Thrift-A-Licious!

This past weekend I was on the hunt for items (vintage forks, to be exact) to use in an altered art project; so, off to the thrift stores I went!  Not only did I find the forks for my project, but also scored a few other delightful things; my most excellent being 3 lightweight, yet sturdy & just-the-perfect-size chairs for my dining nook-$19.96 total for 3 chairs (no 4th, but that's OK 'cuz 3 fits better into my teeny-tiny dining space).

What a deal!

Snagged a couple of sweet doilies & a wooden spoon that are all destined for future art projects:

A wee bit over $2 for the lot!

And, this amazing basket that I just had to have-vintage masher is woven into the basket for a handle-how clever is that?  Oh, and the price of $2.50 could not be beat!

Next, a lovely, shabby stoneware bucket I'll fill with gilded pinecones for the holidays-won't that be pretty?

I saved the best for last...at least, for me, it's the best; I love Frankoma pottery (my dad was originally from OK & we used Frankoma dishes all during my growing up years).  I've just begun my own collection & looky here what I snagged for $4:

 

Yessssss!  I've never seen a Frankoma 4-leaf clover-oh, lucky day!  It's the sweetest lil' dish & I just LOVE it!

And so, another happy thrifting adventure comes to a close...'till next time!

Mad Scientist

Well....I'm more of a happy scientist, especially when I'm messin' around in some sort of creative way & for the very first time I'm joining Michelle Ward's "GPP Street Team" Crusades.  Current series is "Evidence" (this one is #53-Mad Scientist & is all about mixing colors); go here to read all about it http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that

I wanted some sunset colors & decided to start with an orange-y pink; so, bright orange + salmon

= this:

 I call this "Creamsicle"

 and, though pretty, not quite what I have in mind.  So, next I mix in a great big glob of "Pink Sherbet"

and...TaDa!

I'm calling this new blend "Rancho Rosa"

because it reminds me of  the outside of my favorite market near where I work; the building's colors are just dee~lish:

 Then, after all my concocting & mixing, it suddenly strikes me that this color looks nearly identical to the ready-made bottle of Salmon paint I mixed with the orange to begin with...WHAT? I mixed that up just so it could look EXACTLY like one I started wtih?  Felt like I was going in circles here; but, no, look at the left (ready-made) & my creation (on the right) and they are not the same after all.

Ready-made                         My mix:  "Rancho Rosa"

 My concoction is just the shade I was looking for; had I not played "mad scientist", I would not have had this lovely "Rancho Rosa" to pink up a sunset I wanted to paint on an art piece.  Thank you, Michelle, for inspiring me to experiment with color!

Chaos on Canvas

You may recall a previous post earlier this summer about a canvas swap project I was having oodles of fun creating for in the "All Things Tim" Yahoo group.  Well, the swap took place & I have received my finished work of art back from the swap hostess, Sharona, and lemme tell ya...it totally rocks!  For the participants, Sharona attached the 5 canvases together that each of us was to receive & created a header piece for the top (note:  we all had 1 of our own canvases included in the 5 we got back & I thought that was great because I was rather attached to those I'd made; guess that's to be expected when you put your heart & soul into creating).  So, without further ado, here is the art piece that is now hanging proudly on the inside of my front door:

Sharona's header piece

My canvas

Stephen Jew's FANTASTICAL creation~isn't it wonderful?

Canvas created by Barb Urbassik; LOVE how she cut a "window" into the piece!

Amazing canvas creation from Jason Pettigrew~so COOL!

Michael Farrell's DIVINE vintage Paris canvas...Ooh La La!

Thank you, Sharona, for being such a FABULOUS swap host and also to each of the artists who created such BEAUTIFUL canvases.  I ADORE them all!

2011 Sketchbook Project is underway...

I am so excited about taking part in this artistic adventure that is a worldwide undertaking!  Click on the link at right for more deets & there is still time to participate~sign up by 10/31/10 at the project site.

My chosen them for my sketchbook is "Make Mine A Double".  Wondering what I will be creating in this theme?  Check back here periodically for sneak previews!  I can't wait to see where this journey will take me and I'm tickled pink at the idea of having you along for the ride...whether as a participant in the project or a visitor here to see the progress of my book.  Won't this be fun?

Summer Beauty

Though summer's end is drawing nearer, there is still so much beauty to behold. Gorgeous, lush colors abound in nature's palette & the "Summer Beauty" ATC swap over at Red Lead was callin' my name! Pop on over to their blog & check out all of the wonderfulness going on there (a link is included in my Blog List over on the right sidebar). Images on these 5 ATC's I created for the swap are from Red Lead's "Summer Beauty" collage sheets & also a couple from ArtChix Studio. Happy summer Sunday to you all!