MARIE ANTOINETTE, FLAMINGOS AND GOODIE SACKS IN THREE MINUTES!

Before I say, "goodnight", I simply must show you what I've been up to these last couple of weeks.
One thing, and it was covered in the last post, is that my sister, Joan, is here visiting from Indiana.
Oh, have we had fun. And, as usual, it doesn't take much for me to make myself laugh so hard I PIMP and when I'm with Joan, I'm often the only one laughing. She's says I'm not funny, I'm stupid.
Oh, how wrong she is!!
Anyway, I've been frantically getting ready for the Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat that I leave for this Wednesday. I say "frantically" because Satan has been trying to have his way with me by doing mean things to keep me from accomplishing all that I need to do......like crashing my new computer, having T-Mobile continue to be T-Moron - oh, I will be blogging about them after this retreat - and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember.
See??? He's even messing with my memory! I'm down to one brain cell! YIKES!!
So, here I am trying to get ready for the retreat at which I'll be teaching, am heading up a 22 participant ATC swap and am participating in Vendor's Night.
It's 10:30 here and I'm so tired all I want to do is go to bed! But, first, let me show you -

I did a run-through of the class I'm teaching just to brush up since it's been a while since I painted and that's what I'm teaching. (Don't tell my students!) For my practice canvas I did a very simple Marie Antoinette collage painting.
This is a close-up of Marie herself and some of the most amazing vintage lace that I added!

This is a close-up of the chandelier. It's really cool as it's a napkin and looks all old and cracked.

This here's a close-up of the vintage lace that I cut off of a larger, wider piece and a vintage drawer pull. Oh, so cool, I think.

I wish my camera took better pictures. These pictures don't do the canvas justice. But, never fear, I'm saving my money to buy a new camera so sometime in the next couple of years.......hahaha!

Oh, these are great.......tonight I "glittered" these flamingos and they're in my flower bed drying! I'm going to put a pink bandana around their necks and sell every one of them at Vendor's Night!

You can't see the glitter well at all in this picture, but trust me, they're "glittered" and look smashing!

And, I think I'm safe showing you the goodies that will be in my student's sacks that I've made. I doubt any of them have time to read my blog this week! I made them the most precious sacks and wrote them letters on these amazing tags that I made and am filling their sacks with all you see below! Won't they be surprised??? Don't you just love really cool surprises? I'm so excited for them to get their goodie sacks!

Okay, that took just a few more minutes than three, but it was a really fast post! I felt like I had been ignoring you and wanted to show you what I've been up to so now you know as much as I do! LOL

I won't get a chance to post again until I get back from Paper Cowgirl, but I'll have lots to show you then! Also, since I've been such a mess this month and didn't get a giveaway done, in July I'll have two fabulous giveaways! I hope that's good with y'all!

I've got the best readers in the world and I thank God for you!!

XOXO, Jan

OH, YEAH, BABY, FUN IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!

I had the hardest time deciding what to title this post...there were so many elements to choose from, so I just settled on "Oh, yeah, baby, FUN is right around the corner!" It seems to cover it all in a wide scope kind of way. . .

REGISTRATION FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL PAPER COWGIRL ART RETREAT BEGINS ON MARCH 1ST AT http://www.papercowgirl.blogspot.com/.

This year it's (the retreat) being bumped up and it's going to be amazing! More classes, Vendor's night, shopping at a most incredible scrapbook store, the Hampton Hotel as base, and on and on and on! So, go to the Paper Cowgirl blog, get all the scoop on the classes, shopping, registration information (REGISTRATION BEGINS MARCH 1ST), and, if you can, make your way to the Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat, June 26 - 27!!

Now, I wouldn't be me, would I, if I didn't tell you that I'm teaching one of the classes! So, let's just all say it together. . ."Jan's teaching an amazing class!" LOL

Below is a picture of a canvas I did for my dad a couple of years ago and it gives you a *slight* idea of what my class is about...you'll get more information on the P.C. blog on March 1st and the REAL PROTO-TYPE will be posted there, too.

But, I wanted to give you an idea of what to expect in my class, Home is Where Art Begins. It's going to be so much fun, family themed and I hope to teach everyone at least one thing they don't already know! LOL

That being said, and knowing how wonderful all of the other classes and teachers are, your socks are going to be blessed right off of your feet if you're a part of this amazing weekend!

Thanks for reading my blog! Y'all are simply wonderful!!

XOXO,

. . Jan

THERE'S AN ART RETREAT IN TEXAS!!

"I know!!" An art retreat IN TEXAS!!

NOT in Oregon!

NOT in Virginia!

NOT in Washington!

NOT in California!

IN TEXAS!!

You get it..........I can get to THIS retreat in my CAR with my top down (not "my top", my car's convertible top)

Tina Wright of Glue on my Fingers and Cindy Mayfield of Yapping Cat Studio are the brains behind this retreat. This year is the Paper Cowgirl's second year - last year was a HUGE success so they really didn't have a choice, did they?

I say they're the "brains" but they're really more than that........they came up with the idea (bless you, girls!), set the date, found the site, the teachers, advertised, made name tags (and they were cuh-yoot!), did all of the work that is involved in putting on an art retreat, and believe me, there is a LOT of work! And to say that it was a success would be saying too little! IT WAS A HOOT!!! Oh, and the most fun, delightful women attended - really, they were wonderful and I hope every one of them comes back this year!

This year's retreat is June 26th and 27th, with two full days of fabulous classes taught by outstanding teachers, a glorious vendor's night, access to one of the most amazing scrapbook stores I've ever had the pleasure of spending Frank the Tank's money, yummy food and shopping!

I know the amount of planning that will be put in by Tina and Cindy will make this the best little whorehouse, oh, wait, *yikes!* the best little art retreat in Texas.

So, whether you're a real Texan or just want to play Texan for a long weekend, check out the Paper Cowgirl blog because there's going to be something for everyone and I want you to come! (I'm teaching a FUN, FUN, FUN class)

Got questions? .....You're a loyal reader - email me - I'll get them answered! polkadotbarn@gmail.com

XOXO,

. . .Jan