HELPING HEARTS

I learned this week of the terrible loss suffered by a fellow Etsian, DesignedByLucinda, a talented jewelery artist. On Thursday, February 3rd, 2011 an accidental fire took her home, pets, and claimed the life of her 11-year-old son, Kevin. My heart is broken for her - there are no words to express how deeply sorry I am for her loss.

The Etsy community has come together in support of our fellow creative. A shop has been set-up with donations from other artists and artisans - all proceeds will be donated to the Boardman family. Each item is shipped from the artist directly. Stop by and have a look at all the wonderful things available. It's a win-win :)

Helping Hearts Shop - for Lucinda Boardman and family.

So, take a minute and hold them tight. Let them know how much you love them.

Please keep the Boardman family in your prayers.

OOOOH LA LA

Just a quick post to show you some more of the tiny treasures I've made using the My Mind's Eye Lost & Found papers I love so much. I used them on that altered file folder I showed you a few posts ago and these projects:

Altered Altoids Tin w/Calendar




Mini Album w/Coin Envelopes & Tags






And these 3 fashion inspired ACEOs. (each listed separately) I really love how they turned out - I hope you do too!





I still have tiny bits of the paper left and I'm thinking I may alter a glass jar. Because, Heaven forbid I throw ANY of it out!

Have a wonderful week! Until next time.... :)

INSPIRATION

I can't get enough of these 7gypsies printer's trays! I love them. I loved them the first time I saw them. But it's taken me a few months to figure out just what I wanted to do. And to have the time to play with them.


It turns out I love for them to be inspirational. Both times I had no idea what I would have them be. Both times they turned out to be frilly, girlie, shabby, cottage-y sources of inspirational quotes and saying. Sure, they take many hours to make. But, I love how they turned out. I hope you do, too.



I'm going to see what other shabby treasures I can create using these perfectly gorgeous paper from Webster's Pages. You can find this tray and (whatever else this paper decides to be) in my Etsy shop.

Have a wonderful night!

ON THE HUNT

Remember that table I found on craigslist a couple of years ago? You can see it here. LOVE, right?? I used it as my work table forever. It is just...perfect. Well, for Ethan's birthday last year I decided my little round kitchen table wasn't gonna accommodate all his friends so, I asked my husband to bring my gorgeous big table downstairs and I'd take the little round one. It turns out the big table is perfect for downstairs, too.

So, we sanded the big table down (it was pretty scratched up) so that I could stain or paint it (hadn't decided which) and bring it back to my work space. Except it's still downstairs a year later. With as many guests as we have, it only makes sense to keep it in the kitchen. But I REALLY miss my huge table. This tiny round thing ain't cutting it. I can't spread out. It's always a mess. I need a huge table again.



Here's the thing. I can't find one I love. Of course, it must be used or on clearance because the budget doesn't allow for much :). I've been searching for the better part of this past year and have come up empty. SO FRUSTRATING. I'm not TOO picky but...it can't be ugly. I mean, it can be ugly as long as I can clean it up and it has good lines. See the pretty curvy legs on my big table? I want that. And that huge surface? I want that, too. Oh, and it can't cost too much, either.

So, I'm on the hunt again. Or still. I need the perfect table.

CREATIVE STREAK

It seems 2011 has started out with a creative bang! And I couldn't be happier :) Since October. it feels like I've been on autopilot crafting - making multiples of things to build up my inventory for craft shows and Holiday sales. I love to do it; don't get me wrong. But it's just not the same as creating just for the sake of creating; creating on a whim.

I haven't done any personal scrapbook pages yet, but that's coming too. So far it's been shabby collage style tags & altered things. I was DYING to get my hands on the gorgeous paper that had been sitting on my desk for a couple of months. And boy was I glad I did! Two different lines, two different inspirations and interpretations and a crafty girl who's as happy as a pig in mud. <---Probably more a reference to the current state my home (ie. a sty). So, here they are; my newest. I hope you enjoy them. And I hope you're enjoying a creative streak, too :)





PS You can see more detailed photos of all these project in my Etsy shop & my flickr gallery.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's a brand new year, a clean slate, a time to start over :) I hope the last few months have been wonderful for you! It's been a while so, here's a brief rundown of what's been going on around here:

August: Visited NY for a few days to see my Grandma for her birthday. The kids had a great time at Playland in Rye, NY. It was so fun for me to take them there and see how much it's changed since I was a little girl! My mom had brain surgery later that month and an out-patient procedure turned into a week long ordeal in the hospital and side effects that she is still dealing with. I'm just thankful that she is on the road to recovery. My big boy started First grade.



September: Not a whole lot! LOL Getting into the swing of things with school in session, preparing for local craft shows and generally keeping up with my home, shop and life :)

October: My favorite time of year. We visited a corn maize/farm, got some pumpkins, put out our Halloween decor, and of course, the NC State fair! Ah, Fall.... how I love you. My mom was well enough to travel so she and my dad came down for a visit.





November: Prepped for and participated in a few craft shows; one of which was the Durham Art Walk Holiday Market. It was FABULOUS! Looking forward to participating in the Spring again. I met so very many wonderful artists/artisans. Fun times. Hosted Thanksgiving again, with some tried and true recipes and some newer ones. No misses this time, I think they were all hits :) And Ethan lost his first tooth!


December: The most wonderful time of the year! So busy with Christmas, cookies, crafting and company! Had a visit from my dear, dear friend from home whom I hadn't seen in more than four years. It was absolute heaven. Had a surprise visit from my parents - best Christmas gift ever. Ethan lost another tooth. We went to the town Christmas parade. Celebrated my 7th anniversary to the best husband a girl could ever ask for. Also celebrated the birthdays of my brother, my nephew, my niece and my sister. And we had the BIGGEST snow storm I've seen since we lived in NY! It started Christmas night and blasted us all day on the 26th. The kids were in heaven. How perfect is that?








All in all 2010 was a good year, albeit the most difficult for my family and me. But, God saw us through and we ended the year in a better position than when we started. I am eternally grateful for His providence and His faithfulness. Now I'm looking forward to an even better 2011!!

Happy New Year, dear friends. I wish for you every good and perfect thing!! Thank you for sticking with me :)

I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU

Ah, it's been a crazy summer :) But, I haven't forgotten about you, my friends! I'll be back soon to chat with you - promise. Remember you can always catch up with me on Facebook, too! :) Kisses and hugs.....