Raiders of the Lost Art Room

Gone to Pot!

2011-06-17T13:56:00.005-04:00

I have a new love. It's pottery! My sweet, loving and ever so encouraging husband gifted me a membership to Mudfire Clayworks for my birthday last December. Wondered where I've been? Now you know. I am head over heels in love with playing in the mud and I absolutely adore all the fun, funky and fabulous folks down at Mudfire. Go check 'em out - you can also purchase gallery pieces right from their website now! If you look, I'm sure there will be something you just can't live without. Check back often because their shows change and there's always something new or something new coming up soon.

Here's a smattering of pieces I've made since the beginning of the year. I'd never thrown on a potter's wheel before starting at Mudfire and definitely still have a lot to learn but the process has been incredibly fulfilling. I can see a noticeable difference in my work - bowls feel lighter, edges are more refined, I'm even learning to put handles on mugs and "things"! I'm working on some commissioned pieces at the moment and shortly after that, I will be making pieces to put on Etsy. If you are interested in keeping up with me and my pottery, for now you can find me on Facebook as The Left Handed Potter.

Oakleaf Hydrangeas

2011-05-25T17:41:00.000-04:00

Time to add a little life from outside to the inside.

Mutant 4 Leaf Clovers

2011-04-23T00:44:00.001-04:00

I picked these in the pasture today with my brother, sister-in-law and two nephews. We found 22 in all and one super lucky 5 leaf clover.

February

2011-02-26T00:53:00.001-05:00

Acrylic on canvas, iPhone, Mobile Monet, tulip and 10 cent bottle.

The Big Thaw

2011-01-17T14:17:00.000-05:00

We are finally coming out of the deep freeze here in North GA. I've never been so happy to see the propane truck in our driveway as I was this morning. Yay HEAT and sunshine!

Rainy in Hoi An

2010-11-11T07:09:00.001-05:00

Hello from Hoi An!

2010-11-10T02:06:00.001-05:00

Leaving Phu Quoc

2010-11-08T02:28:00.001-05:00

Greetings from Phu Quoc, Viet Nam!

2010-11-04T02:34:00.001-04:00

Hello from Halong Bay

2010-10-26T19:49:00.000-04:00

Never have I been to such a magical place in all my life. Vietnam is more than I imagined.

Hello from Ho Chi Minh City!

2010-10-23T04:10:00.001-04:00

Is this normal for October?

2010-10-15T17:52:00.002-04:00

I am amazed every day that I walk past the forgotten "Garden of Weedin'" and see something else in bloom. These are Cosmos and Pineapple Sage this morning. I don't remember anything from my spring plantings blooming this late in the year. I'm not sure if that means I have a bad memory or that the climate is changing. Mother Nature sure has a way of surprising me - most of the time it is pleasant.

The Shed

2010-09-04T12:46:00.001-04:00

Coffee by the shed. Beautiful day in Athens, GA!

Skyblue Pink

2010-08-28T00:07:00.001-04:00

I love this bench!

2010-07-31T00:07:00.000-04:00

Taken with ToyCamera / OldCamera

Big Bear Lake, California!

2010-07-30T13:08:00.000-04:00

We have sheep!

2010-07-07T12:28:00.001-04:00

Summer Shadows

2010-06-30T15:11:00.001-04:00

I'm lovin' the Daylilies!

2010-06-04T16:20:00.000-04:00

Duck if you come through the front gate.

2010-05-14T15:44:00.000-04:00

After Dinner Out Last Night

2010-05-01T18:42:00.002-04:00

Growth!

2010-04-16T20:36:00.007-04:00

I am loving this weather, today (the moment we are in now) and the promise of things to come. My Heirloom Brandywine Tomato seedlings are looking like they are about ready to be moved outside. I saved the seeds from a yummy organic tomato we got from our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share last summer and tried my hand at starting plants. I also have tomatillos, Carolina Wonder Red Bell Peppers, lavender, parsley, chives, oregano, thyme, and parsley growing from SEED in the window. It's all very exciting to me! Nothing is in the garden yet. Well, nothing except that lovely mint that came back just in time for iced tea.

The azaleas seem incredibly vibrant this year and finally my wisteria is blooming! I cut it back last fall and I think it really liked the trim. I only have a few small clusters of blooms on both sides of the picket fence but I am thrilled to finally have them after all these years.

Next week I plan to plant my garden. I'm going to follow the suggestions of Farmers' Almanac Gardening by the Moon. Check it out if you haven't already planted your garden or if you still have more to plant.

Hello, Yellow.

2010-04-02T22:59:00.003-04:00

It's odd how having something fresh cut from the yard completely changes the feel of a room for me. It changes my attitude. Others may not even notice this small bunch of blooming branches but it makes me smile every time I see it. It is also a proven fact (unscientifically tested this week) that I keep a cleaner kitchen when there's something fresh and farmy on the counter.

Hello, Neighbor.

2010-03-27T00:40:00.003-04:00

Just so you'll know I'm still here. A few shots from my morning walk.

iFaltered Friday

2010-03-06T14:00:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was busy. It ended well after picking up my husband from the airport and going to a nice little German/French restaurant for dinner. The espresso gave me just enough energy to make it home without falling asleep on the drive. I sure would like me a "Fancy Bag".

iPhở Friday

2010-02-26T20:30:00.009-05:00

Hello, Sunshine.

2010-02-19T22:13:00.006-05:00

iPhone Camera Apps

2010-02-12T21:00:00.007-05:00

These are the photo apps I have been playing with on the iPhone for the past two Fridays. There's a link to check them out and the price they were when I purchased them last week. Each app can be purchased/downloaded from the App Store right on your iPhone and is ready to use before you even get the bill! How cool is that?! Click away and let me know if you have any favorites that I don't have.

1) Best Camera ($2.99) This one is simple to use with a great interface. Lots of cool filters and the ability to send to a long list of places: Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Email and Camera Roll.

2) CameraBag ($1.99) You can shoot right from this app or select a photo already on your iPhone. I like that you can select full resolution for larger photos with this app.

3) Hipstamatic ($1.99) You pick the lens, film and flash then shoot to your heart's content. I bought a couple extra lens packages but I forget to switch over and use them!

4) Lo-Mob ($1.99) This is a fun one, too! You can shoot from the app or select a photo already on your iPhone. LOTS of cool old timey filters for borders, exposures, fades, etc...

5) TiltShiftGen ($0.99) This is how you make your photos look like they are from a miniature toy town. You can shoot from the app or select a photo you already have on your iPhone.

6) ToyCamera ($1.99) I love the random feature on this app! It's one of my favorites.

Snow on The Pharm!

2010-02-12T18:34:00.005-05:00

iPhone Friday coincides nicely with our snow day and I am loving the randomness of the Toyphone app. Will have to report back with a list of favorite photo apps for the iPhone after my fingers thaw a bit more. It's tea time!

iPhone Photo Friday

2010-02-05T21:13:00.006-05:00

I didn't leave the house today other than to sit on the back porch and listen to the rain. I'm just learning to use this new iPhone, so I can't be for certain which filters or apps I used but I promise I didn't edit the photos on my computer. Each shot was taken from my spiffy new iPhone today.

I'm still trying to figure out how to upload to here from the iPhone so I am typing this on my laptop but I did manage to sync my iPhone and laptop in the process. See ya next Friday if not sooner. Dang, I've missed you. iPhone. I just had to say it once more.

Thanks, LK. Once again, you have inspired me to try new things.

New Year / New South

2010-01-01T20:42:00.003-05:00

Here's a twist on the traditional southern New Year's Day dish Hoppin' John. We had a late breakfast and Marty wanted to go out for the afternoon. I wouldn't let him leave the house until he'd eaten some black eyed peas, rice and greens for good luck. I sauteed fresh mustard greens from our CSA (can you believe we are STILL getting food from their garden this late in the season??) then threw together some black eyed peas, tomatoes, jalapenos and rice. Nice splash of Louisiana Hot Sauce on top and a glass of iced tea - sweet tea, as they call it down here. If we never do anything else on New Year's Day, we will at the very least always eat Hoppin' John.

Here's to a happy, healthy and creative New Year!

Anyone there?

2009-09-23T23:30:00.009-04:00

I've been going through photos from trips to Artfest, Montreal, The World's Longest Yard Sale, Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, South Carolina, Nashville and a recent trip to the North GA mountains for a short hike on the Appalachian Trail. Way too many stories and photos to sort through before we head off to Montana and Idaho for more camping and hiking.

I've missed my friends in blogland and hope you haven't forgotten me! I'm itching to catch up but the weeds are tall, the lists are long and there's packing to be done. If I survive backcountry camping in -30° weather then I'll be back to catch up when I can. Are you still there? I hope so.

P.S. That's not -30° weather, it's supposed to be <30°. Less than, colder than, way colder than I'm used to in Georgia! Oh, and the picture is of a photo transfer I made on a piece of wood. It's from a photo booth photo while we were in Montreal. All made by hand, you know...wood, photocopy, gel medium, sandpaper. No Photoshop trickery on this baby! :-)

She Dreams Deep

2009-03-26T14:19:00.005-04:00

My hands have been covered in paint and gel medium for the past couple of weeks and I have LOVED it! Here's a sneak peek at a few of the 75 (YES! SEVENTY FIVE!) ATCs I made for ArtFest trades. I leave on Wednesday for Seattle and will meet up with other ArtFesters to take the shuttle to Port Townsend/Fort Worden. I've still got lots to do before I leave. Just wanted to share a quick photo before I give all of these away.

I know we are all busy right now but if you haven't already done so, fly over to Mary Ann Moss' blog (Dispatch from LA) and sign up for her online Stencilry class! She's one of my all time favorite journaling bloggers and I know the class will be fab. At least pop in and leave a comment to put your name in the hat for a freebie! Do it now 'cause it ends tomorrow.

Ok, I'm off to pack for a camping trip, gesso about 6 more pages for LK Ludwig's class and try to find a 3/8" hole punch! Happy Spring to you all!

Thing-Finder

2009-02-06T22:58:00.004-05:00

Last night as I was reading LK Ludwig's inspirational book called True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling, I sat up in the bed and said to my husband: "That's it! I finally know what I am. I'm a THING-FINDER!" I then went on to read him the quoted passage from Pippi Longstocking where she explains to her friends what a Thing-finder does, they find things. When asked what kind of things, Pippi explains "Oh, all kinds...lumps of gold, ostrich feathers, dead rats, candy snap crackers, and tiny little screws, and things like that." If you looked in my art room right now, you'd find everything from that list except the dead rats.

It's taken a long time to realize there really are others like me. I suppose you can say that I've finally found my tribe. Which gets me to thinking about ArtFest! It's almost time to get on the plane with my big girl suitcase all packed with warm clothes and art supplies. I need to start thinking about trades. I don't think I'll make the PMC charms like I did last year. I'll need something fresh and new for my 2nd ArtFest. No need to be an over-achiever. Ha! Famous last words.

I've been spending a lot of time in my art studio lately. First to clear a path to my art table and then to actually sit at the table and be able to experiment with soldering. I'm getting better with each piece I make but I'm still not convinced I'll be able to s0lder a jump ring onto a soldered piece of glass any time soon. Even with two 3rd arms, a couple anvils, a steel block, a c-clamp, self-locking tweezers and a drawer full of pliers it's still difficult for me to manage. I'll keep trying until I can at least feel confident enough to make something to send to a friend. That's usually my benchmark. If I can feel good about giving it to a friend then I'm heading in the right direction.

I've had lots of time to work on things indoors because in case you hadn't noticed it's been COLD down here! I'm talking single digit, pipe freezing, 3 quilt and 2 cat sleeping cold. Today was the first warm day we've had in weeks. It was beautiful, sunny and warm. I sat on the back deck with my feet in the sun for the first time in months. I do believe I'm almost thawed out now.

Lots of excitement around here lately: A 700+lbs. cow in the front yard that my husband had to wrangle back into the pasture across the busy street with our 90 year old neighbor. Frozen water pipes due to the extreme cold followed by a broken water pipe from the house down to the barn. Luckily our friend Farmer Sue was over visiting when we noticed the leak that was pouring water into the crawlspace under the house. She told me not to panic - she knew all about the cutoff valve under the house and draining the pipe until spring. Just another thing to add to the "To Do When it Warms Up" list.

I realize it's already February and I haven't posted the photos from the rest of our trip to Coastal Georgia! It was such a wonderful trip. Very relaxing with lots of exploring, seafood eating, Geocaching and general low key goodness. We stayed in a great little cottage called Oaks of Eden that was definitely off the beaten path and very peaceful. I often found myself getting up early and sneaking to the observation deck to watch the sunrise over the marsh or packing a thermos of coffee and going with Marty down the dirt road on the bicycles to a place we called "The Green Lagoon" to watch the wildlife. We couldn't have asked for a better place.The owners were great! There were yummy muffins, fresh wild caught Georgia boiled shrimp and organic green salad from their garden waiting on us in the 'fridge when we arrived. We were so spoiled with all the good seafood we ate on this trip that we ended up bringing back 25lbs. of IQF (individually quick frozen) fresh wild caught Georgia shrimp. Of course, this lead to the purchase of a new freezer for the garage when we returned but it's packed with shrimp now and there should be room for vegetables about late spring!

For those of you who have never seen cotton growing - this is it! I've seen it all my life but it still amazes me when I look at it up close.

Southern Charm

2008-12-27T22:44:00.024-05:00

"Savannah is better for ya. You'd just get in trouble in Atlanta."
—Mammy in Gone with the Wind

We took a little road trip (only 5 hour drive) to the Georgia Coastal Marshlands. Since Savannah was on the way, we spent a night there and enjoyed a day of exploring before heading down the coast. We arrived late in the evening and had dinner and drinks at a great little microbrewery called Moon River Brewing Company. I can highly recommend the Savannah Fest Bier if you like a good German style beer!

One of the great things about Savannah, if you don't finish your drink and you're ready to mosey down the street to the next place, you can just take it with you! That's exactly what we did as we strolled along the riverfront by moonlight enjoying our beverage from Moon River Brewing Company. Slowly making our way back to our hotel for the night, we ran into some very friendly fellows who invited us into a nearby pub to listen to some friends of theirs who were playing live music. No cover charge and we could take our beer in...sure! Why not? As it turns out, we really enjoyed the music and stayed for a couple of sets chatting with Jason and Eric (the duo) of The Train Wrecks in between their sets. Great guys, we got on the subject of Hank Williams and I told them some of the stories of my family ties with Hank Williams, Sr. and Alabama (the state, not the group). They played songs the last set that all tied into things we had talked about. Really nice guys.

The next morning we decided to let the GPS tell us where to go. I punched in The Mercer House (of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil fame) and we ended up at Monterey Square in the historic district. Walking around the square, admiring the old oak trees dripping with spanish moss and the charm of the southern architecture, we noticed an open door in the basement of one of the houses. It was an antique shop! Needless to say, we ventured inside and had a nice chat with Alex Raskin (owner of Alex Raskin Antiques) located in the historic Noble Hardee Mansion. He told us that it was the largest house in the Savannah Historic District and we were welcome to wander around all 15,000 square feet of it. There was so much to take in, Marty and I split up, both admiring the contents as much as the house itself. We crossed paths a few times and just looked at each other in total amazement. It was technically only a two story house but with a basement and attic it seemed to go on forever. Crystal chandeliers hung high above furniture that was piled up in rooms where you could almost hear the music and feel the dancing in what were once two stately ballrooms.

If you're ever in Savannah and enjoy antiques, old homes with southern charm, and a slight chill on the back of your neck as you wonder if there really are ghosts in this world, then this is definitely a place for you to visit.

Alex Raskin Antiques located in the Noble Hardee Mansion

441 Bull Street (the corner of Bull and Gordon at Monterey Square)

Savannah, Georgia (USA) 31401

Incidentally, that is The Mercer House in background of the top photo with the garden view. I've got more photos and tales to tell of the rest of our trip but I'll stop for now. Photo overload - I'll give it a rest.

Giving Thanks

2008-11-28T21:06:00.005-05:00

So much to be thankful for - loving family, good food, warm Alabama weather, two young nephews who were amazed that we could actually write with the guinea hen quills we found in the yard and mama's pickled beet juice from the beets dad grew in the garden. Simple pleasures.

Artful Blogging

2008-11-12T12:20:00.008-05:00

My blog collage banner is in the new Winter 2009 Artful Blogging magazine. It was a nice surprise when they contacted me and asked me to submit artwork for the "Banners We Love" section. Although I've savored every issue from the beginning of publication, I never thought to submit any of my own artwork. It's fun to see my little ol' blog banner in such a cool magazine.

I cracked up when my friend introduced me to someone the other night and said "She's published!" How funny. :-)

Breathe

2008-11-11T10:51:00.017-05:00

I'm still playing catch up! A few weeks ago we took the "FrankenCamper" (hand stitched pop-up tent camper) to Black Rock Mountain State Park. The fall colors were just beginning to change and it was the first really cold weekend we've had this season. In spite of the cold weather and the lack of water at the state park, it was a great weekend. We hit a couple of flea markets early on Saturday and then back to the communal campfire.

Check out my goodies! I love the paintings - they are already hanging in the kitchen to distract my eyes from the apple motif wallpaper in a small area under the top cupboards. The wallpaper that is half torn off in hopes to motivate me to finally get rid of it completely. That's a whole other story for another time.

Another good find were these 2 gallon plastic bags stuffed FULL of junk jewelry. I don't know that I'll ever go through it all but it's fun to sift through and pull out a piece every now and then. Yesterday I wore a mood ring on my pinkie that I found in the stash. It turned from a dark gray into a beautiful teal blue color - so I must have been in a good mood.

I've been feeling pretty crafty these past couple of weeks. Totally inspired by Ms. Mary Ann and her way cool funky journals, I got out my old sewing machine and began stitching up a few things myself. This is the first thing I did - just a photo sewn onto a 6x9 clasped envelope that I folded in half. It was fun to learn to thread the machine, wind a bobbin and try to figure out what all the buttons actually do. That poor machine got no love for the past 10, 11, 12 years. It was moved from one house to the next, from one closet to another and now it's finally made its way to the dining room table. It's out and it's ON, baby!

Don't laugh, I'm just learning. Okay, you can laugh - I did. I cracked up, actually. I had this idea to use a bunch of personal photos and make a booklet type card for a friend... but my printer jammed after only printing 2 photos. You know how that goes - no time to mess with failed technology when the creative spirit strikes. I shifted gears and started going through my F.ART (Future Art) box. Lots of random things - it's a work in progress with many more layers to be added but it's done out of love.

More news on the crafty scene here at The Pharm...I crocheted a purse! It's a small miracle because I don't even know *how* to crochet. Well, I know 2 stitches (chain and I don't know what the 2nd is called) that someone must have taught me about 35-40 years ago. Seriously, I can not even glance over a page of crochet instructions without feeling dizzy and almost passing out. Even the drawings just confuse the heck out of me and I'm supposed to be a visual learner. So, I made it up. I just crocheted this THING, folded it over, stitched up the sides with that same stitch I know and looked at it. It could have been a sort of squarish hat, or maybe a double handed oven mitt (not safe) or possibly a triangular shaped pillow. Nope, I thought it looked more like a purse than anything so I got two handles and used that same stitch I know to attach the handles to the purse. There you have it - my first crocheted bag. I finished it last night with one of the cats on my lap right before going to bed. I was so proud of it - I took it upstairs and hung it on my dresser to look at.

The next thing planned in the crafty arena is to make place mats. That's right, I am going to actually try to sew cloth to cloth. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Aside from being silly and playing with the sewing machine and crochet hook, I've been enjoying the true fall colors of late. Like my friend said the other day, it's a panoply of colors. Isn't that a great word?! We've got a couple of Japanese Maple trees by the driveway - I always love how the reds pop against the fading yellowy green of the wisteria on the picket fence.

Our CSA friends just harvested fresh peanuts! Another reason that I love this time of year. For those of you that have never seen a peanut plant, here is what they look like after coming out of the ground, before picking off of the bush, washing and boiling. O.M.G. There's nothing that can compare to fresh boiled peanuts. We're about half way through the batch I made a few days ago. I'll be sad when they are all gone.

Playing Catch Up

2008-10-30T14:08:00.009-04:00

We went to Ontario for Canadian Thanksgiving (Oct 13th) and spent a relaxing week with family. I couldn't find my copy of Eat, Pray, Love so I bought another one at the airport. I figured I would pass it on to a friend when I'm done reading it. Also picked up Water for Elephants which I totally devoured. Odd for me, as I'm usually reading some sort of reference book. Perhaps I enjoyed it so much because it is an historical novel. The author is a tech writer from Ontario - something I didn't know until I got to the end of the book. Very good read!

My mother-in-law's insanely delicious Canadian Butter Tarts made with pecans from my father's orchard in Alabama! Mmmmm...I'd have to say that these are better than pecan pie because of the sweet to flaky crust ratio. Speaking of that, I learned a trick from my father-in-law on how to maximize the pumpkin pie eating experience. He puts a hole in the top of the piece of pumpkin pie and then fills it with Canadian maple syrup before covering with freshly whipped cream. *Smack!*

All Tarted Up

2008-10-03T23:20:00.005-04:00

I picked this basket of apples and pears across the road at my 90 year old friend's orchard yesterday. DELICIOUS! The tart I made today with only 3 of the apples.

Apple Bistro Tart

1/2 of a 15 oz package (1 crust) folded refrigerated unbaked piecrust
1 T sugar
1 t ground cinnamon
1 t finely shredded lemon peel
2 medium tart green apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/2 cup caramel apple dip
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 apple jelly
powdered sugar

Let piecrust stand according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine sugar, cinnamon, and lemon peel. Add apple slices, toss to coat.

Place unfolded piecrust on a large baking sheet. Spread caramel apple dip over crust to within 2 inches of edge. Arrange apple mixture over caramel. Sprinkle with pecans. Fold edge of crust about 2 inches up and over apple mixture, pleating edge as necessary.

Bake in 425 degrees oven about 20 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and apples are tender. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan heat apple jelly over low heat until melted.

Remove tart from oven. Brush melted jelly over entire tart, including pastry. Serve warm. Sift powdered sugar over tart before serving. Makes 8 small servings or 4 decent servings.

I can't remember where I got this recipe but I seem to think it was maybe from Cooking Light about 4 or 5 years ago. I've made it so many times that I don't even use the recipe anymore.

Here are some of my variations:

If I don't have pecans (like today) then I just chop up some raw almonds and use those instead.

If I don't have apple jelly for the glaze (like today) then I just brush on some maple syrup.

I have a small jar of Caramel Ice Cream Topping in the 'fridge that I use instead of the Caramel Apple Dip.

I've also added blueberries to the mix before and I usually leave out the lemon peel but squeeze fresh lemon juice on the apples as I'm cutting them.

We got one of those Pampered Chef Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer things at a yard sale for $2 a few weeks ago. Man, does that ever make for a quick job of prepping the apples! Before that, I used one of those Apple Wedgers and just trimmed off the peel. Still a pretty quick job.

Ridin' Smilin' and Clickin'

2008-09-29T14:47:00.013-04:00

"If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space." — Anonymous

Another beautiful day in North GA. Short ride this morning up to Tate to get out and enjoy the scenery. I think I see a pattern forming here. We went to the same little crossroads diner for breakfast.

That's me on the back - ridin', smilin' and clickin' a few photos along the way.

I've been saving up (time and fun tickets) to stop in at this little place. I know there will be something I just can't live without.

Made a stop for a few groceries. I think I'm going to make some iced-tea and add a splash of this limeade in with it. Mix it up a bit - live dangerously.

Here's the beginning of my fall garden. First time to ever plant: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and collard greens.

All of the peppers are looking good. This Jalapeño plant is loaded. My Carolina Wonder bells are just starting to turn red and the Habaneros are a pretty color of HOT HOT HOT orange.

This is the mystery squash - it's a volunteer. I have no idea what it is - maybe a gourd? Maybe a zucchini? The leaves are huge - the blossoms are yellow and smell like a squash blossom but the fruit itself does not smell like a squash to me. Anyone happen to know what it is?

Check!

2008-09-28T18:30:00.002-04:00

"Do something every day that scares you." — Eleanor Roosevelt

Inspiration abounds!

2008-09-15T21:42:00.010-04:00

Here's the first page to my visual journal. As always, you can click on the photo to see a larger version. I started this journal (which I just realized is very close to the word journey) last November after seeing a tutorial on Judy Wise's blog. It was so much fun to create - ripping up old paper grocery bags, dunking them in a sink full of water, crunching them up and then hanging them out on my old wooden clothes drying rack like sheets of pasta. I was up late one night ironing the pages and my husband thought I'd gone insane. I reassured him that it was for an art project - not laundry. I think he would have been genuinely concerned had I been ironing clothes.

I was so proud of actually learning the coptic stitch and completing the bookmaking part that I didn't want to mar its pure beauty with even the tiniest of marks. It sat on the kitchen counter for a few days so I could admire it as I walked by. Then it made its way to the upstairs hallway where I would occasionally notice it in all its recycled handmade glory as I went by on my way to bed. Months passed and it got shuffled in with a stack of other random papers and moved completely out of sight. I guess it was just a few weeks ago when I found it again and exclaimed "My journal! There you are!"

But who was to know that it was actually a journal? I don't even think it knew. It began the descent from the upper story of the house back into my daily life. I carried it with me a few places but forgot to show anyone - tucked between books and then once in a pile of mail it even rode with me over to a friend's house in the back seat of the car. Then finally, one fateful night - I remembered to bring it along to dinner to show my artful friend Farmer Sue.

She fondled it with amazement. Marveling at how the pages looked like old worn leather, she asked how I had done the stitching. It had been so stinking LONG since I'd made the thing, I just gave a sigh and said "I can tell you one thing, it wasn't easy." We sort of sat in silence for a moment and then she tossed it back to me across the table and said "So, what are you going to put in it?"

What am I going to put IN it?! IN IT?! How could she not think it was complete?

Oh, that's right - I was calling it a journal - duh! The time has come. Today it became my journal. Today it was a place for me to scribble, glue, paint, paste, draw, write and wander. It was a place for me to play. A place to put memories down on paper, wonderful memories of a weekend filled to the brim with inspiration.

What was intended to be an informal artist's retreat to celebrate the end of a work study group for Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way - actually turned into the beginning of new friendships. Friendships that I feel will continue to grow as we grow as artists, as women, as individuals. We laughed, we shared, we danced, we even threw off our inhibitions and swam under the bright moon in a clean North Georgia mountain lake.

Just the night before I had read Melissa Manley's inspirational Camp Creed which was ever so fitting for our retreat. We read it aloud that night and then again the next morning. It was just too perfect to not use as a quote for the first page in my very artfully inspired visual journal.

The pictures in the post below titled "And We Danced..." are a few of my photos from the weekend. Another friend Jennifer Carter who actually facilitated (did I say that correctly?) The Artist's Way group has more photos on her blog. I love seeing this magical weekend captured through another artist's eyes. Great job, Jenn!

I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so many artful friends. Inspiration abounds!

And We Danced...

2008-09-14T16:35:00.003-04:00

AeroPress of Love

2008-09-05T09:40:00.006-04:00

My handsome coffee-maker (aka my husband) has been away on business this week. Last night I found a package on the front porch with a small coffee/espresso maker, extra filters and this sweet note...

He melts my heart. When we were without electricity, he used the last bit of power in the computer battery back-up (UPS) to grind fresh coffee, then he boiled water on the side burner of the propane grill and made us French press coffee on the back deck. His resourcefulness and love knows no bounds. *melt*

Moo Swap

2008-09-04T14:14:00.008-04:00

Aren't they lovely?! As always, you can click on the photo to see them up close. My first official organized art swap. Thanks to Lelainia for hosting this Moo exchange. How cool is that? I love how she put them on the paint swatches. Now that I've scanned them to post - I get the thrill of looking on the backs to see who they came from.

Color me tickled pink. :-)

Red, Green and Rust

2008-08-27T18:45:00.015-04:00

Get your Pharm Phresh Photos here! Finally after 4 days without power followed by much welcomed rain, I took a walk around outside and snapped some photos. I'm realizing there's actually a color scheme here on The Pharm. Can you see it?

Sorry about the duplicate photos - I sort of went willy nilly with the new software I downloaded (Comic Life for Mac). I will try not to abuse it - I've only got 30 days on the free trial version. I'm still trying to learn the art of restraint. For now, it just feels good to throw it all out there.

Lunch for One

2008-08-07T12:27:00.007-04:00

Mmmm...my lunch and yes, I ate every last bit of it. Even tipped the plate up and drank the juice that was collected in the bottom of the plate. Thanks to Judy Wise for this delicious food inspiration. What I didn't already have in the 'fridge I went out and picked from the garden. THE GARDEN! Yes, I went out and picked food from my garden for lunch! I realize this might not be such a newsworthy event for some of you but it absolutely tickled me to no end.

Okay, I only picked the basil and curly parsley but it still counts, right? :-)

The tomato (yes, that is only half of ONE tomato), cucumbers and red onions are all compliments of our amazing CSA organic gardeners. They are only 2 people but they grow food for something like 30 families on 2 acres. I enjoy being able to spend even just a few minutes over there to sit in the rocking chairs under the porch and catch up while I get my goodies.

The amaranth has gone to seed but I love how the rich deep color contrasts with the blue sky and green corn stalks. Apparently, chicks love amaranth. I wonder if their eggs will come out pink?

Here's a lovely parting shot of the sun coming up over the trees this morning around 6:30am. The fog was trapped in a field and I pulled over to snap a quick shot on my way home from Casa de Waffle. I knew I needed a hearty (as in heart stopping?) breakfast before watering the garden this morning. Took me a couple of hours to get everything watered but I was done well before my 10am watering ban cut off and plenty of time to greet the appliance repairman at 9am. Oh such is the life of a Tiny Pharm Wife.

Sweet Sungolds

2008-07-29T17:51:00.005-04:00

Yeah! We just got 10mm of rain in about 20 minutes. The first rain since I planted the garden. Like a little kid at Christmas, I ran out to see how the plants were doing after their first rain shower in their new digs. Our first Sungold tomatoes!

Work in Progress

2008-07-27T19:16:00.014-04:00

I'm still here! Lots of outside projects in the works. This is the greenhouse my brother is building for me using old recycled windows and doors. I'd say he's about half way done. It's looking a little junky down there now but I know it will be fabulous when it's finished. I've got an old cast iron kitchen sink to put inside and will put a load of pea gravel in for the floor and a potting bench down one side. I'm not sure what we'll use for the bottom - maybe siding - maybe glass. It may end up being more of a natural light potting shed/painting studio. Who knows?

We had a bunch of dead limbs cut down and a HUGE oak tree that was dead and leaning over the barn. I failed to get a photo of the whole tree but this is a piece of the middle section to give you an idea of how large it was. Lots of loud equipment and guys with hard hats and chainsaws running around for a few hours.

We made good use of the pile of chips left by the arborist. I now have paths leading to my new kitchen garden. Woo-Hoo! Finally a place to grow a few tomatoes, peppers and herbs.

Oh my sad sad tomatoes. They were struggling on the back deck planted in random containers. Finally they have room to stretch out and get some sun. I still need to cover the soil with a little mulch. I've got a pile of half decomposed leaves from last fall piled under the magnolia tree. I hope I get to that tomorrow. There's always something to do around here. My project list keeps getting longer instead of shorter.

The rough plan has been to get lots of work done around the house and yard this summer so that we can sit back and enjoy it in the fall. Maybe get back to some artful jewelry type creations and pottery.

Check out how the potato vine grew up around my squirrel feeder! Next year I'll plant those along the fence but I sort of just plunked a handful in the ground at the base of the post a few weeks ago. I've added a few more plants around the yard. 4 dwarf gardenias near the lower deck with newly mulched paths and 10 autumn ferns along the driveway by the trash corral.

Here's a sweet smellin' bloom on the guacamole hostas I planted last month. I was amazed at the bloom - it's so unlike the other hostas I planted earlier in the year. I've really enjoyed being outside, nurturing my plants and seeing how everything progresses. It's very difficult to water though. Since we are still in a "Level 4 Drought Restriction" I can only water (by hand, one hose, one person) from midnight to 10am on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

I'll end this post with a photo of "Bandit" our resident raccoon. He's in here every night to snack on the cat food. I know, I'm going to have to take the cat food inside at night but it's so hard to do when Clara sleeps outside. Clara likes a little midnight snack and I hate to leave him with no food. Oh well, everyone's got to eat so the madness continues. Never a dull moment here on The Pharm.

Old and New

2008-06-12T18:11:00.005-04:00

Just as I knew, the roses are gone but the Oak Leaf Hydrangeas are in full beautiful bloom. Mother Nature has been taunting me lately. I had to jump through hoops to get these two photos off of my camera and onto my computer. Don't even get me started with all of the technical issues. I'm just taking it as a sign from above and beyond that I need to be spending time outside instead of inside in front of a computer. So, with that said, here's a quick shot of the new flower bed that didn't exist just a few short days ago.

The area was covered in ivy and an old picket fence. I kept one of the posts to use for my "squirrel feeder". It's something I got from the GoodWill dumpster - yeah, the time my friend and I got busted for going through the trash pile behind GoodWill. They throw away all the GOOD STUFF and sell the junk. I just don't understand it.

Anyway, I've decided that I'd rather be spending time outside in the yard than inside at my computer. So, I guess I'm taking a temporary hiatus from blogland. I've still got lots to plant and I need to figure out what to put down in/on the dirt where the ivy once was. It's under big oak trees so I am not counting on growing any grass there. I'm looking at ground covers now. Maybe just a simple mulch path and even more flower beds. Shade loving - that's the phrase of the day. Or of the past week.

Drop me a note if you have any ideas about how to deal with the areas outside of the flower beds. I'm still checking email but don't feel like messing with all the photos from our UK trip. I'll get to them one day.

Anyone else been having fun outside? It's crazy hot and I'm half way insane to be obsessed with gardening right now but I just can't help it. I want a lush place to enjoy my glass of iced tea. Oh, that reminds me...I need to plant mint!

We're Back From Across The Pond!

2008-05-30T13:32:00.014-04:00

It couldn't have been more perfect. Notice the car at the top of the path? That's our car and exactly where we pulled in to park in the tiny village of Lealholm in the North Yorkshire Moors. These old stepping stones across the river are the reason I picked this spot in the first place. I saw a photo on the 'net and just knew it would be a great little place to rest our weary bones after the trip over. I was unaware of where I was parking as I pulled in to walk up the road to the pub.

Let's just say that after an 8 and a half hour flight, a couple hours in the airport sorting out our rental car, plus driving from Manchester on the LEFT side of the road...well, it was a most welcome sight to see my old friend "The Stones".

A view up the street towards the pub. If I never do anything else right the rest of my life, let it be known that booking a room at The Board Inn (a room upstairs in the local village pub) was one of the smartest things I have ever done in my life. Seriously. How could we go wrong? A few pints, a good meal and all we had to do was crawl up the stairs to lay our heads on what seemed like the softest pillows on earth.
Ok, here's a funny story... I was upstairs, sitting in the window seat, looking out onto the river when I saw this cute old man driving a tractor over the bridge. I grabbed my camera and took a photo thinking it was too surreal. But then came the true reality when he backed into the space at the front of the pub door right underneath my window and delivered 3 huge bags of potatoes! Potatoes he grew himself, harvested, then delivered to the pub. Forget it! I couldn't nap, I had to go down to the pub for another 1/2 pint and share my story with my husband and a few of the locals. I'm not sure they knew why I found this so insanely idyllic but to me it just set the mood for a fantastic English countryside visit.

Just a few photos from Day 1. I've got lots of unpacking, laundry, mail sorting, bill paying, kitty loving and even some fresh vegetables to pick up from our CSA. It's good to be home but WOW what a trip. More to follow in the next few days as I sort through our photos.

P.S. I must have traveler's delirium! Marty booked the room at the pub for us after a kind old woman he first called suggested we try the pub. Her farm stay B&B was booked for the night and it couldn't have worked out better. 'Twasn't I at all. I give credit where credit is due.

Also, if you ever do find yourself in Lealholm or anywhere near, please do stop in and tell Karen and Alister hello for us. They were great hosts! Alister is quite the chef and whipped up some delicious meals for us. Food, that's a whole other post. Incredible food. I was on the "Eat Something Cute Diet". The first night it was pan fried wild rabbit. I tried not to think of what it looked like before it was smothered in a delicious gravy. :-\

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. Or Did I?

2008-05-17T09:50:00.011-04:00

Just as I knew, the climbing antique rose bush is now loaded with sweet smelling blooms. It's actually gone a bit crazy after all of the rain we've had. These photos just don't do it justice - a bit hard for me to capture how full it really is spilling all over the arbor.

There are also the beginnings of new blooms on the Oak Leaf Hydrangeas outside of the picket fence. They start out green and then turn to white not blue or pink like the other variety of hydrangeas. I love the conical shape of these when the bush is in full bloom.

The Hostas and Rose Campions that I planted last week seem to be pretty happy here. I also love how the sunlight shines through the leaves of the Bengal Tiger Canna Lilies. We took out a section of the picket fence to bring in the top soil and rocks but decided to make it into a gate instead of putting it back like it was.

Yes, the grass needs trimming, the beds needs mulching and the fence needs attention but I've got to pack for a trip! There's no telling what I'll want to do with the yard after seeing all of the English Country Gardens. I think I may just pop with excitement.

Manchester England England

2008-05-13T10:22:00.001-04:00

We leave for the UK soon and I can NOT get this song out of my head. This will be my first trip to the north part of the United Kingdom. We fly into ~Manchester, England, England, across the Atlantic Sea...~ and then will rent a tiny car (gas is $10/gallon!) to make our way up to Edinburgh and loop around to The Lake District for a wedding with a bunch of friends. Then it's back to ATL. Short trip but I'm very excited about seeing the country side, the moors, the cliffs, the dells, the castles, the sheep, the gardens, the pubs and the friends.

After the Storm

2008-05-11T12:48:00.011-04:00

I wish I could share with you how wildly delicious this honeysuckle smells in the yard today. We had strong storms last night and this is what I woke up to just outside the bedroom window. I'm so glad I slept with the window open. I heard the rain come down really hard about 5am so I checked the doppler radar on my laptop. Tornado warnings but mostly south of us. No limbs down, just a light spring breeze to carry these wonderful scents all around me.

The antique climbing rose above the front gate is just starting to bloom. Before long it will be filled with wonderful light pink gifts from Mother Nature. I love how that happens!

I guess I can be called an "Accidental Gardener". I'm not one for formal gardens - they just don't fit with this old farm house or my sense of style. I usually like the natural look but this year I've decided to give it a little nudge. I love anything that pops up from plantings that were put in many years ago by chance or previous gardeners. Last year the electricity or phone or cable company cut a swath underneath the power lines from the road to the fence line by the driveway. Just a few days ago, I noticed a small stand of Rose Campions growing in that spot along with the weeds, poison ivy and underbrush.

This morning, out I went with my trusty rubber boots and a shovel to dig a few of them up and transplant closer to the house. Parts of our yard were starting to look quite bare after the long drought we've had. Then any rains we had washed away the soil around the trees so I had 8 yards of topsoil brought in to surround 4 of the large oak trees. I've mainly been planting shade loving plants but I've noticed certain naturalized plants growing in these areas so I'm adding those in with the hostas and canna lilies. It's been fun moving things around and digging in the dirt. It's still all looking a little bare in the new beds but I'm pretty confident that it will be glorious come next spring.

In Celebration of Spring

2008-05-03T13:09:00.009-04:00

I had planned to get up early (which I did) and work in the gardens today. I have about 20 hostas, 10 daffodils and a few hyacinths that are waiting for their new home in the freshly composted beds. Mother Nature had a different plan for me and decided the plants need water before I put them in their final resting place. So, while it's raining outside, I decided to post a photo from our woodland walk in Northern California a few months ago.

Also, I'd like to give thanks, in random order:

• Thanks to the all of the new friends I've met since starting this blog. It would take too long to list each one separately but you should know who you are. I hope I have thanked each of you personally.

• Thanks to all of my old friends who probably sometimes begin to think I'm full of myself but continue to be my friends.

• Thanks to all of the wonderful people I met on my ArtFest journey.

• Thanks to the people who take the time to see what I have to say here. Extra special thanks to those of you who take the time to post a comment. I am always excited when I see a new message.

• Thanks to Mother Nature and the Creator for showing me that every day is a new beginning.

• Thanks to my husband for allowing me to live the life of a 'Tiny Pharm Wife'.

• Thanks to good cheese and fresh baked bread. Compliments of said husband who got up hours earlier, made freshly ground french press coffee, left it in a thermos for me, then went for an early morning ride on his motorcycle to come back with a backpack full of yummy stuff. I'm not particularly thankful for the 'Stinking Bishop Cheese' because it was a bit too stinky for me. Plus, with a name like that, it's hard to enjoy! But thanks just the same.

• Thanks to Susanna Gordon for the kind gift of one of her photographs accompanied with a thoughtful hand written letter. I found her from the very first issue of "Artful Blogging" and she's been a great source of inspiration and encouragement ever since. Actually, it was Susanna that suggested I start my very own blog. She was right - it has enriched my life in so many ways.

• Thanks to my family who knew I was always a little different but allowed me to be so loving me along the way.

• Thanks to the other artists, writers, humans who share their world and continue to inspire me as I sometimes just wander down my own path of enlightenment.

• Thanks to YOU for reading this long list. I think I've had too much coffee. I need to get out in the yard. I guess I can dig with my fancy rubber boots on since it's still raining.

ArtFest!

2008-04-27T17:00:00.019-04:00

One of the best things about living on the east coast but visiting the west coast is the time change. I can probably count on one hand the times I've gotten up to see the sunrise in my time zone. My first morning in Port Townsend I was up before the sun. I took advantage of the extra time and enjoyed an early morning walk to the beach. At one point, I thought I might want to put my feet in the water. Once I got there, I was fine with just letting my boots touch the water. I can't think of a better way to start the day...time alone to commune with nature.

My first class of ArtFest was Creative Outlets with Michael deMeng. I've followed Michael's work for a few years and knew there was much to learn from him. He didn't let me down. I was completely at ease when I first entered the class and felt like I was hanging out with an old friend. We had plenty of space to work since class was being held in the Art Asylum. It didn't take me long to spread out my junk on the table and feel right at home.

The challenge was to use an electrical outlet as the base for our assemblage piece. I hemmed and hawed for the first part of the class not really feeling like I was heading in the direction I wanted to be going. Then I picked up an old Christmas ornament from one of the tables in the Art Asylum and it all started to fall into place. I learned to use the cut-off wheel and there was no turning back. Michael was a great teacher!

Here's the piece after I had pretty much worked all my magic on it. I am learning that I need to work more on photographing my artwork. I'm pretty impatient with this sort of thing and just like to walk around the yard pointing and clicking with the camera. It is what it is. You can click on the photo for more detail.

For anyone that was in that class with me, you'll probably remember that I got a little choked up at the critique. I used my grandmother's old hairpins on the piece hanging from the bottom of the outlet. I'm so sentimental about those sorts of things. I didn't actually cry but I felt my throat close up a little. It's a special piece to me.

Three cheers for Michael - he's a great teacher!

Man, that was the TIGHTEST schedule I have been on in my entire life. Since I stayed in the dorms (which were old military barracks) the shower was an open bay. We had a sign-up list for our 10 minute daily shower. Just enough time to shower and have a quick cup of coffee with some of the other gals in the dorm and then off to breakfast. Only enough time to gather my supplies for the next class before hoofing it across the campus. Oh, and about those bathrooms. I didn't see my face for 4 days because at 5 feet tall, I could only see the top of my head in the mirrors. It's probably a good thing because I didn't have one extra minute to worry about how I looked. I loved that part of ArtFest.

Friday's class was Flat to Stacked with Linda and Opie O'Brien and was held in the chapel. I loved that little chapel but be forewarned that while beautiful, the dim light filtering through the stained glass windows on a dark and rainy day is not the best lighting for doing extremely small detail work. Again, I hemmed and hawed during the first part of the class and then basically finished up the bracelet the next evening at the Art Asylum. It was a great class but very fast paced with so many people. I liked learning to make my own rivets with brass brads. It took me a few times to get it right. I used a couple of my PMC pieces on this bracelet so had to be a bit creative with the attachments. I'm happy with the way it came out and have received compliments on it the times I have worn it since.

You can click on the photo to see a larger view. I used a small faucet screen behind the cabochon bezel and noticed how it kept catching on my sleeve the first time I wore it. So, I whip stitched some copper wire around it and it's fine now. I was happy to be able to use one of my silver twigs, as well as another silver charm I had made. One of my favorite parts is the sliver of my moo card that I used under the smallest piece of plexiglass. It's fitting being my first ArtFest and all.

I'm sure there are lots of things I am forgetting after so long but I'll just hit the highlights since I have these 3 pieces. Oh, how can I forget vendor night?! I waited across the way at the Art Asylum (yes, I spent a lot of time there!) before they opened the doors for vendor night. Once inside, it was a crazy madhouse of lights and people and wonderful art mainly by the instructors of ArtFest but some other great artists, as well. My energy level was low and I didn't feel much like (politely) fighting the crowds.

I did make it to Judy Wise's table to introduce myself. Judy is one of the kindest people I have met in blogland. I fell in love with one of her pieces on Etsy long before I knew who she was. Now that I look back in my favorites, it's not there. Maybe I was mistaken. Maybe it's the first piece I saw of hers that made my heart flutter. At any rate, I bought it! It's a fabulous encaustic piece with a stencil of her as a child and wrecking ball. Layers of luscious wax and collage. I adore it almost as much as I adore Judy.

I also was able to wiggle my way to Catherine Witherall's table. Catherine is a terrific metal clay artisan who has given me much encouragement and advice about setting up my kiln. I was terrified the first time I fired it and had it outside on the front porch on top of a fireproof BBQ mat - I mean, 1650°...that's HOT! I've since moved it into the garage on a wheeled cart and am quite comfortable firing my pieces. I'd love to take a class with Catherine one day but felt it was something I wanted to save for later.

Another round of the tables and I managed to make my way to Susan Lenart Kazmer. I felt honored to be able to actually touch the pieces she had hanging on display. How could I pick a favorite? No way, it was just too much all at once. I did purchase her new book which I pour through every chance I get. I will take a class with her one day - it's just not what the universe had planned for me this time.

So, that pretty much wrapped up my vendor night experience. I was happy to see who I could and leave the madness behind. I went back to the Art Asylum (see, I told you I spent a lot of time there) and finished my bracelet.

I awoke on Saturday knowing it was going to be a great day. I had Nina Bagley's class Stone Soup and had been looking forward to it for months. The first time I discovered Nina (like Carolina) I fell in love with her work. Simple earrings made with natural river stones from N.C. - right up my alley! Spend a few minutes on her blog and you will be sure to understand why I felt a kinship before we ever met in person. She was just as welcoming as I had imagined. When we hugged, it felt (to me) like hugging a dear friend.

All it took was a few minutes of watching her demonstrate some of her tricks and tips to know I was just where I needed to be. It all fell into place and I was wrapping and twisting and dunkin' (my entire spool of silver wire into Liver of Sulphur) to my heart's content. I didn't completely finish the piece I was working on, it's more of a study. A combination of new techniques learned to carry with me on my journey of expressive jewelry. Memories from the past, pulled into the present, to take to the future. That's the best way I can explain it.

Again, my photography skills are lacking here. I photographed this in 3 shots. Starting from the bottom, a tiny bell from my gone but not forgotten Nana from Montana, then a cocoon bead made with a piece of the vintage quilt scraps I got from an elderly neighbor (1950s!) and some of the magical wire wrapping...

Some glass beads that I fell in love with sheltering one of my silver clay beads and a piece of old chain from a vintage necklace I took apart...

From there, a vintage crystal cut glass bead and finally one of my silver handmade twig beads. I love the way it all feels in my hands, the way it jingles lightly. There's just something magical about it to me. I may finish it into a necklace, then again, I may just leave it as it is. Perhaps it just needs to hang somewhere to remind me of all of the special people I met, the magic of ArtFest, the tiny promise I made to myself to be more artful in my daily life.

Leading up to Artfest...

2008-04-25T15:58:00.014-04:00

Every day that passes takes me just a little bit further from ArtFest. I keep telling myself that I need to find my photos and post a little about my adventure before it fades from memory. I took so much in with my ears, eyes and heart that I didn't stop to take nearly as many photos as I normally do. Probably not a bad thing in retrospect.

Here are the snow capped mountains underneath the clouds as I was flying into Seattle. It's the first time I have ever been to Washington state that I can remember and I was so excited with anticipation of the new experiences ahead of me.

My friend Neal met me at the airport and gave me a quick tour of Seattle on our way up to his house. Can you tell I was under dressed for the cool winds whipping off of the water? I left my thick wool sweater and my favorite jeans back home by accident. Good excuse to swing by Pike's Market to look for something warm to wear on the beach at night.

Since we were on the west side of town, we popped in for a short visit with some friends of Neal and his wife's. She made us the perfect cup of coffee (it's a Seattle thing) to warm up as we walked around their gardens. I was mesmerized by all of the cool things. Her son is quite the creative one and built these great little gates and walkways. It was a perfect little space with art and plantings and lots of love.

From there we headed to the market which was just closing but I did luck out and get an alpaca wool pull over. I met the famous fish monger who tosses fish for a living. Funny guy, I called him a 'movie star' because I had seen him on the TV show Glutton for Punishment. Told him I came all the way from Atlanta just to meet him. He kissed a fish for me.

My photos are sporadic from this point on. I enjoyed the evening with N&K over a yummy home cooked dinner and a bottle of wine. Then it was off the next morning for my trip to Port Townsend. I had no idea what I would find along the way. The ferry ride was a trip all in itself. I only stayed up top for about 5 minutes to soak in the scenery before heading back indoors where it was warm.

I came upon the cutest little town called Port Gamble - had to stop and snap a couple of photos.

I have to stop here for now. Just about to head out the door to meet a girlfriend on our way to see Bruce Springsteen tonight. The Boss is in town!

The Jamie Knot and Silver Sticks

2008-03-31T21:21:00.011-04:00

I decided on one quick post before I finish packing. For those of you familiar with Nina Bagley and the "Nina Knot", you will appreciate this. In preparation for my class with Nina on Saturday, I lovingly picked out scraps of vintage material to wash on the delicate cycle in cold water inside of a zippered bag. I took extra care and made sure the machine was set to delicate, used the cold water detergent for delicate items, etc...

I even checked in on the scraps while they were washing to see how they were coming along. It all looked good until I went to pull the bag out of the washer. Lawdy, law...I have NEVER seen such a wad!

This is what I call "The Jamie Knot"...

Too funny. It took me a good 45 minutes or so of snipping threads and unwinding material all the while fending off the cat who was very eager to 'help'.

I also fired another handful of beads today. These are my first attempt at making hollow beads with an organic core. I used twigs for the long ones and wood clay for the round ones.

Before they went into the kiln:

After they were fired and scrubbed with a brass brush:

And finally after they were dunked in the LOS patina:

I brushed parts of the round beads with steel wool and burnished the high points to bring them back to a shiny silver but I left the twigs as they were. I must say that I love how the twigs came out. I'm hoping to use them in a piece of jewelry I will make at ArtFest. Ok, that's really all for now. Clothes are packed but tools and other random art supplies are strewn about the house in four different rooms.

Charmed

2008-03-31T20:38:00.008-04:00

It's down to the wire, literally because I am out of wire. I'm leaving in the morning for Seattle, then it's off to Port Townsend for ArtFest. I've still got to pack all of my art supplies and some wool socks. These are some of the charms I finished. This year's ArtFest theme is "Woodland Forest" so I added a few mushrooms in for good measure. The rest of the charms are loosely based on that same theme with impressions of leaves and flowers and such in the silver. I've also got 20 special "Festal Virgin" trades that aren't in the photos. I'm sure I'll have lots of fun stuff to tell about when I return. Woo-hoo! I hope I can sleep tonight...

You can click on the photo to get a closer view. Not the best but you'll get the picture. All that work for a handful of charms.

Fired, Brushed, Tumbled, Tarnished & Polished

2008-03-27T15:39:00.019-04:00

Here are 45 of the charms I finished today in all of their imperfect handmade glory. "Finished" as in, fired, brushed, tumbled, tarnished and polished. Now comes the real fun part - matching them up with beads and wire wrapping each one to attach to my moo cards for ArtFest trades.

First thing I did after making coffee this morning was set up my Ventilated Patination Station. That's what I was calling it anyway. It's actually just small dishes set out on the back porch with Liver of Sulphur and water. I had it set up from right to left: hot water to heat the silver, then the LOS in warm water to patina the silver and finally, a cool bath of water to stop the chemical process. I used a piece of wire and dipped each charm in all three dishes. Some I left lighter than others. The darker ones were dipped a few different times.

I was so excited and jumped right in to the patination process that I almost forgot to take photos of the shiny charms before they changed colors. Here are a few of the shiny ones with some I had just tarnished. They are bright and shiny because I put them in the rotary tumbler with mixed steel shot last night for about 40 minutes.

More tarnished ones. I like how some of them got that iridescent mixed color. I don't know what it's called but it sort of looks like the top of oil in a parking lot after it rains. You know the look I am talking about? Is there a word for that other than iridescent?

Here's a handful of them after I had polished the high points with a very very very fine steel wool. I would have used my Sunshine Polishing Cloths if I could have found them. Yes, my studio is still a mess! Reminds me of a cross stitched pillow that my mom has: "A Clean House is the Sign of a Misspent Life."

I realized that I didn't have anything in these photos to show size relationship so here's a shot my husband took of me laying them out on a stool outside.

(Pssst...BIG, one of your photos made it onto my blog! Thanks for helping me. You're the best husband but I won't let it get around to your friends. ;-) )

Got Trades?

2008-03-25T14:57:00.009-04:00

My art room is trashed (as usual) but I've been having fun! I've got about 60 charms in the works for ArtFest. I leave one week from today so I'm feeling pretty good about being ready in time.

Here's the first round I made the other night. 25 fine silver charms, all stamped, dried, cleaned up and ready to fire. That's my new Moo Card sitting with the charms. I had 200 printed special for ArtFest.

A couple other shots from my studio. Wolf Trap Radio has been keeping me company on iTunes. It's under the Eclectic genre on iTunes Radio. I think you can also stream it from their website if you don't have iTunes. Who doesn't have iTunes though?

What the Hail?!

2008-03-16T14:45:00.005-04:00

We survived the storms yesterday after spending much of the day in the downstairs hallway. Each time the tornado sirens went off, we moved down to our sudo camp spot. It got old after a while but better safe than sorry.

I watched the storms on the doppler radar using my laptop since our cable has been out for a few days. Today the sun is shining, the cable has been repaired and I think I actually see some new grass sprouting up where there was just mud a day ago.

The photos are of some of the hailstones that fell from the sky and landed in our yard yesterday. I can't remember ever seeing hail this big! I heard they were much larger further east of us.

Who's Battier?

2008-02-02T02:31:00.002-05:00

Never a dull moment around this old place. Last week it was a squirrel that got in through the attic vent after we had professionals secure the outside of the house. The idea was that nothing could get in, no mice, bats, squirrels, snakes, chipmunks or whatever other type of uninvited visitors we may have had in the past.

Well, it didn't work. The squirrel came in and went into my studio. I shut the door (as instructed by someone at the professional place) but when a technician arrived many hours later, the squirrel was gone. It bounced all around my art room knocking things over and chewed the wood slats (mullions, I believe is the correct term) on two of my 6 windows in there. That squirrel was determined. Somehow it UNLOCKED the window and jumped to safety in the outside world from the 2nd story.

This week it was the bat that I could never find during the day. Around 9 or 10 o'clock at night he'd come flying over our heads. Poor thing, I knew it was trying to find a way out but it was near impossible for me to get him out. I slept with my head under the covers a few nights.

Tonight was the last night. I waited for him and after about 3 hours of blocking doorways, and opening the front and back door, I got him to fly out onto the back porch. I grabbed my camera as I was closing the front door and tried to take video.

I kind of miss him already.

Doctor Love

2007-12-04T18:32:00.003-05:00

EGADS!

2007-12-03T13:54:00.000-05:00

Where have all my photos gone? I still see them on Picasa (sp?) where blogger stores them but they have vanished from my blog. How sad. I need photos on my blog.

UPDATE: Ummm, sorry if I posted on your blog about not seeing photos. Something truly was screwy with our web access earlier and for some reason, it wouldn't let me look at photos on my or anyone else's blogspot blog. It's ok now. I'm not completely insane - just a bit touched as some friends would say.

Holy Moly!

2007-12-02T19:12:00.003-05:00

She wasn't joking. Look how simple it is to make your own Photoshop brushes! Here's the first tutorial I clicked on and I can't imagine it being any simpler.

I made a quickie brush of the stencil art I showed earlier today. Layered that over a shot of a mondo moth I caught lounging on a tree and WHAM(!) there it is. Insta-Art!

Ok, maybe it's not a fantastic artistic statement but it's surely a great example of "Even YOU too can do it!" (said in late night infomercial voice). Kind of like the Hairdini of Photoshop. I'm diggin' on it.

Spray Paint

2007-12-02T15:02:00.004-05:00

I've had an incredible urge to get out in the barn and find my old cans of spray paint ever since I discovered this artful blogger. If you found me by clicking through from Dispatch from LA then I don't need to tell you how inspiring she is. If you haven't been there yet, you must pay her a visit!

I haven't played with stencils much at all. Maybe never. I had a stash of a few that I picked up on clearance thinking they might be fun to experiment with one day. Once I tore through my art room and found them, I discovered they were rather large stencils. So off I went to the barn and found a rather large scrap piece of wood to accommodate the rather large stencils.

It became apparent to me that I have a thing for metalic spray paints when I found many cans of copper, hammered silver and gold. It started with copper when I first spray painted an old metal bed that came out of my grandmother's house. After that, I went on a hammered silver rampage and spray painted the base (once shiny brass) of a chandelier that came with our old farm house.

I never was much for shiny brass and the gold was too glaring for me. It didn't fit into the "country cool eclectic" look I was going for. So, with the help of a couple of my girlfriends, we took each crystal off and painted all of the metal with hammered silver spray paint. It was a breeze to paint, not so easy to replace all of the crystals. I liked the transformation but there was still a little something missing.

So, off I went to a lighting center and purchased those tiny little lamp shades for the bulbs. While at the lighting center, I mentioned what I had done to my chandelier. The older European woman looked at me, over her half glasses, down her nose and said "Next time you have a Schonbek, I recommend you not painting it. It could have been a family heirloom."

Thinking the woman was quite brash to say that to me, with a smile I replied "Well, I hope whoever inherits it has my good taste." It wasn't until recently that I learned all about Schonbek chandeliers and realized that was a very expensive chandelier.

The official Certificate of Authenticity that came with the house should have tipped me off. Oh well, such is life. It's a pretty funny story and I like the chandelier now more than before. Enough of the tangent, I don't have any photos of the chandelier right this minute so I'll have to find them to post another time.

Back to my stencils...not sure what I would do with the stenciled old plywood, I played around in Photoshop with the photographs of it. I'm liking the looks of this one, I used a set of PS Actions from Action Central.

While out in the yard, I was enjoying the last of the fall leaves. Our oak trees are the last to get leaves and the last to shed their leaves. Same PS trickery as the other photo.

I'll leave you with another one of my photos and a quote that I found on Roben Marie's page of inspirational quotes.

Cacophony

2007-11-16T12:36:00.001-05:00

I just love that word. Cacophony. I like the way it feels as I blurt it out and the images it creates in my mind. For some reason, I keep thinking that the beautiful fall leaves have exploded in a cacophony of color. But that doesn't make any sense. The word is about a discordance of sound not a visual description.

I still like it. I like thinking that the leaves have exploded into a cacophony of color. If it was music, it would be classical music.

Here are a few photos walking down our driveway today. I love how the Dogwood has turned bright red and the Wisteria an unusual yellow. A nice pop of color along the freshly painted picket fence. Happy Bright Beautiful Autumn!

Is it my imagination or does this bit of curly wisteria vine look like a cursive "J" to you?

The Barefoot Ranger (Arthur Woody)

2007-10-08T17:53:00.003-04:00

It was another beautiful weekend in north Georgia. We camped up near Suches, GA a place also know as "The Valley Above the Clouds" about a mile from the Appalachian Trail. Intending to just make a short trip into town for supplies, we decided instead to take a ride further north and check out some of the local scenery.

My husband had already been up this twisty winding road on his motorcycle and had camped at T.W.O. (Two Wheels Only) a roadhouse and campground for motorcycles and their riders. Previously, I had only heard about the place. When we pulled up, the parking lot was full of bikes and the lunch counter was serving the best lunch that could be had for many miles around. We only stayed long enough to split a cheeseburger, smoked BBQ sandwich, order of onion rings and have a short chat with one of the riders. Then it was back to the road in our Jeep (which we had to park across the road since it had 2 extra wheels).

We happened upon this beautiful spot that almost took my breath away. I pulled over to take photos and saw an older woman walking the fence line along the lake. We said hello and told her how we just had to stop to take it all in. Turns out, she is the great-great-grand-daughter of Arthur Woody (one of the first two National Forest Rangers in Georgia and the first of the Blue Ridge District.)

We had a nice long chat and she invited us to drive around the bend and park near the old family home and take more photos from the other side of the lake. Since I only had my small point and click camera with me, I thought these photos would lend themselves well to a little Photoshop experimentation I've been wanting to try.

It wasn't until we got home and I did a little research on "Ranger Woody" (aka "Kingfish") that I realized he was instrumental in shaping the beautiful north Georgia mountain area and making it was it is today. He facilitated the transfer of land to the National Forestry Service, planted trees in barren areas that had been stripped of its lumber, reintroduced fawns to the non-existent deer population and even filled the streams and rivers with rainbow trout.

It was pure joy to spend the hour or so with Arthur Woody's great-great-grand-daughter (a retired school teacher, I believe) taking photos and just simply enjoying the delightful company of the kind woman. She invited us to come back any time and I believe we might just take her up on that offer.

***UPDATE***

I contacted the kind woman who I thought was Arthur Woody's great-great-granddaughter and she explained that she was the granddaughter of Arthur Woody. It was her great-great-grandfather who donated the land for Woody's Gap on the AT. She said I was kind to make her sound younger than she really is. :-)

Mama and her Chicks

2007-10-02T12:59:00.002-04:00

I went over to my favorite neighbor farmgirl's place the other day. She was away but the barnyard was full. Look at these adorable chicks and their protective mama. How can I possibly pick a favorite?

You can click on the photo to see a larger version. They are all a little dark because I tried not to blind them with the flash.

Peerless Pleasure

2007-09-30T20:53:00.002-04:00

Too much fun in one weekend to blog about in a single post. My friend Ordell came to visit for a very short 4 days. We hadn't seen each other since 1979! Lots of laughs and a lifetime of stories to catch up on.

We happened to drive by an estate sale down the road from us on Saturday. I never knew the old lady who lived in that house but do know the 70 year old woman who was born in the house.

Quick post - just want to show some of the photos from the treasures we found. We got 2 white trash bags full of quilting scraps, an arm full of old hand stitched quilt tops, a finished quilt that's beautiful and this snazzy PINK sewing machine. I'm still going through the scraps and found a total of 7 tops in all the stuff we got. Some of the quilt tops are backed with old newspapers dated June 1950. She must have used the paper for her patterns. I think there are probably about 6 different patterns all together.

I can't seem to find any information on this old sewing machine. The machine itself is made in Japan but the pedal and motor both say made in U.S.A. The make is Peerless and the model is 55 De Luxe. I sure would like to learn more about it. If you happen to know anything about this beauty, I'd appreciate any information you can offer.

What a wonderful fun filled weekend!

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Update: I noticed today that the actual model of the sewing machine is 35 De Luxe. The font looks like a 5 but it's a 3. So far, all I can find with a model number of 35 De Luxe are tractors.

Oscar "Rock Man" Robertson

2007-09-24T22:03:00.004-04:00

It makes me a little sad to go through Ball Ground, GA these days. No more Oscar "Rock Man" and his red truck. No more chance meetings with the old man that many were afraid to even speak to. I've been going to this quaint little town in North GA for the past 15 or 20 years. The first time I drove through with friends from college, I absolutely had to stop and check it out. They thought I was crazy, maybe I was.

Building after building full of wonderful treasures - rocks, gemstones, geodes, crystals, minerals, beads, glass, wooden sculptures, and I can't tell you how many other things all displayed with the utmost of care. Nothing marked with prices that I could see. Not one thing.

The streets were lined with slabs of marble propped up against the old buildings. Every piece deliberately placed. Some behind old chain link fences in parking lots and others in areas cordoned off with rusty cables and yellow caution tape. All weathered over time but still sending a clear message to keep out.

Each of the eight storefronts had "No Admittance" and "Employees Only" signs hanging inside the windows and on the doors. Much of the contents seemed to be pleading to be let out while others seemed perfectly content with their destiny. Perhaps they were just waiting patiently for someone to liberate them from behind the picture windows.

The first dozen or so times I was there, the windows were lined with clipboards of mostly handwritten and photocopied manifestos. Everything from his official Honorable Discharge military documents to his flat tax resolutions. These papers have come to be known as "The Oscar Manifestos". Rock Man made no qualms about sharing his thoughts with anyone who cared to take interest and even some who didn't.

I don't even remember when it was that I first met Oscar but I do remember it was a very unusual and somewhat intense meeting. I was stopped along the road looking in the windows and up drove a big red truck. Then out stepped Rock Man. I can't even tell you what we talked about that first time but I do remember looking at his huge red nose and noticing how it looked like Jimmy Durante's nose. I bought a couple of things from him that day, a string of colorful glass beads and a hematite necklace.

Another time I stopped and got to talk with him, we talked about marble. I wanted some to build an outdoor patio. I asked him how much the slabs of marble were and he told me $20 a piece. I looked at him like he was crazy (which many thought he was) and told him that I couldn't afford to pay that price. Then he asked how much I wanted and when I told him that I didn't know for sure but I was guessing a truckload, he told me to bring my truck and we'd make a deal.

When I tell people about Ball Ground and Rock Man, someone always asks me how I know what the prices of everything are if nothing is marked. I tell them something along the lines of the prices being directly related to how well he likes your stories.

The last few times I went up to Ball Ground I didn't see Oscar and his red truck. I had a friend of mine from Colorado so scared of this old man that he later told me he was relieved he didn't show up when we were there together. Sadly enough, I later learned that Rock Man died in October of 2005. I was just in Ball Ground this past Saturday with another friend and everything is just as I remember it with the exception of all of his manifestos removed from the windows.

Thankfully, there are others who have taken the time to document some of the stories of this interesting little southern town and the colorful old man who made it was it is today. My stories are all first hand but you can find more information on Oscar "Rock Man" Robertson of Ball Ground, GA in Trent Cluley's very well written post titled Farewell to Oscar "Rock Man" Robertson. Linked from his blog, I also found photographs of "The Oscar Manifestos". Thanks to Slashplat for making that a public gallery. Check them both out when you have the time. You'll find much more detail than my accounts in this post.

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More information on Rock Man and Ball Ground from another blogger called "The Dyer Consequences Blog". Thanks for finding me!

Funk Heritage Center

2007-09-21T10:08:00.002-04:00

It was another beautiful day in North Georgia. I swear, I was just going out for breakfast and to stop for some vinegar (my favorite new "green cleaner") but couldn't resist the turn up another country road. There's something about being out in the convertible that just makes me want to keep going.

I ended up in Waleska, GA, home of Reinhardt College and Funk Heritage Center. This old house caught my eye so I pulled over to take a photo. My fixed length lens and vantage point prevented me from capturing the true essence of the old home. It looked like it had been built onto year after year and maybe was made up of tiny apartments for college students.

Right across the street from this house I noticed a sign for Funk Heritage Center. I've been told of interesting artifacts housed at this museum so decided it was a good time to check it out. Once inside, I had a nice chat with the women working there and then sat and watched a short digital film on The Southeastern Indians.

I had been to many of the nearby places mentioned in the film. Ball Ground, GA the site of the Cherokee Indians' ball field - a flat area where they would gather in large groups and play stick ball which is sort of like the modern day lacrosse.

Also mentioned were the Etowah Indian Mounds. What was once a large village with burial grounds and a plaza to people of this land is now a state park.

The museum does have a great abundance of Southeastern Native American Indian artifacts, a kajillion arrowheads, pottery shards, and the like all lining the halls going into a room that housed this huge petroglyph they called "The Rock". It was found in Canton at the current location of the Canton Super Walmart. Isn't that enough to make your stomach turn? I'm so glad the owners of the property donated what was left of it after blowing the rest up looking for buried gold.

As I was back in the lobby looking at other displays, the director of the museum introduced himself and asked if that was my car out in the parking lot. I told him it was and then proceeded to tell him how much fun it is to drive. We had a nice chat and he told me that I should go down and look around their "settlers village". He explained that they usually just take large groups of people down there but I was more than welcome to walk down and take a look around by myself.

Sun was shining, I had my camera around my neck so I took him up on the offer. I'm glad he explained how to get down there because it was a series of wooded unmarked trails and small foot bridges to the village.

Apparently, I did not take the most direct route because when I got to the clearing, there was a big field ahead of me. I walked the field and made my way to a small pond. Realizing I wasn't going to wade through the muddy water, I scouted my way around the pond, through another field until I saw an old log cabin in the distance. Ah! The settlers' village.

I'll save my favorite part of the museum for another post. There are many "Tiny Pharm Wife" chores to attend to since I've been out galavanting for the past few days.

Hard Light

2007-09-18T17:45:00.001-04:00

There's something about the hard light in the late afternoon of early fall that I love. I have a difficult time capturing the feel in photos. It has to do with the contrast between the bright light and the crisp shadows. A few shots on the back deck.

HandMade Nation

2007-09-17T16:04:00.000-04:00

I just watched the mini-preview for the movie HandMade Nation by filmmaker Fayth Levine. I love this kind of stuff! It's great to see DIY arts and crafts making such a big comeback.

I'm not sure how to embed the YouTube video here so you'll have to click on the HandMade Nation link to watch it.

Exploring

2007-09-16T10:57:00.002-04:00

It was just too nice of a day to not get out in the convertible with the 'Big Camera'. Temps in the 70s, I scooted north on I-575 towards the mountains. First stop was breakfast, where I glanced over the EOS Digital Rebel manual and enjoyed a cup of coffee until my breakfast arrived.

I love getting out and not knowing where I am going. That's how most of our best trips begin: "You want to try to go get lost?" Except this time it was just me and my Richard Petty straw cowboy hat with feathers while my husband was on the other side of the planet.

I saw a sign with grape clusters and an arrow pointing left off of the highway so I made the turn. Hmmm, nice day to check out a small vineyard. The turn was worth it when I crested a hill and saw beautiful green pastures and an old farm down below. About 5 miles down the curvy country road, I found the Sharp Mountain Vineyards. Pulled in and went inside for a t-tiny tasting of two different bottles of their wines. Both were good so I picked 4 different bottles and made my purchase.

Back on the road, let's see, where to go next? I drove another 20 miles or so and took the turn to Talking Rock, GA (population 49, no joke). We've been there before and I knew there were lots of cool little antique shops. I pulled into the first one I saw and looked around. Not much in the shopping mood, I got back in the car, hair up in hat, sunglasses on, top down and music up, I ventured up Hwy 136. I just kept following the signs not knowing where it would take me. That's the thrill of exploring.

What a nice surprise when I drove up to this beautiful scenic view.

I stayed a while as a few other explorers stopped, snapped photos, breathed in the fresh air, soaked in the sun and then went on their way. Just as I was getting ready to leave, a woman in a van pulled up by herself. When she got out she exclaimed "I had no idea I was up this high!" I could tell in her voice that she was very excited to find such a great stop. We got to chatting and she'd just moved from out west. She's been around mountains all her life and needed this communing with nature to set her mind right. I totally understood.

I asked her if she knew where the road went that we were on (still not having looked at a map once) and she told me that she thought it went to Amicalola Falls. We talked about it being near the trail head of the Appalachian Trail and how we both would like to section hike the AT. Then we talked about travels, and both having lived in Montana and California, etc... I'm not sure what it's called when you happen upon someone like that but we both enjoyed the chance meeting and exchanged emails.

A little further up the road there was another scenic stop. When I got out, I looked far ahead but was reminded of what stood right at my feet as I could smell the sweet grape-like blossom of the invasive kudzu vine. I mentioned it to another couple who was standing there and they'd both said that they had never known what that wonderful smell was until now.

Back on the road, with the wind in my face and the cool air of the mountains all around me, I ventured on. I guess it was about 20 or 30 minutes more and I started seeing signs for Amicalola Falls State Park. Right before I got to one of the entrances of the park, I saw this HUGE pumpkin farm. It was just too tempting to not stop. I was thinking it would be a great photo opportunity.

So in I went to Burt's Pumpkin Farm. Amongst some of the largest pumpkins I have ever seen, sunlight dancing all around, the smell of fresh baked pumpkin bread was driving me crazy. I could barely concentrate. I started taking pictures, snap here, snap there, bending and stretching to get just the right shot. Wondering if I should take a break and get some of that pumpkin bread or wait until I was done I noticed the message. The tiny little message on the LED screen that I had obviously been ignoring up until this point. NO CF CARD. No card. Nothing. Nada. Not one photo was captured from the entire time I left the house. Nothing.

Oh well, it happens. I had neglected to put the card back in the camera after I took the rainbow photo the night before. No one to blame but myself. Perfect time to take a break. I went back to the car, got the card out of the camera bag, placed it in the camera and went back for my pumpkin bread and "more" photos. It was a great day in spite of my oversight.

Granted my foot is only size 6, but here's one for size comparison.

The light.

2007-09-14T20:11:00.002-04:00

We finally got rain. A good rain. The soak you to the skin when running from the house to the car kind of rain. I heard it fall all night long on the roof while sleeping upstairs and then again all day today.

Just as it was starting to get dark, I looked outside and saw the strangest light on the tops of the trees. I ran for the camera. Not in the camera bag. Drats! Not in the cabinet in the living room where we used to keep the camera. Drats! Not on my husband's desk where I thought he might have left it for me. Drats!

Then I looked inside of the cabinets in the lab and found it! But it had no lens. Drats! I grabbed the first lens I could lay my hands on and quickly attached it to the camera body. One quick test shot to see if it had batteries and a card. Click! So I ran outside, in the rain, through the construction debris and the light had moved.

You'll have to take my word for it, it was beautiful. I noticed some of the light still across the road behind Mrs. Neighbor's cow pasture. Just as I was moving around, looking for a shot of the light, a rainbow appeared. It was right in front of me. Just a tiny glimpse of the highlight of my day.

Yes!

2007-09-12T12:38:00.001-04:00

My ArtFest check posted/cleared the bank. That means I'm in! I still have no idea what workshops or accommodations I will get but at the very least, I know I'm going.

There will be much singing and dancing about the house today. :-)

Artfest 2008

2007-09-04T14:34:00.002-04:00

I just mailed my registration for ARTFEST 2008! It went Priority Mail and I'll have my fingers crossed until I receive confirmation at the end of the month. This will be my very first time to attend. I've dreamed about it for a few years now. All I've been able to think about are Artfest Trades. I'm so excited!

Local Harvest

2007-08-31T14:20:00.002-04:00

We joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) last year and have been completely spoiled with the weekly supply of wonderful organic locally grown vegetables. Our CSA is right around the corner. Well, less than 10 miles, which is considered "right around the corner" when you live where we do. I highly recommend visiting LocalHarvest to find organic growers, restaurants and markets in your area.
I have all of these beautiful peppers and need to figure out what to do with them. I think I may string up some of the Habaneros and experiment with drying them for the winter. Perhaps it's time to make another batch of pepper jelly, as well. If you haven't tried pepper jelly, you're missing out on one of my favorite tastes in the world.

We had an amazing dinner last night at Woodfire Grill in Atlanta with a group of friends who had never eaten there before. M and I have been a few times and enjoyed every visit. Chef Touhy pays special attention to what is in season and purchases locally grown organic produce. The menu changes daily - all the more reason to visit often.

I know I won't do the meal justice by trying to explain everything from the vegetable tasting menu but I will tell you that the house made goat milk sorbet and fresh peaches at the end was simply divine.

Music for Heart and Soul

2007-08-29T22:36:00.002-04:00

W00-H00! I added a few of my favorite videos down at the bottom of the page. I'd like to have it a little smaller but this will work for now. It's the only code I could generate for a standalone player from YouTube. I feel kind of nerdy but that was fun!

Go check 'em out if you've got a fast 'net connection. If not, you can at least visit their websites: The Be Good Tanyas, Old Crow Medicine Show, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings.

Summer Rain

2007-08-28T16:37:00.001-04:00

"Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you." — Langston Hughes

Sweet Inspiration

2007-08-22T22:41:00.002-04:00

I had dinner (Yoon Sushi) with an artist friend of mine tonight who happens to also be my favorite neighbor farm girl. Somehow the summer got away without us seeing each other except in passing on the road going opposite directions, arms waving out the windows and horns honking. I don't know why we waited so long. She's always such an incredible boost of inspiration to me. So full of life, energy, and just general goodness. We talked art, life, animals, travel, work, jewelry making and all that fun stuff. I'm ready to get back into my studio and make some more jewelry.

The photos above are a few of the first pieces I made using silver clay. I was really itching to get my hands into Precious Metal Clay so I took an Introduction to Metal Clay class with Barbara McGuire. The first time I put the clay in my hands I was hooked. I used part of a rubber stamp from Zettiology for the necklace. Since then, I've taken an intensive 2 day class and am now a Certified Metal Clay Artisan. Whatever that means! It basically means that I can now purchase the raw materials at a discount. Time to get back into the studio and fire up the kiln again.

These others are the five pieces I completed for my PMC Level 1 Certification in April of this year. Bad shot but if you click on the photo you can see a hi-res version that shows more detail. I think the ring is my favorite, followed by the amphora which is a hollow vessel. I wear the hollow bead pendant a lot. The other pendant has embedded dichroic glass and lovely little sparkly CZ at bottom. The earrings need a little more love. Maybe a nice bead dangling off the bottom and some silver earwires. I actually learned a lot in that class now that I look back at these pieces. Plus, it was loads of fun!

Visit The PMC Guild for more information on their certification classes. The class I took was taught by Linda Kline at Carol Augustine's old family farmhouse in south GA. Linda was a great teacher and Carol was the perfect host! I'll put together more links in the future for anyone else who might be interested in delving into the world of Precious Metal Clay. I truly love it.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

2007-08-21T16:49:00.002-04:00

What a treat to spend the evening listening to true old country legends with one of my long time friends. Ray Price, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson under the stars at Chastain. Ray Price is 81 years old! They are definitely some of the Last of the Breed if not the last three. Interesting crowd - I was surprised to see so many young people. Lots of fun, old memories and maybe just a little too much wine. As soon as Merle started singing "Silver Wings..." I had a flash of my father singing that same song along with the radio in the driver's seat of Old Betsy our family station wagon. Good memories. I was very fortunate to have a driver home from the concert, as well.

This photo is a shot that my husband took across Cloudland Canyon State Park in northeast GA a couple weekends ago. If you click on the photo you can read the Mark Twain quote I added for a friend. M and I spent the day shopping, walking and talking at The World's Longest Yard Sale. Tired and worn out, we made a bolt to the canyon right before sunset. So worth it and a wonderful way to end the day.

Pointed Cowgirl Boots

2007-08-20T13:01:00.002-04:00

I wish I had pointed boots to wear to the Willie Nelson and Friends concert tonight. Drats! I'm sitting here wondering how I'm going to dress comfortably in 95° heat for an outdoor show. My girlfriend just emailed me that she wished she would have put extra undergarments in the freezer in preparation for tonight's show. It's a scorcher for sure. What's a girl to do?

Adventure Eating

2007-08-19T15:01:00.000-04:00

How come there are no other bloggers here that have "Adventure Eating" marked as an interest? What else could it be called? M and I are definitely adventure eaters. He's a bit more adventurous than I am but for the most part - we're pretty neck and neck.

I feel a trip to Super H Mart coming on. They have a terrific food court. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai - everything you'd want after spending a lazy Sunday watching your favorite foodie shows: Bizarre Foods , Feasting on Asphalt and No Reservations. Love them all!

Must have soup dumplings soon. Not sure about the stinky tofu, yet.

Knock Knock

2007-08-18T23:43:00.000-04:00

Wow! So, am I officially here?

I guess so. Tiny Pharm Wife finally enters the blogosphere!

Isn't that something?

Ok, now that I'm here...I need to figure out what I have to say to the world.

HELLO WORLD!

Are you there?

It's me, Tiny Pharm Wife.