Sunny day on the boat yesterday

I got to show the houseboat to a couple people yesterday and will show it again today...it has been very hard for me to wrap my head around having to sell the boat but I am there. I love the boat and know that the next owner will love it just as much as I do...it was a purchase that I decided to do by myself, knowing that my darling husband would soon come around and love the boat at my side..welp...I as wrong...he did not like th boat when I bought it and probably likes it even less today...okay...there is no real purpose in keeping the houseboat that I purchased nearly a year ago...I am willing to let it go today...and admit that I was stubborn and headstrong when I bought it...ouch..right? That is okay...I can live with that...I am willing to sell the little houseboat today!

A very funny story!

So...I own a houseboat in the Benicia Marina...my son has been staying on for the past year and it is time for him to move closer to his work..thus leaving the boat available for another adventure seeking person. I was to show the boat to someone today at one and decided it might be a good idea to take the vacuum on board since a large, white, fluffy dog lives on the boat too. At ten minutes to one I was done...hmmm...the vacuum is a bit bulky...hmmm...I will just hoist it onto the doc...hmmm...inertia got a hold of me...the vacuum and I both went sailing across the narrow walkway into the icy cold marina waters! I had on four shirts, overalls, leggings and wool felted dansko clogs. Needless to say I was a heavy lass...I went all the way under...soaking my dreadlocks too! Now...how to get my slowly sinking body out....there was no ladder there I can tell you...so I kept thinking of all those action movies where the skinny girl ends up being unbelievably strong..."you can do this" I kept thinking to myself. One leg over a rope, the other leg over the rope...one leg really stretched high onto the deck, the other leg onto the deck! Ta Da! I have not had this much fun in I don't know how long! And I was out of the water just in time to show the boat to the interested party....now that is a good story...and true!
My phone did not survive tho, it is recovering in a bag of rice...
The end!

A heart is for giving....a heart is forgiving...

My Thursday night mixed media keeps me on my captive toes...I love it! I try to keep the projects fresh and new, teaching new background techniques to my eager students. I am blessed to have all women in the class so we are all pretty much on the same page...love that too...
Here is the project we will start on Thursday...some of the projects from the past two weeks will need to be finished so this little 3D-Valentine will give everyone a chance to catch up.
I may go back in and add a few pink polka dots...just for the heck of it! I love the saying on this one!

Ha...published that last one before I was ready...see...

Nope do not unite have this application down yet....not sure how to insert photos and continue writing....oh well...
So...trader Joe's has decided that there is not a job for me there...very sad about that...so I have applied for a job at a local cafe...I did a phone interview and the owner...whom I love...asked me what color my hair is...tee hee...oh they know me well...one color? Natural color? Nope, and nope...colorful dreadlocks is what I be sporting...so the thought was perhaps I could cover them up...so I got out one of my head wraps and concealed my locks...we shall see...what is meant to be will happen right?
Have a great Friday...we are painting the kitchen with lime green accents today...photos to follow!
Loving life? Not quite but I am doing the next right thing today...

Missing in action...again..

Since I got my new iPad I find it easier to do Facebook than to blog...but I will figure this out...lots going on..making iPad messenger bags, iPad mini and kindle bags too.

An iPad must have a cover...right?

Been in a slump the past few days...not fun...but today I actually got up...showered...took the dog for a walk, visited with a friend while I colored her hair bright red..and made this fun iPad cover...a better day today by far!

A brand new day...

I have been off work with a back injury for over a year. I am off to the doctors today to see if he will release me back to work for a couple of days a week...I miss trader Joe's and a schedule...we shall see...wish me luck...
I know that whatever happens is meant to be..just doing what is in front of me today...
Have a great Thursday...

First day on the iPad and making strides forward!

So...I got some new apps for my blog, Facebook, and etsy and I am working my way through the new world of my iPad....I love it really...I made a little pillow stand for it so that the key board is in a more upright position, not perfect but I love that too! And...ones of my goals for this 2013 is to get some of my goodies in my etsy shop....so I spent some time on that today...I think I have about 5 things listed in the shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/LorriMarie. And that feels terrific. I am not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination...I have no patience for it...perfect lighting...harrumph...so I do the best that I can and hope that my darling husband doesn't examine it too carefully...tee hee!
If it is worth doing, it is worth doing badly!
Happiest of New Years to all!!

Fiddling around with my new iPad....hmmmm

So we braved the commercial world of buying and visited the amazing apple store today....I knew what I wanted and came away with my new iPad.....just trying to figure the darned thing out....here is a photo of my darling grand-dog Bliss...patiently waiting for me to get it!!

Purged the studio....getting ready for a mixed media exchange

after all the company and gaiety of the holidays my studio feels a bit full and stagnant....so what to do?  PURGE IT!  i have gone through all the drawers and cupboards, getting rid of old books, papers and supplies that i am not using now.  on saturday, from 1-3 i am having an exchange for any mixed media artists that want to purge their supplies as well.  i do love this idea...it gets rid of the old energy and welcomes new supplies, ideas and energy.  if you are in the area please come and play...what a great way to start the new year!
happy new year to all and may the creative forces be with  you!

The Cover is on the Sewing Machine!

oh yeah...that is right!  if they are not sewn together by now it is not going to happen until after Sunday!  I have my niece and nephew flying in from Arizona tomorrow and my sister flying in from Malaysia on Saturday...and then the big Arts and Crafts Bazaar (or Trunk Show as I like to call it) happening on Sunday...no rest for wicked!

So for today I am playing in the studio and creating the mixed media piece that I will be teaching in the fall...Art-is-You...it is of course carries the message of playfulness and not taking ourselves too seriously!
My theory is that when we take a class and learn how to use new techniques, the first piece is difficult because we are trying something out of our comfort zone, and being focused on following directions...then TAKE TWO...we get to make the same piece, same directions...BUT...we get to make it OUR way!  we learn from the first piece as to what works best for us and we get to adjust!  i love this process...sooooo....last night i made the first pieces, writing down the instructions as i went along...today i get to readjust it and make it even more fun...for me anyway!

stay warm today, play as much as you can...and tell the people you love...that you love them!

another fun day in the studio!

a bit on the tired side today...so got up...played a bit and then crawled back into bed with little miss savannah....ohhhhh....so cozy!
then with too much on my mind i was totally done resting!

i made 4 head warmers..reversible even....that is what i did with half of the FRANKENglove scraps....way fun!
and then onto making little art aprons for my grandbabies!  i repurposed some old jeans and painted their names on them....i try to give all four similar gifts...and this year i was successful!  i cannot wait for christmas eve for them to open them....i know they will love these!

spent alot of time wrapping gifts for under the tree....i repurpose brown bags and sew the packages shut...no peeking!
all is well and life is grand!
on to the next adventure!  getting ready for the Holiday Gifts Trunk Show this sunday...lots of good gifts to be enjoyed by all!
have a delightful day!

a great day after all!

there is a saying that goes 'don't let the bastards get you down'...so i licked my ego/wounds for a bit this morning...got myself out of bed, had a great shower, walked the dog and off for a playdate with girlfriends...really tempted to pass but extracted my pity pot self out of the house....i am soooo glad i did....i got some christmas aprons made for the grandkids and some toasty headbands made with the FRANKENglove scraps...photos posted later!
then i came home, fed the animals, walked the dog...again...and caught a second wind!  the house is now swept and dusted....yipppeee...some bathroom and kitchen and floor work to be done tomorrow but...wow...and this is a photo of santa's little helper savannah....she kept me going!  i mean really, look at that face!

a freezing day in berkeley!!!

arg....some days are better than others!  i had a fantastic art opening here in benicia on friday night....sold some art and i was asked to bring some FRANKENgloves....they, ofcourse sold like hotcakes!  then...saturday....i dressed in about one hundred layers and darling hubby and i drove to berkeley in the freezing fog.....we chose what we thought was a great spot...hmmmm....well....we got some fun hot chai and street food for lunch!  the sales for us were in the toilet so we dragged ourselves back home to see our very lonely puppy and messy house...i have not attended to the house for the past couple weeks with all the 'creations' going on....exhausted today but trying to keep a positive attitude!  we have a spot reserved in berkeley in two weeks...just not so sure i want to put myself through that again!  the sales might have been down for a couple of reasons....this is a three week event, maybe people did not know about it and by the 3rd week the sales might be better....we did have a lousy spot...better choice next time for sure....or do i just can the whole adventure?  i have plenty of inventory!  rob and i have decided to have a 'holiday bazaar' here at the house on December 16th...even if it is not a good sales day...it will be better than sitting outside freezing in berkeley...right?
tired and faced with a messy house today...off to play with some girlfriends....that will help my attitude for sure!
have a great sunday!  and drink hot chocolate all day.....now that is a good idea!!!

a pile of cut out fingerless gloves....just waiting...

and the kitty kat Blanca looks exhausted!  i do not know how many i cut out today...but it is alot...i was hoping to get more assembled...but alas...walking the dog (twice) and cooking dinner....oh yeah and that fantastic nap...and a trip to the post office....and i did call my sister...and then the dishes....and that package i had to deliver to a friend...well...i got alot cut out!    tomorrow i have a mixed media class to get ready for so not FRANKENgloves for me tomorrow....but there is always friday...right?  oh yeah....i have an art opening on friday night...at six...plenty of good sewing time before i head off to  pre-show dinner with some friends, right?  geez....what do i do with my time?  hardy har har!

waiting for the lightning storm to create the FRANKENgloves

ha!  my dining room table is full of the fabric that i sew together to create the fingerless FRANKENgloves...today is balls to the walls ladies and gentlemen.....got a bit show coming up this weekend in Berkeley...Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center Park Ctr. Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.....so....taking a little break and then the cutting out will begin...and then the sewing them back together again...wait...does that even make sense??

so much for show and tell!!

it seems like there is so much to show and tell you today....today was supposed to be a 'create FRANKENgloves' day since my inventory is down to 19 fingerless gloves....(no complaints...had a fantastic weekend and sold soooooo many pairs of gloves...)...but all the sudden everything else looked like a better idea....folding the laundry, doing the dishes, stripping the bed....a friend came over to pay for some gloves and even taking a long walk with here and her dog looked like a better idea! (although i had just walked my pup...away i went)...soooooo....i really had to dig in this afternoon and be my own minion...

i got a special order for some fingerless FRANKENgloves for men....oh yes, i am so up for that challenge!  a bit longer, bigger and milder....i love them!
oh.....and i forgot to mention that we arrived at Hip Chick Designs yesterday and it had flooded...that is right....it was under 2" of standing water!  Carrie and I mopped and swept the water away and then a knight in shining armor showed up with a shop vac....out came the sun and all was right in the world again!

so, back to today....here are the fingerless FRANKENgloves that created themselves while i was doing other things....ok, not really....it is almost 10 o'clock and i am not done for the day....but i did increase my inventory for this weekend in Berkele

these are selling like hotcakes....one size fits most...$25 each or 2/$40...they get nice and scrunchy after a few wearings....and totally washable....they are fantastic gift ideas, right?  and now for men....what???  
back to the serger my friends...
xoxo