Tolentreasures

We just returned from the   Bloomsburg Fair in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It is truly one of the nicest fairs that I have attended.  The needlework and handcraft displays are always my favorite. But this is also a great display. The garden clubs create them around a theme. This year was Kaleidoscope. Each wedge was the handiwork of a different garden club. the mantel was red, one pedestal green, one pedestal yellow, the table blue, the door purple and orange, well, that was in another area.   They are judged and what I like best is reading the judge's critique.  The dahlias in the historic garden were awesome.  This was our little group. What a fun time!  Beautiful displays of fruits and vegetables.  My first horse pull. And really...? It was way more interesting than I thought it was going to be. Pulling here is another friend of ours.  Giant pumpkins And all kinds

Someone asked me about the pumpkin faces last week. Here are the steps that I use to make the faces. First of all, base coat whatever you are using with shades of orange.   You can read about how to do the background here or http://tolentreasures.blogspot.com/2011/01/star-and-berry-vine-tutorial.html   (Somewhere on this blog, I posted a whole tutorial on backgrounds, think I can find it?  Of course not.)   Then trace on your face. I use chalk, freehand it! Honestly, they are all different.   One little word of caution. If you are using pan lids, I drill the hole before I paint them and make sure that hole is at the top when you start painting.   All mistakes that I have made and that we are not going to talk about. Just trust me.     I paint the faces with white first. Yellow just takes too many coats.   Then Yellow and yellow again. Paint the noses (handles) black.   Sideload a bright red on the bottom

  Who? Kendall, the one on the left asks a lot of questions.  Gracelyn, the one on the right is more , let's say, ethereal.  She makes up her own stories... and answers. Kendall is literal, grounded in the who, what, where, when, why and how. They love to play in the tailgate while we are waiting on the bus in the morning. Makes me have to keep it cleaned out. What? That is not an easy task! You will see why later.   Where?   This is my attic.  This is open house stuff! I have painted and knitted and sewed and, wait for it, Priced Nothing!!!!   So, I spend a lot of time sitting up here doing inventory and pricing.   When? Early morning. The Great Grout Experience See how bad the grout looks? One morning I tried Baking soda, Vinegar, Lemon juice, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Ammonia, Clorox, (not mixed of course, I am not that dumb, well... to tell you the truth at one point in life I was that dumb,

You will need: A surface (of course) I find that it is easier to do a wet on wet blending technique on canvas. Anything with a "tooth" will work though and canvas suitcases are a great surface to work on.  Wet on wet blending on smooth surfaces gets a little trickier so when you are starting or practicing this technique, look for something that will make it easier.   Those inexpensive canvas boards are a good way to start. Now back to what you will need: Circle Template (or two) Pencil, of course Chalk pen or chalk (not pictured) Paint and Brushes.   Ok, so I am pretty loose where it comes to paint colors. Look for ones that blend together nicely and experiment. I have done these in browns also. Light Cinnamon, Bleached Sand... White.   Brushes. I really like a filbert for these. It is already rounded and doesn't make hard edges in your blending as a flat would. That being said, I have painted a lot of

"Children Are Like Kites"         You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground. You run with them until you're both breathless. They crash. They hit the rooftop. You patch and comfort, adjust and teach them. Finally they are airborne... They need more string and you keep letting it out. But with each twist of the ball of twine, there is a sadness that goes with joy. The kite becomes more distant, and you know it won't be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that binds you two together and will soar as it is meant to soar, free and alone. Only then do you know that you did your job. " Author: unknown     I have had this framed and read it over and over for years.   Several incidents prompted me to re-read it in the last week or so, not the least of which was watching my daughter take care of her baby boy as he was in the hospital last week. What an awesome m

Ever get songs stuck in your head?   I have two right at the moment.   When things go a little haywire at the shop or at home  we have been saying, "How Bizarre!" Like while cleaning up the basement, inside a porcelain bedpan I find these little dogs. How bizarre?   Two packages in the mail a couple of days ago. One, giant pumpkin seeds and the other, Himalayan Pink Salt. How Bizarre?   And then I heard it....    The song, on the radio, and I can't get it out of my head.     Brother Pele's in the back, sweet Seena's in the front Cruising down the freeway in the hot, hot sun Suddenly red-blue lights flash us from behind Loud voice, "All move, please step out onto the line" Pele breathes words of comfort Seena just hides her eyes Policeman taps his shades "Is that a Chevy 69?" How bizarre How bizarre, how bizarre Destination unknown, as we pull in for some gas A fre