Between our crazy-busy schedule and the crazy-awful weather we've been having, I haven't been able to do much more than dab at my paintings now and again. I had hoped to be done with both of them by now, but at least I'm making progress. I have only a few more bits of base color to lay in on my Laurely Birch style painting before I can start adding the details and bling that make her paintings so appealing. I've already begun to add some gold metallics...

Hmmm... gotta fix her lips and chin too I see.

I signed up for a class on Doll Street by Linda Misa to learn her style of collage painting. This is a FUN technique! I'm afraid that I got a little carried away with my background paint layers so you can't see much of the original collage any more, but I am still very pleased with the way the background turned out. Right now I'm a little stuck trying to decide how I want the mermaid's tailfins to look...


Family business called us up to Washington State earlier this month to attend our new baby granddaughter's baptism ceremony. My Dad even flew in from Iowa! I hadn't seen him since my Mom's funeral, and I didn't realize how very much I had missed him until I was able to hug him again. I couldn't resist having a group snapshot taken, even this is the sort of photo I usually avoid.


While Jake was holding Annika after church I couldn't help but take notice of their matching haircuts. This kind of photo is much more fun to set up and capture. I laughed my head off when I saw what I had done in the playback. I'm afraid that I have proven to my DIL once and for all that yes, I am a little demented.