Three things to love about Spring

It's going to rain this weekend and into next week so I'm taking a look around at all the beautiful things I love about spring, hoping it will come to stay (and scare away the rain... Rain Rain go away... come again NEXT YEAR!!)...

1. White carnations... I've been completely obsessed with these lovely blooms, and you can find them sprinkled in cute glass jars all over the apartment. They're so fresh and clean... and add a little simple elegance to our humble abode.

2. This tree!!! There are a bunch throughout my apartment complex... they're so happy!!! I want to paint them... can't decide on a background yet... any suggestions?

3. Sipping tea outside at the Starbucks around the corner... I'm so so lucky to have one in walking distance, so I pop in my iPod, grab a book, and head out. There is a perfect balance of warm sun and cool breeze.

Joseph and I are going to a mixed media art show this weekend in Woodland, and we are so excited... I love that he takes an interest in things I'm passionate about, and there's nothing better than holding his hand while looking at beautiful art. I haven't been to an art show in years and I think it's just what I need to get started on my doll collection. I want to change up her face a little, and give her some kind of distinguishing feature that makes her me... just haven't decided what that's gonna be...

I also have to get started on a commissioned piece for a charity auction happening in May... yeah, I'm a little bit of a procrastinator... hopefully the creative juices will flow after the art show...

Three Things to love... About Mixed Media Products

1. Acrylic Glazing liquid by Golden... I'm sure there are other products that are comparable to this one, but I gotta say that this stuff is THE BEST... I use this for everything, but my favorite use is to blend colors... It cuts down the drying time of acrylic paints and makes the paint glide over the canvas... well, I have been using birch plywood more and more these past couple months, which really absorbs the paint, so the Glazing Liquid helps to prevent that when you're trying to mix colors... LOVE IT!!!

2. Watercolor Colored Pencils... I use Prismacolor and Derwent and they're both wonderful... I use these more as a base for my shading... I put down a layer and then blend with water. I then go over it with different glazes of acrylic paint until I get the color that I want. I love it because if I don't have the exact color I want I know that all I have to do is add some more layers of color glazes until I get it just right (that's if I don't completely muddy up my colors first... haven't done it, yet, but there's a first time for everything)...

3. Gel Matte Medium by Golden... I have a lot of glue around my studio, but this is my favorite for mixed media pieces... and the part I absolutely love about it is that your application doesn't have to be remotely perfectly... just glob on a chunk of it, place whatever paper or 3D object on top, and messily smoosh with a brush... it's not perfect, but when it dries it sure looks like it is...

Reunion and Polly has a sister...

I was a bad girl... I called in sick all weekend... Bad nurse!!

On Saturday I had a good excuse... One of my very best friends and fellow scrapbooker, Tricea, who now lives in Atlanta (Booo!!!), came to visit and we spent all day shoppin' and gabbin'... all the good stuff I miss about her... Love her to death!!!... we even ended the day with margaritas and Mexican food with my Joseph at Chevy's on the River...

When I was driving home after dropping her off at her folks, I realized I hadn't taken any pictures... Duh!!! I was so mad at myself... I will hopefully visit her for the Taste of Atlanta in August, so we'll have an entire weekend to document our friendship :) I can't wait!!!

Then, I called in sick again on Sunday.... The excuse wasn't as good as Saturday's, but Polly has a new sister!! She's my first commission and she's so incredibly lovely. Her name in Becca, and her new home is with a friend of mine from work...

I have to say that I was a little stressed when she asked me to make a piece for her... my art has always been for me, and I love it, but now I was faced with the task of making something that someone else had to fall in love with... I was freakin' out!!! But, I just told myself, "She wouldn't have asked you if she didn't already love your art, so get over it!"... I eventually got over it, and all day Sunday my creative juice cup runnith over, and here she is... All I have left to do is beeswax her and then she's off to her new home...

I was on such a high from Sunday that Monday and Tuesday I started on a snowman!!!... His name is Edward, and he is keeping me from finishing my Italy scrapbook... I'm so stinkin' bad...

Three Things to Love... about Thrift Stores

My first installment of something I hope to continue throughout my blogging years... (something I completely stole from Ali Edwards... love her...)
Three Things to Love...

...About Thrift Stores
I stopped by the thrift store by my parents house in Cameron Park this weekend, and reaffirmed my belief that thrift stores are the perfect place to buy things you need... These are my lovely finds... for cheap...

1. Mason jars and glass bottles... to store paint brushes, pens, and all those other things you have no place for... each glass jar or bottle was only 30 cents...

2. Old books... I use them for not only decoration, but also use in my mixed media/collage pieces... This five book set is a collection of old books including The Aeneid... Each book was only $2...

3. Old clothing patterns... to also use in my mixed media/collage pieces... when layered with beeswax and other mediums they produce this wonderful transparent look that lets me reveal little tidbits of items hiding below... love it!!!... each pattern envelope was 30 cents...

Go check out some of your local thrift stores... you are sure to find little treasures for mere pennies... Happy Hunting!!