blarneybytes

2007-11-05T18:04:00.000-05:00

Long Time, No Blog
I've been in a fog
been really tired, bored, distracted and lazy
even a little bit hazy
but October came
and a grid was my game
so now
I am fresh as a daisy...
(ha, I wish!!)

At least blogger lets me post pictures which has not always been the case in the recent past. Trying to put time back in my schedule for creativity. Ok, so this grid was supposed to be all in black ink on white paper but a collage took over even a bit of paint and some pencil... even a carved eraser stamp! A bit of a puzzle for you - how many barn type houses turned up in this grid?

Hope to do another art project in November but haven't started it yet.

2007-02-16T13:01:00.000-05:00

fish on friday...

pure and simple fun

purple is washable marker

black is india ink, archival

green is washable ink pad

on construction paper !!

2007-02-16T08:41:00.000-05:00

I have not posted because I haven't had access to a scanner.
My daughter has taught me how to take a picture and upload, so this
is a test. This shows my past eraser carving prints.

2006-12-21T16:59:00.000-05:00

I have been away from blogging longer than I planned but will try to blog once a month.

I am going to draw a picture of this pic I took of some old Mexican window, when I have a chance, probably in the new year...

2006-10-18T14:01:00.000-05:00

my favorite pens

2006-09-22T11:30:00.000-06:00

grids are fun (notice board, pen, cup of coffee)

mine is done (high tech, low tech, door handle)

gotta run (people )

(binder clip and signage)

Fessing up ... I did this grid in pencil in one sitting but the pencil was too light to copy so I had to darken it on the copier plus my binder clip didn't turn out so great ... oh well, I guess I'll have to draw some MORE...

2006-09-11T08:15:00.000-06:00

REMEMBERING
We definitely still remember that day five years ago...
A song that I hear myself singing today
"Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me..."

2006-09-01T09:40:00.000-06:00

Blind Contour Friday

On a day off I like to watch films. Okay I still have a vcr, but, at least it isn't Beta. It might be really tough to watch films with this television ... Um, as the buttons are on the counter and might not work too well

What film? Ah, probably going to watch one called ... "An Everlasting Peace" an Irish Comedy
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218182/

Happy weekend to all!

2006-08-23T08:56:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I have taken the summer off blogging, writing, & drawing.

I still like to blog, really. I just have been sleeping on the watch.

I been thinking more about why do I want to draw...

Why do I want to draw?

. because I have to

. because I want to

. because drawing is a way to save parts of my day

. because drawing allows me to stop, observe & breathe easier

. because drawing helps me to think

Any other reasons to draw? You can weigh in...

2006-06-02T09:06:00.000-06:00

BCF Post - My Favorite Lamp

2006-05-19T10:08:00.000-06:00

EDM Challenge # 66 Fire Hydrant
This is a drawing of one that sits in front of my mom's house
right near the roadway.

2006-05-19T10:01:00.000-06:00

EDM challenge Number 65 "Noses"
I watched the movie "The Majestic" and drew noses that flashed on the screen.
Also watched the cartoon "As Told my Ginger" and drew some of those noses.
Fun!

2006-03-15T09:46:00.000-06:00

I am sorry it has been a while since posting ... my energy level was low and my creative spark dim.

So here is my latest drawing and it is a tribute to "lights" of all kinds.

I wanted to see if I could like my drawings if I didn't use any thing but a plain old "bic" pen when drawing lights around the house, on tv and in the new spring catalogs.

Yep. I like, but more importantly, I discovered just how many different shaped lamps are in the world... and so many more -yet - to draw!

2006-02-16T15:35:00.000-05:00

Vivi's and Doc’s meme. Stolen continually. What of it?

Meme Sevens
7 things to do before I die
=========================
1. Survive
2. Go to New York City, NY USA
3. Win blogshares (Yeah, right.)
4. Hattrick in Mah Jong
5. Travel to London and all U.K.
6. Travel to France
7. Retire before age 62

7 things I can't do
=========================
1. math – of any type
2. watch woody allen movies
3. keep quiet
4. create a better looking blog
5. capitalize sentences
6. resist junk food
7. whistle

7 things that attract me to Europe
==================================
1. only been to Ireland
2. people/family history
3. history (writers and musicians)
4. feeling of a better way of life – it appears more relaxed
5. the land, the scenery
6. food (ok so maybe not in Ireland)
7. ART

7 things I say
====================================
1. shut up
2. yeah, right
3. ya think
4. you are kidding, right
5. get out of here
6. everything
7. and nothing at all

7 good books
========================================
1. Creative License by Danny Gregory
2. Drawing from Life: The Journal as Art by Jennifer New
3. Social Studies by Fran Lebowitz
4. The Giving Tree by Shel Silvestein
5. Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy
6. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
7. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

7 good films
==========================
1. The Field starring Richard Harris - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099566/
2. Michael Collins starring Liam Neeson - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117039/
3. The Commitments - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101605/
4. Surviving Picasso starring Anthony Hopkins - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117791/
5. French Kiss with Kevin Kline & Meg somebody - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113117/
6. Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightly and Matthew MacFadyen - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414387/
7. The Matchmaker with J. Garofalo and D Leary - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119632/

7 blogs I read =
========================
1. 10 rue de la charm - http://spaces.msn.com/docinfrance/PersonalSpace.aspx
2. Dispatches from France - http://dispatchesfromfrance.blogspot.com/
3. Wish Jar Journal - http://www.kerismith.com/blog/
4. Everyday Matters - http://www.dannygregory.com/
5. The Beany and Michael Nobbs - http://www.michaelnobbs.com/
6. Paris Daily Photo - http://parisdailyphoto.blogspot.com/
7. Karen Winter Blog - http://www.karensblog.com
=============
Enjoying the day!

2006-02-16T12:16:00.000-05:00

On the table - waiting on lunch

Jury duty day

2006-02-16T12:14:00.000-05:00

Everyday Matters Challenge - Dog

2006-02-16T12:12:00.000-05:00

Everyday Matters Challenges Met
with Jury Duty Sketches

2006-02-16T12:10:00.000-05:00

Everyday Matters Challenges met
with Jury Duty Sketches

2006-02-16T12:09:00.000-05:00

Jury Duty Sketches
Everyday Matters Challenges

2006-01-26T11:40:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday
Cat

This is a scaredy cat...

2006-01-20T15:47:00.000-05:00

Wake up little Patty.

This past month I think my mind has been in sleep mode. So I am thinking that I might try stepping on that dusty treadmill thingee that takes up my basement this weekend. Anybody wanna put bets on it? (current odds are 50/50...)

The weather here is 62 degrees best Jan 20 weather that I can recall in the last 5 years. I am loving this cool, crisp weather. Wanna bet how long this will last? I'd say about 3 more days, not having heard any weather reports.

Can you tell I need to buy a MD lottery ticket on the way home?

2006-01-11T11:54:00.000-05:00

Sea

been a long time since I had my sea legs on ...

but I do remember the sky at dawn

I also remember a silly sea song

A 3 hour tour...

Gouache, watercolor pencil, MonAmi pen (new, cheap and lovely) on a Post-It!

2006-01-05T10:35:00.000-05:00

New Year, no energy...

This is my favorite flavor it is a salty seasoning that I use on almost anything and pretty much everything.

Today, I may just sprinkle it on myself as I need some color. BTW, Old Bay is red.

Happy New Year to you and Thank you for visiting!

2005-12-29T11:34:00.000-05:00

EDM Challenge

holiday items

(the item on the right

in orange was a stamp)

I drew it below that...

I think the nutcracker came out the best as did the duck probably because I had something to look at and draw as opposed to imagination.

2005-12-29T11:17:00.000-05:00

EDM challenges
one boring
medicine cabinet

2005-12-27T12:33:00.000-05:00

ART

An amazing,

unexpected gift!

On 12-25-2005 at my sister's home we sat between our main meal and coffee and took 10 minutes to draw it was so great to see all of us drawing at the same time, totally surreal!

I am so blessed to be in such a creative family. Thanks for all contributors! I will try to frame this for Grandma and Grandpa to hang in HFNY!

Top left to right: Mrs. Robinson's tree, next is Mrs. Nini's simplify, my simplify, my "Mrs. Nini's cup"

Bottom left: Mrs. Robinson's grandma, Mr. Robinson's Grandma, Jennifer Fanning's Grandma and Aunt Beth.

Contributors: Jeny Fanning, M.R. Robinson, A. Robinson, M.A. Ruprecht, P. Austin

Models: Grandma Betty and Aunt Beth

2005-12-23T15:01:00.000-05:00

Holiday

I think of flowers, stars, peppermints and ribbon candy.

happy holidays to you!

-patty

2005-12-21T10:56:00.000-05:00

What is in your bag? A common question on an old game show that I used to watch with wonder.When I was a kid in the 70's there was a game show on called, "Let's make a deal!" Monte Hall was the m.c. I watched people pull the most amazing - really incredible - stuff out of their bags. My bag broke yesterday and while wallowing in my simple sadness that I might not be able to fix it now I drew the junk in the bottom of the bag. I had the notion that I never ever could have one any of those Monte Hall competions where people had socks, dolls, and any other combinations of unusual stuff, I just have the old work potty pass and big red and oh trash ... so if you look real closely you can see all the lint and if you sniff you may be able to smell the cinnamon in the big red... In closing I'll just ask, could you win a Monte Hall competition these days? If so, draw what is in your bag!

2005-12-14T12:45:00.000-05:00

Surprise!
Caption: Gramma just called and she'll be by in 3 minutes :)

Well for me that means "Surprise, You Need to Clean Quickly!"

2005-12-02T15:26:00.000-05:00

Here is another look at blue on an i-fri!

2005-12-02T12:11:00.000-05:00

Blue songs for the season:
Rhapsody in Blue (oops -- was it Gershwin??)
Blue Christmas by Elvis

2005-11-29T14:10:00.000-05:00

I like to draw in small squares :)
I like to draw in small space
if I draw anything large
well it just looks like a barge!

2005-11-22T05:29:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving Treats

In honor of the thanksgiving holiday week, I am posting things I enjoy drawing and so
for today... I give you my pup, Hunter.

This dog is so spoiled, but so cute.

She loves playing "hot box" with a tennis ball and she is a pretty avid chewer. She is a great addition to our family. Hunter is a bright dog that loves people. She is petite with a potent bark! See the "heart" on the top of hunter's head? She had red and white fur sort of like a gurnsey cow print and she had green eyes.

2005-11-18T13:00:00.000-05:00

A Free Puzzle

How many times do you see the word free? Enjoy your free time this weekend!

2005-11-15T19:51:00.000-05:00

EDM Challenge "Draw your Keys"
==============================

Hey - if you stop in, why not leave me your keys to drawing?

I'd love to know what you like best in your drawings. Also, do you have favorite artists who have been "key" in your drawing life. Let us know that too. In advance, thanks for stopping in.

2005-11-09T12:30:00.000-05:00

Crinkles or "Folds" in the foil of the candy bar wrapper.

2005-11-07T20:36:00.000-05:00

Catching up - instead of a toothbrush, here is my current favorite pen. Best features no smudging, waterproof and terrific smooth line. Great for lefties!

2005-11-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

Drawing in Public

2005-11-07T06:36:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday - Night

Since I could not draw a picture of night, I give you a photo I took.

Night light.

When I see photos of night from light NYC or Paris or any other city there are night lights twinkling everywhere. But this is the good old 'burbs of Maryland - what is that about 4 lights on the block? You guess. When I see street lamps like this I think of those old lamps in Sherlock Holmes English mysteries...

2005-11-01T12:43:00.000-05:00

Here is a photo that I took a while back. I like it. It shows you exactly what I was looking at: the mobile and the color blocks.

Also, I love the grey background and the light showing thru the windows. I put the cartoon effect on it. I am going to try and draw this one day.

It is a beautiful fall day here in the Baltimore-Washington DC area. I could take a day like this every SINGLE day. Enjoying it!

2005-10-28T13:05:00.000-05:00

Broken

Wow, what a word! I thought of broken clocks, but broken hearts happen all the time to kids of all ages... Not always an easy fix.

Here in the US we change our clocks an hour back this weekend and halloween is coming right up. So - here is my wish no broken clocks or candy to ya!

2005-10-25T19:37:00.000-05:00

Next Tuesday is Halloween!
I've always thought it would be fun to be a spider, but, I have not the first clue how to make that kind of costume. So here is a drawing of a spider that would be cool to be on halloween, it would scare me. When I think of spiders I always remember a movie my kids would watch called, Honey I shrunk the Kids. I think they had encountered spiders.

And I remember old campfire songs like ...
if you go out to the woods tonight
be very careful as the spiders bite!

2005-10-25T12:15:00.000-05:00

10-25-2005

Did you know that today is Picasso's birthday?

Well it is. One of my favorites from Picasso's work is
Pedro Manach...
which is on display at the National Gallery of Art.

Web address:
http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pinfo?Object=46245+0+none

2005-10-21T06:20:00.000-05:00

Tagged

kg tagged me so here is my "random items" list

1. My favorite cereal = fruit loops.
2. I don't like brussel sprouts, not even a little bit.
3. I think the process of collage is fun.
4. I love the funny pages.
5. My favorite tv show = gilmore girls.
6. I collect pens, got plenty of pens.
7. I still think Kramer on Seinfeld is hilarous.
8. I love westerns.
9. My dog can dance, upright and funny.
10. I can never keep up with laundry, ever.

So what about you, why not tell me 10 things about you as tagged by kg!

2005-10-14T16:19:00.000-05:00

The Bride had some "cold" feet!
===============================
Happy weekend to ya, Patty

2005-10-07T18:57:00.000-06:00

EDM Challenge - me old bike

In the 70's I had a cool bike it was a dark forest green and it was tres shiny.
It was one of those banana bikes, probably set my folks back a few bucks. I don't recall it ever really going too fast but it had neat handle bars and kind of a cool back bar, I forget the official name of the back of the seat bar. Somebody stole it off the front lawn when one of the neighbor kids took us all down boating on the Potomac River. I was so seasick when I got home, I didn't care. However, another soul got a really shiny bike that summer - for free.

2005-10-07T11:59:00.000-06:00

This topic is funny. I am constantly lost. In books, conversations, art and hey my sense of direction is horrible so I am always lost on the road. This is what I could think of today. I usually see these type maps on the mall billboard...
I rather enjoy being lost :)

2005-10-06T13:11:00.000-06:00

trials

color always makes me happy...

words encourage me as well...

here is a great website that always make me stop and think

http://www.christophers.org/3minlink.html

click on Thursday... today's story is very good.

cheers

2005-09-30T13:19:00.000-06:00

hey can i float an idea by you???

2005-09-27T19:57:00.000-06:00

fresh fall leaf

This leaf if from my front garden small Japanese Maple Tree. I love it.
First I drew the leaf in art rage and then colored it in on "Paint."
Ok my hand is now stuck in one form and I am going to pry the mouse out of my hand in a few, but who cares, the pic looks close to the real thing!

2005-09-27T08:09:00.000-06:00

i-fri's FRESH ...

2005-09-26T08:10:00.000-06:00

pc blues

2005-09-23T12:10:00.000-06:00

i-friday fresh and bcf challenges

MA_Divine_Mercy

2005-09-22T15:27:00.000-06:00

MA_Divine_Mercy
Originally uploaded by blarneybytes.

This place serves as a GREAT escape!

2005-09-22T09:19:00.000-06:00

this rat needs to escape...

2005-09-21T13:01:00.000-06:00

EDM challenge - my eyes w/o the green - done 5/05

2005-09-13T15:00:00.000-06:00

Blarneybytes is One year old today! Happy blog-day to me :) And many more... So delurk, say hello on me blog birthday, I know you visit, I see the count. Oh and thank you for visiting, it is nice to be in blog-world. -bb

2005-09-12T14:57:00.000-06:00

This scale in the healthroom here at work is painted silver meticallica, I still hate the scales. :)

2005-09-09T12:24:00.000-06:00

Depth, Is this Shallow or does it have depth? Depth has so many meanings... So here is my depth for the day...Drawing a Blank on this Rendering of a Cartoon. Drawn from memory... Is this Betty Rubble, Wilma Flinstone or Jane Jetson?

2005-09-06T15:30:00.000-06:00

This is a camp chair I use when hanging around the kids soccer games...

2005-09-06T15:29:00.000-06:00

MD Soccer Plex is built on an old farm, here is a portion of that farm ...

2005-09-06T15:14:00.000-06:00

morning drawing - "blind" contour of one of the kids this past summer...

2005-09-06T15:12:00.000-06:00

collection of antique farm pails... that sit on the edge of my fireplace...left pail is for berries and right held small amounts of milk...

2005-09-02T12:15:00.000-06:00

Illustration Friday - Roots are showing...

2005-09-02T09:38:00.000-06:00

Roots

2005-08-30T15:39:00.000-06:00

California Dreaming ...

2005-08-30T14:43:00.000-06:00

Every day I dream of growing to become an Artist!

Ten Dreams Tuesday

2005-08-30T12:24:00.000-06:00

Dreams
i have dreamed that I fell thru a wooden floor
i have dreamed that I experience a Missippi River Raft ride.
i have dreamed that I flew in the air like a bird with a backpack like engine.
i have dreamed that I was shot at but my shield was one of those metal trash can lids which kept the bullet from me...
i have dreamed mostly in black and white
i have dreamed of crossing a street over and over the same street.
i have dreamed that my teeth all fell out and floated around just outside my head.
i have dreamed that my teeth all fell out and floated around just outside my head.
i have dreamed many things but forget most of them.
i have dreams of enjoying life...

Dreams of Quilts

2005-08-30T11:32:00.000-06:00

I rarely dream. My family thinks this is funny. If I remember my dream, then it is usually in black & white. When I close my eyes to get to sleep lots of times I see greens with a black background. These bits of green are like stars and or circles in horizontal grid. Is it just what I see when I close my eyes or is probably because I love quilts? More likely because of light, nerves and biorythms... The reason could be that I love quilts.

I love quilts. I wish I could sew, but I can not. So I penned & painted a dream "crazy quilt." I tried to put in bits of that green pattern, try to see the bits of "find some faces" too. All in all, here's to hoping that all is "dreamy" & well with you!

2005-08-29T15:43:00.000-06:00

Kids in Montgomery County Maryland are back to school today! Start of the Rat Race!

2005-08-25T15:59:00.000-06:00

EDM - Wall Mural had Buildings in it... Hope this fits for the "architectural theme..." I sketched it while I was waiting for take out near the end of July at Agrodolce Restaurante where the food is as good as the wall art!

2005-08-25T15:44:00.000-06:00

Been Out of It Lately............ so below is an attempt at COMEDY :) even though the traffic will be a TRAGEDY :(

2005-08-18T14:59:00.000-06:00

Challenge Catch Up Grid...books, glasses, cherri, veg, appliances, cloths, grid

2005-08-18T14:55:00.000-06:00

collage w/geo shapes and 2/3 soft-blok prints

2005-08-18T14:54:00.000-06:00

hidden faces and maj jong ball numbers

2005-08-15T14:40:00.000-06:00

One of my most overworked appliances!

2005-08-15T09:12:00.000-06:00

collage with watercolor, pigma micron .05 and scraps

2005-08-15T09:10:00.000-06:00

paper tye-dyed with watercolor

2005-08-08T13:27:00.000-06:00

Collaging - Why do I save bits of paper? 'Cause I like to collage...

2005-08-05T12:33:00.000-06:00

Running on Empty ... (not good in the gas dept.)

Clean Up Collage

2005-08-05T12:07:00.000-06:00

collage in blue

As it seems that I collect an extraordinary amount of paper, etc. I decided to put it all together for this quick collage.

2005-08-04T11:42:00.000-06:00

stone sculpture that is now on my mantle

2005-08-04T11:41:00.000-06:00

My first soft-stamp carving!

learning to carve/making stamps

2005-08-04T10:43:00.000-06:00

scanned in the leaf print and used background color in paint

Crepe Myrtles

2005-08-04T09:39:00.000-06:00

Crepe Myrtles are blooming everywhere around here!

I am seeing these everywhere around here, just all of the sudden in the last week.

2005-08-02T08:36:00.000-06:00

Massachusetts lamp & NHNY stamp (hey that rhymes!)

2005-08-02T08:35:00.000-06:00

paper mill covered bridge in N. Bennington, VT

2005-08-02T08:34:00.000-06:00

drawings of day lilies

I am feeling aged & tired, this is all I could think of :)

2005-07-29T12:35:00.000-06:00

Aging Wines Must Have Great Labels!

2005-07-26T13:24:00.000-06:00

More Tranquil Mums!

I-Fri: Tranquility

2005-07-26T00:46:00.000-06:00

abstract - tranquility can it be found in looking @flowers?

2005-07-25T14:32:00.000-06:00

Tranquility - Home Sweet Home

2005-07-25T11:30:00.000-06:00

tunnel city - mom & me - we had coffee 'n' tea

2005-07-22T08:11:00.000-06:00

photo used to paint - cat's tomatoes - below

2005-07-22T08:09:00.000-06:00

Everyday Matters Challenge - Fruit

Surviving Summer - Stream of Consciousness

2005-07-21T11:48:00.000-06:00

Summer Drains My Energy
but here is my plan of attack
I promise to find a place that is cool
a place to plant my feet in a pool
Now this is not too easy
since pools make me queezy just thinking
of all the possible germs
what the hey
i gonna find that pool anyway

if not, i'm gonna find some ice cream
or ice cubes
or iced tea and maybe even
mint leaves
possibly an old time fan
or water balloons
or even the good old sprinkler
and i don't care who sees me :)

2005-07-21T08:55:00.000-06:00

chillin in the summer heat

2005-07-19T13:50:00.000-06:00

my old office had great karma & orange walls

KARMA - I think this house a fun "karma"

2005-07-19T11:45:00.000-06:00

Drawing of the Hoosick Falls Painted House or Protest House... on 7-13

2005-07-18T12:01:00.000-06:00

Used during dinner at Carmody's in good old downtown Bennington, Vermont!