STATE OF THE STUDIO ,,,,

A little over a year ago we moved into our new home and I set up my studio. I have the entire lower level in which to create (along with a bathroom, laundry room and utility room). As I looked around yesterday I saw that it is no longer neat and tidy...it has become a work place! In all of it's messiness, I share with you the "state of the studio", and with no apologies. These are the steps leading down into my place of bliss.

Here are the shelves that hold MOST of my paints...

Under my main work table (which is up on paint cans so I don't get back pain from standing and painting) you can see tubs of fabric and other collage supplies.

The table above is holding the current fabric pieces for the children's pillow cases I am making for our hospital.

This is my lounge area where I can read or stitch or watch TV. It is also a sofa bed for company if the guest room is taken.

This wall shows some of the portraiture I have been doing the past few months. I have now run out of room and I guess will have to start stacking them against the walls.

Here is the collection of primitive dolls I made several years ago.

This is the "wall-o-dolls " in the lounge area.

A series of crosses that are looking for wall space also!

Most of these are art books and copies of the magazines where my work has been published.

My primary work table.....(with the ever present coffee mug).

Close up of the work table....the pallets are plastic lids from ice cream buckets. Yeah, we eat a LOT of ice cream!

Ice cream buckets of broken tile waiting for the next mosaic project (s). Seriously, did we really eat that much ice cream? How embarrassing......

This is the back of a jacket I am making and really need to get back to. I painted the flowers on the back. In the background is the laundry room where you can see a rug I wove from t-shirt strips.

So there you have the state of the studio. It works for me and is big enough to accommodate several projects at the same time.

Tell me about your studio? Or even about the kitchen table you use to create on!

MY NEW PAINT BOX......

And now it is really "my" new paint box!

"THE CHURCH BREW WORKS" ...

Yesterday we drove to Pittsburgh to attend a birthday party. It was a surprise party held at the "Church Brew Works", voted #1 brewpub in Pittsburgh. Originally this 8,000 sq. foot building was the turn of the century architectural wonder known as The St. John The Baptist Church.

Now, it is a fabulous restaurant and microbrewery featuring their own beers as well as a full gourmet menu. It is a surreal feeling to sip fine beers while pondering the beautiful stained glass windows.

The very front of the church houses the shiny tanks of the brewery and many of the original pews are everywhere in the bar and the restaurant.

The birthday party was held in this outdoor section, called the Hop Garden, where there is seating for about 50 and included a fabulous buffet as well as three different birthday cakes. I was pretty happy about the cakes! (my not so secret passion). Even thought it is open to the sky, the tall brick walls provide a very intimate setting.

After dining and drinking and singing the birthday song and opening gifts, we headed back home. It was a great evening! You can see more about the brewery, including some really beautiful photographs by visiting their web site at www.churchbrew.com.

BACK TO THE SKETCH BOOK ...

CRAWFORD COUNTY FAIR - PART DEUX

Ah, the rest of the fair pictures! This is the place operated by a local Methodist Church; the place where we found homemade elderberry pie. What a strong memory from my childhood. My Grandmother would send us girls out with a pan and instructions to bring back enough elderberries to make at least one pie; and it was magnificent! Roy and I spent a lot of time in the bunny barn and Roy made friends with all of them.

Even though I was totally disappointed that there was no Farris wheel, there was a beautiful carousel.

And the size of these sunflower heads was not to be believed!

Here you can see a really long display of farm produce.

And, these vegetable baskets were beautiful enough to grace the cover of a magazine!

This is the display of crocheted quilts and afghans.....

...and these are just a few of the many quilts that filled the length of this show barn.

We will go back each year to celebrate all that is sweet and good about our new home. However, successive years will not have the surprise and joy and the memories that this one had. It was a wonderful day....

IT WAS A "FAIR" DAY INDEED.....

Welcome to the Crawford County Fair! I hope that through the following photographs you will know the essence of a county fair in rural Pennsylvania. I remember my Father taking my sisters and me to the fair and I have strong memories of lots of mud, cotton candy and a lot of animals! It's been over fifty years since I have been to this fair. It is larger, cleaner (still muddy) and quite grand in what it offers. There are still bright eyed kids showing their 4-H projects and show barns of hand made items, baked goods, quilts and rows of farm implements. Tomorrow I will post more photographs.

(All photographs containing horses are for Vanessa.)

Awww..... baby pigs!

Is this the most handsome goat you have ever seen? And so photogenic!

This beauty was in line to enter the judging arena.

I promise many more tomorrow!

FROM MY SKETCH BOOK ...

A couple of weeks ago I bought a sketch book, because I thought it was something an artist had. I don't do sketching; I should be doing that but I don't. So, I decorated the front and back covers and admired the beautiful thick white pages. And, I didn't do any sketching, or anything. Finally, the other day I took pencil (and eraser!) in hand and began. I drew this street scene and then redrew it with a thin Micron pen. I kinda liked it! Then, yesterday I added color in the form of very watered down acrylic paint. You see, I have been wrestling with the idea that I SHOULD be giving watercolor a try, but I really LIKE painting with acrylics. The final product looks very much like water color to me. So, right now acrylics are where it's at. Another sketch will be forthcoming! However, not today. Today we go to the fair! Stay tuned!

TONIGHT'S DINNER AT ARBOR VISTA...

MENU:

Grilled chicken breast with basil citrus seasoning

Grilled yellow squash and zucchini strips ( from our CSA vegetable basket)with Italian seasoning

Sliced cucumber (from that same basket), cherry tomatoes and fresh basil from our garden

Beringer's White Zinfandel

During the summer months we generally eat like this several times a week. It is a flavor party !

(now I need chocolate)