Days gone by.....

The Class of 1965, Lititz, PA

2010-11-03T05:09:00.000-07:00

Had a class reunion on October 23, 2010. It was 45 years ago that my classmates and I wandered out in the big, bad world to try and make our mark. Did we? I think many did. Anyway, it was a fun night that was way too short - we did no dancing as we spent too much time talking and reconnecting with one another. It really was a great night....

2010-08-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a fun day - we took a trip to Virginia to learn how to do coptic stitch. Travel time was a killer but the end result was very satisfying and hopefully we will be able to take more classes from Pam and her co-owner, Caroline. Here are a few pictures of the end result...

The name of the studio we played at is Whimsies Flight Decorative Arts Studio. What a great time and a great result!! Thanks Pam for a great day.

craft...craft...craft

2010-08-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

I have been crafting forever and am always looking to make something. This is a different rendition of something I did last year. I painted the peat pot gold this time, got some Christmas clipart from the net and this is what I came up with. I did about 10 with Halloween motifs that I sold at a local craft show, I am hoping these will sell at a Christmas craft show my painting friends and I are entering (we are hoping 3 or 4 of them). Easy to do and seems like an easy sell.

We are family....

2010-08-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent picture of me and my brothers. From left to right - Robert (the baby - Bob), James (Jim), me, and the oldest of the clan, George (we call him Don). I just realized that we are in order of birth with Don being the oldest, then me, Jim, and finally Bob. We are second generation Americans with roots from Greece, Norway, and Yugoslavia. I have great memories of a fantastic childhood - starting in Connecticut. In 1955 Schick (remember them?) moved their plant to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and since my father worked for Schick, we, too, moved to this area. I think I will sometimes use this blog to chart events in my life. If anyone ever reads this, I hope you will enjoy reading my ramblings as much as I enjoy writing them.

2010-08-17T09:09:00.000-07:00

I took a Feather Tree class with real feathers. Brought it home - I was a proud Momma. And then...and then...remember Cash? Well, he ate the tree - feathers gone, wood base gone, dowel rod gone. Found the wire, but the rest of it...gone! So I started another one and as soon as it is finished I will post a picture!

Okay - here are the pictures I promised. I just started this - oh - 3 weeks ago and still haven't had the time to finish what I started. My goal is to make antique white, orange, and black trees. So one started, two to go??

2009-05-01T03:02:00.000-07:00

Lilacs

Azalea

Dandelion (a beautiful weed)

More Azaleas

Bloominf shrubs (and a weed) in my not so well

tended garden....I love the colors......

2009-04-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

Cash - that is still his name - climbed into our dryer while Leslee was folding clothes. We only took a million pictures of him in the dryer before we scoled him for doing such a dastardly deed. Bad puppy, but oh so cute.

2009-04-02T21:43:00.000-07:00

Am I not the cutest........

more puppy....

2009-03-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome the newest member of the Brinkman family...

2009-03-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

My name is Cash (I think). I am 12 weeks old, a rescue puppy, and I have very sharp teeth. I think Turk is okay with me - he didn't chew on me, yet.

Pretty pots...

2009-03-20T15:02:00.000-07:00

This is how it starts - a peat pot that all die hard gardeners use to start their blooms. I painted the pot, inside and out, with an off white acrylic paint. If you decide to do this be aware that the pot becomes very pliable with the addition of the paint. To counteract this, paint the outside first, let it dry, then paint the inside. Take a Wallies (available at your local craft store - maybe your local paint store) and decoupage the wallie onto the pot. Let this dry. You can add a pipe cleaner for a handle. add some glitter, or chop up some tissue paper to add to the side. Whatever strikes your fancy. The pots pictured are 3" pots - my next batch will be smaller as I will add them to my Easter tree. Note - the image on the front pot was taken from a picture on my computer.

done with the loo...

2009-03-17T07:01:00.000-07:00

I put in the second loo yesterday but did not take any pictures. Sorry...it was a tad bit more work as I seemed to not have much luck with the entire process. So much for thinking I am a master plumber. Let's hope #3 goes better.

What I did do was play with this blog and and put up this pretty picture of tree branches loaded with snow. Have a great day!!

Loo #2...

2009-03-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

Today I removed the 2nd loo - the one in the powder room. I did not finish the project as I wanted to paint the walls. Well, really just touch them up, but Sears no longer carries the paint I used - shock shock, Martha Stewart paint. So without the paint, I'll finish tomorrow and post some pictures. I know you all are thinking - how exciting, pictures of the new loo!!! But I am having fun and really - how many 61 year old female plumbers showing their arse crack while replacing a loo do you know - one, ME!!!!

My latest craft...

2009-03-13T05:44:00.000-07:00

I live in Lititz, PA and the closest "big" city is Lancaster. The first Friday of every month some of the art shops and interior decorator shops extend their hours to 8 PM. You can walk around downtown Lancaster and go from shop to shop, look at art, and purchase items that will add to the decor of your home. It really is fun and just a good way to spend an evening out. Most shops have some type of refreshment - OMG - even wine!!!

One shop I like a lot has beautiful items that will add great style to a home. One such item caught my eye and as I picked it up I realized it was something I could make at home - so I did!

I went to my local craft store and purchased sheet moss and a green styrofoam ball. I then glued the sheet moss to the styrofoam ball and now I am the proud maker/owner of a "classy" decorative piece for my home and as the saying goes - for a fraction of the cost! I plan on making 2 or 3 more of various sizes and will post a picture of the completed pieces when I am done. For now, here is #1.

Roman shades even though I am part Greek.....

2009-03-04T07:55:00.000-08:00

Today's adventure is learning how to make Roman shades. I will not be making a Roman shade - I will be watchingsomone else make the shade. And to think I paid money (which is in short supply all over the world) for this. I will let all know how smart I got after the class! Have a good day!

A day spent painting....

2009-02-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

Today I took a painting class held by one of my painting friends, Sue. There were only 3 of us in the class - a wonderful circumstance as less is better when it comes to the tole painting we did. So here are the pictures from beginning to end. Not a great paint but at least I tried. Next time I'll do better - I promise!!

maybe tomorrow....

2009-02-21T20:02:00.000-08:00

No pictures today...I was to be replacing the 2nd of the loos but I just didn't feel it today. Maybe tomorrow....

I am over winter - where the heck (notice I did not use my potty mouth) is SPRING!!! I am so ready for pretty pretty flowers - well, not flowers as we all know I don't do dirt, but I do have bushes that are quite beautiful in the spring. And pictures of those I will post!!

Fun with mason jars....

2009-02-19T19:42:00.000-08:00

I was playing tonight with the luminaries Laurie and I have been making. Here is a picture of the before and after. The before was sprayed with matte finish - that is why it is dull looking. I think we can sell these for a million bucks!!! Or at least half a million...ha ha ha Next craft - hmm, we'll have to see...maybe candlestick thingies.

here is the other one....

2009-02-15T05:48:00.000-08:00

Beauty #2!!!!

a beautiful puppy......

2009-02-15T05:41:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite puppies in the whole world!

2009-02-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone - this is Lulu, my other grand-dog. Isn't she a beauty!! She belongs to my son Chad's family.

and for the Austrailans....

2009-02-12T13:20:00.000-08:00

Pam - check out the top - just like the loos you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The finished project...V I C T O R Y

2009-02-12T13:11:00.000-08:00

And here it is - the finished loo! After unlady-like language, plumbers crack , loose nuts and bolts, new use for a dandelion digger, a lttle bit of leakage (me, not the toilet) - it is installed and the crapper - loo - le toilet works!! And that is one down, two to go!! I'll keep you all posted on the further adventures of Judi the plumber.....

2009-02-12T13:08:00.000-08:00

2009-02-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

For the past week I have been trying to replace the loo in my bathroom. Mr. right-hand nut/bolt was easy - bo problemo. On the other hand, Mr. left-hand bokt was a pain in my ass. I could only get it to go so far then stuck...stuck...stuck it was. And the bolt kept moving round and round so I finally came up with a new use for a dandelion digger - I used it to hole the bolt still and then I could rachet (is this a word?) the stupid nut off the bolt. It worked and what you see here is the hole in the floor where my leaky toilet used to be.

2009-02-06T19:18:00.000-08:00

I have great friends and Pam is one of them. She sent me the above shawl as a Christmas present. Imagine my surprise when I opened the package. It was deja vu (sorry for the spelling) for me. The shawl, which has better color, is almost exactly like my batik. She told me she purchased several of these shawls, all different patterns and colors. Isn't it strange that the one she sent to me was so like my batik!!

2009-02-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

November of 2008 I took a class with Kathie George at Jerry's Artarama convention which was held in North Carolina. Kathie teaches batik on rice paper and I really love the technique. Above is a photo of what I did in class - it is far from perfect. My problem with the batik is it is done with watercolor and I have never really painted with watercolor, only acrylics. Acrylics are all pigment and watercolor is about water and adding pigment to the water. I never seem to add enough pigment. Anyway, this piece was done in November. Now, onto the next picture....

2009-02-05T21:13:00.000-08:00

Hello - I am hoping that I will be able to post some photos tomorrow. So keep watching......

This is what happens when you are amongst the elderly......

2009-02-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

Well - after 2 days of trying to figure out where to go and what to do I finally am able to post a comment on my blog.!! I am going to attempt to attach a picture so I can show my friend Pam what happened to us yesterday. She lives in another country and he climate is hot hot hot. Enjoy!!

2009-02-02T11:31:00.000-08:00

This is the baby of the family - a black and white Boxer who answers to the name of Turk. He thinks he is a person and we treat him as such. We love our dog!

Stuff About Stuff

2009-02-02T11:17:00.000-08:00