girls' night out

girls' night out, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Yes, it was a bit chilly but L, J and I wrapped up in our fall finery and headed out to Watters Creek for pizza, wine (J) and icy Peronis (L & I).
Despite our rather subdued expressions in the above photo, we actually were quite the lively threesome.
{sidebar~If you have a Grimaldi's Pizzaria near you I suggest you run (don't walk!) there ASAP for some very wondrous pizza!}
After a very long and festive dinner we headed to some cute-a** shop and picked up a few trinkets. Watters Creek is really a great area and it is 10 minutes from my house! JOY!
In summary, a good time was had by all!
More, please.

brrrrr...

Oh, my! A norther came through this afternoon and it feels like winter has descended! L, J and I are headed out for pizza and cocktails tonight (ladies's night!), but our plans to sit outside are ruined. No worries. We will still have fun, bundled up fun, but fun none-the-less.
I worked on digital orders today and watched the thermometer plunge.
And see, I am still cheerful in spite of the cold! Now if I can just make it until April!

Bar-rock the vote!

rock the vote!, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Hooray for early voting! In Texas (and a few other states) voting started on Monday, so I went today and did my civic duty.
Now I can just sit at home on election day and cross my fingers!!!

Check this out... http://my.nowpublic.com/culture/early-voting-day-3

McKinney show

McKinney show, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

We had perfect weather for the trunk show this past weekend. It was great to spend time with Lisa, Shirley, Robin and the other participants. Shirley's house is so beautiful. It is located in McKinney's historic district, a place that seems suspended in time.
We set up on her porches and enjoyed the incredible weather and the friendly shoppers, many of whom came on foot. Old McKinney is that sort of place. Neighbors know one another and there are lots of people out walking, riding bikes and pushing strollers.
All in all it was a very nice way to spend an October weekend.

Drama Queen

Drama Queen , originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Geeeze! What a dreary day! And COLD! Ugh! Okay, I'm shaking it off!!!

I'm all packed and prepared for my show this weekend. Should be fun. I guess I need to break out some boots and winter clothes, though. Going to be outside and it is suppposed to be chilly.

Can't wait to see whatever it is my pal Lisa has been creating. She is an amazing artist (actually an artiste!!). She got the MFA to prove it, too. It is some sort of assemblage and she said I just had to see it. I have yet to see a medium in which she did not excel!!

Oh, and this banner and a bunch more new ones are in my shop.

If you're in the area and bored on Friday or Saturday, I'll be in this show. Come on by!!

when you care enough to send the very best...

So last week I was contacted by a certain unnamed (shhh!!) company that is fairly well-known. I am delighted to say thay they purchased a concept of mine for their Christmas 2009 product line. Pretty exciting news here in suburbia!

the suite life

Oh, I almost forgot... I went to a Dallas Stars game a week or so ago. It was pre-season and the Stars lost, but it was still pretty fun. The best part was that we watched from a suite that a friend has use of most of the season. I have to say, I could get used to it very fast! The food and drinks were wonderful (and complimentary). The view was great and the suite has cool things like a TV to watch to Cowboys on, a computer and somethink akin to a butler. Very nice...

Oh, it is so dreary here today, but I am TRYING to conjure some enthusiasm for this season.
I've actually skipped ahead and am making some Christmas items (wonderlands, tags).
Having my worktable covered in glitter, lace, faux snow and ballerinas has cheered me somewhat, but I am not delighted to see leaves falling.
Pardom my whine. I think I need some wine, actually. Ah, yes, not only is it 5:00 somewhere, but to my utter joy, it is 5:00 HERE!
Off for a cocktail and to make dinner.

I'm a bit late with this, but I wanted to bid a fond farewell to Paul Newman, a class act and a true gentleman. I fell with Paul in 1969 when he and Robert Redford co-starred as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Only those two could made a young girl suddenly take an interest in a Western! Oh, how I longed to be the charming, sought-after Etta Place!
Au revoir sweet Paul. I hope you are racing through the heavens faster than light!

The wedding we attended on Saturday evening was so lovely! It took place outside (at Southfork Ranch) at sunset. The day was glorious and ended with one of those fireball sunsets you only see in autumn. The air was just cool enough and the setting was utterly magical. The bridal party all wore a most delicious shade of brown and it was perfect with the gorgeous flowers in fall hues. The bride was wedding-topper gorgeous and the ceremony was blessedly brief! Dinner and dancing under the stars lent the night a decidedly faiytale air.

But I know what you are wanting to know about... THE CANDY BAR! Well, shame on me, but I took no photos. The picture above is someone else's (inferior, I hate to say) wedding candy bar. You get the idea, though. And the one at the wedding I attened was in the round like the one above. Basically there were containers of the all sorts of wonderous candies and little cello bags so you could load up your own custom sack-o-sweets!! I now have enough treats to bribe my youngest son for nearly a week! Imagine how clean his room will be!

wedding

wedding invitation, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

We're off to a wedding at Southfork Ranch tonight. Yes, Southfork Ranch as in the old TV show. It is a few miles form my house and is a popular venue for weddings. parties, etc. A friend's daughter is getting married. I embellishhed and soldered the invitation and am giving it to the couple as a wedding gift.
It is a spectacularly beautiful day and the ceremony is outside. It should be lots of fun since this is a pretty lively bunch who understand the concept of a celebration!
Oh, and they are having a candy bar!! Fun!

Galveston shadowbox

Galveston shadowbox, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

I made this shadowbox today using vintage images of Galveston. I continue to send my thoughts and best wishes to all who were effected by Hurricane Ike.

pink beauty

pink beauty, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

We've had a bit of a cool front blow in today and it feels rather autumnal. Bearable, though, because the sun is shining and the sky is clear and beautifully blue.
I am renewing last year's pledge to not hate fall and winter. It is absurd to to have this dull level of unhappiness, due to the season, for nearly half the year. Honestly, out winters are not that long in Texas. I am an island girl, though so the dreariness is wearing.
Fall is dreadfully mournful, what with everything dying and the days getting shorter. Ah, crap! There I go again! I'm just not one of those people who takes great delight in wearing sweaters and (gasp!) coats and shuffling through heaps of dead leaves. Give me a sun-drenched Caribbean beach any day! Every day, actually.
Oh, dear... it is going to be a long winter... ;)

winged girl

winged girl, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

As I work with vintage photographs I often wonder (as I'm sure many of you do also) about the models. This sweet girl shows up in so many photographs. It seems such a shame to know nothing about her life beyond her being a lovely little girl.
I am working on a set of tags that will include this image along with and other altered vintage girls.

little dumpling

little dumpling, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Ah, here you go, some sweetness and light!
It is a dreary, rainy Monday morning here in the 'burbs after a most picturesque weekend.
I was going to solder some more today, but the rain rules that out. Ihave found my soldering is lousy when it rains or the humidity is very high.
But, there is plenty more to do.
Hope your Monday is NOT rainy and grey!

bad boys

bad boys , originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

So, I am trying to get into the Halloween spirit. DH bought a pumpkin toady and it sat there on the hearth reminding me that it is indeed autumn. It is still quite warm here, so I am pretending it is summer for a bit longer.
But, since Halloween is nearing I decided to play with some vintage photos. I think I made these previously wholesome boys look rather devilish. This is as close to Halloween creating (and some blog banners) that I can manage.
I am just more the sunshine and flowers type. Tra la la!

I have a fever...

Woke up with a bad case of Wanderlust this morning. I think I traveled in my dreams last night and now I am daydreaming of that marvelous feeling of being on the way to somewhere! What a delicious sensation!! Alas, my travels today wil be rather limited, but my dreams will not!

soldermania

soldermania, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

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!

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