Mod Podge Madness 2 - The Return of the Mod

So now that these have safely arrived in Jacksonville, I'm no longer ruining the surprise if I show them to you. Last week I dabbled in some collage and mailed two of the creations (above) to Laura and AM as a thank you of sorts for putting me up for a few days. I made two more that are now up for sale at my friend Jen's awesome art gallery in Cowan, TN (below).


Here are the ones that I brought up to Redstreake Gallery. Jen liked them so much she asked me to do a few more. So we'll see what I can come up with in the next couple of weeks.

Still More from Florida

Just a few more pics from Florida and I'll be all caught up....except for the cave/camping trip.

While I was down there we went to lunch with some cousins - Joe and Rosalie. They are always such a delight - such wonderful fun to be around. Joe is an artist - as in - makes his living as an artist - which is a pretty amazing thing really. I can only hope to dream about one day being THAT successful! I snuck a photo of this great two-paneled painting in his dining room of Robert Redford and Paul Newman (pretty sure its from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Its different colored stripes, and amazing to look at up close and then at a distance.


My folks and our cousins.


My Dad discovered he'd forgotten his watch... so....we improvised.


I kept asking him what time it was till it was correct. (It was after all correct twice.)


I had to helped draw the buckle.


My Dad and I with the crazy banana bread pudding thing that the 5 of us split because it was so huge... ugh - so yummy!

I was able to visit with a few friends - not everyone as I'd hoped to - but I ran into Anne rather randomly at the BAM - which was wonderful - caught up with Jennie at the 24 hour Starbucks, got to visit with Joy for a couple hours - and hung out with Nick and Rebecca, Adam and Roxy for dinner and a "watch out for those trunk-down elephants - they'll do you in poorly toupeed Nicholas Cage movie" (Bangkok Dangerous). Everyone that I missed - I'm sorry - but I'll be back for Christmas!




My next stop before coming home was St. Augustine for an official transcript from Flagler, a jaunt around campus for some pictures, and then a quick stop at the Castillo.


Many an afternoon and evening from 1996-2000 was spent right here, sitting on the rough coquina.

After the afternoon in St. Augustine I was able to spend a couple days in Jacksonville visiting with Laura and Annamaria. And a good time was had by all!

There was a bit of toy organization...


And then there was food...


And last but definitely not least - hot mama's in aprons!

Coming up for Air

Hello folks! Long time no post, eh? 26 days by my count. 26 days without checking email (I know I'm going to pay for that one!)- or seeing hide nor hair of anyone's blogs. Boy do I feel behind on the times. Lets play a little catch up in one gigantic run on sentence:

I had my last day of work, packed up all my office junk that afternoon, had a good birthday weekend for Paul (a little Huntsville Hamfest, some presents, some fun sitting on the floor for dinner at Edo, etc), then I jumped in my car and drove through TS Fay, picked up my Mom, and we spent a week and a half doing pretty much nothing (except for watching copious amounts of Torchwood [I'm SO hooked & John Barrowman is so utterly droolable] & Dr. Who) at Madiera Beach - although I did find the freckles on my nose again with a bit of help from the sun, then we went to Lakeland, wherein I proceeded to clean out all of the accumulated "crapola" I have in my room back home (had a few interesting finds) and proceeded to visit with various family members and friends and go to cool fav's like Webster and IKEA and many artsy fun places with my folks and I even had time to make a bit of my own art - the watercolor island above - I've done 3 so far and plan on doing some larger continents when I get home.... which brings me up to today where I kissed my mom and dad bye this afternoon and headed up to St. Augustine where I picked up a transcript of all my grades/classes etc. so I can take more college courses in Huntsville and while I was there I also took some photos of Flagler's entrance so I can do the Ancient City Kids Day t-shirt design for the 8th year in a row, then I drove on up to Laura and Eric and Bryce's house (where I am this instant - thank you Eric for "Airport Hookup" - I LOVE Macs!) to visit with them and AM, Jillian and Ava before I finally end my grand tour at the end of this week so I can see my wonderful hubby again so I can remind him that he is still marrie and then go surveying this Sat at Fern.

My office on the last day of work before I packed it all up.

Paul the morning of the 16th opening all his fun goodies.

One of the many beautiful sunsets I enjoyed at the beach.

Mom and I on our condo balcony.

More pics soon (and I still owe all of you a trip to Scott Hollow)

This Tomato's for You!

As part of the geo-event for the wedding in May, Paul and I worked on "Jolly Green's garden," Paul cutting out the gigantic veggies I drew on some great used corrugated sign material I recycled from work. Laura commented that she thought it was a gyp that I didn't do a tomato. While my parents were here visiting this past week, I was able to draw a second set of veggies including a tomato (well a tomato is a fruit actually). My Dad held the huge plastic boards down while I jig-sawed them all out. I always forget how fun it is to work with power tools.... they're so empowering. When my Dad reminded me to be careful I told "Always" and then promptly reminded him I did cut through some non-structural studs with a circular saw to make a serving window from the kitchen to the dining room in the house in St. Augustine - all by myself. Yes, I was holding the saw above my head, against the wall but I'm pretty sure I was wearing safety glasses Ok, fine - dangerous and empowering. I haven't lost any fingers yet. Anyway....

Sunday afternoon I was able to paint all of the additional veggies and disperse them as the backers for our garden. So Laura - this tomato's for you!

1524.5 miles

Without further adieu (and before Laura comes up here and puts me in time out) here are some photos of my super-speedy (Jan 17th-21st) trip down to FL for Holly's Baby shower and all points in between - including a fun fantastic visit with my bestest-roomie from Flagler - Laura, her husband Eric and their son Bryce - And with Annamaria and Shawn and their kiddos Jillian and Ava, Holly's way fun baby shower and then a one day flea market extravaganza with my Mom and Dad before jumping back into the car and driving some more.

Friday Laura, Eric, Bryce, Annamaria, Jillian and Ava took me to the zoo in Jacksonville:

Jillian checking out the anteater.

The cutest tiny little primates I've seen of late.

Laura and Bryce brushing the goats.

Jillain.

Eric helping Ava make a collect call to Shanghai.


Bryce and Jillian climbing out of the tree house.


All the cool kiddos hanging around on the vines.

The well fed giraffe.

Annamaria, Shawn, Eric and Laura.

Apparently I did not get the memo about wearing red ... ah well ... its a cute picture anyway!

More trip next post.

Blast From the Past #31

Broken, but Loved Anyway

Tucked carefully in and amongst dishes on the third shelf, live my beautiful broken Salt and Pepper shakers. I dropped the salt shaker maybe 3 years ago when it got snagged on another dish I was pulling out. After cursing myself a few times I decided I just couldn't throw them away. I think they are the most fantastic S&P shakers there are, and I love the way the hills and trees go up and down on all three sides (they're triangular) but even better is the fact that the hills match up when you stand them back to back so they form a square. Laura, "my bestest roomie" made them for me 7 years ago in Saint Augustine, FL at the pottery painting place that no longer exists anymore.