Redwork And Wrecking

In all my free time today, I decided to learn redwork. It's a type of embroidery used on quilts; it's also popular on dish towels. I don't know why, but I always imagined it to be difficult. Really, there's nothing easier. Here is my first attempt:

And for all of my faithful Wreck This Journal followers, here are day 6 and 7:

More Wrecking......Days 2 - 5

Here is day #2 of Wreck This Journal (WTJ)

Day #2 was two pages:

Day #4 was by far the most fun; Cati and I put on our boots, went outside, and jumped in the dirt and snow, then came back in and used the book to wipe out feet =)

Finally, today, Day #5, I spilled Cati's coffee:

Wreck This Journal..And Yes, I Do Mean WRECK

Why on earth would I want to wreck a journal??? Creative destruction; the book is dedicated to perfectionists. What is it about? Well, you are literally supposed to wreck this book. Here are some examples of what the book tells you to do:
1)Fill in this page when you are really angry
2)Tear out [this page]; crumple
3)Cover this page using only office supplies
4)Cut through several layers [of the pages]
5)Climb up high, drop the journal
6)Tear this page out. Put it in your pocket. Put it through the wash. Stick it back in.
Other things include cracking the spine, spilling your coffee on it, smearing dirt on it, even taking it in the shower with you.
If I do one page a day, it will take me almost to the end of April to finish. So, to start it all off, here is day one:

No, the pages don't come colored. They are all nice and white and clean right now. It still looks like a new, normal book. You have no idea how much pleasure it gave me to color in a non-coloring book! I think everybody should get one for themselves; it's just plain fun to ruin a book =)

Virgina

Yeah, I know, this picture says PA, but we never passed a Welcome to Virgina sign. After spending 10 hours in the car, it was wonderful to finally arrive in VA at my aunt's new house!
These are the pictures of my cousin's bedroom. I spent all of Tuesday and Wednesday, and part of Thursday painting it.

 

Here are the pictures are from  our visit to the Smithsonian on Friday.

We also went to the Federal Art Gallery:

  

The above painting of the lady in white is by far my favorite painting from the gallery. It is by Whistler, and something in her face and stance is.....capturing, I suppose. The violin is, yes, a painting. The picture does not do it justice; it looks so very 3D and real in person. And the window...yes, that's a painting as well, though it looks like you could reach through it.

New Blog

Yes, I have indeed started a new blog. I'm sure you're thinking that I don't post on this blog often enough to warrent a whole other blog. But if you go check it out (here's the link: http://onceuponalli.blogspot.com/ ) I think you may understand why I created it. Even if you don't, though, I'm still going to have it =). It's an art blog, completely dedicated to my art. I will be posting pictures of my art, and I hope everyone will feel free to comment and critique.
Don't worry, though; this blog will still be used. In fact, pictures from the Virgina vacation will be coming within the next week!