Create Everyday Challenge for 2009

I have decided to participate in the create everyday challenge for 2009. I saw this referenced on Melissa's blog at: pugnotes.blogspot.com. Please check out the following blog for details. http://www.creativeeveryday.com/creativeeveryday/creative-every-day-challenge.html
Leah points out that you don't have to post everyday or even have a blog. Your creativity doesn't even have to involve art....it can be cooking, decorating or whatever. It's a low pressure challenge.
I hope this will inspire all of you to participate. So...send Leah a note (at CED blog site) post that CED button & start creating! You may click the link on the right to enter the site. Happy Tuesday!

Acknowledging the work of others

I have to take time to acknowledge some of my wonderful finds on Etsy & Flickr.
First off, Tickle Me Pink Etsy Shop where I purchased these wonderful pendants. I purchased one for my sister with her little black Pug, Kong on one side & her first piug, Rollo on the opposite. It turned out wonderful. Thank you, Amy!
Secondly, I met Michelle at dadadreams. Michelle's Flickr address is: http://flickr.com/photos/dadadreams/. She makes these absolutely fabulous little collages. She also adds these witty little stories with each collage that just make me laugh so much. I've included a couple of her pieces. I purchased around 6 of these & gave some away for Christmas gifts also. The little narrative that goes with Eve & the apple is:
When her friends say, "Sweet, wholesome, good", Eve thinks, "Plain, predictable, boring". That's why she loves bad apples. They are her forbidden fruit.
The Come & Play collage included this narrative:
See Timmy.
Timmy is very friendly.
He likes the funny animal Daddy brought back from Tasmania.
Come and play with me, Timmy says.
See Timmy go to the Intensive Care Unit.
I do admit, my humor is just a bit twisted at times! I get that from my dear mother, God rest her soul.
Please check out Michelle's stuff. You will LOVE it!

Grace Kelly Collage 2

Good Friday Morning! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
I am posting another Grace Kelly collage I completed a couple of weeks ago.
I loved this particular image of her face. It is done on a 9x12" canvas. The background is done in layers but covered with Polymer medium & not glaze. I was pleased with the results.

Snowpeople

This was my weekend project....something different...no image transfers today. You know why?? I am out of Sheer Heaven & waiting for my order to arrive. I believe it's coming by way of carrier pigeon! Anywho......this idea came from Sue Pelletier & she was featured in Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. They are snowpeople rather than snowmen. I purchased some vintage bottles on Ebay for the project. They bottles are filled with little odds & ends but mostly pearls. The head is made from Model Magic (love that stuff) with brads for the eyes & mouth. The nose is orange weed wacker line & the hat is a screened drain catch for the shower. The two featured here are approximately 5 inches tall & around 3 1/2 inches on the smaller one. It was simple & a lot of fun!
HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!

New Image Transfer

This is a sheer heaven image transfer on to Mulberry paper. I manipulated the color in dumpr.net. I did the actual transfers & my husband mounted the three pictures on a piece of pine that measures around 7x31". The photo was taken by my friend Minnie Helvey & this boat was at Ft Worden, Wa. when we attended ArtFest earlier this year.
Thank you, Minnie for this wonderful shot!
Enjoy your weekend everyone!

I Won A Blog Giveaway

I was so lucky to recently win a blog giveaway from one of my very favorite bloggers, Diana Evans. Diana's giveaway came from her http://dailyartstop.blogspot.com/. I won a great Betty Crocker cupcake calendar, gorgeous hand made Christmas cards, & a wonderful little pendant
with Diana's cupcake art.
Right now, my camera is being repaired and I am lost without it. I copied the pendant pic from Diana's etsy shop. Please check out her etsy shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5599270. You will fall in love with her wonderful art. Also, check out Diana's regular blog at: http://dianaevans.blogspot.com/. She has a wonderful Gingerbread house posted today with pics of her adorable son, Cole who helped in putting the Gingerbread house together. He's following in his mom's footsteps.
Happy Friday everyone!

Christmas Memories

I was looking through blogs yesterday & saw Jen's posting at http://artisticallydesigneddiversions.blogspot.com/ regarding our favorite holiday memories. She had me feeling a little nostalgic.I will always remember how thrilled I was to get my first cowgirl outfit. My sister & I both received these from our parents & this is a pic of the two of us. I would say this is around 1954 or 1955.
I am the big girl on the right. How cute was my little sister!!

Who we are.

I saw this on Fifi's blog this morning at http://fififlowersdecor.blogspot.com/ & thought it would be fun to take the test. Check out Fifi's blog, she has beautiful work displayed there.

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are an Audrey!

You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

• * If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure
• * I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this
• * Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit
• * Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally
• * Ask me questions to help me get clear
• * Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery
• * Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings
• * I like a good discussion but not a confrontation
• * Let me know you like what I've done or said
• * Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey

• * being nonjudgmental and accepting
• * caring for and being concerned about others
• * being able to relax and have a good time
• * knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around
• * my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator
• * my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now
• * being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey

• * being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive
• * being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline
• * being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally
• * being confused about what I really want
• * caring too much about what others will think of me
• * not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often

• * feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant
• * tune out a lot, especially when others argue
• * are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents

• * are supportive, kind, and warm
• * are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at

Quincy loses his battle with diabetes

It's been a horrendous few days at my house. I had to put my dear little diabetic boy to sleep yesterday & it's just broken my heart. I will be back in a few days with some new art.

Monday post part 2

After looking at my picture for a while, Grace appeared to be in need of an anchor. I put her atop this butterfly so she didn't appear to be just floating through the air. Now, she has a nice little seat on the butterfly wings.

I'm back with the most beautiful woman of all time

Thank goodness, I am feeling a surge of creativity. I purchased a new book last week which was recommended by Estelle in my Stampsmith Yahoo Group. The book is titled, Collage Journeys by Jane Davies. It reminded me of how much I love working with paper & also what a mess I make when I am doing a project that requires torn paper. OMG....paper everywhere!
Most (but not all) of this was done with a tissue paper background...layers & layers. After layering the papers with Polymer medium & a coat of Golden Glaze, a coat of Gesso was applied upon drying. Once the Gesso dried, I sanded some of that down. Of course, it took more off than inteneded but....oh well, just add a bit more paper & keep going. Once it was all dry I added this lovely picture of Grace Kelly. I absolutely think she was the most beautiful woman ever. What style & grace she had. I was so pleased with this one that I believe I'll do another.
I am glad I am not posting recipes today but I do still have one more to share.
Have a great day!

On 8x10 flat canvas

Tom & Jerry Christmas Batter

I'm winding up the week with one of my family's long time Christmas recipes. As far back as I can remember Christmas....Tom & Jerry's were always a part of it. My Grandfather sat at the mixer (a big Sunbeam with the rotating bowl) every Christmas morning making these. We had friends that came each & every year to share in them. They are absolutely wonderful. You can have them with alcohol or without. My preference is without. I've included one of my Grandparent's original Tom & Jerry cups to show you. Isn't it adorable??












Tom & Jerry’s

1 dozen eggs
1 # superfine sugar
Rum & Brandy Mix
Nutmeg
Use full electric mixer with rotating bowl.
Separate eggs and beat yolks for approximately 20 minutes on
the electric mixer. Add sugar about 1 tablespoon at a time beating
well after each addition. Make sure there are no lumps in the sugar. Beat whites separately until very stiff. Blend into the yolk mixture. Add 1 jigger of Rum & Brandy mix to flavor.
To prepare:
Place 1 shot of Rum & Brandy in a small cup. Add 1-2 tablespoons of batter and then top with a little hot water. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Serving without alcohol, add 1-2 tablespoons of batter & top with hot water & nutmeg.

Yum Yum Birthday Cake

My one & only son just celebrated his 43RD birthday last week. Boy, it's hard to get that number to roll off my tongue. How on earth did my child reach 43 already?? It seems like I should still be 43. Oh well, I'm going to take a little turn on my postings while I figure out what in the heck I'm doing.
My son has requested this same birthday cake for at least 20+ years now. It is a wonderful cake & so easy to prepare. I got this recipe from a co-worker some 30 years ago. The name is debatable but I didn't select that. I am going to post a couple of more Christmas recipes in the near future that have been a part of our family for many years.
Have a great day!

BETTER THAN SEX CAKE

1 BOX YELLOW CAKE MIX
1 PKG (SMALL) VANILLA INSTANT PUDDING MIX
½ C. OIL
½ C. WATER
4 EGGS
MIX THOROUGHLY, ADDING EGGS ONE AT A TIME BEATING WELL AFTER EACH ADDITION.
ADD:
1 C.CHOPPED NUTS
1 C. COCONUT
1 GERMAN CHOCOLATE BAR (MELTED)
8 OZ SOUR CREAM
6 OZ CHOCOLATE CHIPS
BAKE FOR 55 TO 60 MINUTES IN A GREASED & FLOURED TUBE PAN (BUNDT) Bake at 375

Golden Digital Grounds

I'm feeling a little lost on my art work. I am not sure where to go next! I want to do something different. I have so many resources for projects it's almost ridiculous. I am seriously looking toward some paper collaging. I saw this article in the recent Cloth Paper Scissors called "All torn up" by Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson. She calls it a "rippin' approach to collage." Her work is really quite wonderful. Her blog is: http://elizabethsthilairenelson.blogspot.com/ & her website is:
http://www.nelsoncreative.com/gallery/. Check them out.
What I've posted today is more experiments with Golden Digital Grounds. The 1st photo is my great grandmother on the right & my mother & great grandmother on the left. The photos are around 1944. Note the lovely texture in this paper. It feels almost like leather. The next two pics are my boy again...printed on a decorative paper that's almost like vellum. You can see the design coming through the paper. I don't think you can go wrong with a subject as beautiful as this boy.

A little Carmen Miranda..The Brazilian Bombshell

I'm sure there's some of you out there that can remember Carmen Miranda. She was the singer/actress from the 30's & 40's with the fruit hat. See the attached link on Carmen & her filmography: Carmen Miranda

This photo is a collage of image transfers(SH) done on a 9x12"canvas.

Friday Flower Girl

I love a collage with BIG flowers in it! I put this together yesterday on an 11x14" canvas. Everything was image transferred except the edge of the canvas. I used Sheer Heaven
for the transfers. The only thing I wish I hadn't done was to brush on a coat of Golden Glaze (gold). It really muted some of the bright colors. It was so vibrant before I slapped that on..UGH! Oh well. I'll try another one with no glaze this time. Live & learn.
Happy Friday, everyone. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

New goodies for me!

It's all about me, me, me! I am sooo good to myself. That's a good thing, right? I am not really the "pampering" type but...boy do I love to buy new things! Check out these beauties. I get my daily etsy newsletter & one day I saw these adorable little pendants. I clicked right in to Tickle me Pink Boutique, Etsy shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5581699. Her name is Amy & like so many others I've met through the blogging world, she is fabulous! Please check out her items. She also has a couple of websites at: http://www.ticklemepinkboutique.com/index.htm & http://thedecalcottage.com/.
Happy Thursday everyone!

A Day of Sharing Words

A friend & fellow blogger, Minnie at http://herminnie.blogspot.com/ has followed a lead from one of her first teachers, LK Ludwig (http://gryphonsfeather.typepad.com/) LK has suggested November 19th be a day for words. Post a poem that touches you inside or inspires you. This is what I have selected (simple & to the point) & I love it!

HERE'S TO THE WOMAN
...who knows where she's going
and will keep on until she gets there;
who knows not only what she wants from life
but what she has to offer in return...
HERE'S TO THE WOMAN
who is loyal to family and friends,
who expects no more from others
than she is willing to give;
HERE'S TO THE WOMAN
who guides and inspires
not by quoting others philosophies but by living her own good example;
who accepts both victories and disappointments with the same grace,
and who can rise above life's challenges and move on...
HERE'S TO THE WOMAN
who gives the gifts of her thoughtfulness,
who shows her caring with a word of support,her understanding with a smile;
a woman who brings joy to others
just by being herself...
~~ Author Unknown ~~

PLEASE HELP A FELLOW BLOGGER!!

Good Monday morning everyone!
My post today is a bit different than normal. I am asking all of you that stop by to help a fellow blogger. Her name is Meaghan & she is a Stage 3B cervical cancer survivor! She was diagnosed at 28 years old. Meaghan has devoted her blog to educating women about this cancer. She is a very brave young woman & I feel very blessed that she dropped by my blog one night. I want to help her! I am attaching her morning post, asking for your help. Meaghan's blog is: http://www.cancerlost.blogspot.com/. Please check it out as it is packed with great information & PLEASE, PLEASE take the time to vote for her. NOW...on to Meaghan's post:

Friends will you Help Me???

I know I have a huge community of blogger friends and supports and I need your help! I am running for a Sit Award on Divine Caroline. I would love to get recognition from this site because it would help me get my blog out to other women. That was my #1 goal when I started this blog, to reach others who feel alone like I did. My #2 goal was to document my journey through cancer and to help my self through therapeutic writing. With everyone's help I have done so much more than i could ever have imagined possible.I've been absolutely amazed by how many people I have met who are like me. How many cancer supporters, caregivers, fighters and survivors. The numbers of emails I have gotten from other women who thought they too were alone. I even met 2 women who had cervical cancer and went to the same hospital and saw the same doctors as me, what a wonderful thing this internet is!If I could get some recognition from a new forum my blog could reach even more men and woman who are currently battling alone! If you could just take one second and vote for me I would appreciate it sooo much! Help me Bring Awareness and Bring Cancer to the Forefront!!VOTE NOW

Gel transfers with freezer paper

I am posting a couple of Gel transfers that my husband & I did on freezer paper & transferred to decorative paper. We followed these steps: 1) We printed ink jet print on the freezer paper. 2) Covered decorative paper with a thin to medium layer of Golden soft gel medium 3) Laid freezer paper face down on gel & brayered paper to lay flat. 4) My hubby shot his for a few seconds with the hairdryer (I did not.) 5) Removed the freezer paper. I was flabbergasted when my husband pulled his paper off. It looked so good I almost ordered him out of my kitchen! His is the first pic shown with the lovely lady in the large hat. He had one flaw on the side of her face but I still thought it turned out beautifully. I slapped her right down on a 6x12" canvas. Mine is the polka-dot girl. I followed directions above minus the hairdryer. I removed the paper about 30-40 seconds after it was put down. I am not that lucky with gel transfers normally so I was pretty pleased with this one. She hasn't been mounted to anything just yet.
I do want to say that the woman with the large hat was from a postcard that I found on Flickr. It
belongs to Charlie Dave who was kind enough to let me use the postcard image. It was from his Mum's collection from the 20's or 30's. Have a great weekend everyone!

I was nominated you for "The Marie-Antoinette A Real Person, A Real Award" by my friend Art Lover at: http://lovetheartforever.blogspot.com/. Thank you so much ! Check out this blog for some wonderful art. Okay..the rules go like this:

1. Please put the logo on your blog 2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award 3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs 4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog 5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

My nominations are as follows:

1) http://michirhymeswithpeachy.blogspot.com/

2)http://fififlowersdecor.blogspot.com/

3)http://abbycreek-art.blogspot.com/

4) http://herminnie.blogspot.com/

5) http://neatcs.wordpress.com/

6) http://cancerlost.blogspot.com/

7) http://bettystamps.blogspot.com/

Dog & Cat Transfers

One of my friends asked that I make a transfer for her daughter using this wonderful
picture of her German Shepherds. I still had some of this "magazine cover" paper left
so I put this together for her. They are gracing the cover of Dog Decor (the bow wow issue, no
less.) This will be a Christmas gift & the picture was taken with the two beauties laying in the
sand on a beautiful, California beach!

The feline is MY BOY! You probably can tell that I don't love him very much.
He's on the cover of Catsmopolitan! He is as classy as they come....just ask him!
Both pics done with my favorite, Sheer Heaven. They are 9x12 in size.

These papers were purchased at Makin Memories in Newbury Park, another favorite place of mine to shop!

New effects from dumpr.net

Happy Friday everyone!
This is a picture I did yesterday after looking at Diana Evans' blog at: http://dianaevans.blogspot.com/. Diana mentioned a new website that you
can actually upload your photos to make museum size pieces of your work. They
also have an Alienator page that you can tweak your colors with. I sat there for 3
hours playing with that. It was a blast! This is a pic I did of my cat, Dexter, using
the same shot but altering the color on each. I also did some museum size pics that
I will post later. I did image transfers using Sheer Heaven with some rubber stamping
& colored pencils also. The pic is 10x20. This is the link for that great website: http://www.dumpr.net/ Have a great weekend!

Sheer Heaven On Mulberry Paper

This was another Sheer Heaven transfer I did with the textured background. The image was actually transferred to mulberry paper & then attached to the canvas. I rubber stamped into the molding paste on the canvas & painted with Lumiere paints. It is 6x9.
This was a postcard image. I really like her umbrella.
Have a great day.

Santa Monica Civic Art Show

We attended an art show yesterday after the French Italian car show (photos on my Flickr). We had a full day! It was a lot of fun, too. There were around 250 vendors at the art show. We met this young gentleman, Dameon Washington, who was selling some wonderful bags, wallets, & purses. They were all done with newspaper & laminating. It's just amazing what people come up with. Dameon was a pleasure to talk with & he told us how this project all started. His story was:
What began as a school project for artist Dahli Coles is now an extensive line of accessories known as THE NEWS. Created from recycled newspaper, each unique piece has been cut, sewn & laminated with a durable water resistant finish. Handmade in Los Angeles, California.
Read it today & wear it tomorrow. If you have a moment check out his website at:http://thenewsla.com/.

Halloween Friday & Water Transfers

I was one excited girl yesterday when I pulled out some old instructions for water transfers. The instructions were from Lesley Riley who heads my ink jet yahoo group. Your supplies consist of,
an ink jet printer, photo paper (glossy) & a spray bottle of water! I tried this one other time & could not get the ink to roll off the paper. I pulled out an old package of photo paper we purchased at least 5 years ago & it worked perfectly. The problem is...I have no clue who made the paper. It was in a plain box & the paper was wrapped in black plastic inside. No maker whatsoever! This is what I did:
1) Print ink jet pic on glossy photo paper. 2) Dampen your substrate. 3) Spray your photo 2-3 times with the water. 4) Lay photo face down & burnish.
Now as far as what glossy photo paper works......you'll just have to experiment a bit.
TRY IT! It's so quick & easy. I printed mine on a Mulberry type paper.
Have a wonderful weekend! Happy Halloween!