scissors paper glue

button, button

I had so much fun making these!  Button kits, who knew they could be so entertaining. 

Thank you for all of the birthday love.  I am sure I owe you an email, I have yet to get caught up from being away.  Something else I need to get caught up on, is giving props for the wonderful swaps I have been receiving in the mail.  First is the amazing set of buttons I received from Alice for the Vintage Swap deux.  She shared that some of these buttons had been passed down from her grandmother and I felt really touched that she would share them with me.

I also received my Mellow + Yellow swap from Robin.  She sent me the cutest patchwork purse.  It was her first attempt at making one.  So cute.  A bunch of other fun stuff was included like a tiny pink nail polish, a handmade notebook and some pretty earrings.  So cute.  Thank you Robin.

I'm back, a year older

My daughter has a book of poems called Little Dog and Duncan.  The poems are by Kristine O' Connell George and is illustrated by June Otani.  One of my favorite poems in the book is called Hello!

Little Dog and Duncan touch noses,

wiggle, wag.

Friend?   Friend!

The day I got home from my trip was my birthday and my friends made me feel so loved.  I came home to packages and cards.

First on my doorstep was a package from Mary Ann.  I think of Mary Ann as my Johnny on the Spot friend.  With all that she does, she always manages to get her swap out, her challenges done and birthday presents sent (on time)  I am amazed at her ability to do this and also blown away by her generosity to me.  Here is what Mary Ann sent me.

a really fun scrap book

some glass vases that are strung together.  how much fun will i have with these?

a beautiful book on gardens and my favorite a little angel with the inscription: Some people make the world more special just by being in it. (I am hoping she means me :) Thank you so much Mary Ann, i love it all.

I also received a gift fit for a Queen from a Queen.

  This picture doesn't really do the crown justice.  it is so cute.  Made with my favorite things and my favorite colors.  I also adored the card Vallen sent.  It was a handmade card with a picture of Vallen on it at two years old.  I will treasure both of these gifts Vallen.  Thank you for making my day so special.

I also received a package from Kristin.  Kristin knows me VERY well and one of the things she knows is that I am all about the details.  Well let me tell you she spared none in the package she sent.  My package was wrapped in red and turquoise.  It made me smile when I saw all the beautiful coordinated tissue paper, ribbons, strings and buttons inside the box.  Oh of course all of the gifts carried this color theme and oh my i am such a lucky girl.

There was an one of a kind handmade journal from may day studio. red bird letter pressed stationery from boiled art editions and the most amazing silver necklace from amy tavern.  can you tell from the picture that the circle is imperfect.  i love that!  she also included a vintage blooms flower kit from paper source that i can't wait to dig into. 

But then there this 

Can you hear me screaming.  I love this so much! I guess I should tell you it was made by craft paca.  One of the things I love about Kristin is her support of indie designers. 

Thank you so much girls for making turning 37 a bit less painless. I can't express what it means to me that you are all in my life.  hugs!

Friend?  Friend!

Where is spring already?

hi *sigh*  i haven't felt like posting.  Spring has not quite sprung here and the weather is playing a really mean game of back and forth.  Taking a decent picture has become close to impossible.

On a brighter note, i have been busy working on some new things.  New things to me.  i have a problem. It's called being a perfectionist.  I often will not try something in the fear that i won't be able to do it or it won't turn out how it is suppose to.  Anyone else do this??? I thought it was high time i got over myself and tried some of the things that have been laying around here.  Button making +  some felting + an attempt at a sewing project.  So far i have been having a blast.  I also made some of the embroidery hoop fabric swatches that are becoming spring's button wreath.  I am also working on some REALLY cute things for the shop.  I hope you all like them as much as i do.

I am leaving today for a three day seminar.  about carpet.  yeah my day job.  try not to be jealous.  So on one hand I am excited to have a little break.  On the other hand, I hate being away from my family.  See you in a couple of days.

Earth Day

It's different this year.  As you read here.  I am trying to make some changes.  Big and small.  Things that are making me happy ~ My husband coming home with enough fluorescent light bulbs to replace all of our recessed lighting. (thanks hon)  Buying cloth napkin and hopefully in the future (with help from Lotta Jansdotter) making some myself. Buying these.  Having an extremely helpful and informative conversation with this lovely friend about how to clean my home in a non-toxic manner.  Smells so much better!  Deciding that our next car purchase WILL be a hybrid vehicle.

Big and small. Every little bit helps.

With all that happened on Monday I felt a little silence here was necessary. I'll post again tomorrow.

collage color challenge -beige, red and navy blue

For Vallen:

the process

hi everyone.  i am going to share my process today of how i am working on my collage color challenge. Here is the recipe for my latest batch.  To make 6 1/2 collages you will need the following ingredients:

• a day all to yourself
• one cup play
• two cups organization
• a splash of sunshine
• lots of gel medium

Since this was a big project I knew I need to get organized.  First though I wanted to get inspired.  I pulled all of my paints out and all of your color submissions.  I took twelve 6 x 6 pieces of white cards stock and painted the color combinations.  One even made it into the collage itself.  Here are just a few.

Next I took these 6 x 6 paintings and went through my stash of papers, fabric, ribbons and other various "stuff" i use in my collages.  I used a 3 ring binder and each color scheme had its own plastic sleeve to retain all the stuff I was considering for the collage.

I then waited for inspiration to hit and that was last week.  I had the day off, no kids in sight.  (thanks daycare and gramma)  I think it helped too that the sun was shining outside and streaming into my studio window.

Voila! Collage #1 out of the 6 1/2 I made.

Phew!

Hello there!  I just finished sending out all the emails regarding your partners for the 5 Senses Swap.  So if you did not get an email from me and think you should have please let me know.

I just put this in the shop.  SOLD!  thank you! :)

It is truly one of my favorite piece I have made to date.  I love the colors.  Duh!  Any of you that have been around here long enough know that.  The good news is that tomorrow I will start to unveil all of the work I have done lately that isn't red and aqua.  The collages that I have been making for the color challenge.  I will share the process with you of how I am tackling such a big project and how on a Wednesday last week I was able to bust out 6 collages.  (Besides the fact that I had no kids around for 8 hours)

See you all tomorrow.

pleading

hi guys - ok now i am pleading, i need one more person to sign up for the swap to have an even number.  some people have emailed me saying the swap sounds intimidating.  oh my goodness i by no means wanted to come across that way.  maybe my verbiage was too strong.  small joys having to do with the 5 senses.  that is what i am suggesting you send to your partner.  please with sugar on top?

here is something i have been working on.  linen necklaces. my april Christmas in progress.  i even made enough to put some in the etsy shop.  buy them here now.

and here is a sneak peak of another thing that will be put in my shop. 

i know it is aqua and red but just wait till you see all the other colors i have been using.

well i have to get ready for work now. boo hoo vacation is really over.  i will be back tomorrow with lots of bright colors.

Happy Monday to you!

Behind the scenes

Hello and Happy Easter/Spring.  I apologize for it being extremely boring around here for the last couple of weeks but now it is back to business.  I wanted to get as many people as possible signed up for the Five Senses Swap.  I actually have a couple of spots left if anyone may have missed my post last week due to spring break.  Let me know.

I have been working people.  I had last week off and I got busy.  (Making collages that is)  I finished 5 for the color challenge with the sixth one I started being close to done.  Are any of you that signed up for that still out there, if you are give me a shout out.  I finished another for a friend I swapped with and one to give as a birthday present tomorrow.  I will be letting you peek at the work all week long.

Other Easter goodness here.  and here. How cute are those?

Have you seen this?  So very adorable.

She is back from her blog break. Hooray!