SEPTEMBER...TO OCTOBER 24TH...FALL HERE???

WELL IS FALL HERE YET.  TODAY IS OCTOBER 24TH...I DECORATED THE HOUSE IN MID SEPTEMBER AND I AM ALREADY TIRED OF THE DECORATIONS...AND THE HEAT.  I THINK THEY SAY...FALL IS HERE...SURE... BUT MOMS LITTLE TABLE IS DECORATED WITH HER WITCH PLACEMAT AND HER PUMPKIN WHICH SHE HAS HAD FOR A COUPLE YEARS..AND HER TEDDY...SHE DOESN'T LOOK TOO HAPPY, BUT ACTUALLY SHE WAS!

SO WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING IN 2 MONTHS.  I WENT TO JOHNS EVENT HAD HIS OFFICE AND WOW..I RAN INTO SNOOPY!!!...HE SAID..HEY, GIVE ME A HUG!  

NO. I ACTUALLY SAID THAT.  ANYWAY IT WAS FUN.

HELLO FRANKIE.WELL THIS PICTURE IS ONLY OF HIS HEAD..BUT DARN CUTE ANYWAY  ...HE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO LOOK CUTE, BUT HE IS...THATS A SNAKE!!! ALL CREATED BY SANDY THE ARTIST!!  PROMISE TO SHOW ALL OF HIS BEAUTIFUL ( WHOOPS SORRY) SCARY BODY NEXT TIME.

I THINK I HAVE TOO MANY CANDLES...TOO MANY DECORATIONS.  THIS IS ONLY ABOUT 4 OF 40.  I STARTED GIVING SOME AWAY.  I LOVED THE BIG BSKET OF CORN AND PUMPKINS ON THE DINING ROOM TABLE..BUT OTHER THEN THAT..MOST OF THIS I COULD DO WITHOUT....BUT HAD IT..SO PUT IT OUT.

I THINK...THESE FALL DECORATIONS ARE SOOO PRETTY THAT YOU WANT TO BUY ALL YOU SEE AND THEN..YOU END UP WITH MORE THEN YOU HAVE A PLACE FOR...THE BLACK CANDLE IS FROM ABOUT 6 OR 7 YEARS AGO..AT THE CANDLE STORE..AND THE PUMPKINS CANDLES ARE OLDER THEN THAT..SEE WHY I MIGHT BE TIRED OF IT ALL!

OH MY GOSH. I LOVE HER...HIM...ALL OF IT.

THIS IS ACTUALLY AN AIRBRUSH PAINTING I DID ON A CANVAS..AND THEN I PUT A SWISH OF SILVER PAINT UNDER THE ROCKING HORSE..AND HE CAME ALIVE.  BUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS..SO UNIQUE PIECE...WELL...I HAVE HAD THIS UNICORN AND ANGEL FOR A YEAR.  WANDA THREW IT IN WITH SOME STUFF AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH IT...NOW..THE COLORS OF THE CANVAS AND THE UNICORN AND ANGEL WORKED SO PERFECTLY I DONT' WANT TO GIVE IT AWAY..INFACT I TOOK THE PICTURE SO MAYBE WHOMEVER SEES THIS WILL FIND ME ANOTHER DECORATION..I WON'T GIVE THIS UP UNTIL I FIND ANOTHER BUT HAS TO BE EXACTLY LIKE THIS ONE!  THANKS WANDA.

OH MY GOSH. WHAT IS IT. YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS SINCE I TRANSFERRED ONLY 1/2 A PICTURE..NOT SURE WHY.  ANYWAY ITS A LARGE CANVAS I BOUGHT AT GOODWILL FOR 7.00 AND COVERED IT WITH AIRBRUSH PAINT AND THEN THOUGHT..WHAT NEXT..SO I PAINTED A BUTTERFLY IN THE MIDDLE.

 I HAD FOUND A PIECE OF DRIFTWOOD IN SANTE FE AND STAMPED A BUTTERFLY ON IT SO THIS BECAME...THE REAL PART OF THE BEAUTIFUL OBJECT..AND I CALLED THIS ' MARIPOSA.  I THINK IF I EVER HAVE ANOTHER KITTY I WILL NAME HER MARIPOSA..OR MAYBE NOT!!

ANYWAY I GAVE THIS TO JOHN FOR THE AUCTION AT THE OCTOBER FEST AND TRUTHFULLY I DIDN'T REALLY CARE FOR IT AFTER ALL...BUT..IT WAS FUN CREATING IT WITH THE AIRBRUSH..AND THE COARSE PUMICE GEL, WHICH IS WHAT THE BUTTERFLY WAS CREATED WITH........

 WELL CAN YOU SEE MOM WITH  THE WHITE RIBBON IN HER HAIR.  CASSIE THE HOSPICE CAREGIVER THAT GIVES MOM HER BATH, DRESSED HER ALL UP TODAY..OCT 24 AND SHE LOOKED LIKE A LITTLE GIRL GOING TO A PARTY...HER PRETTY WHITE COTTON DRESS WITH LITTLE FLOWERS ON IT...

MOM HANGS IN THERE.  BUT WANTS TO GO HOME.  THE DOOR IS OPEN..BUT SOMEHOW...SOMEONE DOESNT COME TO GET HER...FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A REASON!!

SO UNTIL NEXT TIME..WHEN I DOWNLOAD FRANKIE'S PICTURE LIKE I SHOULD HAVE...HAVE A NICE 'FALL'.  THEY SAY ITS HERE!!!

HAPPY 96TH BIRTHDAY MOM!!

Well lets start with mom's 96th birthday party!!!!   We took her OUT. Its been a hot summer so that was something new for her...to a restaurant...with the family..and she ate mexican food..which includes cheese...which she also loves but doesnt' get much of....grandkids brought a balloon...it was great.  Amazing.  That said..by 4:00 PM when we were back home and I reminded her of her birthday and the great time she said ' and you didn't take me"?

 then..along came Nathaniels 12th birthday!  YEP thats his TAKE from Grammi and Grandpa.  From Tillies!!  guess thats how you spell it.. or maybe its Telly's..whatever...I had never been there.  I picked him up and said ' lets go to Macy's for your birthday and you can pick out what you want."  The great guy he is..says OK Grammie!  ( now what the heck does Macy's have for this 12 year old).  Then as we were driving I said " well maybe Dillards".  Now for sure Dillards doesn't have Nathaniels taste!  So he says ' well maybe Macy's grammie".  ( hahahaha)  then. I pulled out this paper I had printed about a store I looked up on the internet...Tillies!  Actually his mom had told me..this was not just his favorite, but the ONLY store he wanted to shop at) So I said...
Nathaniel...I found this on the internet and thought you might want to stop there..I am not sure you have ever heard of it..and maybe you dont' care...but I thought I would show you the paper and name..just incase! WOW.  Did he come alive!  GRAMMIE THIS IS MY FAVORITE STORE!
I said..Well wasn't that nice..who would have thought...........what fun!

Then we headed for Durango with my  brother Kenny and his wife Carolyn.  Ken wanted a hat...well not just any hat..and this wasn't THE hat...but he looked like a Durango visitor..so thought I would catch this for a memory!!!!  Kind of lets you know what the heck we did between the train ride...the rain...the doggie kennel and the restaurants!!!  Oh yeah..and the train ride was gorgeous.

Before leaving for Durango..Jill ..dan's Jillster..as he calls her ( girlfriend.).invited us to her beautiful home for a cook out..Jill is an artist...I mean she even Sells her art..so for she ..she is an artist...and we just always have a good time with both of them.

 We choose the Gondola car...we made our reservations in April..goody..and got the best car and the best seat.  Wanted to be able to hang out and take pictures...and we did...and kenny did...and the view was beautiful..a beautiful day ( until we got to Silverton)...then the rain came..but what the heck...it was all just in fun...

We stopped before Durango at danny's house in Sante Fe..and stopped again on the way back.  I think Danny had enough of us..well me...and ...john....and driving directions...but ...the CowGirl bar never looked so good or delivered so much fun!

So until next year...( I mean for nana and nathaniels birthday...and our vacation ...)...giddy up!

chicago chicago

HI MOM.  MOM IS SIGNING HER NAME TO KERSTIE'S BIRTHDAY CARD.  KERSTIE IS NOT JUST MOMS CAREGIVER...SHE IS AN AMAZING ORGANIZER..AND COMPANION.  EVERY DRAWER IN MY HOUSE..IS NOW PERFECT..INCLUDING THE BAGS OF COFFEE...TOWELS..EVEN OUR JUNK DRAWER IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM.

MOST IMPORTANTLY SHE KNOWS HOW TO KEEP MOM COMMUNICATING ALL DAY.  WHEN SHE EMPTIES THE DISHWASHER SHE HANDS EVERY SINGLE ITEM TO MOM TO DRY!  AND MOM SITS AND DRIES EACH ONE.  SHE SAYS ' I HAVE SO MANY JOBS'...WHICH MAKES HER FEEL NEEDED...

AND SHE IS MY BEST CRITIC. JUST LOVED THIS BOX AND ASKED ' IS THIS MINE'.?  OF COURSE MOM!

MY FIRST TRIP THIS YEAR WITH JOHN ON A BUSINESS TRIP..WAS TO CHICAGO.  THE WEATHER WAS GORGEOUS..WALKED AND WALKED.  ONE DAY 8 MILES.  BUT YOU DON'T KNOW IT...ITS ALL THE SAME...BUILDING AND BUILDING..EXCEPT I WALKED ALOT ALONG THE RIVER WHICH RUNS THRU THE CITY.  NOT SURE WHY WE NEVER TOOK OUR CHILDREN HERE..SO MUCH HISTORY.

ONE OF MY TO-DO'S WAS TO VISIT MARSHALL FIELDS.  SO I ASKED DIRECTIONS...IT WAS ABOUT 5 MILES...AND ALONG THE WAY I ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS AGAIN ' WHERE IS MARSHALL FIELDS'...AND I WAS GIVEN VERY GOOD DIRECTIONS...AND AS YOU CAN SEE I ARRIVED..............EXCEPT...........THE SIGN ON THE DOOR SAID MACY'S!!!!  SEEMS THEY BOUGHT MF'S ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO!!!  FUNNY UH, SINCE NONE OF MY NAVIGATORS TOLD ME THAT!!!  ANYWAY. WAS FUN WALK.

OF COURSE I WENT IN AND WENT SHOPPING!!! HOW SILLY OF YOU TO ASK!!!

WE STAYED ON 37TH FLOOR AND HAD A CORNER WINDOW VIEW...THIS WAS DOWNTOWN..OTHER VIEW WAS LAKE MICHIGAN...SO NO SHEETS TO WASH..NO BED TO MAKE...I CAN LIVE WITH THAT!!

NOW. THIS WAS AN EXPERIENCE.  SINCE MICHEAL JORDANS WAS ADVERTISED ALL OVER CHICAGO AS ' GRAND OPENING'.  SO WE DECIDED TO GO FOR LUNCH.

WELL THE WHOLE LUNCHROOM WAS RESERVED FOR THE DAY..THATS OK WE WILL SIT IN THE BAR.   TOOK OUR PICTURE..AND THEN...........TIME TO ORDER.

WHAT?  CHICKEN AND WAFFLES?   WHERE IS THE LUNCH MENUE?  THATS IT...YES THERE WERE OTHER ITEMS..BUT NONE WERE LUNCH FARE..THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT READY TO PUT THE LUNCH MENUE IN THE BAR.........WELL I WAS NOT READY FOR CHICKEN AND WAFFLES OR THE OTHER 'STUFF' ON THE MENU..SO WE THOUGHT..WELL AT LEAST WE HAVE THIS PICTURE!!!!!!!  

GREAT TRIP.  GREAT CAREGIVERS FOR MOM  EVERYONE HELPED OUT TO MAKE THIS TRIP POSSIBLE...AND FOR THAT..I WILL ALWAYS HAVE GREAT MEMORIES!!!

WOW AUGUST ALMOST CAME AND WENT...

WELL LETS SEE...HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN..SINCE JULY 19TH...FIRST..HERE IS MOM AND DANNY. MOM LOVES DANNY. DANNY LOVES NANA.  DAN DOESN'T SHARE HIS HAT WITH MANY..MOM LOOKS TIRED..SHE IS...NUMBER 96 IS COMING UP AUGUST 28TH

 WELL ART UNRAVELED HAS COME..AND GONE..ANOTHER EXCITING, GROWING, EXPERIMENTING WEEK OF PAINTS AND WAXES AND FRIENDS.  I CAME HOME AND CLEANED OUT THE STUDIO TO MAKE WAY FOR MY NEW LOVES...WAX!!  PLASTER!! COMPOUND!!! PAN PATELS!!!!!   GOT LOTS OF OTHER PICTURES OF BEFORE AND AFTER..WILL SHOW YOU LATER.  BUT WOW, DID I CLEAN OUT.  4 HUGH BOXES..A HUGH GARBAGE BOX..( JOHN THOUGHT THAT ONE SHOULD BE LARGER)..HA.

 AND TOOK TIME FOR SWEET SALVAGE.   MY FIND.  FOR THE GUEST ROOM.  OLD BED/OR GATE..FRAME FROM PARIS. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY ON THE RIGHT CORNER BY THE BED..YOU CAN SEE THE LOCK!!!  SO I CAN USE IT IN THE GUEST ROOM OR USE IT BY THE RAMADA FOR A GATE..EITHER WAY..LOVE IT.  SANDY AND I BARE THE 100 DEGREES ABOUT ONCE A MONTH AND HEAD TO 7TH AVENUE...COME ALONG SOME DAY!!

 ONE OF MY CLASSES WAS THE PLASTER CLASS WITH STEPHANIE LEE.  RATHER THEN DO ONE BOX AND EMBELLISH IT..I DID 3 SO I COULD LEARN THE 3 DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES FOR MAKING THE TOPS OF THE BOXES.  THIS HAS A FLIP LID..I THINK ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING..TAKES TIME!  OF COURSE THESE ARE HAND MADE BOXES STARTING WITH PIECES OF CARDBOARD..SO THEY ARE NOT EXACTLY INCH BY INCH PERFECT...BUT THEY ARE LOVELY

 BLACK VELVET RIBBON..SOME THIN STRAW WIRE AND A CROWN...CUTE. I PURCHASED AT LULU'S BOOTH AT AU!

 I MADE 3 DIFFERENT TOPS AND 3 DIFFERENT SIZES.  THIS WAS THE LARGEST.  I AM NOT SURE IF I WOULD MAKE SUCH A LARGE AGAIN, BUT THIS TOP SLIDES OFF AND THERE IS A TECHNIQUE TO MAKING THE COVER SO IT WILL STAY ON!! HA. THATS WHAT CLASS IS FOR!  LOVE PURPLE...SIDES ARE PURPLE AND PINK..WILL SHOW YOU NEXT TIME.

IN CLEANING OUT THE STUDIO I FOUND SO MANY CUTE EMBELLISHMENTS AND DECIDED ITS TIME TO USE THEM.  THE 'KISS' ON THE BOX WAS ONE OF THEM. HAVE SAVED THAT FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS!!!  WORKED PERFECTLY FOR THIS BOX.

 THIS IS THE COVER OF THE 3RD BOX.  THIS COVER HAS SIDES...SO NOW YOU SEE THE 3 DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES FOR THE BOX COVERS.  THIS IS THE INSIDE BECAUSE I AM EXPERIMENTING WITH THE COLORS AND THE TECHNIQUE OF THE PAINT I WANT TO USE...THIS WILL BE MY ANGEL BOX. SO WHAT THE TECHNIQUE?  I WILL EXPLAIN IN MY NEXT BLOG SINCE I KNOW YOUR ATTENTION SPAN IS SHORT HERE!

 AH..MY MYSTERIOUS LADY. ALWAYS WANTED TO USE SOME OF THE MASKS I FOUND AT A CHARITY FLEA MARKET. THIS WAS MY WAX CLASS. LOVED IT. THERE ARE MANY MANY TECHNIQUES ON THIS INCLUDING...YES...SHELLAC!  ACTUALLY WHAT I ORIGINALLY DID ON THIS ENCAUSTIC BOARD I DIDN'T LIKE AND NEEDED TO COVER IT WITH A DARKER WAX...SO I PUT ON THE RED..AND WHATEVER CAME TO MIND AFTER THAT.  SO THERE IS NEVER REALLY A MISTAKE!

...

 BUT THIS WAS.  BLACK AND WHITE WAX...I HAD A STENCIL ON HERE BUT WHEN I PULLED IT OFF...IT SORT OF..SPREAD!  SO I JUST HEATED UP THE WAX AND DID A LITTLE ABSTRACT AND LOVED IT.  HAVE TO SEE IT IN PERSON.  VERY VERY SMOOTH..ONE OF MY BEST...AND I HAVE SOME IDEAS FOR EMBELLISHING BUT ACTUALLY I JUST LIKE LOOKING AT IT AND FEELING IT.  THE PICTURE SHOWS SOME GOLD AT THE BOTTOM..THATS THE TABLE...NEXT IS A PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS!

 I LOVED LOVED WORKING WITH THE PAN PASTELS..AND THE INKS..AND THE WAX. THIS IS A COMBINATION OF ALL.  A LITTLE SPLATTER.. WHAT I SPENT TIME IN CLASS WAS CREATING THE SUBSTRATE...WHAT AND HOW TO FINISH THEM OFF WITH BE FUN..I AM ENJOYING THE COLORS..AND THE TECHNIQUES

THIS IS ANOTHER ' BEFORE'...AGAIN..WAX...PAN PASTELS...INKS...WAX...ETC.
I WANT TO DO THE WAX/SHELLAC AND BURN..TECHNIQUE SO I MIGHT FINISH THIS OFF WITH SUCH FUN.  WILL SHOW YOU LATER.

SO YOU CAN SEE I HAD FUN.  SO YES I KNEW I WAS FINDING..FINALLY..MY FOCUS.  I LOVE PLASTER...AND PLASTER WORKS GREAT WITH WAX!  MAKES A GREAT COMBINATION FOR BOXES...!  SO THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER.  I AM ON MY WAY.

NOW I HAVE 3 HUGH BOXES OF INVENTORY I NEED TO SHARE. I AM LOOKING FOR A NON-PROFIT..NO SCHOOLS...RATHER SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY HAS NO MONEY AT ALL...SO LET ME KNOW!

REMEMBER. LIFE LOVES YOU!

soo much going on

WELL I SHOULD TRY TO UPDATE MY BLOG ONCE A WEEK, BUT SOMETIMES...THERE ISN'T MUCH ANYONE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN..BUT BEEN PRETTY BUSY THIS TIME.

HERE IS MOM..SIPPING HER WINE...SURE...NOT...ITS CRANBERRY JUICE...BUT SHE LOVES TO SIT BY THE LILY POND AT NIGHT AND SEE THE FISHEE...I WILL HAVE TO TAKE AN UPDATED PICTURE OF THE LILY POND..I SAID NO FISH..WELL WE HAVE FISH...

HERE IS WHAT WE DID IN TRISH'S WAX CLASS.  LOVE IT. LOVE IT.  TRISH HAS A COMPANY CALLED VINTAGE BLISS...AND SHE TEACHES...MAKES JEWELRY..DOES JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ARTISTIC...I HAVE WANTED TO DO A NICE WAX COLLAGE FOR A WHILE...AND SHE OFFERED TO COME TO THE HOUSE AT NIGHT..AND WHALLA..HERE IT IS....SO NOW I WANT TO DO MORE MORE

HERE IS ANNABELL.   I NAMED HER.  SHE IS A CREATION OF SANDYS...STAMPED ONTO BEAUTIFUL COTTON...AND THEN EMBELLISHED...I AM NOT SURE THE DETAILS CAN BE SEEN IN THIS PICTURE BUT SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.  SANDY HAS A NICE STEADY HAND..AND AN EYE FOR EMBELLISHING.  SHE SHOWED ME 2 MORE TODAY...BUT I DIDN'T GET PICTURES..DARN. NEXT TIME.
 WE TOOK 9 DAYS IN SAN DIEGO TO CLEAN UP THE SHOP.  IT LOOKED LIKE GOODWILL STORE..ALMOST ALL MY NICE BIG FURNTURE WAS SOLD, BUT THEN WE HAVE NOT BEEN THERE IN 5 MONTHS.  WE BROUGHT IN THE WHITE DESK WHICH YOU CAN BARELY SEE IN THE RIGHT BOTTOM CORNER...THE MARBLE TOP CABINET IN THE LEFT CORNER..A BLUE DRESSER NOT IN THE PICTURE AND SOME BLACK END TABLES..STACKED IN THE BACK..SOOOOOOO THAT SHOULD LAST UNTIL NOVEMBER!
NOT.  THEY CALLED ME 6 DAYS LATER TO TELL ME THE WHITE DESK AND CHAIR SOLD ALONG WITH MY GORGEOUS WHITE CABINET YOU CAN SEE IN THE RIGHT CORNER.  I PAINTED THAT ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO..PUT A HIGH PRICE ON IT AND DIDN'T CARE IF IT SOLD...IT DID...SO NOW..WHERE TO PUT ALL THE LITTLE STUFF...AND WE DIDN'T PLAN TO BE BACK UNTIL NOVEMBER..I BETTER START PAINTING AGAIN.....QUICKLY

 WHILE IN CALIFORNIA I SAW A SMALL ART SHOW..AND THIS ARTIST HAD DONE SOME GORGEOUS METAL LEAF COLLAGES.  SHE TOLD ME A TRICK OF MIXING WATERCOLORS WITH POLYMER MEDIUM.  SO WHAT YOU SEE IS THAT...THESE COLORS ARE NOT WHAT THE WATER COLORS...COPPER AND GOLD..ORIGINALLY WOULD LOOK LIKE ON A WATERCOLOR SHEET....OVER NIGHT..THEY CHANGE..BEAUTIFULLY..AND NO 2 A LIKE...LOVE IT.

 THIS WATERCOLOR COLLAGE WAS DONE WITH ONLY ONE..ONE COLOR.  BLUE. OU CAN SEE ALL THE CHANGES..DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH PAINT IS MIXED WITH THE POLYMER..SO AGAIN..NEVER TWO THE SAME....

 AND THIS IS MY LARGEST..20 X 24 AIRBRUSH ON CANVAS YET...I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE COLORS.  I LIKE IT BRIGHT.  I HAD PLANNED TURQUOISE..SILVER AND GOLD..BUT SOMEHOW IT DIDN'T COME OUT THAT WAY.  AIRBRUSH COLORS ARE NOT THE SAME AS ACRYLICS..DEPENDS ON THE PIGMENT IN EACH..AND THE BLUE WAS NOT AS TURQUOISE AS I WOULD HAVE LIKED..BUT...I CAN'T CONTINUE TO JUST DO ORANGES, RED AND GOLDS...OR COULD I!!!!!!!!

SO THATS 3 WEEKS IN REVIEW...I THINK I NEED TO PUT THE BRUSH AWAY AND BRING OUT SOME BOXES TO FINISH UP...A CHANGE IS GOOD..FOR EVERYONE!!!

birds, plaster and pink

WELL. BEEN TINKERING WITH LOTS OF STUFF..PLASTER, JOINT COMPOUND AND A BIRD!  THIS BIRD HAS BEEN FLOATING AROUND THIS HOUSE FOR A MONTH OR TWO..NO IDEA WHERE I PICKED IT UP..BUT IT WAS SILVER..SO I STARTED TO DRESS HER UP...THESE ARE JUST 2 OF THE ' GETTING STARTED' STAGE...WILL SEND ANOTHER FINISH NEXT WEEK...WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE HER HAT!!! HA.

OH YEAH AND I DECIDED SHE NEEDED A PERCH.  SO FOUND A CUTE BOX AND PUT HER ON TOP OF IT......YOU WILL SEE...

 THEN I PURCHASED STEPHANIE LEE'S PLASTER STUDIO BOOK AND REALLY GOT  MY HANDS MESSY.  THIS IS JUST IN THE BEGINNING USING JUST JOINT COMPOUND..I PUT THIS ON A THIN HARD SURFACE AND NOW I WISH I HAD PUT IT ON A BOARD...IT CAME OUT REALLY NICE...BUT NOW..IT NEEDS A BASE

THIS WAS THE SECOND TECHNIQUE IN THE BOOK.  COTTON MATERIAL...THEN JOINT COMPOUND..THEN PLASTER OF PARIS...THESE ARE GLASS FLOWERS I BOUGHT AT Z GALLERY UMTEEN YEARS AGO...ITS CALLED ' DONT' FENCE ME IN".  NO IDEA WHY...WHY DOES AN ARTIST NAME ANYTHING..............I THINK I ENJOYED MIXING THE COLORS BY HAND MORE THEN ANYTHING ELSE.

 AND WHILE I WAS DOING ALL THIS MOM WAS SITTING PRETTY IN HER PINK DRESS.
SHE LOOKS SAD, BUT SHE WASN'T. INFACT SHE FELT NICE AND PRETTY AFTER A BATH AND A PINK DRESS.  SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE AND MESS UP HER PRETTY DRESS.

SO THE WEEK HAS BEEN BUSY...AND ..I HAVE GOTTEN LOTS OF EXERCISE SINCE SANDY AND I ..WENT TO THE ART WALK IN SCOTTSDALE AND DECIDED TO START OUR OWN WALK...ALL THE WAY TO JUST ABOUT THOMAS..AND BACK TO 5TH AVENUE.  WE WERE TRYING TO WEAR OFF THE GELATO...I THINK.  ACTUALLY I HAVE NO IDEA...MY HUSBAND SAYS WE WERE JUST TALKING AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION..COULD BE.  WE WILL NEVER TELL.

BIRTHDAYS AND TIC TAC TOE

WELL. ACTUALLY THIS PARTY HAPPENED AFTER DEBBIES'   WE JUST COULDN'T STOP HAVING PARTIES..WE WERE HAVING SO MUCH FUN.  SANDY AND ELAINE HAD GIVEN UP THEIR REAL BIRTHDAYS TO SURPRISE DEB FOR HER BIRTHDAY SOOOOOOO OF COURSE IT WAS TIME FOR THEM...BETTER LATE THEN NEVER!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELAINE AND SANDY!!!

 AND THE CONTINUING SAGA OF BIRTHDAYS..LETS NOT FORGET JOHN.  HE ISNT IN THIS PICTURE...THE BIG GUY NEEDS A POST OF HIS OWN..BUT HERE ARE MY GRANDSONS AND MY SON JOHNNY SETTING THE TABLE FOR A NICE PARTY AT THEIR HOME..GERI HAS SUCH CUTE DECORATIONS...AND WOW...I HID IN MY PURSE SOME 'COLORED STRING'...WHICH YOU WILL SEE LATER.............






WELL MOM DIDN'T MAKE THE PARTY, BUT SHE WAS VERY BUSY AT HOME..EMPTYING THE SILVERWARE DRAWER FOR THE DISHWASHER.
SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE..MOM LOVES THE KITCHEN AND LOVES TO KEEP BUSY.

 I STILL TRY TO GET INTO THE STUDIO FOR 20 MINUTES.  THIS IS ACTUALLY AIRBRUSH ON THE CANVAS..BUT FIRST I DID A STENCIL WITH GEL MOLDING PASTE....I AM NOT CRAZY ABOUT THE WHITE GEL WHICH FOR SOME REASON GOT CAUGHT IN THE STENCIL..SO BACK TO THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THIS ONE...BUT LOVED THE BACKGROUND OF THE GOLD AND REDS IN THE AIRBRUSH PAINT..MIGHT DO A BIG CANVAS WITH THOSE COLORS.

 YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY PLAY TIC TAX TOE WITH MOM TO BELIEVE IT. BUT SHE WILL EITHER BEAT YOU...OR IT WILL BE A TIE.  YOU WILL NOT WIN.  SHE IS SO GOOD AT THIS GAME ITS AMAZING.  WE KNOW THE MIND DOES FUNNY THINGS WITH DEMENTIA...BUT THIS IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE SHE LOVES TO PLAY.   SHE PLAYS THE GAME ALMOST LIKE PLAYING CHESS IN THAT SHE THINKS ALOT BEFORE THE NEXT MOVE..BUT SHE ALWAYS GETS THE MOVE EXACTLY RIGHT!!!

I AM PROUD OF YOU MOM.  DON'T GIVE IN TO THAT DEMENTIA...KEEP TRYING!!!

DEBBIE LIKES TO KEEP THE PARTY GOING

WELL YOU SAW PICTURES OF OUR PARTY FOR DEB...BUT HER HUBBY JIM HAD ADDITIONAL PLANS AND HAD A FAMILY REUNION AS DEBS GIFT.  THIS INCLUDED FLYING IN FAMILY FROM ATLANTA AND CALIFORNIA...WHICH DEB KNEW..BUT SHE DIDNT' KNOW HE CALLED AND INVITED A FEW OF HER FRIENDS...SO HERE I WAS TAKING PICTURES AGAIN...I THINK...THE PARTY IS OVER..AND NOW DEB CANT KEEP BEING 39..CAUSE WITH ALL THOSE PARTIES..WE DO REMEMBER!!!

 THE CAKE WAS AS GOOD AS THE PARTY.  THESE FLOWERS ARE CHOCOLATE AND THE FRUIT IS FRESH..WELL AT LEAST THE FLOWERS YOU CAN SEE..SOMEONE...I HAVE NO IDEA WHO..MIGHT HAVE SNITCHED A FEW HERE AND THERE...YUMMY!

 THIS IS THE FRONT PAGE OF A JOURNAL I DID FOR MY COUSIN..WHO IS ALSO FOLLOWING THE DOWN HILL PROGRESS OF HER DAD...THIS IS ACTUALLY A PURSE AND HAS A HIDDEN ZIPPER FORA SURPRISE  SHE IS GOING TO START WRITNG ABOUT HER JOURNEY...HOPE SHE DOES..

 AND OF COURSE AN UPDATE PICTURE OF FLAPJACK..ON HIS BIRTHDAY. HE IS NOW 2..OH THOSE TERRIBLE TWO'S...BUT THIS GUY IS JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!!

 WELL. DID YOU THINK BECAUSE SHE CAN'T WALK..NOR REMEMBER MUCH..THAT SHE STILL DOESN'T LIKE TO HAVE HER HAIR DONE.  SHE DOESN'T NEED A BAD HAIR DAY ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE..SO WITH RHANDA, THE CAREGIVER'S HELP..WE GOT HER TO OUR FAVORITE BEAUTY SALON.  AMAZING..SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHERE SHE WAS..WHAT SHE WAS DOING..AND HOW SHE LOOKED..

GUESS THOSE THINGS..FOR THE LADIES..NEVER CHANGE!!!!

IF PICTURES OF MOMS JOURNEY THRU DEMENTIA APPEARED ON MY BLOG IT WAS A MISTAKE.  I TOOK IT DOWN BUT NOT SURE IF IT GOT OUT.  THOSE PICTURES ARE FOR THE DEMENTIA BLOG I HAVE STARTED..AND WHICH IS BEING FOLLOWED AND HOPEFULLY HELPED..OTHERS ON THE INTERNET.  I HAVE NOT INCLUDED THOSE PICTURES ETC ON THIS BLOG.  CHEERS