New Technique for me

I wanted to try something out of my comfort zone..I've never done a background like this. Paint, Watersoluable Pencils, Watersoluable crayons, gesso. Then I have been wanting to paint daisy's s been awhile...all done with the pencils and crayons...adding a bit of gesso to brighten. After it was done, I added some pen work. I cant say I'm done...might add some paper, or stamps...we'll see,

Leaving for San Fransisco early tomorrow morning for a long weekend. Stopping at some Missions, Going to the Ferry Building, Flea Market in Berkeley, Shopping on 4th Street, Checking out Sonoma,
Carmel, Santa Cruz, Morro Bay, Gilroy Garlic Festival...and we have some good eats planned.

Art Journal

This is a "not so ordinary art journal" I made it from the instructions at Artful Gathering with Nellie Wortman. Such a fun class. I cant wait to make another...Next week Stacey and I are taking a little vacation up north.   Next spring we are planing to go to New York.. if anyone has any ideas where
we should go and what to do, please let me know. 

Rose painting

Lovely day at Fallbrook... Here is the room Christie displays all her paintings

another journal page

class project

Starting in my Moleskine

I've mentioned before, the class I'm taking from Joanne Sharpe...Color Love. Wonderful class. I did this in my brand new Moleskine. Yummy paper.

Photo Album

Here is a little photo album I picked up at the thrift store for a buck. If I showed this before, I apologize
my brain is a little fried right now. Us here in So. Cal are not use to 104 temps...Palm Springs 122 yesterday.
My sweet Poodie having a comfy nap on my fabric stash.

Journal Cover

Another fabric journal cover. A little simpler design, those flowers hanging...I cut off a sleeve of a blouse and turned it upside down...I love how it turned out.
I'm getting all excited again...Sat. I get to take what may be my last class with Christie Repasy, I plan to do some pale white.light pink roses. It has already helped me so much, just taking the one classes. I pulled out some very vintage postcards I collected years ago, I'm studding them. I just love learning new things. I'm also taking the next class at Artful Gathering with Nellie Wortman...its not just taking the class, but to see what others are doing is such an inspiration. I'm also taking a mini class with Stephanie Lee, both are starting soon.
This summer is about sewing, painting, soldering, flea markets, a few vacations...love summers!!!

Watercolor Journal

My latest rose...I now want to add some rubber stamp text and turn it into a mixed media piece...or should I just paint leaves...oh the decisions I must make *smile*

Refreshed from a little vacation

 ahhhh. I'm back from a little vacation up in the Sierra Mountains. Fresh air, sunshine...delightful.

 I took a bit of fabric and needle and thread. made this book cover for my mixed media art journal

I'm really happy with it. I plan to make more

Saw a few critters. The lake sparkled in the sunshine. Silver Lake...we plan to go back next year

Everything is coming up ROSES

 I thought you might enjoy going along with me on my journey of painting roses...I love to take a class. Learn everything I can, then make it my own. I did the one above right after class, I did the one below last night, from my own photos. I have a long way to go...

Looking at these pictures I see a problem...Christie had us use a limited pallet, by doing that, I'm afraid they will always be the same color. I come from a world of craft paints in every color, I may have to add a few.
I also used no white, just titian buff, that could change things up.

My Day Was Fabulous!!

 Thought I would show you my finished product first..This is what I did with 3 hours of learning.

What fun!!

 Just starting out

 Adding darks and lights

 It was really rough, this is the view I had from where I was sitting. Thats Christie Repasys darling house

 This is the pool room turned painting room. She painted a huge part of her wall with chalk board paint so she could put up notes...

Paint Brush Holder

 I want to take my own brushes to class tomorrow. I came up with this idea. I took one of the $1 journal books, took out the pages, added vintage ledger pages to both sides, inside, added book binding tape

 I use some more of the quilt that I purchased for my journal wrap ( shown in previous posts) Added a layer of lace. Then on the inside I made a pink (doesnt look pink) brush holder, then I sewed it down the middle to the book covers...put it in my journal wrap... LOVE IT!!! oh, I added some of my canvas paper in the pocket, ready to paint ROSES!!!

I am taking my 3rd on-line class from Joanne Sharpe. She only charges $35 for a wealth of information. Any of you who know me well, knows I've been painting for a gazillion years...I am learning something new, wonderful, exciting...a different way of putting color on a page...If you want some fun, check it out, I guess you can figure out the name of the class is Color Love 101, it's like getting a good book, its always there, no deadline! I even bought me some Prismacolor colored pencils, some Derwent Inktense pencils and Peerless transparent watercolors...soooo excited to use them ALL, lots of layering.

Everything Roses

I know I may sound like a broken record...but I am so excited for this Sat. to get here. I'll be making the 1 hour drive down to Temecula to take from Christie Repasy, a day of painting roses, how devine!! Right afterwards my husband and I are taking a road trip to a little cabin for a much needed vacation...I've have some things ready to paint on, I've got a mess of paints. My brushes are itching to get started. I've taken the pictures, I've traced off the roses I've been working on making designs.....I cant wait to learn then practice, then share my paintings with you all.

My latest finished journal book cover with my hand painted bird on a pincushion. I hand dyed silk that is scrunched and stitched around the painting. The pink ribbon is another silk ribbon I dyed.

Mixed Media Journal cover

The online class with Nellie Wortman started over at Artful Gathering. We are all having so much fun!! Its a class on making journal covers...you know, those inexpensive journals from 99 cent store, or walmart...
This is a wonderful way to cover it up...now the question...should I sell it??? I don't know about this one, let me make a few more then I'll list them on Etsy...I found a quilt at the thrift store, I'm letting that show on the inside. there is even a pen holder...

Painted Sewing Machine

 I forgot to show you the before of Staceys little sewing machine...shes not a big sewer, and she usually just borrows mine, she felt it was time to be a big girl (she's going to shoot me for saying that, she's 30.lol) and have her own sewing machine. She only wanted a few stitches, Of course it had to be the right color...then a little more bling...she has since added trim on the left side of the aqua. I happened to have that stencil...its one of those, "I had to have it" years ago, and never used...glad I had it now!  She went out and purchased thread, new bobbins, a few needles...yay for Craigslist!!

Painting Fun!!!

 Stacey (my daughter) has been at it again...here is what she purchased at the flea market this past weekend.

the clocks where ugly beige...look at them now!!

So if you ever thought of purchasing one of these little containers, but its missing drawers..but it's REALLY cheap...dont pass it up just because its ugly...Stacey covers the missing drawers with wood trim and a little bling, lots of spray paint...now it is sooo charming!

 I'm still getting ready for a couple of classes I'm taking...thought I would get some painting done.

I used canvas paper behind the cabinet card

 Then on the bright and cheery side...another painting on canvas paper, lots of layering will be done

I'll keep you posted

Vintage Flea Market Finds

 I'm taking a class from Nellie Wortman over at Artful Gathering...so I am busy gathering...

We started out pretty early this morning, went to the Irvine Flea Market. It was delightful, the weather was perfect...here is what I found, an adorable brown velveteen purse with this aged mirror, how cute is that!!. Love the big red buttons, I couldn't pass them up.

 Then we got finished so early, we took off for the Pasadena Flea Market...not the Rose Bowl, still haven't done that one yet, it costs $8 just to get in...I prefer free to enter. Anyway I didn't get anything until we hit the last 3 vendors...and there was a box of goodies for $1 each...this is what I came away with, I am so excited!!! Class starts on the 6th...I think I'm ready now!!

I was going through my watercolor paintings that I did a few years ago. When I came across this one, it evoked a lot of emotions. I can remember clearly the beautiful warm summer day in Oregon. I had picked up the watermelon, pear and grapes the day before...I took everything outside, picked a daisy. I set up the still life on a table, took many pictures at different angles. Then I went to a watercolor workshop I was taking. I wanted to learn more about painting with reds, the shading and highlighting staying away from pinks. I learned so much

Love my Kitty

 Sweet Poodie loving the arm of the sofa in the sunshine...heaven

I showed this to you before...its going into my etsy...a sweet 4 x 5 inch canvas, lots of texture and layers

Retro Radio Redo

 We'll my daughter Stacey has been at it again...I love what she does to the old retro goodies that she picks up for a few dollars...She found this vintage green container, the price was right, we have since found out it should be a set of for...coffee, tea, flour and sugar..pearl paint and glitter makes it a real treasure.
Then there is the am fm elec. radio...it also got a face lift...it works beautifully.

I've been hearing about this "PicMonkey" photo place so I thought

I would check it out...talk about easy to use!

As Apt. Managers...we feel that we want to make living here a pleasant experience.

Laundry...who LIKES to do laundry, especially at an apt. complex.

Sooo, Stacey had this bright idea of painting and stenciling.

We have since added a fabric valence to the windows. We have received such wonderful comments from the tenants. And guess what...tenants are keeping it cleaner! (that was the plan)

 We took the ugly entry

door off, living in So. Cal. no one ever closes the door, so why have it.

The plan is to cover the waterheater and make built in tables painted to match the aqua.

One more laundry room to do....

Two Girls Crafting

 Another round of photographing Roses...

 I love the lights and shadows...then I thought I would do a little watercolor...no detail in the leaves yet

 Stacey picked up this little yellow clock for 85 cents...she taped off the front

 Gave it a coat of spray paint

 then a stippling of pearl paint....sooooo cute!!