Packing the Bus & FunFact's New EP

Kelly Packing the School Bus with Equipment
Watercolour and Ink

Kelly packing his drum kit into the school bus for an out of town gig.

September 19, 2012 FunFact released their new EP. You can get a free download (for a limited time) at FunFactMusic.com

642 Things to Draw #49 - A Crystal Ball

Crystal Ball
Ink and Watercolour

This is a pretty sad crystal ball. When I look into it all I see is myself looking back, holding a paintbrush. On the other hand, we could say that it is an accurate crystal ball in that it is claiming that I am an artist.

Book: 642 Things To Draw -- this is an Amazon affiliate link. If you would like to purchase this book please use this link. Thank you.

EDM #21 - Draw Something Old, Antique, or Vintage

An Old Iron
Ink and Watercolour

This iron belonged to my dear Mother-in-Law, Maria Grazia Ciolli Tirolese. She used it for many years before getting an electric iron. She would place hot coals in the body to heat up the iron.

We have it now, but it is no longer in use, other than as a sentimental decoration. My mother-in-law gave it to my husband many years ago, as he was admiring it.

642 Things to Draw #47 - Jelly Beans

Jelly Beans
Watercolour Pen

My family and I really enjoy jelly beans. We don't have them often, so they are a treat. I like the red and the black ones of the regular kind. There are too many too name in the Jelly-Belly brand. My son loves the green jelly beans, which are my least favourite.

Book: 642 Things To Draw -- this is an Amazon affiliate link. If you would like to purchase this book please use this link. Thank you.

EDM 18 - View from My Window

The View from My Window
Mixed Media

When I sit in my corner of the sofa, I am close to the patio-doors in our living room. We don't have windows in our apartment, but rather two patio doors, one in the bedroom, and one in the living room. We are on the 10th floor of our apartment building and face the street.

What you see here is my view from my sofa corner. I pulled the curtain back a bit so I could look outside. That is my brown curtain on the right. At the top you see the roof our our balcony (or the bottom of the upstairs balcony). Then you see cloudy sky. The two black areas is my veranda (railing). You can see the tops of buildings between the top and bottom sections of the veranda (railing). At the bottom you see a bit of street and some tree tops between the bottom of the veranda and the floor of my balcony.

I used ink, watercolour, and Derwent Inktense pencils, both wet and dry.

Beverage Receptacles

Left: Drinking Glass; Right: My Favourite Mug
Ink and Watercolour

Recently I saw someone draw some mugs with bold coloured backgrounds. I don't remember where I saw this or who did it. However, I liked it. So, I thought I would try it too.

The image on the left is of our son,s empty drinking glass. He had diet cola in it. There are still some ice in it that has not melted and there is a straw. I am looking at the glass from a slightly lower perspective. Yes, I felt a tiny bit silly drawing this practically lying on the table (okay, with my head down like I were going to take a nap in school). our son is used to me and he claims I do not embarrass him. 

The drawing on the right is of my favourite mug. My husband brought this mug for me. He purchased it at the Museum of Civilization. It has an image on it from one of my favourite artists: Alex Colville. I have illustrated this mug twice before. I drink my morning coffee in it. 

Other posts with this mug in it:

• EDM#4 Draw Your Mug or Cup
• TSP2013 - Make Coffee

Side-View Mirror

View from the side-view mirror
Watercolour, Ink, and Inktense pencils

This view is from the passenger-side side-view mirror. I was on an errand with Alexander (he was driving) and I looked in the mirror and loved the way the clouds were being reflected on the windows and side of the vehicle.

I took half a dozen photos with my iPhone to remember the moment. None were perfect so I used several different ones, plus my memory, to come up with this image.

Perhaps some day I will recreate this in a large painting.

Two Tiny Dolls

Left: Dollinha, Right: Herbunculous
Watercolour and Ink

I have illustrated and written about Dollinha before. If you go to the previous post, you can see more about her, as well as see some photos of Dollinha. Dollinha is about two-inches tall.

I gave given Herbunculous the wrong name in my sketchbook. Both Alexander and Anthony informed me that the doll is NOT named Mr. Homuculus but Herbunculous. This is a small thread doll that used to hang off the rear-view mirror in our vehicle. There has been a previous post about Herbunculous that explains more about it.

Of Watercolour and Erasers

Watecolour Stack and Kneaded Eraser Container
Pen and Ink with Watercolour

The portable watercolour stack (left) has three tiers of 6 colours each giving me 18 colours to carry around with me.  They are opaque watercolours in cake form. The whole thing is about 4 inches wide by three inches high and can easily fit in my purse or backpack.

On the right we have a Michael's Superstore tin that is shaped like a palette. It used to hold mints. Now it holds my kneaded eraser. It is small and portable.

On the Slide

Laura and Alexander on the Slide
Pen and Ink with Watercolour

My friend, Alexia, and her children, met me at the park behind my home for some walking and playing. The kids really enjoyed the playground equipment. These are Alexia's children, Laura and Alexander, playing on one of the slides.

New Purple Moleskine Sketchbook

New Purple Moleskine Sketchbook
W: 3½" x H: 5½" x T: ½"

I started a new sketchbook. It is a small, pocket-sized, book covered in a purple silk fabric. The book measures 3½" wide by 5½" high by ½" thick. It has a heavier stock paper in it that is good for light watercolour, as well as pencil, pen, and water-based marker.

The tacky flower I drew on the front is so I can remember which side is the front. I kept opening it upside-down and backwards.

I picked up the book at Phidon Pens, some time ago, but only got started in it in August, when I filled up my last pocket-sized Moleskine.

Double Page Spread

I always stress about starting new sketchbooks so now I just dig right in with a cover page. It can be silly, fun, colourful, or anything under the sun. Once that page is completed to my satisfaction, I am free to explore through the sketchbook.

Cover Page - My Name
Ink and Watercolour

Once the fear of messing up the new book is gone then the sky's the limit.  Here I did the cover page of my name in black ink with blue, yellow, and red watercolour. The three primary colours with black (a shade). 

TSP - Brush My Teeth

Brush My Teeth - Toothbrushes and  Toothpaste
Watercolour and Ink

Before heading to bed I brush my teeth and wash my face. Here are Anthony's and my toothbrushes in their container on the bathroom sink.

Brushing your teeth is an important part of daily hygiene for good oral health.

I colour-code our things so we can easily see and grab them. I am red/pink/purple. Anthony is any shade of blue and Alexander is any shade of green.

On our calendar I use coloured dots buy appointments so we can see at a glance who has an appointment when.

Click here to see my Sketchbook Project 2013 submissions in one place.

TSP2013 - Take Out the Trash

Throw out the Trash
Watercolour and Ink

Taking out the trash is not a metaphor for anything. This is literally taking out the trash and dropping it down the trash chute down the hall. I do a quick run around the apartment and see if any of the trash bins are full. I empty any that are and take it down the hall to drop down the chute.

We try to be environmentally conscious and not create a lot of trash. Therefore, this task does not happen every day (I do check every day, but don't necessarily have to take anything to the trash chute). I reuse what I can and collect things for the recycle bin (which I take downstairs, to the large bins in the back, as needed). We don't have a composting program in our building and my husband is not keen on the idea of vermiculture.   We don't garden nor have the space for gardening. 

The pink trash bags that I have pictured is what I use when I run out of plastic shopping bags. The building has a rule that all trash must be bagged before being sent down the chute. When I shop I use reusable cloth totes but now and again I'll get the plastic bags when I run out of them for trash.  I have these pink, as well as purple, trash bags that I get at Dollarama, for when I run out of shopping bags. The pink ones have a rose fragrance and the purple ones smell like lavender. I actually use the purple ones in the our bathroom all the time because they look pretty and smell nice. 

At 5¢ a grocery bag in the grocery store you get 20 for a dollar. Since these will only end up being thrown out, I really don't want to spend a lot of money on them. Most of the grocery bags do get reused several times before finally ending up as trash bags.

TSP2013 - Feed the Birds

Dexter the Conure
Pen and Ink with Watercolour

Dexter is an eating machine. He is constantly stealing food off Anthony's plate.  Sometimes, he does not even need a plate. Here you see him taking some of Anthony's sandwich.

Dexter sneaking some peanut butter sandwich
Photo by Ana Tirolese, taken with iPhone

One day he Dexter grabbed a cracker off a plate and was happily walking away with it. It made me think of an ant carrying something bigger than its body. He looked so funny and cute.

You may also view my uploads on my Art House Co-op profile for The Sketchbook Project 2013.

TSP2013 - Clean Bird Cages

Baby Gillespie - Cockatiel with a crooked beak.
Watercolour and Ink

Bird cages are quickly cleaned (change the paper on the bottom). A more thorough clean is done once a month, or sooner if needed.

This is Baby Gillespie (because he trumpets very loudly). He is a white cheeked cockatiel. As a baby he smashed into a window and left him with a crooked beak. We take him to Dr. Shawn Tucker every few weeks to get the beak taken down. Baby loves Dr. Tucker and is always happy to see him.

Baby loves to socialize provided he is in his cage. He does not enjoy coming out to play and is still a bit wary of hands and people.  He came to us in November after having been a breeder. I hear he was a great dad. His mate passed away. We are very patient with him and he now comes to the edge of the cage and talks, sings, and gives kisses. He used to try to hide before.  We hope that some day he will also enjoy coming out to socialize.

Baby Gillespie wondering what the silly lady is
doing what that funny contraption in here hand.
Photo by Ana Tirolese, taken in iPhone 

You may also view my uploads on my Art House Co-op profile for The Sketchbook Project 2013.

TSP2013 - Empty Dishwasher

Empty the dishwasher of clean dishes and add dirty breakfast dishes
 Watercolour with Ink

The dishwasher is set to wash just before I go to bed at night. In the morning, as part of my morning routines, I empty the dishwasher and put away the clean dishes. I then start to refill it with the dirty breakfast dishes, and continue to fill it with dirty dishes (lunch, supper) as the day goes on.

I have a dishwasher magnet on the door to help everyone know if the dishes are dirty or clean inside the dishwasher.

Black and White Dishwasher Clean-Dirty Magnet by Dollinha
Browse more Dishwasher Magnets

It helps to remind us, especially if I am a little tardy in getting the clean dishes out.

You may also view my uploads on my Art House Co-op profile for The Sketchbook Project 2013.

TSP2013 - Take Meat out of Freezer

Taking meat out of freezer and transferring it to the refrigerator
Watercolour with Ink

I check my dinner schedule and if it calls for meat in tomorrow's meal, I take it out of the freezer today and put it in the refrigerator to defrost.  Here I am taking out some ground beef to make Beef Enchilada Casserole.

My meals are planned ahead of time and are put on the calendar so I always know what's for supper. I automate most of the tedious tasks in my life so I have time for the tasks I enjoy. I hope to have an ebook out soon on how to automate menu planning.

Yes, that is a FlyLady sticky on my fridge.

You may also view my uploads on my Art House Co-op profile for The Sketchbook Project 2013.

TSP 2013 - Work Day Starts

Work Day Starts
Pen and Ink with Watercolour

This image is in the wrong order. There are several other household and computer tasks I do before 9:00am, when my work day starts, but I was so excited about drawing the app logos yesterday that I drew this logo today (spoiler alert: I'll draw more logos tomorrow).

I work from home answering phones for TicketWindow.ca. TicketWindow sells tickets for different events and performances throughout Canada (Mostly in New Brunswick, Ontario, and Alberta). Right now, being that it is summer, the phones are not very busy. We do have times when the phones are ringing off the hook, but we are in our slow season. I can and do other work between calls, both on and off the computer. I am tethered to the computer because I use VOIP for TW through my desktop computer, but I have a long cord on my headset.

During the day I get caught up on email, webdesign, social networking, logo design and other client work, blog posting, working on my book(s), working on various projects of my own, research, read, and online education. I also do a bit of housework to force me to stretch my legs (nothing that keeps me off the phone for extended periods of time).  And, of course, I do sketching and artwork...which I can be completed from my computer chair.

You may also view my uploads on my Art House Co-op profile for The Sketchbook Project 2013.

TSP2013 - Eat Breakfast and Make To-Do List

Eat Breakfast and Organize Day's Schedule
Pen and Ink with watercolour

I have my breakfast in front of the computer, more often than not. Usually, it is a bowl of cereal, however, I sometimes will have toast or raisin bread.

While I eat breakfast I organize my day. I used NowDoThis.com to set up a bunch of tasks that need to be done. I grab the information from the different apps and calendars to organize my work day, my housework, and my drawing time.  I find I am most productive when I set up my To-Do list / schedule this way.

NowDoThis is a simple website in which you add the tasks that you want to do in the order you want to do them in. I have tweaked my list several times to find what works for me and I keep a copy of the list in Evernote that I can copy and past it into the NowDoThis window. I tweak it some more for a particular day, then go for it.

Click on the Edit List link and this window comes up.

Write your To-Do list in the box in the order you want to do it in. You can copy and paste it from another program such as a Word file or an Evernote file. You can edit the list throughout the day if you find that you need to change the order or add/remove tasks. Click Ready button when your list is complete and you want to start.

If you add a time to your list, as above, NowDoThis will give you a simple count-down timer. Click Start when you are ready and it will start to count down. 

View of the count-down timer.

When your time is up, you will hear a "ding". You can then click the Done button.

The next item in your list will pop up. I did not add a time limit to this item so no count-down timer showed up.  I will click  the Done button when I finish this and the next item on the list pops up. I usually alternate between a computer task and a non-computer task to force me to get up often throughout the day. You can have several timed items in a row if you want to control your computer time. For example, 30 minutes - read email; 30 minutes - facebook; 70 minutes working on book project; etc. 

When you complete everything on your list you get this very satisfying All Done! message. I try to organize my day so that I get a certain amount of housework completed before 9:00am, which is when my work day starts. I then include a few housework items that take only a few minutes here and there in order to get off the computer and stretch my legs. I have all my regular task, computer and otherwise, completed early in the day so that I have the rest of the day to do creative work with no time limits. 

You may also view my uploads on my Art House Co-op profile for The Sketchbook Project 2013.

TSP2013 - Make Coffee

Coffee being Made in the Morning
Pen and Ink with Watercolour

I enjoy a good cup of coffee first thing in the morning. More often than not, I only have one cup a day. It is a rare day that I make myself a second cup.  The Tassimo Coffee Maker is really good for making individual cups of coffee. It can also be used to make tea, lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, and hot chocolate. We usually have all of those on hand in the event someone feels like having something other than regular coffee.

My lovely black coffee starts my day for me. If I don't have that coffee I feel out of sync.

Coffee is more than just a beverage for me. It is also a chance to socialize with my dear friends.  Now and again one will call me or I'll call one and we go out for a coffee and a visit. Sometimes I'll have them in for a coffee and a visit. "Let's go for a coffee" is my way of saying "I miss you and want to visit." It does not have to be coffee, it could be tea, or any other beverage.

You may also view my uploads on my Art House Co-op profile for The Sketchbook Project 2013.