long summer days

It has been a long, hot summer but with so much rain it felt as if the days were rushed as the skies grew dark each afternoon- I would hurry about doing errands before the downpour. Not that I mind getting wet but, the tires are bald and it gets dangerous. The lightning flashes and the breath is held till the thunder crashes, I look out and watch the gutters fill and listen to the frog song serenades.

I have read many books this summer, seeking escape through the pages as the words become visible movies in my mind...Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn was loaned to me by a friend and I could not stop reading it- easy to get caught up in the manipulations and mystery in that one.

Of course I have been making things, and actually getting lots of work finished that was started last year- a few mermaid paper dolls and some new water colored giant papergirls with tulle tutus are almost done. Some wooden yard art that incorporates junky metal hardware and feeds my need to destroy, rust, sand and emboss. I suppose I could get some pictures but I'd rather show you more ethereal images...
I think about time to blog each project as I used to do- I miss blogging so much but I have Guilds that I spend time working for and I rented a studio space this summer to set up my "paper/stamping/painting" area and am working on samples for a teaching schedule this fall. I still have my sewing room at home but I have really spent more time painting and drawing this summer.

I plan to post the calendar here and on my Face Book page so stay tuned. I also will have work at this December's Atomic Holiday Bazaar!!! It will be my 7th year and I will have a large booth so plan to come if you are in the area- It is the 14th & 15th and the first 100 peeps through the door receive a very cool swag bag filled with goodies and coupons for the show.

Before I toddle off I would like to share my little fairy garden that I made the other day using the top of a birdbath and an old birdhouse, potting soil, tiny fence from the craft store and a few rocks:

It was fun and easy and didn't take long to put together.

I will try to repaint the mushrooms that have faded to a weird brownish color and maybe find some bits of moss to add.

Everything was wonderful and serene until one fateful afternoon the most awful thing happened!

An awful Troll couple showed up and started eating the mushrooms and making themselves right at home! The gnomes were appalled and deeply distressed but I told them it could have been worse- pixies eat everything, make a terrible mess and leave dust all over everything!!!

I just wanted to stick my toe in the door and say hi and see if I remembered how to use the html...it's like I remembered except Flickr has changed so much that I am just going to load my photos on so you won't have that link through to Flickr if you click on the images. It's hard enough already and Instagram is so easy and fast- it's tough to come back here and do all the work!

Keep and eye out for fairies- they are everywhere if you just look and I will be back soon with classes and fun stuff!

Have a lovely day and let me know what you've been reading/making/doing this summer...

love & stitches,

Calamity Kim