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.

OMG - I can't wait!!!

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON trailer in HD

Bakin' Cakes

I've always had an interest in baking cakes and no talent for decorating them but did that stop me from tackling two more cake projects? Here are my latest creations -- one for our Graduation Celebration blast last Saturday (Rachael (Masters in Education - Counseling, Art Therapy) on left and Valerie (Dr. Cooper, DDS, MS) on right). This one had to incorporate artisty and dentistry!



Baby Shower Cake for Josh & Heather -- welcome baby Sam!

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Now, back to work....PageDwellers is calling me!

PageDwellers Begins

I couldn't resist an invitation to join a tiny elite group of artists (world-wide, you know, as there are Aussies in the group!) for a 5-month project to exchange "house" ATCs. This month's theme is "Magical Trees" and this is my entry. I must say it was a challenge and I can't wait to see what the others came up with (I'll post them here when I receive them). I have my BFF Tess's entry but it's a long way from Australia to the US. Next up is "Seaside" -- my suggested theme. What was I thinking??? I know the possibilities are endless and I guess that's the problem....where to begin? Send me some vibes and maybe the lazy muses in my studio will think up something soon. Enjoy!

Have you wondered what happened to me?

It's a long story and nothing that everyone else hasn't experienced at one time or another what with work, kids, graduation, more work, etc. I won't bore you with details. Anyhoo, I was checking in on the internet this morning and found this image which caught my attention. Here's where I found it...go on over to the Curious Sofa and check it out. Enjoy!

Easter Greeting

I'm a little late in posting this but I wanted to share a beautiful Easter greeting from my BFF in Texas. She is the Queen of Detail and I especially like the way she used various stitches when adding the sewing details. Isn't she somethin'? Thank you again, Tess.

Once

Happy 25th, Sweetie

My baby turned 25 last week! Happy Happy Birthday, Sweetie. I'm so proud of you!

(The 'card' part of this creation is the little ATC size card in the center of the 6x6 size cardstock.)

Happy 17th Anniversary!

John and I decided that we would buy ourselves this awesome piece of art for our anniversary gifts to each other. We met the artist, John Bauman, at Summerfair a few years ago (if you check out his website and blog, you'll see the acorn casserole dish that we bought there. His work is fantastic and his stories interesting (not to mention he is a dog lover!). See http://www.baumanstoneware.com

Welcome Lucas!

Here's a card I made for my niece's inlaws to congratulate them on the birth of their first grandson (and my great nephew). He is such a cutie!

A is for Anniversary

This blog is temporarily in a funk. I hope to get it back into the groove soon before my two followers delete it from their favorites! Our 17th wedding anniversary is coming up in two weeks and I know I won't have the energy to create something as elaborate as what I did last year -- the anniversary book (pages 1 and 2 above). I also have my baby's 25th birthday card to create so I've got to get crackin. I'll be back uno momento!

Where in the world is Mike Jones?

Well, it's been so long since I posted something, I forgot my password. Sad. Sadder yet is I don't have any pictures to show you for all the hard work I've done lately. Instead I'll share a video my brother, Mike Jones, sent me. If you know my brother, you'll get such a kick out of this. If not, you'll have to just appreciate the music.

Snow Day

Snow, ice, sleet, more snow makes for a good day to stay home. Bailee loves, loves, loves the snow (the ice and sleet part is another story) and as you can see, we had a few laughs amidst the crackling tree branches and glistening snow. Enjoy!

Altered Torso

This is an altered torso that I created for my BFF Barbara (aka Tesse!). The pictures are the greatest but I wanted to share the details. It was hard to take one picture of the entire object and still have enough detail to look at. It might have helped to have taken the picture somewhere other than the bathroom next to my studio! Ü This was my first attempt at crackling the paint and that was fun. I know now how fast you have to work with the top layer to get it to crackle the way you want. Now I have to go make another one!

Enjoy! (I know she enjoyed it!) Happy Birthday, again, Tesse!

525,600 moments

Got home from work and the sky was just amazing! What a way to end 2008. Happy New Year everyone!

P.S. 525,600 minutes measure a year (that's from the show Broadway show Rent, "Season of Love"). I love that song. I hope every one of those minutes or moments in 2009 is a good one.

Do you like show tunes?

I LOVE Broadway! I took a few minutes to add some of my favorite show tunes. Check out the Fine Tune box on the right if you want to hear them too. Enjoy!

Christmas Memories

I'm working on a top secret gift for my mom but here's a sneak preview...it's a 1962 photo of my brother and me (probably taken with a little brownie camera (remember those?). Christmas Eve was always, and still is, a special time to get dressed up, have a nice dinner and go to church. We would be allowed to open one gift and it was always a new pair of PJs, a coloring book and crayons. I still keep a box of crayons in my desk drawer at work for a little aromatherapy on those awful days when you think you just can't make it through the day. It works!

Here's some fruit to make you smile!

Have you seen this? When John first hit the DVR rewind and said, "You've got to see this!", I thought it was the dumbest thing ever. Well, we started laughing, maybe because it is the dumbest thing ever, but we couldn't stop. Now it's one of those 'ear worms' that gets in your head and won't leave (sort of like It's a Small World at Disneyworld). Maybe you'll get tickled too....



...and have you watched the grandpa's expression in this one? It's priceless!



ok, back to wrapping presents!

....and here's my version....

...courtesy of Tesse, the recipient, here's how she displayed the garland I made for her. I think she's having fun opening each box each day and finding out what's inside. My mom asks me all the time, "well, did she open another one....and did she like it???". Mom, she loves them all. and isn't her mantel just gorgeous? We are two victorian peas-in-pods.

Jane, this is for you!

Ah, when I saw this, it reminded me of you, Jane! Colored Pencils! Aren't they gorgeous? Just like paintboxes, I never knew there were so many photos of colored pencils in cyberspace. Amazing. Makes me want to go doodle, right now. Enjoy the new photo album of the first 30 or so that I came across!

Sneak Peek

My bestest bud Tesse received the Advent Calendar I made for her just in time to open it for December 1. Here's a peek at the inspiration for it that I found on Artchix Studio:
http://www.artchixstudio.com/create/classroom/class_adventcalendar.htm:

I'd show you the real photos but dummy me only took pictures of it with the boxes open as it lay on the table so I can't show you my version of it (as that would ruin the surprise for her). Actual pictures later!

Makin' My Christmas List

ok, I'm a country junkee lately. I just discovered Randy Houser. Enjoy this video:



Sort of reminds me of Ronnie Dunn. And then check out Jimmy Wayne:



I think I'm gonna ask for a Crest Spin brush to use to clean my stamps (my Sonic for my pearlies is not leaving my bathroom---it's awesome). Have you checked out Ed Hardy designs? The bags are shoes are to die for (get it?). Then there are the ginormous sets of Prisma design markers. What fun would that be?

Ok, back to reality. Gotta get busy on makin' my christmas goodies.

Country Living....

....If I could live in the pages of Country Living Magazine, I'd be able to have this in my kitchen for Thanksgiving. Yumm! Oh, the creativity that exists in this world. I've got to get away from this computer and get busy!

Hurry!

Isn't this a funny image? It's amazing what you can find when you look for vintage images on the Googlenet. I feel like her. I'm running around in my 'uniform', trying to get ready for the Thanksgiving invasion and I see Christmas right on my heels. Take a deep breath....enjoy the season and don't sweat the small stuff, right? That's hard to do but I'm trying. Ü

Harvest Moon?

Going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark is a drag. But the moon on the way home tonight was spectacular! It was a big yellow harvest moon....just huge! Hannah would have loved it. As soon as I could get in the door and accept all the sweet doggie kisses, I grabbed my camera and ran outside to grab a quick picture. Well, I'm a little disappointed but none-the-less, here it is for you to share. It's the same moon wherever you may be....think of me when you look up. Ü

Where have I been?

...making invitations again. Can you believe it? I agreed to do the honor for my niece's baby shower. Here's a sneak peek....

Cholesterol Counting?

No. I'm hungry for pork chops and potatoes the way my grandmother used to fix 'em. Brown the pork chops on both sides, add peeled potatoes and then cover the whole thing with a can of cream of chicken soup and a can of water. Simmer for 45 min and it's ready to enjoy. Delish!

Wedding Candy Buffet...

....becomes Halloween Decor.....with a little help.....

....becomes Thanksgiving Decor.....

Happy Halloween!

Boo!

Happy Halloween!

Happy 25th Anniversary, Rhonda & Roy!

Here's a peek at a star book that I made for my friends Rhonda and Roy for their anniversary:



Now, if you look closely, you will see that I only used 6 of the 7 pages I created. As I was gluing it all together at about 1AM (the night before I needed it of course), I couldn't figure out why I had extra book pages and not enough artwork. I knew I had created all the artwork I needed but by then, I was too tired to figure it out so I just glued the extra pages together. It wasn't until the weekend when I was cleaning up the disaster I had left on my desk that I discovered the extra page that I should have included. I may be the only one who's working space grows smaller and smaller as I work. The scrap pile gets bigger, the tool pile gets taller, the stuff, the stuff, the stuff, it just turns into a disaster...creative disaster but nonetheless, a mess. Rhonda, I'll have to add your page to your book sometime. Ü

P.S. Tess, the bull nose clip is on the second page....click on it and you'll see a close up of it (maybe blurry but still a closer look). It's the library clips from Stampin Ups' newest catalog that have me hooked! I love these little gems. There are four colors a cute little divided circular storage container. Gotta get more!

Kentucky Wool Festival

Thought you'd enjoy the rest of the pictures from the Kentucky Wool Festival. The twin lambs were born the day before these were taken. Some of the faces and noses are priceless!

Kentucky Wool Festival

We had a fantastic time at the Wool Festival today. The weather was PERFECT and we shopped (and ate too much). I've got what I need now to attempt felted wool beads for bracelets thanks to several helpful ladies in the wool exhibit tent.

staind

How Long Will I Love You?

God Bless America and God Bless OSU!

We had a terrific time at THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY football game on Saturday for Alumni Weekend. Archie Griffin spoke at the Stadium Dorm Alumni meeting which was exciting and we saw a winning game. It was HOT and of course crowded. I'm the one in the red. Ü

I took these pictures a few weeks ago when the moon was just so big and yellow. It was a beautiful summer evening, no humidity, no bugs--just a lovely little breeze and me and my camera. I could have stayed outside all night but I'm afraid of the skunks, the deer and the coyotes. Ü It's nice to know when you look up at the moon, you're seeing the same thing. Reminds me of an old Camp Newaygo song:

Bed is too hard for my tiredness.
I'll take a hill soft with trees.
Tuck a cloud up under my chin.
Lord, blow the moon out, please.