Christmas 2009

Here is my now 5 year old granddaughter visiting Santa this past (now) year. She is growing up too fast. She came to my room early that morning, sort of hanging her head a bit, and told me she was a little bit afraid to go see Santa. I asked why and she said she would have to tell him she "had only been half good" the past year. I asked her if she had tried really hard to be good and of course she responded yes. I suggested she tell him that part, too. However, her mother later told her that she had heard she was on the good list and then she wasn't so concerned about going! She told him exactly what she wanted, an ice cream set with play doh and a hamburger set with play doh. She got the ice cream set. Oh, and a new fancy metallic purple bike, which is so fancy, I should post that photo! Christmas is sure more fun with little children around. Their wonder and amazement and ability to totally live their fantasies is just the best.

Recent Work

I tried to make more Christmas gifts this year that had meaning rather than just a gift. I had the lid of a cigar box I had covered with tissue and gel medium sitting around with nothing on it for some time. So, I grabbed it and did a collage using Christmas colored papers and fabrics and a recent photo of the family's child/ren in sepia. I added some buttons or other embellishments, drilled holes in top, added wire and a ribbon or a scrap of fabric on the "handle/hanger". They were well received. They were quite fun to make. Anyhow, as a result I had to stop by my favorite cigar shop to pick up more cigar boxes yesterday. They are just the right size to do a small collage and easy to work on.

Is it 2010 already?

I can't believe it has been so long since I added to my blog. It isn't like I haven't had anything to say, I always have something to say, but maybe I talk to myself so much, it doesn't seem like talking to (posting) others is important. But I love looking at other's blogs so much, maybe someone is interested in my recent work.

First, here are my first three spreads in my journal for Calendergirlz. They are not in order, I am blogger deficient. The first one is the yellow green spread. I NEED A VACATION! Boy you can say that again. I am used to taking lots of trips, usually at least a long weekend every three months, at a minimum. However, in September my daughter and granddaughter moved back to Colorado and are living with me for now. That is a big change, much more so than I thought when the idea was proposed to me. However, what more can I ask for than to have my girls living with me. What fun!

It has also been so cold this year, lots of snow, but it has been the cold that slows down everything, including my motivation. So, I thought starting the year with a bright spring spread might help to influence global warning and warm up this place.

The second is the metallic green one. I did add the words FLY in pink glitter letters at the top of the left side and a small sentiment on the right "creative abandon". I saw this bird painting somewhere, I don't remember where, now, but thought I would try to recreate it on my tissue paper background. I also "shaved down" the growth on the birds left side. I should retake the photo and maybe I will soon. I'll post it when I do.

The third one is the turquoise one. I used partial sentences from an old book for my journaling on this page. I love to do these pages, gesso and then keep adding the first thing that comes to my mind. I love color and paint and bits of paper and glitter (added the fuscia stickles dots) last.

My journal is a long skinny one and the theme is Nature. I feel the need for having nature in my life more this year. Each week had a great quote on the bottom, so on the pages I have done, I left the quote visible. It is much like an old ledger only new!

Should I do another 2010 goal, update my blog more often???????

Lunch at American Girl Restaurant

On my last trip to Los Angeles, we all had lunch at the American Girl Restaurant at The Grove. Hannah and Bitty Baby had a great time as did the rest of the family. Dada especially likes eating at the hot pink restaurant with all the other little girls and their mothers and grandmothers. One group had four generations of girls!

Altered Photographs

This one of the pieces I did in Stephanie Lee's workshop, Seeing through the Mind's Eye (I think that was the name) I took at The Artists' Nook in Bellvue, Colorado! Although I loved when she had done, I didn't think it was really something for me, but once I got into it, I loved it. This was originally a Volkswagen Bus with Miss Paige Kindergarten and Dancing School. The kids were all bundled up for cold weather. It was just a great technique to learn. Stephanie Lee is a fabulous instructor and makes it all seem so easy.

Chocolate Brownie Chef

Here is the cutest little brownie baker in the land! I am not sure how many brownies she actually got into the oven, but a good number went into her special dessert tummy. Of course the fact I am the grandmother doesn't factor into it.

Halloween Cabinet Cards

Happy Halloween! Well in a month. These are some of the altered Cabinet cards I made for a swap with my Yahoo group. They were very fun to make.