Latest fun

I have been obsessed with Lisa Kaus's Dollies and wanted to take one of her workshops but so far it hasn't been doable with the schedule or the budget. I decided to tackle one on my own and it's been in pieces on my desk for a couple of months but she finally came together. I decided to layer her necklaces just like I would mine and added a little sparkle. I definitely have not mastered Lisa's beautiful glazing and layering, or the limb attachment trickery, but as a studio muse I think she's pretty good.

Now, for my other obsession, charm bracelets. My husband started one for me forever ago which is gold, not the most budget friendly, so I decided to start one in silver for places we've visited (pictured). I'm not sure the chain is going to work since it tends to get tangled but I love all the little collected charms. One of my favorites has to be the carriage from New Orleans and the Sherlock Holmes collection from London. This is giving me the perfect reason to scope out more trips!

Bathroom before and after... day 1 of demo!

Before and after pics as the demo got under way today. I hope it's clear which are which! :)

On the Maya front, she is back to her regular puppy self demanding pets and lots of crying if she can't get us all herded in the right direction. We still made an appoint for the puppy neurologist next Thursday so we'll get the fully skinny then. Hopefully. For now, we're glad to have her back to herself.

Stay tuned for more fun bathroom progress pics. Now, I'm going to bed because I'm beat. I know it's 10pm but I get up early. :)

Never without drama

We came home on Friday and opened the door just as Maya, our Akita, was having a seizure. Thank God Rolland's a nurse and handled it while I willed the vet to say something useful. She had another one on Sat after having gone to the vet and getting blood work then she's just been sluggish for the last day. Tonight we heard back blood work's normal and they gave us a prescription. She's much more herself tonight after having slept all day and so far so good. Apparently they can just develop this problem and it's not always a sign of worse things. I've still put in an email to the puppy neurologist though.

In the meantime, we stuck close to home and I played in my art room. This is the page, front and back, I did for Michelle's Marie book. Kecia graciously hosted a swap for us to do for Marie books but this time we all bought books with ring bindings and did a mass send out of the pages so you just complete a page and send it off. We talked about doing it at Art Nest but never got around to it so I'm glad to finally put my book to good use. It's also helping me work through my girly goody stash in the ribbon and sundries box! The idea is to be over the top with the ribbons, beads, baubles, etc.

I'm still working on going through all of my Chicago pics but here's a link to the New Orleans photos since I can't remember if I posted it previously! I have thrown in a couple of Chicago pics, just to tied you over. :)

Demo on the bathroom starts tomorrow along with all the tweet and before/after updates. Going to be a busy few weeks.

Wings and Hats Controversy

So apparently the Van Cleef and Arpel window designer has not heard all about the wings and hats controversy sweeping through the mixed media world! I loved this vignette in the window along Michigan Ave in Chicago. It was a super fancy shopping district and I was terrified to take the pic. I was convinced security would snatch me up for taking a pic of their window. I worked up the courage to do it when a man walked out of the store and settled in front of the window and eyed all of the passers by. I scurried a way while Rolland laughed and then made fun of me being such a huge chicken. Finally I ran back, snapped my pic and bee lined it out of there. Clearly I decided the pokey was worth the risk to get my winged gentleman photo!

Yikes!

I'm trying to play catch up after my last few busy weekends: New Orleans, Chicago and then bathroom shopping (turns out we're in for a major overhaul! OY!). May was a crazed month with the travel then the work madness. I'm hoping the summer will settle down but I still want to head north for art and shopping with Kecia so it's on the list of things to do this summer.

As for the bathroom, my quest to update the faucets on the ba†htub resulted in finding major leaks in the bath and shower so we bit the bullet and are planning the remodel a year sooner than planned. We called in the re-modeler who lives across the street and he's planning to start on the 15th so we'll be down to 1 ba†hroom until July. At least I'll have something to really look forward to for the 4th!

I promise, next post New Orleans fun, art and then Chicago pics should be ready to go. Until then, this pic sums up our trip to Chicago - self portraits are the way to go when you don't want to bug fellow tourists! Also, before pics of bathroom.

Edited to add: Oh yeah, if anyone can tell me where to find this clock I will be incredibly happy and grateful! It's the blue clock with the red clock face.

First Time Ever!

For the first time since I purchased my camera the memory card is empty! I've gone through and finally gotten the photos in the right folders and processed some of the images into usable sizes. I still need to go through all the New Orleans photos and share those with the ladies from the trip. In the mean time, I'm planning to fill the card back up starting in a few hours since I'll be in Chicago!

The trip was questionable yesterday after I came home more tired than I have ever been in my life. The husband was skeptical about our weekend plans. But today, I feel refreshed and ready to hit the windy city. I do have some puppy guilt about taking them to be boarded since we can't pick them up until Tuesday am. Holiday on Monday and all. We found a place that looks awesome so they can have their own puppy door in and out so that helps a little. Still would rather be able to have them home on Monday.

Anyway, I've added some random photos from the card to share until I can get back to the art pics and new Chicago additions.

These are pics of a commissioned piece from my friend Suzanne. It was a birthday gift to her friend Elizabeth who is a fellow graphic designer. They have an awesome business together where they screen print on organic onesies, tees, etc. Seriously, if you need an incredible shower gift check out Sutecchi




This was a birdbath that was in my Mom's yard for years and I topped it with a St. Francis statue I got in Mexico on a family trip. I love them together and it feels very relic like. I love the faded blue on the pots. This photo is also old enough that you can see the old fence we replaced in November!



One of my latest etsy finds from a bead seller in Austin, I'd provide the link if I could find the store - I'll update if I find it. I can't wait to do something fabulous with them but in the meantime I open the bead drawer just get the imagination going.



Enough for now. I've got to get the last minute packing done and then we're off! Deep dish pizza, Field Museum and shopping (they have an actual Dick Blick store!!!) are all on the to do list!

Have a great weekend.

Holy smokes it's been a while

I've fallen off the blogging bandwagon! It's been hectic here as I prepped for my trip to NOLA and then it's been crazy getting back and getting ready to hit Chicago next weekend. I've squeezed in a few art projects and promise a real post soon but just wanted to put up a few pics from New Orleans that may tied you over until I can get through the 100+ I need to go through.

I was obsessed with balconies, foliage and signs this trip so it's a little sneak peek. The other photo is of me and my friend Suzanne, whose b-day we were celebrating, in front of one of my favorite pieces of wall art.

p.s. Rolland couldn't stop making fun of the hat but I loved it! It saved me from sunburn and bad hair.:)

New Orleans

I have some pics I need to post but I would have to walk the gauntlet of fur babies to get it so you'll just have to wait for another entry. :) I'm not without updates however, I am headed to New Orleans Friday evening for a girls weekend and I can't wait. This should also give me a couple of full cards of pics to post! I love NOLA and have been there twice before. Each time I find more things I love from the architecture to the constant motion of the city. This time I won't have the husband, who hated it, walking around with me begrudgingly taking in the sites. He does like the food but as for the rest, not so much.

One reason I'm anxious to wing away for a while is that it's been a difficult period at work. Also, I have been a little blue lately so my friend Suzanne and Rolland - who truly is the best husband ever - urged me to stay an extra day (I was coming back Sunday am) so now I've updated the flight and will be staying until Monday afternoon. That one day can make a huge difference in how many visits to Cafe du Monde I can work in! We've also scoped out a new district I haven't checked out before that has lots of art galleries and studios. Super excited to see this one.

Suzanne also talked me into staying out for a drink last Friday (post the Wolverine viewing we did for our team building - movie was not bad but not as great as I wanted) and I was out until 9:30. I know this sounds incredibly early but if I'm out after dark it's a monumentous occassion! We had an awesome time and Suzanne truly is one of my favorite people. I also got to meet her friend Chris who was super nice.

Since it's now 9:50, it's time to head for bed as we've previously established I'm an incredibly boring person and have a bed time. Although, I did break the bed time rule this week when we saw a Star Trek screening on Monday. Also... it totally rocked! This movie is greatness and I'm encouraging anyone who loves a good action flick to check it out. It's not overly trekkie at all. It's got some good stuff for fans but newbies won't feel left out. I'm encouraging this one for a good date night possiblity since it buys lots of hubby good will (although I'm the big geek in my house).

Happy Wednesday!

Patience

Saw this on Lisa's blog this morning and it was exactly what I needed.

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.”

—Anne Lamott (b. 1954), author, political activist

Interrupting regularly scheduled post

with a progress poll. I've been really making an effort to get in shape and I've created a progress blog elsewhere but I'm taking a moment to solicit comments on whether improvement has actually been made. I'm attaching March's photo with Monday's progress pic. In case it's difficult to tell Monday's pic is the dress in pink. :)

Thoughts?

Pink Box

This one has been on the desk for a while just waiting for it's own post! I had been working on this one for probably 3 months as I was just never happy with it. It was bland and empty but I didn't want to do too much so finally I just grabbed my charcoal pencil and went nuts! The top was clearly my attempt just to see how the pencil would work versus paint and I love the result. I'm not sure if comes across in the photos but it's really hard to tell what was supposed to be there compared to what would be there "with age". These pieces really are much more fun to think of as something I would've found in an old attic somewhere.

p.s. I have a giant shipment of doll heads coming pretty soon and have no idea what else I could with them! My husband is growing very concerned. :)

Art filled week

It was a lovely art filled week. First I received this lovely ribbon from Maija and it looks gorgeous next to the other sparklies and goes especially well with the collaged spoon as this was another gift from this incredible artist. We did a swap based on our mutual adoration of all things doll part related and I just love it! Perfect colors and image - seriously, I couldn't have imagined a better piece to have as inspiration in the studio.



















Yesterday, Suzanne, Jen and I packed up and headed west to the Main Street Art Festival in Ft. Worth. It was incredible weather with the perfect temp and slightly cloudy so only a tiny sunburn this year. We saw some amazing art including these wind catchers that were spectacular with the most incredible glass. We also found a woman who makes unbelievably intricate etchings on copper and then creates prints from them. Everyone found several pieces that had to come home with us. I think one may have to head into the office with me just to keep some things that are lovely around at all times. It definitely makes the space much more inspirational.




Our next excitement is heading to New Orleans in May for a girls weekend in honor of Suzanne's birthday. Clearly more fun is ready to be had by all!

All about the necklaces

I've been working on these two pieces for months now. The components were just sitting on my desk and I would do a little wire work between working on other things but I finally got them both finished with photos! The steel on the aqua piece was not my favorite to work with but I think I finally got the hang of it and love the combo of textures between it and the thin silver. The vintage clasp is slightly twitchy but I love the little detail it brings to the overall necklace.

The black retro style necklace was made using a charm I made last year and added the patina to the solder. I also had these odd Bakelite style beads that I wanted to use on the perfect piece. I'm not sure the charm = perfect but the combo is definitely right for me. I love all the vintage Bakelite pieces from flea markets that are considerably out of my price point but I can dream and put my handy pliers to work. Also, if anyone knows where I can get more of these black rectangular beads let me know. I can not remember where I got these and even though, absurdly, I keep my supply invoices just for this reason, these little babies slipped by my strange OCD behavior this time.

Doll Shrine - no more peekaboo

This is the finished doll shrine that's been sitting on my desk for weeks waiting for her close up. In case you're wondering, I filled the bottle with teal ink so it's almost an etch-a-sketch shrine. :) If I had to play favorites with all the shrines I've made recently, this is it. It's girly, covered in doll heads and pink with glitter sparkles. I did notice a speck of something on the INSIDE of the glass but I can't bring myself to rip off all the solder and foil then re-foil, re-solder and then re-patina. I'm learning to live with and love imperfections.

Last week's doll box

I think Dollhouse has made a bigger impact than I thought. I'm hooked on the doll boxes! This one has been in progress for a while but finished last weekend. I just got behind on the posts. You can see one of the doll shrines I made peeking from the corner she also needs pics and then a post. I've gotten a little behind in all of my fun art stuff including blog updates. Turns out, there are only so many hours in a day. Who knew!

This weekend I'm playing catch up on all my art projects including some fun ATC swap action, a charm exchange that I want to get ahead on and a commission from my friend Suzanne. I know exactly what I want to do for all of them now I just have to "make it so"... such a geek. Since I've already outed myself, I just finished the latest in the Kate Daniels series and it was awesome. My husband jokes that I read to fast to get my money's worth but the truth is I read them too quickly and get impatient for the next installment. Luckily, my book buying habit keeps me well stocked!

Happy Saturday and I'm sending you good thoughts that you're having some incredibly beautiful spring weather too!