Toughergun Napawalli RFID Credit Card Wallet

I got a Shell-D hard case RFID credit card holder several years ago. It has seven slots, but no longer is  able to hold all the peripheral cards anymore. I couldn’t even close it, and it wasn’t easy to find what I was looking for based on it’s construction. And cards could easily fall out. So I searched Amazon for some newer options and found the Toughergun Napawalli. It looked like it had all the characteristics I was looking for - slots for twenty cards and easily recognizable to find while using, a slot for a few bills on the side, RFID, and a zipper pouch for whatever. You could fit a phone or keys in it and use it as a clutch purse. So when it arrived today I was pleased with the product and the construction. I was able to easily fit all the credit cards in to the slots. It folds on itself with a snap at the bottom. And it is slim fitting in to my purse. I’ll keep the smaller Shell-D case for when we go walking and I only need to take a few things with me rather than a heavy purse with everything but the kitchen sink in it. It’s amazing how walkers have changed over time. I used to get a new one every year for Christmas. But the check book section and change purse aren’t really needed anymore. Who would have guessed? 

Procreate and Persian Prints

I started painting using my iPad back in 2010. The stylus was my paintbrush, the iPad was the canvas, and Sketchbook Pro was my app. I always loved to paint since kindergarten - first crayons - then pastels, watercolors, pen and ink, charcoal. But I put all of that aside and studied a subject in college that I could find a job - nursing. It was a very rewarding career and it took me in to interesting places - even the Library of Congress. So my art interest was reignited when the iPad came around. The app was self taught, and it worked very well for me for several years. But then the original app was no longer updated when the operating systems were and the new app seemed harder to get a handle on. So after putting it off for awhile, and doing my usual considerable research, I decided to get the latest iPad Pro and Apple Pencil in the spring. But it also meant learning a new app called Procreate. It took awhile, but after many days and weeks of reading and relearning brushes and palettes and processes, I finally became comfortable enough with the app, but still don’t use half of its capabilities. It stated with doodles and getting familiar with the program, and a custom pet portrait of our new “grand pup.” Then I received a custom order for a pet portrait and dove in. It turned out really well - more watercolor than not. So I liked the end result even more that before, and the canvas size of the bigger iPad made it feel even more like painting. Rather than rely on layers, I was actually painting. So I thought I’d try a different subject matter. Using photographs from our trip to Iran from almost ten years ago, I painted several Persian subjects that were fun and whimsical to create. It was a great experience and kept me busy throughout the summer. Now it’s getting closer to the holidays and the custom pet portrait orders are starting to come in. I’m really glad I finally took the plunge and learned the new app without being rushed or under pressure. I still have my old iPad and old app available in case I need them. I can’t believe I used that tiny screen to paint all the portraits I did! Regardless, it’s a great way to continue working on a hobby I have always loved. And I don’t have to deal with all the mess of real paint and watercolor. Plus my studio comes with me wherever I go. 

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Redbubble Borzoi Zip Pouch

I’ve been sketching and painting with my IPad for the last several years. I’m now on my third iPad - the largest iPad-pro and Apple Pencil. It started with the original iPad and a stylus. I’m amazed I was able to paint what I did on that small surface, while self learning to use the Sketchbook Pro app from scratch. Over the summer I tried a new App called Procreate and had to start all over again. It’s a long story, but I’m glad I have at least figured out the basics. The main subjects of my art are custom pet portraits. I populate my on line stores with their images - pixels/fine Art America, Merch Amazon, Zazzle and Redbubble. Painting a new portrait for someone is wonderful. But when someone purchases an item with an image of mine that they find among the literally millions of others, it’s so lovely! And that was the case yesterday when someone purchased a zip pouch with my Borzoi Tatiana’s face on it. That’s just not any image - that was our dog’s sweet face. So thank you to the person in New York who noticed my image and liked it enough to get something made using it. I really appreciate it! 

LITDigitalArt Custom Pet Portraits for Christmas

When the first IPad was introduced back in 2010 I was immediately on board and waited anxiously for it to be delivered. I’m now on my fourth iPad and the main reason I use an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil is because I like the bigger size, and I love to draw. Drawing and painting wasn’t the main reason for the iPad initially,  it I found an app for drawing - by mistake - downloaded it and have never gone back. Since 2012 I started an Etsy shop primarily to do custom pet portraits. When the first order for a Vizsla came in from Oregon, I was ecstatic. Now I have shops on Zazzle, Redbubble, Pixels/Fine art America, and Amazon - along with several social media sites. I started this blog around 2006 and have tried to keep it updated on a daily basis - whether we are in town or on travel. Some of the entries, like this one, refer to my digital art. This is the busiest time of the year for requests for customers for portraits for Christmas gifts. I really appreciate the folks who know it takes a while to prepare, then paint, the portrait and request the order at least six weeks to two months in advance. Because it is impossible to do them all by the holiday due date, I will at least provide a sketch with an IOU to complete it as soon as possible. After all, I need to maintain a bit of sanity in my life and take time to do what everybody does at this time of year. Without the iPad I’m not so sure I would have ever gone down this route. It’s been a great hobby since I retired three years ago, and kept me very busy while I was still working. So, thank you for all the orders over the last many years. I really appreciate it! If you are interested in a custom portrait, please contact me at LITDigitalart@gmail.com

The Charm Bracelet - A Story to Tell

It started way back when I was in grammar school. I received a birthday gift from my aunt - a bracelet with a single charm. It was the state of Massachusetts. After that for several years, I received a different “charm” that started to fill the bracelet - mostly related to New England - baked beans, a whale, and coke bottles (my uncle worked at coke.)  I would call that my personal bracelet. What a clever idea for an annual gift in so many ways. You could say the many things that reflected growing up became a part of the bracelet - playing the organ, softball, Christmas, all the states I lived in, school, a dog house, Marquette university, RN insignia... it tells a lot about who you are. I also started another bracelet that reflected our travels - universal studios, Disneyland, Toronto, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Las Vegas... you can tell when I stopped collecting charms because so many more interesting things and places we have traveled aren’t even noted. I thought about hanging the bracelet on my purse, but decided against it because I wouldn’t want to lose any of the trinkets. I can already see there is one missing and can’t figure out what it was. I suppose there are other versions of these bracelets and necklaces out there these days. They reflect a period of time in my life that no one else can duplicate. So I’ll keep them stored in my bedside stand and pull them out every once in a while. It’s an interesting way to tell a story.

Calphalon Dutch Oven and Oxo Baseboard Mop at Bed, Bath and Beyond

My Oxo baseboard mop handle broke the other day. We tried to put it back together, but it just didn’t work. Every week I use it to clear the dust from the ceiling corners, the door frames, and the doors too. I did save the mop rewashable part and waited for the next coupon email from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It showed up within a couple of days for 20% off. So rather than use Amazon, we headed to the store down the street. Since our Dutch oven pot was also well used and worn, we looked for a replacement since we had the coupon. We found a Calphalon pot - it was a lot bigger than the one we had, but shorter - so easier to use -according to my husband who does the cooking. So we ended up with two items at a discount which is always a good thing. We do the same for our wine supply. We probably go through one bottle of wine per week. Then every so often to keep the rack filled, we get six bottles at a discount at the grocery store. It’s pretty amazing that one glass of wine at a restaurant equals a whole bottle that lasts the entire week. That gives you an idea how little wine we drink. But a filled wine cabinet looks nice - especially at a discount. 

Four Vaccinations in Five Months - Ouch!

Having worked in health care for thirty years, it was a mandatory requirement to get the flu vaccine - or you couldn’t work. Since then, I always got the shot when I worked at the Library of Congress. My husband would get his shot at a drug or grocery store. This year we both got the flu shots in September before we took a two week trip to Wisconsin. It was good to get it over with, but both of us caught some awful bug while we were there. For my annual check up in June I got a pneumonia vaccine because I hit the magic age that it is recommended. And I’ll need another one next year. On top of that, shingles vaccines were also recommended. I got one a couple of months ago at the Giant grocery store - our “go to” place. But you need to get another one within two to six months. So we decided to go ahead and get the second booster yesterday. I recall some vague discomfort with the first shot. If anyone is going to have side effects, it’s going to be me. Last night I had the chills so bad they wouldn’t quit throughout the night. I was also nauseated, had a headache, a racing heart rate, aching joints, and a very restless and sleepless night. Today I’m just plain exhausted - so much so that we decided to stay in today because going out for lunch would be a waste of time. So I had two pieces of toast and some bubbly ginger ale to settle my stomach. I’ve always said the two worst sensations are nausea and headaches. Having them at the same time is disgusting. So I looked up the side effects and I had every one of them. My poor left arm is ever so sore too - four shots in five months is overkill - but necessary.