Wordless Wednesday??

hum.... has that happened yet? NOT yet!

I'm a member of the Folk Art Society of America and I thought I'd post this awesome recycle/reuse art/folk art that was on the cover of the Folk Art Society's Messenger journal cover. Personally if I came across one of these great old fashioned tubs I'd fix it and put it in the bathroom! I love those. A great childhood memory of mine is swimming in one of those at my Aunt Annette's house, with the bathroom reeking of a wonderful floral scent from an old fashioned soap. I stayed in it until she made me get out. To this day when I see old fashioned soap, the kind that used to be made here but now is made in Mexico, Palmolive & the like, I always pick it up to smell it just to see if it's that smell. I love the smell of the old Palmolive soap. I think Ralph Lauren's Turquoise perfume smells a lot like it. I had to be filthy dirty from playing outside is the only reason I can think of as to why I was even taking a bath there. Kids just don't play outside like they used to do they?

I am getting 5 paintings ready to mail out and then I'm gonna get to work on my gallery piece. I have to find time to pack today too. I'm heading off to San Francisco for a mini break/anniversary trip with hubby for a couple of days! Yippee! I'll take lots of pictures if I can figure out how to set up my camera to take more than 12 pictures before the memory is gone.

A Great Day!

I had my little JJ today. We had fun out in the yard. It was another beautiful day. It's been 2 weeks since I've had him and I couldn't believe how grown up he's getting. He's sitting up and crawling everywhere. He's the sweetest thing. I got lots of slobbery kisses today!

Tomorrow I am finishing up a collage/altered piece for a gallery show on April 11th at the Marco Fuoco Gallery in Sacramento. It is my 2nd attempt on this piece. My last try I messed up an altered photo that was to go on it. I'll be going solo to the gallery show because my husband will be playing a gig up in Lake Tahoe. He found out yesterday that The Spotted Dogs will be playing at the California State Fair this year! That will be so much fun! He doesn't have the date yet but he's really excited.

My purple Aura Angel was featured yesterday in the most beautiful Etsy Treasury . Thank you BusyBeads! Please check it out! Purple in all it's glory!!

Ok *heels dragging* I decided to check out Twitter. I joined and it's actually more fun than I thought it would be. I can see how some people are so addicted to it. Just click below on the blue flying bird if you'd like to Follow me getting my Tweets on!

One Won't Do it!

I need 4 or 5 of these this morning or a big Ole bucket! I stayed up really late last night. We watched the movie Cadillac Records (love Etta James) and then I got on the computer. It was almost 2am before I hit the hay.

I went to Long Beach Blues Festival a few years ago. It was a blast but it was one of the hottest days Long Beach ever had. Definitely a memorable day. Everyone was sweaty, sunburned, spraying themselves down with water bottles and covering themselves in wet t-shirts trying to stay cool. Etta came on last so we were sticking it out. Finally when her time came she sat at the back of the stage and refused to have her picture up on the big screen. No one could see her. I overheard some saying that she refused to come out because she thought she was too fat. It was very disappointing and over half of the people walked out including us. We went back to the house, washed up, got something cold to drink, sat on the patio and listened to her CD. I enjoyed the movie and thought Beyonce did a great job.
I was in my son's room this morning complaining about how jacked up and stinky it is and I found a painting I had forgot about. I had stored some paintings in there before he moved back in. It's daffodils in a clay pot with polka dot background. I think I will list some of my paintings from last year at ridiculous prices on Ebay this week just to make some more room around here. So stay tuned and have a wonderful weekend!

Stages

It's just a stage... that's what my Mom used to say. I'm sure I'm going through one of those right now because I've been in the yard for 2 days! and you know that's not like me. haha Today is really windy so I've only been out there for a few minutes to "plant" the mushrooms I made. I saw a video on how to make concrete leaves and she had done a mushroom as well. I thought the mushrooms in the yard were so cool but I don't have any concrete. What could I use to make me a mushroom? Then it came to me...easy, simple, cheap and maybe cute? maybe. I melted vinyl records! I have lots of those. (recycle/reuse) I only had brown, white, blue & copper spray paint so that's what I used. And as you can tell my yard is "woodsy"so the colors worked out well. The designs and possibilities are endless. I melted the records over stainless bowls at 250 degrees, shaped it, then painted them and stuck them on old sticks I found around the yard. I used hot glue to secure them better. They were really fun! I will probably make some more but actually paint them instead of spray painting them. If you make some of these I'm sure you will be able to come up with some really cool designs much better than mine.

Since it's really windy today I am going to finish up a painting that I started the other night which is like the Cotton Fields ACEOs. Those sold today on Etsy. The one I'm doing is on 6x6 canvas. I personally like these and think they would be pretty in my dressing area but I will be listing them. I was emailing with a buyer yesterday and she was surprised when I said I've had no art in my hallway for 15 years. She said she would have figured I would have art all over my home. I don't but since I'm in a cleaning stage - spring fever- I should rearrange and redecorate. I know I have things in some rooms that probably would look better in another. "Stage" my own house. Yeah!

I'm Dirty Today!

I actually got in the dirt today and gardened! I planted around my patio. If you know me, I hate gardening but today was such a beautiful day I couldn't stay inside. I can't wait to tell my sister. She's gonna be so proud. haha I actually kind of enjoyed it and did a little raking too. Raking at my place takes days and is almost a full-time job. I have about 20 oak trees in the back yard and way too much yard for my purple thumb. I stumbled across this garden art website the other day that shows how to make concrete garden spheres and I love them! Next time I'm at Home Depot I'm going to get some concrete, pull out my exercise ball and try making one! Click here to see the site. When I do I'll be sure to take pictures because it's probably going to be comical.
So I got nothing painted today. This afternoon I met with one of my Swell Sisters and picked up 2 paintings that were in a gallery last month. She was so sweet to bring them up the hill. I gave her a little tulip ACEO for her trouble. ACEOs sure make great gifts! I listed a print of this one called Love Grows in my Etsy Shop . This one is so bright, cheerful and happy. I just love the original. It's for sale in Cartfly at the bottom of my blog.

In My Studio

Yesterday went by in a blink of an eye. I cleaned house, even planted some trumpet vines in the back yard while it was raining! Hours went by without notice while I was painting. I'm feeling better so it felt good to be busy.

I'm having fun painting little ACEOs. These I called "Cotton Fields" and are now listed in my shop at Etsy. Done in "Martha" colors. I plan to a lot more this week. I think these flowers would be pretty on canvas.

Maybe it's spring fever but I'm in a flower mood. Last year at this time I painted lots of flowers in clay pots which sold really well, but I am having fun doing these funky abstract flowers.

I listed lots of originals on Ebay this morning! I was holding off on listing originals for a gallery show and selling mostly prints, but I need more room around here, I've got paintings everywhere!

I haven't painted my mermaids for a while but I painted a little one on a denim canvas tote yesterday that came out so cute. I'm going to give it to my mom for Mother's Day. It will be a good beach bag for her and she loves my mermaids. She lives just blocks from the beach. Hope she doesn't read my blog today! haha I also finished an angel painting on an altered book I had prepared a long time ago. A collector of mine asked me if I ever did paintings on paper or collage papers. I don't very often but decided to give it another try. To my surprise it was pretty fun and the paper was more forgiving than I remember.

What A Treat!

Last night the kids and I watched an episode of Diners, Drive-in's & Dives with Guy on the Food Network. He visited the Squeeze Inn down on Fruitridge Road in Sacramento. Before we moved up the hill I used to drive past this little place everyday. I have had a burger there but it was probably 20 years ago. They didn't make them the way they do now. Now this little place one of the most well known and loved burger places in Sacramento. It's a tiny funky little place that you would take a 2nd look at, but aren't those kind of places that usually serve up the best burgers? Growing up my dad, who is a burger connoisseur, always in search of the best burger or chili dog, had to stop at the ugliest burger places on our trips across country. He thought those were the places to get the best burgers and he usually was right. Anyway, the kids decided after the show that they were going down there today and get one. They had to wait in line for 1 hour to order then wait 1 hour for the burger! My son said it was worth the trip & the wait and I would have to agree! They brought a burger home for me! Normally I hate cheese on my hamburgers but I ate this one and it was so good! My husband is playing with the Spotted Dogs tonight and he missed out, so he insists we go down to get him one next week. Here's some pictures that the kids took and a video piece on how they make the burgers. They are much bigger than they appear in the picture. My son said the fries were just as awesome as the burger. I hope I will be able to "Squeeze Inn"to my jeans tomorrow!

I listed a few prints of these whimsical flower paintings that I did on old wood yesterday in my Etsy shop.

Finally Feeling Fine on Friday

I'm finally feeling a bit better and it's Friday already. I finished this angel I have been working on. It's a colorful piece and I love her crown of glory. Each side of her face shows a different expression. I think of compassion and pride. A print of her is now available here on Etsy. I also listed this freckled Aura Angel here on Ebay.

I started a new painting today and WHAT!?! It's not an angel! It's actually flowers and a bee. I'll post a picture when I'm finished. To give you a hint of what it looks like - it reminds me of a painting that I did last year of white trees, black picket fence, black birds with a turquoise background. Have a great weekend!

A Little Word on Wednesday

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Happy St Patrick's Day!

To see Tuesday's Altered Page & Altered Thoughts click Here.

A Little Irish Humor...

In My Studio

Currently up for Auction here.

Oh If You Could Hear Me Today...

... I sound like a sexy drag queen! LOL I called my son today and the kid that answered the phone said to him "I think it might be your mom but I'm not sure..." LOL I got it and it's awful. Coughing feels like razor blades in my chest. Ouch. Today I am feeling a little better but I was hoping I'd feel a lot better. I wanted to go to a life drawing session with a live model this morning. I didn't make it. I told my mom yesterday that I wanted to go. She asked if it was a male model. I told her yes. She said with a spark in her voice " Oh you'll be better! You'll be better tomorrow!" So honestly I think my mom will be more disappointed that I didn't go than I am. hahaha She's funny.

If you know me, you know I can't just sit and do nothing, so while I've been tangled in a blanket, with my pj's on, bare faced, hair barely brushed, in a recliner with tv tray by my side, I did lots of sketches and managed to make an easy crochet scarf. I'm not really crazy about the yarn. I probably should have used it for slippers instead but whatever. A scarf that normally would take me maybe 2 hours took 3 times that. I would pick it up, put it down, pick it up... It's just 5 rows of triple crochet & approx 2 yards long. It actually looks much better than the picture shows though.
When I have some energy back *zapped* I am going to be working on a few collage pieces on paper to submit for a gallery show in April. The theme will deal with the perils the news paper industry/print media are up against. I thought that was an interesting theme and I have a few ideas in my head. I don't do many pieces on paper so this will be a fun project. April is a busy month for me, lots of birthdays. My wedding anniversary is also in April and I whined the other day about how long it's been since we went to San Francisco, so my husband and I decided to go there for a couple of days for our anniversary. I can't wait. Maybe I'll wear my new scarf!

7 Things I Love

Thanks again Hayley Egan! Here are 7 things that I love, a requirement of the blog award. I picked things that weren't mentioned down below. I will be passing this along.

1. Colorful Chinese lanterns - they always lift my spirit when I see them

2. Roger Gallet Linden Blossom soap

3. Jars - I have a kitchen cabinet dedicated to jars

4. Daylilies

5. The book smell when you first walk into a library

6. Tiny white lights in trees

7. The jingle jangle sound a charm bracelet makes when you wear one.

Tuesday's Altered Thoughts

You may need to click on the picture to read. If you would like to see more Altered Pages & Altered Thoughts please visit my new blog here.

Yesterday I had my little doodle bug again. He was sick but the only time he cried was when I gave him green beans. It was hard not to laugh because he really grimaced & hollered! I had never seen him cry like that so it was a little shocking. He made it clear he did not want those green beans. Other than that he was an angel again. He can do razz berries now and is scooting around pretty well. His mom picked him up early and took him to the doctor. It turned out that he has a double ear infection poor guy. My youngest son (a preemie) is the same way. He was a very sick until he was about 7 or 8 years old but he would never complain. I would just know he wasn't well when his lymph nodes would swell (he had surgery to remove some of them) or by the look in his eyes. It's funny how JJ reminds me of my youngest son more than his dad, my older son. Anyway, I think he's the sweetest little guy on the planet. I take a picture of him every time he's over (at least once a week) so I am gonna have to get it in gear and start a scrapbook for these pictures.

Hayley Egan presented me with a blog award! Thanks Hayley! She has a lovely blog you should check it out. I have to list 7 things that I love then pass the award along. I have to give this some thought to come up with 7 things that aren't listed below, oh I'm sure I can do it! but will have to get back to you on that.

One More Reason to Hold The Fries!

Angels & Daydreaming

A big Thank you to all those who commented and were concerned for me and my "kitchen nightmare"! That was so sweet.

Today I am babysitting my little Doodle Bug JJ. His mom and dad have a friend in from Chicago and they are taking her to San Francisco. When they were asking me where they should eat my mind wondered into Chinatown, The Wharf, North Beach/Little Italy, The Mission District, and now I am craving a trip to the City. Daydreaming about it. SF is only a 2 hour drive, so I can't believe it's been so long since I've been there. Every time I go I have so much fun. I hate going over the bridges to get there though and there is no getting out of going over one. I hate all bridges but especially the Bay Bridge and in almost 30 years I've only gone over the Golden Gate twice!

JJ is crawling now so I may lose a pound today or throw my back out. haha He's so darn sweet! He has a little cold but is still being an angel. It's hard not to constantly kiss him. I made him a little stuffed baby toy last night. I will not be showing a picture of it. My son and I were belly laughing at it last night and we decided that if I showed a picture of it right after the kitchen incident that you would all really think I've lost my mind. LOL But hey JJ likes it!

Last night I listed this sweet big brown eyed angel on Etsy.

Have a great weekend!

Hell's Kitchen?

Nope that's mine! I had a bad day yesterday. I was feeling rotten when I got up and it didn't get any better. Luckily the cabinets aren't burnt. We have to repaint the ceilings and replace the bubbly burned microwave. On the bright side I found some cobwebs in the living room I didn't know I had because they turned black from all the smoke. haha My sweety cleaned out the vents, vaccuumed and washed the ceilings for me and wasn't mad, he was just glad I was ok. Awwww

A Little Word on Wednesday

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Proverbs 12:10

Meet Ms. Lucy

Ms. Lucy is a Kitchen Angel, she oversees the corner donut shop, making sure all the glazes are just heavenly!

A print of her can be purchased on Etsy here and the original is available in my new shopping cart at the bottom of this blog!
I took pictures of the progression of this painting from start to finish. Normally I don't change the faces so many times during the process, she just took a while to come to life and let me know who she was.

My sweet son made the video for me! Thank you Bubba!He did this in minutes so now I have to learn how to do it! You will see as I said her face changes several times until she let me know who she was.

I'm feeling a little rotten today so I didn't get out to the post office and now I'm feeling a little guilty. My husband has been sick for a week now. I sure hope I am not getting what he has. ugh.

Tags and Thank You's

I was tagged by Ramblin Mama at Random Splashes of Thought! In this tag, you must post the 4th picture file on your computer and blog about it. You then tag 4 others to follow suit. When I came to the 4th single picture, skipping the folders of photos, it was this one. I hollered out "Hey Honey I have to put your skinny white chicken legs and super sexy slippers on my blog!" My husband hollered back "Ok I don't care" and then didn't even ask me what I was doing! hahaha I did tell him later. He took this picture with his cell phone then sent it to me via email when I was working in Denver for a couple of weeks year before last. The picture was suppose to make me jealous he had both poodles loving on him and not me! hahaha So here are the people I am tagging... Be sure to check out their blogs! I can't wait to see their pictures. John Wright Art, Cris Melo Art, Hayley Judith Egan and Teri Rees Wang.

A couple of big shout outs & Thank You's go to Carry The Word for featuring one of my angels in her Etsy Treasury. Check it out here and her shop here! And BusyBeads for including me in her colorful Treasury. Check it out here and her shop here!

I have to get out and go to the printer today and I will be painting later. It's a nice rainy day today. This week I am going to put together some of my originals and list them for sale. I think I am going to list them somewhere other than Etsy or Ebay, give a new site a try. I was trying to build up an inventory of originals for a possible gallery show and honestly some I haven't sold just because I love them and couldn't part with them yet, but they are piling up.

Meet " Ms. Mildred"

Ms. Mildred is a Kitchen Angel that oversees the buffet line, especially the mashed potatoes.

She will watch over you and your kitchen! She really does keep an eye on you. If you move side to side while looking at her you will see what I mean.

Print is now available here.