A Perfect Day

Last summer, before I got sick, I paid for 2 online classes in mixed media. I started one and never even got to the other. Since then, the website has shut down and has opened up into something new. Those 2 classes lost forever. This is what I started in the first class and have NO idea what I was supposed to do with the rest of it! lol It's been sitting in a closet just waiting for me to attack it.




I pulled out some tricks of the trade and just started putting things together. I have so much junk! My goal is to use up what I have. No more buying unless it's a supply I need like glue, ink, etc. I have a huge jar of gesso, so I'm happy about that!





I just started playing and laying things out on the canvas. I found the tree image on the Internet and the other images came out of an old book, as did the print the birds are made out of. I used a really cool technique of putting clear packing tape over the printed page. Then you run water over it and rub the paper off and the print stays on. I then took my bird template and cut them out. I really like the effect it gives to the piece.






I used pieces from an old sheet music. The #5 is stamped from an old printer's block I have. The "stick" with the jewels, which are old earrings, is an old "cake tester" that my bff sent along with all the lace, from my previous post. The piece at the top is also from that collection. The costume pearls are an old necklace. I used a charcoal pencil and distressed ink to highlight and give depth here and there. The last thing I did was paint some melted beeswax all over it.



I hope you enjoy my "A Perfect Day to Fly"...as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Stitched With Love...

Back in 1990, I stitched this intricate cross stitch (of which I need glasses to read now) for my now deceased mother-in-law. I wanted to do something for her with all the grandkids names and birthdays on it. I was fairly certain at the time there would be no more, so I was safe to proceed.




This is done on aida cloth and I don't remember the count, but it's the tiniest before you reach linen. I would love to do something on linen, but I know I'd go blind and no pair of readers could help out of that mess. It's a creamy background with beautiful shades of pink, green, blue, lavender, and yellow. The 10 grandkids are in chronological...youngest to oldest from left to right. I guess you can tell that by the dates, but not sure they show up in the pics. I signed it down in the corner...how the heck did I manage that?

I love the wooden frame, but back then I wasn't as creative as I am now. I have evolved, as some may of us have. It's a natural progression. I took the finished piece and just stretch it over a piece of matboard and some stuffing. Glued it on and then glued it to the mat opening. The problem was it didn't quite fit, but I knew mom would love it unconditionally. And she did.



In 1995, she passed away from lung cancer and so the stitchery was given back to me. I greatly appreciated it since I had put so much love and time into it. Somehow it got lost in a box somewhere with other treasures(I know...hard to believe)and I just came upon it a few weeks ago. It warmed my heart to see it, but that gap around the the mat and the stitchery made me NUTS! I couldn't believe I could do that being the perfectionist I am...or thought I was. So, I dug through my big glass candy jar of ribbon and found this luscious pale green ribbon with just the right curl to it. Out came the got glue gun and "viola" problem fixed. I must say, I am very happy with the results.







My only decision is where shall I display it now?

A Few of My Favorite Finds

I haven't blogged in so long, I may have forgotten how. So...I'll just jump right in. I thought I would share a few of my favorite things found while antiquing, junking, flea marketing, etc. I love to go in with a clear open mind and see what pops out at me. The best things are those that scream at me...very loud! I MUST listen or I'll go home, come back, it'll be gone and I'll have to cry myself all the way home!


This is a vintage french bread box I found at a monthly flea market here in OKC. I was just meandering around and found an interesting booth and saw this awesome pale yellow metal box shoved under a table. I pulled it out and opened it and the vendor told me what it was and I told her it was going home with me! She was thrilled. She couldn't believe she still had it. I was just happy it had been "lost" under that table. Of course, I didn't use it for bread (the french must have smaller loaves), but used it in my bathroom on the counter for awhile. I put all my make up in it and other facial creams and goop. I really liked it there, until I found something else to replace that space.

It is with deep sorrow. hehehe, that this lovely box will be moving on to a new home. I can't say too much, but the new recipient loves it as much as I do and she doesn't know she'll be getting it as a birthday gift. So shhhhhh...


My next find is this gorgeous old jewelry box with the coolest chippy paint job. There's blue on white and gold on blue and the drawers have white porcelain knobs...eeek! I found this treasure at my fav hang out...The Rink. It's an old ice rink turned antique mall. They used to have the old zambonie in there, but had to get rid of it for the needed space. Very cool place. I grabbed this baby and when I got to the counter, everyone was fighting over it and couldn't believe they hadn't seen it. I was lucky to get out of there with all four limbs! BTW...this took the place of the french bread box on the bathroom counter. It's large and heavy, but so nice to have a place for some of my jewelry, instead of having it hanging all over the place or forgetting where I put it.



Can you say, "heavy?" That's this frame, but oh so chic, don't you think? I got all giggly when I found it, again at the Rink! I had no idea what I'd put in it when I got it home, but who cared, right? I will admit it sat around for awhile just looking amazing and then I put my daughter's college grad pic in it. It was a close up of part of her face. I just didn't like the way it looked, even though I kept it there for awhile. It was also a black and white print and just didn't do it for me.

One of the things I love finding is old paintings done on flat canvas with the artist signature on the back. Makes me think it was done in an art class for some reason. I also love paint by number paintings and watercolors and....I guess I just love paintings! The painting inside this frame is one of those precious finds. It's on a flat canvas and is signed by the artist on the bottom and back. It's not actually inserted in the frame, as it is larger. I just leaned it up behind the frame and thought, WOW, that looks good!!! I just love the colors in the painting...the pale yellows and blue/greens. The great thing is I can easily move it somewhere else if I want and use the frame for something else, as well.

So, there it is...a few of my favorite things! What are your favorite things? Are they new? Old? Borrowed? Blue? And...in case your wondering about the roses at the top? Those are 50, yes fifty of the best roses, sent to me on my 50th birthday from my daughter and her boyfriend!!! The vase was so heavy when they were delivered, I thought I would drop them before I got them to the table.

Apron fit for a QUEEN!

I found this GORGEOUS sheer fabric in the home dec section of a local shop and bought 5 yards of it not having any idea what I was going to do with it. A friend made a comment about what a pretty apron it would make. That started the wheels turning.




I wanted it to be frilly and girlie, so I added one ruffle, then a layer of lace from my stash, then another layer of some crinkly silk type fabric I found at another store. I found a bag of AMAZING vintage rhinestone buttons at my favorite antique store and added those to the bottom. Ooh...la...la!!!




I had all this fabric that I tried to make a draped effect with and had enough to twist and turn into what I call a "rosette" in the center on top of the ruffles. There's a bit of seam binding around the rosette...the leaves...and then a bow at the waistline. The ties are really long, so they can wrap around the back and come back to the front and tie in a loopy drapey bow. I feel like royalty when I put this apron on!

Another apron

I am having too much fun with these aprons. I don't use a pattern, so I'm designing it as I go along. I start with a fat 1/4 and build it from there. I've had this GORGEOUS old Madeira hankie with an "R" monogram done in shadow embroidery. The pics don't do it justice. Once again, the fabric is from the Moda line, "Aviary" and is sooooooo "deeeeeeeLISH!" I adore the soft shades of lime and pink and the delicate florals. I just get all giggly goo!!!

I've been visiting the quilt shop about every other day and I completely lose my mind as soon as I step inside. I forget why I'm there and it's so hard for me to make a decision...I want it all!

Shabby Chic Inspiration

I found this YUMMY piece of vintage lace and wondered what I was going to do with it. I also had this GLORIOUS Moda fabric and then it hit me...ya know...one of those "AhA!" moments! An apron! I got out my rotary cutter and mat and ruler and went at it. No pattern here, just basic instinct, so to speak. It's the kind of apron you just want to dance around in. I think it would look cute with a pair of crop leggings for summer, don't you? Any hostess would be the envy of her guest while wearing this. Anyhoo, I have it listed at my new Lollishop...A Wink and A Smile! I already have an idea for the next one. I've just been a bit under the weather with a head cold/sinus infection. This is just what I need to bounce back...creativity! I hope it inspires all of you to find your creative niche and have fun with it!