So Busy!

 I can't believe it's been more than a month since I last posted.  So much for my "be back soon" goal.  hahaha!  The year is getting away from me!!

I made a few more birthday cards over the past month:

These two were made and mailed as postcards.

This was made for a friend who just turned...yep, you guessed it!...90!

We had another Zoom class this month, taught by Lynn Koolish.  It was called ColorPOP.  She taught the class in two sessions, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Here is my finished project:

I've been hitting the few estate sales that have come to my attention.  My sister was here recently, and found this painting for me, at Visalia Antiques.  She then encouraged me to put together a gallery wall.

I do have a LOT of paintings and framed art, so I agreed it was a great idea.  But how?  She sent a link to a youtube video that described making patterns of your artwork, placing them on the wall, and then using them to place nails and hang the paintings.

I only made one nail hole for each painting (well, except for the ones that required 2 nails).  It came out perfectly!  Perhaps I should do this in the living room too!

Last but not least, is the house in Cambria.  We have been busy painting, as we await our turn on the Foundation Guy's schedule.

The back bedroom had been white.  We painted it blue, with white woodwork.

The back bathroom was pale yellow.

We painted it white, as I try to decide what other color(s) I might prefer.

The beige hall

is now white.  I need to go back, and finish the woodwork.

An interesting note is that the house, with the mold/mildew issues, had retained some of the smell in the walls.  We used a primer by Zinsser called "Odor Killer."  It works!!  I had been told I MUST use shellac, but "be sure to turn off all gas, and be careful because it's explosive."  !!!  A different salesman suggested Odor Killer, so I tried it.  It works amazingly well.  

We are working our way through the house, back to front, first coating everything with Odor Killer primer, then following with walls, then woodwork.  It is a slow process, but oh, so worth it!!

I would be remiss if I did not leave you with a picture from the beach.

Happy Quilting!

Escaping the Heat

This past week I've had the chance to escape the heat of the valley.  Funny, that, because the triple digits dropped to the 90's as soon as we left town.  Triple digits are back for our return.  go figure.  I guess that's what happens when you book a summer week in January.  No control over the elements.

Have you ever heard of the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach?  I hadn't.  But the friend I rented from told me to check it out.  Not only is there the Sawdust Festival, but there is the Art-a-Fair, and the Festival of the Arts.  wow!  I made it to Sawdust, and Art-a-Fair.  If you like art, crafts, and creativity, this is definitely the place to be during the summer.  It was a blast!

There aren't many quilters in the mix.  Actually, not too many fiber/textile artists either, but what there was?  Lovely!

I took a couple of pictures, but for the most part, there were no photos allowed.  Here is an example of the felted work available.  Loretta Alvarado allowed photos, as long as I credit her and include her website.  I loved her work!!

 Laguna Beach began as an artist's colony back in the '30's.  Everywhere you go, you see art.  This mosaic just blows me away.  Little pieces of glass and ceramic combine together to decorate the side of a building.

 Here is the plaque beneath it.

 Here is a close-up.  You can click on the image to enlarge.

Even the jewelry stores have original art installations.

 After so much inspiration, all I want to do is make art.  I came back to my room and went back to my hand quilting.  After all, I am a quilt artist.  Quilting is my medium.

But don't be surprised if I start dabbling in mosaic work and collage.  I saw things that almost made me hyperventilate, they were so exciting.  Soon, very soon - probably once I move another 12 yards of bark - I will begin making art in earnest.  Goals are good!  Goals are very good!  And I do love setting them!

Art Art

When I was growing up, Art was a big part of my environment.  I had no idea that other people did not have walls hung with paintings.  My grandfather's home was like a museum, with Tiffany lamps, antique china, Stickley furniture and the like.  Unfortunately, a few years after he passed away, his Malibu home burnt to the ground in one of their horrible fires.  It all went up in smoke.

He was also a painter, who dabbled in oils.  I have several of his paintings in my home, as I was given them before the fire.

My parents bought paintings.  My dad preferred desert landscapes.  My mom liked figures, often done in charcoal, pastels, or woodblock prints.

My home has paintings (I purchase primarily watercolors, though I inherited a number of oils).  Two of my sisters also have homes filled with paintings.  One has a bit of everything, the other loves abstracts.

This is my dad's house:

 This is my house (new sofas, from Costco!)

These are hanging on my sister's walls:

 huh. Each got turned on its ear.  I guess that means it's real art, because they still look good!  And balanced!

Are we odd?  I always thought this was normal, until my husband indicated that he prefers blank walls.  I would have the place hung like a gallery, if I had my druthers.  I have two closets filled with paintings, which never see the light of day.

Again, are we odd?  I guess I never thought about it, until I realized that each of my sisters have so much art in our homes, we will be hard-pressed to know what to do with my dad's collection once he is done with it.  Add to that my quilting, and one sister's knitting, and, well, I guess the creative gene runs deep, along with appreciation.

And on that note, all I've got to show you today is one polka dot:

 and one birthday card.

Thanks for hanging in with me, as I think about Art, and appreciation.  Happy Quilting!!