A Gertrude Jekyll Pink Wednesday!

Take a walk with me through my garden and let me introduce you to one of my favorite roses, Gertrude Jekyll. A single rose scents an entire room. A bouquet is simply intoxicating. Happy Pink Wednesday!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

A gazing ball.

Wishing you a peacful Sunday. Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

New bears available today!

Bailey McMurtree & Mary Dottiwinkle

Yessirree bobaroo! New bears list today at 2pm....including those up there in that new header. SWEET! You can find them here.

Been dinking around with my blog. Colors and such. Don't know that I care for the yellow background. If I were really whippy I could add some of those fancy borders. But, whippy I'm not. Not when it comes to the computer. I muddle around clicking here and there to see what certain buttons do. Don't be surprised if someday you peek in and I've made a total mess of things! ha! I did manage to get those bears in my header all by myself though. Pin a rose on my nose!!

I think perhaps tomorrow I might color my background blue. Oh, I don't know. I like a clean page. White is clean. I like white. Wait, let me rephrase. I like white everything but white walls. I see a lot of white walls in magazines. I think most of those homes pictured must be in sunny states. In the Pacific Northwest white walls just kind of look dingy and grey to me. I like color on my walls....even if it just hints at color. Oh cheese and crackers. Now how did I get from new bears to color on my walls?

Rambling. I'm rambling. It's only Thursday. I usually start rambling on Friday..... Ha!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

More blue than pink.

I took this picture at Joe and Jermonne's Barn House sale this past Saturday. I love the colors and the juxtaposition of elements....soft feathers, metal spokes, concrete and ruffly flowers. There's not much pink, only a dapple, but hey.....I'm up to my eyeballs in bears this morning!!

Only five more bears left to finish then I'm hoping the skies lighten enough to get some good pictures. It's really pretty dark and dismal out there right now. (Tut tut, it looks like rain!) It's only 9am-ish though. Worst case scenario.....they go outside for their photo shoot. Not to worry though, I have a covered porch so it's all good. Pollyana with rose colored glasses? Perhaps. We'll seeeeeee....

Well, I'd better quit dawddling and get after it. Flourishes needs my undivided attention starting on Friday. Egad!! Nope. I can't even start thinking about all that needs to be done there. Nope. Nope. Nope.

Warmest Pink Wednesday bear hugs, Aleta

Barn House, Flea Market and Bears

The fog was just lifting when we drove up to the Barn House event Saturday morning. What an enchanting setting!! Joe and Jermonne put on such an amazing sale. WOW!! Their look is decidedly primitive. Lots of shabby chippy, ironstone, tarnished silver....all of my favorites only on a more primitive note. LOVED it!! I found a couple of goodies for myself and some hanks of hand dyed ribbon from Cindy Dockins, Queen of Tarte. It was a fabulous start to the holiday weekend!

From there it was a full day of estate sales, garage sales and a trip to Monticello. It is a rare weekend that we don't visit the latter. (If for nothing else, lunch at Monti's Cafe!) We almost always find some treasure...or three...at Monticello! The sweetest little settee and chairs came home with us this time. Home or Flourishes? Hmmmm. The jury is still out on that one. Where is the picture? Well, I didn't want you all to drool over it before I had a chance to make up my mind!! ha! ;o)

Speaking of Flourishes.....the deadline is looming for artist/vendors for our June 21st Flea Market. This is an outdoor market held around the barn and in the meadow. If you have expressed interest in participating you MUST get in touch with me this week. I only have a few meadow spaces left!!

Warmest Monday....er, Tuesday bear hugs, Aleta

P.S. The bears are almost ready!! Airbrushing is done, eyes are set and the finishing details will be done today!! Listing will begin on Thursday!! :o)

A dozen and one more!

Finally!! 13 bears ready for airbrushing!! Whew. I thought I'd never get finished with this bunch. I see you counting them....and yes, there are only 12 pictured above. The thirteenth is the little mixed media/assemblage bear (pictured below) I'm working on, inspired by Lisa Kaus. What a diverse bunch of bears, huh? There are actually seven types of mohair represented here!!
I'm really having fun with the mm/a piece. I had to use a really long cotter pin for the neck joint. A whopping 3 inches!! I wanted the bears head to be able to move so it had to be long enough to go through the chunky wood frame and still be secured. I've used eye pins and wobble joints for the limbs so that they're movable too. A traditional jointed bear made in a not so traditional form!! Before I put this little girl together though, I still have to put a layer of beeswax over the cavas and secure her skirt and ribbon. It's all trial and error this piece, but I'm lovin' it!! I've already sketched a witch and angel design and now I'm on the hunt for a longer, chunky canvas. Whoodyhoo!!


First things first though. Airbrushing and then eyes. It's off to the studio for me....

Have a fabulous weekend!!


Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

P.S. Before I go, I want to add that Joe and Jermonne, Barn House, are having their first Barn Sale this weekend!! If you're in the Portland/Vancouver area tomorrow, it's not to be missed!!! You can count on me to be there bright and early. Okay, early.....perhaps not so bright. Ha! ;o)

Pretty pink ribbons!

Working at home, I sometimes forget what day it is. Today is a perfect example of that. I've been busy in my studio this morning working on stitching bear noses (I really need to get some bears finished!!) when all of a sudden a lightening bolt thought hit me. What day is it?!! Well, if you don't know what day of the week it is, where is the most likely place to find out? The computer!! You could look on a calendar but if you weren't sure what yesterday was, well, there you go.....you're still clueless as to the day it is today. This is how my mind works. Scary, huh? Ha!

So, I wander down the stairs and into the office and park myself in front of the computer. Egad! It's Pink Wednesday already!! Good thing this little picture didn't make it onto yesterdays post or I'd be pinkless!

I found this lovely little doll at an estate sale this past weekend. How could I resist those pink ribbons and the pink featherstitching around her hem? The one thing that made me plunk down the money for her? That sticky outy on top of her head, of course! A lock of hair sticking right up. It just will not be tamed!! I love it!! Okay, I'm weird. ;o)

Warmest Pink Wednesday bear hugs, Aleta