A Random Ramble

A few weeks ago I posted pictures of a black wire dress form with a tag dress. I had used all kinds of different paper. The last two days I've been busy making tags for a Prima project I'm doing. I'm using the same dress form only it will be painted cream, distressed, and I'll be using all of these tags that I made using all Prima papers. I also used stamps by Character Constructions. Here's another shot.



Today I was out and about and saw this gigantic ring. I had to have it. I paid the $6.00 to the teenager at the register, ripped off the price tag and put it right on.



I met up with my husband later and he noticed it immediately saying, "what's with the ring?", lol.

Last night we went out to dinner with my sister. Afterwards we dropped her off at my Mom's and my older son wanted to spend the night. It was my daughters turn to stay so she ended up letting them both stay. That meant my middle child who will be 4 in a couple of weeks was coming home with my husband and I. It's rare when we only have one of the three and it was enjoyable for so many reasons. He relished being with us all by himself. I worked on my tags while he and Dad went to see the 10pm showing of Race to Witch Mountain. We didn't know if he'd sit through it all but as it turns out he was a riveted popcorn eating angel. When it was time to go to bed we let him sleep between us. Once settled in I felt his little arm curl around my neck and he whispered, "you're such a beautiful girl". It was so adorable, I'll remember that forever.

This afternoon I decided I wanted to make a beef stew for dinner. I didn't have a recipe so I was trying to remember what all I've put in a stew in the past. I totally winged it and if I do say so myself it was my best ever! Last minute I decided to throw in a large chopped up sweet potato and a packet of Knorr vegetable soup mix. It put a really great spin on it.

I'm really excited, tomorrow I'm taking a jewelry making class with Lisa Guerin at Tangerines with my friend Valerie. I can't wait to meet her, I've heard wonderful things about her.

Well this is probably my longest post to date! Have a great week.

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Vintage Metal Perm Rod Book

I knew when I saw a bunch of vintage metal perm rods that I would think of a use for them. I made a mini beauty book and tied it to the perm rod. It's not finished but I took a picture of it anyway. It's going to be one of three mini projects. I'll post pictures of the other two when I finish them.

I had an overwhelming urge to simplify my blog and pare it back to just things that I really want on it. Loading it up because of the infinite space is very tempting but I wanted a cleaner more uniform look right now. I'm not done yet, it needs some resizing and I might retake the picture because there's a glare on the glass in the photo. It's times like this when I ask myself, isn't it good enough? Can't you just be ok with it? With as many things as there are to do in a days time you'd think so but...

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I'm Danger Close To Being Organized!

In the last couple of weeks I've spent a good amount of time organizing my art space. Those of you who know me and have been to my home know that I don't have a studio per se, just an area at the end of a large room that we added a couple of years ago. I like it because I can still be with the family while I work. This 4 tiered wire stand is a 5 ft tall version of the one on my art table. These other things will be arriving this week and then my organization (ahem, and decorating :) should be complete...




These might even hold all the buttons I've collected over the years:



And I had to have two of these for my kitchen counter while I was at it...



I'll post pics of my newly organized area once I get everything situated. Finally, I have been having fun with some of the new stamps I bought from Catherine Moore of Character Constructions. Here is one of the paper dolls I made the other night while catching up on the Dr. Phils in my DVR.



Have a great week!

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Collage of Pretties

Over the months I have acquired quite a bit of tiny ephemera so I thought it was time to collage some of it together. I recently purchased some 1x1 inch wooden squares. I covered them with Claudine Helmuths Studio Sticky Back Canvas to make inchie canvases. I bought this inexpensive frame at Target because I loved the color. It's a fun little mish mash of stuff, everything from tags, an old celluloid rose to an old mens hair pommade tube.

If you're in the San Jose area come see me at Scrapbook Island for my mini travel album, it's very compact but there's room for tons of pics!

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A New Project & A Dodge Ball Game

I spent a lot of time on this small personal project this week. It started out as an old doll dresser that was missing the drawers. I bought it at the Goodwill bins in Portland, a place they send any junk that isn't suitable for resale at the store. I turned it on it's side and sanded it down and created this little keepsake for myself using pictures of my grandma and grandpa. There are a few things tucked into the compartments that symbolize our family and what they meant to me. It's actually quite small, only about 4x8 inches long.

So on to Dodge Ball...tonight I went to my nephew Richard's Dodge Ball tournament at his high school, formerly my high school 20 years ago when I was is age. It was so exciting! The spirit and the youth surrounding me was a sight to behold. I sat there enjoying the game, cheering when he pegged somebody's feet and they were throw out - and then it hit me...my Dodge Ball game days are over. I mean, I never played the game after elementary school but as a tear snuck out the corner of my right eye I realized that I spent way too much of my high school years NOT enjoying high school. I worked at a Doctors office all through school, I had a boyfriend that had already graduated, basically I rushed myself into adulthood without realizing it. I was sad that I never took the time to be silly. To wear cute little shorts and indulge in a quirky and fun "sport" like the kids tonight. You can only look forward in life and you should regret little. If you're biggest regret is that you weren't the Dodge Ball hottie of your high school I guess you're doing ok :)

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Valentines Day Blog Party - Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day to you all! I'm so happy to be a part of the Flatwoods Folk Art blog party. Please scroll down and take a look at two Valentines Day projects I created as well as a bunch of other pretty stuff. Have a wonderful day with your loved ones!!

Lisa

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Que Sera Sera

DSC_0003, originally uploaded by anartsygirl.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on some of this new paper goodness from K & Company. I love everything about it. This is the first of many projects I'll probably end up making with this line. The mini book is really fun and I made a tiny book for class attendees to give to a friend too. I've been so busy with projects for upcoming classes I'm sad to say I had to tank my idea of 52 weeks of art. I'm not one to regret much so I'm over it. It was a nice idea but sometimes you have to simplify you know? It's been a while since my last post and I have to say, I tend to drag my feet when I don't have a picture to post. I'll be posting more work soon along with some details on A Tarte Affaire that's happening in July. We're going to be finalizing the instructors this month so check back for info on how to reserve your spot. Have a great week!

DSC_0006, originally uploaded by anartsygirl.

DSC_0010, originally uploaded by anartsygirl.