Keeping The Lines Of Communication Open

I'm getting my first iphone.  I had a very frustrating couple of days trying to get my Net10 cell phone reactivated.  I spent literally hours on the phone talking to India and it was finally decided that the sim card that was sent to me was not able to pick up the signal where I am, so they were going to send me yet another one and assign me yet a third new phone number in the past three weeks!  I couldn't take it anymore, so I started looking online at prices and phones with different carriers.  When I saw there were free iphone 3GS's available with AT&T I knew this was probably my only opportunity to ever own an iphone......not the newest/latest one but that's fine with me.  Giving up the cheaper Net10 monthly rate is going to sting a bit, but the good news is I qualified for food stamps so hopefully I'll be able to pay the higher monthly phone bill.
I interviewed for a second cleaning job yesterday but haven't heard anything yet.  It would be a good job to get, its only a couple of blocks away and the home is very tidy and will be easy to work in.......nice young family too.  I've given up the hope of finding a separate place to work on furniture that I can afford right now so I'm going to focus on pieces that are light weight and easy for me to get in and out of my apartment.  I'm starting with this piece.......

So far I've only gotten it primed, I'm not real sure what I'm going to do with it yet.  I can see it painted in a french-y gray/blue and distressed but I don't want to limit its salability so it will probably end up just white maybe with some artwork on the front, an oval with a bucolic scene?......not sure.  I'd love to get a lot of pieces together and rent that store front for a weekend that I mentioned in a previous post, but that could take time with no spare money to spend.  There are two consignment shops around the corner from me, I could try selling things that way.

I looked at a potential job yesterday.....just a small job painting a large frog in a nursery to match the crib linens.  I haven't given her a price yet, I'm going to do a couple of sketches with different options to see if I can't make the job a bit more profitable.   And a couple phoned me this morning wondering how much it would cost to just do the outline of a garden scene on their garage wall.......then they would paint it in.  I decided to just tell them my hourly rate for that job and they're thinking about it.  I'm happy that at least I'm getting calls for art work coming in.....sure glad I learned that with a Skype phone number anyone using any regular phone can call me through my computer.

Creating Order In A Small Space

I did a little more work in my sleeping area yesterday.  I found this cabinet in a local thrift shop for $39 and knew it would fit perfectly in that space.

I really liked the way the front opened.....perfect for storing linens/blankets.

I did like the shabby white finish but it just wouldn't work in that area, so I gave it a few coats of black and love the way it looks there. 

I'm standing where the bed folds down..............

Thats the tiny bathroom straight ahead and on the right is the closet next to the bed ............

A studio apartment becomes a one bedroom apartment ;-)  I love my tiny little bedroom!

Trying To Make Things Work

Things are still slow as far as work goes,  tomorrow I go interview for food stamps.  I'm actually enjoying the one cleaning job I've managed to get, I think because they need more than just cleaning, they also need help getting organized.  I'm proud to say I've actually inspired them to get a lot done on their own......I also like the couple very much.

I had one art job this past weekend, a first for me..........painting a pinball machine.  The game is called Orbiter 1 and this bit of design I painted on both sides is from part of the backboard artwork in the machine.  I need to go back on Wednesday to do some lettering on the sides of the top backboard piece.

Painting On A Castle Bed

The bed is finally done.....don't fault me on the design, it wasn't mine.  Sometimes its really hard to give people what they want.

Today is post office and laundry and rest.

Here's how the castle bed is coming after two days.  Over on the right bottom will be a raccoon and to the left of him are the beginnings of a couple of hedgehogs.  The client wanted the squirrel 'up' so this is the first time a small tree has been incorporated into the design.  I'll go in tomorrow to finish this up.....add some butterflies, ladybugs a few more flowers on the other vines and a center piece of birds and garland on the front top.

Finally! Success On Ebay!

How wonderful!  Two paintings selling on ebay!  The radish/salt shaker and Mr Pelican....fabulous.

I've also got a few days of work, I'm painting one of those kids castle beds  (example below)

and I've got a new cleaning client to start this week.  There's nothing like being able to pay your rent and bills to lift your spirits.