So I'm trying this new Art Journal thing...

Looks like I've started an art journal. Im also going to create a bullet journal in a different book. Anyway... here are some pics until I take better ones.

Thrifty Crafting: From Crap to Cute

Okay... so, after ogling blogs like Vintage Revivals , Once Was Junk and All Things Thrifty I am obsessed with making my crappy 999 sq ft apartment look more like a home and less like a college kids dorm room. Even though we said we didn't want to be happy here because it was a temporary place until we get a house... It has been temporary for about five years because things keep getting in the way. Like getting laid off, whoo hoo! I do have a great job now though.

Crappy thoughts aside, I'm excited because I FINALLY found an Owl figurine and I'm going to paint him white. Yes, I AM easily amused, how did you guess?

First of all, Here are some pics of my excellent thrifty finds recently. Some great colored glass pieces and a sweet green, round box!

My awesome lighthouse that will end up being white and red! FINALLY found an Owl and some sort of, grouse maybe? anyway... she will become yellow. Also I found a cool (albeit, atrociously smelling) shadowbox for my bathroom beachyness. Yes that is a word, I just made it up.

A very cool double frame (which was missing a pane of glass, but so tiny I'm sure it'll be cheap to replace). And a very awesome silver-plate tray which I will be painting white when I get some more paint. Its fairly big so I don't want to start it and run out of white...

A very awesome beach painting, which I did nothing to, besides scrubbing the frame with a warm rag.

I hummed and hawed over this oldyfied (yes, another gem of mine) wall hanging of the declaration of independence for quite a while. However, I'm glad I got it though. It is super cool. It only needed a warm rag as well, to rub off the thrift store funk.

TO THE PAIN! (I mean paint...) In case you are wondering, I used BIN Primer white, and Krylon Semi-Gloss White, Gloss Banner Red, and Gloss Sun Yellow.

Here is my double frame, my lighthouse and my shadowbox primed! 

Owly only needed a couple passes of primer and a coat or two or white semi-gloss. YAY!!!

Lighthouse getting close! (ok so I screwed up and didn't put the tape on tight enough, and sprayed too close... so... some red dripped into the white. You don't get to see pictures of that. I'm fixing it... but it's dark now so I'll finish later and you can see pics of the awesome version of the light house! I thought any idiot could spray paint, but I guess I was wrong...) Oh by the way, I took off the tea-light candle holder and it will be placed back on (not glued back on so it can be removed to extract melted wax if need be.) I boiled it carefully until I was able to pull it off. I kind of got lucky because I realized I was boiling the end of a welded shut metal tube, so I promptly stopped before something exploded. I'm glad it was still hot enough to pry off. Ha! Don't try this at home kids. I'm a professional. OK, not really, but seriously, don't do it. I only did because I was dumb! Now that the PSA is out of the way... The more you know, right?  

sigh.. NEXT.

Birdy bird done! I love sun yellow. Ever since I saw the yellow Coo-Coo clock on Vintage Revivals' blog, I wanted something yellow.

Owly in his temporary home. I will probably rearrange. I hate my ugly mantle. Sorry for the horrid pics, I live in a cave.

New and improved (and MUCH less smelly) shadow box! I still used the old rusted hardware. I kind of like it. If i ever find something cooler I might replace them, who knows.

Shadow box in its home with some new friends!

I went ahead and hung my double frame, but I definitely want to get some glass for some beachy images. 

 Also, I'm thinking I want to paint the two decals, either:

Coral Isle 

or  Ocean Breeze 

or both!!

That's all for now. I need to pay SOME attention to my husband and my dog. They are so neglected... not really.... Besides, they have each other right?  Haha... yea. Until next time.

My New Great Job!

I know it's a little late (a month into my new job) but I have to say I love my job! I work on the 60th floor downtown Dallas! Also, I wanted to test my new ifttt.com recipe. if you don't know what that is, check it out!!!

So I have an etsy shop now!

Check it out!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlackFlagDesigns

I was chosen!!!

Check it out!

My photo was chosen for the Schmap Dallas Eleventh Edition online guide!

Click Here to see my photo in the guide!

One of my photos might be showcased!

One of my flicker photos has been short-listed for inclusion in the eleventh edition of the Schmap Dallas Guide, to be published early May 2010! How exciting! I will update if they choose to use it!

Schmap Dallas Guide

Brushing up on my handskills...

The other day I sat at Starbucks and drew the patrons. It was fun. I actually showed a couple of people their portraits and I believe they enjoyed it. I plan to do it again soon. It was really fun because there was a sense of urgency, since of course they could get up and leave at any moment!

Radioactive Nerd is coming to Pax East!

My co-hosts Frost and Biggk are going to be at PAX East! Look for the Radioactive Nerd booth and stop by! More news to come about Radioactive Nerd's presence at PAX East this year!

www.radioactivenerd.com

Anniversary

Today is my 3rd Wedding Anniversary. I'm SO getting taken out to my favorite restaurant! Olive Garden!!! Wooooooooooo!

Seamstress in the Making

Well so I started sewing... I've have had a sewing machine since 2006 (wedding present), and just now really started learning to use it! I'm doing fairly well I'd say... I have made five things so far. A Skirt, Wrap Pants, Two Fleece Hats, & Fleece Arm Warmers. I've already gotten a request for a Custom Fleece Hat Commission! I set up an Esty Account and will probably be selling items soon. However right now, priority one is finding another job.

Pictures will be posted soon!