pamgarrison

we spend memorial day in the garden

Hope you had a nice Memorial Day weekend, we did. The weather was gorgeous, and it is always a great feeling at our house when there are no sports engagements and no work for my husband (although his damn blackberry did buzz all weekend, and he did have to reply, at least he was here). Three days with no commitments feels like heaven. My Dad is home and feeling much better (thanks for the well wishes), so it was smooth sailing. My husband and I went out to the oh-so-neglected garden. After not too long, I took a break and went in search of my garden journal. Funnily enough, I found the last entry was Memorial Day a year ago. I told you, I was really into it once, but not anymore. I'm back to wanting all the results, but not wanting to do the work. I can see the potential, I have always believed in it's potential. I thought I'd show you my garden journal...I am going to journal in it again before a year from now too!

I bought a garden book for about $5.00 at Borders over 4(!!) years ago.  It had some pretty herb pictures, so I just write or paint etc. over the other pages when I make a journal entry.

As I said, I used to be really into gardening, and I was really into documenting all the beautiful flowers that grew in the garden. I would take photos (film) and then spend hours cutting them out and gluing them down. As you can see, I've always been a bit mad for the David Austin antique roses. Here are some pages from my old garden journal.

Back to this weekend... While chatting out front with a neighbor I heard this loud humming, looked up, and saw thousands of bees gravitating toward a tree. The next morning, I took this photo assuming that it was a hive. The kids were all excited so when the other neighbor children came out, they called them over to see. There was nothing there, they were completely gone. What gives? Any bee experts out there?

Anyway, we pretty much only worked on the side yard , I tend to move slooowwwlllyy in the heat, but here's a shot after we called it a day. I think that we should hire a gardener, too much neglect goes by if you wait a year to really tend to things.  If you were up close, you'd see the weedy lawn and empty spots. Here's the view from the back of the side yard looking to the front yard:

and the reverse view:

playing catch-up

Well, hello there. Feels like I haven't posted for weeks. It has been loony around here. I'll try to catch you up quickly. As you know, my friend Debbie came to town to check out her new house. She loved it, we went to Anthropologie. She bought the earrings above as a thank you to me for helping find the house etc. (so unnecessary, especially when you hear about the rest of her visit). She bought some  file folders too and gave some to me. I love that she knew I would want the sleeves that the folders came in as much as the folders. You can see a snippet of wrapping paper that I bought as well.  While at Anthropologie I bought these two notebooks. On top of the notebooks are these killer white gel pens for journaling. I first learned to lust after these in a journal class taught by Teesha Moore...of course, she would know the best journalling products. These are made in Japan and very hard to get, but I found some at Gina's site. They came with an extra present too...thank you Gina. If Gina is sold out, Anahata mentioned she would be selling them soon, and maybe Teesha will too one day. If you journal, or scrapbook, or doodle, you will love these.

Here's the rest of what I bought that day. Vintage pink fat candles, some striped candles, Peculiar Press notecards, some cool badges by Claudia Laub Incorporated, a notepad by Anna Corba, a new caddy, and a clip art book by Sterling Publishing Co. called Birds and Buterflies. I can not tell you how madly in love I am with everything Peculiar Press makes. Every detail is fantastic, don't you agree?

This was my favorite purchase of the day, my housewarming gift for Debbie, a marble topped cake pedestal. What a shame that it will have to stay at my house for safe keeping until she moves in.

After we got home and I threw myself down on the couch, Debbie instigated the folding of at least 8 loads of laundry, with me moving at 1/4 the speed she did. That in itself was a big enough thank you, you know how much I hate laundry. But the next day she was even more amazing. It started out with my Dad calling, saying he hadn't been feeling well and was thinking he should go to the doctor, but wasn't able to take himself, he was that weak. So Deb (she is an OR nurse, after all) and I went to fill his prescriptions, grocery shop, and pump him up with Gatorade and other nutrients. I was going to the taping of the Ellen show with my daughter (previously planned and unable to be rescheduled) that  afternoon, so sweet, amazing, nurturing Debbie was going to take my Dad to his doctor appointment because of course, we couldn't get in in the am.  So off my daughter and I went to Burbank, and Debbie met some friends for lunch. When she got back to my Dad's, she found him on the floor, in a puddle of sweat, unable to get up. She called 911 and spent the next few hours with my Dad at the hospital (see how unnecessary those earrings were?) while I was blissfully unaware inside the Ellen show (it was fun). They checked the poor guy in with pneumonia. (He's home safe and sound now, no worries). The next day included our getting her kids' new school packets, the inspection of her new home, and a visit with my Dad. When we got back to my house, she had a bee in her bonnet about cleaning out my son's closet (boy, those outgrown clothes and toys can accumulate!).  See what a great friend she is?!? I told her, as soon as she moves in, I'll be there painting and unpacking and kid watching and anything else she wants! My house hunting for her was nothing, I owe her big time!

she loved it!!!

Thankfully, she LOVES the house...so naturally, we went shopping...Yes, pillows for bar stools she doesn't own yet, and lampshades too large for the master bedroom lamps she has, but they were on sale...details to follow. Thanks for all your positive reinforcement...I made her read the comments first so that she'd have all your good mojo behind her. xox

company's coming

One of my dearest friends is coming tonight. Here's the checklist:

have daughter clean room- check
fresh linens-check
flowers for nightstand-check
worry- check

Why  would I be worried about her visit? She's been my friend for over 25 years. We've been through whatever life has thrown us in that time together. Why the nerves?  I'll tell you why.

She and her family are moving back home after living in Texas and Chicago. Yippee! So they came to find a house...not an easy task, after the insanity of the real estate market left us with ridiculous prices. While they were looking I joined along. Her husband is so easily accommodated that he actually wanted to skip it entirely and let her find their house. There were a few decent options, after they made offers, they weren't decent options anymore. She went back home to Chicago. On Mother's Day she called asking if I could please go that night (thank goodness it wasn't Father's Day is all I can say) and see this house that her husband (who was back out working) had seen that day. A house he, the one that doesn't care that much, really likes and that the realtor says won't last. So my daughter and I go see it, and all my daughter says the whole time we are there is, "Mommy, can we buy  this house, pleeeaaasseeee?". Which tells you the teenage vote.  I think it's a great home and give it a big thumbs up. My friend agrees to buy it on my recommendation. They make an offer and enter into escrow the next day. Now, mid escrow, she's coming to see it for the first time. Yikes! What if she hates it? Can anything really live up to your expectations/wildest hope from afar? Here's hoping so. Pleeeaasseee is right. So we're going to see it as soon as we can get in. I'll let you know what she thinks. Wish us luck.

what i did this weekend by pam g

Here's what I did this weekend: went food shopping and bought flowers...you do know that Trader Joe's has the cheapest and best flowers, don't you? I also bought this magazine at the grocery store...I haven't been able to browse through it, but a quick flip through told me it was worth the $5.99.

I did a little sewing on the baby quilts for the birthday nieces...

and the rest of the time I was at sporting events for my kids, there were 4 soccer games and 2 baseball, so we had to divide and conquer.

My daughter's soccer is fun to watch because they are so good now, my son's baseball is fun because they are so little they crack me up...he's not trying to intimidate the pitcher, his coach pitches to him...that's just his "I'm gonna cream the ball" face...and he usually does.

juxtaposition in the studio

The topic for studio friday this week is contrast. How I play studio friday is this: I read the topic and then go up to my "studio", camera in hand, and try to find it, in existence, without moving anything around. Here's some of the contrast I found this morning. The first photo shows two different materials, wire and ribbon, used for the same purpose, one hard and metal, one soft and fabric.

The next example is this one, a contrast in age. The bottom hat box is old, the top one is new, that I covered to look old.

Here is a contrast in  execution.  This is a lampshade that sits on my desk. I found the wire form at a flea market, the shade had obviously been through a fire, so I replaced the outside with music paper, but I left the inside the way it was, rough and unfinished.

You've seen this drawer before, but the close-up shows the contrast of the surface, a rusty, industrial drawer, with a new, shiny, glass knob. I love the mix of industrial and vintage.

In a drawer I found this, a velvet soft feather next to stiff, rough tulle.

Yet another contrast found was this corner. My husband built some shelves for me behind the door where you enter the room. Remember, this is how I found it, this morning, on my search for opposites,contrast,juxtaposition existing in my art room. A contrast in style, uncluttered vs. cluttered.

And lastly, here's a contrast in sensibility. Sanity vs. insanity. This one is for Nina...you are so not alone my friend, but instead of working on a 5x7 space, I usually end up working on my lap! My desk, as it is, right now, and my sewing table which is right next to it.

And there you have it, juxtaposition in my studio, this week's scavenger hunt. Have you gone on your hunt yet? 

a room with a view

Last night I was laying down with my son, putting him to bed. As we lay there chatting, I was looking around his room, seeing what he sees, and thinking that you might enjoy seeing the view too.(Do you bloggers do this? Blog in your head? See things as thoughts you want to share?) ...Anyway, since it happens to be Corners of my Home Thursday, I thought it the perfect time to give another glimpse here. It's kind of fun sharing little corners in detail, then, when I've shown everything, I think I'll do a post with it all put together, 360 degree view, we'll see.

The first picture shows one little wall. I think of it as his little library section. It's too small of an area to house a dresser, so this thin storage rack from Pottery Barn kids does the trick. I sanded and painted it a couple of times because it was too bright blue. At the very top is a poster made from a photo of my older brother's squadron. He is a Navy fighter pilot super stud. Here's a close up, he's on the top row, 2nd  from left. Isn't he handsome? The picture fits so perfectly in my son's airplane world. My son (just like my Dad and older brother), has always loved planes, maybe it's genetic. If so, it sure skipped me, I only see them as a necessary means to an end, like riding a bus in the air, with a lot more hassle getting myself and my stuff on and off...anyway, back to the photo of the room...I think I bought the bulletin board from Land of Nod. The cool red and white stripped frame was purchased at a local church boutique years ago. I decoupaged the chair and bucket in my major decoupage phase years ago.

This is what you see looking up from the bed. My husband and I (yes, us, with help from a couple people close by when it came time to screw in the drywall, and let me tell you, drywall is heavy, especially when holding it overhead.) raised the ceiling years ago and he installed the roof windows. It's hard to tell from this photo, but the ceiling is pitched pretty high. At night, lying in bed, my son can see the stars. It just so happens that  you can also see planes fly from one window to the other as well, kinda lucked out with that. As I lay there last night I realized that pretty soon it will be summer and I'll have to get my husband to close the  blinds so my son will sleep in a bit. There are 2 more planes in the ceiling that you can't see. My friend Kelly hung all of the planes and globes for me because I was too scared to stand on the top of the ladder and reach overhead. The toys sign (it's metal, from Target, in their Christmas section last year, it has an airplane on it) is above the closet (whose bi-fold doors are open, see?) and the little wall I showed above is on the left.

You've seen this corner before, but I wanted to show you the quilt that I made for my son when he was born. I'm showing you this because it is what I'm working on now...the brother above is the one that had twins almost a year ago (that I made these for). Before they were born, I began their baby quilts, and I have yet to finish them. As they are almost 1, I really must  get them done, or the girls will be too big to even use them as a blanket in their strollers! I will show you them when I finish them (good, now that makes me even more accountable), which better be soon.  As I have mentioned, I have never learned to quilt. The only sewing class I had was back in 7th grade Home Economics (I loved that class!)...so, there is no perfection here. I say this to warn you true quilters, as I'm about to show a close up, you might want to avert your eyes.

I don't have a serger, so I sew around the letters many many times. And everything is done on the machine, even the scallop stitch you see at the bottom here. I love the little tag that I bought at a local sewing store, saying "made with tender loving care by Mom", I think I've even seen these at Jo Ann's too. So, off to sew I go...hopefully, since I cut most everything out a year ago, and started sewing on some of the letters in between then and now it won't be an impossible task to finish before the birthday. Wish me luck.

tuesday odds and ends

This is Megan, just now. I was doing the dishes and the doorbell rang. "I just wanted to show you how cute I look", she said. And she does, doesn't she? She is such a funny girl, love me my Megan, who lives across the street. She says the funniest things. Here's one conversation that she had with her mom about 2 years ago. She was wearing a shirt with cursive writing across the front.

Meg (in a young child's accent):  this saysa ma name
Meg's Mom:  that says Old Navy
Meg:  ya, 'Ol lady (meaning, ya, that's me)

and around the same time after getting a little wedge haircut:

Meg's Mom to her Dad: Look at her little duck tail
Meg, overhearing them, got super still, scrunched up her shoulders and said: I gotta duck on ma head?

Just had to share a little of the Meg in my life, I mean, when was the last time you knocked on someone's door just to show them how cute you knew you looked?

Let's see. In other news, the lovely Anahata Katkin has started a blog! and so has Teesha, although, she's been swamped lately, so go back after the latest art & life is published. ...and Janice was so kind to offer a link to these string holders that I talked about last week.

I'm also putting some paper portraits up for sale at my little etsy space. pamg.etsy.com I'll try to make some more stuff soon.

As we all go off to live our day today, I'll leave you with this page from one of my journals because I love the quote by Julia Cameron. Choices, moments, artful living...all things I try to work on.

 

 

on their way

Sheesh! That was a little bit crazy, but fun. Thank you to everyone that bought a paper pack. We took about 50 of them to the post office today; if you paid for one, it's on it's way to you. I really hope you like them. I have been collecting vintage wallpaper for so long now and really think it adds a great uniqueness and authenticity to whatever I'm making. It was fun to share some. I'd love to see what you do with it...remember, No scrap is too small, so save those scraps and put them to use!

a trophy for you

Happy Mother's Day! Moms don't get enough rewards and recognition in my book, so this is for all the mothers out there; those who are mothers or want to be, those that mother their kids, their parents, their pets, their loved ones, their friends, those whose nurturing makes the world a better place...thank you, you deserve a trophy!

A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take. -Cardinal Mermillod

they're up!

pamg.etsy.com

hopefully I did it right...we'll see...thanks for the support!

it's all your fault

So today I had to go to the dermatologist because I had a couple of spots that needed checking... Well, who knew?!? I never knew that once a year now we are all supposed to get a full body check for skin cancer! New levels of embar- rassment... having your entire body inspected under a bright light from your scalp to between your toes...oh, what fun that was. It looks like the problem spots are nothing to worry about as long as they don't return, but man, I have lots and lots of "wisdom spots" as she called them. Yeah, that's it, I'm a wise wise gal.

Anyway, since I was out and about...I thought I'd try to find some vintage wallpaper (that's why I'm blaming my shopping above on you) so that we can provide two different types of paper packs for sale. I was very excited to find a roll at an old hardware store type of antique shop where I have gotten lucky before. Of course, I found a few other things too.

At right you see some of the things close up. A hat with yummy flowers, an old children's reader, an old autograph book, another book and postcard, a mc coy vase, and wire dish rack. Inside the white vase are some gesso pieces that I will glue on different art projects. I think they are intended for adorning furniture. The autograph book is so beautiful. Here are some of the pages inside:

This is a close up of the wallpaper roll and of another wire basket.

This photo shows the other finds close up. A jar full of creamy paper poker chips, a string holder, a jewelry box, some old sconce shades, and some empty drawers.

Here are some of the finds put to use. I love finding things that serve a function. Here's what I got to before the sun went down today.

the vase

the string holder with ribbon in it...it's blurry because I was trying to hold it up with my left hand and photo with right...you get the idea.

the large metal basket with my wallpaper rolls in it (perfect, right?)

and the wire dish rack with the second set of paper packs in progress.

Speaking of which, please don't worry. My friend Kathy and I put together 2 different packs, 30 of each pack. I'm sure there will be enough for everyone that reads the blog. If for some reason we don't have enough, we will put more together. I am still aiming for tomorrow, I can't guarantee a time though. It is my first time listing on Etsy and I usually have a huge learning curve on new computer things so, who knows how quickly I'll accomplish the task...I have a Muffins with Mommy at my son's school tomorrow in the am, so it won't be before 10am for sure. I'll pop in here first to let you know. Until then...

as found in the garden

Almost everyday from 2pm until we have some other activity, I can be found out front, watching my son and the other neighbor children with the other moms. Today I thought I'd show you my favorites from what's blooming. At left is one of my all-time favorite David Austin roses, Abraham Darby. I mean, Come On!!! How gorgeous is this rose?!? Reminds me of a peony. It smells divine as well.

Then there's these lovely viburnum. I love this plant.  I don't know if it's in the hydrangea family, but both the flower and the leaves seam like it to me. It starts out this wonderful shade of chartreuse and turns to white as it opens up.

These are two foxglove plants, you can see where they get there name, huh?

And here are some pincushions, or scabiosas. I love the early stages of the bloom, all tight and compact and creamy chartreuse and lavender...the second picture shows them in full bloom, pretty too.

Here are some of the many kids in the hood, taken last week.

You guys are so cute with your comments, I'm glad you're excited about the paper. Kathy and I are cutting more tonight and getting together tomorrow to put the second set of paper packs together. Getting them on Etsy Friday is our goal. I promise I'll let you know here first, no need to check over there until then. Hopefully I'll get to do some other creating tomorrow as well. ...In other exciting news, escrow finally closed on the purchase of my domain name...so, I finally have a website! There's nothing there either, except the page that says coming soon. I sent the artwork to my brother and he put it up there for me (thanks Dave!)...so, in a few weeks (months?) maybe there will be a lot more to see. ...have a good night, xo p

a quick hello with some answers

Hello again. Still trying to build up a tiny inventory. Here's the latest, Home Sweet Home. Just wanted to pop in and answer a few questions and of course, thank you for your comments. Big thanks to Lesley, Ann, and Lisa for "hand" quotes. My Etsy shop is not open yet...well, there's nothing in there anyway. It is here, but I promise, I will post here, on my blog, when I post even a few things over there for sale. I was stuck with the pamg.etsy, even though I wanted pamgarrison.etsy, because long ago pamg was my yahoo account and then flickr account and once you pick these I guess you are stuck with them for life...had I known, I would have tried to be more clever...unless some of you brilliant bloggers out there know differently and can kindly advise, pamg it is...I may indeed sell everything quickly, (because I don't have much-lol) and if I do, don't worry, I will make more of everything over time. There will be paper packs! My friend Kathy is helping me to put these together, and hopefully we'll have two different packs to choose from and plenty for everyone. Here's the first set. More later...

work in progress

I finally carved out some time to make some things and thought I'd show you the work in progress. The paper portrait on the left (Speak the Truth) is actually finished, as is the next one, but I am trying to do a set of 5, so the set is in progress. I am trying to get together a few things to put in the Etsy shop this week...of course, I'll let you know when I really accomplish it. Tracy gets first pick of the paper portraits, then everything is up for grabs. I love this little girl...doesn't she just look like a straight shooter? This next one is called Starlight Love Song. The children in these photos often seem so grown up to me, so adult in presentation...do you think they were allowed to be silly? These two look playful to me, like a brother and sister that are really friends.

This is a shadow box in progress...never know where this is going to go, but I'll show you when it's done.

This is the beginnings of my self portrait page in Nina Bagley's book. I LOVE her book...I won't go into detail about her book, because it's not my work to share, but it is a dream, just like everything she does. So real, and deep, and humble, and beautiful, and unique...so Nina. I am so happy that she wanted us to focus on our hands...I am really struggling with the "self-portrait" concept, as I've told you before, so this is such a fresh and clever take on the topic. Why am I always so literal? I would have never thought of anything as brilliant as her idea. Anyway, this is in progress, as I said, and I need some help. I am mulling over one idea that requires a good quote. Does anyone know of any good quotes with a hands/handiwork/handcrafted etc. type theme? I'd be ever so grateful.

So I went looking around my studio for what struck me as beautiful for "beautiful Sunday"...maybe I'm not always literal after all (you'll see what I mean after seeing what I saw as beautiful)...

Here's a wire trashcan full of paper scraps...I always tell my students that "no scrap is too small" ...you can see, I really mean it.

and here's a photo of my wallpaper rolls in the old laundry basket thingy that holds them, gussied up with a bunch of flowers.

and here's some millinery flowers as found, on the floor, in the middle of a big huge mess.

and for the traditionalists...some roses out front.

Hope you have a beautiful Sunday!

7 am may 4th

We have a birthday boy in our house. Dugan. Dugs, Dugie, Dugster, Duginator for short and long. Here he is, this morning, all ready for school after we finished icing (my part) and sprinkling (his job) the  cupcakes for his classmates. Of course, he picked an orange shirt and some orange frosting! Love love love this little man with a soft soft heart and rough and tough all boy exterior. But wait, wasn't this just yesterday? Time is so tricky, so sneaky, changing ever so slightly, if you don't look closely, you can forget to see it. As Misty said in a post February 22, motherhood can really make your heart ache. Their childhoods are so ephemeral, aren't they?

Well, off to make more cupcakes for him to decorate later. Those above are for his class, then he has put in a request for the kids on the street, and it just happens to be our turn for snack at baseball tonight (how's that for good timing?)...so cupcakes it is, all around.

i have a treat for you

Oh! I am so excited that I get to share my friend Amy Hanna's work with you. Isn't this little bit the most delicious teaser? Love all of it, the tinsel, the flowers, the glittered bird, twine and old paper behind it. So, as you know (and saw a post or two ago), a few of us are in a very small collaborative project. Today, I met  Amy to hand off my book for her to play in. She had hers all set and ready to mail off, but I was able to talk her into unwrapping it so I could have a look-see. Once I saw it, I had to share it with you here since she doesn't have a blog; I'd hate for you to miss the feast that her submittal is. So, home it came with me to be photographed...(Lauren, I'll get it in the mail to you tomorrow!). As we drove home after trading packages, I called her to say how much I was reminded just then about one of the best parts of collaborative work...that seeing/touching/playing in someone's book really stirs up the creativity within each other, opens your eyes in a setting that encourages (requires) you to take part. Everything Amy makes always inspires me...you'd never guess she considers herself primarily a jewelry artist when looking at all her other incredible creations...this is the way Amy's book is packaged. How yummy is this box?!? I'm telling you, she has the best stuff!

This is what you see when you first open the box. Her submittal began as a life insurance salesman's book. On the right is the black leather folder the pamphlets were in, on the left are the untouched pamphlets for each of us to do our work in before adding to the black folder.

Once you open the black book, this is what you see. Amy's pamphlets are tied in that red velvet ribbon. On the right she has attached the "sign in" page in that hanging pocket.

This is the sign in pocket with it's contents out. The photo at the top is part of a Christmas card she sent out a few years ago. The little angels are her twins (she also has a son). The postcard of the women is where each artist will pick a lady and sign in. On the bottom is a photo of Amy as a child.

This is what you see when you untie the red velvet string and open it up.

And this is the back of the pamphlet. See?  I told you she has the best stuff...isn't she wonderfully decadent and unstructured in her creating? As soon as I saw all this I just wanted to grab my book and take it home and deck it out some more. I definitely got a charge from looking at it, hope you did too. Thanks for letting me share it Aim!

happy may day

Happy May Day! I almost didn't get a chance to wish you well or send you flowers, the traditional May Day  greeting. As tomorrow is fast approaching, I ran up tonight to take a photo of the page on my desk I was going to use for a May Day greeting to you when the day began. Now, the beginnings of a journal page will have to suffice. (Look how messy my desk is! Yikes.-Like Scarlett said, "There's always tomorrow"right?). Anyway, I have always wanted to have the kids leave May Day flower greetings on our neighbors' doors. Some years I fantasize about making a paper cornucopia with a ribbon handle for the vessel, some years a glass beaker tube with twine, this year I kept envisioning a cute tin can with a wire handle. Alas, another year got away from me, maybe next May Day. Hope someone left flowers anonymously at your door. If not, consider these yours.