Weightless

Phyllis's Birthday Apron

I like the idea of a 'carpenter's apron' for flea market expert sellers like my aunt, Phyllis (affectionately known as 'Fiddle')so I whipped one up in just a few hours (with Mom's help). Here it is along with the card I created from an old picture I had taken of her (as you can see, in 1967)!

Tess's Birthday Creation

Well, I sort of went crazy with a sewing theme for this year's birthday creation for my BFF, Tesse. I enjoyed making it and look forward to more time in the studio to do some more collage/assemblage/mixed media/stuff. :-)

A Florida Find!

On Mom's yardsale adventures in Florida this past January, she came across a selection of jars filled with my kind of stuff. Each was color coordinated so she brought me the RED one. It was so much fun dumping it out and discovering what was inside. I couldn't get everything back in the jar to show it off as it arrived but you get the idea. I don't know when I'll ever use anything in it but knowing that it might contain just that perfect embellishment I need for a future project makes my day (that and the fact that it looks pretty cool in the studio just as it is)!

PageDwellers Christmas 'Ornaments'

I've been away from this blog for MONTHS! I haven't forgotten about it or my art but both require time that I just haven't had. Thought you'd enjoy seeing what the others on our little team created along with my creation. What a fun swap!

Pictures for Tesse

Pencil Jar for Mom

Christmas Tag for Tesse

What I want for Christmas!!!!

This features 'scrapbooking' but it's not a far stretch from how I feel about supplies for all my stuff!!!

Snowy Saturday

It's been snowing all day today so I've taken advantage of the weather to play in the studio. I didn't accomplish a lot but it's been a treat to just do what I want for a change. I'm always inspired by Tim Holtz's creations...like this one for example from his 12 Tags 2010 project:


Here's my creation (wish I had a professional photo of it!):



Back to the studio and the snow!

Makes me smile!

An October Working "Vacation"

Enjoy a quick few pics of my trip to Fort Lauderdale for a technology conference. Highlights from the trip include the view from my room, the delicious shrimp dinners with my co-workers and the Water Taxi Tour of the rich and famous. As for the conference, well....that's another story. Fort Lauderdale is beautiful...wish I could have stayed for a long vacation. Maybe another time!

Halloween 2010

Enjoy the slideshow!

One more donut...errrr cake that is!

I am a sucker for cake pans (and all kitchen utensils in general!). I couldn't resist this one, especially for the kings and queens of donuts at work! This was my first attempt and following the recipe on the box, you end up with a very heavy, rich, pound cake with chocolate goo and sprinkles on top. Delish!

Happy Birthday, Serkan

You might be saying to yourself, "Enough cakes, already!" but here are a few more. For Serkan's birthday, a traditional chocolate cake but with cream filling in between three layers and topped off with homemade chocolate frosting. Paula Deen would be proud....there are multiple sticks of butter in this one!

Celebrate Labor Day 2010

Got Washi Paper Tape?

Cathe, over at Just Something I Made, created the coolest dispenser for Washi Paper Tape. Now, mind you, I do not have any washi paper tape (*yet*) but now I want a bunch so I can make her dispenser. Isn't it great the things folks come up with and then share step-by-step how to's? Thanks, Cathe!

The House that Built Me

This song is so powerful and meaningful to me. I thought I'd share it with you.

Doggy Spa Day

...that's how I spent my Sunday. First, the haircut. After a winter of rolling in the snow and trudging through the ice, diving head first into her big pillow and twisting/turning her way around the living room on her back and avoiding being b-r-u-s-h-e-d (yes, she can even spell and runs for the nearest hiding place), it was definitely time for a haircut. Oh, and a shower...not a bath. This doggie loves taking a shower. I get in and she follows me for a bit of sudsing and pampering. She's now so soft (yes, that's why they call them Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers!) and more cute than ever. You'd never know she is 13. Gotta luv Bailee.

Spring is here!

My poor daffodils are hanging their little heads in the mud right now but yesterday they were posing for pictures in the bright sunshine. John captured these for me so I could share them with you. Isn't he the best? I hope they'll pop back up when the sun returns this weekend. Can't wait to do yard work and breathe in some fresh air.

I'm PURPLE!

Here's a fun little quiz you can take at the True Value site. My color is purple!

"Spontaneity is the key to your existence. Quick-witted with a flair for originality, you enjoy situations that allow you to explore your creativity. Comparatively conservative, you appreciate beautiful surroundings, especially if they’re found in nature. Your relaxed and self-assured personality allows you to work well with others. Surprisingly enough, your unique and unusual tastes don’t prevent you from being comfortable among your more conservative peers."

Hmmm, I think it's mostly true...What color are you?

Sweet Lucas is ONE!

Christmas Cactus!

Hallelujah! This Christmas Cactus is real!!! I have to tell you, my Aunt Hazel, God rest her soul, gave me two little clippings from her Christmas Cactus probably ten years ago (or more!). I rooted them, planted them and proceeded to torture them for the next decade plus. The plant moved with us to our new home and it's new home on the screened porch almost five years ago. After each summer, I'd bring it into the kitchen and sit it by the sink so it would get a drink or two from the faucet as I did the dishes (and I don't do dishes every day!). This year, I became the care-giver to Rachael's houseplants until they found their permanent home. This past fall, I moved her plants to the master bath and set them around the tub. I decided to move the Christmas Cactus in there also. Bingo! It must have liked the cooler, darker location (or it's new found friends) because a few weeks after Christmas, I noticed little buds appearing at the end of each section. Sure enough, the buds grew daily and now we have beautiful pink blossoms everywhere! I can't believe my eyes. I feel so bad for not having treated this poor thing better all these years. Maybe it's a sign that 2010 is going to be a really good year.

Isn't it ironic that this plant is just like me....late for Christmas but still wanted to acknowledge the holiday is grand fashion. Merry Christmas Cactus!

Looking Back at 2009

When I downloaded a picture of my Christmas Cactus, I found that I had some pictures of projects I hadn't shared with you in 2009! The Halloween container is a recycled bread crumb can wrapped in two layers of ephemera on background paper and stamping on acetate. I filled it with treats and sent it on its merry way to my bestest bud, Tumbleweed Tess. I'm working on emptying can #2 but it's going to be a while since I don't make meat loaf very often any more (John-boy complained about too many onions and wanted me to make it without ANY onions so I'm on strike).



The next thing I found on the camera is my last entry for PageDwellers in the "Anything Goes" category. I decided that fabric and embroidery (in a pink theme) would be my offering. They made it to Australia and Texas is good shape!

Happy New Year!

Hello Blogworld and welcome 2010! I have neglected my art and Stampindipity for some time now and thought I'd better put something current out here. Above are pieces I created for my wonderful friend, Tesse, for Christmas and her birthday. Below are details from her highness's birthday 'card'. It's not really a card in the normal sense but you crafty artsy folks might see it as a 'card'! Enjoy!

Customized Rubik's

You can create your own, too. Visit http://www.dumpr.net/rubik.php

What do I want for Christmas?

Happy Christmas

Not much time for blogging enjoy the 'snow'!

Underneath the November Moon

I feel so small standing outside in the dark underneath this November moon. The full moon and the clouds made the sky seem so vast and endless. It would have been a spectacularly bright moon if there were no clouds. I'm hoping moonbeams will bring muses to the studio...I'm in a creative slump.

Happy Halloween!

Enjoy the slideshow from our chilly Halloween eve! It was warm and windy yesterday but last night the rains came along with the chilly temps (and another, yes, another skunk!). We had a total of 10 trick-or-treaters tonight -- I said 10. That's a tad less than last year (maybe we had 12!). My pumpkin masks are courtesy of Martha Stewart (and mom's stash of black felt!). Bailee is sporting some little devil hair barretts and just hates to have her picture taken. The combo makes for a bad photo session so you're getting the best of what I got. I just had to share pictures of the sunset with you -- it was just so beautiful and fast. By the time I had snapped these, it was dark. Now there is a full moon with witchey clouds blowing by. Hope you had a Happy Halloween, too!

The Witch is IN!

Completed in the nick of time (and with a lot of embroidery help from my mom!) is my newest Halloween decoration - Zelda's Fancy Hat. I used the Crabapple Hill pattern #314 that I picked up this summer at a quilt expo. Of course, I had grand plans to have it finished by October 1 but that didn't happen. I embroidered the brim and mom did the rest. I stitched it together and stuffed it last weekend. Don't think there will be another one in my future. Enjoy!

Kristin & Adam Get Married....

...and Rachael was the Matron of Honor! The shower and wedding are over now and I have only a few pictures to show for it. It rained cats and dogs, the camera was acting up and it was dark in the church and the reception. I snapped a few and John snapped a lot of the cake....the most amazing cake I have ever seen (and tasted--it was carrot cake)! The roses looked real but they were made of icing also. It was a sight to behold. The groom's cake was grand also and went with the cute table favors (a guitar pick keychain printed with "Adam picked Kristin"). Enjoy the pictures!

PageDwellers Take 5

Enjoy the 5th in our PageDwellers series -- here's my entry for Birds and Numbers, our September theme.

I'm off to create the final "Anything Goes!" for our October theme before we take a break until 2010.

My New Favorite Artist

Yes, my new favorite artist is my great-nephew, Lucas! His mommy, Dr. Cooper, is just so clever. Who else but Val would have thought to set him free with his creativity and create a unique piece of art for their new house. Way to go, Lucas! You're awesome!

Goodbye Patrick Swayze - we will miss you.

PageDwellers Correspondence Page

Here's the fourth page in a series of five for your viewing pleasure. Next up is "Birdies" and then an 'anything goes' theme.

Wedding Season at our house!

This will make your day even if you don't have a wedding this month and next in your family! Enjoy!

More invitations

If you have wondered what I have been up to lately, here you go. I made 16 of these today and a few other items for the shower. There are so many things to do to get ready but I'll be squeezing in another set of PageDweller ATCs for this month's theme "Correspondence". More to come!

PageDwellers Page 2 and 3

Here are my 2nd and 3rd entries into our little PageDwellers project, "Seaside" and "Italian Influence" themes. What was I thinking in suggesting "Seaside" -- that was harder than I thought! Next up is "Correspondence" - one of my favorites. I'll show you the entire collection when all of the pages have arrived, probably in October sometime. Enjoy!

Cactus? Huh?

Here is a painting by Italian artist, Cipriani, entitled "Cactus" but all I see are paintbrushes. What do you see? I'm working on my third PageDwellers project with the theme "Italian Influence" and thought I'd look for some inspiration in the "Masters". This theme is a doo-sey.