The most versatile Table

The narrow side Table, no more than 5 to 6 feet long and 12 to 14 inches deep.

My table by the window where I paint. Perfect size, made of rod iron, easily cleaned.

Left over, hand painted tiles from Italy. I painted the wooden trim to look like marble.

A small wooden table to hold a few items to make an awkward space look more interesting.

Krieger and Ricks of Springville, Utah manufacture beautiful gilded frames for very large paintings. I selected the legs, then the skirting and then ...


the center medallion. And a new table was born. I then sketched the side table using measurements that had to be exact so that the side table could fit under a 200-year-old gilded, and very large Mirror from Argentina.

I painted these tiles after an old Spanish design, makes this table much more interesting.



This table spends most of the time outside in the summer, ready to be moved wherever needed.

Gina

Orchids and Ceramics

A Passion for both . . . . Happy Sunday Morning




The white with pink centered Phalaenopsis are my favorites, and then there are the yellow with pink and then the chartreuse with pink . . . . .





And then there are the ceramics by Deruta, Italy artist Giovanni Marinetti. Giovanni is a devastatingly handsome young man. His mother owns the "La Torre Maioliche Artistiche" shop in Deruta. She features many artists, but who can resist Giovanni's work? I can't. Look for them way in the back, in the catacombs, signed "GM".


And, while you are visiting Deruta, have lunch next door at the "La Locanda del Bracconiere" owned by two beautiful sisters who serve fantastic lunches and dinners, and not expensive. Try to be in Deruta on a Tuesday, market day.


Gina

Come, paint along with me

Let's paint a plate

Paint on once-fired bisque, with the help of a Banding Wheel, with small brush, paint blue border rings. Draw image in center and color with underglaze colors. Always work from the center out.

Fill border rings with different designs. Almost finished. Back on the Banding Wheel for yellow rim. Top Glaze applied. Into the Kiln for 8 hours firing and another 10 hours cooling.

Ta Da, another masterpiece. YES? Well, that wasn't so difficult, was it?

Gina  

Lavabo and Straw Walls

The Lavabo, my other Kitchen Sink






Lavabo, "to wash hands". In many Mediterranean countries, the Lavabo serves as a means to gather water. When it rains, water is collected from rooftops. and stored in the upper basin of the Lavabo.

In my kitchen, the Lavabo serves as the "other kitchen sink". Hand painted Delft style tiles, similar to those from the 17th century, prevent water from damaging my straw walls.

Gene mixing wet straw into mixture of dry wall compound and sand. The tongue?

A trowel and a little elbow grease .... it is surprisingly easy. And, you don't have to finish the project in one day. The next day or the next week, you can begin where you left off.

I don't have to wait for rain. My water source comes from the mountains.

Gina

Golden Easter Egg Tutorial

There is still time for you to have a golden Easter Egg

Paint the egg with a thin coat of "gold leaf adhesive size". Wait till tacky, about 1/2 hour

Lay on gold or copper leaf and carefully polish egg with soft cloth.

Happy Easter, my dear blogging friends.

Gina

My Goose that laid the Golden Egg

Happy April Fools' Day

You don't have a goose that lays golden eggs?

Then you will just have to gild your own

See gold leafing tutorial post  here

It's so easy

Gina