While searching for something I can't even remember at this point I came across this fantastic tutorial on easy screen printing using embroidery hoops, nylons, modge podge and speedball ink. I should probably muster up the gumption to use my Gocco first, but I am having a hard time trying to decided what to make. Perhaps my Holiday cards? Has anyone used the fabric attachment?
November 21, 2005
This has been a strange year. It seems like so much has happened, we bought a house at the same time the Harvest started, as well as my painting class, and my "real" job has been especially hectic so we have been busier than any year I can remember. It kind of sucks, actually. Lots of things have been put on the back burner (like this blog) because of our schedule. I let Halloween come and go without any sort of creating or decorating, and I fear Christmas will be the same way. I think the fact that we will be traveling for the Holidays makes me sort of uninterested in doing anything crafty/creative. I don't even think we will get a tree this year. However, that being said...I got the latest Anthroplogie catalog in the mail the other day and FELL IN LOVE with their skate stockings. Oh my GOD they are so cute:
There's always next year!
November 18, 2005
Clocks were hung successfully after a call to Dad to have him explain to us how to use our stud finder.
Operation Paint Dining Room went off without any major catastrophes. The Before:
The After:
It's a little hard to get a good shot of that room with the light from the window blaring in at you. I chose a shade of paint one notch above the living room, and I am thinking that I could have gone even lighter. There was a bit of a curtain fiasco in this room as well. I got the curtains from IKEA my mom wanted me to get when she was out last month; but once I hung them I absolutely hated them. I went out and purchased the same curtains I used in the living room instead. Next step is to eventually replace the God awful florescent light with a nice chandelier of some sort. Who puts office lighting in a dining room? We never turn that light on, hence the IKEA paper lamp in the corner. I heart IKEA.
I clipped some branches from a tree/bush in our backyard to put in my Eva Ziesel pitcher. You can see it peeking out over the fence from the Buddhist's parking lot. We have our own bush of whatever it is and I noticed that it matched perfectly with the color of my walls. I need to get more vases. Or A vase. I have none, which is why I used the pitcher, but it works just fine I think.
We are talking about eventually converting that window in the dining room into French doors that will lead out to the deck we will hopefully build next summer. I am going to take a break from painting for a bit I think, but the next room to tackle is the Kitchen. I at least feel good enough about the house so far to have friends like Kim and Karan come over and not have it look like we live in a war zone. Not to mention our first ever Thanksgiving meal being hosted by Jeffery and myself. I have to start making lists!! I can't believe it's almost December.
November 11, 2005
Operation Paint Living Room is complete with only minor casualties. The before:
The after:
The back wall of the fireplace is painted a darker brown than the rest of the wall, but I am not sure if you can tell. I am sort of thinking of going CRAZY and painting it red. The hardest part about this whole thing was choosing curtains. I didn't know what a fiasco that would be. As you can see in the foreground draped over the couch is my first choice. Jeffery HATED those curtains, and I will admit, they didn't look as cool as I thought they would. I still love them however, and am going to put them in my studio. I have decided tile the floor a black and white check like Kim's and my beloved curtains will feel quite at home I think.
We need new chairs for in front of the fireplace. Right now we only have the slouchy-chair-of doom which will kill your back after ten minutes. An ottoman would be nice as well. And some pillows. We need some artwork aslo...I don't think the Shag will work in this room unfortunately.
A few years ago we bought a GIANT clock at IKEA that we both fell in love with the moment we saw it. Recently I came across this picture in a pottery barn catalog:
See the clocks? I LOVED it and new I wanted to do the same thing. I have been on a clock hunt ever since and somehow convinced Jeffery it would be a good idea since we already HAD a giant clock. This week, while looking for curtains I stumbled on the most glorious clock EVER at Target. It's even bigger than our giant IKEA clock. Here they are waiting to be hung on the wall:
It's sort of hard to get a feel for how big they are sitting on the floor. We have decided we need just one more; a size in between the one on the far left and the one on the far right and our clock wall will be complete.
Next up: Operation Paint Dining Room Hopefully Before Our Thanksgiving Guests Arrive.
November 4, 2005
I have been tagged by Kim! I have such a hard time thinking of answers to these things, so here we go.
20 random things about me:
1.
My first car was a yellow Volkswagen beetle with a Baja kit. I loved it so much.
2. I have been to Paris twice
3.
I hate salmon
4. I love chicken skin
5.
I am a GIANT procrastinator
6. I don't like horror or war movies
7.
Can close my nostrils without using my hands. (you'd have to see it)
8. I have two massive cowlicks
9. I have two tattoos, one around my belly button, one on my ankle.
10. Would like to have more (sorry Dad)
11. Have had the same pair of steel-toed Doc's for the last 15 years which I still wear. I would save them in a fire.
12. I totally suck at things like this
13.
I can't think of anything else
14.
Watched a lot of TV as a child, mostly movies on HBO
15.
I would never have a bird as a pet, or any small rodent-type animal
16. I love bacon
17.
7 things to do before I die:
1. Travel
2. See my paintings in a gallery.
3. Learn French
4. Learn Japanese
5. Take Dancing lessons
6. Write a book
7.
7 things I cannot do:
1. Sing.
2. Carry a tune.
3. Lift heavy items
4. Have sense of direction
5.
I am sorry, I can't think of anymore answers! It's hard talking about myself, I just don't think about things like this. It's probably why my Bio page is still blank. I am lame, I know. Make that random item #17 please. Erica is lame.
This is the last month of my painting class. I will be happy that its over on one hand, but I will really miss it. I wish there was an Advanced Advanced class. Here are two more paintings in progress:
Lizard Eye. I still have a lot more to do , but I am am pleased so far. This is practice for when I start to paint Dragons!
Robot chasing bubbles. Or are they planets? I don't know. They were supposed to be planets but my teacher said that it looked like he wanted to pop the bubbles. This one is silly, I know. He still needs a lot of work, but I am thoroughly enjoying painting now.
