Lisa Souers Designs

She's At It Again.

 

That Serena.

 

She's at it again.

 

Wait until you see what she's up to now...

 

 

Not only does she do one of my most Favorite shows in the world that I am stock piling for like a

fat winter squirrel

 

 

But she has this amazing thing called "My Favorite Find" coming soon that is the coolest thing since....well. 

You will have to be the judge of that.

We junkers like this sorta thing. 

Remember.  I said "junkers".

Not Hoarders.

That would have a "negative spin" on our little addiction.

 

"I can get rid of stuff". 

That makes me a Junker. 

I am in the category Serena calls "My Favorite Finds". 

 Not My Favorite Hoarder.

Hoarders can't get rids of their goods.

 

So after a little Beta Testing of her site...

I can't wait to play on it more...

 

And see what everyone else has been "finding" as well.

 

(until then, check out her facebook page to get caught up!)

 

So until then...I'll keep "finding" goods for June for The Big Show

 

Sweet Auntie Beth

Some people come into your lives and never leave

They become a part of you.

 

My Sweet Great Auntie Beth was that person.

 

Today would of been her 98th birthday.  We joked that we would see her picture on the Early Show announcing her 100th birthday by Willard Scott someday.

I'll just celebrate it every February 15th instead.

She always spoke the truth, said she could never "drink" because she was a "mean person when she did" and "being mean to others never served anyone well".  She always "gifted to others" before herself, believed in "random acts of kindness" and never believed of doing for others for the sake of "getting recogition for it". She always served for her God and church and those in need and believed in always putting others needs ahead of her own.  She had a sharp tongue when she thought others were spiteful or,  oh dear when it was a Presidential Election Year, watch out.  Never interrupt her during her nightly news where she obsessivly kept her weather stats or religiously watched Jeopardy.

She loved her Paul deeply and lost him to a car wreck soon after he returned from War.  She never married again, and I know she wepted for him many a night she missed him.  She always presented a "strong front" when we talked about him, but I could see it in her eyes that he was her soul mate and missed him so.

 

 

Summers with Auntie Beth were priceless.  Whether it be learning the value of a dollar by learning to "earn money with chores", walks to the local library for my ration of weekly story books" or the endless arts and crafts to sooth my creative soul", summers were the best with what "summers were suppose to be".

She always bragged about "Daddy's Store".  What I would of done to step 'back in time" to see inside of this store".  The General Mercantile.  She worked there growing up before she became a school teacher, working the "phone lines" in back. 

My greatest gift is that she lived a beautiful, relatively pain free life to the ripe old age of 96 and she got to know my daughter Hannah.  And Hannah her.  It was always my fear that this would never happen as she was a gift to share.

Happy Birthday My Auntie Beth. 

 Feb 15, 1914- Mar 10th, 2009

A Studio Birthday

Some girls want jewels for their birthday

 

I get a "honey do" list completed from my Mr. Souers

 

Which is better than jewels in my world I tell you

 

A little back story.

When we moved into our early 1900's home about 7 or so years ago, I laid "claim to the basement".  Yes, pretty much the entire basement, minus a little cubby area that was held claim for the laundry room makeover (to get the "laundry room out of the entranceway upstairs)

The basement had been currently a "horrid rendition of a mustard yellow Mother-In Law Quarters" when we moved in, but I could see past the greeen and yellow shag carpet and matchy matchy mustard walls and appliances in the area I would soon call my own.  Well, not soon, but a "work in progress".

So with little by little projects to "call it my own", and a good little red head that watered too close to the house one summer, the "ugly shag carpet" came out quicker than I am sure the Mr. was expecting, the "studio" basement was shaping up.

A couple weeks ago, I had woke up to the dream of "tearing out a , excuse me, a "bastard of a wall" that was the old bedroom" that was just "getting in my way" and causing me issues of being a catch all of a room.  And not getting to a final project of calling the studio closer to being finished.  So with that little dream, Mr. Souers, ahem, tore that wall out, and did a "little expansion work".

Still not finished.  I started with this "white wall", collaging it with a newspaper print pad, a bit of wood glue, Ralph Lauren glaze..a fabulous start to a cool wall that I could "continue making it a work in progress"....but it was killing me that it would never be finished. Staring at it, I knew it would be on the "birthday honey do list".

And my handy-dandy Mr. Souers and his portable generator and air nailer came to the rescue.

And so did the leftover Victorian Ceiling Tin we had from our Kitchen Remodel went to work. 

 

(I know, really haven't shown pictures of that project that is finished) 

And I finally have a true home for one of my most prized possessions of my Auntie Beths.

Her couch.

And her name plate that I took of her screen door before we sold her home after she passed away. 

The couch had to be taken out our front door, walked down the street, through the garage to the studio basement.

My neighbors do love a good Saturday show.

And for a few more "honey do"s.....

Yes. Another chandelier. Or two.

And this amazing English Pub Coat and Hat rack I have also HAD FOR EVER ...

 

And wanted to find a home for.

Now this side of the studio is "feeling done".

My table is still a mess.

But I'll show more photos of the rest of my studio soon.....

 

And I got a few more treasures while working Saturday ...

 

My friend Pam gifted me with the new Flea Market Style Magazine and a fabulous Brownie Cake.

 

I knew the ad for Junk Bonanza had my mug in it (thanks Ki :)...

 

and of course my little friend Jane and her wall of trunks...

to see it in person last September in Minnesota at the show was 10 times this shot... but her smile in it was priceless... it makes me so dang excited for the road trip AGAIN this year!

 

And my sweet Hannah?

Drew me the MOST incredible drawing for my birthday.

 

Can you see what it is?

 

The Starbucks Mermaid

 

With an incredible human heart on it, amazing details...

 

and read the FRENCH phrase...

 

You figure out what it says. I'll leave that up to you.

 

My birthday was priceless. 

Literally.

 

Wearable Assemblage Art

 

I "heart" Yakima.

 

Most days.

We moved here a wee bit over 18 years ago to raise our sweet daughter, start our careers and build our lives here.

 

Except when I am trying to explain "what I do" to the locals in attempting to get my

"art" screenprinted on t-shirts

 

 

A few of the darling responses.

 

"What is that?"

"Can't do that here"

"Too many details"

"You'll never get that on a t-shirt"

blah blah blah blah blah...

 

And then I met another little entrepreneur here who

 

"loved to think outside the screenprinting box"

And I can now mark of my

 

"art bucket list"

My original mixed media collage art.

On sweet little American Made T-shirts.

 

Something I have wanted to do for years and now I have three limited edition designs created and more on my art table to come...

 

 

Available now on my website

LisaSouersDesigns.com

(and the tshirts are bright white as are the designs crisp and straight.... a dark and gloomy night with poor lighting makes a poor camera taker in me...)

Enjoy!

 

 

 

A Tattered New Year

 

 

It's January. 

 

I think I forgot how to blog.

I'm always on Facebook where I seem to

"update my random thoughts and useless wisdom"

everyday.

 

But blogging?

 

I think I had forgot how to "do it"

 

But it's a "new year" and I thought I better get to it.

 

And I thought I would start it with a look at my

"tattered couch" 

that my Hannah and I hauled to the amazing Tiffany's house in September for Hannah's Senior pictures.

 

Then after the January edition of Romantic Homes was out and off the shelves, she told me it was in that "edition" 

 

"Hey, did you see your couch in the issue" ?

 

So I still haven't gotten a subscription to this great magazine, and of course, it was

"off the shelves" by the time I meandered to the grocery store.

 

You see. 

We don't have a Barnes and Nobles and the Borders all have shut down.

 

So even finding a "Romantic Homes" in this town is slim to none.

We can find any knitting or hunting, or "hair styling" magazine to your hearts desire"

 

But this one was a hard one to find.

But my girl Timi came to the rescue and sent one to me (and the February issue) too!

(thanks for the sweet surprise sweet Timi!)

 

And I could see my Tattered New Year starting off right.

 

And Tiffany's fine work in print again.

 

Cabinets for Christmas

I'm not a bling sorta girl

More sort of a "wood and metal" make me so happy kinda girl

 

So those of you who keep asking for kitchen pictures

I keep ignoring you

It hasn't been finished

Because all those great cabinets I keep selling at Serena's show over the past 8 years?

You would think I would of had a premenition that

"one day Lisa, you might just need them for yourself"

Nah

 

But Santa has already delivered me not a lump of coal this year

 

But my most favorite cabinet to date

 

 

And it's finally in my kitchen

 

And the cool original details still in tact

 

And instead of my wishful thinking this second  beast would actually "fit in my art studio"

 

 

It's a work in progress in our kitchen

 

Like it was always "meant to be here"

Just a bit o trim and finish up underneath it....

 

Oh happy Christmas.  Pass on the bling in the Souers House

 

Souers Santa can bring me large heavy cabinets down my chimney anytime.

 

Something for free

Everyone loves something for free

Ususally the "free box" isn't worth digging in...

I always do. And can find some good treasures.

 

But my "something for free" for the rest of December

 

Isn't her

 

 

Or her trinkets

 

But the shipping of her trinkets from my website is FREE

 

Buy one, but a box load.

Fill 'er up.

 

Ship it free.

 

And I'll have more cuffs on in the next day or so.

 

And the cool new chunky industrial crosses that are around her neck.

 

I know.  That was a tease.

 

Merry Holidays to you all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuffed

 

One month down with this whole "artist thing" and I think I have never been so busy.

(not complaining, I just dream metal and "what goes into a Coffee Misto" right now)

 

I thought I would have time to eat those "bon bons" everyone said I would be doing.

Have time to hang my curtains that are still sitting on my floor after painting my living room

Or mop my floors on a regular basis

Nope

But I think it's just my personality to fill my time with busy

And create what has been on my mind for a long time.

 

And these are just one of the things that has been tucked away deep in the cobwebs of my little pea brain

Cuffs

Bangles, bracelets, cuffs.

" a little assemblage piece of art wrapped around your wrist"

That's what I like to call them

 

I had to tear this one off my Hannah

( not really.  She knows where the "source is" if she wants the pick of the litter)

More to come very soon.

These are the beginings.  I love how they are morph however they choose.  Afterall, they all start out the same.  Like all of us. And then we become the individuals that we all all.  So very unique.

 They should be ready and fabulously one of a kind for these cool show this weekend in the wee little town of Tieton Washington. 

Come join me?  I have some cool one of a kind pieces I have created just for this show.

Dear Family

 

 

Dear Family.

 

I am so excited to be spending the day with you.

 

Just the three of us on Thanksgiving

 

 

 

Creating art

 

Loading my website with trinkets for the Holiday Season

 

Catching a bit of Football with my Mr. Souers.

 

Making the holiday meal with Hannah

 

(teaching her to "go in for the guts of Mr. Turkey...)

 

"You want to be a Doctor, 

Hannah, just reach in there, and get it...."

 

Her response....

"I don't want to stick my hand in something I am going to eat"

 

 

(we have so much to teach her before college....) 

 

 

Thinking hard...

 

Do I "really want to go to Target tonight at Midnight?"

 

(we really do need a new Sonicare Toothbrush and those Cheap Barbies and Matchbox cars are needed for the Toys For Tots Boxes)

 

And my biggest appology

 

 

 

I was too lazy to peel my own sweet potatoes this year.

 

 

I did have Hannah "doctor them up" with more butter, brown sugar and marshmallows waiting for the oven when the turkey is about finished...

 

(so I don't feel that bad that Costco did the work for me)

 

I have better things to do with my time today

 

Like spending it with my family.

 

 

Hope you all enjoy your valuable time with your family as well.

 

And maybe I will see you at Target at midnight too.

 

Then Saturday?

Trinkets for the Holidays

 

Where does the time go?

It's the holiday season already.  The weatherman flipped a coin on tonights news and predicted snow.  After the super gusty winds the last couple days (we were the "good neighbors" that picked up our leaves before "sharing them" with everyone) we are due for the snow .

Then I will know the holiday season is here.

 

And making sparkly trinkets.

Something about Vintage Glass Glitter

that makes it

 "holiday season"

 

This Saturday I will have a plentiful of trinkets on hand for "buying local" this season

Come find me in Yakima at the

Holy Family Bazaar

 (corner of 56th and Chestnut)

(never understood that word for a little show, I chuckle everytime...bazaar...it's my life at times)

(especially learning how to be a barista.  But that's another blog post)

This Saturday

November 19th,  9-3:30pm

I'll be there with my vintage "nut machine" with tons of trinkets for "gift giving"

Hoping this year, people "really don't think I am selling Hot Nuts".