Lisa Call

Knee High by the 4th of July

Happy 4th to you!  The corn is actually taller now, and we are hoping to have a great crop this year.  Yes...my family wants to live on a farm one day, but until then we will have to settle for our urban garden. 

 

A Winner and Other Stuff

I love June in the garden, and if you lived near me I would bring you some of these...

 

 

and on my table in any container I can find...

 

We have had so much sun lately that everything is blooming. 

This weekend I also had the opportunity to meet a fellow blogger Tiffany of Shabby Scraps at an antique show not too far away.  She is as delightful as her blog and I purchased this lovely sewing basked she adorned with lovely vintage goodies.

 

She had the most wondeful antique display cabinet in her booth that I am still thinking about.  If only I had brought Jeff's truck to the show.  I don't have a place to put it...but I still want it. 

Now...last but not least - the winner of my blog give away is Taylor.  I'll get that in the mail tomorrow.

Thank you all for you comments and hopefully there will be more give aways soon.  Have a lovely day!

I had an idea...

I had this great idea of making a whole bunch of shelves with various vintage frames in an assortment of finishes to display all my beads above my desk. Frames like the one I bought at the Barn House last year that you see below...why didn't I buy 5?  Why can't you ever seem to find what you are looking for?

 

So I have been searching and searching, but just couldn't find them.  So I settled for some other frames that would need to be painted...but they would not have that great patina.  Still I needed to get the studio organized and couldn't wait another day, so I had Jeff build the shelves and attached these frames after layering on some white paint.

 

 

 

I bought these great glass spice jars with white lids that fit perfectly on the shelves.  I  plan on covering the lids with either music sheets, paper or ribbon.  I spend a lot of time organizing these days and less time creating, but I have my handy little idea book for some new jewelry designs sitting on my desk...ready.

I have one more to shelf to finish for rubber stamps that will be hung by my art supplies.  I am sure that now that I am done with this project I will find frames galore.  A girl can always use more storage!

Hello and a Give Away

 I know it has been a while, so to make it up to you here is a give away...I spent Mother's Day combing the beach in Port Townsend for beach glass and rocks with my favorite little helpers!

 

The picture does not do it justice...a perfect day!  Jeff came along so we hiked farther than ever!  So here is the give away - some of the beach glass.  Leave a comment a long with your email and I will do a drawing next Sunday.

I'll post some more studio projects soon.

Instead of Laundry

Instead of laundry I went to the arboretum with my sweet petunia.  So if you come to my house in the spring or summer, you will see dust on a few shelves and know there is laundry piled very high...and now you know why. 

 

The colors were amazing and now I am feeling like I just want a touch of green and pink...like this

 

and this...

 

 

We spent a lot of time looking up...80+ pictures that I hope to add to an album on the sidebar one day.

 

There were cherry blossom chandeliers that I want to make with tissue to hang from my ceiling!

   

 

 “Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.”

—Anne Lamott (b. 1954), author, political activist

My Crayon Box

I love old containers, and I have found many to try and contain all my art supplies.  Here is my new crayon box.  A sturdy little metal fishing box.

 

And inside you will find my Caran d'Ache set.  I use these in all of my journals and paintings.   The add just the right amount of depth...and are water soluable.   I first learned about these when looking through Teesha Moore's journals and have used them ever since.  Kelly Kilmer introduced me to the big fat ones.

 

What's your favorite supply and how do you store them?

The Sun does Shine in Seattle

Here is my first self portrait inspired by this lovely soul.  Can you see the blue sky in my glasses? 

  

When the sun is out the girls get to play.  Rosie, Poppy, Lilly and Penny playing outside with the ever faithful Toby carefully looking after our girls.

 

Here is one of my lovely chicken girls.  She is trying to train them to walk on a tight rope...I kid you not and that certainly makes a mama smile.  

 

Poppy and Petunia below...aren't they cute?

 

Oh...and do you ever tire of seeing egg photos?  I don't!

 

I hope your weekend is full of sunshine...going to be 70 here and I can't wait to break out my sandals.

ArtFest

I just returned from ArtFest and had a wonderful time hanging out with some wonderful people.  So much fun and only a handful of photos. 

Here is the journal I made in Pam  Garrison's class.  She is so talented and always a fun teacher.

 

I still need to attach the rhinestone brass number to the cover, but can't decide if that will just get in the way.   Sometimes it is about function over fashion.

I'll try and post more soon, but my girls are on spring break and we actually have had sun here in Washington...so might be a few days.

Hey Jill and Taylor...if you are reading this post, please send me the room photos via email.  I would love to see them.

Evolution of a studio...

Some of you will remember when I had Jeff add two islands to the center of my studio in an effort to be more organized almost a year ago.  Jeff's comment at the time,  "You know if I add more storage you will just make a bigger mess right?"  I only responded with a slight eye roll because I knew deep down inside that was true, but I was not about to admit it.   He was right.  I love this man because he knows me so well and is still married to me after almost 17 years. 

 So a few months ago I made the comment,  "I really would like a big big table in the center of my studio?"  Jeff, "Didn't you have a table in the center before I added the islands?"  Lisa - "sigh...yes, but I really need a big table so the girls and I can sit and work on bigger projects and maybe a class in my studio!"  I do believe there was a little muttering, and then he said he would make me one for Valentine's Day.    Lisa - happy sigh.  So designing ensued, and Jeff was just waiting on my final decision.  The thought of all the saw dust and mess in the garage and driveway, discussions about proportion, legs, and the cost of wood did delay any final decision and one night I spied this large table in Craig's list for $50.00...solid wood.  We couldn't even buy the wood to make my table for that price so here it is before I painted it.

 

Below is the after shot.  Sorry it is a little blurry, but I wanted you to see the chair in the lower right corner...three more to paint.  These were purchased years ago and in our garage forever...they were originally going to be painted bright colors and used in our garden, but I never got that project going and now I am glad that I procrastinated...because they are new studio chairs.   The little vintage trays were a great find and perfect for keeping beads from rolling on the floor.

 

 Here is another little cabinet I found...ugly brown and voila...shabby white.  I tend to like white in my studio since other colors tend to through a shadow of color on the beads.   

I have painted an armoire, a cubby, a bench, a table, two chairs and a frame and can honestly say...I won't be buying anymore furniture that needs to be painted for a while.  The cubby almost put me over the edge.  I am still suppose to paint the cabinet doors to my desk...but that is going to have to wait...I want to make a big mess on my new clean table.

Who Doesn't Love Mother of Pearl Buttons?

I have containers and containers of mother of pearl buttons.  I am guessing you do too!  I love the soft glow of the old ones,  but I think I love the carved ones the most.  I set a large one in a sterling bezel last week and it has been on my desk just waiting to be finished.  Sorry the picture is so dark, but we are bracing for another little snow storm...yes I said snow storm in March.  Our weather has been all over the map...sunshine, rain, snow, hail, snow, sunshine.   Just like my moods lately.  I am looking forward to some spring weather.  Hopefully the weather will be better by ArtFest time!  Will you be there?

 

Be safe and warm this weekend!