Getting ready for summer art and craft shows.....

Well summer is here and time to start getting ready for a busy summer of teaching some art classes and getting back into entering some art and craft shows.....I am very excited and busy getting ready... I am lucky I have a great Hubby who helps me in so many ways.....

here is John helping out with some painting......

I found these suitcases at a thrift shop all 3 for $5.99...couldn't believe it so home they came.....decided to spruce them up to help store all my goodies for the shows.....

I gave them a quick cleaning and then a coat of some nice pink paint....

then I just started playing and playing........it was a nice father's day and we were relaxing at home today...

so I set up my studio on my back porch, under the umbrella with some music playing and a few good drinks and I was set....

I had such a relaxing and productive day.... my hubby watched his sports and I played with paint....

this is the start of the smaller suitcase, and I thought  I would add a beach theme to this one.....

always loved painting beach themed pictures......my Mom and Dad live in Florida and I just love it there...... so I was dreaming of sitting on the beach down in Florida.....

first I paint the background then move onto the objects, then I love to outline with sharpie markers......

I could paint all day..............I started painting when I was very young.....my Mom and Dad sent me to all kinds of art classes and painting is my true love.....

and after some rotator cuff surgery last year and many months of physical therapy it is so nice to be painting like I use to....last summer it was not looking so good and I am so happy to have my  arm back to normal....

here is the 2 suitcases I finished today.....the large suitcase is next.....

a visit to my garden............

just love this time of  year..... the school year is coming to an end.....one more week of school...... then to be off for 2 months...I just can't believe it.....I have been waiting for this for awhile now...have so much planned for this summer...I can't wait to get it started.....but for now I will wait and enjoy my garden.....

lovely flowers in my flower box....

our cute little shed....

lilies......

love this color pink against the rich greens of the garden...

I love hosta's..and these are some of the largest leaves I have ever seen

This is a citronella plant and I just love it...it is suppose to help keep the mosquitoes away and every time you walk by it or water it you  smell this clean wonderful scent.....

can't wait for the apples to be ready......

our butterfly bush is the biggest ever and the blooms are gorgeous......

love this rusty garden angel......

trying our luck at white pumpkins called Casper...hoping for  some nice ones for decorating.....

hydrangeas always a favorite...........

love the patterns on these hosta's

yet another Hosta.......hope you enjoyed a little  peak into my garden.......

Having fun painting again............

I have been a bit under the weather....matter of fact most of my family had this terrible virus....Thank god it has been banned from ever coming back into our home....
It started with my son Myles who had it first and was so sick and in bed for a week....poor guy even missed his high school graduation.....then my eldest son Ryan and I both got it the same time and man it hit us hard as well, fever, head ache, stomach flu..... the works.......but we are so thankful we are better and back to normal.....( if you can call us normal)
Happy to say that I was able to  get a little painting done and did I have fun playing................
I am in the middle of taking a class by Mindy Lacefield called Paint your Story
http://www.timssally.com/p/paint-your-story.html...she is adorable and is teaching you how to paint like a 7 year old and how to let go and have fun....and that is just what I did....

here is a few of my painted backgrounds........

 

a day at the flea...Ocean Grove NJ Giant Flea Market 2012

our first stop at the flea market is always at the pretzel stand....they make the most delicious pretzels with a mustard bar...we never miss this stand...

thought what a funny head....

some interesting hats.....

a few flippers........

just loving all these pretty little dolls....

a few more...........

it was a beautiful day and the flea market is held right in front of the Auditorium.... 

a windmill......funny.... this is this weeks challenge between Laura and I on our blog lauramchughsquared.blogspot.com!!!so stay tuned for some windmill art....

loved these colorful pins but (ha ha ha) bet this lady wouldn't be  happy knowing  her butt was in the picture....

weathermen were wrong again...it was a beautiful day down by the beach....

just loved the color of these vintage glass and metal vases....

for lunch we walked along the beach and into Asbury Park and had lunch on the boardwalk.......

f

rum buckets are so good at http://www.mcloonesasburygrille.com/

 

had a ladybug land  in my cup...that's good luck I believe.....

 Madam Marie's..... made famous in Bruce's songs....it was another great flea market day....