Jacqueline Gnott's Watercolor DVD "Ruffles"

I recently purchased a watercolor

instructional DVD from Jacqueline Gnott.

She is an incredible atrist.

I love her soft difused backgrounds and

then the intricate details of her flowers.

Here is my finished piece.

My "Ruffles" in progress.

Her reference photo is shown

right below my watercolor.

Thanks Jacqueline.

Photoshop Class

I am taking an online class to learn Photoshop.

www.djpettitt.com/online.html

It is a stretch. I am learning to use layers,

brushes, filters, blur tools and lots and

lots of other cool applications. This is my second project.

The Ornament Exchange

Over 15 years of ornaments,

12 new handmade ones each year.

Each one is different.

Each one wonderful in their own way.

Some painstakingly ornate,

some lovingly hand stitched,

some rustic country, some shabby chic,

some painted with great detail,some with treasures from the past,

and some with spiritual meaning.

They were made using wood,

fabric, sticks, wire, buttons, old lace,

spoons, nails, teabags, clothespins,

and anything else that looked like it

wanted to be an ornament.

But all made with a ton of love by and
for each member of the group.

I think that it is safe to say that as
each member made their 12 ornaments
for the exchange it was with those other
members in mind-thinking of them,
praying for them, remembering past gatherings.

What precious times we have shared!

This wonderful collection ornaments

is a lot like each one of us-

all different and each one unique, beautiful,

charming, funny, special, detailed, rustic,

and handmade by our Creator

to be a blessing to others!

Christmas Ornament Exchange

For over a decade I have been part

of an ornament exchange group.

There are 12 of us, crafty creative friends.

Some have been in the group the entire time

and some have moved or left for other reasons.

When that happens there is someone

anxiously waiting to be part of the group.

Every year each one makes 12 ornaments. This is mine for this year.

In case you would like to make your own

peppermint ornament here are a few instructions.

I used a spice jar lid to make my circle.

Then I added a small ruffled

"fan" shape at both ends. I cut my pattern out of card stock and
then transferred the design to thin wood.

I had some scraps of thin birch or ash

cabinet grade plywood.

This was perfect for my project. Next, I cut out my shapes using a band saw.
It has been awhile since I have cut
crafty little shapes with this saw. Here is my stack of blank ornaments.
I drilled a hole for the hanger and
then sanded front and back.

I softly rounded of the front edges.

All the ornaments were base coated in

white acrylic. Using graphite paper,

I transferred the swirls to the ornament.

2 coats of red.
I floated a dusty blue around the

edges to give it some dimension.

And I added a few white highlights

to make it look like cellophane.

The exchange is Thursday night (tomorrow).
This is supposed to be the last one.
We will gather and eat, laugh, tell stories,
reminisce, ooh and ahh over all the ornaments.
We each get one each of all the ornaments.
12 new ornaments!
We have meet long enough to that I have well over
100 handcrafted ornaments made by precious friends.
What great memories!

Oh yes! I almost forgot to tell you.
On the back of my ornament I wrote,

"JESUS, sweetest name I know!"

Remember that Jesus is
the reason for the season!

King of Kings W.I.P. (Work In Progress) Part 3

Here's the last phase of this painting.

I was so unhappy with most of this

painting that I should have just scrapped

the whole thing and started over.

But, I also felt that there

was potential here. I have photoshopped

out his face until the end. No peeking! I changed the crown, the hair color, and

the placement and strength of His hands,

the folds of the garment, and added

a "golden sash around His chest". Rev. 1:13 I was going to paint the scepter with jewels

on it but then decided on one large pearl,

the pearl of great price. Matt. 13:46

In the crown I set one drop of blood.

I finished the piece Saturday morning

while listening to "Crown Him With Many Crowns",

"I Worship You Almighty God",

"Meet With Me", and "Worthy is the Lamb".

I was almost undone!!!

I totally enjoyed redoing this painting.

Take a close look! Enlarge the image.

Let me remind you that we do not worship

the likeness or image of Jesus.

Rather, we-I worship HIM.

He alone is worthy!

I believe that Jesus and Father God

enjoy taking our lives, what we believe to

be messed up beyond repair,

and transforming them.

They transform our lives into

works of art that glorify our Creator.

Jesus loves you just as you are.

He also loves you too much to

leave you just as you are.

Have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving!

King of Kings W.I.P. (Work In Progress) Part 2

Welcome back!

I removed the tape that was protecting

the work I had already done.

The image is King of Kings-King Jesus.

The throne is the mercy seat.

I painted over the cherubim.

As I began to re-read Exodus
and the pattern of the tabernacle
and the mercy seat, I discovered that it
seems that the cherubim were standing.
Most artistic interpretations of the
mercy seat show them kneeling.

Now for the challenge of painting gold
without using metallic gold. So far, so good.
I like the gold effect but not His face.
I gave Him white hair from
the Revelation description

As I was painting the wings and feathers,

I turned my easel so that I could

watch a movie with Joe.

We watched "The Christmas Cottage".

It is the story of Thomas Kinade and

how he became the painter of light.

It was so inspirational.

Nathalie Kelley-the painter of ________?

One day !

Come back soon to see the finished painting.

King of Kings W.I.P. (Work In Progress)

This post will be in three or four parts,

so stay with me. This doesn't look like

much right now but I think you will be

pleasantly surprised. Right now it looks

like a black and white cow!

I started this painting during the

His Joy Ministries "Worship Explosion".

I painted a rainbow (3 times).

I was never happy with the way that it looked.

So I blocked it out and started over. It looks like a mess right now

but I think I am finally on the track

to capture what I imagined.

I taped over the Jesus image so

I wouldn't have so much to redo (I thought)!

No rainbow this time,
just an explosion of rainbow colors,
the colors of God's promise.An old toothbrush and some
thinned white paint and what do you get?
Splatter, spots...STARS!
A few thin white lines this way and that and

VOILA!!!

Shooting stars or comets or

galaxies celebrating the King!

Be sure to come back for the

rest of the picture.

Thanks for stopping by.