SATURDAY, MARCH 27 CLOTHES AND PAINTINGS

I WANTED TO SHOW MY BFF IN COLORADO WHAT I BOUGHT LATELY SO I DECIDED TO BLOG . THE PANTS ARE FROM MONOGRAM GOODS IN HARBOR SPRINGS , MICHIGAN. A GREAT GAL NAMED LAURA BRINGS DOWN A TRUNK SHOW IN THE SPRING AND SHE SELLS THESE PANTS. THE BRAND IS "IN THE WASH" JEANS. THEY ARE COMFORTABLE AND REALLY NICE SOFT JEANS TO WEAR TO DINNER AS WELL AS OUT DURING THE DAY AS CASUAL SLACKS. I DUPLICATED A COUPLE OF THE TOPS AND I FORGOT TO ROTATE! SORRY/ I WILL GET THE HANG OF THIS EVENTUALLY!

THE TWO TOPS ARE GORGEOUS IN PERSON. THE PHOTO DOESN'T DO THEM JUSTICE. THEY ARE COLORFUL LIKE ABSTRACT PAINTINGS. LONG SLEEVED AND LIGHT WEIGHT.

THE SHORT SLEEVE TOP IS FROM "TIBI" AS WELL AS THE DRESS. THEY BOTH LOOK HAND PAINTED AND THAT IS WHY I LOVE THEM.

THE PAINTINGS INCLUDED IN THIS BLOG ARE THREE IMPRESSIONISTIC PAINTINGS I JUST DID. I WANT TO DO A WHOLE BODY OF PAINTINGS FOR APPROVAL FOR THE ART ALLIANCE HERE IN THE ISLAND. I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN A SHOW BUT I REALIZE I HAVE TO REALLY WORK HARD AT MY ART. THE PAINTERS THERE ARE QUITE ACCOMPLISHED.

KAREN

MARCH 17, ST. PATTY'S DAY

THESE ARE NOT APPETIZERS! THESE ARE JELLIES ON THE BEACH IN SANIBEL ISLAND.

THIS FIRST PICTURE LOOKS LIKE A GIAN SEA SLUG. MAYBE IT IS!









YESTERDAY I WENT TO SANIBEL TO VISIT MOLLY AND HER FAMILY WHO ARE VACATIONING THERE FOR THE WEEK. I HAVE POSTED SOME PICTURES OF THE DAY WITH THE KIDS ON THE BEACH. THEIR OTHER GRANMA BUILDS FABULOUS SANDCASTLES WITH THE HELP OF THE KIDS SO I HAVE INCLUDED THOSE.

AS WE WERE WALKING ON THE BEACH SEVER JELLY FISH WERE LYING IN THE SAND. I ASSUMED THEY WERE DECEASED. I DIDN'T WANT TO TOUCH THEM! MY GRANDKIDS GO IN THE WATER ALL THE TIME AND I JUST HOPE THEY DO NOT GET STUNG!

A PLAYFUL DOLPHIN WAS FEEDING CLOSE TO THE SHORE AND WOULD BOB IN AND OUT. OCCASIONALLY, HE WOUND ZOOM IN TO US REAL CLOSE AS IF HE WERE REALLY AFTER A FISH. I AM SURE HE WAS. HE WAS TOO FAST FOR ME TO CATHC HIM IN A PHOTO.

IT WAS A CHILLY DAY! THAT HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF THIS WINTER HERE. THE KIDS COULD CARE LESS. THEY WENT SWIMMING ALL DAY.

THAT EVENING WE ATE AT THE GREEN FLASH ON CAPTIVA. IT WAS THE BEST MEAL AND FOOD I HAVE HAD IN FLORIDA THIS SEASON. WE CAN GET THERE ON OUR BOAT FROM BOCA GRANDE SO WE WILL HAVE TO JOURNEY DOWN AGAIN SOMETIME. IF IT EVER WARMS UP!!

KAREN

TODAY'S DESIGNS FEBRUARY 9, 2010

TODAY I STARTED MAKING THE BLUE NECKLACE FOR A FRIEND. I KEPT RESTRINGING IT AS I DIDN'T LIKE THE ORDER I HAD THE BEADS.

THE SECOND ONE WAS JUST A MATTER OF WIRE AND HANGING THE STONES ON THE TWISTED METAL NECKLACE. I DECIDED TO MAKE EARRINGS FOR IT.
I ALSO STARTED THINKING ABOUT AN ABSTRACT I WANT TO DO FOR A SILENT AUCTION THIS SPRING. I ORDERED SOME BOOKS FROM AMAZON ON ABSTRACT PAINTINGS. I LOVE CIRCLES AND GEOMETRIC DESIGNS. THE PALATE WILL BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE I HAVE TO STICK WITH COLORS PEOPLE DOWN HERE IN FLORIDA WILL LIKE. I LOVE THE EARTH TONES.

TOMORROW I WILL START FOOLING AROUND WITH COLORS.

KAREN

NEW DESIGN FEB. 8, 2010

I DID THIS TONIGHT TO WEAR TO A BOOK SIGNING TOMORROW. A FRIEND FROM DOG PARK IS HOSTING A NEW AUTHOR WHO WILL SPEAK AND SIGN HIS BOOK. TOMORROW I WILL TAKE PICTURES OF IT, HIM AND THE PARTY.

THE LAST TIME I MADE A NECKLACE, I DIDN'T SECURE THE FASTENER WELL AND THE VERY SECOND I ARRIVED IN CHURCH, KNELT DOWN AND BEGAN TO CONTEMPLATE MY LIFE, THE WHOLE THING BROKE AND OVER 100 BUTTONS AND BEADS SCURRIED ALL OVER THE PEWS, AISLE AND UNDER THE PEWS. MOST OF THE PARISHIONERS ARE IN THEIR 70'S SO I ENVISIONED THEM SLIPPING AND SLIDING ON BUTTONS AS THEY WENT TO COMMUNION. EVENTUALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THEM ALL PICKED UP WITH THE HELP OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME. WITH ALL OUR BAD JOINTS, BACKS AND OSTEOPOROSIS, WE MANAGED TO COLLECT THEM ALL BEFORE THE PRIEST ENTERED. WISH I HAD A CAMERA!

JUST THIS WEEK I FOUND A STRAY BUTTON UNDER MY KNEELER. GOOD THING THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN AS I WAS DISTRIBUTING COMMUNION!







KAREN

SUCH A DEAL!

THE DISHES WERE ALL 2.00 EACH. I HAVE FOUR OF EACH PATTERN. THEY LOOK GREAT ON A WHITE PLATE.

THE ALLIGATOR BEACH BAG WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE. TWENTY BUCKS. IT IS ADORABLE AND I PLAN TO USE IT AS AN OVERNIGHT BAG. TOO GOOD FOR THE BEACH.

THE LITTLE SWEATER HANGING IS A REAL CLASSIC SHRUG OR WHATEVER OVER A DRESS OR SLEEVELESS BLOUSE. AND THE SWEATER IS JUST TO KEEP ME WARM IN THE COLD FLORIDA WIND. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I WOULD NEED A BIG KNIT SWEATER IN FLORIDA??'

THE SWEATER COST $8.OO AND THE LITTLE COVERUP, $4.OO.

WHEN I WORE THE BIG SWEATER SUNDAY, I MADE THE MISTAKE OF TELLING MY HUSBAND I BOUGHT IT AT THE BARGIN STORE. HE SAID:"IT LOOKS LIKE A BARGIN! I WONDER IF ANYONE DIED IN IT??"

I DID WASH IT. IF I HAD SAID I BOUGHT IT AT NEIMAN MARCUS, I WONDER WHAT HE WOULD HE HAVE SAID???

I DON'T CARE WHO DIED IN IT! IT IS WARM!

NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT IS FUN TO GO THERE AND TREASURE HUNT. I WILL TAKE A PIC OF THE PLACE FOR THE NEXT BLOG.

MY FRIEND IS DECORATING HER ENTIRE HOUSE FROM THE STORE.

KAREN

NEW ITEMS

THE BUTTON NECKLACES ARE CATCHING ON AND I HAVE A FEW TO MAKE FOR FRIENDS. STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO CHARGE. THE GAL AT THE BEAD STORE SUGGESTED TAKE YOUR ORIGINAL PRICE FOR MATERIALS AND MULTIPLY BY 3. THAT SHOULD BE THE PRICE.

THE DOG IS RUFFLES WHO BELONGS TO MY FRIEND JOYCE. RUFFLES IS A GOLDEN AND SO ADORABLE. SO HAPPY. I ENCIRCLED HER IN POTATO CHIPS AND CALLED IT, "RUFFLES HAS RIDGES", OF COURSE. SHE ALSO HAS A CAVASCHON NAMED PEBBLES AND I DID A PASTEL OF HER A FEW WEEKS AGO. I HAD PEBBLES IN A BEACH MODE WITH SOME SHELLS AND SEA GRASS. I ALSO PUT SAND IN MY PAINTING SO PARTS OF IT LOOK LIKE AN ACTUAL BEACH. THAT ONE I NAMED,"PEBBLES'S BEACH!" NAMING THEM IS HALF THE FUN.

SO FAR, I HAVE NOT CHARGED MY CLOSE FRIENDS FOR A PASTEL AS I AM USING THEM FOR PRACTICE. I JUST TOOK A SHORT COURSE IN PASTELS WHICH SEEMS TO BE MY BEST MEDIA.

THE CIRCLE PAINTING I DID FOR TOMMY IS FINISHED AND NOW SHE WANTS ANOTHER ONE FOR THE OPPOSITE WALL. SO I WILL START THAT TODAY AND POST IT.


I THINK I AM GOING TO TRY A HUGH CANVAS WITH SWIRLS, VERY IMPRESSIONISTIC.

IF I AM NOT DOING SOMETHING CREATIVE I AM SHOPPING FOR CREATIVE STUFF AT OUR LOCAL BARGIN SHOP. IN THE NEXT BLOG I WILL SHOW THE VARIOUS THINGS I HAVE BOUGHT THERE. THIS WILL BE FUN AND THE PRICES ARE AMAZING!

KAREN

MORE FINISHED PROJECTS

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I POSTED SOME OTHER BEADING PROJECTS THAT I HAVE JUST COMPLETED. ONE NECKLACE AND BRACELET THAT I AM SENDING TO MY DAUGHTER WHO ASKED FOR SOMETHING WITH RED BEADS. I HOPE SHE LIKES IT.


I WORE MY FIRST ONE THE OTHER DAY AND TWO WOMEN WANT ONE SO I WILL START MAKING THEIRS TOMORROW. I STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO CHARGE BEYOND THE MATERIALS.

I JUST FINISHED THE PAINTING FOR TOMMY AND I HOPE SHE LIKES IT.

THERE IS THIS CONSIGNMENT PLACE OR RATHER A GIVE AWAY STORE THAT TAKES IN OVER 100,000.00 DOLLARS A YEAR IN SALES. I AM GOING TO LOOK FOR NECKLACES THERE AND USE THE BEADS. GOOD BEADS ARE EXPENSIVE. THE ONES AT FIRE MOUNTIAN, MICHAELS, TARGET, WALL MART ARE CHEAP AND ARE GOOD FOR FILLERS. I AM TOO ADDICTED TO THE BIG CHUNKY ONES THAT ARE CERAMIC OR FROM AFRICA AND OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES. AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE. I LIKE ODD JEWELRY TO ADD A PIECE HERE AND THERE JUST FOR THE INTEREST.

IF ANYONE KNOWS OF SOME GOOD BEAD SOURCES, PLEASE LET ME KNOW THRU THE BLOG OR E MAIL.

THANKS, KAREN