what I did this week.....

I am trying to come up with a logo for my etsy shop I hope to open soon. I wanted to write the name of my shop in the sand...but i have to tell you this is easier said than done! this example combines a wave, my name and paint shop pro....for the life of me I couldn't do it for real....and it's still crooked! I guess I'll just have to go back to the beach and try again. POOR ME.
This week my friend and fellow artist, Lorri Scott, came to the island for a bit of R & R. She and I took a two classes in Waimea, taught by Marionette. The first was a silk painting class. I painted irises - purple and blue with a yellow background. Lorri painted 2 luminescent luna moths with a silver background and used salt to create way cool orbs (i thought they looked like nipples, er, ah....CORAL nibs). I wish I had taken a picture of it, because her scarf was GORGEOUS.
The next day we took a watercolor class. I have never done watercolors before...it really makes you think ahead of time - watercolors are NOT very forgiving. Also, I paint very slow -
...here is a pic of Lorri and Marionette and I...Marionette has more pictures on her blog....

...and below are Lorri's beautiful palm trees...

...and this is my seascape.

The pic on the top is the original photo, and below it is my pen/watercolor painting. Marionette has you rub a graphite stick on the back of the original pic. Then you turn it over and put the pic on your watercolor paper and trace over the predominant lines with a ball point pen. Then you remove the picture and the design has been transferred to your water color paper....and you go over these lines with the micron ink pen. Then you get the paper wet and paint it!

This is a cool junk store Lorri and I found across from Marionettes studio. Unfortunately, we only had 10 minutes before class started, and they were closed the next day. I got a lovely blouse for 50% off and a cut velvet dress for $1!
I had a wonderful time with Lorri, and we were supposed to meet up again yesterday or today, but my back - ye gads - how did this happen? - went out. I went to a chiropractor yesterday and he said I was de-stressing - and that I should expect to get very tired after he realigned me.....and i was! So I did not meet up with Lorri, but instead went home to bed....and I slept...
Today I could barely walk - I was really sore.....but, I was told to expect this too.
I go back to the chiropractor tomorrow.........and Lorri returns to California tomorrow, too .....
on another note, I have been working on several projects at once...
three dolls
multiple resin projects using Amber Dawn's rusty bezels (thank you Amber!)
2 iron wire projects for a submission
earrings for a bridal party ...
and a charm bracelet for a National Charm Day give away I will post about tomorrow!
...and I have just finished up some owl beads!