Happy New YeaR 2013!!

Take a nice thrifted car coat.

Add a warm fur collar. Sorry, but nothing fights the bitter cold like real fur! Plus, this collar may be older than I am. How do you like that duck tape body double?

Now you are all cozy. HOly toledo, how can it be 13 years past the millenium!?

Slap on a seasonally inspired hat and go celebrate at First Night or something!

Check out how other people are ringing in the New Year at;  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2012/12/visible-monday-78-lets-close-year-out.html

Downtown Abbey Delrium--- armistice blouse

I am re-watching Downton Abbey seasons 1 and 2. I liked it the first time but had missed the first two or three episodes. Now I understand the "great scandal". And I have become hopelessly hooked.

This blouse is what they call an armistice blouse. I used the Folkwear pattern and made some revisions. For one thing, I added significantly to the length. The original design shows it being worn outside with a little tape around the waist and being worn rather like a peplum. I knew I would always wear it tucked in, so I just made it long. I used a light weight cotton with multi-colored embroidery sprigs. If I made it again, I would make it a bit smaller (I may take the sides in a bit). I also thinking of adding a larger bit of lace at the neck to make it a little less revealing. It looks ok in the photo but if I bend over.....

I would consider making it short-sleeved so that it resembled Lady Mary's blouse.

When the sun hits the mountain tops.

Lake Windermere    16x16    SOLD

It always amazes me how brilliantly the setting sun can light up the mountains. Throw a foot of snow on this image and you would have our weather for today. 

I keep promising myself to take my pastels outside and make some color sketches but I am too busy currently chopping and bringing in wood for the furnace. I need someone to lay hands on Bruce and make him functional again (he hurt his back). I have to take a sick car to the mechanic today. Perhaps, I'll be lucky and get him into the clinic. That's about as amusing and technical as taking a cat to the vet.

From our house to yours!

Merry Christmas!

Have you ever tried to get a dog to look at a camera?

Rats...but Happy Tib's EVE!

I made a great post for Visible Monday and then found out, urk, no visible monday this week. Oh well, Have a wonderful Tib's Eve.

December 23rd. In Newfoundland tradition, it's the day you get drunk and celebrate Christmas with all of your friends, before having to spend all of your time with your family. A sacred practice, you don't miss Tib's eve lightly. B'ys are gettin' smashed fer Tib's eve wah?

From:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tib%27s%20Eve

 

Pinkie's Prom Dress 16x16

This is one of the first figure paintings I made and is still one of my favorites. It was based on a photo of one of my cousins. I just love the glasses and the sense of expectation.

Mom used to buy those lovely old prom dresses at the Goodwill for a buck. My friends and I would put on makeup and swan around in the formals playing "Miss America Pagent". I wish I had some of those dresses now!

Shaken, Not Stirred!

 
Wow, 40% off on tasers,  accessories and tactical clothing! This is an ad that ran in the Flathead Beacon that we picked up in Eureka, Montana yesterday. These are not hunting weapons, unless you are hunting humans. I don't see ads like this in Canada. Merry, creepy Christmas. Although I would kind of like to have a taser.