Year 4 and Year 1 Nature Notebooks

Our homeschool nature journals! This was Reuben's Year 4 and Becky's Year 1. What a wonderful year it was. We all grew so much and I can't wait to see what we draw, sketch and paint next year!  

We got outside so much more than last year (when we had a 1 year old baby) and Esther has loved the nature walks and activities almost as much as the older two. Although lagging behind with a baby was hard on her mama who did not get to chat as much with adults. Oh, well, nature group is about the kids but community sure is fun all around. 

Here is to next year and more nature!

Year 3 Nature Notebook Journals

Reuben's Year 3 and Becky's Year 0 (Kindergarten) nature notebooks. Also the first year of Esther's life, what a whirlwind it was. I also included a second video where I show my Nature Notebook for years 1-3. I am not an artist but it was fun to draw along with the kids when I could and I definitely have improved too! Homeschooling the kids is homeschooling myself, too.

Year One Nature Notebooks

It has come to my attention when searching my blog that I did not post the video of my children's year one nature notebooks, but I did post year two! SO, here is our Year One nature Notebooks that I am postdating for posterity! 

These are my son's year one Ambleside online nature notebook drawings! 

January Mother Culture

I am enjoying having some structure for my own growth! So, how did I do with my January goals?

I knit about 1/3 of my engle sweater--but as it is all stranded colorwork, I think I did great! The rest of the sweater is all one color, and should be an easy knit in the round to finish up in February. I also modified the pattern (by accident) in the beginning to that is why mine looks different...I'll go more into that on my project page.

My second goal was to read Missional Motherhood. I'm almost finished with it! Its such a good read, very encouraging, very humbling. I've learned a lot about motherhood, the bible, God, and myself. I highly recommend it for any woman. Even if you don't have kids--all women are called to nurture something, and that is the main point of Missional Motherhood. I also loved how she gives a overview of the old testament and highlights how it correlates to mothering. Foundational stuff, and something I have never seen in any other "mom book" out there-- a clear picture of Motherhood shown through the bible. She goes book by book. It's amazing. I didn't know there was so much in the old testament about motherhood. In short, read it.

My third goal was to grow in the art world. I love drawing and painting, but alas I don't have any skill in the above areas. You can only get better by practicing--so I want to make time to do that. I didn't make nearly enough time this month, but that's okay. In January I drew two things, (and none of them good, but that's just my opinion). The first was Becky, holding a balloon, and the second is supposed to be a tree but looks like an overly large bush. Neither are painted, but both use colored pencils. It's a start, and more than "creating art" I did have fun drawing with the kids and it helped me relax. So.

Next month, I hope to draw more and have a finished sweater. Today I am just trying to get over the fact that Becky refused to nap. Oh, well.

Doodling at Work

Most of the art I do now consists of things that I complete at work.

These two doodles were fun to sketch between calls. Any anime I draw invariably reminds me of my friend Gwen, whose knack at drawing japanese-style creatures always leaves me aware of my meager skills. Gwen, you are amazing!

Doodles

Another doodle I made at work.

Very Dr. Sues, don't you think?

Doodles and Paint

Some new art that I've done while at work. Three watercolors and a prismacolor pencil drawing!

Does anyone else draw or paint when they are bored?

Realism

Two little drawings I did. 

My attempt at some realism :) I really have never tried anything like hands before.

Doodling and art has been very soothing these past few days. ^_^

Doodles

Just some cute pencil doodles that I did last week.

I really love drawing! Abstracts are my favorite, because every person sees something else, and every time you look you see something different. Does anyone else doodle in their spare time to relax and unwind?

My favorite animal is an owl! I have an owl shirt, an owl necklace...and now a cute little owl picture to hang above my window.

What is your favorite animal, and how do you incorperate it into your wardrobe? Don't forget to check out my giveaway! Only four more days!!

Doodles

I don't have much of substance to post today. Here are some doodles I did! They aren't very good, but it least I was working my cranium! (or my hand?)

I also watched I am Number four and must say I was very pleased. I think it would have made a better TV show, but I was entertained! I'll definitely watch the next movie, if there is going to be one.

Summer, Life, and Doodling

Hey guys! How is everyone's summer going? I doodled this bird the other day using prismacolor pencils. This is my second (or third?) time trying them out--I enjoyed the way the colors blend and shape.

My summer has been going great. I really like my new job, and my hours are not strenuous. The only thing I am irked about is that I no longer have internet at my apartment. My landlord decided to go on vacation to the Bahamas and forgot to pay the internet bill. We can't get ahold of her to come in and reset up payment, and we can't call verizon because she is the account holder. Thus, no internet. Sad kitty.

However, this has been both of a blessing and a curse.

I no longer spend unneeded or wasteful time on the internet, trolling around with no purpose or goal. When I do arrive at barns and nobles, I have everything in my head that I want to do: post a blog post, check my e-mail, facebook, and etsy, as well as send any replies to friends, family, or customers. I don't loll around google or aimlessly surf youtube anymore! My time at home as well as my mornings have been MUCH more productive! And for this, I thank God. =)

However...sadly....I no longer have a magic box that I can ask questions of whenever I have a problem. Don't understand a sewing term in my manual? I can't google it. Want to look up a quick recipe? Can't! I can't listen to pandora, or change my facebook status (I've thought of some good ones too) or check out my favorite bloggers.....

But, I am enjoying my (hopefully) brief hiatus from the internet and making use of my local bookstore in the process. And I am learning patience. Maybe when my landlord returns I will be able to make use of my time on the internet and not waste any!

I have some cool things coming up this week: a tutorial for a new skirt and some more drawings.

Ciao!

Lots of drawing and not a bit of thread

So I did lots of doodles today! There will be another tutorial tomorrow, this one on ruffles! Gotta love Ruffles =)

I know I'm not that good of an artist, but I love to doodle and draw.

Christmas Doodles

I miss my sewing machine! But am glad to see my family! My sister just had a new baby and she's a darling. I've been hanging out with my dad, my mom, and my lil sister on an off all week! I've also had a lot of time to draw (and to watch copious amounts of anime). Here are some of my doodles to share!

Hope everyone's new years is going great!

General Musings

So, work has begun again. I've been working on sewing, have a good idea for a story, and am buying some nice watercolors to experiment with! I'm excited about my etsy shop too =)

More doodles from my note book:

This is a drawing of my boyfriend and I:

I am learning a lot and hopefully things will settle down soon...Pineapples and happy creating, blog-world =) I can't wait to get started on all my ideas....

My attempt at coloring

I've never been good at it. Skin is hard!

I am about to ride to the post office =)

Bliss + 2 wk Vacation + Art time =)

So, my roommate moved in today and things are going great =) I cooked my first fish on the stove also (it was yummy) and even did some sketching. This one I inked in pen, I like pen...

I call it "The Princess Who Got Caught Picking Flowers On The Edge Lake Nun"

^_^

Tomorrow I plan on riding my bike to the post office (this is my trial run of a week of bike riding only, no car).

I have some fun things planned this week!

Tootles! =)

Sketching

I love to sketch, sketch sketch. These are some old sketches from about a year ago I did in my classes at LU.

I need to pick up drawing again. I miss it ^___^. But, I did make a dress today, from an old skirt! Will post pictures tomorrow.

Memorial Day Art

Not much art today =) Cooked hamburgers with my boyfriend (he actually helped cook AND did the dishes!) and I colored this tree with new colored pencils I bought at the art store. They are prismacolor, and I think I used them like crayons. But I kind of like the effect.

Sewing lessons start in two weeks!