So we had our fifth painting session finally (last week the model cancelled so we called off class). I could really tell the difference in taking a week off. Not that I can really paint to begin with. Here's the results. Warning. Visible nipple approaching. You may want to have children leave the room. They may turn into stone if they see this.

I finished Mattie's necklace, but haven't blocked yet. I'll block it with the citrine job and hopefully will be able to post BOTH ITEMS tomorrow. Woohoo. Tatting double-header!

Scroll down for naked painting........














So, I'm not Rubens.

Ah - the long awaited, promised tatting. I started this a few days ago. It's going to be for my mom. I'm going to finish similarly to the citrine project base chain. I'm trying to decide if I want to do it in just those pinkish beads, or if I want to add some of those dandy gold beads, too.

Decisions, decisions. I'm dismally behind in my holiday tatting. Dismally. Behind. Really.

Cousin Joey has left Iraq. He's going to be in Kuwait for the next month while they process the members of the 278th back home. I'm so glad he's one step further to home.

Yay, Joey!

Okay! The doggie is a done deal (well, except for that final futzing about one must do). I'm going to send him to April (the perfect one) tomorrow afternoon! Whew! I'm glad that's done. He moves really funny, too. Please pay no heed to the mess in my house. Yes, those are shoes under that table. And Raymond's overnight duffel on the table. Gaa!

We won't even discuss the remnants of Raymond's "Wrench Manicure" (that's the reverse of a French Manicure - the dark part is under the nail while the nail stays pink) all over the front door facing.

I promise...I'm getting to tatting shortly.

Sunday we went to Kingsport to celebrate Raymond's mother's 90th birthday. 90 years. That's a long time. Of course, I forgot to get pics of the birthday girl and her bouncing baby boy (who just turned 60, by the way). This shot of the sunset on the way home will have to do.















While we were up there, we went to the EverGreen Garden center and I found the loveliest shrub rose. It's a hybrid named "Knock Out" - it was one of the AARS winners for 2000. The color is absolutely fluorescent and the blossoms have a moderate rosy aroma. The foliage is a lovely, dark green. Here's a snapshot I grabbed of our bush before it was loaded into the truck.







I also got a beautyberry. The berries were the most incredible lavender color. The hybrid name is "Passion Pink". What a hoot. I've seen white beautyberries and purple ones, but never this color. I really like the combination of the lavender with the eyepopping Knock Out roses.















Here's the head of the puppet I'm about to finish for my sister, April (the perfect one). It's Mother Hubbard's pet poodle, Toulouse (Too Loose, get it? [insert groaning here]). I'm in the process of stringing the pup(py/pet) up. I'll post more of him shortly. And tatting. I have tatting show and tell.

Well, I promised Sherry I would update the site. I have all manner of things to show and tell about, but no pics with me at present save this one. I started a figure painting class a couple of weeks ago. This is my first foray into the world of oils as well as painting the human figure. This is what I came up with last week. Tonight we do four poses in 2 hours. I hope I don't end up with folks with three arms or two heads. That would be very bad.

I'll update more later when I'm home and can post more pics. Meanwhile, this will just have to do. Heh! You can't see what my "victim" looked like, so there's no way to tell if it's any good or not. Heehee!