Our Holidays

Here are photos of our Christmas festivities. Grandma was here for Christmas Eve dinner, The Christmas Story movie and opening presents Christmas morning.

Dreamin' Of A White Christmas

I so wish it looked like this in my backyard. Just through Christmas, then it can get warm again.
I live in Florida. It will be in the 70's for the next week. Totally wrong for Christmas!
Oh, well, the kids will have a good time. Two weeks of vacation and loads of presents under the tree on Christmas morn...

Love The Linens

Check this out! Really cool linens!

http://www.thirddrawerdown.com

Thank you, Bueller!

I have to give a great big thank you to Bueller Designs for posting about my stuff in her blog.

I highly recommend you check out her blog for some great photography, especially her OTHER blog where she posts photos taken on her daily commute. Such a great idea - capturing tiny moments. They say God is in the details. Ferris Bueller would approve...

http://www.buellerdesigns.blogspot.com

Gage's art

Gage drew this picture of one of our Eskies sleeping. I really like his style - very minimal, with nice sharp lines.

Nikki's Birthday

Today was Nikki's 8th birthday party. We had a rough night last with both her and her Dad having a bloody nose. Weird! I think they both has a sinus infection. So everyone was a little sleepy and we had to rush around getting everything ready.
As it turns out, others were sick also and couldn't make it. So only Nikki's friend Shania, made it. And her cousins and Grandmother, of course.
After all the presents were opened and cake eaten, Nikki crashed on the couch. She barely noticed when Shania left and was asleep in minutes.
Happy birthday, my little Princess Nikki!

My Newest Box

I love this box!
The paper is so pretty with its pink, teal and brown colors, great patterns and that really funky bird at the top. Inside is another bird and a round mirror. It's pretty big, too. Measures 8.5 x 8.5 x 3 in. deep.
I'm really happy with the way it turned out...

New Product At The Cottage

New product!! Sweet, little magnet sets. Decoupaged clothes pin magnets or round disc magnets in a matching, reusable tin. Useful and pretty...

New In My Shop

Some new trays in bright colors and a new cigar box.

I will be at Crafting Out Loud on November 25th at the Museum of Fine Arts. That's the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Really looking forward to seeing the museum - will have to get my hubby to watch the table so I can explore!

Up Next...

Here is the raw material for my next project.

What am I going to do with this cute, little table? Cover it with paper, of course. At least some of it...

New Art Purchase

I was a vendor at the Historic Kenwood Art In The Park last Saturday. I sold some pieces, but ended up buying more than I made. Oh, well...can't pass up a bargain.
My husband and I had our eye on this all day. At the end of the day, we got it for a ridiculously low price. Thank you, god of the arts!

I love this!

Cool idea from Cottage living: Create A Chalkboard

Wish I Was Here

from Country Home magazine

It's still quite warm here, on the West coast of Flordia. Really wish I could be somewhere the leaves are changing...

Even More New Stuff!

I just got a new batch of paper and am waiting on more wood trays to arrive. Next week should be a flurry of activity. May well wear out my scissors!

Kenwood art show is next Saturday and I want to have lots of items ready.

New Stuff!

Things I Love Or If I Only Had Some Disposable Income...

The artist's name is Jeannie Lynn Paske. She has a shop on Etsy at http://www.obsoleteworld.etsy.com and is featured on trunkt.org. I love the colors and mood of her work.

Wood Trays

Here is some of my latest work. These turned out sooooo well - I'm really pleased. If I ever get time, want to make some for myself!

My "Studio"

Also known as my bedroom. A lot of us have to be creative when carving out a niche to do our work - I had to take over half of the bedroom. Someday I hope to have a dedicated room or, even better, a little shed to work in. Surrounded by plants, birds, butterflies and my 2 Eskies snoozing on the stoop.

Fall Craft Shows

Saturday, October 13th
Kenwood Art In The Park
8:00 - 5:00

Sunday, November 25th
Musuem Of Fine Art
3:00 - 8:00

A "I'm Doing Ok" moment

I filled an order for two of my decoupaged boxes last week. Since I'm not burning up the sales charts, I was pretty happy to get the order, especially for two boxes. The client received her boxes and apparently she liked them. Cause she came right back and ordered another one!
Not only was I happy to get another order, but I was thrilled that she liked my work so much. And, liked it so much that she had to have anoher one. And mentioned my great quality in her feedback.
I'm new at the crafting biz, so I always worry when I send my creations out into the world. I'll still worry, but maybe a little less.

I guess I'm doing ok...

Wholesale Order

I got my first wholesale order over the weekend. Sooooo excited. It's not a huge one, but it's a start. I'm so nervous about doing it perfectly that I'll be glad when it's done.
I want to please the retailer, but I also want to be true to myself and choose designs that I like.
Meanwhile, I have to pack up my entire house and move it across the street. Yikes!

My First Craft Show

Friday, July 27

It was a soft, summer evening in St. Pete, Florida. The event was India Night at the Shuffleboard complex. There was Indian food, Indian music, Indian dancing and lots of people playing shuffleboard. The complex is old- the buildings have loads of character.
I only sold one item ( a picture frame). Disappointing, but the other vendors didn't fare much better. My guess is that people came mostly for the shuffleboard and Indian food and demos, not to buy art. But I got some good feedback, and that valuable. And, as it cost nothing, I lost nothing!

My kids helped prepare for the event by making price tags and wrapping boxes for transport. At the event, they helped me set up the table and were anxious to take on cashiering duties.

Not Your Mother's Decoupage

The art of decoupage has been around since the 18th century. The term, in French, means "to cut out". Typically, images have been cut out and applied to boxes, screens and furniture.

While I can appreciate the traditional style of decoupage, just having one or even a few images on an object just seems so lonely. Therefore, I cover the ENTIRE object with decorative papers. I like the rich, saturated look that comes from using so much pattern and color. It can really enforce a theme, as well.

To make each box smooth and durable, I sand and varnish A LOT. Don't be surprised to see the paint underneath the paper. I like the distressed all the sanding creates. I do like a little bling, so I add microbeads and/or metallic paint accents.

I admit, I have used a butterfly or two in my work, so I haven't totally abandoned the old ways.