Tempus Fugit- Time flies latin bumper sticker by WordsGalore Browse Tempus Bumper Stickers

I have a new store called "Words Galore" on zazzle.  www.zazzle.com/wordsgalore*  I have created a line of fun, political and humorous bumper stickers.  I am constantly making up new sayings and hear old sayings that I love and think..this would make a great bumper sticker! ..:)

I hope you enjoy.  One of my favorite sayings is "Tempus Fugit"  I just love the way it rolls off my tongue and of course what it means..."Time Flies"... ain't that the truth!!!

Enjoy
Linda

Found a really cool chandelier for the birds!!!

I found a really super cool chanderlier on Hometalk.com  Great site.  This was from another blogger

 

 http://homeiswheretheboatis.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/for-the-birds-repurposed-chandelier-feeder/

 

great and interesting site that shows off all kinds of garden art.  I must try this and then upload my version.:)

 

 

http://www.hometalk.com/search?filter=chandelier+for+birds#1023857/from-chandelier-to-birdelier?&_suid=136154600057709999937094890694

 

see you soon.

CHICKEN UPDATE

Hi Everyone, I wanted to keep you up to date on our growing family of chickens.

 

As you may remember, last March John and I decided try our hand at raising chickens and we bought a dozen. They are all grown up now. I had no idea they would be so much fun. We bought 8 Barred Plymouth Rock Hens, 3 Rhode Island Red Hens and a Welsummer.

 



16 week old Barred Plymouth Rock Hen

same chicken approx 11 months old

 So my young chickens have all grown up and I'm having so much fun with them.  They follow us around the yard. mainly because we always feed them!!!  they see us as the lunch truck and do a flying run over to wherever we are!!!  Hilarious.  It doesn't matter where we go on our 5 acres of land, if the chickens are out of the coop, they will find us and hang around. I love it.



My Welsummer Rooster

As they were growing up we found out that one of the chickens, The Welsummer, was a rooster. Beautiful he was. I originally called her Gertrude but when I found out she was a he I renamed him Graham.  Bummer, I loved that bird, but he had to go.  We gave him to friends of ours who own Golden Gate Nursery in town and they gave him to a farmer . Not sure if he became dinner.  We know we are not mentally ready or prepared for a rooster to fertilize the eggs and give us chicks. We need another coop and an area for the hatchlings and more knowledge.  We have read many books, articles and magazines about raising chickens and decided to try it the easy way for now and not deal with roosters and chicks.  Before Graham left though he was like a randy teenage boy, wanting to "you know what" to all the girls!!! 



a Rhode Island Red Hen

We were going along in life with our 11 chickens when one of our friends asked if we would like to buy her chickens.  We didnt really want anymore as we figured that 11 chickens x250 eggs a year was good enough for us, so we declined her offer.  A week later she called back and asked if we would please take the chickens as she lost 4 of the 9 to a racoon over the weekend.  Oh man, my heart went out to her and we decided to take the chickens. She gave us 4 Barred Plymouth Rock Hens and a Rhode Island Red.  We told her she can come and visit them anytime she wanted too.  Well, we slowly introduced the new 5 chickens to our brood, the new ones are only about 14 weeks old, so the older chickens were not very nice to them.  But they have been with us now for a few months and they have all found their social status.  BUT, guess what... one of the new flock is a damn ROOSTER!!!!  We realized as the new Rhode Island Red starting growing up the SHE is a HE. Now we are back in the same position. He will have to go.  BUT he is so beautiful, its really a shame.  With everything we have going on right now we can't keep him. One day we will keep a rooster.                                                                

 




our young Rhode Island Red Rooster

Now he is the Randy Teenager trying to mount all the Hens.  BUT again learning as we go, the older Hens will have nothing to do with him. When he does "get" a girl, the older hens run over to him and peck him off her then chase him around the yard. The girls become quite adamant that he stay away from them. They get mad. They even ruffle their feathers and fight back to make him go away. I didnt know they did that.  It is the funniest thing to watch. So pretty soon we will have to get rid of this rooster. It is a shame as he also is a beautfiul bird.

One fact I thought interesting about chickens is that most of the chicken meat you purchase at the grocer stores are roosters. It seems they are only good for one thing.  And seeing as 1 rooster can service 10 hens, I can see why an abundance of roosters go to market!! .

Have a great day:)

Linda.





homeroad: Love-ly Pillows

homeroad: Love-ly Pillows: I   love  pillows! And what a great  Valentine  for someone... I posted about these pillows back in 2011...  They were a favori...

Coffee Drive for Charity

Hi friends
I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day.  It was a good one for me too.  Love my husband very much :)

 

As most of you know I am not only an artist I am also an Organo Gold Distributor.  I love the healthy beverages that we have.  They not only taste great, but they are good for you too.

 

  I am now throught April 30th running a personal campaign to raise money for non-profit organizations.  I want to sell 100 boxes of coffee products and give my profit to "The Shelter for Abused Women and Children" in Naples Fl.  They have a wonderful organization that help women and children in need. 

http://www.naplesshelter.org/ 

 

Please would you help me support them by buying a box or 2 of coffee?  go to www.lindafraine.organogold.com and purchase a box to help this organization. 

 

 It is unfortunate that we need organizations like this in this world.  I know many people who are glad that they exist.

 

I will be doing 3 charities this year and giving what I can to organizations that I admire. Let me know what you think about this. It is a new venture to me.

New Greeting Cards in my Webstores

I was having so much fun with my husbands birthday card I decided to put it on Etsy and see what happened. Well...I sold 2 of them right away.  I decided to tweak the design for Valentines Day and WOW I sold 4!! in 3 days.  Having fun here.

Happy Valentines Day

 

Im liking theses card designs. I just designed 2 more and have a whole lot of them to do yet. So stay tuned for the new ones.

 

 

Happy Birthday to your Love


You can go to my Etsy Store and purchase these as of 2-12-2013.  These are brand new and are not up for sale until tomorrow.

Stay tuned for Mothers Day, Fathers Day and more.......

gotta keep it fresh!!!!

Have a great day. Hugs  Linda

daily update

I having a great time working on my Zazzle store and Etsy store.  I just uploaded a few Valentines cards and I am working on new products for both stores.  I just got an order on Etsy to draw 5 chickens for a client who is going to use the drawing in their wedding invitaitons.  COOL!!!  love to see people create such personal items. I let you see it when its done.

My new Valentine Cards on Zazzle

Check out my new Valentine Cards at my zazzle and etsy stores.

 

Enjoy!

New Zazzle products

www.zazzle.com/linsartwork

Check out new products at my zazzle store.  This is a great place to get unique and artsy products you wont find in stores.  If you see something that you would like but not on the item you want, let me know and I will create it for you.  Zazzle is a POD-print on demand company and has over 250 items to put images on.  1000's of designs to choose from.  Although I hope you like mine:)   My chicken art seems to be popular.  make sure you check for new additions to my collection. Enjoy!!!!

Playful T Shirts

 

 

Buff Orpington- "I'd rather play with my Chickens"      and Blue and Yellow Macaw 

 

 

"I'd rather play with my Rooster" Bag                 and a Budgy T Shirt

Mercury Glass DIY

 

Mercury Glass is an absolute favorite of mine. I love the aged look. And I love the fact that everything old becomes new again after a fashion.  I have always wanted to know how you can create it,  being a DIY kind of person. I found some interesting blogs and sites that told me how. 

 

 

 

What is Mercury Glass you say????

According to what I found out "mercury glass" is also known as "silver glass" because the original process created in the 1800's used a silver nitrate solution in a double sided blown glass item that was then sealed. This created a mirrored effect on the piece.  (And  I always thought it meant they used actual mercury sandwiched between the glass.)  Nowadays they, and us DIYers, just used the mirror glass paint to create the effect.  much simpler.  But I will collect original mercury glass as there are still some pieces to find in antiques stores for a price.

 

 

This is what I found out about how to DIY it.......

 

You can only use Krylon's "mirror glass" paint as other shiny or metallic paints are not for creating a mirrored effect. I found that Michael's Stores do not carry it anymore, neither does Home Depot, but I found it at Walmart. 

 All you do is spray the inside of the object with short bursts of the paint.  Continously shake the can. Try to keep it an even spray, but no worries if you dont as the uneveness enhances the aged effect.  I spray my pieces about 7 layers. Let it dry between layers. you can do more or less, its your project.  Then when its completely dry, spray or drip vinegar onto the painted surface as much or as little as you want.  Let that stand for a few minutes. Then gently wipe it off.  I found the edge of a paper towel work best for small areas. You can also rub off areas with your dry fingers to give it a worn look. and Thats it!!!!  Simple.   And so beautiful. 

 

I bought a few glass votive candle holders to experiment on and I love the way they turned out. I found the Dollar Stores have a great selection of glass vases and candle holders that you can create beautiful mercury glass effects on for a few pennies a piece. Or you can use any glass item you have in your home already that you can paint on the inside.  The photos above are 6 votive candle holders I found at the Dollar Store. The paint itself is about $8 a can, so for $14 I have 6 beautiful mercury glass votive holders. I did find that the paint does not go on as well as I thought it would on smaller items. I had to spray more times at short bursts than told, as the spray from the paint blasted the paint off the surface a little easier than thought it would.  But I accomplished my look after finessing with the paint.  It all turned out good in the end. 

Happy New Year to All

I hope everyone had a great New Year.  It's good to be back to work.  I have opened a 2nd Etsy store called Christmas Everlasting.http://www.christmaseverlasting.etsy.com  It will showcase and sell my original Christmas woodcuts, ornaments  and patterns of my favorite christmas art for you to create.  This is something that I have wanted to do for many years and now have the opportunity to do it.

View more gifts at Zazzle.

Merry Christmas to all

 

Merry Christmas to all my Family and Friends, May we all find Comfort and Joy.

 

Our Christmas tree for 2012

 

 

 

Twinkle lights just seem to appear in my yard this time of year.

 

MY LOVE TO ALL.......

Life takes me on all types of journeys.  As one of my favorite saying goes.......
..........LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A GUIDED TOUR!..........But I always come back to the art.  Still selling coffee though.
WELL to update you, I have a new online store at ZAZZLE.COM.  www.zazzle.com/linsartwork   Go check it out.  Products for everyone.  T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Greeting cards,electronic covers, and a whole lot more....Go and see. tap on the Mother's Day Box and see.

Well my life has taken a different turn than I had anticipated.  A good one though.  I am now an Organo Gold Coffee Distributor and loving it.  My art is still there as I do still take commissions. BUT I am creating a new business and hopefully a new life.  It is exciting to go to the meetings and meet new poeple who are also excited about their lives. This organization has changed many lives for the better.  But you have to remember you get back what you put in.

I am leaning towards the fundraising avenue that Organo Gold has available.  It is simple to use. And has the potential to be a huge success for any church, schoool, foundation etc. that uses it.

100% of the retail profits can be given to the organization or church that holds a fundraising event.  No other opportunity is out there that can do that.  Most fundraisers give back approx. 35%.  NOT US!!

The Purpose of the Organo Gold Fundraising Vehicle is to help generate funds for teams, groups, non-profit organizations, and any other cause you need money for



 How to Get Started

1. Choose a Campaign Organizer
2. Determine Your Financial Goals
3. Date of Campaign
4. Number of Participants
5. Secure your OG Fundraising Forms
6. Complete and Review the Non-Profit Free Sign-Up Form  (Place initial order)
7. Promote Fundraiser
8. Get Started!
9. GTC-Get the Cash, Check or Credit Card !

email me at linsartwork01@gmail.com when you are ready to have a fun FUNDRAISING EVENT.

remember when OG is in you....You are in OG!!!!!!

Gift for Susan and Mark

My sister in law has been after me for quite a few years, hinting here and there that she would like a painting of mine.  Well I surprised her the other Sunday and gave her a 4'x6' painting.  She said she had always admired the painting I gave Bill and Dawn - John's brother and wife- of a street in Key West and my painting of Key West Lighthouse, so I combined the 2 essentially and painted one of Whitehead Street, Key West with the lighthouse in the background. ( FYI: Key West Lighthouse and Ernest Hemingways house is on Whitehead St)  She loves it.  Thank god, because I get nervous doing paintings as gifts, I always think, what would I do if they say, 'Oh thats nice."  I would be so upset if someone didnt like my painting I did for them. It was a great moment. I do love what I do.

Whitehead Street, Key West.  4'x6' Acrylic

Chicken Coop

John and I want to have chickens running around our acreage, so we decided to build a coop. We bought all kinds of books and read up on the chickens.  We would like to have about a dozen (or more) of 4 varieties: Buff Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks and Leghorns. NO Rooster --my neighbor said he'd shoot it-- they are noisy and you dont need one to get eggs, only if you want chicks.  All our breed choices are prolific layers, so we should expect quite a lot of eggs. Then when they stop laying, they become dinner!  I cannot wait. but we are having a hard time trying  to find the time to finish the chicken coop.

We built the coop from scratch with 2x4's and reclaimed wood from an old fence

John's quite clever and talented at this. He had the whole thing designed in his head. Although its taking longer than he had thought it would.



Its coming along quite nicely!!





  This is the coop all painted .  looks good.  but it still needs the enclosed area for our feathered friends to play in and the roosting bars inside.



These boxes on the outside are nesting boxes that John designed so that we can get the eggs out easily and not disturb to chickens. We're so thoughtful :)





So as of today.... This is as far as we have gotten. 

We are 95% complete. IF we could just find 1 more day of no interruptions we could get the %$^& thing finished :)  Life gets in the way of all the fun sometimes. We have their screened lanai up but not completely screened yet.  We have to finish the roosting bars,the little ramps to get inside coop, finish screening and then put a 18" barrier underground so that the other critters cant get in and eat the chickens. When thats done we can go get the little buggers and make them work for their supper, cause I want eggs.!!!!   All this fuss so I can get fresh eggs.  But I think it will be worth it.

Next after this I think I will start raising RABBITS!!!!! 



Spinach, Bean Potato Soup

I am a lazy cook, but as my sweet mother in law tells everyone -" Its not that Linda can't cook, its that she doesn't like to cook."  She loves me! :)
I am constantly trying new recipe ideas and I come up with some tasty ones. I love one pot meals and I mix and match ingredients til it works - Im glad my husband likes soup!!!  This one was pretty good.  I thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy.

You can use any canned bean that you like, I just happened to have these on hand.

Spinach, Bean, Potato Soup

Ingredients:

5lb Potatoes- peeled and cut into pieces
2 bags Spinach
1 can Black Bean with juice
1 can Northern Bean with juice
1/2 cup marg
1/2 cup of half and half
1/2 milk
garlic powder
salt to taste
1 tbsp  pepper

Boil  potatoes 20-25 mins in large pot. use enough water to cover potatoes 2 inches or so.

Drain approx 1/2 the liquid off. You can throw it away you will not be using it.

Fold  the rest of the ingredients into the pot of boiled potatoes gently. you can break up the potatoes if they are still too big or leave them if you want a more chunky soup.

Let simmer for 1 hour.

Serve.

add extra salt and pepper to taste.

this makes approx 12 - 1 cup servings.  approx 365 calories per cup.

Anything can be painted

     Anything can be painted. Don't throw your favorite items out just because you don't like the color or the condition of the piece.  Friends of ours, bought a sculpture online that they didnt really like when they got it.  But don't fret... they asked if there was anything that I could do.  I said I can paint practically anything. Let me try.  And here we are a few days later.. A beautiful red tailed hawk emerged from a rusty old bird sculpture.


 

Newly emerged Red-Tail Hawk from rusty old sculpture

Anything can be painted as long as you prepare the surface correctly.  I painted my pots from red to blue because I wanted the blue color and didn't want to buy new pots. Because the pots are on display, I didnt primer them, I just painted over them and then finished them with a coat of poly.  This was intentional, as it allows me to take the paint off if I ever decide to go back to the red pot again. Most of the time I use a primer that will permanently bond the paint to the surface.


Red pot




Same pot painted blue with an antique finish.




Painted Trunk

This trunk is over 40 years old.  It was a regular blue color with no legs.  I painted it to look like wood with a leopard skin thrown over it.  I did this 15 years ago and it still looks great today.  As a matter of fact I'm still using it for storage.

 

I found an old night table at a consignment shop.  It was too short for our bedroom and, of course, I didnt like the color. So I added legs made out of PVC pipe and............

......Painted it to fit my decor in our bedroom. 
 It looks great and is still functioning quite nicely.


Remember......Anything can be painted!!!!
If you have something you'd like painted email me for either instructions on DIY
or hire me to paint it for you.

HAVE FUN!







Seascapes

       I do like a variety of  work.  Although portraits are my favorite subject to paint or draw, I create them in a tight controlling style.  With my landscapes and seascapes I enjoy the release of that control and free myself  to be impressionistic.  I hope you enjoy them.

"Seashore"



"Golden Shores"




"Gone Fishing"



"Sunrise over the Gulf"



"Sunset through the Trees"




"Thunderstorm"



"Waves"



"Waves through the trees"




"The Cove"