My new Baby

Last week I was feeling VERY tired, overwhelmed and a little, no A LOT burnt out.
Having spent the past 2 months doing virtually 12 shows. I am wiped.
I needed to work, but felt like running around to antique stores and thrift haunts instead. Should have been Christmas shopping or decorating my house for the said holiday, but what the heck, I still have a a few weeks, Right???? I am hardly the big Broo-ha-ha Christmas person anyway. Like the meaning, could skip the commercialism.
Anyway.
At one of my FAVORITE haunts, I spied the piece of studio furniture that dreams are made of. Yes, I have DREAMED about a piece of furniture like this. An Antique Store counter with lots of drawers with built in sorters, a nice work area on top...OMG!!!



It had a SOLD sign on it. WAH!!!! I almost cried. How could I have missed a piece like this????



I know you all can relate. You see the most amazing item in an Antique Store with a sold or layaway sign on it. Or you are at the Flea Market and you see some infidel walking away with YOUR treasure. I KNOW you know what I mean!



As I have sold at this particular antique store, know all of the dealers and owners very well, I asked, "who bought this and How MUCH?"
I never found out how much, but did find out that mother/daughter dealer friends of mine bought it. Wahoo! I thought to myself. Might have a chance at getting it after all, as I was sure they were heading to Orange County to sell it at their shop there.




On the phone I hop to see if I can still nab this wonderful piece of the past.




I am in luck. They will sell it to me. I can put it on layaway for two months AND I get to take it home now. Seems there is a riot going on at the shop over this piece , so they want it to go away fast...not to mention that they know where I live...



After a bottle of Murphys Oil soap and elbow grease for 2 hrs it is cleaning up nicely.
Tomorrow it is time for Howards to spiff up the finish a bit more.

Check out the old racks for paper, twine and who knows what? This store counter has to be a hundred years old. The opposite side where the customers would stand there is a shelf and there once was sliding glass to keep the goodies away from small hands I am sure. I added some vintage sheet music to the bottom of one of the drawers at it needed it.




As I took the drawers out (many with cubbies for sorting) Pinch me, please. I hoped to find a snippet of the past....something. I found the piece of a bill or sale. A hand written receipt. All I can make out is "Br", 1/2 do", "Spin" and "Kilo". That's it. There is a red "25 at the bottom right indicating part of the numeral to identify the ticket order. I Long for more. I wish it could talk. If I find out more, I will post it.



Needless to say, my Studio is singing as is my heart. Just the rejuvenating I need right now.

Hugs,
Lisa

Remiss

Life has been hectic and I have been remiss at my responsibility and commitment to blogging. I have been so busy making things to sell and attending shows that I really have not had time. Thanksgiving was Fabulous. I had 20 family members at my home and it was really lovely. Then I got sick for a couple days and got crazy with herbal remedies but am all better now. Go Oregano Oil, garlic, lemon water and Organic Juice drinks. Yes, I smelled like a mediterranean salad, but it worked and took only two days to kick it out of my system.

Since I have been AWFUL at taking pictures of the lovely shows I have been attending, thought I'd share some recent pics from my garden. It is my haven, I have to be in it everyday and I have a view of it from both of my studios...not to mention the sound of water from the fountain and pond.

Sorry for not posting more, may you enjoy my garden, forgive me and feel a sense of peace during this very hectic time of year.

Hugs,
Lisa

I LOVE to CrEaTe!

Jungle Mural. Commercial Client


Close up painting of Zebra face...One of my Faves!



Indiana Jones.



Chandelier Mannequin and re-habilitated painted ladies.



Over my artistic years, I have endeavored to try many mediums. I adore mannequins and dress forms and have dozens throughout my house that I have done some pretty crazy stuff on. The pics here are those that I have made and sold. Also are some murals pictures that I have done recently as I am a muralist by trade.



Cherubs in a bathroom.



A Client's Dogs painted on the wall of their Daughter's room.

Ahhh...Le Maison Rustique

A glorious Friday and Saturday at La Maison Rustique. One of my new "besties" Debi Beard of Out of Blue in Solana Beach and I both headed 1 hour 15 minutes from our homes to meet in the middle at the Barn Sale in Temecula. What Fun and what talented and wonderful ladies we met. Rita Reade or Mammabellarte.blogspot and her sweet husband Dean put us up for the night at their darling Casa. No B & B could compare to their hospitality. My altered Mary Shrine now graces their home or Rita's Studio as a thank you for Rita GIVING me the coolest ottoman that matches my living room perfectly. Que Bella Rita, Grazie!!



A few if my belt buckles and hand painted tooled leather belts. All vintage jewels are used to make these buckles and they are one of a kind!




Mine and Debi's Booth at the sale. LOVE my canopy made by our friend Pam Small!



The Queen's jewels. This necklace is a work of art by itself and one feels like a princess wearing it.




One of my displays.



Fairy kewpie is a hit as ususal!



Debi decided she was cold and needed a little Bling for her skirt, so she shimmied this cute little petticoat up and under to have the flourish of lace peeking from her skirt. It did keep her warm too!!! Love, love, love you Debi!!




A beautiful weekend with beautiful new friends. Thank you all for your warmth and grace!

xo,
Lisa

Le Maison Rustique!

My most talented gal pal Debi of Out of the Blue in Solana Beach and I are honored to be heading out to the Temecula Coutryside to participate in The one and only Le Maison Rustique Barn sale...Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th. Looking forward to meeting new friends. Thanks to Linda lamaisonrustique.typepad.com and Rita of mammabellarte.blogspot.com for inviting us! Can't wait to hang with Debi as we always are working and live 2 hours away from each other.

Here's a shot of some new pieces I just made this past week...Rings are HOT this year and seems the bigger the better!!! Big chunky necklaces, too. Fabulous warm Fall colors.

Hope to see you all there!!

Hugs,
Lisa

A fairy lives here...

I worked in my studio all day today. The house was fairly quiet, the children were away most of the day doing there own things. Each came home at different times. When I was packing up for my show tomorrow, I noticed tiny fairy bouquets sitting on my bureau...



Aren't they magical? Tiny little flowers gathered into darling bouquets.



Hydrangea, Coleus blossoms...tenderly wrapped in leaves.





I found her...the fairy fae who lives here and leaves me magical little trinkets.
Must be sure she knows how special she is.

I have three sons. Any of you mothers of just sons can empathize with me that there is a little part of your soul that longs for a daughter. She is a shining star...so different than the boys. She leaves me love notes and tokens all of the time.

These bouquets made me day and I had to share. Tomorrow we share an adventure participating in the Mermaid Mercantile. A Mother/Daughter day.

In the Pink!

As you lovely ladies out there know, or should know.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
I am dedicating this post to my Friend Apryl and her sister Norma.
Apryl was diagnosed with the same breast cancer, in the same breast and the
same age as her older sister Norma. Norma lost her life to the disease while she was undergoing experimental drug testing. For Norma it was too late and she was too far into her disease and lost her life to it. 10 years later when Apryl was diagnosed her life was saved by the same treatment her sister was part of the trial for.
She is a miracle.



In their honor and in honor of the many others who have won and lost their battles to the disease, I have decided to post some of my favorite pink things from my photo
program.










Remember to get the Ta-Tas checked ladies. so we can each see many more beautiful sunsets with our loved ones. xoxo, Lisa