My pages for Vicki Sun's Calendar Journal

I completed four spreads (8 actual pages) in Vicki's Calendar Journal for January. I enjoyed working in her journal---I hope she likes what I created for her.

** beautiful girl image from peagreenchick's collection

Forging ahead...all caught up!

I had two more art projects to complete to be totally caught up---which means no more oppressive due dates looming over my head! I'm having a bit of trouble with my scanner, so I took a photo (and it is not a great photo) of my charms for the Art Unraveled Group charm swap. Here they are....

I'M BACK AND CREATING ART!

Actually I've been back (from Florida) since the first week of January, but it has taken me these past few weeks to reorganize and get back to the reality of my life at home. I tend to have a really hard time adjusting to being home after an extended vacation. That being said, I am really back now and I have been trying to catch up on current artsy obligations that are due this month. I have completed my charms for Amber's 2007 International Artistic Charms Exchange swap, my pages for Susie LaFond's "Portal Themed" Skinny Book, and my True Colors Green 1x1 squares for the Altered Art Obsessions group January exchange. I am still working on Vicki Sun's Calendar Journal for the CaledarGirlz group Round Robin. Here are pix of all three.... **background re-purposed from original photo by Katya Knyazeva

Last post for a while...

Lit at dusk- Originally uploaded by Gone Postal

I just love Palm Trees with Christmas Lights and spending the holidays in Florida!! I found this pix and I thought it would be perfect for my pre-vacation post. Happy Holidays to all...I will not be posting for a while. I am going on vacation to see my mom in Florida over the holidays.

The Obsession Continues...

My contribution to the
"True Colors" Blue 1x1 Squares
Altered Art Obsession Group Swap

A charm for JoAnna....

I posted several days ago about a collaborative effort to create a book and a charm bracelet for our fellow artist JoAnna Pieroti. I posted the page I am contributing to the book at that time, and tonight I am posting the charm I made for her bracelet.

The 100 1X1 Mini Swap is home and mounted...

This was such a fun swap. I loved every minute of creating my little tiny masterpieces---and I am just thrilled with my returns from this swap. For those of you who were not a part of this swap, it was hosted by the fabulous Julie O'Neil (TisJewel's Blogspot) on the Altered Art Obsession Yahoo group. The instructions for this swap were to create 100 1x1 collages. They had to have an image and some text. We also had to agree to mount the returns and display them for the other participants. So, here are my 100 mounted 1x1 mini collages!

YOU ARE GOING TO BE SO JEALOUS....

LOOK AT THIS...I WON AGAIN!!!!

I entered another drawing this week on the amazingly, talented Kathy Wasilewski's Blog "Altered Antiquity". She is holding a weekly drawing on her blog called Freebie Friday to help clean out her studio of an over abundance of STUFF (if you are one of the regular readers of my blog, I know that you understand the meaning of overabundant STUFF)! This weeks drawing included (quoting directly from her blog) a LARGE LOT of beautiful handmade papers (see pix above). The papers include an assortment of mulberry, textured, fibered, and natural plants which are embedded into the paper. A wide range of colors and thicknesses which can be utilized in rubber-stamping and card-making as well as collage work. There are about 5 pieces included for each color, although a few of them only contain 2 or 3 sheets depending on what she had in stock!! COULD I BE ANY LUCKIER??? ARE YOU ALL JEALOUS??? I love all kinds of paper---but especially handmade paper. And this is the 3rd drawing I have won in the last 2 months!!! I hope people will not start banning me from entering their drawings---this is way too much fun. THANK YOU KATHY---you are the best!

Thinking of one of our "Art Sisters"

Several weeks aga a fellow "Art Sister", JoAnnA Pierotti was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I don't know JoAnnA personally, but we seem to hang out in some of the same places (several Yahoo Art Groups) and I am an avid reader of her blog. I love her artwork---she is a very talented artista. Another wonderful artist and friend, Lelainia Lloyd from Canada (check out her blog "Tattered Edge" please) took on the responsibility of hosting a wonderful collaborative project entitled "Breast Friends" to show JoAnna how much her friends in the art community care about her. Each participant was required to create a page for this wonderful book which Lelainia will bind together and send to JoAnna. Each participant will also make a charm to be attached to a charm bracelet for JoAnna to wear as a sign of our love and support. JoAnna had surgery last week and as of todays installment on her blog, things seem to be looking up for her. Please say a prayer for her or drop her a note of support. Remember we are all sisters and we all need to stand together. I completed my page for her book---now I need to finish the charm. Here is the page...

If you haven't seen enough...another view!!!

This one is taken from my front porch...
Hope you are somewhere warm!

WINTER HAS ARRIVED HERE...

The view from my kitchen patio door...
ALMOST ZERO VISIBILITY
AND REALLY,REALLY COLD
hmmm...think I should move to Phoenix???
maybe Florida????

How I kept out of trouble last night...

Spent last night out with my good friend Sandy Mayfield at Stampology Chicago. This is a wonderful stamp shop located in Chicago. The owner Dave and the staff are friendly, helpful and fabulous. We created these fun holiday cards using the Hanko Designs Paper Quilting technique. Not only did we create four cards (all supplies included), we feasted on pizza and pop---all part of the class!! We also had the opportunity to meet some lovely artsy women (who live really close to Sandy) who invited us to come back and stamp with them on Friday for a special class making cards using Adirondack Daubers. This class includes an Italian meatball and pasta feast. The food is being provided by a tiny Italian Deli (can't remember the name right now) that is two doors down from Stampology Chicago. Sandy, Harriet (not available last night) and I ate there a couple of weeks ago on Dave's recommendation. We all had the Italian beef---IT WAS THE BEST ITALIAN BEEF I have ever had!! It was home made beef that was sliced to order for each sandwich. Not the kind that sits boiling in gravy all day. Last night Sandy and I stopped in for a small snack prior to class and shared a meatball sandwich. Yummy meatballs and awesome marinara sauce. The sandwich's are only $3.50 each!!! Unbelievalbe!! They have all kinds of pasta's, sauces and goodies to go. I think I need to stock up my freezer for some easy, tasty, homemade dinners! Enough about food---here are the cards from last night!

It's a "Cherry Pie" Christmas!!

I just completed a set of 6 Christmas Ornaments for a swap with the talented ladies on the Cherry Pie Art Stamp Yahoo Group. The rules were that the ornaments had to be star shaped and they had to include a Cherry Pie Art Stamps image. This is my contribution. I am anxiously waiting for the return swap. I'm sure that each and everyone will be fabulous!!!

Thanksgiving 2006...Our new family tradition!

Actually we began this tradition last year and continued it this year. We bundled up and headed to downtown Chicago for the annual Thanksgiving Day parade. It was warmer this year than last, so it was way more fun. We had a blast and will probably make this one a keeper. The down side is that it is pretty impossible to cook the Thanksgiving feast when you are not home for most of the day. We had dinner out---it's just not the same.

I am so lucky...thank you Lia

The following beautiful, lovely, awesome Art Card was sent to me by Lia (aka) "ArtJunkGrl" as a prize for entering (and winning!) her "Collage Giveaway" on her blog!!! Please check her blog out---she is a very talented and creative artist and I am very happy to be one of her "bloggy" friends! If you haven't been reading my blog much lately, I have been very lucky in the past few weeks. I have won two wonderful prizes---this one and also a lovely collage (scroll way down to see) created by the fabulous DJ Pettitt. I have never been this lucky before---something new for me!!! I am pushing my luck a bit, I put my name in a drawing on Kathy Wasalewski's Altered Antiquity Blog for a set of Dr. Matins Inks. She is having a "Freebie Friday" to give away some of her accumulated STUFF! You know what I mean, the "stuff" that you HAVE TO HAVE and that you never use!!! I am keeping my fingers crossed---I have always wanted to play with these. We will have to see if my luck holds out!

Thanks again Lia!!!

The whole sordid story...

(compiled for Laura Duet's Faux Family Album)
Mildred Elizabeth Trent (born 1869-died 1969)

Mildred Elizabeth Trent (see photo in previous post) was the youngest daughter of Abigail Alice and Henry Adam Trent. She was born on October 31, 1869 (a crisp fall day bright with sunshine and blue skies). She lived a long life, passing on almost 100 years to the day on November 1, 1969. Although she lived a long life, it was not a happy one. She never married and died a spinster. As a young woman, she had dreams of Paris and visiting the newly constructed Eiffel Tower. She also dreamed of being married and having many children. Sadly, neither was meant to be for her. She found it hard to maintain a long-term relationship with any one man, and was quite fond of drinking “the family recipe”. To the shock of her parents, family and neighbors, she was quite a promiscuous young miss and openly flaunted her liaisons and adulterous relationships with an assortment of young and old men alike. To the dismay of the neighbor women, many of these men were their husbands and sons. She outlived most of her friends and family and in the end she died an old and lonely woman. It seems she liked “IMAGINARY MEN” most of all.

My contribution to Laura Duet's Faux Family Album

I'd like you to meet Mildred Elizabeth Trent (she is the one snoozing on the haystack at the bottom of the photo). Keep tuned to this blog. Her sad and sordid story to be told later. She is my "faux relative" to be included in Laura Duet's Faux Family Album Swap. Here is a link to Laura's blog "Maude & Mozart".

BRAVO HEATHER SIMPSON-BLUHM!!!

So...how do you all like my NEW look?? I am so excited and pleased! Heather captured my artistic spirit and created a banner and look that fits me perfectly. Thank you Heather---so glad we have connected!!!

DJ Pettitt's Collage

One more time DJ, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I USED TO BE A "LOSER"...

BUT, my luck has changed!!! I won two---did you hear that, TWO drawings this week!!! First, I won a collage created by the famous and fabulous DJ Pettitt which I can't wait to show you (I will scan and download it later this evening)!! And I also won (just today) a wonderful little art card created by Lia the Art Junk Girl. It is titled "Life Is Beautiful" and you know what...life is beautiful!!! I will upload this one too as soon as it arrives.

Thank you to both of these creative, generous artists for holding these drawing and sharing their amazing artwork with me.

PREVIEW of my new banner

I am so excited...my friend the very creative and talented and generous Heather Simpson-Bluhm has created a new banner for my blog!! I can't wait to see the full change, but here is a preview...

I have found and joined a charm swap...BUT, I am still vacillating on holding my own too!!

I'm a crazy woman huh??? I was directed to a current charm swap being held by Amber Dawn, please check out her blog and her Yahoo Group Charms2007swap by my "new best friend", the marvelous Heather Simpson-Blum. The swap is for either 21 for 20 or 42 for 40 (I've elected the 21 for 20 choice). I am happy to say that Amber has set up very well defined guidelines, which will insure this to be a very artistic and quality swap. I am excited about participating and if anyone wants more information, just let me know and I will show you the way!!

As far as the vacillating about holding my own swap---I have had several people show interest (even though I said it wasn't going to happen!). Actually, I have received quite a lot of encouragement and ideas and I am once again seriously thinking about doing this after the first of the year---this would be in addition to the one I am participating in now. So...look for future updates!! JUST LOVE these little charms---kind of like the 1x1 mini collages!!!

I'VE COME TO MY SENSES---so, before I go to bed....

Yes...I have come to my senses. I have been informed by some of my friends that there are already several other charm swaps going on out there. I will look into them and find one to join instead of hosting. Would you believe that I am sometimes really obsessive and really impulsive???? You know that "I have to have it" syndrome!!! If you were reading about my "thinking about hosting a swap post" and were thinking of joining the insanity, I will report what I find out about current swaps and post all the info tomorrow. It is now 2AM here in the midwest and I am going to bed!!!

OK, I've never done this before---ANYONE interested???

I recently become aware of a FABULOUS swap that was just completed by a group of 25 very talented artists and hosted by Ruth Rae. You can view many of the individual charms including step by step instructions from many of the artists on Ruth Rae's blog, Simply Charming. I am so jealous that I was not a part of this swap that I am thinking of (I can't believe that I am saying this) hosting my own charm swap!!! Here is a pix of the finished bracelet---



Please let me know if there is any interest out there. We would need at least 25 participants to make it a go (we need to have a REALLY chunky bracelet!!) and I might need some organizational help since I am swap host inpaired (never done it before). What do you think???? Please let me know and PLEASE feel free to jump in even if you have already participated in the Simply Charming swap!! And just to let you know, I would not be opposed to somebody else jumping in and hosting/co-hosting!!!

Oh James...

James Taylor is one of my all time favorite recording artists and he is playing in Chicago tonight to a sold out house. I was hoping that my husband would buy some last minute tix on ebay (for Sweetest Day)---but alas it is not to be. Maybe next time around. There are links in my previous post to two of my favorite tunes. I just figured out today how to link music to my blog. Click on them and enjoy!!