Day 3

Well, day 3, and I'm just back from my morning walk! I am actually waking up at an early time to make these walks possible...And without an alarm clock even! I am, however, having a hard time with the creative journal part of this project, as I haven't even started that part...And that was the easy part for me last time...But not the action! Sigh...I wonder what that's about?

I know everyone likes this quote, but it scares me. Sounds weird, but I think that if I can name something I would attempt if I couldn't fail, then I would actually have to do it...And that thought sounds a little exhausting at the moment...Although, I am doing the walking and yoga...So maybe I'm on the right track!

I am going to have to search around the town for black and grey...Because that's today's color challenge...And I don't have a lot of black and grey sitting about the house! So, I will post that later (along with my journal pages?!?)

Day 2

Today is day 2 of the 21 day challenge. I'm doing well...I woke up early and took my walk, and I ended last night with some yoga. I figured out something a little different about the yoga DVD workout I am following this time around (yes, it's only been one day, but bear with me...) before, when I was doing this workout I was just trying to get through it, and last night I realized it's really for stretching and relaxing my body...Winding down from my day...Rather than being "fit" or "working out". So, that really changed my yoga workout, and I felt really different...Stretching and moving in a different way, which made me excited to get up and walk this morning (and giving me a curiosity and anticipation about my yoga tonight). I am still working on doing my creative journal...I will post that asap! Until then, I really love the quote that Rhonna did today, as it is on my refrigerator as a magnet already...I am really creating my life, and myself...Especially by following the 21 day challenge!

BROWN

Today's color challenge is brown...So, I searched around the house and found these beautiful brown buttons. Rozzilyn and I were going through my button box this weekend...Putting some of the buttons in little jelly jars...Getting them ready for the new crafting room!

White

In addition to this being the start of the 21 day challenge...It's also the beginning of color week (phew!) and, today's color is white. With the days heating up here in Arizona...Looking at this picture helps me remember how beautiful it is here when it snows, and when I look outside my front door , I get to see this wonderful view. I love my home, and am really lucky and grateful both, to have been able to find it and keep it!

Now...I am off to do my yoga and then to bed (you would not believe how many times I've tried to talk myself out of it...Especially since I've had 2 good walkies today!) Is it too early in the challenge to start rolling my eyes at myself?

The 21 Day challenge

DAY ONE... I've decided to join all the good folks over at Rhonna Farrer's site and participate in the 21 day challenge! I think this is the 3rd round of this challenge...she's put together the connection that it takes 21 days to either end a bad habit or start a good habit...and she makes these really wonderful quotes on her site every day...she's a scrapbooking queen! Plus...offers all this wonderful support! She also encourages us to keep a journal...One that is more arty than just writing, and that is a really new experience for me, so I am hoping to enjoy that process!

I have decided that for my challenge, I am going to commit to waking up earlier every morning and walk for at least one hour...And then do a yoga program before I go to bed every night as well. I'll publish my journal page later...As I'm about to dash out the door to start my fun day (Amy and I are going to relive our youth by watching the movies The Breakfast Club, Weird Science and Pretty in Pink...I got them in this great Brat Pack set from Amazon...And drink Zima!) We decided to forgo wine coolers in favor of Zima, as we both like that better anyway.

Sunday June 11th....

Participants:

• Mama
• Rozzilyn
• Saidra

AND

Meena...

As you can see...Ms. Meena helped (with a lot of Kitty Slobber and excitement) to make and use these wonderful pom-pom's that were Rozzie's Creative Sunday project! Rozzie read about making things out of pom-pom's and even more importantly...How to make pom-pom's from a book she chose for her summer reading programs (one through the Prescott Public Library's program, and the one that she's already completed...For the local Barnes and Noble!) She is, like the rest of the family...a voracious reader...And chose Trumpet of the Swan as her prize book!

So today, Mama and Rozzie made Pom-Pom's...















and Meena enjoyed breaking them in!

Mama also made this wonderful knitting needle case from 2 pieces of reminant fabric we picked up this weekend at the fabric store...You can't see it in this picture...But, both of these wonderful fabrics have silver sparkles all throughout them!





And...I made 2 more freezer paper stencil tees:

(because it seems like I just can't go out without some kind of fun decoration on my clothing any more!!)

Here's my bird design:

the front and back both have the bird design on them!

Kitty

Mousie on the sleeve!

And, my official labels!

And...I finished the birthday project for my Pal!

But...I'll have to be cryptic for now...

until the official "unwrapping of the gift"!

(wink wink)

PS...I got started on the new craft room by going through

the books...

the books...

the books!

What'd You Got?

OK...This is going to be quite a catch up post because I haven't posted one of these in a long time...And it's a little late (I went to dinner with a good friend...No not a date...Don't get excited! Sigh) So, here goes...





this wonderful wire waste basket came from the estate of the lady who owned Sam Hills Warehouse (yes, where we once danced) and she ran it as a general store...It was a special reward for helping my mom grab all the goodies there! $3






ohmygosh...I've always wanted one of these...If you only knew how many times I said that in a weekend of yard sailing! It's so much fun to want something for ages and then find it at a startlingly low price! This is a red LeCreuset heart shaped casserole dish...I don't usually make casseroles, and I almost left it there (eeeekk!) and then rushed back because I decided I could use it for salad or something...( I hate it when I get all cheap!) I actually used it the next weekend to make my very first strawberry rhubarb deep dish pie!
$7 (talked down from $10)



And, these seriously little tiny ultra fancy...Jelly jars! Yes, it's hard to believe, but true...I got them at Salvation Army's "botique"...And since the girl there really likes me (she gave me some old candy tins for free that she was going to throw away the other day)
...Only 10 cents each! That's a whopping 70 cents for all!!!!

















OH...I LOVE these!!! ( I know I say that a lot) an entire matching set of 4 vintage pink windows with their original green glass knobs on them...

I am wanting to use them in my new creative studio space...formerly known as the library (needing to happen this month, thank you!)

I could just weep with joy every time I see them!

And this adorable porcelain topped little table...again something I almost didn't buy...for $3...it has vintage advertising embossed on the top of it...And a bit of a rust problem, which Oxy Clean and I are working on (I love that stuff!)



This pile of fabric samples...$1 per book (and yes I left some books...I know!) Meena is looking a little anxious...I think she is worried the fabric pile is taking over the house!

And...Wonderful fabric...(of course...and this is not the recent acquisitions...Sigh!) Some of the fabric is from a thrift store in Prague...My mom got custody of a set of square vintage pillowcases that are totally yummy!

Also, some fun vintage linens!

OK...That's all I have pictures of right now...I know, you're relieved...And it's still time enough for
me to go to bed and get up early to score some more!

What a Day!

Well...This was quite the day, I kind of figured it would be as I found myself exhausted and in bed by 8 pm last night! So, as a special treat to myself for not walking last night...I made...I mean, jumped up eagerly out of bed this morning and took a L O N G walk. And while I was out walking, I thought to myself, "wow self...Coffee sounds really good!" And really, does any day start off and end well (for me at any rate) with caffeine? I mean, I was once able to handle caffeine, but now, I usually drink green or black tea at most during the week...And half decaf half regular as a special treat for myself on Sat. mornings after getting up early to yard sale, and then going to work all day (I mean...I deserve a treat right?) So...I'm sure I was very helpful to people today at the store...As I oscillated between feeling like I could conquer the world...And then like I was going to cry (not to mention, the voices in my head) Some people should not drink full caffeinated coffee...I'm one of them.

I did by a new rug set at Salvation Army for my basement...Which I got for a great deal...And I love (I'm too tired to take a picture right now though...Sorry, the caffeine finally wore off I guess!) AND I came home and almost finished a birthday gift for my best pal! (and since she reads this blog...I will have to be super sneaky about what exactly I show...Sorry Amy, I hate to ruin surprises!)

I'm off to bed soon, where I hope to find the caffeine totally worn off so I can get up early tomorrow to walk and hopefully have a less jittery day!

PS Those cute little lady bugs at the top of the page came from a really great estate sale last week...I loved them, and couldn't leave them there (I love little bug charactures...) my mom says she thinks they're Joseph Origianls...whatever the case my be...they live with me now!

I'm Square

Well, this is my first attempt at me, myself as pop art. Since I don't have photoshop and am not quite sure how to work the thing I do have...I improvised. I notice that I improvise a lot. I also had to search in my little brain for the art history I took so many years ago...for something that would fit! I'm kind of wondering who the artist is that did all the primary squares (yes, other than the Partridge family show opening!)

I've never really thought of myself as art per se...Which is interesting because we're all really art aren't we? We can all fit into these boxes, these colorful boxes...Sometimes they're already set up for us like the kind of daughter, sister or wife people expect of you. And sometimes we set them up for ourselves...Like the kind of daughter, sister or wife we think we should be! We build walls (boxes) around ourselves to shut people or experiences or feelings out...Sometimes we build walls (boxes) around ourselves to keep things in...secrets, special new relationships (in the beginning) and hopes and dreams (while we nurture them). I'm noticing that at this point in my life, I am trying to see where (and examine why) I built the walls in my life, the ones that are shutting things out and break out of them...Fold them down...Use the colors that I've stored in those boxes in other areas of my life for something more fun, and maybe something I could even share with the people around me, instead of using the boxes to hide in. Blowing out the dust in these boxes and not use them for storage! This project is just a great example of where I am in my life...Actually, it's a great reminder of the work that I need to do! And believe me...I didn't know that when I started this post...I would end up here!

And to think...to be "square" was once considered to not be hep, or cool...

And I am both hep and cool

(at least I am in some of my boxes!)

Summer has arrived...

Summer is officially here...The tip off?

1. The last two days have been about 98 degrees
2. I didn't feel like moving at all, off my chair today for fear I would melt
3. and being in Arizona we have an inordinate amount of people who should not be wearing shorts, walking around in...You guessed it, shorts!

(Also, I've been craving popsicles...)

My sister called and kindly reminded me that people have portable swamp cooler...Oh yeah, I have a portable swamp cooler (I drug it up from the basement and filled it up with my tea pot...Can you believe that I don't' have a water pitcher? I love this one though! In cherry red?) Meena is enjoying the cooler, as she is as close as she can be to me, draped over both of the arms of the chairs at the same time (miaowing and looking seductively at me) every once in a while, slipping in between the arms and landing on the pile of down comforters that are stacked up there! It's silly really, because we both keep looking at each other rather happily...

Rozzilyn and I discovered with some surprise today, that we both have the same taste in thongs...
(these are her first pair!)




And speaking of thongs...I got these this weekend at a yard sale...


Now, I don't normally like the Happy Bunny stuff, but these struck me at extremely funny! It says "It's time to go and kick some butt" on the foot bed part of the thong...and on the side it says "hey that butt needs kicking"

I did manage to peel my tooshie off the chair towards the afternoon and did another freezer paper stencil on this uber-cute linen Gap sleeveless top! (I was also "organizing" my sweaters...a itchy task to do on such a hot day...rolling them all up to make room for my ever growing skirt collection...Ahem)


























I copied the design off of this website...It's a happy floating little Japanese Apple guy...I just love him, and I'm wondering if I can design an entire floating fruit salad?! (I could just imagine that as trim on a skirt...Sigh) As you can see, I've now branched away from just plain tees to something with a pattern! SO YES...I am obsessed with freezer paper stencils...They are really fun! I am feeling quite inspired but I am also noticing that I can't focus enough to do the same thing again and again...So if I give them away as gifts, I need to remember to make the things I really like for something for me! I painted the one above all in white first because I didn't want the plaid showing through...Then painted the green on it, then I used an entirely different stencil for the black color and painted that on top of the other two. My very first 3 color stencil!

I actually sat in my chair and designed a lot of stencil ideas today as well (one of the things that doesn't make me sweat) although, I am having problems with birds. Like birds sitting on a branch...It seems to be harder than I thought! I'm excited to see what freezer paper stenciling tomorrow brings (hahaha!)






















And, hath hell frozen over? (as you can see by the top of this post... by the temperature...we can indeed assume no...) I finally finished my knitting bag! Which I think qualifies me for finish what you have month (as it lay around here in pieces for quite some time!) I will be posting the picture on this flickr group. This bag was made to match the knitting needle case I made some time ago!

Sunday June 4th....

Participants:

• Amy
• Deb
• Ellen
• Erin
• Sadira
• Susan
• Rozzilyn

What a Creative Sunday! It started pretty early for Mom, Rozzie and I...as we were baking cupcakes (organic vanilla with chocolate icing-no dairy) and chocolate chip cookies (no wheat, dairy or refined sugar...yes, they were yummy!) all over here at my house...













Then, we trooped to my mother's house where the rest of the group came over for the tutorial on freezer paper stencils! Ellen also had an ulterior motive...You see, she is really into her family's genealogy, and it appears that she had a cousin that lived in my mother's house a L O N G time ago...In fact, I believe there was someone actually born in the home (small world isn't it?) So, it was Ellen's first visit to the house to take pictures for all her research!

And it was a fun crafting day as well... Rozzilyn's project (and tutorial item) included the design of a Barbie stencil that we put onto a canvas bag... My mom cut out the stencil with an Xacto knife, and I painted it on. I am using make-up wedges, as they are really easy to sponge with.












Rozzilyn was really excited and so proud of her design...as she should be, because it turned out really wonderful! (She also took the pictures of the tutorial...she's such a good photographer!)




My projects (and tutorial items) included a stencil of a red bird copied from a bag I got for my mother at H&M in Prague. I stenciled it onto a "fabric Patch" I made out of an Old Navy skirt with a great geometric print on it (the skirt was a size 0...Phuleeze...So, I decided to cut it up!) After it set and dried, I then sewed it to a red hoodie that I am making for my sister...












I also painted black wings on the back of the hoodie free hand...Which I really am enjoying and I am now looking forward to finding something that I can paint them on for myself! I am really excited to hear her reaction (she's in CA...So, unless she takes a picture of herself opening up the package...She'll have to call)




My next project was this fairy that I designed a stencil for (from a sticker design I found) which I painted on a thin Gap cotton tank top....




And, I cut it out and sewed it onto an August Silk 3/4 length sleeve-cardigan thing. I also sewed a few swirly designs onto the cardigan...on the front (not too easy on such a stretchy fabric, but good for my first attempt at anything like this) and some straight lines on the back. I also stenciled my design tag name...And sewed that on the back as well... I loved the way it turned out, although...It's so danged warm already this summer (98 degrees today) that it almost makes me melt to put it on! Seriously...I may have to wear it really early in the morning or really late at night.















My Creative Sunday ended quite a bit later than I thought, as I was in a creative groove...Yawn! I love that I accomplished more than I thought...And I can send off the hoodie to Thais...And (hopefully) wear my new top!