It Was a Very Busy Day of Creativity and Solutions

Good morning and happy Saturday. After I got my infusion injection, I spent most of yesterday finalizing the framing for the two small Connie Seabourn watercolor paintings. I went to Michael's and looked at frames there. The only ones in the size that I needed were too narrow - not enough depth for a double matted surface-floated piece. I laid some frame samples up to the pieces, though, and it was the Navy blue color that really made the whole thing pop. I was amazed - I would never have chosen the Navy blue, but it really worked with the blue interior mat and the blues on each watercolor. So, I had determined that I needed a navy blue frame that had depth. I went on to Dick Blick's, hoping for a small miracle. 

I don't drink coffee or any teas other than herbal, 
but I needed the bathroom, so I made an executive 
decision and ordered a Dragon Drink. I've always 
enjoyed dragon fruit, they're quite tasty. I liked the 
drink very much, but won't order all of those calories 
and other items again within the foreseeable future. 

Blick's wasn't open yet - I had 30 minutes to wait - but I needed a bathroom. Oh! Starbucks will have a bathroom. Which they did - with a numerically coded lock and a sign stating it was for "Customer Use Only". Well, I hadn't been in a Starbucks in over a decade, I suppose I could manage to find one thing I could order. I ordered a small "Dragon Drink" because it sounded like the least harmful to my health. I paid for my drink, got the bathroom code, and picked up a delightfully pink iced beverage when I returned to the counter. 

The navy blue frame at Michael's actually was the perfect 
color, but it was a really narrow frame and I'm framing the 
artwork, two mats, and a backing board. No ... I needed a 
deeper frame, and there wasn't an available option at 
Michael's. So I had to make something work ... and I did, 
in my own way. 

Now ... I've been living a WildFit life for ... well, I started WildFit during the COVID shutdown, so my best estimate is I've been on program for five years or so now. I don't do caffeine, I don't do most sugars, I don't do "Natural Flavors" because there's nothing 'natural' in 'natural flavors' but this had been an emergency. So I settled down in their air conditioned comfort to sip my (actually quite delicious) drink and wait until 10:00 o'clock. The Dragon Drink was remarkably refreshing, and I decided to ignore the ingredients and just enjoy the experience. I'd get it again, if it didn't have a lot of sugars and 'natural flavors'. In fact, I'm recommending it to all of you who aren't as strict with your diets. I found it not overly sweet, the freeze-dried Dragonfruit pieces were delightful, and I give it high marks - for what it is - a bunch of sugar and chemicals. LOL

I've been living a WildFit lifestyle for years now. Almost 
everything in that Dragon Drink was something I would 
never ingest. Still, it didn't harm me and I just won't repeat 
the experience (even though the actual drink was very 
tasty). 

I purchased two white frames from Dick Blick. They didn't have the navy color I really wanted, so I also purchased some acrylic paint and went home and got to work. I sanded down the white to give it some "tooth", then washed them down, dried them, and started painting. It took three coats, and I'm still doing bits of touch-up, but the blue color is awesome and it really works with the pieces. I would still have preferred a commercially done navy blue frame with the depth I needed, but at $10/each, these were affordable. 

Today I'll take everything apart at the shop, clean the glass carefully, fasten the inner mat to the outer mat with my double-sided tape (I'll have to look for that dispenser), put everything back in, seal the back with brown paper and I'll be set. I already hinge-mounted the artwork to the inner mat (hinge mounting is a reversible process that allows the back of the artwork to be viewed if needed. That's where she signed and dated the pieces, so I wanted that accessible to the new owner). 

So, lots to do on my plate today. I'm wrapping this up and heading out to get as much done as possible before DH comes in and takes up my space and time. Have an excellent weekend, I'll be back on Monday. Slava Ukraini.