Painted Yard Ornaments

Today was a day to work in the yard.  

One entire side of our house is covered with red climbing roses. And since I was away traveling for the better part of 5 months they missed their Fall and Spring trimming.  When I did get back home they where already blooming.  So I waited until the blooms faded to give them a trim for the year.

Oh my gosh, were they a mess.  I filled an entire green waste receptacle.   We usually can't fill that in a month.  There was a lot of trimming.  But it was so nice to be able to see the house behind the rose bush again.

Then I went all around the yard and trimmed all the suckers from the tree trunks and cut all the limbs hanging down that would hit me in the head if I walked in the yard.

It sure felt good to have that task completed.

So while I took a break in the house I decided all the rest of the small ornaments needed repainting.

Rust and fading had taken them over.

Some if these pot tags had been my mother's.  But neglect on my part had them looking pretty shabby and faded.

The first thing I did was to paint them all white so when I added colors they would be pretty and bright.

I like to use Martha Stewart's pearlized paints. They cover well and usually last a few years even outdoors.

And here is the reveal looking like new and ready for the garden.

Mr. K is spoiling me tonight since I worked so hard in the yard ha has gone for pizza.  Yeah!

Happy Gardening!

Summer's Orange Crystal Earrings

I mailed away for a couple pair of large crystal beads to make earrings.  Two orange and two red.

Here are the elements I used for this pair of earrings.

I used the orange for this pair not red.

I added jump rings to the metal drop  pieces for later attachment.

Then using an eye pin I created the central part of the earrings.

Next I attached the drops and the ear wires.

And here is the finished pair.  Love the sparkle.

Happy Crafting!

Sunday with Chris DuRubeis

Here is our picture with Mr. DuRubeis.

 Interesting artist, his work is done on metal with a  technique he developed.

Took a peek into one of the ballrooms that was being set up for a wedding.  I love the soft pastel colors.

Had to take a picture of this light fixture made entirely from rock crystals.

This light fixture reminded me of a sea shell.

Sunday was a busy day getting packed after the auction, checking out and having a valet bring the car around.  They where running to get all the cars because, of course everyone was leaving at the same time.

Don't you love their vintage uniforms.

Good  bye beautiful coastal weather and back home to triple digit heat wave.

Happy Travels!

Saturday with Peter Max

Peter Max was the Artist for Saturday.  He didn't feel like being with the group for very long but did take a picture with each of us that was taken by a photographer that will be mailed to our homes.

He also gave everyone a signed copy of his book after the Saturday auction.  I believe he is in his late 70's now and all this travel is getting to be too much.  He flew in from New York for the day.

After lunch we drove into town where I spotted this gorgeous artichoke bloom at a sidewalk cafe.

Later in the day we went out to look at the view and relax on the terrace.  We saw Mr. Max also enjoying the fresh air and visiting with his daughter on the terrace.

I love the way kids still have a great time rolling down a hill.  Seems to be an activity that has be enjoyed by children throughout time. Here you can see them on the right side of the picture having a great time.  It was an overcast day breezy but not too cold.

We had a very nice room and thank goodness there was a fireplace because by Saturday night it felt nice to sit and enjoy the warmth.

Happy Travels!

Week in Review

Here's a review of this week's posts.

Monday

Sewing Tools Organizer

Tuesday

Finial Makeover

Wednesday

Upcycled Composition Book

Thursday

Our Second Weekend with the  Artists

Friday

Meeting Alfred Gockell

Happy Weekend!

Meeting Alfred Gockell

Alfred Gockell was the first artist we met on Thursday night and Friday.  He flew in from Germany to spend the weekend at this event.
The first thing he did was turn up the music and paint live.  Friday that picture was sold at auction.  He painted for about 20 minutes.  Amazing.  He is a two handed artist.  By that I mean he had a paint brush in both hands and proceeded to complete the picture with both hands.  Wow.  That was something to see.

We moved ourselves over to the Ritz Friday morning and by then

he had finished adding all the detail to the painting before the auction began.

  He also made a copper etching of his impression of Monterey Bay and with the help of a portable printing press he proceeded to run off a print.

Here is our picture we took with Mr. Gockell after the auction.

This is a painting done on the reverse side of plexiglass.  It just glowed.

Happy Travels!

Our Second Weekend with the Artists

We spent another 4 days at Half Moon Bay with 3 amazing artists.  Alfred Gockell, Peter Max and Chris DeRubeis.

It was gorgeous weather for the entire trip including the drive over.  Always amazing when you drive over the pass and see these gigantic wind turbines.

The ridges are covered with them.  

This was the perfect weekend for a trip to the coast.  At home we were having a heat wave with temperatures 20 degrees above normal.  One of the days we were away the temperature topped out at 104 degrees Fahrenheit.  Way too hot for this time of year.  I really hope the rest of summer is not going to follow that pattern.

When we arrive at Half Moon Bay there was a chill in the air.  Sweater weather.  What a difference a couple of hours driving makes.

The first night we stayed at an inn near the Ritz as they had overbooked.  We where compensated for our trouble, so it wasn't so bad.

We had a very nice room.

Our own patio with a great view of the gardens and golf course.

Loved this planted trailing over into our patio.  I was a beautiful color and the texture was like velvet.

Stay tuned tomorrow when I will introduce you to the first artist we met.

Happy Travels!