Just a quick hello!

As we head into the New Year, I have joined up with other artists to do another 30/30!   Every day for the month of January I plan to do a small painting; it might be nothing more than an experiment, or some little thing I've been wanting to try.   Working small and daily frees my mind up, and there's not a lot of materials involved so it removes that fear of failure.   This round I am not going to hold myself to making something complete, as long as I put pastel or pencil to paper daily!   Its still pretty tough to do!

I also have been wanting to get outside to paint but BRRRR!   I'm made of pretty sturdy stuff but I ain't going to stand in SD winds to paint!    I had been planning to fix this little wooden box into a "Front Seat Pochade" for some time; now I can use it for this challenge.    Now I can sit in my car, hot cuppa nearby, tunes playing, even Arty can come along!   What fun!!   Painting snow without the frostbite!

I tried it out this morning, just something from memory to try it on.  Yeah, I like it!   Hey Mikey!   (just aged myself there, didn't I?)   My new little thumb box* will suit me just fine!  

*thumb box is the term, as long ago artists used to make a box so small, they only needed to hold them with their thumb to do field sketches, long before cameras, to make a snapshot so to speak!

I Have the Power!

....tools, that is.   Love me some power tools.   They used to scare me and I still have a very healthy respect for them and take all the precautions.   But I think power tools give me power!   Today I used my chop saw and a power drill.

This is/was my cutting box for my soaps.  that front part *had* a stop on it so the soaps were all the right size and evenly cut.  This was my first attempt at making a cutter box, and it worked ok for a year now, but had several flaws.   The stop snapped off last night, so time to get building....

This one is the bomb!   It has a must sturdier front end and stop so my soaps won't come out wedge cut.   A handle on top also keeps the sideboards from wobbling.   All from scrap made and custom sized!   Like most projects, took me longer than expected but the price was right and I didn't have to compromise on the size, etc.  

There are only a couple more weeks for discounts in the studio!   10% off soaps, and up to 75% on everything else, including incoming framing and painting commissions!

I will be making soaps often in the next few weeks, and those will need time to sit and cure before use, but they will be ready to leave the shop very soon, don't let this chance slip past you!

Happy Holidays to All!

This year is wrapping up pretty quick!   I am working on a few Christmas things that I can't show just yet.  

But I am excited to tell you that I am offering at least  10% and up to 50% off everything til Christmas.   That is soaps, paintings, and even new orders for frames or commission work!    What can I do for you?

"Norma" private collection