pamgarrison

the payoff of persistence

Ah, that's better, isn't it?  I started over with the table by deciding to go the old book cover route for round two.

I found a bunch of different paints that I had in the garage, and mixed them together in a cleaned out strawberry container. I wanted to match the cover of the book somewhat. I knew since it was aged, in that perfect dirty paper way, that I'd be using a bit of stain wiped on the table after I painted it to take the color I painted on and age it a bit, so, I was mixing to get a color slightly lighter than the book cover. 

A little of this color, a little of that color, cream, grey blue, green, raw umber, light blue. It all came together to make a pretty color, that I think works great with the book cover. I tore the book cover off and left the rough edge from the torn fabric binding. I did have to cut the book on the other three edges to make it the right size. To cut it, I used an old paper cutter I have from my Dad's business in the 60's. I glued the book cover down using good ol' Elmer's white glue.

I love where the book and table meet:

Now I've got another little table to add to my collection of little tables. I bought them all at one time or other for display purposes, various sales etc. You can see why I bought it even though I was far from home, it goes so well with the other two that are painted someting other than white.

 

if at first you don't succeed...

The Mother's Day roses from daughter's boyfriend are going strong, and since I prefer to have a pretty picture greet you when you pop by, I'll start the post with those, because what comes next is not pretty...hahaha

I bought this table many years ago in Omaha while there teaching at Silver Bella. It was charming and cheap, and  in need of love. A lot of love apparently, because I have set it aside for years.

Recently, while in the garage, I put my son to work sanding it. It was old and peeling (thus the irresistable price tag). How to make the top even and useable became the question.

And then I remembered the amazingly clever creations of Swarm. I believe they use old oil paintings or paintings on canvas to create works of art with old furniture. Amazing stuff. Which led me to thinking about what I might have that would work. I thought a paint by number piece might do just the trick. So I found one in the garage, and cut it to size of the table top. I thought I'd paint the table and that the painting I had would stand out too much, so I painted the side of the painting with the same paint (.50 little jar picked up at the reject pile at Home Depot), that's what's happening here:

So far so good. Oh, before painting, I did cut the painting down to size. Because paint by numbers are often done on chipboard, it was easy to cut to size with scissors. After it was painted (I could have waited to paint it until after it was glued to table too), I glued it onto the table top. then I painted the table. And that's when that sinking feeling crept in, "um, don't think this is going to go where I'd hoped it would, but maybe...." so I pushed on. And then I was sure, it just wasn't what I thought it would be, it looked like I painted flowers (and not very pretty ones at that) on top of a table, or like I decoupaged it. It lost all the fun of knowing it was a paint by number piece first. See?:

So then I grabbed some nail polish remover, and next a sander, and started trying to take the paint off the paint by number...uh oh...

But hey, I haven't given up yet! As the saying goes, if at first you don't succeed, try try again. I'm going to keep working on it, and look, I may try this direction next...I think I like the way this old book cover looks sitting on it right now:

I'll be back soon to report in and hopefully show something I love. Won't be hard to improve upon it's current look, that's for sure!

happy mother's day!

 

I hope you are having a lovely weekend! Mine started out great with a surprise visit from college daughter. She had told me she wouldn't be coming home this weekend, as she had surprised her brother with a visit last weekend for his birthday. Made sense to me. I had just been sort of complaining about it to a friend last Thursday night, and not 2 hours later she walked in the door. She really did surprise me, which is not easy to do, moms are always the ones that know everything that's going on! I literally teared up as I went out with her to thank her friend that had given her a ride home. Such a great gift.

On Saturday we were trying to put her hair in one of those sock roll buns (it eventually worked quite nicely- youtube it if interested) and I was taken by how cute her nail color was so made her let me take a photo:

It's so fun to have her sweet, feminine energy around the house. Sadly, she had to head back mid morning today, but it was worth it. She and her brother made the card on one of my journal pages this morning (top photo of post). And I found this "card" from my son, who was a little bit cranky about going to be last night:

And as my instagram this morning stated, my daughter's boyfriend often brings her flowers when she is home, but today, he brought some to me. Smart boy ;)

Enjoy what remains of the weekend! See you here this week. xo

for the love of color

You know what a fan of color I am by now, I imagine. What's funny is I'm also a huge fan of lack of color, or monochromatic color schemes. As much as I love how colors mix together, I also love neutrals. I assume many would be surprised to learn that my house is very neutral. The walls, the surfaces, the furniture and accessories, all shades of linen and cream, wood and silvers. I prefer a muted backdrop for living. 

 Anyway, as I contine working hard on my new, top-secret obsession (like, up till 2:30 every morning working hard- I know, it has to stop- but I told you, it's an obsession!), I needed to make a quick run to Michael's craft store yesterday. I couldn't resist buying these pink balls, due to the color, shape, size, and that they were paper!, all delicious attributes. (The fan is from BHLDN last year.) I opened them up and set them on the game table in our family room and they just make me so happy inside. They're from  the Martha Stewart line if you want some. I'm going to cluster them hanging above my desk in my art room I think, but not until the great paper caper of 2012 wraps up production in our family room.

 Look how pretty they are with the instagram of my new art supplies bought at Dick Blick not long ago:

And also with a rose from the garden:

Here's another glimpse of a our home showing you what I mean about the less than color filled play going on. Even the painting of mine is pretty different colorwise than my usual.

I'd say the main color above is grey. Ahhh, grey, still loving grey so much. Especially tones of brownish grey like you can see in the papers I bought last night:

{Now I notice that even my shoes are grey/brown, ha!}

And this chalkboard paint(upper left corner), also from the Martha Stewart line, it's a lovely brown/grey:

And that's where my true love of color started kicking in again: her paints, so many pretty paint colors. I didn't limit myself to her line though, any brand of inexpensive acrylics would do, the only requirement was that the color had to make my heart beat a little faster at first glance. So, of course, I ended up with a few pinks and oranges too:

I had planned to come home and slap some color on the pages of my journals, but time got away from me while I was busy taking photos of pretty colored supplies. My pages often have pinks:

{That awesome Hello washi tape is by Como Cricket.}

Also while at Michael's (and speaking of journaling), I bought these for those that will come journal with me when I teach this summer at Studio Crescendoh...more on that soon. they are tiny colored pencils, I just couldn't resist!

Let's take one last look at those beautiful pink antique roses from the garden. I wish I knew the name, we moved them from the last house, and the tag did not follow. I'm sure they are David Austins. I love them so much and think they are just about the closest thing to peonies that I can grow in our climate.

Anyway, off to baseball I go, hope your Saturday is filled with the coloror lack thereof that suits you!

 

 

a new obsession in the works

I've been teasing my instagram friends with photos of supplies I've been gathering.

I'm gathering, gathering, gathering, and the inspiration and supply pile is growing exponentially, as are the ideas in my head. I love falling in love with a project. I'm still hunting down supplies from my art room, the garage, and every other nook and cranny in the house. The original tool that I was searching for in the beginning still hasn't surfaced, but at this point, I think it's getting a bit out of control in here and I need to dig in without it. I get weirdly obsessed like that, wanting every single thing I need (and obviously, lots I don't) to choose from. 

I took these photos while trying to organize a little:

As you can see, my new secret obsession involves a lot of paper, all types. Clearly, the fact that I have all this paper already shows a life long love of paper, I'm excited to be giving some of it a chance to show off.  I plan to share everything with you, just as soon as I can, but thought it only fair I tease you guys a little too, or at least entertain you with some eye candy while I am in the midst of my current love affair.

I love having this photo of my Dad as a youngster along as company. I find it so pleasing to be surrounded by pretty things, even though I won't be using them, they inspire me, so I scooped them up for the duration and into the pile they'll stay.

The colors and combos are showing up in my journal pages as well:

More soon, I'm as anxious as anyone to be able to share. Hope you are immersed in a project you love right now too! xo

are you in portland right now?!?!

Happy Cinco de Mayo friends.  This painting I'm working on above seems fitting for today. It also reminds me of my friend Jennifer Mercede's work. Which brings me to the Portland question of the post title....if you are in Portland right now, you've got to get over to Jennifer's studio and scoop up some treasures! I am so sad that she's letting go of so much at such great prices and I'm missing out due to loacation. She said things are flying out the door but has more left if you are in the area: 

Jennifer Mercede BlowOUt Art Sale:

Today!

3015 NE 19th Ave, Portland.

{Ed: Sunday- if you missed it and want to make arrangements to pop by while she's packing up today, email her at: jmercede@hotmail.com}

Hurry, and then torture me with photos of what you got! I love love love her artwork as you know.

For those of you like me, far away, here are a few more shots of color around here this morning:

teaching engagement

I'm teaching two classes this November at Spellbound, a new event by hosts Debbie Murray and Shea Fragoso, the mother/daughter design team behind A Gilded Life. It's going to be a a gorgeous hotel in Pasadena, California. The Gilded Life Girls are tending to every detail ensuring attendees will have a wonderful time, including a charter bus to The Rose Bowl flea market on Suday morning. I'll be there selling my wares along with others at the Dreamland Mercantile, as well as teaching two classes, The Joy Stitched Sampler  and Joyeux Noel Banner.

I'll be in great teaching company:

 

If you care to join in, you can get the details and register here!

a few originals left from this collection

Thank you so much for all the painting loving over on my etsy. The ones on the left that say coming soon have all been listed and there are a few more left if you are interested! xo