FAMOUS ANTIQUE SHOWS BEGIN...the Gallery is ready.

Roma's Door....used in some artwork and a story about it in the previous post....for sale and a new quilt with Patty's painting....on the porch swing....it was a beautiful day today.... Different framing makes the same print look different....like a different hair do! I love this old fabric star out of sixties fabric..... Still need to do Trust or Faith..... This red wall really makes things pop!! Just some goodies in the great old cabinet....love that pink.... Yes, I even hang them on the doors! Here we are hung in a different frame! Full and tightly hung!! Got the Fireman's Feast poster framed.... The last birds.... The big festival of buying antiques, junk, art, crafts, primitives,.....etc, have begun! Actually it has been going for a week already....it starts earlier each year and seems to last longer.....or is it my feet that give out!! Never the less, I am ready!! We have had four groups in our main house and cottage so far, and five more groups coming to experience the excitement of the hunt for something unique and special to take home .... or to their shop. Many come from California, some from around the corner .... all excited and pumped to beat the trail. We have already had good response here and sales in the ART area .... YAY !!! My new art has been a hit so far ( I wasn't sure if it would go over) .... I framed prints of the originals and the originals are hanging too!! So far Tito's Birds have been the most popular, with Roma's Door, Ed and Me on the horse and then the Garden Collage...and a couple of the Roses....and only two of my bird sculptures left .... I got some new quilts in that are fun and bright colors .... it just looks like spring around here, even tho it has been cold! AND sold some old dishes and an antique bathing suit from the twenties .... and old buttons .... so I'm a happy camper and it hasn't even hit yet! Here are a few shots of the gallery .... sorry I didn't get more, my digital card was full! Enjoy!! Should have more quilt photos and the old doors later...and then I'll BRAG about one of my guests.... but later.... you meet the most interesting people when you have a B and B!!

ROMA'S DOOR...

I think I will try to put a little bird's nest on top of this piece...it has two sides. This blue door at the top (looks green, but it is actually old farm blue) is to a small house that was condemned because of age and condition ..... weeds and trash almost covered it over ....... but because of the prayers of a young woman with four children ..... as she would take her walks and pray passing by it in her neighborhood where she lived in one room with her Mother .......... it is now getting a new life. With a promise to the bank it would be finished and safe for a family and with their substantial savings they had diligently worked long hours and years to save, ..... the promise of some of the relatives labor, ...... and the blessing of the Lord ...... this little house will be a cherished sanctuary and home for a precious family. They go to my church, the best little church ever ..... of course! ...... and not only are they blessed but they are a huge blessing to everyone else. The children recite proudly their memorized scriptures from class and on Wednesday nights at prayer meetings they volunteer their "Thanksgiving" for their parents jobs, health, and having a home. They also pray consistently for their school work and teachers. Wednesday night is a spontaneously sharing of " Thanks and Petitions" ..... and it is as many CHILDREN who raise their hands..... as it is adults... who share or request prayer. It is wonderful to hear. I go to a predominantly Hispanic Baptist Church, as I speak Spanish, since I was nine years old and lived in Spain as a child ....... I guess you could say it is "My Heart Language". It is where I have been fed the most in a church experience and it reminds me of the churches and families when I was young and lived in a slower pace. It is a church that is "Outgrowing" it's walls .... not because they are perfect, but because they are consistent in believing what the Word teaches them about Christ's love and it is their food and help in a hard world that keeps their soul and spirit fed through lifes trials. I hate to miss a day going there with them. Church for me "used" to be a traditional thing that you HAD to do to be right .... but the truth is .... the "people" are the the church, whether it is in a church building or a small gathering at a home ...... what makes it special and true are the people .... one another in Christ. So, I did this art from a photo of the "old" but beautiful door off of it's hinges, leaning on the new front porch of their house. The "Old Blue Door" will be sold Antique weekend to raise money for the kitchen addition, along with two other old white doors. So if you LOVE it .... the actual door .... it will be at the Green Peck Gallery here in Round Top. The other little piece of standing art is as well from Roma's house .... it is the "old back door" with an abandoned chair sitting in front of it and vines growing on the floor ..... there is some beauty in old things..... there just is! Both pieces have scripture on them. In Joshua .... "As for me and my house .... we will serve the Lord" and "Be still and know that I am God...". There is more to her beautiful very human story that is a revelation of God's love and grace in a fallen world. I feel priviledged to know her and share in her life. I hope this touches your heart in a way that causes you to look deeper. I know this was long but too important to shorten.... THANKS!!!

Stanley,Tito & the Parrots, Me and New ART!

Pilar was too scared to go in the cage.... but she WAS there too...it was raining so not many pictures.... The smeary original for the above is on the post "Works in Progress" I think I like the original smears above best...?? I can't find the photo of the smeary beginning of this bird...but I like the end result... Well, Stanley earned his visit to the ZOO....we LOVED the parrots!!!! It was a fun surprise when the parrots all landed on our heads.... they were the sweetest birds!! I needed the get away before the big ANTIQUES FAIR that begins in these parts again on March 24th thru April 5th! Thousands of people, and good deals to buy, people set up all over the pastures, dance halls, town squares and yards ..... I have had more requests for the B&B than ever before! ??? ...the economy?! I have added a few antiques to my yearly sale.... among other goodies and more new art and some sculptures.... new to the batch of work from the studio! Remember this one with the paint smeared on the canvas and then set aside to see if I saw a picture in it?...It is on the post "WORKS IN PROGRESS" below .... well, here it is finished with not much done to it....I HAVE TO TRY THIS AGAIN!!! It is "Walking in the Garden"......then the girl's face "Hide and Seek"was the second one and then the bird "My pop-corn ball curtain"was the third one..... NOT ALL GREAT but I have loved the spontaneous process....I have more started.....and of course I have prints for anyone who wants a print....or the originals in the gallery next week. I have written scripture on the backs of the canvases with a personal note....I do PRAISE HIM for the joy I get while painting and creating..... it ministers to my soul. I have been stuck, delightfully, on these scriptures for all my painting last week.....Isaiah 55:10,11. I just love what it says....especially the part that says....."it will not return to Me empty." And I love my garden, and His garden! We are His garden too.....planting seeds, growing, watering and harvesting....beautiful and hopeful. Enough...chat...here are the goods!!! Enjoy!

FLAT STANLEY...comes to visit

These two are finished....I think...antique roses from my yard.... Opps, forgot to add the swirly stamping!....later... WHO is Flat Stanley? Well, he was sent to me by a fourth grader , Judith, at the LaGrange Intermediate School and he will be used to teach letter writing, map skills, history, and public speaking. Judith will give the class an oral report on Stanley's travels and adventures....while visiting with us. He is on vacation at our house, and ... well, I don't know how to break it to him but he is going to have to work with me a little here in the art studio before we can go to the Zoo on Saturday .... others will join us for a fun day. OKAY, so here is what Flat Stanley has been assisting me with in the studio .... he mostly watches and gives me hints as to where I've gone wrong! I'm used to that.... so here is what we did using some of my newly designed collage papers using photos from my yard or house elements like old fabrics....two are finished and two have just been started...Excuse me! ....what "I" did!!! Scoot over Stanley .... he's really a sweet boy. You can read about Stanley's adventures at http://flatstanley.enoreo.on.ca/ ... it is a great school project. Enjoy!!

NEW PAPERS...for collage or journaling

A few more from our trip to Ohio... I love this graphic look. A collage I am working on with my new papers...forgot to list the floral.. Two papers of texture and an old front door.... Yes, I'm still painting but not finished with several....too many irons in the fire and spring is on it's verge..... so the yard calls my name. But something I've been toying with are some new ideas of developing unique papers for collage.....(since I do mine) I sent some to a collage/mixed media artist and she has really encouraged me. So I will have some for sale in my Gallery for mixed media artists. They of course are unique because they are exclusively designed. No big deal but fun..... It is still art and how I have enjoyed playing with it! They will be printed on thinner, but archival paper and archival inks, that don't run when wet.... at least mine haven't. So here are a few for your eyes..... they will be by the sheet (or in packets) I think?....depending on the saturation of color, etc. Leave me your thoughts if you have any.... I'm open for any critique or information on it...ENJOY!!