The Deal of the Day

Hey there world!  So, I didn't make it Westport today but that's okay because there is tomorrow and it holds unknown possibilities.  Today I went treasure hunting again!  I had to run into the office for a few minutes first but after that it was on.  I tried a few spots in what I consider 'up town' but nothing really worth the stop.  I call it 'up town' because it's up the big hill from us, thus....'up town'. 

Anyway, I ventured out to a local charity sale.  The local Kitten Rescue organization takes in donations of 'garage sale' items, then they hold a big sale about once a month or so when the weather permits.  I scored BIG time!  B-I-G!  I then went on to a few other household sales and picked up some more goodies.  Take a look at my loot.

There's a Sawyer's View Master in the loot with some disc from the 60's - 70's.  I just couldn't resist for $6.  The clocks and watches will be gutted for some Steampunk projects as will the ceramic pieces.  I was hoping the Monopoly game would have Seattle player pieces but it didn't.  Now for the BIG score... drum roll please......

That's right my friends a Dooney & Burke for $1.50.  Granted it's 'vintage' 80's- 90's but it's in terrific shape, black with the brown trim and all the pieces in place.  I couldn't read the label at the sale (old lady eyes) and my hands were full, so I couldn't pull out my glasses. I figured what the heck for $1.50 (if it was a knock off so what) and it was a charity sale, after all. I screamed for joy when I got home and saw what it was.  I found a similar one in an antique store in Texas right before we left. I debated getting it because it was the carmel and creme. When I decided to go for it I walked back around and it was GONE-In-Sixty-Seconds. I don't remember the exact cost but it was less than $20. So this one was meant to be mine.



I worked in the flowers for a little while after storing away my goods.  Then I wanted to finish my altered kitchen clock.  Do you remember?  I so forgot to take the before picture.  But here's the final project now hanging in my room.  I really like it.  I'm planning to use one of the clocks I found today to make a more masculine version of sorts.



ta-da!

I then began my work on my Art Journal for my up coming e-course/workshop with Christy Tomlinson.  If you read my post on a few days ago you'll know the workshop is about a Chinese proverb and the course is titled, "She had three hearts".  Well, that got me to thinking and wanting to stay within the area of subject about a woman's hearts.  I was really struggling with what I wanted to put on the front as the focal point.  I didn't want to put just three hearts but if done well it could work.  That idea just wasn't sitting with me very well at all.  I toyed around with using three different dimensional hearts but again I just wasn't feeling it.  Then suddenly it hit me, 'duh!  the tattoo!'

My tattoo.  I love my tattoo, it's very symbolic for me, but then most are.  I had wanted one forever but it's a big decision and until I found the perfect thing to last forever, nothing was going on my body.  I found my design by accident when surfing the Internet.  (Sorry but there is a lot of back story here.)  I have a weakness for fairies.  I'm not obsessed with them and I don't really collect a lot, although I have a few given as precious gifts from my kids.  I just feel connected to the lore more than anything. 

Anyway,  I found an artist here in the Seattle area, Amy Brown.  I love her work.  She had a fairy holding a grape and there were other grape clusters in the design.  Anyway it just struck me that it was as if the fairy was holding up the grape as if she was admiring or protecting it our something.  I thought about a story I had heard about how fairies guard the garden etc...  Well, to me this fairy could guard my heart.  So the tattoo artist modified the art enough to place a heart in her hand versus the grape, we removed a cluster of oak leaves through out but for balance we left the grapes on top (now I think it could've been eliminated).  It's placed on my left shoulder blade so that it's closest to my heart (and it's easy to cover).  I like many others have had a few too many seriously broken hearts.  For me there has been three major events that have harmed my heart. She's there now to protect me in the future (or so I like to believe).  Here's my tattoo.



So now you know the story behind my art journal cover.  Luckily I still had the original tracing the tattoo artist used.  I made a photocopy onto some white card stock.  Then used my Faber-Castel pens and did my best to match the colors.  I must say the shading done by the tattoo artist makes a world of difference.  Mine came out a bit more bold but I still like it.  Hubby was amazed so that makes me happy too.  Have a look.

That's pretty much my day!  Hubby and I got the chance to sit and watch a movie together before he had to catch a call for work.  So it was a wonderful day all in all.  How was yours?  Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs of love.



Fablous Friday

That title might be cliche but it rings true for the day.  I like every other person in this country love Fridays.  It's the time to exhale and let go of a weeks worth of tension because if you don't you might just explode.  For some unfortunate souls it's the beginning of their work week, I'll tell you now, sorry dudes that stinks for you.

I work in the personal lines insurance industry.  You know your local agent that you call and tell you bought a new car or maybe you'll be closing on this new house.  Yep!  That's me.  I'm also the one you call angry with because your monthly premium just jumped up by X amount of dollars yet you have a clean driving record, and all insurance companies are crooks.  Yep!  That's me again.

So imagine if you can what it's like to pull up to your refuge to find what I've been finding these last few weeks.

Aren't God's blessings just beautiful?  The smell, oh my goodness, it's so fresh and just a little sweet from the lilacs.  It does sort of make some many of those nasty rainy days worth while, key word here was some, ya'll.  Seriously, though I can have a miserable day at the office but as soon as I pull into the drive way the tension just flows a way on the breeze once I get a whiff of the lilacs.  We are so lucky to have a large one in the front and another on the side outside the kitchen window.

I started working on my art journal tonight, just like I planned.  I've pretty much done the background, take a look.

The workshop is about  an old Chinese proverb that goes something like... "She had 3 hearts; one to share with the world, one to share with her family and one for herself."  I may have it off a little but that's the jest of it. 

So I now need to decide how I want to depict that on the front of my art journal since that is the subject of the art to be found inside.  hmmmm what to do, what to do?????  I'm going to step away until till tomorrow and see if the day doesn't inspire me some how.  Thanks for coming around.

hugs of love.



Thoughts on Thursday

My thoughts on Thursday this week were centered around what I want to accomplish this weekend.  I have an online workshop starting Monday with http://christytomlinson.typepad.com/christytomlinson/workshops.html.  It's been a while since I've worked with any of my paper and paint supplies.  I'm really excited to begin getting all messy and colorful.

I took Christy's She Art Class back in February as something new to explore.  It was fabulous and helped me learn that is okay to color outside the lines.  I found it very liberating and the format of the class really couldn't be any more flexible.  I highly recommend you take one of Christy's workshops especially if you want to explore something new and creative.  The supplies are fairly basic art supplies, nothing you have to spend tons of money on and she's so fun!

I had purchased a sketch notebook a few weeks ago for the workshop.  Yesterday, I started my project by giving the cover a few coats of Gesso (primer).  Now that it's had some time to cure and dry I get to start playing after work.  I've purchased several new stencils and stamps from www.Scarletlime.com.  I also have some oil pastels I found on a recent Treasure Hunt and want to explore working with them.  It's going to be fun stuff!

I then thought about venturing off to Westport for a few hours to explore.  My son, James, posted a video on Facebook that he took at First Beach on a previous visit.  It made me crave the waves.  I'm a little hesitant about going on my own though, Bill is on call (yuck) and can't leave the house.  I will probably let the weather guide me in that decision, Sunny equals I go, otherwise I'll make art.  It's really a win-win situation for me. 

We first found Westport last July and although we've been to a beach here in the past it was still a little shocking.  You tend to think West Coast all sunny and bright,  but believe me it's pretty darn chilly and wet out there.  It's all good though.    For me it's the beautiful way the waves crash that mesmerizes me and draws me in.  I could sit for hours just watching the waves crash and listening to their music.  I'm that way about a campfire too, the way the flames flicker and jump while they pop.

Those were my thoughts for Thursday.  I'll let you know how it all works out!

Hugs of love.

Wonderful Wednesday

WoW!  What a day!  I sure hope you all had a beautiful sunny day where ever you are!  We tease each other here about how intoxicating the sun can be for us.  Today was one of those days.  Please don't get me wrong the rain is needed for world here to thrive and be so lush.  I just sort of expect it to be just a tad bit warmer when it does, that's all. 

I talk alot about the weather because it is such a large part of life.  I just never really realized just how much it impacts me until I made this drastic change, ie... move from North Texas to Western Washington.  I'm telling you it's actually very similar in a twisted way.  The volume of rain is about the same, honestly it is.  It's just in Texas you get it all at once about twice a year, in Washington it is rationed through out the year.  So far, my experience has been July and August are fairly dry with a few light showers here and there.  The winds in Texas will blow you down and turn your umbrella inside out in the Spring and Fall, then bite right through you in Winter.  In Washington, well, first of all you don't use an umbrella unless you want to be known as a tourist.  The winds here blow strong in the Spring, like a few days ago, then they gently billow the curtains as you sit quitely reading a book.

Oh my goodness ya'll!  I watched the sun go down tonight like I've never seen before.  Of course, I've seen a sunset before but tonight I watched it dip behind the mountains like I've never seen a sun set happen before.  It happens so fast!  I was totally amazed at the steady, smooth pace in which it just slide behind the Olympic Mountains.  It all happened in less than 1 minute, you'll have to come visit and we can time it next time!  I wanted to take a picture but I didn't want to move in case I missed it.  It just brought home to me how awesome a wonder this world really is and how it works.  It is  amazing!  You should've been here to see it!



This is not even near what I saw tonight but it gives you the point of view I had.

Not much more was going on today.  Watched American Idol and loved Haley's performances.  I also really like Lauren's show and Dance always makes me cry. 

I did video my commutes for you but I'm having a challenge getting them uploaded.  I'll try again tomorrow.  Did you know it's hard to record while you drive, no wonder hand free laws are in place.

Hugs of love to you.

Sunny Tuesday

Sort of lame title today.  I just can't seem to think of something unique and snappy.  Can you?  If so, please share.

Now for today's weather report.  For the moment at least, the sun is shinning bright, white fluffy clouds are in the sky and it's 10am.  I'll let you know how it turns out later. 
I worked on my altered kitchen clock last night.  It's going to be pretty cool, I think.  I got stumped and well honestly, my grandson called my name so I stopped for awhile.  Look what I've done so far!  Cool huh?!

I picked up these ideas & techniques from Ink Stains with Roni, http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/ she's pretty darn awesome!  I've got more I want to do, I just have to decide on my options.

Well, it's later 7:40pm and the sun is still shiny and bright with no rain at all today!  woo-hoo!  I actually sat out on the deck this evening soaking up some rays and reading a magazine.  Not much more going on today.  I've been thinking about videoing my drive into work so you all could get a sense of the commute here and just what I have to deal with Monday - Friday.  Are you interested?  Let me hear from you.  Hugs of love to you all.

Blustery Monday Ramblings

Back home (TX) I seriously do not recall Spring feeling blustery, Fall yes, Spring no.  Here in Washington, Spring is blustery.  I am now starting to understand the concern of windstorms here.  We were laying around yesterday (before nap time) when suddenly the winds came in strong and fast.  Don't ask me from what direction because without being in my Jeep I have no clue which way I face.  After 2 years you'd think I'd have it figured out but, no, not so much. 

Anyway, the winds have come in and blow pretty strong.  We keep thinking the reason they are so strong is because we are in a valley of sorts, so they come over and down between the mountains, then slap us in the face.  I'm back in a sweater again today. 

Last year Bill tried to grow tomatoes for the second year.  The poor things were whipped around and beat up pretty bad by these Spring winds, we even replaced the plants once or twice.  Eventually we harvested a couple of tomatoes but it definitely wasn't worth the cost of supplies or the frustration.  I don't believe he'll even try again this year.

Taken from our back deck.

I long for the warm Texas sunshine and the smooth Southern voice of my kin.  And I especially need to see this little guy for tons of love and loads of play.  We had a Skype date tonight, it'll be more fun in person!



Good new is I'll be around in July, bad part of that it's the beginning of what I like to call "Super Summer".  Hugs of love to you all.

Sleepy Sunday

Oh wow!  I can't believe I slept the day away.  I wasn't planning on using valuable time in this way but what else can I say, I did.  I was watching the NASCAR race, the weather was chilly and rainy then, before I knew it my eyes were heavy and off I went.  The next thing I know my phone is ringing and it was 4 o'clock. 

Some people would find this a treasure of a day, and I would too most times.  However, right now there are so many projects in my head wanting out I just didn't want to spend the day sleeping but creating.  I did get a start on a few things though.  I first covered an organizer with some pretty paper.  It was a 50 cent find yesterday and has 9 little drawers for my little holding some treasures!  I then painted the first coat of enamel on my $3 vise, not too sure this is going to work but we'll see. 

I then began the transformation of an old kitchen wall clock I had found at a charity sale the weekend before.  So all in all I guess I did do somethings just not everything I had hoped.  I know, I would've taken a before picture but I forgot, so this is what we will call the before.



I spent some quality time with my furry child, Rocky.  I used to never understand how people could get so attached to a pet but then that was before Rocky.  We laugh now at how much he is just like raising a child.  See, our children are grown and out on their own and all are far away.  So, Rocky and Winston (our other Cocker) are now our little ones.   Rocky is the youngest and has the most outgoing personality.  He's almost 4 years old and definitely has the mixed personality of a toddler and stubborn teenager.  It all depends on the situation but he does bounce between the two stereotypical character traits.  He's just hilarious mostly.  He'll bring his little ball to me like in this picture and lay it right beside me at the coach so we can play catch, whether I want to or not. 

However, he will not do this for my husband.  Rocky will bring the ball to my husband Bill and instead of placing it right beside him, he'll drop it at his feet and bark for Bill to pick it up and play.  Bill will try and try to get Rocky to lay the ball beside him on the coach, the same way I do but it just doesn't happen.  It cracks me up!

All in all it was a great lazy day here around the house.  I didn't do a lick of house work this weekend and will probably pay the price for that this week.  It's all good though.  The best part of the day though (other than the 4 hour nap) was the treat I gave myself after dinner.

Thanks for reading!  Hugs of love to you all.