Corners of my Home

Been slacking a bit this week. A wrench kind of got thrown into my schedule with STAR testing for the pea. Even though I hauled my computer down, the wifi at school was down so I had to just sit and wait. At least I had my Kindle on day two.

I feel bad that I missed Work Table Wednesday yesterday, but honestly I haven't been working on much I can share yet...



I DID manage to finish up a tiny project yesterday when I framed one of my art postcards in an up cycled frame that I painted white. It's from a stash of wood frames I scored at the Goodwill some time ago. I made a little "matt" from some vintage book pages. I think it's very cute hanging in this little area next to my coatrack under my "Blooms" sign. I am always drawn to things that say "bloom" as it is a play on our last name and I'd meaningful.

So I will leave you all with that this find Spring day. What are you up to?

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be creative

:source:

finding inspiration

One of the projects I have been working on lately is working with Jenn of the Vintage Sheet Blog to update the blog with new buttons and and menus and such. Part of the assignment is to use vintage sheet patterns to match her banner and existing pieces so I have been scouring various sites and pictures for some images and inspiration.

During my jaunts into inspiration hunting I marked a handful of fun looking projects that I might lie to tackle some day with vintage sheets (I have plenty) or pretty fabrics ( I have too many) and I thought it might be fun to share that inspiration here.

Clockwise from top left:

• Of course we have all probably seen many quilts created with vintage sheet fabric but I really liked the look of this one.
• How cute and clever are these vintage sheet covered storage bins? Much prettier than some of the plain Jane ones we see at the box stores.
• How about a simple (NO SEW!) yet stunning vintage sheet wreath? Wouldn't it be fun and different to do sone in autumn colors?
• OMG super cute hat made with a vintage sheet. Squeal!!
• I don't have a baby anymore but I might have to make a cute vintage sheet mobile like this to gussy up the studio... so pretty.
• Another NO SEW project. My Mom used to make lots of rag rugs but none quite as cute as this one.
• I just LOVE these curtains.. I wish I had a place to use them.. hmm, thinking cap on. I have also seen similar used as a bed canopy, fun!!
• This cushion is just stunning. If I had more patience sewing little fiddly pieces I'd try one but let's face it that is not going to happen. LOL PS Her blog is Blow you away FABULOUS!!

Have these shots inspired you? I feel more inspired... I need to go look for more sheets :)

only two mistakes

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

Buddha 

Inspirations & Things to Do

So, as I mentioned below somewhere, my bestie Joleen will be coming up to visit us for a week. She should be here some time Monday.. I can hardly wait. I always feel super inspired when I have someone to share studio space and daily life with. Joleen's visits always fill me with ideas and creativity.

Lately we have been tossing around all kinds of ideas for photo shoots as Joleen is working on building her portfolio for art school and I like having fun pictures of my girl and family. I have set up some photo shoots for her with some local friends while she is here but she also has all kinds of ideas for things she wants to try out.

One of the things I am most excited about is to do a shoot with Hannah on/ with our friends horse. Kind of in this style by JinkyArt, that Joleen found. It will be a bit different for Joleen to work with kids AND animals, but I have high hopes.

In addition to looking at all sorts of photo inspiration we have been saving ideas and pictures to Pinterest, notes books, Evernote, etc. I am sure we will have way more projects than we have actual TIME for but its fun to dream.

 woodwoolstool.blogspot.com

I have been wanting some kind of shabby sign(s) for my wall(s) in the new living room and when I saw these adorable signs on Pinterest I knew that was what I wanted to make!! I happen to have a piece of old aqua moulding stashed away somewhere ( I hope I can find it) that would lend itself perfectly to this idea. Now to just figure out what I want it/ them to say... and get Greg to cut the wood.

Here is the other things I am itching to make. Maybe when Jo is here I can finally round up the right materials.. LOVE these wrap bracelets and this tutorial looks pretty easy to whip up.

Til then, I am off to dream (and clean the studio!)

http://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-wrap-bracelet/

Its is finally starting to feel like fall here in central CA. I welcome the cold mornings, crisp days with beautiful afternoon and the chill that comes with the come of darkness. I enjoy bundling up and reading to Hannah, or making art or curling up in my chair and working on the lap top. I have found that my muse is more eager to come out an play. I guess she just takes a summer vacation each year ;).
Lately, I have been back into my journaling and since we are working on the "art journal" issue of Portals I have been seeking out inspiration for both it and my own work. Above are a bunch of snaps I have favorited on Flickr recently (click on it to see the credits for wach picture). I am finding lots of inspiration in rich colors, textures, autumn leaves and scribbley pages. I am finding it a little esasier to let go and get messy in my own work. I am happier with what I have been producing lately. Shown here is a page out of a book I have been working in the last couple of days. Its all about Hannah. I am looking for quotes about childhood and discovery to add to my pages.

Finally, I am preparing for AFF which is just a week away. I am looking forward to my time in the Pacific Northwest spent with my BFF Sharon and the many creative people who are attending and teaching. I am way behind in my packing and especially my trades. It may just not happen this year. I will be putting finishing touches on the swap I hosted this year and look forward to sharing pix of those when I get back.

a little inspiration...

Autumn in upon us, and though it is harder to tell here in California compared to places with more distinct seasons and actual colors, we have been noticing some signs. There is a touch of color in our trees, a flash of gold, a hint of red. There are pumpkins everywhere, which makes us happy. I love this time of the year and the warm colors to go along with crisper weather and cool nights. We light more candles at this time of the year as the days grow dark much earlier than our long summer evenings. I tend to want to "nest" more, cuddle up with a good book and a cup of tea or coffee. Recently I ordered some new books, they are my treat from Laura, as she sent me a gift certificate as a thank you. THANK YOU Laura.. for these new additions to my bookshelf. I know how much you love books yourself so I know you know how I am feeling about these right now.

Last night I read Laurie Mika's book, "Mixed Media Mosaics" from cover to cover. Boy, did she have me ready to throw away everything and just play with polymer clay. I became a fan of Laurie's when I won a collaborative piece of artwork by her and Michelle Ward a couple of years ago. My major disappointment in deciding not to attend ArtFest next year is that Laurie is teaching and I will miss her classes. The other book I got is Corey Moortgat's "the Art of Personal Imagery". I haven't had the opportunity to read it yet but I can't wait. I love Corey's work and have one of her cool frames. I am sure this book will be wonderful too.

In swap news.. I received my fun little dresses back from Heather's Paper Dress swap. I love how she chose very coordinating dresses but from all different people. I hung them above our bed for now and they look darling there. Thanks to Heather and all the folks who participated to make this such a fun swap.

Now I had vowed not to sign up for anymore swaps this year but Donna at Under the Red Roof (which is a new blog for me) is hosting a Christmas Tree Topper swap and that got me excited. I already have ideas swirling around and can't wait to get the details so I can get started. OK, so other than THAT swap and the 12 Days swap, that's IT! I need to work on gifts and getting stuff up in my Etsy shop. I swear.. really.. I think...

Mommy's Day off

It wasn't a complete day off from motherhood but a nice break anyway. We went to a friends out of town yesterday and the her little and my little played. Its nice when the kids aren't asking you for something every minute of the day. I now understood how my Mom felt when she would ask my brother to JUST STOP MAKING NOISES! It seems there is never a moment of silence here but being somewhere else kind of made the noise fade into the background and enabled me to let my guard down a bit due to a second set of mom ears.

After our play day, we met a friend and Daddy for dinner and then Daddy brought the wee one home. I went off with my friend to meet another friend and have a manicure and pedicure!! WHAT A TREAT!! When I worked I had manicures and pedis pretty regularly and since I had such a rough pregnancy on my tootsies (sooo swollen) I had pedis pretty regularly during the swelling phase. I worked into my 8th month, on my feet, so I felt justified going every other week or so. Since little Ms H has come along though, it is a very rare occasion to get time (or money) to relax and have someone else work on my hands and feet. I swear a good manicure and pedicure is almost as good as a full bod massage for me. I carry so much tension in my hands that a nice hand massage feels great! The best thing was that I had a gift certificate!!! I only had to pay the tip! woot!

Anyhoo, after the spa treatments, which were drug out to their fullest, we had coffee and cake and chattered away until we had to head home. It was so nice to just have some girl time with my friends who I don't get to spend much time with as of late. I can't believe how much just a few hours "off" can do to rejuvenate the spirit and muse. I am feeling refilled with energy to get the Zines bound and make art and organize the house. (gasp)

In celebration of a returning muse I signed up for Jenny's Bits n Pieces swap. I have to admit that when she posted her piece that inspired the swap, I jumped right in early. I have created a couple of canvases already although not to swap dimensions. It was a GREAT way to help me clean off my desk top and they will probably be destined for Etsy when I do another update. Here is a sneak peek at one of my incomplete canvases...

Needs some glitter don't ya think?

Ok, off to work for me! Have a great day!

Thanks for the feedback thus far. I used mainly Perfect Paper adhesive and Aileen's Super Tacky Glue for gluing stuff done. I love Aileen's!!

inspiration and news

Da funk has mostly lifted, I am still mildly frustrated but that will pass. I am putting that last finishing touches on Eye Candy though the bulk of it has gone to the printer aka my Dad. I am excited to get them off to Teesha and for people to get them in their packages. As soon as they start printing I will list them for sale on the Portals website. Issue #5 has been delayed at least 2 weeks. All updates are posted in the News Dept on Portals-Zine.com.

Anyhoo, I have been spending time in my newly organized studio and I am proud to say that I have been STAYING organized. Everything is easier and therefore less procrastinating!! Yay. I have completely sold out of my vintage birdie postcards and have reordered them. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised. In addition I have had some inquiry about wholesale on my Whimsy Jars so I am hustling to acquire some more of these wee millinery flowers and some pom pom trims.. if anyone has any that they'd be willing to swap for, please email me!! I will be trying to work on these jars in addition to swaps for ArtFest in the coming weeks. My goal for tomorrow and Monday it to order the tools and supplies I need for my AF classes and to get some photos uploaded to share!!

Thanks to those of you who have posted and emailed little cheer up/ I've been there/ its ok to rant messages. I felt a little selfish dumping like that but the notes made me feel better and despite my not posting for a few days again I have been feeling better. It is so nice to know that there is a slew of people out there in blog land who get it and can commiserate. The internet truly is a wonderous thing, especially to those of us who live in podunk little towns.

Finally, in lieu of any of my own photos I am sharing a selection of my Flickr favorites for February in this post. I think that Flickr is so amazing in the vast amounts of inspiration you can find there and also it is a great place to find other like minded- like tasted people.. just like in blog land!

PS Is it only me or can others not post to Blogs that require the visual verification thingie? I am going to temporarily disable mine. Argh, all day I have been trying to comment places and can't!!

Things I'm lovin'...

Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. I don't often use my blog as a place to vent my frustrations or problems but sometimes I just get to my last straw. So often people have that kind of "get over it" attitude if they do not understand what dealing with depression is like. It IS a disease and its hard to deal with. Thanks for those of you who have shared your stories for dealing with depression and offering shoulders to lean on. You are appreciated more than you will ever know.

So, to change the subject up a bit. I think many of us have an eye toward spring already. Though it has been a fairly mild winter here in CA so far, we do get tired of gray days and being cooped up in the house. Currently we are facing a week of rain which those of you with littles know is NO FUN!

Lately I have been seeing some fun things that have inspired me and made me swoon. I thought maybe you would like to see them as well and perhaps feel a bit of warmth inside at the thought of these wonderful things:

New COLLAGE SHEETS by Hope at Paper Relics!
Add a bit of color and whimsy to your art with Hope's fantastic sheets of wings, hats and magical things. I love these babies!!

And I am swooning HARD for the jewels found at this fantastic Etsy shop called 1ofmyKind. I think her stuff is to.die.for! and if I am not really careful I could go broke shopping there. I'll just have to hope that the DH reads this post! (Hi Honey)

I can't wait until these stamps are in stores. They just came out at CHA and Laura (evil woman) pointed me in their direction. I love them and I WANT them. They are by Crafty Secrets who does not sell directly from their web site but I am going to hunt them done with dogged determination!

Ok, I think that is it for this post. I have downed a cup of coffee and feel more awake. I NEED to finish my ArtFest fat book pages and get them in the mail along with the goodies from my heART drawing. Hope everyone has a great day!