PS Thought for the Day

I wanted to invite you all to join our Society of Decorative Painters and then be able to join our local chapter Western Colorado Decorative Artists. We meet monthly except July and August on the second Saturday of each month. We have a (usually) short business meeting and then a fun painting project taught by one of our members. Think about it!

So much to do...so little time

Well, I feel like I haven't posted anything in absolutely forever! I guess I haven't...Anyway, hope everyone had a lovely Easter and spent it with family and/or friends. I was lucky enough to have my daughter and her family AND my husband home (he was home for a visit! LOL). We had a fun time at the Easter egg hunt (in the house because it was raining outside) and then we had to watch Lauren's new Dora movie and color with Taylor's new Color Wonder Princess book. We had a great meal of ham, scalloped potatoes, peas, ambrosia salad, wonderful Rhodes rolls, coconut cream pie, lemon meringue pie and for the little ones--bunny puffs! The girls said they were great!!! As for painting, well.......I did get the chapter newsletter finished today and will send that out tomorrow. Also got the class calendar done for May (almost wrote March--can it possibly already be May?). So at least Doe and I know what we're teaching and when. Tomorrow morning class will paint "Let's Eat" it's an adorable project of Shara Reiner's on paper mache letters that spell E A T or you can re-arrange them to spell T E A or A T E. Your choice! Then we'll begin to work on the Bluebird and Roses coffeepot. In the Tuesday evening class we're finally starting on the much anticipated Large Floral Plate/Bowl designed by Judy Diephouse. It's so much prettier in person...you should really see it! Well, that's enough for now...Happy Trail to you...

Fun Day!

I had a really fun day today! Slept in--granddaughter, too! Hurried to get ready to head out to painting. Picked up Lynette and Millie and off we went--after a quick stop at my house on the way back by to turn off the coffeemaker and get Lynnette some breakfast because her electricity had gone out that morning before she could eat--got to Fruita. Taylor worked on her Paint by Number project--using her own colors--a lovely project! Then she decided she would try the scratch art. That turned out well, too!  A cute kitten. Then it's on to painting your own thing on white paper. Well, she decided she'd like to try transferring a pattern after watching Memaw transfer a pattern to the surface I was working on. She did quite well and thought she would try another. Another great project! What a perfect little lady she was today! She had such a good time with all the painting ladies--and they with her. We had a fun lunch and back to painting. We left early as Taylor and I had to get the furry kids to the vet this afternoon. Romeo escaped--he will go another day--soon! Taylor had cupcakes with the front office staff at the vets--thanks to them for their help--and then we're on our way home. We had leftover pizza for dinner and then movie, popcorn snack and Pink Poodle drinks for dessert. Tomorrow moring--pigs in a blanket with Pink Poodle drinks! Alas, tomorrow she must return home! She's not ready--so she says--Memaw may be ready--these youngun's are tiring! Really enjoying our two sleepovers! Happy trails to you...

Makin' Memories

Took some time off to clean my house! It really needed it and I had a week off teaching classes. I figured there's no time like the present. So, my house is now clean, my fall/winter clothes are put away, all my throw rugs have been washed, my pantry has been re-organized. Boy! Does that feel good?  You bet!
Now for a little fun...Taylor is over for two sleepovers (that's 2 nights for those of you that don't speak small person). We have lots planned. We spent time with Mommy and Lauren today looking for new bedding for her new bedroom in her new house (They are moving in May to a new house--very exciting) then went to dinner at the new Chuck & Kluck restaurant. It was really good food! And the deep fried Oreos--what a nice way to end the meal! They were really good. Who'da thought it? Well, then we watched Shrek III and read three stories and now someone is in Dreamland while I'm up messing on the computer! Tomorrow we go paint with the "big" ladies and out to lunch, then take the "furry" kids to the vet. After that we'll have a special supper, Pink Poodle Sodas and Movie with Movie "Snacks" which are whatever you  make that's different from what you  usually have for snacks. LOL What fun it is to be a MeMaw! Thanks Mommy for letting her come for two sleepovers! Saturday I'll be back at the housework only on the outside now--hope I survive the allergies. Spring cleanup starts the Monday after Easter and I've got to get out and get the dead stuff out of the yard so I can see the spring stuff that's comin' up! Perhaps then...I'll get back to some painting. In the meantime...happy trails to  you...

Paintin' Chick

Today was our Western Colorado Decorative Artists Chapter meeting. We voted to start a website for our chapter! Woo Hoo! I'm pretty excited about that...hoping it will give us more visibility and help attract new members.
I was the teacher for our monthly paint-in. We painted Cindy Mann Vitale's "Paintin' Chick" on aprons, totes, a clock and a canvas board. What creative people we have in our chapter! The member who painted the project on a clock used the paint buckets for the numbers on the clock and the Paintin' Chick is in the center. It's going to be great. Everyone did such a good job on their projects...quite a few of our members don't paint much on fabric. I must say I was proud of everyone's work. This was a wet-on-wet method of fabric painting which is a little like oil painting as shading colors are blended with the base coat color instead of base coating, drying and then floating color. I've challenged them to complete the project, embellish and wear in June for the Shara Reiner seminar. Can't wait to see the results...if Millie's pictures turn out, I'll post them here in the next few days.
I will say I was pretty tired this afternoon after class. That concrete floor is a killer on your legs and feet. However, 4 ibuprofen later...I'm feeling some better. Now I just need a good night's sleep and I'll be up and attem tomorrow!
Happy trails...happy painting...

Gettin' out what you put in...

I have really seen some progress in The Tole in the Wall Gang's painting abilities! The Tuesday night class is working hard on the Trinket Box designed by Judy Diephouse in her Lessons in Strokework 1 Book. We almost finished tonight--that double loading flat comma stroke was just giving them fits. The "buds" were not far behind in the frustration level. We have a week off and then we'll finish up that trinket box and begin working on the Large Floral Bowl/Plate from the same book. These are not only excellent lessons in stroke work/brush control,but they are also beautiful pieces when finished!

The thought for the day would be you get out only what you put in...meaning practice, practice, practice! I can tell who is and who is not. You'd think that you wouldn't have to keep practicing these darned old strokes, but let me just be the first to say if you don't...well, you will struggle some--maybe even a lot. Even the teacher practices!

Hopefully, next week I can post some pictures of the gang with their completed projects! Until then...happy trails to you!

Taxes, Bleah!

Well, I finally waded through the tax prep workbook our accountant sends us every year in DECEMBER! Like I'm going to do tax stuff then...anyway, all done but a few things from hubby. Then I spent some time in my paint studio tidying up. It had gotten way out of control -- what is that? Control, I mean. *Giggle* Just a few more patterns from magazines to put away and it should be good for painting again.

I have finished my Della Wetterman class project and Lynne Deptula and Judy Diephouse class project from Las Vegas Creative Painting Convention. I just have to varnish! Yea! Then I'll post pictures.

It's late...happy painting to all and to all a good night!