TODAY IS SPECIAL!

About 50 years ago when we were 10 (don't tell her I told you that), I met a girl who was to become one of the constant friends of my life! Even though there were years where our paths did not cross, I always knew she was out there and over the years we have reconnected many times, thank goodness!

What is a friend? I can only express the feelings in my heart....when I think of Janet I think of times when I wanted to hug her and never let go, I think of times when I wanted to pull all the hair out of her head! (she would say the same I am sure)! She was neat as a pin where I was messy and disorganized. She has curly red hair that I envied every single day and she wanted my straight blond hair with a passion. She had a bosom, I had well.......not. She knew what to do in every situation, I cried.

She can throw a party for 200, I have trouble fixing dinner for myself. I create art with my hands, Janet would put Queen Elizabeth's protocol secretary to shame. I'm Pisces, she's Virgo! 

We are as different as night and day, yet through it all and no matter what, one thing has never changed Janet...you are my dearest and most treasured friend, and today I wish you the very happiest of birthdays! I love you truly and always will!

b

Magnolia in Oil

I just love to paint but taking the pictures of the painting is another story altogether!

It seems hard to capture the subtlety of some of the color applications. Oh well I probably need a special lens and right now I have to make do with the camera I have. 
  
Still I think most of the colors do stand out a bit but I wish you could see it in person!

I do the background in acrylic but ended up covering the canvas with oil paints.  The silver edge and dark green edging are acrylic though. I added micaceous iron oxide paint to the green as it adds a bit of texture and a very subtle glow.

I have some ideas for a series of pastel paintings of roses that I hope turn out the way I am envisioning them.





But first I have the Art Swap challenge I need to pull together, being sponsored by Jillayne at A Fine Seam @ http://quiltingfabrications.blogspot.com/2010/08/swap-update.html
I am sure it is going to be the most fun ever!

MY BABY'S BIRTHDAY!

32 years ago today at 9:34pm on a Saturday evening my son Jesse was born! He was the sweetest baby, hardly ever cried, of course I carried him in a Snuggly or backpack until he was 2, what's to cry about?
Little did I know then that it was going to be the single most important event of my life and bring into my life the single most important person I will ever know!

He has a quirky dry sense of humor, is compassionate and empathetic, resourceful and reliable. Has a keen ear for music all the way from Classical to experimental Rock and Jazz.
He can build a computer from foil and telephone wire (or so it seems to me)! Is one of those people who can look and listen to anything electronic or mechanical and tell you whats wrong with it and fix it..

Has a huge passion for sub woofers and designs and builds them from scratch (damn the burning in process..:))
Favorite stero system:Krell
Music:Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Food: Mac and cheese with the addition of mayo to the sauce.  
Favorite Video game:Worlds of Warcraft. 

Right now he is living in Missouri with his sweetie Lydia (too far away in my opinion from his mama).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSE
I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!  
xoxoxoxo  

Finally Mignon!

My sweet darling Mignon that I have been working on for weeks is finally done and I love her! I had no idea how hard making her little clothes was going to be, never mind the crochet accessories. I knew I wanted her in the "Prim" style, but nothing historically accurate as that is just a little more pressure than I care to get into.

It was quite the adventure learning to make her face and shoulders with different kinds of paper mache, then designing the little body and stuffing it, attaching it to the shoulders, painting, then crackling. I was not happy with the hair I had gotten at Michael's and couldn't afford to order anything special (mohair) so I came up with the idea of twisting paper toweling with white glue and voila! Hair! All in all it was fun and exciting to see her take shape and I am ever so anxious to do another few in the coming months. Maybe a couple of Halloween witches for fun.

Stuffed Pears (not for eating)

I finally got enough of these pears done to list them on Etsy! There were days I wondered of they would be there this year or not.

I painted them over with a grunge sauce made of instant coffee, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. They smell heavenly! I decided to finish them with a line of fern stitch to cover the seams.

I think I will be making a number of these as gifts for the holidays this year!

There are so many wonderful people I wanted to do something nice for and this may be the perfect little thing!

I made the leaves from coffee filter paper painted with watercolor and acrylic paint then I took floral wire and sandwiched it between two leaves with white glue.


The little stems on top of the pears are from a branch in my garden.

Handmade Monday

http://olgapoltava.blogspot.com/2010/08/handmade-monday-just-doily.html
I hope I did this right Olga as I am not conversant with putting links on a post but I have goven it a shot so here goes! Oh and thank you Olga for hosting this as I think it will be great fun!

I thought it was a super idea to have a special day just for showing handmade things and giving other bloggers a chance to make a comment or suggestion about what we have made.
For instance I made this wall hanging many years ago based on an idea in Marie Claire Idees a magazine I used to get in Montreal. I loved the colors and thought it was a wonderful way to use up bits of fabric I had in boxes. You will notice that there is still room for improvement though as I had always meant to add a flower to the vase on the right and although the original hanging in the magazine didn't have anything else I have always though the background looked a little blah. So maybe this is my chance to add some new touches to an old project and jazz it up!

 Suggestions are always welcome! Have a great Monday making something with your hands...

I need to learn how to do those mosaic picturamas!