Friday, January 30, 2015

Favourite Toy Friday


I loved baseball when I was a kid. Listened to all the Dodger games on the radio with Vin Scully announcing. Played at school and in an after school girls' softball league.  And spent most evenings during spring and summer in the back yard - throwing up the ball and batting it.  One night my dad came home from work with the above!  A pitch back!  I could throw and the ball would come back- revolutionary! It was fantastic and one of the best things was it felt like an endorsement from my dad - "OK, you're not the daughter who sews, you play baseball and that's just fine!"

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Choose Wisely My Son!


Decisions, decisions!


Retirement can be so tough! LOL!

Monday, January 26, 2015

Shopping Spree



On Saturday, we went to San Jose Airport to
 pick up a friend who will be visiting for a couple of weeks



 But before hitting the airport, we went to Scrapbook Island -
 a wonderful store full of vintage goodness, great products and 
aisles and aisles of paper!


I indulged in some paper with great graphics, resin roses,
 2 vintage water spigots. a delightful little clipboard and some ink pad accessories.


And the find of the day - this wide
 printed linen ribbon - delicious!

Saturday, January 24, 2015

January in California


One of the many things I love about 
living in California in January,


The first of our calla lilies start to bloom!


That beautiful creamy white, the wonderful shape, 
It's like living in a Diego Rivera painting.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

On the Table


A few shots of my studio table,


with little piles here and there of possible upcoming projects.


The "marinating" stage as things
come together and get acquainted.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Studio Upgrade


I have used these 10 drawer carts in my
 studio for 9 years now. 
 I love the colourful drawers
 and the storage capacity.


But after all this time, sitting in a southwest exposure, 
the plastic has started to crack and break.


 So with a combination of a Michael's Gift card
 (a retirement present), a 50% off sale and
 my Michael's store manager daughter...


I was able to get 2 of these 5 drawer rolling carts
 and 2 12x12" paper cubes.


Everything from the old carts fits,


in fact, I even have a bit more room than before!


I like the sleek clean look and ease of access.
The old ones have migrated to the garage where they 
will provided some much needed storage.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Friday, January 16, 2015

Favourite Toy Friday


Here's what my Civil War set looked like on
 Christmas Day when I set it up on the dining table. 


 The colour of the table actually made a pretty good backdrop,
 but my friend Destiny had a better idea!


Using the pix I took on Christmas and this page from  an old Sears Christmas 
catalog, she used acrylic craft paints, brushes and sponges to make a drop
 cloth using a canvas floor cloth from Dharma Trading Company.


And here's the result, showing the supplies she used.


I'm eagerly awaiting time this weekend
 to set the whole thing up.  Thank you Destiny!

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

More Pages


Some more pages from my current daily journal.


A scrap from a 1920 magazine and an exuberant skeleton
.

Labels, a vintage post card and
 old watch key embellish this spread.


Monday, January 12, 2015

Journal Pages


Some pages from my latest art journal.


Love this technique of using the library pockets, 
stamping on them and filling with little surprises.


This spread includes an old map,
small book cover and polymer clay leaf. 
More pages on Wednesday!

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Gotta Love Anthropologie!


Sometimes their prices are absurd, every now and then they can be just "too-too" - but their display pieces are always fantastic!  This one a huge (approx. 5x2') carved wooden panel.  I don't always buy when I'm at Anthropologie, but I always take pictures and drool over their displays!

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Sweet Gift!


Mixed media artist Michelle Ward likes to talk about "people who get me".  And the lovely friend who gifted me with this plethora of chocolate for the holidays certainly does "get me".  They came from a delightful little shop in Portland, Oregon that features an entire wall of fancy and imported chocolate.


The packaging is so  beautiful, It will be a struggle 
to rip it open and devour the chocolate!


Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Word of the Year



Every year for quite awhile now instead of resolutions, I've picked a word of the year.  Past years' words have included breathe, reframe, trust, harmony and listen among many others.  This year's word is hope.  Hope for a wonderful year, hope for healing, hope for the future.


I cut circles out of cardstock and 300 lb watercolour paper taped them together and then attached eyelets.  Using my big alphabet stamps I put the letters for hope on the four circles.  They now hang from the curly willow branches by our fireplace where I can see them everyday.


Sunday, January 4, 2015

Life on the Coast


Early morning view through the trees 
along Moonstone Boardwalk in Cambria.

Friday, January 2, 2015

Favourite Toy Friday

 When I was in grade school my big sister Becky Anne, who was 6 1/2 years older than me, made me these wonderful Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls.  The bodies, the clothes, everything! I had read the books and was thrilled to have the rag dolls.


They come out every Christmas to play.  Ann has lost her apron and mob cap over the years, and Andy's bow tie and sailor hat have fallen along the wayside.


Not surprising considering how much I played with them.  If you know me, you know I wasn't a doll person, but these were special and so well loved.  Thank you Becky, definitely a gift from the heart that has continued to give for over 50 years.