I just visited an etsy shop where she had pages and pages of her artwork. It was quite interesting, all looking a bit the same. she diffentantly has her own "style" It got me to thinking...am I always trying something new because I'm looking for MY OWN STYLE? I dont know...I don't think so. I think I just enjoy the learning process of something new. I am always looking for that "next" new thing to try.
I just picked up Stephanie Lees Plaster Studio book, I chose not to take her online class, her books are so good, I want to try it on my own. I have to many "irons in the fire" this mo. So I'm making a date with myself to give this plaster thing a try. I did buy all the supplies so I'm ready.

One of my husbands best friends dad died yesterday, he was my husbands first boss and they were very close, Dean was able to be with him up to the end. It brought back memories of when his own dad died. Its so hard.

I got a piece of glass cut for the top of my Postcard table, I plan to put some old postcards and letters under the glass, I thought that would be fun. Maybe even a piece of old lace, um, I guess a bit of a collage on a grand scale...now I cant wait to get started on that.lol.

I bought some new creative paperclay to make some more "dolls" Michaels has quit carrying it, so I HAD to go to Dick Blick...which by the way "Dick" is not to be found...I guess its just called Blick. I just love a good art supply store!.

This was part one of my post, I'll be back after my Copic workshop

few more pages

A doodle watercolor page, I put pink embossing powder on the cage
A tag I made awhile back

A piece of old tape, the grid thing is a bag

The flap on the right opens

Tomorrow I am going to play hookie for a few hours.

One of my favorite art stores is having a 2 hour demo

on the Copic pens and air tool,

I got a certification on Copics a few years ago...but they were new to me

and I didn't want to use them for what they were intended

now things have changed and have moved in new directions

I'm a lot more interested now, I'll let you know how it goes!

Art Journal Book

I'm also taking a class at Artful Gathering from Nellie Wortman. Fabulous! We learned to paint on


photos. It might be hard to see, but I added shading and highlights, then adding a bit of shabby chic around the edges...so fun

More photos to come...

Class with Christy Meyers

I'm taking this class from Artful Gathering. I had a few issues, not having the proper supplies, so I did the best I could. I ran out of clay, so poor thing has not arms or legs, then to top it off, Michaels stopped carrying the clay, so I have to order on line. I didn't have the correct sandpaper, so its a bit rough...do I sound like I'm making excuses? hehe. This was a great learning experience!

Oh What Two Girls and a Pood can do

It started with this table that was given to me, its an Ethan Allen, so I knew it was a good table. But the top was this HEAVY laminate.
I got the wood, an new chop saw and away I went,
chop chop chop

I took the legs off, I wanted the length shorter, so I did some cutting

Yes, I did this all in the dining room

Here's Pood, he's a big helper

A little white, a little yellow, a little blue, then a bit of spray bronze.

now I must say Stacey...did all the painting, it was fun to see what she would do.

(Stacey is my 29 year old daughter, who is such a decorator)

Then...We decided to make the table look like an old postcard. I got the idea from

Graffic Fairy

Stacey took a bowl , wrapped blue table around the lip then took black paint

and put this on the blue tape. Turning it upside down it made a great circle.

Then did the same to make a smaller circle.

Rubber stamps to do the writing in the circle.

A little writing and swirly stamps...sanding them down to make them look old

We had the top all done, not the legs...so we turned it upside down and sprayed the legs

with flat black and then sanded the edges, then she sprayed it with bronze

Here it is in the dining room, we have to work on the chairs tomorrow.

next...a coffee table!
Stacey did such a great job, its just what I wanted...Thank you, Love you!!

Bike basket

picked up a nice wicker basket with a wire frame, from my local Goodwill, for just a couple of dollars. A little spray paint. Then I sewed up a liner. It all goes together beautifully (hard to tell from this photo)

Flea Market Goodies

We went to the Torrance Flea market...love it, I've been wanting some papers to cut up and put in my journal books, I've been looking at the prices on ebay and etsy,

So I knew when I had me a good deal. This Full Tilt Boogie class with Mary Ann Moss is fantastic, I just need more old paper

The insides of these books are wonderful. I love the "notery" book

This ledger book is my favorite. No writing, but then the price is right and I want to use

the cover for a new journal

Bridge and Gin Rummy pads

Lots of goodies, not to bad on the pocket book...$15 for everything.

Gotta love a good flea market!!

Antique Photo Lab Index Book

I came across this book in a junkie little antique shop today. It is so unique. My plan was to
make an altered book...

Its about 3 1/2 inches thick

So, I google this henry M Lester

I guess these are very collectable...

so, what do I do, sell it for what it is to someone that wants this info.

OR do I distroy it and use it for an altered book.

Price...$ 8 it could be worth $100 to the right person.

what to do, what to do

Pretty Things

I picked up my new bike over the weekend. I was a little shaky at first, after my mishap.

Its just loverly! I can touch the ground when stopped. Who knew that was so important??


On our day off we took a little drive up into the mountains, love this long line of mailboxes

One thing I will miss...Oregon Wild Blackberries. Well, I may have found

a place to get some...I'll be checking back

We found the cutest little stream

Then we drove to Lake Elsinore

we just sat on our little chairs by the waters edge for a little bit


One more little mailbox from the mountains.

More Pages

I'm having so much fun working on book making, here a few new pages
A bit of stitching, lace,painting

Lots of texture, crackle medium

and watercolors

Artist at Work

This is what happens when you've been crafting, you get tuckered out!!
I've been doing some doodling and watercoloring. the birdcage I glued on, I die cut it out of glitter paper




I google watercolor coffee cups and I came across some great paintings, one was covered with scribbles, I panicked a bit, but went for it...fun fun fun

A work in progress, another design on saw on flickr

And the begining

now is it time for a nap??? Poodie has the best life!

Find of the Day/ Silly kitty

Stacey and I had a "vacation day" where we do what we would do if we were on vacation. Stop when whenever we see something interesting...so we stopped, I found this wonderful vintage pant hanger, I plan to add vintage paper to the wood part, then it will hold one of my pieces of art.

Now for my "Silly Kitty" pictures. Here is the story about Poodie...when he is full of love, usually when one of us his holding him, talking sweet to him, petting him....he DROOLES. It is so funny yet so gross...so Stacey picked up this at the dollar store...we call him our poodle monkey, so this was appropriate. She put this on him...he loved it, and...we laughed and laughed. Silly Kitty.

One last explaination on the major bike accident. There was a car coming from behind, and there was a car parked by the curb, so I went up onto the sidewalk (which is ok to do in our town) I had to squeeze between a telephone pole and a syclone fence, I got to close to the fence and instead of just putting on the breaks I put my hand up on the fence, then my hand got caught and down I went. I cant believe I didn't break a couple fingers, they turned so black and blue.

I love watercolors

At the bottom of this post I'll show you the book with watercolor paper for $2. I don't know what it is about the price...but when I get a good deal, I feel free to play and not worry about making a mistake. When I buy a large sheet of expensive watercolor paper...I panick, I dont want to make a mistake, so I don't use it...

I played around with my watercolors last night. The picture above reminds me

of how all my bruises turned out...black and blue and green.lol

oh, yes, I was wearing a helmet when I fell off my bike, 3 days later...oh my

I am COVERED in brusies...do you do that, it takes a few days for bruises to show up

This is the begining washes, Not sure that my my lime looks like a lime, I'm thinking

a small avocado?? lol

Heres the book it was new, in the original package...$2

Lots and lots of watercolor paper!!

...back to the bike...There wasnt a scratch on it (because it landed ON me)

I returned it to the shop...I love dealing with small local businesses,

he ordered me a "baby boomer bike" where my feet

will touch the ground when I am still sitting on the seat!!! yea!!!