A Gift from Donna

I hope this has happened to you before.

Out of the blue on a perfect day when I was feeling frazzled,

I received a package full of the most beautiful hand made,

sweet sweet hearts and flowers along with little bundles of vintage lace and tatting.

I'm thinking the tatting and doilies were made by Donna too.

I know you want to see them closer.

Oh my! This .....leaves me speechless.

Beautiful tag. I'm going to use is as a book mark in my inspiration journal.

She calls these little puffs "attic flowers".  Isn't that the coolest!

Donna doesn't have  blog but she does blog hop.

Thank you Donna for hopping past my blog and thank you from the bottom of my heart for sending me such a thoughtful gift.  

If you've been around my blog from the beginning, you might remember that I have a thing about using new possessions (ASAP) immediately. 

Otherwise, I might be tempted to hoard thinking they are too pretty to use etc etc.

Well, don't you think this little "attic flower" is the perfect embellishment for my Apron Princess.

Speaking of Apron Princess....my new class is almost ready to start registration.

Here is some more unofficial information about the class.

I plan to open for registration March 1st.

The cost will be $75.00

The class start date will be March 18th or 25th (not sure)

and

I will have an "official" class description with photos at the time registration opens.

It is going to be a fabulous class and you will love love love it!

Thank you Dear Donna and All of my 500 Dear Dear Followers for stopping by.

I love knowing that you find what I share interesting or helpful because you know how I love to show and share.    

♥ Sharon

Secret Moments

I did it!

From the original painting shown at the top, I have cropped sweet spots and composed a collage sheet that is now available

as a digital download at my Etsy shop.

There will be more.  I really think this is something that will inspire and encourage creativity.

♥ Sharon

Random catch-up

Yep, my apron has been hanging a lot lately. You might notice it is right there in a good spot with my to-do list just in case I should happen to put it on. Progress is slow but most of all I think the summer heat is getting to me. The oven ride home at five o'clock each day just cooks all the juice out of me. We are having 100 + degree days and I'm not usually one to whine about that but this year seems different.


I did have a great play date Saturday with my friend Susan. There was some serious concentration going on and we had oodles of fun but I must learn to stop and breathe or take brakes because she plum wore me out.


Cupcakes anyone?



Blogger is doing some new stuff. Have you noticed? Well, I guess moving the photos around and resizing them on the "compose" window isn't new but I'm just now giving it a try and while learning is frustrating, I think I will like it. Sorry for this crazy layout learning curve.

The other thing Blogger has done, Gloria Hallelujah, is the spam blocker filter they have added. I was to the point of moderating comments to stop that stupid spammer that visits me every day. You may not have noticed because I delete it as soon as it hits. Driving me bats!

I guess I'm all caught up for now so I will get back to this crazy-dull-boring-dang-desk-in-town.
I could be doing something so fun at that delightful-fun-inspiring-full-inviting-equipped-bright-desk-in-studio.
♥ Sharon

WOW! What a weekend

Deryn's journal.

She uses it to keep her notes,

thoughts,

plans,

and pictures of her jewelry ideas.

Oh my goodness! What a weekend I just had. I'm still feeling the excitement inside my body. It is like blowing up a balloon....bigger...bigger....bigger and then anticipating the POP! I think I'm going to POP!

I could tell you the best part of the weekend was that I took Friday off from the desk-in-town. But it wasn't. I could tell you the best part of the weekend was seeing my friend Deryn's Planning and Plotting journal for her beautiful jewelry. But it wasn't. The best part of the weekend was welcoming my friend to my studio where we Played ART Together. Yes, the weekend was to be about planning and plotting. However, after making that silly little video in the next post down, the excitement took over. We couldn't stop ourselves. You know how it is. You want something and you want it NOW.

That is what it felt like.

We have to start NOW!

We did.

We didn't expect to get past the planning stage of our great collaboration adventure. But you know how I believe, "nothing ever happens before it is time and one thing leads to another". We felt some little nudges from the universe and we felt our own excitement building and we knew...It is time!
Maybe you have guessed that yes we are going to collaborate on an out-of-this-world, blow-your-socks-off, over-the-moon, jewelry and mixed media on-line workshop that will be presented at my All Norah'S ART Ning site. We have already set up the group. Oh, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Deryn showed up with her full bag of tricks and tools and supplies. We proceeded to begin the video process of our collaboration. We've already videoed hours of lessons and I'm telling you it really really is going to blow-your-socks-off. Before she left, I took a picture of her taking a picture of my bezel.

photo of and by Sharon Tomlinson

Just a little history, the next day after attending a workshop that Deryn presented in College Station, about an hour down the road from me, I came home so excited about learning a new way to use my images. I played and experimented pouring the Ice Resin that I had just learned about. The above is the front of one of my experiments and the picture below is the back side.

photo of and by Sharon Tomlinson
The images are from my Castle Tower series from exactly one year ago.

Hence, the name of the class is, Of Towers and Turrets.

We don't mean to keep you hanging. And we won't. We will be prepared later in this week to give you more more more of the details.

If this post seems a little disjointed, it's just my excitement. I think I am going to POP!

♥ Sharon

Arizona

Arizona Birthday Party

I arrived with nothing for the birthday girl except two ART projects for her party. I took my little bag of tricks to the bedroom and made her a birthday card.

Our first project was Castle Towers which is fun for all ages.

After Mug Cakes, we colored Tree Spirit Flags. This project was a collaboration as I had already drawn the spirits.

SISTERS

This was Linnea's (on right) Golden Birthday.

Aubrey's Golden Birthday is January 12, 2011. EXPECT

*************************

The short version of what happened to me after returning from AZ is the first couple of days, I was lazy. And then when I was ready to post pictures from home discovered problems with home computer. It is working but will not let me open photo card.

All is good here.

Expect tomorrow,

Sharon

Her Apron

I'm not there yet.

But when you read this, I will be.

I had to pretend to be Zorana so I could show her apron.

This face is the one I painted in the video using.
I know we are having a great time.
And will report when I return.
Be expectful,
Sharon

My Apron

had to do it

A Queen's Apron

project finished

New Brushes

I ordered new brushes from Blick and received them yesterday. Painting with acrylic on canvas just wares out my brushes so quick it seems. I'm sure the fact that I leave them in my water doesn't have anything to do with it. Here is what it said that made me want them: "The brush head is stiffer than most synthetics, so it can handle thicker paint, yet it still holds a remarkable point." Also they are synthetic Mongoose! That made me want them too. I know. Crazy.

I barely used them last night just to see and have to say they don't seem "stiffer" to me. I will say the tiny liner brush worked beautiful.

Look at this nose. (the color is much better in real life) I think it is the best nose I have ever painted. For me, the nose is the hardest feature to paint. This one won't be available as it was a special order. But I had to show you the nose. And tell you that if you are interested in a special Castle Tower painting with your chosen words, email me. I think I can do it.

*******

here ye.

here ye.

I have a special this week.

It is my own Etsy hide and seek game.

One of my listed prints is available with free shipping.

Find the listing and you will know which one.

It is the only listing with zero shipping.

It's a deal

And

If you want a second item,

I will refund the shipping after paypal confirmation.

recap: I chose the first item (you can find it) and you choose the second item (if you want it)

Thanks and expect,

Sharon

Knob Village

I was cleaning my ART desk yesterday. At the bottom and under it all I found this hand full of castle tower scraps. You know how one thing leads to another. I couldn't throw them away. It's crazy.

Remember the Knob Angles?

Well I made a little Knob Village.

Side One
Side Two
(click to read)


And then there was time for making three ARTful envelopes.
Winging out tomorrow.

Have you made Artful mail recently?
I'm off to paint.
Expect,
Sharon

credit: the little corner stamp on the envelope is by Cory Celaya. She gifted me last year. Visit her here or here. Delightful!