Reflections

in the living room May 2013

They are now the same size in height

May 10, 2011

This is the day I brought him home from the shelter

Look how much bigger Gracie is than Jake

He was one happy puppy

I will occasionally go back through my picture folders to look at past shots. Today I just happened to click on the photos I took of Jake right after he came to live with us. This was in our backyard, and it was his first face to face meeting with Gracie. He had seen her on the other side of the gate at the shelter.

People have asked how I knew the two dogs would get along. Gracie was ready was another brother after Sarge, and I was certain of that fact. She wanted someone to play with. And in my heart I just knew that Jake would fit in. Felt it.

I was right.
Linda

Flowers after the rain

I have the local news on the television in the living room as I type this. The weatherman just stated that one year ago, our temperature hit 104 degrees on this date. That wasn't the heat index, that was the actual temperature. This year has been cooler with more rain, and my garden is reflecting that. The flowers have not been this vibrant since I first moved into this house. I am loving it.

Have a safe and restful weekend.
Linda

OH, Bother!

I am so bored!

Really mom? Trying to rest here!

Get out of my face. Now.

What???

If you must take pictures, catch my pretty blond streaks.

A dog's life. In my house at least. Spoiled beyond reason.

Linda

Fun Stuff

Pat's Clematis. Beautiful

Tag 1

Tag 2

Tag 3

Tag 4

Good Morning! It is a beautiful day here. We just got back from a nice walk at the park in Avon. Love it.

I wanted to share what I made yesterday. The tags above work up so fast and are just plain fun to do. The girl/doll stamp is by Julie Nutting. Her first set of 5 stamps are available at AllyScraps. I stamped each girl with Rangers Archival black ink on old book pages, then cut them out leaving a thin border for shading. I Mod Podged scrapbook paper on the front and back of each tag, then added some old torn pattern pieces, rub-ons, and light stamping. The girls were added with Mod Podge, painted with Golden Fluid Acrylics, and then I shaded with Faber Castell Big Brush pens. Love those pens. Just so much you can do with them.

All four tags are going to booths this afternoon, hopefully to sell.

Thanks for stopping by.
Linda

The Box

I was in Hobby Lobby a few weeks back, and just looking around. I love to do this for inspiration, and to see what new color trends are out in the stores. On display were a few wooden boxes finished with book paper. The lids were painted black with some funky, simple flowers painted on top and a saying that I don't remember because I didn't care for it. And that's the way my mind works....

I really liked the box, but not the black lid or the flowers and saying. So I went back to the wood section, found this little bad boy, whipped out my 40% coupon, and brought it home. The box is about 14 inches long, maybe 4 inches wide, and 5 inches tall. The brass colored clasp works and when you purchase it, it is raw wood that has been sanded.

I have bought several old books at garage sales, so I tore pages from each and cut them into strips of different widths. Starting at the left corner with the box open, I Mod Podged each strip on, butting them side by side. It takes no time at all. However, when you get to an end and have to reposition the box, you don't want a side that is still wet to be on your work surface. It will stick. So I did what I could, then let it dry overnight. Took me no more than 45 minutes total work time. The inside is not done. Because the lid has this pretty bevel cut, I was not going to attempt to attach book pages to it. Instead, I took a Tim Holtz Distress Stain dabber in Vintage Photo, and ran it all over the bare wood and dried strips. When you use Mod Podge, you put it underneath and on top of your paper. That left a nice, soft sheen when I was done.

For whatever reason, probably operator error, the top photo is slightly blurred. I can't retake it because the box is now for sale in our booth. Just thought I'd pass this along in case you would like to make something like this. One more tip: the thinner the book pages, the better they will adhere. Just be careful, because they will also tear easily. I purposely used book pages of different shades of white and cream. Just like that look. This will also work on paper mache, but attaching to a wood surface is easier.

Have a good one.
Linda

Competition

This is a canvas I did this past March. Nothing exceptional, I now see several things wrong with it, but at the time I thought it was acceptable. It has been sitting at Allyscraps since I completed it. Three weeks ago, Cathy and I pulled some canvases together and put them in a second hand store that specializes in "redone" furniture, objects, etc. We know the owner, and she wanted something to brighten up the corner. No problem.

And then promptly forgot about it. Welcome to our world.

Yesterday I was out and about, running errands. One of the things I had to do was restock our booth at Gilley's Craft Mall. Robinson's Treasures is only 1.5 miles west of Gilley's, so I decided to check with Mona on how we were doing.  Honestly, when I walked in and looked at the corner,  I couldn't tell if anything had sold. But when Mona came out from the back room, she was excited. "I have money for you!" We had indeed sold 2 canvases. The first was a bird on the fence, and it was this one. Cathy also did a bird on a fence because we both take the same damn classes online.....are we getting an idea here where this is going? The second canvas was of 3 houses, and it was also mine. I had used chipboard door diecuts, and Tim Holtz metal numbers on the houses. Obviously, I didn't take a picture. Not like me, but I've just been through all my picture folders for this year and I don't have one of that canvas.

Now. Cathy is giving me a hard time about the fact that my bird on the fence sold and hers didn't. She isn't concerned about the house canvas, because she hasn't done any. She has to win. Of course, we are also waiting for her Prozac to kick in...But the irony here is that every single one of those black primitive dolls and bunnies I made last January? They are still unsold in the booth at Gilley's. If Cathy had so much as touched them, they'd be gone.

I think we have each found our strengths. Ya gotta laugh.
Linda

The Shade Garden

This is the prettiest I have seen from my Hydrangeas. The plants never have become big, like they should, even with fertilizer. But this year the blooms are perfect. Small, purple blooms are on an Iris, or at least I think they are Iris. Can't remember. This is the view out the two spare bedroom windows, so I get to see this when I'm in the studio working. Love it.

Enjoy your weekend.
Linda

Finally!!!

These are paper flowers from Prima. Love the colors.

As long as we have been creating mixed media, I have had a problem with the shape of faces. I wanted to create heart shaped, but kept ending up having lopsided ovals that had to be "fixed" by the painting of the hair. I also had noticed that I wasn't paying close enough attention to the placement of various papers for the background. Invariably, my girls ended up with a seam down the middle of their face where two pieces of paper butted.

So this time I drew the head on a canvas first based with gesso, then painted in the background around the head. And this technique worked better for me. That doesn't mean I will give up on placing paper on canvas, just that I have added another option to my toolbox.

If you are interested in learning mixed media, I highly recommend all of the Christy Tomlinson classes. All of them. I am currently taking Behind the Art. She is a self taught artist with 6 kids that makes me smile. Love her teaching style.

Have a wonderful day.
Linda

Art Journal

A blueprint for another project

Playing with alcohol inks

Looking for symmetry

From the Christy Tomlinson workshop

These are some pages I did in the past week in my art journal. My original art journal that is only 5x8. And that makes a huge difference in the intimidation factor. Who would have thought?

I had been working in a full size Dylusions journal, which I believe is 9x12. When you have to fill a page that size, you can run out of ideas on what to do, placement of objects, balance, etc. And I was becoming very frustrated at pages that just did not make me happy. I had recently purchased the online workshop, "She Has 3 Hearts" from Christy Tomlinson, but not watched any of the videos. After starting that, I was amazed at what changing the size of the page did for me mentally. I know, sounds weird, but at this point I am taking what works and running with it. I began to play more, just slapping stuff on the page to see what would happen. And really enjoying it.

The most surprising factor has been the dogs. They are now resigned to the fact that when mom goes into that room, they should just chill. Jake will lay down next to my chair, Gracie in her summer place in the hallway under the cold air return. And not bug me. Not whine. Love it.

Have a great day. Create something.
Linda

So, so mistreated

So here is the thing: my dogs lie. This is not a good trait. But Gracie is a master at lying. Every single time they go to the Puppy Playground for half a day of play, she tells everyone there that I never give them any attention, no treats, no loving, nothing. Dogs can do this with body language. Little Miss Diva will crawl up into the laps of the people that work at the Playground, wiggling her butt, kissing them. And the message is clearly, "I am sooooo deprived of attention."

Jake just wants to play. But he has also become skilled at getting special hugs from the staff. And who pays for this treachery? Why me, mom, the one with the charge card. Sometimes you can't win.

Linda

Summer Flowers

My friend Pat sent me these pics today, and I thought I'd share them. The main reason is they are beautiful, and that I can't grow a rose or clematis to save myself. Believe me, I've tried.

Have a great day.
Linda

Spring flowers

Foxglove

Foxglove

We had a long, cold winter with a fair amount of snow. I lost several perennials in the front flower beds. Not surprising, after the severe drought last summer. So I was pleasantly surprised to see the Foxglove come back. I love the color and shape of these plants, but they are not particularly hardy and will die out by mid-July. Yet every spring they return.

Enjoy.
Linda