These Are the Days

Bring Out Your Rags!

2011-12-11T10:11:00.005-07:00

My Dad sometimes tells me what life was like for him as a child- I love it when he does that. They were simpler times -milk men coming to the door, magnifying glasses on the television screen (if you were lucky enough to have one) and the rag man walking down the street yelling, "Bring out your rags!"

He was born from a generation that had everything, lost it, and made use of every last bit of what was left. Like that storybook where the man's coat went through several stages of life before becoming a tie. In my father's time, flour sacks became dresses. Dresses became purses. Purses became quilts. You used what you had.

I have always been so drawn to that- that one old thing can become a new one. That's why my supplies look like they came more from the recycling bin than from an art supply store. That's also why my husband gets in trouble for throwing it out by mistake! lol

One of my favorite projects from my father's time are rag rugs. My grandmother used to make them for her kitchen. Can't make one though! It always curves up like a bowl and doesn't want to lay flat. I will master it one day! In the meantime, I'm enjoying all the ragballs I've been making. They would wind these up until they had enough for a rug. The Edgar set has found a new home so now these are on my kitchen table:

(Click on photo for listing and more photos)

I quilted the embellishments using free motion embroidery. So much fun!

I couldn't help but think that the message to fly, tweet, and soar is one that I want to instill in my girls. Just as long as those tweets are positive ones and not them squawking at each other like they have been lately! Good grief!

So, here's to simpler times and enjoying every bit of what we are given!

What's your favorite simple moment? I hope you make time for it today!

Little by little...

2011-09-20T15:32:00.004-07:00

Oh the cobwebs around here sure have built up! Sure has been quiet too. I've made up for all that silence at my house. Baby cries, giggles, and yes, even some words! Allie Beth turned one just a couple weeks ago and she is such a joy. See?

Growing ever so slowly more independent from her mother, I have been able to squeeze a couple hours here or there and make something. My nights are once again becoming my own and I'm trying to balance them so that I can create, but also have enough energy during the day.

I was in an local art show at the Sundust Gallery in July- first time ever for something like that. It was one of those "time to push myself" moments so that I could have the experience. It was great seeing my paintings on a gallery wall. My girls told me that my art was in a museum. lol One painting sold and I am still waiting to get paid. haha I saw it sitting in the office waiting to be packed up and I wanted so badly to know who bought it, where it was going to go, etc. That's one of the advantages to selling online. Sometimes I even get pictures of them on display- more fun that way!

I have a few things that are practically finished and a couple that actually are! lol In an effort to address my fabric stash (exact size unknown as it is hidden all over the house!), I made this themed rag ball set just in time for Halloween.

You can click on the picture to go to the listing. More pictures too.

Thanks for sticking around and waiting for my little Allie to not need me so much. She's my last baby, and along with juggling my 2 redhead beauties, the break from art was just what we all needed. <3

What I Did Over My Summer Vacation...

2010-10-19T14:11:00.004-07:00

May I introduce to you my favorite art project of the year?

I worked very hard on this little art doll!

Hours and hours of late nights and no sleep.

I carried her everywhere to keep her safe.

We seeked the advice of several experts to make sure she turned out just right.

And she did. You won't see her listed anywhere, we're keeping this one.

She's priceless.

Allison Elizabeth

September 8, 2010

12:19 pm

We are settled in- she is a very good baby- so much so that my little kitchen studio is busy again! Expect to see some Jack-o-lanterns glowing on these pages soon!

Hope you are enjoying these nice fall days! :)

P.S. She showers us in smiles now too! :)

Rock a Bye Baby on the Tree Top...

2010-06-27T12:16:00.005-07:00

This is the cradle that Dave made for Madeline Mae. She has a Wizard of Oz room and for Christmas she asked for a cradle to rock her baby dolls in.
My hubby can do amazing things with wood! I'm very lucky that I can draw him something and he can make it. This design, however, was all his! We have this arrangement where he builds and I finish it. Something to do with almost passing out in the garage while tediously finishing our 400 piece armoire when I was pregnant with Lil. lol

I've been trying to convince him to sell on Etsy. I think I'm making progress! Most of the pieces he makes are very large- furniture, storage units, princess headboards. Lillian sleeps in the cap of a toadstool every night in her fairy bedroom...I'll have to show you pictures of that sometime! He's been brainstorming on some items that are smaller and more reasonable to ship.

So anyway, the idea here is that one of the nice apple trees in the Land of Oz is rocking the baby dolls away to some sweet dreams of their own. A castle and unicorn at Madeline's request...

And Auntie Em's farm on the other side, because we all know there is no place like home.
That's all for now, except for that tonight, I wish you all a very sweet...

Garden Delights

2010-05-21T22:43:00.002-07:00

Hello! I've posted two paintings for this challenge! It was really fun and in a totally unintentional way. When I wrote down the theme, I accidentally left out the "de" in delights. I kind of liked that...without light, sunlight anyway. :)

So I have some bugs getting their groove on at a twilight garden party and a garden statue angel hit by moonlight. Moonlight is one of my favorite things. I used to love going to sleep at night as a kid just watching the moon shine it's light through my window. :)

I managed to put three other ones up too...trying to catch up. :) You can find them here. Do a search for PWGL and you will find more.

Goodnight all! Hope you are lucky enough to get a glimpse of that moonlight!

A Little Treasury Told Me...

2010-05-18T17:23:00.002-07:00

So here I was trying to think of a witty way to tell you the results of my latest ultrasound, when I got an email saying I had been included in an Etsy Treasury! The title? LOL No joke- "A Boy or a Girl?" Click here to check it out. :)

The answer to that question? A GIRL!!! How cute is that? It will be fun when they are all grown up, in each other's weddings, being wonderful aunts to each other's babies! We are looking forward to meeting her! So far she seems to be wanting a gymnastics career and is tumbling around like crazy!

I'm thinking of starting an all girl band...possible names...Lillian and the Shortcakes or the Strawberry Shortcake Trio...this one is bound to be a redhead too, right? :)

In other news, I've spent the ENTIRE day making a video for a family member...I don't know how that happens...I TRY to do it quickly, but it takes forever! Anyone know of a great editing program? So far, Windows Movie Maker and FlipShare are about the same speed. Or maybe it's just me. :o

I hope you all have a day that is full of sugar and spice, and everything nice! I know we will! :)

Happy Mother's Day!!

2010-05-09T17:57:00.002-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!
-To my Mom, who's also my best friend! Thank you for the daily talks, wisdom and insights, and even the wake up calls that help me improve my own parenting skills. :) Thank you for always giving me a creative outlet...right from the start. For showing me that it is not scary to paint or create, but fun!

-To my Mother-In-Law, for always being so nice and a special friend! I am very lucky to have a MIL like you!

-To Dave's Grandmother and Aunt, for being so sweet and encouraging to all the Wright girls! :)

-To my fabulous Sister-In-Law...you know you rock! And not just because you bring me the BEST apple bread when I'm pregnant! ;) You are such a source of joy for my two little redhead beauties! They have the best aunt ever and they know it!

-To my blog friends, local friends and friends far away...Happy Mother's Day to you too! Even if you are not a Mom, you can still make a difference in a child's life...and that is worth celebrating too!

Six Months Ago...

2010-05-04T10:19:00.008-07:00

I decided to take a leap... a risk...just for the sake of taking advantage of every little moment...

Well, that leap led to a big surprise and my face pretty much looked like this for the rest of the day! There was also lots of screaming and grabbing my head in disbelief!

I was told it would be a while before anything would actually happen. All the while I kept wondering, "Was it real, or just a dream?" as well as the imfamous, "Are they going to come to their senses and change their mind?"

Until one day, after opening the mailbox, I felt like this...

Now, I just can't help but smile when I think of it...

So what's the fuss all about?!

My Alice doll is one of the features in the latest Art Doll Quarterly!!!
The whole experience was just so much fun, from the beginning to the end. Making her, lol, make that figuring OUT how to make her, selling her, meeting Suzan and corresponding with her while we repaired her from her fall. From being nervous about sending my submission off and feeling like I won the lottery when Jana told me they wanted an article about her, writing my first ever article outside of school, to having her show up in the mail, glossy photos and all, it has been a blast! :)

I hope you get a chance to pick up a copy- there are some crazy cool dolls in there- including art dolls that move!

Can you believe it?! I'm still wrapping my head around it! Thank you for giving me such happy moments! Your visits mean the world to me! It also wouldn't have happened without the lovely and helpful editor of ADQ, Jana Holstein, and Suzan, Alice's sweet and VERY funny owner, who actually drove Alice over to Stampington herself and gave her up for several months just so she could have her photo shoot!

If you are visiting me for the first time, WELCOME!! Be sure to check out Alice's original post, the one about her latest fall down the rabbit hole, and the cream pie fight, I mean video I made about my adventures in Wonderland!

Hugs to all...I'm off to my next adventure! In celebration, nothing but painting, smushing clay, and playing for the rest of the week! Woohoo!

With gratitude,

Let Spring Break Begin!!!

2010-03-15T08:34:00.004-07:00

YAY!!!!

It is spring break here at the Victorian Lady's house and we are all very excited! I am now out of my first trimester (double yay!), morning sickness along with all others, have subsided and the majority of the work is done. I tried to clear this week up so that the girls and I can just play, and paint, and create together...something that has been LONG overdue for all of us!

In the meantime, I do have some past events to share with you that you haven't seen yet. Are you ready? :D

First up is a long promised photo of the fair I did with my friend. The abstracts belong to her, as well as the cute little fairies-quinns. The look of the booth kept changing, things were going and we kept adding to it. It was fun, and I learned a lot. I might do more next year, but not one that requires me to work the register for 12 hours. I slept very little working to fill the booth, so much so that I got sick and then had to work the fair too. Then I would go home and paint until 2 am! Overall, though, total success! :)

Madeline discovered that she loves to decorate trees, and then undecorate them, and then decorate them again. She had a white snowman topped tree that she could do whatever she wanted with. See that look of satisfaction on her face when I gave her a whole box of candy canes to hang?

Ahh...sisters. :) Lillian is so sweet to Madeline and you can see how Maddie feels in this hug. That is how it is supposed to be.

Some sweetness by the Christmas tree. Lillian had a very special date for Valentines at the Daddy Daughter Dance. They both came back all light up, and then Dave collapsed on the couch! He said the DJ put them through quite a workout!

I was going to show you what we made Madeline for Christmas, but the pictures aren't that great. I'll take some new ones and make them their own post. To make up for it, here's a laugh for you!

Before I go, I wanted to thank you all for the sweet comments from my last post. I appreciate it!

Hugs to you all!!

P.S. What are YOUR plans for spring break? :)

My Latest WIP

2010-02-15T16:46:00.002-07:00

!!!!! Surprise! Now you know why I've been away for so long! Morning sickness and fatigue are NOT my friends! It really has been overwhelming, more than my other two pregnancies. I haven't been able to do much...too dizzy. I miss you all, and haven't made anything in a while. I am not the kind that could lay in bed all day, especially with my family and art waiting. It's been very depressing.

I am trying to stay positive though- We planned this pregnancy and even though I've been stuck in bed, I haven't had a single migraine. I consider myself very lucky for that! With Lil and Maddie I had them the whole first trimester. I am 10 weeks along, so I hope to be myself again once everything settles down. :)

There is another part to this story. My ultrasound at 6 weeks showed 2 sacs- twins! We were so shocked! It was a good and scary thing at the same time. Good because it was another life, a blessing. Scary because it was two times everything! We were given books with great tips about how to manuever twins- thanks Holly! Lots of family members eagerly volunteered to help us get through the first few tricky months. We could do this.

In that 2 weeks, I heard a lot of great stories about twins. Even though they are twice as much work, they are twice as much of a blessing too. Twice as many coos, etc. And any parents of twins should get a medal... I mean it!

Then, at my 8 week ultrasound, we were told that one twin had vanished. We were aware that this could happen, especially with such an early ultrasound...turns out it is more common than people think. Toss in some pregnancy hormones and I was quite a mess. Even though I knew it could happen. Even though I knew that the remaining baby had a much better chance at avoiding premature birth and tons of other complications. Even though my fears of not being able to give each child enough attention were gone.

While I understood these things, I still was sad for the loss of whoever that was. Not in the same way as someone that was actually born and lived a life here on earth, but still sad. I got used to the idea of twins, I accepted it, and was even looking forward to it. It wasn't a great day.

Things are better now.

It just wasn't in the cards for me, and that's okay. I did nothing extra to have twins, and there was nothing I could do to stop one from vanishing. And I'm STILL blessed when it comes to children. I have my 2 little redhead beauties, and 1 healthy baby growing in my belly. We are talking STRONG heartbeat people! :) So please, no pity parties for me...it's all good! :)

I painted this before all the pregnancy fun set in...I knew what it meant then, but it is much more significant to me now.

It's a reminder to put your heart into what you do in life. Make it the best it can be. Then send it off, let it go, with no regrets and no worries about how things work out. Because you did all you could.

My Peppermint Girl

2009-11-24T22:03:00.003-07:00

This folk art doll sculpture was made for a PWGL challenge entitled "Enchanted Christmas." However, so many hours went into her that I missed the entry date completely. Like, swoosh, completely flew over my head!

She has just come back from the factory, conveniently located in the North Pole, because really, that's where all the enchanted Christmas people live right?

After spending her day making sweet confections, she's getting to do what she's been thinking about all day- decorating for Christmas! See that pinkalicious garland? It's about to go on her fireplace! Right next to her tree of ooey gooey gumdrops!

This challenge really was a challenge for me...just not used to making such a whimsical face. I debated a lot with myself, but figured it would be more fun to eat a peppermint if someone like this actually made them!

She's on ebay now until Thanksgiving night. If she doesn't sell, I'll be taking her over to Briar Patch on Friday.

It does make me curious though, what is your favorite Christmas candy? Without a doubt, mine is peppermint bark...YUM! :)

Best of luck to you all as you get ready for Thanksgiving!! :)

Peppermint Bliss

2009-11-23T20:49:00.005-07:00

Well, hello ladies! :) How is everyone today? I can't believe it has been so long since my last post! I've been working like crazy to get ready for Briar Patch...it is this FRIDAY!!! Time has just flown by!

But first, Bliss Fest!! This event was put on by the store Domestic Bliss in Mesa- a store that is full of eye candy! Allow me to introduce to you a few of my favorite bloggers/artists. First, there is Tricia, from Vintage Bliss. She makes wonderful items and has great little vintage items too! :)Next up is Julie Haymaker Thompson...she is one of my all time FAVORITES!! I am so glad she moved to Arizona and I can't wait to take one of her classes. Seriously folks, check her out- she rocks with a capital R! And now I have a piece of my own! :)Ironically, another one of my favorites is her cousin, Beth Quinn! Creativity and talent must run in the family! I admit to not being a big fan of jewelry, but that is just NOT the case when it comes to Beth! I had been drooling over her necklaces long enough and finally got one of my own! She has the best sayings right in her pendants. Mine says, "She loves her journey." How perfect is that?! Such an optimistic sentence...one you can believe when you are happy with the way things are in your life, but also when things are hard because it is the hard times that gets you to the good ones...it's all part of the journey! :)I also got to visit with Michelle of Mosaic Cottage. I have definitely talked about her before! She is putting those antique doll heads on her cupcakes now...pure heaven! Each artist was just as sweet as pie...it was a such a treat to go! :) I mean, really, how lucky am I to have all these artists right here in my part of town?! It's like Esther Smith being excited about the Worlds Fair being in St. Louis! Don't know what I'm talking about? Watch this!

Our little outing also served as a Mommy-Daughter date. So the icing on the cupcake was that I got to share it all with my little girl who is not so little anymore. Can she be eight already???Now to what has been consuming all my time lately...the show! The sad part is, I have no plan. What I make anyway is so random...I have so many WIPs I'm just trying to finish them all and throw some paintings in with all the cupboards and scrap wood I've been hoarding. It has been very satisfying to go through my stash...which is way too large even though I've been extremely thrifty in how I have gotten it, and using only what I have. I really want to get some sewing done...I have an antique red velvet bedspread that is just amazing and patiently waiting to be turned into something else. I know I'll never get it all done in time, but I'm still determined to try! :) I may never do this show again and want to make the most of it!

In searching for ideas, I remembered this photograph that I love. These are Dave's grandparents, Florence & Pete. I hear they were a very cute couple....looks like it doesn't it? :)

Pete died when my hubby was just a newborn, but Florence is just as devoted to him now as she was then. I wanted to do a folky version of the photo and here it is: Not my regular face, I know! It wasn't planned, but I liked how it looked and decided to stop. Kind of funky I think!

A Goodwill makeover: I would love to live in white and weather house in the country like this!

I'll post tomorrow about my Peppermint Girl...this post has gotten a bit long. Thanks for sticking through to the end!

Have a happy day!

Mere

P.S. I posted this on my facebook, but through this process, I have noticed that I have an art quirk! I have to work on three things at a time in order to be happy when creating. Sure it gives things time to dry, but why three? Don't know! It made me curious though, as to what other art quirks might be out there....what is YOURS? :)

Busy as a bee and...

2009-11-09T10:04:00.009-07:00

...I have so much to tell you!! :)

First off, I was interviewed this last weekend by one of my favorite bloggers...Jennifer Rizzo of Sanctuary Art for her Women Who Create series. If this is your first time visiting me, WELCOME!! :) If not, thanks for coming back! :) If you have not been to Jen's blog yet, you must go see what this wonderful woman can do with discarded furniture and a gallon of paint! Her blog is full of great tutorials too! I want her home, I really do! :) Thank you for such an honor Jen!

Secondly, I'm sorry for being MIA, but that show wore me OUT! In two days, I had 1.5 hours sleep! It went well, but I'd have to say it is a lot easier to sell online than in person. I'm still glad I did it though!

It was so much fun to meet so many people and see their reactions to our booth. One sweet lady even sat down with us and we enjoyed a nice long talk! Here are some photos from our booth.
My friend, Jeri, did the landscapes and abstracts, and all the little nifty home decor items. She has a blog now...finally! :) She is one of my best friends, and we have a blast on our designated art day that we have once a week! We are now getting ready for our next show, Briar Patch, on the 27th. Come and see us if you can!

Here are some of my latest pieces. I'm also busy working on a peppermint candy girl for a PWGL challenge...it's been fun! :)

A Good Laugh is Sunshine in a House

She Has Stolen His Heart

This is from a photo I took of a birdhouse at a round barn in Frederickburg, Texas. The barn looks like the birdhouse!

You have to love Jodi Messina! :)

The Late Rabbit's Portrait

My first Christmas angel for the season. Real glass glitter on her wings!

Lastly, I'm so excited to tell you that I heard back from Stampington! They want to do a feature on Alice for Art Doll Quarterly!!! The owner of Alice was even so kind to drive her over there for her photo shoot! Thank you Suzan! It sure makes a girl feel lucky and blessed, that is, once I got over the shock! lol

Thanks again for stopping by...my next post will be on our Mommy/Daughter date at BlissFest!

Have a great day all!

Look What I've Gotten Myself Into!

2009-10-20T10:20:00.004-07:00

Hello all! Thanks for all the kind words on Jack! It was so sweet of you! He was really fun to do and is on his way to his new home. :)

I've been taking a lot of risks lately. It's not my nature, but I'm making myself do it.

It's partly one of those live life while you have life to live things and partly about seeing where I am going in this adventure I'm taking with art.

Starting this blog was one of those steps. Listing items was another. Joining Prim & Whimsy Girls. Each step I took was not done without me wondering if I can do this. Do what I love.

It's been fun, SO much fun, and I've met so many great people that I never would have met otherwise. YOU, of course, customers that have become friends, other artists. What a great ride.

So I've taken another couple of steps. First, I sent pictures of the Alice Story Doll I did to Somerset for their Alice in Wonderland challenge. In March, they will be doing a whole issue dedicated to the story for the movie...can't wait! If they don't choose her, that's okay. It was all about taking the risk and maybe getting a chance to be part of something fun.

Second, I'm going to be doing two shows this fall! I admit that I am nervous, but it's not a risk if you're not nervous! :) A friend of mine is sharing a booth with me and we are SO busy getting ready for the first one...this SATURDAY!! If you are local and want to stop by, consider yourself invited! :) I'd love to see you!

Here's the information:
In other news, I just came back from TEXAS. I LOVE Texas! We did SO much and I have great pictures, but that will have to wait for another post as I have some sculpture thing-ies waiting for me!

Is there a risk you've been thinking about taking? I'd love to hear about it! Maybe you could take that leap of faith today! It would definitely make life more exciting, now wouldn't it? :)

Have a great day today!

Aww...Poor Jack

2009-10-13T21:56:00.004-07:00

Poor Jack.

Left all alone in the pumpkin patch.

Like the awkward kid in gym class, he has not been picked to grace a happy home on Halloween.

OH, how he longed to be choosen. To have children deliberate on what kind of face he should have. Alas, that was not his fate.

So what's a Jack to do when life hands him a head full of pumpkin seeds and guts?

CARVE HIMSELF!

Okay...I know it doesn't sound so nice, but actually it is quite painless. Pumpkins are used to getting carved, you know...and they tend to like it.

And THIS way, Jack was able to choose what kind of face he would have HIMSELF, and being a bit of control freak, he is very happy about that.

He's not quite finished yet...he's almost there. But you can see from the look on his face that he is thinking to himself, "Hey! This is turning out GREAT!" Special thanks to my hubby, who drew me a sketch and said, "Make this!"

To which I did, and we stayed up very late to finish him. We took a video too, so that you can see what he looks like all light up and flickering.

Please excuse my slurred, sleepy voice in the video below. I swear, no alcohol was involved in the making of this Jack...just lots and lots of time!

He's on ebay, along with more pictures and jokes that I couldn't resist making. I get VERY chatty with my ebay auctions. LOL

Introducing Sir Maxwell Webbington the 3rd!

2009-10-09T08:06:00.003-07:00

Hello!
Isn't it SO exciting when summer turns to fall?! Our fall is probably a lot different from yours, but if I imagine hard enough, I can put myself back on the east coast, where rust colored leaves fall like snow as I drive through the windy, shaded roads. All it takes to bring me back there is for it to be cool enough to put the window down, feel that little chill, and smell someone's barbeque smoking. Ahhhh... Fall is my FAVORITE season and Halloween my FAVORITE holiday!

My mind is bUrStInG with ideas for Halloween little creatures and things. I am in a mad dash to get them all out before it is too late. Girls, I don't think I am going to make it!

I did, however, accomplish a lot yesterday and wanted to share with you my progress. First, some of you might remember my spider girl I did a year ago? Well, every spider lady needs a spider suitor right? I mean, isn't life more exciting when you have someone wooing you? Not wanting to leave her lonely, allow me to introduce Sir Maxwell Webbington the 3rd!

See his spats?! He is also sporting an orange tuxedo ruffle shirt and a crumbled, yet still stylish top hot!

A suitor always comes bearing gifts, but flowers are of no use to my spider lady. Sir Maxwell knows better and can be seen here presenting fresh, dead flies! See the x on each eye...catch of the day I tell you! :)

Little side note: I love that with this journey I can do the unexpected. However, it makes your stories kind of odd to other people that don't get it. Like once, I was telling a friend a story and it started with, "I was making detective capes and..." She outright started laughing and said, "How often does someone start out a conversation saying they were making dectective capes?!" I see her point and it has stuck with me over time. While I think life is more interesting the way I am living it now, I know I'll get a similar reaction if I tell anyone but you all about the time I was making dead flies and my hands kept shaking while putting on the wings! It was frustrating, but also funny too...like a game of operation!

So anyway, thanks for listening to my odd stories!

Here is a WIP photo...this is the one my hubby drew for me! He is so talented on so many levels, especially with wood. I draw him a picture and he will make it for me in wood. This time, he drew me a sketch and wanted me to make it. It is awfully nice to return the favor!

For now, it is just a race against time. Will it dry fast enough to finish before it's too late? At least I have the remnants of an Arizona summer on my side!

Have a great day ladies! Make it count! :)

PWGL Giveaway!!

2009-10-05T09:52:00.004-07:00

Happy Monday! Are you in the mood to win a Halloween treat?! Well then! Head on down to Prim & Whimsy to be entered into their Tricks & Treats Blog Giveaway! My Witch's Tea Party print is up for grabs along with lots of other Halloween goodies!

Our whole house was hit with the flu- and Lil and I caught it TWICE!!! We are all finally on the mend! I am so happy to actually feel like doing something again! I have orders to ship and then 2 Halloween sculptures to finish before the 9th. What do you say girls? Will you hold me accountable? :)

I hope you are all feeling well and that you stay that way! :)

Wanted to Share...

2009-09-29T12:14:00.003-07:00

This is by Pam Warden...I love her sense of humor! Love this!! She gave me permission to share this with you. You can check out more by going to her blog. :)

Have a great day! I'm off to feed my sick girls...poor babies!

Uh oh! It's an Art Emergency!

2009-09-24T16:55:00.003-07:00

DEE doo DEE doo DEE... make way!

Look what arrived in my mailbox! I could hear the sirens from inside my house! Unfortunately, this was a box I was expecting, but definitely not all painted up like this! This lady rocks, I have to say...and she even included some blooming tea for her plastic surgeon! Thank you Suzan!

You see, Alice arrived at her new home in California. She was all packed up ever so carefully in a excessively painted box. Her new owner was very happy to have it until someone she knew dropped it from her hands and well...let's just say that the Queen appeared to have gotten her wish for Alice after all! Oh my!

Thankfully, Alice was able to be saved! Here she is in the operating room...she asks that you please pardon her current condition. Her collar was all cracked and her nose and forehead were broken. She is now making a speedy recovery.

Here is another WIP...does he look familar? ;) I will give you a hint...he has a girlfriend...who lives in New Jersey!

This is the top of an old trunk I found. It has embossed metal on it and it felt very Henry VIII to me. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that my husband was sick for his birthday and we spent it having a Tudor marathon! So here is my Anne Boleyn...

That's it for today girls! Have a great night! :)

P.S. What did YOU make today? Tell me and I will come see! :)

I've been having a "wicked" time...

2009-09-20T09:55:00.006-07:00

Hello my pretties! :)

Here's hoping you are all having a great weekend! :) I've been so exicted for Halloween...been making all kinds of creatures. Even my hubby has gotten in on the act! He drew me a sketch and I can't WAIT to make it!

For now, though, I have a bunch of witch items all finished up and ready to go to new homes. Can you tell I'm reading "Wicked?" LOL

They are already up on ebay and etsy with ooodles of pictures...feel free to fly on over to check them out! I had a great time coming up with the descriptions...especially on the sisters...so I hope you'll at least go for the read and a good chuckle. ;)

In all the excitement, we made a video for you too! Come see how witches get their supplies...over at Potions & Cackles...your everyday store for things so very NOT everyday!

Have a mAgIcAl day! :)

Poll: Who is your favorite doer of the week?

2009-09-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

Poll: Who is your favorite doer of the week?

One of our very own...Johanna Parker, has been picked by Martha Stewart for the Doer of the Week contest. Ten weeks, ten doers, and Johanna is one of them! Let's shoot her to the top...what do you say? After all, think of all the eye candy she has given us! :)

Thanks so much!

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning...

2009-09-17T02:07:00.003-07:00

Oh, I am sure that you know how it goes. The house starts to get quiet. You think to yourself, "I might get some time to paint tonight!" You put your family to bed. Oldest daughter, snoring. Youngest daughter, tucked in bed and watching a cartoon. Hubby already asleep. Yes!

You sneak downstairs. You think about what favorite music/movie you want playing while you have your time. My choice was an old black and white...surely AMC or TMC would deliver. Nope. The best I could get was Cleopatra...the Elizabeth Taylor one. I'll take it!
Then...all hope vanishes. Just as you get the primer on your surface, down comes hubby. The commotion of that makes Madeline curious and she's out of bed now too...into my paints and all excited. "Is it time to paint, Mommy?!" No Madeline...it's after 10 o'clock...back to bed....both of you!

Maddie is so excited that she can't sleep. I lay with her and hubby in our bed, hoping they both fall asleep before I do so I can sneak back downstairs to play.

Well friends...I made it! I will pay for it tomorrow I am sure. At first I was just going to paint until midnight, but I only got to start at 11pm instead of 10, so when I saw that it was 5 minutes past my deadline, I shrugged it off. How much longer would I be, anyway?

Yeah...okay, so now it is 2:15am!! I got lost...never looked up at the clock after that. I painted feathers...why would anyone ever think to look at the clock when they are painting feathers?! :)

I knew YOU would understand. And that is why I am staying up even later to share the result of that quiet place I snuck away to. Because you get it!

A while back, I posted this sketch on my facebook...I couldn't wait to paint her. She is a wallflower. A young woman at a ball in a Victorian Village who is too shy to dance. But oh, does she love to watch the taffeta and lace twirl this way and that. She is a Victorian Villager. More on that to come! Oh! And you must know...that after I took the photos, I realized that she didn't quite match my sketch. The girl in the sketch had hair more appropriate for a ball...a bit high. I like her better know...these people I create live in my "world," and in my world, no one has to have flat hair! Plus, it makes me want to go out and buy a bump-it!
That's all for now...when you are reading this, I will probably be sleeping in. That is, unless Madeline still wants to paint!

Thank you for your visit and sweet dreams!

What I Did on My Summer Vacation Part 2

2009-09-13T17:13:00.006-07:00

Well, HELLLLLOOOO there! Madeline Mae here to give you the second and last part of what we did on our summer vacation! Mommy would be here to tell you herself- she feels bad for being away so long, but August was a crazy month for us! Lots of car repairs and a couple surgeries (Daddy and our puppy dog) kept her away from the 'puter. She did paint and squish stuff around a lot though...I know because I painted along with her. I LOVE painting.

She promises to show you all the little witches she's made soon! That's what I want to be for Halloween you know! Mommy said I could dress up as anything I want and people will give me CANDY...can you believe that?!

We took a very little trip to the beach! Since we are 6 hours away, we camped out nearby! I love tents...they are fun to run in and out of. Sissy even showed me how to play with her DS. I wanna be like her someday...

The beach is SO much fun! I only went to the water once...the waves were a little scary, but I did catch a couple of them. I kicked them and said, "Bad water, bad!" The rest of the day I played in the sand and all my toys with my friends, Katlind and Lucas. They are cool!

We went to Mission Beach...isn't it pretty?

Here is sissy with Kay Kay. I LOVE Kay Kay. Sissy is pretty cool too.

Mommy couldn't get over the sunset...it was SO pretty. It was her birthday and she was so happy to be there with Daddy, us, and her grown up friends Miss Holly and Mister Dan and their kids! They even brought dinner at the fire pit and a cake too! Thank you Miss Holly! It was yummy!

Mommy thought it couldn't get any prettier...until she saw THIS:

That wraps up our summer...onto this Halloween thing and lots of fall fun! Mommy promises the next posts will have lots of paintings and sculptures, and thrifty finds too! :)

What's your favorite beach story? What's the prettiest beach you've been to?

Have a good day! From Madeline Mae! :)

What a Wonderful World...Love this!

2009-08-29T20:39:00.001-07:00

2009-08-20T18:17:00.003-07:00

Hello my lovelies!!

This is my Alice Story Doll. I have finally finished her...she was meant to be finished for the Mad Hatter Tea Party, but she needed more attention than I could give her. She is the last Alice thing I will be doing for a while. :)

The point of these dolls is to put the character's passion where it belongs, inside the doll because it is defines its character.

Don't our passions drive every sense of our being?

When we are not following our passion, does it not constantly call to us to come back?

For Alice in Wonderland, what drives her is her curiousity. After all, without it, she would have never followed that untimely rabbit down his hole, not to mention deeper and deeper into Wonderland!

The diorama part of the story doll has a lot of detail. If you recall, the hole was lined with furniture and shelves, full of all things a rabbit would need.

My favorite?

The portrait of the Rabbit himself.

Other things you will find: clocks, books, candles, carrots, bi-focals, etc.

The rabbit is suspended in the doll, caught in time as he dives down further into the hole.

A yellow heart is on the back of his red vest...it matches his yellow buttons.

A clock rests snugly in his pocket.

What is YOUR passion?

What are you doing today to make sure you follow it?

Haven't done it yet?

Get those feet up and moving! :)

What I Did Over My Summer Vacation, by The Victorian Lady Part 1

2009-08-15T15:30:00.009-07:00

This is what I did on my summer vacation.... I flew across the country out of the desert and into the green. I appreciated every leaf and blade of grass...it was a drink for the eyes.
I met up with a wonderful friend and we drove to Virginia to see this wonderful friend get married. Guess what else? Her mom was my Brownie leader! :)

It was witnessed by this amazing and supportive family. My friend's road in life has been bumpy, and they were there for her at every mile, cheering her on.We stayed with another friend at her campground and were treated like Queens...thank you dear friend! :)

The next day we went to Williamsburg...we saw things like this apothecary...

The church of the presidents...

The garden of my dreams...

Lots of beautiful old treasures. The blacksmith shop actually had large spirals of metal that the huge trees had grown around, trapping them there forever. It was beautiful.

Then treats of all treats, look what was there that I had NO idea about:

!!!!!!!! Can you believe it??

I even took some video...just for you... Sorry it's not edited and snazzy, but the I think the beautiful paintings are enough. :)

Back in my hometown again...this was my great grandfathers house...my Dad grew up there. It was a magical place next to Longwood Gardens where my great grandfather did all the beautiful water fountains. They would hold water shows where they would light the water different colors and make them go off to music...very enjoyable to watch! :) They still do them...if you are nearby, don't miss this massive garden delight!

The house is actually FOR SALE (I want it SO bad!) Even if it didn't have all kinds of family history, it is still my dream house. The lady who owns it actually let us in! We showed her where the laundry shoot was...she didn't even know it existed!

The above tombstone is for Dani. I've never seen another like it and know she'll appreciate it! :)

Just as I appreciate your visit! Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for part 2!

Wow.

2009-08-06T09:33:00.002-07:00

Hello Lovelies! I know I've been a bit absent, but I was at the beach for my birthday! We had SUCH a great time, until our ac broke on the way back! Yes, 3.5 hours with 118 degree air beating into your face. It is official, I want out of Arizona!!

But that is icky stuff, and I don't want to focus on that. What would be the point? I won't waste my life like that. SOOOO, please enjoy the video below...I LOVE this artist...I am sure I will hear her on the radio someday.

Oh, and while I was sweltering in that unbearable heat, I came up with a few ideas for you all! Some ways that we can have fun together! Sound good? I think so too!

Toodles!

My Birthday Present...

2009-07-24T08:47:00.002-07:00

Hello! I'm sorry I was away...I was in Virginia for a friend's wedding...a friend all the way back from Brownies!! What a treat it was to be with two of my oldest friends again! I "journaled" my trip through ATC cards and will share soon. For now, look at the class I just signed up for! It is an early birthday present...it's really on the 3rd, but there is an earlybird special. :) Gritty Jane is going to share her wisdom! I am excited to learn about shading, adding depth and shape to my faces, and applying it to my own style. Maybe I'll even conquer painting a nose! :)

I <3 My Girls...

2009-07-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

One of My Favorite Songs...Enjoy!

2009-07-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

It's a Mad, Mad, World....

2009-07-06T09:05:00.002-07:00

Hello! :) I hope you are all recovering from the holiday weekend! We hung out at my parents...my mom makes a great sloppy joe! :) I'm so lucky in that they are my parents, but also my friends too. :) How was your holiday?!

A big thanks to all who came to our Mad Hatter Tea Party...it was so great to have you! :) This painting of Alice is *finally* up on ebay...I'm hoping to have the story doll finished soon as well.

Last night while I was reheating said sloppy joes, I heard a song that gave me an idea for a painting. More like the idea slapped me on the head and screamed, "Paint Me!" I love that! I've got some things to do first, but I can't wait to get to it! :)

This painting is also hanging out on ebay. She was one of those, end of the day, everyone's asleep, just have to create SoMeThInG kind of paintings. Those are fun...you don't think ahead, you just start grabbing and glueing and smush paint around. This is my first time piecing the background together...I think I might just be hooked. :) The blues are mostly scraps of wallpaper that I use to package my prints, with bits of sewing from when I make them envelopes. The pink floral is from a past painting and the bottom was the ringmaster's hat from the circus video. I loved the way the paint went over the embossed pattern...that is definitely my kind of fun! Oh! And this painting is sealed with beeswax too...another new favorite...I love the feel of the wax over all the pieces, threads...

It's fitting that this painting was a combination of all things "These Are the Days" and the quote about friends. I'm grateful for your visits and support and definitely consider you my friend. :)

Thank you for that!

Oh! And the winner of the Alice in Wonderland tassle is.....Tumbleweed Trails! Email me girlie! :)

Toodles!

2nd Annual Mad Hatter's Tea Party

2009-06-27T15:12:00.002-07:00

I'm late! I'm late! But I still made it! :) Here is my contribution for A Fanciful Twist's 2nd Annual Mad Hatter Tea Party!

"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop."

In honor of this great event, I'm having a giveaway! Become one of my kindred spirits by following my blog to be entered to win an Alice in Wonderland tassle! :) Drawing will be held on July 4th.

Have a great day!

The Mad Hatter Was Here!

2009-06-26T18:37:00.003-07:00

See? He really was! It was quite a party! A party in honor of this:

Come back tomorrow for the video! Toodles! :)

Happy Father's Day!!

2009-06-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

Going to be cooking today for the men in my life! :) Here's the post I did last year for Father's Day...it's worth repeating!
Have a great day everyone! :)

Click here

Hey...how was your day?

2009-06-19T23:46:00.003-07:00

Hello Dolls! How was your day? Did you attack that never ending to-do list? Blow it off and play hookey doing something fun? Tell me about it! I'd love to know! :)

Here's what happened in this house:

Packed and shipped off some paintings...Lillian helped with this one...she wants to learn. Since I'm new to it all, we are figuring it out together. :)

Can you guess which one this box was for?Worked on our silly faces and played with Little People...this might as well be a picture of me as a kid. :)Worked on my Alice story doll...hey didn't that Queen of Hearts say, "Off with her head?!" I better make one...quick!Started a girl bonding tradition with my Lil. She was all light up inside over this!! My girl is growing up!

Your turn! :)

New House on the Market! lol

2009-06-19T06:43:00.004-07:00

Hello all! I'm taking a break from playing around with my first adventures with beeswax and joint compound (but so far not together....hmmm?) to do Broomhilda a favor. Seems she's changed careers a bit and is dabbling in real estate. She asked me to post this here...for the full listing, you can go here. lol (Can you tell I'm in a quirky mood this morning?)
-------------------------------------

Where do witches live?

In a witch house of course! Up for sale today, offered by Spell Real Estate is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with a beautiful potion room, uh, I mean kitchen.
This house was a custom build for a very particular witch. She loved polka dots...had her house painted that way with lots of texture. They are a bit hard to see in this photo...there was a full moon out that night and it produced some glare.

She was an great gardener too...those teal flowers are also used in love potion #9, just in case you need to make any.

The previous owner also had a great appreciation for all that glitters, so much so that her roof is nice and sparkly.Don't miss out on this great buy...properties like this are rare and get snatched up quickly! This one is only available because the owner had a fight with her sister and she turned her into a...well, you don't want to know that now, do you?

House stands approximately 11" tall...a spooky addition to your lot!

Cackle Cackle Cackle!!

Materials: armature, paper mache, tissue paper, glitter, polymer clay, frog legs, eye of newt, and a dash of ground bat bone

P.S. Thanks ladies. If Broomhilda starts to sell for Avon, I promise not to post about it here! lol

Paint Here, There, and Everywhere!

2009-06-17T01:11:00.003-07:00

I just adore Mystele...it's so nice to have such a great friend in blogland! Watch her work her magic in this video! :)

May Your House Be a Fun House!

2009-06-13T10:57:00.002-07:00

I wanted to make a house that would remind me to keep my OWN home FUN...a FUN HOUSE!

This lovable house has LOTS of texture...love love love texture I tell ya!

This house may have a red roof, but it is green, green, GREEN! :) The fun house is made out of recyclables!

May your home always be fun...and covered in polka dots too! :)

It's appropriate that I post about my fun house on a Saturday! I hope you all enjoy your weekend!

YART SALE!!!

2009-06-11T17:39:00.005-07:00

I love yard sales! :) When I heard that etsy was having a y-art sale, I knew I wanted to participate! I have original paintings, mini paintings, and even some home decor discounted for the yart sale...right here in my etsy shop.
You can find lots more by searching for yart as well! So go on, have some fun! Here's hoping you find yourself a treasure!

Toodles!

I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends...

2009-06-09T14:56:00.003-07:00

Just a shout out to let you know I'm on facebook...are you on it too?
I'd love to have you as a friend!

Today's my Mom's birthday...Happy Birthday Mom!!

Allowing Yourself to Bloom! :)

2009-06-05T09:15:00.005-07:00

Good Morning Ladies! :) I want to thank you for stopping by and thank you for all your recent comments! I save them all to reply to or come visit you on your blog. I really enjoy seeing what you are up to, in art and in life as well. I got so wrapped up in a visitor's blog yesterday, I'd like to find a way to feature those that follow my blog...there are just so many amazing women out there and everything you share is such a gift to me. :) Can you tell I'm loving blogland? :)

Anyway, I have another painting to share with you...it's different, but I think the way it came about it is kind of neat.

I was waiting in line at McDonald's when a gardener came up and started hacking at an oleander bush. It was a beautiful bush, flowering and round growing along an already bare fence.

He chopped and hacked this gorgeous bush into a rectangle, cutting off all of the blooms. I watched in amazement as someone was getting paid to make something look worse, not better.

It frustrated me because that bush is meant to bloom! It's meant to flower and be a source of beauty for us and whatever pollinating insects would happen to come by as well.

It made me think about how people do the same things to themselves. They try to fit themselves into a box. More often than not it is used as an excuse.

"I can't make art, I'm _____."

"I couldn't possibly do the thing I most desire most- I am a mom, accountant, woman, ______."

There were things that you were meant to do on this planet during this time, right now. You are fighting nature just like that gardener if you keep trying to put yourself in a box and have perfect 90 degree hair.

You were meant to grow in all directions, and you can flower in all directions too.

My hope for you, as well as myself, is that we not limit ourselves and try new things. The thing you may be meant to do may be something you've never tried before. How sad it would be if we missed any of that.

The result of my time in the drive through was some added inches to my thighs and oh yeah, this painting! Maybe the next painting should be a girl who is blooming!

Are you blooming? Have you found what you're meant to do? What thrills your soul? Are you at least having fun trying? I'd love to hear all about it!

Girl and Bluebird in the Rain

2009-05-30T09:36:00.004-07:00

She is so sad, did you know? She's standing in the rain, all cold and wet. She's shivering as the happy bluebird passes by. He's nice and dry carrying his pretty red umbrella. Sad girl has an umbrella too...why doesn't she just pick it up so she can be happy too? I'm not sure. I know sometimes I don't pick it up either.

Sometimes in life we have problems that we can fix ourselves. The answer, tool, or umbrella is right there within our reach. All we have to do is pick up the umbrella and just allow ourselves to be happy. We are in charge of the actions we take and responsible for the ones we don't.

In my house, this painting has inspired the cheerful phrase, "Just pick up the stupid umbrella!" We say this with a laugh, but the point is coming across. My nephew got his cell phone taken away because his grades were falling...all because he didn't do the in class assignments.He was sad and I asked him, "Why didn't you just pick up the stupid umbrella?!" It was up to him whether he did the assignment or chatted in class. He laughed, but understood. I'm sure he was imagining himself standing in the rain just like my sad girl.

This painting just sort of happened and I'm glad it did. :) I wanted to do a red umbrella and work on my girls showing more expression in their faces. There was a good discussion going on over at Gritty Jane's and by the end of it, I was determined to find a new way to do an eye. I got to the point that I would add the pupil and decided not to. I wasn't sure if it was cool or a little bit creepy, but in the end, I think it makes her look more soulful.

She has joined my Dorothy and another painting on ebay.

Have a great day...and don't forget to pick up your umbrella! :)

Happy Birthday Beckie! :)

2009-05-28T09:30:00.001-07:00

If Happy Little Bluebirds Fly...

2009-05-26T20:15:00.004-07:00

Why oh why can't I?

At least that is what my Dorothy wants to know! I've had the idea of a story doll for a long time and she is finally done! It took a Prim and Whimsy challenge to get my wheels rolling...I submitted her on the very last day just in time! I wanted to make Dorothy and show what she really wants, what is her heart's desire. What better place to put it than where her heart is? The diorama part of her is my most favorite.

Then her hair. :) And ruby mary janes!She's up one ebay now, with more explanation too. I learned a lot from making her and have several more versions of story dolls in my head. So fun!
I couldn't do this post without adding this clip. If you ever have the chance to get the soundtrack, do so! Listening to this song in the car...so crystal clear...it's like she's singing it in the passenger seat. Sigh...Judy is the best.

And so are you, for stopping by to visit...thanks!

The Last Art Masterpiece of the Year

2009-05-25T05:53:00.005-07:00

I just finished my second year of teaching art masterpiece to the children in Lillian's class. In case you don't know, it is a volunteer program to supplement their art classes. We bring in a huge print, discuss it, and do an activity based on the artist we are talking about. I've really enjoyed teaching the kids and have tried to emphasize that they should enjoy the process and not be afraid to make mistakes.For the last class, I wanted them to play with clay and decided to showcase artists that are alive today and make their living with this medium. I brought in pictures of cute clay creations by Jenny of Polka Dot Pixie, Jenn of Noodle and Lou, and Dani of Ambitions Design.The morning of the class, a light bulb went off in my head. How GREAT would it be if the children could actually interview one of these fantastic women?! I knew they would be blown away by their art, but to talk to one of them would be like talking to a celebrity! I sent out an email to them to see if anyone was available and willing on such late notice.

You have to love blogland, you really do. All three artist were so sweet and supportive in their response! Dani was available to call in during my time with the kids and generous enough to offer her time and knowledge as well.

As expected, the kids loved all the whimsical creatures and people I showed them. Just as I was passing out the clay, the phone rang in the classroom. We put it on speaker and when Dani said her name, there was a series of gasps that swept over the room! They could not believe it! It was so long and such a shock to them that we had to laugh. :)Dani prepared a little speech for them and I hope she doesn't mind if I post it here. I think it's great advice for everyone, not just first graders! :)

I would explain how I make my living from art by sculpting..mainly Halloween characters (of all things..lol) all year long. It took me years to realize that I could make money on what seemed like a silly idea. The point is you never know until you try.

My love for Holiday arts also inspired me to start SpookyTimeJingles an online website where we sell Halloween and Christmas handmade arts all year long!

Also...often in art we can be hard on ourselves b/c we may think what we are doing is never quite good enough. We often think it should have been better.

When the truth is we are right where we are supposed to be. Art is a process just like anything else we learn to do. It can take us many tries to learn how to ride a bike or tie our shoes. It is the same with art, except the fun part is we can always learn something new to do in art. So you can never get bored!

Finally, the next time you are working on an art project and you think you messed it up or made a mistake. I say don't start over! Use that so called mistake and make it part of your project. Every single time I have made a "mistake" I have not given up but instead used in my work and it has always worked out and most times made the piece even better! So the next time you think you made a mistake-turn it into something else... Paint drops can become -polka dots or clouds. Smears can become mountains or even faces...whatever comes from your imagination!

Never feel like you have to color in the lines. Only do that if you want to. Those lines are only a guideline not a rule..so have fun!!

Afterwards, the children got to ask Dani questions. Lots of them were asking, "How do I make a ________?" Such patience Dani exhibited as she went through each creature...her best advice being to start with the belly...I'm going to try that because I always start with the head. As she talked about armatures, they nodded in their understanding...they loved her tips! One girl asked why her favorite holiday is Halloween...Dani replied because it's the one holiday that you can be as silly and free as you want to be...what a lovely answer.

I can't THANK Dani enough for taking the time to help me out this way. She definitely made a difference in their lives that day. Art isn't just something you do to pass the time, it's an everyday part of life and a wonderful outlet for all the little things going on in their little brains!

I'm posting some of their clay creations...check out the cat! I see a future Spookytime Jingles artist!

Here's a video of them saying thank you...they are always a bit on the quiet side because they've been taught not to disrupt the other classes, but they loved it! Thank you Dani! :)

Friday Freeze...a Moment of Why Not?!

2009-05-17T14:22:00.004-07:00

WAY back, when I was going to ASU, our sociology class had to go out on campus and break social norms. As result, we created scenes. The old standby is to stand backwards in an elevator. My objective was to walk next to someone, at the same pace. She went faster, I went faster, and eventually the poor woman ran away from me.

Then comes youtube, and Improv Everywhere. When I watched them freeze in Grand Central Station, I thought, "I want to do that!" How fun would it be to take a normal day and make it just a little bit unique? I found a group in my area that pulls little pranks like these and it has been so much fun. The first one we did was a date night for Awesome Guy and I... a lot more fun than dinner and a movie! They even had a giant pillowfight at our outdoor mall! Then I got my niece and her friends in on the act...below is a video of our second "mission" together. For more info or see past missions, you can go to ImprovAZ, or look for a group in your area...there are SO many out there. :)

This was our group's first freeze. Another group found out about our prank and came to prank us! They decorated us and played finger gunfights around us, trying to make us lose our pose and laugh.

I love this group...it's one of those things I'll be glad I did when I'm old and gray in a retirement home somewhere. Carpe Diem! :)

Feeling Glamourous

2009-05-13T14:56:00.003-07:00

I hope you all had a great Mother's Day! We went up to Thumb Butte for a hike. There was a hard way and an easier way and I decided we'd do the hard way. I just about died. lol We pushed Maddie in the stoller too! I'm not a hiker, but it felt great afterwards knowing I survived. :)

I painted this before we went up. The text I've been using lately is from a book set in th 1940's (my favorite time period!). It's very Casablanca-esque. It's done on a thick sided paper mache base. I ripped out one of the sentences that caught my eye and it gave me the idea for the painting.

"He still detained her, wishing she would look straight at him, so that he could really see her face."

Funny thing is on the hike I was wearing a big, floppy straw hat to shade me from the sun. The wind was blowing so hard that it was putting the hat in the same way as the painting. Guess what? It felt just as glamourous as I imagine a woman during the 40's felt. As glamourous as you can feel as your hiking up a dusty mountain with prickly pear everywhere dragging a stroller. lol

Afterwards, we went to an arts and crafts fair on the Courthouse Plaza in Prescott...just about my favorite place in the whole state. I did not want to come home.

So my question to you is, in this day and age, what do you do or what makes you feel glamourous? Time to get your glam on girls!

Have a great day!

Truth & Babies...Babies & Truth

2009-05-06T14:20:00.007-07:00

"She remembers how it used to be. She remembers when."

I got an email from Brenda (Hi Brenda!) that was too cute not to pass on. It's also pretty fitting for this painting I did on a paper mache base that is waiting to be mounted on wood. The email starts out like this:

'Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.' This is so true, no one is immune. Whatever your battle is today, my friend, here are some cute babies and bits of wisdom that will hopefully help make it all better. :)

A sharp tongue can cut your own throat.

If you want your dreams to come true, you mustn't oversleep.

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. (Even more so when you live in Arizona, where everyone squints so much in the sun that we all look like we are giving each other dirty looks!)

The best vitamin for making friends..... B1.

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

The heaviest thing you can carry is a grudge.

One thing you can give and still keep...is your word.

You lie the loudest when you lie to yourself

If you lack the courage to start, you have already finished.

One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.

Ideas won't work unless ' You' do.

Your mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open..

The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime! It is never too late to become what you might have been.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right.. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If! You get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it change's your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

Adorable isn't it? I hope it made a difference in your day! Now go and have fun my lovelies! :)

Help the Dudas take Flyght! :)

2009-05-04T16:16:00.004-07:00

Above is a painting I did. Below is the text I took from Diane's blog...love her, love her art, and think her son's band is pretty nifty too! :)

"Please help my son, Aaron, and the rest of his band, Flyght to win a $25,000 recording contract.
You can vote once a day.

VOTE HERE.
LISTEN HERE."

THANKS!!

Prim & Whimsy Gallery Hop!

2009-05-02T08:31:00.005-07:00

Hey Santas, what is all the fuss about?

What's that you say? Prim & Whimsy is having a Gallery Hop?!

Lots of cute goodies are looking for new homes?

Sounds fantastic! I'll see you there Santas!

These are the Santas that I started back in August! It's never too late to start shopping for Christmas, right? I figured out my own paper mache pulp recipe. The arid climate hear makes it perfect for drying. They look very sweet in candlelight...the glitter is my favorite glitter of all time and there is LOTS of it on there. Have a great weekend my lovelies! :)

Happy Birthday Gram!

2009-04-29T10:22:00.006-07:00

My mermaid painting is almost all done...just have to finish up the back. However, there is much bigger news today! Today is the birthday of one of the sweetest women I know...Awesome Guy's Grandmother...we call her Gram! Happy Birthday Gram!
Gram has raised two children and had a big part in raising her 3 grandchildren as well. How lucky they and now we, their spouses, are to have her in our lives!
Gram worked in a department store in Johnstown where she met none other than Van Johnson! Be still my heart!
She is also the sweet sister to Sara & Aggie, the ones that joined the circus in the 30's. Gram has taken care of so many, she is a great source of wisdom, and a model of strength! Happy Birthday Gram! We love you! :)

Art Glass and Butterflies...YAY!!!

2009-04-27T22:19:00.005-07:00

So I went on a field trip with my oldest today. :) Desert Botanical Gardens with their special exhibit of Chihuly Glass! I won't say much now, I'll just let you enjoy the glass and the butterflies we met there too!

Have a happy day!

Are You Up for Tea Under the Sea?

2009-04-18T10:12:00.003-07:00

Miss Lisa at Faerie Enchantment is at it again and I am so glad! This time the theme is Mermaid Tea Party...we had a lot of fun with this one! And I mean laughing so hard that you can't see for the tears in your eyes and thinking you might toss your cookies. A LOT of kind folks helped out on this one...Kandace, Ryan, Zach, Savannah, Jeri, Jeri's Mom, Holly, Lillian, and two of her little girlfriends too! THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

My FIRST First Friday and Today's BIG Project

2009-04-16T10:08:00.004-07:00

So I FINALLY got to a First Friday. I pretty much wanted to go for 2 years and ACTUALLY REMEMBERED (!!!) it before the first friday of the month, and not the first Saturday as I usually do. We decided to take the new light rail because I've heard that it is SO easy. Not really, at least not at night anyway. It took over an hour to take what would have been a 25 minute trip and then we still had to walk more than three blocks in the middle of the city at night to get to the event.

Not exactly what I had in mind....not something like this:

Once we were there, it was very artsy, fun, and a bit adventourous. You could feel something in the air, like an acceptance of everyone. It was very eclectic...we saw a little bit of everything as we walked through each old house that had been turned into a gallery. The streets were lined with vendors, DJs, and people just dancing in the streets. There was an AMAZING tap dancer there, people were walking across the street just to see him.

I enjoyed all the art, some was dark, lots of pop and abstract too. TONS of jewelry. Great music... Glass mixed media...it was a lot to take in...we could have been there for a whole day, not just the few hours that it runs. The only thing I didn't see are pieces like I enjoy on the web. Whimsical, primitive, folk art. It made me appreciate you all even more than I already did!

It was my first Friday, but hopefully not my last. There is something planned for the next one that I just have to participate in! It is a secret for now, but I will tell you after I get back! :)
Oh and guess what? Oh a whim, I decided to make a headband to wear to the event. I tried to give it a vintage feel...love the button and the dark golden beige tulle too. I curled my hair in pin curls, been learning about it here and am enjoying getting lost in that 40's style I've loved since I was a kid. It's not an everyday hairdo, but I thought WHY NOT?! I'm not going to be old and gray (already have some gray come to think of it!) and wish I had that gorgeous hair when I had the chance. I'm also slowing convincing Awesome Guy to take up swing dancing with me in someplace OTHER than the kitchen. Someplace like this.

In other news, I put some pieces in my etsy shop, decorated and painted my daughter's stage for her music program, and TODAY....today is a BIG day with a BIG project especially for you. Today I'm filming a new video for this:
The last one was so fun, I had to do another. I'm getting all the props together now. Promise you'll come back Saturday to see it? I'd love to have you!

Thanks for all you do...your posts on your blog, your comments on mine. I'm grateful for you! :)

Viv on a Whim's Egg Swap and Hunt

2009-04-05T23:35:00.004-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days? Where everything you tried to do didn't work out? That was today for me. Today is the BIG day to show the eggs we made and recieved as a result of Viv on a Whim's Egg Hunt and Swap. We had to make two eggs and send them to her to then send to our secret partner. Today everyone's posts will reveal who's egg is who's. One problem...a certain two year old got a hold of my camera and deleted my egg photos! I felt bad about posting just a wordy description and wasn't sure what to do until...

Blogland to the rescue! My partners not only posted photos of what they sent, but a photo of the eggs I sent as well! YAY! So forgive me for cheating and posting their photos, but it is all I can do today. So without further ado...

These are the eggs that I made. I loved making them, especially how the colors are muted and blended and then stained. Fun, fun, fun! :) The nest was made out of fabric strips. They have a new home with the Faerie Wysperer...I hope she likes them!Now for the eggs that have a new home with ME. :) First up is a tea cozy!! Can you believe that?! You all know my fascination with tea parties...can't seem to stop painting about them! I have the perfect teapot that has been dying to get all cozied up! Look at how much work went into it! I appreciate every stitch! Thank you so much Little Black Crow!The next egg was from Lisa from Faerie Enchantment, which is SO neat because it was only a couple weeks ago that I discovered her blog and joined her Carnival Soiree! Such a gifted artist and such a beautiful egg! I am a fan of Marie as well and this egg brings back all those lovely images of the movie. I am SO happy to have this egg from my new friend! Thank you Lisa! :)
Please do yourself a favor and stop by these and all the other blogs involved in Viv's Swap...I found some new ones to subscribe to...maybe you will too! :)

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I put up three pieces on ebay today and have 5 pieces to put on etsy this week. Thanks for visiting me today...I'm so glad you stopped by! :)

Who's in the Mood for an Egg Hunt?

2009-04-04T09:16:00.004-07:00

Ooooooooohh...I can barely hold my excitement! Prim and Whimsy is doing an egg hunt and my dear, sweet friends...they are having a giveaway just for you! :)

Here is how you enter:

I donated items for the baskets and entered the Easter Egg Parade as well. You might remember this make-do set. I dressed it up some more...click on the link for a bigger picture. There is lovely, delicious glitter inside the egg now and each has a creamy satin ribbon too! It is now up on ebay, along with some paintings too!So won't you please join in on the egg hunt? Just go to Prim and Whimsy to pick your favorite egg. If that just happens to be mine, then that's just icing on the cake! :) And don't forget to search for that Golden Egg! I hope you win! :)

A Day With That Red Furry Monster

2009-04-01T06:28:00.011-07:00

My Madeline turned two...can you believe it? Has it really been a whole year since this?
Madeline has a very strong affection for that lovable furry monster known as Elmo. Don't you love the tutu?! It was made by a friend of mine that I used to work with a LONG time ago. Now she's all grown up and creating cute and adorable kid stuff! Her shop is here.Funny how kids pick what they like. Lillian was SO into the Wiggles and when Madeline was born, we assumed that we'd be pulling out those tapes again. Strangely, she had no interest in anything expect Elmo and the occasional story about the monkey and the man with the yellow hat!Our little girl loves to jump so an Elmo bounce house was the perfect activity for her. She was jumping all over, singing, "Happy Birthday to Me...Happy Birthday to Me!"
Lillian had some of her girlfriends there too! As I took these shots of them, I realized that they are not even "little" girls anymore. How did that happen so quickly?!

These were her invitations. I loved the idea of the red fur envelopes, but I was covered in it by the time I was done! I'm heading over to put some of these in my shop, as birthday cards, but also as invitations. Some of you may know one of my other hats is that of a children's party planner. Business for all inclusive parties have slowed, so at least I can offer bits here and there. :)

I'm off to hug my baby girl...she's growing up too fast!

He is the Fred to My Wilma

2009-03-23T15:18:00.003-07:00

Thursday was our 9 year married, 15 year "together" anniverary! He is the Fred to my Wilma! :) This picture is from 2006...taken just south of the Grand Canyon in a tourist attraction called Bedrock. I was last there when I was just three years old...it's SO much fun! It's the whole town, even has its own movie theater, and dinosaur for you to slide down when you are finished with work.

We love the Flintstones. When Lil was born she looked just like Pebbles. Her first birthday party was a Flintstones party and we were all in costume. Lil to the bone in her hair, me with the raggedy white skirt, and Awesome Guy in well, bright orange fur. My one friend told me the next day that after they left, her husband turned around and said, "Hey must REALLY love her." I love him for putting up with all my crazy ideas, some willingly, and some not so willingly. Teehee. The things we do to make each other happy!

The one thing I know is that this is a man that I can have fun with. Who puts up with my art supplies everywhere and doesn't blink when I make bunnies in October and Santas in February. Who dances with me on stage at the Big Bang in Tempe, and loves festivals and road trips. Who's so incredibly smart and can make me laugh like no other...especially when he quotes from movies at the just the right moment. :) He's a great friend, husband, and father. Love you honey!

Yabbaa Dabba Doo!

P.S. This is what we did for our date out! It was SO much fun!

Hello My Lovelies! :)

2009-03-17T11:59:00.004-07:00

Thank you SO much for all the video love on the post below...I truly appreciate it and I'm glad you liked it! The painting isn't finished, but I'll post it when it's done. :)

Now it's time for that announcement that I talked about a couple posts ago. I am SO excited about this!!!

In an effort to become more serious with my painting (even though it's the most fun thing I do next to laughing at my little redheads), I applied to join the Prim & Whimsy Girls on ebay. I thought it would be a perfect fit since I can never decide if I want to glitter something or age it, and sometimes do both. :) They do challenges and swaps and that seemed like fun too. They even have some giveaways planned for YOU coming up in the next month!

I was nervous about applying, afraid they would say no...so you can imagine how ecstatic I was when I got an email saying I am now a Prim & Whimsy Girl! Woohoo!
The first challenge I've joined was to create something around the theme "A Bird in the Hand."
This is what I came up with. This girl is hopeful that her bird's eggs will hatch soon. Of course this could be taken as the whole "signs of spring" kind of thing. However, I was waiting on results from some scary tests done on Madeline and I was trying to keep from freaking out. She's okay, the tests have confirmed, but it was terrifying there for a while and I am so grateful it turned out the way I wanted! :)
As I painted this, I started to realize that this girl looks like a friend of mine from middle school! Her name was Jennifer and she and I would play the FIRST Nintendo Mario Brothers every day after school. We did it the "cool" way though. lol We turned down the volume, and turn up the radio (same station) while we talked on the phone. We could play all the way to the end every night in an hour or two.

She had beautiful curly black hair (think Diane of Anne of Green Gables), the bluest of eyes, and naturally rosy lips. Everyone called her China Doll because she looked so much like one. I haven't seen her since middle school, but here's to you Jen, wherever you are! :)

I've put two other things on ebay too, and a couple paintings on etsy as well. I just posted this one today, so it's not showing up yet in the search engine.

I hope you're having a great day! Lillian is on spring break and her only request was to go to the Phoenix Art Museum...that's my girl! :) I've never been, so it will be an adventure for us all!

Yeah! The circus is READY! :)

2009-03-14T11:25:00.003-07:00

Faerie Enchantment, a blog I only stumbled upon yesterday (much to my pleasure!) is having a Carnivale Soiree. Awesome Guy's great aunts (twins) were in the circus when they were young. We only have 1 photo of them during this time, but I absolutely cherish it! Can you imagine the guts it took to leave their family and join a circus?! They had great training though...Gene Kelly's (be still my heart!) dance studio was right in their hometown! They traveled up and down the east coast in the Johnny J Jones train circus. They are gone now...how I wish I could of heard those stories!

I love these ladies...they accepted me right when Awesome Guy and I started dating and would look at me with so much love in their eyes that they dazzled me. There is more on the description on youtube, but enough talk...you've waited long enough already! The show MUST go on!

I hope you all realize how much I love you...I stayed up all night. :) Enjoy it!

Carnival Soiree

2009-03-14T07:54:00.003-07:00

The posters are up all over blogland! This show is about to start! I am SO close to being finished on this one...been up all night! I found this wonderful blog only yesterday and having relatives that were once in the circus, I HAD to do something! I put a lot of work into it, so if you would please come back in just a little bit, I promise to give you an amazing show!

Featured Artist- Painter of the Past

2009-03-11T19:18:00.003-07:00

Today I would like to talk about Suzanne, the Painter of the Past. I stumbled upon her blog over a year ago and loved the traditional, colonial type pieces that she creates. Over time, I have enjoyed her blog and paintings very much!To my surprise, she replied to a comment I had posted on her blog and mentioned that she used to live in Arizona. Better yet, she used to work at my all time favorite store, The Country Manor. I never called it that though...I called it the rooster store. Did you know I LOVE roosters? The are incredibly beautiful and this store was once full of them. It even had this at the back door...

I shared this story with Suzanne. I told her about my love of roosters, the store, and especially this door. I remember that I gasped the first time I saw it. When visitors would come into town, I'd bring them there and hear their gasps as well. I wanted to unhinge that door and take it home with me. It reminds me of the country life I lived on the east coast before I came to Arizona.

Wouldn't you know it? My next email from Suzanne said that she PAINTED that door!! Is that a small world or what?! I am so excited to know the amazing artist behind this door. If you visit her blog or her etsy shop, I'm sure you'll enjoy it too!

Sadly, The Country Manor is no more. It was bought by a new owner who focused more on furniture and then it fell victim to the economy. Part of my favorite store lives on though, and I can visit her blog any time I want. :) Thanks Suzanne!

Giveaway II Winners :)

2009-03-10T15:16:00.004-07:00

Hello Bloggers! :) I've missed you! I had work to finish and commitments I made at Lillian's school to meet, but I am back! Woohoo!

Before I go off to reply to your comments, I wanted to post the winners of my 2nd giveaway, the one for my blogaversary. :) Drumroll please......

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

;)

Dapoppins wins the print!

Ketelcopia wins the $15 gift card!

Congratulations ladies! :) I wrote all the kindred spirits that follow my blog, the comments I received, and then the ones who posted about it on their blog. Dapoppin's kindred spirit entry was drawn and #46, one of Trish's entries for posting about the giveaway, was the one other one that drawn! Thank you to all who entered! It would be so cute if you dropped by and saw these lovely ladies to congratulate them! :)

The next post will be a feature on a very sweet artist that I have one of those 6 ways to Kevin Bacon kind of connections! :) Who will it be? Can you guess? And then! An announcement that I am SO excited about!

Til then...I was writing a friend and thinking about all the scary economy stuff that is going on right now. It made me think of the depression in the 30's. Do you know what people did then to escape all their scary economy stuff? They went to the movies and saw Shirley Temple. She dazzled them, she shared her talent, and they left with lighter hearts than they came in with. That's what you are to me, my Shirley Temples. Too much television news and I hop on here to be dazzled, to be in awe of your talent, and I leave with a lighter heart than I came in with.

Thank you. Here is a little Shirley Temple for you! :)

Where I Create...

2009-02-24T16:36:00.002-07:00

Hey all! :) The ornies are in the etsy shop and I'm going to close the giveaway for comments on Friday so if you haven't entered yet, seize the day! :)

Here's the song I was referring to! Jump to 5:30 :)

Have a great one!

Real Quick...the winners of OWOH

2009-02-14T07:52:00.002-07:00

The winners of my OWOH giveaway are...

1. Print: Sharon of Wildflower House
2. Ornie: Vickie of Whispers of Inspiration

Thanks to all who entered! Have a great Valentine's Day!

It's a GiVeAwAy Part II :)

2009-02-09T18:26:00.006-07:00

I had my first blogging anniversary!! I completely missed it! I thought it was a completely different date. However, that's no reason not to CELEBRATE!

I started this blog when I started painting. I've crafted forever, but was always intimidated by the almighty brush. I didn't feel like I had any control. Something made me want to try anyway. It was FUN, it was FREEing, and it felt GREAT. So I tried some more. People started buying my paintings and I happily sent them to their new homes...so grateful that someone else liked what I did.

I'm definitely no expert. I know that I have a lot left to learn and I'm excited to do just that. I know that I want to take this to another level. It calls to me, I stay up late to do it, truly to the point of falling asleep at the table. I LOVE it.

My story of the past year is here, so I won't summarize it for you except to say that I have had a wonderful time creating and meeting people that create. Now that I have this outlet, I don't know what I'd do without it...without lovely people like you visiting me.

In honor of this, I'm having another giveaway...yes two giveaways going on at the same time! Woohoo! Feel free to enter both...the other one is below.

I blog to share what I've made...and for that I'll be giving away:

A print from my etsy shop, you pick after you win. :)

I blog to meet people that create...and to encourage you to create MORE I'll also be giving away:

A $15 gift card to Micheal's, JoAnns, or Hobby Lobby...you pick after you win. :)

So here's how to enter. You can:

1. Follow my blog...it's to the right and oh so easy to do. And guess WHAT? Anyone who follows my blog will be automatically entered into any and all future giveaways I do...cool, huh?

2. Leave a comment on this post. That will get you a second entry.

3. Link to my blog using the badge above and earn 3 addition entries!!! Please comment here afterward to let me know so I can give you credit. I would appreciate this so much, you have no idea. I want to grow and meet new people that are as great as the people I know now. :)

Thank you...thank you for visiting, thank you for sharing, and thank you for being a lovely part of my life. :) And good luck!

Mummy Love

2009-02-09T18:04:00.004-07:00

Meet my sweet mummy girl.

She's a very feminine mummy who takes a great deal of pride in her dress, uh, wrap.
See her hair so delicately done? She even adorned it with some "ribbon."

Her dress has delicate touches of pink and each wrap was tied ever so carefully. Look at her stripey stockings!

Did you know she died of a broken heart? She lost her love and just couldn't handle it. She thought she'd never love again. Her heart simply gave up.
She was wrong though...she has found love again...her heart has mended.

And she is hopeful once more.

Mmmm....

2009-02-07T18:23:00.003-07:00

This is what I'm making for dinner tonight...I HIGHLY suggest it! It's probably the 6th or 7th time I've made it and it makes me look like a kitchen goddess to Awesome Guy!

Even though this is a great recipe, I CAN'T leave you without giving you something to look at!
First, the a Christmas painting that just isn't done yet...it's been sitting here for a while...long enough for me to figure out it needs some age, and crackle even! :) I got the idea from the Christmas carol, "Sleigh Ride" and is my idea of what a wintry fairy land looks like. Awesome Guy said he was surprised to see glittery mushrooms in the winter, but I told him that anything is possible with fairies. :)

Second, my first commission through etsy!! I thoroughly enjoy painting this way and would love to do more. It was especially fun to do this one because it was a remake of my first painting ever, almost exactly a year ago. It was really fun to see how I've changed since I started. The scan is not that great...the 3d banner cast some shadows...wish I knew that before I sent her off to her new home...I would have scanned her again!

Lastly, the rest of the ornies I made while I was on vacation in January. Can't go on vacation and not craft...especially while it is snowing outside! I had a great time and made so many different things...I'll share more in another post. :) Anyway, these ornies were a lot of fun to do...I used my trusty vintage hymnal and let the title decide what I would paint and as it turned out, some have a religious theme and some do not. They will be up on etsy soon, but if you see one you want before that...email me and I'll take care of it for you. :) Thank you for all the entries in my giveaway (below)...it is so nice to hear from all of you. :)

As my Madeline would say, have a HAPPY day!

It's a Giveaway!! One World, One Heart

2009-02-03T17:14:00.009-07:00

***This giveaway is now closed!*** I DO HAVE ANOTHER ONE ON THIS SAME BLOG...click on my header to see! Thank you to all that entered...will be drawing the winners soon! :)
Mere

I'm hopping onto the Gypsy Caravan that is One World, One Heart! If I could live outside like Fanciful Twist, I would do that in a heartbeat. Something about being outside really relaxes me. Growing up, I was always out in the woods, breathing it all in.
I always wanted to be in a caravan...my first car was a Saturn and I swore I was going to make the trip to Tennesee to see the factory with all the other Saturn owners. Her name, was Ginger, after Ginger Rogers. She danced just as well, mile after mile with me until I had to give her up for a car that would fit a car seat. I cried when I traded her in, but in the end, my Lillian is better than any Ginger I could ever have! :)

Anyway, if this is your first visit, WELCOME! :) I hope you come back later and hang around. I'm happy to participate this year and here is what I am giving away:

1. Any 8x10 print from my etsy shop...you pick after you win!
2. This ornie, hand painted by me.This giveaway is open to everyone. Entries will be closed midnight Feb. 11th and drawing will be held on Feb 12th. Good Luck!

I also have another giveaway that I will be doing in the next day or two, in honor of my 1 year blogging anniversary! You are, of course, allowed to enter both. ***UPDATE*** My other giveaway is up...good luck! :)

Thanks for the visit, to new friends and old...may you always be happy and your iced tea always cold! :)

P.S. Here's a little Ginger for you!

Right Now...

2009-01-30T23:34:00.002-07:00

Right now the girls are asleep.

Right now Awesome Guy is snoozing.

Right now even my Boston Terrier is snoring.

Right now I have tea brewing...English breakfast...to drink and also a little to dye some lace and muslin...
Right now I'm getting out a hammer, nail, wire and beads...

Right now I'm listening to Erica's playlist because she said it is great. And it is. Is your playlist great? Tell me and I'll listen to it during my next "right now."

Right now is my time...no distractions, no lovable little girl in my lap, no phone ringing or door knocking.

Are you up right now? Stealing a moment away from slumber to create? Tell me...I'll pour you a cup of tea...here you are.

Enjoy your right now...maybe this will help.

Horoscopes & Swaps

2009-01-30T11:07:00.005-07:00

So there is a horoscope on my home page and it actually told me to check my blogs...see? :)
"Leo (7/23-8/22)

If you can, try to surround yourself with people who are down to earth and grounded today. These people have the kind of focus you need right now -- they can teach you something new about how to appreciate the smaller things in life and have a good time doing anything. These mellow types of people have a lot of contentedness in their life, and you could learn a lot from them."

Okay, okay...don't have to tell me twice! :) Hugs to all my blogging friends!

I've joined two swaps that should be a load of fun. First up is Little Tokens of Love Swap from Prim & Whimsy...my partner is the Yester Dayes...how fitting is that?!

The next one is still open if you want to join in...it is super cute because you have to hunt down your eggs to see who gave it to you! Kind of a Secret Easter Bunny...you hop from blog to blog until you find the egg that was sent to you...and in turn find some great new ones! Presented by Viv on a Whim

Okay...I'm off to do what my horoscope says to do! Sure there is laundry to be done, but why mess with the universe? :)

I Won Lisa's Giveaway!!

2009-01-28T17:24:00.004-07:00

If you read my blog, you all know that I'm a huge fan of Lisa Lectura. How lucky was I to win 2nd place in her first ever giveaway?! We went out of town and the night I came back, I checked out Mystele's blog and saw that she had one 1st place...congrats Mystele!
I was so excited to think that it might have come while I was away that I went outside in my pajamas at MIDNIGHT to check my mail. My ornament had arrived! I can't even explain how beautiful this is and I KNOW how much work went into it. The print on the fabric is so colorful and the stitchery is PERFECT! I looked at it forever, flipping it over, looking at every bead, sequin, and stitch. And the felt is scalloped, again, PERFECTLY. I have no idea how she did that, but WOW! I love the colors combination too. I was simply blown away!

Mystele did a video to thank her and I thought I'd do the same. I thought I'd let you see Madeline's reaction to it since she is way cuter than I am!

It's now hanging up next to the other blog art I have collected...I love it so much! Thank you Lisa! I am forever grateful for such a treasure!

I totally believe in paying forward, so look for a giveaway from me. A few actually...but you'll see soon!

A Different Kind of Post

2009-01-16T23:31:00.005-07:00

I've been on an adventure...did you know? Not an adventure I planned, but one I've taken nonetheless. During this adventure, there were moments of victory and hidden pitfalls that slowed me down. It may have taken more effort than it should have...in fact, it definitely did. In the end, it's those moments of victory that matter most. Like having a healthy Awesome Guy and two little redhead beauties.
Like dressing those little redhead beauties in embellished outfits...a bit of embroidery and a vintage linen tea towel.

And letting them know that any time is a good time to wear a fancy hat.
Like having such good friends that not only understand this principle, but can also share two of the most enjoyable hours with you among old and dusty treasures.
And teaching these fairly new treasures, that no matter what, every girl deserves to be treated like a princess.
We are all on adventures. Sure, there are pitfalls. Sometimes they are hidden and surprise you completely. Don't let them stop you...you never know what victorious moment is just ahead. With moments like that, surely there must be angels among us. :)

What's your latest moment of victory?

Goodbye 2008

2008-12-31T17:18:00.003-07:00

Christmas was tough around here...we all got the stomach flu and Awesome Guy had to have surgery yesterday. Everyone is okay now and thank goodness for that! :) We'll be spending New Year's Eve at home this year, as he recovers.

I found a video for you...love this song, and it's the original version too. Okay, so I'm also a sucker for anything Scottish as I hope to get to go there someday. I could spend hours and hours in a pub somewhere listening to a guy like this. I've spent a few hours in pubs around here doing that actually! lol

I want to thank you for being a part of my 2008. I look forward to another whole year with my blogging friends, and I'm so glad to have "met" you all. I also want to wish my sweet real life friend, Lindsey, a safe journey to Oregon...she is moving there today. I love you...thank you for being such a great friend.

Everybody Charleston! :)

2008-12-26T23:15:00.001-07:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Blog Fun and Bits of Christmas

2008-12-21T08:58:00.007-07:00

I need to acknowledge some awards and tags that I have gotten...I have to say that I'm very fond of all my blog friends and I wish you all a great holiday. My year has been BETTER for simply knowing you! Azul Valentina gave me the Marie Antoinette award...thank you Azul! :) If you love her avatar, just wait until you see her blog! I LOVE her paintings!
Ginger of Loves to Dream is such a dear...she was my first ever swap partner. She links to tutorials and list cool trivia in her posts just about everyday. Thank you sweet Ginger! :)

Pease Porridge of Hot Tamale tagged me with a me-me. It's been a while since I've done one of those! :)

1. In the picture above, the one in the middle is my ABSOLUTE favorite of hers! It's so icy...I can remember the cold snows of PA! :)
2. My ears are super small...they stopped growing when I was little.
3. I long to be a gardener, but I kill everything I touch. lol
4. I wish I could wear dresses like in the 1860's. I did once for a ball, and the weight of it got to
be too much, but it was still fun!
5. I love to dance with Awesome Guy...especially swing!
6. My favorite Christmas song is Frank Sinatra's Jingle Bells. Sa boo ba dobie. :)

Each year, we buy one ornament for Awesome Guy and I, and one for the girls. This is ours...isn't it great?! It's by Dani of Ambitions Design...if you read my blog even a little you know I'm a big fan! I couldn't believe all the detail that went into this...the picture does not do it justice, but there it is on the prime spot of our tree. :) Thanks Dani!
I made this for Awesome Guy's secret santa gift. It's a candle with a personalized cozy. I DO so much love my embroidery machine! :)

I made up some Christmas ornaments using a print of my Santa painting. They are on etsy right now. :)

Before I leave, how about that little bit of Frankie? :)

P.S. I see everyone commenting about how they are taking a break from blogging until the new year. Not me...I'm right here...this IS my break! lol :)

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2008-12-18T06:03:00.006-07:00

I'm so excited! This is my first ever treasury! A big thank you to bebeandalice for finding such a neat way to tell this famous story!

P.S. I stumbled across a great drink last night! I'm starting to get a sore throat and our lemonade was a little sour. Too lazy to get regular sugar out of the pantry, I threw the little bit of cinnamon sugar I had left into the lemonade and WOW! was it good! :) Has anyone else ever had that? It actually tastes a bit Christmas-y! Let me know if you try it! :)

Ahhh...the Traditions of Christmas

2008-12-12T22:42:00.007-07:00

As with many of you, our house has been buzzing with holiday activity.

There's decorating the tree...

Listening to the Christmas story at the Courthouse Lighting in Prescott...

Stopping by the casino to see the amazing gingerbread houses on display...

Caroling at the retirement home...Carving the pumpkin....

WAIT.....Carving the WHAT??? I admit it. That bit of Halloween got away from me. I BOUGHT the pumpkin with plenty of time, but it just never happened. We were TOO busy. The amazing thing is, this pumpkin never rotted! Not even a teensy bit! I saw my chance to make it up to my girls. We went to work and made an....
ELF-O-LANTERN!!

A perfect mixture of Christmas and Halloween...kind of like this gingerbread house that won a prize in Prescott last weekend.

OR like

This site is great and they just posted all new items at midnight last night.

I'm off to go look...are you?

Santa's Cookie Break

2008-12-11T16:18:00.004-07:00

It's tough delivering all those packages in one night! Santa takes a much needed cookie break before getting started again. He's munching down over on ebay. I've been having fun with the metallics and glitters lately...good season to be playing with them! His beard has a tint of glitter and the green is shimmery, but subtle.

So you saw the tree I did for Lil, but I'm having such a hard time with Madeline's Wizard of Oz tree! It's a white tree, with a white feather boa and marabou boa...that much looked good. Then I added red balls with blue gingham ribbon and now it looks awful. :( Definitely not stuffed! So far I've thought of using yellow ribbon for the yellow brick road. Something emerald-y maybe? What do you think?

I'm sure you are all super busy this time of year and have a lot to do on your plates. I just wanted to say THANK YOU for stopping by to visit me! :)

Please help! :0

2008-12-02T16:11:00.003-07:00

I can't seem to get my header to show ever since I changed to three columns. Has anyone had this problem before? Would anyone be willing to help me out? Thanks!

A Watched Pot...

2008-12-02T14:30:00.008-07:00

Or rather a watched ebay page, never gets any bids. I have 10 items ending today and I'm checking it every 5 minutes. On days it's not ending I check like 4 times a day just because I get to do a little happy dance when I get a bid! lol

It's not healthy though, so I am going to distract myself by sharing some goodies with you!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We went to my in-laws and it was SO nice. My MIL even made pretty butter so you know the rest was great if the butter is pretty! Every little detail was appreciated! :)

Lillian's been practicing on the sewing machine...It tickles me how sweet and crafty she is!

My Christmas angel sold before I finished her...can't complain when that happens! :) Their last name is going to be on the ribbon she's holding...like she is watching over their family. I have time to make one more if anyone else is interested. :)
Last year I bought the girls little trees for their rooms for $5 each after Christmas. I have decorated Lil's so far...she has a Tinkerbell room that I keep meaning to post about.
I used to work retail and was one of the lucky ones that got to decorate the trees in the Christmas department. Lucky until you realize that you have to fit 3000 ornaments on one tree, not to mention push a bunch of stuffed animals in there too! I loved it though...and if there is one thing I learned it is stuff, stuff, and STUFF that tree! I covered the stool it's sitting on with a lace shawl I bought in a antique store when I was just a teenager...love that thing!
I filled the tree up with two feather boas in pink, purple, and white. Then baby pink balls with mint green ribbons.
I took a bunch of extra silk flowers and sprayed adhesive on them before dusting them with pink and white glitter. They were so easy to stick in.
The topper is made from three huge pink flowers and a blue fairy from my party business resting on top. I glittered her wings up a bit too. The tree is on a timer so we'll never forget to turn it on and off. The tree and balls cost me $10 and the rest was from what my mom calls my own "Mini-Michaels" here in the house! lol

Do you decorate more than one tree? Themed trees? What is your most unique ornament? Have fun stuffing those trees! :)

Grosgrain: Recital Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

2008-12-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

This little dress is so cute! I hope that I win it for Madeline! :)

Grosgrain: Recital Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

I Heart the Muppets!

2008-11-24T19:28:00.003-07:00

Ready for a good laugh? These three are my favorite! I love this...especially Beaker's solo. Couldn't wait until March to share...may the luck of the Irish be with you! :)

*Update- There is something going on today with embedded videos. So I took this out, but you can safely view it on youtube here.

2008-11-22T14:49:00.002-07:00

Sheez! It's been over two weeks! Where have I been hiding?

At a birthday party...

At a GrEaT cafe with some even GrEaTeR friends...and no kiddos to watch either!

(Thanks Mom!)

In the teacher's lounge for Teacher Appreciation Day...

Co-leading Lillian's Daisy Troop...she was even in a parade...

Hosting a diva party for 7 year olds and other things...

but....

I did manage to start this...

Get my hands on an oRiGiNaL Polka Dot Pixie...that I aDoRe!!!

(Thanks Jenny and Dani!)

P.S. You can see one of Dani's paintings in there too!

And paint this little angel! I think it's funny that she started out the editor of Woman's Day...a clipping from a magazine! tRy It...it's fun! :)

Thank you to ALL who left great horse stories on my last post! I tRuLy enjoyed reading them! I really like getting to know you!

Maybe you could tell me more...what's your guilty pleasure? The thing you do when you decide to take a moment for yourself?

Mine would have to be reading all your blogs...I tried to explain it to Awesome Guy as "the best magazine I've ever read!"

Tell me and then go do your one thing...you know what they say...you have to take care of yourself in order to be able to take care of others! :)

Til next time!

Now I Miss Riding Horses!

2008-11-02T10:19:00.004-07:00

Here is the painting I did last night...little cloudy cause it is still drying. SO tired! lol

My first time riding a horse ever was on a beautiful beach in South Padre at 15. I fell in LOVE! Can you imagine? Galloping through the surf? I could have rode FOREVER!

When Awesome Guy and I first started dating, I wanted to take him riding. I requested a horse that I knew and wanted the old one for him since it was his first time. They switched us by accident and said they would switch us again if there was a problem. Well there WAS a problem. Mine was so old that he kept going straight to the barn...Awesome Guy's horse was so feisty that his first 10 seconds on a horse included a jump over a ditch!

He seemed to be doing okay after that, but I changed to a GORGEOUS Arabian that was very easy to handle. I told Awesome Guy to follow me to the corral to do some laps, and off I went. Where was Awesome Guy? I turned around.

His horse was running off into a meadow...with only his saddle! I look back to see Awesome Guy brushing himself off. When he saw me, he quickly put his hands on his hips in a sort of superhero way. I ran over to him...concerned that he fell, but also laughing because of the way he was trying not to appear less cool for having done it. (We were only 17 by the way!)

He proceeds to tell me that he jumped off the horse ON PURPOSE because the horse took him into a tree. Uh huh. Right. We tried to get him back on, but there was no way.

He's working overtime this morning. I told him how now I miss riding horses...he quickly said..."I don't!" lol Gotta love him! :)

Your turn? What's your horse story? Or boyfriend/husband saving face story? Should be good for some laughs!

So Much to Catch You Up On! :)

2008-11-02T04:03:00.004-07:00

Hello All! :) I'm up SuPeR late again and wanted to end the night by sending you all an update! I hope you all enjoyed your night of dress up! Halloween was great...one of the best! Here we are with what we like to call, The Cousins. A collective group that is as tight as a wool sweater washed in hot water! We go trick or treating with them as a family every year. One of my nephews, the charming chatterbox, was so excited in a story he was telling me as he was walking backwards, that he walked right into a parked car! It was hilarious! It almost didn't happen this year, but we sure were happy to run into them and so were they! We had a great time! :)

Here's my little Judy Garland fan! We even play her music in the car at Lil's request. She LOVES the trolley song!

We had Maddie all set to trick or treat as a Lady Pirate Captain! She was saying Arg!, looking for treasure, trick or treat, and thank you...until we starting ringing doorbells. Then she only gathered up her courage right as we were leaving and would shout "Thank You" and "I love you!" This one SWEET lady kept yelling it back to her until we were off the driveway! It's nice to know that even though there are grumps in this world, there are nice people too! I bet you she blogs! :)

Lillian also had her birthday! My little girl is SEVEN!!!! It was during fall break so we did something every day, but on her actual birthday we took her to Organ Stop...they play a beautiful organ with lots of special effects...it is SO much fun!

Here she is with her friends from school celebrating her birthday- they saw HSM 3. I so very happy with the friends she's made...I mean look at the personality on these girls! Such cute little sweeties! We had glow in the dark goodies for in the theater and pom poms to use when dancing along with the songs...they had a great girls day!

Here's a video from dinner last night. Maddie surprised us with this...we didn't know she could do this! Once we clapped for her, she wanted to do it over and over and over. lol

Lil has a birthday party tomorrow and the birthday girl loves horses! She has the prettiest brown, long, curly hair too so you know I HAD to do a painting of her with a horse! lol

Oh! I also got Lil some striped tights on clearance! She loves the stockings I sometimes do on the girls, so I thought I could dress her up like one...a 3 d painting, right?! lol

I better go to bed before it is morning! Good night all!

Holiday Scenes

2008-10-30T04:30:00.006-07:00

Well, I had to do something while Mummy Girl was drying! ;) I used scrap fabric to created little painted sets. They can be arranged in so many ways, even stand up on its own. They are on ebay.
Been staying up super late almost every night this week. Busy with stuff for the girls...lots of events going on! I'm on fast forward and making these little sets up gave me a nice break! (Even if it is 4:30am!)

I'm on my way over to etsy to put my Halloween stuff on sale...good morning all! :)

A WIP, My Mummy Girl

2008-10-19T20:39:00.003-07:00

HaPpY SuNdAy! :)
The bandage buns aren't attached yet, I'm giving them support with wire and glue when they are dry. I know most mummies don't have noses, but my mummy girl is pretty young. :) The base is made of homemade paper mache pulp. I'd write more, but Awesome Guy and I are about to watch a movie.

Hugs to all!

In time for Halloween...

2008-10-16T16:25:00.004-07:00

I wanted to share the last few items I can list that will be able to arrive before Halloween before Awesome Guy gets home. This season is going so fast! I am SO not done making Halloween goodies! I'm actually REALLY excited about my next one!

On ebay, I have a woodburned painting that has a rustic and vintage feel. I love the way the wood soaks the paint up...it's almost like I have to scrub it in.

A little while back, I made this tin for Dani of Ambitions Designs. She's been so sweet and helpful to me, I wanted to thank her. If you haven't visited her blog yet, you are in for a treat! It's so good that I actually spent an evening and started reading at the very beginning!

I enjoyed making the tin so much that I made some to hold Halloween treats...they are on etsy. I wanted to make them look like they had been sitting in some haunted house somewhere. :0

Have a wonderful Thursday all! Enjoy THE OFFICE...last week was a great one! I have some neat videos to share with you next time!

Oh! And the girls' picked out their costumes...we'll have a Dorothy and a girly Pirate Captain! Madeline is practicing saying "Trick or Treat, " but it sounds more like "tweet tweet!

Tea, Anyone?

2008-10-10T15:08:00.006-07:00

I had so much fun painting this one up! Thank you for all the great comments on the sketches! I always enjoy it when bloggers show the progression of a painting, so I did one myself. You'll never get a video out of me, I'm afraid...I paint with my nose to the paper!! lol Its on ebay...click the painting to go there! :)

You ARE a Princess...even if you are sick!

2008-10-06T12:47:00.006-07:00

Lillian, in the princess dress I made her for her 3rd Birthday.

It's a sick day here today in our little house. Madeline had a fever last week and it seems that now Miss Lillian has caught it too. Hmmm...home from school and stuck on the couch? What a perfect time to introduce her to some of my favorite movies. You KNOW I was looking for Anne of Green Gables...misplaced the first volume somewhere. I popped in The Little Princess...the one done in the 90's. She knows the Shirley Temple version very well, but I love this one too. We just got to the part here she tells off Miss Mention, when I knew I had to write a post to you all about it. Jump to 5:25 to see what I mean!

Isn't that just BRILLIANT? I started to get teary-eyed, grabbed Lillian's leg and said, "That's true you know!" And THEN it reminded me of how I felt when I saw this wonderful print by the even MORE wonderful Heather of Audrey Eclectic!
The collage was sold long ago, but I know she does prints...I've been meaning to pick one up myself! Do you see Miss Mention hidden in there? I do!

I love how art reflects life, and then life reflects art...we totally went full circle today!

Every girl should feel that way. Even if you're older than you once were, or so pregnant you're about to pop, or having one of those ratty hair days, I curtsy for you, sweet princess, and hope you have a marvelous day!

Sketches

2008-10-02T03:21:00.005-07:00

The Sarah Brightman sketch I talked about so long ago.... A love one...she stole his heart!
A witch's tea party...I had so much fun with the details on this one. Click on it to see what is garnishing their tea! I started painting this one tonight...I mean this morning...high fives to all the sleep deprived like me, who only get to paint when the little ones sleep! YaWn...
Goodnight, sweet dreams, and happy morning to you!

Just What Have I Been Doing Anyway? :)

2008-09-30T21:05:00.009-07:00

Hello Ladies! :)

I wanted to show you what I managed to finish while I've been drowning in work, laundry, and leading Lillian's new Daisy troop! First, a bit of paperclay! I have witches in progress, but could just not NOT work on this little bunny couple!

I think they are called Make-Dos? It was really fun piecing this together. The candlesticks were once brass, but are now dark brown and aged. The egg they are sitting in was from Lillian's Easter basket. The bust is also made of Easter eggs. The couple are wearing HANDMADE lace that I bought at an antique store in Big Bear, Ca and dyed them with tea. The buttons are from Lillian's baby clothes...how fun is that?
The eggs were covered in vintage text, but the back was really fun. Those swirls are embossed and you can see the letters peeking through underneath. The bunnies are aged and softly tinted. I like that it would be good for Easter, but could also sit out all year because it doesn't scream holiday. It is listed on etsy as a set and they are more close-up pictures there too.

Next, my painting collage of Alice...all grown up!

Even though Alice probably would have loved to stay young and play in Wonderland everyday, she grew up as all little girls do. That does not mean, however, that she forgot about those times chasing that lovely rabbit! If you look at her skirt, you can see that part of Wonderland is always on her mind!

Even though Alice grew up, she still manages to sneak away from her adult life and visit wonderland every now and then. She leaves the laundry, the cooking, and the stress to travel to that other world, have a very merry unbirthday, and allow herself to be a little girl again...even if just for a little while. Here she is, contemplating yet another adventure.

Were you a little girl once too? Alice wants to remind you to always take some time out for yourself and allow that little girl to come out every now and then and refresh your spirits. After all, if you're not going to have fun now...just WHEN will you have it?

Priceless

2008-09-23T18:06:00.003-07:00

My honey, Awesome Guy, had his birthday on Sunday. Look at how Madeline enjoyed the homemade chocolate cake. The look on her face IS priceless, and that I caught it on tape is even better! Happy Birthday Baby!

By the way, the clutter in the background is mine...sorry! BUT it is CRAFTING clutter, so that makes it okay, right? Awesome Guy built me a MoNsTeR crafting table which I will one day show you. It is only 19" deep, but unfolds into a gigantic play space that will hold all three of my sewing machines set up at once AND room in the middle to play. There is storage too of course! We took the bed of out the guest bedroom and I had a studio for 2 or 3 months before I got pregnant (planned, just didn't know when) and we turned that room into Lil's room.

Phew...losing my breath! lol My point is that my fabulous table is now scrunched under the breakfast bar in our kitchen and since I don't have the closet anymore, all the supplies are stashed under, over, and around. lol Yet another reason I am trying to use the supplies I have before buying more, but in the end, I end up buying supplies to finish the projects I started with the supplies I had!

Haha! That was a ramble if I ever saw one, but that is just the kind of mood I'm in right now.

HUGS to all my ArTiStic Ladies! :)

How to Have a Fairy Hunt Part 2

2008-09-21T23:15:00.007-07:00

Step 3: Look for fairy dust...you can usually find it where a fairy has sat, danced, or flown. Follow the trail of dust and you never know what you might find!

A fairy CLEARLY rested on this rock...and quite recently too!The trail of fairy dust led us to a small fairy ring, and a few other little nooks. But the GASP didn't come until she saw the chair and tables. There was even a fairy book that was hastily left behind! It was a diary...call us snoops, but we just HAD to read it! The diary belonged to a fairy named Shimmer. She just moved here to get away from a gnome that was stealing all her fairy dust...how dare he! She was currently living with some baby bluebirds, but they were growing so fast she was running out of room. We saw the mommy bird earlier that day! In her last entry, she wished for a home of her own.Madeline, what did YOU find?A canoe! Or as Lillian first called it, a Kazoo!

Step 4: Leave a gift for the fairy.

Lillian made this house all by herself. She painted each wall a different color...even blended them too. There is a bed inside and she decorated it with little baubles from around the house. Broken bits of this and that, but that were still beautiful. The magic keyhole we put on all the fairy houses we make. This glass bauble lets Shimmer know the house is hers and that Lillian made it for her. The glue was still drying, so wasn't clear yet.The door is hinged with fabric scraps and the doorbell is a jinglebell hung from an earring.Two charms that have fallen off and a bit from a broken tiara adorn the top of the house.

Ranger Marian has offered to look after Shimmer's house and keep it in good repair. Later Shimmer wrote a response to the note Lillian left in her diary...thanking her for the house and offering the diary as a gift. Here's a video Lillian wanted to make for you all about her little fairy house.

I highly suggest that one day, you go on a fairy hunt of your own! :)

How to Have a Fairy Hunt

2008-09-20T15:42:00.005-07:00

Step 1: Find a forest that has reported sightings of fairies and set up camp. Walk around, scope the place out and let the fairies get used to you being there. We went to Upper Lake Mary.
Madeline, feeling the heat of the fire, just like silly Grampy! She also bonded with the men by sitting in her tweety chair, crossing her legs, and sticking her hands in her pants, but I couldn't seem to get a picture of that. See what men will do when left to their own devices?! lol

Here's a video of our campfire to get you in the mood!

Step 2: Dress so that the fairies know that you are a friend to their kind. We picked flowers and made ridiculously large hair garlands. The girls dressed in white to show their innocence and purity of heart. Looks a whole lot better with the garland than a camping sweatshirt too! lol

Remember I did say RIDICULOUSLY big! The face is priceless...someone has not learned how to pose yet. lol I take what I can get! :)To be continued!

Halloween ACEOs

2008-09-17T10:09:00.010-07:00

Good Morning All!

Thank you for all the Kindred Spirit love! :) It truly is an amazing community we have here!

We went camping over the weekend and went on a fairy hunt! You won't believe what we found!

For now though, Madeline wants to go down for her nap. I do have time to show you the ACEOs I put up on ebay. I made 4 others, but they are for a swap and I can't show them just yet. This was my first time making ATCs. It was fun to see how small I could do a face! Boy, did I get on a roll!
I just treated them like mini paintings. Lillian had me hold them up like cards and she would pick the one that I would paint that day. It was a great game, and she'd rush home to see it finished.

I just love that little girl! I hate to take her to school, but can't help but smile watching her run off to get in line. She's so brave and it makes me realize that she's her own little person and is seeing the world through her own little set of eyes. Now if she would just remember it when I ask her how her day was!

Have fun today ladies!

"Have You Ever Discovered Another Kindred Spirit?"

2008-09-07T23:31:00.008-07:00

I'm a bit of an oddball in real life. I don't know anyone that crafts the way I do...obsessively. My sister quilts, my neighbor knits, I have a friend that can do amazing things with puff paint (*wink- Hey Lindsey!), but it's just not the same, you know? I get made fun of a bit too. I probably deserve it when I bring my sewing machine on vacation! When someone is crafty, around here it is called "pulling a Meredith." One friend choked on her drink as I was talking to her...I asked what was wrong and she said, "Sorry, I just never thought I would hear "So I was making 10 detective capes when..." in my life." In this respect, I stand out around here with no one to relate to.

That's why I love blogland so much.

It didn't hit me until I saw this:

Two marvelous paintings of Anne and Diana...the famous kindred spirits.

"I've always dreamed of having a "bosom" friend...a true kindred spirit"~Anne

So here I am thinking, first "I LOVE that book/movie!" Practically grew up on the series and SERIOUSLY thought I had to have a ton of doilies ready before I got married just like them! What I would not give to live on PEI and walk along the Lake of Shining Waters.

Secondly, how glad I was to find someone who loves Anne of Green Gables so much that they would paint them like this! This person, who is by the way, the very talented Lisa Lectura of ll*creations, gets me. I get her. Here, in blogland, we are kindred spirits of sorts.

This led me to think about all the other blogs I read. How happy I am to see people who have so many craft supplies that they need their own rooms...just like me! That thrive on imagination and creativity, and frankly, can't live properly without making something on a regular basis. That understand the joy it is to just sit down and create and see where the process takes you. You are a kindred spirit too!

This community that I have found supports its members, providing encouragement, friendship, and sharing knowledge.

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?" -Anne

You all have shown me wonderful things. My blogroll is full of positivity and focusing on the joys of life, big and small. All this optimism has affected my daily life and the inconvenient, frustrating parts of it seem a lot smaller in comparison.

“Kindred Spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. Its splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” - Anne

I have created an award, inspired by Lisa Lectura's paintings, to give to you. If you are on my blogroll, this award is for YOU. If you read my blog, this IS for you. Our common love for creating has made us kindred spirits and I am thankful for you. Please accept this badge:

Take it, save it, place it with your other awards. Pass it on if you like, but only if you want to, no pressure. It is a gift, not a tag. All I ask is this, have a glass of raspberry cordial on me.

"I love bright red drinks, don't you? They taste twice as good as any other color." -Anne

You can find the recipe here.

"That's awfully nice raspberry cordial, Anne," she said. "I didn't know raspberry cordial was so nice." -Diana

Thank you for sharing this part of your life with me, and thank you for allowing me to share mine.

P.S. Let me know how you like the cordial! :)

Miracles for Mallory

2008-09-05T07:29:00.006-07:00

*Taken from the website

"Mallory Marie was born with Trisomy 18. She had a severe heart defect and an omphalocele. Throughout the pregnancy, Mallory was given little hope of surviving the birth. Beating those odds, Mallory fought to stay alive for four wonderful days, touching every person that came into contact with her. She was a magnificent little girl who only blessed lives and knew love."

Starting September 7th, Mallory's family will be holding a silent auction to raise money to help other families affected by Trisomy 18. I lost a niece to this chromosomal defect, Kaleigh Jane, who passed on February 7, 1994. In honor of her and my sister, I am donating my original painting of Kaleigh's little sister's softie.

I would greatly appreciate it if you would please visit Miracles for Mallory to see their story, the auction, or even find out how to donate. I'm off now, to hug my girls a bit tighter and longer than usual. :)

Thank you,

I have a new nephew! :)

2008-09-04T21:29:00.002-07:00

Hudson Alexander...born just yesterday...isn't he cute?! Such a little gentleman already!