First Place Baby Puppy Class

Yesterday, we took our little 4 1/2 month old puppy to his first German Shepherd Dog Show. To our surprise our little Boo won the First Place Trophy in the 3 to 6 Month Old Baby Puppy Class.

Will this be his one and only dog show?

We haven't decided that yet.

I wish he could stay this size!

A Few Favorites

A few of my favorite beads that I have saved for myself to create something special just for me. I need to find the time and the inspiration to turn them into something fun and unique.

The Woven Bead Board

This was a fun way to display some of the torch fired enamel beads I have to offer in the large holed woven pattern. Almost houndstooth like. My customers can choose the exact bead by number.

A piece of foam core with a 1/4 inch hole punched in a grid to keep the beads from rolling away. I added the numbers in photoshop.

Let's hope Daisy kitty doesn't find it fun!

Fancy any beads?

Baking Soda Shaker

One of many uses of baking soda is to sprinkle it on your carpets to freshen them up. Helps to deodorize them. After a rather humid summer and a new puppy, I figure it's a good time to freshen up all the carpets before we close up the windows for the season.

I took a clean mason jar, filled it with baking soda, screwed on the lid. Found a little hammer and a large nail. I tapped a few holes in the top, making sure to stay away from the outer edge, don't want to hit the glass. Voila! A baking soda shaker!

I spent my Sunday afternoon sprinkling baking soda on all the carpets and cloth covered furniture. You can wait a few hours or even a day or two and then vacuum it all up.

Favorite Bead of the Day

Red Tiger Loopy Bead

I've been editing photographs I have taken of my torch fired glass enamel covered metal beads. The stunning close up detail of this one bead fascinated me. This bead is approximately 18mm round and super lightweight.

A set of five red tiger loopy beads will be available soon in my Squier Etsy shop.

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

MaimeriBlu's Sap Green is back!

Cheap Joe's Fall Sales Event flyer has Sap Green listed in the catalog. So exciting!

I love MaimeriBlu's Sap Green. It's my favorite shade of green. I have yet to order a new tube. Pictured here is my very last tube of sap green next to my second choice of sap green made by M. Graham. I have tried many other brands and many other shades of green and these two are the best.

MaimeriBlu stopped producing the color for awhile. I found it listed for sale once again. Let's hope it is as good as ever and here to stay!

MaimeriBlu Sap Green is my best recommendation for green. The hue, the transparency ... love it!

Recently Read

Summer at Tiffany

by Marjorie Hart

I found this book at one of the book sales I went to earlier this year. I just recently read it this past weekend. It is a delightful book. A memoir about two college girls who get jobs at Tiffany for the summer of 1945. Love it.

Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Ironing Your Watercolors


A repeat from June 2009 - An excellent reminder!

Ever paint a very wet watercolor painting on 140 lb. paper only to end up with a warped wobbly painting? There is a very simple cure to this problem. Iron the painting! This works well with paintings done on quality 100% cotton rag watercolor paper. That is 100% cotton rag ... cotton ... yes, you can iron cotton. Just iron on the back.

1. Starting with a wavy watercolor painting, place it on the ironing board, or multi-folded smooth cotton material on top of art table. Preheat your iron, NO steam.

2. Flip the painting upside down and iron.

3. Allow painting to cool and you will have a flat painting ready to frame!

Give it a try! 

If you're nervous about it, test it on a practice painting.

Dew Drops Meet Fine Art Prints

The new series of Dew Drop watercolors as 8x10 inch prints are available in my Squier Etsy Shop.

Shown here are:

Peachy Keen Drops

&

Aquamarine Drops

The 8x10 Dew Drops are only available as affordable fine art giclee prints. They are printed on luxurious somerset velvet paper and have a 1 inch border for ease of matting and framing.