~For the love of Art~

Needle felting!

2011-07-19T23:17:00.000-07:00

I always wanted to try needle felting because it looks so easy and quick, but it is not that easy. First you need to be patient and focused or you can loose a finger (well kind of). I purchased a basic kit in an Asian art fair in San Francisco that included felt, needles, a sponge and instructions. The guy who was selling them has an online store here.

Here are my creations:

Mom and little owl

buddies

Owl: my favorite bird.

Crazy Bunny

Dancing bunny

my next needle felting project is going to be dogs....we'll see how that goes :)

Owls!

2010-10-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

Owl I made using socks!

I found out that I have certain obsessions that come and go! My new obsession is with owls. I always liked owls, but now that they are back in fashion again I like them even more!

Making this little guy was so easy anyone can do it!

This is a painting in oils I made using an old Nordstrom card as inspiration!

My next projects are more owls using pastels and maybe an owl plush toy!!!

It's Spring in the other side!

2010-09-22T14:26:00.000-07:00

September 21st is when Spring starts in my country, Bolivia, and it is one the most beautiful seasons down there! Here in the US is Fall which I really like as well because trees start changing colors from yellow, orange, red to brown. I do not have pictures from Bolivia, but I do have some Spring flowers from Glacier Nat. Park!

These wild flowers were very small!

Dandelion!

Next time I will not forget to bring my camera to Bolivia and snap some cool pics!

Feliz Primavera!

Ipad apps!

2010-09-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

A cartoon of my sweet dog Cinnamon!

One of the applications that I really like for the iPad is Brushes . This painting application is very easy to use and you can create original artwork from anywhere!! I give Brushes 9 out of 10 starts, now if they had a better way to share your artwork would be awesome :)

Love birds!

2010-06-04T00:40:00.000-07:00

These birds reminded me of the love I have for my sweet husband, Marco! Happy early second wedding anniversary love!

I took these pics with my Canon and edited using photoshop!

Shih Tzu silhouette

2010-05-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

This is another oil painting of my dog, but this time I wanted to show her silhouette and her top knot is the cutest!! It was a very easy project and anyone can do it. It took me about two hours to finish it!!!!

Taking a break!

2010-04-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

This week I started writing my dreaded Comprehensive Examination paper for graduation. I am in a Counseling Psychology program that is coming to an end this June. Every time I have something important to do I procrastinate!

My mind finds other better things to do like painting, drawing or even cleaning the house! This week I finished a painting for my living room and I love how it looks!

It is inspired from a bird I found online!

Now it is hanging on my wall!!

Ok, I should go back to my writing before I find other distractions!!!

Flowers!

2010-03-16T23:17:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, one of my friends from school brought me flowers from the farmer's market and they are so pretty and different that I couldn't resist taking some pics!....

I have never gone to a farmer's market here in California and these flowers made me want to go and buy cute and different types of flowers.

I wish I knew the name of this one!

Looks like a wild rose!

Besides takings pictures of dogs I love taking flower portraits. My camera takes decent close up pictures, but I think a macro lens would be awesome! (but first I need to find a paid job, qua qua qua)

Apple Amigurumi!

2010-02-07T23:11:00.000-08:00

This is not your regular apple!

Another toy I made this month is this delicious apple that would look adorable anywhere in your kitchen! It comes with a little gift inside:

Oh no, a tiny worm!

Don't worry this worm is harmless and wants to be your friend!

Yummy yummy!

(Esta es otra de mis creaciones hechas a crochet!)

I heart my Canon!

2010-02-02T22:06:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share some interesting shoots I took with my new cam while I was in the city!

Grace Cathedral in San francisco

California and Powell street! One of the best spots to take pictures because you can see the builduings and the cable cars!

Some pretty flowers!

This pictures are edited using photoshop!

I can't wait for the summer to be here to enjoy the sunlight!

Hearts for Haiti!

2010-01-28T00:53:00.000-08:00

My practicum site (CHAC) is organizing a fund raising for Haiti and they came up with the idea of making cards for Valentine's day and without thinking for a second I volunteered to create 10 cards!
The cards that will be sold for only $5 each and all proceeds will go to Haiti. The theme was hearts, so these are my creations and I might sell them online too!!

Penguin Love

Kittens

I love birds!

Little piggy!

For her!

An owl was a must!

For Him!

Golden hearts!

I spent the entire weekend making the cards, but no complains ....I would be doing this the rest of my life :)

Happy early Valentine's day !

Origami= Stress reduction

2010-01-21T01:08:00.000-08:00

Today I started to get anxious about my future and I hate that!!!....Some people drink, smoke, exercise, eat and have many other ways to cope with stress.....My way of coping is by creating something........anything.
I was playing with paper and learned to make these cute bunnies and yes, they made me feel better, at least for now!

Mommy Bunny!

Looking for mommy :(

Together at last :)

If you would like to make one of these you can go here and follow the instructions!

Bye!

More scenes from Vail Colorado!

2010-01-18T17:25:00.000-08:00

I was very impressed by the beauty of Vail, Colorado. The snow, the trees and the beautiful mountains were the perfect elements for a relaxing week. I couldn't take my new camera to the slopes until the last day, so most of the pictures except the last two, are taken with my iPhone.

Surprisingly despite the cold, it was clear sunny!

The trees looked amazing and I felt I was in another world!

That's me trying to look like a pro...blah!

Some type of fruit from the trees!! they looked like cherries!

More iPhone apps!

2010-01-15T01:04:00.000-08:00

So while I was in Vail the past week, I was researching more applications for the iPhone and found quite a few that I loved! One of them is called "Hipstamatic" and it is only 1.99. It is a photography app that takes vintage looking pictures. It comes with three free lenses and you can buy extra ones if you want. The pics came out very interesting and somewhat weird!

Vail, Colorado

Marco being silly!

On the lifting chairs

Cinnamon being cute!

This one looks like a scary movie!

Cinnamon's toy..creepyyyy!

And this one is back at home!

This app can turn any boring pic into an interesting, scary, intriguing one! Just play with it and you'll be surprised!

Mommy Turtle!

2010-01-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite Amigurumi books. It has the cutest crochet projects and they are not hard to make at all.

I just finished this lovely mommy turtle and her babies.

Pregnant turtle!

Here comes the first egg!

And one more!

The babies!

The baby turtles love mommy!

Aren't they cute??

Since I work with children I thought I can utilize this turtle with them and talk about pregnancy issues, parenting, etc. I hope it works. I can't wait to see the kid's faces when they see it!

(Durante mis vacaciones estuve tejiendo y me compre este libro que tiene bonitos projectos. Empece con la tortuga y este fue el resultado. esta bonirta no?)

New year, new gadgets ..oh...and new camera!!!

2009-12-29T18:21:00.000-08:00

This year baby Jesus brought me a brand new camera and I am SO excited that I have been taking pictures everyday, every hour, shooting at everything!!!

It was the perfect distraction I needed to keep my mind away from sad homesick feelings :(

My first shoots were in North Lake Tahoe where we spent Christmas and I realized I need some classes to take advantage of this baby!!

The Lake

Marco...thanks baby!

The cabin we stayed in!

Lifting cars.

Our skis with our initials!

Cute tree covered with snow!

Snow Flakes!

Icicles

Happy Christmas 09!

2009-12-24T18:42:00.000-08:00

(clic to enlarge)

I heart cupcakes :)

2009-12-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I had another cupcake adventure. It was one of my new friend's birthday and I was more than happy to design cute cupcakes for her. I usually work with my friend Melissa. She bakes and I decorate. She makes the most delicious cakes, cupcakes and bread. But she is out of town visiting her folks. So I was all by myself. I adventured and I baked pineapple coconut cupcakes. They came out a little bit dry, but oh well ..I'm learning. The best part for me is the decoration. The birthday girl loves turquoise, so I definitely put those colors in the cupcakes......and this was the end result:

I made the roses using milk chocolate..

and put some polka dot ribbon around the cupcakes..

and vanilla icing!

I love decorating....

(El fin de semana fue el cumpleanos de mi nueva amiga y para ese dia le hize panquesitos de coco y pina. Me salieron medio secos pero estoy aprendiendo. Usualmente mi amiga Melissa es la que los hace y yo los decorot por que es mi parte favorita, pero ella se fue de viaje. Use color turquesa para la decoration. Las rosas son de chocolate y les puse una cinta alrededor.)

Christmas Decor!

2009-12-17T19:12:00.000-08:00

This is the first year that I will not go home for Christmas :(
I was sad because I wont see my family in this especial day....but as my mom always says, family will be always in my heart!
We are going to spend the holidays here in the US and I decided to cheer up and just let the Christmas spirit take over!
One of the first things in my to do list for Christmas was to host a holiday party with all my friends. I have to say it was one of the most fun things I did this year! I had so much fun organizing the event and I enjoyed decorating my apartment for the special day!
I do not like Christmas colors that much (red and green) so I decided to go with a light green and gold theme and I was glad how it all came out!
Here are some pics and ideas for decoration!

Green Theme!

Ornaments on top of wine glasses!

And I made the napkin holders using gold ribbon.

Gold colored candle (very cheap at Michael's)

Candle holder from Ikea. I have them since my weeding!

Snow flakes made using paper!

and I couldn't resist decorating a cake. Snowman made using fondant and candy.

Don't ask how my cake tasted because I'm not a good baker!

Posing with my little snowman!

and my christmas tree!

I am already thinking of hosting another Holiday Party next year :)

Thank you to all that came and share this especial moment with me!!

Last Fall Pictures!

2009-12-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

More pics to add to my already grown collection.
These are the last pictures I took with my iPhone during this fall! I love the colors of fall......:)

At Michel's Park!

At Landels Elementary School

More from the school I work. I am always inspired every time I arrive because I see these landscapes!

And my fave, a scene from Greer Park!

bye bye fall, until next year!!!

I am so excited for the Holidays!! I am on my way to buy a xmass tree and cant wait to decorate it!! Ill share pics later!!

(Estas son unas fotos que tome con mi celular. Son parques y uno es de la escuela donde trabajo. Hoy compraremos nuestro arbol de navidad y ya quiero decorarlo! pondre foticos despues!)

Fun at Petroglyph!

2009-12-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

Taking a deserving break from school and work last week I went to Petroglyph with some of my friends to paint some pottery and it was really fun. I'm in love with this store so far. They have hug selection of pieces to chose from. I chose to paint a cake stand because I realize I don't have one :(
I was in heaven in the store. I did not mind the lovely price of things there, I was just having fun! I think my friends think I am coo coo because I was like a kid in a candy store!

Girls concentrated in their projects.

Karla's finished product.

Mel's cake stand.

My cake stand.

Alaina's mug.

My friend Martha painted a pretty mug with a frog in it, unfortunately the pic I took didn't came out clear :(

I will definitely be back there to paint more.

(La semana pasada nos fuimos con unas amigas a pintar ceramicas. Yo estaba en mi mundo como un nino en una tienda de dulces. Pinte un plato para poner pasteles y le dibuje un buo. La proxima ves quiero pintar un plato para mi perrita!)

One of my babies gone!

2009-11-30T23:10:00.000-08:00

Moochy Bunny

I am so happy! I just sold one of my dolls yay yay and yay!
It is just nice to know that someone out there likes my dolls and wants to buy one.
My collection is called Moochy and I sell them on Etsy. The name is a long story that I'll share later.
I decided to make more of these dolls during the Christmas break, especially more like the one I sold because she seems to be popular!
I cant wait to start sewing....oh and maybe a new sawing machine?? yes?

Bye bye baby!

(Acabo de vender uno de mis conejitos de mi collection llamada Moochy. Me da alegria saber que hay gente que le gusta lo que hago y que quiere comprar uno. Decidi hacer mas de estos durante mi vacacion y quiza hasta me compre una maquina de coser de verdad :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T13:18:00.000-08:00

When I first moved here from Bolivia, 6 years ago, Thanksgiving was not important to me because we don't celebrate it in Bolivia. However, as time passed I saw my friends and people around me getting excited in this day. Families get together, they have huge dinners, they play games, or they just sit, talk and catch up on things. Thanksgiving is not just any day as I thought, it is a day to remember those who we love and make us smile, to be grateful to life for being alive, to thank those who make our life exciting, and worthwhile everyday and for all of that I am thankful!

(Click the pic to enlarge)

What are you thankful for??

My muse!

2009-11-18T00:14:00.000-08:00

This is a digital drawing using Corel Painter. I'm in love with the program, but I still need to learn a lot. I used charcoal and my precious pup Cinnamon served as model!
Isn't she precious???

p.s.. If you want a portrait of your pup send me a pic you like and I'll try my best to capture their cuteness :)

(Un dibujo que hize de mi perrita. Ella siempre me inspira a crear! Acaso no se ve preciosa?)

Discovering more iPhone apps!

2009-11-14T20:40:00.000-08:00

My iPhone is being bombarded with different applications every day. Another drawing app that I found and love is called TypeDrawing. With this app you can make interesting drawing using words. It is really neat if you have the patience and love drawing.

Little birdie.

Sugar Therapy!

2009-11-11T19:44:00.000-08:00

Last month, my lovely friend Melissa and I started a small baking business called Sugar Therapy. We joined our love for baking and decorating to create delicious and good looking cakes, cupcakes and cookies. More details about this new passion can be found here.
The name comes from our practice as a psychotherapists and because cooking itself is very therapeutic!
Today I had the opportunity to test our concept with the kids I am seeing in counseling. I brought already made carrot mini-cakes for the children to decorate and they loved it!

Activity:
I gave them two mini cupcakes and asked them to focus on two feelings. Then, I had them decorate the cupcakes according to the feelings they thought. One of the kids chose sad and happy. When she was done decorating, I asked her when was the last time she was sad or excited. Lastly, I told her to pick the cupcake with the feeling she wanted to keep. She chose the happy one and ate it.
This activity, which I am going to call "Sugar Therapy" from now on, came out to be very helpful if you want children talk about their feelings and do not mention that kids love cupcakes and can do anything for them!

Some of the cupcakes they decorated!

Sad and Happy ones!

A "loved" one!

(Espanol; el mes pasado mi amiga y yo abrimos un pequeno negocio de pasteles llamdo Sugar Therapy, que significa Therapy del Azucar. El nombre viene de la passion de Melissa por cocinar y mi passion por la decoration y nuestras profesiones como psicologas. Hoy puse en practica nuestro concepto en una de mis sessiones con lo ninos. Traje mini pasteles para que ellos lo decoren y les gusto mucho. Asi pudimos hablar de sus emociones por que es muy dificil hacer que un nino hable de eso, pero con un poco de azucar uno consigue mucho de un pequenin.)

Some Bolivian Art!

2009-11-10T00:27:00.000-08:00

"El Diablo" The Devil in oil pastels.

One of my favorite Bolivian artist had an art exhibition in the Bay Area this past weekend and I could not have missed it for anything in the world!
His name is Roberto Mamani Mamani and is from the same city was born, La Paz, Bolivia. I was very excited to meet him and tell him I am his number one fan. As I expected he is very humble, friendly and very inspiring.
He comes from an indigenous family and is very proud of his culture. He gets his inspiration from the richness of the Ayamara culture which is known for the use of vivid and striking colors in their clothes.

Posing with the "Maestro" the master (we look alike :)

He was very welcoming when I approach him. When I asked him if he could sign my book, he took my book and said: "I am going to make you a portrait instead," He drew a sketch of me and signed it. It was a breathtaking experience!

He is going around the world to show his art work and his next destination will be Europe. As a fellow proud Bolivian, I wish him the best!

Mamani-Mamani Art Work

(Now in Espanol: El muy reconocido artista Boliviano Roberto Mamani Mamani estuvo en San Francisco el pasado fin de semana. Como no era de esperar fuimos a ver su exposision y a conocerlo en persona. Nos atendio muy bien. Es muy amigable y sobre todo humilde. Le pedi su autografo y el ademas de eso hizo un dibujo mio que apenas se ve en la foto. Me inspiro mucho conocerlo y me dio aun mas ganas de pintar y dibujar. Mamani estara de gira por Europa y como buena Boliviana le deseo lo mejor!)

Knitted Accessories!

2009-10-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

On of my favorite hobbies is to knit and crochet. It is very relaxing and a good way to clear my mind! I just learned how to make flowers and I love it. I think they are cute accessories for scarfs and knitted hats. I also knitted my own scarf and I am satisfied how it all came out.

Yellow flower!

A hot pink flower on a knitted hat!

(Now en espanol; estas flores las hice con crochet y las aprendi mediante un video de youtube! ahora las hago de differentes colores y como se ve en la foto, sirven como adorno para cualquier chalina o gorrita de lana.)

Art Therapy for Kids!

2009-10-21T11:16:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe I started my practicum two months ago, time flies! I was a little scared to start my internship this year because it was going to be a new experience as a therapist.

However, I am so fortunate to say that I LOVE it!

First, I am working with children, which is the population I am interested in working once I graduate. Second, the staff at the agency I am, CHAC, is very supportive and they are willing to teach you as if you were a five year-old-kid. Third, my supervisors are licensed Art Therapist and I am learning so much from them. And lastly, I have the opportunity to do art therapy with the children! What else can I ask for? I am practicing what I studied for, working with young children and doing what I love the most ART! :)

Some of the Rocks we (the interns) painted at the orientation day!

One of the Kid's project.

Jewelry box from a 9yo girl!

Gifts for mom. From a 9yo boy!

Fall Colors!

2009-10-18T23:52:00.000-07:00

Fall is one of my favorite time of the year. All the leaves start changing colors and fall to the ground to form a colorful pattern of yellow, orange, red, green and brown which are the most beautiful colors found in nature!

Some of the leaves I picked from Greer park!

Trees from the park in front of our building!

I love the colors of this landscape.

The blue sky is such a nice contrast to the yellow tree!

All the pictures are taken with the iPhone 3Gs!

Love my iPhone and all the photo apps!

2009-10-13T23:21:00.000-07:00

Since I got the new iPhone 3G I am obsessed with taking pictures. It has 3 megapixel and it's so much better than the first generation one. I think I bought all the photo applications for the iPhone because they are so cheap and fun to play with. I mostly take pictures of my dog, but I also love taking pictures at flowers. The iPhone made me fall in love with photography and I am praying for a new professional camera this Xmass. I will be a good kid until then ;)

My Favorite Flower Ever (Orchids)

Almost done!

2009-09-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

I just finished the third and last painting, yay, just in time before classes start!

I had so much fun doing this paintings and during the process I realized I have a lot to learn about painting such as details of a mountain, sky and the different colors and shadows, the different types of brushes and knife painting, yeah knife!.......so many things, I cant wait to win the lottery to dedicate my life to art!!!

Second and third painting!

2009-09-03T17:06:00.000-07:00

I finished the second painting which is a scene of San Francisco. I will add some highlights and shadows once it is dry! In the meantime I started the third and last painting :)

Adding the buildings!

Done!

This one is a view of Salt Lake city and the mountains in the background, I finished the mountains and I am going to start the buildings of the city! I will post the final work soon!

Clouds and Mountains first!

Adding snow!

Painting update!

2009-08-27T16:16:00.000-07:00

So I finished the first painting, I will add some highlights when it's completely dry! I think most painters or artist think their work is never complete; I still think this one needs something else,but don't know what!

Any who, I started the second painting and it is a scene of San francisco. Those are the pics of the process!

First Stage (main colors)

Adding colors to the buildings!

On a painting mission!

2009-08-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

I was surprised when one of my friends, Kjersti, asked me to paint something for her. This is the first time in my life that someone asked me to paint for them and I feel flattered. I do not consider myself a professional painter, but I enjoy all about art. I am going to document the progress of the paintings here. This is first of three scenes that Kjersti chose and I am almost done with it!

Seattle in Oil!

First stage (drawing)

Second stage (adding the main colors)

This is just the beginning and Im going to keep posting the progress!

Finals, Anxiety, procrastination!!

2009-05-27T15:23:00.001-07:00

Finals at school are coming and that only means stress. I have so much to read and papers to write that just thinking about them makes me very anxious. So to cope with my anxiety I avoid my books and papers. Well I think that is called procrastination, but I rather call it my "coping mechanism"!
My best way to reduce anxiety is to create or "do" something like painting. So one afternoon instead of doing school work I decided to do rock painting and jewelry making and it was way more interesting than opening my books!!

My Kitten!

earrings!

Boston Memories!

2009-05-18T10:43:00.001-07:00

I'm on my way to Boston writing on the airplane. I am very excited to go back to the place that welcomed me for the first time. I have so many good and bad memories from the east coast that I do not where to start. One of them that I wanted to share in this blog is about my drawings.
When I moved to the US (about six years ago) I first lived in Boston, I did not have any friends and my English was horrible, so I spent hours drawing at home. I took a short course of basic drawing which I really enjoyed. It was my first time drawing live nude models…..(well that's another long story)..but yeah I really enjoyed it despite the uncomfortable situation.
First drawings:

From then I started drawing and drawing. Now looking back, I realize that all my drawings had to do with my family and Bolivia. Sigh….it was a hard year for me, I really missed them and that was translated in my drawings. Here are some of the drawings:

My little brother, Alex, ready for his kindergarten graduation!

My nephew, Alvaro

Some Bolivian unknown children:

Bolivian indigenous women:

Then, I moved to the West coast and I have been living in California for four years. Time flies! So many things happened since; I went to college, learned how to drive, tried Asian food for the first time (It's my favorite food now), I got married, adopted a lovely puppy, and now I am in my second year of a Master program where I met wonderful people. Life continues! I still miss my family a lot, especially my mom, but I am grateful that they are alive and always supporting me.

First pastel drawings I made in California:

I have continued painting, and now my new inspiration is my dog. I keep wishing I had more time and money……sigh…patience!!

Amigurumi {^-^}

2008-11-24T22:15:00.001-08:00

I love Japanese art and they have the best and cutest stuffed dolls. Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures.
This year during summer I bought an Amigurumi book with pictures and patterns of dolls you can make. I made three of them and they are adorable. I could not find the eyes for these dolls in any craft store, so I made them using bottoms. I try to sell them online at Etsy.com, but my selling skills suck…..so they are seated on my desk, and I still have not decided what to do with them……three more creatures for my collection……..sorry Marco!

Technorati Tags: amigurumi,bear,duck,crocheting,knitting

My Passion!

2008-11-20T20:39:00.000-08:00

I decided to start a blog about the artsy things I like to do. Here I will share all the activities I love doing such as painting, drawing, knitting, clay sculpting, doll making and cake decorating.

My mother says that as a child I would always be doing something with my hands. She says that during breakfast I was always playing with the bread's dough left overs making flowers and figures. I also remember that I would spend long hours making clothes for my Barbie dolls and drawings of my friends. If I only had kept those drawings……..

Anyway, I am not an expert, I only took one drawing class in my life and I hope that someday I can dedicate my entire time to this passion.