Category Archives: Challenge

Jun21

Tuesday Photo Challenge–Music

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

When I saw this week’s theme for the Tuesday Photo Challenge, I thought, “What a great theme! If only I could think of a shot to take.”

You see, I have a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in music education. I taught elementary general music for twelve and a half years in two different centuries and two different states.

I sighed and glanced around my very messy study. This is what I saw:

Recorder and drumstick bouquets

Books about music (and art)

Djembe

My guitar

My music stand, with my recorder book open to some duets I checked out last night.

A mountain dulcimer made in the seventies by a friend’s brother; a “tick-tock” woodblock; a cabasa, and a cricket scraper.

Then I went to the living room, where my piano resides.

Photographs by ARHuelsenbeck.

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Jun21

Wordless Wednesday: My Neighbor’s Roses

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Is it wrong to covet my neighbor’s roses? Doing double duty today for Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge.

Photographs by ARHuelsenbeck

Jun20

Tuesdays of Texture: Ruff!

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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A rough bark for Narami’s Tuesdays of Texture photo challenge:

Photo by ARHuelsenbeck.

Jun18

Weekend Writing Warriors, Snippet #59

Posted on June 18, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Every Sunday, the Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sundayshare 8-10-sentence snippets from their works-in-progress on their blogs for others to read and comment on. Join the fun! Click on the links to see the full lists.

From Gabe’s Garage of Goodies (picture book): Gabe has too many power tools, and his efforts to help always end in disaster. Can Mike ditch Gabe without hurting his feelings?

Picking up from the scary barbecue scene from last week:

Finally, he [Gabe] adjusted the flames to a reasonable height and scraped incinerated food off the grill. “I’ll get some more burgers and dogs,” he said, turning to the back door. In a moment, he reappeared with a platter piled high with hamburger patties and frankfurters—many more than two people could possibly eat.

In answer to Mike’s raised eyebrow, Gabe said, “I just want to be sure we have plenty. Would you like your rolls toasted?”

“NO!” said Mike, thinking about Gabe’s lack of skill with the grill.

In no time at all, the hot dogs and burgers were done to perfection. The men carried them over to the picnic table, where Gabe had laid out an assortment of condiments, rolls, side dishes, and Mike’s chips and onion dip.

“Wow, this is a lot of food,” commented Mike.

“Yeah, but we can handle it,” said Gabe as he ladled ketchup, mustard, pickles, onions, chili, and sauerkraut onto his hot dogs and hamburgers.

I know it’s short, but what do you think of this small excerpt? Any suggestions on how I can make it better? Please comment below.

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Jun14

Wordless Wednesday: Branches

Posted on June 14, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Photos by ARHuelsenbeck

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Jun13

#dyicad2017 Days 6-12

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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In June and July, I am participating in Daisy Yellow’s Index-Card-a-Day challenge, in which we create on an index card every day–61 mini-masterpieces. I will be posting my projects every Tuesday.

Day 6’s prompt didn’t move me, so I referred to the Week 1 theme of hand-lettering for my offering:

Day 7, Alliteration:

Day 8’s prompt didn’t inspire me, so I looked at the theme for Week 2: “Inspired by collage, ephemera, found papers, painted papers, old books & magazines.” I cut up an old magazine and made a grid collage:

Day 9’s prompt was ombré. Here is my experiment in red violet:

I couldn’t be creative to save my life on Day 10. Sorry.

Day 11’s prompt was tetrahedron. I had to look it up, and I decided to go a different direction. Here’s a variation on a zentangle pattern called facets:

I didn’t care for Day 12’s prompt, so I drew paisleys instead:

I’m enjoying this challenge. You can participate, too, and you don’t even have to catch up if you start late. Check the FAQs for more details.

Also, have you taken the ARHtistic License Survey yet? Help me make this blog a place you want to visit often.

Jun11

Weekend Writing Warriors, Snippet #58

Posted on June 11, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Every Sunday, the Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday share 8-10-sentence snippets from their works-in-progress on their blogs for others to read and comment on. Join the fun! Click on the links to see the full lists.

From Gabe’s Garage of Goodies (picture book): Gabe has too many power tools, and his efforts to help always end in disaster. Can Mike ditch Gabe without hurting his feelings?

After last week’s snippet, Mike tried to discourage Gabe from vacuuming his truck by insisting he had to leave for the supermarket. Gabe tries to convince him to come over for a barbecue (edited for brevity):

“But you gotta eat–might as well eat at my house. You bring the chips; I’ll whip up some hot dogs and burgers on my brand new GastroAtomic Grill. What do you say?”

Maybe if I say “yes,” I’ll be able to convince him to leave me alone for now. “Sure.”

~~~

That evening when Mike went next door, Gabe had his GastroAtomic Grill fired up so high that the flames threatened to ignite the overhanging tree branches. A dozen burgers and hot dogs were already charred black. Gabe frantically twirled the knobs on his grill, trying to get the heat under control. Seeing the concern on Mike’s face, Gabe said, “Not to worry—I’ve got my fire extinguisher right here.” He pointed to a garden hose snaking across the patio.

I know it’s short, but what do you think of this small excerpt? Any suggestions on how I can make it better? Please comment below.

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Jun7

Wordless Wednesday: Petunia Progress

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Doing double duty today with Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge.

And violating the Wordless Wednesday spirit by including lots of words.

Last November my neighbor planted petunias and geraniums:

One of the lovelier aspects of living in Arizona is that many plants can thrive outdoors all winter long. The petunias and geraniums actually spilled over their beds.

This is what they looked like in mid-May, even after several 100 degree days:

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Jun6

#dyicad2017 Days 1-5

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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In June and July, I am participating in Daisy Yellow’s Index-Card-a-Day challenge, in which we create on an index card every day–61 mini-masterpieces. I will be posting my projects every Tuesday.

Day 1’s prompt was sunrise, which I chose to interpret in watercolor. It came out more abstract than I intended. And I confess, I made it on a watercolor postcard, not an index card. Last year I was frustrated at how the cards curled when painted.

Tammy Garcia has a good reason for insisting on using index cards:

Simple materials push you to think in new ways. Index cards are without a doubt “not” the perfect substrate. But they are abundant, so we do not hesitate to pitch them when the work turns into a catastrophe! Get index cards. They can be lined, gridded, plain, neon or dividers or rolodex cards. …The maximum size for the challenge is 4×6″. And yes, gotta be index cards. Not nice paper cut to size. That misses the entire point. We are working with a basic index card, not with a perfect substrate.

I get it. However, my watercolors will be on watercolor postcards.

On Day 3 I thought I’d work with the theme of the week: Inspired by topography, words, hand-lettering, graffiti, found text, definitions, poetry & lists. I thought it would be an excellent excuse to practice my calligraphy. But my Sheaffer pens wouldn’t write well on my Staples index cards. The ink just wouldn’t flow evenly. Three cards pitched, Tammy.

So instead, here’s Found Words Free Verse:

On the other days, the prompts and the theme just didn’t inspire anything for me, so I practiced some of the zentangle designs I’ve saved on my Pinterest board:

Day #5, Frame Over:

You can participate, too, and you don’t even have to catch up if you start late. Check the FAQs for more details.

Also, have you taken the ARHtistic License Survey yet? Help me make this blog a place you want to visit often.

Jun4

Weekend Writing Warriors, Snippet #57

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Every Sunday, the Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday share 8-10-sentence snippets from their works-in-progress on their blogs for others to read and comment on. Join the fun! Click on the links to see the full lists.

From Gabe’s Garage of Goodies (picture book): Gabe has too many power tools, and his efforts to help always end in disaster. Can Mike ditch Gabe without hurting his feelings?

Last week, Gabe noticed Mike washing his car, and brought over his new Car Vac Plus to show it off. We continue on:

“No, that’s okay, I’ve seen car vacs before,” said Mike quickly, trying to avoid one of Gabe’s disastrous demonstrations.

“Not one like this! It has the suction of a black hole! Here, let’s vacuum out your truck.”

“No, really, it’s okay, I already vacu…”

Not listening, Gabe unwound about a hundred feet of cord from the vacuum and walked to Mike’s front porch to plug it in. Then he returned to the canister, flicked a switch, and swoosh, the vac vibrated into action. Gabe grabbed the vacuum hose and, opening the passenger door, began vacuuming away. “You see that–look at this puppy pick up!”

“Yeah, Gabe, very cool, but I’ve got to finishing polishing the truck before…”

Please excuse the run-on sentences (due to my effort to stay within the 10 sentence maximum). I know it’s short, but what do you think of this small excerpt? Any suggestions on how I can make it better? Please comment below.

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