Preparing a Place

I’ve been doing a lot of painting lately, not on canvas, but on walls, the walls of my new art studio! I wrote about this opportunity back on June 9th in my Pinch Me post. I took possession of the little house last Tuesday and have been madly preparing the space since then. I’ve patched, puttied, and sanded my way around the house, then started painting over the weekend. My dear husband brought in his paint sprayer and was able to cover a lot of territory quickly! I still have the bathroom and all of the inside trim to paint, also the outside trim and doors, but it’s coming together and very soon I’ll be able to show off the little place in before and after photos. For now, though, just before pictures.

Mother's Hair

If you've been reading my blog for very long, you'll know that my good friend Sam (of Lil' Gypsy fame) gifts me occasionally with Bags of Crappola. I was fortunate to receive one of Sam's bags recently, filled to the brim with goodness.







Around the same time that I received my cascade of goodies from Sam, another friend, Peshe, bestowed upon me not only a marvelous doorknob plate, but also the guts from an old CD player. My friends sure know what I like!

Glimpses of Portland II

I continue to snap photos when I'm out and about in downtown Portland and like before in my original Glimpses of Portland post, I offer no commentary or explanation. Enjoy the photos and have fun figuring out what they are and where they were taken!

Birthday Buddy

Today is Destree's birthday! Happy Birthday, Destree.

I asked Destree to participate in my Art Buddy Invitational because Destree is a big part of my art life. She was in the very first Artist's Way Creative Cluster that I offered several years ago, and then more recently she retook it via my online option. Destree and I are in a book group together, she has taken tons of my classes, and we have been in two altered board book round robins together. If ever I had an Art Sister, I think Destree would be that sister.

Destree sent me a photo of her Art Buddy several days ago, but I decided I would wait and post about it today in celebration of Destree's birthday. Destree didn't send a lot of information about her Art Buddy, Mark, so there is a bit of a mystery around his bondage.

This is Mark. I have plans for his execution, but for the time being he is being held captive in my art room. There is no hope for his salvation.

Cargo

Cargo. What a store. In Portland, it is located at 380 N.W. 13th Avenue. My eyes were wide and my mouth open as I roamed through the warehouse of a store. 'Nuff said.

Shiny and Glittery and Oh So Beautiful!

I'm taking advantage of being in the heart of one of the best cities in the world (Portland, Oregon, in case you're reading for the first time). Today I walked from the waterfront over to the Pearl District and discovered a cute little shop I've only driven by in the past. Being on foot, I was able to pop in. The shop? Thea's Interiors - Vintage Living. Thea describes her shop as an ecclectic blend of antique & artisan accessories, jewelry & furniture. It's all that and more! She also says her shop offers home decor to inspire any space. It's true, I was inspired.

Button Button, Who's Got the Button?

I finally made it to a little shop that I've wanted to visit for the past couple of years: the Button Emporium & Ribbonry, located at 1016 S.W. Taylor in downtown Portland. It is filled with every type and kind of button, ribbon, and fancy trim you can imagine (and so much you can't even imagine). The notion wonderland is owned by Marvis and Keith Lutz, both friendly and chatty (and very helpful). I wanted to buy a little bit of everything, a snippet of every ribbon and trim, but I held back. What I did realize is that the next time I'm working on an altered book or a visual journal and I need that special finishing touch - a cloth rose, a bit of fanciful ribbon, or a button on a particular theme, this is the store I'm heading to. Stroll with me: