Penelope Basset

Hello to Lesley V!

2011-09-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

be sure to check out Lesley V's new blog. Her collage work is always delightful, and she is having a very generous drawing on the site right now!

flatwoodsfolkart.typepad.com/lesley_venable/2011/09/giveaway-goodies.html

Watching the world go by....

2011-06-26T12:29:00.001-07:00

Finally got my patio cleaned out enough that I could set up a nice arrangement of furniture and pots. Pulled my sick husband out to sit a while last night at twilight. It was lovely! We watched the hummingbirds visiting our flowers, tried to get our dumb dogs to fetch, sat and relaxed until the bugs started to eat me and it was getting too chilly for me without sleeves. so glad I got it done....very hard when you have to work in fits and starts between life demands and work...photo to be posted later after my anxious son checks his fantasy teams online....

Platter fit for a Queen!

2011-06-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

Thinking of Queen of Fifty Cents today....
found a Winfield Pottery Platter in Pink Passion Flower today for about 75cents.....
as far as I can tell, it is a Mid-Century Modern type pattern and very pretty!

has a small chip on side, but with a bit of dark marker dont think it will be real noticeable, and I am thinking about using it outside with plants on it.p\

ps. finally got a photo up! it is so pretty and delicate! would look good with a couple of flower pots perched on top!

Puss in Boots and Gnomes

2011-03-22T22:52:00.001-07:00

It must be Spring! The Gnomes are back in the flowerbed tossing around the pigskin, and tending to flowers. Those pretty blue bells are from some discount flower bulbs from the 99cent store that I threw into the ground and forgot about. A very pretty surprise when I looked out the window Sunday morning.

Well, I am finally getting chance to figure out how this new computer operates. Very frustrating when you can't find your old files, & have to learn how to manipulate programs all over again!! John is out at his train club, so I have had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours this evening poking around and accomplish something.
I have really missed being able to edit my photos after downloading; found the new app, downloaded it (don't tell John!) and started playing!
Photos were taken after the rain this weekend out in my garden. I have gotten some wonderful new plants from Annie's Annuals, and some are starting to bloom.
This whiteflower above, is Minoan Lace, seeds originally from Greece, natch! It is supposed to love the heat and sun, does not need lots of water, and will reseed itself (LOVE A SELF PLANTING GARDEN!!)
This flower is a Baby Blue Eyes. Small, grows sort of like Johnny-Jump-Ups, if you remember those (looking for some seeds for this season, and concerned that I haven't seen them yet.) Self-seeding, great ground cover for under roses and such, so the catalogs say. Hope so. they are a very pretty color blue, and are very perky.
John and I were out on a road trip on the west side of LA back last fall, and we found this church under construction in Hollywood. It is the Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Church, and is really beautiful. It is very compact, but you can see they can put a lot in a small package! We have not been by since then, but they should have landscaping done by now, and have taken the last of the scaffolding down.
And this is a work in progress....a wee Puss in Boots for a dear friend. I used collaged napkins for the flowers and the rather unusual sky...but if it is a fairytale, what better than to show a hand writing the story? The Castle details were added in with watercolor pencils after cutting it from a scrapbook page. The Kitty was from some German punched paper images given to me. Not sure if I want to antique the background, or leave bright like this. I did use clear gesso over the original dried collage; worked out very nicely. The images are now level, and would take any more paint, ink or colored pencil well.

New painting at long last

2011-02-09T23:28:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine who is an amazing knitter and I made a deal. she would knit a scarf that looked like a dragon for me, and I would paint a picture of her kitty, Buffy, for her. At long last, I have finished the portrait of Buffy. It is part collage and part acrylic painting. I need to varnish it, and it will be ready to go meet the real Buffy! BTW, Buffy looked at the photo that I sent to her mistress, and she was a bit distressed that it looked like she didn't have a tail. Fortunately we were able to explain to her satisfaction that in the painting she was SITTING on her tail!

2010-12-26T17:47:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Back to the real world and to work from 8am and 5pm today, but all was calm, all was bright...so to speak...
this is a photo of my darlin' grandson, John Curtis, who will be turning 2 years old on New Year's Eve. Ah, to see the holidays from his eyes!

trying something new....

2010-10-30T22:12:00.001-07:00

Carrie Joy Art has a really neat video on using Golden Crackle Paste. It gives you step by step on how to transfer photos to a fresco surface and how to embellish and seal. I tried it when I was too tired and forgot some of her sage advice. I will watch and try again but wanted to show my little picture anyway. One thing I do have to say, don't use canvas. Don't know where my mind was when I did it, but Carrie did help me save it from all flaking off by coating with gel. Photo is from an old school picture I picked up in Ventura.

party day!!

2010-10-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

the weather was perfect, could not have asked for any warmer or cooler! Sky blue, clouds puffy and pretty, all went well, thank the heavens!

the baby has landed....

2010-10-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

it will be a real test of family love and acceptance this week, because we did not get the house cleaned as we wished, nor stuff put away like we wanted to. Steven sick, I fell and sprained my ankle pretty well yesterday while taking the dog to the salon, john working, evan working and school.....
They have landed at LAX and are now visiting Grandma in Alhambra. I did get most of my collection of paintings up in the living room last night. they look really good in a horizontal line on a large blank wall. Two I picked up at goodwill, two were painted by my aunt, and one is a fragment of a larger, damaged painting from the 1800's that was frame (got that at an antique store in SC.)
Praying for good weather tomorrow....they are predicting some rain in the am, our outside park picnic for 60 friends and family is at 1pm. food is ordered, and we cannot fit that many folks into our house.....sigh....

Only eight weeks to go....

2010-09-10T17:43:00.000-07:00

My son,his wife, mother in law, and toddler(!!) are coming out to visit Oct 29th,and staying for a week. We are going nuts out here trying to get the place cleaned up, repainted, and spiffed up in general for the visitors. Unfortunately, our house is a bachelor pad for three guys (hubby and two sons), and am the part time housekeeper it seems. I am rearranging my expectations for how I wanted the house to look, but hopefully it still will be comfortable, welcoming and non-toxic (oh those dirty sox!)
We finally got the 20 year old couch out to be recovered, husband finishing up patching and sanding and painting the living room, and I am getting to put up art work I have collected over the years. The couch and walls are neutral,and the art is basically folk art style in bright fun colors. I have been afraid to hang stuff on the walls for years, and now I am just going for it!
I did get a chance to decorate the top of a wooden box with collage last night. Couldn't find the new batteries for the camera, so tried to scan it. It is a bit out of focus in one corner, but when I put it up for sale, I will take a decent photo! I usually prefer bright, jeweltone colors, but was in a pink mood for this one.

finally a chance to paint!!

2010-08-09T19:59:00.001-07:00

Quiet enough in the house today that even though I spent two long weekend days at work, I managed to do some painting. We had the local Corn Festival surrounding us for three days, and you could hear the screams of the folks on the rides from my desk inside. Our bathrooms were not trashed as usual, but were closed as casualties Sunday morning because the custodians could not get parking places and clean on Sat night!
anyway.....
the Little Old Lady is a bit out of sync...she either should have two cheekbone lines or none at all, but I didn't catch that till afterward and I was too tired to change her. the cool background was a collage of those cute printed hand-towels that ladies used to put out all the time for company. Don't think many people will be using them in the future, ecologically unsound I bet, but they go on to the canvas very nicely. Grey hair is hard to paint.She isn't in focus because she is too big for the scanner, really, and I was too lazy to take a photo, download, edit, save, retrieve, etc.
Second is baby face painted with Golden liquid colors. they blend very nicely, and are almost like using watercolors, but liquid. I have a friend on Facebook who has told me about a softer, creamy Golden paint that she uses to great effect. I think it would be fun to try it, someday when I can afford some new paints. better use these up first. not sure what to do with the rest of the background. I have seen some folks do some nice collage around the edge of pictures like this, but I honestly haven't been inspired enough to diddle with it yet. I dont want to just stick on anything, it has to have some sort of context. and yes, I know his eyes are out of kilter, giving him a sort of squished head look. will be more careful next time.
last picture is a sunflower painted on a tissue-paper covered sign that i got for 99 cents at the store of the same name. It is just pressed wood fiber, but already has either a hanger or a hole in the back, is a nice size, and needs very little prep. A really cool quick "canvas."

Sleeping Beauty

2010-07-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

spending the day at home from work watching my youngest sleep/heal from an operation on his eardrum. Poor boy has had about 6 operations over the years to try to repair the hole left by a tube put in as a baby. He is 19 years old now. All that time, he could never go swimming without getting horrible infections in his inner ear. My theory is that he was so busy growing, that, each time they did the surgery, his next growth spurt pulled it apart again. At long last, he seems to have slowed down, or maybe even stopped, topping out at 6'4".
The medication has been bothering him, and he has had a horrible headache and nausea for the last 24 hours or so. Working at trying to get him to eat and to drink lots of water to help.
While he is sound asleep on the couch, I have been cleaning up my painting area, (WAY TOO little of anything to call a studio--it is half a kitchen table I share with my husband who does model railroading) and making some real progress. hope to have space to start painting again soon...it just doesn't work well doing it on the couch with the dogs....

It's Technicolor,Baby!

2010-07-17T00:16:00.000-07:00

http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com

Found a great art class online today. It is amazing what you find while surfing around. Just when you figure that you have seen it all and are getting ready to go to bed, something wonderful pops up!
I am trying to kick my painting up another notch while working full time and trying to live in the same house with two dogs, two adult sons, and a husband who works nights most of the time. I have taken one class online so far from Jane des Rosier which was wonderful, and I just found out today that there is another artist offering a great class on painting faces in Technicolor! I love Color!! I dont think I could do a monochromatic work if I wanted to! The class sounds perfect!! Nora is having a drawing for a free workshop registration if you talk about her classes on your blog.
So here I am, brazenly posting so that I can have a chance to win the randomly generated draw!
My luck at things like this is usually pretty lousy,but I hope that for once I might really win something!
My painting is improving quite a bit, I humbly submit, since my Gritty Jane lessons.You can see my before and after samples above....Fingers are tightly crossed and I thank you, Nora, for offering a chance to win something wonderful like this!!

My Bedroom Gallery

2010-07-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

For years I have had a big empty wall in my bedroom. I dont know why I never hung anything, perhaps afraid of commitment! Anyway, I finally got up my nerve and started painting frames and putting stuff up.
I found some perfect frames with mats at a yard sale for my Gritty Jane angel cards, and I alternated them with some wonderful little folks from Sandy Mastrioni. I have an Angel painted by somebody whose name I cannot remember and I dont think is selling anymore. She is in oranges, and painted upon some lovely gritty sandy medium. After several years of attempting and failing, I finally won a beautiful Madonna and Child painted by Jane; my last on the wall is a print of an icon commissioned by the Indianapolis diocese of the Serbian Orthodox church. I embellished it in the traditional style in a non-traditional manner---collage of dozens of cut out colored gems and jewelry from magazines. The Orthodox believe in decorating their churches and their religious art in splendor that will remind worshipers of the glory and beauty of heaven. It is a very sensuous faith---appealing to the senses of sight (the beautiful icons, use of silver, gold, jewels, other rich artwork and fabrics), sense of smell (the incense used in the services swung from a brass or gold censer studded with little bells that ring with every swing), the sense of hearing( beautiful a Capella choirs,the bells from the censers and the deep voices of the chanting priests)and I am sure that they try to figure in the sense of touch there somehow, but cant think of it right now...Oh also the sense of taste in the communion wine, the salt-less bread of communion, and a special sweetened cooked wheat and walnut concoction that is served at memorial services to remind us of the sweetness of the memories of those gone, and the ultimate sweetness of heaven. Sorry...got a little carried away there, but I think that the Orthodox have a wonderful tradition that is unknown to much of the world.
I hope to be filling up with more art gradually, but I love this wall. I cannot look at it without smiling and admiring the art. Now, isn't that what Art is supposed to do for us??
oh, forgot another important part: a sketch that we had done for our 30th anniversary. It is a sketch in blue of Beauty and the Beast especially done for us at Disneyland, John's own description of our marriage (isn't he a gruff old sweetie?)

walking the dogs!!

2010-07-13T23:50:00.000-07:00

John kidnapped me after work and took me to the dog beach at Huntington Beach last Sat night. It was light late, so we could see where we were going...a good thing at a dog beach.
Buddy has been before, but it was the first time for Sasha, our Basset. Her little legs were going like crazy in the sand. She liked walking in the wet sand where it was firm, until the waves caught her. Not only did her feet get wet, but her stomach was soaked too. Sasha likes seeing all the other dogs, but Buddy is very shy. If he saw his little sister talk to a stranger, he usually would walk over. One lady we were talking to was sitting on the grass with her dalmatians; Sasha wandered over and crawled into the lady's lap, wet sandy feet and all.
Very neat water fountain for dogs and for people...but couldn't get dogs to drink. I think they were too excited.javascript:void(0)
Hard to walk two dogs at the same time....but a lot of fun! My arms were sore from the dogs, and my legs sore from walking in the sand.
Be sure to note John's tan line at his ankles (he works in Parking at Disneyland and gets outside a lot!)

Finally got to put some paint to canvas....

2010-07-13T23:36:00.000-07:00

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My daytime job is as a children's librarian; it is very creative type of position,and you are always doing displays and posters and other work related art, but dont have much oomph left when you get home to really get into it. Had a 4 day weekend for Independence Day, and did some painting. Her name is Rosette, and was fun to work on the spotty background. Thanks to Gritty Jane for the painting lessons online; they are really helping to learn the new medium.
One more that I did a few months ago; don't know what to call her except perhaps, the pointy saint. You can see the improvement, can't you? please say you do!!

One of my absolute favorite dollmakers!

2010-07-04T00:13:00.000-07:00

DuBuhDu Designs is the wondrous craft-site of Christine Alvarez and her doll creations. It is always a treat to see her latest ladies; she did a doll that represented Air last year with tiny little dragonflys that was breathtaking!

Christine is having a giveaway of one of her latest collection of dolls! You can either select one of the dolls on display, or she will make one just for you!My name is going into the pot for the drawing, and you can put your name in too! Check out her site above and good luck! If you win, you have to let me hold the doll when you get it! http://dubuhdudesigns.typepad.com/

Win a Locket for your Pocket!

2010-06-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

OliveBites is having a fun give-away for some lovely lockets. they are brass with charming graphics like Alice in Wonderland, and some neat black images. All come with a chain of course!
Fingers crossed!
http://olivebites.blogspot.com/2010/06/giveaway-locket2you-amazing-locket-in.html

must not have read the instructions right....

2010-06-11T23:30:00.001-07:00

I don't know how I manage to do these things, but I have the talent.
Couple of months ago I planted some new gladiolas bulbs in my back yard. Guess I did not see the label attached, because somehow I planted them backwards, and the flowers are facing away from the house and towards the wall. From what I can see, it is a really pretty color, but like I said, I cannot see the flower from the front on to give a definitive answer. I have a great photo of the shy flower, but I cannot find my camera. I think my son borrowed it so that he could take photos of himself and his new car....a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer that purrs like a kitten and is as neat as a pin inside. What a day off...nothing accomplished except pure joy and spiritual fulfillment for my son as he drove off into the sunset.

Here he comes!!

2010-05-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

This was John Curtis' last escape from his crib. His parents were sneaking up to get a video of him climbing over and out, but he had beat them to it,and was already out. He sounds so indignant because they picked him up and tossed him back in so he could escape on film. Note how quickly he stops fussing when he gets his body over the side and realizes that his parents aren't going to grab him. He escapes, gives his doggie-nana, Precious, a lovie,and makes a break for it. BTW, his mom and dad say that he runs like this all day long....So much fun to watch him go, at least for the Baba!

The video was made this morning, by afternoon his crib was converted to a youth bed with a side bar to prevent face planting. Best wishes to the parents now that JC is free!

All in a weekends work.....

2010-05-31T16:34:00.001-07:00

I have been working on these collages and things for several months now, but finally had the time to finish them off. Just a bit more varnish to finish out the inside of a couple of boxes and they are all done and ready for me to try and put on Etsy.
Used felt for the bottom of one box, but hand quilted little reversible pads for the others. I think that they are a little nicer looking and nicer to put your treasures down on.
The cat isn't collage, she just barged her way in. She was made for Day of the Dead last year, but is ready to roam and find another home.

wouldnt my doggie look cute in this???

2010-05-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

I would love to win this cute little collar for Sasha, our baby basset! Wouldn't it look adorable on her??
check these out!!
http://olivebites.blogspot.com/ and
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeanTownHandmade

PROMISED MAY FLOWERS!

2010-05-23T22:08:00.001-07:00

If you looked at our garden as a whole, you would think that it was some abandoned property with all sorts of junk stacked up or dumped in the yard. Work in progress, take a deep breath, it is sorting out! But if you take a close look at the flowers, it is really pretty. Hollyhocks will be out in a week or so; lots of buds on the plants!

Patio Roof up and standing!

2010-05-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

We are in the long, agonizing process of fixing up our home. It has been neglected for about fifteen years while I started and graduated from Library School, and started working. We had less labor, and less funds to make repairs, so things have gotten run down.
The house is half painted in the front, and is starting to look nice. Our roof needed to be repaired, and we wanted to put shingles up.We got a good bid from a contractor we felt good about, but first things first, the rotten wood and aluminum roofed patio had to be replaced.

Four weeks later, and at last the patio roof has had the rotten wooden supports replaced and new corrugated vinyl panels attached. it feels taller than the old one, and is longer out over the patio. A lot of male cooperation was involved, and without the usual loud fussing and grousing. Very nice....now we can get the new shingle roof up if the contractor says the bid is still valid.
the garden is thriving. My hollyhocks will be blooming very soon, I have sweet-peas and roses blooming, dusty miller filled with yellow flowers. Very nice. I was out cutting back an old diseased rose yesterday, and I heard this horrible loud buzzing near my head. I froze for a moment then turned slowly. It was a very happy hummingbird checking out what we had for him to eat. Back to work, but will post some pictures of the flowers tonight.

Ink Spillers Attic: My Blogoversary Giveaway!

2010-05-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

Ink Spillers Attic: My Blogoversary Giveaway!

Exciting contest at Ink Spillers Attic

2010-05-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

this is a really fun blog, and I am glad to share with my friends the info that she is having a contest for some delectable prizes!
http://inkspillersattic.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-blogoversary-giveaway.html

you must enter by May 5th!

message on Easter Morn

2010-04-03T23:10:00.000-07:00

A Blessed Easter to you all. He is Risen Indeed!

A Flurry of Activity!

2010-03-13T22:23:00.000-08:00

I love three day weekends! I can get done what needs to be done for the house and the rest of the family, and finally have a bit of time and energy left for me to paint or garden. Did a little bit of both today, Saturday, and planted some pumpkin seedlings, and finished up a bunch of partially done projects. I painted the interesting piece of wood white and glazed it. Looks better but still dont know what to do with it.
Finished the crows and moon and varnished it, so hopefully it will have a nice wet look.
The little angel was painted on a panel that already had the pretty crackle border. I gessoed over the flowers in the center and painted with acrylic, used a bit of Inktense pencil, some gold glitter gel, and crackle finish over all. Not so sure about the glitter stuff, I think it needs a special project to really work well, but it is neat stuff.
I have been working on the oak tree for a long time; it started out in acrylic, and then accented with the Inktense, and varnished. Really love the colors and texture in this.

Tuskgee Airmen

2010-02-19T22:43:00.001-08:00

Tonight I went to a banquet honoring the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black Fighter group in the United States Military. Got to talk to and meet about six of them before the festivities began; they were very gracious and generous with their time and signatures. It was kind of funny how it reminded me of our church banquets back when I was growing up. One member will be coming out to the La Habra Branch Library Wednesday to give a presentation, and it should be packed. We haven't had a program with this much outside interest before; it is nice to see people so interested in meeting a piece of living history.

What to do with this???

2010-02-15T01:25:00.000-08:00

I found this bit of carved wood/molding or whatever at a Goodwill, and loved it, though not sure what to do with it. I am open to suggestions.....it has two screws on the top, and I thing I can attach a wire between them to hang it pointing down. This is a challenge...
But what to do???

Ravens teasing the Moon

2010-02-15T01:12:00.000-08:00

Somehow I got very very lucky and had a four day weekend over the Presidents' Day Holiday. I did a lot of house cleaning, looking for a new basset to fill the hole in our hearts left when Lilly died, and finally some painting and stuff.
I am making this painting for a friend who wanted something with ravens, the moon, and lots of texture from modeling paste. OK, well it took a while and some contemplating to come up with a design, complicated by my not being able to draw birds too well, and trying to get the iridescence, or at least a reminder of it.
I was trying to get the ravens and the moon to interact somehow. My original idea was to have the bird sitting on the moon like an egg to hatch, or to have it in between its beak, but too silly and too hard. The sky was sort of swirled like a Van Gaugh, but hard to paint because the paste seemed to absorb the paint like a sponge!

My Prim and Whimsy Valentine

2010-02-07T14:54:00.000-08:00

This is the first time I have ever entered this sort of exchange, and it was really fun! I made my valentine and sent it off last week. Hopefully mine will arrive soon too!
I used a gessoed wooden heart, did decoupage for the background, placed a really sweet picture in the center, and edged it all with white lace cut from a paper doily. It hangs from a raffia string, and I think it is pretty, and I hope you do too, Sheila!

some new things for Etsy

2010-01-29T20:46:00.000-08:00

I love to "repurpose" things and these are two examples. The Day of the Dead Wreath was solid color from Michael s. Got it half off, and made it into something a bit snazzier. We had it up on our Dia De los Muertos altar at our library celebration.

The mermaid came from Goodwill, a good source of raw materials!! She was a dull antique white, but I wanted to make her come to life. She is 24" long, and there are two original metal lined holes on the back so she can be positioned as one wishes swimming on your wall. I will be putting these up on my Etsy site, PenelopeBasset, sometime this weekend. Also looking for some good mailing containers to send them off. They don't quite fit into the pre-paid boxes this time!

I so want that cool gray hat!!

2010-01-05T23:16:00.000-08:00

Just saw a great giveaway at OliveBites for a wonderful gray slouchy hat! Hope this is the beginning of a very good year!

Welcome 2010!

2010-01-04T20:51:00.000-08:00

I got to start out the new year with a new edition of Cloth Paper Scissors, and found one of my favorite artist/bloggers doing a lesson. Sarah Wyman writes of her painting adventures and sells her work at http://sarahgreenweeds.blogspot.com.

these are my two efforts:

Re-touching the tree and madonna

2009-08-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

I was tweaking the painting with the colored pencils, and was able to save the baby a bit. I think I will hit it again with the acrylics and see if I can fix it.

These came in backwards, somehow. The tree on the right is with acrylics only before I tried mixing in the colored pencils. I have been looking at the oil pastel pencils, but havent made the $$plunge yet. But it did help wake up and give more definition and shading to the bark and the grass and the leaf masses too. I think it was an improvement.

Two "in progress"

2009-08-28T11:41:00.001-07:00

I did get a chance to do some more painting in this heat. Not much else to do, (finished the books I had from the library already.)
I kind of like how the first, the Madonna is turning out, but the poor child is a Potato Head. I will look at this, and try to figure out what I can do to save him. The Madonna wasn't too bad though (as long as you dont look at her lobster hand....)

The tree looks much better in person; here is looks so blurry. I plan to try and put detail on with either colored pencils or paint pen. Will try pencils first to be a bit more subtle with it. If it is an improvement, I will post it again.

CART BEFORE THE HORSE GIVEAWAY!!!

2009-08-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

I love the work of Jo and her charming husband!! they are celebrating their 200th posting, and are having a give away to celebrate. I so want to win this doll! So if you see this and enter the contest, you take the pattern, and I will take the doll with blue-gray eyes (my eye color---what a coincidence!
http://thecartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com

Iraqi Bundles of Love

2009-08-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

I am participating in sending packages of fabric, trim, notions, yarn, etc off to Iraq. There is a son/husband of quilters serving there right now. He and the folks in his unit are gathering these Bundles to give to the Iraqi women who do not have a handy Walmart, Michael 's, Joann's, or whatever quilting store you patronize to go to when they have to get a crafter's fix. I have two boxes so far, and might end up with more. What a wonderful way to clean out your stash! It is a lot easier to give up your unused treasures when you know that it will be appreciated by somebody else. please look at his website, and consider cleaning out a couple of shelves and drawers to help somebody over there.
http://ibol.wordpress.com/about/
and
http://ibol.wordpress.com/what-to-send/

new ladies pt three

2009-08-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

I am having all sorts of problems getting the photos without the glare today.
This is a painting of my niece, Rita, commemorating the tie-dying of her hair. (hard to paint tie-dyed hair!)It didn't last too long; her mother wisked her off to the hair salon to get it neutralized and recolored her natural blond. But she managed to take one really sexy photo of herself with the new do, and if her father ever sees it, he will never let her out of the house again.
Rita really liked this painting. Her eyes are that color blue, and almost that large....

new ladies pt two

2009-08-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

I have to get the hang of this---I realize now all of these will be in reverse order and I didnt want to put all the ladies on one post because they tend to settle on one side like sand in a bucket.
This was taken from a very dramatic model photo in a Brides' Magazine. Good place to find fancy hair, makeup and lighting for painting.

Introducing some new lady friends......

2009-08-08T17:39:00.000-07:00

We have been having all sorts of computer problems (viral downloads, etc) so I haven't been able to post my latest stuff. I really need to get past the first lesson in Jane's painting class, but it is so much fun to paint like this with the dark background. Good thing too, because I havent been able to download the other lessons yet with the wonky computer. Up above is a painting taken from an old photograph from the 1920's. My dad had bought the photo and gave it to me because he thought it looked a lot like me. I made the hair a bit more interesting than the flapper bobb, but she had on the popular white linen dress (just about like our 'little black dresses' nowadays.)

Summer Reading is Over!!!!!

2009-08-07T00:26:00.001-07:00

It's all over but the stats now!!! We had over 800 (rough estimate) children sign up for summer reading at our library this summer! It was great, but very exhausting! I hope to get the chance to do more painting and to settle down and go through Jane's faces class a bit more carefully!
Last weekly program was today: kids talent show! This was the 5th year that we have done it, and it was amazing as usual. Such a range of talents! Highlights this year was a girl who played the nose flute, a balloon artist, saxaphone player, and a tap dancer doing her competition routine for us. We gave all the kids who attended and participated a free meal coupon for a local restaurant and all left happy.

second painting for class

2009-07-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

I used a photo of a cute flowergirl with its great shadows for my second painting. She is a definite improvement over Miss Potatoface.

Woman's portrait class

2009-07-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

I am having fun taking Jane DesRosier's Woman's Portrait Class this weekend. I tried to work from an old photograph of a lady from the 1920's. It came out a bit different, you can sort of recognize her; I like how she turned out, but she isn't a real strong realistic likeness. Will try for another one tonight! Let me introduce you to Miss Potato Face!

after watching Jane's first new video

2009-07-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

Ok, jumped back into the paint tonight.
I had tried doing a collaged background using squares of fabric and extra thick Golden medium.
Coated the fabric with medium, and when dried, painted over in a thin green glaze. you can see places I missed with the glaze because they soaked up the paint!
Then I sat around waiting for inspiration.....
.....saw Jane's short video today and decided to give it a try!
I took your advice also about not worrying too much about the features, blocked in the head and shoulders with white gesso, and did a rough sketch of the face with a pencil.
Then tried to remember how Jane built her face, and went from there.
I was pretty pleased how it turned out, until I realized that I had painted it with the hole for hanging on the bottom......

welcome gift or creepy?

2009-06-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

Just for fun and experience, I tried to paint a portrait of my niece from a photo she had online.
It was a good exercise, and I learned from it; my boys talked me into giving it to my niece for her graduation (along with something else too!). Now i look at it and I wish I hadn't given it too her. There is nothing worse than a bad portrait that you feel stuck with because it was done by a relative......sigh...live and learn I guess.

Collage Camp!!

2009-05-27T00:52:00.000-07:00

I would really love to go to Collage Camp this summer!
They were having a drawing coming up soon, and I hope that I get lucky!
http://www.kcwillis.blogspot.com/
.

girl at gate with bird

2009-05-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

Well, another experiment. she is painted with acrylics then
decoupaged with flowers,patterns for her dress, and
a very small yellow bird.
I tried putting crackle and wash on her, and it did not
turn out so well. It was Jo-Sonya crackle, but it crystalized all over the top and is very rough.
Sigh....

Update of Octogon Girl

2009-05-14T23:27:00.000-07:00

that is rather a weird name for her, but it works. I didn't change the figure, but experimented with the background. The two white blobs on the side are a foam stamp found at Michaels. It looks like a sprig of greenery; I painted it with white and turquoise, and tried to stamp. one was better than the other, and I was stumped what to do next.
I remembered I had some gold printed fancyt tissue paper from the 99cent store that I tore and decoupaged. I have discovered heavy medium is wonderful for doing collages---forget that stupid ModPoge. One paper was little gold stars with glitter, and the other had gold medallions that I tore apart and placed over the stars. I like how it turned out and will probably seal it and let it be. Let me know what you think of it!

I want to grow up and be like Gritty Jane!

2009-04-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

I look at the things that Jane does on her blog, and I am so inspired to try my own hand at painting and collaging.
I took an octagonal plaque that I found at the Goodwill, gessoed, and collaged with bits of Latin and English text from an old catholic prayer book. Then I painted a lady/angel/not sure what to call her, experimenting with using glaze with my paint. Got a long way to go, it doesnt look quite how I want it to look, but then, I am not quite sure what I am going for. But Jane is so much fun to watch! She uses all sorts of materials and puts it all together so beautifully!

Artfulife: Artfulife's First Ever Springtime Giveaway!

2009-04-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

Artfulife: Artfulife's First Ever Springtime Giveaway!

It is a lot of fun to see what artists are doing out there. I especially admire and love to watch the artsy moms who are raising their kids and creating art at the same time!

i saw this on another blog...

2009-03-18T21:34:00.001-07:00

cart before the horse, and fell in love with it!

Visiting Celebrities at Home

2009-03-08T19:56:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of going out with a good friend from work and her husband and go visit a galaxy full of Movie Stars and celebrities on saturday. They picked me up at home and we hit the road. Destination: Hollywood Forever and Pierce Brothers Cemetery in Westwood.
Hollywood Forever is an amazing garden of many cultures and time periods. When you walk in to the right, a bright and sparkly yard is filled with far eastern mini-pagodas brightly painted and decorated with small cut mirrors. Several families have erected their own pagodas, and as members no longer have use for their bodies, they are cremated and ashes placed inside the structures.
Next to the large, echoing crematoriums, was an area dedicated for the burial of the Jewish faith. In profound contrast to the older, more traditional yet flashy monuments on the other side of the park, The Plains of Moses were chalkablock with very large, very modern, very striking monuments. Some were very tasteful and works of art, some were not so lucky. Almost all included laser etched portraits of the deceased, again with mixed results. The different types of stone were fascinating and very beautiful. I hope that Mr Rozman never saw his finished stone...I dont believe that in real life he looked quite that much like Uncle Fester. The three-quarter portrait of one lady was a favorite, as was the carved stone blob with two black laser portraits inserted.
It was so interesting to see what people had chosen, or had chosen for them as the last remembrance of their time on earth. I like that this cemetery lets family and friends decorate the monuments, including their own plants, and pots.
A really good example of this was the row of tiny graves against the far wall. This area is saved for the final rest of small infants and toddlers. Each is elaborately decorated by parents and family with favorite toys, flowers and other tokens of their sorrow and love.
The Pierce Brothers Cemetery feels like an island, literally, cut away and isolated from the rest of the world. Here Natalie Woods, Burt Lancaster, Brian Keith, and others, rest under a lush green lawn and a few shade trees. They all have flat markers of varying degrees of ornamentation and prose. The lawn is surprisingly uneven, and you could twist your ankle easily if not paying attention where you are walking. Two sides of the cemetery are filled with elegant white marble mausoleums that are home to Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Georgia Frontiere, and their buddies. Almost all have either fresh flowers or (horror!) artifical flowers set in a little vase that is attached to their marble doors; some with special followings like Deano and Marilyn have rows of pennies and dimes lined up on the edge of their bronze nameplates.
The newest residents in the highest rent district have special little garden-ettes with beautiful landscaping, warm brown granite, and fresh flowers. It is very difficult to describe these beautiful plots in their cozy little landscaping, but you can find Jack Lemmon, and other recent resident superstars here.
a fascinating afternoon with great traveling companions and quiet non complaining hosts at our destinations.

check out new artist!

2009-03-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

I found a delightful new artist and her blog today! Her name is Pam Warden, and I invite you all to check her out!
http://pamwardenart.blogspot.com/

New year, new grandson, new quilt!

2009-02-14T10:32:00.000-08:00

Just got back from South Carolina to visit new grandson, John Curtis. His dad is my son who is fascinated by trains, so of course I had to make a train quilt for the baby. Daddy Andrew was jealous of the great train fabric and wanted to know how come I never made a quilt like that for him.....well, 25 years ago they didn't have that fabric out?
The pattern is my own. I knew I wanted to use the fabric, but had to figure out how to use it without looking too insane. There was another row of trains in the fabric that I didn't use if I was going to make the train intact, so perhaps I will use those scraps to make bibs.
Anyway, Baby JC seems to like it regardless of the expression on his face. I embroidered a label on the back of the quilt in yellow thread that was inconspicuous, but then decided to brand it big and bold in case any other kids decided to abscond with it. I used my 1960's font I made up while in elementary school, and it stands out pretty well.

Meet Miss Anne

2008-09-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

First finished doll......I would love to embellish her dress more, add more details, but I cannot make up my mind. Just haven't hit the right thing that really works. But, here she is outside in my patio. will be starting the next one soon.

Taking an online class to make dolls!!

2008-09-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

I am having a lot of fun learning to make fabric and paper clay dolls online. Gritty Jane (note her blog above and the pretty logo) has a great class that really works out for me. I get to work on it at home at my own weird hours, and we get to share our work with others of similar interests. I have my body gessoed and will be trying out the paper clay soon. perhaps tomorrow, since it is getting late today. I had to listen to the videos and make my notes so I have an idea of what I am supposed to do. Basically, we smear stuff all over the doll, sculpt it, and then bake it. Painting comes afterwards, and then we dress her.

We went to Disneyland!

2008-08-15T22:43:00.000-07:00

We are very fortunate that we can visit a world class resort/entertainment location like Disneyland frequently, and can enjoy the more subtle pleasures that are lost as you have x number of hours to get your money's worth.
I got to go with my husband, and with a friend that I work with. We had a hoot just taking our time at the Aladdin theater show, leisurely lunch at the Plaza Inn, no lines at Pirates and Haunted House, and wandering around in the Pirates' Lair on Tom Sawyer Island (kind of reminds me of the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim"!)

Guess who I met there? Why, it was Captain Jack Sparrow, and I got to ask him if he signed up for Summer Reading this year. He promised to do it next year, cross his heart, his honor as a pirate.

I finished my niece's quilt for her Bat Mitzvah last October. So I take a bit longer, but I do good stuff. I had another quilt top almost finished for her before the ceremony, but after seeing the party decorations, and her choice of colors, I needed to take it apart and find the right fabric. I had done the embroidered stars, but had them set with a pretty blue on white filigree print. Not My Niece. Her reception was all psychedelic colors, neon lights, lava lamps and peace symbols. Green is her favorite color, I am late to finding out. Amazing bit of serendipity, I had bought this really wild tie-dyed fabric about ten years ago, loving the colors but not knowing what I would do with it. It was perfect.
So here it is; it wasn't the original design, but at least is better suited to the recipient now.

free at last!!!

2008-08-11T20:38:00.001-07:00

You remember how light headed you feel when you get your long hair cut?? It's sort of airy, and a tiny bit dizzy and the cool air feels so good on your neck? Well, Summer Reading is over, and that's about how I feel right now.
Dont get me wrong, we all had a fun time, but it got a bit crazy at times, and is always a relief when it is over. We did very well, I think, which is gratifying, and we got a lot of kids involved with our Angel ticket drawing. Sort of tricked those little darlings into reading to earn a chance to take their family out to a game. Whatever works!! Worked all weekend, so yard sailing has to wait for next week. Look out ladies, here I come! I have been looking for surfaces to paint lately. A friend of mine got me painting again earlier this summer. Do you know how much canvases cost??? Zounds! But if you gesso wood or some other sort of material, it makes a great surface to decorate. Wish I had learned that years ago! We are having a Day of the Dead celebration at my library soon, and we have been making these for our altars. the skulls with the hats are my parents (it really sort of looks like them), and an Aztec princess for our librarian's aid who is heading up the event. Fun!!

Great deals on grandbaby stuff!

2008-07-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

I got the chance to go out for a couple of hours before we went to my cousin's engagement party. Lots of local sales this last weekend. Quite a few on Sunday also. Don't know if that is an economic indicator or not, but I don't remember seeing very many people out on Sundays before.
The really hot, moving sales were the ones that lowered the prices and just wanted to get it over with. I started my rounds after 11am, and found that folks either had very little left, or had lots that were pre-priced and kind of high.
My son and daughter-in-law are pretty sure on the sex of their first child. She works in an Ob-Gyn clinic, which has benefits of tests asap. Looks like Andrew will have a son to work on his layout with him (one whole room of their house holds his tables and rolling stock.)
This little plate seemed perfect to give to them. I checked the price for the plate on e-bay, and I was right on the button paying $5.00. And I saved on postage!
Ended up at the house of one of my teen volunteers at the library, and bought two little overals with snaps across the legs for $1 a piece. If you have ever bought baby clothes, you can appreciate the great find. The striped pair have never been worn, and still has the price tags attached. I have to control myself though, I have gotten them 3 pairs of denim overalls so far, but they all are different sizes at least. The little item in the corner is a Harley-Davidson onezie that was really cute. I don't know if Harley stuff is really Southern or not, but you never can have enough of these little suits!
Two more fast treasures: a quaker lace tablecloth that will give me a chance to try Queenie's stain removal recipe , and a large heavy off white woven bed cover that we will use to protect the couch during the hot dog days of summer.

Gift from somewhere, someone, somehow...

2008-07-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

I don't remember planting hollyhocks, or ever being able to grow them before this year.
When I saw the large leaves coming up in my flowerbed, I almost pulled them out, just another darned pumpkin.
But I hate to pull out any survivors or opportunists that show up in my garden unless I know for certain that they are nasty weeds.
So I let it go a bit longer. It confused me because it grew upright, instead of spreading out and smothering the rest of my plants in the bed.
It took about two months, but I finally looked at the plant,and asked, Hollyhock??
Son of a Gun....
Then I had to wait for another two weeks for the tight buds to finally begin to open. I was sure that they were going to be white because there was not a bit of color other than green around the edges of the bud.
Finally last Friday, I looked out my kitchen window, and saw these crimson beauties swaying in the wind. Serendipity?? Bird poop flowers? A gift from Above?? Don't know, but they sure are pretty, aren't they?

You can build anything with Legos!

2008-07-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

I started at A Mask a Day, traveled to 365 Skulls, and then found this photo on a site linked to skulls...somehow I think that they are cheating somehow. I have been watching kids construct Legos for over 20 years, and you just cannot get that dome-effect without glue.
That looks like a little door from a castle stuck in the nose socket.

The site is www.iwantyourskull.com

Mapquest is a thrifty shopper's friend!

2008-07-06T22:52:00.000-07:00

This was the first weekend I had had the chance in over a month to get out and see what treasures lay out there.
Armed with both the Pennysaver, and the Register's classified, I highlighted the most interesting sales in a 10 mile radius.
Just north of the train tracks in Fullerton, I visited a sort of flea market disguised in the paper as a yard sale. There was one very interesting little shop next to the parking lot filled with overpriced retail vendors. It was a combination boutique/sewing classroom where you can sign up for lessons with your friends. An interesting concept, but I don't know if she can get enough business to keep it going.

There were two great ones within a few blocks of each other.I am going to be a grandmother by the end of the year, God willing, so I have been tempted to pick up some cute clothes. This first house had a table filled with baby clothes that were but a quarter a piece. Of course I don't know the gender of the baby yet, but I just couldn't resist. The print dresses were brand new and never worn; the denim jumper looked well washed and comfortable.

A few blocks away, there was a family who had a table of their aunt's rubber stamps for sale. She had been a professional crafter, and had been published in some craft magazines, her young nephew told me. There must have been over 300 stamps of all sizes and styles for sale at a dollar a piece. Spurred to boldness by the Queen of Fifty Cents' wheeling and dealing, I offered 5 dollars for six stamps. Sure, and pick out another one if you want! I know some of these are very expensive, having seen them in shops over the years. I will have to figure out what to do with them, but I picked out all ones that I really liked, so it was ok to buy them. I suggested that they could donate the leftover stamps to the library for a tax deduction, gave her my business card, and wished them good day.

One house was clearing out the treasures of a lifetime. I always feel a bit guilty going to estate sales, but this time the mom was still alive, just moving into an extended care home. I got a beautiful Aynsley bone china cup and saucer in perfect condition to send to my new daughter-in-law back in South Carolina. She had never been to a tea shop or "done tea" before we stopped at a little shop in Fullerton while shopping and getting to know each other. Marie was charmed by the scones, hot tea, and the civilized chance to sit and talk. I thought this cup would be perfect for her,

Lastly, I found these two framed mottos at the bottom of a box of odd stuff that had to have been sealed and stored for 80 years. the frames were coming apart, and one of the pictures had been torn in two, but I thought it was worth the try to take them home and mend. They look like they are easily from the 20's or 30's, and are hand painted. I am debating if I should repaint the gold frames in an antique gold or just leave as is.

A fun day!

Sometimes it's Quality not Quantity

2008-06-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

Last week I was only able to get away for one stop at a garage sale. A local church was having a rummage sale in its parking lot. They were beginning to put things away when I got there, and was told, $1 a bag. Great! So I wondered around and found some really darling stuffed animals for SRP prizes. My bag was stuffed to busting with my goodies as I went up to the cashier. I started to get out my purse, "No, for free, just take it...." But I gave them the buck anyway, they were fund raising for something, and I made out soooo good!

Wall Hanging

2008-05-26T13:03:00.001-07:00

I made a wall hanging to raise money for our youth group at church. Using one of a series of clipart that our Rector puts in the weekly bulletin, I enlarged the image and used a light box to trace on muslin.
At first I outline chain stitched around the figures, but thought it looked a bit empty. So I started filling in with chain stiches in the spaces. It works very well as a filler, but you have to remember not to pull the stitches too tight, and to use about 3 strands to be sure it fills.
Colors chosen just out of the floss box, no particular reason except that they looked good together. A lot of people think that the colors used in the middle ages were sort of muddy and dark. I dont think so. They would have used bright colors, and they only look muddied now because of soil and fading.
Anyhow, then I needed to put a border around to frame the embroidery. I wanted to do a stained glass look, and I was amazed that I actually had fabric in my stash that worked well. It was hand embroidered, washed, and a fabric tube sewn on the back for hanging.
sorry you have to turn your head, but after all the work i did to get this posted, I don't even want to think about why they are sideways or how to fix it. the original files were just fine!

Quilts and Vintage Houses!! Heaven!!

2008-05-23T00:18:00.001-07:00

Hubby was very indulgent last week and, decided that it would be fun to go with me to the Citrus Belt Quilters' Vintage Home and Quilt Show.
Hotter than Hades out there, but the wonderful dry heat that I appreciate more after experiencing a more humid heat while visiting in South Carolina. Redlands felt like a warm hairdryer blowing across my skin....
There was a Craftsman bungalow that had been newly restored inside. It was the first time in many years I had had the chance to go inside one, while loving their style details for years in photos. It was a bit smaller than I expected, but still charming. I wasn't quite expecting quilts displayed draped across the exercise equipment, but you take the locations as you find them, I guess.
Second place we saw was a four story redwood Victorian mansion that is now serving as a retirement home. But I forgot to take a picture of that one.....sorry....
Last two were on the same street, both built between 1900 and 1910. They were more typical middle class family homes that were influenced by Craftsman design, but blended with other styles.
The best suprise was the great yard sales in two older houses between the two show houses. One was getting ready to close out, and it was 10 cents for everything. Got some vintage printed samplers, hand painted, that I need to reseal and restore, but were charming, and some fun junk jewelry. Second sale had wonderful quilts from the 1920's and such for sale. Loved one that was in lavender, white and yellow, but could not justify $75, even though it was a great deal.
I saw one quilt draped on the porch that would make a great baby quilt someday.....I have lots of curious and fun fabric prints to use already, so it's a natural!

Christmas

2007-12-08T21:34:00.000-08:00

is driving me crazy.....but i have almost finished my cookbooks for the family and need just to make a couple of aprons and i will be just about done. but i do need to get gift cards for the cousins and a book for Dylan and Brandon......

what is going on???

2007-10-07T11:31:00.001-07:00

help me

bla bla bla

2007-10-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

bbbbb

If it's not one thing, it's another.....

2007-08-18T11:56:00.000-07:00

isn't Peeps the name of that teen vampire book?

does that imply that Infopeeps are somehow related to bloodsuckers and their ilk?
just wondering...
It is far too hot to paint the living room, and everybody else in the house is sleeping, including Buddy, lying across my feet under the computer. He's having too good a dream chasing cats for me to disturb him by moving, so I saw this as the perfect opportunity to start working on the 2.0 challenge.
signing off for now
cathy g