DATING YOUNG

Well, the grandkids are gone.  Just like that!  For two weeks we took turns wearing each other out and packing in the memories.  We did planned things and things that didn't turn out as planned.  

ONE NOT PLANNED MEMORY OR YOU'LL LAUGH ABOUT THIS ONE DAY

Tim rented a sailboat.  Kids were not impressed.  They wanted a speed boat.  Papa doesn't do speed boats.  Not a windy day.  We slowly meandered around Mission Bay.  After awhile we noticed we weren't moving and it took Captain Papa some time before he admitted we were stuck in muck.  A coastguard boat came kinda near and asked if we were okay.  Captain Tim says yup, we're okay.  What!!!???  Is that the same as we're not lost in the middle of nowhere?  They left and we sat and sat.  Tim has this idea that we should all lean way over one side of the boat.  No one else liked that idea At All.  And it didn't work.  Thank God for cell phones, right?  Unless the rental people take their phone off the hook!   So the highlight (for me) was watching Papa strip down to his skivvies, jump in and basically dig and pull us out.  In his defense, Tim had no idea things were so shallow and there were no warning signs.  When we returned to the dock the guy said he was told by the coastguards we were stuck but was too busy rescuing others.  He says, "Oh people get stuck in that area a lot" and showed us a map hanging on their door.  So, being the caring person that I am, I made a few helpful suggestions.  Stuff like if you're going to have the phone off the hook maybe show people this handy dandy map as you are taking their deposit and you might have less rescues...just a thought.  We had a few laughs with the guy and all is well.  Not sure the grandkids are any fonder of sailing though.

Wyatt and Tim spent much time off doing guy things while Amelia and I hung together.  On one of the last nights together we switched things up and did something we did with our own kids when they were growing up. DATE NIGHT.  We love the opportunity to show them what might soon be a lost art.  Amelia was all in; picked out the perfect outfit and felt like a pampered princess.  Wyatt quickly stepped up and remembered that Papa always holds the car door for me (even if I'm the chauffeur).  He tried to imulate everything he remembered Papa doing at a restaurant and handled himself like a real gentleman and engaging date.  It gave Wyatt and I  time to talk uninterrupted: really Talk and Listen about hopes and dreams; past and future; whats funny-or not.  I will cherish this time as much as I did with Jonathan.  Priceless.  

SUMMER SCRAPBOOKS

I folded up my studio for two weeks of fun in the sun with my grandkids.  Our dining room table is covered with plastic and Art with Mimi is in full swing.   I found these little scrapbooks at Target many moons ago in the $1.00 section.  Now wish I'd bought the entire stock as they are ideal for so many projects.  The kids are recording their vacation with photos, paint, stamps, markers, glitter; you name it, if it sticks, won't rot later (lizards) and the book will close, it's fair game.  They are having so much fun.  I think in several years they will get a kick out of their scrapbooks filled with movie tickets, photos, miss-spelled words and lots of first's and happy memories.

EXTRA HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

It all started with this lampshade.  We were in Target and Tim walked up to me holding this lampshade, knowing I would love it.  I stopped dead in my tracks and when he told me it was marked down to $5.98 I instantly had to design a space to put this.  I stood right there in the isle and redid the guest bedroom in my head.  We snatched up another matching shade and two bases.  Total for each lamp- $26.00!  I picked out a paint color (Sherwin Williams 6702 Lively Yellow) and found multi-striped sheets on a sales rack for $12.99.  I almost hate revealing my cheap sheets, but these were so absolutely perfect and they feel as good as the expensive ones.  I don't want to sound like I'm going all cheap on my guests so let's just keep this between us, okay?   I got the wicker table for $25 and sprayed it white.  The green pillows are Jonathan Adler for JCP and I framed one of my own paintings.  I will do more as time allows, especially with fabrics.  I am so thrilled with how effortlessly and inexpensively the makeover was falling into place.  Normally I hold High Mass over any and all creative decisions so this was a nice surprise.      

I remembered we had two chairs in storage that came from Tim's family.  I decided to paint one and I must admit, it was a bigger task than I wanted to tackle.  First I scrubbed it clean, then de-glossed it thoroughly before painting.  

It has been in the 100+ temperatures here, so I tried working indoors but paint splattered to and fro, so outside I went.  It took five coats in some areas.  I chose to not spray paint because there was just too much blank space.  I destroyed several brushes.  This one took on a personality of it's own.  I named him Guy.

  

The chair is finished and I made a new seat cushion and pillow from some of my Botanika fabrics.  Just in time for my daughter who arrives tonight with the kiddos.  It has been way too long since we've been together and I'm kinda giddy.  Hope it's comfy cozy for her.  

Have a wonderful holiday weekend filled with friends and family and thankful hearts for the freedom and independence we so richly enjoy.   

LIVING ROOM IS LIVABLE

While these are in no way Before and After photos, I took a few pics of the progress on the ole fixer-upper/ humble abode.  After we moved to San Diego I came across an antique french chair and sofa at a consignment store.  Before photos here.   I painted them a fresh white and had them reupholstered.  Just got the sofa back and I'm in love!!!!  I placed it right in front of the new floor to ceiling built-in bookshelves my MacGyver made from Ikea Billy bookcases (and some chewing gum and a couple coat hangers...you know how he is)!

I found that adorable orange side table at HomeGoods for less than $100.   I had a death grip on that puppy.

 Here's my two newest paintings.  The large one is called Spring Rain and the the smaller one on the bookshelf is from my last post.  It just hit me that my last two paintings are about rain; something I rarely see these days.  Hmmm?  On another note, do you say bookshelves or bookcases?  I flip back and forth.

Now it's time to make the pillows.  But no surprise that I've got three big projects going on so it'll be awhile before I am done.  Got my stack of potential fabrics and the start to this quiltie pillow.

So there you have it; another peek into a corner of my world.  Thanks for stopping by.  And as we said in Nashville, "Ya'll come back now, ya hear?"

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

I just finished recoating six canvases after six very bad attempts at some abstract mumble jumble.  So before I was tempted to commit seppuku with my paintbrushes I HAD to paint something recognizable.  ...QUICK.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

I remembered that my friend Victoria Findlay Wolfe posted a rainy day image that was calling my name.  I got Vic's blessing and dove right in.  It turned out to be just the therapy I needed.  I painted around the sides and popped it in this frame.  Still experimenting with my signature.  Printing vs. cursive.  I was in a printing mood after making the PIZZA sign. 

We've been very busy on the fixer-upper.  Had to clean up for out of town company but upon their departure we decided to tear up a new area of the house.  I imagine if our guests stayed too long we'd be tempted to remodel them.  I guess it's just what we do.

LET THERE BE STEMS

I feel so powerful.  In my last post I quickly noticed that the stems in this painting were so short they were nonexistent.  So I grew, er, painted stems.  There you have it.  

DIVING BELLE

DIVING BELLS

We have been sorting through a few boxes of old photos and I got in a goofy mood.  I decided to do a little 1950's step back in time study.  All I had in the size I wanted was a high quality canvas.  Unfortunately, it had a very rough surface.  Big mistake for a small detailed piece.  But again, it was a study and next time I'll use a smooth surface, different colors, etc.  I love the lady.  My husband named this Diving Belle, which he thought was hilarious.  He had to show me on wikipedia what a diving bell was.  Okay, he wins, the pics of diving bells are quite funny.  

I have several paintings in various stages of completion, but have been under the weather and on round two of antibiotics from having oral surgery.  Paula doesn't do meds well, so this is about all I have to show you right now.  Trying to get myself in gear here since I have out of town guests coming in a week.  

SILL TO CANVAS

I have been busy bee since I last posted.  So much so that I'm a year older now.  Those birthdays sneak up on me when I'm not paying attention.  We have also been working on getting the courtyard and back patio in better shape.  One of our purchases was a white rose topiary that thanks us daily with new blooms.  I decided to paint this little bottle of roses sitting on my sill.  I popped the wet canvas in this frame to take a picture.  It helps me to see it as you would, and now I see what I need to change.  The flowers I painted had tiny stems, barely visible.  But now they will have proper stems.  Do wish I had noticed that before now.  Live and learn.  You seem to always see my "not quite" finished pieces.

A couple weekends ago we drove to Santa Ysabel to attend an art gallery reception.  It was such a beautiful drive that we took some photos with our phones.  I think it's amazing how a tiny camera in a phone can capture some pretty decent images.  You be the judge:

GARDEN TO SILL

The yard is taking shape.  Finally I have my very own Ranunculus flowers.  Oh, and for the first time I have Delphiniums!!!  My window sill is lined up with vases filled with glorious color and inspiration.  

MY FRIEND GWEN

Say hello to my friend Gwendolyn.  She's one of my Nashville buddies (sang in our wedding a hundred years ago).  Lately, she's has been hanging out on my easel for longer than anyone should hang.  But more oral surgery put me out of commission for a few days, then a boatload of yard work and changing my mind about the background has delayed progress.  Alas, I am back on track and wanted to show you the various phases I've put Gwen through to get her this far.  I still have a couple tweaks and then she's good to go.  Here's the progress so far:

The underlayment actually made me happy and in many cases would be considered done.  But it's difficult for any painting to get out from under my brush that easy.  

The original photo (above left) was taken on the beach and against my better judgement I tried to add the beach background and hated how distracting it was.  Let it sit thinking it might grow on me, but it didn't and I quit trying.  In the end my Mr. MacGyver was able to cut the rectangle canvas to a square and now I'm off to add the finishing touches and signature.  Thank you Gwen for such a joyful smile and golden glow.   

MODERN PATCHWORK

Hey, wanted you to know I have a new quilt tutorial, REGENCY SQUARED, coming out in the upcoming issue of Modern Patchwork, due out April 23.  You can preorder Modern Patchwork HERE.   

In other news, we are literally seeing the fruits of our labors.  Realizing the neglected thorny trees left in small containers were citrus we worked to identify and nurse them to health.  Transplanting, feeding, visits to the garden nursery with lists of questions and we are now the proud parents, uh, owners of a meyer lemon, blood orange, valencia orange and one more that is finally going to reveal it's identity this year.  I keep hoping it's a lime tree, but most likely another orange.  I made a marinade with lemon and dijon for grilled salmon that was to die for.   Oh dear, I might be turning into a citrus foodie.  Any recipe suggestions?