Hi, I've been stalking Ellen kennon for the last two weeks. I've sent her pictures of my rooms and have been emailing back and forth ever since. She has been extremely helpful and sent me swatches of what she suggested I use. I'm really excited to use her paints. She actually sends the formula to glidden prof. paint and you pick it up there. So, it should be local for you. Glidden paints now owns ici. I did see that the ici paints uses (and incidently glidden) the same manufacturer that Fine paints of europe uses. And, I've always heard good things about the ici paints. Anyhow... In my room, I have these wonky grey green couches that I can't match anything to. And, lovely brown orangy trim to boot. She recommended mushroom, her tobacco road knockoff, sage, and several others. I really want to go with the powdered pebbles, but she didn't recommend it. I just love the color. She said mushroom would work best. It is a light beigy, greyish color that I do love (not as much as that darn powdered pebbles- the perfect taupe). And, she reformulated it so it didn't have those funky pink tones. For the gallon size, it was 52 dollars in flat. Maybe 53 in satin. I spend that for regular old BM (not aura) paint. Originally, I was planning on FPE paints, which was I think 125 per gallon. I contacted FPE for help. They have a color specialist. Though emmett was helpful, Ellen was much easier to speak with and get ideas. FPE literally has thousands of colors. Ellen only has maybe 100 to 200. Easier to deal! I'm super indecisive. So, I've been collecting paints/painting for months. I was going to hire a color consultant and pay the 200 dollar fee. Until, I saw some information on EK on here. She will help you and is really nice. I think you should seriously look into her paints or at least give her a call/send her a picture. I think it was funcolors that speaks with her/did some sort of interview with her. You might search for funcolors and see what she says.

jemdandy, thank you for your suggestions and your kind words. I do sell my jewelry as well as give it away, donate it to charity, keep it for my personal collection and store it in inventory when I can't get rid of it. Point well taken about obtaining signed agreements when using others artwork and you are right. It's the prudent thing to do. I guess I just had in mind that here at the KT less formal arrangements could be made - kind of like the old fashioned handshake of years past. Maybe I'll leave it at this for the moment: those of you who are willing to give me permission to use your photos and would also like a more formal use agreement, please message me privately so we can work that out. And, those of you who don't care about a use agreement can just give their permission in this thread. Not a perfect arrangement legally, but I'm willing to risk it as I am just a small time jewelry maker looking for inspiration for future designs/paintings. Arrangement or not, I would give credit to the photographer for any work that I did use. I will never use the work of another person without their permission first. Some of you may remember Dave. He took a lot of nature pictures and used to post them here. Many years ago (when I was still lurking), I asked him if I could use his photos and he gave me his blessings. We did not have a formal agreement, but I still have the email he sent granting permission and I suppose if his estate came after me, I could use it to defend myself. Maybe it's naive on my part, but I miss those kinder gentler times when people didn't have to worry about and protect themselves from being sued at every turn. I suppose my hope is to be able to make a simple arrangement here that doesn't have to involve a team of attorneys. As far as custom work; yes I have done quite a bit of it. Mostly pet portraits. Thank you, sabbath! I'm so glad you were able to see the photos! Some of that older technology can be cranky at times. rob, thank you for posting the Peter Pan photo. It is a wonderful photo. I love the composition and the lighting and the subject! Casey is a very talented photographer and I look forward to seeing her photos each morning.

Multi colored garden pics: Alliums, 1 Shasta Daisy and leaves from the ornamental grass. My kitchen/livingroom now smells like spring time after they've mowed the wild onions down. ( :Morning gloryCalifornia poppiesAnother morning gloryFront garden dying off, just put out this colorful flag a friend sent me. Hides the dying Black-eyed Susan sort of.

Yes! Our 85 lb.lab starts his nightly routine on the bed with us, then a couple of hours later heads to his other bed on the floor or to "his" leather couch in the family room. He will then rejoin us around 5am. During the time he is off the bed, we are joined by our two cats who lay at the foot of the bed. All three provide snuggle service, heat warmers, back support and sometimes a back massage when my lab is in dreamland and gets all four paws moving. DH and I have been married 39 years and have never slept without a pet on the bed, with the exception of travel and neither of us sleeps very well.