Debbie Overton Designs

Happy Mother's Day

My friend  Sue at Artful Adventures posted some gorgeous necklaces on her blog again yesterday as well as some pictures her husband had taken.....then she challenged us to go outside and find some beauty in something that you've never paid close attention to before and share with our blog friends....so Sue here you go....a few photos of some of the flowers I have had since we moved in and a few from yesterday's plantings....I have always thought they were pretty...but when you really zoom in on the blooms the details are stunning.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's and mom's to be.  When I think of Mother's Day I always think of flowers....growing up my daddy always bought my mom a gorgeous fresh orchid corsage as well as sweetheart roses for my sister and I to wear to church on Mother's Day....and to this day my mom still receives one.  Now that us girls have grown and gone in different directions we don't get our sweetheart roses from daddy, but we get flowers from our own children.   

Right now I am enjoying my morning....overcast, windy and you can hear thunder in the distance....Steve got called into work due to a little storm that passed through last night...I hope he's not too long as his big breakfast sure would be good about now.....We may have to have it for dinner which is always a favorite here. 

I received a call from one of the shops over on Jekyll Island and she needed more journals, so after delivering her order we headed to the beach for a few hours.  Then Steve and I went flower shopping and came home with a truck bed full of flowers....wish I had thought to snap a picture before we unloaded all of them....but after spending time on the beach and then meandering through rows and rows of flowers in 92 degrees taking a picture was the last thing on my mind.

Seth and KC are still sleeping....I think I wore them out yesterday afternoon....we dug up plants, planted the new ones, replanted some of the old ones and at dusk we were all tired, dirty and thinking....why didn't we just call Lee our wonderful landscaper and let him come by one afternoon and do all this!  The kids were even willing to pitch in their share of the cost after about an hour in the 90+ temps.   In the end it was worth it and I know once all the blooms start opening I know it will be worth it to me.

I have tried to finish this post for the past 30 minutes....remember above I mentioned overcast, windy and distant thunder....well that changed to hard rain and high winds and I have lost power twice for a few minute's each time....I just hope the hail they are calling for misses us......guess I better go check the weather since we have been under a tornado watch most of the morning.

I hope each of you have a wonderful day planned....I am off to enjoy mine.

Another snippet of one of the pieces on display at Monkey Love this month.  "They say we broke ALL the Rules....Maybe a Few!"  I had so many wonderful papers and other elements to work with thanks to two wonderful art friends Elaine and Patsy.   Elaine sent me a wonderful Secret Santa package this past Christmas and Patsy sent me an envelope filled with wonderful papers a few months ago.

Personally I like RULES!

Can you imagine the chaos we would have if there were no rules to follow?  Imagine coming to a major intersection and those with a Red light don't think the Red light rule STOP applies to them...you have one huge pile up of vehicles all because just one person thinks they don't have to abide by the rules. 

Just a little food for thought.....next time you decide not to play by the rules....Someone gets hurt and next time it may be you.

Have a Great day....we are off to the dentist for our 6 month cleanings!!! 

Are you staying in the Loop?

It is no secret I think "I'd rather be in the studio" by Alyson Stanfield is a must have book.  Several weeks ago as I was jumping around from page to page, excuse to excuse, action to action I came across her paragraph on Feedblitz....I got excited because I already had a Feedblitz subscription form on my blog....yeah!

I can already see some of you going what is Feedblitz!  Feedblitz is a free service that will deliver updates from your favorite blogs in one email to your inbox. 

To quote Alyson "If you were creating your ideal newspaper, you'd get to select the content from your favorite writers about the subjects most dear to you, determine the order in which it is laid out (to some extent), and when you read it.  A blog feed is very similar.  You get to choose what you want to read and when you want to read it."

I love it....even though I still have times when I don't leave comments to others...I still am in the loop with their happenings without jumping from one blog to another to find it has not been updated in weeks.

There are lots of ways to receive RSS (Rich Site Summary) feeds, my choice just happens to be Feedblitz.  So if you are like me and would really like to know when your favorite blog has been updated sign up for their updates and you won't forget about some of your favorite blogs.

Signing up for a blogs updates with a feed is not the same as signing up for their newsletter.  I have both on my blog.  If you want to know when I make a new post to my blog then you can sign up with Feedblitz for email updates (left column) and you can also sign up for my occasional newsletter (right column) that I send out every 1-2 months with images and snippets of news and updates to what's going on with Debbie Overton Designs.

Sign up is easy and quick.

Excellent Start

Nancy of Sugar Lump Studios sent me this gorgeous handmade birthday card.  The quote "A sister is one that reaches for your hand and touches your heart" is actually how I have felt over the past several weeks as I have been receiving emails, cards, phone calls and little surprises in the mail all wishing me a wonderful fun filled birthday.....And it was just that. 

Sunrise at the beach...brunch...more beach time...balloons...more beach time...shrimp...cake...sunset at the beach...and a day filled with phone calls from friends and family.

Steve surprised me with another glass fishing float....a gorgeous aqua to go with the white one he gave me for our anniversary a few months ago.....together they remind me of the white sandy beach and blue/green clear water of the ocean......a favorite place for me.  As I opened the package a fragrance as fresh and clean as if I was walking on the beach arose....it was Seashore Eau de Parfum, Body Lotion and Shower Gel.

A couple weeks ago I intercepted a FedEx package addressed to KC.  Steve thought since she was coming home within a few days I would just put the package in her room and when he got home that night he was going to ask about it....well KC called and I told her a pkg had been delivered....of course she said open it.....much to my surprise was something I had been wanting for several years....Adobe Dreamweaver.....now why was she getting Dreamweaver?  She didn't know and I didn't know so I called Steve.....I could hear the surprise and disappointment as I told him what had happened.  He couldn't believe I opened it...it was addressed to KC....I explained she called....didn't know anything about it and asked me to open it.  I told him I had put it back in the box and would tape it shut if that would make him feel better.....no you have already opened it.....go ahead and install it and start playing if you want too.  Well I didn't have time to be playing as I was still working on the last minute details for the gallery exhibit.  He should have clued KC in and I would not have opened it!  However I am glad I did....I installed it and started playing.

It is taking some getting use too especially since I have been using Frontpage all these years....I am building my new business site with it...some things have already been easier to do while others are taking a bit of reading and playing and redoing....but I am getting there.

Do any of you use Dreamweaver?  I would love to hear your experience with it....the good and even the bad.  For years I have heard great things but just couldn't justify buying something else when what I had was working.  I am so thankful Steve supports all my art dreams....because now I have something else to expand and grow with.

Now with a line from one of the cards I received.....

Think of yourself as experienced and smart....and just getting off to an excellent start!

It All Begins At Home

HOME ~ Is where it all begins.....and for me since my last post it is where I have basically been with the exception of a few art store runs to pick up things I thought I might run out of in the middle of the night....a few more canvases....even though Dick Blick has delivered 3 times in the past month....more of my favorite Golden acrylics such as Green Gold, Turquois (Phthalo) and Transparent Pyrrole Orange.....and then there was the run for more Golden Soft Gel in Semi-Gloss when I couldn't find the one I ordered.  Found it last night as I was checking to see which pieces needed wire hangers added....it along with the empty jar were under a canvas lifting it up so the edges didn't touch anything!!!!  Two days until I deliver to Monkey Love for the Solo Exhibit which starts Thursday, May 1st....I keep repeating....I can do this!!!!  Most of the pieces are ready, a few need to be wired, those that needed a final coat of varnish got it first thing this morning, a couple pieces needed 3D items glued in place and that was done yesterday....Today I have 2 pieces I really want to finish to add to the grouping but promised myself if they are ready okay....it not no big deal.  Then there is the detailed inventory list and photos and scans of everything.

Here's another snippet of one that I finished last week....It All Begins At Home.....a 10"x20"x1.25" gallery wrapped mixed media collage.  As I worked on this piece I kept a running list each time I added a layer....and after 23 layers of gesso, mediums, papers, acrylics, and more it was signed and then sealed with one more layer....yes 24 layers in all! 

Speaking of Home.....Our baby that just turned 19 a couple weeks ago comes home this coming Friday for the summer....although it will be a short one for her....She was selected as the Sports Editor for the year book staff and SRS (Shorter Relations Society) a public relations representative for the College for this next year....both which require 3-4 day workshops in June and July and then early move in for Fall so the SRS members will be ready for Freshmen Orientation Week.  She's ready to come home and we are ready for her.  She also just found out she got into one of the new apartments on campus....no more dorm life for her....and she is beyond happy!

My break is almost over and I have all day to myself so I want to make the most of it.  Enjoy your week and I will be back with more snippets as time permits.

Almost forgot....Some Party Favors went out last week and more will go out this week most likely on Wednesday after I make my art delivery.  Remember it's not too late to leave a comment on one of my post and have a chance to have your name drawn for a party favor.

There went the timer.....back to creating.