Just Mixed Media magazine has arrived

To say I've been a bad blogger is an understatement!  My sister-in-law, her husband and my mother-in-law, who is 93 years old, have recently moved to South Carolina.  They were our house guests for 2 months while looking for a house.  We had a really fun time but I don't do well with such distractions.  I go into full on "mommy mode" and start cooking non-stop as well as trying to do everything else I can do to make my company comfortable.  On the heels of their visit I made a wedding cake for some close friends and helped organize their wedding reception.   Even after the guests have left and the cake commitments are fulfilled it takes me a while to put the brakes on.  Last night I made home made pasta and a lovely fresh tomato sauce to go with it.  So tonight it will be left overs and I'm getting back into my art studio at long last!

I might have mentioned a few months back that my daughter and I were taking a trip to China.  It was an amazing adventure!  We were there for 11 days and saw so many wonderful things, including climbing a portion of the Great Wall and visiting the Terra Cotta soldiers.  It was a trip of epic proportions for me and a dream come true.  I've been to China before but not this part and I've never been on a tour bus there either.  Very interesting.  I believe it's the best way to see so much of a country without having to worry about not knowing the language, etc.  The Chinese people were so kind and patient with us.  I have chop stick issues due to my arthritis so I'm sure my eating habits are extremely offensive.  We walked over 10,000 steps every day, at times Holly was practically dragging me along but I made it through all the exhibits.  While there I found some wonderful Washi Tape.  I used some of it to make this face canvas.  The colors are not my usual palette but I was trying to mimic the ancient stones used to build the Great Wall and so many other structures.

Today I was reminded that I had submitted this to "Just Mixed Media" magazine when I received my copy in the mail.  What a nice surprise!  Hopefully this is just what I needed to get me back on track.  This is what the cover of the newest issue looks like.

And this is the piece that I was privileged to have published using StencilGirl products and Dina Wakley paints.  Notice the hand carved stamp I had made in China while I waited, it's in the left hand corner.  They even gave me the red wax to stamp with.  The Chinese newsprint was used to wrap my tiny little soldiers that made the trip back to South Carolina.

So nice to be back in my studio!  I hope you get a chance to check out the copy of this magazine when it hits the news stands.  It's a great issue.

Hugs~ Renee

P.S.  Here's an early morning photo of my amazing mother-in-law (MaZarate).  She is wearing the crown I made back in 2017 in a Prima class.  She didn't want her photo taken without her make up but I think she looks AMAZING!