Joy in the studio

color idea for our next home

2014-05-19T10:42:00.001-07:00

We have sold our home in Tubac...

2014-02-20T09:15:00.000-08:00

It is now time to be making arrangements to move on to our next adventure in Life! My head is spinning with the multitudes of chores we need to do before we leave here.
At the moment, we must concentrate on fixing the list of problems that the house inspector found. Luckily, there are no major flaws to repair, just minor items.
And, I must make decisions about which furniture I want to keep, and which to sell.
And, the list goes on...

Noe Valley Residence - eclectic - family room - san francisco - Ian Stallings

2014-02-20T08:07:00.000-08:00

Noe Valley Residence - eclectic - family room - san francisco - Ian Stallings

Eclectic Family Room by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators Ian Stallings

Lovely color scheme for Spring

2013-02-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

I saw this color scheme on Houzz this morning, and thought it just personifies Spring!

Traditional Kitchen design by Other Metro General Contractor CapeRace Cultural Adventures

Playing with screen shots from Google maps.

2013-01-27T18:59:00.003-08:00

Harvey, Illinois

My mother and I lived in Harvey for two years, while I attended fifth and sixth grades. Mom taught at Harvey High School. We lived near a river, which I was forbidden to go near. Of course, I did go. The top photo may be an area where my friends and I once played.

The second photo might be a park I played in.

Collage and mixed media

2012-10-09T00:33:00.000-07:00

I have started making some new artwork. I am doing collage and mixed media on canvas. What fun!
Here are a couple that are *probably* finished. Sometimes I think the work is done, but as I look at it over a period of time, I often want to tweak it a little.
Here are two pieces I finished in September.

Simplicity

Corn Maiden sings for Rain

Corn Maiden Sings for Rain

Living Along Side the Santa Cruz River

2012-08-20T11:40:00.002-07:00

It's a jungle out there!

We are in Monsoon season here in Tubac, AZ. The area is lush and green. The plants are flourishing in this heat and humidity, and we are seeing an abundance of wildlife in our back yard.

Yesterday, Michael and I had an exciting encounter on our back patio! I was out there just tidying up the area when I noticed that the lid was askew on an old wooden trunk I had salvaged (scavenged). It has been in the back corner of our patio behind the sitting area, because I have procrastinated about refurbishing it.

As soon as I slid the top back into position, I heard a "thump thump thump" coming from inside. As my friends already know, I have an aversion to snakes. My first assumption, not based at all in any logic, was that there was a

rattler in the box. No, I did not hear rattling, but since I am deaf, I did not expect to hear that...just "thump thump thump".

So I ran to get My White Knight, Michael, to come save me from the monster in the box! I yelled to him to "Come quick, and bring a weapon". Since he immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was going to be a large lizard in the box, he

declined to bring a "weapon" large enough to suit me! Michael grabbed a pair of leather work gloves, and I grabbed the only thing handy which happened to be his two foot level.

In retrospect, not a very good weapon. LOL

Michael's plan was to remove the box from the corner to the middle of the yard and release the mystery captive out in the open. As he started to lift the box, the bottom came loose, the box part lifted off, and to our shock and amazement there was a skunk!

Thanks to Kim Cabrera at Calphotos for this picture.
It is a Western Spotted Skunk.

As we retreated rapidly, the skunk ran down the length of the patio and into our large BarBQue parked at the other end. It ran up under the heavy cover of the BarBQue unit. Michael took that opportunity to get the garden hose turned on and ready. As he started peeling back the cover, we saw it hiding there with just its big fluffy tail in view. Michael directed some water his way, and as soon as it's tail got wet, it vacated the Barbie, and ran off down the arroyo.

We are really amazed that it did not spray us! Michael thinks it must have been too immature. I think we were really lucky!
Note: The photo of the backyard is from two years ago, but it is my best monsoon picture.

Vincent (Starry Starry Night) Don McLean

2012-06-04T08:14:00.001-07:00

Moving on...

2012-03-31T13:37:00.001-07:00

We have finally made the decision to be moving on. Our years here in Tubac have been wonderful, and it will be sad to leave when the time comes. As many of you know, we moved here after the Cedar Wildfire burned down our home in San Diego in 2003. We had planned to stay here for two years, just to get ourselves back together, and then move on. Fate, in the form of the housing market decline has delayed that plan until now. And, we have been enjoying our life here so much, we haven't had the motivation to leave. But, as I approach the age of 75, we know it is time to go experience something new and different for a while. We think we have one more adventure in us during our retirement time. However, we do expect that our love for our friends here (who we think of as our Arizona Family) will draw us back to this area eventually.

Nearby mountains

Pictures are worth a thousand words. Here are some of the reasons we have loved living here.
Tubac is in the beautiful Santa Cruz Valley on the Santa Cruz River. This area is famous for birding. We have seasons here, too, and at and altitude of 4,000 feet, Tubac's climate is significantly cooler than Phoenix or Tucson.
More about Tubac
Barrio de Santiago is where we live in Tubac. Here are some photos. Just beyond these Mesquite trees is the Anza Trail.
Click here for Anza Trail information

May

Monsoon_August

June

November

October

El Portal is the Spanish name for what we call our "back deck" area. We love sitting out there and watching the wildlife.

El Portal

Our favorite spot for meals in good weather.

Birds and wildlife

Roadrunner with lizzard

unknown bird

Hawk in our water dish

deer

Cardinal

Javelina

cattle

Hawk

Vermilion Flycatcher

Bunting

Summer Tanager

Hawk

Berwick wren nesting in saddlebag

Bobcat

Wild turkeys visit our yard! December 2011

2011-12-09T09:53:00.001-08:00

What a treat! As we were having our morning coffee in bed and admiring a cold but sunny day outside, a flock of four wild turkeys appeared out of the woods. They were huge! We saw some birds a year or so ago that we thought were wild turkey, but I am wondering now if they were not, in fact, pheasant of some sort. The birds we saw last year were much smaller birds.

Here is some video the turkeys eating seeds under the bird feeder. Unfortunately, we were not quick enough to capture a photo of them with their tails spread out. They did that when a hawk landed in a branch nearby.

Frosty nights in Tubac, AZ

2011-12-05T11:04:00.001-08:00

Frosty nights!

I am not a good gardener, but I gave it a lot of effort last year. Starting last Spring, I did a lot of planting.

(Thank goodness for Wal-Mart and Home Depot, who take back my poor dead plants without embarrassing questions as to the cause of death.)

Enough of the flowers bloomed, though, that they did add some beauty to our home and yard.

Southern Arizona has a very harsh climate for plants.

We have the expected heat and drought, but also a couple of months of monsoon (heat and humidity).

Then we have frost and freezing weather, Fall and Winter.

This was one of our prettier displays.

I wish I had photographed it when the petunias were in their full glory.

And I am pleased with the up-cycle project: My $10.00 thrift store chair made into this planter.

I just took this picture last week after Jack Frost had done some damage.
The fuscia colored petunias have been very lovely there all summer.

This was one of my inspiration pieces.

Source: re-nest.com via Joy on Pinterest

December in Southern Arizona

2011-12-03T10:25:00.001-08:00

Here it is, decorated.

Do you have the Christmas Spirit yet?
Our weather out here in Southern Arizona has turned cold, and it has inspired me to do some Christmas crafts.

I have been collecting creative ideas for Christmas on my Pinterest Board.

http://pinterest.com/tubacjoy/christmas/

I learned about the new Looking Glass spray paint on Pinterest and the possibilities are intriguing!
I have been experimenting with it.

Yesterday, I started making a small display tray

out of an old mirror.
Our weather out here in Southern Arizona has turned cold, and it has inspired me to do some Christmas crafts.

I don't think it is quite finished. It seems to need something more.

I am visualizing some small ornate handles on it.

I'd love to hear some ideas from you.
Scroll down for photos.

Here is what I have done so far.

(I am trying for a vintage mirror look.)

Removed the mat and glass and cleaned it.

Sprayed the frame with gold paint.
Sprayed the back of the glass with a few random spritzes of Glass Frost spray paint.
Sprayed over that with Looking Glass spray paint.
(Several light applications.)
After the gold paint on the frame was dry, I over-sprayed with hammered copper in a few places and wiped it down.
Reassembled the frame and glass and put black paper behind the glass. (I may try silver or gold paper behind it.)

Supplies: Be sure to use a mask and have ventilation for the Looking Glass paint.

I used Hammered Copper to add a touch of vintage to the gold paint.
I may keep distressing this for a more vintage look.

Autumn along the Santa Cruz River - 2011

2011-11-19T13:36:00.001-08:00

November morning. A view from our bedroom. What a lovely sight to wake up to!

Our Virginia Creeper Vines have turned red. I think it is very beautiful against the background of the still green Mesquite grove behind our house.

My husband built this lovely decorative wheelbarrow for me to "play" with.
This is for Thanksgiving, the first display I have made in it, but I plan to use it in all seasons with changing displays.

I have it in the entry hall next to the dining room.

I am not talented at flower arrangement, but this was really fun to make.

Midnight in Paris - our Halloween party, 2011

2011-11-05T16:14:00.000-07:00

Sharon, as Irma La Douce

Rusty and Rigmor

Michael and Joy

Cathryn and Nick

Bernie, Henry, and Art (Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Art and Chuck

Rusty, Sheila, and Ed

Lynn and Andi

Shirley and Andi

Shirley

Set up for the party.

Sharon and Henry

Michael and Henry

Cathryn, Shirley, and Rigmor

Showing it off!

Joy, posing with some handsome French dudes.

Sharon, Cathryn, Rigmor, Rusty

Lynn and Andi

serving dinner, buffet style

Dinner buffet

Chicken Cordon Bleu, white bean salad, french green beans,
glazed carrots, scalloped potatoes, croissants,
Cheesecake, and Lemon meringues with Lemon Curd.

Before dinner drinks.

Da Boyz

dining

Rigmor, Rusty, Sheila

Chuck, Lynn, Andi, Bernie

Sharon

After dinner.

Cathryn and Nick won the vote best costumes for a couple. (Note: it was a three way tie, and we, as hosts, were forced to choose.) Sharon won for best costume. Art won for most creative costume.

Halloween Party 2011 Creating "Midnight in Paris"

2011-11-05T15:42:00.000-07:00

This year our annual Halloween costume party borrowed its theme from the movie

"Midnight in Paris".

Michael and I love to create a fantasy setting for our costume parties, hoping to surprise and delight our friends (and to amuse ourselves).

Here are some of the props we made this year.

We constructed an Eiffel Tower for the front of our house. It was lit at night.

We also created a Sidewalk Cafe in our courtyard.
Most of these photos we made as construction was in progress.

It is about 9 1/2 feet tall...made of luan.

Lit with Xmas tree lights.

This was out in our driveway by the curb.

Entry, with welcome sign and Menu board in french.

Advert for Le Bistro Fantasie..
.Free champagne today

Mural, painted on cardboard and mounted inside window.

Our Menu for the evening (in French).
Almost all the food was brought by our guests.

Le Bistro Fantasie

Blue and White table cloths were added to the tables.
Michael constructed the tables.

Le Bistro Fantasie - awning constructed of
heavy paper, then painted.

"Street light" is made of a painted closet pole in a bucket of dirt.
The lights are solar landscape lights placed in an old candle holder I had on hand.

This was very pretty when it got dark.

Indoors we tried to create a French Restaurant theme, with a Skyline of Paris.
We installed a sort of mural on the glass doors of our living room, made of paper, and lit it from behind.

interior

We had three dining tables.

detail of the mural.
We punched holes in the paper, outlining the silhouettes, so they appeared to be lit.

Hurricane candle holders
made from Dollar store components glued together.

Ladies room decorations. Art copied from 1920s.

Guest room decor. Matisse copy.

Fun sign in the guest bathroom.
Michael was costumed as a waiter, and had "naughty" French postcards for the guys.
Souvenirs of the party.

Cezanne copy

Costume voting packet.
Printed copy of a 1920s passport.

Table coverings

Table talkers, for Bistro tables

Guest Bathroom

Some of the glitz. and bling.

More glitz and bling.

This was so much fun!

Signs, murals, and billboards.

2011-11-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine sent me a photo today of a sign I had painted for her many years ago. I had completely forgotten about it, so it was a very pleasant surprise to see it again. The vintage clothing shop that I painted this for was in the Hillcrest district of San Diego. The occasion was the opening of a new store location. I don't remember where I got the lily design, but I imagine it was from a Dover book. The part that looks grey, was actually silver, if I remember correctly.

A sign I painted for a Vintage Clothing store in San Diego.

This of course, brings back a flood of memories of this time period and the time of my life just after graduating from Grossmont College with a two-year degree in Art/Sculpture. I needed income. And, my mom had generously helped with funding my studies, so that added to the impetus for me to find employment using art or craft.
At first, I decided to pursue a childhood dream of becoming a "window dresser". I realize now that young people probably don't even remember the days when most storefronts had large glass windows used for display. But, when I was a young teen, I read a "career" book about a girl who worked her way up in the window dressing business. That seemed to me to be a really exciting mileau in which to work. Second to this was a desire to be a fashion designer, but I have always worked best with three-dimensional objects, and struggled with drawing, so store display seemed the easier way to go. This was probably 1948 when I read that inspiring book.
Going back to about 1978 when I graduated from art school...
While I was attending Grossmont, I met a woman, Nancy, who became a very good friend, and partner in my pursuit of making a living doing art. She was a talented artist, good at drawing, and also needed income. We decided to form a company called "Up Your Wall" and become muralists. Neither of us had any "business sense", however.
We did have one little ace in the hole. My daughter, Kate, worked as secretarty to the Art Department at San Diego State University. She occassionally took calls from people looking for bargain art work. I asked her to refer some of those calls to us.
There is more to this story, but I will continue it later.

Memories and Movies

2011-03-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

     Elizabeth Taylor died today. Whether or not she was a favorite of yours, I think everyone saw her as a quintessential movie star. She was not one of my personal favorites, even though her beauty was dazzling, and she was a pretty good actress.  Why do some stars make a connection with us so much more than others?
     I hold the theory that we were all influenced by the personalities and characters we viewed in the movies and TV while we were growing up. And, that our unique personalities influenced who our favorite icons were. And, that they, in turn, influenced who we became.
     So, I have collected some images and reminiscences about the movie stars that interested me the most throughout the various stages of my life.
    Growing up in rural Missouri in the Forties, my exposure to movies was limited. I believe that the movies that came to our town were what were called B movies. I remember lots of Westerns. They were the stuff the studios made on the cheap. Our movies came to town once a week, in a large truck, wooden folding chairs were set up in the graveled street, the screen set up, and if it didn't rain, it was MOVIE TIME. For me and most of the kids, this was the highlight of the week.
   Anyway...
The first man and woman I remember thinking of as wonderful was Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Oh, how I wished to be Dale Evans. It was common practice among my little group of playmates, (all boys, except me) to reinact the movies the day after we saw them. I always got to play Dale Evans. The boys had to squabble over who played Roy.

Roy and Dale I thought they were the coolest couple!

Dale Evans was my ideal woman when I was a kid.

Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers

As I became a pre-teen we moved to a larger town and I was able to see some more mainstream movies. However, movies were a rare treat, so I did not get to see many.

Errol Flynn in Robin Hood made a terrific impact on me, when I was about 12 years old.

Errol Flynn

I still think he is the most handsome of actors... and a good actor, too.

In about 1948 and 1949, we lived in a suburb of Chicago, Harvey, Ill. It had a full size movie theatre. On Saturdays, after I had finished my chores, I got 50 cents allowance for the week. The two girls who lived next door and I would take off for the movies. I think the admission was a quarter. I know that after the movie I had enough money to buy a trinket at Woolworths, and have a treat at the soda fountain, if we walked home instead of taking the bus.
I can't remember which movies we saw there. But I do remember that Alan Ladd was one of my favorite actors at that time.

Alan Ladd

I also liked  Van Johnson a lot.


     I have always loved comedies! So, I have to mention Cary Grant, who was a favorite.

In my early teen years, the early fifties, I thought Tab Hunter was the ultimate in men! (well, boys would be a better term) I somehow managed to get a poster of him for my bedroom wall, I recall.
Tab Hunter

Tab Hunter

Our family never had TV while I was growing up, so I didn't discover TV stars until after I was married in 1957, when we got a TV set. At that time I loved Clint Eastwood in his role as Rowdy Yates.

Movies and TV both featured another favorite of mine: James Garner.

James Garner

In the movies, in the late fifties and sixties, I liked Paul Newman, especially as Hud.

Paul Newman

I thought Montgomery Clift was great, too.

Montgomery Clift

William Holden

I remember seeing the movie Picnic with William Holden and Kim Novac when I was about 14 years old, and very foolish. I would have run off with him, if I had been Kim Novak's character.

So who were the women I admired and wished to be like in the fifties and sixties?

Ann Sheridan

Grace Kelly

Jean Simmons

Kathryn Hepburn

Dorothy Malone

Kim Novak

Lauren Bacall

Myrna Loy

PS
The actress that Michael, my dear husband, thinks I am most like? I would NEVER have guessed it...

What do you think? Send me your list of favorite movie stars. Tubacjoy@msn.com

A funeral in Nogales, AZ

2011-01-25T16:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, two of my friends and I attended a funeral for a man who will be missed by many, many, people. It was heart-warming to see that the large church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, was full of mourners come to pay their respects and to say goodbye to this very special man. I knew him only briefly, but he left a lasting impression on me. My friends and I knew him only as PoPo, the musician, a simple man, warm and friendly, who dropped in to the art studio where we take oil painting lessons from Daniel Guerrero. The studio is tiny, the setting very intimate. Many times PoPo would drop in during class just to chat a while and then move on. Sometimes he would bring his guitar or his accordion and play songs and sing for us. It was such fun, and we would all sing along, no matter our lack of skill. Sometimes when he came in he would simply burst into song with out accompaniment. Sometimes he came to sell vegetables and fruit out of the back of his truck. Most of the time he gave it to us. The one consistent thing about him was his good humor. His happiness was contagious and it spread to us all. Every day seemed to be a fiesta for PoPo. We, students, had no way of knowing that he had spread cheer to so many others, as well. The huge crowd at the funeral was a complete surprise for us. The funeral was held in a very beautiful church, built in 1928.

Sacred Heart

It is quite ornate, and in the Spanish/Mexican style. The wall behind the alter is gilded, and features many figurative statues, as well as murals.

I found this photo of the alter on the internet.

The ceiling is magnificent! It is heavily beamed and intricate geometric designs are painted between the beams. I wish I had a photo of that.

Interior of church

The ceremony was beautiful and very moving. The casket was wheeled in through the front doors, while music was played by a guitarist in the choir loft. The casket was followed down the isle by the whole family. It was a very large contingent of all ages.

A mass was celebrated, complete with communion. Two of his daughters (or granddaughters) gave eulogies.

I am sad that he has gone from us.

May PoPo rest in peace.

Winter in Tubac

2011-01-12T17:57:00.000-08:00

It's cold down here! My dear husband and I have been hibernating to a great extent.
I have made a bunch of beaded jewelry, and I have completed one painting, and have two more underway.

My sister sent me some lovely handmade beads from India for Christmas. They inspired me to make some very whimsical bracelets. These were really fun to construct! I used memory wire, and got to use up a lot of my small lots of miscellaneous beads. I have sent one to my sister, and have kept two for myself (at least for now).

Memory wire bracelets

February in Tucson means "Gem and Mineral Show" (not that I need any more beads!), but it is an event that draws people and vendors from all over the world. It is a big deal here. I, and some of my friends, do plan to go to it. So, expect to see more jewelry postings in future.

Spoiled rotten by our host and hostess

2010-11-28T11:37:00.000-08:00

We are having an absolutely marvelous time here with Anita and Bob! We have already enjoyed a couple of outings with them (and Angie and Rick). Yesterday the six of us went to a large billiard hall and played 8 Ball pool for quite a while. Today, we four (Angie and Rick have departed for home) are going to the boccie ball courts to play there and have dinner.
Our host and hostess are serving us wonderful meals, and the fine wine is flowing freely. This morning Anita served us a fine Champagne from Tattinger at breakfast. We also had delicious homemade from scratch pancakes, bacon and fruit salad.

Chef Anita

Here is a photo of Anita in her "chef's coat" that Bob bought her.

Sous chefs, Bob and Michael busy in the kitchen

A fun outing - Wine Tasting near Saratoga, CA

2010-11-27T19:53:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving, we decided to make an afternoon excursion from Anita's house in Santa Clara to the Mountain Winery near Saratoga, CA. We took a nice ride up a mountain, through some very posh neighborhoods. The old winery is very charming, and the wine tasting room was pleasant, as well.

We did some wine tasting while we were there. We decided the Chardonnay was the best of the wines we tasted.

Serving area

We had a cozy corner to ourselves...

Joy, Anita, Angie, Rick

Michael and Joy at Mountain Winery

formerly the Paul Masson Winery

November 26, 2010

Hilltop Gallery Christmas Show in Nogales, AZ

2010-11-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

These photos are of the items I have submitted to Hilltop Gallery for their Christmas

show.

Rex Ranch, oil painting

Cottonwood trees, oil painting

San Diego Nights, watercolor

I have two more watercolors to submit, but I am still trying to get them framed nicely before I enter them.

Gourds

Beaded Snowflakes

Beaded jewelry

Beaded Sun catchers

Bracelets

Pray for NellieBelle

2010-11-20T19:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, while we were in Nogales, my beloved NellieBelle,

AKA my 1990 Jeep Cherokee,

had a mechanical crisis and spewed boiling water out of her cooling system,

and her temperature rose to an alarming 280+ degrees, before I could get her parked safely. Luckily, Michael, MDH,

was not far away at the time, and was able to rescue me.

Pray for my dear Nellybelle to be restored to running order...

Joy

Gourd Harvest yesterday!

2010-11-11T09:34:00.000-08:00

a good harvest of gourds

Here are some nice symetrical long neck ones.

The dead tree we used as a support for growing the gourds is really destroyed.

Michael gets to use his chain saw on it, and we will have more Mesquite wood for our BBQs now.

Now we have to construct a rack in the garage to hang the gourds up for drying. The weather here is getting cold at night. It came within a few degrees of freezing recently. The gourds would be ruined is they froze at this point.

Wouldn't it have been cheaper and easier to buy gourds from a gourd farm?

Yes, probably...but it was REALY fun to watch them grow!

Gourds Conquer Tree

2010-10-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest photos of my gourd growing project. A couple of weeks ago, we were astonished to look our our window to see that the tree that was supporting the gourds was about two thirds of its normal height. On closer inspection, we discovered that the weight of the gourds had broken the tree limbs! The vine is growing so vigorously that we have to keep redirecting it so that it doesn't encroach on our neighbors yard. I think it is trying to get to their tree.

There are dozens of these and they are huge!