HONEY, I'M HO-OME!

When we arrived at our condo, it was dark, but that didn't keep me from taking pictures of the ocean. :) This was under exposed so I did the 'Auto Smart Fix' in Photoshop.

And happy to be back!

If you look closely...you can see the ocean.

Sophia arrived about an hour after we got to the house on Monday and we, of course, had quite a lovely reunion.

I turned around while standing in front of the beach...and shot this picture of the condo where we stayed. (The one with the light on).

It's Thursday morning and she's still here...which is wonderful, but she's been sick since Tuesday morning. Sicker than I've ever seen her. 

And looking toward the ocean from the condo. I know...boring pix.

She hasn't wanted to go home partly because her Grumpy (my hubby) has been painting her room pink and her new bed hasn't arrived there yet - 

Early on the first morning of our stay in Belleaire Beach.

and partly because she wants to be close to her annie! grandma. (insert big smile).

It is no small thing to be loved by those that are fresh from God. (borrowed quote)

Oscar was a frequent visitor...uh...beggar.

We really miss each other when we're apart. 

He stepped inside every time I wasn't looking.

Hillary, my daughter, wants her home tonight. She's been coming here to visit her daughter (hahahahahaha) in between her two jobs. Poor daddy hasn't seen his princessa since Monday morning.

Where the sidewalk ends.

This morning, Sophia walked downstairs on her own two feet and has just finished a small bowl of cereal...which I think she's gonna keep down. I'm posting while she watches cartoons.

Inside pix of the condo we rented BUT when we arrived it hadn't been cleaned from the last guests. Unmade beds, dirty kitchen & bathroom, etc.

The pictures (of our trip) that I've included here have captions where necessary...and that's all the time I feel I can give the computer until hubby gets home. 

Also, the AC wasn't working and he wouldn't fix it. We couldn't get even a partial refund so won't be recommending this unit to anyone.

I'm looking forward to seeing your posts (and have been reading when I can) and can't wait to see what you've been up to!

But I did my best, successfully, to not let it bother me and concentrated instead on all the wonderful things about the area.

Create your life,

annie!

And there were many wonderful things.

FABULOUS FLORIDA!

We're still in Texas at our son's house...but I figured out how to get pix on my blog without loading them on their computer. Woo Hoo!

The pictures of the flowers above were taken while I waited for my hubby to check availability at a hotel in Coral Gables...near the Colombian Consulate...where we went to get our VISAS. NO availability anywhere NEAR due to conventions, etc...and I know better but thought we'd try our luck because I don't know the area.

Oh well - we passed Miami / South Beach area at dusk on the way to find a hotel which was a total treat and then stayed in an OK place in North Miami Beach where we were treated to a spectacular sunrise.

We received our VISAS in the same morning that we applied - due to the great efficiency of Moncia (at the Consulate) and a fantastic Jenny at DocuRapid where they bend over backwards to be helpful in getting our paperwork together every year. Thank you Jenny!!!

We headed to Cape Coral, where we lived for 10 years, and miss horribly at times, and stayed with my dear friend Vickie who painted the above wall for her grand-son's highly anticipated arrival.

After a couple nights of pure laziness and fun, we crossed the Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay on our way up to Belleaire Beach (and the condo that we rented for the next 8 nights) - where it was raining on the south side and sunny -with a rainbow - to the north.

More later. Our Winge (my son's awesome wife) just got home and we have lots to do!!!

Later alligator!

O HAPPY DAY!

After I painted the fabric, I added gesso...just to see what would happen and it totally reminded me of a bunch of flowers.

We leave for our trip tomorrow...so unless I can't sleep tonight...which is highly unlikely...this will be my last post for a month!

This is it (on the right) upside down when I still wasn't sure where I was going with it.

Here is another of the door knob quilts that came about from painting scraps one day last month and along with the last two I've shown you...is also for sale.

I thought the flower arrangement would be WAY different...but this is how it is...

I loved using other elements - from other projects (failed)- like the bottle and mug...

And pieces from techniques I've played around with and saved every last scrap of - like the white 'picture' on the wall...

Most of all I loved the freedom of just being able to 'do the next thing' as it came to me...

And end up with a quilt that's gonna be hard to let go of!!!


If it sells that is.


I will miss you in the coming month...

Create Your life,


annie!

RED SKY AT NIGHT...SAILOR'S DELIGHT

Another door knob quilt that began with a scrap of fabric that I painted with some of my favorite colors...

  

And that reminded me of an ocean scene after I lay the long strips at the bottom...

 of a sunset with beautiful red and gold skies and a little white froth at the edge of the shell and seaweed scattered sand...

 With the reflection of the last rays of sun shining on the water...

 A few seagulls looking for their bedtime snack...

And glorious color promising the sailor's delight... 

 

 Mentioned in the old adage...

 Red Sky at Night...Sailor's Delight... 

 

TRES PESCADAS

estrapajos - inside

I'll be teaching a workshop in Clearwater, FL on April 5th and 7th at the studio of Marlene Glickman! 

estropajos (the lady that helps me with the house brought them from a tree in her barrio)

It's exciting to be preparing to teach again!

why they call them estrapajos - scrubbers - i use one in the shower

Marlene asked me if I'd like to bring some items to sell, so I got to work making what I call Door Knob Quilts.

estrapajo seeds

I was in the mood to paint fabric so I began by playing with acrylics and smallish scraps. (What else...right?!?) 

I use any brand of acrylic paint and have no problem sewing through it. I save all of the scraps when I trim anything and pieced the batting in the following quilt.

When the paint dried...this one 

looked like three little fish so I free motion stitched

them swimming along the bottom of the ocean.

I added some trim at the bottom (scrap cut off of another project), fishing lures and loops for hanging.

I'm not convinced that I like it better with all the 'extras'.

What do you think?!? 

                                         linking to Pink Saturday

THERE'S AN IGUANA UNDER THAT FLOWER - ART JOURNAL NUMBER TWO

There's an iguana under that flower.

This art journal looks very similar to the Hot Dog art journal you may have seen in my last post, 

because I worked on them at the same time, 

using lots of the same ephemera - 

but is actually quite different. 

Both of these journals were made out of recycled greeting cards. 

The flowers on the cover of both are some that I made for a project which my Sophia asked me to help her make. 

She designed and directed the above flower robot and I used left-over flowers for the art journal covers. :) 

Jennibellie was my main inspiration. :) 

I was also motivated by the fact that I'll be teaching a couple workshops on making art journals out of what most people usually throw away

 - in Florida - 

in about 3 weeks time! 

I have hundreds more cards that I've saved over the years and will hopefully put them to good use...soon. 

I've decided I'm on a down-sizing spree and every time I use something that I already have on hand...

it makes me feel SO good. 

It really is a totally joyful process.

Try it - 

you'll like it!

annie!