Artistic Renderings

Patricia Reichenbach

Patricia Reichenbach is one of my favorite design artists......my problem is she works in oil and I don''t.
(Published in PaintWorks back in 2010) but Patricia is a steady artist with this publication.

Rather than just not paint any of her awesome pieces I decided to use her design, Liquitex acrylic paints in heavy and soft body using just her picture as a guide and chose a 5" x 7" portrait grade canvas board.

I also found the Traditions Medium worked great for me to work wet on wet, shading and highlighting.
I painted this with Dynasty dry brushes .... because they worked for me. I flyspecked with white, purple, and Ice Crystal Glamour Dust paint by Americana and I totally basecoated (slip slap technique)
the entire canvas with green and black.

My decision was to paint the design in the upper right hand corner where Patricia painted hers in the bottom right hand corner pointing down. The piece could actually be hung 3 different ways which
is a nice option ..

(A Christmas present for friends)

Colored Lights

Our neighbors across the road were putting up Christmas lights today and they look SOOOO pretty....so this is the picture.... How Neat. Thank you Camera.......sure cannot claim artistic license on this one.....

Mayan Mixed Media (IN PROGRESS)

Mixed Media art is new to me and one I walk in to slowly...and with some apprehension. Takes a different kind of thinking than painting, more research, and supplies to look through to find what you want. The sequins on this piece are a blue and they show up a little in the photo....I can already see that I need to do a bit of work on the left eye to increase the middle.,,, I am using Liquitex acrylic paints, texture medium and Americana Glamour dust Paints...the substrate is an MDF plaque. and the brass pieces are embellishments I have collected. I still have quite a bit more to do before I can say "done" but it is progressing nicely which is a good feeling... so I am hoping it continues... Kinda stopping now and then and doing something else has helped a lot, plus running across items that "work"... through my artists' eye.

Swap Exchange

Our instructions for this exchange:

Winter, Glittery using 3 spools.

I chose to use a vintage skinny spool and do a painted winter scene as it is my FAVORITE season to paint...I love show, ice, fog, pine trees, sunset, etc. The design has been painted on a piece of Roc-Lon. I have had the material for awhile and hadn't taken the time to try it out so this was the perfect time....AND...I LOVE IT. ( Maybe because I like
portrait grade canvas). Another spool is in the upper left hand corner where I used a piece of lace around the spool, some sequin studs, along with blue and silver ribbon which also is used to hang this piece. The last spool is in the bottom right hand corner where I glued to the painting, applied Glitter Sno Tex, and atop is a tiny, perfect size red cardinal... Just a splash of color... I have used plenty of Ice Crystal Glitter, and here and there I have glued on some sequins. The Snow Tex right in the foreground really adds to the impressionistic/realistic appearance. Right at the mouth of the river up into the trees is some "Freezing Fog" BRrrrrr but by far one of the most beautiful of Mother Natures gifts to us.

I used Liquitex Acrylic artist grade paints in both Soft and Heavy Body. My brushes are
the new Dynasty IPC brushes, Dynasty Decorative Series Brushes: Foliage Wave Brushes,
Dynasty Dry Brushes along with the Faux Squirrel Rounds, Liners, shaders and angles.
These brushes are the best brushes I have found for working on all different surfaces.
To me brushes are important and have to become a partner with me, and the paints I am using. The Dynasty and Black Gold Lines do this the best for me and is really an artist preference as to what works the best for them..... My hats are off to FM Brushes.....

So my finished piece is on its "way to my exchange partner......I hope she likes it...and winter. I know she gets snow but I don't know if it is a love or hate relationship as many of the people I know here in Bend hate the winter....I am the exception.

Important things when you are painting water, a pathway, road:
1. Your strokes must be very horizontal using the bottom of your canvas as your guide.
If you don't your water, road, path will look tipped..

2. Repeat your sky colors into the water.

3. Narrow and light at the top of... Darker and wider as you get to the bottom of your surface. Normally the bottom will extend and encompass about 1/2 to 2/3 of the widith of your suface.

4. Whatever color is used in your sky area closest to your horizon line will be the FIRST
(top color) as you work downwards (when you are painting water, snow, etc)

These are tips I have learned along my pathway, road journey and are kinda nice to pass along to maybe help some of the newer painters who visit my blog.

Mayan Statue

My next design is going to be using a Mayan Statue as my "reference" and painting it for some friends of ours who live up the road from us for Christmas. I am not sure if they celebrate Christmas so if they don't it will be an early welcome 2013.

Colors will be Easy... as I am going to follow the statue colors exactly and I am going to add the little "extras" I want in negative space areas.... I am going to use an MDF plaque from my "stash"....about the only piece that was the right size horizontally and vertically. Finding the right piece is an important part of the "procedure" IMHO and for what it is worth.

Finding a photo to use as reference and then drawing to enlarge or diminish scale is one of the hardest techniques to learn..... The drawing by graph paper is too slow and too exact.

My plaque is basecoated and I have done a "technique" I have never seen done before so I am anxious to see "what happens" with what I did when the finish coat is applied and how it "reacts" with the design and if it "adds to" the full design.

My goal is to enhance the negative space area as dramatically subtle as possible to enhance the point of interest, create dimension, texture, and be able to draw the
viewer into the painting...to make them think, explore, speculate, etc.

I have written all of my ideas down in my sketch book as sometimes ideas are "fleeting" .. Techniques I want to try, items I might want to use, something I want to try just to try to maybe achieve a new technique..., so with this piece....because it is so different; it will most definately be a learning experience which will help me with the next piece I do with this design..... new ideas, things I want to change, effects I want to achieve. etc.

Next I order any items that I KNOW I want and don't have, which in this case is chain to hang the piece.... and this is where Etsy saves me so much time and allows me to support a fellow artist ....

I also want to paint this image as a necklace so I will be continuing to think of a surface for this .... beads to use, colors, accents, etc.

SO much fun to step into my own zone.

Miss Pru's Portrait

Yesterday and today were wonderful as I sat and did a portrait of Miss Pru..... She is done on a portrait grade canvas using the Liquitex Heavy and Soft Body Artist grade paints.

The canvas is setting so that I can make the final adjustments......and I already see I need to darken up her ears a little and see if I can poof out her whiskers and make her face just a tad fuller.

Tomorrow I have to go to town so I will be looking for a glitzy, blingy, gawdy frame...and I am hoping I can find one big enough that I can also mat.

This was a FUN, fun piece to do.... I tried to capture her personality which I feel I succeeded in....and is, I think, the first animal I have done on my own with one of my photos and a bit of artistic license here and there. I did not try to paint exact..... I just wanted to see hair growth, dark and light areas, the eyes, ears, etc.... to help me along.

When I was all finished I added my FAVORITE effect by using some of the American Glamour Dust Paints in Ice Crystals to the eye area....a nice finishing touch.

Today I went back downstairs and redid the chin area of the portrait and I am now pleased with the
results that are shown here. She doesn't have much of a chinny chin chin but somehow I had to
locate and paint the difference..... This was so much fun watching her come alive.....and with the glamour dust paints for the eyes well, it really animates her.

I have been dabbling with the Traditions paints but have gone back to my Liquitex as they are the easiest for me to use, I like the "little bit" of gloss I get that the Americana and Traditions don't provide me...and I painted this with a minimum of brush types but several different sizes.....With the Dynasty/Black gold line that I have been using for about 8+ years..as well as the Liquitex so I guess I need to stick with what works and just play with the Traditions....

2012 President Obama

Tomorrow is here....and winding down. President Obama has been re-elected. Some are feeling good about the win....others are disappointed... this will always be. Nothing different from other elections that were controversial.....
We are on the same rough, rugged, road to a better tomorrow, a long road which will no doubt be full of dead ends, detours, and we will learn a lot. Many areas will band together and work towards the little goals of making our town better, which will improve our state ..... and if we all just take on a little bit.... do quality work..... we will reach the end of the road much quicker and then sit back and reap in the rewards of accomplishment.

How we vote is definately a personal action....based on feelings, intuition, judgement based on what "we" believe is best for friends, family and self.... Who we feel will do the best to get our derailed train back on the tracks.....

UV LIGHT (CURER) FOR RESIN

Since I have been doing a lot of resin work and would like to do some more I splurged and purchased this UV Curing Light (which I will be carrying in my Etsy shoppe). The unit comes with a UV Bulb and additional ones can be ordered.

Power 9V, Voltage: 110V-24OV 50-60Hz, Weight 0.37 um.

I am hoping that this item will fit inside a medium flat rate box for shipping purposes although the item comes in its's own cardboard box.... so kinda figure this as shipping amount for those here in the US.

The Unit with lightbulb will run $40.00.

This is a visible light wavelength and is harmless to the eyes, but is recommended that you not look straight at the light bulb for long periods of time.

This cure lamp is great for use on cloudy days or just for the added convenience of working at your art area. Typical cure time is 5-15 minutes under the UV light, dependent upon size of cure area and thickness of layer.

I will also carry Lisa's Magic Gloss which comes in a mini, small and LARGE volume dependent upon how much you use. Also available (I will carry squares and rectangle) molds for the resin and also the pendant metal bezels if you prefer this way.... as well as a pad of 50 deli sheets which have been precut.

I have ordered the items and expect that they will be here about this time next week..... I am just going to use the resin this week on top of 1 x 1 collage photos on a scrabble piece and will let you know how that goes when I am done and how the cure-er works...

Because it seems as if I am always working in an area that is much too small there have been times where things have moved, a mess mixing 2 elements together to get one, etc. so I am thinking that this machine and the Magic Gloss just might be the answer to my frustrations.... Plus if you have animals you don't have to worry as much about any pet hairs if you put the item immediately into the Curer.... not to mention our cold, damp winter days..... sometimes we have sun sometimes not...so this will get a lot of use. Just have to keep it away from those who are using the new resin Nail Polish.

LOOK UP

I love trees, fog, or in this case freezing fog, and clouds. we don't very often look "up" but when I was younger I used to love to lie and look at the clouds.... This was painted using a photo I took a few weeks ago and some artistic license.... on a rectangular gallery canvas. I will be repainting this design, matting and framing. This one was my 'test' .... to achieve colors, brushes, techniques, effects, etc.

There is another photo on my table so I am going to work from it tomorrow using an 8 x 8 portrait grade canvas.... Mt Batchelor will be the subject, first snow, and some evergreen boughs. The inspiration and "have to" feeling has hit so I have learned to take advantage of these times.....

China Hat

Today was gorgeous here in the Oregon high desert so we decided we needed to take advantage of it and take a quad ride over in an area that is called China Hat....and this is one of the more spectacular views/shots I got. It is about a 5 mile trip for us from our house to the unload spot. I used my zoom for this shot of Mt. Batchelor between the trees....

Steampunk Flowers

I worked diligently and as a result I have a goodly amount of my Steampunk flowers done and ready to pack for their trip to the East Coast.

There is another "layer" below the ones on top.

I even found some small, round brass pieces that worked just great for some buds....and I used typewriter keys for these...and attached the stems a bit different so that the buds are angled upward. I really enjoy putting these together and hunting for the "flower petals".

Knit Cable Stitch

I haven't spent a lot of time knitting and crocheting in a long time so it has been fun loooking for that special item to do. This will be a scarf when it is finished...and there is a nice wide lacy crochet openwork border that is done around all sides of this piece which really was the deciding factor for me. I knew it would work up quick, the elegance of simplicity, and I love the color of this one. The next one is going to be done in a varigated type yarn that will be pretty and enough different to NOT look the same.

When I went to the store looking for a cable knit stitch holder I was surprised to find many different designs and not JUST the one I was used to; so I chose the Ushaped holder which I feel was the right one for what I am doing and I have been pleased as I use it.

I am anxious to finish this one and start the next.......

These handmade items will be my evening projects.....I get a lot of satisfaction from hand knit and crochet items.

Seamstress-ing Tools

The items to the left and below is an antique hand-crocheted sewing book kit and a metal sliding sewing measure dated 1890 that was sent to me by a friend who finds and has some of the neatest older items. (Her Etsy vendor name(s) are Willowsnest and Remindersofthepast where she sells her vintage/antique, unique and handmade items.)

These items are to cherished and are "out" so that I can see, enjoy and wonder about the first owner.

Since my Grandmother was the "town" seamstress back in Pennsylvania these items have
memories attached even though they were not hers. Her name was "Sarah Alice"....so old but such a pretty name for a little bit of a woman who was feisty as the dickens....

After the holidays I will study the crocheted piece and see if I can figure out how it was done and reproduce it. It even has a bit of a binding on it where a ribbon has been woven in....

Thankful

I feel very thankful tonight as I sit in my warm house, all in one piece, with no devastation anywhere close to relate to the fearsome Sandy storm that has hit the East Coast. Our family members who reside in Pennsylvania near the New York State border were spared.....lights flickered but none of them have lost power. Winds were bad but not horrific, and they had a lot of rain....and may eventually get some snow from the storm in the next couple of days. They were lucky this time.

I cannot even imagine what some of the areas are like, the sorrow of losing a home, a neighbor, family member or friend .... my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected and effected.

Copyright 10-12 DP

A photo I took on the way into Bend last week when we were having threats of a storm with a sky full of different types of clouds as if it just couldn't decide what type of weather to produce....

RUMORS...

Rumors are started by haters, spread by fools and accepted by idiots.

This photo was taken at Drake Park in Downtown Bend.....one of the prettiest parks here.....and gorgeous no matter what the season, or the weather. A relaxing meditative area.

Neck Scarf

Last year I knit some short, very soft neck scarves with a very simplistic design. It was not what I really wanted but I was pleased with the results. Since this time I have been hunting for and finally this past week found a pattern that was exactlywhat I was really looking for ; so I am back to knitting needles in the evening....

The same garter stitch is done on the edges but in the middle is a really pretty cable which cascades like a vine...and the scarf is the same on both sides so there is no right and/or wrong side to the scarf. I also learned a neat trick I will HAVE to remember for beginning and ending a row so that it is even and straight....

Once the knitted portion of cable and garter stitch is done you pick up your crochet hook for a VERY pretty lacey outer portion to the scarf. The pattern is going to produce some VERY pretty scarfs that I can give as gifts at Christmas. There are only 28 stitches for the kint portion and every row is the same except for the cable turn row so it is easy, quick, and I can take it with me and not have to tote the pattern as it is easy to remember.

Now I have to find that perfect pattern for just a lightweight type bolero, shawl, "something" that will keep my shoulders and upper arms warm ...... I just love these little wraps that I am seeing in all of the stores as I browse for Christmas gifts.

Downstairs I have several different projects I am working on . A canvas, my steampunk flowers which are in their final "glue and stamp" stage, and spools for an online swap that I am NOT real happy with so I have laid it aside. It seems so nice to be able to move around and work on several different pieces of art.

ORganiZatiOn = Time

Since becoming more organized I find myself "looking less" and finding quicker so my next step is to
have TO DO lists for the "week". This allows me a little bit of lee way in what I do each day based upon "life" for that particular day re: weather, in the house time, etc.

I am keeping a book in my purse so that when I am the one "sitting" waiting I can be doing something constructive during this time instead of reading the only magazine at least 10 times. I HATE that.

Only by repitition am I going to get a habit so it is wayyyyyy past time for me to start but I feel it is important that I do so....so it will be.

I LOVE trees and this one is such an interesting one and one I will probably incorporate somewhere along the line into an acrylic canvas painting.... It has a nice composition, I love that it looks dimensional, that there is a lot of negative space and the "leafing"..... This will be a fun tree....

10/30 Today I began a painting using this tree as the center of interest. It is being painted on a long, thin canvas and I am enjoying the fact that I feel comfort in piddling with this piece. I put in a couple of clouds using artistic license......and will be adding some atmospheric interest. I am using several different "types" of brushes and am anxious to see what works the best for the effect(s) I want to achieve. Till tomorrow...

Whimsical Village Domino Necklace/Bracelet

This is the necklace and bracelet I completed tonight which showcases the next design series which I will be working on. The necklace is a domino, and the bracelet is a wood bead. I have used handmade lamp work beads, and some handmade wood beads made by my son in law. This kinda reminded me of "The Three Little Pigs" so I went with wood, glass, and you will see the silver beads kinda looked like brick. Once I have finished the line and they are on their way back East I will put this set on Ebay for sale.

I thought this might be a "cute series" for November and I have to "think" about Decembers series.

Mixed Media Domino Jewelry

This necklace is from my second series of Domino jewelry called Paris Fashion and this was one of my favorite designs so I decided to work it up into a more fashionable necklace.

I used Red Sea sediment Jasper, seed beads and swarowski crystals. The clasp is pretty but is
strong and secure. I have used 3 different types of spacer beads and the domino collage has had 2 coats of a finish sealer.

It is listed for sale on my Etsy site in vendor artisticrenderings.

RED....Red....RED

Every year more trees are getting into the "picture" by producing fire like fall foliage. I am pretty sure that whenever trees are planted ones which will "participate" in the October swing of things.... The only trees which stay green are the pines....

Who would ever think there could be so much orange, red, yellow and off shades that are this vibrant and beautiful.

Thrift Stores / New Treasures / Ideas

Thrift stores have been opening up all over our town and so I have been trying to find time to get to the
"new ones" as well as those which are my most favorite.

Last week in one of the new ones I found these glasses and was so excited when the clerk told me they were $2.00. I couldn't believe my luck and I am anxious to begin "altering them". I know what I "think" I want to do but I know that things have a "way" of changing once I start the process. The lens portion is on a hinge and they flip up or down...

Today I was able to go to another new one and found some nice large; but not deep tins, for a quarter as well as small bags of vintage buttons, and children's Simplicity patterns all for the same price. I use the tins for storage in my studio using my trusty Dynamo labeler to identify the contents.

There were several wooden yardsticks in the store and I picked them up....but set them back down as I had no inkling of what I could do with them until I got home and my husband was standing in my studios doorway looking at the door casing..... I had my one wooden yardstick hanging and he was saying we needed to so something about the doorway, at which time he removed the yardstick and laid it where the areas were that needed "help". Little did he know he had just discovered my "type" of a solution......out of the box, different, eclectic, etc. Tomorrow on the way to get his MRI we will stop and purchase the yardsticks (and I HOPE they are still there) and I will have a neat artistic solution to the problem..... They will be nailed over the bad area and will work just perfect. I think that I will stain and varnish them before we put them up..... With the nail gun it will be a simple, quick job. I love how things sometimes just seem to happen....maybe because it is not a normal solution?

Lately I have been able to find items in my "look for" book that I keep in my purse along with the color swatches of the colors used.... There are easily over a dozen places between thrift and consigment stores.

HAPPY FALL

OH MY GOODNESS but our leaves are GORGEOUS this year. The colors are vivid, some trees have mixed colors, and it is just an artists' dream. I have been taking my camera with me every time I go to town so I have some really gorgeous "shots" thanks to Mother Nature.

Jewelry Line

This is Edition #1 of a line of jewelry I am hoping will "attract" those wanting something that is not mass produced....but hand made. There are approximately 20 designs per "set or series" and I will be making pins and necklaces with the designs.

I love the way these first ones turned out so I wanted to "share".... making one for my closest friends and family members. I chose each design based on something that reminded me of the person I was making the pin for ie: color of hair, stance, dress, expression on face, or a personality trait that some how "came through" in the design. So each one has been personally handmade and chosen especially for the recipient.

These jewelry pieces will be going to the Boutique Gallery back East and if I have extra I will list them on Etsy.

I have a design series that will be coming up in May or June of 2013 at which time I will be adding another item to the jewelry line as the designs are appropriate for male or female, are quirky, artistic, and FUN.

School Bus yellow of an Oregon Pine and Aspens

This tree in yellow is a pine tree that Michelle and Chris have at the end of their driveway. It turns color in the fall
and then sheds all of its needles. In the spring/summer of next year it will be a pine tree again and the needles will be just as soft as soft can be, even though they look sharp and prickly. This is the first time I have been able to "catch it"
in its' fall splendor so I was delighted. The other yellow limb is an aspen and in the middle of their circular drive
is a grove of yellow aspens where the deer feed on a regular

basis. Today there were about 14 female deer (doe) but she says she has had as many as 16. They love their outside pets and living in nature.

Fall Festival in Bend, Oregon

The Fall Festival of the Arts outdoor, yearly "event" was last weekend. I went looking for Xmas presents and also to see if maybe there would be someone there who was a rug maker.

I was delighted to find a woman from a town nearby who made the one that now resides in my room. She uses Pendelton blanket remnants for her pieces. The rug I chose is a nice size ad the colors were just perfect.... and adds a bit more pizazz.... Now I have to look for a bright colored round pillow for my chair.....

The rug is a good inch thick and she has loomed it so there are nice even stitches where the strips go together.

Today was one of the not as nice but much needed weather day here in Bend, with some beautiful soft rainshowers.....

This picture was taken from my porch to our neighbors across the street and viewing the "fire like" appearance of our neighbors maple in all its' splendor. I marvel at the appearance of the blazing colors of fall here and always look forward to the seasonal changes.

Easel Bust

My easel (vintage; purchased at a garage sale) and my bust were two big items that were hard to "place" in my room so I have combined them into "a piece" that fits and is fun until I get the bust figured out to make my lamp...... The back is open and the top of the easel fit nicely inside.

I have started my Wintery Spool design for a swap coming up and am pulling out a lot of stops and really going out of my comfort zone with this one using materials I have wanted to try, and things I have wanted to do. I am using a long vintage spool, roc lon, paints, and bit and pieces of nature.

Working in the newly decorated room is comforting, calm, and I could very easily live down there. Now all I have to do is find a working CD player for a bit of music.

Believe and Chair

This is a rectangular crocheted doily that I have used to adorn the top of one of my chairs downstairs. I had these 3 large vintage buttons and liked the wrong side better than the front side so to be different this is the way I used them....wrong side out. I loosely sewed the buttons on so that the doily would stay in place better. I like the vintage eclecticness.

******************************************************

BELIEVE is a very powerful word. I have decided that it will be my word of the month for October. Every day I am going to live in believe.

I am actually going to incorporate the word into a spool swap for one of the Yahoo groups I belong to.... and although it is to have a wintery appearance there is no reason that it couldn't be used all year long...the way it will be completed from my artists' perspective.

So believe this week.

Stove Safety

just

It is time for me to go upstairs and think about making "something" for supper. The fireplace caught my eye and I remembered the old red metal bed frame that Larry picked up at a garage sale and right in front of the stove was a "neat" place to set the footboard portion. It is just the right height and seems to kinda finish off that corner....

I guess you might say now that the basic painting is done and the room put together what happens from here on will be those "finishing touches".... I want to paint a huge paintbrush on one wall...and some paint splatters on another. As I do things I will post a photo. The big need is looking for something to use as a window covering, (but very sheer) where the drafting table is for painting , beneath the double window.

Studio

Although my studio is 95% done I am in and working in it.......and I am LOVING it; I can already tell it is going to be a daily work in progress as I hone in. The aches and frustrations have been fruitful and I can tell this is just going to be the neatest room to sit and read, watch tv and create. What a difference a coat of paint and some rearranging can do. I weeded out a lot and have more to do (behind me as I take these pictures).

Since I took these photos I have added a vintage footstool from a shoe shop, matted and framed one of my pictures and moved a couple of items around....

I purchased the paint/supplies, the hutch, and a chair. Everything else either changed places or was brought down or removed to another room in our house so financially it was "reasonable"....

Now I have to decide what I want to do/work on first. I have the mixed media piece in progress so I guess I will grab a canvas and see what I can come up with.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. I LOVE my room.

Lip Gloss Sliding Tin Altered Art

I have to admit that creating mixed media pieces seems to allot me the most freedom of creativity as just about anything goes.... This was a lip gloss tin with a sliding top....and can also be used to hold Moo business cards. This was a lot of fun and I am sure I will be doing some more.

When doing an altered art piece such as this one I rarely make 2 the same so from my studio you are receiving a one of a kind piece.
This too is on its way to the Pennsylvania store.

Initial Rings

Yesterday I rec'd the ring blanks and was delighted with the quality, the fact that the adjustable portion is beneath the top of the ring beneath the focal, and the pad was just the perfect size to allow the typewriter key to slide down and sit on it for easy glueing. These are on their way to the Pennsylvania store.

Studio Update / Fall in Oregon

The vibrancy of reds, yellows and oranges here in the High Desert of Oregon almost hurts your eyes. A beautiful season of the year....with red and green being 2 of my favorite colors.

I spent about 5 hours downstairs working in my room today and I can see the floor... I have whittled everything down to about 5 containers I have to go through and then I am going to take a rest before I do some of the touch up work, some bits of wall painting I want to do,,,, think about a window treatment, etc. I LOVE the way it looks so it won't be long until I can begin to take some photos. I think I might start with some of the Tidbits or Accessories....then do room shots.

I have a painting area, and 2 areas that could be used for any of my other hobbies. My sewing machine is down there and set up/or it can be moved. I have a real skinny double drop leaf table that slid right into a small area which if needed can be pulled out and set up. I have plenty of chairs as I am a BIG chair person....love the shapes so mine are vintage and each different. I took the big beautiful slab of wood that I purchased at a swap meet and my husband put it up low as a shelf so that the beauty can be seen. Very little is on the shelf.... I love it.

I had a smaller twisted, knarled piece of wood that I purchased at the same time I bought the large piece so it is on one of the tables and I am going to do a mixed media piece with it. Have been putting different items on the table that I think "might" work. On the other table are my Steampunk Flowers for their next step so I am going to be "busy"; and have actually set my alarm for "early" in my terms...
of what early "is". I have never been, and never will be an early morning person.

The room seems SO much larger now....and more inviting. Running around in my mind is an idea for some of the women in my area down here who might want to all get together and spend one afternoon together doing whatever they want.... maybe work on Christmas gifts for friends/family members, learn something new, etc. To find a day that "works" will be crazy so I am just going to pick a day and say "this is it" if you can come great, if you can't maybe you can arrange something so you can and if you can't maybe you can in the future. Just a thought....but I think tomorrow I will work up some invitations. I think there are about 5-6 who might be interested which would be great and a nice number.

My husband is glad his part is done...helping put up shelves....molding, etc. God bless him. He is the Best.

Studio Photos

I am far from "done" but the room is progressing and every day I see that I am getting closer to being done with the organizational part. Then it will be to finish the touch up painting, get rid of more things....think about some type of a curtain or window dressing for the window.... get my "sitting chairs" down there, vacuum, etc.

The wall looks read but if you look at the lamp base you can see that the wall is almost a Rookwood Red, or Red Iron Oxide...and it makes the room so warm and cozy.... I love it. I have been putting artwork up, etc. I wanna CREATE so I will go down again tomorrow and hope maybe I will have an open floor and everything in its place. I have enjoyed the slow pace even though I have been anxious to finish.... It has been awhile since I redid a room like this....so it has been fun as well as aching.. yet worth the efforts.

I might decide to take photos when I am done and put them in my picture trail site....I will let everyone know.

Another beautiful day ....