COLORFUL HOUSES OF CORONADO

This is (now, was) my favorite house in Coronado! It was featured on HGTV several years ago. The inside is just as colorful and there is nothing that is safe from being covered in paint. And by nothing, I mean nothing. The frig, stove, toilets, everything has been painted. I guess some people (neighbors, but who asked them?) weren't crazy about all the color.

They have now toned it down. Personally I liked it better before, but this is still nice and colorful.

Closer view of the front of the house. Love the bright pink chairs on the balcony. And the bright green posts, well, for any of you who don't already know, that green is my favorite color and has been since 1968!

Even the sidewalk is painted!

A 'Painted Lady'

The house next door to this one is also a Victorian, but it is only cream, so it did not qualify for this post.

Just the front door of this house is painted in pretty lilac. (This is the house that got the orange slipcovers.)

Only the window trim is painted, but I think it adds so much to an otherwise not-so-interesting house.

Love the green gate!

So pretty!

A bright blue house.

I am always walking or riding my bike around the island, so I see all the houses and the ones that really stand out to me are the colorful ones. I may have missed a few others, but these are the ones I really like.

COLORFUL SLIPCOVERS FOR FALL

I've just come from delivering two different jobs. This first one was to Orange Blossoms. The rusty, peeling, white iron bench was in need of a cushion. Peggy, the owner of the shop, decided on black and white polka dot with hot pink welting.

The pink absolutely makes the cushion pop!

Oscar seems to like it, too! No matter what we did, we could not get him to sit for the picture.

Look familiar? This is just a reminder of what the original chair looks like.

My client decided she wanted new slipcovers for these chairs. I did predominately white covers back in June.

Back view. No buttons this time.

The pair of chairs in her living room. She has already told me she is on the lookout for a winter fabric. This time I got smart and made a permanent pattern, so I don't keep needing her chair to make the new covers. I may be a little slow, but I eventually figure these things out!

HAUTE HANDBAGS

Finally, I got my copy of the new Haute Handbags! Deb Hodge's yummy bags are on the cover!

It couldn't have happened to a nicer, more gracious, more talented woman! I am so proud of her.

A close-up of some of the details that she uses in her bags. With silk ruffles, matching charms, burlap straps, Deb's bags are so recognizable. Her style is distinct and beautiful! The charms are made by the lovely Rita.

Another unique idea for putting a photo on a bag.

She can put ANY photo you wish on a bag. And Rita can make a matching charm. This picture is a vintage shot of Coronado. How adorable is that?

Another view of the cover shot. The starfish bag is my favorite.

And not only is Deb in this issue, but Val Hebert is as well, with her amazing felted purses.

Each bag is a piece of art. She makes them from recycled wool sweaters.

As you can plainly see, we have some really talented people here in Coronado. I am so happy that both Deb and Val are in this issue. Do yourself a favor and pick it up today.

OF FRIENDS AND FOOD OR EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY!

The following pictures were all taken at restaurants that Sandy and I went to while she was in California. Some have shots of food or drink, but mostly of people. I didn't do so well at Artistic Affaire with taking pictures of people. This, I guess, was my way of making up for it.

Acting like a movie star at a place on Melrose in West Hollywood called Taste.

Sandy with her champagne cocktail (what all the big stars drink!) having her Hollywood moment.

The next night we had dinner at Shutters in Santa Monica. This was my yummy drink. Love the color! And it tasted good, too!

I didn't manage to take any people pictures here, but Denise Hahn was kind enough to drive us around Hollywood, Venice Beach, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills so Sandy could get a real feel for the area. Our dinner ended with sunset behind the Santa Monica Pier.

On Tuesday we went to the World Famous San Diego Zoo. This lovely peacock was strolling around. We tried to get him to show his tail feathers, but he was more interested in eating whatever it was that was on the ground. Still, he was quite beautiful.

An adorable koala bear. He was a little guy and didn't even look real.

Tuesday night we went for dinner in La Jolla at George's. Gina drove down from Oceanside and the 3 of us enjoyed a delicious meal.

Another yummy margarita!

I had spaghetti with clams.

And I ate all of it!!

Me and Sandy at the restaurant. Unfortunately, on the drive over to La Jolla, the fog rolled in and there was no sunset to see.

The next day, Wednesday, we met at Miguel's in Coronado for a San Diego bloggers lunch in honor of Sandy. This is me and Debbie, having our own movie star moment.

Dana, Valerie and me. Those of you with eagle-eyes may have noticed that my hair is curly in these Miguel's pictures. It is a very rare thing for me allow my curls to come out. I much prefer them straight.

Sandy and Jackie

It was quite an adventure with Sandy. She is safely back home in Toronto and it all seems like a dream now. I am finally caught up on posting from Artistic Affaire and the days following.

PART TWO OF PART TWO - MORE SWAP AND GIFT PHOTOS

This is the canvas I made for Jenny Lor. Her colors were black, cream, tan, bright pink and her decorating element was clocks. I chose to use black, cream and pink. I had a bit of trouble but in the end, I was happy with it.

Me and Jenny with our respective canvases. (Why am I always so much taller than everyone I stand beside?)

For the mask swap, I made two. This is the full face mask, that ties on with tulle ribbons. The black feather boa is not attached to the mask. It is just meant to be worn with it.

This is the second mask. It looks like she can't see because the petals of the flowers are covering the eye holes. Actually, you can see through them. Your eyes are just not very visible to anyone else. This mask is on a wand with ribbon streamers.

Full face mask wrapped in the boa.

Hold-in-place mask.

I made my dolls for Sandy, Maija, Kim and Bryanna.

Sandy's doll

Bryanna's doll

Maija's doll

Kim's doll