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Battling Creepy Crawlies in the Home
I have a few home remedies for 3 home invaders that I would like to share. Bring on the battle of the creepy crawlies.
- 24
The Day I Thought I Was Going Crazy
Have you had a stranger recognize you and describe events you know you never attended? Have you had strange phone calls from people who say they know you but couldn't? I have. I thought I was going crazy.
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I Told Myself I Can’t Speak in Public
This is how I overcame the fear of public speaking and became an art teacher. Many have the fear of speaking in public but there are ways around it.
- 22
The Dumbing Down of America Over 50 Years
There has been an alarming turn over the past 50 years, not just in education but in industry and technology. I don't know the answers but the issues exist.
- 26
Mysteries of the Missing Sock Theories
I don't know of anyone who has escaped the missing sock paradox. So where do they go? I have 12 theories to share. See if you agree with any of them.
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My Early Experience with Directing Skits
I wanted to see my father laugh so I found some skits and directed my siblings in putting on a show for the parents. Here is what happened.
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Fried Peach Pie Recipe From Dried Peaches
My husband's mother used to make fried peach pie, and he asked me to try to re-create the recipe. I came up with a way to make it vegan so I could have some, too.
- 22
5 Ways to Save Money by Being Resourceful
Sewing and mending your own clothes, befriending farmers and gleaning the fields, and canning and preserving your foods are just some of the ways you can save money by doing things yourself.
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The Good Homemaker Is Not Obsolete
Homemaking is a job if it is done right. While it may not earn money it certainly can save money. Here are several things a homemaker can do to save and earn.
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My Process for Creating Children’s Books
After getting several questions about my process, I thought I should expand on how I create my children's picture book pages and make them print ready.
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These Five Tools I Use Every Day
Every profession has tools of the trade but artists seem to have more than most. These are the 5 tools I use most often among hundreds of others.
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Surviving Embarrassing Situations and Bullies
Bullies are everywhere and sometimes it can be hard to survive the cruelty they inflict. These are some of the situations I lived through.
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Why Artists Need to Set Boundaries
Every profession has problem areas but Freelance Artists are self-employed and need to think about setting their own boundaries to keep a healthy mental outlook on their profession.
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Why Should You Have Mentors
Of what use is having and keeping mentors in your career? I have several reasons I would like to share for researching and reading about famous artists I admire.
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How I Learned to Reject Rejection
This is an account of what I did to overcome a fear of rejection from book publishers, card publishers, and magazine publishers.
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Make Money With Your Art, Online Venues
How do I make a living with my art? Online venues is just one of the many sources I tap into and you can too.
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Make Money With Your Art, Shows and Galleries
Artists don't have to be starving altogether. I have found several different ways to make money with my art. Galleries and shows are just a few in this series.
- 16
Summer Time in the 60’s
The summers were carefree and seemingly everlasting until the year the four girls were killed in Birmingham Alabama by a vicious bomber. My summers and my life was never the same.
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Declutter Your Home For Your Health and Peace of Mind
Want to feel freer in your own home. Let go of things that aren't serving your best interest. I've increased my creativity by decluttering and I feel so much better.
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How to Make Money From Your Art on Royalty Merchandise Sites
How do artists make a living using their art? Here is just one of the ways I have found that is working for me: royalty print-on-demand merchandise sites.
- 26
Kick the Can Every Summer
Kick the Can is an outside game for children and incorporates running, hide and seek, and tag. It was a game my siblings and I played each summer as long as the weather would permit. Is it a lost game or one that children are still playing?
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What to Do With Damaged Works of Art
What do you do with damaged canvases or flaky paint? Throw it away? I have compiled some reasons for restoration and some botched restorations.
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What’s With This Artist’s Signature
I often get asked about my signature on my artwork. Here is my explanation and the story behind it.
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Art Societies and Signature Membership
There are many art societies out there dedicated to promoting artists and their work. Among the many benefits is the Signature Membership Award that is worth the trouble to achieve. This is how and why I got mine.
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The Art of Botanicals and My Contribution
Botanical art has been around for thousands of years, as long as people have wanted to find and save certain species of plants for medicinal and scientific use. It has become beautiful and decorative as well as useful.
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Stories My Dad Told, What’s in a Name
My dad hated his first name. In this, I explore names and dad's solution to living with his name as well and many others.
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Stories My Dad Told, The Granny Story
My father was a practical joker and loved to pull pranks on us and others. This is one of my favorite stories he told about a practical joke he pulled on his mother-in-law.
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Stories My Dad Told, Chiggers and Fishing
My dad told many funny stories from his childhood and some of my favorite ones were about his problems with his brother. Here are two stories for your amusement.
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Stories My Dad Told, Late Night TV
My mother was a strict observer of the 8 or 8:30 bedtime even in the summer when the sun was still up at that time. This is a story about how dad helped up sneak a little late night TV.
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Stories My Dad Told, The Stolen Coke
A funny story my dad used to tell was about how he would pilfer a coke from the gas station as a teenager. This is how he got caught and cured of stealing.
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Stories My Dad Told, The Worst Lickin’
From southern Indiana, my father told us many funny stories. My father told this one about how he deserved and got a "lickin'" from his father.
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Stories My Dad Told, Ditching Butch
Among the funny stories that my dad told, what how to ditch your little brother so you could have fun with your buddies. My dad was raised in rural southern Indiana.
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Stories My Dad Told, the New BB Gun
One of my favorite stories my dad told about him and his brother Butch was about the BB Gun incident. He grew up in southern Indiana and told some great funny stories.
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Stories My Dad Told, The Coon Hunt
My father has been gone now for 27 years but I can still hear the many stories he told with his lovely midwestern accent. This is just one of the many amusing anecdotes he told about his childhood.
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Why Should Senior Artists Bother Drawing By Hand
Drawing and doodling can be very helpful in keeping your hands busy and your imagination strong. Here are some reasons senior citizens should continue drawing.
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Zomo the Rabbit, a West African Folk Tale
Another rabbit story about how tricky they can be, this one involves different animals and tests. This is the last from the second book in the series, The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Trouble When You’re Young, a Portuguese Fairy Tale
Which would you choose if you were given the choice of "trouble when you're young or trouble when you're old?" This fairy tale tells of a girl who chose trouble when she was young and how it all turned out for her. From The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Weedah the Mockingbird, An Australian Folk Tale
The Weedah is a mockingbird from Australia with a very strange and gruesome folk tale to explain its appearance and behavior. Read on if you dare. This is from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales From Around the World.
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Steven Stayner Changed My Life
The events of that day in 1972 will forever shape my family, community, and state. It was the day Steven Stayner was abducted from Merced, California
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Espionage and Sleeping With the Enemy Part 2
This is a follow-up to the story of how my ex-husband may have been involved in acts of espionage and intrigue in Europe in the 1970s and what I did about it.
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The Story of the Vizir Who Was Punished, An Arab Folk Tale
This is just a small part of a longer Arab story focusing on the Prince and how the Vizir failed in his duty to keep the Prince safe. It is one more story from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Espionage and Sleeping With The Enemy
To the best of my knowledge, we weren't really involved in espionage, but I always wonder. Was there something going on that I was unaware of? You will have to decide for yourself.
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Urashima Taro, a Japanese Fairy Tale
This is an old fairy tale about a young fisherman who captures a magic turtle and is taken to the undersea kingdom. It is sad from there. This is another from The Fairy Tale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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A Chubby Kid in the 50’s
Exploring the weight norms and health changes over the years, I discovered many triggers for my fight with weight gain and obesity.
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The Last of the Thunderbirds, An Eskimo Folk Tale
This is a sad story of loss and revenge but also bravery. It is another in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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My Technical Problems in Spain
I had problems with the names of things, the difference in voltage for electrical appliances, as well as navigating relationships. These are only a few of my mishaps living in Spain for 2 years.
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The Tale of Sim Cheong, a Korean Fairy Tale
This is a lovely tale of self-sacrifice for the good of another and how Sim Cheong gets her father's blindness cured. This is another in The Fairy Tale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Rabbit Throws out His Sandal, a Mayan Folk Tale
Like most Mayan folk tales, this one is all about animals and how they got the personality traits they hold. I thought it was a funny story and was glad to include it in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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How I Learned to Cook With My Mother in the 1960s
In the 1960s, my mother taught me how to cook meals, can fruit, bake pies, and read recipes. Women used to pass on their cooking skills to the children. What's happened?
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Qasim, the King of Crocodiles, an Indian Fairy Tale
The King of the Crocodiles marries a farmer's daughter. Sounds gruesome but ends very magically.
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My Experience With Spanish Food and Culinary Traditions
I lived in Spain for two years in the 1970s and was exposed to their distinctive cuisine and culinary traditions. The food, what time they eat meals, how they order, and the miscommunications arising from language differences all took me by surprise. Overall, it was a wonderful experience.
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My Last Trick-or-Treat
This is the story of my last trick-or-treat and the hoodlums who ruined it for me and my siblings. The magic is gone when mean people threaten children.
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The Pooka and Tim Dorney, An Irish Fairy Tale
A very unusual and surprising fairy tale is the Pooka and Tim Dorney. The Pooka is an impish magical pony who plays tricks on nighttime travelers.
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A Bullfight in Spain
This is about my experience going to a bullfight in Spain when I lived there in the 1970s. Not being a Spaniard, I was a spectator not knowing what was coming next.
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Olufunke, the One Who Never Lies, an African Folk Tale
It seems like you hardly ever meet someone who never lies which is why this story is so charming and relevant. This is another story from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Traveling in Spain
I lived in Spain for two years in the 1970s and experienced many things. The travel was different than I had experienced here in the US. These are my experiences.
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The Nightingale, a Danish Fairy Tale, by Hans Christian Andersen
You've probably heard this one before. It is a classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen retold using my collage illustration. This is from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Speaking the Language in Spain
As an American living in Spain for 2 years, I was introduced with a different way of life and a different language. This is how I discovered breaking through the language barrier.
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Madschun, a Turkish Fairy Tale
What a clever story about a different boy armed with a magic word and how he gets justice. This is another from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Lame Fox, a Serbian Fairy Tale
This fairy tale tells how a lame fox helped a boy fulfill his father's dream. This is another from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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King Kojata, a Polish Fairy Tale
This charming story is more about the young prince than it is about the King. It is another in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Acts of God According to Insurance Companies
According to insurance companies and in particular our car insurance, an Act of God is defined as any natural disaster outside of human control, aka floods, volcanoes, hurricanes and other such related events. This is an account of my surprising revelation that my car wasn't covered for.
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Jasper Who Herded Hares, A Scandinavian Fairy Tale
This fairy tale tells of the reward Jasper gets for his honesty and hard work. This is another in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales From Around the World.
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Real-World Math Class for Homeschoolers and Educators
While homeschooling, I found that the math books I had weren't practical. I then created my own credit card and checking account curriculum.
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The Ill-Fated Princess, A Greek Fairy Tale
This is a sweet story about a girl who has to change her fate or her bad luck. It is one more in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales From Around the World.
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My Experiences in Spain
In the 70's I lived in Spain for a couple of years. It was an experience I will never forget. Everything was unusual, from shopping at the farmer's market to buying butane to heat the water and work the stove. I'm sharing just a few experiences here.
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Hanasaka Jiisan, A Japanese Fairy Tale
The title loosely translated means an old man who made withered cherry trees bloom but I thought the story was more about the dog. This is another from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales From Around the World.
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Geirlug, the King’s Daughter, An Icelandic Fairy Tale
This is an interesting fairy tale involving kidnapping by a dragon and an evil witch stepmother. Geirlug, the King's Daughter is another of the FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Make a Sideline Business: Little Dolls
Quite by accident, I discovered I was already creating a sideline business as a way of keeping busy in the evenings. Inspiration comes from the most unexpected sources.
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12 Things an Artist Never Wants to Hear
I published 11 Comments an Artist Never Wants to Hear previously. Here are 12 more things to add to the list.
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Father Frost, A Russian Fairy Tale
This is a sad story but one that should teach a lesson. Father Frost is a fairy tale from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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My Photo Composite Journey
Photo composites as an artistic expression have come a long way. I have learned a lot over the last decade and I share some of my journey here.
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The Elves and the Shoemaker, A German Fairy Tale
This fairy tale has been around for a while and I've heard it before but it has several possible endings. The Elves and the Shoemaker is one of the fairy tales from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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11 Comments an Artist Never Wants to Hear
A friend posted a simple question, "What are things an artist never wants to hear in 5 words or less." Here are some of the answers and how they resonate with me.
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Drakestail, a French Fairy Tale
Drakestail is a cute fairy tale from France about a duck who found a coin. This is one more for my fairy tale alphabet book: The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih, An Indonesian Fairy Tale
Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih were sisters in this fairy tale from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Fighting the Artist’s Depression
This is how an artist approaches the dilemma of creative life. It is all in the attitude you decide to take daily.
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Almondseed, A Greek Fairy Tale
Almondseed is a Greek fairy tale in my fairy tale alphabet series. Like the first book, The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World, this one will be published in book form when all the letters are complete.
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All Lives Matter Because Black Lives Matter
Do we really have the racist blinders on so firmly that we are going to refuse to see that it is the black people who are twice as likely to be incarcerated, twice as likely to be denied medical help, twice as likely to be killed in the street as white people? We need to do something.
- 32
White Woman and Black Man
With the current events and George Floyd, I cannot stay silent any longer. I need to share my thoughts on racism in America today and how it has affected me personally.
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5 Rude Things to Say to Photographers
I wrote about 5 things you should never say to photographers and decided to 5 more rude things people shouldn't say to photographers.
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Social Distancing, the New Normal
Thinking positive during a global pandemic is essential for your health and well-being. Here are a few of my thoughts on the situation.
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An Artist’s Struggle to Please Parents
Why would anyone want to be a starving artist? Especially if the parents are not only not encouraging it but are actively discouraging it? Famous artists through history struggled with that question and I have too.
- 30
The Story of Zoulvisia, an Armenian Fairy Tale
The Story of Zoulvisia is a very long story that I chose to shorten in order to tell only one part of it. It is published in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Young Slave, An Italian Fairy Tale
The Young Slave is a fairy tale very like the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. This is from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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What It's Like to Wait in Line for Free Food for the Needy
What can you do when the money stops coming, and the family still needs to eat? There are places you can go to get food without having to give your life story and financial background.
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Excalibur and the Lady of the Lake, An English Fairy Tale
Excalibur is for the letter X in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World. I hope you can forgive the obvious fudging.
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The Water Mother, a Fairy Tale From China
This Chinese fairy tale has a sad ending unlike most of the tales from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Vasilisa the Beautiful, A Russian Fairy Tale
This is almost another Cinderella story with a Russian twist, from The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Ugly Duckling, A Danish Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Anderson
The Ugly Duckling is a classic tale of not believing appearances. It is one of the fairy tales in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Thumbelina, A Danish Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Anderson
Thumbelina is a classic fairy tale written originally by Hans Christian Anderson. It has been told and retold many ways over the years. I tried to stay true to the original for my The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Sage’s Daughter, A Folk Tale from India
The Sage's Daughter is a charming story of a girl mouse and how she finds a husband. This is one more story from my The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Little Red Riding Hood, A French Fairy Tale
This story of the Little Red Riding Hood is a French Fairy Tale from my alphabet book, The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World. I hope you like this story and my illustrations.
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The Queen Who Sought a Drink From a Certain Well, a Fairy Tale From Scotland
Very similar to the Frog Prince, this is a strange frog fairy tale from Scotland, another in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World. The youngest princess saves the day, yet again.
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Puss in Boots, A French Fairy Tale
Puss in Boots is a French fairy tale about a cat who makes his master's fortune for him. It is another in my series for the children's book The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Old Widow and Her Daughters, A Norwegian Folktale
In this charming folktale, the youngest daughter saves the day with her wisdom against a troll. This is one of the stories in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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How Night Came, a Brazilian Folktale
This is a charming story of How the first Night Came from a Brazilian point of view. From The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales From Around the World.
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The Master Magician’s Apprentice, an English Fairy Tale
The Magician's Apprentice is similar to the Disney animated Sorcerer's Apprentice. This is the M from my The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Lute Player, A Russian Fairy Tale
The Lute Player is a Russian fairy tale about a princess who rescues her father the king, from a neighboring kingdom by being crafty and resourceful. From the children's book The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Kiigbo Kiigba and the Helpful Spirits, A West African Folktale
Kiigbo Kiigba is the name of a contrary boy who doesn't like to follow the rules and gets himself into trouble. This is another of my fairy tales from around the world; this one from West Africa. From the book The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Jack and the Beanstalk, An English Fairy Tale
Jack and the Beanstalk is one more traditional fairy tale included in my alphabet book for children, The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Issun-Bōshi, the One-Inch Boy, a Japanese Fairy Tale
Almost like Tom Thumb, Issun-boshi is a Japanese Fairy Tale about a one-inch boy and his adventures. This is one of the stories in my The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Heart of a Monkey, A Fairy Tale in Swahili
The Heart of the Monkey is a fun and funny story about a wise monkey who almost gets fooled by an alligator but is smart enough to see trouble and talk his way out. This is included in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Galah and Oolah the Lizard, an Australian Folktale
The folktale of the galah bird and Oolah the lizard explain how the lizard got his spines and how the galah got her bright pink/red feathers. It is a charming folktale of Australia included in The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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The Frog Prince, a German Fairy Tale
The illustrations are done for my children's book, The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World. This one is F for the Frog Prince, a Grimm fairy tale.
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The Emperor’s New Clothes Fairy Tale
The familiar Danish fairy tale, The Emperor's New Clothes, is retold here as well as how I included it in my The Fairy Tale Alphabet Book, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from Around the World.
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Dragon from the North Fairy Tale
The Dragon from the North is an Estonian fairy tale included in my fairy tale alphabet book. It is a story of how a boy tamed a dragon using a magic ring.
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Vegan Sandwich Bologna and Sage Roast Seitan
I have long been searching for just the right vegan substitutes for those great sandwiches I used to know and love. It wasn’t the thinly sliced meats that I miss the most. It was the convenience of stacking just the right mix of flavors to achieve a great nutritious sandwich. Whatever is easiest.
- 22
The Coyote and the Rabbit Folktale
The Coyote and the Rabbit is a South American folktale from my children's book, The FairyTale Alphabet Book, Fairytales and Folktales from Around the World. It is a humorous story of how a rabbit tricks a coyote and keeps him from catching the rabbit.
- 14
How to Improve Your Conversations
Is the art of conversation dead? I asked a group of friends what they thought was the most important thing for good conversations and here are some answers and my thoughts.
- 14
The Boy of the Red Twilight Folktale
The Boy of the Red Twilight is a Canadian folktale of Native Americans and is included in my Fairy Tale Alphabet Book, Fairytales and Folktales from Around the World.
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6 Things to Quit in 2020
With the coming new year, I found there are 6 things I would like to quit doing in 2020 and I'm sharing them and the reasons why.
- 25
Is Christmas a Big Disappointment
After going through several years of holiday depression, I have found some things that help me not focus on the overwork and appreciate the season for what it is. Reduce the stress and expectations and enjoy the holidays with family.
- 26
Discussing My YouTube Content and Creations
When discussing YouTube, I found my older friends didn't know it was free to have a channel and upload videos, free to watch, and so far free to browse. Here are a few things I told my friends about YouTube content and creation.
- 18
Most Common Questions Asked to Artists
I asked some of my artist friends what was the most common question asked of them about their art and I got some very interesting answers. Here are a few of those questions and answers.
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Rich Christmas’s of Long Ago
Wonderful memories of Christmas long ago when we were poor and didn't know it.
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What Makes A Professional Artist Professional
A few friends answered what they thought it takes for an artist to be professional. Here are a few of the answers that were interesting.
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What Can’t You Do
I asked my artist friends what they "can't" do and if they were wrong and got some interesting answers. Here are a few of their comments.
- 14
Vegan Holiday Desserts to Bring to a Thanksgiving or Christmas Potluck
Since becoming vegan, I've struggled to figure out what to bring to my family's potluck events. At these gatherings, my goal is to make things I can eat, and that will be tempting to my non-vegan friends and relatives.
- 14
Artists Just Want To Be Significant
Why do we create our art, be it writing, visual arts, theatrical arts, digital art, or etc., we want to significant and relevant to the audience? I discuss some of the problems we face regularly.
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Creatives Overcoming the Negative Voices
When the voice of society or your family ring in your ears about how art isn't a 'real job' and how you should live your life, what do you do? I have a few suggestions and answers that worked for me.
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Is Art Relevant Anymore
Isn't art relevant anymore? I explore the answer of gallery type painting and its relevance today.
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Freelance Artists Are Crazy
Freelance art and illustration are not like any other business. It takes a little bit of crazy to even try to keep it going. Here is a bit of what I go through to be a freelance artist.
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6 Vegan Thanksgiving and Christmas Recipes You Will Love
As the holidays approach, I go through the checklist of vegan dishes I need to make for all the family get-togethers and friends' potlucks.
- 10
Art Therapy Projects and Starting Out
Starting an art therapy class in watercolor for senior citizens can be daunting. I have a few helpful hints and projects that may give you a kickstart to begin.
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What Breaks Your Heart About Creating Art?
I asked my friends what breaks their hearts about their art and here are some of the answers along with my suggestions to help.
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What Makes You Happy Every Time You See It
Is it nature? Is it family? Is it visiting friends? The answer to 'what makes you happy every time you see it' may be simple or complicated but it is worth thinking about.
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How to Make Flowers From Bread Clay (Step-by-Step Gift Pin)
This clay is made from white bread and white glue that dries rock hard and can be used for pins, decorations, and jewelry. Perfect for children and adults to play and craft with.
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Escape To Pismo Beach, California
As you retire, you may find that travel is more difficult to fit into a tight budget. Means of escape are harder to find unless you live through other people's YouTube video trips.
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Art Therapy Questions for the Elderly Classes
The elderly benefit greatly from offering watercolor classes so they can explore their creativity and improve their dexterity. Here are a few questions and answers I received about the classes I offered for senior citizens.
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Women’s Rights for the Last 50 Years
It is remarkable how far women have come in the last 50 years and how far we have to go. From my personal experience, these are the things I could not do at the age of 18 and what I can do now as a woman.
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Extended Family Problems in Blended Families
Blended families have so may obstacles to overcome, having extended family become a problem makes things even harder. Here are a few of my experiences and suggestions.
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Overcoming Creative Excuses
I asked my friends what was the number one obstacle to creating every day and the answers really resonated with me. Here are the answers to my question and some of the ways I overcome these excuses.
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Is Veganism a Good Idea?
The vegan choices I have made this past year and a half have changed my life. I get plenty of protein with beans and nuts plus more vegetables and fruits than I ever used to consume. It's a good choice for me.
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Art Therapy and Working With Senior Citizens
Seniors often have more than just aging to deal with. With aging comes aches and pains they never had before, plus the grief of loss. There are many ways for seniors to improve their days by keeping busy and painting in watercolor.
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How to Choose the Right Fonts
When creating a book or resume or even a greeting card, the font is a part of the creative choice. How do you choose which font to use for your resume? Do you go with the default or make a guess? Here are a few things to think about when making your choice.
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Pros and Cons of the Vegan Lifestyle (Plus Zucchini Discs Recipe)
The pros and cons of embracing a vegan lifestyle aren't always obvious. Here's what I've learned since going vegan a year and a half ago, along with a couple of suggestions and recipes.
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Multiracial Families on the Rise
Here in the US and around the world, biracial and multiracial families are on the rise as the old taboos about marrying outside of your race fade. This makes way for the experiences of biracial children and the problems they face.
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Common Sinkholes in a Blended Family Dynamic
Sinkholes are where the ground sinks under you without warning. My husband and I fell into so many of our own sinkholes, I felt it necessary to share a warning with other blended families in hopes of helping people avoid these.
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3 Ways to Fix Your Blended Family
My husband and I found out early on that there were unforeseen problems with our blended family that needed to be addressed. We could find very few resources and books on the subject back then and our church didn’t want to openly support our need. We learned many things by trial and error.
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How to Save Money Using Homemaker’s Arts
My mother was quite the pioneer, making things out of nothing and providing clothes and food sometimes as if by magic. Some of these things aren't often done anymore, but sometimes, the old methods of saving are the best. Here are a few of the homemaker’s arts we used to save money.
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Benefits of Homeschooling My Children
Many good things came from my homeschooling experience. Everyone's reasons for keeping their children home are their own but the benefits are rather universal. This is what I experienced.
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Color Blindness All Around Us
Because my brother is color blind, I began at a young age to notice when some people cannot see what I see. It is very common and yet many people do not notice that the color blind suffer in silence.
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Setting and Keeping Your Goals
I used to just let life happen and was disappointed each year with what little I had accomplished. This is how I got out of that old habit by creating and keeping goals for my most desired future.
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Household Remedies for the Pioneer
My mother was quite the pioneer who made do with what we had and rarely ran to the store for things that we could make ourselves from ingredients right there in the kitchen. Here are a few of the home remedies I learned from her and found myself along the way.
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Helping the Bees
Today is National Honey Bee Day. It’s an obscure holiday, I know but my father was a beekeeper and it sort of struck a cord with me. He was very protective of the bees. In honor of the day and my father, here are several things you can do to help the bees.
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Art Therapy: Working with Senior Citizens
There are many ways senior citizens can still be active and creative. I explored just a couple of ways that I have known as well as a few of the stories they like to tell.
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A Creative’s Inspiration Pool
Where do you go for inspiration when the mood just isn't carrying you? Here are a few things I have used to jumpstart the creative in me. These work for artist and writers and can work for you too.
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Famous Children’s Authors Whose Books Were Rejected by Publishers
The illustrated children’s books I have written have been rejected at every turn. It makes it hard to keep my equilibrium. But then I see all those who went before me who were also rejected, and I know I'm not alone.
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The Idiot’s Guide to Roasting a Holiday Turkey
A no-nonsense family recipe and guide for how to cook your holiday turkey.
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Doing Drawings in Pen and Pencil
Many novice artists steer clear of drawing in ink because it is so permanent, unlovable, and hard to control. However, with a little practice, you will find the benefits of pens for drawing. Here are a few things to think about when using pens for drawings.
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Drawings in Charcoal Down and Dirty
Many novice artists steer clear of charcoal because it is so soft, easily broken, and hard to control. However, with a little practice, you will find the benefits of charcoal for drawing. Here are a few things to think about when using charcoal for drawings.
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Charcoal Drawing Made Simple
Many novice artists steer clear of charcoal because it is so soft, easily broken, and hard to control. However, with a little practice, you will find the benefits of charcoal for drawing. Here are a few reasons I like to work in charcoal and hints to make it easier to understand.
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The Exercise of Drawing in Charcoal
Many novice artists steer clear of charcoal because it is so soft, easily broken, and hard to control. However, with a little practice, you will find the benefits of charcoal for drawing. Here are a few reasons I like to work in charcoal and hints to make it easier to understand.
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Benefits of Homeschooling My Children Examined
There were so many ups and downs to homeschooling my children, but the benefits far outweighed the problems we had to overcome. Here is my experience homeschooling my four children.
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Art Therapy for Senior Citizens: Do’s and Don’ts
After creating and running a watercolor painting program for senior citizen's in my community for a decade and a half, I got a master's degree and studied art therapy. I learned many things about seniors and painting. Here are just a few of those things.
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Free Things for Kids to Do in Summer
With four children at home all summer, I had to arm myself with plenty of things for them to do to avoid the boredoms. Here are just a few of the free things we did to stay busy during the long summer months.
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Children’s Book Illustrator Woes
Some of the many problems for artists and illustrators are a complete surprise to us. Here are a few of the things I have discovered over the years working as an artist and illustrator.
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Fixing Old Black & White Photos
Do you have old photos that need repair or color correction? Adobe Photoshop is perfect for that task. Here is my correction of an almost 100-year-old black and white photo that needs some touch up to be like new.
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Ideas for Successful Watercolor Painting
If you ever wanted to dive into watercolor but were afraid, I have a few ideas that could help you create successful original art. Don't be afraid of the watercolor media, try it and enjoy.
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Abusive Relationship Escape
After living for 4 years with my abusive husband I found running away from him was the wisest move. There is escape from the abuser and no one deserves abuse. Here are a few things to think about if you or a friend are suffering abuse at the hands of someone who should love you.
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Intro to Photoshop--The Toolbar Rectangle, Shapes, and Zoom Tools
This is the last in the introduction to the Photoshop Toolbar explaining Masking and Color selection tools. I found that Photoshop is so much more understandable when you know what the tools will do and where they are.
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Intro to Photoshop--The Dodge and Burn, Pen, and Type Tools
This is another introduction to the Toolbar in Photoshop that explains the next tools, including the Dodge and Burn Tool. It helps to have these explained for the novice.
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Bread Clay Bugs For Kids Projects
This is a fun project for kids to make with the simple clay made from white bread. It is easy and non-toxic, perfect for little fingers as well as adults to play and create with. No baking necessary for this project. Just let it dry overnight.
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Should Art Be Free?
I have been so offended when people tell me art should be free without thinking about the artists who created that art and how they should be able to pay their rent. Here are a few of the unthinking statements to artists that people need to rethink.
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Knitting Hints on Casting On
The cast-on is the very beginning of the knitting process. Since there are several methods, I give an overview and describe my favorite method. I've been knitting since I was 10 years old and plan on knitting until I can no longer hold the needles.
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Knitting Yarn & Novels
I learned to knit and crochet from my mother and grandmother who were both talented and creative ladies. I image I will knit till I can't hold the needles anymore. I love the feel and look of knitted garments and love sharing that love with others.
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The Terrible Wreck of the Essex
This is a true story of the Wreck of the Essex. It has been dramatized through the narration of a sailor's voice. I wrote this as part of my research on the art of Scrimshaw and follows up The Art of Historic Scrimshaw and Whales.
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In Search of Whales
While looking into the art form of Scrimshaw, I did some background research about whales and the reasons for whaling ships long ago. This is a follow-up to The Art of Historic Scrimshaw and Whales.
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Tips For Successful Watercolor Paintings
I’ve been painting for about 50 years in oil, acrylic, ink, colored pencil, and watercolor. My favorite has become watercolor for its versatility and vibrancy. Here are a few tips to help you start successful paintings in watercolor.
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Art Therapy for Senior Citizens Questions Answered
Of the many questions I have received about the Art Therapy Classes I had for my senior citizens, here are a few typical ones answered for those who would like to create watercolor classes for the elderly in their community.
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Things You Shouldn’t Say To Artists
How many times have you said the wrong thing and insulted a creative without meaning too? Here are a few things that may help let you know where the sensitive areas are and how to avoid them.
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Helpful Watercolor Tips To Follow
How often have you started a painting and wondered how to handle a watercolor problem? Here are a few tips for the average watercolorist to think about when painting a masterpiece.
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Helpful Hints To Allay Watercolor Fears
Watercolor is one of those media that is really convenient and affordable but that people stay away from because of some of the uncontrollable aspects of the medium. Still, there are several things that make it less confusing and uncontrollable. Here are a few hints that may help the novice.
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Knitting Resources and Yarn Information
There are a few things behind the craft of knitting that people usually ignore like ply and yarn weight. Also, there are resources for knitters that many people don't know about.
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Hmong Story Clothes Deciphered
I had long seen this beautiful quilt hanging in the Fresno Adult Education foyer and wondered about it. I did some checking and talked with a few people before finding out about a unique textile art form made by the Hmong people. Here is what I uncovered.
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Wrinkled Paper Watercolor Effect
Watercolor has its own set of challenges and difficulties. Most people steer clear of it for fear of messing up. But there are so many things that watercolor does that no other medium will do. One of these is the wrinkled paper effect. I will show you how.
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3 Problems With Watercolor Fixed
For the beginner, watercolor seems too daunting to attempt. However, here are 3 things that keep people from trying watercolor and their easy fixes. I have found watercolor challenging but too fun to stay away from even for the novice.
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3 False Beliefs About Art and Illustration
Art and illustration is a business like any other business. Overcoming false beliefs is a problem. Here are a few things I have come across that keep people from treating illustration as a true business.
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Practical Jokes From April Fools Day
After a particularly difficult winter, when April Fools Day came around I felt that laughter was the only thing to cure my depression. A good practical joke is worth a million dollars worth of therapy.
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What I Learned When We Moved
From the '70s to now I have moved maybe a dozen times, each time I learned a new valuable lesson. These are some of our moves and lessons I learned.
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Lessons Learned When We Moved
As a young person, my family moved many times and each time I learned something very significant. Here are my lessons learned.
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Three Easy Do-It-Yourself Home Repairs to Save Money
Everyone should learn how to do these three easy fixes to repair and maintain household appliances and fixtures. These are things that could save you a lot of money in the long run.
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5 Things I Would Change About Illustration
If I could wave a magic wand and change anything about my beloved field of art and illustration, I would change many mistaken attitudes about art and illustration. Here are just 5 of those things.
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Vegan Sandwich Ideas: Pickles, Marinated Tofu, and More
When you are vegan and love sandwiches, the problem is what to put inside. Here are a few solutions I've found that work very well for vegan sandwiches.
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3 Months to Live
If you knew you had only 3 months to live, would it change the way you conducted yourself? These are things I would do if I had limited time and why I would do them.
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Make Your Own Beads From Paper or Bread
I was experimenting with bread clay and recycling old magazines when I found this method of making my own beads, which is both really fun and versatile.
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Teaching Online Classes
With teaching experience and turning to online resources, I discovered many avenues to explore sharing my skills and love of learning.
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5 Things to Do to Improve Your Attitude
When facing health and physical challenges, how do you keep a positive attitude? Here are 10 things I have been using and proven to help mood and attitude.
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Where To Get Inspiration Ideas and Prompts
Sometimes we creatives get "writer's block" or artist's block. What do you do? Here are a few methods to inspire and prompt creativity.
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Therapeutic Art for Senior Citizens Q and A
I am still getting questions from people wanting to know more about starting beneficial art classes for the elderly in their community. Here are some of the questions and answers I gave.
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Switching to a Vegan Lifestyle
This is my journey into a vegan lifestyle and what I've learned so far. Giving up meats was not as hard as I thought it might be. Giving up milk and eggs a little harder but I found lots of resources that helped.
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Drawing Faces in Charcoal
Charcoal is a difficult and messy medium to work with but can be handled well with a few small tricks and rules. I have done hundreds of these charcoal drawings, and here are a few.
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Where Has The Kindness Gone
A look back at the slow decline of basic kindness in society as it relates to the current generation. How have Millennialls changed things? What does the future hold?
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The Art of Collage: Making Art From Trash
From throw-away magazines and catalogues to award-winning art pieces, I show how I create art out of collaged trash. These are fun and intriguing as well as eye-catching. Come explore the world of collaged art.
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Commonly Asked Questions About Art Therapy for Seniors
I created a program of painting in watercolor for the elderly in my area and I've received many questions about it. I hope to answer some of the questions here.
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Teaching Watercolor Classes to the Elderly
I have written several times about my experiences with teaching senior citizens’ watercolor classes but I have gotten so many follow-up questions that I decided to answer some of them here in more detail.
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My Husband Makes Me Laugh
What does a woman want in a husband? More than looks and finances, she wants to be secure in his love and devotion and she wants to laugh. That's what I think and what I tell about my husband and our relationship.
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The Harmful Power of Negativity
I’ve been feeling it for the past couple years and maybe you have too. It is an overwhelming oppressive negative global attitude. Everything seems darker and I needed to make some changes for better
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A Touch Of Kindness Gives Life Meaning
The kindness of one elderly man changed my life and made me feel worthy. The stories of his wife reminded me that people face tragedy and loss silently. I learned about kindness changed me forever.