This past week we had perfect weather and it was even hot in San Francisco! My daughter and I did the decorations for a cousin's baby shower at the South Beach Yacht Club, which was the perfect venue. The tread is now to do things gender neutral, which turned out to be pretty easy. I had most of the materials on hand so we choose to do things in muted primary colors. The theme was sailing because it was at the Yacht club and the family is really into boats. My good buddy Patty N made this super quilt for me to give as a gift. I saw is posted on Pinterest and she was able to copy it using up her scraps.
Today is super bowl Sunday, which until about 3 weeks ago, didn't know it was happening here in town. Yeah, I don't follow sports at all. Even when the San Francisco Giants won the world series, I had no idea. Overall I don't think my life as suffered too much for being out of the loop. For all those people coming in for the big game, they couldn't have asked for more perfect example of California weather. It's a comfortable 73 degrees with a light breeze and most importantly, no bugs. Annie and I spent the afternoon out in the backyard (well what most people would call a back yard, it's giant hill) enjoying the peace and quiet. Normally the birds are chirping away in the full grown oak and redwood trees but I also have nesting falcons so when they're home, no comes out to play. My garden is waiting for me to get my act together and start planting my garden. There is an abundance of deer and gophers in the area so everything has to be fenced and in containers. The upside down flower pots in the photo are covering the gopher holes I set traps in. I can only use traps since I won't take the chance a poisoned gopher will end up as a snack for Annie or the other wild life around here. The flowering trees and both almond and cherry trees.
I've been an auction rat for a long long time. When I had an art studio, I was always dragging home the antique pieces too big for most dealers. Even with my down sizing, I'm still on the look out for cool vintage items for my consignment booth at Cranberry Hill. At the auction this weekend, someone's doll collection (it was massive) came up for auction. Saw these vintage children's metal folding chairs and I can only guess the doll collector used them to display their collection. I just couldn't pass them up. The color is patina is perfect and all of them are in great condition. Always so exciting when something unique comes home with me!
Flat Fish Paper Arts was born many years ago when blogging first started. My family did a lot of camping and diving along the California coast. California halibut are huge fish that start out as any normal fish. As they age, one eye will start to move to the other side and the halibut will become flat so it can lay on the bottom of the ocean with both eyes facing up.
I always like the idea that we all start out the same but life experiences slowly changes us. In my case, my creative talents went the way of paper arts. Flatfish are always looking up when they mature and as with any artist, we see inspiration in everything around us - always looking up.
Evan and her flatfish
Years ago a local dive shop had a photo of a diver who caught a halibut so big he had to throw it over his jeep to take the picture. Our little spoof with our daughter sitting in her toy jeep with dad's halibut on the hood. 1987
This past week we had perfect weather and it was even hot in San Francisco! My daughter and I did the decorations for a cousin's baby shower at the South Beach Yacht Club, which was the perfect venue. The tread is now to do things gender neutral, which turned out to be pretty easy. I had most of the materials on hand so we choose to do things in muted primary colors. The theme was sailing because it was at the Yacht club and the family is really into boats. My good buddy Patty N made this super quilt for me to give as a gift. I saw is posted on Pinterest and she was able to copy it using up her scraps. 
