moleskin sketchbook

Page one ..... drawing in my new moleskin sketchbook [ the one that Lynne Hoppe gave me ]

I'm thinking I will draw in this everyday

a drawing every day .... or so .... [ ha ha ]

well

This is an old lady

the words are taken from an old book [ title of book is called Dreams ]

I like the words even though I don't know what the heck it means

drawing > I used pencil , ball point pen and colored pencil .

It is so freakin' hot ....... I am NOT happy about this

I know you probably like this .... NOT ME ...... it's too hot already !!!!!

too sunny hot and cheerful for me

oh gee ....

okay

enjoy your happy sunny day tomorrow !!!!!

paper bag floor technique .... on my desk top

I did it Cindi !!!! ......... I don't think Cindi thought I would ever get to this .

I have an old crappy desk , it's where I make my greeting cards . The top was in bad shape .... SO .... I did the paper bag thing and I love it !

you can find detailed directions by google searching > paper bag floors

but ......I don't follow directions . Anyway most of us have done decoupage , and I used to do this technique [ with paper bags ] ... to draw and paint on .

I would mod podge it down on masonite board .... and paint away !

OH WOW >

I JUST realized that this is how I painted the cat that you see in these photos !!!

My Red Hat Cat ! ........... I didn't even post this on purpose . I painted this cat a few years ago and now I make greeting cards of her

weird ..... things are weird sometimes

this is how I did the desk >

I sanded the top of the desk , vacuum , then I put a coat of poly on the ugly surface .

Then I tore pieces of brown craft paper [ I had some craft paper [ mailing paper ] or you could use paper bags ] ..... I wet pieces and squeezed out the excess water

don't use scissors

I laid it down with mod podge , push out excess mod podge [ I use a plastic wall paper thing ] , wipe away excess. [you don't need to mod podge the top of the paper.]

I let this dry overnight .

it was fun

after it dried ....I put a coat of poly on .[ low gloss]... let it dry

OR .... if you have no patience [ like me ]....> use your hair dryer

then I wiped on black antique stuff [ that Folk Art medium ], wipe away excess .

then I put more coats of polyurethane on .

I worked on it today [ making greeting cards ] .... and it felt so nice to have a new surface to work on .

we'll see how it holds up !

but , It seems very strong because of the coats of poly.

I like it so much ....one of these days I might do the floor !

Have you ever tried this ? to paint art on it , or for the floor ?

I know it's not a great looking desk , but it looks and feels much better , better than it was !

what do you think Cindi ?

will you do your floors now ?????

I won Lynne Hoppe art !!!! YAY

I am thrilled because I just got a present from an artist I love..... [ love her work AND she's a lovely lady TOO ]

what a wonderful giveaway gift ...... I'm so happy I won

Lynne sent this original painting on a book page

It's called ...' The Tree Tender '

I love it . She has a unique technique . She uses watercolor , gouache , oil pastels , AND beeswax.

and

she sent me two pencils AND a moleskin sketchbook [ my first one ever ]

and little extras too !

Visit her blog , I'm sure most of you know her already , but if not ....visit the wonderful Lynne Hoppe

thank you Lynne for such a lovely gift .... made me so so happy !!!

creepy doll head in my Etsy shop...... sold

Weird Wendy

spooky doll head .... this is what I made today

acrylics , ink and Inktense

stuffed with a heavy dense cotton stuffing

sweet dreams

she is in my shop

Bye !

two creepy clown dolls in my Etsy shop [ both are sold ]

These two have sculpted heads , hands and shoes . The bodies and hats are wool

I'm so behind on everything ! but I finally got to finish these two today and at night watched American Pickers with my husband .

Do you watch it ? I love that show and Pawn Stars too

so .... these are in my shop

have a good week !!!!

Thoughts.............sold

My thoughts are silent words that only the Lord and I hear ....

but ... these thoughts affect my inner person, joy and attitude.

{ Joyce Meyer }

this clown is in my shop

Have a wonderful Sunday !

Magic Clown says .....we have to talk..... [ sold ]

he's in my shop

Valentine art doll for Etsy...........sold

wishing you a happy weekend !

this is Trudy [ in my shop ]

Etsy heart pillow...........sold

Hi ..... Today I made a pretty pillow [ yes ? ] .......... I used an old vintage embroidered bureau scarf and then I added pearls and buttons .... all around the edges I twisted and knotted bits of fabric

yesterday .... I was so depressed ....because I made an awful pillow ....NOT a magic day, yesterday

Hope you are all having a wonderful week !

this heart is in my shop

making my own curtains

Hi everyone .... just wanted to show you what I've been up to ..... sewing and ironing and hanging curtains !

I just did NOT want to buy 'normal store' curtains . I wanted to make my own .

so

for a long time I've been looking at seaangels blog ..... I've been inspired !

I went through my stash of old linens and doilies .

This suits my house ... since my whole house is sort of strange [ different ]. It's all tag sale finds [repainted furniture, creepy doll heads , colored glass and of course ....JERRY ]

I still have so much to do ... I have to paint walls , paint the windows , do more fussing and rearranging .

but this is how it looks now . These photos aren't great , but you get the idea .

I bought the stained glass window a few years ago for $45.00 . It's suspended from hooks .

When I bought it , I had no place for it ....... until .... my new WINDOW !!!!

visit seaangels blog

and posy too !

there's so many great blogs , but these are just two [ of the many ] that I like very much.

one last thing > I'm so into tension rods .... I love that I can raise and lower them according to the sun , or for privacy ...or... for ...... MY CATS .

Have a good night !

for etsy ... a heart and a doll...... [ sold both ]

I love doilies ... old linens , old bureau scarves .... all that old vintage stuff

I made a heart pillow , made a bunny doll girl

in my shop now

ALL my windows are in , it's so wonderful to have windows !

I've been going through all my doilies , old tablecloths ..... I've been making curtains

I'll show you when I'm done

of course I should be PAINTING the new windows , but I felt like sewing curtains first

have a good week !

new art dolls for Etsy

I've just listed eight new dolls .... in my shop now !

hope you had a wonderful Christmas ......let's follow the Lord ALL year long !

we watched a movie > Midnight in Paris . loved it .... we watched it twice

and of course we watched Scrooge [ Alastair Sim one ..my favorite ]

I remember watching this movie every year when I was little , on The Million Dollar movie channel 9 ... they played it all day and night , and we watched it all day and night . I must have seen this movie a thousand times and I still love it

Have a very HAPPY New Year ..... I'll be back with a give away next year [ in January ]

love you all

and thank you ..... I always have to say THANK YOU for visiting me , for your friendship

Sale in my Etsy shop

My Easter - Christmas window

the African Violets are blooming in my beautiful rabbit

and see the Santa ? >>>> That is my only Christmas decoration

All the work that was done here , plus making dolls and things for Etsy has kept me too busy to even decorate

I hope everyone is happy ....decorating and baking , wrapping presents, singing Christmas carols and praising God for Jesus !

One more thing !

I have put MANY things on sale in my shop ....... clearing things out to make room for new art coming in January

so SALE in my shop !!!!

Have fun

my NEW window

They just left ... the new window is in ! ....... YAY . WHat a big job this was ... two and half days .

so, you ask ......

How long before you junk up the window ? My answer ...... not too long !

They finished at noon , as soon as they drove away I let the cats out , changed into my crappy clothes , made tea and a salami sandwich [ to celebrate ] and then ......... I put junk in the window .

The cats [ to my surprise ] are not interested , but I can always count on Jerry .

so here's the new window

I know it looks awful and HUGE ...... it's 18 inches deep

It needs paint and curtains [ and junk ]

But I am very happy the workers are gone , and happy with the window . it's good and solid , no more DRAFTS

and

I am alone again

ah ........... peace .

the old bay window

I took this photo early this morning before the guys got here . They're here right now , banging and making all kinds of noise . I'm hiding in my studio upstairs .... Baby Em is safe in the bedroom , Juliette , Buddy and Holly are down in the basement . I hate locking the cats up . It makes me feel so bad for them , it's a long day . I know they hate the noise too . I know I really am like a cat, I'm a cat lady .... I like a peaceful house . I hate disruptions , and even though my house is a mess .... I like things where they are , even if it's a pile of junk in a corner .

well ... they'll be here today AND tomorrow

In this photo you can see that foggy thing in the window .... I couldn't see out of any of my windows ! So now I have some new windows upstairs , I get up in the middle of the night to watch the clouds move past the moon ..... nice

thank you Lord ......

I'm so grateful ! we got a new gas furnace AND now new windows !!!!!!

after this is all done I have to paint , figure out curtains . put my junk back where it belongs , ha ha [ maybe I'll get rid of more junk ]

Have a wonderful day

and thank you ..... for visiting me !!!!

cat doll for Etsy..........sold

Today I made a cat doll

we had lots of rain this week .... so ..... I don't have my new window yet .

Monday ..... Monday I get a NEW window !

have a great weekend

this cat is in my shop ........ [ JUST sold .... going to Australia ! Thank you Lynette ! ]

Garbage Day

Oh wow

I know it's been SO long since I blogged ..... everything is okay here

we are having our old crappy windows replaced , great timing ..... just in time for when I'm really busy with Christmas . But .... it HAS to be done . I haven't been able to see out my windows for YEARS . They had all that cloudy stuff in between the glass [ awful ]

and this week we will have our huge bay window replaced too . It's sort of hanging out of the house ... ha ha

so that's what's going on ..... cleaning my messes away from windows , locking up my four cats in different rooms and trying to work too [ I get so stressed when I CAN'T work ]

but I am VERY grateful that I can see out my windows .

The painting above is called Garbage day

it's in my shop

art doll for Etsy..........[ just sold ]

Hi ...... I made a doll today ..... a cute [?] one so I guess tomorrow I'll make a creepy one . That seems to be my pattern

so ...... she is in my shop ........ have a great weekend !

wood cut out cat girl for Etsy

It's so hard to believe how quickly the week goes by . And now .... maybe some snow this weekend !!!!

I don't think we'll get much , probably more rain than snow .

anyway > I painted this cat girl on Bainbridge illustration board with ink and my much loved DERWENT Inktense pencils

then I made a print , mounted the print on board and cut out on my scroll saw

Where do you buy your brushes ? I used to have a great place [ a catalog ] to buy brushes , their prices were SO good , but ...... they went out of business

oh well

My cat girl wood cut out is in my etsy shop.... [ update > this one just sold , but I'll be making more soon ! ]

have a great weekend