Breast Cancer Awareness painting

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281085891473

I painted this  picture for a Breast Cancer Awareness event a couple of years ago. I found it the other day and thought I'd give it an update and list it for sale with 25% going Susan G. Komen for the Cure Chattanooga. Please take a look and let everybody know...the money will go directly to them once someone pays. I always love to hear you feedback too--comments or emails are welcome. Click here  to bid!

And Happy Easter to everyone! Hope you get to dye lots of colorful eggs, my favorite part of decorating for Easter. ;)

Baby Shower Ideas

I've been busy getting ready for a baby shower for my youngest sister! Ever since she told me she was pregnant, I couldn't wait to start planning the shower! She just sent me a message today saying she has 49 days to go, so I guess I've been waiting a while!! I had tons of ideas, more than I could ever do, so just had to pick a few. I'm not sure if pinterest helped me or made things harder us!

This is my great- nephew, Oakley...he rearranged some furniture for us, among others things, and kept us on our toes all day!

I will post some of our ideas, recipes and photos of our decorations. We had an owl theme, plus some old things I had around the house, even some mason jars with candles. I thought it turned out really pretty!

Kitties are still keeping me busy. I actually have new one!  I tried not to, I tried my best to find him a home, but I guess he stayed too long and I got attached  to him. He was here a long time before he let me pet him. He's really sweet and loving now. I named him Smokey. I will dig out some old photos of him when he first came you will be amazed at the difference!!

 And my studio is really coming along too! I will open in October, even if it means just one room!! LOL...really, I think I will have it finished by then. We are almost ready to put down flooring in the living room, then put it all back together. Next, we will screen in the front porch, remodel kitchen and finish the outside. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!

Studio update

Every year I hope to get my studio open by the fall. By golly, this time I'm going to do

it! Hubby has been off work for a couple of weeks, so we took advantage of it. We have already finished my office, a music room for my husband to get together with his friends, and the back porch enclosed and made into a laundry room/fabric room. So inside, we only have 2 rooms to finish! The living floors have been replaced and new joists put in, floors leveled and new plywood. There were only 2 plugins before and just today, we are finishing getting all my plug ins ready to go, including a double one just above where my desk will go. How convenient will that be? I decided to take all the sheetrock and wallpaper down from the walls, then the ceiling too. I guess that was about the messiest job ever! I am leaving the beadboard walls bare and just putting a sealer on them and tomorrow is the day to pick out the flooring for the living room and get it installed. (Lucky my husband and in-laws are in the flooring business!)

These are my walls & ceiling before they were cleaned. They are still rustic like that, well, you will see sometime. If you can't come in person, I'll be sharing pics.

We still have a lot to do--putting up trim, painting trim & doors, new front door and building a mantel, but we have come a long way. After the living room, we still have to:

1. Finish kitchen

2. Screen in front porch (for Rusty)

3. Paint house

4. Finish roof (waiting for a "cooler" few days)

5. Decorate/Display

6. Landscaping

I may not be completely done by October, but will have it ready to open. I can't wait....if you are out of town or even out of state, I am just down the road from Unclaimed Baggage, so you can make a fun day of shopping & visiting!

Owls!!

Sorry its been so long since I posted! So much going on, I won't be able to type it all tonight. LOL! Seems like that would be the best time to blog, but I guess the days just aren't long enough! We've been really working hard on my studio and that's taking up a lot of time. I will post pics of some progress this week. It shouldn't be long until we are done (I hope)!!

I wanted to share my newest painting...if you want to see more pics, click here. I have been using lots of bright, neon colors. You can really see my 70's influence coming out, I think!!

It has been another long day, so I will keep this post short and hopefully be able to share more in the next few days.

Goldie

Y'all check out my new doll in the current issue of Create & Decorate magazine! Her name is Goldie...I always love seeing how they set up the photos there. They always do such a great job!

We are working so hard on my studio, trying to get it ready by October! We have half the roof done, but it rained us out this weekend. So we are inside trying to get the living room ready to paint. If I don't change my mind, I'll be painting that room a chocolate-y brown color and the kitchen is next and will be an apple green. Those are the last 2 rooms to remodel inside, then I can move in & display all my stuff! Then on to the outside...I think we'll make it by this October. Wish us luck!!

Recycling silverware

I've been saving up some silverware that I wanted to make into some jewelry. I've had some of it a while, but found some new forks at the thrift store yesterday. Of course, when I was cleaning out the fridge, I really got the urge to create. LOL! So I took a little break and made this bracelet. Can't wait to make more! This one is listed on etsy. Click the link below to go to the listing.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/97776851/vintage-fork-bracelet-silver-hand-mad?listing_id=97776851&listing_slug=vintage-fork-bracelet-silver-hand-mad

New jewelry!

I've been working on new jewelry... I have several new pieces, but this one is my favorite so far! I used hand-dyed fibers, plus a mixture of old and new stuff to make the pendant and the necklace is a vintage rhinestone strand. Watch my website, www.tcpstyle.com for several new pieces. Also look for my designs in the current issues of Create & Decorate magazine.

Kitties all seem to be keeping me busy around here! I've been nursing a really bad eye on Dill for almost 2 months and it is just now starting to get better. Mr. Spock still has his good days and bad days. Just a couple of months ago I thought he wouldn't pull through, but he is doing okay again. He is a tough ol' kitty!

Hadley a year later!

I was looking through my pictures and found one of Hadley just a year ago. I couldn't believe how much she has grown! The one on the right was taken this week, so you can see the difference. She is still full of energy and so much fun for all of us! After she recovered, the rest of the kitties still weren't feeling well and she didn't have any playmates. That was kind of sad! Finally she & Pumpkin had a wrestling match in the living room, so I knew things were getting back to normal!!! FINALLY!

I listed a few new pieces of jewelry on my website this week. Click here to see my new pieces. Hope you like them!!

New drawings...

Lately I've been in a "drawing" mood! I love doing these drawings on paper, just black and white. I may add color later, or maybe not! I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but have had some t-shirt suggestions, which I thought was a great idea! We'll see...right now I'm just accumulating a big stack of drawings! haha!

Besides drawing, I've been dealing with some sick kitties too. Mr. Spock (my oldest kitty) is having inner ear problems again. Last Monday I got up to find him wobbly again and barely able to stand. I got him some antibiotics hoping to keep from taking him to the vet because he gets SO upset when I take him. After a few days, I didn't think he was better so I took him to the vet on Friday. He has kidney disease too and I was worried he wasn't getting up to drink enough. He was dehydrated so he got some fluids, a steroid shot and is on 2 different antibiotics. He's still unsteady but seems to be getting better. He is definitely eating and drinking more now with his steroid shot kicking in! It surely won't hurt him to put on a little weight. He had lost from  18.5 to 11 lbs the last time we weighed him. Its hard to see him so small since he has always been a big, healthy kitty until about the past year. He is 15, so I guess it is just something I have to deal with....he has been getting plenty of extra attention and I'm sure he's enjoying that! He goes for a checkup tomorrow and I'm hoping to get some good news that his ear drum is healing!

Oakley's Mural

Today is the today...I'll be a great-aunt! My nephew's baby, Oakley, is on his way today. Can't wait to meet him! It seems like we've been waiting forever...while we were waiting, I painted this jungle mural in his nursery. I told them to tell him about me every time he looks at it. ha!

Tweet Tweet!

I'm been in a painting kind of mood the past few nights. I did this little bird painting/collage last night. There are 3 others to match (2 birds & a flower). Click here to see all of them on my site.

I'll be spending the weekend painting a mural for my great-nephew who will be here in about a month! I'm hoping to finish it on Sunday and will definitely share pictures when I'm finished. We are so excited for him to get here and I definitely want his mural ready for him when he arrives!!

American Girl

Here's my latest Mixed Media art--just finished last night! I used a vintage doll (just like I found her, looks like she has her original clothing on), old domino box, dominoes, scrabble pieces, jenga tile, vintage patch, rick rack and a page from an old book. I do have a hard time parting with some of my vintage stuff (like the doll). I guess I get too attached sometimes. ha! And I love these little vintage dolls. I recently acquired a whole box of dolls and doll parts, so guess I should use them, right?

I would love to hear what you think of my new creation. If you are interested in buying this piece, or if you want to see more pics, email me or go to my website at by clicking here:

American Girl



Hope everyone has a HAPPY VALENTINES DAY today!!

Trash to Treasure

  I am ALWAYS interested in free stuff! I don't mind getting something off the side of the road that someone has left for trash. (I have even come close to getting my husband arrested for it, but that is another story!) Some of our neighbors were moving and couldn't take all their furniture with them. So they gave us an antique table, 2 night stands, a twin bed that I got for someone else and this chest-of-drawers. It wasn't bad looking to start with and all it needed was a drawer guide. My husband took care of the drawer guide and I painted it and I LOVE it now! I started by sanding it all over so it wouldn't be so shiny and the paint would stick. If it had been lighter, I'd probably paint it black first, but it was a medium brown. I painted it with a putty color paint, it took about 3 coats. Then I sanded it, especially on the edges to make it look old, then waxed it with "soft black" wax (which actually looks brown, so I don't know why its called soft black!).  It took me a couple of days to finish it, but it was worth it. I have it in my bathroom next to the claw foot tub where it looks great and gives me a lot of extra storage. I still have to paint the night stands and don't know what I'll do with the table yet.

Keep your eyes open--you may get some freebies that you could use in your house! I love the look of painted furniture, and especially love getting stuff for FREE!!

New jewelry displays

Friday I set up a new display at Talk of the Town (in Scottsboro, AL) with my friend, Michelle. Michelle does the boxes you see on the right side of the display. If you are in Scottsboro, stop by Talk of the Town and see my new jewelry! I tried to leave a little sampling of everything (dolls, painting, make-dos, collage jewelry and vintage/recycled jewelry).

Rusty in action

Rusty and Strawberry are both recovering nicely from getting their teeth pulled! Here's Rusty feeling good and playing. I thought these pics were so funny--he looks pretty vicious when he plays! ha ha! Strawberry is feeling so good now...he has been playing more now too. And he only has FOUR teeth left!

Today I'm listing some of the jewelry I made from vintage/antique jewelry. I'm trying to come up with a name for that that category. Any ideas? I like "salvage" in the title...Check www.tcpstyle.com in a bit to see the new stuff.

Did I mention I will be in Dalton, GA on Oct. 1 from 5-8? I will be at Kellie Smith Design Studio. Here's her site, there should be directions there. Hope some of you can drop by!

Kellie Smith Design Studio

More pics of Rusty in Action....

  

Spoiled Rotten

This is Hadley, getting a good head scratching from my husband. She is so spoiled! She loves to be carried around, follows me around while I do laundry, clean or whatever I'm doing around the house. And she's always so happy when I get up in the mornings, greets me with her sweet little meow as soon as I see her. Now I'm glad the guy didn't want to take her back. He didn't know what he was missing! :) Pumpkin agrees, I'm sure....he loves having her around.

Check out my new Halloween chair....I'll be taking it the show in Dalton, GA but will have it for sale on my site until then. It will cost extra for shipping, or if you are local, I can deliver it or arrange to meet you. If you are near Dalton, you could pick it up at the show, which is the first Friday in October. I'll post more info soon. Chair is listed at www.fullmoonfolkart.com and www.thecatspyjamas.com

Fall is in the Air!

I love the cooler weather...so do the kitties. This is Luke--he's getting fattened up for the winter, I guess. LOL! Its been several months since he was neutered and he has been growing (wider) ever since. But doesn't he look sweet and cuddly this way? I've got my pumpkin ready for the porch and a few other decorations to put out pretty soon. I try to wait until October, but sometimes I just can't wait that long!! I listed some new Halloween paintings on my site this week. Here's one of my favorites....a spooky cemetary scene. If you want to buy, click here to find it on my site. Would love to hear your thoughts on my new Halloween art too!

Art Sunday

Had a great time at Art Sunday yesterday! Bruce at Talk of the Town provided the tent for artists that display at his shop, so that was REALLY nice! All I had to do was set up my tables and put out my stuff. It was a good show with lots of people. Its just down the road from my house so I saw lots of people I knew. I'll look forward to doing the show again next year! Below are more pics from the show....enjoy! I'm trying to get all my new Halloween stuff listed on my sites, but if you see something you've just gotta have and can't find it on my site, email me and I'll get to it as soon as possible. Have a great day!!

 
 
 
 
 
 

Kitty drama!

Hadley gave me a little scare this week. I had her spayed a little over a week ago and she had this huge knot pop up at her incision. I was afraid she had a hernia and would have to have surgery again. But I took her in yesterday and its just a "fluid pocket" and will go away. Whew! I didn't want her to have to go through surgery again now. She's still as hyper as ever!

Rusty had SEVEN teeth pulled last Monday! He has stomatitis and had already had 4 pulled a few months ago. The vet thought he'd have to have all pulled but his 2 bottom canines, but he didn't have to have that many pulled. He did have to have one canine pulled. I felt so bad for him, but he got over it in a hurry and got back to eating that same day. He weighs 17 lbs, so apparently not much hurts his appetite!

I am working on new dolls to take to Art Sunday next month. I'm looking forward to it, but I hope it cools down a lot by then! I do have new jewelry at Talk of the Town in Scottsboro and will have new jewelry at Art Sunday too. Come see me there!!

No Excuses

I wish I had a good excuse for taking so long between posts! I've just been busy and my blog got put on the back burner. Shame on me! Its not like I don't have anything to tell. Its just getting around to doing it!

I got my new issue of Create & Decorate today and my Barry the Bat pattern is in there. After looking at the October issue, I am REALLY wanting fall to get here. Not to mention that we're having temps over 100 here. I was out at 10 this morning, thinking I would beat the heat and it was already 95 degrees. Whew!!

Little Hadley is growing like a weed. I just looked back at some of the pictures of her on my blog and can't believe how much she has changed. Its kind of funny I was talking about finding her a good home. Some of you that know me probably knew she'd end up staying. She is such fun and Pumpkin really loves playing with her. A few nights ago Pumpkin kept crying while we were eating dinner and I couldn't figure out why. Then I realized Hadley was locked in the bedroom. I let her out and Pumpkin was fine! Hadley goes to the vet on Friday to be spayed. I hate leaving them for surgery, but will be so glad when its over and behind us!

I thought I was through with shows for the year, but I will be at Art Sunday in Scottsboro, AL next month. If you're in the neighborhood, look for me at the Talk of the Town tent!