Wednesday:) Well, What’s Been Happenin’ On The Square?

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”

― W.B. Yeats

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Magic and beauty and amazing adventures are happening all around us, right before our own eyes, in our own home town. All we have to do is open our eyes. Voila! There it is.

Yesterday was a very awesome day. I got up early for a long walk and to walk the dog. Then, Helene and I made plans to scoot over to Holy Family School to take our donations of snacks and goodies for the little ones. Miss Sondra and the staff are always so appreciative of our little donations and our visits.

The construction for the Community Kitchen and Garden behind the school is coming along. It will be so nice for the community to have fresh home grown vegetables and meals available to them. Cool!

After our visit, we wandered over to the Square for lunch at The Pantry. Oh my goodness. I always get the chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes/gravy and fried okra. SO much food. We always have leftovers.

Of course, I needed a phot op in front of the mural painted by our friend, Andrea Holmes, on the side of Fair and Square Imports across the street.

Then, off we went to visit Kim Guthrie at her studio on Virginia. She’s always busy at work by her window. Perfect for a photo op and a visit. Her awesome whimsical style has captured the hearts of all of McKinney and beyond.

Another artistic stop at The Last Gallery on Louisiana. We were greeted by another artist friend, Leslee Ortega. Leslee has a brilliant eye for color and composition, and has also mastered the art of painting with coffee. (Yep…coffee. It’s a blast. I love it too.) The gallery has become a fantastic artist co-op that features the finest artists in North Texas. (Most of them are friends of mine, so I’m a little biased.)

It was a great busy day, and what better way to end my day than a nice walk at dusk to capture one of God’s greatest works of art. The evening sunset. (I really need to paint some of these scenes. But, I have SO many. Where do I start?)

Have a great day, my friends.

Friday:) The Fabulous Kim Guthrie Art

“There are no rules. That is how art is born, how breakthroughs happen. Go against the rules or ignore the rules. That is what invention is about.” –

~Helen Frankenthaler

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My good friend and fabulous artist, Kim Guthrie, had a one day art show at The Cove in downtown McKinney this evening. Sherri Murphy and I went down to see her wonderful work. Kim had a unique colorful and playful style that evokes smiles and joy. Her love of art is as bountiful as her talent. She is also fun and funky and silly. Here she is donning her mask with a faux $100 bill to reflect her fun philosophy of “Put your money where your mouth is.”

There were so many amazing works to see. She had a “smiley face” side theme going on for this show. There’s always a creative whimsical style in her work.

That’s Kim under the Big Bad Wolf mask. She’s so cute.

This gentleman was walking home from The Cove with an original rendering of his beautiful cottage home just down the street in the Historic District of McKinney. Sherri beeped her horn as we drove by, noticing that he was taking a selfie of himself with his new acquisition. We wanted a photo too. He was so proud. I’m sure it will find a place of honor right away.

Kim Guthrie has an adorable little studio right in the square where she can be found most days painting and visiting with friends, neighbors and visitors.

Check out her website… https://www.kimguthrieart.com/

Oh yes, HAPPY BLACK RUSSIAN FRIDAY, my friends.

Saturday:) Sharing With Sherri

“Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected.”

~ Charles Lamb

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I haven’t seen my old friend Sherri Murphy in eons. Oh, since the sunflower field excursion, many weeks ago. Sherri has been experimenting with all kinds of painting and art techniques in the comfort of her new home studio. It seems like every day she is posting a new painting or craft project on Facebook. I commented the other day that we needed a painting play day, so today was the day.

Sherri came over this afternoon and we rummaged through some folders, ideas, examples, stencils, brushes and paints in my well-organized craft room. We decided on a small canvas with her initials in metallic copper. Then, we worked on some cute cactus in flower pots drawn with watercolor pencils. A fun project.

Look how adorable!

We started out with a quick pencil sketch, then outlined and shaded with watercolor pencils. The neat part is, then you just blend and paint with clear water, it’s like magic.

I used a little blue pastel chalk for my background.

Sherri also painted two letters, S and M, with copper paint and painted a small canvas in shades of brown, that she mottled with scrunched up plastic for a leathery look. Then, dip-dotted copper around the edges to look like small copper nail heads. Very cute. Plus, the raised

letters could stand for Sherri and Michael, or for Sherri Murphy. Dual purposed.

We both agreed that it’s a lot more fun to play and craft with friends than home in our own little artsy world. Some people like to create alone. Personally, I love to share ideas and brainstorm and experiment and kick it around a little with other artistic friends.

Fun day, Sherri Murphy! Thanks for stopping over to play. 👩🏻‍🎨👩🏻‍🎨

Friday:) The Most Fabulous Talented Friends

“I’m inspired by artists and musicians. There are so many wonderful and talented people in the world. I love discovering new music, new writers, or new art.”

~Alicia Keys

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One of the perks of being an artist, writer, and all around busy-body, is that I’ve made friends with the most fabulous talented people.

A few weeks ago, my friend Krystyna Watson posted some adorable hand-made gifts and accessories for little girls. When I saw some pink princess patterns and Mini Mouse items, I asked Krys to save me a few for my granddaughters. I usually can pick up some great Christmas gifts at her booth at St. Gabriel’s Holiday Craft Show. It was cancelled is year…oh no!

Not only can Krys sew up a storm, but a few years back, she joined me volunteering over at Towne Creek a few years, and taught our senior friends many artistic techniques, origami, paper crafts, jewelry making, knitting, crafting and other cool projects that I have no clue about. I learned a lot. She also cooked and baked yummy treats for us all. Krys is KOOL!

We arranged to meet yesterday so I could pick up my little girl gifts and check out some new projects she’s been working on. Wow!

Here are some of my treasures…

A couple of back to school totes. My little girls will love these.

These little dolls are also little shoulder bags to store all kinds of treasures.

A few hats, scarves, scrunchies, and Kleenex pouches.

Then, she gave me about a dozen or more handmade scarves to share with our senior friends at Towne Creek this Christmas. What a special gift.

I’ll be sure to share more info on Krystyna Watson’s beautiful projects when she gets ready for holiday sales. (I’m lucky to be on the inside track, and have such a talented friend.)

Yes, I’m blessed with the best talented friends.

Cheers, my friends.

Tuesday:) Take a Class, Learn Something New.

“There are so many free classes, workshops, and learning possibilities out there. It’s a shame not to take advantage of them.”

~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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Yesterday, I noticed there was a free drawing class on YouTube sponsored by the Artistnetwork. I texted Sherri Murphy to remind her, so she could watch and practice drawing. I just grabbed some printer paper and a #2 pencil, and did the best I could. I haven’t done pencil drawings in decades. I could use the practice.

This particular video was on drawing a clear glass with water in it. Yikes! I never did that before, but I was up for the challenge.

I tried to follow along. The artist was using graphite, charcoal, white pencils, blending sticks, etc. I had only my trusty #2 pencil.

It didn’t turn out great, but I learned something new. Who said you can’t teach old dogs new tricks?

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries:) T.E.D. Talk/ Bake Tips~ Day 12: A Dozen Days

“Believe me, it doesn’t always get better with time. Sometimes it just gets longer and more depressing. Wine helps!”

~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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I didn’t get moving until way in the afternoon. Nowhere to go, nothing I needed to do. A few phone calls were made to friends and family, and I did make a plan to FaceTime Messenger with some friends at 5 pm, so I had something to look forward to. We chatted and laughed and told funny stories. Oh, and some of us had an adult beverage on hand to toast our friendship and shelter in place incarceration. (Note to self- two glasses of wine is way too much, or not enough.)

I wanted to share my tips for making yummy brownies and keeping them moist for days. But, also I wanted to share how I repurpose all those empty brownie and cake mix boxes for craft projects. You’re welcome. (Crafters/artists don’t throw anything away.)

If you watch the video, yes, I had a couple of glasses of wine to encourage my creativity. 🤦‍♀️

Happy Saturday, my friends. ❤️👩🏻‍🎨🍷

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries T.E.D. Talk/Paint Day 11

” The family that paints together even when they ain’t together, that’s what family is all about.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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Its Friday already! Where did the week go? Normally, I’d say….. “in a hand basket,” you know the rest of that. My days are getting lazier and lazier. I’m living vicariously through all my friends posting on Facebook how they’re coping. Most everyone is being productive. Not me!

Today, I was inspired by my dear friend Sherri Murphy, who has been teaching herself to paint. She’s experimenting and playing with different mediums. I haven’t left the house in days, so I decided to go up into my “crap room,” and put together an emergency painter’s pandemic porch pick-up art supply kit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQIFabBZvVY

I drove over to Sherri’s house in Prosper this evening, and rang the bell. We couldn’t hug and kept a safe distance, but I know she will be enjoying the supplies for a long time.

Here’s one of her paintings from the other day. I stole it from her Facebook page. I just know that many more masterpieces will be posting in the near future. Love you, Sherri Murphy. (Call anytime for video chat tips and tricks.)

Cheers!!!!!

Happy Friday!

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries-Day 8- T.E.D. Talk Tuesday and Tips- No Brush Painting

“Who says you have to have fancy paints and brushes to paint and be creative? Brushes? We don’t need no stinkin’ brushes.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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I’ve been watching SO much TV and spending SO much time on my iPad that I think I’m going a little mad. And, to tell you the truth… “THE TRUTH…YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” Guess what I was watching today? And it was just to hear those famous lines. At least it wasn’t “The Shining,” and I’m not walking around with an axe saying, “Where’s Johnny?”

Today, I took several walks with my trusty furry companion, then decided to do something creative. So, I made another quick how-to video on painting bluebonnets. My friend Sherri was painting some flowers and posted her progress on Facebook. I asked why she didn’t double load her brush and she said she didn’t have the right brushes. My thought was, “Brushes? We don’t need no stinkin’ brushes.” (More movie inspired quotes.)

I suggested she try some Q-tips gathered up with a rubber band. She loved the idea. I decided to put together a quick how-to video. It’s a very quick and impromptu project, and was not that easy to film while holding my phone in one hand and painting with the other. But, it gives you some ideas to play with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLnu9nNjoHk

Happy Tuesday. Hang in there. One week down… a zillion more to go. ❤️

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries~Day #7 T.E.D. Talks and Painting Bluebonnets Video

“I’d rather teach you to fish than just give you a fish. Who am I kidding? I detest fish, but I love to paint, so I’ll teach you how to paint.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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Today, I was inspired by my many artist friends who have been posting their beautiful artwork or sewing projects during these quarantined days. Personally, I’ve been a lazy slug for the past few weeks. This morning, I said it out loud, “I will paint today!”

This video was also inspired by my friend Sherri Murphy. She set up an art studio at her house and is teaching herself paint. If we weren’t sheltering, I’d be over there showing her a few of my tips and tricks. So, here is my how-to paint bluebonnets just for you, Sherri Murphy.

Okay! Now I’m feeling productive and not like such a slug. Not bad for a days work.

Toni’s Extrovert Diaries Day 4~ My Private Quarantined Cocktail Hour and Art Gallery Tour

“Art is the only serious thing in the world. And the artist is the only person who is never serious.”

~Oscar Wilde

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Day 4 of Toni’s Extrovert Diaries. I only left the house about ten times today, and that was to walk the dog. Poor thing is exhausted. I’m going crazy and we’ve only just begun.

On the bright side, it is Black Russian Friday, so one of my famous cocktails will be on hand as I give you a brief guided tour of just a few of my original paintings that I have scattered about the house. (It only took me five years to hang them up.) There are many, many more paintings, unframed and squirreled away somewhere in the recesses of my “crap room” upstairs.

Cheers-here’s the tour… hope you watch it and say…”Miss Toni is …… AMAZING!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPGzAYsLK30