fish wishes

i was going through the drafts that i have never posted.

these fish are now journal ephemera. 

no ordinary hands

Of all the things I love and appreciate, it is my hands.


I care for my hands by:
keeping them warm
improve circulation by:
warm-up and range-of-motion exercises
rest days from the computer
hanging my arm off the side of the bed for pain and circulation
 ergonomic brushes or thick brushes

My range of motion exercises is gentile. I find it more fun and helpful if I have a few go-to exercises. What works the best for me finger touches with my thumb.

I have been doing this for years and have found flexibility and less pain and swelling in my weaker hand and lots of improvement in my most distorted hand.

Hanging my hand over the side of the bed increases blood flow and lowers pain before I go to sleep.

carrying weights when I walk, much like the farmers walks only not exactly, but using the same principle with weights that I can carry while walking. This has improved my hand strength amazingly, much better than hand grips or fist exercises which I can't do because the repetition causes strain.

supplements
relaxation
heating pad
self-massage

hard tipped pens

• Black pilot gel pens
• Pigma Graphic 1

Using these types of pens and finding the best hardness pen type and paper helps my drawing. I practice faux calligraphy for range of motion.

Things I have been learning

I am learning Inkscape and Gimp, and hope to be
more proficient in both next year. 

The banner classes are fun. I really like applying 

what I have learned from other classes.

Sticker class

Inkscape fabric repeat class 1st lesson

Sketch notes / journal

inner mermaid

Inner Mermaid

Working with the shadow.
Observing and participating in the part of that loves chaos and drama.

Taking this apart and loving it.

Very hard.

Heart thumping wildly.

Obviously, my goals and intentions are too low, not insane enough to produce the kind of joy I need to create.

Inspired by:

Tiny house

and

Denise Jacobs

I Ching hexagram #5 and #43

can't explain the nuance

digital fun

I took this drawing and played with it in Inkscape.

 Played with colors and muted background.

I used bridges and isolated features with transparent and gradient fill

HOW i USE MY SVG FILES

I start with the file. I use Inkscape. A simple way of turning anything I draw, into vectors, then I can use these components to create my design.

These were cut using a brother scan n cut machine.

These are from random kits that I will have in my Etsy shop. The circle is a test cut. I used 140 lb water color paper 9" inches x12 " inches.

I removed them from the cutting mat, and painted them with water color.

After painted them I added doodles and calligraphy. 

Mermaid coloring Pages

This is a first in a series of Mermaid coloring pages. Available now at my Etsy shop.

Full-color samples practice page and high-quality drawing that prints clearly on all printers.

More pictures at my Etsy shop

Tossed flowers

Inspired by flowers could also be the name of this post. Flowers are every where.



Where I live that also means: wind is everywhere.
The tossed prints are created with flower sketches made with My Paint and Gimp.

Green and flowers...= spring.

This drawing was created on open source software called My Paint. I love the brushes the colors and the way it responds to my hand and tablet.

I use Ubuntu on a linux dual boot.

Spring blossoms a dress to wear in spring

Light green is one of my favorite colors. Have I ever met a color I didn't like?
I like the fit and flare dress silhouette. Very flattering and hides and enhances at the same time.

Social Creatures

One of the things I am having fun with in Inkscape, is using lines and shapes to create interesting faces. I really wanted to see how many different faces i could create by using a limited palette and mixing drawing elements.

My favorite kind of dress

Just another reason I can't wait for summer, or at least a warm spring: I love summer dresses.