Now For Something Different

One of our big crafty efforts around Casa de Omly is a bit different than usual. Our outdoor furniture was looking pretty shabby after only one year outside, so we decided to sand down the splintered and peeling surface and then reseal and stain.

In this action shot, you can see how unevenly weathered the top looked. Also, Salvbard is totally rocking the eye protection.

In addition to the benches, we also have a table that soon looked very naked.

Even the first coat of stain brought it about back to its like-new color.

After two, the results were fairly dramatic.

We aren't quite done, as everything needs to be flipped over and the bottom resealed as well.

Overall though, I am very excited about this project. We will have to take advantage of the last of the warm evenings to be out and enjoying them. Got any good food or drink suggestions for a warm autumn evening?

Vacation Sock Knitting Fail

I was all proud of myself for making sure that the knitting project I brought on vacation was one that had not received a lot of love recently. This is a pair of socks I am knitting from salvbard in a colorway I am not particularly fond of in a yarn I don't even remember (other than we got it at Michael's).

So of course I would run out no where near the toe. Sigh. We tried a Michael's in NJ, but no luck. So clearly I bought new yarn since I didn't bring an extra project with me. Now that we are home we can check again for the colorway, but I suspect that something close to coordinating is the best that is going to happen at this point.

King of the Beach

Last week I went on a mini-adventure to Pleasure Bay and Castle Island, just a short distance by bus from downtown Boston. I grew up by the ocean, so this really felt like a find, because it was so close and accessible by public transport.

I sat by the water with my feet on the damp sand, letting the tide come in around me as I sketched. There were several after school programs that I had brought their classes in addition to numerous families and individuals.

I did some sketching on index cards. Nothing fancy, but it was good to take the time to slow down. Visiting the ocean is good for that in general as well.

cardstock and sharpie pen

There was one teacher in particular who struck me as king of the beach, leader of all he surveyed. Most of the other teachers were sitting higher up, at the edge of the beach in the shade, but this one was right among his charges by the water. Originally I was just going to draw the landscape without people, but after I was added him, several of the kids soon happened as well.

One of the groups of kids were very interested in what I was doing. Their teachers were nervous that they were harassing me, but they were really fun to interact with. Next thing I knew, I had an impromptu art class sitting around me to whom I handed out index cards and pens/pencils.

I really like the idea of these small pieces of art, because they are achievable and portable. I don't really want to have them hanging around the house though, so I would prefer to give them away. This card is already gifted, but if you would be interested in a future random small piece of art as a postcard, go fill out my postcard form. There are no promises about future topics, media, or frequency, but this is a great opportunity to get fun mail!