Birds & Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap

Last night I finally took some time to work on the panels for Karla & Beth's Birds & Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap. I had myself a bit of performance anxiety and decided just to throw those thoughts right out of my head ... I sometimes forget that the best creations tend to come when you are creating simply for the joy of creating. I won't pretend that all I make will one day be masterpieces, but I can promise that what I make will come from a place of love and happiness. Here's what I came up with last night:

Question ... the one on the left ... do you think it needs legs? I kind of like that the legs aren't there, but if it throws things off, it won't be hard to add ...

I'm thinking that I'll do two more designs and will copy the four on the backs (using different designs than whats on the front). At the rate I am going, I'll have them submitted well before the deadline. Phew!

What else ... OH!! I just treated myself (with the blessing of uber-spouse) to two lovely little treats ... first, I bought one of Monica's doll forms from her Etsy shop ... check it out:

Aren't they just FABULOUS?!? I only bought one of them, so there is still one available in her shop. I was telling my honey that if it's half as great as I think it will be, I'm going to have serious struggles altering it!

And second ... from A Fanciful Twist's delightful Etsy store I am running away with these amazing post cards:

Oh happy MAY!!

Beaded God's Eye

Last night I worked on the beaded God's Eye for the spouses challenge. I'd hate to admit how much time I actually put into this - way longer than I should have - but ultimately, I think it was worth it. I used 11/0 glass seed beads on super strong thread ... check out the results:

The first image is of the front and the second is the back.

I would like to revisit this idea in the future and just might try using something like a 24 gage wire instead of thread ... we'll see.

On a side note, we're 8 days into the birthday month and wouldn't you know it ... the fam decided to surprise me with lunch today - sushi (eel) and seaweed salad - YUM! yep, I like it when I'm spoiled.

Hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful week. :)

Updates

It was a really good weekend (if not a day or six too short for my liking). I was able to spend some serious time working on a number of projects. Some are coming along better than others, but I will allow myself an "E" for effort. :) First up ...

I don't know if you recall Karla and her Great Aunt Caroline ... Caroline is about to turn 100 and Karla came up with the BEST idea ... in a nutshell, she wants to give her auntie 100 home made birthday cards (contributions to be made by anyone willing to "create for the cause") ... how lovely is that?!? Of course I was in (even though card making is seriously not my forte) ... here's what I'll be sending:

I could seriously benefit from a class or two (something that makes texture mixes and color combo's click), but I have to admit that the knot itself is pretty cool. I used origami paper. The top part of the knot is from a cloth like paper that has wonderfully intricate designs and the bottom is bright red foil. Like I told Karla, it may not be a masterpiece, but it sure had a lot of love poured into it. I'm not sure if she's reached her goal, so if you are interested feel free to visit her at Karla's Cottage. I'm sure this is one of those more-is-better situations. :)

Next ...

I worked a little more on the Black and White charms - I added the elephants and a couple of coats of high gloss varnish:

Now that I'm at the more than half-way point I am wondering if I should have just cut the images (paper and all) the size of the tiles and just put the high gloss varnish over that (without painting each side) and painting the edges with the silver paint. I just might have to try a couple that way in the future ...

Uber-spouse gave me another extension on his challenge (he's a seriously good egg). I had God's eye stuck in my head, so ... I decided to try my hand at a beaded God's eye ... here's how it's coming along (please remember that this is a first attempt ... I have a feeling it won't be my last - don't be surprised if I suddenly have an Etsy shop one of these fine days). I used two small skewers, heavy duty thread and glass seed beads:

you know ... I think I just might like the back better than the front ...

I started playing around with papers and things for Karla and Beths Birds and Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap - there's no photo's to share just yet, but I am hopeful ... feels like the creative juices are a sloshin ...

OK, this last item is just for fun ... when I got home from work today, there was a card from my father-in-law (seriously - my FATHER-IN-LAW - if you knew him, this would be even funnier) ... well, I think it's a riot, so I thought I'd share it:

Ciao bella's! ~M~

Friday Fill-In #70

Friday Fill-Ins #70

1. Two of my favorite ingredients in a drink are chai tea & steamed milk ... or Chambord & sour!
2. The depth of human kindness often amazes me.
3. You can keep doing that forever, the dog is a cyborg.
4. A handful of dried appricots, some dried pineapple, some yogurt covered raisins, cashews and some dark chocolate morsals, mix it all together and voila! You have a lovely snack!
5. If I had a yard with a garden, I would love to grow macadamia nuts, cashews and/or pistachios ... ok, so trees aren't really garden plants, but I do have a garden and we are growing tomatoes, peppers, salad greens, herbs, sunflowers (soon to be, at least) and other pretty stuff plus the mango tree and avacado tree look like they'll actually bear fruit this year, so now I want a nut tree and if you're gonna have a nut tree, doesn't it make sense to pick the nuts you love the best?!?
6. Honey is best au naturel.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to working on the charms, panels & the spouses challenge, tomorrow my plans include begging off work early and Sunday, I want to sleep in and then continue celebrating the entire month of May!

Happy Birthday to ME!

OK, not really quite yet - the official day is the 29th, but about 9 years ago I decided that it would be fun to celebrate for the entire month of May.

*big cheesy grin*

Lucky for me, my family and friends are really good sports ... it's a lot of fun and I highly recommend that everyone adopt this method of celebration. This morning I woke to a little package ... uber-spouse & awesome-critter gave me a set of rechargable batteries (with a charger) - woohooooo! AND they brought me some sushi for lunch ... just a pack from the grocery store, but it was a FABULOUS treat just the same. No, I don't get prezzies every day till the 29th, but I do get random treats between now and the big day ... and this year it really is a big day ... I'm turning

++++ 40 ++++

hehe - pretty cool

I also got an email letting me know that I could participate in Karla & Beth's Birds & Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap. The deadline to sign up had passed (I didn't ask to be let in on the swap; just shared that I was a little bummed to learn about it after the deadline), so it was a really lovely and unexpected surprise receiving the email saying that I could join the swap ... how cool is that?!? I've never worked with vintage images and don't have a lot of collage experience. Just the same, I am REALLY looking forward to playing around with these fun little treasures ... I just checked out the images and they are super fabulous!

No updates on the Hub's challenge (my brain is trying, but hasn't quite wrapped itself around it ... I have ideas, but they are barely formed at this point). ... for some reason I keep seeing something like a gods eye ... hopefully I'll get it all together before the Sunday deadline.

I did work on the charms for the Black and White Charm Exchange last night. All the little plaques are sanded and one side has been painted black:

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely not the neatest paintress on the block (I admit it ... I LOVE getting my hands dirty when I paint). Tonight I'll be painting the flip side white. It won't take very long, so I'll probably get the chance to work on the panels for the Vintage Workshop Swap.

life sure is good. ~M~

5/1 before I hit the pillows update ... I did work on the charms again tonight. U-S was kind enough to take a couple more snaps for me. I think he's tired - they aren't as good as last nights shots ... ah well, they'll work:

I do like the reflection of my water dish - kind of looks like carnival glass.

Goodnight & thanks for all the fish! (tell me where I paraphrased that one from & I'll like you even better than I do right at this moment ...)

Charms and Challenge

I thought I would record the progress of my contribution to the Black and White Charm Swap. In case you missed it, Amber Dawn chose the two-sided elephant design (to my absolute delight, by the way). I have a few weeks to get the 25 charms done, so I've decided to take my time and (try) to do them right. :) The first step is getting all 25 (plus a few extra, cuz that's the kind of girl I am ... just in case, dontcha know) cut down to size and sanding ... sanding ... sanding ... I wanted to round the corners and want the edges to be smooth, so a sanding I've been a-doin (four are completely sanded and another 14 have the corners rounded, so I'm doin alright). I'm using 220 grit sandpaper - a little does NOT go a long way ... the pieces measure just about 3/4 inch square:

Once I have all 25+ pieces sanded to my liking, the next step will be painting one side ...

OK, so the other challenge was from my honey. Originally he had a due date of this past Sunday, but when he noticed that I was actually working on the beaded doll or the charms, he decided to give me an extension to this Sunday ... the "assignment" - hanging piece with one section painted, one section beaded and one section found object. I saw this:

on the lanai and asked if it could be the found object ... he said yep. :) I've got two ideas on how to use it ... guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Here's my paint shelf:

Sometimes just staring at the tubes can get the juices flowing. I'm leaning towards using a 6x6 canvas board (or two), but this could change ... can you tell that I don't have the whole thing mapped out, yet? I'm often a by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of human, but I have been trying to make an affort at planning projects ... at least a little.

Here's a bead shelf:

I know, not much, but don't let the space fool you ... there really are some fun little beadies stored in there. :)

and since I'm sharing ... here's the shelf above the beads:

It's got random items on it 4X4 and 6X6 canvas boards, tapes, small origami papers, sculpy, modeling clay, etc. and my favorite bear Zotti.

This is the whole bookcase:

I may not have a studio, but this bookcase houses the most often used art supplies and is in a common area. :)

OK ... time to get back to work.

Be well, ~M~

Happy 100 List

A while back my meanderings led me to e.beck.artist. I find her groovy-ness to be most extraordinary. Her lighthearted happy self is infectious - if ever my mood is marginal and I just crave a little somethin-smiley, all I have to do is swing on by and I most assuredly will be treated to a grin, a giggle and one of her most joyful creations. I dare you to take a look at her art and try to maintain a sourpuss mood ... bet you can't do it ... (and honestly, isn't that actually a really good thing?!?).

Anyway, she posted Happy 100 back in March and I thought, haven't we all made this list at least once in our lives? ... which made me wonder where my list was ... and did I only have one list or are there dozens in random journals ... or are most of my lists wish lists and lists of things to accomplish / try / do in my lifetime ... and on and on ...

... when I read her list it made me grin and decide that I really ought make a new Happy 100, so here goes (and remember, this is a free-form-as-it-comes kind of thing and just because something may be listed at 83 doesn't neccessarily mean that it ranks that on the scale - if there is one - of happiness):

1) uber-spouse
2) critter (aka S.Butterfly)
3) Fern - (ex-circus puggle)
4) Sally - (silky cat)
5) the smell of lemons
6) or vanilla
7) painting
8) doodling
9) crocheting
10) finishing a blanket
11) stringing beads
12) coffee
13) chai latte's
14) Lizard (friend, not critter - though many a lizard has made me grin)
15) baking lemon poppy seed bread
16) giving away said lemon poppy seed bread
17) the pleasant surprise when peeps realize they really like that lemon poppy seed bread ...
18) mango's
19) smoked gouda, brie and baby swiss
20) paint brushes
21) plyers
22) my ruler (it's really cool - it's metal with a plastic raised ergonomic grip, a magnifyer and a cutter tool)
23) searching for sharks teeth and small pretty rocks out at Englewood beach
24) sushi
25) fondue (I prefer fundue, actually)
26) paper (all kinds)
27) Almost Famous
28) Love Actually
29) Pride and Prejudice (the newest version)
30) Sense and Sensability
31) Angel (the spin off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
32) softie fabrics
33) bamboo yarn
34) embroidery thread
35) Swarovski crystal beads
36) home-made gifts
37) the entire month of May
38) books that suck me in
39) knotting (aka macreme)
40) New Zealand
41) singing along with Natalie Merchant, Lisa Loeb, Annie Lennox, Sarah McLoughlin, Dido or a half dozen or so other female artists
42) S's sleep breathing
43) taking photographs
44) of animals, plants/flowers, buildings, people
45) orchids
46) sunflowers
47) plants with heart shaped leaves
48) beautiful gardens
49) my dragonfly coffee cup
50) the old glass "tea tray" (for beading)
51) the dark blue ceramic coffee cup with all the paintbrushes in it
52) refrigerator magnets
53) people that love their craft / create from that place of love
54) the night sky
55) sunsets
56) Tonto Natural Bridge
57) Sedona
58) my pillows
59) meteor showers
60) wishing on falling stars
61) Johnny Depp
62) Drew Barrymore
63) Prisma Color pencils
64) black and white photographs
65) suncatchers and windchimes
66) Hug-O-War (by Shel Silverstein)
67) The Princess Bride
68) Zotti (a stuffed bear I received from my Omi when I was nearly 12 I think - it's my traveling bear)
69) songs sung from the soul
70) The Beatles
71) two sided tape
72) meeting someone and speaking the same language
73) my pink sunglasses (currently missing, but I am hopeful they'll just turn up one day)
74) the sound of laughter
75) the sound of baby/small children laughter
76) a cool breeze and the warm sun
77) ginger
78) asparagus soup in a sourdough bread bowl
79) dark chocolate
80) the "I-love-you-more" fight(s)
81) receiving letters
82) sending letters
83) unexpected packages
84) good conversation
85) raspberry sorbet
86) Amimoto (local sushi restaraunt)
87) card and board games
88) the smell of garlic when it's promising a meal is soon to follow
89) shopping (online) at Dick Blick, Etsy and Aunties Beads.
90) arts & crafts - all aspects ... seeing, discovering, learning about it and new techniques, watching someone's creation progress from idea to completion,
91) art books - both picture books and how-to's
92) Audrey Hepburn
93) Da Vinci, Monet, Sulumith Wolfing, Van Gogh, Henry Moore, Mattisse & 100's more artists that range from the masters to beginners and everything in between
94) coffee shops with outdoor seating and good people watching
95) fairies (and other magical beings)
96) folding paper cranes
97) softly scented candles burning
98) doors / doorways / garden gates
99) overflowing window boxes
100) other happy people

ok, so that was super easy to come up with 100 ... I bet I could think of 100 more without much effort and my smile would grow even bigger.

Your turn!