Second Part of THE BENCH!!!

This is my favorite tool.  It has changeable parts; a drill, jig saw, a little skill type saw, & a sander.  This was my Christmas present a couple of years ago.  Best one ever.

At some point I even had to pull out the big guns.  The dreaded Skill Saw.  Big scary noisy thing but everything else died and I was determined to get the pieces cut out.

So I put it together.  I changed the length to fit the top piece that I had and put a 2 X 4 as the center brace.  Just thought it would stronger and easier to hit with screws.

This is it unpainted with putty in the screw holes and no top piece.  I did countersink the screws.  Not well but I know how now.  This thing is so heavy I can hardly pick it up.  I used a 2 X 12 on the top which is really heavy.  I didn't adjust the side pieces when I changed the length.  They were just a hair short so I used them anyway.

Painting Comes Next!

Building a Bench

There is a blog that I have been following called Knock Off Wood.  She give you wonderful plans for simple and some not so simple to build.  They are just so great.  Wish I had seen it years ago.  Of course she wasn't born then.

But anyway I have all these tools.  I love tools and hardware stores and gadgets.  Love it all. I could wander around in Lowe's for hours.  Just looking and wondering what does that do!

So I decide that I was going to build something.  All by myself.   She has the plans on Knock Off Wood, shopping list, and tools needed.  I wanted to learn how to countersink a screw.  She tells you how to do that too.    (Plans Here)

From Better Homes and Gardens

I wanted to use some old wood we already had especially a huge 2" X 12"  that had some character. (This was kind of a mistake.  Too heavy.)

I had lots of problems.  It's amazing what is common sense to my Honey does not in any way come into my mind.  Which means I do a lot of things the hard way.  Taking me twice as long to do anything.

Finding all the tools was a big problem.  Because I haven't been using them and tend to base coat in the room where the tools are they were scattered or on a shelf way above my head.

These are some of my tools.  I had to pull old nails because I was determined to reuse wood.  I also figured out why this was not always a good idea.  Sometimes old wood will not hold a screw.

Ana says to cut your wood first and measure.  I did this but I changed the length of the bench and did not always adjust all the pieces accordingly.

Sassy was helping but lost all interest when things got noisy.  Tomorrow I hope to finish this story.  I thought it was funny but you probably had to be there.

The Mom Song Sung To William Tell Overture : The Coolest One

The Mom Song Sung To William Tell Overture : The Coolest One

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This is too funny and so very right!

Everyone have a great day!

Hugs Beth

Zen Gourd

I did another gourd.  Surprise!  I call it a Zen Gourd.  Combining pyrography and Zentangle drawing.  I think that is what it called.  It is styled after one I saw on the Arizona Gourd site.  I thought it would give me some practice and advance my skills a little.

I know it's crooked.  I just like this picture.

Have a great weekend all!

Pyrography

I have started doing pyrography.  I had all the equipment but got mad at myself one day and put it away.  Anyway like anything you want to do well you should practice.  Mostly I want to work on gourds but have been doing some other things for practice.

This is a scrap gourd (it was cracked) that I was playing with.

These are a couple of small pine pieces

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Small pine box that I had on hand.  Everyone told me pine did not burn well and they are very right.  This box especially.  It had hard spots and soft spots.  So it wouldn't burn and then it did.  Such a mess but it was fun.  I also used a little colored pencil for some light color.

This is one of my favorite blogs to read in Google Reader. It always let's me know that I am not the worst off in this world.

He even has written a book with customer quotes & rants

http://notalwaysright.com/

Very Funny Stuff!

October Project

This is my project for me for October. It is painted on Roc Lon Material which worked very well.

This is the Santa box but it is not finished. I got a little further than this picture shows and hope to finish soon.

These are the white rose I did. It is not finished either. Just need to varnish and put a trim on the edges. I just couldn't wait to post it.

These are the pink rose. I didn't photograph them well but they look great even if I say so myself. I learned a lot from Trudy.

I haven't been a very good blogger lately but I plan on doing better.

I went to a seminar this weekend with the Alamo Decorative Painters in San Antonio, TX. Had a great time. My friend, Gerrianne, invited me to stay with her. Could not ask for a better hostess. They have a beautiful place. I felt just as comfortable as I could be at home. I can not thank her enough.

Trudy Beard came all the way to Texas just to teach us. It was like we had know her for years. Of course I had been following her painting for years but there is nothing like being taught by the real thing.

These are the pictures that I took. I didn't take near enough but I get so entralled with what is happening that I forget to take pictures.

This is the chicken shirt that I painted. It's a design by Doxie Keller that I purchased at the Houston Expo last year.

I have had a terrible time finding a shirt to paint on that didn't cost a fortune. This is just a cheapo shirt from WalMart and it was great to paint on but too big.

I just wanted a casual fun thing to wear and paint with the Folk Art Fabric paint. They are a dream to paint on fabric with but I still haven't developed that loose style I would like to have. I will keep trying.

Not the best shot of me. We were on our way back from San Marcos, TX and stopped at an outlook area to look at the scenery. It was a beautiful drive.

Ornament

This is the ornament purchased from Della and Company. It is metal and is a slightly puffed pear shape. Hand painted by me from Della's pattern. The ornament is 3 inches at the widest point and 4 inches tall. I have a couple more ornaments shaped like little three part trees. Hopefully I will get those painted soon.

I have been working on another tray painted Heather Redick style with stroke roses. It is a much harder pattern so it may take awhile. I meant to take in progress pictures but I get so involved that doesn't get done.

Until next time Ya'll

Beth

Attention Please

Della and Company is a special place for items to paint. They are unique, very well made, and priced well. I purchased and ornament & pattern pack at the Houston Expo last year. It painted well and her directions were easy to follow. Meaning it looked like the picture she had when I got through painting. I hope to post the pictures shortly.

The reason for this post is that they are having a sale. Just got the email today. Check them out for yourself.

http://dellaandcompany.com/

Painted Tray

I painted this wooden tray in the last few weeks. I bought several wooden trays at the Houston Expo last year. Here is the link. Great week painting in Houston. More about that later.

http://www.artistexpohouston.com/

Anyway I watched Heather Redick until I was embarrassed. Now I wish I had watched longer because I need to see it again. It looks so easy when she does it. Unfortunately she does not have any videos yet. Maybe she will do one soon.

I have been practicing and my stroke work is not bad but I still need lots more practice.

This tray will probably be for sale on Etsy in a day or so. I still need to put finish on the back and edges.

Brady Texas Sights

This rock is on a corner in my town, Brady, Texas.

Makes me feel good everytime I see it. It's nice to be free to put your beliefs where everyone can see them. And it reminds you there is joy and beauty in the smallest things everyday.

These people put a small message that may affect just one person. Imagine that you may change someone's life by one small kind or good gesture. You never know what can happen. Look for it.

This is about one of the blogs that I follow. They have wonderful ideas and videos. Just love it.

They are having a giveaway in honor of Earth Day. If I put a link in this post I get another chance to win. They have a neat blog with lots of good information.

Click on the picture and it should take you there.............

These are some little plant markers that I painted up one day.

Actually I was jealous of my friend, Susan Wymola. She had painted some cuties on big knives and things. So I had to try it too.

This is definitely re-purposing (I don't know how to spell that word if there is such a word) Anyway taking junk and making something useful or pretty from it. These are some little pie pans that I had hid away and some of the tops from the icing on canned cinnamon rolls. I save them to mix a little paint or medium that you want contained, Not running all over your palette.

This is a dumpster located in my hometown, Brady, TX. I don't know who painted it but it is so cute.

I looked at it up close when I took this picture but couldn't tell what kind of paint was used. It has held up very well. I know it has been there for a year or so.

I wish we would we would paint every dumpster in town. How cool would that be.

Lamesa, Texas has a lot of painted dumpsters. When we drive through town my daughter and I always get a kick out of them.

Brady could have a big contest. A big painted dumpster contest.

Butterfly Rock

I painted this a few days ago. The rock came from the Llano River. I have a few problems about taking a rock from the river but they are the best rocks. We drove under the bridge about 60 miles from here last year and picked up a bunch.

Believe me there are still plenty left for the river and I am still painting on that collection.

The pattern is printed in this months "Quick and Easy Painting. Nice painting mag.

Wonderful Junk Art

I saw this on a blog that I follow. Just had to share this with a link to her etsy shop.. So cute it hurts. She is making 1000 pieces. They have vintage toy parts & other found items.

Very colorful. Makes you smile everytime and I like things that make you smile.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22734503


"Slim the Cowboy is another colorful carney and quite the sexy, suave cowboy. His body is a vintage xylophone and he's got vintage bowling pin legs and old ceramic boots. His head is an old red croquet ball and can be posed. He's tall and extremely thin. Slim measures 30 1/2" tall and 14" wide at the shoulders. He's named, signed, dated and number 88 in the series of 1000 Pieces. Thanks."
Added on Mar 26, 2009

Watercolor brights!

Michelle Brown has a wonderful Ning site. She has classes, and photos and videos.

She has couple of videos that you can look at and photos of students work. I think all of us need to loosen up some. I am always drawn to the artists that can work this way.

I would post a picture but don’t want to steal from her page. Just click on the link and take a look.


Visit michelle brown