Agility Graduation

This morning was SamUL's last day of agility. Granted, the class was held over 7 weeks with about 1 hour a week so the fact that the dogs could even do the course is an accomplishment. Apparently, his high energy personality (he's a spaz) gave him an advantage in this particular activity. He was able to complete the course in 58 seconds. Granted, that probably is the time it takes him to dig a hole in the couch but I digress. You can watch his run here:



Here is our post-graduation trophy pose. (He got first place.)












No need for congratulations... he's not that good of a dog.

Yes, that was my couch....

Gamsol (aka Odorless Mineral Spirits) and Prismacolor Pencils

And you thought I was kidding when I said I'm slow...

I've completed 2 projects since I last posted. I'm excited to showcase them here on my blog. Unfortunately, I'm having a wee-bit of trouble with my video editing. To view it today, you would have to tilt your head 90 degrees to watch my video. So, please bear with me while I try to figure out how to edit and I will post these items as soon as I can.

Today,I was finally able to work with my "Mona Lisa Odorless Paint Thinner" (available at Michaels) and my Prismacolor pencils. I've been so busy with my projects that I had only been able to color in an image but I hadn't yet worked in the OMS (odorless mineral spirit).
I dipped a small make-up sponge into the OMS and then dabbed the blending stump (see commentary below) onto the sponge. I then made small circular motions on the lighter colored areas (the hair) and then worked on the darker colors. WOW! I was very happy with the end result. Granted, it's not shaded like a professional (Marlene at www.disguisedasagrownup.blogspot.com) would do it but for my first time... I'm very pleased with it. It gives the image a softer feel... like butter.

If you should decide to try this technique, get the blending STUMP as opposed to the Prismacolor Blending PENCIL. I have that also... and frankly, I find it useless. I made the mistake of buying the Pencil. I've tried to find videos on the net that use the pencil but it seems that most people use the stump (with the OMS). I found the stump at Michaels near the color pencils. The manufacturer is Artist's Loft.

I am excited to work with more images and the Gamsol. Again, I'm slow... like Stimpy, my desert tortoise.

SamUL's agility class & a Party in my mouth

Today was a really nice day in Southern California. I started the morning out with a nice cardio work out trotting on an agility course with the Chi-weenie. Mind you, the intention was to walk the course when I originally enrolled him in this class because I have a back problem. But he loves it so I try to keep up.



I followed that lovely work out with a nice meal. I ate at a restaurant that I'd heard a lot about on the radio. It's called Haven Pub.
http://www.havengastropub.comIt was really good!!! REALLY GOOD. Here are some of the dishes we ordered:

Housemade Potato Chips

soaked in beer, fresh herbs, garlic aioli

Brussels Sprouts

Zoe’s Prosciutto, lemon juice

Mac n’ Cheese

black truffles, gruyere, fontina, parmesan

Pulled Pork Sandwich

chipotle aioli, warm apple-cabbage slaw, Haven bbq sauce infused roll

Tarte Tatin

pâte brisée, gala apple, Maytag bleu cheese ice cream

Irish Car Bomb

Guinness chocolate stout cake, Guinness ice cream, Irish Cream chocolate sauce, Jameson caramel

Bread Pudding

brioche, rum-soaked golden raisins, salted butter caramel ice cream

My favorite was the chips, the mac & cheese, the Irish Car Bomb, the Blue Cheese Ice cream and the salted butter caramel ice cream.

I'm still working on my projects. (I wasn't lying when I said I'm slow).

I pick up all kinds of techniques from the women here on the net. Marlene, over at www.disguisedasagrownup.blogspot.com has been using her Primacolor pencils and Gamsol to color in her stamps on her cards. She referenced Gamsol as being 'odorless mineral spirits' that you use after you color in your stamped cardstock.
Armed with my Michaels' coupon, I went to purchase Gamsol. I learned 3 things:
1. they didn't have Gamsol
2. They had an alternate brand to purchase (which I did with my COUPON)
3. Gamsol is not a form of Perrier, like I originally thought. [Mineral... spirits... I just figured it was a fancy version of perrier.] Apparently, it is a form of paint thinner.

I am looking forward to trying it out with my Primacolor pencils that I plan to buy with my next 50% off Michaels' coupon.

I'm working on some projects so there might be an actual craft-related photo in the next few weeks. In the meantime, meet Jim and Dwight.
They're standard grey chinchillas (and brothers) who have their own room and AC unit to themselves.
And yes,.. they were named after the characters on The Office (NBC).