Virtual Paintout: Breckenridge Colorado..."Slopeview!"

Now you can see it before you ski it! Google Streetview has actually recorded a few ski slopes so Bill Guffey of Virtual Paintout sent his fans out into the snow-covered mountains this month. While downtown Breckenridge looks charming, I thought the novelty of the view on the slopes was too good to pass up. I found these snowboard boys chillin at the top of a hill.

 This pic will do double duty in my Art House Coop Sketchbook...due in just over a week!

The Golden Julbilee Year!

Just like when royalty has been on the throne for 50 years, I plan to consider this my own "Golden Jubilee" year! My birthday week started off a few days early with a surprise party that totally surprised me; I woke up on my actual birthday to find myself on Polymer Clay Daily which resulted in over 40 (!) flickr contact requests; I took a relaxing mid-week day off and had dinner with friends that night; was the guest of honor at surprise lunch at work (again, I was totally surprised); and had happy hour with a small group last night to round it out. Lots of fun and reconnecting with old friends!

GLASS BEADS IN MY FUTURE. A birthday treat to myself starts next week...an eight-week flameworking bead class. I've taken two weekend classes before which barely provided enough practice time. I'm hoping 8 weeks will let me get the hang of it and produce useful beads. You know I love the clay, but the inability to make anything clear is a limitation. I have several design ideas in mind that I want to try -- I probably won't have the skill to pull them off but we'll see!

EUROPEAN VACATION. In May a friend and I are going to London (fly in on Friday and spend the weekend) and Scotland (Monday to Friday in Edinburgh). Everyone asks "why Scotland?" and my only real reason is because I love the accent and have always had a thing for Ewan McGregor since he guest starred on ER years ago! I've never been to Europe -- it's a big trip. If anyone has good sightseeing suggestions for either country, please share!

MAGAZINE FEATURE. Speaking of the U.K., one of my customers (thanks B!) told me my blog was featured in the October 2011 issue of U.K.'s Beads and Beyond. I had no idea! There was a brief period last fall when I noticed lots of hits on my blog and flickr pages which usually indicates I've been featured somewhere. I couldn't find any feature online. Now I think I know why...it was in print. I'm all for publicity but it would have been nice to know about it at the time!

Tutorial: Easy Organic Stripes

For instructions on how to create easy organic stripes, as shown below, start here.

DATE CHANGE: JUNE 2-3, 2012 - Pittsburgh, PA - Sarah Shriver Intricate Kaleidoscope Caning

PPCG Spring Workshop  -  June 2-3, 2012  - Pittsburgh, PA

Sarah Shriver

 Intricate Kaleidoscope Caning

Sarah's description of the class:
Students will create a polymer clay cane with the illusion of depth and movement by using a repeat interlocking pattern and the Skinner blend. We will take time selecting colors and work on the visual texture and quality of this fairly simple cane. Then I will show you some ways of kaleidoscoping the image to create infinite and intricate variations. Lastly, I will share my ideas on bead construction and finishing techniques.

Read About Sarah's process

All skill levels welcome  More details to come. Watch this space for cost, location, supplies list.

LIttle school of new fishies

A potential customer has first dibs on these big fishies but whatever she doesn't want will be for sale on etsy after I hear from her.

...and Pinky has a bonus ball...

...and laces!

I had someone ask what people do with the fish so here are a few serving suggestions!
Of course, the other day I showed you this lovely necklace. They could be light chain pulls, a knick-knack on a shelf, or hanging on a chain like fish on a stringer:

No new resolutions for 2012 but one goal, set last year, for the looming 50th birthday was to not look like a "dumpy old lady" when the day arrived. Thanks to Dr. Dukan, I succeeded! I indulged in a few cookies at work, my stepfather's tasty pecan, apple, and cherry pies over Christmas, and a few other non-approved snacks. I was up 6 lbs when I got back home a week ago. But I did two protein days and am back to the target weight today. I cannot even believe it myself, but I now weigh only 11 lbs more than I did in high school 33 years ago!

Sketchbook: Getting there

Been working and re-working pages in my Arthouse Coop sketchbook. My last one was all black and white ink sketches so I'm making this one in color for variety.
(January 7 comment: Jenny B asked what I used to color these. The ladies were first sketched with pretty pastel fine-tip markers, then inked with a black gel pen, and finished off with colored pencils.)

When I was in elementary school and Junior High in the '70s I wanted to be a fashion illustrator. My grandmother was quite a seamstress and I would go to the Piece Goods store with her when she went shopping for new patterns and fabrics. When I started sewing in 8th grade, I realized how much more useful it was to see the clothing on an actual person. Every outfit in the pattern book looked good on a super skinny watercolor-and-ink lady with legs that were 3/4 of her height! After that I just drew fashion photos from Grandmother's "Harper's Bazaar" and my "Seventeen" -- hairstyles and clothing for fun and practice, I decided being a fashion illustrator had limited utility.

Above and below are more detailed and colorful examples of what I do
while listening to a conference call or staff meeting.

I try to encourage my mom to draw. She'll say, "I don't have anything to draw" and I tell her it doesn't matter what it is, just draw whatever is in front of you.

You can see this one before I added color. Maybe it was better before....oh well, too late now!