Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival-Long Beach

All I can say is that this was my favorite show of the season. That is until my Artist Market next sunday.
Here are a few of my favorite things I spotted while quickly cruising around before it started. I ended up with a bag full of beautiful mineral make-up from Au She Cosmetics. Once you try their lipstick, you'll never use anything else.

And...........the cutest dog at the show award goes to Elvis. He's a two year old rescue dog with a very mellow disposition. This little guy just melts when you play with his hair.

pictured above:
Random Nicole----felted brooch
Rock Scissor Paper--cool stationary
Done by Digits--crocheted critters
Monster and the Squirrel--felted ornaments

Still Paddling

I think I found my new favorite sport. I've gone three times this week and I am so hooked.
Thanksgiving morning, we gathered a group of friends to paddle and kayak till about noon. Then we were all invited to a fabulous dinner at my friends country club. (which meant I was off the hook when it came to cooking and preparing.) The day couldn't have been more perfect. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well.

Tomorrow is the Patchwork show up in Long Beach at the Marine Stadium. Art and I just finished packing the car so we can leave early. This time I plan on doing some shopping!

Oh......I almost forgot! I will be having a holiday sale in my Etsy shop starting Dec. 1st-15th. Those of you who come to my upcoming shows will also be able to take advantage of these specials. Karin

Mondays big adventure

Today I went stand up paddling for the first time with my friend Shannon. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. I brought an extra set of clothes just incase I fell which would have really sucked since the water is pretty cold right now. I'm happy to report that I managed to stay dry and paddle around for an hour. I'm hooked, but boy will I be sore tomorrow.

I think I was an elf in a past life

I have been busy stocking up my inventory for the holidays and decorating the studio like a crazy christmas elf on crack. Here's a little sneak peak so far. More pictures later when it's all done. I know it's still early, but I need to get what I can done in between shows. I just agreed to a third one yesterday.
My Holiday Artists Market and Open Studio is on Dec. 6th from 12-4pm. If you're local and need more specifics, contact me and I'll send you an invite. This year will include a handful of local artists. We will have everything from art, prints, pottery, jewelry, candles, sewn lovelies and so much more. Also, my art students will be selling their holiday cards. You don't want to miss it! Karin

Show Schedule:
Patchwork---Nov. 29th--Long Beach
Aviara---Dec. 2nd--Carlsbad
Artist Market and Open Studio---Dec. 6th

also.....
-Barrels and Branches will be celebrating the holidays for the first week of December with lots of great specials and featured artists.
-Art and Soul on 101 is having an open house Dec,6th as well.

.........then I will hibernate till the new year!

The story of little Miss Lemon Drop

I've always thought it would be neat to have chickens. When my neighbor Sue got some chicks to raise and share with my other neighbor, I was so excited to have them on our block.

This conversation changed everything.
Sue- "One of the chicks (Lemon Drop) has a crooked beak and may never lay eggs"
Sandy-"We'll just eat her"
Sue-"Oh no you won't!"
Sandy-"Hey, I'm a farm girl. That's what we do"

later on that day.......
Sue-"I can't believe she said that!"
Me-"I'll take her. Art and I will give her a no kill shelter"
Sue-"Really, then I'll give you three of them."

So we got three very sweet sociable chickens. Pearl and Ruby were already laying and Lemon Drop wasn't. She was much smaller than the others. My husbands friend told us that normally these birds don't live long because they can't get enough nutrients. Lemon could eat her grain and mash, but had a hard time picking up vegetable scraps. I started chopping up all their scraps in a cuisinart. The day I saw her enjoying a bowl of yogurt with bread it brought tears to my eyes. Finally she could enjoy what the others were eating. Two months later, she started laying eggs. Beautiful green/blue ones. So she wasn't a lemon after all.

*A little update on the last batch of chickens we rescued. We decided to name the big white one Alice. She's much happier and her feathers are all coming back. The other two are becoming more and more friendly each day.

Wild Show Weekend

This was the first time I've ever had back to back shows. All the loading, unloading, setting up and tearing down was so exhausting.

The Olivenhain show was in a beautiful setting under a grove of eucalyptus trees. This show was much quieter than previous years, but I had a great time visiting with friends .
The Patchwork Arts and Crafts Festival was incredible! If only I had more time to wander and shop. This is by far the best show with some very talented local artists. There is another Patchwork show on the 29th in Long Beach that I can't wait to be a part of.

Twins?

I just finished painting these two girls. They measure @ 15x30 and 18x36 inches. After drawing her, I liked her so much that I thought I'd keep one and sell one. The yellow and tangerine one has sold and will be going to a wonderful home in the UK. So now I need to find a place to hang my girl. My walls are pretty full, but I'll find a spot. She might look nice in my little guest room now that it's been revamped.

*just a reminder for anyone who's going to be in the area this weekend. I'll be at the Olivenhain Art's and Crafts Festival on Sat, and Patchwork Craft Fair up in Santa Ana on Sunday. Please come by and say hello!

The "B.R.C." celebrates 10 years!

"So what is a B.R.C anyway?"

It all started with a friend asking a friend for help one saturday and a wife (me) chiming in.

Roger--"Hey Art, do you think you could help me __blah_blah_blah___ this saturday? Debs been on my back to get it done and I could really use a hand."

Art--"Sure, no problem"

Me--"You know Roger....We should start a co-op. One weekend we come to your house and another weekend you'll come to ours. Then we would have the other weekends free of household chores" (not my exact words, but close enough)

Art--We can call it the barn raising co-op like in the olden days.

The B.R.C. is born.
I can't believe it's been ten years and still going strong. We have done some pretty amazing projects around our house including raised garden boxes, flagstone walkways, staining the fences, MAJOR yard work, and recently building a fence around our chicken coop. The list could go on and on. (I say "we" because I do try to participate in the ones at my house when I can. It may sound like we live in the country, but we're really just a little suburban beach town.

The "B.R.C." rules are simple:
1. All supplies must be on hand that morning. No Home Depot runs allowed.
2. Host must supply plenty of beverages/beer for the group and make lunch.

I highly recommend you all to start one of your own. We currently have six members in the rotation and try to meet about every six weeks. It's a great way for everyone to get together and accomplished the big projects you normally can't do by yourself in a weekend.

The guest bedroom is done!

The best part about this project was that I was able to do it without spending a dime. I had a bunch of little sample paints in various shades of blue that I mixed together. Luckily it made a beautiful turquoise.
My favorite thing in this room is the vintage 50's style birdcage fabric I made curtains out of.
I can't believe it took me so long to change the wall color. I hang out in here all the time now. It's a perfect place to chill and read a book.

More paintings and a budding romance

Here are a few more little paintings on wood that are slowly making their way into my Etsy shop.
I just realized I only have about a week and a half till my first holiday shows of the season start. I'll be locking myself in my studio for the next few days. Please only call me if you're bringing me a treat or a coffee.

Also, my guest bedroom redo is almost done. Two of my cats have decided that this room now belongs to them. That's right.......Betty and Bobby are seeing each other again, so this room has been their little love suite. Pictures coming soon. Karin

Final Project

Today was the last day of our fabric class where we had to create something from our dyed and hand printed material. We set up our sewing machines and went to town cutting, pinning and hemming.
Francesca is modeling my layered apron, her sarong and Carol's sarong with matching bag. She actually plans on turning the bag into a little pillow.
We wrapped Francesca's top with a green fabric since the pink tank she had on clashed with our creations. Love the one pink shoe Francesca!