Linda Jo's Obsessions

Heart Stitches

2012-01-27T17:07:00.000-06:00

Once again I find myself inspired by Pam Garrison and Charlotte Lyons.

The above are still works in progress.... but I needed to update my blog, so you get a sneak peek!

The photo above was taken with Instagram... thus the "different feel" to it....

And....then I got all caught up in making some other things... you know how one heart leads to another...

I started making hearts that I learned in a class led by Alisa Burke... (Christy Tomlinson's Twelve Artsy Ornaments of Christmas).... the flowers watercolored on text paper and cut into hearts and stitched up....

Then I made the brown bag ones!!!!

(I can't find a picture of those little bags we all (?) made.... but I know I did.... anyway.... stitching the lace and text on brown lunch sacks...you remember?)

Anyway...the paper hearts are lightly stuffed with fiberfill and stitched up, too!

Warning........... start at your own risk.

Highly addictive!

Saturday Crepe

2012-01-21T18:38:00.002-06:00

Okay.... so I've been a bad blogger.... I have my reasons... which I will share later...

But today I sat down and made a Valentine so I could do a swap with Christian Paper Artists ...

Pulled out the roll of red crepe paper that I bleached years ago...

If you weren't here or don't remember... here is a tutorial for it.

It's really great to have around.... and it's so easy to gather on your sewing machine!

I gathered a bunch (takes like a minute) and then hot glued it to the back of this card!!!

And...here's a shout out to Sandy..... here's your rabbit ... happy as she can be.... sitting on a shelf in my art room keeping watch over all. (see bleached crepe paper roll behind her, btw)

Go bleach some crepe paper... or at least wash it!

A Cup of Instagram

2012-01-15T15:04:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorite cups.

And it's an Instagram shot.

You can follow me on Instagram....link on right side... you have to have Instagram...

Do you have an iphone? Then you can have this!

It has wonderful filters that you immediately have access to.

Let me know if you are doing this and I'll "follow you".

It's so about "following" these days..... ha!

Is there any chance for my Texans to come back???

Less than 2 minutes to go.... I can't bear it...

so I'm blog hopping....

Consider this....

2012-01-08T13:38:00.002-06:00

Are you taking any online classes yet? There are so many classes I'm considering!!!

Strathmore offers free workshops.

I'm doing this one... it's free!

Traci Bautista is teaching the first class.... how cool is that!

Beyond Layers is a Kim Klassen class (say that 3 times fast)!

It's a 52 week class.... right now it's a dollar a week....limited time offer.

I'm so tempted!

The Art of Wild Abandoment
is one I am DEFINITELY taking.

I love Junelle!!!

And I certainly love Christy Tomlinson!

It doesn't start til March 12th and is a three week class.

I cannot wait til March 12th... but guess I will have to.

Letter Whimsy by Theresa McFayden.

I certainly NEED this one!

It starts tomorrow!

Do you love the graphic at the top!!

From Jeanne at Bees Knees Bungalow!

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T05:00:00.002-06:00

I hope you make lots of good things this year!

And I hope you have a friend that appreciates them!

The granddog has been with us this past week

while his parents went skiing ...

they are coming home today.

Why do dogs love to drink out of bird baths?

(Taken with Instagram!)

Scraps

2011-12-30T20:14:00.000-06:00

I really and truly thought I took some full pictures of the red/white/blue Log Cabin quilt above....

but I can't find them! Will need to do that when I'm at my son's house....

I started that quilt for my son when he was a high school senior quite a few years ago and got sick of working on it and put it away for years...

got it out this year and finished it and gave it to my son and his wife for Christmas!

And below are some smaller versions of the scrolled paperback book pages made into a wreath/ornament....

I made some for gifts this year...

... and the Christmas fascinators that I made for my friends' party...

I made some more for family on Christmas Eve....

(picture at my daughter's house)

That's my daughter holding Ashley Jo, me, my daughter's mother-in-law, and my son's wife!

Did you make fascinators?

Merry Baby!

2011-12-23T10:37:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas from my new granddaughter,

Ashley Jo, and me!

She will be a month old on the 29th!

I hope you have a wonderful holiday.... whatever celebration you do!

May God richly bless you and yours!

Christmas Global Garland!

2011-12-22T15:45:00.000-06:00

Don't you love this garland! You can make it.... go here.

Great last minute gift for your travelling loved ones!

Christmas Fascinators

2011-12-17T05:37:00.002-06:00

So the other night I went to my annual "Dirt Diva" Christmas party.

(don't ask)

Since I've been busy on "grandbaby duty", I didn't have to bring any food.

So I told them I would bring the "joy"!!!

I made Christmas Fascinators

.... in honor of this year's Royal Wedding!

I bought Christmas ornaments at Target and hot glued them to cheap plastic headbands!

The divas loved them and some wore them the next day to "appropriate events"!

hee hee

You should make some for Christmas Eve!!!

Let me know if you do, I want to see!

QB5 Christmas!

2011-12-16T08:25:00.000-06:00

Remember the shakers from last post that I made for the QB5 December swap?

Well.... this is what I got in return.... such a talented group of women sent me the following:

First is Patty's soft felt ornament.... love the little bird and the way she applied the "feathers"!

And

she used her hand dyed ribbons...

has sweet crochet and netting.

And she attached one of her wire bird's nests! A treasure for sure...

Then we have Carole's

darling Santa snowman...

she sold them at fairs this month in New Zealand...

not sure if she still has any in her Etsy shop...

His hat can be lifted up and I could see me hiding something in there!

Here is Nathalie's precious pin cushion in a china doll appendage!

I love appendages.....

she has some in her Etsy shop....

or did... you'll have to check...

these are adorable and I want to figure out a way to wear it.

...and Margaret

.... she sent a packet of goodies (as they all did)....

and this adorable matchbox...

she has some of the best images and just being in Switzerland makes it all so much more special

... all that snow and Heidi...

well, you know!

My packages arrive here...... thought you'd like to see my lights...

Merry Christmas!

(come back tomorrow to see the Christmas fascinators I made for a party last night!)

Christmas Shakers

2011-12-09T22:15:00.001-06:00

I made these little "shakers" (for lack of a better word) for the Queen Bee 5 Christmas Swap.

I ordered watch part cases online..... name of shop escapes me.

I painted some vintage white on white wallpaper and cut it to fit the backs for the background.

Then I punched two holes in the top edge with my crop-a-dile and pulled white ribbon through with a jingle bell hanging inside.

I had some of those theme tags from the dollar bins at Michael's.... had bee skeps on them....

so I cut the bee skeps out and then I hot glued a cork to the back and the skep image to the top of the cork. (cut wine corks into thirds with a knife... pretty easy... to provide depth)
(Disclaimer: I don't recommend YOU use a knife though!)

Then I spread some glue around the cork and along the bottom edge and sprinkled mica flakes and a little glitter in.

Made some "word art" in a circular shape to glue on the back of the case!

Really simple!

Fun to make..... you can put soooooo many things inside these....

Have you done this? I'd love to see!

(I'll show you what they all sent me in the next few days.)

Ashley Jo is here....

2011-11-30T22:33:00.000-06:00

My first grandchild arrived on Tuesday at 4:10 p.m.

She weighed 7 lb 8 1/2 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.

She's perfect!

A Doll To Be Thankful For

2011-11-27T18:03:00.002-06:00

Isn't she beautiful!

Patty (Magpie's Nest)
sent her to me last week.

I was blown away by her generosity.

Her dear Mutti made this doll.

Patty lost her sweet mother earlier this year.

She sent it to me as I am about to become a grandmother for the first time...

I am so thankful for my friendship with Patty and I will treasure this doll.

I knew you would want to see her.

And I knew you would want to see under her dress.... I know you!

Purple Stuff

2011-11-21T14:42:00.000-06:00

I gave

my daughter the purple Log Cabin quilt that

I made years ago... crib size!

Who knew when I made it that it was for my first grandchild!!

In case you haven't paid attention.... my daughter has done the nursery in shades of purple..

She bought paper mache letters at Hobby Lobby and some scrapbook paper.

I took them home and traced the letters on the backs of the paper and cut it out and glued them on!

We ended up making a hole in the back of each letter and then hung them on nails and using sticky tak to hold it askew!

Here is my son's dog with my daughter....

he knows she's going to have a baby and he wants to stay right by her!

and here is the A that I made with

all my purple buttons and all of

Natalea's (Kandeland) purple buttons!

Thank you, Natalea!

I'll show you the other things I made after we hang them in the nursery.... and this letter A will get suspended with purple ribbon. (I bought a stretched canvas, sprayed adhesive on it and then laid the fabric on top. I printed out an A and cut it out and drew it on the fabric after I glued it down... drew it with a blue fabric marker that washes off. Then I sewed each button on. Use a thimble! It's so easy!

Etsy Faves!

2011-11-17T05:50:00.000-06:00

I love these from Nathalie!!
(note to my children.... do not order for me... I think I'm getting one as a gift..don't tell)

and...
below...
these are big favorites of mine!

I love those dresses at Messie Jessie's!

and then...

Precious!

eclectic vases design by Etsy

Just Some Goodies!

2011-11-13T14:24:00.000-06:00

These are photos from a recent shower for my daughter...

her friend, Brittany (no blog but putting a link on her to her Pinterest) made some things for it that I thought you'd appreciate.

Above is a wreath that we've all seen on Pinterest!!!!

Britt actually got one made...isn't it darling!

Cutest diaper cake anyone has EVER seen!

and below...are some picks that are precious....

closeups of the diaper cake....

The cake has various sizes of diapers.... and they are all larger sizes that she won't need for a few months, so the cake can stay in tact for awhile!

It's in the nursery at my daughter's house now!

Here is mom-to-be sitting on the floor of Reliant Center

on Friday while we were at The Nutcracker Market.

(photo from my phone)

Yes, I was able to pull her up!

International Quilt Festival 2011 Part III

2011-11-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Loved the bee!

Loved those girls and that background!!

They took photos of historic Texas homes and digitized quilts hanging on the porches...
here are a couple...

(Virginia)

2011 Festival Favorites

2011-11-06T23:04:00.000-06:00

This one you saw when you first walked into the convention center...

It was a winner.....

Here are a few of my favorites.... that we could photograph...

I took this close-up to remind myself how simple it really CAN be...

Yes.... if you stood and stared into the center it would make you dizzy....

Still have a few I can show you next time....

(remember you can click on the images for a closer view)

Yesterday

2011-11-04T09:47:00.000-05:00

Haven't we all wanted to make a slipcover for our car!!!
This one was awesome!

Okay.... International Quilt Festival is exhausting and I seem to get older every year.
And whereas we use to stay til it closed at 7 pm.... yesterday we left about 5:30ish....
I say that before I show you my photo..... I'm so glad I'm in charge of the photos I show you!

I look best in an altered photo! ha!
We are approaching the time of no more pictures of moi!

Although... I suspect the key to enjoying getting older is to dress as wild as you can..
I may have to change my style...

...isn't she cute! I asked her if I could take her picture!

...for a good cause.....

Maybe I should have bought these?

Next post will have some pictures of quilts.... that I was allowed to photograph... so many wonderful ones you can't take pictures of!!!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I Love You Tomorrow!

2011-11-02T20:58:00.000-05:00

Okay........tomorrow BFF Virginia and I go to the International Quilt Festival Houston for our 25th year in a row. Never missed (knock on wood)!!! I always do a blog post about it...and will do so Friday.

I googled images of same to see if I can find some crowd shots.... and I will post those below.

I must say they had to have been taken before it opened one morning or as it was closing....

because otherwise that place is PACKED!

So ... I found these shots on Google Images.....

As I looked through them I wondered if I would see us there... we've certainly been there enough...

There are thousands of vendor booths (where we spend most of our time)...
Below is the outside of the convention center - with the baseball stadium at the end of the street...

SOOOOOOOO....
I decided to "google" images for international quilt festival houston linda and virginia....

well.......sure enough...we are sprinkled throughout there......

and below is a trio.... I've photographed them at least the last three years...
will look for them tomorrow.... please note their headbands... I think they are 3 generations.

Pumpkins Are Our Friends

2011-10-27T06:00:00.002-05:00

Remember the velvet pumpkins?

We all made them or lusted after them the last couple of years.

I need to remember to buy some wonderful dyed velvet at International Quilt Festival

in a couple of weeks,

so I can make some for gifts!

But today I made another kind of pumpkin....

a book pumpkin!

I saw it here with a tutorial....
Her's looks better than mine.... I'm still hoping my pages will relax a bit.

You should make one!

It's not the kind of thing I'll probably do more than once.... takes some time!

Hexagon Swap

2011-10-24T17:19:00.001-05:00

The QB5 Swap Group.... also known as The Queen Bees.... recently did a Hexagon Swap...

(beehives.....duh!)

We were to use a vintage photo of ourselves on a hexagon shape so we could make a book with pictures of one another...

Links to QB5 blogs are found on the right side of the blog...

Below is Carole's

(Madness and Mess)

Carole is primarily a quilter and she used fabric in her piece.

Next is Margaret's..... (Alice and Camilla)

...and Nathalie's.... (An Artist's Legacy)

Patty's.....(Magpie's Nest)....

Mine..(photo from the 70's...)....

I was totally inspired by Messie Jessie.
I love her dresses.... mine is simply a whisper of what she does.

It was fun to see what photos we each chose..... and our different take on the challenge....

They look great together and I'll probably bind them with some other pieces we've already made.

Cardboard Rolls Keep Rolling In....

2011-10-20T22:24:00.000-05:00

Source: themayberryhomejournal.blogspot.com via Merlaine on Pinterest

Remember my stars that I was making? ha! Guess I'm going to be expanding on those. Found this on Pinterest tonight. It came from here!!!

Hot Glue

2011-10-18T13:03:00.000-05:00

I was hot gluing some felt flowers.... and you know how it is.... you start looking around to see what else you can hot glue...

So I ended up making a bunch of these stars out of paper towel rolls I had saved....

glad that's done!!!

and here is my latest yarn wreath.... need to find just the RIGHT bow for this one.....

those dark flowers are a dark purple (in case it doesn't show)

and, as promised, a few pics from last Saturday's baby shower for my daughter....

(sangria for those of us not pregnant people)

Where I've Been

2011-10-13T23:20:00.000-05:00

I've been a bad blogger...
Things have been so busy here...
That adorable girl above is my sweeeeet daughter-in-law
(my cute son sitting by her)

below is my pregnant daughter and her crazy, good looking husband....
(yes, they read my blog)

Football season is always a busy time for my family..... we are great fans..

and...then there is the approaching due date for Ashley Jo....

I made curtains for her nursery.... below is the only photo I took....

and some great friends gave me a little First Time Grandmother Shower.....

isn't that sweet ------>

.....a baby shower with my daughter this weekend! Pictures to come!

I promise this won't become a baby blog!!!

Really!

(pinkie swear)

Paul Got Married

2011-10-09T16:11:00.000-05:00

Once again I am forced to sit and watch Paul marry someone else.

It does hurt less than it did in 1969....

I do hope he'll be happy....

Yarn

2011-10-04T09:11:00.000-05:00

Have you seen the yarn wreaths that are being made?

I would never have made them except that
some of my younger friends invited me to come over one night
and make wreaths with them.... they made some beautiful ones!

I made this one on a small foam wreath form. It takes some time to wrap that yarn.

Then I made the flowers out of felt and hot glued them on.

I have some beautiful lilac yarn here... the kind they use for baby stuff.... it's my next one to make!

Have to get those lavendar nursery curtains made first.....
that grandchild will be here with no curtains if I don't get on this!

Art Cars

2011-09-30T15:20:00.002-05:00

In Houston, Texas we have the Art Car.

We have the Art Car Museum and the Art Car Parade.

It's the ultimate altered art piece...

so every once inawhile you will see one out on the streets...

On the way home from my son's house in west Houston a couple of weeks ago, we passed one.... fortunately I wasn't driving.... but I only had my phone with me to take pictures.... but I knew you'd love these anyway...

You just need to click on the links above to see more!

So sorry about the quality of the pictures...

but don't you wanna do this!!!!

Have a great weekend!

Birds Flying South....

2011-09-23T16:32:00.001-05:00

At least two years ago I ordered a little birdie kit from

Alicia Paulson.

You can see her birds

here

You make them out of paperclay and let that dry 24 hours, then cover them with paper mache.

I left mine pretty bumpy so they are "rather rumpled".

I like them.... I would like to make some smaller ones.

I crocheted the wire to make their necklaces...

I just realized when I published this...

there is a little bit of dust on my table!!!!

Oh my!!!!!

and below is last Saturday's picture of my daughter at the Texas A&M game...

I'll get another one tomorrow.... then we have a few weeks of away games...

I need to get back into blogging more often!

Maybe as the weather cools (???)

and the wildfires cease,

I'll get back into it.

What have you been doing?

It's Starting to Look A Lot Like....?

2011-09-15T08:57:00.001-05:00

Pottery Barn has their Christmas stuff up!

Edited on Friday... due to comments....

those of us that make stuff for Christmas have already begun.....

so I think this isn't as upsetting to us.

Plus, I have my first grandchild due in early December.... so I'm getting it all done before then so I'm ready!

You KNOW you can replicate some of this.....

Don't you like that word.... replicate? !!!!

I'm always picking up berry stems at Christmas time....

.... and I love this deer with flowers in his antlers....

And this journal..... it's A Line A Day journal..... I can do that in one of my many blank journals waiting for their job!

Now.... if Anthropologie will just get their stuff up...

(and...no.... I don't even have my fall stuff out here in Texas... where it's going to only be in the 90's the rest of the week!

Yeah... summer is ending...)

Butterflies amidst the smoke

2011-09-08T14:38:00.001-05:00

... working on potential wall art for grandbaby's room....
inspired by Margaret....

I tend to do browns and neutrals.... so working in nursery colors is a stretch for me...

Please continue to pray for Texas.... our drought... the heat has gotten better.... but the fires are raging..
most of these shots were lifted from the internet and are from the Magnolia Fire... close to Houston...

God bless the firemen....

Happy Labor Day from Texas

2011-09-05T12:09:00.002-05:00

Got this image here.

It's the Bastrop fire.

Continue to pray for Texas.

Close friend's family in Bastrop... had to evacuate house in ten minutes last night.

We still don't know about their house. 300 homes burned.

Fire danger big in Texas due to heat, drought and excessive winds.

Some good news yesterday...

Texas A&M football season has begun..... it was still in the 90's for the night game in College Station.

But there was wind!

In fact there were road closures in College Station due to a brush fire.

We have a really TALL yell leader this year!!!

The Aggies did win! Beat SMU!

......and my soon to be born granddaughter attended her first Aggie game.....

She's due in December!
(yes, that's my daughter)

Gig 'em!

And pray for Texas!

A current event update for you....

2011-09-01T09:45:00.000-05:00

These photos are from the Austin Statesman newspaper photographers..... we do have a chance of rain over the weekend... here on the Gulf Coast. It's not a drought buster, but will help. Praying the rest of Texas gets rain soon. The belief is we may not make it to 100 plus degrees today! Ahhhh....the 90's!!!

Pray for rain for Texas!

Journaling a scrapbook

2011-08-31T00:21:00.007-05:00

These two top and below.... are in the burgundy journal...

which is so large I'll be working in it when I get to Assisted Living...

But at least I started!

above is my beloved father-in-law that we lost in May...

From last year when he and a lady were King and Queen of Mardi Gras

in their assisted living facility!

These are the kinds of things that I think need to be in my journals!

Now....to my current Remains of the Day journal...

I am using it to save notes from my blogging buddies!

It's filled with notes from all of you!

If you ever sent me something and wrote a note with it...

I most likely have it in here!!!

Love my blogging friends!

Journal Insides

2011-08-29T00:05:00.006-05:00

I showed you a stack of my journals here.

Someone said they would love to see inside.

So.... because I'm desperate for blog fodder at the moment...

I'll show you!

These are four that aren't toooo private..... and I've been working in them a long time....

These images are from the one with the blue cover - which is my daily journal...

My journals are also my scrapbooks. I'm not a "scrapbooker".... but I do like to glue things in and keep them. Things like tickets to events and current events....

...and yes, I draw sometimes.... my girls are based on Teesha Moore....

The page below was obviously written during the winter:

The next pages are from the Day Book that says 2008 on the front...
pages from Christy Tomlinson's Three Hearts workshop....

more scrapbooking....

from Christy's She Art workshop.... I tend to work in my journals instead of on the canvases she suggests. I'll get some of those done eventually...

More to come!

Blogging in the heat....

2011-08-27T12:03:00.000-05:00

I have been a bad blogger!

One reason is I can't seem to make myself haul things outside and do photographs!

It's supposed to be 107 today!

But.... I went outside and I think I have enough for two or three posts!

I've been just making little pieces.... like postcard size. And then I mail them off to people!

I always take a photo or scan them first though, so I can reuse them in my journal or make a little card for someone with the image.

The card just above is my mom and her little sister in the 40's!

I have a sweet friend pregnant with identical twin girls...

she lost one of them this past week....

she's in the hospital on bedrest until

they can take the other one...

sometime in October..

I'm sending her a card and attaching one of the little angels below

(the larger one)

Say a prayer for the sweet mom..

her name is Julie.

Carole's new class

2011-08-21T21:14:00.002-05:00

Registration is open for Carole's latest class!

You should go check it out.

Click here....

Thursday and a great video...

2011-08-18T11:09:00.007-05:00

It's good to see on a bigger screen than my blog allows... you can go here to do that.

Don't you love this!
It's on several blogs right now!
Henry (my granddog) is coming to spend next week with me...
I hope we don't have quite as much fun as Monkey does!

Pinterest Made My Summer!

2011-08-15T20:08:00.016-05:00

Everyone loves this.... I've seen it lots of places. Found this one on Pinterest. Love this version... find it here where you can order the print! I am addicted to Pinterest.

Here is one of the great things I've found various versions of on Pinterest.... this one can be ordered here..... and here is a version of In This House...and a tutorial on how to make it by Laurie... You can visit my "pins" on my "boards here!

Soaker hoses

2011-08-08T16:24:00.006-05:00

Henry has been in a bit of trouble lately.

(granddog)

He's been barking during the day and disturbing a neighbor.

Well, the kids are home from school and he wants to play with them....

soon they will return to higher education and he will settle down.

But I sent him a card the other day.... poor baby....

Below is a simple, yet exquisite postcard that Melissa Sabin sent me as a RAK!

I see myself making some of those....

...about the soaker hoses.... don't you just love a soaker hose?

Texas is desperate for rain. I run the sprinklers.... but the big old trees need deep, deep watering.

The tall pine that has been looking like it wanted to die for years.... behind our fence on the greenbelt area....... has finally succumbed. I called TPTB about it. (the powers that be)

Pray for rain for Texas..... not only for our trees.... but for our crops and our herds...

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain”

Exclusion

2011-08-04T16:59:00.005-05:00

I realllllllly love the exclusion setting in PSE 8. You saw some of these pieces on my worktable last week. I finally mailed them off to unsuspecting individuals. But before I did so.... I scanned them so that I can use them in my art journal or make cards, etc. I also really like to alter them digitally.... which often makes them so much better than they were! (as in the one above) See the original below: And I made some postcards.... haven't mailed them yet.... The woman on the left has been in my box of clippings for awhile. She seems to have some issues. And the girl on the right is from the Christy Tomlinson's workshop She Art. I'm not finished with Week 2 yet!!! But I do love the class. and below is a crazy postcard using one of my favorite images... It's my mother-in-law as a young girl.

I use it over and over! See.... I am doing SOMETHING!!!

Hot Time... Summer in the City...

2011-07-30T10:06:00.007-05:00

Day 28 in the July Photo Challenge is about what you can't get enough of.

I have a lot of responses for that.... but the easiest shot was a photo of one of our favorite Mexican food restaurants in the area.

Then on the 29th.... it was about "what I did today".

I actually spent some time in my art room. I wanted to clean it up....

but what often happens is I start using the stuff on my desk

to make a postcard or atc to send to someone.

If you like strawberry-banana jam, go visit Patty at This My Blessed Life

and enter her giveaway.

It ends August 7th, so don't delay!

My blog seems to be dragging lately...

come on cooler weather!

July Snapping!

2011-07-25T09:39:00.008-05:00

Have you ever played in a monthly photo challenge with a theme?

They can be fun..... and I do like having a theme for my day.

But in the quest to satisfy the theme, you end up taking other shots that just happen...

so here are a few I've taken lately .... some satisfy the day's theme and some don't.... but I like them all.

...below is fabric for nursery curtains for my future granddaughter (due in December)....

Have you taken any summer shots I can come see?

End of an era...

2011-07-21T19:24:00.003-05:00

A little sadness in Houston today.

Hopefully these highly intelligent and gifted men and women in our space program won't go too far away...... we might need them again. Space Shuttle Atlantis landed back on earth today.... ending a thirty year program. Photo by Pierre Ducharme / Reuters

My life is cropped

2011-07-19T16:56:00.009-05:00

Don't you hate when people put sneak peeks of things on their blogs?

Me, too!

But I don't have anything going on that isn't either "not ready for publishing" or a "surprise" or just not presentable yet!

The QB5 (side bar) has a swap going on that is due to be mailed soon...

so that's what the above picture is for... just to torment them.

and below is simply today's picture in the July Flickr group I told you about previously.

Hopefully I'll have something blog worthy soon.....

but don't hold your breath.

Oh...and the reviews for the movie

Snowflower and the Secret Fan

have not been good.

Apparently the book has been changed a good bit.

Read the book.... you'll love it!

When Your Favorite Book Becomes A Movie...

2011-07-13T22:42:00.005-05:00

I loved this book! I only know a few people that have read it....

Tonight I was reading Bazaar magazine (it's my nod to a fashion attempt)

and there was an article about the movie!

I didn't know it was going to be a movie...

how did I miss that?

It hits theatre (note the absence of an s) on 7/15.

On 7/29 it hits theatre (again) in my city.

I do not live in a small town.

All I have to say is this....

if you live where it's showing,

you need to go and then tell me how it is.

It better make it to theatreS in my area!!!!

Finally this summer............. a reason to go to the movies!!!!

July continues...

2011-07-08T16:37:00.003-05:00

at least the photos of it continue..... Above was yesterday..... bold bright colors.... when was the last time you used a crayon? and below is today's theme.......... the sky..... this is my sky today in my front yard in Texas -->

My sky doesn't rain..... not for a long time....

Photo A Day.....

2011-07-06T15:53:00.006-05:00

I'm participating in Natalea's July Photo A Day Event over here.... You have to post a photo each day with a particular theme found in the list at the Group site. You should play, too!

Happy Hot 4th!

2011-07-01T09:34:00.007-05:00

Don't let the heat get to you this weekend!

It's always hot on the 4th of July where I live....

But this year it's a bit worse... We are in an "extreme drought"....

Fireworks are banned in most areas.

We can still have some professional fireworks shows.... which is all I ever partake in any way!

Stay safe and enjoy!

Keep a CLEAR head!

Texture in top photo from Kim Klassen!

Ballet is Hard

2011-06-28T13:48:00.003-05:00

I watch this over and over!!!

Jewelry Cases

2011-06-27T10:11:00.009-05:00

I think we all have a list of things we should blog about one day.

This has been on my list for quite some time and I finally took some pictures!

They are hard to photograph as in the daytime I get a window reflection and at night I would have to use a flash or a tripod.

So you see which one you are getting!

Those beautiful pins, bracelets and necklaces that we make in swaps or buy from wonderful jewelry designers..... we really want to have them as art, don't we?

Here are some of mine on my bedroom wall. These are shadowboxes by Martha Stewart that I bought at Michael's a few years ago on sale. I took two pictures of that bottom box open for you....

the 2nd one had the vintage hankie tucked back in....

I see that I uploaded the wrong one.

oh well!

Above is a necklace I bought from Rebecca Sower at Silver Bella.

She still has them in her Etsy shop sometimes.

It is a favorite!!!

Above shows a charm bracelet from a swap I was in on Christian Paper Artists.

The lower bracelet was purchased online from someone!!!

Below are two purchased bracelets...

top one I got at International Quilt Festival

and the bottom one is from Anthropologie.

Below are some pins I got in a QB5 swap. Do you have any jewelry displayed?

Succulent Revival

2011-06-22T10:42:00.013-05:00

Last Saturday I was able to shop for about an hour.... so my friend, Olga, and I headed to Revival! It's in Bee Cave, Texas on Hwy 71. They have some great furnishings... but what really captured my heart was their succulents! They had potted them in such fun containers... Here are some pictures of their pottings and some that I potted when I got home. The one at the top... I have had that woman's form vase* for years... it's been waiting for a maternity plant.

That's what the label on the pot said...

but the pictures online look a little different.

Does anyone know?

If you look at succulents on Etsy you'll see that the price is all about the container!There are some on Etsy right now that are in dinosauer planters that are adorable!

I need to go back and add some more plants to each pot....overcrowding seems to be required.

And I need to find some little rocks....

*Malisa commented that she has the same vase! Well.... think not.... she gave it to me in a blog contest a few years ago. Ha! I had forgotten where I got it and she thought she still had it. We are getting a little vintage ourselves! Thanks, Malisa!

Wedding Faves!

2011-06-19T15:31:00.006-05:00

I've been to a few weddings lately.....

And last night I was at a wedding in Austin, Texas that had the above napkin fold at the reception!

Do you not just LOVE that?

I have not seen that before .... and I've been to a few weddings lately, folks!

Okay..... I found a tutorial for the napkin fold above! Click on tutorial! It works.....I am seeing fancy napkins in my husband's future!

All the women were quite impressed and we all had our iphones out clicking away!

You KNOW I'll be making those!

I'm thinking paper napkins would be realllllllly easy!

Also...... I've been waiting for a chance to share the cake from my niece's wedding

in May.... which was in Plano, Texas...

Don't you love these flowers in/on it!?

and the fact that it was DELICIOUS only added to the experience! The filling had frozen strawberries in it. I need to ask for more details about that! I will not be attempting to reproduce the bottom photo, only the top. All of this and Texas heat to boot*! *This expression has nothing to do with footwear. Boot here is an archaic noun meaning "advantage," and in the idiom has been broadened to include anything additional, good or bad. [c. a.d. 1000]

Guess What!!!!

2011-06-14T10:31:00.012-05:00

Thirty-two years ago I had the sweetest baby girl!

She was so precious and a true gift from God!

Then she met this wonderful guy (let's hope he doesn't read my blog.... )

But he was also a true gift from God...

and they got married!

and.... now..... they are expecting their own true gift from God!

Thought you'd wanna know!

Due in December!!!!

So do you think my art is going to change????

Linky Friday!!!!

2011-06-10T09:54:00.005-05:00

The Food Gawker

you'll need some time for this one!

Ohdeedoh

it's about home, design, children Funky Time

design juice Tales From an OC Cottage

assortment ...but has glitter and lace and yummy stuff

Summer TV

2011-06-08T17:42:00.010-05:00

Are you watching Million Dollar Decorators on BRAVO on Tuesday nights?

You REALLY must!

It started last week..... they rerun it.... so go look for it and let me know what you think.

It will keep me pacified until PROJECT RUNWAY comes back.

And Flipping Out starts July 6!!!

I hope we see Jeff do more decorating this year....

Spring Baskets

2011-06-06T12:40:00.009-05:00

I haven't been creating much lately..... too many things going on in my life right now. But hopefully this week I will get "back to IT"!!! So.... I did play in a Spring Basket Swap hosted by

Patty Absec (you can see them all on her blog)!

She hosted the swap

Christian Paper Artists! Above is what I made... And below is the very wonderful one I received from Mary Underwood!

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

What Do You See Finis

2011-05-29T17:09:00.014-05:00

Over the last few months, I did a swap with the QB5 girls and

Carole finally (she lives a long way from us)

got all of her hoops back that she had sent out to us.

Above is what she sent us to work with. So now I can show you what I made for her....

Using what she sent (first photo) and adding some of my things...

I wanted to tell a story. I wanted to use it all.

I wanted this to be like a scrapbook.

So using her fabric and some of mine, I made a little book.

The girl in my story went to Paris with her friends for the opening

of the Eiffel Tower.

They had a great weekend, but she had a falling out with her boyfriend.

I added a vintage photo of some relative of mine with a group of friends... and

I scratched one of the men out.... you know how girls do that!

She found some stuff on the streets of Paris and added that in to her little scrapbook.

I added a heart of French Knots first...

Below is a cigarette card and a doily from the weekend... Here you can see the photo with "you know who" scratched out, some buttons and beads and a fleur de lis I added (it's a brad)... also some lace and a millinery flower... Below she scribbled on a ticket that she lost an earring that weekend. I added a page of felt and made a felt heart into a pocket to hold the note. I wish I had tea dyed the felt first.... but I didn't, so I just tried to distress it abit. I used the earring she didn't lose ... on the front of the book. I sewed some fake pearls on to fasten the book together and stitched my name under the book. Go to Carole's and see what everyone else's "take" on it was...

Much loved....

2011-05-26T10:55:00.003-05:00

My beloved father-in-law passed away last Sunday at the age of 92.

He was a treasure and much loved by all who knew him.

A World War II veteran....

That's lipstick on his cheek above....

We were so blessed that he was able to attend both of my children's weddings.

Above he's with my husband and my son.

Below is a picture of him with some of his grandchildren one Thanksgiving not too long ago...

He will be greatly missed.

Parties

2011-05-17T16:45:00.011-05:00

I'm going to a few parties over the next few days.....

most have to do with my niece's wedding...

so I will be blog-absent awhile...

The last two years (at least)....

I've shown you what Anthropologie sends you for your birthday

if you are signed up as a "special customer" (which you KNOW I am!!!)!!!!

Here is this year's....

a nice blue linen envie...

It's buttoned with a star and then inside...

I love Anthropologie!!!

Relax

2011-05-10T18:09:00.006-05:00

Spent almost 5 full days in Wimberley, Texas relaxing....

Texture in top photo from Kim Klassen.

It's Dry in Wimberley

2011-05-05T07:00:00.002-05:00

Heading to Wimberley, TX for a few days..... we are having a major drought in Texas -

so not sure there will be much water in the Blanco River.....

1. Wimberly, Texas, 2. Wimberly, 3. Backyard Armadillo, 4. Blanco river, Wimberley, TX, 5. Wimberly - Weir, 6. Wimberly Deer

A Lightbulb Moment!

2011-05-03T15:17:00.001-05:00

I just had to show you this.

Isn't this sad!?

I'm not going to tell you where I saw this...

but I found it appalling.

I should've left a note.... there was no one to tell that had any authority.

Have you witnessed such an atrocity?

It's May!

2011-05-02T15:24:00.005-05:00

Yes....finally it's May!

May is my birthday month... it's actually the beginning of many days set aside for me to receive gifts. Mother's Day is in May and then in early June is my wedding anniversary!

Such a great time of year.

My sweeeet friend, Natalea, sent me a birthday package!

Yes, she is so organized and it's early.....my birthday is the 2nd half of the month...

but she likes to celebrate things for extended periods!

(we hit it off as soon as we met at Silver Bella oh so many years ago!)

above is the back of the bird bookmark/hanging that says Friend on it.

I have those specimen cards and would've never thought to use them this way! So much wonderfulness in my package!

Thank you, Natalea! You are a treasured friend!

Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T09:13:00.004-05:00

I set my alarm and got up to watch.

Did you?

I turned the tv on just as she started down the aisle.

Breathtaking.

I watched Diana and Charles when they married as well...

This one was so much better!

Pictures copied from MSNBC.

The Easter Bunny has left the mantle....

2011-04-26T15:28:00.010-05:00

Don't you hate putting the bunnies and chicks away this week?

And..that great egg wreath I have on the front door.... I just love it....

Well, I'm leaving it at least til Friday!

...and the tulips... well, they are hanging on longer than I thought they would...

How's your table looking?

Happy Easter!

2011-04-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

I hosted an Easter ATC swap

Christian Paper Artists Yahoo Group

recently.

You've seen this collage before.

I've done it on canvases and atcs many times.

I like the image of building one's house on the Word of the Lord!

Have a blessed Easter!

Margaret's Men!

2011-04-19T13:52:00.007-05:00

Are you tiring of my QB5 swap?

Well...... bear with me a bit longer...

Margaret received the piece I made for her

and is showing it on her blog!!!

So, in case you haven't been there....

here it is!

It was sooo much fun! This whole swap was more fun than I thought it would be!

Margaret sent us all a different male cabinet card.... my guy is a priest... and since we all got bingo cards, I just thought it made sense to go with that theme...

So he had a rowdy crowd for Bingo Night

and ended up in a funny hat...

He also has some people looking out the bingo windows!

She sent buttons...which I thought would work as bingo markers...

in lieu of today's "markers"!!!

So I strung buttons on wire at the bottom!

...and the gold fish was just FUN!

(and Margaret is obsessed with those fish anyway....

If you have any you should send them to her.)

...yes, I kept that piece of lace!!!!!

Ruling the Roost

2011-04-16T18:17:00.007-05:00

There he is!!!

He thinks this is his yard!

He fusses when we sit outside.... as if we have EVER bothered him!

I love how he can pitch such a fit with a worm in his beak!

I think the squirrel even plans his drinking around this guy!

I would like to show him this little fella.... and explain to him how much worse he could have it!

Yes..... this is one of those shots where you yell out... "stop the car" and jump out to take the picture. I couldn't believe he didn't fly away before I could focus! Bless his little heart. And I really don't think he was hiding his leg to con me either. Have a good bird watching weekend!

A House with a Bunny

2011-04-12T10:34:00.006-05:00

The house Carol made for me arrived!!!

She did use the bunny!

So she gets extra credit!

It's adorable.... love the little stitching she attached at the bottom!

And...her handwritten HOME sign!

I'll show them all together as soon as I make one.... soon!

and below...some pictures of what I made for Nathalie....

just in case you haven't been to her blog to see it....

Her theme was Asian...

not my favorite theme for art...

but I tried...

She asked us to decorate coasters and not

leave anything hanging off the edges as they

have to fit in a box she has...

So I made a little accordion book and attached it to one side...

Here is what she sent to work with...

more pictures soon!

...and remember I got those house shapes at Michael's craft supply store...

5 shapes for a dollar.... on a ring. I think they were in the children's $1 bins in the back.

You should get some friends to decorate a shape for you!

Henry and Louise

2011-04-08T17:39:00.003-05:00

There is another Henry in our family...... you hear about the granddog, Henry, quite abit...

But I'm not sure I've shown you the couple known as Henry and Louise.

They are the Cardinals that hang out in our backyard.

We named them that when the children were small.

It was much easier to just say Louise is in the birdbath,

than to say "there's a female cardinal in the birdbath"!

So...thus the names.

Henry is very attentive.... but I'm sure you know that.

Here is Louise exiting her bath.

Lots of late afternoons they sit on the back fence and fuss at me if I'm outside.

I know they either want me to turn the sprinklers on for them to play in, or they

would really like it if I would go inside while they bathe.

There is just nothing better than a nice bath on a hot April day in Texas!

I just thought you should see them....

I have some other bird pictures to share soon...

there is a certain like black and white guy that thinks he owns the place lately!

Henry and Louise are much more tolerant of me being in the yard than some of the others...

See Henry? He's never far away. He had fussed that day because he wanted me to go inside so she could get in the bird bath!!!

Yes, I have a long lens..... they aren't that tolerant of me! Do Henry and Louise come to your house, too?

Texas A&M Women Win!!

2011-04-05T21:58:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Texas A&M University!

Gig 'em, Aggies!

(they don't get the women athletics images up online as fast as they do the men....

this is the best I can do right now...)

Neighborhood Developments

2011-04-05T10:45:00.006-05:00

When I got back from San Antonio.... last week... I had two more houses waiting for me... This first one is Nathalie's interpretation of "What Do You See?". Isn't it sweet!???

She brushed gesso over all of it once it was assembled.... very, very nice texture!

and...much braver than I would've been....

I would have been afraid to try that on something that I only had one of and had to mail.

What a brave girl, huh?

...and then we got "Greetings from Switzerland"!

Margaret made me a swiss chalet.... love that bell at the top... yes, it rings!

I think that handsome man is yodelling...at least that's what I'm hearing....

One more house to arrive! (plus mine)

I am sooooo loving this swap!

It was hard... and different from anything we've done before...

but what a challenge!

And what a joy to get to ask some of my favorite artists to make what I wanted them to make.

You should get some house shapes and make a village!

.....and must say

Gig 'em, Aggies!!

as the Aggie Women's Basketball Team plays Notre Dame tonight

on ESPN for the National Championship!

Houses Come Home!

2011-04-02T14:31:00.009-05:00

The QB5's "What Do You See?" swap is starting to arrive!

You may remember that I sent out chipboard house shapes with a few trims.

This is what Patty saw and sent back!

Doncha love it?

I adore it.....

We could add a few pieces of our own stuff...and she did.

I sent a rusty rabbit to all of them...and I've gotten 3 back... and so far NO ONE has

used the rabbit!!!

But Patty had a rusty bird and that's what is on the rooftop!

I love birds!!!

...and she made one of her sweet wire bird's nests for it, too!

And there is a sweet hankie that is from her mother's house.... suspended from the bottom!

Below is a photo of what I sent....I don't see the rabbit in that shot...but I'm sure he's just hiding ... you know how they are.

I sent them all in Texas Tamale bags.....cause everyone needs a Texas Tamale bag to keep.

Here is what I made for Patty.... and you can visit her to see some better pictures.... I have two more houses to show you in the next few days....

and one more to arrive from New Zealand still.

Plus I have to do a house.

They are going to look so great all hanging together!

Peeks

2011-03-29T17:48:00.005-05:00

.......sooooo.... I didn't get to go to Warrenton/RoundTop/Marburger.....

A good friend from our youth..... someone we've known 40 years plus....

died of cancer on Saturday.... Our first loss of a close peer.

So we will be attending his services and celebrating his wonderful life.

He was a wonderful person and it will be great to see all the old gang.

We see a lot of them at least every 5 years because they are/were members

of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets....and they do reunions.... but this will be different.

But you don't come to my blog to read such....

and I know that...

sooooooooooo....

here are some sneak peeks of the latest QB5 swap...

it will mean nothing to you and it's mostly to tantalize the other women in the swap!

You can see what they sent to be used in a prior swap....just scroll down abit.

First is Margaret's.

Her base is a bingo card...

Next is Nathalie's....Asian theme....on a coaster... and Patty's.....I know it's reallllllllly elusive.....but that's the nature of the beast.... sorry...

....and Carole's.... they are all finished except this one... and I know EXACTLY what I'm going to do....I just need some hours in which to do it.....

Complete reveals very soon.

Have a great rest of your week....

I'll be away a few days....

Marburger Farms/Round Top/Warrenton

2011-03-28T06:00:00.003-05:00

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: We lost a dear friend to cancer on Saturday. His funeral is Thursday. Will have to miss Round Top/Marburger/Warrenton this week..... there's always the Fall Show. If you go, take a picture for me! When I said below that it was my "plan".... I knew it might not work this week.

Click here for more information..... Marburger !

If you do a search for warrenton in the box at the top left of my blog,

you can find previous posts about Texas Antique Week.

It's held twice a year....

It's only about 2 hours from my house.... but we are staying there for 2 1/2 - 3 days...

At least that's my plan!!!

But...... know this...

I WILL be voting for American Idol while I'm out of town!

Text your votes!

What Do You See?

2011-03-25T16:40:00.011-05:00

The latest QB5 swap is about making something from a "pile of stuff"

(or bits as Margaret and Carole call them).

We set up some guidelines for ourselves....

hmmppph!..... and sent them off.

We sent the same packet of stuff to each of the other swappers. Above is what Carole sent us. I forgot to take a picture before I began to assemble her's...so this is from Margaret's blog...the only difference is my lady is different.

Carole works mostly in fabric..... so she's really loving all the paper we sent her!

Below is what Nathalie sent us....she loves an Asian theme... which I find extremely difficult to work in.... Nathalie's foundation piece is a coaster and we are to not have things hanging off of it.

Next up is Patty.

Patty's foundation is a toasted, flattened sardine tin!

I think she sent a strange assortment of stuff.

She thinks they all go together quite well.

hmmmm...

Here is Margaret's assembly....

her foundation piece is a bingo card.

We all got different men... I got the priest.

Considering that it's bingo..I think they go well together!!!

I mailed them a chipboard house shape that I got at Michael's. So my hope is that I can hang them all together once home....a little QB5 Neighborhood!

I've already received mine back from Patty!

It is ADORABLE!

You are going to love it!

I'm waiting to show it....don't want to influence the others that are still working!

I have finished all of them except Carole's!

I also need to make a house out of my stuff.

Hopefully we will have a reveal soon.

Keep watching!

Maybe I'll show some sneak peeks soon?

Yeah.....maybe tomorrow....

Winter is Over!

2011-03-22T12:00:00.003-05:00

Thought you needed a "Henry fix"!

(my granddog)

He loves to swim.

He loves to go to the dog park!

He just loves to be!

.....and another sign that winter is over....

I took some pictures on the way home from church Sunday....

The Azaleas are blooming their hearts out here!

Happy Spring!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

2011-03-20T13:16:00.005-05:00

....I've been absent a few days... went to a friend's ranchland...

My husband is holding my wine while I take pictures....

but you know we won't let him claim that...

So..... last week, I looked up the schedule for the next

stagecoach heading west....

Packed our bags and departed for the lands west of San Antonio....

I might add that it was VERRRRY windy and thus the new hairstyle!

and left my boots packed for dancing.... didn't want to get them dusty...

..... you can't really complain about your stagecoach, but this one was a little dusty.... saw lots of turkeys...

and we all headed to the local watering hole...

I should've taken more animal shots...

I mean pictures...

(they don't like the word shots)

when we left I turned and took a picture out the back of the stagecoach...

I must say that the blasted moon was so bright all week,

you could hardly see the "stars at night"

deep in the heart of Texas.

...above is from my front yard last night...

Spring Break is over.

March Madness

2011-03-15T06:11:00.000-05:00

I suspect that most of you don't know what March Madness is... or else you think it has something to do with hats or spring flowers. ??? Well, it's about college men's basketball!

And it all starts TODAY! The Final Four is in Houston this year!

(April 2)

And the National Championship is here on April 4!

Let me know if you're coming!

Make A Journal!

2011-03-14T10:02:00.007-05:00

Carole taught a video class on making a journal last year.

Here are the photos of my book.

I made it small... I just love the size!

I am using it to put notes from blogging friends in there...

that they send me in snail mail...

It's such a treat to get things in the mail from your blogging buddies!

I always save their little notes and so I'll have a representative number

in this little book and I can write my notes in the pages telling about them!

Carole is starting another class on April 2nd...

You can go here to sign up!

What Am I Doing?

2011-03-08T22:22:00.006-06:00

I know I've been a bad blogger lately.

I have been doing the mundane things that have to be done.

I promise I will do something so fun ...

very, very soon....

You will want to go with me.

Here are some clues....

Do you know where I'm going?

Do ya? Are you SURE?

Paper Angels are Here!

2011-03-03T10:37:00.000-06:00

On February 11, I told you I was hosting a Paper Angel Swap on my yahoo group.

They all arrived and now are in their swap homes.

Some girls did 3, some did 12....

it was a one for one swap.

Some did them all alike and some did them all different....

here is a sampling of them...

Above is by Shirley Johnson

Terri Bush's angels.

Rebecca Faust

Nathalie

Melissa

One of mine! Jessie Koengisberg's Jeri Hundertmark's angel. Donna Kauffroath's angel...one of them... they were all different. Becky Hunt's darling angel. ..and Mardi James' angel! ...so on to more owls.....

Pink Owl

2011-02-28T15:21:00.005-06:00

He's a little pink!

I finally sat down and made him.

He's so easy.... and I plan to make more.

The only part you really should do on the machine is his body and that's really just an oval form.

The rest can be assembled in your lap while you are watching tv.

I tend... especially with the first one I make of something like this...

to just grab what's close and use it...

no planning.

(oh..... I also reduced the pattern by 50%...so he's a little owl!)

But my next one will be more planned.....

and I will show you...

OF COURSE!

P.S. For those that have asked.... he's 6" tall from the top of his ears.

Things I Think We Should Make!

2011-02-24T07:00:00.001-06:00

Cutest bib at Jessica Christian's!

She has a FREE tutorial! Go see!

and then there are these adorable owls...

I bought the pattern.... just need to get it made.... watch this space!

Go to Mimi Kirchner's for the owl pattern!

Clear and Crisp

2011-02-23T13:50:00.011-06:00

Today is beautiful in South Texas.

I'm thinking we'll have one more freeze this season... just one night...

and then I can REPLANT!

But I came across some snow shots that just brought me such joy...

I thought I'd share...

I feel a need for joy right now..

The sleigh picture above was taken by me several years ago

in Winter Park, Colorado.

Above was taken behind my house last year when snow was just beginning to fall. I love this child.... found on a news site a few months ago. If you have a better credit for it, please let me know.

This image is from here. (Marie Claire)

These two are gorgeous and you can find their links by clicking on them.

Have a good day....

say a prayer for our friends in New Zealand...

specifically in Christchurch.

Begonia, begonia, begonia....

2011-02-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

Do you know what kind of begonia this is? I've had it for several years.... a friend gave me a cutting. I've repotted it once.

Patty says I need to repot it again (perhaps).

Although I also told her it was an Angelwing... it's not.

The PROBLEM is that it's N E V E R bloomed.

Yes, I've fed it. Perhaps not enough?

I've hauled it in and out of the house all winter for years avoiding the freezes...

I want it to BLOOM.

Well...we are going to watch it and see how it does this spring.

I'm open to suggestions....

Paper Angels... How I LOVE Them!

2011-02-19T11:32:00.009-06:00

The paper angels are still arriving at my house for the swap I'm hosting (see Feb 11 post).

I ADORE these.... they are by Terri Bush.

Exodus 23:20 ....

“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.

HVD

2011-02-14T11:20:00.001-06:00

I didn't make any valentines this year.... no hearts stitched... nada.

But I did make this last year!

Have a sweet day.... I hope you feel loved.

Angels are Gathering

2011-02-11T09:40:00.010-06:00

Angels continue to gather on my dining room table....

many, many more still scheduled to arrive by next Friday!!!

These are just a sampling of the angels from four of the participants

in the Paper Angel Swap

I'm hosting on Christian Paper Artists Yahoo Group

as referenced here.

I'm struggling to make Valentines this year.

I just can't seem to get going on that.

I think it's too late actually.

So if you are thinking I might send you one..... just know I'm not.

hahaha

So I was just looking back at my blog in February of the last few years...

I think I've made enough Valentines to be able to skip this year.

I'll be sharing prior years' work in the next few days. I'm resting on my laurels....

Now you go make some Valentines tho....don't be like me!

I Heart Bunnies

2011-02-07T09:44:00.006-06:00

A few weeks ago I spotted this sweet bunny creation on Sandy's Creations!

(Sandy is always making dolls and other wonderful goodies!)

I told her

that I hoped she was putting it in her Etsy shop

so I could buy it...

or doing a giveaway

so I would have a chance to win it!

Well.... my sweet Silver Bella friend sold it to me!

Here she is sitting in my dining room...

she's holding a felt cookie heart that

Sandy sent along with her, and

there is a sweet Valentine for me

behind her from Sandy!!!

(not to mention...chocolates!)

Don't you LOVE those eyes!

Don't you love her!

(Sandy, the bunny..... blogland!)

I'll dress her sooooon!

Paper Angels

2011-02-03T16:12:00.008-06:00

I'm hosting a paper angel swap

on Christian Paper Artists Yahoo Group.

These are my angels. Katie sent me an angel....

and I loved it and thought it would be a great swap for the yahoo group (which she is also in)! The angels are starting to arrive at my house and they are SOOO lovely...

I will show them to you later when they are all here.

They are each so very different!

Of course, I am heavily influenced by the one I got from Katie!!!

And I love brown paper and l a c e !

Lists

2011-02-01T11:03:00.006-06:00

Happy February!

January is such a month of organization....

it's a relief it's over!

But I'm a HUGE list keeper...

and that does fall into organizational obsessions....

BFF Virginia and I went to an estate sale on this past New Year's Eve.

One of the books I found there was a book filled with pages of listings of books the woman who had lived there had read. I'm sure there was an earlier list...but I couldn't find it. But above is a glimpse. She wrote detailed critiques (I think she was a librarian).

I loved this find - because - yes, I used to do the same.

Only my lists do not reflect any literary education.... I either liked it or I didn't!!! ha!

I reached a place a few years ago where I was mostly reading non-fiction and I stopped keeping the list. I think I need to get back to it. One day someone at my estate sale will be so happy to have it. Right?

and then there is the list of quilts and other sewing projects I made... Once I got into paper art.... well, you know that is IMPOSSIBLE to list!

And there are things in this sewing list that I do NOT remember making.

I can't believe I made a vest for my mother!!!!

And where is it?

Did I find it in her stuff when we were cleaning out and wonder where she got that tacky thing?

ha!

Probably!

So now I have a blog...which is my latest version of a list!

Do you have any old lists you want to divulge?

Snippet Roll

2011-01-28T17:55:00.011-06:00

Carole (from New Zealand) made the QB5ers a "snippet roll" for Christmas.

It's suspended from what I call a thread spool and some people in other lands call a cotton reel.

(a cotton reel sounds to this Texas girl like a cross between the Cotton-Eyed Joe and Virginia Reel.... those are dances)

...but I digress....

Isn't it pretty? It has fabric, lace, paper, etc....

all those things we love are stitched together.

I can leave it as is and suspend it somewhere... or roll it up...

but I may use it as a closure on a future Remains of the Day book!!!

What do you think?

...and my thanks to Margaret (in Switzerland) for the use of her photo (top one). I've been waiting for it.

*****Carole has a tutorial for snippet rolls on her blog right now!

Heart Garland!

2011-01-27T13:03:00.007-06:00

I won this from Jill Ruth!

She gives a tutorial... you must go check it out and make some!

I've hung this several places in the house...and each is wonderful -

but I was trying to get "good light" this winter day...

Go look at her blog..she has the best pictures.

These are made with book pages....

I love anything made with book pages!

Remember this wreath I made just over a year ago?

(It hangs on the other side of my stairs.)

Are you making Valentines today?

More junk...

2011-01-23T13:54:00.007-06:00

Here is another ornament I received in the QB5 Junkle Swap.

This is the one I received from Margaret in Switzerland.

I showed you in the prior post, the postcard she sent along with

all these goodies.

(Lorrie translated the back of that postcard for me...so go back and see that!)

The center piece came from a much loved old bracelet of her's

that had fallen apart!

The "flower" behind the image is a flattened ornament topper!

And she sent me all those Swiss goodies, too.

There was also a great picture of some wild women putting on "lippy" as she calls it...

but they keep disappearing from my sight... I'm not sure where they are off to now?

Even in French....

2011-01-19T15:59:00.010-06:00

it's a beautiful verse.

In English it says:

Whoever believes in me,

as Scripture has said,

rivers of living water

will flow from within them.

John 7:38

Margaret sent this to me.

She fancied it up with stitching and glitter and all that stuff we love!

It's a postcard and on the back....

I tried typing it into translater .... something about someone's late husband. Anyone able to read this? Margaret sent me other things, too. I'll show them soon. I love that she sent me scripture in French! She knew I would cherish this. ...ahhhh...the blog world is good.....

POST SCRIPT..... yes, the blog world IS good.... Lorrie translated the back for me.... it seems Rachel didn't have a "late husband" ..... but a husband that was "late"!

Beloved Rachel, Here is (your husband) a little late with a little souvenir of the past 8th of October. So, it's set for Wednesday. I'll wait for you at the bottom of the big staircase where I'll arrive before you at (???), I think. A cordial greeting to everyone and a big kiss for the (???)

Spinning

2011-01-17T09:29:00.007-06:00

My mind is spinning this morning about what I can blog about

without taking pictures of the latest acquisitions.

(tomorrow)

Above is this thing I love...

(spoken in Old Spice Guy voice)

I asked for it for Christmas.

My son and daughter-in-law

got it for me.

It was on Anthropologie's web site.

Right now I just continue to admire it.

Yes, it spins!

It was advertised as something to put flatware in.

ha!

You know I'm going to put brushes and pens in it.

Although..... my inclination is to put small dolls in it as some sort of amusement ride for them!

While looking on the computer for pictures I could use today instead of taking new ones...

I noticed some old images that make me wonder what I did with those items of clothing.

This picture below (it's NOT as old you think)...

Okay...it IS over 10 years old....

I had a dress that was so fun...

we had some kind of retro party for high school youth at church.

(and, yes, I got it at a thrift store)

but why did I get rid of it...?

(of course, let's ignore the fact that I could not possibly still get my body in it)

And here is a picture of me in snow...

(for my friends that live in it)

Where is that top?

The point of this is....

be careful what you give away!

...as a footnote....

Henry is okay!!!

He passed the foreign object!

(you have to be careful with wording on your blog or you get lots of spam)

Any clothing giveaway regrets?

Foreign Objects

2011-01-14T11:39:00.004-06:00

Henry is at the vet's office today.

His mom and dad think he might have eaten a foreign object.

He's only one and well... you know how they like to put everything in their mouth!

So pray Henry is okay and they get the right diagnosis and he gets treated appropriately.

UPDATE ON SATURDAY 1/15.... Henry came home today. Feels good, waiting for him to "pass" foreign object. Had barium this morning, so goes in for an IV on Sunday to help prevent dehydration. Things are looking up! Pray for passing! Thanks for the prayers and good wishes!

Mail Call....

2011-01-13T10:48:00.010-06:00

The QB5 Junkle Swap this year is slowly arriving.

(it was a hard December across the globe)

Above is Nathalie's made from a light bulb!

Isn't it brilliant! It has paint and mica on it...I think.... we need a tutorial, Nat!

Thought I'd show you a couple of other things I've received in the mail this month...

Below is an adorable paper angel from Katie at Ragamuffin Gal.

Her wings are corrugated cardboard! I think that would be a great swap!

Isn't she precious! (the angel, too)

Jeanie (Marmelade Gypsy)

sent me this little matchbox

this week that she made

in honor of my daughter's wedding....

(last July)