
I can hear one of my sister’s right now, “Yep, you sound just like one of those Baptists”. Well, I am not offended by that. I no longer serve any particular denomination but just the holy trinity. Jesus doesn’t care which church you attend as long as it honors him!
I don’t know about you, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord Jesus.
Have a great weekend. Keep a pew open. You never know when I might slide in!
Today, we got up early and set out for Carolina Beach. It was a pleasant one and a half our trip. Our first destination was Carolina Beach State Park. Here are a few pics.
After dipping my toes in the Cape Fear River, we decided to ride up to the ocean front. Unfortunately, like our previous experience in Beaufort, we could not find a single parking spot on the beach without a sign the read “Pay to Park.”” The irony is I did not see but one car that was parked in any of the spaces. At $6/hr that you could only pay by phone, the empty spaces spoke volumes! There was no way I was going to pay $6 for a ten minute walk on the beach. The idiots that impose these regulations not only deny visitors the right to visit the beach, but they are cutting their own throats when potential beach goers stop coming because of the restricted parking.
Frustrated that we did not get to walk on the beach, we proceeded on to Wilmington. The atmosphere in Wilmington is much more embracing. Being an artist myself, I always seek out galleries. Pulling into the mall parking lot, we found Art In Bloom Gallery. It was a nice but small gallery. The focus of this gallery was pottery and collage. It was different but inspiring.
It’s time to head back home to check on the dog. Our trip may have been short but a nice break.
While I much prefer a paintbrush, today I am playing around with drawing on my desktop computer.
Ever artist has their own choice of software. Mine is Autodesk Sketchbook. Why, you ask, because it is simple to use but still has enough tools for just the right touch. Here’s a piece I just created.
Maybe it’s not as good as a painting, but since I have a touch screen, I could still draw by hand. That’s right, no AI. If you can draw a line, even a beginner can use this software.
The key to great art is to not rush through it. Take the time to really know your software before beginning a project you may want to sell.
If you want to take it a step further, you can print on Canvas paper and add to it with water color or acrylic paint. You are limited only by your imagination.
You can download a free version of Sketchbook and make a few digital strokes.
Starting a new painting today from a photo. A little background on the photo. The original photo was a tin type owned by my paternal grandmother. Some years ago I photographed all of her tin types while she was still living. I scanned the images into my photo enhancing software and converted to black and white. A lot of times you can find vintage photos at flea markets and antique shops.
Today I sketched this image from one of those photographs. This is just the image and background. Normally I use water when I paint but to do the background today I used white vinegar. If you have never heard of this I guess you are shaking your head right now. If you spray it before you paint it just gives the paint a slight sheen. I’ll show you a second painting and what happens when you spray the vinegar on the paint!
Vinegar before painting.Vinegar after painting.
You will notice the paint separates and drips, creating a different effect. Don’t be afraid to try new things like sponges and other household products to create something different.
There are a lot of components to creating art. Lately, I have struggled to even be motivated to create art, but then I realize that is just the devil trying to derail me.
So, back in the saddle again, I make a few strokes to finish this piece that has been sitting on my easel for a few weeks.
Visionary
It’s not my best work, but there is a story behind it. I am not a person who dreams, so when I am awakened at night with a vision of an angel stabbing the earth, I took that as a sign I was supposed to do something with that. This is what developed from that vision.
I still may paint over it, but I feel like there is a real message in the image. As strong as my faith is, I am not an authority on visions or interpretation of dreams. I can only tell you what I feel it means. I don’t know his name, but his purpose is to warn us to turn our focus to Jesus or prepare for the final battle.
The book of Revelations is pretty clear. Those who turn from God will suffer his wrath. The painting reminds us we are in that last window of opportunity. This Angel may pull out his sword if the world unites.
Art is a great way to express faith and emotions. We all have a choice. Make sure you make the right one.
