Saturday, July 24, 2010

New Drawing Book


Always in need of improving drawing and art I found this newly released book by Carla Sonheim.
It has 52 exercises to work on drawing in different ways.
I hope to do each one and document it here.
Lab One is drawing cats in bed...
Sounds a little odd but will explain when I get the exercise done.

Plum Sangria Recipe


I found this recipe in Country Living Magazine.
I thought it looked really refreshing and wanted to share it.

Plum Sangria

2 bottles of dry red wine
1 cup triple sec
1 cup brandy
Juice of 2 oranges
(about a 1/2 cup)
4 purple plums pitted and cut into thin wedges
4 red plum, pitted and cut into thin wedges
6 strawberries, hulled and sliced thinly
2- 3 inch cinnamon sticks
chilled ginger ale
1. In a large container, stir together wine, triple sec, brandy and orange juice.  Add fruit and cinnamon sticks.  Refrigerate until chilled, at least 4 hours up to overnight.
 2. Serve in glasses with ice and top off with ginger ale.

Enjoy!


House Pics 07-24-2010

The tile is all around the tub now.
Once the trim gets put on around the window the rest of the tile will be applied.

The foyer window looks pretty with the color on the walls.


Bob had warned me not to be alarmed at the purpleish grey base coat color for the den.
The painters must put this primer on to have the red turn out the right color.


Here the crimsom red is being tried out in the corners.
There will be a chair rail separating the two colors.
One Happy Hombre sitting at the sunroom.
It's too D#@& Hot!

Art Camp

This is a box that Kevin made in the Art Camp.
It started out as a raw piece of wood from a cut down tree.
He drew it onto this large piece of wood, cut it out, hollowed it out.

It is nice and smooth inside and out.
He drew the dagger and axe on to a piece of wood and then cut out and sanded them.

It is a really nice piece of work.
He had never worked with wood like this before.
He loved every power tool he came into contact with.
This is a picture he drew on his own in that week.
It was from the front of a hunting magazine.
He especially learned what to do with the fur.

This is a very large picture from a copy of himself.
He calls it Happy Gilmore.
This was done with charcoal.


This is a still life that was set up in the drawing room.
It was done in graphite pencils.
This was a very intense class because from my experience, pictures this large take a long time to do.
The actual drawing part of the class was 13 days long with 3 hours per day. 
We are very proud of him, this is an excellent job.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Random thoughts

Remember this picture-with the line "it's a bit overwhelming".
It's coming along and slowly things are getting packed.
I have all my rubberstamps packed and into categories.

We have been getting boxes from the Liquor Stores.
They are sturdy and deep but not too big to carry.
We have also been getting an education on the different brands of liquor.
The boxes have been fun to look at.
I have been using these to pack my 12 x 12 paper.

Tom liked the red shoes on this box.
I looked up the website and it is surely a womens site.
I will have to try a bottle and see if I like it.
Here is another fun one.
"Who says three's a crowd?
Always a favorite.
A homegrown Indiana wine.
Pretty box too.

This guy is home for the summer now.
He has been having a great time riding around the town and eating lunch at a different spot each day.
Here he is chillin out playing an online computer game.

He found a ceramics place in town and bought himself a statue of a dragon (one of his favorite midevil things)
He also bought his mom (me) a painted pansys picture because he knew it was one of my favorite flowers.
It was such a sweet surprise.


This guy has been doing pre-college art camp for the past three weeks.
Tomorrow we get to see what he has made.
I will share them.
Tom paying bills with a lap full.
You know when he is on your lap.
He is just solid!
I love teddy bears.
This guy  was a fun find 5 years ago.
The bee stick my friend Pam gave me recently.
I thought they looked cute together.

Don't ya love that face?

He even has a signed foot.
He will be getting packed soon.

House Pics 07-22-2010

No new paint colors to show yet, the guys have been putting the second coats on the colors that are up.
We can tell they are doing an extra nice job and it really shows.
The tiles guys Nick and Todd have been putting the tile on the tub.
It is really interesting and beautiful.



Each tile seems to be different so far. 
The border of the glass tiles really set it off.
It will be nice to just soak in that tub.


Here is a fuller view.
It is a real spirit lifter.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

House Pics 07-20-2010


ANNOUNCEMENT......

The House Now Has Gutters....
Here is the checkerboard floor of the shower.
I'm lovin it!

The Kitchen and Nook with a golden glow.
Picture light cream cabinets, with black countertop and a black Island.

The Gathering Room in Tuscan Tan.


Here you can see all three colors.
What I was aiming for was earthy and warm colors.
The look of Tuscany.
I am very happy with the way it is turning out.
Thanks Bob and Jeff, it is looking fantastic!

Monday, July 19, 2010

House Pics 07-19-2010

When I came into the garage tonight it was a nice surprise to see the doors on that lead into the house.
That meant that the air conditioning was on and also the painters had started.



Nick, who is tiling the walking shower had been working the past few days.
He had taken the drywall down and put up a barrier of roofing sheets and heavy plastic in the walls, then put back up the drywall.
This is also the start of the floor.

Another look at the inside of the shower, with the seat.

He now has some kind of red stuff painted on the wall for another barrier I am sure.


Here is what the ceiling looks like before it is painted.
This design is spanish lace.
The painters are doing amazing work.  They sprayed all the upstairs ceilings in one day.
The foyer.
They also painted the laundry room.
My Studio
Started the Master Bedroom

We are liking it all very, very much!