THERE IS A REASON . . .

WHY YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ME.  And no, I wasn't on some luxurious vacation somewhere (I only wish!).   I have been busy purging, packing, moving, unpacking and purging some more for the last 2 months. I am hoping (praying is more like it) that this is the last time I will have to do this.  I have moved so many times in my life that I used to kid that my boxes could unpack themselves and the contents knew exactly where to go.   Not so much this time.  This time they made me work for the satisfaction of seeing everything in its place, in its new home.  (And of course, not everything is in its place, in its new home yet ~ that is going to take me a while).  Maybe I am just getting old!  

This is a piece I actually got done just before all the chaos ensued. :)  

'PAST THE GREEN FIELDS, INTO THE WOODS'

This piece was done with a Palette Knife. 

6 X 6  Acrylic on wood panel.   

For more information on this piece Please Click HERE 

I am back in my Studio!!   We did downsize so my Studio space is a lot smaller now.  (Actually, it's rather nice ~ everything is at my fingertips, and for the moment, all organized!) That was one of my problems though  ... trying to decide what I would and wouldn't actually keep.  As a Mixed Media Artist I always feel like I'm going to need EVERYTHING.  I am trying to simplify my life so not EVERYTHING was going to make the move.  But ... more things made the move than can fit into my Studio so more purging was (and still is!) necessary.  

PISTACHIO

I decided to start off by doing a new Jewelry piece.   The green makes me think of spring.  Must be wishful thinking!  Although I do have to say, we have enjoyed a VERY mild winter.  Since this is our first one up here in this area we know we got lucky.  Last year at this time there was several feet of snow on the ground.  This year ... nothing.  I can see snow on the distant mountains (higher) but the ones surrounding us are totally bare.  

For more information on this Piece Please click HERE

  Since we downsized we do still have a fairly good sized storage unit full of furniture and 'stuff' to go through but now that we are in the house we can take our time with that.  I should be able to get back into a routine now that most of the unpacking is done.  

For fun I will include a photo of one of the many 'unusual'  :)  things we did in the house. This first photo is one of our Kitchen cabinets.  As you can probably tell, it is a stainless steel toolbox/workbench.  It may have initially been designed for the men in our lives but I will tell you it makes the greatest kitchen cabinet!!  

There is a door on the right that you can't see where I can store my pots but notice how many drawers it has.  When do you ever have enough kitchen drawers? And, they are on ball bearings so they pull out sooo easily.  :)  And since they are made to hold heavy tools weight is not an issue.

This is a view inside several of the drawers ...

They are perfect depth for things like silverware, spices, pot lids, baking pans, etc. etc.  Anyway, thought I'd share that with you.  Obviously this wouldn't be for everyone but I really love it.   In fact, I bought a different version for my studio to hold all my paints, brushes and the like.  I'll see if I can get a photo of that for next time.

Now I have to start working on my monthly Newsletter, which is also 2 months behind.  :(

til next time ...

Charleen

"I love deadlines.  I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by."

                                                           Douglas Adams  (The Salmon of Doubt)

www.charleenmartin.com