Mornings In The Studio

I thought today I would

share with you some photo

shots from around my studio

and some of the projects

I have been working on

The sun has finally decided to come

and stay for a few days

(fingers crossed)

Ooops

A bunch of clouds are coming through

The light in this room is just fantastic

Mornings...I greet the sunrise with

the window that faces East

Evenings..I get the back splash from the sunsets

My North window gives me constant cool light

Most days just the natural light is what

I work by

A rose bush has grown quite lusty in the east window

so beautiful pink blossoms will be my view soon

This lion face planter has three faces...

It needs a wash up...

I love using old plated silver to hold my

tools and what nots

Color and light is what it is all

about here

I found this beautiful flat marble tray

at an estate sale last week

Perfect for my speaker to sit on...and the

light comes blazing across it

lighting it all up

Beautiful

The Domino project

These beauties will be in my etsy store later today

(fingers crossed)

I adore them...

The idea of using re-using an object

that has been discarded by someone else

(go back several months and you will see the original

story of how the domino redux came

to life)

Has always been part of what my own personal

art is about.

This fantastic frame came

into my hands a few

weeks ago

It is perfect for the Junkin Gypsies logo

Next some glass and it will

be ready to hang

here in my studio

I love this image

And

some very special books Jill and I

have been working on

the last week to send to some

dear friends.

This next week...Junkin Gypsies

has a couple of big projects

going on and

we will be sharing that with

you on our blog.

School is out...so life gets hectic

(and fun)

for many of us

Oh...

I have one more image

to share with you.

It was a gift from my dear

friend Jill

I have this in a book

but she found it loose and knew

it had to hang in my studio

Now to find a frame

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday

Look At What I Made Jill Today A Scrap Paper Storage Solution

I am certain that Jill and I are not the only two people

out there who are constantly wondering

What on Earth do I do with All this Scrap Paper?!!

It just keeps adding up...Overflowing baskets, bins, file folders.

This week as I was making a concentrated effort to purge the second floor

landing of my accumulated (junk) treasures The Martha Stewart Living

Magazines bit the big one...As I sorted thru them one last time

I came across one of her craft projects.

Envelope books.

Wow...it was like a light bulb went off in my head.

Puuuurfect solution to those pesky project scraps....

or even accumulating pieces for a project.

After hunting down some really bright Martha Stewart Paper Tape

I was set to go...The instructions call for book binding tape

but since I was impatient to make a couple of these

the paper tape was what was used.  It works really well

so far...Once I find some binding tape it will be interesting to compare.

Anyway....Off to my favorite Goodwill for envelopes.

My favorite clerk there Eva is always raising her eyebrows at me....

What on earth am I up to now..lol

So..after sorting out 10 envelopes that are all the same size I set to work

shading them a little, and adding a punch so that the pouch can

be identified...

Next I bound them all together with the tape (ha...Yes I know the tape color

does not go with the whole project at all...but you should see

the rest of them in the  pack.)

Cut a piece of card stock for the outside, scored it with my bone folder

so that it formed a book...taped all that together.

The image on the front is one of Jill's newest creations.

She is edged in gold and has gold highlights on her crown and jewelry.

Next a few of my calling cards tucked in for fun.

I think I am going to add some stamping on the inside and back

flap.   This is pretty simple to do, and I left the outside mostly undecorated

because I think they will be handled quite a bit

So I did not want bits and pieces to be falling off here and there.

I plan on making about a dozen to have on hand for projects.

Hopefully I will get it to her tomorrow. We have

a craft day planned...But

My new printer arrives tomorrow and I want to

be here to get it.  (Yeah!!!! a new printer)

Don't worry...there is nothing

wrong with your computer...I added a watermark to

Jills image

My Beautiful New Blog Header

I just have to crow today....Check out the new blog header my lovely dear friend Jill  made for me!   The background comes from *Cute n Cool* Blog Stuff and then Jill did her delightful magic on the header.  I have no idea what I would do without her...she has done all my design work here on the blog and she is always on standby when I need inspiration and help.  Please leave a comment if you like it so I can pass it on to her.

I Am So Excited About My New Blog Background And Header

Oh look at the beautiful header Jill is working on for me...I think this is just the start.  Our families got together today to watch our University of Oregon Ducks stomp Oregon State Beavers in our civil war game and about 3/4 of the way thru she and I drifted to the computer...A month ago or more she said it was time to give everthing a fresh look...silly me I said...nooooo.  Lets wait till after the first of the year.  Well....she  changed my mind.  I just adore the way it is shaping up....hmmm  I think I am going to make her a special little treasure box...maybe she will share with you what was inside.

The Gift Of Christmas

Today my family and I went for a little visit out to the country side of our  family...(we are the townies)...My sister-in-law and her husband live on a sweet piece of property just south of town.  A lovely Oak tree covered hill filled will soft mosses, ferns and fairy folk.  Jodie (my sister-in-law)  is a true keeper of Christmas.  Walking into her home this time of year is a delightful  experience.  She has just started pulling out her wonderous (and very large)  collection of mini  Christmas trees.  By Thanksgiving...... I expect the house to be aglow with tiny  lights and sparling ornaments.  Visiting her home really makes me feel in the spirit.  One of the things Jodie loves to do is make Christmas ornaments for all her friends and family.  Every year a new one.  This year.....she took me into her work room to show me the newest  edition.  I was like a puppy...I just could not wait to unpack the basket and see what she had created.  Beautiful large hanging ornaments.  They are two sided on thin foam board.  I just love them.  Lucky me..... she let me pick out 3 to bring home.

A Few Words About My Blog Designer

Last week I had a really good question from Charlene http://myheartsease.blogspot.com/      .  She asked me how I got my Good Friends button so large.  Well gals.  I have a confession.  My best friend Jill (aka Polly)   http://feathersandflight.blogspot.com/2010/11/many-blessings.html#comments  is my blog designer.  She got me started blogging just a couple of months ago...and has been patiently leading me along in designing my blog and re-designing my etsy storefront.  I tell you...Jill is a remarkable woman.  She is becoming the most amazing digital artist....Please stop by her blog and see her beautiful work.  She also has the patience of a saint...I vaguely tell her something I want...or am thinking about and she works her magic. 

  I think Jill and I are sooo fortunate to be living in the same city right now.   We have lived apart in different countries for a while...Then went years with out talking (babies, husbands, careers, ego)..(Let me tell you not talking to your best friend for years is no fun thing)  .... Right now we are trying to have a "design" day once a week...the last few have been so hectic that we haven't made it..(We have had fun shopping and junking, and watching football).  I am hoping nothing gets in the way for us this week...lol.