ReUsable Coloring Book #MommyHack

I thought I'd sit down real quick while supper cooks and share a #MommyHack with you.
To me its a #PennyPincher, maybe for you its more #EcoFriendly. Either way, here it is - a reusable coloring book!

I took several coloring books that we already had and tore them apart, putting each page into a sheet protector.

I put all the pages into a 3 ring binder we had on hand and presto! A coloring book!

We picked up some Crayola dry erase markers and I'm really impressed with them. They color nicely, are easy for little hands to manage and most importantly? They come off with soap and water when little ears don't hear the part about "only color the picture"
*EDIT Nov 12,2016 Crayola Dry Erase Crayons are even more impressive than the markers! Check them out!*

If the pages don't come clean with a dry rag, or with water, wet your rag with rubbing alcohol, the color will come right off!

Have fun!

Teresa Burleson, Cowgirl Poet #WAW

Teresa Burleson - Bio

Teresa Burleson is an award winning poet whose poems are inspired by her personal experiences and the Western way of life. She has an appreciation for the agricultural industries and the people who make their lives in it. Teresa's zest for life is evident in her poetry as well as her ability to make people laugh and touch their lives.

With a clear, soft Texas drawl and a voice that Waddie Mitchell

Teresa Burle - Bioonce declared was "like silk”, her poetry is beautiful, soulful and aimed straight for the western heart or the funny bone.

Her passion for Western Heritage is also how she makes her living. Her position as Director of the Stockyards Museum, in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, allows her opportunity to promote and perpetuate the local history and of the cattle drives that passed through Fort Worth.

She was honored to be in the 2014 and 2013, Top 5 Nominees for Female Poet of the Year with the Western Music Association.

In 2010 she was awarded the Cowgirl Poet of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists.

Udder Wimmen. It is based on a true story. Although I wrote it in first person, it was inspired by some friends of ours.

Day Job (if other than art), Western or mainstream? I am the Director of the Stock yards Museum in  Fort Worth, TX.

How did you get introduced to your art? As a young child I discovered rhyming words in school. It became a game to me to find words that rhyme.

What got you started as an artist? The first time I ever heard cowboy poetry was at the first Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering in 1991. It was like a religious experience for me.

The Investment. It was inspired by a ranch family I saw while I was performing at the Working Ranch Cowboy Associations, Ranch Rodeo Finals in Amarillo. They had a young son. The little boy was so respectful to his parents and you could tell he wanted to be just like his daddy.

Tell me about your subject matter. I write about all things western and everyday life.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started as an artist? Keep writing. Listen to, or read other artists poetry.

Where can people find you online?

Facebook, or

 http://www.teresaburlesoncowgirlpoet.com/

Grandma's Legacy. I have to give God the credit for this poem. All I did was hold the pen.

 If you liked today's #WesternArtWednesday post be sure to check out the #WesternArtWednesday index page to see past features! Sign up for the Cowgirl Mama newsletter up on the right side of the page so you'll never miss another post

#WesternArtWednesday - Bobby Burleson, Silverworker

Good Morning! I have a request to make before we get into today's post.
In the last few weeks I've had trouble with Facebook and in the process I lost access to the original Cowgirl Mama Facebook page,  which meant that in order to share on Facebook I had to make a new page! Would you be kind enough to go HERE and like the new page and then invite your friends to do the same? Thank you!

Now! Without any more blather from me, may I introduce Silverworker Bobby Burleson!

-Life Story: Bobby was raised in Muday, TX and River Oaks, TX and has lived outside of Weatherford, TX for 20 years. He has owned and trained horses most of his adult life. He worked as a welder, fabricator and designer and builder of equipment.

- Day Job (if other than art), Western or mainstream? His full time job is Burleson Spurs, Bits & Buckles.

- How did you get introduced to your art? Being involved with horses included the use of all the tack and equipment needed for the use and care of them. He became interested in spurs and their makers.  He was particularly impressed with the work of Adolph Bayers.

- What got you started as an artist?
Bobby started making spurs for himself and then for friends and family. It just evolved over the years and became a passion.
After 25 plus years at the same job, Bobby felt as if it was time to do something else.  He had felt led to go into business for himself building spurs and bits, but was hesitant to give up a steady income.  Then one day in May of 2014, he heard from God and knew it was time to follow his dream. The moment he made that decision, 20 minutes later the phone rang and a friend asked him if he could make her a pair of spurs.  He knew that was confirmation.  Work has been steady since then.

- tell me about your subject matter, (ie just horses, just buckaroo style, rodeo etc. )
Bobby strives to make a product that is functional,  attractive and affordable for the average working cowboy.

- What advice would you give to someone just getting started as an artist?
Surround yourself with successful people.  Seek out a mentor that is successful in the same art as you. Trust God and trust yourself. Never stop learning.

- with each poem or piece you've included a photo of, what's the story behind it?
Each bit, pair of spurs, buckle,  etc, is custom made to the customers specifications.

- where can people find you online?
www.burlesonspurs.com
and on Facebook at Burleson Spurs, Bits & Buckles.

 If you liked today's #WesternArtWednesday post be sure to check out the #WesternArtWednesday index page to see past features! Sign up for the Cowgirl Mama newsletter up on the right side of the page so you'll never miss another post

#WesternArtWednesday Smokey Culver, Poet

As you may have noticed, the schedule has changed a bit for the blog. 

For the next while we will be featuring one artist a month, on the second Wednesday of each month. 

We are expecting a new little ranchhand this spring and between housechores, ranchchores and toddler wrangling, there's not much time left for looking up artists to interview! 

So for now that's the new schedule. 

NOW! Enough blather from me, go see what Smokey Culver has to say!

This photo was part of a magazine article I was featured in recently. http://www.coastmonthly.com/2015/10/all-the-hooey/

Life story: I was born and raised in Southeast Texas on the Gulf Coast. I grew up during a time when my little community of Pasadena was still somewhat rural, and got my first horse at age 11. That was about the time I started tossing a lariat and signing up for the steer riding event at a the Deer Park Rodeo. I will enclose a poem dedicated to that rodeo. As I got older I continued my connection with horses, and started calf roping and steer roping in my early 20s.

Day job: I started my railroad career at age 20 just out of the Navy, and ran freight trains all over Texas until I left that job in 1995 to become a railroad safety consultant. I currently work as a consultant/expert witness in railroad accident litigation, which allows me to set my own schedule, making rodeos and poetry gatherings often. I was not raised on a ranch like a lot of cowboy poets, but my grandfather, who named me Smokey, owned a big spread that was to have been passed down to me. Sadly this did not happen, but my lifelong dream to own my own place will come to pass someday. I have included a poem about my grandfather, whom I called Jay.

I am involved with a horse rescue ranch in South Texas called Habitat for Horses. The property where I volunteer my time has about 100 horses at any given time. We get the abused and undernourished ones, nurse them back to health and put them up for adoption. This allows me to handle a lot of horses and not have to pay feed bills, vet bills etc. I am HfH's coordinator of volunteers, and am on the investigation team. A labor of love.

How introduced: I was never really interested in poetry until I realized that I had a natural ability as a poet and song writer. I was in my late teens when I began writing songs and poetry. Had a record published in about 1975, but it never took off. I still write a song from time to time, but in the past few years have focused mainly on poetry.

Subject matter: I call myself a cowboy poet, but the truth is I write about a lot of things besides cowboys, but most is about down home folks, small towns and country life and things like that. I have written many tributes to deceased friends, family members and pets, and am often called upon to write something for a memorial service for folks that I have not met. I feel truly honored when I receive these requests. When I sit down to write a poem, I pray for the words and they come. I give that credit where it is due. I am just blessed to be the one writing it down.

Advice for new artists: Keep a notepad or iPhone handy. You never know when an idea will come along, or a subject that you want to write about. I often wake up in the middle of the night and record an idea or a line or two that I would never remember if I didn't record it right then. Don't get frustrated if you get stuck in the middle of a poem. Walk away for awhile and come back later. It will all come together. Focus on rhyme and meter if you write that style. Keep your rhyming words as perfect as you can.

I am on Facebook as Smokey Culver:

I have a cowboy poetry page on Facebook also: Smokey Culver Cowboy Poet

I have a book available on Amazon, A Wrap and a Hooey.

My second book, Ridin' Shotgun is due to come out any day, and will also be available on Amazon.

If you liked today's #WesternArtWednesday post be sure to check out the #WesternArtWednesday index page to see past features! Sign up for the Cowgirl Mama newsletter up on the right side of the page so you'll never miss another post