Rebel (No, not the Ole Miss kind...)

Meet my newest toy. 

Between my new art easel, sewing machine, and this, I doubt I will have time to sleep.  The camera is scheduled to get here on Thursday (just in time for my friends and their cameras to come in town).  I can't contain my excitement.  I bought it on a whim from B&H photo.  Ok, I say 'whim' but I have been stalking cameras since April as I mentioned here.  When I saw this Canon EOS Rebel XT, at a price less than my current point-and-shoot elf, I bought it.  (I did make myself wait a few hours before so it wasn't completely an impulse decision.) 

Keep your fingers crossed that it's what I expect.  I need to review what I learned in photography class in college.  Matt and Carol, I am going to need to borrow Toby for action shots.  Thanks.

One minor and one major update

Major update first:

It appears I might be able to actually sew a thing or two.  I made the pillow to the right yesterday.  It's made of cream fleece. I have a throw LP(G) gave me in the same fabric monogrammed in brown so when I found this fleece on sale at Joann's, I knew it was meant to be.  I literally sat at my table and followed along with the instructional DVD on how to thread my bobbin and etc.  This pillow is the result.  Is it 100% quality? No.  But it's a start (especially at $11 total...fleece and 20 inch pillow insert)

Here is a view of the pillow on the couch. I am debating doing one for the other side....it's just more usable than my other pottery barn pillows which are starting to look rough.

AND here is what I worked on until I started the sewing project....yep, still intimidating.  But like I've said, my favorite ones start out that way.  The easel makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE in the world.  ALL the difference!

Merry Christmas and MY VERY OWN REAL ART EASEL

I hope every one of you had a very Merry Christmas!! It went by too fast as always....  One of my Christmas gifts has to do with my art endeavors so I thought I would share it with you!  'Santa' brought me this.  (Obviously not the painting but the art easel.)

This easel is just like the ones we had in the art studio in college.  I CAN'T WAIT to use it.  (After I type this I am actually heading to use it.)

To give you an idea, I worked on an easel I bought at Home Goods for about 5 years now.  When I moved into my house I had 2 roomates and nowhere to store this big of an easel (nor was I sure I would get the use out of it).  Imagine painting the large painting you see here on the easel in the back left corner of the first picture!  It was difficult.  If I pressed too hard on the corners the canvas would flip off the easel. Now I am secure and I can move it up and down, tilt it backwards or forwards, etc! 

I WISH I had taken a picture of the assembly.  That would have been the best picture of all.  It didn't take us long to realize the easel would not fit in my car.  Mom and Dad would have to bring it to me at home point.  I had fully prepared myself to wait but they were sweet enough to drive back with me and bring it TODAY.  Little did they know they would also be helping out with assembly.  The instructions were some of the WORST I have seen.  3 minds and about an hour (I think) later, we had it up.  THANK YOU MOM AND DAD.  I LOVE IT!!!!!!

Ok, off to paint. :)

P.S.  There is a sewing machine under that white box.  I am about to learn how to use it.  Wish me luck.  Fabric has always been my enemy.  I am determined to start making aprons!

Bluff Park 2010

I just found out the 2010 Bama schedule is released.  Guess what football game is ON the day of the Bluff Park art festival?

Florida AT Bama.

I am bummed.

That means half of Birmingham will be out of town.  The other half will be in front of the tv.  Did I mention how I am bummed....(Auburn is a home game too but not a big one.... vs. Louisana-Monroe...)

painting...still not what you probably expect

Before and afters are always fun so I thought I would share. Those of you that have been to my house KNOW how bright red the bathroom was.  And while the pics don't show the colors exactly, I think you can see the grey which i LOVE.  I now have to figure out what I want to do to accessorize.  Since it took me 5 years just to paint it, I think I will take my time to find the right towel, rug and etc. :)  (P.S. Those pictures are from my college photography class...back before we had digital!  AND I still love them. )

Public service accouncement: I always buy the expensive brushes and rollers.  It makes a difference on how easily the pait goes on...BIG DIFFERENCE.  This time I decided to be cheap with my paint trays and got the disposable ones (because I was lazy and didnt think I wanted to clean one).  It collapsed on me when it was full of paint when I first picked it up.  They are made for use INSIDE the pan.  OOPS!  My hardwoods survived but I think they cried too!

it's the most wonderful time of the year...

I am writing to let you know I am fully aware that my Bluff Park art show submissions must be ready by April 1st. I am fully prepared to have them done in time. I have a million ideas in my head. BUT because pictures make everything better (in my opinion) let me explain myself....I have been busy and somewhat distracted.

Most of all I have fully gotten into the holiday spirit. It started with the annual cabin trip...

Yes, can you believe it? That is SNOW you see.  And this was our "cabin."  (It actually belongs to one of my best friend's parents.  They have worked hard on it for years and it shows!!! How blessed are we?!) We are actually in Arley, AL despite what it may seem.  We felt like we might as well have been in Montana and not on Smith Lake. 

I cannot take credit for the awesome photos above.  You can tell which ones are not from my camera.  Ann Wade came along with us (if you are in need of a wedding photographer....she is one for you!). She brought along her "backup" professional camera. I am telling you. We had a BLAST with it. The weekend made for some great pictures and I am now convinced I need an SLR camera. Thanks, AW! I NEED one for painting, right? MAYBE that should be my goal to save up my profits on painting (and encourage me to get my butt moving).  MAYBE?  I think that is motivation.  I am leaning towards a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi. I have always loved my Canons....all 5 of them.

When I got home on Sunday I was inspired to craft.  I've been doing a lot of work/calculus and my creative mind needed some exercise.  My friend (thank you Jarred!!!!!!!) brought me some awesome pine cones.  They try to sell ones at pottery barn that are half this cool. I guilded them and put them in my garland and on my wreath and that is what I needed for the finishing touches of my Christmas decorations. Pottery barn...watch out.

That is all I leave you with tonight.  Next time maybe I will have an oil paint related post to share. :)