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!!!!!

Expression of Love....

my latest themed media creation

Like many assemblage artists, I’m always looking for ways to use found objects in my work - be it the rusty metal thing-a-ma-jig on the ground, or the left-over frame work housing a chipboard alphabet, or the unused chopsticks from lunch. Whatever the case may be, if the shape or texture or patina is fun, it comes into the studio.

One night we were making Rice-a-Roni as a side-dish, and I took notice of the small, foiled seasoning bag within the box.

Hmmmm, I thought. It’s kraft-colored on the outside and foiled on the inside.

After rinsing the bag and letting it dry overnight, I decided to experiment with its two-toned features.

Shall I resin-coat it?

Shall I use alcohol inks?

Shall I...punch it ?
My large Fiskars scalloped punch would not fit inside the bag, but I found that by folding one side in half, back over itself, and centering the punch, I was able to create the full shape of the punch.

This allowed me to achieve an open design on the front side of the bag - creating a nice little foil frame to showcase a resin-coated paper word, Expression.

With the addition of an assortment of punched flowers attached to shopping bag handle "stems", my old slate chalkboard is now ready for many expressions of love.

The first being this very simple, very sweet sentiment...

If I had a flower for every time you made me smile and laugh,

I'd have a garden to walk in forever...

Click to see my Technique Tuesday how-to video over on the ICE Resin website.