Lovely Spring...

Enjoy

Am I Wrong...

We are working on the walls in our living room. There are two layers of wallpaper topped by the most horrendous layer of plaster I have ever seen.  I have no issue with textured walls, but our walls are lumpy, bumpy and well - just awful.

This is what it looks like after removing the plaster layer and revealing different stages of the wall paper.   Would it be wrong to just leave it like this?  I won't, but still...I like it !  What do you think?   

April 1 ... not at all funny

If only it was an April Fool's Joke.  This has to be the last of the snow for this season. After all, it is spring isn't it?

But, I have to be honest - it is beautiful.  I am really looking forward to the warm/hot air and the garden this year,  but when it is time for the snow to return I will be ready and welcome it back.

Last weekend I was going to cut the stems on my butterfly bush but there had been rumors of snow, so I held off.  Maybe this weekend.

We ALL do it...

We all have blogs we follow that completely fascinate us.  Whether it is the writing, the art, the pictures - checking in on those special blogs are a routine.  For me, Stephanie Lee's 'Semiprecious Salvage' is one of those blogs.  I mean, how could anyone resist checking in on a blog that includes writing about children, homelife, cooking and ART! I had seriously considered taking her 'Homesteader's Metalsmithing eCourse' but it didn't work out.

So I was delighted to discover Stephanie Lee was teaching Metal Magic in person at the ArtBliss Workshops in Sterling Va.  Not exactly down the street from me but close enough!  So off I went. My first class involved making a book with metal covers. The supply list was amazing: lace, buttons, ribbons, plaster gauze and - - - metal, micro torches, solder, flux, hammers, files. The pages in the book are plaster! Just amazing!

Here are just a few scenes of the the work areas of my fellow students and my book from the Handbook of Elements class.  

Enjoy ! If you have the opportunity to join Stephanie in one of her classes, go for it.  She is warm, friendly, witty and great fun.



What To Do...What To Do...

It was well over a year ago when I grabbed a 4 x 4 wood panel and covered it with a coat of turquoise paint. After adding a few light swipes of pink and blue paint on top of the turquoise, torn pieces of tissue paper and a flower cut out from fabric was added to the surface with Modge Podge. The final touches included red dots.
Now I wonder if this really is complete or does it need something else? Black silouette of a bird or a tree? More flowers?  What do you think?

OWOH Winner !

My apologies for not getting this posted sooner.  This is definitely a violation of the rules. Thank you to everyone who left a comment. I have visited many of the participants of OWOH and intend to continue exploring blogs via Lisa's OWOH list. I understand she has something else up her sleeve for 2012, so take a peek at the announcement for One World One Art. Exciting stuff.

So on to the good stuff...the winner is Laurie from the lovely 'Indulge Your Shelf' blog.  Here is Laurie's comment.

It's a great gift - I would love to win those pencils! Thank you for offering them! If there's still time, please come by and enter my giveaway, too!

It Is Still Snowing...

** If you are here for OWOH, just go down one more entry. I am not sure how to keep that post on top.**

Just a few images of today's snow fall.  It is beautiful but the heated bird bath is almost buried.  The barred owl we hear calling all year long decided to spend some time on our back fence.  The cardinals were out in force.  I hope you enjoy the view - especially if you are snug and warm.