Play Date Last Sunday and Update on BC Journey

Hi Blogger Buddies!  It's been so long (since I returned from the RSC!) since I blogged last, so I will cut to the chase and share my play date I had last Sunday at my friend's home.


Sometimes we call these play dates "Make-n-Steak" because Linda's husband, Bob will bbq steaks for us later in the evening after Linda and I share techniques we've learned either on our own, on-line or at workshops.


First things first . . .

I brought along supplies and some of my pieces to show Linda what I learned in Teesha Moore's workshops . . .

I've been wanting to do some etching on copper and Linda has already done several jewelry pieces using the technique, so when I told her I recently got these really cool book cover rubber stamps by Tim Holtz I wanted to try, she told me to bring them.  


Here is my book cover in the making.  Stamped and coming out of it's etching bath after about an hour . . .

I thought Alcohol Inks would be cool to color the cover and give it a patina, old world look.  I used Lettuce, Butterscotch, Bottle, Caramel, Citrus . . .

This is what I'm going to use (I think) as the back cover.  Here's how it looks out of the etching bath with no color added yet.  Oops - that's the flash from my cell phone in the lower right hand corner . . .

I really like etching and will definitely be buying the supplies to do some more at home!


Snack time . . .

Show and Tell time.  Some of Bob's latest pieces . . .

 

Then it was play time with Marlena "Marley" . . .

after a swim in the pool . . .

Linda finished up her piece the next day and colored what was a black and white head piece.  I just LOVE how it all turned out! . . .

And this is mine . . .

It's always such a fun, relaxing day at The Bucci's.  Next time we get together we're going to do shrink art *smiles*.


BC update:  I had reconstruction surgery June 27th.  Still healing.  I think I may have done a little too much a little too soon (the workshops and the rubber stamp convention) or maybe things just take longer to heal than I want them to?  I have seen the doctor twice since surgery and will go back on August 18th to discuss the next steps.  I'm feeling well and have returned to work.  And obviously I'm not going to let the fun stop! *smiles*

Teesha Moore Workshops

Last Saturday and Sunday I went to the Rubber Stamp Convention and on Friday I took a couple of early morning Teesha Moore workshops that were held at the Convention Center as well.


Both workshops were fun and freeing for me.  I got to work in one of my favorite mediums - collage, but more than that, I got to use colors I am not usually drawn to when I create.  Here's what I created:


This collage was created on a canvas using papers and fun foam and paints and paint pens . . .

This one I created on cardstock using some of the same techniques but is meant to be a journal page . . .

Me and some of my art buddies at our table . . .

and here are some of the other artist's creations from both workshops . . .

After the workshops I joined my friends for a nice lunch before I went back to the hotel and started resting up for the two days ahead! . . .

I will do another blog post Saturday morning to share photos from both days of the Rubber Stamp Convention and the Tea I went to with friends Pam and Nancy.

Not Feeling Guilty!

Can it get any better than THIS? . . .

And no, I didn't devour this alone!  I dined with friends Chelle and Joy at Market Broiler located in The Block of Orange Wednesday night.


We capped the evening off here . . . 

and here . . .

Sometimes you just HAVE to do it! 

PS  There's still room in my Charm Necklace workshop this Saturday.  See sidebar for link to workshop and store info.  

Friday Outing With Jacki

My friend Jacki Long, that teaches A Rip-Roaring Collage workshop - (see more of her artwork HERE) came by and took me out to lunch today.  But before we left for lunch, Jacki came bearing gifts.


First was a vintage suitcase to add to my collection . . .

And check out this lap desk that Jacki found on one of her shopping excursions and gifted me.  I love how it's adjustable for reading or writing or creating.  And I love the nice size pockets on either size . . .

Ooooh, and I now own an original Jacki Long art piece!  And it's a portrait of ME . . . now how cool is THAT?! . . .

After the oohs and ahhhs, we headed over to Miguel's for a really nice lunch and then we stopped by Michael's and the Post Office.  

Good conversation . . . good food . . . fabulous gifts and just an all-around nice Friday afternoon spent with a special friend.  Thank you so much Jacki x o 

Breast Cancer Update, RAKS, Lunch and Some Shopping

Yesterday was another visit to my surgeon for a "check up" on my healing progress.  Things are progressing at a steady rate.  What I thought were pockets of fluid that had built up is actually excessive skin that needs to be removed due to where .  This means that I will need to go under the knife again in a month or so.  Without going into detail here, I'm thinking I will "interview" another surgeon for that procedure.  Other than this future surgery, I am scheduled to start physical therapy to get my range of motion in my arms back to normal and get a bone density test before I start the hormone therapy medication.


Enough of the "C" stuff.  When I returned home from my appointment yesterday, this is what was waiting for me in my mailbox.  All the way from New York was a box filled with THESE goodies from Eileen Bellomo.  First was this handmade "Stay Strong" statue which is just GORGEOUS in person! . . .

And in another package that read "Look Inside" was this note . . .

OMG, Eileen sent me "THE" t-shirt from the Tim Holtz cruise along with these four TH pins!  You can click on the photo so you can read what each was says . . .

Thank you soooooooo much Eileen!  I am just so jazzed to have received each and every one of your special RAKS.  xoxo

Also in the mail was another sweet card from Mary Joyce from a group I belong to called Scraps of Color . . .

Thank you Mary Joyce for continuing to keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I continue on this journey to kick cancer's butt *smiles*

And how could I forget to share my lunch with you from yesterday?  My cousin Pam drove from Altadena to come and take me to my doctor appointment in Newport Beach.  


Afterwards we went to The Cheesecake Factory across the street at Fashion Island.  We must have stayed there for almost 3 hours laughing and talking and listening to the piped in music - which sounded like it could have been from my blog's music playlist! One of the dishes that we shared . . .

Salmon . . .

My cousin Pam sipping on her (now favorite drink??) a dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives and my after lunch Mexican coffee drink . . .

 And if all of THAT wasn't enough for a simply fab-u-lous lunch? . . .

Yep, we both got cheesecake for dessert!  Now mind you, we couldn't possibly eat these after the lunch we just had, so we got these "to go" *smiles*.

And after a lunch like that, we just HAD to walk around Fashion Island and do a little shopping right?  So we stopped in Anthropologie (of course!)

And although I had heard of this store, I always thought it was strictly for "the younger set".  But my cousin set me straight and I ended up getting several scarves and a little bag that was all under $60 total at Forever 21 . . .

I didn't make a boot purchase yesterday, but I can tell you that boots are REALLY in over at Nordstrom!  I'm thinking I'll have to check out Nordstrom RACK for a chance at getting some better prices.

Today?  Rest? *smiles*