I admit to being MIA the last few months......

...but I do have a good reason.  As you know, our new antique booth has been taking up most of our free time the last few months and some of our not-so-free time too.  This is a fun business but definitely a business so you have to work at it.  It's so exciting to come in and find you've sold several pieces - till you stop to think what you still have in storage to replace it - or, make plans to get out and find replacements.  The thrill of the hunt is still there, this old lady just gets tired!

Boudoir Pillow

Forgot to add this little pillow I made from a table scarf my Mother-in-Law had embroidered many years ago.  The colors have faded some but are brighter than show in the picture.

Still working with only one hand!

I'm learning to do more with the brace on, and am taking short breaks each day to try and get a few things finished.  These are a few things I've finished up lately, hope you enjoy them.  I'm not able to type up tutorials right now but if you have a specific question, just let me know!

Porcelain Free forms, ready to paint.  I had quite a few of these ready for the kiln and finally got them fired, but not able to get them all painted right now.

My new "old" baby shoes.  Everytime I find a pair of old baby shoes, they sell faster than I can put them out.   I recently found a pair of white leather ones at a garage sale, brand new but so cheap I figured I could do something with them.  This is what I did, the little nests were just some filler to see how it would look but I like it so will finish it up and make it permanent.  The laces looked too modern even after dying and twisting them around, so left them out.

 Bought this vanity stool at a garage sale several months ago.  I actually liked the green silk seat but it was stained. I had to use Kilz on the frame prior to painting it with Heirloom White.  Also got the big wicker chair in the background, both chairs were immediately claimed by the cats.

Below is the finished chair, with the recovered seat.

Still in the Hand Brace

Still having problems with my right hand, which means I'm still in the brace.  I'll try and get more posted soon.

                                                                                                                               

Stargazer Lilies, Queen of the lilies

My Stargazer lilies are in full bloom right now.  This is the 3rd year for this plant and the blooms are quite large with a vibrant color.  I have a number of lilies planted around the gardens, they do well in our climate, including a beautiful burgundy oriental.  The Casablanca and Stargazer are among some of the last to bloom but well worth the wait.  We moved the Casablanca last year to a location where we could support it as it grew to over 6' tall, but I don't think it likes the new location.  It's only producing a few blooms and not growing much.

Items for the antique booth

A few items ready to find a new home.

Daily Challenge

I recently read about a challenge to draw an hour a day for 3 months. At the end of that time you'd have almost 100 drawings and your skills would have improved without really trying. Although I love to draw, right now my challenge is trying to find time to work on my china painting. So a few weeks ago I decided to give myself a challenge to paint at least an hour a day. I'm finding it so rewarding! Knowing I have committed this time, just for painting, has allowed me to experiment with new products, new techniques, and the pieces are adding up.Can't say there are any masterpieces, in fact I probably won't ever show anyone most of what I'm doing, but I'm painting and having fun.

till next time, Jan

Yes! I'm posting again

I get so involved in my day-to-day activities, I forget to post to the blog, then when I remember it's not the right time.  I have good intentions and promise to do better.  I have so many things to share with you and lots of beautiful things to make. 

Here's a  look at one of my current projects, porcelain free forms.  What do you think?  My personal favorite  is the heart in the lower right corner.  The cat is a surprise for my granddaughter's birthday this month (hope she isn't reading this).  I poured about twice this many but this was all that made it through the bisque and glaze firings.  They are so delicate - and I always try to do one more thing with it before I fire it - that's when it finally develops a little crack.  I used to try and repair those but these days I chalk it up to experience.  You can pour a new one in the time it takes to make a repair that may or may not hold in the kiln.

I'm using a new porcelain to make these and have to reserve judgement till I have more done.  Those gallons are heavy so the shipping costs more than the porcelain.  I've found a new supplier who has a shipping special for two gallons so ordered some then ended up buying a lot more - I love to try new items :)

Back to normal :)

Can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted.  Truthfully, I was so sick I didn't do much of anything.  But am much better now and busy trying to catch up on all my projects.  Mostly right now getting things ready for my new booth at Wildwood Antiques.....hope to have it all ready within the next week.  More to come.

Thoughts on Life

It took a very sad event for me to truly realize, and accept, that our tomorrows are limited.  For too long I have let life get in the way of doing things that give me pleasure.  I never stopped working or creating but there was always something else that needed to be done and I would set aside the "just for fun" project I was working.  Over the years I have learned that to do my best work, I need to focus completely.  In the same way that I like to work alone, in a quiet room, I need continuity when ideas are flowing and once I set a project aside, it's very hard for me to re-light the fire. 

January 31st my youngest sister went to a friends house for lunch and shortly after arriving suffered a massive stroke.  I caught the first flight out for CA and arrived at the hospital in time to have a few minutes with her before she stopped breathing.  She had never regained consciousness but I felt she knew I was there.  I stayed a couple of weeks, helping where I could and just being with family while we tried to understand and accept what had happened.

It was on the flight home I began to thing of all the things I kept putting off because there was always tomorrow.  For my sister, there are no tomorrows.  Our days are numbered, yours, mine and every person you know.  We need to make the most of every day we have, to live in the moment.  There will always be things that can't be postponed, and things that can't be completed today but along with doing the things necessary to make a home for ourselves and family, we need to remember to stop and smell the roses, to enjoy the beauty of each day.

Today is the day the Lord hath made, rejoice and be glad in it.

                                                                                                                                       Jan

February

I have been offline for awhile due to a family emergency and personal illness.  Thanks for all your kind comments, I'll be back soon.

Great Halloween Idea

Found this great idea for Halloween on Priscilla's blog last night.  Easy peasy idea even the kids can do, made from toilet paper rolls.  You can find the instructions here Thrifty Girls' Blog. 
Have fun Haunting!  

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2011

31 Days of Halloween - Eyes in the Bushes

Halloween is here!

I love Halloween.  I had so much fun when my kids were young, making costumes for them and me.  I made a witchy dress from black satin, and a hat to go with it.  I had a scraggly gray wig and used green stage makeup to color my face.  Eyebrow pencil blacked out a few teeth and using the stage makeup again, made hairy warts on my nose.  Every year I dressed as the Wicked Witch and appeared at the local school, scratching on the classroom windows to get the kids attention, and handing out candy when they let me in.  I loved it, although it embarrassed my son who didn't want anyone to know it was his Mother, LOL.  I wore the same dress to welcome trick or treaters and made elaborate decorations for the house and the front porch including spooky music playing as the kids walked up to the door.  Even after my kids and even grandkids were too old to join in, I continued to decorate and welcome the neighborhood kids.  Some years we have several hundred kids come to the door, other years not so many.  But now the young kids in our neighborhood have grown up.  No more ohhing and ahhing over their costumes and trying to guess who was who.  The last few years as more parents find an alternative to trick or treating, we've seen a lot of older kids who don't live around here.  It's not that I mind them, I think I'm just tired, LOL.  So for the first time ever, I won't be doing much for halloween.  No dressing up,  just a couple of token items on the front porch and only one item on the hall server that even suggests halloween.  

Fall is coming fast!

Everywhere I look the glorious fall colors are becoming stronger every day.  These are a few in my front yard.

The Burning bush (Japonica) is in full color.

The Nandina berries are getting ripe;
I'll pick some for decorations and leave the rest for the birds.

The tree is holding onto some green leaves even as the top portions continues to turn color.

The holly berries are turning deep red, perfect for Christmas arrangements.

Monday Morning

........and I'm still working on the computer  :)  My old computer crashed August 28th and in the last few weeks I've done nothing but worry with computers.  It might be easier to go through the files I had pulled from the hard drive but I didn't want to clutter my little macbook with years and years of old files.  I had lots of backup but not sure the files for the old website are on there.  I thought it would be easy to start over fresh and have a new look along with the other changes in my life.   I am definitely going to get into the studio this week and finish some new items so more interesting things coming soon!  The days are so perfect right now, just cool enough to be outside and enjoy the changing of the leaves.  I'm always amazed at how fast that happens.  I'm dog-sitting this weekend and she loves to go for walks.
                                                                                                                                        

Fall Cleanup

Early fall is a lot like early spring, there is a lot to do inside and out.  I like to remove the summer decorations and do a "fall" cleaning before decorating for the holidays.   In the garden there are plants to be cut back, some to be dug up, all the dead debris removed and everything mulched good.  In general, put the gardens to sleep for the winter.  As much as I love summer and all the flowers, there is a satisfaction in getting everything ready for a winter rest, start planning for the spring and have a little more time to relax.

Hydrangeas Galore!

My hydrangeas produced loads of big, beautiful blooms this year - all pink - but aged to that light green tinted with rust.  I've picked them all summer and now am faced with what to do with them.  I've painted some, left some natural and added stems to some.  I've made a wreath for the front door but now I'm stumped on how to use the rest of them.

Book, Books and more Books!

I love books, everything about them.  Curling up with your Nook or Ipad just isn't the same as curling up with a good book.  They are wonderful to have - and I'm always lusting for the latest electronic gadget on the market myself - but when I have time to sit and relax, I reach for a book.

Over many years of accumulating books there comes a point where you have to make a decision on which ones to keep and which ones to move on to a new home.  I'm making those hard decisions today.  When we had new carpet installed we had to remove everything from the house, and what better time to reorganize the bookshelves.  I've always had my books organized by subject - more or less - so I could find one quickly. But  I know there are some I haven't looked at in ages - nothing wrong with them - just not ones I use much anymore.  As new techniques come out, there are new books written and more and more several new books on a popular subject will come out at the same time.  Those of you who know me, know I prefer to do many things in the time-honored traditions (read old fashioned).  I still like to do handwork instead of using the sewing machine or knitting machine.  Just because there is a machine to do it faster and easier, I don't believe it's always the best way.  So, some of these old books are back on the bottom shelf just because they are like old friends.  Some will be stored in the attic and others donated to the local library.  I like having room on the shelves to add a picture or plant but most of all, I like having all my books back in the house and out of the boxes.

Decorated Bottles

Ever see old bottles at the flea market and wonder what you'd do with them?  One way to use them is to add clear decals along with some ribbons, lace and what-have-you.  Use them to decorate your bathroom, kitchen, be a quick gift for someone or sell them.  They are easy to do using water-slide decals.  You're not familiar with water-slide decals?  Gather around children.....

You've all seen decals, on plates, furniture etc and some of you have used iron-on transfers that are a type of decal.  Now you can make your own decals, using your own images with your ink jet printer.  Using a special decal paper, it takes a little time and a lot of patience but you end up with a beautiful item that looks like you spent a lot of money on it.  Put the decal paper in your printer, choose images to print, and you're on your way.  Once you've run them through the printer, they need to be sealed with either a Decal Fixative or Krylon spray and let it dry overnight.  This makes them waterproof.  Cut them out as close to the image as possible, put them in a dish of warm water for a few seconds and slide the decal off the paper onto your bottle - like magic you have your own design!

Here are a few I've just finished applying the decal, now they need to dry thoroughly before I begin decorating them.  You can see the clear glass through the decals.  The more colorful decals will show up more and putting them on frosted glass will allow the color of the decal to show more.  You can see the colors better against the white background.

Call it embellishments, bling or fro-fro there is never too much :)

  
             Inexpensive votive holders can be decorated to coordinate with your seasonal decorations.

Water-slide decal paper can be purchased in some craft stores, office supply stores and on-line.  You can find several difference brands, the one I've used today is Papilio and can be purchased here.

Have fun making one of a kind decorations with water-slide decals!

The Geese are Heading South!

As sure as the days shorten, the leaves begin to turn color and the nights get cooler - the geese begin their journey south to warmer places.  It's always exciting to hear their honking early in the morning, sometimes later in the day.   I love these big Canada Geese and always try to get outside in time to see them fly over.  It's like their private signal to me to prepare for winter.

On the farm they would land on our big ponds to rest.  From the house and deck we could watch them relax and settle down for the night, then again in the morning gather everyone one up, circle and majestically rise in the sky for another days flight.