Rain ,Rain Go To Texas, They really need you.

Seriously ? More rain ? Things were just getting somewhat back to normal after Irene came through here with a vengeance. Irene dumped way too much rain and the winds were awful. Trees are down everywhere, folks around here haven't finished cleaning up behind her and now tropical storm Lee has moved right on up the coast and the rain is coming down. The craft guild shop where I'm selling my pieces has been closed for more then a week now. There is a small run that sits right beside the shop and normally it stays within it's banks but when Irene caused a flood surge of  four to eight feet the calm quite little run turned into a rolling river. See......

The row of shops in the back is where the shop is located, it's up off the ground about four foot or so but obviously that's not high enough. The shop on the left side of the picture is an Antique Center, they had about a foot of water in there. Luckily for the craft guild no ones items were destroyed, but the shop didn't fair so well.
Everything has been moved , carpets have been removed and new tile will take the place of the old carpet. Every inch will have to be treated for mold.  And I'm sure there will be some painting going on. So until all that is finished the shop is out of commission for a few more days.

So I suppose while all that is going on and the rain is coming down painting is as good a thing to do as any. I've been painting on ornaments and I'm going to do some fall pieces. Can't wait to do some of the table runners with the pretty fall leaves that Patty Rawlinson has done and a few other things I've seen in the Paint Works magazine.
Until next time, paint something that makes you happy.
     

Summer Time

Here it is August already the summer is going by way to fast. I've been busy painting getting finished pieces done for the Craft Guild of St. Mary's as I'm Crafter of the Month for August.

How come with all the painting I've done this past year when I go to look for the pieces to display in the shop there's nothing left to show? I guess I've given away and sold more then I thought, but that's a good thing I suppose. I'm really enjoying doing the Oil Roughing, I just finished another Mary Owens design It's her Barn at Pine Knob.

Last weekend I attended the Beach Party On the Square in Leonardtown , Maryland.

Hans another member at the Craft Guild Shop and I set up a display on the square to promote the shop. It was a very HOT and HUMID day but it was nice to get out to see all the young and old coming out for some summer fun. There was lots of good food and good music everyone was having a good time. Mr. & Mrs. Claus came out to mingle with the folks on the square. Kids young and old really enjoyed seeing them and everyone was taking pictures with them.

Just a few more weeks and schools will be opening again and before you know it the holidays will be looming over us. So take some time and enjoy the last of the hot lazy summer days. And if you can find some time to work in a few hours to paint. It's never to early to start painting Christmas ornaments. The Paint Works Christmas Ornament Issue is available right now, they have some really cute patterns in this year's issue.

Until next time Happy Painting.

It's about Time

Good Grief, it's been forever since I've taken the time to come here and update what's been happening. Things have made a change in my world. My job has ended after nine years. The owner had the business up for sale for four years but in this economy no one came up with the money that it would take to purchase the business and a franchise. So he decided to close and at the age of seventy five I can understand that. But in the mean time that has left me job hunting, no fun.

But since I couldn't find a job in the area where I want to stay I decided to make one. So I'm trying to get classes going at the local Craft Guild of St. Mary's County near by. Of course that's not very easy to do in the summer months when everyone has summer time plans. But that's ok I'm setting up some painted items to sell in the shop. Hopefully people will have some interest in the classes in the fall once the weather cools down and the kids are back in school.

Anyway I'll tell you a little about the shop....It's a nice size shop with a lot of varied artist's / crafter's everything from hand made quilts , wood crafts, beautiful jewelry, watercolor artist, fabric crafts and the list goes on and on. Each month a member or artist in the community is featured as an Artist of the Month this month the artist is Pat Troiani. Pat is a watercolor artist who has some beautiful pieces for sale in the shop. If that weren't enough Pat also makes jewelry, very pretty pieces with sea glass and beads.

I have just started to get my space set up and for right now I'm doing small signs with cute saying mostly related to the summer season. With time I'm going to be painting table runners and cookbooks that will be personalized with whatever anyone would like on the front cover.

And the ornaments, can't forget the ornaments, tons of them. So you know what I'll be doing, painting and more painting. But it's what I know and they say stick with what you know and do what you love and you can't go wrong.

Now if your traveling this summer and find yourself in Southern Maryland look on your map for the small town of Leonardtown and drop by and check out the Craft Guild.

Have a Happy and Safe July 4th weekend and until next time Happy Painting.

Happy New Year

As I look back over this year I think of all the things

that I have to be grateful for. There are the friends that stick by me no matter what.

I have my home and I manage to keep my vehicle running with the help of good mechanics.

I have a job that I like. And I have my classes with the best students that keep me on my toes or they at least try to...lol.

And I still enjoy painting and learning new techniques and teaching.

And there's the fact that God and the Angels watch over me and keep me going every day.

Now really what more could a gal ask for.

I hope that you have this many blessing in your life to be grateful for every day of the New Year.

Have a Happy & Blessed New Year

Good Grief it's almost Christmas Charlie Brown

Merry Christmas Everyone. Can you believe it's the weekend before Christmas already. The fall season sure did go by in a hurry seems just the other day we were having Thanksgiving dinner.

I have to say this is the best holiday of the year. Not just because we buy gifts for friends and family and decorate our homes and have parties but because of the real reason for the season...For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord.""And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.""That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

So while you've been making your list and checking it twice have you spent any time painting this season? I've been painting like crazy this fall. My shows went well this year, I'm so grateful to all those that come out to shop with us every year. It was great to see everyone.

And my classes are doing well, I have a great bunch of ladies that make up my classes and we do have a good time together. They have learned some new brush skills this year and have improved their painting skills and I'm so proud of them. Just another thing on my list to be grateful for.

As for me I'm learning the technique of oil roughing, and I like it. It's fun.

I'm doing the pen and ink technique then adding the oil roughing that Mary Owens teaches you have to check out her work. She has some really pretty patterns and the DVD's that teach you more then you can imagine. I haven't worked with pen and ink or oils for thirty years and a lot of things have changed over time new products are great. Who knew that you could use oils without the nasty oder and what blew my mind is I'm cleaning my brushes with soap and water not those stinky solvents of the past. Oh well who says you can't teach a old dog new tricks...lol.

Always keep your mine open to learning something different it keeps life interesting.

Well I have some baking and wrapping, painting, cleaning and laundry to do today so I better get busy. Until next time, Happy Painting.

Happy Halloween

I hope your ready for the ghost and goblins that will be out and about tonight.
If your out tonight travel safely and watch out for those little candy snatchers.
I'll be staying put tonight,maybe doing some painting. I spent last evening with friends at a Halloween bonfire, it was a nice night not to cold but a little windy, the warmth of the fire felt really good.
I haven't done much painting for fall, I've been working on ornaments for my shows.
But I did get one fall item done. I took a black canvas handbag and painted fall leaves on the front and back. You can do this on hand bags , jackets, tote bags ,aprons or shirts the skies the limit. I transfered the leaf design with white wax free transfer paper then base coated all the leaves in with brown , two coats drying between coats. Then your ready to paint your leaves multi colors. I used some fabric medium to do the shading and highlights and paint the veins of the leaves. When your done you can lay the piece in the sun for a while and that will heat set the paint. It's just that easy, give it a try.

It's a quick easy project that you can do in a afternoon.

Until next time Happy Haunting & Happy Painting.

Fall is in the air

Well good grief the summer has gone and now it's time for those leaves to start changing colors and the cooler temperatures. I know that I have neglected my blog terribly this summer all because I've been working on my house. I've painted wood work till I don't want to see another piece of wood work. Now my painting is on ornaments, I'm getting ready for the fall craft show season.

I just have two shows the weekend before Thanksgiving so I'm painting on my days off like there's no tomorrow.

Now that it's getting dark earlier in the evenings and it's getting cooler it's time to snuggle in and start getting ready for the holidays. I always look forward to the holidays, the rich warm colors of fall the smell of fireplaces in the evenings and the smell of cinnamon and apples reminds me of years past. Isn't it funny how a smell in the air can take you back to a time long ago and warm happy memories of making pies and craving pumpkins. I did take the time to pull out a few fall decorations and some scented candles.

Oh and I went to the County Fair a few weeks ago. You know how some things just never change well this county's fair hasn't changed a bit it's always been in the same place for the last 50 plus years and each year there are the same great sounds, sights and smells of good food. Check out some of the pictures I took while walking around that evening. Wouldn't you like to have one of those pretty quilts to snuggle down in. The Clydesdale horses preformed that Saturday evening , they are so pretty when they are all decked out in their harness's. They do like to struck their stuff for the crowds. We had beautiful warm weather that weekend and the place was packed with people.

Well I need to go prep for my tole painting class that's tomorrow morning so until next time enjoy the rest of your weekend and happy painting. Take care.