Debbie Overton Designs

TGIF

I was so excited to awake this morning and realize it was FRIDAY....I have had a busy week filled with lots of accomplishments....and I am ready for a few days of relaxing.  Plan to plant a few flowers and work in the yard and of course with a gorgeous day scheduled for Saturday you can bet your bottom dollar I will spend part of it at the beach. 

Hope all of you dropping in to see what's going on over here also have a great weekend!!!!

Debbie

Anniversary Beach Shopping & Exhibits

So many great things have been going on I'm not even sure where I want to begin....March 13th was our anniversary and with it being Spring Break Steve and I decided we would just go out to eat and then do something special later.   Since we both had agreed we would not buy gifts for each other imagine both of our surprise when we each received something from the other one that we had wanted for a while.

January 1 through February you can comb the beaches of Jekyll Island to find beautiful, one-of-a-kind glass fishing floats.  Each day a select number of the floats are placed along the beaches just above the high tide line.  I spent many days walking and searching for one of the hidden treasures, but always came home empty handed.  Steve surprise me with this gorgeous white glass float created by artist Mark Ellinger.  Each one is individually crafted with the same techniques that have been used for 200 years to create glass art. All floats are engraved on the plug with Jekyll Island, Georgia's Jewel, the year, and the artists signature.

And I surprised him by paying attention one day while shopping on the island when he was intrigued with the Galileo Thermometers.  The glass spheres are calibrated and fitted with a metal temperature medallion.  The weight of each sphere varies slightly and as the actual room temperature fluctuates, the glass spheres will rise or fall.  As the room temperature decreases, the spheres rise and they fall as the temperature increases.  The lowest sphere with the group floating at the top of the thermometer indicates the correct temperature.  Needless to say ours usually has all but one at the top as we keep our home on the cool side....but it is fun to actually see them float up or down occasionally.

We had made reservations for Easter weekend at St. Augustine Beach a while back....Colby has good and bad days trying to adjust to all the meds, KC had just been home for 9 days and only back at school for 4 and didn't want to make the 14 hr drive for the weekend and Seth just is not a beach bum.....so Steve and I took advantage of the long weekend and celebrated our anniversary.  The weather was beautiful....the beaches were not crowded and the shopping was great! 

We left early Friday morning making our first stop within 30 minutes at Me and My Partner Antiques and Collectibles/Woodbine International Fire Museum.  I found some old school report cards from 1917 and Mr. Windy the owner pulled out a few other papers he had in a drawer to give me.  I just love the sign he has out front!  It certainly has gotten my attention a few times.  I would highly recommend a visit to Woodbine to this great antique shop and the Fire Museum is awesome...fill with tons of history.  We continued heading south making several stops along the way. 

Sunrise Saturday!  This is the view we had from our balcony!

North Country Antiques located in the Lightner Museum Antique Mall in historic St. Augustine is filled with Ephemera, Old Books, Magazines, Postcards, Stamps, Records, Advertising, Prints, and more.  Lightner Antique Mall is located inside the famous Lightner Museum. Built on top of the old Hotel Alcazar's swimming pool (The largest swimming pool in the world in 1888) and features many antique stores and a café under one roof.

When on San Marco Ave a must stop is Claire's Collectibles Fun Rubber Stamps.  If you can't find it here you most likely don't need it.  I made two stops there and came home with tons of stamps, inks, elements and magazines.

Upcoming Exhibits

For those that come to Waycross GA for Swampfest April 4-6, I will be exhibiting with a group of artists from the Okefenokee Heritage Center in the Phoenix Hotel located downtown.

I have been asked to do a solo exhibit for the month of May at Monkey Love Dessert Bar & Gallery.  Monkey Love's mission is to serve the community and their customers with the honor and respect they deserve while contributing to children's organizations to help stop child abuse. 

When you walk into Monkey Love you feel at home and the aroma is to die for....sinful desserts and pastries and coffees.....and since I am not a coffee drinker I had to have a Banana Milk Shake.....let me just say Heaven.....and then there was the slice of Coconut Lemon Layered Cake I got to go for Seth....I have looked at it all afternoon and finally just couldn't resist any longer.....I took a bite and then I took another....then I set it in the cabinet out of sight! 

I will share more about Monkey Love and the Wine and Cheese Reception at a later date.

I have lots of art to work on over the next several weeks, but I am refreshed from my trip and ready to move forward.

Thanks for stopping by!

Debbie

Spring is finally here.....

It's official.....Spring begins today....and I am so excited.  I have blooms popping out everywhere....just love to look out and see even the stray weeds that have come to life in the past week here.  Today is only going to reach the low 70's windy and sunny.....just a little let down from the mid 80's we had yesterday.....but clear blue skies as far as you can see.

Last week we had kids home for Spring Break....lots of fun....beach...shopping...eating out...beach....more shopping...late night movies...ice cream...beach...kids coming and going day and night...sand...flip flops...swimsuits and beach towels everywhere....but it was worth it.  Only a few more weeks and it will all start again for the summer!

A couple nights ago I decided to check in on a few of my favorite blogs and if you have not visited Nina Bagley's blog Ornamental lately you are missing some great reads.  Especially this one where she talks about spending time with her parents in their little cabin.  It was a perfect ending to my day....so whether you are starting your day or calling an end to one....I think you will enjoy it....I certainly did.

I finally finished another collage yesterday...actually the picture was taken while it was still drying....so please excuse the mess around the art couldn't wait to share....There are 18-20 layers of paints glazes mediums and papers....tons of drying time....I don't much care for that part....I'm not know for waiting long!  Have several more pieces in the works and will share with you soon.

A couple years ago I took an online organizational class taught by Alyson Stanfield....she has a wonderful website and her book "I'd rather be in the studio!" is filled with wonderful tips on self-promotion.  Now mind you....you actually have to do what she recommends for this to work....I already was doing some of it, but there were things I knew I needed to be doing and seeing it in black and white just makes it somehow easier to see the big picture.  So if you are looking for a little guidance in promoting yourself....take a look at what she has to offer.

I have a few things I want and need to finish up today as Steve is home for four days and as much as I enjoy his being home...I just don't get as much done.  I am counting on beautiful warm sunny days so we can work in the yard and head to the beach for a sunrise or sunset....maybe both.

Wishing each of you a wonderful Easter weekend.

Debbie 

JIAA Arts Festival and More

Several of you emailed me over the weekend wandering how the Jekyll Island Arts Festival went.  I am very happy to say one of my pieces entered in the exhibit placed 3rd in the Advanced Collage and Mixed Media category!  AND I didn't even know it even though the judging was Thursday and the Festival was open Friday.  We had nasty weather and I just couldn't make myself get out in it.  I would have been very happy to receive one of the many Honorable Mentions and was thrilled when after working my Saturday morning shift to find all three of my pieces right in the middle of the main gallery and tried very hard to contain myself when I spotted the ribbon. 

Saturday was bright and sunny with lots of wind and I do mean wind.  Most of the outside activities had to be canceled, so the gallery was filled to capacity all day.  Gorgeous collage & mixed media oil watercolor acrylics pastel charcoal and more filled all the walls and free standing walls of the first floor of the gallery with more artwork filling the stair wall and landing to the second floor where you found photography fiber arts pottery and more.  I met lots of wonderful artists and enjoyed interacting with all the visitors from all over.....Canada New York Ohio Pennsylvania Michigan Maryland Virginia, North and South Carolina Florida and many others were there.

There was an older gentleman, Mr. Malcolm Hanson inside Goodyear Cottage playing the piano and I had the privilege of working the table next to him.  He had a wonderful Irish accent and so funny and could carry on a conversation with anyone that stopped by while never missing a beat.  I could have listened to him all day....play and talk.

Sunday morning Steve Seth KC and I headed back over to the Island stopping at our favorite IHOP for breakfast....after a delicious breakfast and lots of talking we headed to the Festival....the day was beautiful and lots of people out milling around.  We stopped in some of the other historic district shops just browsing around before making our "can't go to the island without stopping at the beach for a few minutes" stop.  When we left the house at 10 we didn't expect to be gone all day....but we were and we had a really good day together.

Kids are home for Spring Break so my time here will be limited to their time with friends....come to think of it.....I may have lots of time to myself.....especially with KC....either her phone or the house phone has been ringing non-stop wanting her to do something. 

For those that have posted here, emailed us or called about Colby....we all thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  He had a good day Saturday....even went with friends out to dinner and a movie that night.  Then he pays for it the next day....he has to learn to pace himself....I have tried telling him this....but this coming from me....that goes 24/7 does not really mean much to him right now.  He will learn and he will adjust.  Again thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.

After seeing so much wonderful inspiration this weekend I am just itching to start a few new pieces and finish up some sitting in the corner.

Debbie

Curve Balls

Just when you think everything is moving forward.....God throws you a curve ball.  I posted this past Monday around noon the kids were better and shared with you their coming home this weekend for Spring Break.  Here's the curve ball....Colby called us Monday afternoon late....his doctor had called him with the results of all the test they had ran during and following his hospital visit last week.....He has Lyme Disease.....Colby is thankful....as we are that this has been caught in the earlier stages......within 6 months of being contracted, but we also know he has a long hard road ahead of him as they already know 3-4 months of oral antibiotics plus a few other things that can come up along the way...I will admit it...this week has been hard....not really knowing how he is doing....he tells me he's okay....but you can hear it in his voice.  Between the shock his body went through last week and the news this week and the 1500MG of antibiotics a day he has had a really hard week.....he just didn't feel he could make the trip and Steve and I had already decided he didn't need to.  He needed to stay there and take care of himself.....plus if he had flown out this morning as planned he would have missed 6-10 inches of snow they are calling for there.....the hardest thing for Colby will be patience....he has very little....I don't remember having much either at 24.....and unlike me now, he does not let things run its course.....he reacts without thinking....when something happens I let it sit for a short time to gather my thoughts and actions and then move forward with a plan.  We talked this morning and he said Mom I know you want to talk about this, but I need to deal with this my way right now.  I have LD, I am on antibiotics, I feel like crap and know I have some long hard days ahead....but I promise you if there is anything you need to know I will tell you.  I know from experience....he tells me only what he wants me to know!  So those that believe in prayer....please keep all of us in yours as we all get through this.

This is where I would like to be today....but the weather is nasty...rain wind thunder lightening tornado warning etc. Could be worse. I could still be without power!  Thankfully it was only out for a short time. 

I did deliver 3 collages to the art exhibit over on Jekyll Island for the Art Festival and also left 3 pieces for the Festival shop.  Tomorrow I have to have brownies delivered for the bake sale between 9-10, turn in my raffle tickets which the JI Arts Association members sold....some great donations/prizes to be won, my volunteer shift is tomorrow from 10-12.  A very nice gentleman from New York needed someone to help him in the woodcarving area.....wanted to know if I could demo or collect money....I told him if he wanted to collect money for his gorgeous works of art then he didn't want me to demo....so I will be admiring his great work while collecting money from his sales.

Steve and maybe the kids will meet me at noon for lunch and some fun at the festival.  KC will come along if she thinks we will also stop at the beach before coming home....Seth really could care less....he is not interested in the beach at all and since Colby is not here that gives Seth a way out.  I guess by now you may have figured out the kids decided they didn't want to go down to St. Augustine Beach since Colby wouldn't be with us....they want to wait until later when he comes...so we canceled our reservations on the beach for now.

I need to go fluff Miss Lucille's (nickname we call KC....she loves anything to do with Lucille Ball) pillows and straighten the canopy netting around the head of her bed.....she should be home around 9-10 tonight.

It appears that most of the rain has passed....although the wind is blowing....we have several tall pine trees on our lot that are swaying....actually very relaxing to watch.....they bend as if they should break and pop right back up.....just to do it again.  Kinda the way we do when things get us down.....we may bend a little from time to time...but we pop back up and move forward.

Enjoy the weekend.

Debbie

Just by Hand

It has been a few days.....trying to find a balance with everything I have going on.  Making progress in some areas....some still need to find there place in my schedule.  All I can say is I am glad last week is over....my kids are better.....the weekend was gorgeous and I have my to do list made for the week.  Yesterday was in the upper 70's and Steve asked to go over to Jekyll Island....you know me anything to get me over to the beach. 

We parked in the historic district and took a leisurely walk around....going in and out of shops....last week I took some of my Paper Books over to one of the shops....he knew this as I told him about it....as we made our way through shop and after....I wanted to say something.....but I thought no.....he is going to have to remember and find them.  Just when I thought he was going to say are you ready to head over to the beach for a while....he surprised me....he wanted to know if we were going to visit Just by Hand....YES, he was listening the night I told him!  His next test was to actually go into the shop with rooms filled with wonderful hand crafted items and lots of shoppers.  It took a few minutes but he circled around and said your books like nice! 

Thought I better throw in a little artwork as someone recently asked me why I never posted my artwork on my blog.....well I do....I just don't post everything I do....so here's a 6x12 canvas I did while experimenting with different paints and techniques.  This piece has several coats of black gesso, antique sheet music snippets and lots of Golden Acrylics under and over the snippets.  The reason for so many coats of black gesso....I would use a color and didn't like it....so I would cover it with the gesso and go at it again.

This week is going to be busy....Tuesday I deliver the pieces I will be exhibiting in the Jekyll Island Arts Association Art Festival this coming weekend.  Wed or Thurs I need to take a few pieces over I will have in the Festival Shop for sale and Friday I go to Savannah to meet Colby's plane.  He is flying in to spend a few days with us.  Steve and I are excited...all three kids will be here....home from college.....Colby will fly back Tuesday afternoon and KC will leave the following Sunday.  Seth is already complaining about the other two coming home for so many days....he likes being home with just us....and it is just Seth and I usually for several days at a time....now the middle child will have to share us with someone else!

Thanks for stopping by!

Debbie