Teesha, Thai and Sunsets

     So today's class with Teesha Moore  started with the process of bookbinding. I have never done this before and it was challenging for a newbie, a labor of love is what I'm calling it. I'm sure it will get easier each time I make one, though I don't know how many I'll make, I may just continue to create visual journal pages and bind them up at a later date in a different way, we'll see. This first photo is the front of my new journal and the second photo is the back. I don't know if you can tell, but it is very dimensional. Several of the images, though not all, were glued to foam, just plain black fun foam, and then cut out and glued to the surface. They look very cool in person, I love it!

There are several of my own lampwork glass beads dangling as charms on the side. So glad I could incorporate some of them. We also painted as many of the interior pages as we could get to in the time allotted. I got fourteen pages, front and back painted, but still have one more page left. And although I have taken these photos of the journal covers, they are not quite finished. I still have embellishing to do using some markers and gel pens. Dots, swirls and stripes...so I'll be updating these photos eventually.
     We had a little escape for lunch, headed over to a most excellent little Thai restaurant called Thai Chili. I had an order of fresh basil rolls, similar to 

Vietnamese spring rolls, but with lots of fresh basil and no red meat. With a side of rice and a glass of cool Jasmine ice tea, it was a perfect lunch. I met a very nice woman from Paw Paw, Michigan and we walked over to have lunch together with another group of women in the class. They haven't taken any time to introduce everyone, I wish they would. Although we have name tags, we don't know where everyone is from or anything about what they do, it would be nice.

     Finally, got back to the B & B, had my half sandwich from last night's dinner for dinner with a glass of Chianti and then watched the sun go down. What a gorgeous sunset!  The sun became the most intense shade of neon orange as it hit the horizon, a color I've never seen before in all the sunsets I've watched in Traverse City and Austin. It was absolutely surreal. Sue, another student staying at the B & B agreed, so it isn't just me. I hope I get to see another one tomorrow and maybe at least one sunrise? Though that probably happens on the other side of the house. We'll see if I can get my booty up out of bed at 5:30 a.m....can't wait for tomorrow's class!

First ATC Swap!

     I signed up to participate in my first ever ATC swap this week. I bought a couple decks of cards at a garage sale to play with, but when I stopped at an Utrecht's art supply store in Royal Oak to get my Bookbinders Awl, well they had prepackaged ATC blanks for watercolors and other mediums and I decided to spring for a couple packages. Since I brought most of my art supplies with me and there is nothing on the itinerary tonight, this is what I am going to work on. I also have a Bloggerette Sorority rush piece to create, so that may be what I work on as well in the evenings here at the lovely B&B. If you are not familiar with ATC, otherwise known as Artist Trading Cards, check out the Wikipedia explanation. I also have a wonderful book I mentioned in an earlier post, (at least I think I did), called "artist Trading Cards" by Bernie Berlin, that explains them very well and is full of fabulous techniques to use to create your own. The thing I love about ATC's is that you don't buy them, at least you are not supposed to buy them, you trade them with other artists. They have to be the 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" size, but can have lots of depth and can be made from any materials, isn't that cool?  I think so and hope this ATC swap will be the first of many in my future. The only thing about this one is that I have to mail it out by the 19th, yup, that is Monday! Don't you love working under pressure? I do, seriously, I do my best work then, at least that is what I tell myself...lol.

Road Trip to Teesha Moore's Class

     So I left yesterday afternoon for Avon Lake, Ohio. Spent the night in Royal Oak, Michigan with one of my best friends, got up and did some garage "sailing" this a.m. and then got back on the road around 1:30. Thrilled to see the "Welcome to Ohio" sign since that meant only another 2 hours to go. The total trip is about 7 hours. After I got on the 80/90 Turnpike, it was pretty smooth sailing. Thank goodness I rented a car with good gas mileage and A/C, it was 95 degrees! The CD player did not work, but the radio was great, found lots of stations with music I like to sing a long with while driving. No accidents or major construction, how cool, right?

     So I made my way to the lovely Sunset Shores B&B in Avon Lake and I was greeted by this lovely tree lined canopy, I just love it! Something magical about driving or walking though a canopy of trees. We try to drive along this gorgeous winding and canopied road in the fall when the colors are peak up in Harbor Springs, it is breathtaking. But enough of the fall, I'm in no rush to go there, though it is my favorite season. My room is lovely, furnished with art deco waterfall furniture and with two great views of Lake Erie. The deck is perfect to watch a sunset or sunrise, which I plan on taking advantage of tonight! Don't you wish you were here? Teesha Moore's class starts at 10 a.m. tomorrow, I hope I can sleep, I'm soooo excited!!!

Her husband Tracy Moore is also teaching a class and both are full, so I'll get to meet a lot of new artsy type people this weekend. Big thanks to Ginny of Small Studio Productions for hosting such wonderful classes this year to celebrate her birthday all year long!

Home, Kindness and Packing up

     Home is one of my latest visual journal pages. I've been practicing using some of the supplies I bought for my class with Teesha Moore this weekend. I think I may do a darker color wash over the roof, it needs it, lol. I wish my house could fly around with me, like my parents motor home, I think it is just the coolest thing to travel with your home, like a snail. I am beyond excited about my upcoming roadtrip and class with Teesha. Ginny of Small Studio Productions is hosting this wonderful class, so major bowing down in her direction. I have packed up most of the art supplies for the class, now I just have to pack up my stuff, pj's, toothbrush and those sorts of things. I hope I don't forget anything.

     Kindess is another of my new journal pages, though I feel like I have a lot more to do with this page. Saving a lot of work for the class, where I can use some new techniques to finish some pages up. Going to burn some travel CD's tonight too. If you pass a woman singing her heart out in the car next to you, it is probably me, lol, I love to sing in the car.

Teacup Tuesday

     Discovered a lovely website today with a fun "Teacup Tuesday" chance to share photos of some of my favorite teacup and saucer sets. I collect them, lol, along with a whole lot of other things! This one is from my Block Optic depression glass collection (what did I tell you?) I actually use my collection on occasion for tea. I wish there was a place here in Traverse City that offered High Tea, but alas, I have to wait until I get downstate to indulge. There something so charming about plates full of finger sandwiches and miniature one or two bite desserts. Of course, I also love to prepare high tea at home, using all my well  loved dishes and tea accoutrements. And I get to break out my Victoria magazines and tea cookbooks to make some miniature delicious treats. I don't do it often, it takes time to whip up scones, cake, sandwich fillings and sometimes soup. But when I do, it brings me a great deal of pleasure.

Green Paper Challenge and Voodoo Cafe win.

     My submission for Green Paper's Miss Mary Hayes Challenge. You can go to her website to download the PDF of the images required for the challenge here. How fun is this? I can't believe how many creative challenges abound online to keep you thinking outside the box and to help you hone your design skills, I love it. And lots of giveaways too.
     On Notes from the Voodoo Cafe blog I was the lucky winner of a very cool travel journal that Ricë Freeman-Zachery gave away last week, how cool is that? And she has such a cool blog, I really enjoy reading it since she updates just about daily. I'm turning into a blog junkie, there are so many great things to read. Ok, this was just a quick drive by posting to get my challenge entry posted! Hasta!
     And here is a link to another giveaway from Robin's Egg Blues' Blog. Quite a nice little collection of goodies if you are the lucky winner!

Cherry Fest Parade, Kiddie Rides and the Reading Parlour

Family awaiting the big parade!

     My mom and dad came up to watch the National Cherry Festival Cherry Royal Parade with us on Saturday. The weather was gorgeous and we had great seats under a tree with lots of shade. That is my mom sitting next to my empty seat, and then my daughter with the blue hat, my dad and finally my sweet hubby, who got up at 4 a.m. to put the chairs out!  My favorite parts of the parade were the Woodland School float, a tribute to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula, The Scottville Clown Band, The Cherry Festival Chair-y Drill Team, the Elmer's "Pink Ribbon" cement mixer, another elementary school's tribute to Frankenmuth float and another band dressed up in black and yellow stripes like bumble bees. 

Elmer's "Pink Ribbon" Cement Mixer

If you take a photo of this cement mixer when you see it and go to their website and tell them where you saw it, they will donate $2 to breast cancer research. Pretty cool, eh?

Frankenmuth City Float

We used to live in Frankenmuth, Michigan. It is a cool town to explore. My hubby is German, so we had lots of fun being immersed in German culture for about eight months. Bronner's is the largest Christmas store in the U.S. if I'm not mistaken, you can get lost there!

Woodland School "Sault Ste. Marie" Float

The theme this year for all the elementary school floats appeared to be famous or historical Michigan cities. Sault Ste. Marie (pronounced Soo Saint Marie) is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Scottville Clown Band

I look forward to seeing this band every year, they are very good and having so much fun! The clown get ups are just a riot too!

Bumblebee looking marching band whose name I cannot recall!

Their gear was so striking and they were pretty good too.

Kids on the Tilt-A-Whirl

     We took the kids to the Midway on Thursday so they could enjoy a few rides. They had a great time and we had a great time watching them have a great time, lol. I was never one for roller coasters or other thrill rides, but my kids enjoy them and I like to live vicariously these days.

 




And if you are wondering how my new "Reading Parlour" is coming along, here are a few more current photos. My mom and I had "tea" in it yesterday. I made finger sandwiches and used my tidbit server along with some pretty glasses for a little dessert wine. It was just lovely!