Moving In! (01-30-11)

What a day! I finally started moving things in the studio! Of course, it's total mayhem inside. It's going to take me a while to sort all this stuff and get it put away.

Sturio Interior Views

From left to right and top to bottom:
- Photo1: The big table in the foreground was displayed in pouring rain in front of an interior decorator's shop in Sellwood; it was a bargain at $60.
- Photo1: The gorgeous pine wardrobe in the corner was found on Craigslist.
- Photos 3 and 6: The big cabinet with the doors and shelves was a rare find from the Rebuilding Center.
- Photo 5: Of course, there is the Warped Table, a unique find from Tropical Salvage; they thought I was crazy when I bought it (for a pittance); the table is so freakishly wavy, it's like something one would expect the Mad Hatter to use.
- Photo 4 and 5: The small Restoration Hardware bookcase was only $60 on Craigslist.
- Photo 4: I got the library card file cabinet years ago when Jackson County Library was converting to computers.

At the City Auction (01-28-11)

I just can't help myself and must pull the pen and sketchbook out...

Went to a Concert (01-27-11)

Christopher plays the clarinet with the Oregon Symphonic Band. Instead of sketching the musicians, I focused on the director...

Auction finds (01-25-11)

Accompanied by my daughter Monica-Sophie, I went to an old-fashioned auction at an undisclosed location (...). We got so much stuff, I can't believe we got it all to fit on my husband's truck! It was a dicey drive back home, the both of us keeping our eyes on the side mirrors...

The large shelves will be perfect for Gary's tools, while the beat-up grey bookcase will go in my art studio...

At the Rural Auction (01-25-11)

I love going to the auction and spent dead time sketching people.

Unpacking the things for the Vintage Flea Market (01-24-11)

I've been unpacking, sorting out and pricing the things I could sell at the Funky Junk Sisters' Junk Salvation Vintage Flea Market.

As you can see, there are a lot of small things! Favorites of mine are that cute round black box with a blue ribbon... and the A clarinet case with the Indian decals (lined with golden brown velvet, it would make a perfect jewelry case)... and also that brown "Mom" embroidered cushion with a heart...
I hope they will find happy new owners!

Small treasures...

Final Touches: Baseboards (01-24-11)

Everything about the Shed/Studio Revamp project has been meant to be done economically. Of course, this has not worked out in many cases due to contractor-related surprises, but that was the initial plan. Since Gary lost his job recently, we really are on a shoestring. 

We went to the Rebuilding Center hoping to find some materials we could use for baseboards. It was disheartening to look through the warehouse, and see only piles of junk stacked up against the walls, old cracked planks thick with chipped or peeling paint, nothing that one could imagine to be useable... Finally, we located some beat-up siding, and figured out that it could work out...despite the $30 cost (now, I know, that's a minimal charge when it comes to construction materials, but it was in pretty bad shape).

Once home, Gary braved the cold to install the makeshift baseboards in the studio. The look is now genuinely shabby chic!

Trying to get organized (01-20-11)

...with my two buddies who are determined to try out every surface available.

Maxwell and Minette.

Silhouettes (01-19-11)

I did some quick silhouettes mainly focusing on outlines. I think they turned out pretty cool.

Workshop for the Right Brain Initiative (01-19-11)

I attended a workshop organized by the Right Brain Initiative, featuring presenter Deb Brzoska. I relate to experiences in a visual manner, so here goes...

Passengers on the Bus (01-19-11)

Well, here are some people on the 33 bus today.

I always wonder how one could sleep without risking missing one's stop...

Waiting for the Bus (01-19-11)

I sometime wish I could freeze great moments...

A street musician caught my attention while I was waiting for the bus, and there was no point sketching him, because what I wanted to remember most of all was his singing...

The Man Who Loved Women (01-17-11)

We watched an old French movie, "The Man Who Loved Women." The main character had an unusual, yet somehow appealing face.
I liked this movie. It reflects the world I grew up in and I still remember clearly, when it was not unusual for men to compliment women... I feel invisible in this country; it's like one to go to Europe to get a compliment from a stranger.

At the Auction (01-17-11)

I love going to rural auctions. They're a perfect setting to draw people with interesting faces...

Getting Ready for the Show (01-17-11)

I started pulling things out of storage: cool shoes, lamps, small collectibles, and other items that caught my interest. I am going to look over the furniture in the next few days, to make sure everything is ready for the Big Day.

Lots of nice things.

Felix guards the treasures...

Portland Bridal Show (01-16-11)

I went to the Portland Bridal Show at the Convention Center, and was fascinated by the bridal fashion show. Although I favor vintage styles, the dresses were gorgeous. It was a fun challenge to draw as fast as I could, and to get the essence of these dresses in just a few strokes...

Oak Lodge History Detectives (01-13-11)

The Oak Lodge History Detectives had a meeting inside the Bomber Museum in Milwaukie to discuss, among others, visiting with elders who grew up in the area to record their oral histories, and establishing a photo record of the area's historic inventory. I volunteered to take some of the photographs.

I like this panorama done over two two-page spreads in my sketchbooks (page creases have been Photoshopped over). The challenge area was at the junction of one spread to another, and evidently, I didn't draw far enough from the edge on the second spread; but it's still a pretty darn nice exercise...

Faces at the Auction (01-07-11)

While at the auction, I drew the auctioneer and some of the people working there. It's tricky to catch someone's expression as they are speaking with their mouth open...

Auctioneer

Auction worker

Auction worker

Man in the crowd

Highly Prized (01-07-11)

I love going to liquidation sales and auctions. The promise of finding something special or unusual is tempting. Who knows? There may be a treasure buried under the junk...

Something for everyone...at the right price.

Quick Stop at Nicholas' (01-07-11)

http://nicholasrestaurant.com/I hadn't been to Nicholas' Lebanese restaurant in a long time, so I stopped by to pick up a Meat Mezza. As always, the restaurant was full of people. I did this sketch while I was waiting for my food.

Come Visit at the Junk Salvation Vintage Flea Market! (01-06-11)

A dream come true! I have been selected as a vendor at the Funky Junk Sisters' Junk Salvation Vintage Flea Market in February! I am so excited!

Come visit my booth; I will have nice furniture and other stylish things... The coupon below will get you $1 off the entry fee.

People at Right Brain Initiative Meeting (01-05-11)

Sketches of Arts providers at a meeting for the Right Brain Initiative at the Art Museum.

New Year's Eve at Pix Patisserie (01-01-11)

Last night, I went by myself (Gary was scheduled to work early) to Pix Patisserie SE, to usher in the New Year in in a spectacular manner. Once again, they offered their free Chocolate Buffet to people who ordered a drink after 11 p.m. So, while I waited for midnight to come, I drew people in the crowd.

Waiting for midnight...

Pretty girl.

Faces in the crowd.

The most rewarding treats EVER!

Work on the Studio Exterior (12-31-10)

In retrospect, the hardest part of the project has been to find reliable contractors; in addition to Gary, this carpenter is the sixth contractor to work on the shed/studio.

Replacing the missing battens

New Year's Eve Party (12-31-10)

We went to the Crawfords' for a while on New Year's Eve. Gary had to leave early because he had to work early on New Year's day.

Merrill W., Gary, Bryan C.

Kelsi W.

Lindsey W.

End of Year Wrap-Up (12-31-10)

While I was working in the yard this morning, I was thinking of the the things that drive me. I am passionate about my little crooked house with the crooked floors. I am passionate about making it just right and cozy for us, our home, a refuge beyond the reach of the world.

A Day of Work (12-31-10)

I spent all morning and most of the afternoon trying to get some yard work done before there is another freeze. Lots of work today: I turned the dirt over in the garden area, to discourage the weeds from settling down for the winter. I stacked up away from the house all the wood logs Gary had split and left near the carport. I carried a lot of the wood debris left behind the studio (aka shed) by previous contractors to the side of the trailer, for a future trip to the dump. Valérie and Julia brought all the trimmed rose branches from the rose garden area and put them in the trailer, with the rest of the yard debris. Then, I went down to the rose garden and trimmed half of the lavender shrubs at the front of the property, and the big hydrangea near the front porch.

One of the pipes at the back of the house behind the laundry room may have burst: there was a long trail of ice along the side of the house, not a good sign...

On a positive note, the outside of the studio is finished, as far as the missing bats are concerned. My friend Julie Olson gave me the phone number of a carpenter who seems to know what he's doing (a nice change, since the last 10 months have been been a wild ride). He worked pretty fast, with no gloves on. Yet, it was so cold in the morning, I couldn't even feel my fingers inside my gloves...

Movie: Bluebeard (12-30-10)

I really like this sketch done done while watching the French movie Bluebeard. There is something about the stunned, vacant look in this character's eyes that I find comical.

Bluebeard

Bûches de Noël...or Yule Logs? (12-28-10)

Ah...The delicious pastries we make to mark the holidays! Nothing is more portent of Christmas than the Bûche de Noël, a thin sponge cake filled with Chestnut butter cream, rolled into the shape of a log, and covered in Chocolate butter cream. It's a pleasure for the eyes and the mouth...