Cleaning out the studio today

Wow - I've been cleaning out the studio today and have a couple of boxes full of painting magazines. I'm not sure what to do with them - Tole World, Decorative Artist Workbook, The Decorative Painter, The Country Marketplace - years worth...all complete with pattern pull outs and just like brand new! I've sorted them and bundled them into years worth and am contemplating whether I should try to sell them on eBay or Etsy or just give them away for the price of the shipping. I'm open to anything, I just want them gone so I can move on to new things.

If anyone is interested in them or has a good idea what to do with these, let me know. I'm going to clean all weekend so they all should be ready to go by next week. I've got tons!!

I Remember Sherry

Bursting

We've laughed until my cheeks are tight
We've laughed until my stomach's sore
If we could only stop we might
Remember what we're laughing for

I had found this poem in a book of child's verse from the 1950's and found it described our friendship perfectly and simply..

She's in my thoughts and in my heart until we meet again...

I Remember Sherry

From the porch swing yesterday...a rainy day...but the raspberry colors of the hydrangea tree were breathtaking.....
We planted this tree to honor the memory of a dear friend....Sherry...she made the world more beautiful with her friendship and her laughter and her floral wreaths made from hydrangea and more..
We used to ride around town until we found a hydrangea tree...we'd stop and she'd go and ring the bell and ask to take some blooms...sometimes no one would be home and we'd grab the clippers and run around like idiots and carefully select a few (so no one would miss them) and then stuff the trunk full and drive off - laughing like idiots...

She was my business partner and my Best Friend Forever...it's been 14 years today since she left us but I remember like it was yesterday. I was blessed to have known her.

Well it's taken awhile but I'm back in the studio, and that really is the sun shining in the window! It's been such a soggy summer.

I'm hoping to paint on a regular schedule starting next week. I won't be back at full time but I'm setting a goal of 2 to 3 days to start. I'm excited to get going again.

Here's the finished gourd...he's a favorite.

I'm hoping to have things for sale on Etsy.com very soon. Please stop by and let me know what you think.

Just got back from 4 days in Lake George, NY - beautiful! The Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra gave a wonderful concert of show tunes on Thursday night complete with a fireworks show over the Lake - all on a beautiful evening in the park downtown....very relaxing.

It's my mom's birthday today. She would have been 85. I miss her. Happy Birthday, mom.

I'm still at it. Packing up gourds of all sizes and shapes - Santa shapes - Witch, Animal, Snowman, and ornament shapes and sizes all nice and separated. Will I ever be done? Not looking good! It's a gazillion degrees out today and I am looking at my pool from the studio window - something is wrong with this picture! I think it's time to chill. Have a great day!

I can't believe how long it's been since I've been here to write something! I've been cleaning out my studio and I am in one big mess but finally starting to see the light of day! It seems like the last several years have caught up with me - I'm wading through old business and cleaning and painting and tossing - it feels good! I haven't painted in a long time and I'm anxious to get going again.


We are having the outside of the house painted - sure looks nice. It's going to be hard to leave this place but most of you know that we are looking for something a little smaller since Linc retired in November. He wants a small ranch...yikes.. I'm ok with that but I want a studio and space for the grandchildren and a summer room and a pool and..guestrooms...wait - I already have that!! : )
We will find something I'm sure. I know we don't need as big as we have now - this house is 2100 sq.ft. each on 2 floors - but I'm hoping we can downsize (hate that word) to something where I can have a place to paint and party too! It will work out.

In the meantime, I'm hoping to post some things for sale in the next week or two. I'll have contact information available and you can always reach me here too.

See you soon!

Get This Calendar...

I'm looking for a bichon puppy

Does anyone know where I can find a Bichon puppy?

Our dog, Nestle, died awhile ago. She was a beautiful mix of Brittany Spaniel and German Shorthair Pointer - brown and white and spots on her belly- chocolate chip drops I think. She was 12 when she died and I really miss her. She was a shelter dog.
I have allergies and was just lucky that she never bothered me- I've read about all kinds of dogs and the Bichon is small and has hair not fur - and is supposed to be allergy friendly. I've read that even though they are small - they are sturdy. With 6 grandsons I need a pet that is playful but not threatening.
I live in northern NY on the Canadian border, but I'd be willing to travel to find one.
I'm terrified of puppy mills and would not consider a dog that wasn't family raised.
I saw a beautiful puppy online ( 2 actually ) from a place in Knoxville, Tn. but that's quite a drive all the way from here : ) - and I'm not sure about buying a puppy online....how would you know if it's healthy and from a good breeder....
Anyone have any ideas ?

eBay sales of vintage magazines

Hi there....it's been awhile since I've been here. Not sure where the time has gone ~ I am so ready to see winter move on for another year. It's been so long this year!
I've been working on eBay for a few days, trying to list as many vintage magazines as I can from the 1960's. Talk about stepping back in time...40-50 years...The photography is so amazing...the history ~ I just love them but they must go. If you know of anyone who maybe has a restaurant and would like to frame some vintage advertising or loves old cars...maybe your folks or someone you know is into history ....the fashion is going to come back ~ I just know it....movie stars, sports stars.... These are a real blast from the past.. let me know if you are interested ~ I'll hook you up to a link ...or if you are looking for anything in particular....they make such a nice gift for someone from that era....
In the meantime, I'm trying to design a new gourd for Easter....I can't wait to get painting again...it's been a long time...
I'm trying to clean and pack my house to put up for sale....my husband retired 3 1/2 months ago and we're trying to adjust to all the changes....how did life get on such a fast track? My energy is down (weather I hope) and I could use more productive hours in the day...and sunshine.
Have a great week!!! I hope to be back soon with some new photos.

Here's something fun for you from Sara at Graphic Pretties. She's giving away a free Custom designed Blog. The drawing is on February 14 - go to GraphicPretties.blogspot.com to enter and win.

I painted this little doll and her doll a long time ago. She was one of the first paintings I did that got into fine detail. She's done on a piece of wood, and is only 5 1/4 by 4 1/2 inches.

It's a beautiful sunny and cold day here. It was 20 below 0 this morning when I got up! But the sun makes up for it - there's nothing as pretty as the sun on the snow, sparkling and new looking.
I'm working on my taxes - yuk !

Well I was working on my taxes...
I wanted to show you some of my favorite gourds.

I've been painting for a lot of years, and time and time again I come back to Santa. He's my favorite subject. I've painted him on gourds (my very favorite) and on windows, and light bulbs and bottles and baskets.....just everywhere.
Hope you like him too.
Ok - back to the taxes...darn.