Fall 2008 Paintings

I was a busy painter for a month while in Indiana waiting to head west for the winter. The pictures are of the completed watercolors. There are two that I am very happy with,"Crabby Apples," and "Tumacacorii Pots." The others I am just ok with. They are not the greatest but I always remember that not all paintings are supposed to be good to great. It's ok if they are just practice on the way to being good to satisfactory. Anyway-- I learned alot and enjoyed the painting.

Watercolor Fun!

Several months ago I once again began taking watercolor classes to see if I really wanted to pursue it. I lucked into classes and a wonderful instructor and gifted watercolorist, Mary Gretsinger at the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Seymour. Not only did I find classes that helped me challenge my abilities, I also found a group of women with whom I connected in the pursuit of art. What a happy surprise! The piece shown here is one that I put together totally on my own. I took a picture of the crab apple tree a week or so ago and used some of the techniques Mary and my past instructors taught me to create this watercolor. The best part about it was-------I loved the process and the final result. Those of you who pursue art know how very rare it is to enjoy and be pleased with a final result.

Welcome Dylan

The family has a new baby named Dylan Grace Breckenridge. I got inspired by her birth and made her a paper mache cake to celebrate. The over the top cake gives her mom Kim a place to save her baby shoes, teeth, baby bracelet and all those other mementoes we never know where to put. I knew Tom and Kim decorated her nursery in pink and green so I coordinated the colors with her room in St. Louis where Dylan lives.
A couple weeks ago we traveled to the lake to see baby and Kim and I got to spend the better part of the afternoon holding the sweet baby Dylan. Bliss!

Etsy at Last!

I worked all day and am happy to report I finally got my Etsy store up and running. Now to see if anyone wants anything. Who knows? I love handmade items and it is fun to be a part of that online community.
I've included a picture of the photo I took in front of our home of the lone sunflower on our property. It reminds me of the days we grew rows and rows of sunflowers and sold them at the farmers market. Hard work but such fun.

Traveling Quilt Kit

Last weekend I got my hands on a copy of the new Somerset Life magazine and I love it . The artists and the projects inspire me so. The article that caught my attention was written by Rebecca Sower entitled, Rebecca's Traveling Companion. Rebecca put together a beautiful vintage look suitcase of this and that to make lovely little artful quilts while supporting her son's sports interests. They both won------he played football and she created art.

Needless to say I had to have a traveling companion of my own. I had more than enough materials in my studio basement to put one together. My original idea is to take it with me as we travel around the country in our vintage RV. It will be a very small yet powerful way to create art on the road. As you can see by the picture above I dug out a case that I had altered many years ago and had not yet put into service for any thing. What fun I had thinking of ways to incorporate many of the vintage items in my stash. What fun to select snipits of fabrics, sheers, netting, buttons, beads and just pretty little things. The miles of laces, pastel rayon trims etc, that I wound around tags were just begging to be put to use as part of one of my creative projects. I made room for my mother's needle case. She embroidered her initial on the outside of a beautiful little wooden case that holds her needles and her Ginger scissors and thimble. What a perfect way to use that and remember her.

Jamie and I traveled to Brookville yesterday to meet the other JM Kimbrough's for lunch and some flea marketing. I thought what a perfect way to give my new traveling companion a try. Well I made one tiny quilt on the way over and almost another on the way back. I did find I needed the refine the fabric stash as it was just taking up too much space. Now that I know the case is road worthy It will most definitely make the Michigan trip in mid May.

Note: The ceramic had you see it the picture was purchased at the Flea Market. It is perfect to display some of my jewelry! Just had to share it too.

Fabric Altered Book

Last weekend I got my hands on a DVD by Leslie Riley and got very excited while watching it.  I knew I had drawers full of super fabric waiting for something wonderful to be done with it.  She also showed some techniques for transferring images to fabric and I knew I had most of the supplies for that also---------The rest is history-----I spent several days this week in the basement making my version of a fabric altered book.  What fun I had-------I have a feeling it is only the beginning for using fabric in my altered projects. If you have a fabric stash, try it for yourself.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Pretty Little Soldered Things

What fun I have had collaging, composing tiny little pictures and soldering up the charms for my latest soldering class outline for Papertrix.  The pieces are composed of vintage photos, ephemera, keys, buttons, beads and this and that.  Holding everything together is my favorite Midori rayon ribbon.  I love it because it reminds me of vintage sewing tape.  

I have learned to solder almost anything with inspiration from Sally Jean Alexander in her articles in both Home Companion and Sommerset Studio magazines.  A year or so ago she published a book called Pretty Little Things and it is spectacular.  A real inspirational jumping off point for those of us who are interested in perfecting our soldering skills.  I too started soldering many years back with a cheap soldering iron I found at the hardware store.  What a long way we have all come with our thoughts about what can and cannot be soldered and attached with the wondrous molten metal.  I love it!!!!!!!!!  Take a look at the latest offerings and sign up for my classes at Papertrix in May.  

Papertrix Queen of Hearts Dolls

What fun we had on Sunday afternoon February 3rd in Nashville.  Three terrific, creative ladies attended the Queen of Hearts Doll class and we had a great Valentine celebration.  Take a look at Jill's -Lily Mae, Pat's - Queen Isabella and Marty's Flossie dolls.  Great fun was had by all as they pasted, glittered and flowered their little beauties!

The Mac is in the Nest

Great day as I got my new MacBook today and I expect to love it as I expand my blog and it's content and photos.