a little ART CAN'T HURT

fort update

The fort has been painted.

I repeat, the fort has been painted.

It is amazing!

Hubby out-did himself on this project! So did Grandpa Jim!

Final photos coming soon!

next door

In my shop there is a green door.

When I can't find the kids I have a pretty good idea of where to look.

Through this green door is a wonderful place...

For little readers (and big readers too!) this is a slice of dream pie!

I can always count on finding my kiddos right here - tucked back in the children's corner...devouring the books.

The shopkeepers have made it so homey and welcoming!

Little rugs to sit on and this most amazing table made using covers of old books!

My shop is so happy to have this delightful bookstore as a neighbor!

If you're ever in the Goshen, IN area stop in at Better World Books and find yourself a treat!

projects at work

The out-of-ordinary projects have been coming in of late and I've been crazy-busy!

It's a good "problem" to have!

The Notre Dame Hockey team were CCHA Champions this year and made it to the NCAA Frozen Four.

I was given the poster signed by the team and decided to add some deco corners to the mat and mount an ND hockey puck in the center. This now hangs in a local pub.

This jersey is an ND women's volleyball jersey. #8 is Frenchy's number (their setter) and it's signed by the team.

My framing techniques when mounting & framing jerseys varies - some I pre-stretch with matboard or foamcore inside the shirt to fill it out. Others I cut an opening to pull thru the lower half of the jersey so it doesn't bunch up and look awkward. This is one of those jerseys I had to pull thru to the back of the matboard. Below the signatures the jersey extends another 8 inches or so and it wasn't needed and cutting the jersey is NOT an option. 

This piece was a retirement gift for the manager of our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Special projects require special care.

When framing objects as in a shadowbox you need to be specific with your framer about what you want the end result to look like.

I prefer to lay out and measure objects on the spot so the customer can share their thoughts about the project with me up front. I always take a photo of the layout or sketch a detailed diagram of the items and have the customer review it before placing any supply orders or taking any deposits.

Make sure your framer does the same.

Remember, these are YOUR projects and they should be how YOU want them, not how your framer tells you they think they should be.

Have any framing questions or projects you need help with? Send me an email and I'll be glad to help you!

riley

We are animal rescuers. Not intentionally, just genetically.

Cosmo, our cat, was a starving stray with frostbite on all of her paws before we gave her a home.

Doug went out to "get the mail" one day and came back inside with the cat.

So I guess it shouldn't surprise me that at 11:30 pm a few weeks ago we would stop in the middle of a deserted highway to rescue a stray dog.

This wasn't any "normal" rescue.

Our kids were with their other parents for the night, so we only had Bleecker in the car with us.

We'd just worked a 16 hour day and were dead-tired.

Then, in our headlights we see this dog just standing in the highway.

We swerved, missed her, and kept driving but then did a U-turn and came back to look for a collar or tags.

What would you do? I mean, if it was our dog in the highway I'd hope someone would stop to see where he lived and return him to us no matter WHAT time of day or night.

Guess what?

No tags. Nothing.

Just a tattered collar about 3 sizes too small for her that was squeezing into her neck.

Clearly she'd been on her own for a while and had grown out of her collar, it's just that it was still on her. Dirty and scruffy, talons for nails, and skittish, but THOSE EYES!

It took all of 30 seconds for us to decide to sweep her into the backseat and set off for home with the intent to contact the local shelters in the morning.

Bleecker was such a good boy sitting with her in the back seat.

She was nervous though and drooled all over - then proceeded to upchuck on the floorboards.

Nice.

So that was over two weeks ago.

She has no microchip, no one in the area we picked her up is missing a dog and the shelters have a 4-day policy (then they euthenise the animal) and we're not willing to risk that so she's NOT at the shelter. (we need more people like sweet Bernie! check out her blog and her amazing spirit! )

Anyone want to add a sweet little 5-month-old pup to their family?

She's been bathed numerous times, fed well, nails trimmed, new collar & also has learned how to play.

It's so sad to see a puppy NOT know how to play! But a few days with our family fixed that right up!

We're accepting "applications" so feel free to email me or leave a comment if you or anyone you know is interested in adopting her. Meanwhile, we're also going to put up signs in the area so we can try and find her a forever home. For now we're her foster family.

Trying desperately not to get too attached, but it's tough.

Here she is - 

Sweetness with a wet snout!

fun times

A few nights ago we went to see Riverdance with my parents. Not allowed to take photos (which was too bad because the show was INCREDIBLE!) but we documented our pre-show dinner!

Luckily we beat the dinner-rush so we had the second level to ourselves.

The pub lighting leaves A LOT to be desired when taking photos...

We ate at a great local place, Madison Oyster Bar, in South Bend. 

Doug & I have been there many times before, but this was a first for the folks. I thought Mom would enjoy the variety of oysters served there, being from Long Island and seeing how we all love shellfish so much! What I didn't bargain on was how much fun we'd have playing pool!

Doug & Dad (aka Poppie) played first and it was decided I would play the winner.

Mom (aka Nana) was behind the camera and documented the action.

Dad's face in the pic just cracks me up!

Is it that you're trying to see thru your bifocals Dad or are you just feeling 'devilish'? 

I hardly ever get pics taken with Dad & I so this was a treat!

Dad & Doug had some fun though...

(now's when we get to be really proud of our men, Mom!)

I mean, look at these two studs! Well-educated, professional, mature....

Anyway, if you make it to the Madison Oyster Bar, I highly recommend trying the oysters casino and we also all shared and enjoyed the crab cakes! The lake perch is DELISH as is the oyster sandwich Mom enjoyed. 

I'll leave you with this image -

- let's just say that it was 'ladies night' at the pool table & I'll gladly accept my trophy anytime!

Yep! I won!

going global

I have an Art-O-Mat in my shop.

A WHAT you say? Well take a look at the website and educate yourself.

You'll thank me later.

They're very cool and are all about getting exposure to the arts and artists from around the world.

I wanted to map out where the machines were so I thought globally.

You can find these fantastic machines as far away as Vienna, Austria and Canada!

I really just love the gallery-in-a-box concept.

I plan on placing pins into the globe at the site of each machine,

but for now it hangs in my front window above a display of the miniature pieces of art.

And that's my Art-O-Mat there in the background.

They're refurbished cigarette machines that dispense ART instead of CANCER STICKS.

Yeah, mini-soapbox for ya. Sorry, but I don't like smoking.

To make the globe we used a $3 beach ball as a mold for our paper mache.

Used a flour/water mixture, a little newspaper and we were cookin'!

Mamie was a big help with the project but couldn't believe how it dried out our hands!

And I have to credit hubby and Trev for the wonderful faux ocean paint job.

I credit the idea for this design to Kiki magazine.

It's a great one for young girls - positive and encouraging.

Couldn't find it at the library or my local mom-n-pop bookstore, but it's worth the trip to Borders or B&N!

When's the last time you took on a messy project?

Try one - it's just so much fun!

bottlecaps

Dear sweet Linda sent me these vintage bottlecaps!

She makes the most AMAZING collages and her collections will blow your mind.

My kiddos think her kitchen is a candy store (from the pics they've seen) and, well, she throws parties for her daughter that rival something reserved for royalty! 

Thank you Linda!

I'll have pics soon from this project...

bubbly machine

Thank you Amy Butler and Moda for the wonderful fabric designs that now adorn my soda machine in the shop.

When inspiration strikes you gotta respond!

Not just any ordinary project will do...no siree!

So if you're in the neighborhood and feel the need to sip on a carbonated beverage...

...we're at your service!

And the labels are in the process of being made -

we've got cherry coke, sprite, root beer, cream soda & orange soda.

**note: hubby did the fantastic spray adheasive job here - isn't it perfect?!**

oh, and I got some fabric on my skirt...

...but I meant to do that - and LOVING that I can wear open toe shoes now!

Aren't these shoes kickin?! I'm a heel-wearer, what can I say.

Can't wait for flip-flop season!

(skirt back panel view)

These fun fabric touches perked up an otherwise-on-its-way-to-Goodwill skirt that I've had for years!

Wonder what all of you have been doing with your stashes of possibility...