Monday, February 10, 2025

T Stands For Spice Merchant Cats

 

Back at The Spice Merchant, I was on the prowl for cats.

I realized after seeing this uploaded, 

it isn't a black cat, but an owl.

These, however, are cats!  Cute and colorful, too.

I like that this one has a place to hold a straw, while keeping your coffee or tea hot.

This may be my favorite of them all. Love the paw print on the handle.

I've shown you mine, now it's time to share your own drink related post.  It can be photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, books, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, as long as it in some way relates back to a drink, any drink.  Regardless, please share below and Bleubeard and I will gladly visit, as will other T participants.  Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Bleubeard would like to remind you that old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday and not just this year.  Please remember to visit your fellow T participants. 





Monday, February 3, 2025

T Stands For Spice Merchant Coffee Helpers

 

I want to start today by explaining why I have not seen a doctor for my hand, wrist, and arm.  My two cats have a vet.  In fact, they have two vets, but I have never had nor needed a medical doctor since I moved to Wichita in 1991 to obtain my doctorate.   Now I find NO GP (general practitioner) is taking on new patients.  I called every clinic and every office both in the phone book (yes, I still use mine) and online.  One office told me they had a man (I really want a female doctor) who would take me, but it would be mid June before I could get in to see him.  None of my friends could help because they told me to use their names when I applied (to no avail).  Not sure what I will do because there seems to be a real need for GPs in Wichita. 

For T today, I am headed back to The Spice Merchant.

These are the two wonderful guys who help me when I get my "free" pound of coffee each month. 

Meet Jason on the left and Robert on the right.  I'm so short, I had to stand on a stool in order to see over the white buckets, each of which contains a different type of coffee.

I took three shots because I was afraid my shaky hands would give fuzzy photos.  In the background, you see the equipment where the various coffees are roasted.  The buckets of coffee beans are my ticket to T this Tuesday.

I've shown you mine, now it's time to share your own drink related post.  It can be photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, books, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, as long as it in some way relates back to a drink, any drink.  Regardless, please share below and Bleubeard and I will gladly visit, as will other T participants.  Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Bleubeard would like to remind you that old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday and not just this year.  Please remember to visit your fellow T participants. 
 
 
 
 

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Second on the 2nd: Mixed Up Music

 

As most of you know, I like my second look each month to reflect our host at Art Journal Journey's (AJJ) theme.  That means I needed something Music inspired, which is Vicki's theme.  I was also inspired by my friend Erika who used cassette tapes as part of her first entry at AJJ this month.  This post was created in April, 2020 and most of you know I recycle something every day day from April 1 through April 22, which to most is Earth Day, but to me is bEARTHday.  Here is the post in its entirety.  I called it Mixed Up Music.

 
You can see I've started with a used file folder that I will cut to size.  I still believe these file folders multiply while I'm not looking.  The vintage sheet music went through the basement flood and by all rights, should have been thrown in the trash.  However, sprayed with anti-fungal spray (the same type spray I use to disinfect everything that now comes into my home), I was able to salvage these pages.  On top of the sheet music is the stencil I will use, along with my molding paste and a spreader.   The "Smitten Dust" actually contains ephemera.  I just noticed that one image is totally hidden.

I started the step out process by cutting the used file folder to the size of the sheet music.  Just as I was about to take a photo of the sheet music attached to the file folder, my batteries died.  No problem, right?  I have more because I use rechargeable batteries.  Sadly, it was a problem because none of my AA batteries were charged.  So there are no more step out photos.

Once my journal page was complete, I thought it was best to show you the stencil I used.  This is a favorite of mine, but it was really, really difficult to clean the molding paste out of all those tiny cuts in the stencil.  Does anybody even remember cassette tapes?

I give you the completed entry I call Mixed up music.

I realize it's hard to read my handwriting. Under the music note is "Mixed up mix tape

plays music through the ages."

The mix tape is the middle cassette tape in the top row.

I love how each cassette tape design is completely different.

I thought this TH paper doll paired nicely with the theme.

I tried to balance him on the page number, but I fear he still floats in the air.

Here's a look at all nine cassette tapes.

For this page which is Day 19 of 22, I started with a used file folder, over which I glued a sheet of vintage sheet music.  When dry, I laid the stencil in place and used molding paste to fill in the holes.  When the molding paste was dry, I went over it with water soluble crayons.  Next I added the bugle boy.  Finally, I added the quaver, which is also called an 1/8 note (on the right) and the beam notes (the two quavers or two 1/8 notes joined together on the left), then the sentiment I wrote by hand in green ink and outlined using a black Zig pen.

As you can see, I recycled the file folder, the sheet music, and the two music notes.  Bleubeard and I ask what have you recycled today?

__________________________________________

Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  It could even be one that holds special meaning, like mine.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit.  The link will be live until 4 p.m. Tuesday (which is tomorrow), so it is best to share it on the 2nd.






Saturday, February 1, 2025

Dancing to the music

 

I want to begin by thanking my dear friend and co-administrator Mia of Craftartista for her excellent hosting at Art Journal Journey during the month of January.  She did a fabulous job and gave lots of great examples of her theme.  What a fantastic start to 2025.  We are not just delighted she is a full fledged moderator, she is also a great asset to Art Journal Journey.

This month we have a second time host, Vicki Parsons who can be found at Stamped Smiles.  The theme Vicki has chosen is MUSIC.  She provides several examples on the blog, in case you need help deciding what Music means to you.  Vicki is a gifted artist and is known for "smashing her stash."  Music

I call this Dancing to the music.  Detail shots are below.




I started by painting a couple of vintage sheet music pages using Phthalo Blue in a green shade and Phthalo Green in a blue shade, Titan Buff, and Silver, all Golden brand fluid acrylics.  I then cut them into four pieces and assembled them onto a page in my Collage Too altered book.

I used the paper doll Elle gifted me in her Christmas card where I was given permission to deconstruct her card.

When I saw this man, I thought he might be dancing the soft shuffle and using the cane as part of the act.

Vicki, Erika, Mia, Bleubeard, and I are delighted you joined us and hope to see you this month at Art Journal Journey as you share your own interpretation of Music.

Please remember we welcome art journal pages that meet the theme requirements, altered book pages, canvases, loose, or stand alone pages including fabric and digital art.  I (and the administrators) cannot leave comments on Facebook or Instagram entries.  We do not allow cards!!!  We also don't allow tags, index cards, ATCs, or ATCoins, unless they are part of a journal page, and as much as we don't want to, will be forced to delete your entry.  Please remember if your blog is not in English, we ask that you translate it for us since the translation tool doesn't work on some blogs, including mineHope to see you and your Music entries soon at Art Journal Journey.