Ihave no idea what possessed me yesterday, but I soldered 55 pendants! I love most of the arty stuff I do, but soldering is just not fun. I love the finished product and I have done it long enough that I am pretty good at it, but the process is just not all that. So, I am really glad to get this many pendants done. Now I need to clean them and add charms, beads, etc...
It is an exquisitely lovely day here. I can almost fool myself into thinking it is spring, not fall. Sigh... but is is fall and after that, the dreaded "w" word! Ah, not to worry. Instead I will enjoy this gorgeous, inspiring weather.
I am off to make a WonderLand!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
soldermania
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Hugs to Scrappy Jessi!!!
BloggerLand can be a magical place where friendships bloom and kindness spreads like warm sunshine.
Today I discovered a most delightful Random Act of Kindness in my mail box. Sweet Jessi http://scrappyjessi.blogspot.com/ sent this wonderful mermaid ornament "just because'! It was packaged so sweetly and was such a nice surprise! She knows I am all about the mermaids!! This one is sparkly and she is holding a sea shell to her ear! LOVE!!!!!
Jessi~ Thank you for making my day!! You are a sweetheart and I am lucky to call you my friend!! XXXXOOOO
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Paper Cowgirl
This adorable pink house is where Paper Cowgirl's vendor night was held. It is even cuter inside, with petite chandeliers, beautiful hardwood floors and charming details everywhere you look.
We had such great night. It was fantastic to meet fellow bloggers! We downed frosting shots, laughed and enjoyed the wonderful experience of being in the company of kindred souls.
Monday, September 29, 2008
hanging with Tim Holtz
Okay, so I'm posting this photo as evidence that I did indeed have a class with the marvelous Tim Holtz. This is for Heidi at The Crafty Scrapper who was certain that if Tim was in Texas she would have known it! LOL!! I'll give you a heads up next time he's in town, sweetie!! ;)
Saturday, September 27, 2008
whew!
Paper Cowgirl ROCKED and in spite of the fact that all my class participants are looking at me like "What the...??", I think my class went well!! I was nervous, but coffeed up enough to blunder on and those sweet gals made some beautiful lanterns!!! What a perfectly delightful weekend!
I want to saty a HUGE thank you to Cindy and Tina who worked their butts off to pull this retreat together! And they are already planning for a bigger and better Paper Cowgirl next summer!! You girls ROCK!
Also many thanks to all of you who shopped my goods at vendor night! All of you were so sweet and funny!! And to those of you who endured my class... love you so much!!!! XXXXOOO!!!
And let me say thanks to The Crafter Scrapper which is the BEST shop in the world and hugs to Heidi!
And... big love and hugs to my sweet pal Laurie who chaufffered me around and is the bested girl in the whole world!
Love all of you to pieces!!!
More pictures soon, but I am off to enjoy a bubble bath!!!
Friday, September 26, 2008
the universe is GOOD!
So, before I hit the road I decided I needed to investigate the phenomena known as "frosting shots". After all, they are on the menu for Paper Cowgirl's Vendor Night this very evening.
Well, I am happy to report that they are little CUPS OF ICING! Oh, JOY! I confess that I only want the cake part of a cupcake as a means to eat icing without embarrassing myself. Well, lo and behold, I am not alone! Ta da! The frosting shot! What a wonderful world! This almost makes me forget the imminent collapse of our economy! A little wine and a cup-o-frosting and who cares!!
Farewell! I am off to Waxahachie! Woo Hoo (which reminds me that my bank ~ Wash. Mutual~ just bit the dust... whatever...)!!!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
tomorrow!
So, I leave at noon tomorrow for Paper Cowgirl!! My car is packed with glitter, glue, class kits and lots of goodies for Vendor Night! It should be lots of fun! I understand we're havinfgFROSTING SHOTS at vendor night! I must go google that . Sounds good!
So, I'm off!
ROAD TRIP!!!!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
The Elissa with lower top sails in Galveston Channel
This beautiful ship, built in 1877, calls Galveston home. From what I have been able to find out via message boards, she weathered Hurricane Ike with very minimal damage. Hooray!
Ike
Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has been battered by storms this summer.Ike was a ferocious hurricane that left a swath of destruction in his path from the Turks & Caicos Islands across the Caribbean, Haiti, Cuba and the Louisiana and Texas coasts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ike
If you are interested in helping in the recovery effort I reccommend the following institutions~
Operation Blessing International~ http://community.ob.org/site/PageServer
Galveston Rising~ http://www.galvestonrising.com/
American Red Cross~ http://www.redcross.org/
Respond With Love~ http://www.respondwithlove.org/site/arwl/section.php?id=844
Thursday, September 18, 2008
sunrise in suburbia
This gorgeous sunrise made getting up early a pleasure today. Texas really does have beautiful skies.
Now it is gloomy, but as always, we need rain. Seems we are in a perpetual drought, even after Ike's rainfall last week.
It's a busy day for me and I am glad for that business~ grateful for all I have and still sending thoughts and prayers to the Gulf coast where the clean-up is progressing. Galveston has been deemed uninhabitable. So sad, but they will come back from this. It is a tough, scrappy little island.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
paper cowgirl
Yikes! Paper Cowgirl Retreat is less than 2 weeks away so I am working hard on getting my class kits and vendor night goodies prepared. I think it will be really fun and I am especially delighted that my bestest, bestest pal Laurie is going with me! I am trying to bribe her into teaching my class for me, but so far no luck! LOL! I am not particularly fond of speaking in front of people. I am thinking I might have to have a glass or two of wine for breakfast to calm my nerves before my class. Hey, it' smade out of fruit! It's practically JUICE! ;)
from Sarah
The adorable items in this photo were sent to me as a RAK from sweet Sarah of Gypsy Mermaid Life.
http://gypsymermaidlife.blogspot.com/
Sarah lost her home on the Gulf of Mexico to Huricane Ike. Amazingly, she thought to bring this package with her as she evacuated and mailed it to me from where he is staying.
She is a such sweet and generous soul, a friend and mermaid sister! Her resillient spirit and tender heart will certainly help to carry her through tough days ahead. She, her husband and doggy are all fine, but they are facing many challanges as they rebuild their lives. She'd love it if you dropped by her blog and left her a note of encouragement.
Best wishes and tons of mermaid hugs to Sarah! My heart goes out to her as she recovers from Ike's destructiuon!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Galveston Texas Murdoch's bathhouse
Murdoch's Bathhouse in happier times...
Still thinking about the people of Galveston and surrounding areas who are having to cope with Ike's trail of destruction.
Go here to help the relief effort...
http://www.ntxfoodbank.org/gi_hurricane_ike_preparation.cfm
Monday, September 15, 2008
Adios Murdoch's...
Best place on the island for shells and an icy beer. Great view and lots of history... eaten by Ike.
Galveston memories
Here's a photo from a few years ago of my youngest son fishing off a pier in Galveston. Sadly, this pier is gone, swept away by Hurricane Ike.
My thought and prayers are with the people who are now coping with the devastation left by this storm.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
mermaid pier - gone
Ike has roared across Texas and left a huge trail of destruction. Some of you might know Sarah- Gypsy Mermaid. I'm afraid she has lost her home to Ike. She lives in Orange , Texas, right on the water. According to her blog, they think her home is destroyed! She and her husband are safe and are with family, but this is so awful!
And poor Galveston, Kemah and all the areas hit by this massive storm. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you!
And my beloved Mermaid Pier is gone.
And the Balinese Room.
And the pier where we took the boys fishing.
So sad...
Friday, September 12, 2008
OMG!
This beast of a storm is currently destrying sweet little Galveston. I can hardly bear to watch the news and see things like the pier where we took the boys fishing being washed away. It is awful! Even here in Dallas we are predicted to have high winds, power outages, torrential rains. This storm is HUGE!! oh my...Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sweet Charlotte of http://fancypicnic.blogspot.com/ gave me a very nice award! Thank you Charlotte!
I am passing it forward to...
Brit ~ http://sparkledvintagecharm.blogspot.com/
Mendy ~ http://mendytexas.blogspot.com/
Cathy ~ http://avalonrosedesign.blogspot.com/
Amy ~ http://amybella.blogspot.com/
Svenja ~ http://art-creations.blogspot.com/
Sarah ~ http://gypsymermaidlife.blogspot.com/
Jana~ http://moongrl722.blogspot.com/
Love your blogs, ladies!
hmmm...
This can't be good. And a lot of these same folks evacuated just a week or so ago. Sarah (Gypsy Mermaid) is one of them. My thoughts and good wishes are with everyone in this storm's path. And also, I am thinking about the people of Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico and my beloved Caribbean islands, some of whom, have already felt this storm's wrath. Most of these people have little to begin with and nowhere to go when these storms strike.
Between this weather and the anniversary of 9-11, this is a day to think of others.
vintage girl Lollishops banner
I've had some inquiries about Lollishops banners. Yes, I can make them. Please email me and we'll chat about what you'd like.
itssparkle@aol.com
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Vintage Dreams
The gloom continiues, which makes for a good day to stay inside and make art. I am slaving away over a merman grotto. I'll post photos as soon as I'm done! Shadowboxes are so fun to make. It takes me back to happy hours spent making dioramas in grade school. How did we do anything before glue guns?? I swear, I grew up in the caveman era.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
bling banner
Aaaarg... another gloomy day. The sky looks like January. Yuck! I have a grotto to make and more to do for Paper Cowgirl. I really need to run some errands, but the grey skies are so oppressive. Hmmmm... perhaps tomorrow...
Off to create a merman grotto...
Monday, September 08, 2008
more digital work
It is a quiet and rather dreary Monday here in the Dallas suburbs. Of course, the Cowboys won yesterday and that always helps lower the road rage volume. A feeling of goodwill seems to desend upon the populace for about a 24 hour period so that's nice. I am not personally very into football, but I live in a place where I probably be arrested for saying such a thing.
So, my worthless dogs are napping, the dryer is humming, all is calm. I am alternating between housework (forgive me for saying that naughty, bad word!) and Paper Cowgirl prep. And making a digital creation when the mood strikes me.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Jana's blog banner
Made this funky banner for my pal Jana's blog.
Paper Cowgirl is near and I am finally getting my class kits and vendor night goodies ready. Might be a good idea to reserve a hotel room, huh? Details, details...
We are back to gloriously warm weather and sunny skies. I am so not ready for fall. The thought of it makes me want to weep...
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
retro christmas etsy banner
Yikes! It is so gloomy here today it feels like WINTER! Egads!
The Dallas suburbs are getting some remnants of Gustav... wind, clouds and a sprinkle of rain.
So, this grey day has prompted some Christmas banners. The kitschy one above can be found here... http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14877770
Hopefully, we'll be back to sunshine and good old hot Texas weather SOON!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
wine and cookies
I put my pal Jana's face on this bottle of Mad Housewife Merlot and gave her some glittery hair. That, along with PINK sugar cookies, was my hostess gift for the little Labor Day cookout we attended. We had a nice time, but I cannot tell you if the wine was good or not, since Jana was conducting science experiments ... er, I mean... mixing cocktails from her vast and delicious trove of flavored liquors. Hot dogs, hamburgers and hijinxs followed!
I spent actual Labor Day laboring over loads of laundry. The husband washed and waxed my sweet little CRV. Thanks, dear! He also mowed a lawn (one of my son's lawn mowing customer's, but Ian was off hunting*-eeeek!), wash & waxed our daughter's car, etc... Wow, we really know how to kick back, huh?
* about the hunting... Okay, I seriously don't like gun, killing animals, etc... but I feel like Ian (at 16) is old enough to make his own decisions about this. I don't think it is his thing and I don't think it is something that will come up again often, if at all. So, despite my distaste for it, it was allowed. Some parts of parenting are not fun.
Monday, September 01, 2008
whimsical blog banner
What a lovely, long weekend! Grabbed a few minutes to create this decidedly different banner. That doll head makes me smile! My son said it was creepy, but what does he know??
Friday, August 29, 2008
TGIF
Whew! We survived the first week of school.Yes, there was an auto accident, too many papers to fill out, tired kids... but we made it! Hooray!
banner available in my shop
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
FairyLand Theatre
More fairies! This was so much fun to make! I used the wackiest things... a vintage jello mold, mouth wash box, cut up sequined dress. My studio looks like a tornado hit it. I just can't seem to create in a tidy way. I'd post a photo of how it looks right now, but it is so awful I'd be humiliated. It IS a pretty mess though... glittery, flowery, but a mess, no doubt!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
fairy moon garden
Oh, how fun to play today with glitter, crepe paper, pages from one of my vintage ledgers, a vintage dolly, pink rose cabachons! I ended up with this little vignette from fairyland. Find it here... http://seadreamstudio.com/
Will and went to the zoo... er, I mean Target for a few school supplies. Looks like a bomb went off and all us poor, distraught mothers hunting for erasers are the refugees. And who's hoarding all the 1 1/2" binders?? Every *&#$@ year I find myself on the hunt for them! They are more elusive than Big Foot!
I did find Will a fabulous Day-of-the-Dead looking swim suit. Was that on the list? Nope, didn't think so.
crow banner
As much as I hate to accept it, autumn is on the way. At least I like the colors, if not the weather!
Made this between chores and working on a little fairyland grotto.
Blog banner is available in my Etsy shop.
Angelic Pink blog banner WM
Oh, the digi madness will not stop! I can't help myself! It is so fun to make banners!! This one is in my Etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=23439
It appears that everyone got to school safely today! YIPPEE! I am extremely grateful for that!
I have to arrange things with the body shop, but we are so delighted that no one was injured, that dealing with car repairs is a piece of cake! Thank the US Automakers for Ian's ship-of-a-car! I think his big blue Le Sabre protected him!
I am determined to finish up a few art projects today and work on my Paper Cowgirl vendor night items. It is horribly quiet here and I am missing the kids.
Monday, August 25, 2008
whew!
What a day! Got the tots off to school (6th, 10th & college sophomore), poured a cuppa' and marveled at the utter silence that fell over my house. It seemed as if all of suburbia gave a collective sigh. And then... the phone rang. My sweet boy Ian had a fender bender on his first day of driving to school! Poor baby! No one was injured and our insurance deductable is not too awful, but what a way to start the day! No mom wants to hear that their offspring has been in any sort of an accident. I am hoping that this might make a little chink in his teenage armor of invincibility, maybe scare him into being more careful.After numerous phone calls, the accident was dealt with and I decided to take care of renewing my domain name for my shop. Happily, I was able to purchase the dot com for my shop. It has been unavailable since I've wanted it (several years), but now it is MINE!! Instead of SeaDreamStudio.net , I am SeaDreamStudio.com! Actually I own .net, .com and .biz (it was a deal). I am really glad to have this domain name secured! Sorting this out with my hosting company was a bit of pain, but all is well now. Victory!
Now, the kids have all arrived back home and the normal chaos is happily filling the house. Dinner's in the oven and I am finally going to sit down in my studio for a moment.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
back to school
Well, tomorrow's the day. Summer has flown by and it is time for the kids to hit the books. My 2 younger boys are in 6th and 10th grades and my daughter is in her second year of college. My oldest son is an old married man, all done with school.
It will be really quiet here. We have had a noisy, full house all summer. Our house has been the neighborhood hangout for my boys' friends. I will miss them!
On the plus side, I should be able to get a lot more done. I have a million projects that need my attention. I will have to stay busy to stave off the loneliness.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
sticky kitten banner
I had a blast creating this banner for Michelle's Etsy shop. I think it fits her adorable and unique style. Check out her fun shop here... http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243544
begin again
Oh, gentle reader, you know me only as a trick of light, not the real person that I am. Here in Blogland we reveal but a sliver of ourselves, so I will tell you a bit more of my true self.
I am a person who strives to be a peaceful, accepting, generous and kind. I read books that promote this, listen to music that feeds my soul and encourages me in these endeavors. I hope to treat all people with understanding, patience and tenderness. This is not something I take lightly, but a true devotion. In the past few years I have become much more purposeful in my attempts to live in a kind and loving manner among my fellow human beings here on this blue planet. I think I have had some success in this. I believe I have grown spiritually and I think this is reflected in my daily life.
But, alas, yesterday I failed terribly! I think I was as angry as I have ever been in my life! I was enraged (yep, that's the word) by the actions of a most difficult person of my aquaintance. The things I said were all true, all valid, but still, I consider this a failure on my part. I tossed all of my lovely zen peacefulness out the window. I will just say that this situation involved a bully and his actions toward my youngest son and some of the other children in the neighborhood, and mostly his parent's basically condoning this behavior for many years . And what is a bully, but a frightened tyrant? Sigh... I shook like a leaf for hours after this encounter, but it was years in the making and yesterday was the day I'd had enough.
So, today I begin again on my path to tranquility. I will not waste this day in regret. I doubt my harsh words will change the aforementioned situation and I can not take them back, so forward I go.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Ian's birthday
My sweet, sweet boy! How did he get to be SIXTEEN??? His first car sort of takes away some of the pain of starting school next week. It is pretty cool to be a sophomore with a car.
I adore this boy!
lucky me
Am I super lucky, or what?? I won this gorgeous wreath from the uber-talented Katie Runnels!! I adore it! It is so pretty and utterly charming! She wrapped it so sweetly, too! Check out her beautiful blog.
http://theconstantgatherer.blogspot.com/
My picture doesn't do this lovely creation justice!
Thanks Katie!!!!!! You ROCK!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Marie blog banner watermarked
Oh, stop me right now! I must quit this digital obsession!!
This banner is available. Look here http://www.seadreamstudio.net/ if you are interested.
Now, I must go feed my child!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
jana's grotto
My neighbor/friend Jana is an island goddess and a fellow wannabe mermaid. I created this grotto featuring Jana and her adorable daughter, Chloe, as merdivas!! This was an absolute delight to make!!!
Amy's banner
This was such a fun blog banner to create! Amy loves old Hollywood, jewels, spring colors and her muse is a FLYING PIG!! LOL! Now how fun is that? I am taking a limited number of commissions for banners, so if you are interested just drop me a line.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Here's a banner I made for Jessi http://scrappyjessi.blogspot.com/. I could absolutely make digital art day and night. It is the so fun!! I swear I feel like a magician!
I have several other digital projects in the works, along with plenty of "real" art projects. Too bad I have to sleep.
I really need to stay busy, as I absolutely hate for summer to end. I love having my kids home. In a little over a week we'll be back to the grind of school. Ugh! Homework! Blah! Projects! Yuck! Makes me tired to think of it! We need more pool time! More lazy days! LOL!
I know, I'm a bad mom... whatever. I WILL send my kids to school and I WILL make them do their work, but I don't have to like it! I think I feel this more keenly each year. The time goes so quickly and my kids are getting too big! What happened to all my babies??
Okay, so I think I just had a little breakdown. Sorry about that! ;)
I am off to read a bit and dream of endless summers and kids that don't grow up overnight!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Oh, I have so many projects in the works! I really have got to get my Paper Cowboy kits and Vendor Night things together. I MUST work on those things tomorrow. The kids and I are enjoying out last weeks before school starts. Summer has flown by. I really must find a way to move closer to the equator. If I never see another bare tree or a single flake of snow I will be just fine. It is a good thing I like warm weather, because it is crazy hot here, again. No worries... look for me in the pool. I'm the one with the big grin and sparkly earrings!
Thursday, August 07, 2008
this is how I roll...
Well, a cold front has blessed the Dallas suburbs with bone-chilling temps as low as 96!!! Wheee!I'm shivering! Seriously, anything below 100 feels pretty nice. I do love sunshine and heat, but even I wilt a bit when it is over 110!!
So, my heat induced lethargy has lifted and I am back in my studio snipping, gluing and generally making a tremendous mess. I am making mermaid grottoes, Frida shrines, pendants, birdnests, etc...
And of course, my digital obsession only grows! I am making PNG files out of everything I can photograph or scan and tinting black and white pics. I really do need a laptop...
School starts here on the 25th. Poor kids! Why must summer end?? Mine are currently in a frenzy of swimming, lazing about and generally avoiding all thoughts of the classroom. Who can blame them? Summer ROCKS!
Well, I am off to do a few domestic chores (where's that lazy housekeeper? Oh, yeah, that would be moi!) and try to get a little studio time in before I am required poolside!
Hope you are having a lovely August day.
Monday, August 04, 2008
hot time in Dallas
Yes, it is HOT!! Nutty, insane hot, but I am smiling like the Cheshire Cat because I LOVE summer! Yes, the heat cooks your brain, wilts your body and generally turns human beings into smoldering ash, but it still beats the hell (tee hee) out of drab, grey, cold, depressing winter!! We re living in the pool, but that's not so bad, huh?
My house guests are gone. It was wonderful having Bret for a week. He is a sweet and easy-going kid. He is between the ages of my 2 youngest sons so he hung out with both of them. Judy returned to pick him up and hang out for the weekend. Her daughter also stayed with us (she goes to college nearby), so we had a full house.
I have had little time for art, though I did make a few pieces which I will post later. I am in one of those moods where I have too many ideas swirling around in my head. I want to make so many things!! I need to work on class kits for Paper Cowgirl and solder some pendants, but my brain is bubbling with ideas for new projects!!!
I am off to make SOMETHING before I spontaneously COMBUST!!!!
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