What I've been up to..

All week, I've enjoyed doing things...One: took a trip, Two: visiting with friends, and Three: Whipped up some faux on cabinets and made the homeowners very happy..



I stayed with a couple that we've been friends with for several years..Brett and Carolyn. They ride H-Ds and we've been on a few road trips together.. We had good visits and she cooked some wonderful dinners. We also indulged in Pei Wei..that is one of my fav places in College Station, I didn't have to bend her arm to go there either...

I also got to visit with Andreea, one of my BFFs! But more on that later, I have a whole box of goodies to photograph, to show you...


And my day job this week was this:

They started out as plain white shiny cabinets, and by the time I was finished they were worthy of a Tuscan Kitchen..The homeowner loved them, and said it was just what was in her head! That is just music to my ears to hear that kind of complament! The photos don't do justice to them, but that's all I can do.

I found out today one of our "kids" lost her job! They closed the offices where she worked and are just keeping 2 of them open. I hated to hear that, for her hubby is waiting to hear if he made it in to Vet School there at A&M. So she's the bread winner of the family and keeps them going..but she's taking it in stride and out looking for a new job already. So prayers to them, that she finds what she wants and is happy

Today, on the phone, #2 grand informed me she had a bunny, but then dropped her little voice as if to keep it quite about the whole thing...Like her mamma wouldn't know she had a bunny in the house..it was a hoot! Come to find out, an Uncle promised her a bunny but she had to be quite about it, so she was litarly keeping quite when talking about it.

We are about to blow away here tonight, with the cold front that is pushing thru...So, snuggle up and get a warm spot in the bed.

Have a good weekend!

t

Monday's news

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=38358

Got added to another Etsy Treasury! This time one of my little soldered houses made it, so check it out ASAP!


I've got a faux job this week, so I'm not going to be around much~ see ya in a few!
Hope you had a great New Year's Day and it's the start of a great year for you :)
more later,
t

Wednesday! Already??!!

My how time flies when your havin' fun... Can't believe it's already the middle of next week..last week at this time I was making piles of stuff to load into my car for Paper Cowgirl...BTW we have started a flickr group here if you want to see what everyone else has done..I've also added photos to the Paper Cowgirl blog..


Here are all our lovely Cowgirls that were left at the end of the day...we have a few missing for various reasons...

This pretty much sums up the day~ Glitter..messy hands, and loads of ideas floating around....

This is what I did in my manic art moment last night:

I used my new Shrink Plastic!! We picked some up in Plano at the Stamp Asylum...I played with this stuff in 4th grade when it was called Shrinky Dinks, remember that?? Same stuff but not using colored pencils and pre printed pictures...grown up version..Printer and real photos being copied off on it.. I also used some of the hat bands my friend Jeannie gave me during our visit...this is going into a care package we filled up at PC, for a Blog friend who is recovering from Ike...

Today I'm off for a faux estimate..wish me luck~ I'm worried with the economy like it is, people put the 'wants' to the bottom of the list..I'm a 'wants' maker...not a "need" item...so I'm worried about my cash flow...

Hope your hump day is humppylicous...

t

Tuesday'ed out

Yesterday I played with some of the cool effects on my photo program.. Hope you had a good Labor day, whether you labored or played...I labored..

Today was a ceiling(s) of clouds..didn't finish, but the looking up and working over my head finished me off...called it quits and hub is taking me out for dinner, so I don't have to cook ! Can't beat that..with a stick~

Have a super evening..t

Sneak peek

Did you know this is what we are going to make in my class at Paper Cowgirl???



I'm offering 3 images and a few other sayings, so you can make it your own, but this is the basic idea!!





In between making play doh cookies with Grace, I wrapped up my swaps, this one is a peek at the Wizard of Oz Swap I'm in:

And you know what I did??? I wrapped up my Witch's Cupboard Swap, and took NO pictures..suppose Tonya, my partner will have to show ya'll what I gave her..my bad...

I'm off today to a Woman's Business Luncheon. I'm hoping to network with other ladies and maybe get my painting biz busier...Sally, a nice lady I'm working for now, goes to them and invited me...I think Sally is going to be a good friend too...

Hope your Thursday is good~

t

Faux and faces

Here's the latest project I've had going. This cement porch has been covered with a product called Skim Stone.
I use layers of colors and it's applied thinly to cover up the concrete. You have a bit more control than with staining and it's a whole new layer added, so it can change the look and feel completely.
We added the logo 2 nights ago and last night I added the clear coat layer. This makes all the colors pop..

We have the Grands here until Sunday. So lots of playing outside while it's still cooler and then inside when it's hot..today is an expedition to the store for Polly Pockets. That is the favorite right now..

I was playing with the camera yesterday and got these shots:

Anytime things are happening you know they have to ask: "Whatcha Doin'???"

If they ask once, you know they are going to ask again:

Cindy added more Paper Cowgirl info yesterday and is to add more today, so go check it out! Our sign up Deadline is August 31st. and anyone after that it will be an additional 10$ until we have reached our limit. Teachers are getting ready, the sign ups are flowing in and it we are gathering vendors up for Friday's vendor night. So ya'll don't miss out and come play with us on September 26-28th!

Today: Make a good memory.

t

Big Daddy Cantelope

He's already married, to me! These little babies have been coming out of the garden lately!

If you follow me on Twitter, you would know that yesterday I got nothing done in the studio.

I worked out in the shop all day, it was 110 degrees yesterday..what a day to work in a tin building....But, I'd made up my mind and was going to consolidate all the boxes from our move, LAST YeAr...We have boxes of stuff I don't want to use in the shop shack. But, I'm going to use when we get the real house built, so it's going to have to stay in boxes and the boxes have to go somewhere..and right now they are in the middle of freaking huge shop and there is not any room for anything else. So I pushed, pulled, dollied, and emptied boxes and re-stacked boxes in a corner, now we have more open space.

It didn't seem hot until I found a thermometer and hung it up, eeeewww shouldn't have done that..I got the biggest part of it done, it was hot, I was dirty, but it got accomplished. For the most part.

Big Daddy was impressed with my work when he came home..he even went out there after dinner and did his own work...but it was too hot~to do much more..Then the buttermilk pie was ready and we both had to eat a piece of that while it was still hot! yummy..I'd not made a buttermilk pie in along time, it was good~

Other than Paper Cowgirl stuff, this is on my table in the studio waiting on me:

This is a big version of what I've done on the dominoes...I did a faux finish to the background..collaged on the papers, painted the goodies and shadowed it... I would say it's about 12x8, it still needs something, and so far it's not let me know what that something is....

These 2 pictures are on a Formica sample:

That's copper on the back, I'm not happy with that, and rub-ons are still giving me fits..I'm happy with the front..

Thanks Shannon for letting me know about my spelling error yesterday :) as you said, I'm not a COLLEGE prof...lol..you can see I do COLLAGE alot more than I did college..lol..

Andreea! Don't forget about our challenge!!!remember??

Errands and cement work are on today agenda. The rest of the week the Grands are visiting..

Thanks for all the fun comments on yesterday's post! I love my faux work, and I'm glad I can do something that makes me happy and pays the bills!

Ya'll be good today!

t

Whatta Mess...

Last week, I was off doing a faux job. I glazed Walls, Walls, and more walls..then I had to work on the fire place Mantel and an Art Niche. The home owners were on the way to Hawaii as I worked. I hope they enjoy their new look when they return! It was a mess, they were remodeling this house, moving out of the old house and moving collage kids from one place to another...

My mess was with the painter. They painted the mantel and niche in Oil Based paints, I was on a ladder 12 ft up, when I was informed the mantel and niche were being painted...not too much I could do when it was already half way done..I work in latex for the most part, so I decided to make lemon aide out of lemons..it takes alot more work and alot of stinky products to get oil based painted furniture distressed...I was taking that guy's name in vain as I did it. But, I did it, (now my finger nails look like I'm a motor head) here's the before:

After:
These are not the greatest photos, I forgot my camera (along with my computer) and had to use my phone. The base color was called coco pecan, we over painted it with a satin black, which went flat after I did my thing. I can not get the niche photo to upload..sorry..

One day I finished up early, Andreea had some time, so we hit the thrift stores. And we scored big time! She took home 2 nice chippy white bird houses to use on her front porch along with some goodies to used in altered art. She also scored a huge storage tower for just 4 bucks!I found a small wire birdhouse and some antique canning jars, 2 wall clocks to alter, 2 games, cards and other little goodies to add to my stash...

One night we all went out to see Mama Mia! it was a good show, we had alot of fun watching it and then went to eat ice cream and continue the good times..We all decided to buy the DVD of this when it comes out, for it will be a good 'dreary' day show to have on the TV.

Plans with Paper Cowgirl continue and we are going to have a sign up deadline at the last of August. So, don't wait till the last minute. Dale has her samples ready to show you and I'm working on mine this week. Cindy has info of the other 2 teachers to upload this week. Vendor night on Friday promises to be a shopping mecca for altered goodies and such.

Have a good week!!

t

Back home!

Amoung other things forgotten this trip, I forgot my camera, but did take some photos with my phone...next week I'll post a couple of pictures of the awesome fireplace mantel I distressed.. and how I turned lemons into Lemonaide!
Ya'll have a great weekend!

tina

PS. We've got 16 places left in the retreat! Get your $ in for your spot!!

Gone but not forgotten

Thought I was dead?
I'm off away doing a hugely large faux job...no computer, so bumming off the friends I'm staying with...So, I'm still alive and kicking!!

Go to Paper Cowgirl and tell Cindy to post her goodies she has, she's been dragging her feet on this, but don't tell her I said that... :0)

later ya'll
t

Birth of a Mural

Here is what I worked on Saturday:

This area is round, I then added these on the smaller walls:


All in all, I think it was about 6/8 hours of work..I did some then would stop to get away from it, then worked on it Sunday, and messed with it abit more yesterday. Liked what I had and signed my name to it..

Here is the ceiling:

That, I finished up yesterday with a final coat sprayed on with the HVLP sprayer. I love this ceiling...gives it a whimsical, open feel in this back hall area off the kitchen.

Almost finished up here and will begin the adventure home...see the hub and Scooby and then the rest of the family for the 4th holiday..I'm ready..

I'm bummed out though, looked down last night and the diamond had fell out of my wedding ring sometime yesterday after lunch. I remember washing my hands and picking paint out of it then..I've wore it everyday almost for the last 25 years...we bought it from hub's aunt, when we'd been married a year, she let us pay it out..it was about a quarter of a carat solitaire with just a nice medium wide band...dang...

later,

t

FauxMo

Here is another shot of the Living area without the ladder this time and furniture back in place:

Yesterday finished up the kitchen area with both the under glaze as in the rest of the house. Then added an over glaze of umber. I love the richness and depth it has given her walls.


The home owner is happy with it too....today I'm adding sage green and a rusty deep brown red to the living area 2 off the kitchen...

Yesterday, I had a shock. I was looking around Etsy after, I finished for the day. Found my work on someone's banner! What's sad is I have met this person and knew her from a gathering/forum board, she purchased the charm from me and due to other circumstances, she no longer associates with me...so, I really don't know what gave her permission to use my photo in her banner. I personally own this photo and have not distributed it in any manner to be copied. I use it only in my artwork and on my microscope charms. I have now contacted the Etsy shop owner, asked her to remove my art work. So, we'll see what happens..anyone else have anything like this happen, and what where you able to do about it?? Ya'll know I just went thru this whole "Paper Mojo" name thing..and I removed the blog from public use as asked, and changed all my ids that had it on there...so we'll see what happens..

Thanks ya'll for reading my posts and your comments!!! I've been able to meet some great folks thru this blogging community we have..

Have a great Friday and an awesome weekend!!!
t

Let's get this Faux on the road...

As promised, photos of what I've been up to here in AZ:


So, no more play time, and back to business for the next few days..this is just the first color for all the rooms, then I'm going back and adding other colors in layers...It's going to be yummy..

See this tiny looooong skinnnny spot? Who's ever idea this was, they were not in their right mind..an umbrella closed is about all that would fit there...try to get a ladder(and my big butt) 12/13 ft up to get glaze in that far corner..let me tell you, it was not easy...


Have a painted day!
I will!
t

Slaving away

Here's a shot from Sedona..love that place..want to stay longer..someday...

I'm hoping to meet up with Becky of {Heart In My Hands} tomorrow!!! didn't know she lived here...maybe I did, just didn't realize it....I'm glazing walls and started a mural yesterday..so stay tuned kiddies..I'll show you some results in a couple of days!!

Was proud of mylittleself yesterday, wondered off and found the Sherwin-Williams and got back home with out too much trouble, and that night went and found the Barns & Noble, ate dinner and found my way home again!!! yea~

Have a great Tuesday!!
t

My adventure has begun..

I left Texas, Saturday morning and arrived in Flagstaff, AZ that evening. I'm now in Phoenix for 2 week. I'm working...so if you don't hear much from me, that's what's up..have a great week!!

tina

No Skinnys today

Nor Cowgirls..but I will show you FAUX..



Here is the before:

As you can see it was time for an update. The homeowners were tired of the wall paper and color and ready for something new. So we scrapped the ceiling, retextured that and took down the wall paper and textured the walls in a skip trowel, then using a nice blue-green as a base color. I then rag finished the walls with champange metallic and a milk chocolate glazes...

They are very happy with the color and the new feel of the masterbath now. We are working on the guest bath this week, and the color is will be strong in there but in a warmer tone..stay tuned.. for that one..

Hope you got your Cowgirl swaps mailed out. The deadline was the 10th...I'm still waiting by the mailbox for 2 of mine, and waiting to receive word that mine made it too. This has been a fun swap and thanks to all those that participated in it, hope you had fun too..

Big Congrats to my friends Nikki and her husband Joe, for they welcomed a baby girl to their world today! Now the fun begins my friends, now the fun begins!

Nikki and Andreea were the ones who convinced me to send in all 5 of the glass house fairies to Somerset! I had wanted them to help me pick out a couple of them, but they told me ALL five needed to go..they were soo right..thanks!