vaca...and painting samples for my classes!

we just got back from a little vaca at the beach.  there is really nothing like the oregon coast. 

i have lived in california most of my life.  but walking through the tundra on a trail for what seems so long...to get that glimpse of the ocean.  you just want to stop time.  it's so beautiful.

and people on the oregon coast (for the most part) don't don bathing suits.  it's too cold.  they are there to enjoy the beauty of nature.  it's a totally different feeling.

and then we frequented our favorite coffee/pastry cafe...the pacific way.

i just love all of the paintings and old photos on the walls there...all clustered together...but each with such meaning that you want to study them.

and i found the most wonderful antique/salvage store in astoria.  it's in the lobby of what was once the john jacob astor hotel.

we definitely didn't spend enough time there.

i saw sooo many things i wanted to take home.  everything was so cool.

see that old cooler?  i wanted that.  i pictured it on our back patio...when we had parties it would be filled with ice and i would gaze at it lovingly.

there was a hallway to a basement that was blocked and off limits by old doors and building remnants.  it had a light which made you wonder...

and on the way home stopping at a restaurant called camp 18...it's like a huge log cabin you want to live in...and in back is a trail with a creek ...

and of course, a topiary elephant...

and i'm coming along with my getting ready to teach beginning acrylic classes representing grumbacher at michaels.  i have been painting a few samples for my demo table.  here are a few...

i am gathering some great images that i want to teach.  these are some that grumbacher gave us, but am having fun finding ones for future classes.  since it's a local class, some will be images around oregon, and some that i just went oooh and ahhh over.

i am also creating signage for the store.  i found a big 54 x 30 ornate frame with an old painting from the 1970's in it.  i painted out the painting with black paint (first i googled the signature to make sure it wasn't a million dollar find) and then painted the title.  i will make copies of the samples i've done and attach them with magnets.  this will hang above the fine arts supply aisle.

i'm still working out the schedule with the manager, but think my first demo will be in about a week and then will start classes beginning in september.

i'm teaching art classes...

i'm thrilled to have a new job teaching art classes!  i will be representing grumbacher and teaching beginners how to paint in acrylics. they will be 2 hour classes where we will finish a new painting in each class. i'll teach classes in landscapes, seascapes, florals, and still lifes at michaels in tualatin, oregon!  i haven't set up my class calendar yet, or even painted my first samples...but, i'm so excited to (hopefully) instill the passion of art...of painting...of creating in those that maybe had a fear of it or just hadn't taken the leap to try. 

it would be great to also get some people in that had painted years ago, but for whatever reason stopped...just to get jump-started again...or maybe just hadn't ever tried acrylics.

and to be representing grumbacher...such a respected institution in art supplies is such a thrill.  and to have my classes at michaels...one of my favorite places for arts and craft supplies...how fun is that?

i'm also going to be doing at least one demo each month in the store where people can sign up for classes, find out more info, and watch me create!

i'll keep you updated on my calendar and pictures of the paintings we paint.  i'm really looking forward to it!

decorations from our 4th party and a little painting too...

i wanted to share with you a taste of our annual 4th of july party we hosted yesterday...the weather was just perfect.  we are always awaiting the weather forecast for our party...living in oregon is so unpredictable.  but it really was perfect.

i just love a theme.  and we break out our boxes of the red-white-and blue and go at it.  this is a little alcove in our foyer...

here is the statue i got at a second hand store...he is even patriotic on this day.

added a few of the fireworks to our chalk board...

and of course our buddy...ready for the action.  he was our furry vacuum following everyone around and cleaning up the crumbs.

 great chef...

great friends...

great food...

and great fireworks...

and here is a landscape i did recently...we have it in our bedroom which we have decorated in beachy colors of sands and blues...

it was a from a photo i took on a beach trip here in oregon...

and i have some news to share with you very soon...

ranch life...

 i wanted to share with you a little trip we had visiting my sister kim and brother-in-law bud where they gifted us with a wonderful day of ranch life...we ventured in a jeep...went off-road and toured their ranch...

my beautiful 86 year old mother enjoyed the adventure as well...

 we saw wild turkeys...the male flirting with the female...

wide open spaces...to breathe

and spied a nest awaiting the hope of new life...

kim with her posse...

there's nothing like a barn that has tales to tell...

thanks kim and bud for a glimpse into your beautiful life...we loved every minute of it.

WISHING...

i wanted to share with you something that i signed up for, and want to let others know about...it's very cool ~ comes in your e-mail every day for 40 days ~ and FREE!  it's called the WISH SUMMIT (women's international summit for health) and this is what's said about it and it's founder, tera warner, on the website:

Tera is a fiery online entrepreneur with a passion for projects that empower and inspire women.She reminds you to move beyond the size of your hips, or the shape of your hair and asks you to recall the sense of limitlessness you felt when you made your first wish on a birthday candle, a dandelion seedling, a wishing well...With a community of over 60,000 women (and a few great men) in all corners of the globe, she's dedicated her life to busting the barriers that keep people from achieving the level of health, abundance and vitality they’re looking for.
Her trademark, besides the fiery hair and personality, is an unparalleled ability to support others in achieving transformation through dietary change and a positive outlook on life.
Tera is a writer, a leader, a sister, a lover and a mother.
Her dream is to create a project that touches the lives of millions of women in an empowering way, so that her daughter's daughter can live without limits, too. 

the topics that they cover are:

Attitude 

Wisdom

Sensuality

Health

Beauty

Fitness

Abundance

Balance

Relationships
Food

so each day an e-mail comes to you with a recorded interview with one of the guest speakers.  There are some famous names and some you may not have heard of...but they are all powerful speakers taking time out of their day for the cause of empowering you to be the best you can be. 
Here is one of the first ones by kristin morelli...
http://www.wishsummit.com/downloads/2011?kristin-morelli.mp3

if you enjoyed that, just go to their website and sign up to start receiving them in your e-mail.  you can just download them and listen later at a time that is convenient to you.  and they'll give you a link to access the ones that you've missed.  there really is some good stuff there.

also want to let you know that i received one of my special gifts from OWOH that i won!  it was a wall hanging from sheree at raven moon magic all the way from new zealand! thank you so much sheree!  all of your intricate work to make this so special shines through! it's just beautiful!