Road trip with Ruby

London Calling

2011-04-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

It's windy and my allergies have been making me a mess. I woke up with another smashing headache, and my first instinct was to crawl back under the covers and forget about the day. I'm happy to say that I didn't give into that idea. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I turned on my favorite 80's channel from Boston and got to work on this printer's tray from 7 Gypsies. It seems that my favorite inspirations revolve around my passion for the UK. The background paper is also from 7 Gypsies. Some of the ephemera like the London Buses ticket are leftover from a trip across the pond. The spoon on the right came from Wales, and the coin in the little glass pendant is a Twenty Pence. I actually came home with a little spare change in my pocket. The sheep in front of the red phone booth is off a Christmas card that I received from a British friend. I tried to make a throne by adding some bling to a tiny chair. I tore my craft room apart looking for my sequins and never found them, so I used red Stickles instead. The large crown was a great find at Hobby Lobby. It was actually a knob, and I just took the hardware off. Each picture can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Ruby's Turn

2011-03-21T14:54:00.000-07:00

I have sadly neglected my Ruby blog for a long, long time. It seems a bit easier to keep my Scarlett blog updated since it is primarily about stitching, which I do a lot of. But, that being said, I so love collage art, and I need to spend more time with Modge Podge making my fingers stick together. This storage cabinet for odds and ends was once an old spice cabinet. It was in really rough shape, with something that resembled tar spilled all over it. It was headed for the dumpster from my brother's house. I think he thought I was crazy when I wanted it. At the time, I had no specific idea in mind, but I knew it would come to me eventually...

After a primitive coat of black paint...

some favorite scrapbook paper...

vintage photos and ephemera, lots of Distress Ink, a few old buttons, some sequins for the bling factor, and two new knobs...

I have something fun to sit on my work table. I forgot to mention that all but the two bottom drawers were salvageable. I used paper mache boxes that I covered in the same paper as the cabinet. Each side is something different.
I have two more projects in the works, so I'll be back soon.

I've learned a new craft

2010-07-20T08:49:00.001-07:00

A few months back, we made some minor cosmetic changes to our guest bathroom. We replaced the old shiny gold/silver faucets with rubbed black/bronze ones. A new light fixture took the place of the one that looked like it belonged in a carnival, and the wall mirror was reduced in size and framed. The frame was one that was in my collection for the samplers I stitch. Everything turned out great, but there was one thing left to tackle...the medicine cabinet. It was the typical sunk in the wall type with a mirrored door trimmed in gold. Not my taste at all. I love the look of punched tin, and I saw a cabinet that I liked from Irvin's Country Tinware. The problem is that it would have been a huge hassle to remove the old, add sheet rock to cover the hole, and so on. I came up with the idea to make my own version. I ordered an plain blackened tin panel from Irvin's the same size as the door. Copying a pattern that I like, I then drew the design on the panel with a white marking pencil. Using a board, a nail, and a hammer, I punched the design. My husband made the simple frame for it, and after painting it black, I sanded and antiqued it. Paul then attached the whole thing to the existing door. I love it. It is exactly the look I was going for. My poor hubby hates it when I come up with these projects for him. I can do the visualizing...but he has to make my ideas work. Occasionally, we can get a little put out with each other while in the process, but in the end it always turns out great. We make a good team!

One bathroom down, one to go, dear!

The maiden voyage

2010-05-19T14:02:00.001-07:00

Do they look excited? We recently bought this to take the "kids" along on our bike rides. The girls were all for it and behaved perfectly. Henry was, well...Henry. He has to stand up and bark the entire time. It's like he's the town crier, and he thinks he needs to announce to everyone that we're coming. We rode about nine miles round trip to the bark park and back. I thought they'd be pooped from running at the park. They were, but Henry's still found the energy to announce our return. Mr. B is going to get a good workout pulling these three.

Paul has since modified the carrier. He put a solid platform on the bottom instead of the canvas floor. We added a comfy cushion, and now they can ride like the pampered, spoiled rotten pets they are.

Happy anniversary to us

2010-05-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

Six years ago today...I'd do it all over again.

It runs in the family...

2010-01-05T07:40:00.000-08:00

Granddaughter, Olivia, is an artist in the making. She is only five, but already is rarely without a crayon or marker in her hand. I, of course, love it. She drew this picture for me on her last sleepover at our house. I think it's an excellent likeness of one of the girls. I do occasionally dress them up in sweaters when it's cold, but not the leg warmers. For Christmas this year, I gave Olivia a crayon maker. I don't know who was more excited about the gift, me, Olivia or her Daddy. It's supposed to melt down broken crayons and produce brand spanking new ones. You can also combine colors for a swirl one. As a kid, nothing was better than opening a brand new box full of all those fantastic colors.

A gift

2009-12-21T14:33:00.000-08:00

Today, I'll show a collage that I made for a gift. It's on a 10x10 canvas. All of my work seems to have a central theme of birds. I can't seem to help myself. They must inspire me to create.

Happy Birthday, Ruby Doobie Do!

2009-12-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

Ruby is 4 years old today. She can be such a love, and then that fast, be such a pain in the butt. I've never known a dog with a personality like hers. She is the boss. She gets what she wants, whenever she wants it. No exceptions...ever. Who'd have thought she could have wrapped a certain man around her little paw like she has? Scarlett just wants cake.

Look who stopped by

2009-12-08T14:11:00.001-08:00

I'm going to come clean and admit that I have been secretly harboring jealousy. What does that have to do with birds , you ask? Well, here's the truth. My sister has the most incredible amount of these Goldfinches that show up at her feeders everyday. It's just amazing to see. We get plenty of the red bellied variety, but I could never attract these guys. We decided to try a different type feeder, and I think it's the solution. I was so thrilled to see them today.

Way too long

2009-11-12T16:04:00.000-08:00

since I've posted on here. Ruby has reminded me that Scarlett has been the center of attention long enough. I've been away from my other passion way too long. I've missed my other creative outlet of collage making. I'm the type of person who gets singularly focused on one thing and it takes priority over everything else. My stitching is a priority, it's an everyday thing, but after a while I start to hear the nagging voice of other creative pursuits. Ignoring it no longer, I sat down the other day and made these journals. I'll put them on my Etsy shop and see if there's any interest. Speaking of Etsy, I'm almost at the point of being tired of painting my little needlework accessories. I love it that people have been so receptive, but if I get to the place where it's no longer fun, it ends there.

I'd like to give a shout out to my dear sis-in-law, Julie, who's recovering from surgery. She recently pointed out that I've been neglecting this blog. She's right, so this post is for her. Get well soon, Julie, and make your way to the warm sun soon.

Too stinkin'hot...

2009-07-26T09:38:00.001-07:00

here in AZ, for most flowers right now. These are from my brother's garden in IL. He was kind enough to send the picture so I can enjoy them, too. Hydrangeas are so beautiful, and one of my favorites. I just came in from watering what few plants we have left. My geraniums are gasping for air, the roses are just sad, and everything else is about to give up. I hate this time of year. I miss my patio. Everything is covered with a film of dust from the monsoons, and hunkered down so nothing will blow away. I long to sit out there and listen to the birds, which are also keeping a low profile on these hot days. I see them gathering in the birdbath, splashing and cooling off. At least, July is almost over, and fall will be here eventually.

Funny story...sort of.

2009-07-21T15:06:00.001-07:00

Remember the visitor from last week? The real owl? Well, my hilarious husband played a trick on me last night. We were in the middle of a monsoon storm, it was dark and raining like crazy. I walked out onto the patio to see if anything was getting wet, and I came face to face with this guy sitting on the fountain. I almost died, or had a heart attack at the very least. Believe me, he looked real in the dark. I froze in my tracks, and when I turned around, there was Paul laughing so hard. It must have blown off some one's something because Paul found it laying in the middle of the street. Pretty funny, honey! Not!

This family of Gambel's quail showed up in the yard this morning. They are scared off easily and hard to photograph. I was hiding behind a bush, that's the reason for the green corner. They are so cute when they run. Their little topknots are just a bobbing.

I love this shot. It's looks like Jr. is getting a scolding.

"Keep up children, and don't fall off. "

I think I should change the name of my blog to the Bird Blog!

Look who stopped by...

2009-07-12T11:18:00.001-07:00

Yesterday afternoon, I was looking toward our big tree in the backyard, and saw a brown spot. At first, I thought it might be a swarm of bees. When I got close enough, I was stunned to see this owl perched on a branch. I have no idea how common they are to AZ., but I have never seen one before. We have heard one screeching in the middle of the night, but that was several months ago. This particular one wasn't camera shy and allowed me to take several pictures.
The eyes are what really got to me, kind of creepy and intense. I have to say that I am a little worried about Ruby and Scarlett. We've heard stories about small dogs being attacked by owls. We'll just have to be alert.

Feeling old, and yet still cool...

2009-06-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

I always wondered when I was much younger what it would feel like to get old. I'm starting to find out. While I'm not exactly ancient and decrepit yet, I do feel old some days. Mostly, it's just my body. In my mind, I still think I'm pretty cool. I probably just dated myself with my use of the word cool. It was THE descriptive word of my youth, and I still like saying it. I'm positive that my kids would say that I'm anything but cool. They'll get it one day though. It's weird when you feel younger in your head than you look on paper. I still think cool thoughts in my head. I still like cool music. I love to play my all time band Crowded House loud and sing along when I'm painting or making something cool. Speaking of Crowded House, they have to be the most underrated band ever. I was fortunate to see them perform live in the early nineties. I'm so glad that they are still at it, sounding cooler than ever.

Maternity Tree

2009-06-20T11:14:00.001-07:00

Today while I was filling a hummingbird feeder, I happened to look up into this tree, and I was surprised at what I saw. Nests everywhere. I counted seven, but there could be more. It's almost like a maternity ward. The doves are very tame, and they don't mind being photographed. I don't think all of the nests belong to doves. As I approached, several small birds flew away. It will be a busy place if they all hatch at the same time.

Mama #1

Mama #2

A box for cards

2009-06-15T13:58:00.001-07:00

I took a cheap wooden box from Michaels. Painted and crackled it. Next came some vintage images. It will serve as a place to store my homemade cards. I need to work on some dividers for the inside. It was fun to work on something like this again.

Away too long

2009-06-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

No, I haven't been on an extended vacation. I wish! I've just been MIA for awhile. Isn't this the cutest photo? It was on a Hallmark card that I received for my birthday awhile back. I haven't any recent art work or projects to show, but I hope to get back into it again. I miss my friends from Mystic Paper. Gotta get in there soon.

Cards...sending and receiving

2009-03-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

I used some random stamps and a bird gift tag from Cavallini & Co. to make this card. I've had these tags forever, but I've been hoarding them. I also parted with a Tim Holtz metal tag. I love them, but I'm reluctant to use them, too. I wonder why I do that? I must be afraid that if I use them all up, I won't be able to admire them in my never ending stash of supplies. Makes no sense. I received the card below for my birthday last week from my niece. I had to show it off because it's just very cool. We are both into "stern looking woman with crowns", so of course, I love it. It opens up in a neat way to display a pocket holding a tea bag. Very clever.

Another fowl post...

2009-03-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

I have to share a couple more pictures that I took the other day. I walked out the front door, and saw the ducks in the front yard. They were just walking around and checking things out. I sometimes see them in the lake on our community golf course, but never in our yard.

That same day, I saw the baby hummingbird in the back again. This time Mama was nearby, and I luckily caught a feeding. I'm sure that there's a nest somewhere, but I haven't found it yet.

My feathered friends.

2009-03-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

Look who has taken up residence in our grapefruit tree. It is a very fragrant place to be this time of year. Nothing smells sweeter than citrus blossoms. I hope mama dove doesn't have allergies like me. I love spring, but it doesn't like me. Every bit of new growth in the yard reeks havoc with my sinuses, but who can stay inside when it's in the 80's?

I also spotted this hummingbird just hanging out. I must have taken twenty pictures and he/she just sat there unconcerned. I've never been able to get this close before, and they are usually flitting around looking for nectar. I love making these discoveries.

Nest

2009-03-07T08:58:00.001-08:00

While watching my husband do yard work this morning, I discovered this bird's nest in our tree. Isn't nature amazing? It actually looks like it would be quite cozy inside. As you can see, the trees are budding and it gives me plenty of allergy issues, but I love spring. The color of the new leaves is one of my favorite shades of green.

I edited my original post because we believed that the nest belonged to a hummingbird. After hearing from my sister that it looks more like a finch nest, it probably is that. We have mostly finches at our feeders, so that would make sense, although we do have hummingbirds, too.

I finally made something

2009-03-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

It has been forever since I made anything altered or as a collage. It felt good to finally play with paper again. I am so divided between my art and my stitching most of the time. I need to sometimes take a break from one to enjoy the other. I've been lucky enough to take two soldering classes taught by Josie Cirincione at Mystic Paper. It seems like everyone is soldering these days and it is lots of fun. Josie is a terrific teacher, so if you ever have a chance to take one of her classes, do it. Here is a necklace charm that I made for a friend. It's reversible, of course. The key can hang on either side as well. I originally wanted the key to hang from the bottom, but I couldn't get it to look right, plus I burnt my finger, so it's staying like it is. Those jump rings aren't my favorite thing to solder.

Back in the saddle

2009-02-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

or should I say driver's seat? I've neglected my poor "Ruby" blog for so long. I have been so preoccupied with getting my Etsy shop opened and keeping it stocked. I've enjoyed painting again, but I'm getting the itch to start doing some collages or something with the vintage images I love. Don't give up on me. Here is a picture I took of the girls the other day. They were making themselves right at home on our bed, as usual.

Spoiled rotten and loving every minute of it.

I've been tagged!

2009-01-21T05:53:00.000-08:00

My friend, Kim has tagged me to list five addictions. Only five? I have way more than that, but I'll play by the rules. Here goes:

1. collecting stuff... whether it be antiques, books, ephemera, charm bracelets, tin flat-backed cookie cutters, or pottery, I'm always on the lookout for more.

2. cross-stitching, especially samplers. My other blog is confirmation of that!

3. reality TV. My favorites are The Bachelor, The Amazing Race, and Big Brother. My husband doesn't get it either, Kim.

4. potatoes...mashed, fried, scalloped, and baked. I've never met a potato that I didn't like.

5. lastly, but not least of all, I have to say dogs. No surprise here. I could never imagine not sharing my life with at least one, or two, or three.

I'm now going to tag these five people: Rowyn, Kelcey, Sue, Cindy, and Becky

Fast Food

2009-01-12T06:58:00.001-08:00

One of our regular visitors is enjoying feasting on this seed mitten. It looks like another is patiently waiting for their turn. My sister gave us some great gifts for feeding the birds. I've been saving these until the leaves all fell off the Arizona Ash tree, so I could actually see them as they dined. So far, only the finches have been able to partake, but I have no doubt that I'll see a dove swinging from it eventually.

A very special gift

2009-01-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

As you all know, I love charm bracelets. I love the tinkling sound they make. I love the process of collecting the charms, and I love the stories they tell. They are little works of art that you wear. This Christmas saw one more added to my collection. My dear, dear friend Patti gave me a vintage bracelet that had belonged to her late mother. I was very fond of Nessie, and it goes without saying that I am extremely touched by this gift. Patti believes that the bracelet dates back to WWII. Two of the charms are a Jeep and a tank that says U.S.A. It also has several movable charms like a carousel with horses that go round, a grand piano, teapot, and mailbox that all open. My two favorites are a push mower with blades that turn and a wringer washer that spins. There is even a miniature spark plug, which is very appropriate since Patti's family made their home in the Detroit area. Thank you, Patti. I'll treasure it always.

e-i-e-i-o !

2008-12-29T06:36:00.000-08:00

We are back from our trip to the frozen tundra, I mean Iowa. It was 13 below on the day we arrived. I stepped out of the car, my eyes started watering and I swear the tear turn to ice on my cheek. Talk about a shock to the system! Despite the cold and the two day drive there and another two back, we had a wonderful time with our family. I didn't get to go sledding or snowmobiling, as it was just too cold. Drinking wine by the fireplace seemed to make more sense. I did get to take some photos of the farm animals. All of them cooperated except the sheep, they wouldn't stand still. Here are my favorites:

I was surprised to see the Llama, but they are great at herding the sheep.

Definitely a white Christmas

2008-12-24T05:04:00.000-08:00

Greetings from the snowy Midwest! As I sit here, on a farm in central Iowa, there is the white stuff as far as the eye can see. We are visiting family, and it is the first time I will have seen a white Christmas in over 20 years. I like snow...it's the cold that goes with it that I hate. Having lived in the desert for so long, you totally forget what winter is like in other parts of the country. Ruby and Scarlett are not sure what to think. They do not like getting their feet cold and absolutely would not even think of going to the bathroom in the snow. We had to take them to a barn every time they needed on the first day here. We are making progress though. They've figured out if they go really fast, they can get back inside that much faster. I can honestly say that I never expected to blog about the dog's bathroom breaks, but oh well.
Today might be a first for me. I heard talk about everyone going snowmobiling. That ought to be fun until I get stuck in a snow bank.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone.

London Revisited

2008-12-15T11:43:00.000-08:00

I have the hardest time coming up with things to blog about lately. Everything that I've made has needed to be kept secret. I'm fairly sure that a certain someone will guess that this gift is for her, but she should have it by now anyway. That is, if UPS came through. I saw the idea for these bulb forcers in Country Living magazine. They are made out of 1 liter bottles. The top is cut off and then inverted into the base. You fill it with water and then the bulb, in this case daffodils, roots and eventually sprouts a flower. I thought it was really clever and inexpensive.

I used some scrapbook paper with a map of London, one of my very favorite places, and then added a few embellishments. When we were were in the UK, we couldn't believe all the daffodils everywhere. I hope this gift evokes memories of a special time.

Live Love Photography

2008-12-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

Since I still can't post pictures of anything that I've created recently, due to the fact that they are Christmas gifts, I'm going to brag, I mean blog, about my beautiful and very talented daughter-in-law instead. Her name is Tina, and she has recently turned her passion into a new business. Live Love Photography is now up and running. There are many of us who take photos in our family, but we started to notice that Tina's were getting better and better. Before we knew it, she started creating these wonderful videos of family get togethers and holidays. There is no better way to capture and remember a special event. Please check out her new website, and enjoy her galleries of photos.

Celtic Thunder

2008-11-29T07:21:00.000-08:00

Last night was special, I went to the Celtic Thunder concert in Phoenix, with my sis, brother, and sister-in -law. I saw the "easy on the eyes" guys perform on PBS last summer. I really love Celtic music so when the tour dates were announced last summer, we bought our tickets. The show was fantastic. There's nothing better than a man in a kilt!

A thank you for my guests

2008-11-26T19:26:00.000-08:00

As a thank you for sharing Thanksgiving Day with us, our guests will receive one of these soup mixes in a jar. It's called Gobble-Gobble soup, and it's the perfect way to use leftover turkey. I saw the idea in a Gooseberry cookbook. It's as simple as adding several spices and noodles to a jar that I decorated. All that's left to be added is some water, turkey, and veggies such as celery, carrots, and onion. They were fun to make, and I hope everyone likes them.

As you gather tomorrow with family and friends, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thursday this and that

2008-11-20T13:28:00.000-08:00

While this one, Scarlett, is being her usual busy body self,

tormenting the geckos and chasing off the birds,

this one, Ruby, is doing what she does best. Napping! This is her new favorite spot to snooze in the afternoon. There's no doubt she thinks that the new patio was built just for her.

I've been such a lousy blogger lately. I'd be surprised if I even have any readers left out there. I have been somewhat creative, but I can't post anything because everything I've made is a Christmas gift. Too many of the recipients read my blog and there goes the element of surprise. Last night my husband announced that I was too hard to shop for and he had no idea what to get me for Christmas. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Me? Hard to buy for? Why that's impossible, I like everything! So, my question is what do you want for Christmas? I'd love to hear all about it.

It's a beautiful day

2008-11-12T10:09:00.000-08:00

here in the desert, and I'm planning to spend the day in the craft room while my creative muse is calling. I couldn't resist shooting these shots of what's in bloom. To those of you who live where it's cold at this time, I'm so sorry. Remember how we suffered through those 100+ days not so long ago? This is what we call Chamber of Commerce weather, low 80's and sunshine in the beautiful blue sky.

The roses are in bloom.

The rhubarb is still hanging in there.

I can finally grow Coleus. Too hot in the summer.

We can't have enough geraniums.

Miss Scarlett soaking up some sun.

Nothing special about this, I just like the shot.

The bees are a buzz in the rosemary.

Have a great day wherever you are!

Election hangover

2008-11-05T06:34:00.000-08:00

This is how I feel this morning. The choice has been made... one I strongly disagree with. "Change" is coming alright and unfortunately we're all going to have to live with it.

The sisters

2008-10-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd better get on the stick if I was going to create anything for Halloween since it's now only two days away. I knew the minute I saw this old photo in an antiques shop in Illinois that I wanted to use it for something like this. There's something about their eyes, kind of vague and unfeeling looking. In truth, they were probably sweet little girls. I wonder what she has planned for those sissors though. Whoever they were, they were sure dressed cute.
You should be able to click to enlarge the photo.

Sampler box

2008-10-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

My show and tell for today is a box that I painted. I've worked on it for a week or so. I haven't painted in awhile and my poor hand is really cramped up now. Maybe I need to loosen my grip on the brush a bit, but I've always used teeny tiny brushes with just the sparsest amount of hairs so I can get better detail. I plan to use it as storage for whatever my current stitching project might be. I like having everything gathered together and handy. I can keep my threads, scissors, etc., in there and just put a lid on it when I'm done. I always have work in progress and it's usually on the sofa or on my chair. I think I can have it sitting on the coffee table, and it won't look too out of place. Since I mostly stitch samplers, that was my inspiration for the design. These are a few of my favorite motifs. Some of you may or not know that my other blog is where you'll find my stitching.

Here's the reason

2008-10-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

that I've been such a bad blogger of late. We have been busy re-doing our patio. I have waited a long time for the expanded cover. The little dinky one that it replaced was big enough to keep one person out of the sun, okay, maybe I exaggerate...two people at most then. So when I wasn't helping my DH with the manual labor, I was busy sipping a glass of wine and supervising the progress. We are still far from done. Plans include a brick wall around the entire patio with seating around the fireplace, a new finish for the cement, (I like the look of stained concrete), and eventually the Arcadia door will be replaced with french doors. Finding the black wicker furniture was my project. I had the rocker and I wanted the new stuff to match. Lots of Internet searching proved successful. It came all the way from Pennsylvania and it was worth the wait. I made the floral pillows and quilt throw out of some fabric that I've had stashed forever. And yes, those screens sure need a good cleaning.

Going home...

2008-10-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

Who says you can never go home again? Maybe not to live there, but you can drive by anyway. This is the house I grew up in in Illinois. Much has changed since I lived there over thirty four years ago. The trees are bigger for one thing. I was sad to see that the willow and cherry trees had been cut down in the backyard. I can remember picking cherries for a pie and eating most of them before I even got inside. There is now a deck and pool where that tree once stood. Our house was a similar shade of blue, but the window box (I can't think of what they're called) is new. We also had a gas light in the front. I spent millions of hours doing gymnastics in that front yard.

Above is the street where my friend, Missi lived. It was two blocks over from my house. Everyone hung out here. We rode our Schwinn sting-ray bikes up and down and played "ding dong ditch" on that street. I love how the trees have grown so they form a canopy. Below is Missi's house. Nothing has changed at all. I slept over at least a couple of nights a week, so it was practically my second home. We spent hours sitting on the shag carpet of her bedroom making "Fun Flowers". There was this liquid goop that you poured into molds. You then heated it up in an oven of sorts. It was made by Mattel, and there was also a "Creepy Crawler" version. It's amazing that we didn't burn the house down.

Now here is a place that I will never forget, Katy's Market. It was at the end of Missi's street. It was owned by an elderly German couple. The store was cluttered and crowded and reeked of sauerkraut and homemade sausage. It was actually kind of scary. The owners didn't like kids much. I think we were all afraid we would end up in one of those meat grinders that they used for their sausages. We went in after school anyway, because they had the best assortment of candy. You just chose fast and got the heck out of there.

Thanks for coming along on my trip down memory lane.

Souvenirs

2008-10-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are my three favorite finds from the trip last weekend to Illinois. I found the box of much used stamps and the old charm bracelet in the same antique shop. I was so happy to find both and was even the subject of a little teasing. It seems that I expressed my happiness with the expression "OMG" excessively. What else can one say when finding such treasures? I really don't need any more stamps, but I liked the case, and the fact that they are all grungy with ink.

I have loved charm bracelets ever since I was a young girl. I like to find souvenir charms of places that I've travelled to. I have one completely full and another one started. The bracelet I found is significant to me for many reasons. It is filled with mostly charms of Illinois and that is where Iwas born and raised. There's one of Abe Lincoln, Chicago Water Tower, Picasso sculpture, and Gov. Otto Kerner's Inauguration Day, Jan. 11, 1965. My favorite is the "Fighting Illini", mascot of the University of IL. Some of the others that I like are: St. Louis Arch ( I've been up in that scary thing, and I lost the charm that I bought there years ago), a bulldog (enough said), a camper (my husband and I plan to drive off into the sunset in one someday), an Amish buggy, a St. Christopher medallion, a bear from Yellowstone ( I love national parks), an Iowa one that moves and has an ear of corn attached ( my husband is from IA). There are even three charms from Arizona. The charms appear to have been collected in the mid 1960's.

Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness is a wonderful piece painted by artist, Barbara Jeffords. She was at the Country Folk Art Show we attended. I love meeting the artists and talking to them about their work. She was very nice and humble about her talent. I could have brought several of her pieces home, but this one especially caught my eye.

A little too big for my suitcase

2008-09-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

I am back from my trip to the St. Charles/Geneva IL. area. It was a whirlwind weekend of shopping and visiting with relatives. The weather was perfect with the trees just starting to turn colors. On Friday, we literally shopped till we dropped, non-stop for seven straight hours. I think I'm now a little shorter, having worn my legs down. The fellow above was from Belgium. I fell in love with him, but not with his price, a mere $2,225.00. He would have looked awesome in my backyard, sigh.....

Here is how the trunk looked after the first day.

You'll have to wait to see what I did bring home with me....

We're off...

2008-09-24T06:55:00.001-07:00

to do some serious retail therapy. My sis, my friend, and myself are heading to St. Charles, IL. There we'll meet up with my niece from Minneapolis for a couple of days of power shopping. For years, I've wanted to go to the Country Folk Art Festival that is held there. That will be one of the stops. There is also an "over nighter" flea market which is held at the Kane County fairgrounds. It's from 4:00 pm till 2:00 am. It's supposed to have tons and tons of dealers. I can't wait...there's nothing I like better than flea markets. So off we go. I hope to blog soon about my fabulous finds.

Photo courtesy of The Graphics Fairy

A healing collage

2008-09-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

I'd like to share with you a gift that I received the other day. It was made for me by my niece, who is actually more like a little sister. She used my dog art and a picture of my friend, Cindy, who passed away last month. It has a a lovely message and wonderful little elements about it. She used some vintage sheet music and was able to find appropriate lyrics, like the one that says "For she loved him so" above Otis. Yes, I cried when I saw that one. I know my sweet friend is definitely wearing her wings. The frame is really awesome as well. I would never have thought to do all of the different things to it like she did. It's perfect for it. Thank you, Kelly. I am incredibly touched.

My thoughts journal

2008-09-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

Lately I've enjoyed making these journals out of inexpensive books. (double click to see details) I don't keep a journal, mind you, they're just fun to make. I have made feeble attempts periodically to write my thoughts down for later reflection, but I never stick with it. I have gone back to old posts to see what I was up to or thinking about at different times, so blogging is my journalistic choice.
As you can see, this book has a bit of a British theme. I am a total Anglophile. I can't explain it. Don't know why, I just am. For as long as I can remember, I have been in love with England and all she represents. I was one of those nuts who got up in the middle of the night to watch Charles and Diana wed. I don't play or follow tennis, but I'm determined to see a match at Wimbledon one day. My very favorite music is, you guessed it, the British invasion and the later stuff from the 80's. I drink tea by the buckets, English breakfast, of course, and I can make a mean scone.
I used to love the mod fashions from the 60's. Does anyone remember the Yardley slickers lipstick? My friend, Joy is the only person I know besides myself who had them. I was way too young to even wear the pure white frost lipstick when they were popular. I had the key chain versions, pink & orange and purple & aqua stripes. I wore it dangling from my belt loops. How cool was that for a small town girl from the Midwest? Recently, Joy came across some of the original lipstick on EBay and it was going for way over a hundred dollars. Of course, I didn't bid on it, but it was sure fun to see and reminisce.
Okay, I got a little off track with the Yardley thing. Back to my fondness of all things British. I was able to fulfill a life long dream and visit the UK four years go. It was everything I thought it would be, and I'll never forget the trip. I hope to go back again one day, and I'll try to remember to "look right" and not get run over. In the mean time, if there's anyone out there from across the pond that would like to correspond with an Arizonan, leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Today's accomplishment

2008-09-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

I've had a bit of a creative block lately. I found myself hoping that some new ideas would fall from the sky and hit me over the head. Considering the circumstances of the past month, I shouldn't be surprised that I've been less than inspired and totally abandoned by motivation. Today was different though. I woke up wanting to get right to work. Today I felt like making something. This unfinished tray was taking up space on a shelf. I had no ideas specifically when I began, but I knew I wanted to use birds in some way. I plan to top it off with a piece of glass and use it on my patio as a serving tray. It will be the perfect place to set a cup of tea or coffee while I'm sitting outside.

We will never forget..

2008-09-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

It's in our blood

2008-09-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo (I apologize for the quality) of me in the green t-shirt taken more than twenty five years ago. I was in full stride, trying to score a goal. We were just a group of moms who got together initially for some exercise while our kids were having soccer practice. Soon we were hooked on the sport and our team joined a local women's league. I continued to play for more than nine years.

Here is oldest son Chris in his soccer debut. He loved playing from the very beginning. He would go on and play well into high school. Like many sports, it consumed our lives for many years. Homework and dinners were planned around practices and games. How I loved those days and being a soccer mom.

For a very long time, I have looked forward to this day. Here is granddaughter Olivia in her soccer uniform. She is the third generation in our family to play. Today was her first game. It was hotter than blazes outside, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. All the three and four year olds looked so darn cute in their big, baggy Umbro shorts. There was a lot of clinging to the parents and tears shed over missed shots. I'm fairly certain the parents and grandparents enjoyed it more than the little ones. If she takes after her Daddy and her Grammie, it won't be long before it's in her blood as well.

My Space

2008-09-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's hard for me to believe that one year ago, this room was seldom used for guests. After a trip to my niece's house, I was inspired and a little (okay, very!) obsessed with having my own place to retreat to. It took some time to get everything into place, but I'm happy to say that it is just what I had envisioned. The room is defined by three areas. I have a big table where I can work on paper crafts. It faces a large window where I can watch the birds outside. My stitching chair sits in front of the floor to ceiling bookcase. I always wanted a room to use as a library. This is as close as I'll ever get. The dogs have beds to curl up in here, but just as often sprawl on the floor under my feet. The last addition has been the desk area. It used to be the closet. My wonderfully talented husband worked his magic, and it now holds the computer, scanner, printer and sewing machine. I no longer have to sew at the dining room table. It's nice being able to leave projects unfinished. Once in awhile, my other half will venture in for a chat. He sits in my chair, looks around at all my stuff, picks up this or that, shakes his head and then returns to his space a.k.a. the garage. I'm sure he feels totally out of his element in here, kind of how I feel at Home Depot.

A happy post

2008-08-30T07:03:00.001-07:00

My friend, Mike, at Jack & Cat Curio has honored me with this award. I was sure surprised to see my blog mentioned in the company of the others chosen. Thank you.

Now to pass it on to a few of my favorites:

Heart In My Hand-your creativity is inspiring and the honesty in your words encourage me.

The Garden Gate-visiting your blog is like going home. Like minded for sure.

A Stitch in Time-one of the first blogs I came across and still a favorite. Beautiful photography.

Yapping Cat Studio-totally fun, lots of eye candy. You make me laugh...a lot!

Small Creations-amazing talent...your creations never fail to inspire me.

The Graphics Fairy-wonderful vintage images, thank you for sharing.

Now it is your turn to share the love. Pass it on to your favorites.

My Friend, Cindy

2008-08-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

was 54 yrs old when this picture was taken three years ago. She is on the right. We were celebrating her birthday. Yesterday, she lost her battle with cancer. She was diagnosed early last autumn. The past ten months have been hard, a constant roller coaster of hope and despair.

I struggled with whether or not I wanted to blog about her death. I decided that I wanted and needed to share what she has meant to me. I have mentioned her illness in past posts. Many of you have given me comfort in person and many of you have left comments of prayers and concern. She read your comments, and I know she was touched.

She was a one of a kind friend. Everyone who met her was instantly drawn to her. I've never known anyone who was so loved by so many. She was the first friend I made, 21 years ago, when I moved to Arizona. We have been many things to each other. We were neighbors, co-workers, confidants, and like sisters. We saw each other through everything life through our way. We laughed, we cried, we shared, and we bared our souls to each other. We could talk for hours, giggle uncontrollably, and find humor in the oddest things. I can't even imagine how much I'm going to miss her.

Teaching young dogs old tricks

2008-08-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

Otis was always my walking partner. It was our time together. Granted, we didn't walk very fast, so there was no real exercise value in it for me. He lived for those walks, however, so it was a part of our daily routine. Now that he is gone, I decided to "try" walking with Ruby and Scarlett this morning. I never felt bad about leaving them behind before. If you know anything about Bostons, you know that they never stay still for very long. They get plenty of aerobics just chasing after the beloved, spitty ball and each other. So, after the wiggling and pogo stick imitations, we leashed up and off we went. Ruby was out the door like a Greyhound. That one has a mind of her own. Scarlett is always eager to please me and kept looking up to see if she was doing it right. We only went a few blocks, but their little legs can move! I'm exhausted, and they are crashed at my feet. I think we all need to work at this a bit more. I believe harnesses will be in order as well. Red ones...to match their collars.
Many thanks to those of you who left kind comments on my last post. Your concern and compassion will not be forgotten.
The vintage photo is courtesy of The Graphics Fairy. It is a wonderful blog. Check it out.

Otis...his life and travels

2008-08-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

I made the painful decision to put Otis down over the weekend. It was without a doubt one of the most difficult things that I've ever been faced with. It came to the point that his quality of life had diminished greatly in the past few weeks. He had a wonderful, caring vet and we tried many treatments to ease his stiff arthritic old body. He was a little more than 11 1/2 . That's 93 years old according to the chart in my vet's office. It's a long life for a boxer, especially for a big one. As you can imagine, my heart is heavy and full of sadness that he is gone. I've always believed that dogs have a way of finding us instead of the other way around. This was true for Otis. When he was around eight months, we adopted him from a family that was unable to give him a good home. I am positive that his life would have been much different and not in a good way. He was my seventh boxer. I got my first one when I was three years old. I have had at least one, or two, or three at a time ever since. My entire life really. Even though I love the girls, our two Bostons dearly, boxers will always hold a special place in my heart. Thanks to everyone who has been there for me through this. You know who you are, and your caring has meant the world. Here are a few of my favorite memories of the many trips we took with Otis and his girl, Lucy.

Yosemite National Park~their 1st time in snow

~off the coast of Washington~

~Yosemite National Park~

~near Bodega Bay, CA. He loved the beach, and would run and chase the waves.~

Taking a break

2008-08-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I need to forget about updating my blog for awhile. Dealing with Otis and his health issues have taken a toll on me. I'm afraid that anything I might post will come out negative and sad. That is not what I want this blog to reflect. So for now, I'm going to focus on him, and hopefully when I come back, things will be better for the both of us.

15 minutes of fame

2008-08-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone that has left me comments of support and good wishes. When you're feeling down, it means a lot. Today, I thought I'd share a story about Otis and his 15 minutes of fame. I had season tickets for several years for the Phoenix Coyotes. Absolutely love hockey! The team had a contest for ticket holders to submit photos showing why they were "real fans". On the day before the deadline I submitted this picture. We had taken a bunch for Christmas cards and this was an extra. I was never meant to be in the picture at all. I was only trying to get the dogs situated. In fact, I was pinching Otis in the butt to stay still. It was also a coincidence that I had on a Coyote sweatshirt that day. Well, they picked us to be on the season ticket along with others. I was interviewed by both local newspapers, and we made the front page of the sports section for each paper. The Coyotes asked me to bring the dogs to the arena for a pre-game ceremony on opening night. At the time, I was recovering from knee surgery, and I was nervous about walking out on the ice with two big dogs. Plus, can you imagine maneuvering them through the crowd? As it turned out, we did just fine. Wayne Gretztky even spoke to us and called the dogs "stars of the show". I didn't slip and fall, and it was a fun experience. The other dog was my Lucy. She was Otis's partner in crime until we lost her a few years ago.

Waving to the crowd.

Games Collage

2008-07-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

Remember the bag of goodies that my friend, Patti sent me awhile back? It was full of game pieces ephemera. This is what I made with some of it. Definitely not my usual subject, not a dog, fairy, or bird in sight. The photo of the couple in the middle was my inspiration... looks to me like they're playing games. The piece was done on an 8x10 canvas, and I painted the checkerboard area with acrylics.

A little bit of dog art

2008-07-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my 100th post. Amazing. It took just over a year to get to this point. I wanted to make this post a special one, however, this week has been less than special and I had nothing worthwhile to post. I have been in what one might call a "major funk". Nursing a downright case of the blues, have I. Since I try to keep my blog light and hopefully fun, I hate to post if I'm even feeling the least bit out of sorts. But, lately some of my blog friends have shared their heartfelt feelings in dealing with difficult family health issues. As I read their posts, I felt their heartache and it made me want to reach out to them and offer a small bit of comfort. Becky said it all in one simple statement, sometimes life just sucks. True indeed...but we dig down deep and have faith that tomorrow will be a better day.
My sadness has been slowly building. For months, I have watched one of my closest friends battle cancer. She has been amazingly strong through out it all and has recently endured one more surgery. It's been really hard and scary. What I wouldn't give to make it all go away for her.
Our old boy, Otis has really bad arthritis. He has trouble getting up on our slippery tile. We've had him on Adequan, but it just didn't do the trick. He fell the other night and barked until we woke up and came to his rescue. So, we're trying a new treatment and praying that it will work. Other than being old, stubborn, and arthritic, he's in pretty darn good shape.
Whether human or not, it's heart wrenching to watch those we love suffer.
Today, I felt the need to do a little art that included my dogs. It helped to lose myself in the process. I'm planning to use it for the cover of a journal. Love the quote, you may have to click on the picture to read it.

My first ATC

2008-07-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

I've wanted to start making and swapping ATC's for awhile now. Here is my first attempt. The theme is "red, white, and blue", and the swap will take place at Mystic Paper.

It was definitely a learning process. I'm struggling to get the hang of Photoshop Elements, but with my friend Joy's help, I was able to add the text and even make it wave. All the other elements were cut out and glued on.

Am I lucky...

2008-07-11T18:57:00.000-07:00

or what? It feels like Christmas has come in July. Here are some wonderful items that I just received from two friends, one old and one new. I was recently drawn as the winner of Sandy's Her Vintage Stage blog give away. Today we met up at the ever wonderful Mystic Paper, so I could receive my goodies. It was great to finally meet in person. I feel that I already know her through our blog comments and email communications. We have a lot in common, including sons with the same name. We even both have dogs named Ruby. Any dog lover is automatically a friend of mine. Check out her very cool blog. Her art work is terrific and never fails to inspire.

Sandy, it was a treat to meet you. Thanks so much for the awesome stuff. I'm looking forward to getting together again.

We all know how great is is to get mail other than bills. Imagine my surprise and delight when this arrived the other day. My non-arty friend Patti sent me this bag of ephemera and game pieces. You should see what it contains. Monopoly cards, dominoes, scrabble tiles, bingo cards, costume jewelry, buttons, oh my! There was even a small bag of vintage keys. What treasures! Patti, I'm sure you'll tell me where you found all this packaged oh so cleverly.

Many thanks again to both of you. I appreciate it more than you know.

Fairie tots in a tree

2008-07-07T06:57:00.000-07:00

These little fairy images are from DigitalCollageSheets.com. A few weeks ago, Cindy from Yapping Cat Studios created the cutest clips using clothespins. I couldn't wait to borrow her idea, and these are the result. Click on photo for a closer view. I painted the pins black, and glued the moss nests and fairies on. I thought they would be adorable on gift bags. You could even add a magnet to the back. The prices of ready made bags and tags drive me crazy. They can sometimes cost more than the actual gift. I'd much rather give something that I've made anyway.

Collage clothespins

2008-07-05T14:16:00.001-07:00

I'm still on the 30day challenge for a couple more days. Still trying to make use of my excess of supplies. I've had these big clothespins for awhile, and today I decided to gussy them up a bit. I love these vintage children, especially the little girl on the chair.
All in all, I did pretty well in not buying very much. Not exactly zilch, but very little. It's been a real eye opener. I've realized that too often I buy things on impulse and not for real love or need. That bad habit has left me with many things of which I now have no desire to use. It's also made me define my style a bit more. I've learned that I need to focus on what inspires me to create and not get caught up in the acquiring of things.

Baby, you can drive my car

2008-07-01T16:50:00.001-07:00

I heard the Beatles sing "Baby, you can drive my car" today on my way home from work. I was reminded of this scrapbook page I did of myself in my 1958 Corvette kiddie car. I was a 2 year old toddler in the picture. Sorry, the actual photo isn't very clear. Boy, would I give anything to still have that car. I'm sure it would be worth something today.
It seems that we all are searching for vintage photos to use in our art these days. Is it nostalgia? Do we want to be reminded of simpler times? Whatever it is that inspires us to look back in time, I hope it continues.

Red sky at night

2008-06-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

"red sky at night wo oh oh oh oh " is a song lyric from one of my favorite 80's band, The Fixx. This, however, is what the sky over Phoenix looked like last night. We are coming into our monsoon season and had a little action yesterday. A lightning strike started a fire Southwest of the valley near Phoenix International Raceway, otherwise known as PIR. Even though I live about fifty miles away from it, the smoke was very visible as the sun was setting.

Joy's birds on blocks

2008-06-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my Birds on blocks post, Joy and I challenged each other to use supplies that we already had for this project. She has posted hers and you have to pop over to The Garden Gate and take a look. They are really spectacular. Well done, my friend. We both love bird images and this was a fun thing to do.
I also need to mention that I fell off the wagon in the "no buying ban". I got in my car yesterday after work and the next thing I knew I was at Mystic Paper. How did that happen? It was too darn hot to sit in their parking lot, so of course I went in. My intention was to pick up a new Somerset publication. Magazines don't count. They are inspiration. See, I told you I was good at justifying my spending. Anyway, I ended up with the Fleuriste paper pad from Cosmo Cricket. I could not resist. Plus, there were only two left. What if I never see it again? I'd be the only one without it. We can't have that.

What's in your bucket?

2008-06-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

We watched the movie The Bucket List last night. I had heard good reviews about it. While I enjoyed it, I also found it thought provoking. What do I still hope to accomplish? What would be in my bucket? Obviously, normal things come to mind first like watching your children and their children grow old. Those are a given. But what are some of the things that would make your life as complete as possible? Mostly the contents of my bucket involve travel. I have been fortunate enough to see many places in the world, but there are still a few more. At one time, an African safari and the Great Pyramids of Egypt would have made the list. I now know in my heart that that will more than likely never happen. I'm too uneasy about travelling to that part of the world. So in no particular order, here are a few on my list:
1. Go to the Olympics (winter or summer, doesn't matter) maybe London 2012?

2. Attend Wimbledon even though I don't play or really follow tennis.

3. Visit Fiordland National Park in New Zealand and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia

4. Take a sleigh ride in the snow ( like in the Budweiser commercials)

5. Ice skate in Central Park

6. Spend days and days seeing everything in the Smithsonian

7. Visit Washington, D.C. when the cherry trees are blossoming

8. Stay in a beach house right on the water

9. Have Christmas in a cabin

10. See the Phoenix Suns win the championship

What's on your list?

Birds on blocks

2008-06-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

I have been determined to stick to the 30 day challenge and even more determined to make use of what I already have. Part of the plan is to post what we create. Joy and I have similar tastes and we usually have a lot of the same supplies. She suggested that we do something with these blocks, using birds as the theme. I'm pleased with the fact that I used the Periphery papers from Basic Grey that I've had for awhile. I also used a few stickers from Cavallini & Co. Most of the birds came from a book that I snagged at Goodwill. It had the sweetest dedication in it that said " Happy Anniversary to a sweet girl who has tolerated one of the sorry lot for 30 years~All My Love, Chick" Ahhh...I guess the book wasn't a huge hit since it ended up where it did. Anyway, I felt some remorse when I began tearing the pages out, but only until I turned on the scanner and set to copying. Well Joy, I look forward to seeing your creation.

Whew doggie is it hot!

2008-06-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, this isn't my first rodeo here in Arizona, but man is it hot!! I think it got to 113 today. I should be used to it by now. After all, I've lived here almost 21 years. It's hard to comprehend if you've never been to Arizona in the summer. Imagine firing up your oven to 400 degrees and then climbing in. Your goose would be cooked in no time. We take it all in stride though, knowing that we won't be digging out from snow in January or ever. You learn to do things differently. You don't buy ice cream at three in the afternoon. You carry oven mitts in your car so you can hang on to the steering wheel. You get up by 5:oo am to walk your dog. They have to hold it after that until the sun goes down. Just kidding! And never ever wear short shorts if you have leather seats. You know it's really hot when a frozen margarita sounds good for breakfast. Again, I'm just kidding! We're hearty, we'll survive....maybe.

On this day

2008-06-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

This is my Father, a man I never knew. He died from a heart attack eleven days before I turned one. All these years have been spent gathering photos and stories from others who knew him. I've learned that he was a patriotic man who loved his family and his country. He would have made a career of the Army had he been given the chance. I know that I am my Father's daughter. I have some of his features, especially his nose. I see the resemblance passed down to my youngest son who also looks like him. One of the things that has intrigued me the most is that we have similar handwriting and verbiage. I was given a letter that he had written to my aunt while he was at boot camp. As I sat there reading it, I was taken back by the familiarity on that yellowed piece of paper. It is on this day that I honor his memory.

Happy Father's day to my big brother. You were forced to step into Dad's shoes at such a young age. You have always been there for me. I couldn't have chosen a better mentor. I thank you now.

To my sons, who are wonderful hands on daddy's. I couldn't be more proud of you. Enjoy your day.

Will I survive this?

2008-06-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

My friend, Joy and I were talking the other day about our mutual shopping sickness disease, and I know it is a disease, Oprah told me so. Too often I spend more time aquiring things to create with than I do in actually using them. That is just plain silly. I cleaned out my acrylic paint drawer and to my horror, saw that I had 9 bottles of half used red paint. Red is my favorite color, but that is ridiculous. The dictionary defines gluttonous as "having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit". That pretty much sums it up. Joy said that having such excesses is causing her to be over stimulated and less productive. Ditto! We both agreed to use what we have for at least 30 days. That means no shopping whatsoever. No trips to Mystic Paper , sorry Kim and Jennifer, we'll be back soon. NO sneaking in an Internet purchase. That means nothing, nada, zero, zilch! We are into day 3 or so of the 30 day challenge. So far, I've only hyperventilated once or twice. Can we do this? Of course, but it isn't going to be as easy as it sounds. We love enabling each other, and we are both experts at justifying anything we think we NEED.
I personally am hoping to carry it a little further. I'm not limiting this to craft supplies. I'm not buying clothes, shoes , or anything else that isn't absolutely crucial. My kitchen pantry is also out of control. Mother Hubbard's cupboard needs to be bare! Wish us luck.

Scattered Thoughts Dividers

2008-06-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

I tried to post the dividers for my box individually in the last post, but blogger kept adding them in portrait mode even though they weren't photographed that way. I tried rotating them and everything else I could think of, but with no luck. I decided to scan them. Duh...why didn't I do that anyway?Anyway, it was just easier to make a new post. My favorite one is "Needful Things". Everything I want, is also everything I think I need.

Scattered Thoughts Box

2008-06-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

I wanted something to sit on my desk to hold index size cards that I could jot down thoughts and ideas. I also wanted to be able organize my "scattered thoughts" somewhat. I was constantly tossing in a drawer things that I had torn out of a magazine like websites or product info. Naturally, I never could find them later. I love these inexpensive recipe boxes for decorating. I painted it a neutral color, then I sanded the edges and gave it some black speckles by putting some paint on an old dry toothbrush and flicking the paint all over it. I then antiqued it with stain and "mod-podged" it with some scrap book paper. Lastly, I added some things to the top.

You have inspired me...

2008-05-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

For some time I've let my Stampington magazines pile up. I love looking at them over and over and wouldn't dream of throwing one out. But, since space is at a premium at our house, I made the decision to cut out my favorite art and compile it in a book. I admit, the first cut was the hardest, but honestly, I don't like every single thing that gets published. So, with a glass of wine in one hand and a scissors in the other, I went to town. Collaging everything on the pages was easy. Next came the cover and this is what I came up with. I had no ideas when I sat down. I started out painting it several colors, applied a crackle medium, then topped it off with black. The best part was adding all of the different elements. Lately, I've been influenced by many different people and I can honestly say that I've never felt more creative. I may never sell a thing or get published anywhere, but that's okay. The important thing is that I'm finally doing what I love... what I've always been meant to do. I'd like to thank a few of my friends, old and new, who have inspired me. Joy, we are like-minded for sure and I love that I can share all of this with you, and you get it! The fun never ends. Mystic Paper, thank you for creating such an awesome store. The classes have been a blast and it's always fun to walk through your doors. Mike, you have encouraged me more than you know, and your help with my blog is much appreciated. You are, for sure, like totally, the blog master! Lastly, but not least of all, thanks to those of you who post your own creations. There is so much creative influence out there and many of you are right in my backyard. Thank you also for taking the time to comment on my "show and tells". It makes it all worth while.

Backyard happenings...

2008-05-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

These are some of the sights that greeted me this morning. There was a lot of activity at the feeders. It's going to be another hot day, so I suppose the birds are feasting early. I couldn't resist grabbing my camera. Notice how the gecko blends in with the block wall. Double click on the photos to enlarge if you'd like.

There's no place like home

2008-05-12T13:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I'm getting a little obsessed with these jars. It's been my main topic for posts lately. New visitors here must think it's a blog about jars! This is the last for awhile...I hope. The other two were gifts, and this one I'm keeping for myself. My non-artsy husband thinks they're weird, well...sometimes art is weird! They have been so much fun to make. Maybe I just like how everything looks inside the glass. It's like a whole little world inside. I have a thing for snow globes, too. It must all be relative somehow. I need to give thanks to my friend for the idea of the ruby slippers, so thank you. It was just the thing it needed.

Ribbon storage solution

2008-05-07T15:09:00.000-07:00

I was chatting with someone online the other day about storing our ribbons. After explaining how I have mine, I took a photo and emailed it her way. I had taken it quickly, without adjusting any of the camera settings. I was pleasantly surprised to see how pretty the picture came out. I love how the assorted colors look in these jars, and it's a simple solution.

How many is...

2008-05-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

too many? Pairs of flip-flops that is. This is the bottom of my side of our closet, much to the dismay of my husband. My beloved flip-flops are usually kicked off and left to organize themselves, which oddly enough, never happens. They are pretty much standard foot attire for most of the year here. In my wildest imagination, I would never have believed that I would wear anything so casual to a job, but I do just that. The temps are creeping up day by day now. At least my feet will stay cool. Isn't it funny how things are called different things in different areas of the country? To me, they've always been flip-flops, but I've also heard them called thongs and even go aheads. I don't care what they're called as long as I can wear them.

Sea fairy...

2008-05-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

in a jar. I made this for one of my dearest friends. She was diagnosed with the dreaded C word in the fall. The last several months have been really tough for her with chemo and radiation. One of the things she loves the most in this world is the ocean. She obviously can't travel, so I've had this idea playing around in my head to bring some of the beach to her. My sister was recently in Florida, so I had her send me some sand and shells while she was there. These jars are very difficult to photograph so it is hard to see the details. The background is a vintage Florida beach scene. The side tag says she dreams of the sea. The charms are a starfish and a sea turtle, which is hidden.

A Sweeter Love...

2008-04-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

is ready to be framed. I sure loved stitching this one. It has many design elements that appeal to me. I didn't stitch it the way it was charted though. Many colors were changed including the verse which was to be blue instead of black. The verse border was to be filled in with satin stitches, which I just didn't feel like doing. Also, I left off an over one white swan in the lower right corner and substituted a dog. I had enough of the over one with just the verse alone! I think I'll play in my stash this afternoon and pick a new project. The painting is all finished in the great room, and I'm going treat myself to a little R&R.

Things are changing...

2008-04-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

around the house. As I have said many times before, decorating is a work in progress for me. Nothing stays the same for long. I just keep moving things around until I'm happy. The sheep picture previously hung in the bathroom. I think I like it better above the pie safe. Our house is hard to rearrange because we have a great room that consists of the kitchen, living and dining areas. Not my dream house...I like individual spaces. This week, I'm painting the walls a yummy color that looks like an old tan crock. Love it! It's slow progress, I'm doing a little spring cleaning with my rhubarb scented cleaners in between.

I also tackled the area above the kitchen cabinets. It may still need a little tweaking here and there.

A tale of three bird collages...

2008-04-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I took a class at one of my favorite places, Mystic paper. We made three mixed media wall hangings. The class was taught by Judy, who is a great and patient teacher. It was a fun way to spend a couple of hours. I'm only posting one of them for now. Another will be a gift for someone who reads this blog. And, the last one needs hmmmm... shall we say, a little modifying? It seems that in all my excitement, I sewed the bird sideways. The poor little babies are about to fall out of the nest! I was more concerned with sewing through paper, which is easy by the way, and didn't notice my goof. I wonder if anyone else noticed...no one said anything. Probably thought I planned it that way :)

My first...

2008-04-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

fairy in a jar. I have been captivated by these since I first saw them in one of the Stampington magazines. I needed a gift, so decided to give it a try. The possibilities are endless...I have ideas pooling for many more. I like the looks of the vintage canning jars, so now I'll be on the look out for some, and any other unusual glass bottles.

New blooms...

2008-04-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

in the garden. Colorful flowers are showing up everywhere. My miniature rose bushes are bursting with new growth. We have six planted. I bought them last year after Valentine's Day. They were on clearance, and if I remember clearly, they were less than two dollars a piece. They were kind of sad looking, and I wasn't sure if they'd make it. They have done so well that I hope to plant more eventually.

Each year the Johnny Jump-Ups return, and a few are growing right next to the roses. I think their combined hues are striking. We enjoy them while we can, until it gets too hot.

Here is the newly planted Queen Elizabeth rose bush. The photo does not due it justice. The color is really beautiful.

Houses...

2008-04-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

Cotswold's cottage...

Pennsylvania stone...love that red door!

On the coast of Massachusetts...with a view of the ocean.
I could sit on that wrap around porch for hours, inhaling the smells of the sea.

This is my very favorite. I love the simplicity.

what kind do you live in? I love architecture, and I like taking pictures of houses. They are like people, they come in all shapes and sizes. I have a few favorite styles. I could imagine myself living in any of these. Of course, the ones I prefer are all old or very old. No modern contemporary abode for me. With the exception of the saltbox, which is courtesy of Country Sampler magazine, these photos were taken by me while on various vacations. Part of the fun in travelling is seeing different styles of buildings. Here in Arizona, homes are pretty much all beige, or tan , or taupe...sigh...stucco.

The button box...

2008-04-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

I used to keep my buttons in an old canning jar. It was a total pain when I needed to sort through them for a project. I had to dump them out on to my work table ,and without a doubt, half of them ended up on the floor. Well, of course, Ruby and Scarlett thought that treats were falling from the sky, so I'd have to quickly scoop them up. I decided I needed a better storage solution, and this is what I came up with. It's a French themed bouton box. First, I gunked (is that a word?) up a box with paint, stain and a little crackle medium. Then I got carried away adding rub-ons and embellishments. Naturally, I had to do some stamping on it also. It was a fun project.

At first there was one...

2008-04-01T16:39:00.000-07:00

sad face, then there were two.

As I was saying good-bye to my sister today, I noticed Scarlett forlornly peeking under the fence at the beloved, spitty ball, which had rolled out of the yard. I ran in to get my camera, and Ruby had joined in. Have you ever seen more miserable faces? That ball represents their world of play, play play. Life is a ball!!! Come throw it for us over and over and over again.

Some stitching show and tell...

2008-03-31T11:23:00.000-07:00

of A Sweeter Love from Plum Street Samplers. I have loved stitching this piece from the start. It is very colorful from the cobblestone path between the houses, to the flowers and butterflies. I'm stitching it on 40ct. vintage Meadow Rue from Lakeside Linens with one strand of NPI silk. There is a verse that goes in the center and it is stitched over one. There is actually quite a bit of over one stitching with the initials and so on. I usually stitch from the bottom right hand corner and work my way up. On this one, I've jumped all over. I've mentioned in other posts that I get bored with borders. I have this one half done. Yea!

New additions...

2008-03-25T08:16:00.001-07:00

to our family. Congratulations to my nephew and his wife on the birth of their twins.
Juliana and Daniel were born on March 20th. Welcome to the family, little ones.

It's been awhile...

2008-03-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

since I've felt motivated to work on the many scrapbooks I have started. I feel guilty for neglecting the photos that keep piling up. And mostly because I have such sweet little inspirations called grandchildren. I've had this lay out spread all over my work table for almost a week. I love the designs of Brenda Walton of K & Company. Everything coordinates so well and pages usually come together quickly. I think I get frustrated sometimes because I have so much stuff in my stash that it becomes overwhelming. I seemed to get more accomplished back in the day when my layouts consisted of colored card stock and a few embellishments. Now I have such beautiful paper, ribbons, and rub-ons, etc. ,and I find myself hoarding it. What in the world am I saving it for? I mean really, the more I use, the more I will need to buy, right? And we all know there is nothing more fun than shopping in the scrapbook stores. I've promised myself that I'm going to stitch less (just saying those words makes me anxious) and try to complete an album or two.

A St. Patrick's Day memory...

2008-03-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday. No, I won't go there and tell you how many candles are on the cake. I have always felt blessed to have it be on this holiday. Even if it wasn't my birthday, I'd still call this day one of my favorites. Even if you aren't Irish, who doesn't love to celebrate St. Pat's Day? I always thought it would be amazing if I was able to be in Ireland on this day. Well, four years ago the dream came true. For me, it was the trip of a lifetime. Memories were made that I treasure and fondly recall at this time each year. It was more than just the sightseeing and traveling experience. Much more than sailing across the Irish Sea, walking in the green, green grass, eating potato after potato, bumping along on the narrow country roads, listening to wonderful music, and of course, throwing back a pint or two. It was sharing it all with three women who's companionship and friendship mean the world to me. It's being able to reminisce and laugh with them over the good time we had. Eventually, we will all take another trip together, and more memories will be made. Who could ask for more? Happy St. Patricks Day!

Not only...

2008-03-12T14:19:00.000-07:00

is Dove my favorite chocolate, it is also one of my favorite birds. They are so calm and peaceful. This one was busy flying back and forth from the tree to the fence. I love all the cooing that goes on in the morning. It is just the sweetest sound. Unlike some of the other bigger birds that come around, the doves seem to co-exist with the finches and sparrows without much drama. It amuses me when they try to hang from the feeder. They end up spilling much of the seed, but maybe that's the plan, as there is always lots of activity under the feeder.

I was gifted with an awesome new camera for Valentine's Day. I've been trying to work on my photography skills, at least a little everyday. There is just so much to learn. For every bad picture that I take, and there are many, it's so rewarding to take a nice shot now and then.

Dinner time...

2008-03-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

is all the time for the finches in our yard. I was playing around with the new camera today, and thought I'd see if I could zoom in enough to capture them in action. I got lucky as it looks like they were about to fly away. The gourd feeder I made could sure use some stain and another coat of varnish. It looks really shabby, but it serves it's purpose.

Spring is near...

2008-03-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took a hike with visiting family at the Superstition Mountains. Having had a decent amount of rain this winter, we have anticipated the arrival of the wildflowers. There were a few nice patches here and there, but not as many as I expected. We might be a tad bit too early yet. I was anxious to try out a new camera. These two shots are my favorite from the day.

I also came to the realization that hiking just isn't my thing. While the scenery can be very pretty indeed, I probably missed a lot of it while I was busy keeping a look out for snakes. I think it is still too early for them to be out, but I wasn't willing to chance it. In the twenty plus years that I have lived in the desert, I have never seen a rattler up close and personal and without a glass cage dividing us. I prefer to keep it that way.

Where is Mary Emmerling...

2008-03-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

when you need her? Two nights ago, I hardly slept. I lay wide awake rearranging my kitchen over and over in my head. I was really inspired to make some changes, but hardly in the mood to do it at 2:00 am. So, today I made an attempt, and I have drawn some conclusions. No.1: I have too much stuff, and No.2: I need someone to do it for me. I'd love to have one of those services come in, use the things we already have, and give our house a fresh look. I spend a lot of money on decorating books, watch HGTV regularly, and I'm clueless when it comes to creating interesting decor. Even though we live in the city, I'd like my kitchen to have that "old farmhouse feel". Hopefully, a new counter top and apron style sink will be forthcoming sometime soon. I am lucky to have a few pieces that I love, like the old butcher block, which I salvaged from an old garage. The area that I particularly want to change is above the cabinets. It seems to me that everyone in my community goes a little overboard with the silk plants. I do like a little greenery tucked here and there though. Here's a look at some of the things that I have to work with, and I am open to suggestions!

I love organizing...

2008-02-27T15:03:00.001-08:00

stuff. I needed a solution for storing my many rubber stamps. I found this printer's drawer in an antique shop, and it appears to be just the thing. It was somewhat challenging getting them to stay put though. The shelves are rather narrow, and like dominoes, when one fell, another one fell, and so on. For now, it's sitting on my desk. I think I'll see if my DH will hang it on the wall. I think it's fun to recycle old things, and it sure beats the plastic shoe boxes that they used to be in.

A recent finish...

2008-02-20T08:37:00.000-08:00

and an almost completed sampler. 1798 Quaker Sampler had been in my stash for a few years, with about a quarter of it done. For some reason, I left if to stitch on something else. I only work on one piece at a time, so it is unsettling to have unfinished business in my stitching basket. I must be in the minority in that regard because many stitchers like to rotate their projects. Anyway, it was stitched on 40ct. linen with one strand of Au Vera A Soie 100/3 silk. I changed every color from the way it was charted, and I have to say that I'm pleased with the results. Now to decide on a frame for it...

The other little one is called Schoolhouse Sampler, and it is from the August 1998 publication of Better Homes and Gardens Cross Stitch & Needlework. I am drawn to anything that has red as a dominate color, especially buildings. It was charted for Kreinik thread, which I don't use, so I kept putting it aside thinking that one day I'd convert it to NPI. I like using different stitches from time to time. The red alphabet is Algerian Eyelet. I love the look, but it seemed to take forever. The green bands are double cross stitch and rice stitch.

And on a literary note, I finished A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and I now know what happens to Jamie and Claire (well, sort of). I have a feeling that they will make an appearance in the John Grey books. I can't believe that I made it through all six books of the Outlander series. I was truly sad to read the last page and would highly recommend them all.

Please grow...please, please, please!

2008-02-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day in the valley of the sun. After a nice breakfast out with family, we strolled through the garden center at Home Depot. Just waiting for me, rhubarb plants. Yippee! I couldn't resist trying to grow it just one more time. I have tried it from transplants and from roots, with no luck. I swear, this is it. This year, however, I have a different plan, thanks to the nice man who helped us at the store. Instead of planting it in my garden, I have put it into pots. The idea is to bring it inside when our weather becomes too hot. I can place them in front of the patio door, where they can still get full sun, but they will not be subjected to the heat. Sounds like it could work, we'll see. If I don't succeed, I'll resort back to begging my Midwest relatives for some of theirs.
I also planted some very pretty pansies, trailing geraniums, a grape tomato, brocoli, and a red and a purple pepper. I have never seen a purple pepper before, but it is the color of an eggplant, and it is certainly different. It could add even more color to my pasta salad!

Our ballerina...

2008-02-07T10:15:00.000-08:00

Granddaughter, Olivia is now taking ballet lessons. Here she is in her little outfit before class. Ballet is the perfect outlet for her. She's a total girly-girl, nail polish and all, and loves wearing a tu-tu. I can hardly wait until her first recital. After sitting through thousands of soccer, little league, basketball, and football games with two sons, this will be something entirely new for me.

Snow in the ...

2008-02-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

mountains, east of Phoenix. What beautiful pictures taken yesterday by my sister, and used with her permission, of course. My brother and sister-in-law are visiting from Illinois, and they all took a ride out towards the Superstition Mountains on the Apache Trail. I just love the shot of the cactus wren. It amazes me that it can land and perch on top of the thorny cactus. Here are a few of the sights that awaited them:

I have to say that I am very impressed with My sis's newly found photography skills. She has been coming up with some great photos lately. I'm sure the fabulous new camera helps. My brother has always been the master photographer in our family, so maybe now he has a little competition. Either way, I get to enjoy seeing the world through their lenses.

The Sewing Circle...

2008-02-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

is a wonderful oil on canvas by artist, Daniel Ridgway Knight (American, 1839-1924). I was given a framed print of this painting several years ago, and it has been stored behind a dresser in our bedroom for the last ten. The other day I pulled it out, dusted it off, and it now hangs in my craft room. It fits perfectly above my sewing chair. I used to imagine myself in the circle, gossiping with the others, plying my needle and thread. In my fantasy, we were in England, but I learned that the artist lived in France for most of his adult life, and was fond of painting French peasants.

Just another recipe box...

2008-01-27T10:48:00.000-08:00

that I recently made as a gift. So far, I have made seven of them. It was supposed to be finished by Christmas, but I didn't quite make it. Anyway, it's nice to receive a gift in January, and I believe she likes it, so it all turned out okay. I originally hand wrote all of my favorite recipes and then scanned them. Now it's a piece of cake to print them off whenever I need to.

Isn't she a beauty?

2008-01-17T18:48:00.000-08:00

She may be a he for all I know, but regardless, I love this print. I wish I could say that I painted it, but that would be a lie. I mail ordered it awhile back, and it now hangs in our master bathroom. Years ago, I had a thing for cows. Everything in my kitchen was covered with black and white spots. The mere thought of it now makes me a bit nauseous, but I loved it back then. Currently, I'm captivated by sheep. I don't have a lot of items, just a few here and there. My adoration started even before I travelled to the UK and saw thousands of them while driving through the countryside. I am admittedly jealous of anyone who can look out their window and see such a view on a regular basis. There's just something so serene and pictorial about sheep contentedly dining on a grassy hillside. Oh well...maybe in another life I'll have a few or even a flock of the woolly ones.