During a short break at lunch, I sketched this young student studying at Starbuck's. I only had about 5 minutes so I had to draw quickly. She is actually writing on a paper directly behind the open book. The girl had the deepest dimple on her chin.

I created this photo digital of my youngest son in front of our home in 1999. I thought it perfect to post for Halloween. The hand on the pumpkin is real. Originally there was a huge leaf fort behind my son that he and his friend built. His friend was concealed inside the fort with his hand sticking out on the pumkin.


Another Illustration for EveryDay Matters Challenge #38, "Draw something Halloween".

For "Blind Contour Friday 13", my new Browning hat (it reads "Pheasants Forever") and camo gloves. Trying to simulate neon orange is tricky.

A litte background here: most don't believe I hunt when I tell them. I consider myself a well-rounded woman (very feminine) but with an independent and adventurous streak. I wear high heels by day but once home I wear jeans and tanks. I was raised in a family that hunted, fished and camped. Mostly hunting in my family was a man thing (I never got to go along) but helped clean my share of fish and game. When I married K, he taught me to hunt and I really enjoy just being out in nature with him.

Pheasant season opens tomorrow and husband K and I are taking off before the sun comes up. We're both really looking forward to being outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and the beautiful countryside. It's so great to get out of the city, away from the hustle and bustle and just get back to nature. That's the best part of the hunt for both of us, but we always eat whatever we get and don't hunt just for sport.

I'll be taking my paper and pencil, along with a camera for when we break so stay tuned, you just never know what might turn up on my blog! For more blind contours, visit InkFinger.

Another sketch in public for Every Day Matters Challenge #36.

For Every Day Matters Challenge #37, "Draw Some Keys". These are my set of car and house keys. The key ring holder is made of pewter and has an angel on it. The inscription reads, "His Angels have charge over thee". Mathew 4:6. This is very dear to me as it was given to me by my youngest son at Christmas a few years ago.

I worry each and every time my children drive or get in a car with their friends. They worry about me too.

For InkFinger's BCF, Finally! The arms and legs are actually straw.

The original before adding color:

There's more than a remote chance that this Chihuahua will need to go to the bathroom. It's only a matter of time.

I was tagged by Holly in Ontario. Now to finish my list of 20 things about me:

1. I lived in Ontario, Canada for about 20 years. I love hockey. Favorite Hockey Team? My kid's team of course! Then the Detroit Red Wings against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

2. While in Canada, I only drink Tim Horton's coffee. While in the U.S. I only drink Starbuck's coffee. I have my favorites, what can I say?

3. I look forward to winter because I like to ski, snowmobile, ice skate, play hockey, sled and build snowmen.

4. Fall is one of my favorite times of year. The air is crisp and clean. You can open all your windows and let the freshness come in. The colors energize me, especially red.

5. I too collect beach glass, on the shores of the Great Lakes and the St. Clair river. I recently found an antique electrical plug made of porcelain washed up on shore.

6. I love antiques and old victorian homes. I can envision what the victorian home would look like restored. I also love chalet type mountain homes and hope to build one.

7. When I go into homes or public places, I have to straighten the pictures on the wall. I try to do this without anyone knowing, however I have been caught on occassion. I don't like anything that hangs crooked. I have been affectionately named "Dead-Eye Dick" because I can level a picture without the level! On a recent stay at a Hyatt Regency Hotel, I noticed the paintings in the foyer were crooked. I had to fight my urge to straighten them as the hotel was crowded with employees and guests.

8. My favorite foods as a child were: tacos, clam chowder, shrimp and frog's legs.

9. The only time I ever skipped school, my Mom happened to be driving by and caught me.

10. I have never bleached my hair. Being a brunette has always been my trademark.

11. God and Family are first in my life-oh and right after that is illustration and design!

12. I want to learn to speak Portuguese fluently.

13. My favorite movie to watch with my husband and children every Christmas is Home Alone and Home Alone 2, it's just hilarious and gets me in the holiday mood.

14. My favorite salad is the Fuji Apple Salad at Panera Bread. Try it! (Only offered in the summer).

15. I am already stressing about Christmas and what to give as gifts.

16. I love to go to the apple orchard in the fall and have homemade apple pie and ice cream. It's time!

17. Being a Mom has been the most fullfilling experience of my life.

18. I was once a bumble bee at Halloween.

19. I broke my jaw in 3 place in 5th grade. Nasty business.

20. I am not quick to judge and dislike people who are.

Here's who I am tagging:

Flicka's Place
Gastrono-Me
Felicity's Philsophies
June 25th

The antelope that hangs in our great room over my husband's favorite chair. I think I like the brown tones better, more natural to the antelope's environment. Which do you prefer?

For more blind contours visit InkFinger.

My submission for Illustration Friday's theme "cold". Before long we will bundled up in toques and gloves again.

Just a quick sketch for the Everyday Matters challenge #36 - "draw in public". Fall decorations outside Regency Parkway Mall during my lunch hour...while talking on the phone.

I am a few days late posting for InkFinger's Blind Contour 10. I did several illustrations for this week's challenge but just wasn't satisfied with the results.

Today I met with my friend Karen, who is a very talented and successful illustrator. As with each time we get together, our conversations fill me with a sense of kindship, of not being alone when struggling with our busy lives, all the while trying to follow our passion for illustration with a freshness of concepts and creativity. I leave with a renewed sense of energy and drive and think "I CAN DO THIS". When I got home I sat down and created this illustration and am quite pleased with the way it turned out. I hope Karen, that I have inspired you too, in some way to take time for yourself and spread your creative wings. You're a very talented and amazing illustrator and such an inspiration. Thank you, this one's for you!

What gets you by when you are having a tough week?

When I am having a tough one, like this week, and I have a few moments of down time, I turn to illustrating for release.

I painted this a while ago however it seems the perfect for IF's theme,"float" and too, now that Halloween is drawing near. This illustration was create from a part of the Harry Potter series of books I was reading when the witches all went to town shopping. How many things are floating in this picture? For a larger and more detailed version, click here.

I am now reading Book 6, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince".