Rumble Tumble Jumble

Lots of thoughts tumbled around in the noggin today.  First of all, it is absolutely fabulous outside - breezy and warmish, that screams:  take me to the park.  But I'm too busy creating and getting ready to go see my Mom.  And let me just say, I miss her so much these days.  When she lived with me I didn't realize how much she was affected by the dementia but now when I see her, it is painfully clear. And I hate going to the "home" to see her.  It's a nice place but I wish I could still take care of her and that she still lived with me.  

Yesterday was spent watching my niece, Megan play her last home basketball game (Go Mustangs!) and a little crafting and shopping.  I found these lovely tumblers at Pier 1 and I think I'm going back for two more.  They have a vintage feel with pretty ribbon of hobnail pebbles on four sides and a scallop bottom.  Lurve it, as Megan would say.

I really want to make a sampler/quilt type pillow and pulled out some vintage linens and lace but that's as far as I got.  I keep telling myself I'm not a sewer or stitcher, but I really need to let that go and just do it.  Like any of these crafts, my first one will not be perfect (or the second one) and I just need to let go and play.  But I'm too afraid of "messing it up" or using the good stuff.  Don't worry - I'm working through it.   I did put together another Valentine block - I found this image on either Graphics Fairy (thanks, Karen) or Flickr.  And I'm proud because on the red ribbon at the bottom, I did french knots on each side of the flowers.  Those flowers are like 6 years old... I've loved them and never used them on a project.  I layered the paint with 4 different colors, something I struggled with last Silver Bella but thanks to Lisa Kaus and Carolyn Peeler, I think I've found that groove.  The heart on top is styrofoam packaging, with black Bazzil bling envelope and thats a glass bell that I found with Sandy in NYC last November.  Remember, when she and Wendy dragged me out of the sketchy flea market so we could go to the real one!

I stopped creating on Fri nite to have dinner with the neighbors and ran back home for my camera when I realized the photo op before me!  I don't know if the parents would want me to post the photos so I'm just showing this one.  I got about 25 great shots individually.  One of the little girls, Helen (in red) at 3 was a whirlwind of activity and nearly 85% of her photos were blurred.  So cute but that momma needs alot of energy to keep up with those three for sure.   I think socializing with the neighbors is one of my top 10 activities.  My other neighbor went with me when I sold my car to a Craigslist buyer and this neighbor, Katie called on Thursday to tell me my sprinkler pipe busted.  They shut off the water and saved me!  I feel really blessed.

Okay, have you seen Pinterest.... AS IF we need another distraction but it is so so enticing.  I saw Katie Bee Creative's pins and fell head over heels, with both the site and her pins.  Love her style.  My favorite today is:  KARMA'S ONLY A BITCH IF YOU ARE.  yep.  
On Friday while floating through pinterest I saw these cupcake toppers from an etsy shop and decided I had to make a few...  Reminded me of this stitching project.   Looks like the purple/pink ribbon is coming apart - I'll need to replace it.  And if this isn't the cutest idea for a party!  Look at her blogmast - I love that dark paper in the center of the rolled paper wreath...

And don't forget next Sunday is Urban Market, at the new location of Smith and Elgin.  I'm thinking I will pay a visit Saturday evening - why not, it's just money (as my Dad always said).  Last Sunday when I stopped in at old town Katy I found two gym baskets for $15 each.  One is in my new Tahoe, the other is waiting for its calling.  And if you will, say a prayer for me for things to lighten up on the workfront - I'm having a really hard time with it and its worn me down to a frazzle.  Let's hope its a good week for all of us!

Event Calendar Oh Eleven

Long time, no speak.  My bad.  I'm getting my ass kicked acclimated at work and no energy at night.  But its the first of the year and I promised an overview of craft-e events so I'm going to deliver.  Even though there is packing for Las Brisas to do and a project laid out on my desk that is WAY over due.  Because I love you guys so much...

Okay, so I'll give a rundown of (some of) the events that I know are happening in 2011 and I'll try to refrain from whining about events that aren't going to happen in 2011.  

Inspired with Donna Downey in Concord, NC.  I absolutely LURVE this event, because you can play and try (six) new art forms.  Simple as that.  Yes, it has its faults and I'm not always happy about certain things but overall, its an event that inspires me (no pun intended) to play and create.  And there's nothing better than that.  I am super thrilled that Suzi Blu will be teaching, I've "knew" her before she was famous and so excited to see what she offers.  She teaches in the same theme as Donna - just play and "its perfect just the way you create".  I went to an event in March 2007 in Vancouver that had 3 teachers - Donna, Ali Edwards and Claudine Hellmuth and remember Donna saying that over and over.  That mindset is so freeing and inspiring.  I fell in love with Susan Edmonton 2 years ago when she made a fabric scrapbook.  Last year Sandy and I had such a blast at the French Bakery, Amelie and well, the whole weekend.  Hopefully she still wants to room this year.  The shopping is pretty damn good at the event too!  I do miss Jeanne and the gang though.

I do know that Mary Engelbreit (St. Louis) loved doing her Home Companion Workshop in 2010 but its a big commitment and has said she might do a smaller, intimate one day events during this year.  Nothing announced yet.

Creative Escape is happening for the last year.  It's in Phoenix and I attended the first four events and met some of the best people on this planet earth at that event.  The teachers this year are enticing - Ali Edwards, Vicki Boutin and Heidi Swapp always inspires me.  And shopping is Phoenix is the best, next to NYC.  I would go just for Mystic Paper, not to mention SAS and Creative Quest.  Honestly, I love MP.  The more I talk about it, I think I want to sign up! 

Creative Connection (St. Paul) looked so interesting last year and I would have attended just to meet Pioneer Woman.  They've posted the 2011 dates and information - its looking to be more of a Blogher  themed event.  I will say, Jo Packham impressed the hell out of me at Silver Bella.  I could have listened to her for days and unfortunately, she was shut down way too early during her speech at that event.  And the two Dallas girls from The Gilded Life are working on the event.  They also have a weekend in June, the Art of Spring that they're hosting.  I've heard rave reviews but I'm just not a jewelry maker, which is one of the classes. 

I'll tell you what I really regret, is missing Kaari Meng's event last weekend, in Los Angeles.  The Art of Craft.  It looked exquisite.  I know I would have loved Charlotte Lyon's class - isn't that banner beautiful!  Let's hope there's another one this year.  She also has a week in France - actually, I think it is two separate weeks.  And she's done it for a couple of years now so you know it has got to be fabulous.  And she's so down to earth and kind...

One or should I say two new events this year are the Art is You event, happening on the East Coast and West Coast.   I would definitely go for Charlotte's classes and also to take a class from Dee Foust.  I think she is amazing.  She attended ME's event this year and wanted to get into teaching.  Love her Bethany Lowe works.   She'll also be teaching at Jen Hayslip's event in October in Asheville, NC.  Jen is a bella and has hosted a couple of events and I've always heard good things.  Most of the teachers attended Silver Bella. 

And speaking of Bella - well she is gone and no more.  Even though I complained about it last year, I still would have liked to have gone one more time... the classes were always fun and inspiring.  All good things have to come to an end.  Its a shame they ended badly in this case. 

There are a couple other events, but I could spend my days writing about this stuff.  Tim Holtz has an October cruise that's sold out.  Debby Schuh has classes all over the country AND in Paris and those are always inspiring.  I mean, c'mon, the girl invented the Anthro bag album!  We had an incredible time in New York in November with her shopping trip and class at Tinsel Trading.  Over the moon fantastic.  I believe she's going to offer it again this year.  You.should.go.

And the last event I know about it Art and Soul.  I really wanted to check it out last October in Portland.  Lisa Kaus is an awesome teacher and Liz Kettle looks very interesting... They've been held for several years, so it has to be a good formula.  I hope to go one day soon.

I miss the good old days when a gang of us went to events like Scrap etc. or CE and yet, at the time you don't realize how fantastic it is and how much you will miss those people later.  Scrap etc. was my first event ever, in 2006.  My mother in law moved in with us on Easter weekend and the inaugural event was the following week.  I lined up some help that week and I was off to Birmingham.  Didn't know a soul, just knew I wanted to take a class from Heidi Swapp.  So glad I started that journey...

Scrappin Saturday

Look what we did today.... First of all, it was such a gorgeous sunny day in Houston today.  I spent the morning making Spinach Bacon Roll Ups which Michelle had made at Christmas.  I made them with cream cheese instead of sour cream, oh well.  I put a pork tenderloin in the crockpot, something else Harriet & Michelle talk about all the time.  Harriet was my neighbor for 18 years and Michelle is one of her 3 daughters.  I also got them hooked on scrapping and for a while Michelle was a Creative Memories rep and now she's going to be a doctor nurse.  She also raised three kids, who are now grown and out of the house...  Both of these women make me laugh all.the.time.  The pork tenderloin in the crockpot gig is simple.  You should try it.  Set it in the c/p, add some onion and garlic, salt and pepper it up and after 6 hours or so, tear it with a fork, add bbq sauce and let it warm up and its good to go.  So yummy.  We also had cole slaw (because I like it on the pork sandwich), edamame and some grapes.  And then this lucious chocolate pound cake that Cindy V made.  It has Kahlua in it and is to.die.for.  And Michelle makes the best coffee and we drank a pot with the cake.  Wish I had more of both...

Okay, am I talking about food too much?  What is wrong with me?  I started inviting people over about 4-5 months ago, on a Saturday from 2- 10 pm with  crafting in mind.  We try to make it very relaxed and no pressure and usually have a group project.  Last time it was grapevine wreaths with fleece flowers.  This time it was vintage Valentine decor - a project that Julia made at Halloween and we're going to do every single holiday from now on.  ha.  It is very simple, do you want to make one?  First, go to Home Depot on a Monday and look at their miscut pile of wood - pick out a 1.5 x 8 (its 3" across)  and ask the guy to cut it to 6 inches - you'll get a bunch and it will cost about a dollar.  Yes, the miscuts are super cheap and you'll get about 20 pieces.  For a buck.  Sand it down on all sides and top/bottom and wipe it with a wet paper towel.  Find a vintage design - Flickr is a really good place to look under Collage Images (Not for Sale). (search for Vintage Valentine)  Suzee Que has posted some gorgeous images to use.  I love generous artists!  Graphics Fairy is another great place for vintage postcards to use. 

I printed the images on cardstock and some of us added some patterned paper below the image.  We painted the wood two thin coats of acrylic paint.  This time we added some gold glaze too.  We outlined the vintage image with a Krylon gold leafing pen.  And then we spent about an hour trying out different embellishments, which to me is the best fun.  I added a heart with some wire and some velvet ribbon.  And it almost never fails but adding stickles in various colors to pump up the image - well its just brings it up a notch.  When you're ready to add your image and/or paper, apply Mod Podge (and note - its NOT modge) below the image and on top of the image and on all sides of the wood.  On the top we added some ribbon, a red glass leaf/heart and I added a pom pom.  Harriet used tulle and a scalloped wooden heart and brad from Making Memories.  She has some really cute My Minds Eye paper on the sides that say XOXOXO. 

Michelle added a bell and a Tim Holtz tag (with white paint smeared to fill in the word/number).  She popped the wooden scalloped heart with a piece of cardboard and this Martha Stewart pointed circle punch from a book page.  She has some super cute paper on the sides and back, along with a gold cupid on the back.

Before I forget, I have two things to mention in my next post.  Remind me to tell you about various scrapbook/art events.  Its one thing I get asked alot, when I attend events.  How do you know about all these things?  I guess you just hear about them at different events.  And secondly, I'd like to state my goals for 2011 - craft-wise just as a good baseline to work off of.  We're going to Las Brisas in 3 weeks and I want to make sure I have projects lined up. 

And finally,  I was trolling and saw this post.  Now go down to the fifth picture and look at that book.  That book title is PERFECT for an altered journal.  And look at the yummy color, kinda Tiffany-like, do you think?  I'm off to Amazon to buy about 5 of them... I can't do anything singularly, right.  Oh, and one last photo of my cleaned up studio.

Starting with Inspiration

OMG OMG OMG.  You know how when you find something new on TV or Oprah and you're all excited about it and you want to learn more and when you learn more... you learn that this person lives in your town?  Have you watched TED speeches/interviews?  I get the emails and don't watch very often.  I mean of course, I've watched Randy Pausch's talk and Elizabeth Gilbert on creativity - but, really, who has the time?  For some reason this morning (procrastination is your name) I clicked onto this talk and hello, when did they start having TED Houston?  Apparently last summer.  I found Brene Brown's talk interesting and inspiring.  And hello, she lives in and teaches at U of H.  Love it.  I'm adding the authenticity badge.  Still thinking about my Word for 2011.  But I am going to work harder on being vulnerable and real and speaking my truth.

The Big House Reorg is continuing.  Today is Wednesday, so its Room of Shame time, formerly known as Grandmas room.  Selected only because there was no furniture in it which meant there was more room for stuff...  I love first of the year time - it is so invigorating and exciting.  I love to organize and clean up, taking it all out and rethinking the set up and seeing what happens.  I also realize that I've jumped ahead on a few initiatives like having sofa/loveseat and chair recovered.  I need to wait til I have the cash and that won't be for a couple of months. 

Do we need a few photos before departure?

My new niece, Ray-Lynn born in San Diego.

My nephew, Kyle amid his constructed fort in the sunroom.

Junior and Killer went to the vet yesterday.  They are both in great health, (yeah - Killer is 10.5 years old!) but it was pretty traumatic for Junior.  He was tuckered out and still not really speaking to me after the fecal sample incident.  Eewww.

Family Time

What a great weekend ... and its not over!  Last night my nieces and nephew came over for a sleepover.  We've decided to do it regularly and definitely make it a New Years tradition.  We had dinner at a nearby Chinese restaurant (after driving by Pappy's which was closed!) and then a stop to Crave cupcakes because two of them had never been there.  We also went over to Transco fountain and then home for a little craftiness.  We picked two paintings from a local paint studio, which the girls completed today, we played a little Wii fit and did a bit of stitching.  In the morning I made monkey bread with my nephew, which was fun to do and yummy - I'd never made it.  I also clicked a few (hundred) photos of them today.  I love the look of youth, with a few pups thrown in for good measure.  It was so nice to have a houseful...

 

I also wanted to mention that the big house/studio cleanup will commence this week, while I'm off of work.  And one of my first steps for 2011 was to backup my computer with Mozy.  For $50 a year, I don't have to worry about losing my photos.  So glad I can cross something off my todo list.  I also returned 2 new purses to Coach (two years later) and used the gift card on a new little black number (Signature Tote).  Now, if I could only get my car situation straightened out - I need to sell my old one, return my company car and buy a new one.  I wasted Saturday talking to car dealers on the phone - hopefully tomorrow will work out swimmingly...  say a prayer!

New Year, New Beginnings, New Baby

There is so much to look forward to with this new year - I am giddy!  We also welcomed the next generation into our family last night when my niece, Rachel had a baby girl, Ray-Lynn, 6 pounds, 12 ounces and 20.5 inches long.  She's a beauty and I am so happy for her and Nik.  She was born to two sailors on the Navy base in San Diego.  Oh possibility!  Life is grand!  And as she stated so apropos, there will always be fireworks on her birthday!

                                                                

Little Bit

While at Anthropologie in New York in November, I picked up three mercury glass votives.  I have been wanting to decorate a bottle just a bit so this was a good place to start.  The kind and generous Allison from Dishy Vintage shared a HUGE stash of vintage laces in a blog giveaway recently so I used that as background and made a rosette from music paper and added some glitter to the edges.  I think rosettes are one of my favorite things.  On Saturday I had a chance to stop at the Sunshine Resale shop in Bellaire and they had 25% off jewelry so I picked up a few pieces including this rhinestone cluster, which was part of an earring.  I don't have much jewelry in my stash, but this stuff was $3/pair so I thought that was fair.  I added some pale pink seam binding and called it done.  Its in the kitchen now, holding sugar.  One down, two to go. 

I'm in the process of changing jobs - something that happened quickly and from out of the blue.  But a nice shade of blue, that is for sure.  I start Dec 29th.  I've been at the same place for five years and boy, I've been riding the roller coaster of emotions.  Especially when you have worked in your industry for 30+ years and have no children, your work is pretty darn important.  Or at least you think it is!  At our Christmas party this year, our President made mention of the various departments and said some very kind and nice things about me.  It made my heart sing.  And still has for days later.  It is so nice to be appreciated, even if it is as you are walking out the door.  I'm so looking forward to CHANGE in 2011.  I'm giving up familiarity, not to mention some great business trips but who knows what will replace them.  I can't wait to see.