Charms Arrived

I have OODLES of Blue, White, Silver charms.............which I will photograph and post soon.
Started a long term substitute position today.  I will enjoy knowing day-to-day where I will be subbing, what class and the names of the students.  A smidge panicked that art takes an even further step away from reality, but I will need to focus really hard....to organize and MAKE time.

Will post pics soon.
Until then.................have a great day!!

Blue White Silver charm Swap

so to sum things up.
School started.
I got busy with substituting, co-leading a brownie troop of 25 girls, being a Mom to three kids, husband working 7 hours away.......so something has to give.  and it was and has been my art.

But, I did manage to pull off charms for a new swap with a new yahoo group, artcharms.  I signed up innocently to make charms with the theme of blue, white and silver.  and the list of swappers grew and grew....until 38 signed up.  38!  a little more than what I was anticipating.  But it was a deadline that would FORCE me to create.  Sad that I need a deadline, but true these days.

So here are some pictures from the charms that I made, some attempts that I didn't mail and some that are to be developed some more.

These are the charms in process.  I formed wire, added polymer, UTEE and ephemera.....twisted wire and these are waiting to have beads added and some sari silk (which I am LOVING!!!!)

The finished charms.  I am pleased.

I had an idea to make these felted circles, add some crystal white and clear beads.  Did not finish but plan to, I think these have some potential. 

Playing with making balled headpins without enamel.  I like these.  again, potential.

I am still playing with these disk shapes and adding words.

Hope to be back on here again soon.
Which also means I am playing with some of my projects!

white daisy discovery

My morning walk, with camera in hand. 

Enjoying the crisp air, the changing colors

and discovered this beauty

made my morning

Inspired my day.

Happy Friday!

I Won, well sort of

I am signed up for Silly2, a class offered by Carla Sonheim.  I was super inspired after listening to her podcast on the Notes from the VooDoo Lounge.  During her interview she does a little excercise using a sharpie, sheet of paper and your willingness to let go, just for a few minutes.  We have had a ton of fun doing this excercise.  It then prompted me to purchase her book The Drawing Lab.

This book is FUN.  I can't wait to do this with the kids.  Apparently there are on-line groups that have been doing book studies on Drawing Lab.  Hmmmmm..

I am a new fan of Carla.  Not just because of her super fun book or the class that I am signed up for that starts today but because yesterday she sent an e-mail to everyone signed up to announce that she was going to offer 10 (ten!!!) scholarships to people that we recommend.  So I entered the name of a dear friend in Minnesota, an art teacher and guess what.............................SHE WON!  I amm soooooo thrilled.  I am thrilled that she offered this opportunity and I am thrilled that Jean won this!!!  To top it all off, Carla is totally cool with teachers sharing the exercises in the Silly2 class with their students.  Sooooo generous!

Thank You Carla!!!!!!!!

Okay another note.

My Mom, who recently upgraded to an iPad.....lucky....gave me her iTouch (yes, with a fist pump!).  You see, I have never had one.  Wanted one, yes, had one, no.  But now I doooooooooo!  and I love it.  I love the apps.  I know.....all of you have been there done that, but for me, it is still a HUGE novelty.  Anyway, BIG fan of Podcasts.  I love going for my walks and getting to hear artists speak and inspire me.  So if you so desire, check out Notes from the VooDoo Lounge.  You won't be disappointed.

Thank You Ladies

I worked up a little "Thank You" note to send to my friends in Minnesota. 

I was inspired byKelli Perkins and a stitched pagelet painting tutorial.

It was super fun to do.

I apologize for the glare.  I haven't decided if I am going to mail this "thank you"as a giant postcard or slip it into a manila envelope.  So.....I covered the photo with a thin piece of plastic from the fabric store just in case.  These are my creative friends that I lure into doing projects with me. 

We have set the next swap....and it is pendants!!!

Etsy here I come

I am working on slowing it down and FINALLY getting an Etsy shop up and running.

details coming soon.  Slowing down might seem like an oxymoron when it comes to getting work on Etsy, but what I mean is taking the time to finally set this up.  Does this make any sense????

Hiatus over, time to catch up

Good grief.  A month.  Seriously.  oops!
So consider it a European Holiday, to bad it wasn't really an extended vacation.
No, it was life.  Life, soaking up the last bit of summer with the kids.  Then, that dreaded first week back to school, where we are snapped back into the reality of....schedules.  Yes, schedules.  Curse them.  But....a schedule isn't all that bad.  Now i will retreat to a schedule of sorts that allows me time to create.  As that kinda got lost during the summer vacation freedom schedule.


Here is a little sneak into my trip back to Minnesota.  My dear friends gathered for a night of laughs, drinks and some embellishing of the felted bangles.  Fun!  Lots of fun!!!!!

My dear friend Ann comes up with the BEST drinks. 

This was the Bootleg

Described as Liquefied Minnesota Summer

Also known as:  These Boots are Made for Drinking

1 oz vodka (I used Citron)

1 oz Gin

1 oz Mint Syrup (1 c. water, `1 c. sugar, handful of chopped mint leaves. Dissolve over high heat. Cool and strain out mint leaves)

Fresh Lemons/Limes

Cava Sparkling Wine (any sparkling wine or champagne)

CHARTREUSE

Shake Vodka, gin, mint syrup and freshly squeezed citrus juice--I used about a shot of citrus juice since there was no measurement given.

Strain and pour over ice. top with Cava and a splash of Chartreuse. Garnish with Lemons, Limes and Mint leaves.

Enjoy and don't drive.