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Sunday, January 4, 2015

Creating


It was dark, rainy and chilly today...
perfect for sitting in my studio and playing with some paint!
A pot of coffee and a cat under my feet made it very cozy, too.




My vintage tilt canister I found at the auction has had another face lift.
Originally I had painted the lid to resemble a floral brown 
transferware plate.  It was beautiful until I sprayed a layer of clear
protectant over it that yellowed as it dried.  Yuck.
I also didn't like the shiny look afterall.
So it turned into something totally different today
and I like it even better. 




Sometimes I surprise even myself. ha.




I'm liking how it looks by the old bluebird crock, too.




I also had fun playing around with these chipboard pieces.




I'm thinking they would be cute tags tied onto those
gifts in a jar, you know..the ones with stacked ingredients 
in them for the recipient to mix and bake?



Or maybe on jars of preserves.
Sweet!


74 comments:

  1. Paint! Paint! Paint! Get those creative juices flowing for the new year!! You have an Etsy store to fill with your art work, you know!! Birds, and bird nests, and bird eggs... oh my! Inspiration for a cold, rainy afternoon... I'm sitting here working on music stuff... and checking FB, and blogger friends like you just to be nosy!!

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    Replies
    1. WOW! How did I get so lucky as to FIRST!!

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    2. Yep, the perfect day for puttering..whether in a studio or on the computer! Did you send me this rain? I asked for snow! ha.

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  2. You turned it into a work of art, it's lovely!

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    1. Thank you Denise...I had fun making it lovely!

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  3. Your inspiration and determination caused you to create a wonderful work of art. It is wonderful to see.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Larry...nice thing about paint...you can start over if something goes wrong!

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  4. Do you ever absent mindedly dip your brush into the coffee instead of the water pot? I do it frequently with my lettering pens and when I start writing again I wonder why the ink has suddenly changed colour as I sip my ink flavoured coffee! And don't keep showing me my cookie making rolling pin, grrrr!

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    Replies
    1. haha....you know, I did almost do that but caught myself! So, how many times have you had a blue tongue?

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  5. I am so impressed! I love them all, and I wish I had an inkling of your talent. :)

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    1. Well, nests are easy to do....squiggly lines in a circle in multiple earthy shades! That's why I draw a lot of them. lol....

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  6. Very arty and creative . . . . . perfect for you on such a day to add a little colour . . :)
    Love the camera shots . . . . :)

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    1. It hasn't stopped raining yet! Perfect day to stay inside! :)

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    2. It let up raining here for a while this afternoon but not for long . . . . . I think you used your time very interestingly . . . :)

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    3. Both little projects were on my To Do List. Not the work one, but the fun one.

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    4. Never mind Eddie, they say this weather is going to clear up, and rain!

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    5. I bet your weather forecasters are more accurate than ours...they just say it will rain and 99% of the time they are right!

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    6. Yes, it is very easy to predict rain, particularly in the North of England. When I was young I was on secondment to Crown Paints in Darwen, Lancashire. They had a lovely old brick tower on the hill overlooking the village. They had a saying, "If you can't see the tower it is raining ~ if you can see the tower it is going to rain." . . . . . lol One of the wettest places I have been to . . . . :)

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    7. It would be a bad hair day every day there!

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    8. No getting washing dry on the line either . . . better get a tumble dryer . . . ha

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  7. I've been thinking I should pull out my paints again too, but mine are acrylics in the little craft bottles. Maybe now that the holidays are past and the grandchildren are taking a break from their weekly Grandma adventures, I will actually do it.
    We've got a mix of snow and rain. Not so great for driving the hour down to pick up Joe and bring him back, but we did it anyway. It's a Star Wars weekend. The chili's cookin".
    :0)

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    1. Sounds very fun....the painting AND the Star Wars!

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    2. what IS a Star Wars weekend, exactly?

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    3. They're watching the Star Wars trilogy. I'm not sure quite how long I'll have my living room filled with thunderous explosions, but at least no one is trying to sleep.
      :0)

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    4. Okay, it was obvious they are watching Star Wars... silly me... This is just the weekend to do it, all nine, I think, hours. Maybe I'll o out shopping or try some painting tomorrow.

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    5. Is anyone in costume? Reciting lines along with the movie? haha. You need to serve a Star Wars meal.

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    6. No costumes. Ha ha! What do Star Wars characters eat? Not chili?

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    7. Hannah didn't braid her hair and wrap it around her ears? :)

      I don't know what they eat. Check Pinterest.

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    8. Oh yes...do check Pinterest. Yoda Soda? Lots of ideas. haha...

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    9. Too funny! Yoda Soda. I like the "Vaderade" and pretzel rod light sabers. Wookie Cookies sound pretty good too.
      Hannah isn't home yet. She skipped out.
      :0)

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    10. Maybe she'll come back with some Trooper Scoopers.

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    11. I think we may have had those with our chili, only we didn't know it.

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    12. Are they still watching? Or have they passed out all over the floor and furniture?

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  8. Love your re-do! And the little bird on the crock looks like he's about to swoop into the nest and snuggle. Cute tags - great idea.
    Snow, then rain, then ice and back to rain today. I was out in it for a while. Not pleasant. I just wanted the snow!

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    1. It poured all day here and I mentioned how lovely and deep the snow would be by now if only it was colder! Sigh!

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  9. Awesome job indeed
    Amongst rolling pin city at your feed haha
    Like the pieces too
    With their mason view

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    1. Does four pins a city make?
      I need each one for when I bake. ha.

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    2. Well maybe a town
      As you have the rolling pin crown

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    3. Another crown for my collection
      as I want a rolling pin selection!

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  10. Lovely! As usual! :)

    It rained most of the day here as well. I was less creative though and spent a large part of the day with an "Ethel Dell" book and a cozy blanket on the chair. Also the bluebirds were visiting, even in the rain! They are faithful visitors when the homemade suet is out there. :)

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    1. I need to make suet! Haven't done that yet this year!

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    2. I always wonder how they know it's back out there. Because I don't see them for days if the suet happens to be all gone but as soon as I put it out they're usually back within the hour. They must have tele-something that alerts them to the facts :)

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    3. I bet they can smell it from far away, do you think?

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  11. What a creative Saturday. I love all that you did, but the lid for the canister is just so you and so darling, and looks perfect by the crock. The tags are adorable and will look cute on what ever you decide. Now it looks like you did that with acrylics.. yes? I need to push my envelope and do something besides watercolors.

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    1. Yes, acrylics. I do love your watercolors, though....so soft and pretty! I need to try them sometime...

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  12. The nest was such a sweet idea for the lid and it turned out so precious. You are good, girl! Love the tags, too. Your day sounded perfect.

    Jane x

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    1. I'm loving the nest, too! It's another rainy day here...might have to repeat the fun....

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  13. Betsy is there anything you can't do? You are a very talented LADY.

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    1. Aw, thanks, Andy..that was sweet. But yes, to answer your question. Lol....

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  14. Hi Betsy. Such creativity makes us ordinary mortals feel so inadequate. My rainy cold day are spent at the PC.

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    1. Ordinary mortals? Lol....

      I like a rainy day on the PC, too.....

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  15. Hi Betsy - so talented .. and so full of ideas ... love the sideways jar ... and the new makeover of the bird's nest ... and you're right it matches the bluebird crock .. while the little labels are such a great creative thought .. and people will be delighted with them ... amazing to see. Gorgeous ... and definitely 2015 is moving happily ahead .. have a great year with many more productive pieces ... satisfying to one and all - cheers Hilary

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    1. I have a spare room full of auction finds and a head full of ideas.....now I just need to make it all happen. Should keep me happily busy this winter!

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  16. You are amazing,, Betsy!! In so many ways! I LOVE the little nest on the jar lid!!! blessings ~ tanna

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    1. I love the nest, too! The Mister asked if it was going in the shop and I said, "No!" Ha.

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    2. Ha! I was going to ask that too... but I assumed it would not be. But if it wanders there at some point, do let me know. :-)

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  17. I love these little tags!! Are beautiful!
    x

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  18. I love those chipboard pieces and they'd definitely work well as tags

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Crafty! :). BTW, I love your name.....multi-talented, I see! Very cute.

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  19. Replies
    1. It's a stress reliever for me...and so fun, if I just take the time!

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  20. Amazingly creative, you seem to be able to visualise the finished product so well. I have just tried a couple of watercolours for the first time. I agree it's a good stress reliever.

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    1. I just love watercolor but have never tried it myself. I'd love to see what you've done!

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  21. Hi Betsy.....
    It looks perfect on the counter...nice job!
    I would also love to paint with watercolours....
    Perhaps....one day
    Crappy here....deep freeze coming overnite!
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  22. You are just so darn clever.
    I love all your painted projects.

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