Arfest time is HERE!!

Adios mi amigas! i am off for 3 full days of art making merriment in Washington. I have three Fabulous teachers...Judy Wise, Pam Garrison and Misty Mawn. 3 kick ass art sisters if you ask me! While I'm away I leave you with this adorable picture of a baby aardvark, I hope his cuteness doesn't make your head explode.

Strange News

I LOVE reading the strange news articles that pop up on my home page news. Today's was particularly entertaining. Every year in Britain they have a oddest book title competition and this year's winner was a 188 page turning stay up all night and read thriller titled "the 2009-2014 World Outlook for 60-milligram Containers of Fromage Frais". Fromage Frais-literally "fresh cheese"-is a dairy product that originated in France and has a consistency of sour cream. Personally that's all I really need to know about the stuff, but for an affordable price of $795 it's all yours! Horace Bent, who runs the award, said "Fromage Frais" was a worthy winner that had "turned the supermarket chiller into the petri dish of literary innovation." (who thinks of these jobs? and how do I get one?) The runner up this year was a primate study titled "Baboon Metaphysics." Other finalist included "Curbside Consultation of the Colon" and "Strip and Knit With Style." Previous winners and runner ups include these snappy titles "The 2002 Official Patients Sourcebook on Lyme Disease" and "Webster's English to Kiribati Crossword Puzzles:Level 2" (there was a level 1??) My favorites are "Bombproof Your Horse" "Living With Crazy Buttocks" and "People Who Don't Know They're Dead:How They Attach Themselves to Unsuspecting Bystanders and What to Do About It." Boy have I got some reading to catch up on!! Happy Friday Everyone!!!

i think i love you gouache...

my daughter just gave me a set of gouache. i thought "what's the big deal, it's like watercolors?" umm not! it's fabulous! it's bright, it's fun and makes me really happy. I having a great time using all the pretty colors, now just to learn how to mix...i seem to always make an ugly shade of brown :( here's a tiny little circus elephant for your enjoyment with my new paints! she's only 3 1/2x 2 1/2 inches

almost time...

i can't believe its been almost a year since artfest! this year I'm on the ball with trades, things to sell and little presents for my roommates. seems like the thing that keeps tripping me up is the stinkin' supply list! some of the items are quite specific(good thing) some of them not so much (bad thing) like for example "piece of ribbon"...ummm long, short, wide, skinny, decorative, plain, grosgrain,velvet, ric rac,organza, wired, non-wired, WHAT?!? or it says i could bring wallpaper instead...WHAT?!?! last year i schlept an anvil--yes an anvil, in my luggage and didn't even need it. I guess the good thing is all that ribbon/wallpaper I'm bringing because lord knows I don't want to be unprepared will be a heck of a lot lighter. I will leave ya'll with a goodie I've stitched up to hopefully sell there.

Its Friday! It's Friday! do-doo-doo do doo-doo..

When Tyn and I owned the coffee house the jazz station we listen to(ok admittedly it was only Tyn that opened on Fridays and I just heard about the song) every Friday they played this silly little ditty. And lo and behold TEN years later it pops in my head just about every Friday...anyhooo now that i've added some more useless information to be stored in your brain so you forget important stuff like "where did i leave those kids?" I want to also mention that i'm teaching a class at Zinnia next Sunday the 29th. It's all about the beautiful Mandala and I will take you from start to finish and supply aLL (including gold leafing) the materials! Stop by if you can, they are really fun and such a gratifying project because you leave with a finished piece of art ready to hang in your home, and the best part? you MaDE it!! http://web.mac.com/ttolkin/zinnia/Kari_Atol.html here's the link for all the info.

whEw!

Good gravy! as an old friend of mine used to say..I have been a busy little bee. I am so excited about spring time this year that I can't seem to find the space for all my projects. Lucky for me Turin is very tolerant of my craft piles =) here's what I've been up to! First I dug out the felt...

then the sewing machine and the paints...I think I'm going to try and sell her at Artfest

I have a few more sewn surprises but I have to wait until after I get back from Artfest to post 'em...shhh they're li'l presents for my housemates! I went to breakfast on Sunday morning with my bestest girl friends Tyn, Denise & Renee and had the BeSt bowl of oatmeal!!! Found an estate sale that wasn't all that great but I got a couple of these super cute plates...and on top of all that made some lemon bars...tadaaaa!!!

The Buttermilk Forest~*

Fresh starts, new ideas, optimism. These are a few of the words that have been on my mind lately. I can't remember the last time I was so happy. Happy to be painting, planning adventures and my newest musings of a make-believe land where my girls and their animal friends reside-- The Buttermilk Forest. There's lots of noon time tea parties with tiny cucumber sandwiches and of course scones with lemon curd and clotted cream...don't forget your flower hat...now just to get these birdies out of my hair!
prints of this and more from the Buttermilk Forest available at my esty store =)

yes, these are both from me...this first one i was experimenting with doing more body parts than just heads and shoulders. i was looking at a picture for reference and if you read my blog Liv Tyler, yes those are your hands and arms =) look for mini-prints of this and a few other pieces in my esty shop! i'm also hoping to get the nerve up to post the originals too..aack...for this little lady i was experimenting using lighter colors. i love how she turned out! and how cute is a bunny in yellow pajamas?? oh my esty shop is in the side bar titled 'fun places to visit' ..excuse how sad and empty it looks, it will look happy and cheery again so0n!!