Friday, January 30, 2009

here ya go...

Oh my, a girl just can't put her feet up and rest. I see the people are wanting details from the comments and emails. And, I'd be bugging me, too. Really we all want to know what's new and fabulous, don't we. In fact that's the question I asked almost everyone I chatted with while I was there. CHA was wonderful. I really did have quite a bit on my schedule which left little time for walking the floor. I was able to squeeze in four classes. I'm in love with beeswax and I think I need to play with it lots and lots. It smells like art time in Kindergarten and that is a very happy place for me. I did not see Paris, much to Kyle's dismay. I did see Suze Weinberg who is witty and funny and so much more entertaining than Paris. A woman actually screamed "It's you!" at her like she was a rock star. She said "well, who else would I be." She just cracked me up. I guess that does happen to crafty rock stars, but I wouldn't know. Not a single person screamed at me, but I did get to meet lots of folks that I only knew as little avatars online. I made up little bags of bath salts with my cards on them to hand out. I hope that helped to relieve some of those tired feet. I used them and my feet were much better than last year. Ok, on to the photos, which is what you stopped by for anyhow.

May Arts Ribbon...yummy...
For my moose loving friends...Hanna Stamps
New goodies from Spellbinders:
Studio 45...the yummiest papers ever!
7Gypsies....such a great booth:
Cosmo Cricket...love these game like spinners:
Who doesn't love Jennie Bowlin...fabulous milk bottle buttons:
Art Declassified is my all time fave stamp company....
and more art declassified loveliness...
These are a few things I made in classes...MSE:
Golden Paints class samples:
Magenta class was fabulous:
Kandi gave an intro to encaustics:


Thanks so much for stopping by. There are absolutely tons of sneak peeks out there. Happy blog hopping.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

why am I awake at 4AM?

I've been busy all week making lists, packing, buying new little things I'll need.  I went to bed last night ready to rest up and charge the batteries for a very busy few days ahead.  I'm going to CHA this morning and didn't have to get up until 6, a full 8 hours of rest was planned.  So here I am thinking maybe I can sneak in another hour if I get back in bed quickly.  No time for a nap today.  

Just in case somebody out there (hi Mary) doesn't know what CHA is, it's the Craft Hobby Association trade show.  I'm going with two hats this year.  I'll be there representing Scrapbook News and Review with a press pass and I'm working a bit for Fiskars to help pay the hotel bill.  Mostly, I'm hoping to learn new things, catch up with friends, see all the new releases, and just play for a few days amongst all things crafty.  I've got my camera batteries charged, gel insoles for my shoes, a cute new bag and sweater, and adorable business cards.  If you'll be at the show, stop by the Fiskars booth and say hi.  I'll be working a make and take Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.  

On a side note, today is my sweet hubby's birthday.  Stop by his blog and wish him a happy birthday if you have a minute.  He and Kyle are going down to look at the boat they are taking on their big 4 day fishing trip to Mexico this summer and are having a seafood lunch.  We had cake last night for an early celebration.

Thanks for all the sweet notes about my MIL.  It looks as though surgery is in her near future.

I'll be back home late monday night with stories and pictures.  I'm even bringing two cameras just in case I need a back up. 

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

family

Families are not easy.  We have crazy expectations of each other and sometimes that gets in the way of our relationships.  Please keep my mother in law in your prayers tonight or send out good vibes or whatever it is that you can do based on your beliefs.  She was diagnosed with lung cancer today and we won't know much more than that until more test results come in.  We don't live nearby and we are not close, but we are praying for the best.  My husband is out of town for work training and I just wish he were home so I could give him a big hug tonight.

historical day

It's been so very long since I've felt this way about a leader.  In fact I can't recall the last time I felt we had a leader, not a politician in charge.  Such an inspiring speech.  I am overflowing with tears of joy, tears of pride, tears of hope.  Thank you to the entire Obama family for taking on this huge responsibility and sacrifice with such grace and valor.  I am humbled.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

weathered with wax


I had fun coming up with a new update on the old wax paper resist technique. Enjoy.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

soar


Trying out a new arch design for the gothic arch challenges this year. After I got this one finished I'm thinking that soar is a great word for the year. I just might have to change my word already. I wasn't totally happy with momentum. I like the idea behind it, but the whole math thing bothers me. Soar sounds so free and easy and wonderful. I think I'd like to soar.

This was a fun one to make. I started with watercolor paper and some home made shimmer spray inks over a tim holtz mask. Then I got some distress ink going with a background stamp and floral silhouette, both by Penney Black. The flowers on top are grunge board from the nature set with the same spray ink and some distress stickles. The bit of velvet ribbon is vintage and I don't know where the soar ticket came from. Thanks for stopping by today.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

momentum


Here we are another year gone by. I'm happy to tell you that I am 46 years young today. So, what am I going to do to celebrate? I'm going to Disneyland. By the time you read this, I hope to be riding space mountain. I love my birthday and always plan a little treat for myself. When I was working I liked to take the day off and get a massage. This year since I have more grey than brown in my hair, I thought something young and fun and silly sounded like a great plan.

About that one little word. Last year I picked miracles. It was such a great choice and I looked for and found miracles great and small in my life and in the world around me. This year I've chosen momentum. I have plans and goals and dreams. If I can build up momentum, I can get there. When I looked up the word, it had math references about mass and velocity. I'm not a huge fan of math. I like this one: force in motion. Oh yeah, that sounds good. How about this one: the impetus to go forward, develop, or get stronger. Even better. That's the plan this year. Build momentum. I can't wait to see where it takes me.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

a nice start to a new year

Just a few days in, but it's a nice start to the new year. Kyle and I had a wonderful and very crowded day at Disney. We renewed our annual passes, so it's another year of running away ahead. Hubby and I started out our new year very quietly when Kyle went to spend a couple of days with grandma and pacaw. We spent the day friday at UCLA's Hammer Museum. They have an exhibit there called Gouge, which is all about woodcut and linocut. It was wonderful and included works by Munch, Picasso, Matisse, and Gaugin. I was happily surprised that such masters took part in this very basic art form. I've never carved any designs, but enjoy the work that Curtis does in this medium. It must be the precursor to the modern day rubber stamp. No wonder I like it. We have plans of doing a few art pieces together this year and got some good ideas flowing while visiting this exhibit. There were many gorgeous paintings in the museum's permanent exhibit. The most moving were the three pieces by Van Gough that really showed his progression. They only spanned a 5 year time period, but covered a lifetime of growth and change. There is nothing like spending time in the presence of truly great art. That's definitely on my short list of goals for the year.

So, about those New Year's resolutions. I always cheat just a little and make mine on January 7th. By then a lot of folks have already given them up and I'm just starting. I like to show up fashionably late and am somewhat of a procrastinator, so it suits me. Working on my one little word for the year, but have already fallen behind in the 365 photo thing and given that up. Loving the new tiny camera that is about the size of a deck of cards and light enough to carry all the time. I am hoping to put together something easy to accomplish this year that involves no negatives in it, adding not subtracting. I hate starting out feeling deprived. Did you make any resolutions or choose a word for the year?