Some of the other gals suggested peppermint oil diluted in witch hazel. That's the route I took. It can be sprayed right on the bedding (I think I got bitten while sleeping because it was mostly on my neck and arms) and all around the house without being poisonous. It doesn't kill the insects. It just makes them move away from the area.
For the itches themselves I'm using tea tree oil mixed into coconut oil. It's working well today. Yesterday I think I made it too weak and didn't get the best results. Anyway, that's what I've been dealing with for a few days. It's hard to think about much else when you itch all over!
The only insects I'm seeing are the tiny flies that hover around fruit. I've tried to look them up on the internet, but I'm not finding anything conclusive. Anyway, things are better now.
Otherwise, I'm working and doing Sketchbook Skool and some ATC's. I'm also currently reading Sunlight on the Lawn by Beverley Nichols. This is my sixth book by him! He has such a cheerful outlook on life. I just enjoy his books so much for light reading. I'll have to start searching for another one soon!
Ah, yes. This is a 5x7 canvas board painting. I watched a video by Bob Burridge where he shows how to paint an impressionistic vase of flowers in two steps. First step...lots of colorful blobs of paint all over the canvas.
My friend who gives ATC art to people in nursing homes is also sending art to kids in Haiti. These next two photos show some cards I made for them.
I'm taking it easy on my three day vacation, though there is a possibility of some babysitting. (I volunteered.)
You all have a great weekend! I hope to visit you all soon.
Shalom!
fun art! always a joy to see! OH dear about the bug bites. I am glad for the remedies you are using; I pray that it is not at all related to the dreaded 'bed bug'!!! May God protect and keep the bugs that are biting far away from you!
ReplyDeleteYikes! I hate it that you itch!
ReplyDeleteYour ATC's are lovely, lovely, lovely.
I'm glad to hear that the peppermint oil/Witch Hazel seems to be keeping the bugs away.
ReplyDeleteNice sketches and ATCs.
I can tell you've been around horses. Yours looks a lot more real than mine! Love the impressionistic flowers. Very bright and beautiful. I sometimes get bitten at night too. I have examined my bed and there are no bugs in it. I think it is those tiny spiders that sometimes wind up in places inside the house. And yes, they would most certainly try to get inside. Another source of bites for me is from my shrubbery where birds like to flitter about in. Bird mites. I am highly sensitive to them. Peppermint oil is good for keeping out insects and rodents. I just sprayed around my crawl space vents just before I sat down at the computer so we are on the same wave length.
ReplyDeleteHallo, Lisa, I know those little fruit-flies, they do nothing than like fruits. I think, the other hungry little beasts go away soon! In the early summer I have some guests called ants. I don't like to poison them. I also find a good way with aromatic oils, so they go to another place - not in my kitchen. Gut it's necessary to be patient for a while. Poison is the last opportunity. I poison rats, they eat my doves. I have no other choice.
ReplyDeleteThe oil-pictures with the technique for flowers is great! Often I work like this playing with effects in my paintings. It's very adventurous, seeing, how forms are born.
Greetings and blessings from your artfriend Dori in the Bavarian Forest
Yuck on the bites...I use tea tree oil a lot as well as wear Buzz Off clothing and that helps. No to spraying Raid or other chemicals inside the home. Sometimes I'll spray wasps but never honey bees.
ReplyDeleteFabulous artwork!
I don't like hearing about you being fodder for biting creatures! I hope your deterrents are effective. It's so distracting having an itch.... makes me think of Corrie Ten Boom and her fleas... I guess we'd have to be in similarly dire circumstances for them to help us focus rather than the reverse!
ReplyDelete