Are You Left or Right Brain Oriented?

I ventured over to my friend Kris' blog and took a creativity test she had posted. I've taken tests similar to this before, but this one I found to be much better.

C R E A T I V I T Y

T E S T

Left Brain ------------Right Brain

42%------------------------ 58%

You are more right-brained than left-brained. The right side of your brain controls the left side of your body. In addition to being known as right-brained, you are also known as a creative thinker who uses feeling and intuition to gather information. You retain this information through the use of images and patterns. You are able to visualize the "whole" picture first, and then work backwards to put the pieces together to create the "whole" picture. Your thought process can appear quite illogical and meandering. The problem-solving techniques that you use involve free association, which is often very innovative and creative. The routes taken to arrive at your conclusions are completely opposite to what a left-brained person would be accustomed. You probably find it easy to express yourself using art, dance, or music. Some occupations usually held by a right-brained person are forest ranger, athlete, beautician, actor/actress, craftsman, and artist.Your left brain/right brain percentage was calculated by combining the individual scores of each half's sub-categories.

They are as follows:
Your Left Brain Percentages
34%
Symbolic (Your most dominant characteristic)
32%
Linear
27%
Verbal
18%
Sequential
17%
Logical
14%
Reality-based (Your least dominant characteristic)
Your Right Brain Percentages
39%
Random (Your most dominant characteristic)
37%
Concrete
36%
Fantasy-oriented
24%
Holistic
24%
Intuitive
19%
Nonverbal (Your least dominant characteristic)

How creative are you
Take The Test

Here

New Additions!

Spring is definitely here and my porch/veranda has been become my retreat to relax for a moment from the chaos of everyday life! Here's a picture of a chair my grandfather had made, I had inherited it years ago and it wasn't quite finished it still needed stain or a paint job and strapping for the seat and a cushion. Hubby painted it what else but purple for me and added the strapping and I finally found a cushion to fit it Viola!

Last year's straw mat was looking pretty grubby after winter so hubby decided to spray paint it and presto a new mat is born!! I'm loving it more then the original color (See below for the before picture)
Imagine our suprise when we discovered

these two critters crawlin' around ;-)

More Digi Art

Here's some more digital art I made for a friend.

Yep, it helped cure my creative urges again!

Curbing the Creative Urge

Lil' Man

I was in the mood to create something last night but didn't feel like digging things out and getting dirty since it was late, so what better way to cure the creative urge then to do a little digital art! I've been saving the picture of this wee kilted laddie for awhile now wanting to use him in something!

The Pink Artist Doll is Done!

Some of you may recall a few posts back about the

Pink Artist square I made and donated
http://aileensmusings.blogspot.com/2008/02/be-pink-artist.html#comments

the doll is finished and she's gorgeous!!
Monica did an extraordinary job creating the "Pink Artist" doll, as did all the artists who contributed! The "Pink Artist" doll is made of 180 2 x 2 donated squares of art. After it is exhibited by Art Doll Quarterly, it will be auctioned off for Breast Cancer research.
To see more pictures and info visit Monica's blog:
to http://girl-gone-thread-wild.blogspot.com/

Mini Canvas & Wood Journal

I had a bit of fun creating this mini canvas using the prompt "heaven" what quickly came to mind since it was morning was that a sip of a coffee latte would have been heaven! What can I say I was craving some caffeine at the time! I used an acrylic domino mounted on a mini canvas (1 1/2"x 2 1/2") and some fluffy white angel wings that I cut & adhered both to the canvas using crystal lacquer. I finished it off by displaying it on a mini easel. Check out my OTM Inspiration Blog to see how I created the Acrylic Domino.

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W O O D J O U R N A L
Here's my finished wood journal from my art play-day with friends the other day. It took a completely different direction as I got the doodle bug, and couldn't stop myself! I first drilled holes around the opening and then colored it using my Color Mists . Once it was dry I used a white sailor pen and began drawing designs. I used some cotton dyed needlepoint thread and a piece of wire to stitch through the holes I'd drilled to create a pattern.



On the back side I used the Color Mists also and then used a stencil and chalk inks around the edges. I also went over the stencil design with the white sailor pen again.

Queen for a Moment...

I tried to post this yesterday but blogger wasn't cooperativing! I had a fun play day with my artist buds and we worked on some wooden journals. While we were creating away the mail arrived and Queen Kris received her beautiful new crown made by Lady Joanne the royal crown maker! The crown was spectacular! Holding it in your hand you can see that this crown must have taken quite a long time to create! Queen Kris being the benevolent queen that she is allowed each of us to try her crown on, of course her guards were not far off with their trusty sword so my ideas of heisting it for myself went out the drawbridge!

Happy Easter

Spring is in the air here's a picture of my

bathtub garden in bloom just in time for Easter!

Portrait in Green

This is my portrait in green for a group lottery....how could I resist turning myself into a mermaid. I did look in the mirror and try to draw what I saw but this is what I ended up with (drawn on linen paper with watercolors and gouache paints). She's definitely thinner then me LOL

I ain't got no Steekin' Accent

Having been online for almost 15 years I have online friends from all over and a constant theme comes up at one point or another when we've actually talked on the phone....who has an accent....everyone seems to have an accent to me, I'm from the west we don't have accents LOL take the quiz below and see what accent you have.....come on now no cheatin' be honest ;-)

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
The South
Boston
Philadelphia
The Northeast
North Central
The Inland North
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Now that we have that settled take a peek over at OutsideTheMargin's inspiration blog to check out Jean Carter's whimsical tutorials she created

http://otm-inspirations.blogspot.com/

Chubby Enough?

Okay so the other mermaids weren't so chubby as many of you pointed out to me and I must agree. This time I tried for chubbier, I think I actually succeeded this time, what do you think is she chubby enough?

Mermail Anyone?

The Mermail Thank You card and envie I created using Color Mists, small-holed punchinella and chalk inks and some gold leafing paint stamped. If the mermaid and the sea horse look familiar (see previous post) I decided to cut up the picture and use them separately.

Front of Envie

Some of you may recognize the shell stamp in the background that I made....see my penscore tutorial on my OTM BLOG and before I get asked about the Mermaid faux postage stamps they were sent to me, I have no idea where they're from.

Back of Envie

I'll be the first to admit I wasn't thrilled with this previously posted mermaid but I had promised before I would share not only the good but the not so good and even the not so pretty! I think the later is what this chubby big haired mermaid fell into so I trimmed her hair and reworked her face--wouldn't it be nice if we could do that...wait a second scratch that, I had visions of that movie titled Death Becomes Her starring Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep....scary thought! LOL Anyhow, I'm not thrilled with her but I'm keeping her for now who knows what she'll turn into.

Chubby Mermaids

Boy it's been awhile since I've drawn or painted and I felt rusty yet, it felt good too!

My friend wanted me to paint some chubby mermaids so I attempted it using watercolors and Gouache paints it wasn't so easy drawing chubby I soon found out LOL....I also felt out of practice with the faces again especially! The two larger mermaids I made so I could cut them out and hang them from ribbon. They measure about 5"x7 "in size.

An Eagle Soars!

Congratulations

Spencer!

My son recently earned his Eagle rank in scouting.

It's quite an honor and only earned through

a lot of time and hard work!

Statistics of Scouting

A Look At 100 Boys That Join Scouting
12 will receive their first time religious contact
5 will earn their religious emblem
2 will enter the clergy
18 will develop hobbies which will last a lifetime
8 will enter a career based on Merit Badges work
17 will become Scout volunteers
1 will use Scouting skills to save the life of another person
1 will use Scouting skills to save his own life
28 will continue lifelong hobbies started in Scouting
2 will attain the rank of EAGLE

STRIKE A POSE!

Both of my younger sons do not like to have their

picture taken, nor smile for the camera, instead they'd rather do poses, I call this their Adonis look LOL

WINTER FUN

This took me almost two weeks to finish this piece for a lottery we do in a group I'm in......yes I know that's crazy, but so much has been going on that it was only here and there that I've been able to work on it...I started out using the backside of a bingo card as the base and adding some scrap paper, a Vintage image some stamping, rub-ons, and chalk inks...finally I used my finger and spread some gesso on the bottom to look like snow and then chalk inked around that when it was dry. I also dipped a ball point pen in the gesso adding white gesso dots to give the illusion of it snowing.

What If...

Boy this has been my week! I was first bestowed with the You Make My Day award by Debi and then by Andrea talk about making MY day they sure did!

******

Next I was tagged by Connie with a What If...

Here are my 7 What if's...

1. What If I could meet anyone in the world to chat with:

Gee this is a hard one....shall it be noble or frivolous? And the winner is....frivolious!!.....Rosie O'Donnell.

2. What If I could travel anywhere in the world:

If I could go anywhere it would be back to Scotland to explore it further especially the isles and attend an art retreat while I was there.

3. What If I could have one wish granted to benefit all of mankind:

It would be the ability for everyone to see, feel and understand what it's like to be in someone else's shoes.

4. What If I could live in a period other than the present for just 24 hours:

I would say the Jacobite era .

5. What If I had to become an animal for 24 hours:

A wild horse so I could run, I would have said a leopard but I really don't relish the idea of having to eat raw meat LOL

6. What If I could make-over three areas of my body:

I would take off mega weight, have eye surgery to fix my eye sight and a boob lift.

7. What If I could bring anyone back to life for 24 hours:

That's an easy one my mother so I could gleem more art knowledge from her and ask her all the quetions I wished I had. Also so she could see how my boys have grown and they could have one last visit with her.

Be a Pink Artist!

YOU are cordially invited to join!
"the pink artist"is a community of artists joining togetherto create one joint art doll to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.When doll is complete, it will be mailed in to Art Doll Quarterly™before finally being auctioned off on eBay at a later date.
ALL PROCEEDS WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT CHARITY.

http://girl-gone-thread-wild.blogspot.com/2008/01/pink-artist-community-art-doll-project.html

*******

Here's my square I'm sending in...I'll admit it was a bit hard for me to work on such a small scale. I made my piece by spreading tar gel down on fabric and ironing deli paper colored with Color Mists down onto it and adding a flower cut from paper and ironed with Golden's Tar Gel again....I used a teflon sheet between the iron and the fabric/paper. I then used a white sailor pen to draw around the petals and sewed on the button and beads.

My scanner doesn't scan 3D objects

very well so the picture isn't the best.

She's Baaack!!

Whoohoo my muse came to visit me today, I'm hoping she's back to stay!

I created this piece using an 8x10 corner canvas I bought awhile back. They're designed to fit in a corner to hang but I had orginal thought it would be interesting to use it backwards.

I first colored it with a combination of Color Mist colors then before they were dry I dry brushed gesso over them then dried with the heat gun and repeated it once more. I then sealed it with PYMII and dry brushed again with gesso and then used punchinella like a stencil with chalk inks then I heat set it and sealed again with PYMII.

Winter Beach

Side View

Back View

FACE LIFTS!

Exciting News!

Outside The Margins has a brand new look!

Check it out and leave a comment under

OTM NEWS/TESTIMONIALS

and I'll send you a $5.00 off Thank you Coupon!

If you experience any problems be sure to email me and let me know.

Wanted Art Muse!

Hey what do you know as I was cleaning up my work area today in between a million other things I had to do I snuck a little art time in!

The first piece I started the other day just goofing around...I've been wondering where my muse has gone--I think she went on an extended vacation with the lack of time I've had for her, so maybe this will let her know I want her back...think so?

Here'a little pocket fairy I put together with the help of some fun goodies that came in the mail from my friend Kathy McElroy


Pocket Fairy

You Make My Day Award

Talk about making my day! Karen Owen did just that by nominating me for the You Make My Day Award! Thank you Karen I am honored to be included in your list! I was feeling pretty under the weather today thanks to hubby sharing his cold with me and Karen's award definitely made my day! Here's the scoop on the award:
The rules for give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and makes you feel happy about blog land. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times.

Now without further ado I nominate the following bloggers:::taps microphone:::thump thump thump:::: testing 1 2 3.....

Ahem :::clears throat::: I would like to thank my friends and family...oh wait wrong speech! Okay okay...here goes I know I was suppose to pick 10 but I've shortened it to 7.

I'm sending this right back at:
1. Karen Owen (Karen's Muse and Musings)because her blog never ceases to inspire me with her wonderful creations not only that her blog gives me a serene feeling whenever I visit it! Karen does nature like nobody's business (get your mind outta the gutter I wasn't meaning THAT!) a visit to her blog always makes my day! Check it out if you haven't already!
2. Dawn Meehan (Because I said So!) - This is not your typical arty blog! Although, I would count Dawns wonderfully comedic posts definitely art! I first found Dawn's blog by way of eBay--someone had sent me a link to her hilarious auction she posted for some Pokemon cards from there I found her blog and have been reading it ever since! She makes my laugh and at times has been known to make me cry (sometimes from laughing so hard). I must admit she also makes me glad that my three boys are almost grown LOL I can't imagine having 6 kids! Dawn does and she does it without Alice (from the Brady Bunch) and with a whole lot of humor, style and reality! Stay tuned for her book coming out this fall.
3. Rick Green (Organized Doodles)-Rick is an extremely talented and nice blogger! He illustrated my blog banner. Ever since I discovered his blog via Dawn's blog (don't you love how one blog leads to another) I've been reading his blog. His illustrations and the bit of humor he puts into each is wonderful and really makes my day!
4. Kris Henderson (Brain Bubbles)- Its a repeat nomination but its the truth, a visit to Kris' blog always makes my day! I love to see what new picture she posts to share!
5. Christy Grant (Artchickadee)- a visit to Christy's blog is always a breath of fresh air for me. Perhaps its because I know Christy but her blog not only leaves me feeling good but inspired, not just to do art but also to be a better person.
6. Michelle Ward (GPP Street Team)-Michelle's blog not only inspires me but it challenges me to think, take action or/or participate and somedays I need that push to do something I might not have otherwise.
7. Cyndi Lavin (LayerUponLayers)- Cyndi has the most interesting read and resources on her blog/website. It really makes my day to read the artist profiles she shares with the world! I come away feeling both awed and inspired!

Many thanks to each of you
for helping bring a bright
spot in my day!!

Help Save a Life

Check out MaNic Mommy's blog and donate some blood...save a life and if that isn't enough you might even win some $$:
http://manicmommy.blogspot.com/2008/01/i-donate-blood-will-you.html#links

Crowing Divine

D I V I N E

11"x 14" canvas

This piece started out in a completely different direction, in fact it started out to look nothing like this! It began as something whimsical and it just wasn't working, so I covered over the background and paper and images completely with paints, glazes and some deli paper misted with Color Mists in hues of copper and browns I then stamped with gesso (The paper actually felt like leather after I applied it with gel medium). It still was missing something, so I added more papers, layer by layer! I struggled and struggled with this piece nothing seemed to come together easily and after adding the image of the woman and her headdress from a large sunflower cut up it sat hanging in my studio staring at me for over a year. I was waiting for just the right piece I felt it needed over the headdress. I wasn't sure what it would be, but I was sure I would know "it" when I saw it...at least I hoped! So when hubby gave me the pile of metal fixtures I got excited when I saw two pieces in the pile I thought would work... sure enough they did! I also added brass corners from the pile as well. I stacked the two drawer fixtures cutting and bending the top one so it would sit a top the bottom one and give the crown more depth. I antiqued them with Modern Options Patinas and then went over that with some chalk inks and some brown varnish.

The moral of this story is...if you don't like what you end up with don't give up just cover over it. I'm happy I was able to see this piece come to fruition and didn't get frustrated and toss it...trust me I was tempted!

Here's a close up of the fixtures and if you click the link below you can see what they began as:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0n7IJjyE728MEWu-SG3U8isNozvO6QlPEgbdD6x304JCrx3-b2rXEgJ0b1YqHrm5xlLruPjtujTr7jdt5ZUtYvi5TcDL0uuZDszRpC7JE0j7TiVvcnvZOb3Baas4ynB7FW_L4Sw/s1600-h/metalfixtures.jpg

Another Altered Composition Notebook

I recently created this altered composition notebook for a tutorial I did for Paper Creations Magazine online click the link below to view the tutorial:

http://tinyurl.com/2summb

if the tinyurl doesn't work here's the orginally link:

http://www.papercreationsmag.com/OnlineProjects/pym/alteredbackgrounds.pdf

Altered Composition Notebook

I know I've been really lax about posting but I promise I've been hard at work at some exciting projects. In the mean time here's an altered composition notebook I just finished up.

I hope you've all had a wonderful New Year so far!

Mine feels like it's been on a dead run!

Here's a couple of digi pages I did:

Hubby and sons with some friends on their annual New Year's day polar bear sailing event!


My oldest son and his sweet girlfriend