Small Projects

This is just a quick update to show off the finished switch plate (below) that I made for my eye doctor. Switch plates are so much fun to do and add a splash of art where you weren't really expecting one. The magnet above was done awhile ago as a thank you to a gal who was kind enough to give me a cool plate that she had broken. I repurposed some of those pieces back into the maget since her grandmother had hand painted the plate.

I just love this Victorian gent. Real men aren't afraid of wearing pink.

I bought a kitchen table and chairs off of Craig's List and wanted to post this as a "before". I'm painting them black and my mom is currently recovering the seats in a canvas that will be sort of brown paper sack-colored. I then want to stencil something Frenchy on them in black. I looked into covering them with grain sacks but the really cool ones are super expensive and would end up cosing more than the entire set did in the first place. I think a home made version will be fun to do, especially since my mom's doing most of the work!

Isn't She Lovely?

Please excuse the styling in these pictures; we're moving in nine days!!! Isn't this just the most gorgeous dress form?! I found it about three months ago when Dawn and I went junking in Paola. I didn't buy it at the time because I simply didn't have room for it. But now that the new house is in my sights, I called yesterday and found out the flea market still had it. Jason, Dash and I made a b-line south this morning to pick it up. I just love it!!!

I already know where I'm putting it. I'm doing a funked-out French country design style in the living room and this dress form will be perfect.

Here's Jason acting cute. As I was gathering my new additions for the photo, he said flatly, "Wow, this is veritable treasure trove." Ha! As you can see, I picked up a lot more in Paola than just the dress form.

I plan on putting the trunk in the living room, too. The rest will be mixed in here or there. I'll have to find something interesting for the tub.

Jason also made a crack about how this lamp looks like something that belongs in my great Aunt LaRue's house. This was not a compliment. I think my aunt is about 100 years old now and I don't know that she's put anything new in her house since about 1957. We had a productive day not just here, but at the Nebraska Furniture Mart. We needed it all -- washer/drier, a bed for Dash, a desk for Jason. We are just ready to be moved already!!!

A Little of This and a Little of That

I went into the eye doctor today to get some contacts and my doctor is so much fun! If you're in the Kansas City area, go get your eyes checked out by Teresa Larcom at Innovative Eye Care on 82nd and State Line. She was telling me about a room she has painted in a washed-out turquoise and it sounded so cool. I just had to come home and make her a switch plate.

Um, only problem is, we're moving and much of my mosaic supplies are in the garage. So this was my studio, I sat on the ground next to some garbage cans to make my switch plate. I call it "art in a pinch."

I had to show off my fab custom ring by Elle Binder. If you can't read it, it says "The Smiths."

And turn the ring and you have "Morrissey". What could be more perfect, I ask you? I'm taking Brendan into Stuff soon because he wants one that says "Beck." Very cool. Elle can make you anything you want and she really gets it, so go to Stuff and order up.

Brendan just got back from a wonderful trip to France and brought me this great perfume from a perfumery in the south of France. It was hard for him to pick a favorite spot. They went all over. I hope this makes a world traveler out of him; I've never been off this continent.

He brought back some cool plates and told me they were for my mosaics. No way!

And he brought my dad, a total history fanatic, a book from Normandy and some sea shells. He swam in the Mediterranean, ate dinner in a cave, went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, toured the French countryside, and had wine with dinner. He was only gone for 10 days, but if felt like months and I am so happy he's home!!!

All about Mosaics

When I was demonstrating mosaics on the sidewalk outside of Stuff for the Brookside Art Fair, we had a lot of customers ask about mosaic classes. It didn't take long for Casey and Sloane to get some rolling and we've had a great response. Marge (above) and her daughter, Kate (below), were my first pupils.

I enjoyed these girls so much!! Marge and I had a great time talking about home decor because she also loves all things French Country. Katie was just a doll and look how talented they both are!! Their pieces are so different from one another and so unique and fun in their own ways. It's awesome to see someone make something and say, "I did that!!!"

The classes are structured so you can come to glue or grout at a couple of them so while Marge and Kate were grouting, some gals from work came to glue. Here are Alison and Jill digging through treasures deciding how to construct their pieces.

Here's Marge hard at work grouting. She chose a lot of intricate jewelry to include so this was a challenge to grout on your first time out, but she made something fantastic!

Here's Erin digging for treasure. She found some great stuff and has such an eye for putting it altogether. I can't wait to see her piece once it's grouted!

And another shot of everyone hard at work. There are two more classes, one at 6:00 this Tuesday, June 9 and another next Sunday, June 13 at 10:30. It's not too late to sign up! Just call the girls from Stuff at 816-361-8222 and they can take your order over the phone. Hope to see you there!!

I Heart Creepy Dolls

I want to start out with a HUGE thank you to Casey and Sloane Simmons, owners of Stuff in Brookside. Some time ago, they invited me to be one of their "Artists in Action" for the Brookside Art Fair. I had the pleasure of hanging out in the gorgeous weather, doing mosaics and talking it up with some awesome people. Here are Lori Buntin, super cute chick and artist extrodinairre (yes, Lori is with Hoop Dog Studios and the one who does the terrific dog chairs at Stuff), and The One and Only Casey Simmons. To say I had a blast at this event is an understatement!! I really really really (please) hope that Casey and Sloane allow me to join them next year! We received many requests for mosaic classes and have picked some dates, so check the Stuff website for more information coming soon.

And I actually got some things finished while on the sidewalk hanging out! Some of it was snatched off the table and bought just as I was finishing it. Thanks so much to everyone who came by to say hello!!!!

Now, for the title of the blog. The cottage has been for sale for about a month now and it's so difficult to live with everything stripped down and depersonalized! Gone are the rusty bird cages, the dress forms, the armless chalk cupie doll, and (most of) the tarnished silver. I haven't been junking because I really want to know what new space we're in so I can picture where everything will go. I feel like my life is on hold!

But today, I could stand it no longer! After spending some time with Sweet Repose I felt inspired and cruised on over to the Mission Road Antique Mall for just a few precious moments. I found this wonderful doll . . . (it was music to my ears to hear Jason dryly say: Great. Another creepy doll).

A funky, rusty bucket . . . (the rustier, the better) . . .

And this holy water dispenser. If you were raised Catholic, you may remember these by the entrance of the church. I thought it would look so cool on the wall in a cluster of antique photos and empty frames. I can hardly wait to decorate that new space, no matter which one it will be. This week I'm going to ask some blog owners if I can post some of their photos to show you where I'm drawing some of my inspiration. I feel like I want to go truly funky French country with at least some of the rooms in my new house. I don't know how some of these people featured in magazines with children do it with cream, light gray and white decor. Come on?? My children eat corndogs (not the vegetarian child), chocolate chip cookies, and fruit roll ups. What planet are these people from where their perfect children make nary a mark on all of that light furniture? The Stepfords, we are not.

Inked

I had a friend at work tell me I was in the latest issue of Inked, a local mag you can pick up free at your favorite KC coffee house or restaurant:

http://www.inkkc.com/article/5017&pt=Trash-to-art:-Stuff-boutique-

Also mentioned are some other terrific artists, Andrea Ring of Amuck, Jane Hosey-Stern, and Ninette Maumus who have received shout-outs on my blog.

Please come see us and check out our work at the Brookside Art Fair on May 1, 2, and 3.

Brookside Art Fair!!!

If you're in the Kansas City area, check out one of the best art fairs in the Midwest happening in the Brookside neighborhood on May 1, 2 and 3. I'll be at Stuff as one of their "Artists in Action" all three days demonstrating my mosaics and getting to know the customers. I loved hanging out in the store for my custom mosaic heart event. It was so fun talking to people about what kind of art they enjoyed to make or collect, discovering fun facts about the loved ones I made hearts for, and I even found out from one customer that I could find Brendan's skinny jeans at the Arizona Trading Company in Westport for a lot less money than what I pay now. Please follow this link to the Stuff site for more information: http://www.pursuegoodstuff.com/ArtShow2009-05.htm

Stuff's other Artists in Action include Kari Heybrock and her amazing glass beads and Elle Binder and her oh so artfully created metal jewelry. Also, don't forget to check out Andrea and Bryan Ring of Amuck (http://amuckdesign.blogspot.com/) who are in booth number 16 at the fair. Andrea and Bryan are amazing artists who have also just been accepted to a prestigious show in NYC!!!! Congrats Andrea and Bryan!!!

Can't wait to see you in Brookside!!!