Ginny's Small Studio

Never-ending Quest

We spent the entire day yesterday down in Amish country.  I love going there.  The landscape, the people, the whole feel of the area is different than where we live.  It is only about an hour and a half to two hours to drive down there.  The difference seems to be the traffic.

 

There are a number of Antique Malls in a very small area and each one often yields treasures.  We always end up talking to the people behind the counter.  One mall is owned by a really nice couple who told us that they often came down for the day and finally just moved there and opened their shop. Most of the time the people who are behind the counter are Amish men and women or Mennonites who are more liberal about electricity and other things.  All of them are friendly, smiley and so helpful.  Everything is always so clean and organized. We really enjoy our long day(s) in Amish country.  We always come home with something that pleases us.  

I have often shown you my things, but today you get to see some of John's stash in his workroom.

He is currently amassing gages of all kinds.  He has plans to use them in upcoming art projects but in the meantime, I love how they look on his shelf.  There is something very pleasing about all these round shapes with numbers on them.  We don't see very many gages that are affordable enough to use in projects.  This collection has taken a long time to get this size which is pretty small.

Doorknobs.  He is making racks with these doorknobs as the "hooks".  They are really handsome.

John and I have come across a number of these wonderful old oak toolboxes in various states of disrepair and hugely varying prices.  John cleans them up, puts new felt in the drawers and uses them in his workroom.  I have hinted broadly to have one in my art room, but he seems not to hear me or perhaps I have been too subtle.  No.  That can't be it.  I am never very subtle.  

Hmmm...what's this?  A five?  It better be for me.  I don't think there is enough room in this marriage for two collections of fives.

Keep the Small Studio Workshop Series in mind for great classes this year.  Info here. 

Deliveries 3

It is Fajita Friday and even though it is in single digits today, we braved the elements and went to our favorite Mexican cantina and had our yummy fajitas.  Because we do this so often, the waiters know our order and just check to make sure and bring it to us.  Nice.

When we arrived home there was a package on the porch from Pottery Barn.  Although I order from them, I had not ordered anything in awhile.  I was contemplating not opening it and just sending it back but John insisted that I open it first to make sure that it just wasn't something backordered that I may have forgotten.  Right.

Here is what was inside:

Four beautiful nubby pillows with numbers on them!  It had to be for me.  Yes.  It was from my two sister-in-laws for my birthday which isn't until the end of February, but since I am celebrating all year long, dates have no meaning.

Here is how one of the pillows look in my home:

The fronts have numbers and the backs have a definition of the number.  John thinks his chair should have the number "1".  I think his chair should have the "4" as in "4 you"  He says I should have the "2" for "2 silly" and on it goes at our house.

Thank you Leslie and Doug and Bruce and Sheri.  I can't imagine why you thought I would like number pillows, but I love them!

 

Deliveries 2

Ted, who bought Stampers Anonymous from me when John and I got married a few years ago, has been storing some boxes for me.   It has been so long since I have seen them, that the contents were a surprise.  There were some books, zines, magazines from the store (who knows why those were saved) and some leftover Art Continuum merchandise like Tee Shirts and tote bags.  This stack of boxes is having a short siesta before moving on to Goodwill.  It was fun to go through the boxes, but the items that I had hoped were in them were not. Oh well. maybe Ted will still find some more boxes in his warehouse.

I actually made something this week.  It always feels so good to be working with my stash of stuff and creating. My mornings are always filled with packing orders, packaging product, a post office run and other Small Studio related things.  After lunch we often run errands, go antiquing or end up doing something else together and then magically the day is over and I haven't played in my art room. Recently, in our vintage shopping excursions, I have found a few really derelict Victorian photo albums. No photos and covers in poor condition make these albums prime for cutting apart and salvaging the sturdy framed pages.  They are perfect for messing around and making stuff.

I have attached the album page to the wood side of a stretched canvas to make a shadow box. The depth does not really show in this photo.  I don't usually do frou frou lacy stuff, but I was pretty happy with the results.

Today's Small Studio Workshop Question:

Will the workshops be marked online when they are sold out?  Yes, as quickly as possible, we will indicate the sold out status.

I have been receiving a steady stream of registrations for the past few days. I am pleased with the response so far, but back in the glory days of Art Continuum, I remember how the mail, FedEx, UPS, DHL trucks would be waiting for us to open on that first day of registration.  In the delivery men would come with boxes of Overnight envelopes with registrations.  It always took me days, maybe weeks to process them all.  This is much easier for all of us.  

Deliveries

My friend Mike of Coffee Break Design, often includes a little gift with my orders for Small Studio. Sometimes it is a cartoon or an extra item for me to make a sample.  Sometimes it is some old ephemera that is quirky and makes us smile and shake our heads.  Sometimes it is some cool tiny gadget for John.

Last week it was really something very special.  I think I actually shouted when I opened it. I was so intent on opening it that I did not take a photo of the cool Coffee themed wrappings.  Such perfect wrappings from Mr and Mrs "Coffee" themselves.

Last summer I wrote a post about this very one of a kind dresser that had drawers carved into letters.

Well, friend Mike was intrigued and started experimenting with his laser cutter and masonite and just look at what he made for me!

 

And the drawers open...

My little dresser is the size of a cigar box instead of room size, but it is huge on ingenuity and pizazz.  I am so happy to have this little gem.  Thank you, thank you, Mike.  You are always so good to me and such a great friend.  Thank you.

I have had several questions about Small Studio Workshop Series.  I will try to answer them as they come in both privately and on this blog if I think others may have the same questions.

1. When is registration?  Registration is on-going for each class from now until that class is sold out.

2. Can we take the workshops online?  NO!  This is a hands-on, in-person series of workshops.  I like online classes, but there is nothing like having the instructor right there helping you along.  There is also so much to learn from the other students when you are all doing the techniques or projects together. One of the special things that happens is the camaraderie that occurs during a day or weekend of workshops. Sometimes life-long friendships are forged.

3.  Can I sign up for one class now and others later?  Yes, as long as there is room still in that workshop.  Just fill out a new registration form for the added class(es).  

If you have any questions you can ask in the comments or e-mail me at ginny@smallstudioproductions.com

There is a link in the upper left of this blog for the Workshop site.  Instructors web sites are in the upper right of this blog.

Small Studio Workshop Series

SMALL STUDIO WORKSHOP SERIES: I have a friend who celebrates her birthday all month.  I love that idea and being one who likes to go one step further I decided to celebrate my birthday all year this year. It happens to be not only one of those landmark birthdays for me but also marks our 5 year wedding anniversary. What do I want for my birthday, you ask? What do we want to do to celebrate our anniversary?  We talked it over and decided that we want to learn stuff.  We started with learning how to solder (Kathy Herda, thank you again) this month. Then we decided we want to take classes from as many of my favorite instructors as possible: Pam Sussman, Michael deMeng, Teesha and Tracy Moore, Ingrid Dijkers, Linda and Opie O'Brien, Keith Lobue and Lynne Perrella.  So I invited them over to play. Good News!  They all said yes! Better News! You get to come too!  Each month from May to November we will be hosting one of the instructors, or two as in the case of Teesha and Tracy.  For three days each month we can learn and play from one of these greats.  Come join us.  Read through the workshop descriptions. Pick the ones you want. Fill out the registration form and mail it.  Then sit back and gather your supplies and anticipate the fun. We are really looking forward to not only taking the workshops but also sitting next to you in class.

Here is the link to get to the workshops.

Links to instructors websites are on the left column of this blog.

Logo designed by David Simon. David is a Cleveland Graphic artist who has illustrated a number of books, book jackets and numerous ad campaigns for large companies.  He taught at Creative Block and Art Continuum. David designed over 150 Stampers Anonymous stamps when I owned that company. He is an all around talented and great guy and I am proud to call him a friend.

End of Year Wrap-up

I have been doing the end of year reports for Small Studio Productions.  I am not fond of this job, but it must be done for taxes and to just wind up the past year.  The fun thing about it is the random information that surfaces.  For instance, I get more orders from customers in CA than any other state.  I wish I knew why, but I have no idea.  It is interesting to see what products are the most popular year to year.  For 2009, the ten best sellers were:

1. Stencils!  All stencils.  Again just as in 2008. Mostly I think, because they are different and fun, but also because of Mary Ann's online stencil workshops.

2. Metal Numbers 

3. Lingerie Ribbon

4. Vintage Measuring Tape

5. 7Gypsies Book Category Products

6. Glass Bottles (Tiny Bottles, Watchmakers and small bottles)

7. Eisbergfreistadt Trading Cards (now sold out).  I thought I had a lifetime supply.....

8. Vintage Papers, labels, cards

9. Idea-ology

10. French tote bags (limited supply left)

I packaged this weekend and changed this:

Into this:

  

Dailiness of Life

Some days things just settle into a routine.  That is how it has been here the past few days.  We get up, have breakfast and then John goes down to his workshop and putters with his projects.  In the meantime I go upstairs, check the computer for orders, package them and run off to the post office to mail them. By this time it is lunch time or later. After lunch we take care of any errands or household chores and then maybe I have an hour or two to putter in my art room or in Small Studio's room.  It is just a nice routine but I am not playing enough and you know that if we don't play with our tools we become rusty and awkward.  

We are enjoying our days very much but I fear that I am letting precious time slip through my fingers. Plus I have nothing to blog about that might be interesting. This afternoon we went to watch the 10 year olds play basketball.  Our team won. I took my camera but forgot to take pictures.  

John just started playing with wood and power tools a few months ago and he is having a ball down in his man room making wood stuff.  Here is something he has started for his daughter.

I have been working with my daughter/webgirl on the schedule for the Small Studio Workshops.  It should be live in a few days.  And I have been trying to get ahead with my booth product packaging for the upcoming Artiscape here in OH (Columbus) in April.  We will also have a booth at Stampaway (Cincinnati) in August and we will have a mini booth at each workshop.  So I need to get ahead on packaging and amassing goodies that may appeal to each workshop and show.  You know, metal and rusty stuff for Michael deMeng, Keith Lobue, Tracy Moore and Linda and Opie O'Brien.  Then I need collage stuff for Teesha Moore, Lynne Perrella, Pam Sussman and Ingrid Dijjkers.  Plus we need cool stuff for all seven weekends.  I have a good start thanks to all the vintage shopping John and I have been doing.  It is fun, but I never know how much is enough, too much or too little.  

So that is what I have been doing.  What have you been up to?

 

Soldering a Relationship

Friend and former employee, Kathy Herda, came over today with a belated wedding gift for us.  We have been married for over 4 years now, but if someone wants to give us a wedding gift, who are we to spoil their fun?

First there was a bag full of books, interesting books.  The historical postcard book is amazing full of odd and wonderful old cards.  See the USA book is explores the history of the American travel brochure from across the country.  I think we need another long road trip to track them all down. Writing letters is just right for both of us since our courtship was filled with letters.  And then the Dover book of bookplates. How perfect.  All the books are visually inspiring.

The second gift is a kit that Kathy made up for me to make a sketchbook with handmade papers and torn pages.  That gift included this wing.

It has been carved by San Francisco sculptor Agelio Batle.  He takes Carbonaceous graphite combined with smudge resistant compounds under pressure and then carves.  This wing is a pencil!  The entire surface can be used to draw and sketch! Isn't is beautiful?  And amazing?

As if all this wasn't enough, the main part of our gift was a private lesson in soldering.  I know what you are thinking. The woman doesn't know how to do anything.  Kathy taught soldering for me at my old store and many instructors taught soldering at Art Continuum for me over the years.  I never had the time to take any of the workshops I offered to my customers.  I am making up for it now.  I digress.  John had taken a jewelry class in college for one semester way back when.  I have never even seen someone solder. Kathy spent about 5 hours here showing us the basics.  We both loved it. 

John's is on the right and mine is on the left.  We will get better because Kathy left everything here for us to practice for a few weeks.  Isn't this a great present?  Thank you, Kathy.  This was a fun and exciting day.

Reader Joanne asked me to define Cabinet Card.  Here goes to the best of my understanding.

 

First was the Carte de Viste which is the smaller photo above. A process to develop photos was discovered in Paris (hence the French name) in the mid 1800s.  A thin photo was attached to a heavier card and was approximately 2 1/2" by 4".  Later a process was invented that allowed larger photos to be taken. Cabinet Cards (see larger photo above) are generally 4 1/4" by 6 1/2" but are made the same way adhering a thin photo on a heavier card.  Because of the larger size, the photo could be placed on a cabinet and seen from across the room.  Cabinet Cards were taken in a studio and could only be afforded by the well-to-do or only for a very special occasion.  Then came the tintypes (lower photo above) which was a process where a type of emulsion was photographed onto tin. The photographer could take a photo on the street or most often at a fair and could process this so that the customer could take the photo with them.  Tintypes deteriorated so fewer have survived and they can be quite costly if they are in excellent condition.  I think I have this right.  If any of you readers can enlighten us more, please share.

What a great week this has been with old friends teaching me new tricks.  Learning something new is so, so much fun. Thank you Aimee and Kathy.

Another Drive-By

While we were out and about today I had my camera with me.  I so often forget  to take it since we are pretty spontaneous and leave quickly when we decide to take off for the day.  It was so petty outside with Christmas Card like snow covering everything.  I decided to take some drive-by photos for you of some of the Victorian era homes.  Sit back and enjoy. As always, you can click on the image for a closer look.

Look at the home above and wonderful woodwork and detail around the windows and the very upper part of the home.

Did you notice the leaded glass windows and the half round windows in this home?

I am intrigued by the turrets these homes all have.  I wonder if they are accessible.  What a great view of the neighborhood.  Do any of you have an old home with a turret like these?  

They are all so pretty and the town where I took these photos has entire streets, long streets, of these beautifully kept us old homes.  One had a sign on it that said 1836.  They remind me of old movie sets.

We also stopped at an antique store and I found some wonderful old cabinet cards.

 

Sew Nice

Aimee Kluiber stopped by today to fix my machine and to visit for a bit.  Aimee used to work for me or should I say she was our main entertainment.  Efficient, smart and reliable, yes, but very theatrical too. Aimee has a great ear for languages and accents and often would use this talent much to the amusement of all who were within hearing.  Besides a degree in music, she has a degree in fashion design and teaches pattern drafting, fashion sewing and other needle arts at a private girls high school.  Aimee to the rescue for sewing klutz, Ginny.  After she adjusted all the tensions and replaced a nicked needle (which unbeknownst to me added to the problem) she showed me basic technique.  Thank you Aimee!

Here are some pages yet unsewn into the book for Mary Ann Moss's Remains of the Day online workshop. Remember this is a book of scraps. I cheated a bit on some of the added bits by using adhesive instead of sewing.  

 

 

 

     

You Are The Best!

Wow, you readers are the best ever.  I cannot remember when I have had so much encouragement thrown my way.  Thank you so much for all your wonderful, caring, sweet and funny comments.

I still can't get the tension right.

It seems like a failure of womanhood of some sort or at least a failure as a part of my family.  Several of my aunts were all accomplished professional seamstresses.  They made most of my clothes for special occasions beginning when I was  a baby on up through high school.  One of my aunts worked in some capacity for Lanz of Salzburg.  Do any of you remember these dresses?  They were always spaghetti strap, tight waist and big skirt and made of a little print cotton fabric.  The bodices were completely lined and a line of tiny buttons ran down the back. My aunt would give me every single version they made when I was in junior high and high school. She would tailor them to fit me perfectly. I loved those dresses.  My cousins all sewed beautifully too.  My mom did not sew and that is probably the reason that I never have. But being a product of the 60's, I still think I should be able to do all the "feminine" tasks.  After all I can bake and cook pretty well, I run a decently clean house (not too clean because I once read that a clean house is the sign of a boring person), I don't fix cars, I know how to throw a party, I own an apron (don't make me find it) and I wear lipstick. Shouldn't I be able to sew?  Sigh.

Last night I started on my pages for the Remains of the Day online class from Mary Ann Moss.

 

These are so much fun to do although they are supposed to be sewn and on paper my tension problem looks even worse than on fabric.  Today I am going to get this fixed if I have to go up and down the street, lugging my little sewing machine from door to door until I find someone who sews.

Speaking of the street, the sun came out today.  Here is what it looks like outside.

I know this next picture is poor because I took it through the screen door.  There is too much drifted snow against the back door to open it, but I love the snow on the table.  If I could have opened the door I would have set up a tea party on the snow with bright red dishes and a bouquet of bright flowers and cloth napkins.  I would have done it just to amuse you with the photo.  Yes, I would have,  Ask John.

   

Humble Pie

Is there anything that really humbles you like teaching yourself a new craft?  I am taking Mary Ann's (Blog link on left) online class.  It is called Remains of the Day and encourages us to use our remains from other projects. Mary Ann does a great job of providing videos and a written pamphlet.  She even has a Yahoo group where we can all share what we have done.  The class began and finished while I was on holiday so I am behind the other students time-wise.  I thought that would be my only problem.

Today was the day I had set aside to start the project.  I had watched the videos, read the yahoo comments, read the pamphlet and gathered my materials.  Oh did I mention that this was a fabric book with paper collaged pages?  Very, very cool and It looked like a lot of fun.  

Problem one:  I have not sewn with a sewing machine since maybe Junior high school.  Notice that I said "jr high school" and not "middle school"?  That's how long ago.  I have a sewing machine....still in the box...never opened.   So? No problem.  I am smart.  I can read very well.  I can follow directions.  I spent more time than I expected reading the booklet that came with the machine very carefully doing all the tasks.  Got it done, but it was now dinnertime and I had promised John I would make him chicken tortilla soup for dinner.  Time consuming when you really just want to play.  But dinner was good, if I don't say so myself.

Problem two:  When I started to sew, the tension on the bobbin was all wrong.  Patience.  I fiddled it this way and that way until it actually sewed instead of getting stuck underneath the sewing plate.  It still isn't right, but I wanted to play, darn it!

Problem three:  I can't sew in a straight line.  This fabric book is really a "shabby", loose book.  I decided not to get all worried about a few crooked lines.  After all this could be my mock-up and hopefully I will learn from my mistakes.  Did I mention that all my friends sew?  Beautifully.  They make stuff and quilt and make more stuff from fabric.  My bestest friend, Pam Sussman, even authored a book on Fabric Books and even mentioned me in the acknowledgments.  Alas, all of that didn't help me today.

I persevered and finally almost finished my cover.  I will actually show it to you.  Your job is to not say anything if you can't say anything nice.  Tomorrow I tackle the inner pages which are also sewn.

 

Vintage Ledgers

What is it about ledgers, especially old worn out ledgers, that makes them so appealing?  Everything. 

Is it the handwriting?  Often the handwriting is beautiful and I marvel at the flowing ascenders and descenders that someone took the time to do so carefully while they were at work.  The one above is a voter registration from the very early 1900s.  The ledgers from before 1900 are the best for beautiful handwriting examples.

Is it the information?  So much can be gleaned from reading these ledgers.  The price of goods, the simple credit given out, the weight of goods bought and the type of goods.  When was the last time you bought a gallon of molasses?  Medical ledgers are very interesting too...and scary.

Is it the leather bound book itself?  Seldom are the covers in really good condition, but the workmanship can still be admired.  Even the books that are not leather have beautiful details like the marbled endpapers.  I also love the blank pages with their faint, evenly spaced lines interrupted by an occasional red line looking all important marching across the page.

I think the answer is obvious.  I love everything about these old books.  I wonder about the person whose handwriting I am reading.  Did they like writing down all that information?  Was it just a job or did they own the business?  Why have they survived all this time, over 100 years?  It seems to me that although it is not so easy to come by a lovely ledger, there are lots of ledgers out there.  My favorite find was a ledger from a bath house in London from the late 1800s. It not only was the first ledger I ever purchased but also the most expensive ($100).  I bought it at a used bookstore in Las Vegas which was the last place I would expect to find one.  I was waiting for my daughter to pay for her purchase and saw this big book behind the desk.  When the owner showed it to me and told me the price, I bought it without even thinking of negotiating.  I made collage packs out of about half of it for my old store, but when I sold the contents of the store I did not keep it back for me.  I am sure that it is sitting in a storeroom or has been thrown out since it was cut up already. "Should haves" torment me.

We recently came across this reproduction book that has a ledger type cover.  It is huge.

Originally published in 1861, it is a long (25') chart folded inside with a history timeline starting with Adam and Eve and ending with that current time.  I don't know what I am going to do with it, but I liked it for the cover and the illustrations inside.  I might make an art project out of it but only after I read it.

Anthropologie

Last year I showed you a wonderful bird from Anthropologie that had folding ruler wings and a variety of found objects attached to it.  I loved it and wanted it.  I did not want to pay the $600 plus dollars for it. Tim Holtz taught classes on how to make it on the cheap. His students made great ones. I should have offered to buy one of theirs.

Look what they have now...

Top $398, Middle $398 and bottom a bargain at $328!  These are very well done and have good details. So many of you artists out there are making these including my husband John who became enamored of them after visiting Opie and Linda O'Brien a few months ago. The ones above seem a little pricey to me. What do you think?   

I am not saying that artwork should be cheap and I don't think artists should ever apologize for charging not only for supplies and time but also for their creative input, but it does seem pricey to me.  I know that the artist is not receiving the entire sale price, but still....

The Old Year

I promise that this is the last of my road trip photos. I spotted this wonderful and creative paper dress in the window of a shop at the airport. 

 

Remember when I showed you this ephemera chandelier from Pottery Barn?

7Gypsies  has made a version of their own.  One of their design team artists made this one and gives step by step instructions on her blog. Pretty cool, isn't it?  Much less, much, much less expensive.

MAIL ART!  Happy Day!  Happy PO Box!  Happy Postal Staff!

Look at what arrived in my box this weekend from Canada. From Shelley Malone. 

It appears that it was made from a file folder.  Shelley also sent a long and very entertaining letter introducing herself.  I loved it.  Thank you Shelley!

 My mail box was a happy camper this month.  I also received this really lovely Christmas card from Amy Alford who never misses a holiday to send me a card.  I really thank you, Amy. Your card, all handmade, is wonderful.

John and I were talking about what we wanted for the New Year and got sidetracked with all that happened in 2009.  It was a great year.

*    We enjoyed great road trips:  CA, NE, SD, CO, IA, NV, FL, VA, MI, IN, PA and Mexico (John), antiquing all the way and collecting goodies for us and for this year's shows.

*    We redesigned our backyard and replanted it all.  Love my picket fence and arbor.

*    Celebrated John's (the son) wedding to Jessica.

*    Had a great time at Mike 's (Coffee Break) warehouse sale with Mike and Chris and some old friends.

*    Spent time with each of our children and grandchildren this year on our road trips. 

*    Spent more time with my local grandkids this year.

*    Celebrated my mother-in-law's 94th birthday

*    Visited our siblings and laughed and laughed with all of them twice this year.  Lucky me.

*    Made some art.  Sold some art!

*    Enjoyed art play days with friends here and in CA

*    Joyfully planned the Small Studio Workshops coming up 

*    Made new blog friends and continued enjoying old blog friends

*    Continued to realize how very lucky I am in all aspects of my life.

Thank you for enriching my life.

Holiday Road Trip #3

19 Degrees Fahrenheit and windy with a dusting of snow on the ground.

14 people in line in front of me at the Post Office.

While in CA we spent a few hours in some antique stores. Prices are much higher in CA than in OH it seems.  One of the shops specialized in vintage linen sacks from Europe.  They sold them loose and they sold many items made from the sacks.

It was a lovely assortment of chairs, ottomans and couches. The framed pieces were impressive.  I am not quite sure I would have wanted patched pieces (click image for enlarged view) for the astronomical prices they were charging, but then I like everything to line up and be distressed in a pristine kind of way.  I know that makes no sense to you, but it definitely does to me.

Someone had also covered old books in wrapping paper.  They did a great job and I guess these books of which many were simply Reader's Digest Condensed tomes would make a nice side table display all stacked up.

John has recently become interested in doing some woodworking.  For Christmas he made my daughter's present. I was really touched that he wanted to make her something. She was so surprised and pleased.

What a wonderful Bonus Dad he is.  My kids are so lucky.  Me too!

Small Studio Emporium has reopened and so has my etsy shop. Thank you to all my friends and customers for making 2009 such a great year for me personally and for my little businesses.  Your kindnesses and support mean a great deal to me.  Thank you.  Thank you! 

Holiday Road Trip 2

WE CAME TO A FORK IN THE ROAD...

AND A LITTLE UNEXPECTED HUMOR IN SOUTH PASADENA CA!

A trip to CA is never complete without a trip to Zinnia's.  

When I was there in September they had just moved to their new store a few doors from their old store. This visit the store was overflowing with goodies that I had not seen before.  I am so fond of owner Tamara and in awe of her creative displays and inspiring inventory. She is unique to say the least.

Look at this chandelier that hangs in the store.

It is decorated with a zillion ribbons and paper ornaments. Tassels and dolls and trinkets have been hung from it with abandon.

I guess I said all the right things while I was in the store because I was invited to an art party at Tamara's creative and whimsical home the next night.  Talk about a great Christmas present!

(L-R: Tamara, me, Joe, Sukie, Tyn, Paul, Shar and Linda.)  Photo by Storey Tolkin

Tamara gave us all a stack of 2"x2" mini canvasses to finish (she also gave us a great dinner) in a given amount of time. The locals brought their own materials, but lucky me I got to use Tam's stuff. When we were finished we were able to chose one from each other's work.  Great idea and we had so much fun.

Mine

Some of Paul's

Joe's

Linda's

Sukie's (one of Tamara's bling-y ones on top right.      

I didn't get a photo of all the canvasses and I am truly sorry for they were all very wonderful. 

Thank you Tamara for including me.  I had a great time!