Wallpaper patterns in the background

Check out art by Kehinde Wiley - amazing artist

"Lavender Ribbon" painting changed to "Day Dream"

This painting needed work. I liked the original but prefer the new version. What do you think?

Before

After

Five More Cool Artists

I admire artists that create using individual style and unique subject matter. I wish I was an collector. I would fill my home with these paintings.

Painting by Phil Noto. Comic book artist who paints interesting originals of women.

A few years back I discover Aya Uekawa in an art magazine. Title of article was "5 Artists to Watch". Uekawa uses the high realism of Dutch & Flemish Renaissance paintings with portraits of young women, often in states of dreamy transformation, straddling reality and fantasy.

French Artist, René GRUAU loves women. With great humour, he defines Glamour and Sensuality by revealing the feminine universe – made of luxury, frivolity, futility and narcissism – as the most natural thing in the world…

Belinda Eaton is a British artist whose magic realism paintings and portraits evoke a world of colour, vivid characters, swirling spaces, uncontained energy that can’t be trapped by the limits of the canvas, images constantly on the move, living life, dancing, drinking, and eating. Within the canvas there are no boundaries of subject, perspective or reality, just the borrowings from all that she has been exposed to.

Emily Burns art is a bit bizarre but I love photo realism and of course, weird subject matter.  A photo is actually taken of a woman with spaghettiOs all over her face. love it!

Footstool gets a Makeover

Bought this little footstool for $3.00 and gave it a makeover.

Yikes! This little stool was not my style but had cute bones. Went through my big bag-o-fabric and came up with black/white cheetah print.

I removed feet and studded band, grabbed my handy dandy staple gun and stapled over old upholstery fabric.

Looks better already.

Spray painted feet black but I think white would look great too. Screwed feet back on and here is the completed makeover.

I would have to say, entire project took 30 minutes not including paint drying time. Yeah! the stool matches my chair.

This job took longer then 30 minutes.

Outfit of the Day

Jennifer Aniston wore a printed trapeze top and purple cardigan while shooting a scene for her new film The Baster in Brooklyn, New York City. I don't know anything about her role except that she's playing a mom, which makes this the perfect outfit to recreate on a budget for off-screen moms. The recipe is simple: A loose-fitting top in a busy print (perfect for hiding stains), a cute cardigan in a complementary color (to keep you cozy in air-conditioned libraries and museums), figure-flattering boot cut jeans, and woven leather flats (feel free to substitute a flat style for my towering wedge selection, which are definitely date-night material). The end result is a cute, affordable and functional look for moms and non-moms alike.

images for the budget babe

This is my version on the same outfit. I dug around my closet and, I think, came pretty close to the same look. It is pretty cute - mom or not.

Excited about Ragnar Relay DC 2011- Sept.

Went to see "Hood to Coast" movie a few weeks ago with most of Team Lava. The movie was a documentary about four teams and what they go through before, during and after the relay race.

This 193 mile adventure-fest will push you and 11 pals through the stunning scenery of the Potomac River Valley. Starting near the town of Cumberland, MD, your team will head east through the thick forests of the Appalachian mountains.  Around night fall you'll run through the quiet streets of many charming historic Civil War-Era towns, ultimately passing within the shadows of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.  The race (and your stamina) wraps on the shores of the Potomac River and ends at National Harbor.

Ragnar 2009 -- Team Lava

Ragnar 2010 -- Team Lava

much more to come on Team Lava and the 5 am running group.......

Lamps in my house

I love all the lamps in my house. I obviously like a white drum shade. lamp (1) found at thrift shop for $6.00 and lampshade for $24. Lamp (2) driftwood lamp found at yard sale for $2.00, rewired at local hardware store for $8 plus parts. lamp (3) Bought a pair of lamps at Marshalls $40 each. Love them. I use red as an accent color in livingroom. lamp (4) found the pair for $12 each at Finder's Keepers. I have them in my bedroom on our nightstand tables.

RunAmuck - an upcoming race

This is the RunAmuck Mud Run! The Mud Run is a challenging 5K run with hills, tire obstacles, river crossings, walls, ropes, and MUD. Along the course there will be a number of water points with personnel staged at each. This is the most fun you can have running a 5K! Race individually, as a couple, or as a member of a 4-person team. Choose the Open category with no restrictions on attire and footwear, or the Costumed category, which requires your own zany costume or matching costumes (for couples and teams). Music will be playing all day on the big stage with food and beverage available. We’ll feature local acts and great cover bands.


I will introduce my 5 am running group --Team Lava, in a later post.