Pearls of Wisdom...a Journal through Time.

Pearls of Wisdom…a Journal Through Time

Inspired by a recent trip to Maui, I’ve created a travel journal to document my thoughts and recollections of time spent in the South Pacific. A tropical place where the water is deep blue against the white sand beaches; the cool breeze, having travelled miles across the open ocean, is the freshest to ever fill my lungs; and each lingering day ends with a sunset that is beyond breathtaking.

“Standing at a northern precipice of the island, surrounded by craggy fields of black lava rock, I spot a length of huge rope floating in the churning surf far below. I spend almost an hour mesmerized watching as it’s tossed to and fro, floating on the surface, without ever coming close to the shoreline below. I let my mind wander, as my eyes gaze over the horizon, and I imagine a 3-masted tall ship crashing through the waves so many years ago.  What a majestic sight that must have been. The full white sails aflutter. I envision the beautiful, craftsmanship of the wooden hull and the intricately engineered rigging. Then I’m struck with the thought of the risks those early seafaring men took to get to shore and discover these islands for the first time. As I continue to watch the rope in action, I am in awe.”

***

While I was in Maui, I bought this simple Kraft journal at Barnes and Noble. (Yeah, Maui now has a Barnes and Noble!) I liked that it was plain with the magnetic fold-over flap.

To create what you see here, I used the Spellbinders Grand Calibur machine and Shapeabilities - Fleur De Lis Accents die set to cut a border of nautical wall paper. (Yes, that's a perk of being on the ICE Resin/Spellbinders creative team! Getting to experiment with their products....Yay!)

Using the same die set, I punched four vertical cut-outs in a strip of brown paper lunch bag. With ICE Resin and a chip brush, (I prefer using them over foam brushes or sponges), I resin coated the bag. The bag turned a beautiful transparent caramel color. One of my new favorites! This allows the tall ship image to just "peek" through.

A slight aging was added to the journal by using a brown Cat's Eye ink pad. Simply use the ink pad direct. An older, drier pad works best. I find a newer pad is too wet and will give too drastic of a result, but if that's all you have on hand, dab a Q-tip or sponge on the pad and then apply that onto the journal surface.

With a light coat of Mod Podge, (I prefer to use Matte Finish), I adhered the wall paper to the front and flap of the journal. Once the paper bag section was fully cured, I then layered the lace, chain, rusty binder clip, metal gear and the tiny glass bottle filled with miniature shells with a soldered top.

Lastly, to add a bit more dimension and movement, I punched holes equally down the edge of the flap using my Crop-A-Dile (love that tool - ever since first demo'ing at the now-closed scrapbook store I used to work/teach at) and then added a few jump rings with fresh water pearls. I love how they give it just that extra little something.

***

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit ICE Resin and Spellbinders for additional product information.

Cheers and Happy Journalling.... 

A little bit everyday.

If I were a wooden sculpture, this would be me...

Always in  think. plan. do. mode.

A few nights ago Phillip and I were driving down the road on our way home. We were rolling the big truck (15' Isuzu box truck) and as we passed a pile of rolled up barbed wire on the side of the road with a FREE sign on it...he looked over to me and asked, "Does the MONKEY need any rolls of barbed wire, cause I can turn the truck around?"

Can I just say, right here and now, to whomever is reading today's post ???

I LOVE THIS MAN!!! HE TOTALLY GETS ME!!!

So, of course, he did a u-turn and I hopped out to load up many rolls of rusty barbed wire - bare handed, I might add, BUT I didn't get a scratch! The woman-of-the-house came walking down her dirt driveway and thanked me and gave me a hug! I love living here...NOT only are folks happy to give their "junk" away, but they give hugs!!!

***
Fast-forward to last night...while the box truck was at home, we loaded up my future cash-wrap station into the truck...

Definition: cash wrap...the place where money will hopefully transfer hands from future customers and students to entrepreneur (me) in exchange for creative workshops, home goods, jewelry, garden decor, etc....where many stories will be shared and lifelong friendships will be created and nurtured...

NOTE to Self: keep eyes open for a replacement cabinet/shelving unit for the laundry room at home...

Today, we moved it into place.

The pink Formica counter-top will be replaced...cause pink is not my color....and has NOTHING to do with "RUSTY"!

I'm toying with the idea of painting the oak black too??? or maybe not...???

The back (now the front) of the cabinet is un-finished.

A few months back I scored a pile of old rusty corrugated panels from the Spaulding saw mill that closed down in Grants Pass....

 ...ignore the saw dust...that's just from when THE wall was being built...

Here's the plan...

...and I gotta get that old bed frame hung up on the wall so I can put up the letters...
R.U.S.T.Y... M.O.N.K.E.Y

 A little bit EVERYDAY!

Cheers!

April in Paris....an apron...

I'm not a seamstress by any means, but my darling husband bought me a new sewing machine for Christmas, and so, I needed to sew something!

I confess, however, that I cheated a little by buying a pre-packaged black apron. I needed an apron for ART CAMP back in April, and so when I found the April in Paris fabric, I was sold!!!

Black and Cream? How can you go wrong?

Firstly, I removed the front, angled (and not so deep) pocket and replaced it with a new one. One that was bigger and deeper. 

...and with a little side pocket for ... a pencil? a ruler? a paintbrush?

You can't really see it in the photo, but I cut and re-used the original pocket over on the left to hold my trusty iPhone. Perfect! As I'm lost without it...Phillip will attest to that!

As a gift to myself, I purchased a ruffler foot...WOW! How did we EVER make ruffles without a ruffler foot? I wanted to ruffle, ruffle, ruffle...Even though, I'm NOT a girly girl, I LOVE the ruffles!

...and here I am...being a girly-girl at art camp...in ruffles!

...and here I am...(blurry and all) being a silly girl, aka: HOP SING from the old T.V. show, Bonanza.

Suffice it to say...we were a little bit tired and punchy...but girls' retreats are always silly and fun!

I was crafting with my denim hat worn backwards to keep my hair outta my face. I found some chop sticks in the kitchen drawer...the rest is history.

We were all goofing around with a sheet of sticky-back felt, cutting a variety of shapes and sizes of mustaches, beards, eyebrows, moles, etc....I think we were all laughing SO hard, we about pee'd ourselves and had tears running down our faces...

It was even funnier, when a few of the other girls arrived in the house, and we goof-balls got all serious really fast. Their reaction, once they noticed our "facial hair", was priceless!

Fun times! 

Must do it again soon!!!

Cheers!

Future Home...

Imagine, if you will...

a new glass/metal door....

pressure washed sidewalk...

weeds gone!

some cute, rustic, rusty focal point - truth be told? I'd LOVE. LOVE. LOVE an old, vintage, rusty truck out front....cut in half lengthwise...with the bed of the truck staged with goodies, but I've been told those are very expensive...and I would be hunted by the antique auto restorers for doing such a treacherous deed!

a rust, brown, cream striped fabric awning....

new paint scheme....rust. brown. cream.

I need some input.

Dark blue = rust or chocolate brown?

Medium gray trim = rust or chocolate brown?

Light gray body = cream!

Or I could just leave it "as-is" so it looks like our main building and spend my budget inside...???

***

I got a quote to replace this 30' awning...to re-dress it would be about $2000. It was originally about a $3000-3500 adventure! I know!!! YIKES!!! Who knew? It was here when we bought the place.

But, the nice man at the awning business suggested I just PEEL off the vinyl lettering and graphics...WOW! I thought it was screen-printed. Guess I never looked at it that closely.

Hot weather lately? Yeppers! They just peeled right off...a $2000 savings in just under 10 minutes! I guess that means I'm $2000 ahead of the game....great way to rationalize it, right??? lol

Now, I just need to use some goo-be-gone, a bit of bleach and a scrub brush and all will should be good. No more muffler and brake shop!!! NO more walk-ins asking for service and repair!

****

It's a good day!!!

Can you see the smile on my face?

Last week, Ginger and Kathy and I, drove up to Portland to Ikea.

Why? You ask..

Workshop tables!!!

Butcher block. Oh Yeah!

These 8' slabs will create 12 workstations - roughly 26" x 4 foot...per person!

Tables need legs...so we counted 48!!! Yes, 48 legs!!!

Black. To match the trim and the doors...and the chalkboards....and to not show scuffs as easily.

I wanted white, but then the girls brought me to my senses!!! Thanks, ladies.... :-)

****

After Portland, we drove to Kathy's house in Eugene.

After an AWESOME tour of my stuff, I mean, her stuff (who could tell the difference?) Not us. We like (and buy) exactly the same things!

Ginger and I camped out in her motor home in the driveway...how cool is that? She was a bit worried, and even had a bad dream that I was all "crooked-up" in the morning from being uncomfortable, but it was fine...I'd totally do it again!!

... and I can totally relate to her "guest" rooms (ex-kiddo rooms) being chock-full of arts and crafts supplies..but, I would totally have slept in there too!

The next day, we shuffled on over to Barb's to pick up my treasure. I've been eye-balling this beauty for a couple of years, at least. Well, she finally decided to make some room in her shop and I'm the lucky new owner! Perfect!! 26, yes, 26! galvanized, very long drawers... the top shallow drawers are perfect for all little things "trinkety".

I'm deciding WHAT to put on the top...right now it's a piece of OSB. What would you put up there?

Not a piece you would see everyday...but the story goes like this...

Once upon a time, Barb spotted this at a garage sale. It was SUPER heavy and full of tools and out of her price range...Some time later, she spotted it at another yard sale, tools removed and inquired about whether it was for sale or not. The man agreed to sell, even though it wasn't for sale. It worked hard in her shop for a few years, and now it will work hard in mine. The End.

Last little addition to the studio?

LOCKERS!!!

These need a bit of a face-lift, but what around here couldn't use a little work?

Things are moving right along...

Cheers!

Stealing a Seat...

Ever just wanna steal something from your kid?

Be honest!!!

Ok. Maybe you don't...


Well, I DO!

From Ty.

He'll be 25 this year and I want to steal this from him....

I've been keeping my eyes peeled for a vintage, red and white bicycle to put in the yard...as decoration. The ones I find are in too good of shape or they are WAY too expensive!

I LOVE the seat...

THIS SEAT!

He better lock it up!!! Or it might go missing....BWAAAAHAAAAA!!!!!