Tuesday, December 30, 2008

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!

Monday, December 29, 2008

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!










Friday, December 26, 2008

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.


Monday, December 22, 2008

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!









Saturday, December 20, 2008

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!




Friday, December 19, 2008

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!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

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!!


Wednesday, December 17, 2008

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!

mm.audrey_.jpg

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

Monday, December 15, 2008

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, December 8, 2008

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





Friday, December 5, 2008

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.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

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