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Showing posts from February, 2015

When Is It OK To Use Products From China? (A Review of a Parts-Carousel from Harbor Freight Tools)

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So as you probably know, I am an avid recycler.   I am NOT perfect, but I do the best I can to recycle whatever I can - from shipping materials (almost always), to jewelry and fabrics, to furniture (especially for my studio!).  But there are times when I simply can not find what I want or worse... when what I want APPEARS to be vintage, but in reality is still from China (reproductions) that still cost an arm and a leg to own.   Antique? (photo per industrialartifacts.net ) Case in point - "old" revolving, tool-caddies/parts-carousels.  You would think they would be easy to find at antique stores etc...and they are.  But I caution you to look them over carefully!  For I have discovered a great many of them are being reproduced from china with a vintage look and have found MANY being sold as true vintage in flea markets and antique stores.  I have a business license and even at wholesale prices, the china reproductions being sold are quite spendy.   The various

Invited to Demonstrate Silk Painting at SDA Eastside Meeting

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I feel so honored!   I was invited to do a silk painting demo at this Sunday's SDA Eastside meeting (held at VALA in Redmond Town Center, Redmond WA  from 2pm - 4pm).  I even received a nice little write-up on the SDA Eastside Facebook pag e which was reposted on VALA's Facebook page .   I am planning on Demo'ing silk painting and then letting everyone try it out for themselves.  You'll be able to see the difference between the traditional Serti-method and the new, Sistek-method (using Magic Sizing as a stop-flow).  Hope to see you there!! Rebecca

To those writing beginning art books and to those seeking beginning watercolor or drawing books

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Hi Friends, I have a confession.... I am creating art (in the form of Silk Painting), but haven't had much in the way of any formal training.  I've been informed that I am considered to be a " primitive artist " (although that term apparently isn't used much anymore because it implies poorer quality art)!  My last official class in art was well-over 30+ years ago (and I'm not sure what I took for middle-school art qualifies as a true art class!). I was brought up to believe that art wasn't overly important and DEFINITELY NOT a proper goal for education and employment, and instead was STRONGLY encouraged to pursue science-based education.  I spent the majority of my adult life dabbling in art (& crafts) and at times I have been pretty successful, but most of the time... the process of creating art has been incredibly frustrating because I could see that SOMETHING was wrong but I couldn't figure out why. This looks a lot like wha