Shameless Promoting

I've got a great show coming up so mark your calenders now!

May 15th is the 15th annual North Park Festival of the Arts. I was so flattered when they contacted me awhile ago asking if I'd like to be their featured artist. They chose one of my favorite paintings for their posters, fliers etc....etc...
My husbands equally excited but I think it's because they are providing me with a tent literally across from the beer garden.
Guess I'll be driving us home.

There will be plenty of live music, children's art workshops and a juried art show.
You can click on the link for more information and my bio.

Art Students Show and Tell

Here's a sneak peek at what my little munchkins are working on right now. The first class is doing a repeat pattern painting and the second class is having fun with their own subjects. We've got frogs, mushrooms, butterflies, kokeshi dolls, fish, flowers, tikis and birds going on over here. Aren't they just adorable?

I am in treasure hunt heaven!

So where do I begin? I know I promised pictures of my space over at Barrels and Branches, but I also included a few things I foraged this week. It's been a very good week for vintage.

-Check out the cool industrial little table. I'm thinking of making a second shelf for the bottom part. This will be such a great display piece until it finds its forever home.
-The globe just sold today along with a few of the blue jars I just found.
-I'm so excited about the giant pickle jar! You can never find them with the lid. Wouldn't it look so pretty filled with honey? (BYW..we have a fresh batch of honey for my local gals that want some. Let me know, it'll go fast.)
Am I the only one who's nutty for this sort of stuff?
The stainless steel table stands 40" tall and will be mounted somewhere in my art studio. That was the deal of the day. Can you believe I only paid $5 bucks for it? Crazy I tell you. The supplies alone would cost me $150.
I also found another metal locker but I'm saving it for my next before and after post. It's going to take some serious elbow grease.

Tomorrow.....I promise to snap some pictures of my art students at work. They are just reaching their comfort zone.... and if I'm sly enough they won't see me with my camera.

more.....Before and After projects

Because my main focus right now is finishing all the projects lingering around the house, I have some more before and afters to share with you.

Remember the metal locker I got a few weeks ago? Well, it took some major elbow grease and lots of spray paint..but it's done. I call it "holy sh*#t green" and no it's not for sale.
I haven't found a permanent location for it yet, but since I'll probably never come across one again.. it's a keeper.

Next....the enamel numbers. I put the 23 on the door to my art studio and the five is a magnet on the locker. That task was easy and took maybe 5 minutes tops.

Lastly....Look at these rad folding tables!
I forgot to get a shot of them before I started but if you try to envision them in a poop brown color then maybe you'll be able to appreciate the transformation. How great are these? They stack so perfectly on their own stand.
Sorry.....they are not for sale either (yet). If I don''t use them in the next few months then I will consider selling them. I hate having stuff around that I don't use.

Before and After

Check it out! I found this great little vanity chair and it swivels!

The blue velvet fabric was beyond tired so I decided to brighten it all up with some of my spring chickadee fabric. Instead of ordering it in an upholstery wieght, I ironed interfacing to the back which made it super strong. The metal base was sprayed a pretty leaf green.
This chair has inspired a whole line of repurposed vintage goods in turquoise, orange, lime and green. Many are available at Barrels and Branches right now and some I'm having a hard time parting with.
Now I want to redesign my space over there and promise to share pictures as soon as I'm done.

Just Started

This doesn't look like much right now but hopefully it will resemble a mushroom forest. It's part of a collaboration project with Carol and Francesca. The theme being "Alice and Wonderland" ...or did you already guess that?

Carol is painting the Cheshire Cat and Francesca is doing a storybook like illustration of the tree. I promise to get pictures of theirs next week when they're looking the other way.

As for mine....here are the first three stages. I don't know about you but I always love it when artists take pictures of the whole process.
It's also been really fun painting large pieces of canvas tacked on the wall.