A little while ago- I was contacted by Marla from Anjolee and was sent this stunning ring! I love a little sparkle especially for the holidays and always think jewelery is such a special gift. What girl doesn't love diamond jewelry ? Their anniversary rings for women and diamond anniversary rings are really fantastic and have so many options- and lots of stack-able options which are the best because you can take away and add to your wedding ring. Giving jewelry is such a special gift and it's something that you can keep forever! :) ...
Hello! I have been still a bit under the weather and under doctor's orders for lots of rest- which means no internet. Ack! I know It's really hard weird being out of touch and really behind on nearly everything.. I have barely started Christmas shopping and Christmas crafting but I am in full Christmas swing this week. So I am really excited :) This weekend the hubs and I cuddled up with the pugs and watched movies and had hot chocolate. Isn't hot chocolate the best this time of year? How was your weekend?...
Hello! I am back.. I have been completely under the weather. I think I caught that flu bug that was going around and I just needed to unplug for a few days. Don't worry my little pugs did an excellent job snuggling me back to health. My hubs .. lets just be honest.. can not cook. I am not sure if he even knew where the kitchen was until this last week but he did some how manage to make me toast and chicken soup :). My email box has completely exploded and I am behind on my painting. yikes! So if you sent me a note and I haven't responded- I am working on it :) I promise. I am glad to be back to me ol' self just in time for Thanksgiving. I can't wait to catch up- and missed hearing from you. Did you have a good weekend? ...
Here is my next piece for the Big 200! and this is an old but busy street in Portland- called Hawthorne. There is an old movie theatre, lots of fun vintage stores, and yummy eats. This street hasn't changed much in since I can remember- I remember when McDonald's try to come to the street.. or maybe it was BK but the neighborhood petitioned against it. This street still holds that special something that has never really went away. This urbanscape is painted on a wood panel- with vintage oils. :) Details: The Big 200 is an annual event that 200 amazing artists paint 10 panels and they are all 8X8 and every piece goes for only $40. This is a cash and carry show- which means you can take the work off the wall and then take it home right then and there! There is a very long line to get into this amazing event- so come early. Date: December 12th 2:00 pm-10:00 pm Place: Peoples Art of Portland 700 SW Fifth (3rd floor) People’s is Suite 4005 Pioneer Square Mall, downt...
I have been doing so much thrifting lately and it seems like my little addiction is getting worse!.. I know I have been promising to show you some of my latest finds but here are a few of my favorites. As you know I collect typewriters.. and you won't even believe but I found a typewriter that types in cursive! I am so lucky this typewriter found me. This camera is from around 1939 and it actually works. I took it in to the local camera shop- and the camera man told me all about it. I can't wait to try out. and of course this cute dress- it has little birds all over it :) I just love it. The hubs has been trying to talk me into selling a few of my treasures. He has been trying to convince me into opening a small vintage shop on etsy for quite some time because he knows how much I just love vintage and have a bit of the thrifting fever! In fact I started talking with a woman at an estate sale- and we got to talking about some of the WWII memorabilia- I always have thought...
Happy Monday! This weekend just zipped by and I did a ton of vintage hunting and lots of painting. (can't wait to show you). The hubs and I have both been pretty been busy little bees working on our art projects and seems like that always happens in winter time. Have you heard the new song by Yuna? She did the remake of Come As You Are by Nirvana. Nirvana brings me back to the flannel grunge days in the 90's but I think Yuna gives it a fun twist. Listening to any new music lately?...
Here is my 2nd piece for the Big 200! and I am doing a couple of land/urbanscapes for the show. I painted pretty much only landscapes before I embarked on painting urbanscapes and I still love painting the fluffy trees. I wanted a gray cloudy sky and just love how there is only one little intersection with a huge monster tree. I always think it's interesting seeing the tangled up power lines and how there is so many power lines- out in the middle of no where. :) This is an oil painting on wood- and I am using vintage oil paints. Details: The Big 200 is an annual event that 200 amazing artists paint 10 panels and every piece goes for $40. This is a cash and carry show- which means you can take the work off the wall and then take it home right then and there! There is a very long line to get into this amazing event- so come early. Date: December 12th 2:00 pm-10:00 pm Place: Peoples Art of Portland 700 SW Fifth (3rd floor) People’s is Suite 4005 Pioneer Square Mall, downt...
This weekend- my hubs and I are going to attempt to make dinner together and cuddle up and watch True Blood. I love those vampire shows. The hubs usually gets a little scared of scary movies (I know he is a big strong man lol) so we usually stick to vampire shows for Halloween shows, but I do love a scary movie. When I say attempt to cook- I can make a mean grilled cheese but beyond that I hope I have some luck on my side... and the thought of trying to bake.. scares me a little. What are you up to this Halloweeny weekend? PS The pic is of Yoda with his favorite toy octopus. :) He carries that thing around like it's his child. I just love accidental pictures don't you?...
I love instagram and I can't get enough of the different photo editing filters and it's always interesting what you end of capturing.. It's my little slice of life.. my digital scrap book. It has been so gorgeous out here lately- and can't help snapping photos when I am out in the country. Aren't they just darling? The boys just had a beauty day which included a bubble bath and a little pedicure. I have been on the globe hunt while thrifting lately. and love the resin base on this globe. Painting my living room a fabulous tooth paste color. I think what I love most about instagram is these tiny memories you have and little pictures of happy thoughts. Are you using instagram?...
I have been in my art studio working away on a few up and coming projects. I have been a little quiet sharing some of the work I have been working on because I am under top secret orders on a few things coming! So this year I am lucky enough to be participating in the Big 200 annual show. It's my 6th year doing it and I look forward to this show every year. The Big 200 is 200 artists given 10 panels to paint on and it's the set price of $40. It's a cash and carry show- which means that you take the pieces of art off the wall and take them home that day. It's a really amazing show and people line up to get into the gallery. For this show I am doing something a little different for the show- and I hope you like it because I love what I am making. The above photo is the first piece finished for the show. Since I am currently addicted to thrifting- I have come across quite a few estate sales with vintage oil paint from the 60's and beyond. I am not sure what it i...
The hubs and I had a interesting conversation over the weekend while we were on our way to visit some old college friends. My husband and I met in college :) I always say we met over the keg. We were friends for about 6 months before we started dating and the rest is history. I know some of his highschool and college guy friends are really competitive with status-having the best job.. the best car.. the best house and trying to compete for the best life. My husband is still really great friends with a lot of his old roommates and still goes on his yearly man man trip with his highschool boy friends. (If I call my gal pals .. girl friends. I should be able to call his guy friends boy friends *winks*) We both come from really hard working parents and appreciate everything our parents has taught us and given us, but a few years ago we decided that we were ok with not wanting the white picket fence. We both love to work on our businesses- in fact it consumes us! We are both obsessed wi...
Over the weekend- I had a chance to meet up with some really awesome fellow bloggers. I have always wanted to meet bloggers especially in my neck of the woods- and finally had the chance. The gang included Corey , Nicole and Kat. We chit chatted over a coffee date and it was so great! We talked about doing another one in the near future and can't wait to get together again real soon. I walked away really inspired about the blogging world and trying some new things on my blog. It was great meeting some IRL new friends :) hugs ladies :) If you are interested in joining us for next time- drop me a note- at erikaleesears@gmail.com ....
Over the weekend the hubs and I went on a little trip to the pumpkin patch to pick up some pumpkins and vegetables. :) Going out to the pumpkin patch is one of our favorite things to do in October because you get to see all the gorgeous changing trees and get some fresh veges from the farms. There were little creatures :). and lots of pumpkins of course! The hubs was a little afraid of going in the corn maze- :) So we did not enter- I think he has seen Children of the Corn too many times. Isn't that little pink pig hat adorable. and of course we found the perfect pumpkin! :)...
Happy Monday! When I was a kid I was extremely imaginative- always drawing and thinking up little stories and pretty much living in my own little world. I know in reality life can be tricky, life can be hard, life can be a whole lot of average, life can be above average, and life can be amazing. I think a lot about where I live and I am an average girl and I live in an average place but you know what I realized. Imagination can grow anywhere. Did you know that? Imagination is something that can occur no matter where you come from or who you are. Creative thoughts your way this week....
Steve Jobs the former CEO of Apple passed away yesterday. My husband is a pretty big geek and changed his career path to be an IOS (apple) developer. We have 3 apple computers in the house, about 5 iphones (they are for testing), 2 ipads, an apple tv, and I am sure I am forgetting something. I remember the day my husband was talking to me about wanting a mini mac (apple's cheapest computer) and I told him he already has a computer but if he wanted it- he had to promise me he was going to make something. It took him about 6 months, but he made something. He made Robotvision, which was one of the first augmented reality application on the app store. It was featured in Tech Crunch, Wall Street Journal and the list goes on.. it also led to some really fun projects like a Paris application with the french government. The app is called Culture Clique and it's an application that gives you all the facts about Paris with all of the historical data and my husband did the augmented...
I have been planning a little bit of a blog makeover lately and I love just playing with the design of it. Design is so incredibly important in making a blog, because it's what people first see and it's sort of like the first impression. Whether you are a designer or not- all the time you spend plotting and planning the design of your blog- it's all worth it. There are also lot of free templates- that you can tweak and make your vision come to life. Having a blog has made me really embrace learning graphic design and enhancing my photography skills. Here are some easy tips to help create a better visual design for your blog. In one of the side bars and at the top of the blog have a picture of yourself with a brief intro about your blog. I am a little camera shy especially when it comes to having me in the photos. I have always preferred being behind the camera or behind the paint brush. :) If you put your picture on your blog it helps people connect to you. Blog ...
Are you a Portland Blogger? I have been lucky enough to know a few special Portland bloggie friends and wanted to extend the invitation to all Portland area bloggers who want to meet up for a little coffee date. Where: F & B Cafe @ Rejuvinations.- 1100 SE Grand, Portland, OR When: October 16th. Time: 11:00 AM....
Are you doing Blogtoberfest? Blogtoberfest is that you do a blogpost everyday in the month of October. It makes me a little nervous to do a post every day but I think I can do it! actually I know I can do it. Some of my friends whom I noticed are doing Blogtoberfest. Angela @ Pickles on Pizza - I am so jealous of her thrifting adventures. Lamina @ Do a Bit - so charming and talented- there is no art and craft she can't do :)...
I wanted to find a thrifted bookcase that I could really transform. I wanted to distress the bookcase and then do some color blocking in the back to make the objects stand out in the suitcase. Distressing furniture is where you give age to furniture and it looks beat up. The only part of the process that was a little bit hard is literally waiting for the paint to dry. I didn't think it would be that hard in finding a bookshelf but it was! I think I went to about 10 thrift stores before I started looking on craigslist. Since Borders went out of business- they donated all the bookcases to Habitat Humanity which they were $20 bucks at the Habitat Humanity Restore :). If you are looking for a bookshelf and had a Borders close by you- you may want to check Habitat Humanity. Supplies: 1. Bookshelf 2. Sand Block- Fine or Medium 3. Candle 4. Wood Stain- Small- I used a Java color but you can use any color you want. This adds the old to the bookshelf. 5. 2 sample sizes...
I have really wanted to do a fun art hanging above my fire place. I have been putting it off forever and ever but I finally did it :). When you hang pieces of art together not in a straight line but by grouping them it's called hanging art work salon style. I think the best part of hanging artwork salon style is that you can add artwork to it after it's been hung and it also can be a really dramatic piece. Supplies: 1. Tape Measure 2. Painters Tape 3. Scissors 4. Picture Hanging Laser- I got mine for 10 bucks at Home Depot but it isn't a requirement but I suggest it if you want a even look. You can also use a tape measure, level, and painters tape. 5. Nails 6. Hammer Step 1. Pick Out the artwork. Don't be afraid to take chances. Pick out the artwork you love. Some of the artwork is mine and the some are things I have bought from art shows or fairs. Step 2. Take out your handy tape measure and measure where you want to hang you art. I measured th...
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