Checking In With My Blog Friends

Hello, My Lovelies!  I know I've been MIA lately, but I've been busy with wedding plans, and our sweet niece Molly moved-in with us.  She is completing a clinical rotation here in Birmingham for her doctorate in physical therapy.  We're so proud of her!  She and Shelley are both studying hard, and they are using the desktop computer.  I currently do not have a laptop, so it's hard for me to blog at the moment.

Plus, I've been working on myself a little, too.  I'm trying to get healthier, and I've been painting a little.  I've also been practicing a new artistic skill called silverpoint.  Silverpoint is what artists used before graphite.  It's literally a piece of silver that leaves a mark on specially grounded paper.  I want to learn more about it because I love it!  To me, it is a very intimate medium.  It does not photograph well because it's hard to see the shimmer of the metal via photos.  It really draws the viewer in!

I decorated for Halloween this month, but I don't know if I'll get around to posting any photos.  Maybe on Instagram.  I've been a bit MIA over there, too!  But I will be on my @rickijilltreleaven account this week as I'm posting my new paintings.

I will try to catch up with your blogs via my iPad until I can replace my laptop.  Until then, please share with me anything you think I've missed from your blog lately in the comments and I will definitely link over!  

This is one of four pumpkin paintings for autumn.  I love the oil-primed canvases I used for this one.

I painted this colorful and lively trio of apples on a pretty linen cloth a couple of weeks ago.

Both paintings will be available in my Etsy Shop this week!

Above is a silverpoint pumpkin I drew.  I'm still getting the hang of it.  The only drawback with silverpoint is it cannot be erased!  So artists are allowed to embrace their mistakes with this medium.  ;P

Have y'all read any good books for autumn?  I will have a couple of terrific book reviews coming up in the next few weeks.  Stay tuned!

Until next time...

Blessings!  

Ricki Jill

Checking In With My Blog Friends

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The Treleavens Have Gremlins

We may have gremlins inside but outside our planters are thriving this summer.

Good morning, My Lovelies!  I hope y'all having a fantastic summer full of baseball, grilling, travel, and fun.

Gremlins 

Our summer has been interesting so far.  About a month ago, lightning struck our air conditioner in Birmingham.  Then about three weeks ago, lightning struck our lake cabin and took out all of our TV's, stereo, half our wall outlets, coffee pot, cable box, router, all surround sound speakers, wire under the house that led to the cable box, and a modem.  What a mess!  First world problems, I know, but we had to spend the first half of our Independence Day vacation fixing all the shiz.  

We weren't there when it happened (we were at the beach) but what is scary about the situation is we could see where flames shot out of the speakers and melted the felt and wiring.  We can't believe that the house didn't catch on fire.  We truly are blessed...plus none of the major appliances were affected.

But before we left for the Independence Day vacation, our freezer stopped working, and our fridge is running a little too hot.  We're having to eat mostly out these days, but the repairman will be here Thursday to fix it.  We had to order 16 parts.  Sixteen!  

I miss ice.  Yes, I know....another first world problem.  But then again....we do live in Central Alabama.  It's freaking HOT!

Camera

I finally settled on a camera: the Sony a6000 with a couple of lenses that I really like.  I want to thank all of you who gave me fantastic advice during this process.  It has been quite the learning curve, but I am enjoying it.

My New Blog and Instagram

I also want to invite you to follow my art blog and my Instagram feed for my art.  Here is the link for my blog, and you can follow me on Instagram @rickijilltreleaven.

Instagram @rickijilltreleaven

I feel badly asking y'all to follow me on different accounts, but my professional artist friends have all told me that I should ONLY feature my art on my blog, and that I should ONLY feature my art on my Instagram feed.  I don't know if I can maintain so many accounts.  I probably won't post as often on this blog, but I will still post over here a little, especially when I want to share a good book, recipe, or home decor.  

I've joined the Daily Painting movement in a big way.  Y'all, I am LOVING IT!  Basically, Daily Painters paint small paintings everyday (or in my case one per weekday).  I have joined the Dialy Paintworks website, and I have rebranded my Etsy store for my paintings.

If you know of anyone in the market for small paintings, send them my way!

The new name of my Etsy shop

Steller

Have you tried the Steller app yet?  I am loving it!  I've enjoyed looking at others' stories.  It has been a great tool for me to make Instragram stories.  It is very user friendly.  You can check out some of my stories by clicking on the Steller S below!

I appreciate y'all more than you'll ever know.  Thank-you for reading my blog!

Until next time...

Blessings!

Ricki Jill

The Treleavens Have Gremlins

Wednesday, July 10, 2019