Tied Up In Ribbons

Making My Own Sunshine

2010-03-07T17:44:00.002-05:00

OH, the sun was out for a couple of short days, but it was sooooo nice. Today it is back to rainy and grey.

Staying inside for the most part today. Trying to be warm and dry. Trying to enjoy each day without wishing it away, but really wishing for sunshine and warmth. These layouts bring to mind summer and warmth for me. The one at the top is of the grandkids little cute feet. I used some Jenni Bowlin Homespun papers and Cosmo Cricket papers from their Garden Variety line. I left it sort of simple. It looks a lot more yellow in real life. The only color that pops is the blue on the tag and flower.

This layout is of my cousin's son a gazillion years ago (at least it seems like it). This is just such a great picture...hard to know what was going on in his mind, but his face is full of expression.

I used Jenni Bowlin again on this one. Cherry On Top is the name of the cherry paper. The large homegrown portion is the center of another of her papers called Chicken Feed. Both of those are from the Homespun line. I had fun mixing the flowers, milk bottle cap, stickers and other goodies together at the corner.

They make me feel warmer and I hope they make you warmer too.

Missing You

2010-03-03T22:46:00.003-05:00

Yes, Mr. Sun, I am missing you SO much. We have spent so many days together and the memories of such days keeps me going through the grey, cold and rainy days lately. Yes, the memories of your warmth make me happy, but they are not quite enough. I want YOU. Sun. The warmth of you, Sun. I know others are missing you too, and I think you should consider making an appearance soon!

In the meantime, I will put figurines out and make crafts that bring sunshine to mind

These lovely bathing beauties are for sale in my booth...Can't wait to be at the beach myself. (I'll settle for sprinkling sand at my feet on the sidewalk as long as it is warm and sunny).

This is a great little project made with frames by Darcy. Ah, thoughts of summer, water and waves...(a kiddy pool will work if you are with me SUN)

See you soon!? Please?

Me and My Shadow

2010-03-01T20:32:00.004-05:00

Well.... shadow box anyway. This was a fun little project to put together. I took a canvas 8x8 inch square and turned it around so that it looks like a frame. I inked the edges and added paper to it.

Inside the framed area, I used some of the new Webster's pages paper, added a new Prima Say It In Pearls (brown/olive). I used a pop up for the small picture of my granddaughter (my shadow at times) and put an acrylic book page over the top. Tie it up with a couple beautiful ribbons, put a stunning rose on a tag hanging from the knot and its Done!

The photo I took makes the pic look crooked in the frame--hope you enjoy it anyway :)

Ok, So I'm Not Julie Andrews

2010-02-25T02:10:00.003-05:00

...but I do love the song Edelweiss. And I WILL sing it for you if you want--well, maybe even if you don't want :)

I know they are talking about a flower too, but I always think about it with kids too--"may you bloom and grow forever" and all. Wishfully, I like the "you look happy to see me" portion too, but I digress.

In doing this layout of my granddaughter, I liked the word bloom. Originally, I was going to use this mini Maya Road album as just that-an album. As I started playing with it though, it made such a cute little banner. And the more that I played, the banner looked cute on the 12 x 12 inch paper and so on, until well, it is a layout with a banner.

I did have a lot of fun making the banner "bloomish" too. I used several flowers and also some flower soft on wire to make the flowers more dimensional. The fun font on these Cosmo Cricket letters seemed to fit the mood.

The pictures are from about two year ago, but the wish I had then is the same now-for her to continue to grow and bloom in her life.

Re Entry

2010-02-19T19:32:00.008-05:00

You've seen it. They replace an actor on a show and bring them in as if nothing has changed. They pretend that the person has been away, or had surgery or perhaps even took on the body of another person. Like we won't notice?

Well, I've been away, still me, no change in the actor playing me and yet not sure how to re-enter the scene. I know there are two or three of you who come check my blog from time to time if for no other reason than to find someone else from the links. I'm glad, cause it will be kind of lonely out here if no one comes to visit me again.

So, guess I'll start in where things are now, skipping the past 9 months or so that I have been gone.

Recently, I made a few layouts of my grandkids, so I'll start with those. My daughter-in-law takes a lot of pictures of them and I love to put them onto paper. A good arrangement. These are from pictures taken in January. I thought the new Prima lines were perfect for them. I only wish my pictures of the layouts were as good as the pictures ON the layouts.

The papers are from their newest release. The top one is from the Pastiche line and the striped paper with the circle is from their Strawberry Kisses line. Both wonderful without even adding one embellishment. I left the first one kind of simple with just the photo. It may be hard to see, but there is a tad of old music paper sticking out around the photo and then just a couple short snips of ribbon and a beautiful flower decorating the top right corner.

The second one has so many flowers on the paper itself that although adding more seems redundant, it really provides additional layering. I used flowers from several of the new groups that they released as well as pebbles and stickers from their paper lines. I took the photos from a couple angles to try to show the layers.

Hope you Enjoy!

Revving the Engine

2010-02-13T19:29:00.000-05:00

I am going to start posting again. I just have to get some pics taken and I'm ready to go....See you soon.

Status Update

2009-05-12T22:22:00.004-05:00

Until there are more hours put into a day or more days into the week, I probably won't be updating this blog -- or at least not regularly. I have been able to occasionally read a blog, but chances are I didn't have the time to leave a comment. I hate that!

I have too many things going on, with the new job and other duties, so don't waste your clicks popping over here to see NoThInG.

Maybe I'll make it back someday. Thanks!

Fun and Games

2009-04-21T05:10:00.005-05:00

Last weekend the scrapbook store celebrated its 4th birthday.
These are a couple pictures of stuff we gave out to the croppers.
I had a lot of fun gathering items for the circus themed party.

Isla made those cute 'ice cream cones'. They are actually cones dipped in white chocolate and a rolled ball of cotton candy. Yummy as well as cute!

I loved these popcorn boxes. Once I saw them, we just had to do circus as a theme, so we could use them *wink*

Enjoy!

Do You Need A Babysitter?

2009-04-15T21:08:00.004-05:00

I have heard it is easier to take care of one child if you have another there, so they can play together. Well, I had an opportunity to try that out recently. During the honeymoon, my daughter and SIL left their puppy with me. My granddaughter was very excited to help take care of the dog

The blue blanket is her special blanket and she shared it with the dog. I hear she does the same thing with the cats at her house. Little dog is laying on the couch--yes, she gets to do that at Gma's house.

This one is the best though. All afternoon, she had been checking out this kennel, and finally, I guess she decided to see how it all worked, so here are my two 'grand-kids' staying out of trouble (wink)

I promise, they get to sleep on my bed .... not the kennel.

If It Walks Like A Duck...

2009-04-06T20:33:00.008-05:00

and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck...or so the saying goes. Well, although it looks like spring and sounds like spring, it isn't really spring until i can get my flowers planted!

Yesterday it was 80 and although windy, was a wonderful day. Although I normally do not plant flowers until after April 15, I have them early this year. I love looking at them. The flower bed was a team effort. DIL wanted to plant some flowers, so she and I went and bought some. The bushes then had to be trimmed back. SIL came over with DD and dug some holes. Even the little one 'helped'.

Well, Tonight it will get down below 30, so I tucked my plants under blankets and tupperware to try to keep them warm. I hope they do okay

Hope it is warm where you are!

But I Saw A Robin!!!

2009-03-29T21:45:00.004-05:00

That should mean NO more cold weather!

Apparently it didn't. Friday and Saturday were cold. Back down into the 30's. I know it gets cold and even freezes up until mid April, but I guess I hold out hope each year that once Spring officially starts (date and seeing a robin) then it will stay warmer.

Cindy and I managed to get our booth pretty full earlier this month. It is getting depleted now, which is a good thing, but yet tough because it takes us so long to fill it back up. Many of the things in there are hand made-painted, paper art, etc. We try to get it full with a few market items, but broke down and bought more than the amount we usually buy.

I thought that it looks or looked really pretty. All the browns, creams with some of this great blue/green color. Apparently we hit on good colors, since things have been selling. Now to try to get some more.

Enjoy your week!

A Wonderful Weekend

2009-03-23T21:34:00.005-05:00

What a week and what a weekend. So many family members, such a short time to see them, but it was great to see them-even for a few moments. The bride and groom were very pleased with their wedding and are enjoying a couple of weeks away at a tropical paradise.

The photographs are just starting to roll in from those in attendance. I chose two photos that show a little of the changes made to the areas I showed earlier in the week. It was a team effort. The groom's mother and aunts did the gazebo. The bride's dad and step mom did the hanging decorations. I put out the stuff for the table centerpieces that the bride had decided on.

I have a few really awesome ones taken by my DIL I may share later. The photographer Marie Q has a quick little slide show out on her blog of the bride and groom and a few of the event. Take a look there for some great shots!

This Week

2009-03-15T18:17:00.004-05:00

The goal and main focus of this week is to take this woody area and transform it into a stage for the wedding. The bride will be in her white dress next to her groom instead of her jeans and grey sweater as in the picture. We have most things ready to go, it is just doing it now. Amazing how those nightmares of showing up on the wrong day, with the wrong items, or at the wrong place come back for any important event.

This area will be made into a softly lit reception area for friends to catch up, the bride and groom to cut their cake and have many pictures taken. As you can see, it needs some work to get it to that atmosphere.

Lots of family is coming in for the day and many friends will be in attendance. It will be a special day no matter what, but I really wish I had a fairy godmother!

Peek-A-Boo

2009-03-13T03:33:00.008-05:00

Maya Road put out this really cute book with open frames of different sizes and types on each page. If you cover the last page they focus in on one small point on the back page, or it could be left open and you would see right through the book at that little spot. I chose to cover the back page and all the of the squares narrowed down to the word 'me'.

Now somehow I did not take a picture to show this overlapping look from the front, so I hope you can imagine how it looks. I like doing books with openings on the front because the things you put on there look like they are flying...not just laying on the cover.

The book has little pieces that fit each opening though, so that you could just have some of the pages open and some would be covered. I covered 3 of the openings in the page above--giving it a little bit of a checkerboard feel. It is a little hard to tell with the big bug on it though.

I used the Cosmo Cricket 'Girl Friday' paper line and chipboard embellishments. I thought it could make a fun notebook among other things. Of course putting the pages in the book would cover up the holes. Oh well.

That is the fun of putting things together for the store. Sometimes it works out perfectly, sometimes it doesn't, but it still shows the book and the lovely paper line.

Plus, the next person will make it even better-improving the original. I really just had fun with all their cute sayings and pictures :)

There are promises of increasing sunshine and warmer temperatures--I am soooo glad.

Just For You....

2009-03-11T22:24:00.005-05:00

...and you know who you are. :)

I have tried to take a picture of this layout before and put it out on the blog here, but had not had any success. Last night a nice lady I know was looking at this in the store and said "look, you put buttons on the butterfly. That should be on your blog" So..here it is.

This is a new line of wedding paper that I also used on a little book (shown here). Since I can't put any of the new bride out here, I put a pic of the last wedding on it. (if you want to see a pic of the bride to be go here).

I had used the Cuttlebug, Maya Mist and some UTEE embossing on the swirls, I wanted something different on the butterfly. I had gathered these small vintage buttons into a bag along with some other items I thought might look good on a wedding layout and put them onto the chipboard butterfly. I then covered the whole thing with glossy accents and let it dry.

When I picked the little buttons up, I thought maybe I would make a line of them somewhere on a layout. They reminded me of a long line of buttons down the back of a wedding dress. But they just seemed to look better this way. The other sort of unusual or somewhat unique embellishment is on the right side of the photograph. I used these really cool metal joint connectors that I found in a hardware store. They are a nice metal and wavy and I thought added a little masculinity to an otherwise very feminine layout.

It is rainy and cold here tonight, but we have promise of warmer days soon AND we really do need the rain. I just prefer it warmer.

Huh?

2009-03-08T13:51:00.002-05:00

Taken in a local store. The corner of a box selling these little animals.

My To Do List

2009-03-03T00:26:00.003-05:00

The days between today and the wedding is getting shorter and shorter. My list, however, has not reduced as quickly. I am now trying to narrow down what I HAVE to do before the wedding and what I WANTed to do before the wedding.

Something that isn't getting done is any crafting. This book is from earlier in the year. It was an experiment and although it didn't turn out like my original idea, it might be good for party recipes or cute cupcakes.

Enjoy!

Punked by James!

2009-02-28T13:58:00.006-05:00

As a kid, I remember getting together with cousins a lot. I have one cousin named James or Jimmy (as we called him then), who was always the life of the party. The rest of us would giggle uncontrollably at his antics. Lunch was always great because the kids had their own table in the kitchen while the adults ate in the other room. Even simple stuff like putting olives on fingers became hysterical when he did it! I can still hear his dad calling his name in a slightly gruff manner in attempt to get him to stop entertaining us. As soon as we would giggle, his dad would call out "JaAAMES".

He is still quite a jokester. Now the pranks are a tad more sophisticated. I thought I would share one he recently pulled on a friend of his. This is the message that his friend received upon returning to his office. (click picture to enlarge)

It took him a minute to figure it out, when the number he called turned out to be the zoo! How can you not like the guy?

Spring! Coming Soon to Weather Near You...

2009-02-26T11:48:00.008-05:00

It is still 3 weeks until the official first day of spring, but the weather here the past couple of days would make you think it was already here.

About a week ago, a lot of new items came in at the Dove's Nest. It is so fun to help decorate over there! Where else can you play with so many fun things?

I thought I would share a few peeks from the store here. I will have some more next week too.

So many sweet things! Don't you love the blue bed with all the white bedding? How about that adorable yellow runner over the small table? The pattern is very cute and the colors so perfect in it. I was lusting after it when it came in! The pink, yellow and green striped tablecloth are the flip side of that pattern. So pretttty.

Some chicks, bunnies and other Eastery items mixed on this pink and green table scape. Very Spring-esque isn't it?

Enjoy!

Sing Your Heart Out!

2009-02-24T00:05:00.006-05:00

I come from a family of singers. I don't mean famous singers, I really just mean people who sing vs people who don't sing (see here).

As they grew up the sisters and brothers would all sing together. My mom's family sang around the piano every Friday night. Sometimes they will sing now, but usually only on a birthday or to a baby. They have been teased about their singing since I have known them anyway, but probably for quite a while before that. I love the fact that they sang together and enjoy them singing now--even though they do not think so. I saw this sign at a church in the area and thought they would love it.

My dad's family still sing when they get together. Some of them had musical training and some didn't. Amazingly, they all seem to just slip into 5 part harmony when they sing. MANY years of singing together I guess. I do have some professional singers in my family too, but the singing I remember most is the impromptu songs that come out of my aunts and uncles. Both of my grandmas hummed and sang unconsciously while they worked around the house. I find that I too do this-much to the consternation of some (sis)

I heard this song for the first time this week and love how it sounds and the message it brings. I enjoy music and I know where this love came from. I will always remember the songs of my family from the simple lullaby to the performances on stage.

Enjoy!

New Stuff to Play With

2009-02-11T23:15:00.004-05:00

Carolyn returned from California with samples of almost every line of paper she ordered. So the design team (including me) divvied up some of it and started making display items for the store. It will be great to have examples all ready when the papers actually come in.

One of the papers I played with is a new Cosmo Cricket line. It is designed so it can be used as a wedding paper, but they left a lot of room for it to be used as other things too. It is really pretty paper (as you can see) and I can't wait until it comes in. I may have to buy a couple pieces of it. :)

I made this as a memory book. Maya Road has new books that have envelopes as well as pages in them. Perfect for something like this. I also used some Ten Seconds Studio Pearl metal with a new mold of theirs to make the roses on the cover. I loved the soft colors of this. I managed to get a few pictures in here, which is more than I usually get done on an example, and will add some more when I can. I still have a couple layouts to do first.

Enjoy!

Around The House

2009-02-08T23:56:00.004-05:00

I feel like I have done nothing this weekend around the house. I did have fun seeing my kids for an hour here and there. Thankfully, I think we are all over the flu bug that hit us.

Since I didn't get anything done, I'll show you some things from a while back...
I saw this wreath on Curious Sofa Diaries. She said she had seen it in a Better Homes and Gardens Book. She said she was going to copy it and I thought it was great too and did the same.

It had been done originally for Christmas holidays, but I have kept it up and clipped old Valentine cards to it. I have it in the booth, but don't expect it to sell and have plans for it if it doesn't sell.

Somewhere about three weeks ago, I decided to pick up paint to redo my guest bathroom. I have had this in my head for months, but just hadn't gotten the paint. I picked the paint to match some vintage fabric I had in my stash, but once it was painted, I really didn't like them together as much as I thought I would. I then found this curtain which happily was exactly the right size for the tub opening. I really like the brown with the reds. None of them are a true red, more to the pinkish side of red.

Last, I decided to throw a little centerpiece on a table. I haven't had one for so long (other than my clean laundry) so it feels nice to have it.

Hope your weekend was more productive than mine!

Lucky Me!

2009-02-07T13:34:00.003-05:00

I am late in posting this and thanking Robin for this great award.

Her words with this award were so kind and sweet. She said she was passing 'this award on to the following wonderful people who are first and most importantly ...CARING bloggers who take time to comment on others work. Also they have fabulous blogs with excellent artwork.' Too kind.

What you need to do, is go take a look at her blogs. She has been very busy doing great things at A Robin's Nest. And she has started a new blog to share other's art at Blog Your Art Out. Very cool stuff.
This is great if you are looking for some new and great blogs to read, also check out her blog rolls.

Thank you again Robin.

Cages: Plan A

2009-02-04T13:45:00.006-05:00

During Christmas I found these little cages at Wally's and thought they were such a cute size. I wasn't keen on the glitter bird but loved the cages. They were displayed as tree ornaments and I bought a few. As the season went on, they were not selling, so when they marked the holiday things half price, I grabbed quite a few more.

I had many ideas floating around in my head for these, but needed to do something, not just think about them. I had spray painted several in either pink, blue or light green. One evening, I decided I would use things laying on my table and decorate a few.

Each one turned out different. Some have hearts hanging in the cage, some have birds and a few have nothing hanging, just things on the bottom.

So these are a few of the cages I decorated. The great thing about these is that I can peel the stuff off and re-do them if I want. I still have quite a few that have had not been worked on at all. I actually like them the color they came as well, but wanted some bright colors for the booth.

So far, they are all still in the booth, but I'm not worried. I have plans all the way to "M" now--in case I need them. Enjoy!

Dreaming of a Pink Spring

2009-02-01T02:10:00.004-05:00

Here it is the first day of February. A friend and I were just saying the other day that next week we'll be putting up Christmas decorations again. At least it seems that way sometimes.

The last week of January wanted to remind those of us in this area of Texas that we can have cold and wintery days. We had two days of ice and 20 degree temperatures. I am just thankful that we only have a few days here and there like this and that for the most part, we have mild winter days.

I saw this little layer book decorated for a Christmas book on the Maya Road Design team blog. I loved the way they had put the ribbons on it and so put one in my stack of things to do after Christmas. I went a different direction and made this very girly. I loved these pinks and yellows in the basic grey line and the die cuts from K & Co. Amy Butler fit right in.

I have several girl pictures to fill it with, but at this point have not finished the book with them.I hope to journal as well and will probably add a few more embellishments once the photos are in place.

The colors remind me that Spring is coming too. Someone shared a cold with me in the last week or so and I am spending the weekend trying to recover from it. I would return the favor and give them a gift, if I knew for sure who it was :)

I meant flowers or some sort of get well card--really!

Hope your weekend is more fun. Enjoy!

Cheap, Quick and Easy

2009-01-28T23:24:00.005-05:00

While that describes the type of cooking I do, I am focusing this post on a framed art piece I made.

Using a $3.99 frame from Wallies I took one piece of Flair paper and a clear sticker and framed it. While I cut the paper and put the birds in a specific order, the paper would actually do this without cutting it. I thought it could make a nice gift for someone or nice to hang in my house. Cost was under $5.00, it took very little skill(although it did tax my ability to put a sticker on straight)and took less than 10 minutes to put it together. The clear sticker is slightly visible in real life, just one of the great things about flash photography--things show up that you don't want to see.

Cheap, Quick and Easy-My kind of art--Enjoy!

What A Fine Mess...

2009-01-26T00:01:00.005-05:00

Did you ever watch Laurel and Hardy movies? I have seen a few and was reminded of them lately on PBS watching the series they are doing on the history of comedy. Well Stan Laurel would always say to Mr. Hardy "Another fine mess you have gotten us into Ollie..." which would aptly describe their situation.

Last week Cindy and I went to market to try to see new things and see if there is anything we should/could pick up to blend into our booth. Then Tina, Cindy and I went to a couple of stores trying to think of the same thing. I kept coming home to the same mess of stuff on tables that has been there for a few weeks and so am trying to complete some things and clear some tables before I buy more stuff for the booth.

I'd like to blame Cindy or other friends for the mess, since they get me into crafting, retreats and booths, but the mess is actually mine. I am not a neat crafter much to my own disapproval. I have though managed to finish up a few things and so took a few pics of them in the booth.

One might think that the booth is full, but the photos are deceiving. Must get more done or BUY more (wink). The question becomes-what to buy? Walking through market, there were so many things that we saw that we could make ourselves...if we would do it. Again, a downfall of myself as a crafter/artist.

Fingers crossed hoping for some people needing to buy something for their bird or butterfly loving valentine!

Enjoy!

I Thought I Was Ready...

2009-01-24T02:44:00.007-05:00

...to get back in the routine of blogging by now. I thought I would have pictures to share by now. I thought I would at least have an adventure or two to tell by now. But I didn't. I don't expect you to really care, I am just saying...
I am ready now though.

While I was out playing (hanging with friends) I realized I DID have a picture of a project I had done recently.

The letters stand about 10 inches tall. I covered them with My Mind's Eye Laundry line paper-which matches my mom's house quite well. I decorated them a little and sent them with my mom when she was here visiting. She set them up like this and put the bird, snowman and pretties around them. I think they look really neat with her touches.

Enjoy!

Do You <3 Hearts?

2009-01-11T04:45:00.003-05:00

I heard recently on the news that the symbol for heart (<3) was one of the things that many wished would be deleted from our language. I have never used it before, but I have no ill will toward it or those who use it frequently.

It is that time of year. Stores have hearts hanging everywhere, little boxes of valentines are on the shelves and people like me put them in displays. (hee hee) In retail, things have to be out early you know. Although I have mainly been loitering at my favorite stores, I have been doing other things too.

This is the cover of a book that I will be teaching a class on. We do twelve different pages and use quite a few techniques in this class. I hope it will be fun to do.

I've been making other things, but will have to wait until another day to get those posted. I think I will have to break back into blogging slowly...:)

Where Am I?

2009-01-04T08:43:00.007-05:00

.
Who Am I? Who are you? What day is it? What year is it???
I guess my amnesia defense for lack of blogging won't work, huh? I have been very busy since Christmas including work at the scrapbook store counting for inventory and rearranging things to start the new year.

My Pink Saturday post is late, but then I'm behind on other things too. At least I am just a day late on this.

I met this wonderful lady Judy around five years ago when I had a booth in an antique mall nearby. She does wonderful painted furniture. I have seen her take sad, tired and sometimes ugly used furniture and make it happy and new looking. She has an adorable cottage look to her booth and is probably the most popular booth in the mall.

When I knew there was going to be a grand-daughter in the family, I knew I needed a table and chair set for my guest room. She is now a little over two years old, so I asked Judy to be on the look out for a set to paint. I am so excited to have this set. The doilies are painted on and are textured to give the look of lace on the edges. Each set she does has a little different look, so I trusted the fact that this table would let her know how to paint it. I gave no specific instructions except the color pink. She signed the piece and put Christmas 2008 as well, so we could remember when we got it (later when I have less memory than now) Judy sells her furniture through another great lady named Becky of Romantic Rose Boutique. [Judy's work is included under the section *Cozy Cottage Furniture*]

We have already tried it out and it has been given an A+ by the grand-daughter! Hope you have enjoyed your new year so far and have a great PINK day.

Christmas

2008-12-24T02:12:00.005-05:00

The Virgin Mother kneels upon the floor
And holds her baby in her arm,
Her heart is gladder than her lips can say,
To keep her new born baby snug and warm,
A babe more sweet and fair and dear
Than any rose bud in the bright sunshine,
Whose little eyes look straight into her own,
O, blessed maid, God's son is also thine.
Twas holy midnight, when He came to earth:
As pours a sun ray through a limpid glass,
Not leaving any mark upon its face;
A drop of dew upon the fresh green grass,
A little star that fell upon her lap,
A cooing babe, that seeks her virgin breast.
The hopes of all the sin-cursed world
Upon this baby's eyelids rest.
And ever since the midnight hour is holy,
And millions of human hearts are stirred
To wonderment and love for Him who came,
To save the world, God's own incarnate Word.
He came in darkness, He who was The Light,
His godhead shone from clear baby eyes,
The curse of earth's first sin was lifted then,
That midnight hour reopened paradise.

It's All A Blur!

2008-12-21T23:54:00.007-05:00

When people say their lives flash before their eyes, do you suppose it looks like one big blur? I mean, that is almost how it seems while living it, isn't it? On top of the usual business of life in general and the approaching holidays, there has been quite a bit happening here.

It has all been good though. My mom and dad came for a visit! They got back home just in time for a large snowfall (over 20 inches)in Washington, a broken water pipe and other exciting events. (snow picture from Washington compliments of my brother)

My daughter participated in her official graduation ceremony from college with her degree. As with most things in life, this was a team effort. We, her family played the role of the supremes in this process. She was the front person and we the back up singers in a way. All the typing, phone support, pep sessions and money was worth it. We are all very proud of her.

The granddaughter has been running like crazy and having fun. Her mom & dad found out that the new baby coming is a boy. So, now the process for name choosing. They have plenty of time though. Everything looks good for DIL & for baby boy! That is good news too.

I have not had much crafting time the past few days, but hope to start up again next weekend. I plan to be indoors & not heading to stores or malls during the days after Christmas! Enjoy!

Ho Ho Ho

2008-12-15T19:13:00.002-05:00

Isn't it great how more than one of an item makes more of a statement? Granted this is a principle in home decor that you have probably heard, but I think it is fun to do the same thing with paper arts. This is a REALLY simple holiday picture I put together. Please try to ignore the fingerprints on the glass--I hate that they show up so well in a picture. I mean you try and try to get the object itself to show up and have trouble with that, but fingerprints...they just show up wonderfully!

I digress though. I had three little spring dresses in this frame and was trying to determine what to change it to for Christmas. My friend Brook suggested Santa Suits. I can't do a whole suit, but managed to do a few shirts. Good idea Brook!

Hope you like the way it turned out.

Pink Saturday

2008-12-13T12:49:00.006-05:00

I suppose I am trying to reclaim my childhood, but I like to think of it as just having things I like. As a child, my mom had these great melmac dishes. They were pink and each piece was square. The plates, the saucers, the cups, the bowls and even the serving pieces.

I loved eating off of these. Interestingly, I had two aunts with these same dishes and both of my grandmas had them as well. Apparently, they were a hot seller in about 1957. One of my aunts and my mom received them as wedding gifts. As time went on, these were replaced by newer styles in our homes. I found some a couple of years ago though and bought them for myself.

My aunt Judy tells of a time she was making food for my brother and I and used a bowl other than the little square pink ones. Supposedly, we threw a fit until she switched our food over to these. We were silly kids. I still love the dishes though.

To see more Pink Posts, check out Beverly's for the full list of them. Hope you have a great day.

Great Gobs Of Goodness

2008-12-11T13:08:00.005-05:00

I have been busy, busy, busy. I feel the need to get some more crafting done for Christmas items to sell. I need to clean up, but want to finish a few more items before I put it all away. I enjoy this time of year--despite the cold weather, the wind and the few people who push and shove their way in the stores.

A group of us participated in a jar swap. Each person filled a quart jar and decorated it for another person. Only you and the coordinator knew who you had, so not only was the jar fun to get, but it was a surprise to find out who it came from too.

I apparently did not get a picture of this first jar full and with it's full decor intact. And, then this one is blurry. ARGH. However, you can see the jar here with all kinds of goodies tied to it. In addition, the lid had a fabric circle in it as you might have seen before. This fabric had snowflakes and other brads all over it though. Inside was even more wonderful stuff. Lots of cut outs, ribbon, brads, doo-dads and pens. It was a great jar full of things. Thanks Debbie.

The camera must have been cooperating more on this jar, because I actually got a picture of the jar before I emptied it. Instead of the lid, she stuffed a little Santa in the top. Very cute.

Again, I was gifted with lots of little goodies. Different brads, a pen, doo dads, stickers and buttons. I loved this one too. Thank you Shelley.

There is so much fun in giving jars away, but I also had a great time receiving them. Who wouldn't love to dig their hands through all of this goodness?

Enjoy!

Monday Already?

2008-12-08T23:48:00.006-05:00

In spite of good intentions, I totally missed getting my Pink Saturday post up this weekend. Time flew away somehow. I will share a bit of Pink today though. Aren't these little birds just the cutest? I have been selling them at my booth. Their feathers look like they've been licked and are curled up at the ends. Sort of like a frizzle chicken. If you aren't sure what those are, you need to read this.

Don't know yet how well we did or didn't do at the sale this weekend. Hoping to find out soon. The box with the items in it is smaller, but haven't gone through to see what is and isn't there.

I will share a few pictures from the booth we shared with Shawna. She did the displaying overall. She is very talented in doing that--give her a few tables and a couple props and voila--beauty.

Cindy's frames really blended in great with the different areas that Shawna had set up. She said that traffic seemed lower this year, so we'll see how we did.

Hope your week started out well. Enjoy!

So Here Is What I Got!

2008-12-05T03:24:00.006-05:00

I'm glad that others would have ripped into the envelope/package too. That is exactly what I did. On my list for Santa this year, I had included a new inspiration book called Exhibition 36. And poof, it was here in the mail already. Therefore, the previous post. I felt I was pretty safe and if there were those who thought I should have waited...well, I think seeing this would have changed their minds!

I loved the items on the cover of the book, so I was quite sure that I would love the items inside the book. I was not disappointed. I have already been through the book a number of times, just gawking and dreaming at the pictures.

I have started to read it and made it through a couple of the articles. I wish I could jump into a pile of my stashed 'junk' and make some things. I need to finish the items I have already started though. There are many artists whose names you will recognize in here.

Although the Christmas items and most of the things on my blog are middle of the road in style, I so love the mixed media, lost/found object art.

I hope I am not violating any copyright or ethical codes by putting some pics here. I only want to tempt you, not give it all away. :) I'll put the link
here for Amazon because they have many pictures and the ability for you to look at the real pages. Here is a great page. My camera could not capture them as well.

Enjoy!

PS: Oh my! As I was perusing bloglandia I found that not only does the author Susan Tuttle have a blog, but she is offering this book as a give-away! Check out all the information here.

How amazing is that?!

Exactly What Are The Rules...

2008-12-02T23:49:00.010-05:00

...for opening presents that arrive early in our mailbox? I received a package the other day and it was not marked as a Christmas package, so I opened it. Since it was a brown paper envelope and felt like a catalog, I believe I am relatively safe from incarceration in the Christmas Package Jail on this one, but it got me to thinking about this major issue. :) At least I hope so.

If a package arrives and it is clear it is a Christmas package--do you take it out of the box or outer wrapper EVEN if you do not know whether it has wrap on the actual present?

Do you just place the whole box under the tree, JUST In CaSe it is not concealed any further than the outer box or wrapping?

Are you like my cousin who opens anything and everything if it comes in the mail. She believes that once received, it is to be opened, regardless of any notes or stickers saying otherwise?

I made these little plaques last week while pondering some other emergent issue (I'm sure). I actually managed to cut up some vintage cards for some of these. They are all going up for sale at the store and for the Jr League Show.

I will wait until I know your thoughts before posting what was actually in the brown paper envelope. I need to be sure of the rules first! :)

Having A Banner Day

2008-12-01T11:50:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving was quiet around my house this year. The kids were off to other family for the big dinner and all. I decided to take advantage of the day with crafting. My friend Cindy and I are putting some things in a booth at the Jr League Gift Show/Sale for this weekend and my portion of the booth we share has been a tad on the empty side.

I made this large banner for a store display at the scrapbook store. I used the Ten Seconds Studio Appletini Metal to cover some cardboard letters and then embellished each portion. The Basic Grey Wassail paper made awesome background paper and inspired the overall color theme.

Even with all the techniques embellishing it, the banner went together pretty quickly. I decided to do some to put for sale. I went with a lot simpler look on the ones I did this weekend and managed to only get a picture of this one.

I put them in the booth and sold one the first day. It was a different style than these and of course, no picture. I ended up making four banners and some other goodies on Thursday and Friday, took a break on Saturday & Sunday and now may start on some other projects today.

I am trying to get a lot done this week so I can clean up my Christmas stuff and start on Valentines projects (always a holiday ahead). I am also thinking of putting up Christmas decorations, cleaning my house, doing some laundry and many other things that I don't seem to get done when I'm in my crafting zone. (LOL)

Hope your weekend was enjoyable to you. Don't make yourself too crazy with this holiday franticness, take some time to enjoy the time.

Enjoy Your Holiday!

2008-11-27T01:01:00.003-05:00

I'll be back after the weekend!

Silver Bell

2008-11-26T10:45:00.007-05:00

Jumping to the Christmas decoration again. This ornament book was so fun. The metal that was out was this grey color and once I did it for the ornament top, I knew I wanted to do the whole thing in silver papers. There seem to be a lot of them this year, so it was quite easy to find some. I used American Crafts and Creative Imaginations.

There were some black chipboard stickers by American Crafts that look pewter when a little silver mixative (Ranger) is dabbed onto them. I really like the look of them. You'll see them throughout the book-snowflakes, ornaments and the little dots on this page.

I decided to use silver rub ons as well as black ones. I liked the subtleness of them. They may not show up well on the photos, but do show up more in person.

I had several silvery 'pipe cleaners' which worked well as trim and ribbons in the book. This little girl picture is a sticker from a reproduction vintage set.

You might have noticed the white snowflake trim too. I did sneak a little white into the book, but it is soft and subtle as well. The little soldiers are from a charm set. The book is ready for photos from the holidays to be added!

It's Christmas Time in the City. Enjoy!

Pink Saturday

2008-11-22T10:22:00.006-05:00

I am usually a cheapskate when it comes to decorating my home, so when I saw these frames at Target a few years back for only a couple bucks each, my heart sang. They are those frames made to allow friends or guests or any group to sign their names with wishes for the occasion around the photo in the middle. I thought they might be perfect to use for displaying some old postcards.

I have quite a stack of old postcards and there are several favorites among them, but these particular ones seemed to match my purposes best. I'm a sucker for pretty Catherine Klein roses, which are on one of the postcards. The others are just as pretty even though I don't know the artist.

I have splurged on occasion though too. (well for me anyway) I found this frame on Ebay and loved it. It was not even listed for sale, but was used in a staging for prints that the seller had listed. She gladly listed it though and I put a print of de Longpre roses in it. The prints are pretty inexpensive at least. I love it's shabbiness.

Hop on over to Beverly's blog for more PINK wonderfulness. There are 111 other bloggers talking about pink today as well. I usually visit every one of them. Last week I did not get to visit very many, so I hope to get to all of them this week.

Enjoy your day!

Christmas Layouts

2008-11-19T00:27:00.004-05:00

Thought I'd just share a few of the layouts I have done in the past week or so. The first one is of Christmas in 1987. I used some new papers though. I like the different shades of green together and love the blue and red. Sort of classic Christmas colors and sort of Not.

This next one is from Winter 2006. My daughter snowboarding for the first time. I couldn't decide on the words I might want on there, so I left it without for now. This is a Sassafrass lass paper and embroidery stitching of the snowflakes.

And this was last winter. Snowboarding again. My daughter and her fiance. Since they were in grey and her scarf is this magenta/hot pink color-I went with bright colored papers. These are Prima and a Melissa Frances papers. I also used a tag from the laundry line of MME, I thought it might look like a lift ticket.

Although there was a freeze last Saturday night, I think we are weeks away from real winter here. That makes me happy.

ATC Swap: Photobooth

2008-11-17T14:31:00.003-05:00

Rachel Grieg an artist in Austrailia sponsored an ATC swap. The one requirement was to use one of the people from her photobooth collection. These are chipboard, ready to cut out photos that look like they were done in a photo booth. Very cute images.

I kind of experimented with things on these cards, but I think the outcome was ok. I ended up with each one slightly different. I did love the pictures. They remind me of ones taken by a girl for their guys going off to war maybe, so they would be remembered or to show off to his friends. The surface & coloring holds up well to sanding, distressing and other techniques as well.

Can't wait to see what I get back. She showed some on her blog, which I held off reading until mine were done. Wow. There are some really great ones on there.

I wish these sheets were available in the US or closer, because they are so cute. Oh well. Hope you enjoy!

Peaceful Pink

2008-11-15T00:07:00.003-05:00

If you play in Beverly's weekly posting fun, you know that today is a day that over a hundred bloggers choose to post about the color pink. If you did not pop over here from Beverly's list, please go to her blog and check in on some of the other pink posters.

This is a cute little vase that I picked up at a garage sale. It is a rosewood vase and might be worth a pretty penny, but it has a chip. It is not my favorite, but it works for display purposes. Sitting next to it is a cute little frame painted by my friend Cindy.

This other vase called my name one day while I was shopping in Canton. The booth had many things I loved, but this vase just would not let me go unless I bought it. Ever have that happen to you? Then you know my situation. As you see it won out and now sits with hat boxes and other pretties on top of my wardrobe, not too far from the frame and vase pictured above. It is a favorite of mine.

The Science Digest reported in 1980 that the color of soft pink "causes the hypothalamus to signal the adrenal glands to slow their secretions, thus reducing heart rate and blocking anger". I agree with them and hope they didn't spend too much money researching that. I think we could have told them that. Don't you agree that pink provides a sense of peace and calms us?

White Christmas Dreams?

2008-11-13T03:15:00.006-05:00

The only kind of white Christmas I am looking for is one inside my house. I have friends here in the area who are so anxious for cooler weather. Not me. Granted I am glad to have a break from the 100+ degree weather and even the 90-ish temperatures, but if it could just stay in the 50 to 60 degree range, that would be cold enough for me.

Thought I'd share a few more pictures of the Dove's Nest decor. I am in love with the white and silver colors for the decor. There are so many ways to play with those colors.

Little pine cone ornaments, or white doves. Mercury glass church ornaments. Little birds to clip on branches.

Flocked trees with little white lights. Distressed white wood cabinets. A cute little wood church. Silver pine fronds.

I love looking at the white on white in this sort of setting. I'd rather not have white on the ground outside though.

Looks Like A Winter Day

2008-11-10T21:51:00.005-05:00

It is not that cold outside, but it is grey, cloudy and windy. Yucky! A cold front with thunderstorms is coming through tonight, so we'll see how tomorrow is. I did make a quick run out to the post office and the store, but it just seemed so much better inside today.

Here are a couple of tags I made last week. I scanned them so there are always blurry parts doing that. I am still in the Christmas theme. These are for a swap, but I need to get some into the booth and hopefully sell some. I have so many projects waiting in line to be done, at least these are fairly quick to complete :)

I feel so bad for those of you who live in cold parts of the country. I hate it when it starts getting cold here. The wind here is enough to wear me out :)

I have several more things to share this week, but will just leave it at these tags for today.

Hope your week is a good one!

Pink Saturday

2008-11-08T01:57:00.004-05:00

"Blankets wrap you in warmth, quilts wrap you in love."

"Those who sleep under a quilt, sleep under a blanket of love."

Quilting is something that my grandmother enjoyed doing very much. Like many of us, she had scads of fabric waiting to be used. She thinned it down some when she had to downsize, but she still had quite a lot up until she died. This week marks the anniversary of her birth. She was born November 12, 1911. I always wondered why they just didn't fudge the time of her birth (which wasn't that far after midnight) so her birth date could be 11-11-11. They were very accurate though, so the twelfth was her day.

The first quilt I knew that she had made was one she gave to me in 1969. She had made quilts before this, but I guess I hadn't seen a finished one and put two and two together. Usually, she worked on them at the church with a women's group. I had seen her work on those. Apparently I even walked in on her making it, but of course never knew. She was always sewing something, so it was not unusual to see fabric, needle and thread in her hands.

1969 me wrapped in my quilt

I loved it. Pink and Purple were the colors of the day. I thought the colors of the flower fabric were great with that and loved the little sunbonnet girls. Each girl is appliquéd by hand onto the quilt with embroidered arms and a stitch all along the edge. Although it is as even as a machine stitched quilt, the quilt was hand pieced and hand quilted.

Taken recently of the quilt received in 1969

A close up of the sunbonnet sues on quilt

In 1995, she had been working on a quilt for each grandchild. She started with the eldest and was working her way down. She got to me and asked me what I wanted. She gave me several patterns and colors to look at in an attempt to decide. I let her know that she had already done a quilt for me, but she insisted. This is the beautiful quilt she made for me then.

Her hand stitching was not as even as it had once been. Her eyesight was very poor as well. Besides being 85 years old, she had detached retinas and other eye problems. A cousin of mine who is a wonderful quilter herself helped Grandma by machine stitching the little pieces together. It didn't change the meaning of the quilt to me. Actually, it is still better than some I have seen--I admit it, I am a tad biased.

grandma and me 1996.

She said that she prayed about us as she made our quilts. I know she prayed other times for us too, but that it was extra prayers during our quilt preparations.

Grandma quilting mid 1990's.

I wish I had the patience to quilt, but I just don't have it. I am blessed though to have two quilts made just for me with prayer by my Grandma.

To see more Pink Things, go to Beverly's blog How Sweet The Sound for a list of other bloggers posting for Pink Saturday.

"Blessed are the children of piecemakers, for we shall inherit quilts"

Brought To You By The Letter C

2008-11-06T19:21:00.006-05:00

Now jumping ahead to some Christmas Craft projects. I thought I would share a couple of projects I did for store display pieces. Each year the design team is asked to make some items that are essentially easy and/or quick that people can copy for home decor or for gifts at the holidays. These are a couple I did for this purpose.

A long skinny picture isn't it. That is because it is a long skinny hanging. Each little rectangle on this piece is about 2 x 3 inches. It was made to all fold up into a little suitcase to store or gift. These little suitcases are very popular. Annette made one earlier in the year remembering CHA attendance and since then the store has been bombarded by requests for them. Carolyn was able to find them and ordered a lot of them. She thought we should have a holiday one decorated. The little suitcase that it fits in is the next picture.

This is a project I thought up myself and enjoyed making. I kind of made it up as I went and so there are some things I would adjust if I made it again. This uses an acrylic book by Maya Road. Paper is glued onto the back of the acrylic pages. The front is decorated with paints, rhinestones, felt words, Maya Road Snowflakes and Maya Road Letters spelling MERRY. The papers show through the acrylic giving it some dimension and some of the items on the front are popped out with foam dots for the same reason. This one measures about 18 inches across and 5 to 7 inches in height.

Last, I have a new furry granddaughter. Her name is Gambit and she was rescued from a shelter by my daughter and her fiance. She is over a year old, maybe almost two years old. The vet couldn't narrow it down any more than that. She is in good health, past the chewing stage and so far, she has been very sweet since they got her. I have my concerns though that she is just winning them over before showing her real personality. *wink*

More About Me?

2008-11-04T21:41:00.013-05:00

It must be because she is a newer blogging friend. Perhaps she hadn't seen my other lists (here or here or here or here). Granted the random facts and weirdness is never ending list, but how much should I subject the blogging community to. Maybe she really just wants to see how odd I am before she visits my blog again. Hmm, who's to know. Well, whatever the reason, Stephanie of LuLu's Cottage tagged me to reveal 7 (seven) random &/or weird facts about myself. [Continue at your own risk]

[street in Dallas - Thanks Heidi for the pic]

1) I save quotations. I love to read them and have drawers full and long documents of just quotations. I do not like platitudes, but have several great quotations. Many of them are sarcastic or snarky as my friends would say. One I frequently use is from Groucho Marx "She had had a wonderful evening - but this wasn't it". Another favorite is "While most people have issues, she has subscriptions"

2) When I was 5 months pregnant with my son, I went on a motorcycle trip from the Amarillo to the northern parts of Colorado. If I'd been much more pregnant, I'm not sure I would have fit on the back of the bike. I don't think I would take the trip under the same circumstances again. I don't know how Mary did it traveling at 9 months pregnant on a donkey.

3) I have a secret crush on Bill Nye the Science Guy. Ok, not so secret now. I seem to like guys who are kind of nerdy and really smart. I understand though through the media that he is not very good at long term relationships.

4) I am in a brown phase. Picasso had his blue period. I'm having a brown one. I am dying to repaint the majority of the walls in my house a dark beige.

5) I am psychotically afraid of mice. I even grant them non-mouse powers. In moments of mice terror I lock doors and have fears that they fly. (I have seen them fly BTW--FINE, it was maybe more of a leaping from high places.) Now you are really scared to hear more aren't you.

6) I am a paper hoarder. I have quite a bit of different types of paper, but it is not so much that I collect it as that I can't seem to bring myself to use it. I have scrapbook paper, vintage and newer ephemera, wall paper and gift wrap in quantities that are not consistent with normal usage.

7) I am not a morning person. I may have mentioned this before, but it is a strong personality trait for me. To use a great quote I have collected "Not a morning person does not EVEN begin to describe me". Can't think before noon, eyes have a hard time focusing before 10. Sadly, I have to be at work with my eyes blurry and half asleep. I don't know who made the decision that all states must operate on EST, but I'd like to revisit this decision.

(see my pleasant morning personality?)

It is time for me to tag other unsuspecting, er,um, favorite bloggers.....Hmm, how about

Robin of A Robin's Nest
Alison of Creative Art and Craft
Heidi of Scrappy Girl's Spot and
Jennifer of Scrap Crazy Women

I'd love to learn more about them! Seriously, I would.

Holiday Shuffle

2008-11-03T08:50:00.004-05:00

I saw this little cartoon a couple of weeks ago and thought it was appropriate. Mainly because they are all running together here on my blog. I hop from Christmas to Halloween to Thanksgiving and back again. I think you relate though. Seems to be how it goes when you make things.

With that in mind, I am going to hop back to Halloween for a post. Friday, the downtown of Waxahachie was full of trick or treaters. Each year the downtown merchants sit out in front of their stores and provide candy to hundreds who come downtown.

There are at least 6 blocks of merchants doing this. Many are in costume themselves. I didn't get many pictures of the other trick or treaters, but I did get a picture with two of the cutest trick or treaters there on Friday.

I don't know who the cute little ladybug is, but had to get her picture. I have one of just her and then this one of her with Miss Safari who is my little buddy. She gave her mom some trouble getting her hair fixed. She has her own ideas of how things should be now. She liked her costume though and told me it was pretty. We only walked around one block and that was a long way for those short little legs. She was quite interested in checking out her candy at the end of it.

Enjoy,

Pink Saturday

2008-10-31T23:46:00.008-05:00

Welcome to all of you coming here from Beverly's blog. Beverly has a lovely blog full of inspiration and encouragement. It is wonderful to read it any day. For Saturdays she hosts a gathering of bloggers who show pink items. If you didn't come by way of her blog-head over there and see all the people showing pink today.

This week, I thought I'd show one of biggest weaknesses and one of my favorite decorating items. PLATES. I love old plates. The more crazing the better. Little pink flowers or roses means I want it. I know that several in my family do not get it, but I know that many of you will get it. Isn't that the fun of bloglandia? Finding kindred spirits who understand why you even hang china plates in your bathroom?

Actually, the first picture is in my kitchen, the second grouping is in my studio. A favorite plate is one of the pink ones in the kitchen. It has the calendar from the year of my birth on it. Amazing it is still in one piece isn't it? (hee hee)The one below is in the bathroom er, I mean boudoir. That sounds much nicer. I have a huge window that has those sweet Rachel Ashwell curtains and I just loved these plates with it. I also LOVE the framed motto.

Another grouping. This is above the big window in the same room.

And just one more plate for this week. This hangs on a wall near my mirror above my vanity. I love this style of platter.

Hope you have a great November. Starting with today!

PS: One for the out of towners. Grandbaby's first time Trick or Treating.

I Have One and I'm Not Afraid To Use It

2008-10-30T17:44:00.006-05:00

I have an opinion. I have one on many things, OK, most things. I frequently do not make it known, even though there may be some who would say otherwise. This week, I used my opinion on a ballot. Yes, I voted. I think it is easier to do early voting than doing it on election day. So my name is crossed off the list and my opinion will be counted.

I hear people talking about what they will happen if candidate McCain wins. I hear them talking about what they think will happen if candidate Obama wins. Many are fearful. Many are angry. I'm not sure we can predict the consequences entirely as to what will happen with either candidate. We can however attempt to influence the future with our vote. I hope you are able to voice yours in the next few days too.

Brown and Pink with a Touch of Red

2008-10-28T22:20:00.011-05:00

This was the set of colors presented by Cindy (my selling buddy) to have for our booth this holiday season. She told me she had seen a postcard with these colors in it and was inspired to go with those colors. Last year, she was inspired to do black and silver, which was gorgeous, so I don't question these things. I just try to comply.(by comply, I mean find stuff in those colors) Here is the inspiration postcard.

I headed out one day to see what sort of Christmas or general winter items I could see at stores that fell into these colors. I thought it would help get it in my head as I started to buy or create things for the booth. Amazingly, at the perfect time, I ran into Cindy at a store in a nearby town. I was relieved. I had not asked if the pink was soft, pale, bright, hot or just what to think about. You may think this is an odd coincidence, but strangely we run into each other in stores quite often. Usually, when I have oily hair, paint on my clothes and mismatched clothes, I will look up and there she will be staring at me. (thankfully, she has not shown up with a camera)

As it turned out, she was thinking pale, soft pink. I searched around, picked up a couple items and then headed home. She emailed me the inspiration postcard later that night. Whew, I had gone with the right colors!

We have been fortunate enough to sell several items, so I think her color scheme this year is a hit. Now it is just making enough stuff to fill the booth. This is a little craft I have been playing with. Making the nest out of crepe paper, fabric pieces, book pages, old paper, etc and then either making them ornaments or putting them onto boxes. We'll see how they sell.

Enjoy!

Fall In Texas and Beyond

2008-10-27T19:36:00.009-05:00

Last week while visiting hundreds of blogs for the ArtsyMama Party and Pink Saturday, I saw so many wonderful fall pictures. In this part of Texas, it is not quite as picturesque. I have a few pictures of fall at my mom's, which is NOT in Texas, that I thought I would share.

She has this great big Maple tree right beside her house. It is beautiful anytime of year, but in the fall it turns the most stunning red. It is fabulous to see it change too. Gradually, the top of the tree turns red and then the color moves down the tree until the whole tree is flaming. It can be seen quite a distance away.

One year, she and one of my nephews dipped a bunch of leaves from it in wax. She sent me a boxful, which was fun. I could have fall here in Texas and I used them in several projects. The next year, he was sure to point out to her that he wanted to do their tradition again. Apparently one year can make a tradition. Now he is older and probably would be embarrassed with the story, but it was sweet then.

Since I am involved in retail somewhat, fall is nearly done in that world and it is Christmas. I have been trying to stay in the season and not move to Christmas posts too fast. This is a display of bedding at the Dove's Nest that I am currently in love with.

I love the mixture of colors and textures. For my own room, I would just have the off white colors, but these pillow covers are just so magnificent.

Enjoy!

Arriving Summer 2009

2008-10-26T01:16:00.005-05:00

I'm happy to find out that my son and his wife will be having another baby next summer. My granddaughter will be almost three when her little baby brother or sister arrives. I am amazed by how clear sonograms are these days. Apparently this little peanut is at about 9 weeks of gestation.

Pink Saturday

2008-10-24T23:25:00.003-05:00

For this week's Pink Saturday I am sharing a mosaic of some favorite things seen in downtown Waxahachie. Items seen at gift store & scrapbook store. Well used or ready to be used. All perfect for a little princess. As an FYI, the baby picture in the bottom left corner is very old. It is made with fabrics & laces with just the photo of the babies head placed there. Early Mixed media I guess. It is quite unique.

Thanks for coming by here today. If you didn't come from Beverly's blog, head over there to see all the others with Pink items posted to share.

Autumnal Home: plan B

2008-10-22T22:35:00.009-05:00

When ArtsyMama proposed a party where anyone who wanted could share some autumn views of their homes I was excited. I thought it might give me more motivation to put out some fall decor. It did accomplish this, however, I can't show it to you, despite my excitement. My original intent was to show things currently here at my home of this theme. This plan was foiled by my ability to loose a big camera. Despite my searches for the camera, it could not be found. Therefore, plan B.

This is a floral arrangement I thought was so great for fall. The best part to me were the real tomatoes included. Fresh vegetables are a major sign of fall for me. I grew up in the Midwest where there is more of a definition between seasons-not like here in Texas or in Phoenix where I lived in my teenage years.

Something that always feels like home is a decorated dining table. Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of mine. I love to see tables decorated for the holiday or ready for a meal together with friends or family. I am reminded of many meals with loved ones over the years.

I am not a person who has holiday decorations the same year to year usually, but I have had fruit in the centerpiece with pear spice candles for about 10 years. The trick now is finding pear spice candles. We always like the Pier I scent, but it was discontinued and although I stocked up, I'm nearly out. I also have a large collection of turkeys, but not too many pictures of those. I at least put a few out each year. (ignore the pink tulips--no idea why they are in this pic)

The dining table of a friend ready for company near Thanksgiving with just a little Christmas set out already. It is a very eclectic room which I love and although very few decorations it is very elegant to me.

The first Thanksgiving at my daughter's house last year. A table set with pride and a meal enjoyed by us all.

If you didn't come here from ArtsyMama's blog, be sure to go there to see decor from many, many more friendly bloggers.

Never forget, the best decor is always the friends and family who frequent it.

Merchandising the Merchandise

2008-10-21T00:59:00.004-05:00

Something that I feel most shoppers don't notice is how items are set out for them to buy. Something I feel some merchants focus on more than others is how items are set out for customers. Think of how boutiques have their merchandise out as compared to department stores and then to the big box stores. Which one do you enjoy looking at more?

I thought I would share a couple other pictures of areas in the store where my booth is. These are non-Christmas areas and are not in my booth. Just some pretty things to look at. Enjoy!

Favor Boxes

2008-10-19T18:41:00.007-05:00

Last weekend, in preparation for the designers coming to the scrapbook store, several of us were asked to prepare a box to put candy in. By prepare, I mean, try to make it look cute and special for one or two of the visitors coming. I dug through my collection and found two boxes to decorate.

This box was one that special cookies had come in. Inside are little boxes that stack. The box stands about 8 inches high and is about 4 inches square. This picture does not show the little knob on the top, only the hole for it. (?)

I made this with Jessica in mind. I did not know too much about her, but was hoping that she would find a use for it maybe on her desk. I made the outside so that she could further personalize it with photos or other things.

I also made this box. It is an old cigar box that I covered in papers & vintage ephemera. This box was for Lisa. I didn't know her really well either, but had information that she liked vintage items. I also knew that her blog is called 'Its In The Details'. So I used the word "details" on the top. Surprisingly the word "go" came up a lot on the top. This was also filled with candy packages.

We wanted them to have a personal welcome. The other boxes were wonderful. Each recipient seemed to like their box and we definitely enjoyed the visitors.

Party In Pink

2008-10-18T00:17:00.006-05:00

In reading some other blogs this week, I have found others that say pink may be the new orange. I say why can't we decorate with any color during any season? With October being breast cancer awareness month and pink being the color of that cause, it seems people have found more ways to combine the two. I am combining a Halloween party with Pink Saturday, perhaps a new mix in itself, but fun for me. Ellsworth Hill Orchard in Sharon Connecticut grew the cute pink pumpkin pictured here.

This is the day of Vanessa's Halloween party where anything goes. She had a fun mad hatter tea party earlier in the year and so when I saw this invitation, I knew I must attend this party too. BUT, what to wear, what to wear?

Maybe I should be a blond prom queen -

Maybe something more realistic like this cat lady-without the mustache?

Here we go, this will work fine-

There should be music at any party, so let me share this little song with you. The tune is the same as 'john jacob jingleheimer smith':

Princess P has a pink pumpkin
She has a pink pig too
For words that start with P
The people run to see!
Words like Princess P's pink pumpkin and pig
P P P P P P P

Wouldn't you think that any princess should have a pink pumpkin?

Here is a special dip for your celebrations called Pink Pumpkin Creme
Ingredients
* ¼ cup pumpkin seeds, fresh from the pumpkin, dehydrated (with cinnamon and salt if desired)
* half red pepper, seeded and chopped
* half lime, juiced
* ¼ cup raw mild olive oil
* ¼ cup raw almonds, soaked and dehydrated
* 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
* 1 pinch sea salt
* 1 tablespoon chili flakes
* 1 pinch ground pepper

Preparation
whir in food processor until very creamy. add a little water if things aren’t whirring well. get out the celery, carrot, and beet sticks and dip, OR spread in a lettuce leaf for a sweet holiday wrap.

Last week was my first Pink Saturday post hosted by Beverly. I had so many comments about a couple of items, I thought I would give a little info on them this week should anyone be interested.

This little stitched sampler picture was done by a lady here locally. She does custom work, so can make similar ones for anyone interested. I have other samplers done by her as well, but this is the pink one. I can give her contact info from anyone who is interested in having one done.

The second thing that so many commented on was the lamb pillow I showed on my daybed. I wish I could remember who made that, because I just love it too. I thought I'd just show you a couple other pillows that are for sale in the shop where I have my booth. I can hook you up on these too. I really don't get commission, just trying to connect folks as desired. I think these are lovely.

I can't wait to visit you this week whether from Vanessa's party or Beverly's Pink Saturday. With so many to visit, it might take me a few days though! Enjoy!

Returning You To A Season Already In Progress!

2008-10-15T19:49:00.010-05:00

After that quick look at a portion of the store's Christmas decor, we'll step back to the current October Fall and Halloween season. I will stay at the Dove's Nest and just show you a few of my favorite things from there right now.

These pine cones are real pine cones that have been dipped (?) in a thick colored wax. The colors are fun and could be combined like this picture or just a few colors.

I love this huge cabinet. It stands at least 12 feet tall. It is a fabulous display piece and for fall has been papered with this great scrapbook paper. It gives it a very vintage look-like old wallpaper. I love this huge wreath on the front here.

These turkeys are so great. I really like the levels in this display. I may have to get those paper napkins that say 'gobble, gobble'.

This is more of a wonderful table display. The acorns are a mercury glass and are in many brown shades. It is hard to see, but in one of the baskets are cute little birds. There are so many woodsy looking things--like the pens here. It all adds to the feeling of fall.

In the booth that Cindy and I share we have this cute little display. She does the painting on these canvases and signs. I contribute the metal racks and cake plates and the little tool caddy with the brown toile (ha). OK, sometimes I find other things, and make cards and tags, but no painting like this.

Enjoy!

What's Black and White and Red All Over?

2008-10-14T19:59:00.015-05:00

The Dove's Nest! At least the front half of the store is.

The store has been redone for Christmas and we are all so proud of how it turned out. It is hard work, but so much fun to decorate and merchandise for the holidays. Cindy B ordered fabulous stuff as usual. It all came together really great.

This chandelier is about 4 feet in diameter and about the same height. It is made of tree branches and then we loaded it with winter berries, silvered branches, snowy greens and white birds.

Under the chandelier is a lovely table loaded with glass candle and candy holders. Tucked in around the items are cute snowy owls. There has been some additional decoration added on and around the table since I snapped this picture.

All of these penguins in a grouping have caused some unusual questions. The group of them make quite a statement.

They look like they are real & hanging out on a piece of ice. There are three different sizes from about 12 inches tall to a little over 2 feet.

People aren't quite sure what to make of them. I think they are AweSome.

The eye can barely take in the whole picture, so you know that these photos are not doing it all justice. (be sure to click any of the pictures to make them larger)

I wish it was my house that I had just finished decorating *wink*.

Enjoy!

Which Name Shall I Drop First?

2008-10-13T06:50:00.010-05:00

I am surrounded by talented, creative people on a daily basis. However, this weekend I have been in the midst of well-known talent-celebrities in fact! I took a class to learn/brush up on techniques using Ranger Distress Inks with Wendy Vecchi. She is a Ranger U certified instructor and on the Maya Road design team. Wendy led excellent classes. It was a pleasure to meet her and to take these classes.

During one class, I sat next to Anna Wight. She designs stamps for Whipper Snapper Designs. She also is on the design teams for Whipper Snapper Designs, Rosie's Roadshow, High Hopes Rubber Stamps and for Crafty Secrets.

Across the table from me was Lisa Pace. She is the Design Team Coordinator for Maya Road. Near me was also Aubrey and Jessica from their design team and Caroline Lau co-owner of Maya Road. If you are not familiar with Maya Road products, please take a look here at their site.

Later in the day I was pleased to be eating dinner with Megan from TENseconds Studio. She and her mom (who owns TENseconds Studio) are a great creative team. Take a look at some of their tutorials out at their blog.

Quite the group, huh? (or for any Canadian readers "eh?") That doesn't even begin to touch the other wonderfully talented people I brushed shoulders with that you might not know by name or design teams-Annette, Brook, Cindy, Penny, Jennifer, Debbie, Gail, Joan, Isla, Mary Lou, Carolyn, Heidi, Robin, Sarah, etc, etc....although someday you might know these names as celebrities too!

I was glad to get to hang with some girls I have known for some time and to get know some of the others a little better. The projects were fun and my mind is racing with ideas. I'll have to show you later what I made. I won some fun Maya Road things and filled my brain with knowledge. Now for some time to use it all!

Pink Saturday

2008-10-11T01:29:00.004-05:00

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound had the idea to start posting pink things on Saturday quite a while ago. She says she could post something pink each week forever. Since she started this on her blog, she has invited other bloggers to do the same. Over time the list of participants has really grown. Last week there were over 100 bloggers participating. Every person posts pink things of any sort. The rules are simple-post something pink. Per Beverly "it can be anything - something pretty, something funny, something old, something new - just not something blue". I've wanted to join in for a while, but decided it was something I wanted to get done this week! Hey, one thing done and crossed off my list!

As a young girl and teenager, I did not like pink. It is hard to imagine that I didn't. Somehow it made me too girly to like pink. I have heard others say the same thing before and have heard it about flowery things. Why we didn't want to be girly girls is beyond me now. When my daughter was born, I loved her in pink and thought she should wear it, but still didn't think it was for me. She grew up not liking pink either, for the same reasons I hadn't liked it. Thankfully, we have both come to our senses. She still doesn't like it to the degree that I do, but she will wear it and we take pleasure in being more girly girls.

When my son moved out to start his own home, my plan was to make his room a guest room. [I had already changed my daughter's room into a studio.] Since I had a new little grand daughter the guest room kind of became her room. She is my most frequent guest. Although I have had other family stay in this room while visiting, it is stocked with her things and she plays in there a lot when she comes to visit. Since it is full of pink things, I thought I would share some of them for my first Pink Saturday.

2 little pink shoes--usually worn just like they sit here.

an old pink chair my MIL saved from an old church-from the 40's or 50's?

an adorable little thrift store find (some of my favorite finds are in this room)

I couldn't resist this door hanger from a local gift shop

a favorite pillow bought on ebay from the lady who made it

another favorite pillow found at my favorite shop in McKinney.

yet another favorite pillow bought on ebay from the seamstress

The pink daybed with lots of yummy pillows. She loves to roll around in these.

Last for today, just a little pink pig waiting for someone to come play with him.

Be sure to pop over to Beverly's to see the full list of participants and see what they have to share as well. Enjoy your day!

October Days

2008-10-08T05:54:00.005-05:00

I have several friends with birthdays in October and have been looking for &/or working on presents for them. This is a little box I altered for a gift. Her birthday was last week, but the celebration will be this week. I already had to use a picture and some words from my new primer, but I copied them. I'm not ready to use the originals yet.

This is the inside of the top of the box

The pictures really don't show it very well, as usual. I hope she enjoys it!

Out For A Sunday Stroll

2008-10-06T16:42:00.020-05:00

Exercise? not really the kind you'd think. This stroll was inside, air conditioned and a very slow pace. I went to an antique mall. Usually, I am sparked with a new idea at these stores such as a new color combo or mix of pieces. Yesterday, I had to run to the next town over to pick up something from a store there. After picking up the needed item, I thought I would head to the antique store there. It is the usual type of antique store that is 85% non-antique and maybe 15% is actually old enough to be considered antique. I don't really care, it is kind of like going through a thrift store. You never know what you will find and it's hit and miss on finding wonderful things.

Yesterday, I did find a few treasures. True to form, they are old and quite used. And as Miss Tina claims Cindy and I do, I fondled everything. I must touch things. That is just how I shop. The texture is part of the thrill of the hunt.

How could I pass up this adorable sheet music. I like using music on a lot of my projects and this one has such a cute cover-like red work. If you look you can see instructions written in pencil for the student (I assume) to show up at the auditorium at 1:15 sharp. I'm guessing it was a recital piece. I remember that all of my piano teachers used pencils too. I don't remember instructions for recitals, but do remember that I had to be very punctual. I always just worried about remembering my piece.

Check out the cute little rose place cards too. They do not appear to be very old, but I can see them used for many things.

I also found two books already falling apart. This lessens my guilt should I decide to use the original page instead of a copy in my work. One is a primer and the other is an old golden book. It appears that a child had a lot of fun using a pencil and crayon writing and tracing items in the books. Not a problem.

Check out the cute pics and great writing. The last story in the primer is about a tree who wants to be a Christmas tree so it can't house a bird's nest in the winter when all the other branches are bare, but of course it has a happy ending. The little golden book pages are pictures with words--a word book. Too sweet.

I needed the stroll and to get out of the house, but for a little under $5.00 I think I found some treasures!

Sinister?-No; Sweet?-Completely

2008-10-01T23:32:00.009-05:00

I do not mean to imply that my partner didn't follow the outline for the Sweet & Sinister Swap. I just thought everything in my package was so awesome. My partner was heading out on vacation and sent my package early. Well, I am excited over any package that comes to my door and was especially excited to see that this one was box of many gifts.

My partner Sheila really did some nice work on this cute collage made in a pie tin and also some altered bottles and an adorable little candy container that she cleverly made. I did not get good pics of the basket or bottles but found pics taken by the artist on her blog and so I have borrowed hers. I have not completed my end of this swap yet, but should be sending soon. They were supposed to be on their way today, but I'm running at normal speed for me lately - behind.

The little basket was filled with some candy too. Like me, she does a lot of work at a local scrapbook store and loves vintage, distressed things. She has a lovely blog, so pop over there to see what else she is making. Enjoy!

Look What I Did At School Today

2008-09-27T23:27:00.015-05:00

My friends Cindy and Tina coordinated a day of classes and the meeting of some great artistic people. They called it Paper Cowgirls Retreat.

This was the toe in the water, so to speak. Checking out interest, seeing what people thought, would they come, would they enjoy themselves, etc? Based on what I saw and heard, they succeeded on all counts.

Well this evening I took a couple of the classes with these paper girls. I signed up back when they first started talking about this, KNOWING I would enjoy it. I couldn't take all the classes, but took two and loved them. I began in a world of mixed media and altered art, slid into some scrapbooking but with time would love to mix it all together.

One of the classes I took was from the wonderful Sharon Tomlinson. She paints beautiful women and does mixed media art. I have struggled with gel transfers off and on for a couple years (see here and here). To have a chance to take a class with someone who does this as beautifully as she does was a treat. The picture is the top of a little 3 x 3 inch box which has a gel transfer, painted face and gelled paper on it. I loved it. I love the fact that I did it. Yes, I had special, intense instruction and all, it is still an exciting start for me....Can't wait to play and practice some more. I took the picture below from her blog. It is a picture of the packet of supplies we got for class. Just the bag is worth the price of the class don't you agree? Mine is like the one showing that doesn't show the tags.

The other class I took was doing some soldering on a little circle art piece. Actually, she said it was called tinning. Ms. Tina taught this one. I enjoy her altered art creations. She makes all kinds of fabulous things. I would share a picture of the little cowgirl that I made, but she had an incident in the wild west and has a bullet hole through her glass cover....OK, so I broke it, the other story sounds so much more exciting.

I borrowed this from Tina's blog so you could see how she packaged her class too. Coffee cups decorated all cute. Such fun-ness. I met a lot of new girls, hopefully new friends and had an inspiring, enjoyable evening. Hope you are finding something to enjoy!

It's Here!

2008-09-25T21:07:00.008-05:00

This beautiful water color painting arrived today. It is even more lovely in person. I am so thankful for this painting and the sweet card that came with it. I feel so honored to have won this from Rella of Faerieluna.

Painted above the angel's head are the words "Every step on the path is meaningful"

On the back of the mat are these words:

every day is a gift
every moment precious
an opportunity to
love
forgive
be kind
create joy
be generous
make a difference

Wonderful words to think of each day, aren't they?

September Card Swap

2008-09-23T22:22:00.003-05:00

Each month there are several swaps at the local scrapbook store and online with other bloggers. This month I did one for the store. The criteria was to use 2 stamps, black and floral paper in the card. When they are open like this it sometimes is easier and sometimes harder to decide what to make. I finally decided on the paper and stamps and put it together.

I used two Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz stamps and I also used a flourish from an Autumn Leaves set. So 2 stamps were used on each card, even though I used three overall. I cut the wings off of the stamped image and replaced them with Prima leaves and stamped the crown/hat on different paper and pieced it onto the little image too. I found some papers that I liked-kind of fall-ish. One was from Bo Bunny, two from Fancy Pants and some gaffer tape from 7 gypsies. I used an old typewriter to type in the sentiments. Each card was different, this one says "Good for you". The inside is blank so that the sender can put in there what they wish.

It is a fun thing to do, even though I seem to always be doing them at the last minute.

Fun, Fun and More Fun

2008-09-20T22:26:00.009-05:00

The weather here has been cooler the past few days, but it was hot today. I am hoping it will only get into the high 80s again next week. In celebration of cooler weather (ha) or maybe because it was in desperate need of it, I took my car to the local car wash place for cleaning. (don't get ahead of me here) I dropped it off and then headed inside. Once I paid, the cashier said "hold onto this ticket so you can claim your car". Now if you know what I drive, you will laugh out loud or perhaps have already broken out in laughter. I wanted to point out the obvious 'like anyone else will claim it?', but I resisted.

Another bit of fun was at yearbook yourself dot com. The picture of me here is a 1960 version of me (supposedly) and oddly it looks a lot like the 1967 picture of me.

Finally, a really big piece of fun is that I won an original art work piece from Rella at FaerieLuna. I cannot wait to see it. She does such great work.

Hope you are having fun too.

Winners & Other Tasty Tidbits

2008-09-17T20:21:00.004-05:00

First off, let me say thank you to all of you who commented on my new blog. I hope you checked Darcy out too, and told her what a great job she did. The random number, I mean integer generator picked the number "11". That person happened to be Andrea of Vintage Bella Studio. (pretty blog too)
Congratulations Andrea. I will email you and get mailing information for your goodies.

Next, I wanted to mention that my friend Cindy is now live on Glitter & Grunge. I hope this goes well for her. She is a wonderful artist but finding the best place(s) to showcase & sell her work is hard. I hope you will pop over there and take a look. There are more things to be loaded to her place over there, so keep checking. The prices are cheap too.

And then finally, mark this on your calendars. Next Friday, Sept 26 there will be a special show & sale of several artists in Town. There will be a mix of artists doing jewelry, mixed media, painting and others. I have seen a couple things by one of the artists and FAB is not a strong enough word. I hope you'll show up over there. Full details are here.

Knock Out Breast Cancer!

2008-09-14T04:32:00.006-05:00

The scrapbook store had a fund raiser for support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. 50 ladies signed up to attend this event. Monies from the sign up fees and also from raffle tickets were donated to the foundation. The event was coordinated by the Pink Junkies team who walk each year in the 3 day walk.

For this event, I designed this little project for each lady to make. The store donated the supplies and I taught any techniques that were needed while the ladies made the little hanging signs. They are made from the Maya Road Round Album (chipboard) and are about 6 inches in diameter. The scroll and little pink flower are also by Maya Road. The larger stamped phrase was a custom made stamp by Jessica Lynn Originals with the wording we supplied. Also used were two stamps by Wendy Vecchi from her new release-the flower and the smaller phrase used on the tag. The reddish flower is made on grungeboard with Wendy's stamp and misted with the Pink Maya Mist.

I'll take this moment to remind everyone who might read this that early detection & early treatment is possible if we each take charge of our health. Self exams, mammograms and BRCA testing as appropriate can save our lives.

Graphically Designing

2008-09-10T21:54:00.007-05:00

As I have mentioned (as often as possible) and as I know you have noticed: Darcy (aka: Graphically Designing or LWM3Bs did a big makeover on my blog. I am thrilled with it. I like having three columns, new colors and a more polished look. What I haven't mentioned though is how great she was to work with. She designed the blog based on a few questions answered in an email & really hit the button right off it seemed. I asked to have a few things added, to change a few things, then changed them back, took things back off and through it all, she was kind, patient and professional. After all the changes it pretty much looks like it did when she made the first draft. The other blogs I saw that she has done all have such a happy personal feel too. Check her out & see some of her other makeovers. I and another lady are the featured blogs this week. :) All I hope is that the ones she is doing currently do not cause her as many headaches as I must have. THANKS Darcy!

To celebrate the new "ME", I want to do a give-away. Comment here and next Wednesday evening, I will randomly pick a name to win some lovely prizes. I promise they'll be great. Some fun Maya Road goodies, some vintage ephemera and some ribbons to start with and who knows, maybe a few other surprises!!

WOW, What a Thrill!

2008-09-08T16:54:00.004-05:00

Saturday a friend let me know that I needed to go over and look at the Maya Road Design Team blog. Lo and behold, a train I made is on their blog!

A couple of days ago on my post, I talked about making this little train. Carolyn of Crafty Scrapper had sent in the picture to Maya Road and they decided to put it on their blog.

I am so honored. Thanks.

Such a Sweet Thing To Say!

2008-09-06T17:37:00.017-05:00

Even before Darcy at Graphically Designing made over my blog, Robin of A Robin's Nest gave me this sweet award. Robin said she is inspired by my blog and described me as a very talented and creative person. WOW, my head is swelling! I appreciate so much her awarding me this, especially before she even saw the awesome make over. I enjoy reading your blog too Robin!

Now it is my turn to name a few blogs that I like. As you can see I have quite a blog roll, so it is hard to pick just a few. Here are some blogs you might not have checked out yet though:

-Hometown Girl. She is a fairly new blogger, but has a lot of great finds & creative endeavors to share. She is a fabric lover and sews! Along with that, she seems to find wonderful treasures when she is out and about.
-Teensy & the Boys. He is a wonderful story teller and I have enjoyed reading his tales for quite some time. I hope you will take some time at his blog to read some of his older posts. I so enjoy hearing about his escapades as a naive youth dealing with his sister and granny.
-Red Velvet. What I aspire to do someday with all the stuff in my studio. She spends weeks on a project, creating stories within her stories. Fabulous items.
-Finding My Creative Side. Another newer blogger with a great eye & ability to create. She makes adorable paper art like books, tags and has a very unique style.

I hope you will check them out and see why I find them so likable!

A New Look...

2008-09-04T23:42:00.006-05:00

I'm sure you are noticing my new look. I love it. I am still moving in - as Darcy calls it. I like moving without boxes. I'm working to get the links put back for blogs & other inspiration. If yours isn't here and it used to be, I just haven't gotten to it. I'll get a real post out here soon, giving credit where it is due and talking about my usual stuff. Later,

A Few More Layouts

2008-09-01T21:45:00.010-05:00

I managed to finish a few more layouts for display. Thought I'd share them right quick. Thanks for looking.

Just More Fun

2008-08-30T22:48:00.005-05:00

A bunch of new papers came into the scrapbook store this week. So many nice papers came in from Pink Paislee. In the line is this great transparency which looks like a picture frame laying on top of some papers. I wanted to make a layout with it to show it off. The picture is of my brother and his family. It is an awesome picture, so I wanted to do it justice as well. I found that it was a little more difficult than I thought it would be, but finally came up with this layout.

Under the transparency are papers from various lines including prima collage packs and the picture. I then stamped on the upper corners of the transparency and then made this fun little pumpkins using some chipboard from the Maya Road Dingbat line. They are actually a circle chipboard with cut outs of parenthesis that I covered with paper. On one pumpkin I used green rick rack for the leaves, on the other two I used a swirl which I cut down to look like stems. It was fun to make something unique with these items and I finally liked the way it all turned out.

Are you enjoying your weekend?

More Fun With Maya Road

2008-08-25T20:34:00.011-05:00

This was made using some new items put out by Maya Road this month. I had not seen the train until the other day, but once I saw it, I knew I had to do something with it. I thought about using the graphic 45 paper with the cute blue ticking & trains on it. Then I thought it would be really fun in primary colors with flags & balloons along with the animals in cages--kind of a circus train. It would also be a really cute Zoo memory book with that cute Moxxie zoo paper...I finally decided that since it would be for store display, I should perhaps do it for a baby boy. We just don't usually have too many baby display items--I guess because those lines seem kind of self selling(?) or at least more so than other types of papers. Anyway...The train is an accordion book hooked together with rings. The cage and four cute little animals are a Maya Road key chain which are perfectly sized for their little animal stamps. They just all fit together so great. (I'm sure they intended this all along)

I replaced the rings with ribbon. I used Autumn Leaves and Melissa Frances baby papers to cover the chipboard train. I used new Maya Road Mist to color the cages and the other chipboard pieces. The animals were painted different colors and then stamped with Staz-on ink. I glued the animals in place, although they could easily be made to come in and out. I also used a little new baby stamp, and thought it would actually be fun to use this for documenting the date, time, name, and other vital statistics of the new baby.

Enjoy!

Stolen Moments Inn

2008-08-23T04:45:00.006-05:00

Last weekend several of my friends and I spent our nights and days at the fabulous Stolen Moments Inn. This is maybe 10 miles from my house and light years away from reality. This is my second visit to the Inn. Susie, the owner, has this place so clean and filled with creative ideas that it is a fun place to get away. At retreats like this, there is usually little sleep and usually lots of laughing. This one was no exception. Managed to do some more tags, cards, recipe cards and ATCs that I needed to finish for swaps, and did one layout. I think it was the longest layout I have ever done. I kept being distracted by someone's story or other escapade or the Olympics or movie playing on the big TV. This weekend I plan to stay home and lay low. I really need to catch up on my sleep!

2 Years Old!

2008-08-19T22:12:00.006-05:00

Today, my little g-daughter turned two. It is amazing how a two-year old can seem as though they have always been in your life isn't it? She is a fun, lively girl. She has had several days celebrating & opening gifts. She has been singing the happy birthday song for a few months now and practicing blowing out her candles. She blew them both out on her cake. She has been opening packages-which she loves. She loves opening envelopes just as much. She has been playing with her things & then upset because she has to stop and move on to something else. She was upset that she had to leave a balloon in the car, but then after playing with her little car (present) she was upset when she had to stop playing with it. Poor thing. Tomorrow she will have a normal day, just playing at home.

Happy Birthday!!

Time Goes By....

2008-08-13T23:09:00.006-05:00

Several people have told me that my little g-daughter resembles me. Even though as you see below, she seems to look like her mommy too. Apparently, her coloring is like her mom, but her features may have come from her dad (me). Thought this was interesting to see.... Not exactly twins, but similar in several ways.

In other more exciting & interesting news. Christi is now engaged. Probable spring wedding, but so many details to figure out. Fun, Fun.

Tag You're It...

2008-08-11T18:15:00.006-05:00

Last night I spent a few hours with some friends. We sat together around the table, each working on projects, chatting and laughing. I took my scrap papers and tried to use some of them up making tags & cards. The others worked on projects of their own. Talk went from crafting to pets to children to world issues to jokes and back around.

We had never hung out together as a group before, and it turned out to be a great time. I imagined it would be fun though as the group were already friends of mine-they just didn't know each other as well. They also are some of the most creative people I know-period. Some food, some tea and some M&Ms just made it all the better.

Toward the end of our time, I wanted to have them play a 'game'. I thought it might be fun to do an around the table tag make. Each of us started with a blank tag. We each started our own tag by putting something on it, then passed it around the table. Each other person then added an element to it. This is how my tag ended up. I started it with the Anna Griffin scrap that looks like old wallpaper and off it went. One person painted some on it, one put the letters, one put the brads, one put the vine with the big heart-shaped leaf. I thought it turned out just beautiful. Thanks for playing. I love it.

A Splash Of Reality

2008-08-10T14:47:00.002-05:00

Yesterday a dose of reality was waiting in my mailbox. I have to say, overall I do not mind aging. I find it very interesting. I wish it didn't cause my joints to ache so much, but overall it is OK. Maybe I protest too much, because when I saw this magazine in my mailbox, I did stop for a moment. When I am playing with my g-daughter I sit by the pool and goof around just like I did with my little brother below. I joke around a lot, and act like I'm a kid sometimes--ok a lot of the time. I can't imagine my grandmother being so silly. So perhaps there is a decorum that should have come with aging. I don't know.

"Hey, I'm not 50 yet, I thought these only came when you turned 50." My mind shouted. Then I saw the one thing that just made my day -- The wrong name and address!

I'll keep my current age thank you!

Yes, But It Is A Dry Heat....

2008-08-04T22:39:00.002-05:00

OK. I have lived in Phoenix and been there when it was 110 to 113 degrees. It is dry there and so yes, the heat does feel different. However, once the temperature has gone over 101 or so, it is just HOT HOT HOT no matter where you are or if it is dry heat, humid or whatever. That is how it has been here this last week. We have been at 104 to 105 everyday for about a week. It is pretty brutal. Amazingly, although I lived here in 1980 when there were 46 or 47 days in A ROW of over 100 degree temperatures, my memory does not have that in a recall state. I do remember that I didn't have air conditioning in my car then, and only had a window unit in my house. I say "Only" but there are so many with less. It must be horrible for them. While I have been looking through old pics AND thinking of Phoenix, I ran across this goodie! This is 1973 in Phoenix. I don't know why I am not in the pool with my little brother, but perhaps this day was only 98 degrees or something--ha ha.

A friend's blog mentioned that she visualizes herself at 18. Well, I think I visualize myself at this age. Not so much physically as mentally. In my head this is all the older I am, even though this little boy has two boys of his own about the same age I am in the picture....crazy how our minds defend us from the truth isn't it? Hope you are staying cool where you are!

Playing With Paper

2008-07-29T23:05:00.003-05:00

Here are a couple of little projects I've been working on for creative team at LSS. They will show up again on that blog, but you get a sneak peek here (woo hoo, huh?)
For convention, I had done a banner of Home Sweet Home very similar to this, but it has been damaged with all the handling(a good thing)so I thought I would update the colors on it for the coming seasons. Also, so I could get pictures for a class.

The second one is a project made with the goodies in the August Kit for LSS. It was fun to make, I love the gingham fabric and it just called to be put with the flags--just wish there had been enough to do all the flags, but it is ok without them. Old picture from 1969, swimming in Scottsdale Arizona. This was our first trip to Arizona although we ended up moving there in 1972. We had no idea at this time we would be going there. As I have mentioned several times before. I love swimming, so to me Summer is Swimming.

In the Good Ole Summertime...

2008-07-23T08:10:00.003-05:00

103 degrees yesterday. That is HOT. I'd show you what I have been up to, but I'm not sure you would enjoy seeing me sitting at my computer working. Work, you know a job to make money so I can buy things like food and air conditioning. So instead I will show you where I wish I was using one of my favorite models. Stay Cool!

Halloween Already?

2008-07-18T20:57:00.006-05:00

...no, but Ms. ArtsyMama is getting ready for it. I'm not much of a Halloween girl, but I love a good swap AND this will be a good swap. So many wonderful artists join up on these swaps, it is always fun to see what creativeness comes in the boxes. Makes my mailbox happy!

As if the swap was not going to be fun enough, she is going to teach us things! In the months leading up to the actual swap, she has made a blog to put some ideas from her extensively creative mind and instructions on making things. That is just the cherry on top of the cherry on top-if you know what I mean.

Getting some interest in the challenge on the LSS design team blog and at the store. Hope there is at least a hand full who'll try it. That way others will see that it is fun and maybe join in next month.

Last, I just had to share this cute picture. Little baby doll and her mommy....they are so cute and this picture really shows how much alike they look in real life. Special girls to me. Just had to share them with you.

Inspiration Abounds

2008-07-15T14:07:00.009-05:00

At my LSS, they have started a new program. Each month they put together a packet of products (kit if you will). These might be products that one would not normally pick up together, but find that they are very neat together when seen. Then they have started a challenge using any of the pieces of this packet. The pieces can be purchased separately-well most of them. There are some added goodies in the packet. I'm anxious to see what each person comes up with using the products this month. I have an idea in mind already for my project. Check it out HERE - It is open to anyone. The packet can even be shipped. I do work there and help put these together, so I have an extra interest in seeing it take off.

Additional inspiration will be coming in the form of a day long opportunity to take classes from artists around the state. Tina and Cindy are pulling together a day long program of fun. The blog site for the Paper Cowgirls Retreat is here. The details on how to register and teachers are out there. As it turns out they will be utilizing the crop rooms at my LSS for classes, right here in Waxahachie. There will also be a special evening of vendors to shop with--again from artists among and around us here in Texas. Should be a great weekend of inspiration huh? Better sign up early. The best part is it is pretty inexpensive. There is a registration fee and then you pay for each class you want to sign up for-so you can pick and choose and get the info that is best for you.

Simple and Sweet?

2008-07-09T23:37:00.008-05:00

I participate in a card swap on a monthly basis and usually forget to post anything about them. (I also do an ATC swap, and a recipe card swap,here - but I digress). The cards due for July just had to have a summer theme and use some sort of scallop on them. I love this little stamp from a Crafty Secrets set, and one night while messing around testing colors, I stamped it on a light blue piece of paper with blue ink. I loved it and so decided to incorporate it into the card for this month. While I used a very simple stamp-no painting, coloring in, etc, I think it is sweet.

There are some wonderful examples of this same stamp used in more involved ways. I will be trying some of these too, look here and here for just a couple of incredibly fabulous cards with this same set. Hope you are enjoying the summer. I am wishing I was on a beach digging in the sand myself.

I also want to share another blog that is set up for inspiring & challenging our artistic minds. It is called Mind Wide Open. I especially like the tag line 'fragments of inspiration'. Set up by Gail Schmidt, you know there will be some great things out there. Take a look and see what fun you can find!

Thought You Would Want To Know

2008-07-07T06:53:00.005-05:00

There are so many wonderful tools out on the internet. I ran across the Blog Readability Test and ran my blog through the scrutiny of this exam. Once I saw the results, felt I simply MUST let you know. After all, I want you to feel like you are getting something out of visiting here..( wink* wink*)

Tea Party Housekeeping

2008-07-04T22:03:00.014-05:00

No party is complete without the housekeeping details. Luckily, I did not have the clean up that Miss Vanessa had over at her place, but I did have some loose ends to tie up. First off, I finally got the pictures off of my camera. No need to post the tea party ones now though. Second, I had the random number generator pick three winning numbers for me. I thought I would at least go ahead and post those pictures. Here is how it turned out:

Although this bunny here is not as wild as the March Hare, I think she will add life to any party. She is for the person who posted at #12. The lady of this blog is a lovely student in Norway. Miss Bunny will have to travel quite a ways, but is anxious to travel the world and is busy getting her visa updated.

Next is a little sign I made to hang on a door or wall to indicate the real title of the person living or working there. The magic generator gave me a #20 for this one. It turns out this is Nancy of fete et fleur.

And the third little goodie, it turns out, is going to the #35 poster. Constance of Rochambeau. It is a little velvet cone filled with crafty things like buttons, cards, a teacup charm and an odd looking bunny picture--all in the heart and bunny theme of the party. I will get yours out to you next week Constance, thanks for getting me your address.

I hope you are having a nice weekend with family and friends.

Tea Time

2008-06-28T05:12:00.009-05:00

Thank you for dropping in here at my place. Just in time for tea. Please help yourself to items from the table. Let me pour you some tea. Sugar?

I have a couple of treats I would like to give to you. I will select names on Monday at midnight from all those who comment here and send it to them. I wish I had pictures of a craft item to show you or even the treats for you, but my camera has decided not to cooperate. There are plenty of cups of tea. It is always tea time here you know, so we have many cups for you. Stay as long as you like.

To visit other tea parties, check out the list on Vanessa's blog. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday To Me

2008-06-24T20:56:00.007-05:00

Although it is not actually my birthday, I did receive the July/August Issue of Somerset Studio with the theme of Provence. The subscription was a gift for my birthday and so every time I get it I celebrate again. The magazine is always jammed full of ideas. It really gets my creativity flowing.

In this issue, there is an amazing artist who carves books. Now I love altered books, but this guy takes it to all new levels. It is amazing. Of course there is fabulous art to share & two pages of beautiful paper designed by Misty Mawn. Also, there is wonderful art piece on the last page by Dawn Edmondson of The Feathered Nest. I feel like I am brushing shoulders with fame. I have not read all of the pages yet, so I may have missed some others that should be mentioned.

Doesn't the cover just feel relaxing and restful with the colors and the clothes on the line. Well, the whole magazine is this way. First time through, I just have to enjoy the picture colors. Then I take a turn and read some of it and then later read some more. I think my mind would explode if I tried to take it all in at one time. I am known to read them in my bubble bath, which does nothing good for the paper, but I cannot let go of my new friend when it comes in the mail. Knowing this, I am sure you would not want my copy after I read it - so you better go look for a copy of your own.

Edited to add:
after reading a little more in the magazine, I found that Lelainia Lloyd of Tattered Edge has an article and Dawn pointed out to me that it is Colette's (A Bird in the Hand )artwork on the cover. Isn't it great to see these folks get recognized for their art in this magazine and it is so inspiring to read about them and learn about new things from them in the magazine. I read their blogs often as well.

I'm Late? I'm Late? For a very important date?

2008-06-22T15:14:00.005-05:00

No,guess not. After looking at my calendar, I've got another week to get ready for this magical party. Everyone is invited! She has the details on her blog, check them out and come with me. I have a gazillion ideas running through my head. Some really good ones too, but who knows how these will end up. Usually, many of them die due to inability to get them into real life.

I would stay and chat more, but I really don't want to be late.

Pretty, Pretty. Pretty.

2008-06-19T21:45:00.007-05:00

Oh, Wow. Cindy has been so busy making wonderful items. She made a number of these little birds, each with it's own personality. I have loved those birds even though I had not seen one in person. However,since I knew she would make another one for me later, if all of hers sold, I waited and did not jump on buying them the minute they were listed on Etsy. Well, I waited as long as I could. I can't figure out why they are not selling out there. The pictures never do anything justice of course and that doesn't help. There is just so much delicate work and they are absolutely adorable I finally just had to buy one. I HAD to, Really!

So Tuesday, I got my adorable bird with some other goodies in this very sweet little bag with another goodie on top. Anyway, to say these are fabulous is an understatement. I do know there are still a couple of them out on her Etsy shop waiting for good homes, so if you want one, you had better hurry over there. I have a long list of people to get gifts for and I may not be able to control myself much longer. I might also add that several people who saw mine have determine they must also have one, so pickins might be thin if you wait too long.

Found Objects

2008-06-19T00:10:00.007-05:00

...is just another way of saying junk, right? Or maybe it is also used to describe items not used by most people in whatever project they are working on. Obviously, it implies something not purchased. (& I hope it goes without saying that it was not meant to be purchased)

I have often thought about doing a video looking down at the road in front of me while I am walking--anywhere, because I find stuff on the ground all the time. Friends have said this doesn't happen to everyone, therefore, the video idea. As an example, I have put a portion of a layout I did of my nephews. This wiring was just laying out by the curb a few houses down. Perhaps this happens to many of you and those who do not find such treasures are the odd ones.(?) No doubt it fell out of a trash can and I just happened to be going by before they had a chance to pick it up. I thought it fit in with the whole gaming theme of the picture, so I used it. Some might prefer not to have lumpy pages and there is a nice tutorial here to prevent that. I however,do not mind thick or lumpy pages in most instances.

Now finding things while out for a little stroll is a nice way to pick up treasures. I have been known to rummage in places not as pretty & clean, but I promise I disinfect quickly when finished. I will also pay for items found by others (I still cling to the theory that they are "found" objects) & try to use things that might normally get thrown away when I can. Hence my collection of cardboard ribbon spools, pop top tabs, boxes, old hats, playing cards and other various items I plan on using someday.

Tonight I ran across a group of girls or rather girlz who also use these sort of items in their work, they call it art from the gutter. Hope you'll run over and take a look at their new blog. I have linked it to the right under challenges because that is what they are putting out there-challenges using unusual items (is that a better term?). I personally have no problem calling it trash and they sound like they are on the same wave length--find your art in the gutter. I just hope I get a chance to do some of their challenges.

Birds & Bonnets Swap

2008-06-16T22:25:00.010-05:00

Long, Long ago in a land far, far away two great ladies named Beth & Karla hosted a swap... and I am finally getting around to putting pictures out here of the wonderful panels I got in this swap. For this swap we were allowed use of some free images from The Vintage Workshop. (You must go look at their stuff--lots of really neat images out there.) We were to use these plus anything else we might want to use & prepare 2 sides of 4 1/2 inch by 5 1/2 inch panels. All the panels were sent to Karla & Beth who then took on the huge job of punching and putting together around 300 panels and then mailing them back out to the participants.

These are the images of each side of my panel set.
Isn't it pretty? All 8 sides are so sweet and soft.

Even the tags that were attached to the panels were cute. Here are 2 of them:

Thank you so much to these fine artists: (Visit their blogs---awesome stuff there)
Rachel at Mine To Thine
Tammy at Simply Mein
Lisa at Ivory Blush Roses and
Coleen who should have a blog if she doesn't already.

And thank you to Beth & Karla. That was a lot of panels. Then they included gifties with the panels AND we got a free download from The Vintage Workshop. Win.Win.Win. (for me anyway)

Here is a look at the panels I made up. I did birds on one side & ladies w bonnets on the other side. Several to look at. Somehow I didn't think clearly enough to take them all in one picture-- laying in a row--duh.