MERRY, MERRY

Wanted to wish you all a Happy Holiday!

I will be in Germany visiting my daughter and 

will not be back until New Years.

(my minimal Christmas decorations this year)

See you next year!

Thankful

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Perfect time to watch this again, one of my all-time favorites!

Glitter Market Time!

Don't forget, THIS SATURDAY is the 

HOLIDAY GLITTER MARKET

 at PAPER CROWN!

Unfortunately, I will not be there with my art, but I will be there to support my friends and fellow artists!

Fun With Photos

This month my creativity has been satisfied by an Instagram challenge.  

I'm having so much fun taking photographs, learning about hashtags 

(yes, my daughter had to explain it to me, embarrassing), and 

looking at everyday events in a new and different way.

Please join me!!  I would love to see what you see!

#book  If you have not seen this book, one of my favorites!

#partofme

#eating

#playing

#mirror

Just noticed today's is "where you ate breakfast".  

This should be interesting...

Bunco!

Well, I was feeling crafty again this morning.  

I'm hosting my Bunco group next month and noticed our

Bunco Mats were getting a bit dingy.  

So...I decided to make some new ones. 

With the help of number stencils and Pinterest inspiration this is what I came up with.

Hope the ladies like them!

My Bunco Group

We've been together for almost 20 years!

Ship of Dreams

 

 It's amazing what can happen when you actually get to stay home for a day.  I have been pondering over this ship since it was gifted to me by my friend, Brenda.  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I found a vision of Holly Abston's lace ship and I knew mine had to have lace sails!

Thank you, Holly, for the inspiration!

Your ship is beautiful!

Halloween Soiree Class

If you are free this weekend, Bobbie Sanders will be 

teaching a class at Paper Crown.

Check it out!!

Bobbie's classes are always FUN and this project is adorable.

Happy Halloween!

Studio Clean

My studio is out-of-control...

its time for me to clean it up, so I can get creative again!!

Want Ad:  Still seeking inspiration.

Mushroom Art

Being surrounded by mushrooms at work all day, I had to try my hand at painting some.

Work has been really fun and inspiring lately.

Getting Inspired

This summer has been filled with traveling, working and getting my daughter ready to leave for Germany for the next year.  My artwork has been put on the back burner.

But, in between the little cracks, I am finding inspiration for a possible new series.

I have been painting abstracts for my home lately and am loving it.

With the Glitter Market coming up very soon, I need to find my inspiration fast!

These are some photos I've taken that I can see a painting emerging from.

(If you are in the OKC Anthropologie store, see if you can spy these beauties.)

Postcards From Laguna Beach

Just back from a trip to Laguna Beach with our good friends. 

So beautiful.

I'm always creatively inspired after I get home.

With our friends, Bob and Beth.

The Farmers Market
Besides beautiful....so delicious!

Anthropologie @ Fashion Island
(Of course, I have to check in at every Anthro!)

My First Class!

My students and their flowers!

The flowers turned out beautiful!  

Thanks for being such a great class...we had fun!

Postcards from NYC

Here are a few pictures from my trip.  

ABC Carpet and Home
Paula Rubenstein Ltd.

This was my second visit to ABC Carpet and Home and I was not disappointed!  

I was on visual over-stimulation!

There were two or three of these book columns.  So cool.

The place setting was in their restaurant....loved it!

Paula Rubenstein Ltd. was on our "must" list.  It seemed it was not going to happen,

after walking and searching and pretty much giving up, my friend, Cherry, turned and

said "There it is!"  A small shop with only the hand-written sign on door.

So glad we found it!

---------------------*-------------------

Tinsel Trading Company

When we reached Tinsel Trading Company, we were shocked 

to see much of the store was marked 50% off!

Apparently, they are in the process of moving.

As of now, they do not have a store front and must be out of their

space by August 31.  

Keep checking their website for details!!

-----------------*-----------------

Anthropologie

Where there is an Anthropologie, you will find me there!

These were a few of my favorite displays.

----------------*---------------

This was my first time to Brooklyn, and I must say I loved it!

Such a drastic difference from NYC.

If you're not bored to tears, I will post a couple more postcards later.

Tripping

Taking a little vacation...hoping to hit as many places in this book as possible!!

The Society Inc

I will share my "finds" when I return.

Flower Prep, Part Two

I got out earlier this morning!  Not so hot!

This is the second batch:

More lavender/purple than this picture turned out.

For those who may want a more neutral flower.
(Yes, I realize they look just like flour tortillas! )

Flower Prep

Today I have been prepping for my upcoming Coffee Filter Flower Class at Paper Crown.  I'm going to need A LOT of coffee filters!  So, I took it outside and started the dying process.  Since it would be impossible for the class to dye their own filters and make the flowers in one class, I am doing this step at home.  Below are instructions on my dying process:

First, use any acrylic paint and water it down.  I used hot water, it seemed to help the 

paint mix with the water better.

 Take several filters at a time and dip into the paint mixture.

Dip the wet tips of the filters into a thicker, brown paint mixture. 

Lay filters out to dry.

To get the brown specks and spots, I put instant coffee into a 

salt shaker and applied while the filters were wet.

Once dry, peel apart and start the process over until you 

get the desired color and effect you want.

-------------*-----------

And Wallah!  The first batch!

Unfortunately, I had to stop because it got TOO HOT outside!

But, it is amazing how quickly the filters dried!

Back to it tomorrow.

{Special thanks to Hobby Lobby and Starbucks.  :) }

Disclaimer:  These instructions are just my way of dying coffee filters.
I came up with it through many trials and errors.  I hope it works for you!

Fabric Collage

With 4th of July approaching fast, I needed something in my entryway.  I wasn't in the mood to paint, but my creative juices were flowing and I kept feeling the need to work with textiles and texture.  This is what I came up with.  It is a great base for something else...I'm not sure what it will eventually turn into.  But, for now, it is my Independence Day decoration.

Fiesta Party

Our neighborhood has an annual auction in the Spring.  

This year we (and our good friends and neighbors) donated a Fiesta Party.

This past weekend was the big event!

Fiesta Fun was had by all!

Thanks to Pinterest, we got great ideas for the food and decorations.

Gotta LOVE Pinterest!!

Art for OK

As we go through these Oklahoma storms, 

it amazes me how many people are touched by them.  

From all over the world.

It can be very deeply felt by artists...and we use our art for therapy.

I want to thank all these artists for their support.

Holly Abston

msmatilda.blogspot.com

Artist Unknown

Lilly loves Oklahoma

Artist Unknown

Artist Unknown
(I've been running from them since 1981)