Saturday, July 19, 2008

New Collage


Finished a collage I worked on the past few days. I just can't quit when I'm ahead. Well, it's all stuck down now and if it wasn't, I'd probably remove the book...I don't think it needs it now that I look at the thing with a jaundiced eye.
It's about 12 x 20 in an old frame. There are some flowers from a napkin thanks to Norah's tutorial here:http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com/2008/06/napkin-play.html. The bottom area has some anaglypta. I never knew that embossed wallpaper was called that until my friend, Sally Paul, clued me in about it and sent me a piece. I asked her for some advice along the way and unfortunately, I don't think I followed it very well. She's been an art teacher for many years (I think she said 40!!) and I would probably be considered one of her most difficult students. Go ahead, give me an F, Sally....I deserve it! That's it for today. Just going to sit back now and pick it apart in my mind and wonder about all the things I did wrong and if I had it to do over again, what would I do differently? I would love some feedback....and like I told Sally, be truthful because I'm tough and I can take it.....LOL
PS: You can click on it to enlarge. Better to see all my mistakes...: )
PS again! Revised picture added above. I tore off the top piece of heavy lace and replaced it with some player piano paper...trust me, it's better in person! Well, at least I think so.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Tea Chest




I'm on a tea kick...here's a little tea chest that I made; front, top and side view. It has German scrap roses and birds and some hand painted strokes here and there. I had it filled with tea bags but have been using them regularly so I need to replenish my stash! There are napkins in the drawers and a little sugar and Splenda.

Is this a shrine? I never know!....Mary Green Woman says a shrine is paying homage to something you love and I love tea! A bit different than my tea shrine that I posted earlier.

It's 108 degrees today in the Sacramento area (and smoky from all the fires around us).....after a high yesterday of 113. When my first son was born in Salina, Kansas on July 8, 1954, it was also 113 degrees.....we had no air conditioning in our little place, nor did the air base hospital! I was 19 years old and thought I was going to DIE. When I came home from the hospital, DH went to Sears and bought a table fan which we placed next to the crib and turned it on the baby full blast. He had the worst colic ever....duh!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Brian and Bird Condo Side Views




Two posts in one day? Glory be! I'm supposed to be cooking turnip greens. Why can't I do what I'm supposed to do instead of playing with this blog stuff? I just wanted everyone to see darling grandson Brian with his grandma. This was after he got his altered dictionary grad gift (see earlier post below). He really, truly seemed to love the book and thanked me over and over. Pretty neat for a 23 year old. He's got class....heh heh!
Also, I'm posting the side views of the 2 story condo (earlier post) as a couple of people asked to see the sides. So here they are in what is my poor photography attempts. Don't forget to click on the pictures to enlarge!I just can't get the lighting right and I'm too lame to understand all there is to know about basic photography. Maybe I just don't want to take the time. I have to go cook turnip greens now.

A Spot Of Tea


I saw this idea in a book by (I believe) Anna Corbin and fell in love with it. Can't remember the name of it now. DH made me a wooden box which became this little tea shrine/assemblage. Can someone explain what the difference is? If a shrine has a religious connotation, well then, so be it. I don't worship tea but I sure do love it....expecially fruity teas and Tazo. The Tazo website is great fun if you've never visited it. Here's the link. http://www.tazo.com/noflash.html
Last night, Lauren, the infamous 3 yr old, came to visit while her mommy and daddy celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary with a dinner out. Immediately, she saw the dining room table was still looking very "cwafty" after the bird book completion. There was no turning back. She had to make a bird book for her mama and daddy and one for her day care lady, Miss Hannah. She worked hard at it and punched more birds with my new bird punch than you can count. Then, when there was paste and scraps on everything (except the book) she announced that I was to take it to the post office and mail it to them (they were picking her up in a few minutes)! So I was to mail it today. Actually, I was supposed to take it last night but I explained that it was closed so the mailman could rest. Did I mention that I left the room for a split second and when I came back, she had a pile of Diamond Glaze the size of an elephant on a piece of paper?

Oh, and I got busted, too. She walked into the "cwaft" room/office/storage/junk room and said "This room has too much stuff in it". Wait a minute, girlie, who's the boss of this house.....you or me? If I want too much stuff, (which I do), then just wait till you get your own cwaft room! I hope I'm still around to point out that you've got too much stuff! Anyway, you will never be an "ahtist/cwafter" if you don't have a lot of junk around to play with. LOL