Susanna's Sketchbook:

Don't you absolutely love this time of year? The blue skies, warm sun on bare legs, sandals, trips to the beach, the scent of coconut-scented sunscreen, long golden afternoons, flowers, green everything, fireflies on the lawn, drinking red wine on the balcony while watching the tiny lights of planes fly across the night sky...

Also on my list of summer pleasures would be the online art course that my good friend, Moe, and I signed up for called Plaster Studio. As you've already guessed, it is all about creating artwork out of and onto Plaster of Paris and joint compound. Moe and I are learning so much. Our instructors, Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise, are handing out plenty of homework on a daily basis - which is great!

This is my second painting onto Plaster of Paris. The first painting still needs some fixin' and as I look at this second painting, I'm thinking that a few changes are in order here, too. Isn't that always the case? When do we say Stop. It's done? I do like the textures of the plaster and if you could see this painting in person, you would notice the matte surface which is a soft and lovely characteristic of Plaster of Paris.

Moe and I are meeting up each Thursday for Plaster Studio playdates and this morning we made a whole bunch of joint compound-covered substrates (wood-covered frames). I can't wait to make another painting!

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PS: On Tuesday, July 5th, I will be hosting a special giveaway. I am so excited about it! I'll give you a sneak peak this Sunday.

Hey Everyone,

Did you have a good weekend? We sure did. While J went road-biking, my two good friends, MoJo, and I hopped into my Jeep and drove up to the Blue Ridge Flea Market in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania.

We got lost a couple times driving there which was my fault as I was chatting too much and not paying attention to the gps. Getting lost isn't always a bad thing, though, is it? We ended up driving through quaint little towns with beautiful old stone houses sitting right up along the edge of the road. We passed a small gravel parking lost, too, where a couple of hikers with knapsacks were waving goodbye to their friends/their ride before beginning their journey along the Appalachian Trail. Eventually, we did arrive at the Blue Ridge Flea Market.

There was certainly a difference between the Blue Ridge Flea Market and the giant flea market in Ocean Grove, NJ that Jodi and I visited a few weekends back.

The flea market in Ocean Grove was set on a lawn, in a pretty little town along the Atlantic Ocean. Since the Ocean Grove flea market happens only twice a year, I suspect that the vendors there bring their best stuff in order to entice customers to visit their stores throughout the East Coast.

The Blue Ridge Flea Market is set in an old drive-in theatre lot (the big screen has been removed) and the vendors seem to be locals who spend each weekend (and part of the week), selling everything from doorknobs to electronics to locally-grown vegetables. I was surprised - although it makes sense as this is camping country - to see hunting rifles for sale on several tables. And if you need something a little bigger...

I enjoyed chatting with the vendors, especially the old timers. One man told me that he and his son used to go for walks together in the country and that during one of those walks, they came across a bunch of glass bottles half-buried in a ditch. From there began a father-and-son glass bottle collection and business. The blue bottles in the first photograph date back to the 1850's and each one is valued at approximately $200. So if you live on or near an old farm and want to make some extra money...

My friend, Jodi, has a thing for rusty ol' anythings. She re-purposes them into garden ornaments in her backyard. This gasoline can, for instance, will find new life as a bird feeder.

You can imagine her delight then when she discovered this re-purposed donkey chock full of personality in Saylorsburg yesterday!

As for me, I bought a new spring-form pan (cheesecake) for $1.00, a small metal flip calendar for $1.50, a big, black-painted wooden box for $20.00 and ten cool-looking cigar boxes for $12.00 (some of which will be destined for more of these).