12/5/10

Designing Your Own Repetitive Pattern

One of the things we like to do over at
Zentangle with a Twist Social Group
at

Designed our own patterns
Every so often we take time to come up with something new
To refresh our artsy muse
~Ranie Patridis

12/4/10

HOPE

Black n Blue
HOPE
When Life Issue
Tends to get in the way
There is always hope
When you put your faith in God!
~Ranie Patridis

12/2/10

The Leafy Dragon

Did you ever hear about the leafy dragon
That gracefully floats below the water?


The like to stay down by the ocean floor
Blending into the plants there in

They come in many different colors
They are a little shy but oh so graceful
You are thinking those are
SEA HORSES
Yes
Your are right!
They are sea horses known as the
Leafy Dragons!
~Ranie Patridis

12/1/10

Tomorrow: The Future

We're Not Supposed To
See Too Far Ahead



It is a mistake to look too far ahead.
Only one link in the chain of destiny
can be handled at a time:
~ Sir Winston Churchill



It is seldom in life that one knows
that a coming event is to be a crucial
importance
~Anya Seton

11/28/10

Zentangle with a Twist

ZWAT
Zentangle with a Twist


Have you been to ZWAT
Over at ATCsforALL
There in the Social Group
We have a new challenge every week.

What so special about ZWAT
We like to take repeptive patterns
Turn them into art either by Free-Form or Picture-It

The art of Repetitive Patterns
Have been around since the beginning of time
All you need to do is open your eyes
Look at the Master Works
Notice the repetitive patterns that enhance their art.

Come on over to ZWAT
We love to admire one's another art
Giving encouarging words and tips galore.

This challenge was all about fish just one ole fish
See what you can do with it.

~Ranie Patridis

11/25/10

HAPPY THANKSGIVING



Let Me Be A Giver
***
God, let me be a giver, and not one
Who only takes and takes unceasingly;
God, let me give, so that not just my own,
But others' lives as well, may richer be.
***
Let me give out whatever I may hold
Of what material thing life may be heaping,
Let me give raiment, shelter, food, or gold
If these are, through Thy bounty, in my keeping.
***
But greater than such fleeting treasures, may
I give my faith and hope and cheerfulness,
Belief and dreams and joy and laughter gay
Some lonely soul to bless.
~MARY CAROLYN DAVIES




Happy Thanksgiving!
May your day be good
Enjoying love from family n friends
Be thankful for what we have.
Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Day!
~Ranie Patridis

11/4/10

Evenings

Nightly Assessments


We should every night call ourselves
to an account:
What infirmity have I mastered today?
What passions opposed!
What temptation resisted?
What virtue acquired?
~ Marcus Annaeus Seneca

10/31/10

What is in your Crow Closet

Oh my what is in your Crow Closet
You say crow closet!
Yes your crow closet a swap that I was in
At the time these thoughts went through my mind
How could I draw a crow that has a closet
The first that came to mind I thought
He will like bright colors maybe a fire red
Next thing I knew Mr. Crow became a fireman.
Now as I went onto the next crow
I was thinking what shall become of him
And what is in his closet?
It dawn on me how they fly from here to there
Squaking as the go
Sending of messages to the other crows
So henceforth came the Messenger
As the messenger goes here in there
I got to thinking he needs a place of business
The next thing I knew what was in the crow closet
was a crow in uniform taking care of the
Crow Station
Now what does these crows have in common?
..giggle..
Tis one Crow dreww up in 3 different outfits
Now you know what is in your crow closet.
~Ranie Patridis

10/28/10

Tomorrow



We're Not Supposed To
See Too Far Ahead


It is a mistake to look too far ahead.
Only one link in the chain of destiny
can be handled at a time.
~Sir Winston Churchill

10/21/10

Boring Days!

Average Days

Normal day let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.
~Mary Jean Iron

10/17/10

Whimsy We Are

We are a whimsy lot
So gay and happy
You never know what we shall do
Or what profession we hold.

Being a Chef
A bit of mischief I can be
Some think that Chefs are grumpy and sour
Not me I like to put a bit of spice
into my life.

Now my friend is a bit different from me
We walk in two different life style
Me a chief my friend a Cow Girl
Cow Girls are so sweet and lovable
Can be a bit tough too
I don't know how she does it
But then she does not know
How I do it since she does not like to cook.

We get together from time to time
We make a point to do this
Living in two different worlds we do
She being my childhood best friend
A very special person she is to me even today.
 
The two of us have another friend from childhood
that we both keep in touch with
Who became a Nurse
She travels all over the Word
Since she is in the Service.
She has help many a service man find his way
Always sweet and so patient
She has seen many things that she does not talk about
Life is not easy being in the service
But oh how she loves helping our Service men.
 
Us three try to meet several times a year
Our friendship from childhood is that special
 
When I think back to how or what we become
How we each took different paths
There is one thing that keeps us all tie together
We are the Whimsy Twins!
~Ranie Patridis



10/14/10

Positive Thinking

POSITIVE THINKING
and
SELF-FULFILLING
PROPHECIES and ACTIONS


Our Faith and Belief Create Our Reality


Belive that life is worth living,
and
your belief will help create that fact.
~ William James

10/10/10

What a Day!

What a day it is
Mr. Wind is in a fix
He so busy blowing here in there
He doesn't realize how strong he is
I'm out trying to gather some flowers
Be so nice to give to someone special
Oh my goodness gracious!
I lost hold of that corner
There goes my net and all my flowers
Oh dear! What am I to do?
Needless to say with my flowers gone
I was not able to give to anyone special
My intentions were good
If only Mr. Wind had not blown so hard.

Once Mr. Wind settle down
Up to the North what is that Grumpy Clouds
Oh no!
Now what!

I must go get my umbrella
I still have flowers to gather.
Off I go
Goodness gracious what is wrong with
Mr. Grumpy Cloud
He is already letting a tears fall so grandly
I must not complain for we need the water
But oh! I want to save my flowers!
So off I go to gather my flowers
To give to someone special

~Ranie Patridis





10/7/10

HOPE

THE IMPORTANCE AND VALUE
OF HOPE


It is characteristic of genius to be
hopeful and aspiring.
~Harriet Martineau

10/3/10

Oh! What is Under all that Water?

I stood looking over the water
Today it is so smooth and gentle
The sun is out
The clouds are fluffy n beautiful

Do you ever wonder what is under all that water?
As I stood there admiring the deep blue
You never know what you may feel
Sometimes it is foggy and cold
The water a bit rough
As the waves come crashing onto land

Do you ever wonder what is under all that water?
I see a beautiful boat out on the water
Wonder what they are doing
Are the fishing?
Maybe they are just enjoying
The beautiful day
Oh who are we kidding
They must be fishing?

Do you ever wonder what is under all that water?
Well I have a hunch
There are all types of beautiful fish
In all shapes and colors
I can imagine a city all of their own
Each ruling the water below
Each having a family of their own
Mountain and Valleys plants galore
Do you ever wonder what is under all that water?
~Ranie Patridis

9/26/10

They say Frogs I say Toads

Frog n Toad Swap
by
Kat
at
ATCsforALL

Leaping for Joy
Hey you! Over Here!
What is that!

Floating Down the River








9/19/10

Nebulas

Kat host another swap called Nebulas I found these to be so challenging and so much fun! We had the choice of either doing this as a collage or hand drawn/hand painted. I decided to do both boy was that an experience and so different.

Watercolor Nebulas






Collage Nebulas








9/5/10

Frogs oh my!

Frogs oh my!
What a delight
They sing such  a pretty song at night
Steady and sure singing in rhythm
as they Sing the Blues



Well at least some are singing the blues
While others are into mischief
Never know what they are up too
Ooops!
Was that a fly or a spider?
Guess we will never know....


There are those that just
Sit and gaze into the heavens
Dreaming their life away
Wishing upon a star



Now that my friends is the story of frogs oh my!

8/29/10

Egyptian Art

Kat hosted an Egyptzen Swap
she wanted us to add a bit of repetitive patterns to it today most call that zentangles.



Egyptian Cobra
Egyptian Dog

Egyptian Princess
Egyptian Dog






8/22/10

Flowers to my Delight

Robin hosted another swap at ATCsforALL this one was flowers.
Wild Rose #3

Wild Rose #2

Wild Rose #1





8/15/10

Made Especially for Mingo

Made Especially for Mingo
and
I added it to the
Zentangle with a Twist Article
at

Pumpkin Delight

8/8/10

ATC Art Quarterly

Created these Artist Trading Cards
 for
ATC Quarterly Magazine

Dance with Me
Gave my Heart to You

Happy Birthday


8/1/10

In the Garden there are Many Flowers

Collage Art
by Ranie Patridis

Look down at our feet there is mama
Waiting patiently for her little babies
That we ahve in a bag
Where shall we take them?
We must keep them safe
***
Betsy dear look at that
A bag full of puppies
Just for us
What shall we name them?
And where is their Mama?
***
Come Mama follow us
We are looking for a safe place for them
Betsy dear are you awake
Don't you hear the puppies whimpering?
Come Betsy let us find a place.
***
Out in the Garden among the flowers
They're the Garden Fairies
Will help watch over them
Mamam watch over your babies
Just like I do with Betsy Dear....
by Ranie Patridis

7/5/10

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER





Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad strips and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air.
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!
***
On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses"
Now it catches in the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream.
'Tis the star-spangled banner; oh, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!
***
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!
***
Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY

7/4/10

INDEPENDENCE BELL - JULY 4, 1776

There was a tumult in the city
In the quaint old Quaker town,
And the streets were rife with people
Pacing restless up and down-
People gathering at corners
Where they whispered each to each,
And the sweat stood on their temples
With the earnestness of speech.
***
As the bleak Atlantic currents
Lash the wild Newfoundland shore
So they beat against the State House
So they surged against the door
And the mingling of their voice
Made the harmony profound
Till the quiet street of Chestnut
Was all turbulent with sound.
***
Will they do it? dare they do it?
Who is speaking? What's the news?
What of Adams? What of Sherman?
Oh, God grant they won't refuse!
Make some way there! Let me nearer!
I am stifling! Stifle then!
When a nation's life's at hazard
We've no time to think of men!
***
So they surged against the State House
While all solemnly inside
Sat the Continental Congress
Truth and reason for their guide
O'er a simple scroll debating
Which though simple it might be
Yet should shake the cliffs of England
With the thunders of the free.
***
Far aloft in that high steeple
sat the bellman old and gray
He was weary of the tyrant
And his iron-sceptered sway
So he sat with one hand ready
On the clapper of the bell
When his eye could catch the signal
The long-expected news to tell.
***
See! See! The dense crowd quivers
Through all its lengthy line
As the boy beside the portal
Hastens forth to give the sign!
With his little hands uplifted
Breezes dallying with his hair
Hark! with deep, clear intonation
Breaks his young voice on the air.
***
Hushed the people's swelling murmur
Whilst the boy crys joyously
Ring! he shouts, Ring! Grandpapa
Ring! oh ring for Liberty!
Quickly at the given signal
The old bellman lifts his hand
Forth he sends the good news making
Iron music through the land.
***
How they shouted! What rejoicing!
How the old bell shook the air,
Till the clang of freedom ruffled
The calmly gliding Delaware!
How the bonfires and the torches
Lighted up the night's repose
And from the flames like fabled Phoenix
Our glorious liberty arose!
***
That old State House bell is silent
Hushed is now its clamorous tongue
But the spirit it awakened
Still is living-ever young;
And when we greet the smiling sunlight
On the fourth of each July
We will ne'er forget the bellman
Who, betwixt the earth and sky,
Rung out, loudly, "Independence";
Which please God shall never die!
UNKNOWN


Everyone have a nice 4th of July
Remember our History
Freedom is not free!

7/3/10

LAND OF THE FREE

AMERICA, O Power benign, great hearts revere your name,
You stretch your hand to every land, to weak and strong the same;
You claim no conquest of the sea, nor conquest of the field,
But conquest for the rights of man, that despots all shall yield.
***
America, fair land of mine, home of the just and true,
All hail to thee, land of the free, and the Red-White and Blue.
***
AMERICA, staunch, undismayed, your spirit is our might:
No splendor falls on feudal walls upon your mountain's height,
But shafts of Justice pierce your skies to light the way for all,
A world's great brotherhood of man, that cannot, must not fall.
***
AMERICA, in God we trust, we fear no tyrant's horde:
There's light that leads toward better deeds than conquest by the sword;
Yet our cause is just, if fight we must until the world be free
Of every menace, breed, or caste that strikes at Liberty.
***
AMERICA, home of the brave, our song in praise we bring-
Where Stars and Stripes the winds unfurl, 'tis there that tributes rings;
Our fathers gave their lives that we should live in Freedom's light-
Our lives we consecrate to thee, our guide the Might of Right.
ARTHUR NICHOLAS HOSKING

6/3/10

Telephones

Telephone is an amazing bit of information
You never know what you will hear
It maybe good news
Or
Bad news then it maybe something funny.

Telephone
Has come such a long ways
Remember when you use to round it up
Hanging there on the wall
Sharing your conversation with all.

Telephone
How did we do with out them
My Grandma had a black one that sit on a table
Nice sturdy big phone
Lots of conversation went through that phone.

Telephone
Remember when you could see a pay phone
Usually at the Gas Station
So convenient to drop some coins make that call
Letting love ones or friends know this n that.

The other day there in Redding we stop
In a Serve It Your Self Gas Station there before me
Standing all alone was a
Pay Phone

I can remember there would be at least two or more.
Looking so sad and lonely all alone
Standing there not able to move
Watching phones traveling with their masters
All day long as they pass by giving him a wink

He may look sad and lonely but not really
For he knows not everyone has a cell phone
and
He is there to serve
Knowing he is giving a helping hand.

Telephones have come a long ways in the old days
They were just use for communication
Keeping in touch with family and friends
Now they are use for entertainment and communication
From iTube to Facebook lets not forget the newspaper too
All those lovely photos to texting and music too

The
Telephone

Has become an amazing bet of information
Much more than communication

Wonder what my Grandma would say to day
If she could see what phones can do today
by Ranie Patridis

4/17/10

The Joys of Spring!

I dream of Spring through the Winter months
It seems as I get older
The days get longer.

Maybe it my joints
Complaining and groaning
Telling me it is hard to bend.

I don't know
Just wish that Spring has Sprung
I dream of warm days cool evenings
Listening to the frogs sing  as it warms up
Watching those little heads pop out of the ground
to bring you joy a smile comes to your face.

As Spring gets close the days get longer
Here in there we have more sunny days
A bit of cheerfulness finds it way to you
The first blooms to pop up are my Miniature Iris
Reminds of a friend no longer with us.

Who would know the Sun
Would be taken over by the Clouds
Tis over cast and dreary
My spirit falls down.

Not feeling well to day
The wood stove a going it is nice and warm
Sinus acting not helping a bit at all
As I sit and doodle
The art shows my feelings
They say April Showers brings May Flowers.
Now its raining cats and dogs
Tis a dark and dreary day
I wonder how my poor little iris are doing
Afraid to go out and check
A few day later the Sun pops back out
I venture out
Only to discover that my poor little Iris
Did not do so well.

A sadness comes over me and I think to myself
Wow! Its Cold!
Out here!
Why is it not warming up
The Sun is out shining giving no warmth.
Went to bed that night
Woke up to snow.
That day it snow some more
Getting deeper by the inches
Snow is beautiful
Makes everything nice and clean
But oh is it cold to be out there
I prefer my warm little shack
With the good olé wood stove
Just a cranking a way.

Again my sinus bothering me
Been rough for a couple of months
Wish this sinus would disappear
As I'm thinking how bad I feel
I set down to doodle
to keep my mind off of me

What is that I'm a hearing?
Oh know!
The wind is blowing!
As it get stronger and stronger
I hear branches falling
In my mind I see the tree's bending
As they struggle to stay upright
I fear that my flowers that I have left
Are blowing in the wind.
Landing
Know one knows where
Surely where ever they are
It must be warmer than here.

As I struggle with this sinus infection
Finally went to the Doctor
Gave me some antibiotics
Hope that does the trick.
They say get a Neti Pot
Wash that nose away
Oh my!


For in about 2 weeks or more
I'll be off to Monterey
There we are holding our
1st Annual
California AFA Gathering
Where we shall have
Workshops and Demos
All gathering around to trade and play.
Dare I say I do feel better!

There you have it
The
Joy's of Spring!

3/14/10

Here Little Pussy Cat....

Cats! Oh my!
Do I love cats
The can be so cuddly
yet so full of mischief

There is one that is always watching everything you do
Or waiting patiently for that poor little mouse
Not to say a cat that knows it all
No matter what you say or do
Miss Know It All 
is constantly talking right back to you

There is always one that loves to purr
so fat and lazy
it just wants to curl up into your lap

The Talker who is constantly
meow, meow, meow
no matter what you do
That cat is constantly talking to you

Cats are amazing creatures
with those soft mysterious eye's
Always ready to be near you
Yet not willing to be control
Always stands a bit away
Ready to bounce at a moment
Here little pussy cat come
cuddle up to me!
~Ranie Patridis