I'm BACK!!!!!

Well, it's been way too long since I have posted. Life just got in the dadgum way, But with Spring right around the corner, new beginnings have begun. I promise to post more often 'cause I have a lot to share.

I broke my wrist (would you believe working in our community garden last Easter?) so last summer was a tad tough on this artist. Lots of therapy and little art, but came fall and my artistic life improved....ALOT. I am back teaching at the Arkansas Arts Center and had a wonderful show at last year's Art Center Museum School Sale. I will be there every year, from now on....barring no broken bones.

This week I am gearing up for the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show. (Feb 25 through Feb 27 at the Statehouse Convention Center) I will be doing a presentation on Saturday  at 2 pm, "Trash + Treasure + Hypertufa=Cheap Garden Art" .... it's for the Birds! Get it? Cheap!!! Cheep!!!

The first person that says they read this on my blog will win my ebook, "Hypertufa, Basics and Beyond." Just tell me about it at the show!

I have my 2011 class schedule up and posted on my website. http://www.garagesalequeen.biz/ Classes always fill up quick, after the Garden Show, so get enrolled ASAP. I only have 3 backyard classes scheduled for the spring to fall season as there are several private classes being arranged. If you and group of folks would like a private class just contact me and / or check out the info on my website. I love a roadtrip so we CAN do mosaic or hypertufa classes in YOUR backyard.

Anyway, I am excited to be back and plan on many helpful blogs this year.

Hope to see lots of folks this weekend.

DIY Bowling Ball - Mirror Gazing Ball

Bowling Ball………$1.00…………Garage Sale

Stand……………$2.00…………..Estate Sale

Broken mirror……………………FREE

Your backyard looking like a disco in the afternoon sun……….PRICELESS!

Never spend a small fortune on gazing balls again. And this one is not likely to break because a squirrel jumps on it.

Ok, here ya go.

Supplies:
Bowling ball
Foam or a bowl to hold ball while working
Silicone ll sealant
SANDED Grout
Broken mirror
Buckets (one for grout mix and one for clean water)
Sponge
old towels
Rubber gloves

Place the bowling ball in a bowl, or what I do, is set it on a piece of waffled foam padding. This is to stabilize it so you can glue the mirror on it. I also fill the finger holes with liquid nails or silicone glue to even out the surface.

Break or cut the mirror pieces to be a tad smaller than 1 inch square. Smaller pieces are easier to glue on and will lay flatter on the round surface. I use an old towel. Wrap the mirror, and then whack it. The towel keeps the mirror from shattering all over the place.

Glass cutters work great on thin mirror but on really thick mirror you gonna have to break it with a hammer. (I got over the 7 years bad luck stuff a long time ago.)

Using clear silicone II sealant, start gluing the mirror to the ball. I do it like working a jig saw puzzle, trying to keep a minimum of a ¼ inch space between the pieces. Cover the entire ball, except where it is resting on the bowl or support. Let it dry for several hours (overnight works best). Then carefully rotate the ball to finish gluing the mirror. Let the glue dry for a day or two. This is dependent on weather. Temperature is a factor in the glue drying well.

Now it’s time to grout. I like the black (formal name is “charcoal”) color. BE SURE it is SANDED grout. And wear good rubber gloves. Messy stuff and it’ll dry your hands out. Put about 3 cups of the grout in an old bowl or bucket and add just enough water to get a peanut butter consistency. This is tricky so add your water a little at a time. If it seems too runny add a little more powdered grout. Once you get the thick but workable consistency, let the mixed grout sit for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then start smearing it on the ball, pushing it in the cracks. Have a bucket of clean water and a coarse sponge on hand, ready to go. Once you have covered the entire ball, then start wiping grout from the mirror. Each swipe requires a clean, well-rung-out sponge…so rinse often. When you have removed most of the grout from the mirrored pieces, let it sit for an hour or two. The grout will partially dry and you can buff the mirror with a clean rag or old towel.

And there ya go…. You have your very own disco gazing ball. Mirror is great because it reflects the colors of your garden and changes with the sunlight.

I did another ball, using broken pieces of souvenirs from the Clinton Museum store. Here it is. They sold it to a private collector. I called it the “Blues Ball”. Can ya see the saxophone on it?

You can use marbles (the ones with a flat side) or broken china. The possibilities are endless. Have fun and show off those balls!

Today I'm suffering from PES! If you don't know what that is...it's "Post Event Syndrome." A common occurrence after a major show. (a sign of age??? surely not!...I say with a grin) And the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show was a HUGE success. Beautiful weather and folks with spring fever gave way to a heck of a crowd at the show. I sold 20 art pieces (when ya see something dissappear from my Etsy Store it's cause it sold elsewhere) and handed out over 300 class schedules and registration forms. Reservations for classes were on my voice mail before the show was even over. So if you want to take a class, make your reservations as soon as you can to ensure the date(s) you want.









Class info is available on my website....

http://www.garagesalequeen.biz/

My wonderful Hubs is about halfway through with my studio in our backyard. We've used an old glass top from a patio table for a skylight. All 9 of our windows are recycled from a house in the neighborhood. We continue to pick up odds and ends from the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store just a few miles from our home. Old set pieces, from the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theater are being added for indoor work surfaces and storage. Hubs found a really cool old craftsman door from a salvage place that he's going to convert to a dutch door. Yep. It's really going to happen! I'm gonna have my own art studio...someday. Of course, it's been a tad tight (can we say it's the economy, stupid?) but we are optimistic that this summer will be a successful one. Especially after such incredible response at this weekend's Garden Show!

With that being said, perhaps you'd like to help?

Perhaps you need a wonderful present that is Arkansas / American made?



www.garagesalequeen.biz/commissions.html


Perhaps you'd like to expand your own creative horizons? Did I mention my classes are forming?

www.garagesalequeen.biz/classes.html


Perhaps you have a fun group that needs a little humorous motivation?

www.garagesalequeen.biz/presentations.html


Perhaps you can't make it to North Little Rock for a class and you are ready to get outside and create some fun garden art?



www.garagesalequeen.biz/hypertufabook.html






Spring is almost here! Help yourself and it helps Hubs build my studio. It's a win-win-win!



(We will now return to regular programming..... the Queen has finished today's commercial!)



You see...that's a sure sign of PES...I can't shut up!



I also want to say a HUGE thanks to MaGo, Corrie, and of course, Hubs! I couldn't do these huge shows without 'em!

I gotta go now 'cause I have to unpack crates from the show and clean up my little in-home gallery. Some ladies are coming by this afternoon to purchase a few items they didn't want to carry around at the Garden Show!



We'll talk soon, y'all!



Kandy, the Garage Sale Queen





Coming this week..... Your first, in a long series, of DIY garden projects.....


Gazing ball using a bowling ball and found objects! Your backyard will look like a disco before you know it!

Arkansas Flower and Garden Show Feb. 26 to 28

I can't believe spring is almost here and the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show is the absolutely best place to warm up that Spring Fever.

I've been at the Garden Show for the last 7 years and, needless to say, I love it.

That is also the reason I haven't been posting on this blog. I've been doing art! Lots of fun stuff that I'll be showing this weekend. Like this one called.......

"I'm ready for my closeup"

Yep, finally... I've done some flamingo art to sell. Many folks have asked for it, now it's here.

Check out this watering can, also with wonderful little pink flamingos.... 4 of them, to be exact!

And a really funky mirror.

Come by and see me at the Statehouse Convention Center, in Downtown Little Rock, this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you say you saw this blog, I'll give you a 10% discount.

I have also finalized my class schedule for this spring and summer. You can find it on my website.

http://www.garagesalequeen.biz/

I'll be teaching Hypertufa and Mosaics several times (and locations) this year, so find the class that is right for you.

Look for other surprises, coming this spring. I have so many ideas, I busting at the seams and having a hard time sleeping. The fact that I'm a tad chubby has nothing to do with it!

The first of March, I will start showing a "do it yourself" garden project every week, right here on this blog.....just in time for spring! And I'll be hitting the Garage Sales so I'll have lots of fun things to share.

Hope to see y'all at the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show....

Kandy, the "Garage Sale Queen"

Whew! Holiday whirlwind going on....

I’ve been at Starving Artists Café for the last 3 Saturdays and several evenings over the last month. Too fun! I’ve made a bunch of sales and I’ve eaten some wonderful dishes. Jason (the owner/chef) is incredible. I recommend everything on the menu because it’s all great!
Meno-Mamas are a hit! Yea! I love making them and folks really are giggling when they purchase. All that have sold are to be gifts and the buyers seem sure the recipient will appreciate the menopause humor!
I have 2 more shows between now and Christmas, This coming Friday, Dec. 18th, is the Argenta Art Walk on Main Street in downtown North Little Rock. Then Saturday the 19th, is the last day of the Holiday Market at Starving Artists. I also have 4 mosaic pieces being shown at Starving Artists Café. I sure do appreciate those guys. Paula (Jason’s wife and co owner) is a brilliant gal and wonderful author. Mitchell deals with us artists and is so very sweet! I hope to have many years working with these folks. In fact, I’m already planning a fountain/waterfall to make for their patio. Look for it next spring.

I was also excited to learn that my art from my Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/garagesalequeen has been featured on the award winning Canada blog http://www.francaldwell.blogspot.com/ . I was so very flattered. Fran is an artist and writer so her recognition meant a lot to me.
Now I have to start working on Christmas presents. And it’s less than 2 weeks until Christmas. Whew!

Meno-Mamas are now available.

HappyTurkey Day Leftovers to all!

It's Black Friday and all the youngins' I know (my kids included) are out shopping. There is nothing I want bad enough to fight the crowds. Lots of us older and wiser ones feel that way, but then again we aren't buying "Santa" anymore.

I have now put my Meno-Mamas up on Etsy along with quite a bit of my funky jewelry.

Check it out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/garagesalequeen.

I also wanted to let folks know I will be a Starving Artists Cafe every Saturday between now and Christmas. Starving Artists Cafe is located in the 400 block of Main Street in Downtown North Little Rock's Argenta Historic District. Come by and have a wonderful lunch and check out my work, along with 9 other artists. Talk about a better way to shop! Original art, great food, laid back!

And don't forget to check out my funky jewelry. Using polmer clay and various found objects I have made necklaces, and earrings and sets with both included. I absolutely promise compliments every time you wear these mini works of art.

And let me know if you saw this blog and I will give you a 20% discount on your purchases.

How's that for easy shopping!

By the way...just another recycling diddy...

I'm making Christmas ormanents out of light bulbs. Not your run of the mill kinda ornaments and these little works of art would be great Christmas presents. As soon as I take some pictures , I show ya here. In the meantime, come by Starving Artist Cafe!

busy! busy! busy!!!

Whew! I have been creating a gillion things! Can't wait to get all my pictures edited and up on my website (and here) for folks to view.

I have started a few new ventures now that my classes are over.

Watch for my MENO-MAMAS! They are precious, if I say so myself. They are little wall hangings of hormonally imbalanced girls with an attitude.

I have also started a line of jewelry. Many years ago I made jewelry and kinda got away from it but now I've brought it back. Handmade beads and pendants and recycled items are combined to make one of a kind necklaces, earrings, and bracklets.

I have also finally got my ETSY store up and running. check out what is for sale here.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/garagesalequeen

Check back often and be sure to let me know if you want a custom order. I have several for Christmas and you can just drop me a line if you have something special in mind.