200th Post Give-Away....

As I anxiously await the 200th post to my blog.....I wanted to let

you know of my 200th post give-away. I am excited because

to me.....200 posts represents stick to it-ness. I didn't really think

I would keep this up....and I have grown to love it so much. Mostly....

I have grown to love all of my blog friends.

So here's to you....dear friends....& new ones too.....a little give-away

for you. I have put together 24 spools

of bakers twine. They each have 25 yards for your enjoyment.....

red....green....& blue.....tied up with vintage sheet music & tulle.

They are really all gussied up.....and cute.

Here's how to receive one of my little give-aways. Become a

follower of my blog & leave a comment in the comment section.

I just love to receive comments....it is the happiest part of my day

actually. Then.....drop me an email with your address and I will mail

out your little spool of goodness. I think it is safer posting addresses

in an email than in the comment section. You will find my email in

my profile section. If you are already a follower...don't fret...just add

a comment & send me your address in an email. I really look forward

to hearing from you.

Finally....share with your friends. Also....one other little bit

of information.....this give-away ends on August 3rd, 2011 on the day

I anticipate entering my 200th post. Thank you all....my wonderful

blogging community. Thanks to the ones that have inspired me over

the years. It is my hope that I will inspire others to join this wonderful....

artful....inspiring community.

Her Majesty.....waits

Yesterday I showed you some roses that I made. Today

I created this crown with the roses. Not the whole crown today....

but the embellishments. Here is a close-up of

the roses with some added vintage leaves. See...it is

proof I just completed it....you can still see the blue

glue....but don't worry....that will dry clear with the

hint of Martha Stewart glitter I added for a faint glimmer.

You can almost see it in its entirety. I am just in awe

of the beauty of the roses. A little bit stunned to be

exact. I really think they look vintage & realistic.

I added vintage rhinestones and of course had to

throw in some pearls. I adorned it with tulle &

velvet ric rac. This was really fun to create and

a little challenging. I joined The Fairy Society & took

Sherry's online class to make the base for the crown. I

hope you have enjoyed my crown creation. Have a beautifully

inspiring day.

Little Pink Roses.....

I have been wanting to make really pretty flowers all summer

long. Realistic....yet scrunchy yummy....with a vintage flair. I

think I finally did it. After looking at the lovely tutorials out there

& wholeheartedly following all the ladies directions....I couldn't master

it. So....I resorted to a life altering method I learned from Betz White

at Silver Bella last year. These yummies are made from hand dyed

coffee filters.....coffee stained with just a hint of tulle scrunched

in for texture. They look almost like a real dried prom flower.

Here is one of the blossoms in all its glory. Don't you just love

how the coffee has dried around the edges. If I hadn't added the

pretty tulle....which I really love....and wouldn't want to change....it

really would look like a dried rose.

This beauty sat in front of me & screamed inspiration. I actually

couldn't take my eyes off it and had to create something. That is why

beauty needs to be in front of me (note to self) at all times....to inspire

creative beauty.

These were Lindsey's 19th birthday roses. I made the

bouquet for her last week. They are just lasting.....& lasting....

& lasting. I really can't believe it. I had to add a little 'mom'

flair to the bouquet. I don't think she likes crowns as much as me....

but she plays along & she is my darling princess. Let me know what you

think about the sweet roses. I am not a tutorial person....but I would love

to let you know what I did to create them.

Under water fun....

It's hard to get them all together...but under water is even more

difficult. We almost did it....we are minus one....sweet Hannah....but

Sarah replaced her as cousin in waiting. Here all the cousins flutter

under water. What I am most thrilled with is that they all still want

to be together. Ranging in age from 19 all the way down to 7. We

spend our summer at the pool and we do it together as often as we

can. What are your summer fun activities? Please share them with me

as comments are the high light of my day...when I'm not at the pool!

My Favorite Things......

The other day I posted about using my favorite things in my art.

I wasn't always able to do that. Creating a warm and inviting space

to create in has helped. Being able to be inspired by the things

I love has helped me to do just that. Also....attending art retreats

like 'My Favorite Things' hosted this month by Kim Hanauer forces you

in a positive way to use and create with beauty. This photo captures

beauty to the right of my soldering station. I love the 'dingy-ness' of the baby shoes.

This is probably one of my favorite little pieces I have ever done.

I love the colors. I love the textures. I love the method. This was

part of a sampler that I made for Christine Edwards in A Swap For All

Season's. I came out of my comfort zone. That is one of the many reasons

I just love to swap. I have come to love stitching....it is restful and there

are so many neat techniques I remember my grandmother teaching me.

My mother gave me this little typewriter. She said it was me. I

couldn't agree more. I love how it looks like I typed in my name.

Believe it or not.....it is one of my favorite things. The reason....because

my mom supports my art. She is very creative....but doesn't create any more.

She says she supports artists. I think that is neat. So now my mom comes

over....sits with me sometimes while I create and 'supports' me.

It is fun....and yes....I am trying to get her to create something!

This is in front of my soldering station. I love the way that the

class pieces are stored. I love the containers. I love looking at

the unfinished pieces.....they speak to me.....and remind me....that

my work is never finished.

Housing neat and interesting pieces is always inspiring to me. I bought

this cute mermaid....someday it will be made into something for

my mom. She loves.....and collects mermaids. And oh....those rhinestone

rings.....I LOOOOOVE them. They came off a vintage sweater. They inspire

me and sometimes I use them in my art. What all this artful inspiration

has taught me....is use what you love. Use the good stuff....you are worth

it & trust me it inspires others....especially me. Have a beautifully

inspiring & artfully creative day.

Our First Chicken Eggs

Yesterday.....it happened. Something I have been so excited to experience. Well it happened yesterday. Lincoln went out to the

coup like he does every morning. We knew it was getting close....and

yesterday it was here. Our chickens layed for the first time. We have

received 6 beautiful brown hued eggs. Three yesterday....& three

today. It is a miracle. I am so happy. I can't believe something

so simple is making me this happy. Are there simple miracles in your

life that make you exquisitely happy? If so please share them with me

in the comment section....I'd love to hear about them.

My First Shadow Box.....I'm loving it!

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure to visit Kim Hanauer

in Nashville and attend her special art retreat......

My Favorite Things. That is why I packed this cameo.

I have been wanting to use it in a piece of art for a long time.

It's old. It's real. It's gorgeous and I chose to put it in my art.

My mom says I am worth it & can use the good stuff to create

with. It makes my pieces look better don't you think??? Thanks

mom for giving such creative license & and always supporting me.

I also packed this crest. This too....I have been wanting to create with.

When she said bring your favorites....I knew I would grab this.

It was cheap. It was discarded. Yet to me beautiful. It went into

my special crafting tin that as of yet.....I have been taking it to

all the art retreats for my 'specials'.....and also my 'shares'. You

never know when your neighbor might want to share something from

your tin. I love it against the vintage ledger paper....that always

makes all my creations look terrific I think.

...and oh my mercy....this just spoke to me. I didn't have this little

cutie with me so she went on when I got home. But I did bring

this scrumptious vintage rhinestone buckle....after all it was

'My Favorite Things'....and wouldn't you all have to have it if you

saw it at the antique mall too? The vintage German paper is so yummy...

it is from an old German bible....and I just had to have it...and yes....it

is some of my favorite paper....so I had to bring it!!

Here's the finished project....the camera just doesn't capture it's

beauty.....but as my mom says.....'You're an artist...not a photographer'.

Thanks again for that creative license. She right though. I almost quit

blogging because I couldn't take good pictures.....but I LOVE the creative

outlet that blogging provides....plus all the GREAT friends I am blessed

to have. So as long as you can all tolerate the poor photo quality....I will

keep blogging. Thanks Kim for teaching me these lovely techniques &

sharing your exquisite 'favorites'.