In my thoughts

When I last posted I had all these grand plans to finish my Christmas shopping, do my Santa Cops deliveries, finish painting a couple of gifts, and generally enjoy the holiday season.

This has been a tough Christmas season for many, me included. It was really hard to really get into the Christmas happy spirit when things turned ugly right as the season is starting.....the economy, then the police officer shootings in October and November. Just as the our local community and law enforcement "family" is starting to heal, Monday night happened. Two more police officers shot, just doing their job. This time, for me, it hit close to home. I know both these officers and have worked with them for several years. Good men, good fathers, good officers, the kind of people we want out there watching our back. I was out with one of our detectives making Santa Cops deliveries when the call came out, first one shot, then another. Absolutely gut wrenching, and something I hope and pray I never have to hear again.

Nick Hausner is out of the hospital and recovering at home. Kent Mundell is still in very critical condition, shot three times. A kind, gentle, funny man. He and his family are in my thoughts and prayers.

On a happier note, Santa Cops was able to fill all the referrals and delivered toys and gifts to several dozen families, making their holiday season a little brighter, my painting group had an awesome Christmas party, and I actually did get one gift painted :) and my daughter bought me a GPS so I don't get lost garage sale-ing this summer, looking for cool things to paint!!

Hoping you and yours have a wonderful Christmas!!

Busy busy busy.......

I've really been neglecting this blog lately. This season has been extra busy, with work and volunteering and decorating and shopping and the list goes on and on and on....

But I love every minute of it!!! I'm tired, yes, and I don't get much painting done, but I love this time of year!!

On Monday the 21st, I will be delivering Christmas gifts and food to needy families in our area as part of the "Santa Cops" program. I have been volunteering with them for several years now. Nothing beats the smile of a child that realizes that Santa hasn't forgotten them, or the gratitude of parents when they realize there will be food on the table tomorrow. Or the joy of the police officers as they get to help people who desperately need it but are afraid or too proud to ask.

This year is a tough one economically for a lot of people, and I encourage everyone who can afford it to donate something, anything to your local food bank, food drive, toy drive, whatever. If everyone gave just one can of food every month, there would be a lot less hungry people in this country. Food for thought.......

Joyous Holidays to All. Back in a few days.

And that's a wrap!!!

The last craft show of the year is in the bag, and I am sooooo glad to be done!!! I really do love doing the shows, and I meet such great people, but now it is time to enjoy Christmas myself!! Did some shopping over the past weeks at the shows, but still have to hit the malls and share in the madness.

Forgot to take the camera to the past couple of shows, so no pics :(
But, Chrissie promised she would take some this week, so I promise to post those as soon as they are done. I always say I am going to take a break from painting til January, but inevitably I find a pattern or surface that just won't wait.....

For next year, I probably will not do a show in December.....Peninsula Winterfest the weekend after Thanksgiving will probably become my last show of the "season". Just too much going on with decorating (at work and at home....) and Santa Cops, a charity program I volunteer with.

Hope your holidays are wonderful. Back in a day or two.

Cyndy

Why?????

OK, I'm warning you in advance this is going to be a depressing, anger filled post that has nothing to do with crafting, but has everything to do with what is in my heart......

When does the killing stop???? Four officers brutally murdered as they sat in a coffee shop. They didn't do anything to deserve this. They chose to work for their community, to serve and protect, to keep us safe, and they paid the ultimate price. All because the system failed. Former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas let him out on clemency; the judges and criminal justice system there failed to keep him in prison after he violated parole time and time again. Our local judges for allowing him bail. His family for bailing him out of jail. Whoever allowed him access to guns. The family and/or friends that continue to help him and obstruct justice. I could go on and on. The system isn't working and it needs to be fixed. If you get sentenced to 3 years or 35 or 95 years, you should SERVE THAT SENTENCE!!!!! To heck with clemency. I don't care if you were 16 when you committed that crime. If the jury and judge saw fit to give you that sentence, you should serve it. So often the system is ruled by money and influence----if you have money and influence, you can afford to do anything and everything to buy your way out of trouble. If the State doesn't have money, it makes releasing criminals from jail a priority, regardless of the safety of the public.

This hit way too too too close to home. While I did not work with these particular officers, I did work with many of the surviving officers of Lakewood PD so this is "family". I am so afraid for other police officers in our area....actually officers of any jurisdiction----who knows when some other psycho is going to decide he wants to shoot some more cops. I am grateful for the class and professionalism of my department as they investigate this senseless crime.

Sorry for ranting on. My sincerest thanks to my friends Mert and Lisbeth for volunteering to handle my craft booth on Sunday after the tragedy happened. You are wonderful and I really appreciate the support.

Another one done......

Another craft show in the bag, and I am soooo glad!!!! Not a bad show, but the drive back and forth is a killer. I-405 is a mess, no matter what time of day it is.

Sold lots and lots of ornaments, so guess what I am painting today!!! The little kids loved the Santa ironing board, lots of giggles as they stood next to him and compared their height to Santa's!!

The weather outside looks icky again today, so it's a good excuse to sit inside and paint all day.....or most of it. I'm going to see the new Sandra Bullock movie "Blindside". I'm not much of a movie person (I think the last movie I saw in a theater was the last installment of Star Wars.......) but I couldn't resist this one. And then the grocery store is calling......our cupboards look like Mother Hubbards, so if we expect to eat, gotta go stock up.

Forgot the camera when we went to Renton, so no pics of the booth----was a pretty standard set-up anyways.....but hope to show off some new ornies and a couple of other pieces soon. Be back in a day or two!!

Spanaway Lake Show

A few of the new things I did for the Spanaway Lake show. I love Kim Klassen's designs!!
Didn't have electricity, so the ornaments on the tree didn't show up as well as I would have liked. Check out my "repurposed" CD ornament at the top.
Another view of my booth at the Spanaway Lake show last weekend. Had a great time, was really nice to have Mert, Lisbeth and Pam just across the gym.

I'm off to Renton Community Center this weekend, a Friday/Saturday show. I don't know why I thought I was prepared to do 5 shows this season.........

Still painting new things, hope to have more pics in a few days.

Signs of the times.........

My previous blog posting was very depressing, so I decided I needed to light things up a bit....so getting into the holiday season is the way to do that!!

I love to paint signs, and at this time of the year, I paint alot of 'em!!!!
The top two designs in this group are by Kim Klassen, my absolutely favorite designer.
The bottom sign is adapted from a Sue Allemand design (another one of my faves).

Frantically painting my fingers off to stock up for my upcoming shows. Every year I say I am going to be more prepared, but as usual, I am scrambling in the last few days/weeks......
My biggest problem is I find too many things I want to paint.....Kim Klassen's "weekly eDition" pattern club is the source of a lot of the new things I have painted (including the 2 featured above) and since she is sending out a new design every week, I have alot to paint!!

A sad day.....

Some of you that follow or view this blog may not realize, but I have worked in law enforcement for over 20 years. So the news today that Seattle Police Officer Tim Brenton was murdered last night hits hard. An officer, a husband, a father of two....gone in a barrage of gunfire.

I am not an officer (I work in evidence management) but I and every person that works in law enforcement is part of a community, a family of sorts, linked by a common purpose---to protect and serve the public. Officers such as Tim Brenton put their lives on the line day after day, night after night, to ensure that we may be safe.

I ask that you keep Officer Brenton's family, friends and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers.

Keeping busy on a beautiful fall day.....

Today was absolutely beautiful....a little cool, but clear blue skies. A nice break from the ugly gray rainy days we have had lately!! I really shouldn't complain.....lots of my relatives in Colorado are buried in snow!!

I should have been outside enjoying the sunshine and pulling weeds, but I was in my "cave" painting, as usual. I just can't resist painting!!! Just finished Kim Klassen's two newest "weekly eDition" patterns, along with a Sue Allemand piece. Next show is less than 2 weeks away, and I have sooo many things I want to get done!!!

Somehow I managed to delete my upcoming events off the blog, but I will get Chrissie to fix tonite....back soon!!

Funky Junk booth

Here are the pics of my booth at the Funky Junk Sisters sale this past weekend. Had a great space (a little chilly, but we managed......) and the sisters were great, as always. Can't wait for next May!!

Next show up is Spanaway Lake High School (held this year at Graham-Kapowsin High School). Nice to have Mert and Susan and Lisbeth close at hand for this show!! Have a couple weeks to paint like crazy to stock up, so look for some cool new things...have a few things in the works right now, and lots of ideas.

At least I will get my trusty Windstar van back for in time for the show. Goes into the shop next week for the recall fix.......very happy I won't have to rent another vehicle....

Talk again soon!!

Recovering from Funky Junk

This weekend has been consumed by Funky Junk.....the fabulous Funky Junk Sisters Vintage Flea Market was Friday night and all-day Saturday and now I am exhausted......
We had a nice big booth space and the Sisters are so nice....along with one of the Funky Junk hubbies who so nicely backed my monster rental van in so I could unload inside, out of the rain....
only problem was the temperature....due to the open door, it was mighty chilly, but I am sure they will solve that dilemma by the next show!! Per the Sisters, the next show is planned for the weekend after Mother's Day, 2010. So I will be hitting the garage sales, thrift stores and junk sales in the coming months to find more goodies to re-create.....
Chrissie got some great pics of the booth space, will post soon. For now, I am relaxing....will get back to painting in a day or two...today I have to attack the mountain of laundry that has swallowed my washing machine....talk more soon.

Getting ready for Funky Junk.........

Here is my latest "cone" creation, a primitive Santa based on a pattern by Cynthia Erekson. (I have also painted another one of her Santa's on a smaller cone.) I really enjoy finding different uses for such unusual surfaces!!

And this is my favorite!!! I am very proud of how this Santa turned out. I drew and re-drew this pattern several times until I had it right. Wouldn't this look great propped up against a porch rail??? Or as a buffet for Christmas dinner......

I have been frantically trying to finish all my unfinished "projects" in time for the Funky Junk Sisters Vintage Sale this weekend. Still have a few more things to varnish, then I'm done!! This weekend's sale is going to be fabulous. We will be in the old Bally's at South Hill Mall. Come visit me in spaces 25 &26 (back wall) to see what has been keeping me occupied lately!!

Dreary weather.......

So, obviously I've been neglecting the blog lately, I've been so wrapped up in painting....plus the weather has turned icky and depressing....rain rain go away, etc etc etc. Just a little blue sky is all I'm asking for......

I took today off work to get some things finished before the show this weekend, but thanks to Ford Motor Company, I also have to find an alternate transport vehicle. My handy Ford Windstar van has been recalled!!! Wonderful timing, just over a week before the first show!! So, I'll be on the phone with Budget and UHaul this morning.......

I did get my ironing board Santa finished, and I have to brag, I think he looks wonderful!! I will post pics later today or tomorrow when Chrissie the computer guru gets home.....one of these days I have to learn how to do this myself, but it is soooo much easier to rely on the child.....

It's starting to look alot like Christmas.......

So, I finally got my ornaments finished for the Funky Junk Sisters pink Christmas tree!!! Like I said, they asked for one, but I had to be an over-achiever and do three for different reasons.......

The first one is a tin stocking, painted in a cream and pink harlequin check pattern, with a very subtle gold glaze on the cream checks....turned out very cool!! I like this design because is it very "old world".

The second is an old CD I "repurposed", painted pink, and then painted a lacy snowflake design.....(to tell the truth, this is the second one I did----the first one was too flower-y so I had to start over). I did this one to fit in with my "reuse and recycle" theme.

The third ornament is my favorite....this is adapted from an old "Ralph the Reindeer" pattern from the 90's.....I named our girl-y pink version "Mer-Lau" in honor of two dear friends, Mert Gullings and Laurie Boudreaux who have battled/are battling breast cancer. I am awed and inspired by their bravery. I did this one just because. This was a collaborative effort with my daughter Chrissie, who gets all the credit for sewing this, because everyone that knows me knows I don't sew, period!!

I was lazy this weekend and went shopping instead of painting....but had sooooo much fun!! Hit a couple of great sales in the Olympia area, and picked up some nice display pieces and cool "junk" because you never have enough........

I did get a companion piece done to go with the Candy Coneys I posted earlier....it is a small mummy cone....cute, but I think the Candies are cuter....I still have a few more cone-people planned....just have to find the time to finish them......

Something a little different........

Remember what I said before about unusual surfaces........well, here is one a bit out of the ordinary!!! I was driving down the road one day when I saw a traffic cone and thought it would make a cute candy corn.....so I went on a search for cones.....yes, I did buy them, I did not "liberate" them from the street!!
The rubbery surface is not the easiest to paint, but after all the work, I think they turned out pretty darn cute!! They have definitely been a hit at work. I'm hoping the will be a hit at the show too!!
After the response, I got to thinking what else I could do with the cones, so I have a couple of other ideas in the works....another for Halloween, and a few for Christmas....so many things I want to do, and sooooo little time left!!
Let me know what you think of the little darlin's.........

New stuff!!

This is one side of a piece of wood I re-purposed. This is adapted from one of Kim Klassen's tag patterns. I love the simplicity of this!!
And this is the front side of the board....from Kim's new "weekly eDitions" pattern club.....couldn't wait to get this painted up!! I love pumpkins......

The back of this piece of wood was so smooth I decided to make it a 2 sided piece and "maximize it's potential" and paint the winter design too........will look great propped up in front of a fireplace, on a shelf, lots of different places......

Found this great old sled at a garage sale earlier this summer.....didn't know what I was going to do with it, but it was just too good to pass up.......and I found the perfect pattern online!! I am so happy with how it turned out!!!!!

I have several projects in the works (a couple with some very unique surfaces......) but my
next "big" project is an old wooden ironing board. I am going to be painting a Santa on the top, but am still working up the pattern. I am determined to have it finished for Funky Junk!!

Reminder for everyone---don't forget to get your tickets for the Girls Night Out special sale at Funky Junk the evening of October 23rd. Proceeds benefit breast cancer research.

Getting Ready for Funky Junk!!!

I have been busy busy busy painting for the Funky Junk Sisters Sale. This is just one of the cute Christmas things I have done.

If you haven't bought your tickets yet for the special Friday night sale at the Funky Junk Sisters, go to their website (www.FunkyJunkSisters.com) and check it out. It is going to be so much fun!!

They are going to have a special Christmas tree with pink ornaments donated by all the vendors with a raffle for the ornaments. In my usual over-achiever style, I am doing three.........I hope to have at least two done by the end of the week and will post pics before I send them over. Retail design guru Debi Ward Kennedy is decorating the tree, so I am sure it is going to look fabulous.

Remember the two liter pop bottle???

I love love love this primitive pumpkin pattern by Terrye French!! So easy to paint and very unique. The picture doesn't do justice to the finished product....you can't see the texture and antiquing.

This gave me a great idea for a new original holiday piece with a 2 liter bottle....I'm doing some experimenting right now, but hope to have it finished soon. Have to transform the vision in my mind to the reality of paint and plastic.

It just shows that almost anything can be turned into something wonderful, and less trash goes into the landfill. Think about the stuff you have laying around the house.....that cupboard door would make a great framed picture, old springs into a letter holder, a tube sock into a cool stuffed snowman...the possibilities are endless.

Tis the Season......

I just realized my first show/sale is only 7 weeks away----yikes!!!! I have so much I want to create, and so little time to do it :(

These old suitcases were great finds!! One from an estate sale, the other was a gift from a co-worker who was clearing out her barn. (Thanks MariAnn!!)

With some paint and sealer they have been transformed into real conversation pieces. Use them to store winter gloves and scarves, or hide those presents from the little ones!!!

September is here!!!

It's September now and time for painting classes to start up again!! I have been taking classes from my wonderful teacher, Pam Stalker for the past 8 or 9 years. Class time is part painting, part social hour, part therapy session, but totally fun!! My family says I go into withdrawals in the summer because I miss my painting buddies Mert, Lizbeth, Chris, Rita and Pam.

Pam is combining her 2 classes into one this year which is going to mean even more fun with Sharon and Shirley in the mix!! I can't wait!!

Painting as a group is great therapy---no matter what is bothering you, being with your friends and creating something is a wonderful stress reliever.

Not your ordinary lunchbox..........

I love to garage sale and have found some fabulous things......I'm sure my neighbors find it a little odd when they see me haulin' in stuff every Saturday....from the antique milk cans lining my stairs to the rusty barb wire star hanging from the porch....almost anything can become something decorative with a little imagination and a bit of paint!!

Found this great old metal lunchbox at a yard sale recently. I have always wanted to do a fall show cuz I love to paint pumpkins so I'm thrilled to be part of the Funky Junk Sisters show in October!! Just wait and see what I do with a 2 liter pop bottle...........

Welcome to Prim Works

Welcome to Prim Works!! If you aren't familiar with my "stuff", I create primitive decor and crafts. I like to use a lot of "found" materials and surfaces.

It is amazing what you can do with the things you find at yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores!! I found these great old wood canisters at the last Funky Junk Sisters sale and painted them up. I think they turned out great!!