What is Paint Club?

Paint Club is a fun way to connect with friends and a safe way to get out of the house during this time of social distancing. It is proven that getting creative releases endorphins, it's a little boost of pleasure, resulting in a feeling of well-being.

We meet once a week at the Blue Heaven Studio for three hours of painting and socializing. We all wear masks and stay 6 ft away from each other. We all work on the same project taught by a professional artist who takes us through step by step from blank canvas to a work of art. Some projects are completed in one session, others are completed over several weeks. No set schedule dictates how slowly or quickly we complete the project. It's a very relaxed way to learn how to paint.

The Paint Club is best enjoyed with a drink in hand, so we take turns bringing a bottle and snacks.

The photos in this post are projects we have been working on recently. I've learned so much about paining over the last year, our instructor Dee Catallo is fabulous!

Cheers!
Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

It's a Southern Thing...The Barn Sale!

Yes, I sold my jewelry in a Barn!

Since retiring from the corporate world I've been working full time on my Etsy jewelry shop and a traveling jewelry booth setup.  This past weekend I participated in my first Barn Sale at the Old McDonald's Farm in Sale Creek, TN.  It was a "shabby chic" themed event put on by the Traveling Bazaar Group. 

Did I make a lot of money? N0.  Did I have a great time? YES!  It was so much fun I'm going to do it again in December.  It was great networking with the other vendors at the event and I learned a lot from them.

Some Craft Show Tips:

1.)  Bring snacks - eating a full meal is impossible if you don't have a friend to booth sit.

2.)  Bring a fan(s) - shoppers will stay longer in your booth if they are cool.

3.)  Bring Backup Supplies - many shoppers wanted to mix and match chain lengths with my sea glass pendants, no one wanted the necklace "as is".  Additional lengths were needed.

4.)  Be prepared for the surge - Serious shoppers arrive within the first two hours of the show.  After lunch was very sluggish for sales.

I'm on the standby list for the Jasper, Georgia, Marble Festival; keep your fingers crossed for me to get in this year!

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

Tennessee Craft Show....

I will be a vendor selling my original handmade jewelry at this event.

It will be a FABULOUS Barn Sale with High Quality Arts/Crafts/Handmade Items, Women's Shabby Chic/Boho/Vintage Style Boutique Clothing, Vintage Items & Antiques! 

Vicki MacNeil Hentz Gould will be Performing Live!

Good Ol' Sloppy Top & Music City Blazin' BBQ will Have Their Delicious Food Trucks There!

Old McDonald Farm will have Their Cow Coaster, Offering Rides for the Children for Only $2!

They will also be Selling Their Homemade Lemonade!

Food, Fun & Shopping!

FREE ENTRY!!!

The 1st 100 Customers will Receive a Bag of Coupons to Use at the Sale!

Please stop by my both and mention this blog post for a 10% discount!

Cheers!

Lori Dorrington

Lori's Glassworks

Love this.....

I've got to add this to my Honey Do list....

Hope you've having a great weekend!

Cheers!

For the Love of Barns....

#10 Logging My Favorites

This is the tenth installment of a ongoing log of my favorite things. Once a month I will post a favorite. It might be a person, or a place, or even an event. Hopefully it will help you get to know me a little better. I'd love your comments and I hope to make some connections through our mutual enjoyment of these treasures.

 

I love old barns; if you've ever driven through a rural area, it's likely that you've seen barns standing watch over the landscape. Have you ever taken the time to take a closer look at the barns as you travel the country side, or stop and walk through one?  

When a family farmed to subsist and feed their livestock, understanding of the soil and awareness of nature were essential parts of rural life. This fertile lifestyle inspired barns and outbuildings of solid grace - - structures that reflect the regional character with original designs by innovative builders.

I didn’t grow up on a farm, but I did have access to the barns of family members in Indiana. I experienced many things in the barn. I watched animals being born, smelled the scent of fresh hay, milked the cows, shared secrets with my friends, and developed a love of nature. 

 Old barns were typically made of timber, and stone barns were built in certain areas where stone was a cheaper construction material. There are many different types of barns, namely horse barns, pole barns, carriage barns, etc. I find them all beautiful and each barn is unique. 

Why are most barns red?  There are several theories as to why barns are painted red, but in historically accurate terms, ready made paints were not available.  Farmers made their own red paint by adding ferrous oxide to the traditional mix of paint ingredients:  lime, linseed oil and milk to create their own version of long lasting red paint that acted as a quick drying wood preservative.

 Population explosion and the rise of agribusiness have caused the rapid disappearance of the small "family owned" farm. Unfortunately the need for these traditional structures has drawn to a close. What remains is an endangered species of splendid buildings that offer functional beauty and purity of design that once characterized the Farm way of life. 

Even though restoration of old houses is popular today, most barns of equal architectural merit and age have been ignored and seemed doomed. Yet people who take the time to befriend old barns will find that they hold many secrets, each one has its own charm and mystery.

 Adaptive use is the key to their preservation. For these proud structures to remain on any landscape their value must be recognized and adaptive new uses must be found. A small percentage of barns across the country have been lovingly restored and re-purposed to fit today’s needs.  The barn pictured above has been Turned into a lovely home.  I love old barns and I don’t want to see them disappear.

Next time you see an old barn off in the distance--close your eyes for a moment and imagine the laughter and tears echoing within.  Oh yes....I love old barns!

To see my Pinterest collection of fabulous photos - Barns Great and Small - click here.

Or cut and paste this address into your browser:
http://pinterest.com/lorisglassworks/barns-great-and-small/