Carni Junki Treasury on Etsy.com

Imagine my happy surprise when I logged on the computer this morning and found that my Strong Men and Tattooed Woman Tarot Cards are featured in a beautiful treasury. As always I am so very happy to have my art chosen by other artists. This treasury has the gritty seedy feel of a old fashioned carni. It's a guilty pleasure so.......enjoy!


You can find the treasury at.......http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c7c786ad98e6d916c9b3c35/carni-junki

Listing: http://www.etsy.com/listing/52808149/major-arcana-22-original-handmade-tarot

Feeling Better Today

This adorable photo of a happy little dog enjoying a sprinkler was just snagged off the internet. ( If it's yours just let me know ) My shih-tzu's and my malti-poo can smile exactly like that when they are with me. Our routine is the same every day. I gather strength from that sameness.....I hate change...I hate the unexpected....the surprise.
Me and my little dogs are trying to make the best of a bad situation ( talked about in my last post ) I resolve to enjoy each day and try to make something beautiful every day.
Laraine

Grumpy Free Image

I have used my photo editing program to enhance this black and white vintage photo with a light touch of color. Her expression reflects my feeling today. I am fighting a battle against the bugs that is totally creeping me out. My neighbor has two large palm trees that are roach motels. Apparently they (the very large roaches ) are looking for water because the are invading my home. I did not notice them since they were in a spare bathroom that I seldom use. I called the exterminator and have been told it will take 8 to 10 days for them to ingest all the poison, then I should stop seeing them both dead or alive. I am freaking out....I actually jumped when one of my dogs brushed against my leg. So.....I am grumpy today and probably will be for the next 8 to 10 days. have a great day.......Now go make something beautiful.
Laraine

A Fine five Spotted Hawk Moth in the Making

I went out to pick the last of the peppers today and found they gone......eaten by the biggest fattest greenest Caterpillar I have ever seen. He is a tomato horn worm and is approx 3 1/2 to 4 inches long. Fat as a human finger with a funny hook on his back end. He will turn into a five spotted hawk moth which will be the size of a hummingbird. I don't have the heart to kill him and since my garden is gone now, I will just keep an eye on him and see where he plans to make his transformation. Things like this make life interesting and having a computer that you can just type "fat green caterpillar" in the search box and find what you are looking for makes every day a learning experience.........now........go make something beautiful!
Laraine

For the Love of Kismet

I am so proud and pleased to have my work chosen to be in an etsy treasury. It is called "kismet" and my Beauties of the Arabian Nights fits in perfectly. Have a nice day ( I have lots of errands to run today )......now.....go make something beautiful.
Laraine

Another Sweet Little Jewelry Box

I really did not care for the ugly glass top on this sweet little jewelery box so using some vintage ephemera and some little sea shells, I have fashioned a jewelery box with serious religious overtones. This box turned out a little more turquoise than the last but all in all....I like it.
Have a great day....now....go make something beautiful,
Laraine

Sweet Little Vintage Jewelery Box

Take one little cheep jewelery box made in china bought for 25 cents at my local thrift shop. Carefully paint undercoat in a soft grey green color that I just love. When dry...using a dry bush loaded with a little cream paint and over paint. When dry ....sand lightly to give it an aged look. Saved from the junk pile a very adorable little jewelery box that I will probably lose when my daughter comes for a visit and falls in love with it. Have a great day.......now........go make something beautiful.
Laraine

Karla's Cottage Wizard of Oz Tag Swap

I am taking part in karla's Cottage wizard of oz tag swap. I have used a photo my adorable grandaughter wearing last years Halloween costume as Dorothy. The background is a light pencil drawing of the books charicaters. I have cartooned Hayleys photo using fotoflexer and glittered her red shoes. I will look for some old emerald green rhinestone buttons to represent the emerald city.
Have a great day..........now.......go make something beautiful.
Laraine

French Country Fashion to Drool Over

Atlier des Ours is one of my favorite sites for french fashion to drool over. You can find them on my sidebar. The settings and colors are just beautiful. Since I don't speak french, I think their latest post is featuring their fall fashions. I can picture a chilly fall day. The models hair is slightly windblown, her cheeks pink from the cold.......wearing these lovely fashions as she window shops on an elegant street. Dream on........now go have a nice day and make something beautiful.
Laraine

For the Love of Fotoflexer

Take yourself on over to fotoflexer.com and have some fun with your photos. I have taken the original photo and changed it into a painted picture and then a very old tintype photo look. Fotoflexer is free, online and fun.
Have a great weekend....now....go make something beautiful.
Laraine

For the Love of BEADS !!!

I happily arrived home after spending four days in San Antonio visiting my daughter and her beautiful family. August is the month of both the girls birthdays so for poor old grandmom, who cannot take the stress of a child's party , we get together and have some quiet grandmom time.
I had ordered some beads before I left and was excited to unwrap them when I got home. I never really have anything special that I want to make.....I just let the beads sing too me.
Have a great weekend and.......go make something beautiful.
Laraine

For Love of a Gypsy Witch Shrine

I am working on a gypsy witch shrine. I think it needs some textile and perhaps some vials of magic potions. Have a great day.....now.....go make something beautiful.
Laraine

For the Love of Painting a vintage Suitcase

Take one old suitcase.....this one was navy blue with a lovely blue satin lining. First I painted the whole suitcase a soft grey green color I like. Then I painted the trim and handle a creamy white. Using the same creamy white in a dry brush technique I put a small amount of white paint on a dry brush and brush it all over the suitcase partially covering up the green. When all dry I added the suitcase to my collection being sure to put the torn baggage check tickets back on the handle.
have a nice day....now....go make something beautiful.
Laraine

For the Love of Carnival Strong Men and Tattooed Woman

My tarot card set of carnival strong men and tattooed women is finally done and up on etsy for sale. I am so glad I painted the background a color. The last few decks I have made, I have left the background the natural color of the paper. This deck looks so much more colorful. The photos seem to pop off the background. I have laminated this deck so it should last a lifetime.
Have a great day...now, go make something beautiful.
Laraine