How to make hair jell

I read this article a while back about how most women are exposed to 70 different chemicals in the time it takes to take a shower and get ready for work in the morning. It talked about the chemicals in your shampoo, soap, hair products, makeup, nail polish and everything else we use. So that really got me thinking and I have been doing a lot of reasearch on using more natural products. In that reasearch, I found a cool recipe for hair jell. Take 1 T flaxseeds and add that to 1 cup of water. Bring that to a boil and then simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the flaxseeds out with a strainer and you have a jell that you can use on your hair. I also added a couple of drops of lemongrass essential oil. This should be kept in the refrigerator and will last for a couple of weeks.

Art prints

After much experimenting with inks and paper, I am happy to say that I have started my line of prints. My goal is to create some happy and uplifting paintings and turn them into prints and eventually greeting cards. I had some issues with finding the right paper. I wanted a beautiful acid free archival paper, but it was hard to find the right one. I finally settle on a canson and an epson. So in my spring celebration I now have three to offer on my website at http://www.mwestdesigns.etsy.com.

Spring in the Sandhills

I am desperate for Spring. It seems like it's been an extra cold and snowy winter. I know it's only February, but I can't wait for spring. In the Sandhills, spring just kinda jumps up on you. One day there's a late spring blizzard and the next day the sun comes out and the hills are so green that it almost hurts you eyes. Then the wildflowers start to bloom and spring is officially here. That is the inspiration for this painting. Come on spring, I know your just around the corner. Check out this painting on my webpage at http://www.mwestdesigns.etsy.com

Should have been a cowgirl Painting a day

I have been wanting to try portraits. I had this picture of my niece wearing a friends cowboy hat. It was so cute, so that is my painting for the day. After drawing it out with charcoal, I started with the background. Then I worked on the hat, face and body. I wanted to do the outlines and tried those in oil crayon but I just didn't have enough control. So I ended up just using paint. I think it turned out okay for my first try. I will definitely work on some more.

Wiberg House painting

My painting for the day is for a show that the Ash Hollow Art Club is having the end of the month. It is the Centennial and we are having an historical show. I am working on the Wiberg house that was built by my Great-Grandfather in 1915. I really wanted something different so I chose a green house and yellow sky. I really wanted it to stand out.

Antique tin hearts from reclaimed barn roof

Continuing on my making art every day, I have been working on these tin hearts. The tin came from the barn that my Great Grandfather built almost 100 years ago. Sadly the barn is no more, but I wanted to create something out of the huge amount of beautiful tin. Each heart is different because the tin has been weathered in such unique ways. The colors are white, black, rust, browns, and greys. To see more check out my store on Etsy http:www.mwestdesigns.etsy.com

A Painting a day

I've been reading "The Sound of Paper" by Julia Cameron. It is a great book that talks about the everyday part of creating. She talks about how art should become as common as doing laundry. How it needs to be something that is done on a daily basis. I have toyed with the idea of doing a painting a day, or weaving a rug a day. If I was really ambitious then I would do both! :) A painting a day is basically an act of faith. You show up everyday to paint. You do not judge how it's going. If it's going at all then that is the point. It is a journey. Along the way you learn that there is something greater out there. You are just a small piece. You learn to trust that God is working through you. Your job is to show up every day, and trust that God will show you the way. So how have I been doing, you may ask. I have been painting a lot. I haven't mastered the everyday part. Sometimes things come up. But maybe that is the point. To find more room to make art where I didn't think there was any. So this is the first mixed media painting. It is paper glued onto canvas and then acrylics on top. You can find it here also http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39730068