Coasters

My latest art project are these coasters. I use stone tiles bought from Lowe's and using gel medium attach the images printed on white tissue paper to the tile. Then I seal it (though the gel medium probably seals it sufficiently) using a spray sealer.

All of these images I acquired from two huge and heavy volumes by Taschen. The botanicals from The Book of Plants and the insects from Cabinet of Natural Curiosities. They're so large and heavy it is challenging to hold them on the scanning bed without them shifting while it scans! They are fabulous books! The detail is so fine and that makes for superior scanning.

Remember: click on an image to see it in another window much larger.





I got these fairies images from a free image site online...can't remember which one. The French print in the background is from a stamp I have. I just stamped on a piece of card stock and then I make copies of it over and over, printing on the tissue paper. Sounds confusing--but it's really not.

The butterfly puzzle series...

Another butterfly series. Love bugs and insects. They're so beautifully perfect!

Botanicals...

And more bugs...

I like the more natural looking stone tiles like these bugs are on best. The edges are rough and uneven.

Michelle has what wasn't sold at Hillsville (which I sold a whooping two whole sets) at the store. I sell them for $10 a set of four. They make great and affordable gifts...holler if you want any....

Hillsville Flea Market

Michelle, owner of The Vintage Home, a wonderful vintage home decor/gift shop on Main Street in Wilkesboro decided to have a booth at the Hillsville, VA Flea Market and Gun Show. It's an annual event and always Labor Day weekend. Jug and I had experienced it and loved it several years as shoppers--not vendors! Michelle roped us into joining her! It was so much fun! Just a great experience--lot of hard work but we made the best of it--of course! Michelle and I had the most fun people-watching. We couldn't get over all the men walking around packing! Some with rifles and some with pistols ready at their side. What was up with this? Jug just shook his head at us saying, "it's a gun show!" Ah, so? We just did not get it!



And seems most of Virginia did not get us either! Michelle did well with her waffle towels and okay with her fabulous pillows but overall we were disappointed in our sales. I took my latest art project--coasters made from ceramic or stone tiles and only sold two! Scheech! But I sincerely believe the slow sales had as much to do with the slow economy as with folks taste.



Our neighbors on both sides of us had both been coming to Hillsville for many years (the Crockets pictured below have had a booth for 27 years!) and they were both experiencing their lowest years ever. People are just not buying anything right now that they don't really need. It's really a bummer.



Our booth:








A small portion of the Hillsville Flea Market! It is mammoth!

This is (below) Louella and Wesley Crocket, our neighbors. Great folks! They've done this event for 27 years! Thank you, Louella and Wesley for making us feel so welcome!

Jug brought four of his instruments to sell: three guitars and one mandolin. Man, were the men ever interested in those daggone instruments! Michelle and I were continually a bit annoyed by their blocking the entrance to our little booth oogling Jug's guitars! They were four he decided he could live without but were high-end and while many drooled over them, none forked over the money! We had many to pick one up and pick for us. And while it did kinda annoyed Michelle and me, we enjoyed it too. They were such friendly folks!

So their were these three youngsters who were so very talented musicians that came by each day and picked with Jug....

Drooling over Jug's instruments...

Chelly looks pretty even when she's roughing it!!

The three young pickers...

Below--our booth...

Celebrating 50th's

My buddies from high school, from left: Debbie Rockett Essic, Pam Winstead Lenderman, me and Leslie Clark. Pam and husband Keith and Debbie's husband Mike all turned 50 within a few days of each other and we all got together at Leslies's August 16th for a meal and celebration. It's just unfathomable that we are this old! I don't feel old and they certainly don't look old!!! But 50 we are!

In this one below, I think Mike had said something about us "accentuating our assets" and we all kinda rearranged up front and the camera caught me mid shift!

Below, Pam and husband Keith. They were high school sweethearts!

Below, Debbie's husband, Mike Essic. He's....hmmmm...believe he said Winston area? Debbie and Mike live in Advance, NC which is near Winston. They have a very sweet and especially smart little poodle, Sophie, their baby!

Below is Debbie. Several shots from this event were way overexposed and I've no idea why! I worked on this one best I could 'cuz it's a good one of our Debbie!

Below--I brought some of my ancient photo albums with photos and we're looking at them here. That's my Olivia, far left and Michelle far right.

Little Maddyson Turns Two

We gathered July 26th at Adam (my nephew, Suzy's son) and Kara's in Mooresville to celebrate their little Maddyson's second birthday.

Below is Aimee, me and Suzy on the left and Mindy and Becky on the right. Aimee and Mindy are my brother Jim's daughters and Becky is their mom. My sissy Mel took this photo.

Kara made the monkey cake for Maddyson. She's a big fan of Curious George, I think!

Below: Mindy, Becky and Aimee...

Carrie (my nephew Alan's wife) and Jackson....

Jackson and his dad Alan....

Watching Maddyson tear through all her presents....it was a hoot!

We Miss Marina!

Grant's girlfriend and her family moved to Alabama two weeks ago (July 24th). We took the two of them out to eat the night before. Here's two photos from that night. I sure do miss having Marina in the house...hearing her giggles wafting up the stairway and knowing where Grant was most of the time because they spent so much time here! Miss you Marina!