You never out grown color crayons, do you?

Here's what's on my workdesk this Wednesday.....color crayons!  Very special, very cool color crayons made by Crayola, no less.

These are sooooooo fun.....Crayola Twistables Slick Stixs, they are basically reasonably priced gel sticks for kids of any age.

The colors are so intense and juicy, you'll love them.  Their creamy texture will blend with the touch of a finger and, if you move quickly, they are water soluble.  My experience was they dry fast, so if you're going to use water, you have to do it as soon as you lay the color down. 

Fun, fun colors and really fun to use!  Try it, you'll like it.....and if they beg....share them with your kids!!!  They will like them, too.

Join me, this What's on Your Work desk Wednesday,  as I visit the work desks of a bunch of talented artists at Julia's Stamping Ground.

Wedding Day......

Yesterday, our Grandson Jeremy married the love of his life, Nicole.

They have know each other since they were six or seven years old and their families were neighbors.  Over the years, they have been friends and dated off and on, until five or six years ago when they became a couple!

The wedding was held on a beautiful wooded lot owned by Nicole's employer, next to a creek, in the heart of the city......on a very warm, almost hot, day!

First, I will show you the decor starting with the above photo of the attendants bouquets, I love that pink/chartreuse color combo!

The dinner tables cover in burlap with these centerpieces......

Sister of the groom made use of her Cricut to cut out the birds on a rope......you can see the creek in the background!

You can barely make out the honeycomb paper spheres hanging from the trees but they added such a festive air and.......I found the whole box of them, fifty plus, for $5. at a yard sale the week before the wedding.  Lucky find!

Canning jar/lemonade glasses with doily name tag, cute!

With the help, and hard work, of the bride and groom's friends and family the decor was beautiful and the day PERFECT!

Oooops, almost forgot the cake.....it tasted as good as it looked!

The groom, trying to act casual, waiting for his bride!

The wedding party waiting for the bride.......here comes the bride!

Her Father and Step-father shared the honors of giving the bride away!

The KISS....................!!!!  It's official, they are Mr. and Mrs.

Jennie, Staci, mother of the groom Leigh, groom Jeremy  and Dennis.....the groom's two sisters and one of his five brothers.

Here I am with my beautiful daughter and her two, equally, lovely daughters!  I am so proud of them all!

    Grandpa danced with his granddaughter.

The best man toasting the bride and groom.

The Maid of honor, trying not to cry as she toasted her sister and new brother!

  The cake sharing went well!    

.....and one of my favorite moments....the bride has just given her new husband his first "order"......."you'd better eat something, you haven't eaten all day"!  She is going to make such a good wife!!!!  He doesn't look so sure tho', does he?

Because, it turned out so well, I'm including this photo of groom's grandparents.

 Two of the groom's other brothers.  How did my grandchildren get so grown up?  Where does the time go?

  

This was a special touch, on the guest book table they include this photo of my Dad, Jeremy's Great-grandpa, and Jeremy when he was about three.

 

 

 

 

I have about a 100 more photos, but I won't subject you to any more!

We wish Jeremy and Nicole the best life has to offer.  God Bless you both.

And we leave you with this......

 

 

'cause your Grandma, Sister and Aunts know how to be silly and entertain themselves!

It was great day, beautiful wedding, and wonderful memories.

Welcome to the family, Cole!

Facing my fears!!!!!

This WOYWW, that's What's on you Workdesk Wednesday, is a story about using a "new/old" medium, something that has intimidated me for years. 

WATERCOLORS!

Recently, I came across this cute little package of watercolors at a yard sale, for a dollar!  Who could pass that up, right?  I brought it home, put it in a drawer and forgot about it, until.....this weekend  when I came upon this cute container, just laying there, wondering if any one was ever going to appreciate it!

Two layers of yummy paint....one in warm colors, the other cool....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm!  I could do something with that.

Years ago, I mean years ago, I took two or three series of classes from a prominent Northwest watercolorist.....I got one successful painting out it and a huge sense of frustration with watercolors.  Still don't think I would know how to, or have the control to do a "real" painting but to play with a sketch and wash......that might be fun, I'll try it.

So, when I came across this photo in a gardening magazine and the thought that I needed to practice drawing and this might be an opportunity to use that cute pack of watercolors, I went for it! 

Notice my fancy brush....actually, I'm quite fascinated by a brush with a water reservoir.   

End result.........

That was fun!  The color palette was limited but that's O.K., it forced me to try to figure out how to get the lights and darks with what I had to work with. 

I can see why someone bought this watercolor "compact" new....it is a great addition to a journaling or sketching travel kit.  I'll use it again but I'm still leaving the watercolor painting to the "big girls"!!!

Come with me to visit these talented bloggers and craftspersons at Julia's Stamping Ground.

Lots of mileage from one stencil.....

Last spring I decided to try cutting my own stencils and some stamps.

Pretty simple, but fun, just using an old file folder I drew and cut out a tree.  I purchased some Speedball "Speedy-Cut" and carved out a bird and a house.

Here's how I've used them......one was a journal page.

Painted the background and sprayed the tree...used the leaf stamp in the tree and the bird stamp for a border along the bottom.

Next, I used a canvas and again painted and sprayed......

  again the birds for the border!  This week I'm using the same stencil in a couple different ways.......

showed you this one the other day....today, this version!

My camera makes give this bulge in the middle look....it really does have straight sides!!!  I scanned the one above into the computer, think that is a better idea, if the art fits.

On the piece above and, on this one, I painted the background added tissue paper that has the birds and birdcage print then I sprayed and painted the tree trunk, using the stencil. 

I used the leaf stamp on both, for the bottom tree I added copper and wire screen leaves for dimensional look, like this......

I think my original stencil has about "had it" but you've got to admit I've gotten a lot of mileage out of that old file folder.

Come along, with me, to visit these creative bloggers at Creative Every Day!

Goats and the County Fair....

I'm the last person in the world that should be writing a blog about goats......I know nothing about them!  However, I do know the goat handler, in this case, it is my 15 year old Grandson Vincent.

Vincent and Peaches enter the ring!

This an Intermediate group of 4-H members showing their goats.

   The judging is tough.....the judge looks at the goat's confirmation and cleanliness but she is, also, judging how each goat owner shows their animal.  The kids are judge on everything from what they are wearing to how much attention they pay to the judge and how they handle their goat and/or someone else's goat.  All this with your parent, grandparents and bunch of strangers watching!  Whew!

Vince ended up in fourth place in this category.....milk goats.

This is one of the triplets that Peaches recently gave birth to!  The babies are so cute......and for sale!

This is Vincent's third year of participation in showing his goats at the fair.  It's a great learning experience for him, not to mention, a lot of fun hanging out with your friends and eating junk food....does it get better than that!

Inscribed.......

I'm taking a on-line course called "Inscribed" that Traci Bautista is teaching.

Here a piece I was inspired to do.......so NOT! based on anything she is teaching, except......the class has inspired me to CREATE!!!

However.....this one is totally based on the class and playing with alphabets!

I'm enjoying the challenges of the class....she is trying to get the us to use our own imagination to create.  Love it!

Savoring Summer

Preserving a little of summer's bounty........

with 10 pints of yellow plum jam and five pints of blueberry/yellow plum.  Yummy!

Taking an art journaling e-course from Traci Bautista called Inscribed.....and I am inspired to play!

 

Now, I'm off to the county fair to watch my grandson show his goats!

Hope you are enjoying your summer!

Introducing Oregon........

Wow, I'm taking a breather......after a whirl wind three weeks of entertaining our visitor from Sweden.

We took her to the beach, shopping, meeting new relatives, birthday parties, outdoor music venues, hiking, Bar B Qs, not one, but two Cruise-Ins, she made art........

She hiked Portland's Forest Park and then a five miles trail in Silver Falls State Park and marveled at ten waterfalls along the way..

she shared her musical knowledge with her younger cousin, we went to a community theater play.....

She met my BFFs and Elvis for lunch.........

she played a pick up game of soccer in the park, was in awe at Wal-Mart, couldn't believe the food choices in the grocery stores, she had a walking tour of downtown Portland, went to a garage sale and so much more.

Yesterday, she witnessed small town U.S.A. at it's best!  We attended an event called Aurora Colony Days which consists of antique street sales, food, art show and a parade. 

They don't have parades in Sweden or small town celebrations, like we do.  We learned a lot about Sweden and she learned a lot about the U.S.  A great opportunity for us all.

Speaking of Aurora Colony Days....look at the goodies I picked up. 

  

Some cool shelf paper scraps that I can scan and reuse in my collages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love keys, I could never have too many, also, some millenary leaves and cherries, door back plate and cool brass pin-back pins.

 

 

 

 

Then I hit the jackpot......hey, these are WAY MORE than plumbing supplies, dude,.......these are precious pieces of art making potential!

I must get busy......I have picked up some great bits and pieces this summer for collage and assemblage projects!  I'll have a fun and busy winter.

To top it all off, these are some goodies my cousin brought from Sweden.........

Love the "Party Map Stockholm"......got to do something to cheer up those looooooooong winter nights!

We are having a great and busy summer, so far, I hope you are too!