Marker Storage and The Ledge

After searching locally for something in which to store double-sided markers, I wasn't able to find anything so I took to the internet and saw a PVC idea that I loved. I also had this really BIG IDEA for hubby to build a long ledge that would be attached to the biggest wall in my studio so I can use it as an easel. 

Anyway, my handy dandy, wonderful hubby ventured into his shop and whipped up the marker storage and The Ledge. 

Here's the marker storage.  

PVC pipe nested in a wooden box.

Perfect!

Of course, this makes me 

want to buy more markers!

The Ledge

(easel)

I want The Ledge to double as 

support for a design wall too! 

~~ OR ~~ 

I could use it to jump off in the
event that I'm feeling desperate!

But that 

ALMOST NEVER EVER 

happens!

Actually, you know what?

I do find comfort in knowing 

that if I don't like my current project, 

this 
26-inch plunge 
to the floor will get my mind off it! 

Oh yes! Breaking a toenail 
or scratching a knee will do the job! 

Of course, going head first 
would really get my mind off it 

But I'm 

ALMOST NEVER EVER

that desperate! 

All kidding aside here, I've got to say

Hubby did a great job!

He is AWESOME!

To make the easel function as a design wall, I'll cover foam core board or something of that nature with a fabric that other fabric will magically latch on to. Fleece? Flannel? Maybe leeches? I'm not exactly sure yet. Obviously, I need to explore YouTube for guidance there. I'll put the design wall up on The Ledge when I need it, and pull it off when I want to use The Ledge to paint.     

I mentioned to hubby that I probably need a board behind any canvas when I paint, and he asked: 

"Why?" 

Hasn't he ever seen me paint? 

He's seen me eat. 

That should be clue enough. 

I'm not going to worry about 

a board for now though. 

What the heck! 

I'm feeling adventurous! 

Like I want to live on the edge,

(not to be confused with The Ledge) 

so I'll just do my paint thing, 

and see what happens.  

See those two dots of missing 

paint on the upper right?  

Never adhere a dry erase board with the sticky thingy that comes with it unless you want it there for the remainder of your life, and the life of the free world. 

What an ordeal to get it off!

I tugged. I prodded. I prayed. I pried. 

I perspired. I laughed. I begged. I cried. 

I even yelled at it in a different language, 

and I don't know a different language! 

Eventually, with one foot on the wall, and the end of a screw driver behind it, 

I squinted my eyes, 

gritted my teeth, 

threatened to send it to the dump, 

and it flew right off. 

It left behind those two ugly souvenirs. I'm surprised it didn't suck a BIG hole through the wall, and me with it!  

Now there's a mental image to start your day. 

Have a fantastic one! 

Tootles My Friends,

D~~~~

Lazy Susan Pencil Holder & Stencils

I've had this Wooden Lazy Susan Pencil Holder for several years.  Originally, it was natural wood and I painted it green.  I intended to continue sprucing it up but it sat and sat and sat until I couldn't stand it anymore which was yesterday!  

At last, it's transformed.

It was fun too!

Warning!  Warning!

The next pic is a bit shiny.

You might want to wear sunglasses.

And last but not least...

I Love it!

Used:  Decorative papers, dictionary text, acrylic paint, stamp, stencil, pencil, Zig Markers, Sharpies, Uniball Signo White pen, and willow sticks.

The two flowers in the last pic are from Terri Stegmiller's Flowers 20 stencil.  I recently won that stencil and Terri's Antennas stencil from Leslie McNeil at MarveLes Art Studios during a stencil blog hop.  Woo-hoo!

Here are the two stencils.

Antennas and Flowers 20

As you can see, I've used the flower stencil but just a little bit so far.  I'm about to play with both stencils in the next few days.

Also, hubby made a wall easel for me and a box for holding double-sided markers.  He is AWESOME, and I will share them in my next post.

Tootle Loo,

D~~~~

My Story

I'm excited to tell you that my story is featured today on the I'm a Creative Late Bloomer blog!  You can check it out at the link above or click here.

Have a Blooming Great Day!

D~~~~

Letter Love~Lessons 5 through 9

Here are Lessons Five through Nine in my online Letter Love 201 class with Joanne Sharpe along with the title of the lesson.  

Five

Word Play Collage

Six

Shape it Up

 Seven

The Good Negative

Eight

The Cluster Comp

Nine

Op Art

Joanne mentioned in lesson nine that we might remember Op Art from the 60's, and immediately my mind went to Flower Power so I had to go with it!  I used one of Terri Stegmiller's stencils that I won from Leslie at MarveLes Art Studios for the flowers.  I won two stencils and I will be playing with them once I'm caught up in this class (or close to caught up anyway)!

More soon.

Tootles Folks,

D~~~~  

Letter Love~Lessons 3 & 4

Three

(Copic and Zig Markers)

I named my alphabet.

(l-r)

Turquoise~Mutt and Jeff

Orange~Square Bob, Dot Pants 

Kelly Green~Swirly Pearly

Pink~Flying Hot Pigs

Purple~Spotted Cows

Blue~Dashing Divas

Celadon Green~Circle the Wagons

Pink~Wonky Tonk Women

Four

(Sharpie and LuminArte's Twinkling H2O's)

I have five through eight done too and I'm about to work on nine.  

Stay tuned...

Tootle Loo to You,

D~~~~  

Letter Love!

I'm taking Joanne Sharpe's online class Letter Love 201.  I'm a bit behind and playing catch up!  Here are my first two lessons.

First, we were to create cover art following the format of her class logo, but of course, make it our own.  You can see Joanne's logo at the top left corner of my blog.

I love pink and yellow together.

Lesson Two.

I don't love it but it was fun!

Stay artsy my friends

because 

YOU 

are the most interesting artists in the world!

D~~~~

(Yes, Dos Equis influence!)

Memories of Daisy State Park Art Quilt

In November, we took an RV trip to Daisy State Park in Arkansas.  One of our days there, we found ourselves on a nice walk.  The air was brisk but refreshing and leaves were everywhere.  I picked up the leaf that I used in this piece during that walk.  

This leaf caught my attention because of the vibrant red color.  I did touch it up with a bit of metallic red paint here and there but I did not cover the leaf!  I wanted to add a bit of paint just in case the natural color fades over time.  The red paint matched perfectly so if it does fade, the painted areas will be a reminder of the previous color.  That said, it is varnished so hopefully there won't be any fading.   

Materials used:  canvas, acrylic paints, stamps, willow sticks, Sharpies, varnish, commercial fabric and sewing machine. 

The piece is appropriately named, "Memories of Daisy State Park in Arkansas." 

I like it!  Do you?

With Artful Joy,

D~~~~