I now have my FIRST EVER STUDIO....

can you squeeze over under that window and claim the space?

That's a great studio!

Erni; I was someones armchair ones. I was seven years old going by boat from Sweden to England (The Winston Churchill) and while sitting in a comfortable armchair in a semi dark room and weighing not more than 25 kilos I was nearly invisible. This in combination with my shyness made a big woman with tired feet to sit down.. -excuse me! I said. 

Erni: Aiee-Ah! Ha, ha!

Alicia:  to the left of the window is the door to a great big -- but not particularly niced -- terrace that is part of the studio

PJ: I think at this stage I should make it very clear that I don't do flamenco dancing -- although I might take up your suggestion to put it in some Mail Art. If I dance, which I don't, it would be rock'n'roll -- or nothing.

Eraser/Nik: the two women I share this studio with are pretty small, so if they ever sit on you when you come visit you won't be to squashed. Now when did you say you're coming?

I realised, about a nano-second after I posted this that I omitted to say: COME BACK KATERINA!

Come Back Katerina!

Any time....

Ole! And shall I wear my flamingo dress?

Trouble is thinking about it!  :-)

Bianco, too :-)

Congratulations Val - Enjoy your studio!

What a great-looking space, Val! Congratulations. However, that we won't be seeing photos of you in different kinds of suits or suitlessness is regrettable.

Wait a minute you guys and gals!

My new look is particularly fetching, don'tcha think?

I'm still working out what accesories I should wear with that blue Flamenco dress. Any tips? (NB there was a 'p' in that last word)

More fashionable weidrness follows -- promise!

You're always quite fetching, Val. As a person who wears no jewelry, scarves, belts, etc. (too claustrophobic),I do have an accessory tip for you. A friend introduced me to nail polish last year--no end of colors! An accessory that stays on for days! Highly recommended. And don't forget your toenails.

Thanks Nancy! Can you recommend a colour, or two? And should I paint my toe-nails the same colour as my finger nails?

Nancy: a pale blue colour for my nail polish?

You look younger + prettier than I realized, Val. Quite a switch from your profile. Pale blue would work, though I'm partial to turquoise. Consider magenta. Yes, I recommend doing your finger and toe nails the same color. That way you won't get confused.

Thank you. Magenta it is. I will shop for some at the weekend.

It's the same 'me' in the photos.....

...or one of my Masks -- see the 'Guess which of these...?' couple of photos in My Photos.

Before I had a makeover, I used to look like this:

.

You will model the magenta in photos, yes? (Please.) In 2 years I've seen several of your makeovers, Val, and they never fail ...

On magenta nail polish....

My father once had serious back problems -- he was put in a plaster cast from neck to knees and completely immobilised for 3 months. He drove my mother and us kids mad. He'd always been very restless ('I wonder where you got that trait from, Val?') but had to slow down..and almost stop, althoughe could move his arms. At some stage, and in a state of extreme desperation, my mother bought him a 'Painting by Numbers' kit. That kept Dad busy for a week or so. Then he decided that it was more interesting to 'Paint by Alternative Numbers' -- he, systematically, put the reds where the greens should be, the blacks where the yellows should be, etc; The results were very interesting indeed -- much more so than if he had kept to the intended colour schema.

'Now why are you telling us this, Val?'

I am telling you this because I may get some magenta nail polish, BUT I may very well apply it to other bits of my body than my finger and toe-nails.

'And will you model this in photos for us, Val?'

Subject to the confines of good taste, the family-friendly nature of IUOMA, and exactly where I apply the nail varnish to my Beautiful Body, then ...YES, of course, I will.

For Nancy, DVS and the rest of the Gang...here are 3 photos:

i) my painted nails (I couldn't get the magenta colour right)

ii) my painted face (I still couldn't get the magenta colour right)

iii) my completely naked pâined body (with the magenta colour perfect).

Here goes....

'Where is ther 3rd picture, Val?'

I'm sorry to have to tell you that Mr Ning advised me against posting it.

BUT I'm sure that DVS can come up with some Yves-Klein type body paintings (that Mr Ning might OK).

Bon weekend, Folks!

Magenta Val

Excellent Val. Ning must have deleted the #3 (naked). 

I love it, Val--what a sport! It is more maroon than magenta, but we're overlooking that because of your courageous cooperation. Maybe not go out in public like the second photo--looks contagious. You missed your toenails by a mile. Thanks Val.