Suzie Button Creations

Valentine Crafting...

2012-01-17T11:38:00.000-06:00

I always create something new for Valentine's Day each year... This year I was inspired by all the tufted beds on Pinterest and decided to tuft on a much smaller scale. So I tufted a vintage Valentine's Day candy box!

Then I decided to add a little Pink Valentine's surprise inside too!

Happy Valentine's Day Decorating!

2012-01-13T15:12:00.001-06:00

GIVEAWAY SWEET AND PINK AT NOUVEAUX-PORTMANTEAU

Chef in Training: Cinnamon Roll Waffles

2011-12-24T16:20:00.000-06:00

Chef in Training: Cinnamon Roll Waffles: To say these waffles were amazing would be an understatement. These waffles could easily be one of my new top favorite breakfasts! Every...

Not Just Paper and Glue: It’s Pinterest Party Time!

2011-11-11T07:42:00.000-06:00

Not Just Paper and Glue: It’s Pinterest Party Time!

Suzie button @ http://pinterest.com/suziebutton/

Jenny Holiday is giving it away!

2011-10-20T14:48:00.001-05:00

Just click HERE to enter!!!

2011-09-09T14:25:00.002-05:00

Hop on over to Where Women Create and win one of these books!

2011-08-29T16:28:00.000-05:00

CLICK ON OVER TO TATERTOTS AND JELLO TO WIN A ROOM FULL OF IDEAS!

great giveaway underway!

2011-08-24T11:19:00.000-05:00

A lovely, girly, beach inspired, gorgeous giveaway is underway HERE
Look at what is up for grabs!

Have You Seen?!!!.....

2011-07-31T16:11:00.000-05:00

Do you just Love to be in the presence of very talented gals?

I DO!

If so for you too go HERE to have a chance to go for FREE!

What I've received back...

2011-06-21T12:15:00.000-05:00

I again was so thrilled when I saw this beauty in my mailbox yesterday, My partner was Sharon Jankowicz, an author of books such as Greeting Cards in Stitches and she did a marvelous job!

I shared that two of my favorite things are sewing and my grandbaby Madison

and she created this for me!!!

Look at how she incorporated Madison into the piece close-up...

And I can remove it to wear too!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Thanks for such a sweet swap!

Just sharing a few swaps I've made...

2011-06-19T16:12:00.000-05:00

I hardly ever post anymore, but was inspired to after having SO MUCH FUN creating for two swaps I signed up to participate in...
the first was Amy Power's Birthday Treasury Swap and my partner didn't necessarily want a "birthday" theme, and my mind kept going to the thought "I wish for you..." and I thought I wish for you... flowers, dance, etc. and then it just kind of kicked into sparkle and glitter, tee-hee!! It was a great bit of fun using the new Tim Holtz shadowbox as my setting too! Here's what I made...

Then I also was part of a lovely swap hosted by Red Lead on their yahoo group. They have lovely swaps and I almost always cannot resist signing up for their swaps!
The swap was to make a Chotski Pin, and again, I must have still had glitter on my face from the above creation, as it spilled into this swap too!! Here is my swap Chotski pin...

   Love a little sparkly ballerina, don't you too?!!!
   I hope you're having some sparkly creations happening in your
   craft room also! Hugs....

Amazing Giveaway!

2011-06-13T21:52:00.000-05:00

JUST VISIT OH HAPPY DAY BY 06/20 TO ENTER!!
HOW AWESOME IS THIS GIVEAWAY?!!!

Have you seen?!!!.....

2011-05-30T11:08:00.000-05:00

I am so sure you will love FANCIFUL DESIGNS and will also be entranced by the beauty of her delicate creations in her Etsy store by the same name. FANCIFUL DESIGNS
Visit both today! Plus right now she has a lovely giveaway going on too!

A bowl full of lemons.: May Silhouette Giveaway!!

2011-05-23T15:56:00.000-05:00

A bowl full of lemons.: May Silhouette Giveaway!!: "Im so grateful to be able to give away Silhouette SD machines on my blog. This week, I am offering another chance at a giveaway! This set ..."

Visit the Lovely Fairfield House...

2011-05-11T14:26:00.001-05:00

For just as lovely and generous giveaway...

(CLICK Fairfield House)

ALSO, please visit this lovely blog... HERE ... to win some lovely gifts!!!

Kim & Kris!

2011-05-10T08:04:00.000-05:00

It's the DIY Dish girls' birthday giveaway! Watch and visit HERE to enter to win presents from them!

Shirts for Japan

2011-04-02T13:16:00.001-05:00

Here's my shirt!

I had quit blogging but feel inspired to come back to be sure to link up and say how awesome this project was with the shirts for Japan!
I'm thinking of beginning blogging again now that Spring has hit my doorstep too!
I truly loved sewing along with 3 Punk Mom to create my shirt!
A beautiful shirt for a great cause!

Still in the same place Pink Saturday

2010-11-12T22:17:00.000-06:00

I'm a bit lazy this weekend and reminiscing too of where I was on 11/13/2009 and where I am this 11/13/2010 and my heart is still in the same pink place! So i thought I'd share last year's Pink Saturday post with you this year!
What a wonderful combination, don't you agree, Pink (Saturday) and the Holiday Season! So we need to have a PINK...

We don't need a lot of fancy supplies, and the directions can be simple, such as making this momento memory box for a mother or a grandmother, wouldn't it be lovely?!

You probably have all these supplies in your scrapbook drawer right now!

I am an old-fashioned soul at heart, I never tire of the beauty of the floral hankie look, it's just so beautiful! And this would be a special gift for any vintage soul!

And I've wanted to make this for over a YEAR, and am still in love with it! You can see this really would be simple to construct!

We're NOT finished crafting on this PINK Saturday, friends, but I want to give thanks and credit for the above crafty ideas where it's due...

Oh, no there's more beauties to craft today...

I love this sweet angel doll!

This little sweet fabric frame would be wonderful with a print inside, maybe even add a touch of glitter to set it off!

I know a little girl in my life that would LOVE this soft PINK crown!

And wouldn't these be wonderful on Christmas morning?!

Again, thanks for your beautiful inspiration...

We can't end our craft day without a little bit of sweets, could we?!

And these BEAUTIES fit right into the plan of having FUN!

And a bucket full of sweet cookies! Well, you shouldn't have.

I really should have this angel food cake, I am on a diet, after all!

THANKS...

And thank you to our lovely PINK host Beverly at How Sweet the Sound

and Happy Pink Saturday!

Holiday Crafting Frenzy!

2010-11-11T14:28:00.001-06:00

Hi Friends! I am still dealing with the Reindeer I shared a week and a bit ago, but it's progressing...

Hopefully soon I'll have something pretty to show you finished in the deer catagory!
In the meantime, as the glue and glitter dries there, I've worked on my Red Lead garland swap and finished it up (can you say YIPPEE?!!) and plan to mail it off tomorrow!
I decided to use their Round archway chipboard as the background as I had a vision of doors opening on Christmasy scenes!
I was pleased with the results...

and open the windows...

I used images from my vintage Christmas cards to make all of these

I KNEW one day they'd come in handy!

Knock, Knock!

Who's there?

And my third was an ornament...

I'm now working on pure cuteness tags for Elizabeth's Creative Breathing

Peppermint Tag Swap

and a few other goodies that I'm hoping to accomplish too!

What are you making this year for the Holidays?

Is it Christmas Countdown yet?!!

2010-11-02T13:46:00.000-05:00

I sure cannot handle to see the actual number of, not days before Christmas, but CRAFTING days left until Christmas at this point! Can you?!
There is never enough time to accomplish all our creative, crafty minds and hearts desire to create is there?
I've been seeing red, red glitter...

I had a vision of this reindeer, glitter and all, and when I have a craft as a vision, I don't fight it, I just make it.

So there are glittered reindeer and reindeer in different stages of metamorphism...

During the prepping for this project I came upon some treasured vintage wrapping paper, just a bit thinner than tissue paper and just delightful..

There's only one sheet, I'm not sure if I can get myself to use it!

Do you have the same issues?

While the reindeer dry, consider the next steps of their journey, I decided to start looking

through some of my vintage cards in preparation for CUTENESS for a holiday swap and I came across

a scrapbook I inherited from my mother-in-law from HER childhood...

My much loved mother-in-law.

It began with her birth cards in 1938 and ended in 1951.

I treasure it!

Full of birth, birthday, valentine's day, and Christmas cards.

I just adored her.

Of course that set off a few tears as my heart realized how much I still miss her,

oh, so much!

Here are a few beauties found within...

Look at the shine of the vintage glitter!

Adoration.

So sweet.

And another...

and to make this card extra special you only needed to open it!

3-D vintage style!

The best in my opinion!

Have a 'Terrific Tuesday' everyone!

Pink Saturday Swap!

2010-10-29T22:41:00.001-05:00

I saved this posting just for PINK SATURDAY since it's, well, PINK!
Do you do that also? I know how if you're a committed Pink Saturday blogger there are times when you just run short of pink to share or you have to stretch pinks, as I do, well, from reds or mauves....
Today though I saved my beautiful swap pretties from my art retreat I attended last weekend at A Gilded Life to show you.
My swap partner for a home decoration was sweet Jennifer at Covered in Glitter.
She is such a talented and sweet lady and I've had the pleasure of meeting her teenaged daughter at another event and she's just as sweet as her Mom.
Jennifer knew I liked pinks and that I like artsy items and she made me this...

And I think I'll surround it with some pink Christmas balls this holiday season!

And then we also had a recipe swap

(you can make my recipe potholder too from the tutorial below this posting if you'd like! the cake is FANTASTIC, I promise!)

Jennifer made me also the cutest recipe card...

I love the old-fashioned cuteness of it!

And also there was Jan's of Just me, Jan

I've had the pleasure of getting to know Jan better also through the Paper Cowgirl Art Retreats and she is

so talented and meticulous in her artwork and I just love it!

Now, if I could just get someone to cook for me, I'd be all set!

Have a lovely Fall weekend too!

Please visit my Pink Saturday friend Maria at Bubblegum and Duct Tape too!

She's talented on so many fronts I wouldn't know where to begin!

Recipe Potholder Tutorial

2010-10-28T15:59:00.002-05:00

Hi, Friends! You may remember this recipe I posted the other day...

Well, I had a recipe swap at the recent Gilded Life event I attended and I decided to make my recipe into a potholder!

Here's the lovely Heather Ales loving it!

I thought I'd share this simple and cute potholder tutorial so you can make one or several as gifts too!

(HINT: The recipient would LOVE it with a piece of the cake too!)

First, please right click and save my picture.

Pull it up on your computer.

I chose to print it as a 5 by 7 inch size...

And I unchecked on the printer choices "print single photo per page."

This way I can print two on one sheet!

At this point, I should talk about the printer paper you could choose.

There are many in the stores, but I choose June Tailor Colorfast Sew-In Inkjet Fabric Sheets

as I knew the brand was high quality and the printing results were fantastic, nice and crisp whites against the colors!

Make sure you let the ink dry and then follow the package instructions to iron it, rinse it, and iron it again!

Now you're ready to stitch!

I used a seam allowance of about 1/4 inch for the project.

Choose your border fabric.

I cute each strip 2 inches wide.

Start with the side pieces and cut two strips and sew them right sides together on each side.

Iron the seams flat and then measure and cut two strips for the top and bottom edge.

Sew them on and then iron it nice and neat.

Repeat for the top and bottom strips.

You might as well go ahead and cut out the handle too at this point, It is 1 3/4inches wide and 5 inches long.

Fold the hanger strip in half and iron. Open out and fold each long raw edge toward the center fold..

Fold lengthwise up to the center fold and press.

Fold in half and press and set aside for now.

Next we'll add in the batting, I used a double middleweight batting to make it cushy,

It may be a bit wasteful, but I just left enough on the sides to make it simple and then you use your widest

stitch to attach it to the top piece...

trim even.

Now it looks like this!

Simple, right?!

Lay your piece on top of your backing fabric, with the backing fabric having the WRONG side facing up...

There is an inch needed around the entire piece. I used my ruler to just easily measure and mark and cut out

You will need to make mitered corners, and I'm not the expert or the best with this, but here is a link for you on mitered corners

HERE

Pin all the way around, adding in the hanger on the corner.

Stitch carefully and turning in neatly as you go, and simply stitch around and there you go!

A sweet gift, literally!

There are special instructions for the machine washing of this potholder and here is my tag I made which you can copy also!

Enjoy!

I'm thinking to make another potholder with a picture of my grandbaby in it for myself and my daughter too!

I couldn't resist...

2010-10-27T08:33:00.001-05:00

I may bore you all with my desire to show off my grandbaby Madison as we approach Halloween, but she ~~was~~ IS so cute in her little Halloween outfit... But she wasn't in the mood for a picture and had that nope, no way will I smile look, but even that is adorable to me!

I love this picture too with just the chubby arms...

I decided to have fun with these pictures in

Scrapblog

If you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area check out

Kendra Pryor Photography

And get busy on the kids' Halloween costumes, you've only got a few days left!

Red Lead Halloween Swap Goodies!

2010-10-26T11:44:00.000-05:00

I just love seeing the talent of other swap partners, don't you?! I thought today I'd share the beauties I got in the mail as part of the Red Lead Halloween tag swap!
First was this beauty from Julie O'Brien...

I love how she used so many different elements and they all look fantastic together!

Next I had a great card from Carolyn Huber..

The ravens with the poem really set it off just right!

And last, but not least, I had a tag from Tami Roth...

So adorable!

This swap was a lot of creative fun!

I also have swap pictures to share from my A Gilded Life event from this past weekend,

so I'll be back soon with those too!

Have a great Spooky day and Halloween week!

Pink Saturday is Gilded, Girls!

2010-10-22T21:58:00.000-05:00

I've died and landed in a gilded other world! YES, I have! There are many pink beauties where I've been. The details are always attended to, and many are wrapped in pink...

The jewels are dripping in every corner....

And I'm happy in the midst of the beauty and glitter!

Here I am just glittering what will top off my crown!

And, OF COURSE, my crown is PINK!

It was so much fun to create!

Tomorrow is more of the same, but this time, I'm hoping to create a beauty like this...

Yes, this PINK SATURDAY

I'm a

GILDED GIRL!

Fall, Halloween, and working on Christmas too! And LOOKIE what I won!

2010-10-19T15:29:00.000-05:00

I'm beginning to feel a bit short on time, you know that anxiousness that threatens to overcome you when you're working on craft projects for an event very close in time that happens? That's me this week. I'm over-the-moon excited because this Friday is the beginning of the A Gilded Life's Art Retreat and I'll be covered in my favorite, glitter! We're starting out on Friday with making a crown, Ah, it will be just fantastic! By Sunday, I should be in pure craft bliss by the time it ends.
Today though, I'm still working on my swaps for the event, they're coming along but I keep getting interrupted in my crafting schedule by my work schedule to caption the news!
I love Emblibrary.com and it's my go-to source for embroidery designs! I am working on Fall decorations for my swap and I found several designs of leaves there that I bought. Here's the link to one of them FALL LEAVES
Here are a few of the leaves I've stitched up so far...

Isn't it pretty?

And here is a lace design from HERE for LACE DESIGN

I stitched it on a sparkly organza and it really added a fantastic glimmer to it!

here are a few more...

I also had a "husband" to add to my Halloween decorations for my craft room and I snuck in finishing it up...

My lady (below) is much happier now that her husband is beside her!

OH!!!! LOOK TOO WHAT I WON!

Handmade stoneware buttons! Aren't they FABULOUS?!!

You can purchase them also from Koko Noelle

Thanks Noel and Liz! They are scrumptious!!!

I'm also making a few Christmasy swap items but they're not ready to show you yet!

Soon though!

Pink Saturday Goodness

2010-10-15T21:04:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd share a PINK recipe card with you this weekend! Now, this recipe is originally from a Christmas Gooseberry Patch book and is just fabulous! I love the sponginess of the cake texture, and it would be "healthy" except for the icing! Please click on it and save and print and enjoy!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

Haunting Halloween Images

2010-10-11T12:12:00.000-05:00

I enjoy adding a bit of each holiday season to my craft room more than the rest of the house. I suppose it's part of the kids all being grown now and so I just don't feel the desire to pull out piles of Halloween decorations for my yard and fireplace mantle, etc. but since my craft room is my 'happy place' where I can just spend hours (when I can find them, that is!) I like to add touches of themed decorations.
I made this Bingo card decoration and it looks just right on my vintage Ouija Board!

I found the vintage picture at the antique mall, boy, this lady didn't appear to be a happy person!

I love finding freebies in nature too, like this broken branch at the park!

I hope you find time to craft today!

Card Inspiration!

2010-10-10T16:15:00.000-05:00

Some bloggers are so humble, so generous in the sharing of their talents, and in this case the first source I search for inspiration when I have an idea to make a craft.
I'm talking about the sweet Elizabeth at Creative Breathing !!
I needed a sweet handmade card and I just KNEW Elizabeth would inspire me and she did! Elizabeth made an apron tag for a swap she's hosting and even though I was too late for the sign-up, I saw in her creation my card!
Here's Elizabeth's apron tag...

And here is my card...

I added a pocket on the back and used a journal card and stickers to create a removable little note!

I am so pleased with the results!

Thanks, as always, Elizabeth for your sweet spirit and talents!

Pink Saturday Squeals, SQUEALS!

2010-10-08T21:43:00.001-05:00

Hi, My PINK SATURDAY friends! I thought I'd show a short little video clip of my PINK granddaughter Madison on Friday having fun with our dog, Ollie.
Ollie is the exact age as Madison, they were born a day apart, and they both have a LOT of energy!

She sure is FUN to have in my life and I feel so blessed every day whether it's seeing her or just thinking of her!
Please visit our Pink Saturday blogger at Fairytales and Grace today! Such a beautiful blog and family!
I thought I'd add on to this posting. My daughter took Madison for Halloween pictures this afternoon. Even with a nap, Madison decided she wasn't in the mood. Can you say, almost a 2 year old?! So funny!
this is an example of what Madison felt like today while posing with her BFF...

Love it!

Did you say PUMPKIN?!!

2010-10-07T18:25:00.000-05:00

I'm a pumpkin-a-holic. Yes, I really am! As soon as late September, the first of October hits, I immediately think I want Pumpkin... pumpkin pie, bars, breads, cookies, fluff, yes, anything made with pumpkin!
I began this year's obsession for pumpkin off by buying a new pumpkin pie dish from Martha Stewarts collection at Macy's...

I love it! It's just deep enough that you don't have that "little bit" of batter left over that can't fit in the pie pan!

I also got her crust edge cover to keep overbrowning from occurring, love that too!

I had pumpkin pie last week, this week it's other yummies from this magazine..

Yes, lots of wonderful pumpkin recipes in this baby!

I began today with Pumpkin Yeast Bread...

I love the ease of using my bread machine, but the homemade recipe to make it special!

Can you say YUMMY as the smell permeated my house?!!

I grabbed my favorite fall mug just 'cause...

and slathered it's not gonna kill you like real butter on top (ha!)

of this beautiful loaf...

DELISH!! You must try it too!

I've scoped out some other pumpkin recipes for next week already...

Like these Pretty Pumpkin Cinnamon Buns!!

Yikes! No calorie counting when I make these babies, huh?!

Yes, it's definitely Fall and I'm basking in it!

LATE LATE! Giveaway Winner Announced! LATE LATE!

2010-10-05T14:38:00.000-05:00

With the flu bug this past week, I just realized yesterday evening I forgot to pick a winner in the "Keep Calm" giveaway I had that ended October 2nd!
So here's my daughter getting ready to pick the winner...

And it's Betty from She's Sew Pretty

Congrats Betty!

I'll be in touch to see what prints you'd like to own!

Finishing up my Halloween tags

2010-10-04T14:59:00.000-05:00

I finished up my last Halloween Tag for the Red Lead swap and will get them in the mail early tomorrow morning.
Thought I'd give you a look at it before I mail it though!

I had purchased the glass lens cover at last month's flea market and wow, it really made the card work!

What are you making lately?

October Pink Saturday

2010-10-02T05:57:00.000-05:00

Hi, Friends! I am a bit at a loss for Pink this week, we've had a flu bug started by my "pink" little goblin grandbaby Madison this past week...

It's flying through all the family members, myself included this past week, so

it's one of the downsides of "welcome to Fall."

But as my friend Gail said "She's too cute to be a goblin."

I agree!

Happy Pink Saturday everyone!

Have you played with the new Halloween effects over at

PICNIK

Lots of fun, try it!

Pretty, pretty Christmas wreath!

2010-09-27T17:43:00.001-05:00

I must seem a bit scattered to you all as I am one day working on a Halloween tag project and the next on a Christmas wreath!
I usually just go with the mood of the day as far as crafting, that's why my daughter had to wait six months for her curtains to be finished, I wasn't in "the mood"!
But my husband had a request for me to make just something handmade for a co-worker that he's know forever who has had a rough spell lately, so I scoured the internet blogs and found a cute project and tutuorial over at Fancy Pants for a really adorable Christmas wreath made out of scrapbook paper.
I knew it just the right gift to make!
Here is how mine turned out...

And it was so easy to assemble the flowers, I made it in a day!

Here's a closeup of some of the flowers.

Hop over to Fancy Pants for the directions

the only thing I did differently was to wrap the green wreath with a light taupe material beforehand to make it pretty from the back as it is from the front!

Pink-delish Life!

2010-09-24T21:14:00.002-05:00

Happy PINK SATURDAY, my gal friends in blogland! Today I thought I'd share some of the pink delish goodies I have read, bought, and wish for.
Let's start with WISH for, ok?! I don't have an IPhone (gasp!) but if I DID, I'd MOST definitely purchase this ap from
CARTOLINA...

You type in your IM and send it away on such pretty, pretty backgrounds!

Unfortunately, my husband has a distaste for AT&T, so no IPhone here!

He's thinking of getting me an Android though, maybe they'll have something similar.

Next are some fantastic READS!

I recently finished

SHANGHAI GIRLS BY LISA SEE

and L-O-V-E-D it!

and I'm now reading another of her books...

PEONY IN LOVE

Her stories take you away

(just like the bubble bath!)

And see part of the cute storage box?

I found it at my and your favorite store

Home Goods!

I am crazy lately for pretty storage and Home Goods delivers on that front for sure!

A beautiful pencil box for $6.00

LOVE IT!!!!!!

And this gorgeous box was $9.99!

My daughter wants it now to store her makeup in.

Now more shopping!

You may have noticed I go to the once-a-month flea market Trade Days in Canton, TX each month

and a shop I found there is

Tracy Harwin

and she sells DROP DEAD GORGEOUS lace items like this window swag...

(not my house though!)

Here are a few of the items I've purchased from her booth...

This gorgeous lace scarf...

And just last month my heart almost stopped beating when I saw this...

fireplace mantel scarf for $35.00! I'm so thrilled!

I wish my fireplace itself was prettier though!

I've been thinking of painting it white but I'm scared to do it!

A while back I purchased this tabletop scraf too...

Just the right touch!

So that's my pink for this weekend!

I hope you've enjoyed it!

Please visit my Pink Saturday Friend

Singapore Plants Lover

too!

Gorgeous beautiful plants and flowers!

P.S.

HAVE YOU ENTERED MY GIVEAWAY YET FOR FOUR OF THESE

OF YOUR CHOICE OF SAYING?

CLICK HERE TO ENTER! NAME CHOSEN AT RANDOM ON OCT. 2ND....

A Spooky Diversion and a Freebie for you!

2010-09-22T14:17:00.004-05:00

Can you feel Fall and the spooky season of Halloween approaching?! I know I do, even though I'm here in heat soaked Texas! A Halloween Postcard Tag Art Swap over at Red Lead's Art Swap blog helped to get me in the mood for the spooky and not-always-so-spooky season of Fall and Halloween!
It might have just been an excuse to order some fantastic rubber stamps and goodies from their site Red Lead!
I've been working the past couple days on my tags and this is what I have so far...

What's better than a black skeleton?

A black GLITTERED skeleton!

I need to add some ribbons to the top still.

And then a fun one...

I'm thinking to add a moon "off the tag" so to speak still...

So a bit more work and one more to make and then they'll be ready to mail out.

What do you think?

What are you making for Halloween this year?

I purchased this book a long time ago at a library book sale

(BTW, one of the things that makes my heart go pitter-patter!)

It has wonderful pages like this...

And I thought I'd share an image on one of their Halloween images with you

for your crafting this year!

You just click to open and print!

Enjoy!

Mandala Finished!

2010-09-20T09:06:00.000-05:00

It was relaxing, I lost myself in the process a few times, hour-wise, that is. That is when I'm happiest, so enveloped in the process that I don't even realize time is moving on.

I love Mica gold leaf too!

next up is learning from SUZI BLU

and her La Sirena Workshop!

I'm excited!

She says Be. An. Artist!

I am Calm, very Calm, this Pink Saturday! AND A GIVEAWAY TOO!!

2010-09-17T23:26:00.000-05:00

I thought EVERYONE knew all about the craze for the "Keep Calm and..." series of posters and whatnots on the market and for sale on sites like Etsy like, for example, HERE where you can buy the iconic poster that started it all.

Do you know the history on this phrase?

Here it is...

and an original view...

Well, my daughter wanted a few to decorate her home

and so, of course, so did I!

So I made my own!

Here is my fun display this .PINK SATURDAY...

I spent all day thinking keep calm and..... ????

Here is a close-up for the last two so you can see them better...

and

I love them! Do you too?

Yes?!!

Ok, then I think you NEED YOUR OWN!

And I'd love to give you your own set of FOUR!!!

You can choose whatever you'd like them to say...

here are more ideas i made up but haven't framed as of yet...

Sugar is a given, isn't it?

And the next is for my job as a broadcast captioner...

Also, did you know I LOVE Starbucks?!

I do!

Here's the scoop!

The GIVEAWAY is open to Saturday, October 2

Just leave a comment for one entry

Link to my blog with a mention on your sidebar or posting and get another entry

Please link the giveaway back to my giveaway.

That's it!

                                          YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT THE FOUR TO SAY
                                             MAKE SURE I HAVE A WAY TO CONTACT YOU TO SEE
                                                WHAT YOU'D LIKE YOUR FOUR TO SAY!
                                                        GOOD LUCK!
                              p.s. the frames aren't included but i got mine at Hobby Lobby at 50% off!
              And there's no reason I threw in Snoopy here, I just love him ever since I was like 5 years old!
       Please take time to visit my lovely Pink Saturday friend Sue at COLLECT IN TEXAS

My Turquoise Craft Assistant

2010-09-15T14:56:00.000-05:00

There is NEVER enough storage or room for all of our crafty products, are there?!
I found a sweet little cart at the flea market that called to me from across the aisle saying,
Suzie, Suzie, here I am! Your assistant is OVER HERE!

This sweetie wasn't as pretty then as she is now though...

She was a bit dirty, a bit rusty, and white...

but lovely daughter Megan cleaned her up and she's my

spray paint queen!

Thanks, Megan!

I have her nearby to hold that bothersome goodie that is in my way on the desk

and to hold the whole kaboodle of paints, glitters and inks...

Yep, that's my Mandala artwork there that I'm working on!

Oh, and super sweet...

She closes up nice and thin!

OOPS! Megan forgot to spray her there.

Oh, well, it's a bit of the character of who she was before her re-do!

DIY Twins are back!

2010-09-14T21:28:00.000-05:00

Did you see that our favorite crafty twins are back on DIY?!
And, of course, they're creating cuteness!
Watch this...

Then visit them at DIY DISH

Just a Holiday Reminder...

2010-09-13T20:53:00.000-05:00

Did you already visit

Matthew Mead

and preorder the fab Holiday issue?

Better hurry!

Discovering Art Materials

2010-09-12T21:45:00.001-05:00

I found a little niche of time this weekend to squeeze in beginning my Mandala art! Here is the beginning of the fun part...

I'm already really enjoying the Mandala tutorial because it allowed

me to freely add this and that paper to create my background

I'm happiest without strict

boundaries when creating.

Are you too?

I was musing over the new-to-me art products I've purchased for this project.

What ones, you say?

Maybe this will show me as the un-artist that I most likely am,

but I had never seen these fabulous

Wood Painting Panels

before...

(this is the back of mine)

I instantly appreciated the quality of it...

no texture like on a canvas,

no stretch, no chance of becoming misshapen...

I need more of these!

We all love new paints, and these are scrumptious!

There are so many, many colors and GLITTER too at

Artist Cellar

I will definitely be buying more as I create more projects because, yeah, just look inside...

Pretty, pretty, Pretty!

Also when I've ever traced anything I've always just gone to the usual craft store supplies available to do the job...

but this is better...

First, it's bigger sheets

Second, it tears off like foil would

Third, it's got a full coverage, no light missed or hard to see lines when finished...

It can be found here at

Amazon

Too, I went to the art aisle at Michaels instead of just the acrylic paint in the craft section

and spent a bit more, but really not so bad

(with a coupon!)

for better quality paints and glazing liquid...

I love finding new art products to experiment with!

Now back to the craft room to work on my Mandala...

Remembering This Day

2010-09-11T08:28:00.000-05:00

Hi, fellow Pink Saturday friends! I know that you share with me in this somber remembrance of the tragedy of 9/11. My heart is filled with sorrow for the families whose pain of their losses must always be present.
I am getting ready to caption a long day of news coverage and know it's going to be sad to hear the stories and to see the faces of those at commemoration ceremonies.

I apologize that I am late this morning posting...

I went to see the Rangers vs. Yankees last night at the stadium

and had to work this morning early...

Doodling ta-da!

2010-09-09T18:18:00.000-05:00

It was more than rainy yesterday, did you hear there were reported tornado twisters here in Dallas?! I didn't see one though, thank goodness, but the torrential rains kept me indoors doing more doodling....

Isn't it pretty?!

My inspiration came from this fabulous book...

and this specific project...

and then I found a blogger who inspired me with this next page...

She's sure stylish!

But that wasn't the inspiration...

OoOpS, Honey, your slip is showing!

This was my doodling inspiration...

Thank you, God, for the sunshine today!

Doodling...

2010-09-08T08:58:00.000-05:00

Rainy days ease you into your mornings with their gray skies and muted lights...

I enjoy the coziness of the morning through a blurred window...

I'm not so sure my dogs are happy though...

It's an indoor play day...

For me too...

I just wanted to doodle a bit with my art supplies

that I found on clearance for a dollar or less...

reduce sticker on top of reduce sticker...

My favorite kind of clearance!

Love this White Lightning too!

Thin coverage that lets details shine through with a neat finish to it.

So I doodled in my little book I found at the flea market last week,

trying out different products and using up stored ephemera...

Creating ghostly writings...

just losing myself for a few hours in color and creativity...

digging through drawers full of ribbons and buttons...

Doodling without a pen but with inks and sprays and whitewashes...

I especially liked the pearlized spray...

I think this rainy day I'll doodle some more while the dogs spoon and dream of a

sunny day...

A Sweet 22nd for Katie!

2010-09-07T09:16:00.001-05:00

Today is a day for celebration! 22 years ago I gave birth to this beautiful little baby that is now all grown up...

Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'YOU' to the world!

Enjoy it!

Mandala!

2010-09-05T07:49:00.000-05:00

I came across a lovely blog and a lovely project over at Deborah Everton's blog and fell in love with her
Mandalas...

She has an online class to teach you how to create your own!

I signed up, so expect me to soon be sharing where this takes me.

A Fall Pink Saturday?

2010-09-03T22:23:00.000-05:00

Friends, I have to tell you that Texas had a blessing on Friday -- the weather was Fall-like! A slight breeze, no humidity, perfect beginning Fall-like temperatures! It made this Suzie Button so happy as it coincided with First Monday Trade Days in Canton! After the unbelievable heat just a month ago, it was such a gift!
So I pulled out my Canton cart...

with the C-U-T-E cart liner my daughter bought me last Christmas

from Canton, of course, with...

One vendor said that's so cute,Suzie Button!

I was like, how did she know my name?!

Duh!

I thought this Pink Saturday I'd share a few of the goodies I purchased...

One was a sand clock...

I work a lot of hours at my desk and I like to look at interesting

things around me while I work for entertainment...

This should entertain me!

It takes about 45 minutes to completely drain.

It's the simple things that give me the most pleasure!

I also saw these kids pencils, and I thought they'd be cute in a cute container

on my desk for, yes, entertainment!

I especially like Pocohontas!

Next was a very inexpensive but sweet journal...

A little French text will always capture my attention!

Even more so if there's a beautiful image on the inside...

And pages to fill with my imagination!

Next was one of my MUST visit every time shops

Girls Gone Junkin'!

Cathy and Deidre are just so sweet and have so many one-of-a-kind treasures!

Love you girls!

Look at this ultra thin, too beautiful to walk by mirror...

I envision a bit of vintage music behind to enhance it and it on the fireplace mantel....

hmmmm.....

And they also had this wood flower bouquet that I envisioned for mixed media fun...

Isn't it pretty?!

I have just one more pretty to share this Pink Saturday, even though there is more...

and it's this vintage post office box front...

It was in the more flea market section and was only $10.00!

I should have bought all three, shouldn't I?

Isn't it beautiful!

The lady said she thinks a locksmith could actually look at the back with the combination lock

and figure out the combination and then I could OPEN THE DOOR!

Isn't that awesome?!!

Well, there are several more things but I'm just dead tired!

A fantastic trip in perfect weather!

A great start to the weekend!

Please visit Kathy too this Pink Saturday at

A Delightsome Life

I was gazing at her HUGE shingled house she has her hubby painting

and was just amazed tonight!

Hopefully she'll be participating this weekend...

I'm not sure with all the painting to be done!

Smiles and Love to You all!

Treasures found

2010-09-02T11:42:00.000-05:00

Good morning, Friends! I thought I'd share a few of the goodies I had found recently with you...
I found this gorgeous (perfect for Halloween decorating, BTW!)in a McKinney, TX, antique store a couple weeks ago...

Isn't it pretty?! And I got it for only $35.00!!

It's not perfect, some trim is missing, but it makes it better to me!

I am not sure if I like its reflection of my craft closet though!

It reminds me I need to get the closet door back on!

HA!

Next, I have found I have a weakness for printer trays too!

I found this one in a Waxahachie, TX, antique store for, yes, $10.00!!

I love to put my Martha Stewart glitter in the cubbies and little treasures!

And then I found this gorgeous birdcage at Tuesday Morning...

for $29.99. I know it might seem a bit high, but it's really fantastic!

Perfect for the bird I made at the Gilded Life Art Retreat!

I think Miss Birdie though needs a tufted seat to rise her up a bit in her

gilded cage...

I feel another project coming on!

Happy Wednesday!

Just a thought…

2010-09-01T22:37:00.001-05:00

I spent a few idle moments over at Scrap Blog

So relaxing and fun!

Calendar 2011

2010-08-30T16:44:00.001-05:00

Don't you love when you complete a project, that feeling of accomplishment and just enjoyment of the whole creative process? I finished up my calendar for 2011 and wanted to share the last few months with you!
I had left off a few postings back on the beginnings of August. Of course, August represents Summer and sunshine, so yellow and bright, bright was the theme...

I used my Slice machine to create the numbers using a very cheery summer paper!
September, of course, harkens in Fall and I felt the usual autumnal colors of oranges, browns, etc....
(don't you just love the word "autumnal"? I do!) but also I used metallic golds and silvers and bronzes...

October was a lot of fun!

We have the start of our Holidays and I wanted to reflect that...

Isn't my Halloween decoration cute?

I got the directions from ever-so-cute Elizabeth at Creative Breathing!

Next of course is beautiful November and a season of Thanks...

I decided to deconstruct the page and use the actual calendar outline as my guide to cut squares and

re-construct the page back together again. I liked it!

The gorgeous autumnal paper set and glitter leaves from Michaels craft store really zinged it up!

For December, I broke the rules!

I had purchased a while back a peek-a-boo window cartridge for my Sizzix and I really had a vision of it becoming my month for a countdown calendar...

So I abandoned the idea of representing the actual amount of days in December and which days they correspond to and went with a countdown calendar instead!

I mean it is all about getting to the 25th when it's December anyways, right?!

I added vintage holiday cuties behind the windows...

Fun!

Now I promised my daughter I'd finish up her curtains I began for her, like, maybe six months ago!

She's a little impatient! Ha!

Have a great week!

A Miracle Indeed this Pink Saturday!

2010-08-27T23:00:00.004-05:00

There ARE angels among us, and one of them is KELEE KATILLAC. What strikes me about Kelee is she’s not an angel just because, but because she chooses to be. That makes her extra beautiful in my eyes!
Today here on PINK SATURDAY is extra special as Kelee shares her wonderful gift of love and healing over at her blog as she created a healing space for a "sister of her heart” Colette Gauthier…
Please visit her today to read this inspiring story and to raise money for charity AND you can win great prizes too!
On this pink Saturday we are sharing INSPIRING stories! I instantly thought of the book series
“Chicken Soup for the Soul” and was drawn to the Chicken Soup book “Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul,” PERFECT for this celebration of life and of Colette!
This poem us for YOU, Colette….
                                                            ODE TO THE CHAMPIONS
                                                                 Who are these people --
                                                                 These doers of deeds,
                                                                 These dreamers of dreams
                                                                 Who make us believe?                                                                             Who are these people
                                                                 Who still win the day --
                                                                 When the odds are against them
                                                                 And strength fades away?                                                                  These people are champions,
                                                                 For they never give in.
                                                                 A heart beats within them
                                                                 That is destined to win.                                                                  They follow their dreams
                                                                 Though the journey seems far,
                                                                 From the top of a mountain
                                                                 They reach out to a star.                                                                 And when they have touched it --
                                                                When their journey is done --
                                                                They give to us hope
                                                                From the victories they won.                                                                    So here’s to the champions --
                                                                   To all their great deeds.
                                                                    They follow their hearts
                                                                   And become winners indeed.
                                                                                                                            Tom Krause
      And just a little bit more inspiration via “Chicken Soup”….
                                           YOU CAN BEAT THE ODDS AND BE A WINNER, TOO
                                                    BURY HIM IN THE SNOWS OF VALLEY FORGE,
                                                         AND YOU HAVE A GEORGE WASHINGTON.

                                                          RAISE HIM IN ABJECT POVERTY AND
                                                            YOU HAVE AN ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
                                                         SUBJECT HIM TO BITTER RELIGIOUS
                                                                PREJUDICE, AND YOU HAVE A
                                                                                     DISRAELI.
                                                        SPIT ON HIM AND CRUCIFY HIM, AND
                                                                     YOU HAVE JESUS CHRIST.

                                                        LABEL HIM "TOO STUPID TO LEARN,"
                                                         AND YOU HAVE A THOMAS EDISON.
                                                        TELL HER SHE'S TOO OLD TO START
                                                         PAINTING AT 80, AND YOU HAVE A
                                                                     GRANDMA MOSES.
                                                      HAVE HIM OR HER BORN BLACK IN A
                                                               SOCIETY FILLED WITH RACIAL
                                                        DISCRIMINATION, AND YOU HAVE A
                                                BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, HARRIET TUBMAN,
                                      MARION ANDERSON, GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
                                                              OR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
                                                          MAKE HIM THE FIFTH CHILD TO
                                                     SURVIVE IN A POOR ITALIAN FAMILY
                                                     OF 18 CHILDREN, AND YOU HAVE AN
                                                                          ENRICO CARUSO.
                                                          AFFLICT HIM WITH PERIODS OF
                                                     DEPRESSION SO SEVERE THAT HE CUT
                                                        OFF HIS OWN EAR, AND YOU HAVE A
                                                                  VINCENT VAN GOGH.
                                                             TELL HER IN THE LATE 1800s AND
                                                            EARLY 1900s THAT ONLY MEN CAN
                                                               BE SCIENTISTS, AND YOU HAVE A
                                                                                 MADAM CURIE,
                                                    WHO EVENTUALLY WON TWO NOBEL PRIZES --
                                            ONE FOR PHYSICS AND THE OTHER FOR CHEMISTRY.
                                                              TELL A YOUNG BOY WHO LOVED TO
                                                         SKETCH AND DRAW THAT HE HAS NO
                                                    TALENT, AND YOU HAVE A WALT DISNEY.
                                                      TAKE A CRIPPLED CHILD WHOSE ONLY
                                                               HOME HE EVER KNEW WAS AN
                                                 ORPHANAGE, AND YOU HAVE A JAMES E. WEST
                                                                       WHO BECAME THE FIRST
                                              CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.
                                                              MAKE HIM A SECOND FIDDLE IN AN
                                                                      OBSCURE SOUTH AMERICAN
                                                                 ORCHESTRA, AND YOU HAVE A
                                                                                    TOSCANINI.

                                                                                                                                            Abagail Van Buren

Movin' on through the months!

2010-08-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends! I had shared the beginnings of my calendar a couple posts ago and had ended with the thoughts of what March would look like and I thought I'd share my ongoing progress as I march through the months of the year for my new craft room calendar for 2011!
So I had been sharing the March to me is, of course, green! Then I realized how much I LOVE green (!!!) many, many shades of green, so that is where my inspiration came from for lovely March...

April (showers of course bring May flowers) so April is drizzly, unshaped, free flowing, so layering this effect came to life on my calendar....

May (flowers!) have arrived, right?! I went to my flower image files and created a puzzle collage effect and thought fresh, bright, growing!

June is of course the kick start for summer and I'm not sure why this idea came to me, but I was remembering a tween store in the mall that my daughter used to love and how I had admired their "tissue paper" wallpaper and I thought Yes! Plus a bit of glitter and birds just worked for me!

July gave me a chance to use the cuts-like-butter felt I just purchased from Joggles and am keeping on the backburner for my next projects, and the marina flags effect just was the right choice for July, don't you think so too?

Well, now we're up to the current month we're in right now, August... I had some cute (if I do say so myself!) gathered crepe paper I had in my long ago and far away Etsy shop way back, and I'm so glad it didn't sell, because it's setting up just perfectly for the beginnings of my vision for August!

I hope you've enjoyed my calendar pages! It's a great, easy-going project, you should make your own too!

Pink Saturday: Vintage Beauty

2010-08-20T21:37:00.001-05:00

I need to remember today, Friday, in 2016. That is when on August 4th my driver’s license will expire. Why? So that I can renew BEFORE it expires online and not have to do what I did today…

Go to the dreaded local driver’s license bureau and wait in a line, first outside, then on one side of the room inside and then on the other line on the other side of the room for THREE hours in order to renew my DL!! A poor lady I chatted with said she had went at 7:15 a.m. and the line was out the door, down the sidewalk, around the corner and oh, out to the main road! So she went home and came back at 10 a.m. which is when I went too, and it was only to the first corner in front of the building, so I was LUCKY!

Anyhoo, that’s NOT what my vintage PINK SATURDAY is about! Ha,ha! But I’m seriously one who believes that if you have to suffer through days like this, that you deserve to TREAT yourself well doing something you LOVE after you finally escape!

So I went to McKinney, TX, to their historic downtown and went to antique shops, a sweet gelato shop, and a store I love with German glass glitter and a smorgasbord of utter beauties at Smitten!

In the antique store I found one of my weaknesses….

Vintage papers, magazines, in this case, an April 1923 French magazine!

The stress began melting away!

I opened it up very carefully to see the various stories, ads and this beautiful page…

A little pattern for the everyday seamstress…

and a bonus…

directions to make an organza flower for your jacket!

Also lovely were the local announcements of marriages, and bragging rights too I’m sure!

I decided to drive up and down the local historical neighborhood streets

to gaze at the beautiful Victorian style homes in McKinney

and like any dreamer, I noted my favorite and looked it up online

later in the evening.

I think that the gorgeous lady on the front of the magazine would have been right at home in this 1895 beauty…

I know I was drooling when I saw the front foyer…

there are just not enough adjectives to describe homes like these…

It looks as if there is an original fireplace in every room!

the floors, the windows, the built in originals

You’re ready to purchase, just as I am, aren’t you?!

Here’s the best, the kitchen and the bathroom is updated…

Just one more peek….

ant the whole scoop? Here’s the listing RIGHT HERE

After drooling and considering a big move :>)

Please visit my Pink Saturday friend PEGGY AT PEGGY'S MIXED UP ART

I love her header on her blog! I can tell she’s a fun, creative blogger just from that!

Matthew Mead Christmas!

2010-08-18T10:57:00.000-05:00

I, like you, LOVE Christmas and all of the magazines that go with it! :>)
I'm sure you've visited Matthew Mead's Holiday Magazine Blog and seen all of the previews for his lovely, inspiring Holiday magazine coming out that can ONLY be purchased via this site, haven't you?
I've pre-ordered mine, you should hurry over to pre-order yours too so that come November 1st you'll be well on the way to jump starting your holiday treasures, decorating and traditions!

Creating Anew this week and a few treasures!

2010-08-17T17:31:00.000-05:00

I literally feel shut out of life if I am not able to create something, anything, to make me feel creative.
I'm pretty much the same way about having a book to read too!
This week I decided to create with a gift from my friend Gail that she gave me for my birthday,
a blank calendar to create from scratch.
It's rather daunting looking at an all white page and knowing where to begin.
Recently I read about color and it's impact in our lives as far as nature, our homes, our moods...
So I began there and thought about color as it's connected to the months of the year...
So to me, January is white, maybe a bit of blue, ice cold, and sparkly, like snowflakes...

Birds are dreaming of Spring, the world colors are muted...

Then, of course, February is pink and red, warmer because of L-O-V-E...

Hearts are spreading the vibrancy of the color of February...

I'm about to begin March, I feel "green" a light Irish Green!

I thought I'd share a few of the treasures I found at Canton this past month too...

A gorgeous piano roll paper in it's original box...

Isn't the patina of the paper fantastic?!

Made my heart sing!

This I don't know what it is, but I saw it as a station for paintbrushes and glitter tubes!

Then I bought a few goodies from the vendor night too at A gilded Life...

I saw the colors of this vintage French map and said YES!

And a little silver container to hold doo-dads is always on my list of

necessities...

A hand painted vintage box from a French flea market...

the lettering is just so ever slightly raised...

And several pages of handwritten French script, including the penmanship lessons of a child

from long ago...

how beautiful!

Well, I will leave you now and return to my heart's delight of creating!

I hope you will come visit me again very soon!

Old-Fashioned Pink Saturday

2010-08-13T21:36:00.000-05:00

My Mother was 85 years old when she passed on. She was an old-fashioned mother, even though the majority of my growing up years were in the 1970's, even then she was old-fashioned compared to other mothers.
One thing that imprinted this old-fashionedness on her was the fact that she ALWAYS wore a dress and ALWAYS wore an apron...

(this photo is before the 1970's though!)

I thought all Mothers wore dresses and aprons every day for a LONG TIME!

I thought all mothers packed their children's lunches, fed their husbands two egg breakfasts

and made homemade rolls and spaghetti for dinner...

When my Mother passed, I wasn't there when my sisters cleaned out our family home, but they did know that I would love the handmade, simple crafts they found...

A bag full of unfinished quilt pieces ready to be made into a warm quilt...

and also my sister found about 12 different old-fashioned girls stitched and put aside long ago,

just waiting to be made into a quilt...

The details are what captured my own old-fashioned girl within...

flowers and parasols...

I grew up also in a small country church where the women had gatherings

to quilt, to have country fairs and vacation bible schools.

It must be why, even though I'm far from old-fashioned, I feel

an affinity with the humbleness, the simplicity of a time
I never really knew...

I'm drawn to stories of women who create,

who knit, who quilt, who grew up on the prairie!

I just in fact finished this book...

I loved the history within the pages and the visual of sitting down with

needle, fabric and thread and creating something to warm their beds and to

create an heirloom!

I love the thriftiness of these "girls"

I've never decided what to do with them...

should they be in a quilt or framed individually?

What would you do with these treasures?

I hope you have a wonderful PINK SATURDAY

Maybe you can wrap up in a quilt handmade and handed down to you while

you visit all the Pink Saturday gals

and my friend Laurie at Laurie's Charming Designs

I'd love too to hear what your heirlooms are, simple or grand

modern or old-fashioned!

A Lamp unto my Feet...

2010-08-10T11:33:00.001-05:00

As I'm working on my project this week, I'm letting my creativity guide me and I was taken to this...

after the clay dries, I'll use gold ink to replace the sticker letters...

and I'll color it to blend.

I'm feeling happy about where this is headed....

I thought I'd show the finished project...

I ended up building up the clay for the additional words instead of just using gold lettering

for them...

I like the effect of it having been painted on a "cave wall" effect.

I liked it so much that I think I'll make another one!

What I'm creating this week

2010-08-09T14:55:00.000-05:00

Monday's are not always welcomed, another long workweek ahead, right?
I totally agree!
Monday's are more palatable if you create time to, well, CREATE!

I have been creating and playing around a bit with PaperClay

and had a vision for a birthday present for my sister...

I'm loving the creative process of creating texture and colors...

I have a vision...

"Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path"

Psalm 119:105

Also a bit of decadent dessert visions from Martha Stewart's August 2010 magazine...

Chocolate, Banana and Graham Cracker Icebox Cake

WAY Decadent delight!

Think S'more, chocolate mousse,

Yumminess!

Happy Pink Summer Saturday!

2010-08-06T23:23:00.001-05:00

My, but the summer is flying by! I can hardly believe that we’re already into August and soon we’ll be thinking of Fall and the Holiday seasons and turning to warmer foods, colors, clothes and decorating! I thought I’d share today a last bit of Summer hurrah spirit here for all that is Pink and Warm and bright and cheery that we imagine as Summer!

                        A bright weather day of freedom to share a picnic…

                                       of sweet summery treats...

                           Pink "shells" tingling in the summer (occasional) breeze...

(photos courtesy of Mary Ruffle Tumblr)

We need to remember the beauties of Spring that

were so amazing that their beauty pooled in our

dreams all Summer long...

(My trip to Kuekenhoff Gardens in Holland April 2007)

It's time to finish up our final warm weather crafts...

(Mary Ruffle Tumblr)

(my summer organza flowers)

Maybe you can squeeze in one more dip of your feet in the ocean waters...

(Mary Ruffle Tumblr)

I know myself I need to glance one more time and commit to memory

what my Grandbaby Madison looked like this Summer....

(July 4, 2010)

(cleaning house Friday, August 6, 2010)

Do you see the tiny diamond in her ear?

She got her ears pierced today....

this is cute, the pictures of her SCREAMING -- NOT so much!

She recovered quickly though with a nap in the car and a play house cleaning toy!

Soon, Madison will be taller and will be talking and it will be

Autumn...

I thank you for visiting me this Pink Saturday

and thanks to Beverly for all she does to keep our weekends Pink

and for featuring my blog this weekend!

Please visit my Pink Saturday friend

Jeannette at Good Mornin Beautiful

Gilding: Day Three

2010-08-03T10:41:00.000-05:00

Our final day of the fabulous retreat for A Gilded Life had us arriving to see what our project for the day would be...

After another fabulous breakfast provided in a beautiful setting....

we were greeted by our supplies for the day...

Shea and her Mom are all about the details...

Everything is presented beautifully!

I set about trying to learn wire wrapping with my goodies..

Rita took her jewelry making lessons very seriously!

We even had a gift from Jo Packham from

Where Women Create

Such a lovely three day event!

Thanks so much to A Gilded Life for such a memorable event!

A Gilding: Day Two!

2010-08-01T09:51:00.001-05:00

I am not sure if I can contain the "gilding" to just one post, as it was a plethora of beauty for the soul!
I have amazing shots of Shea's A Gilded Life "church" home that are over the top, but I'm going to share just the photos right now that "spoke" to me... Such as this...

in her studio...

The table for our class was so beautiful too...

and Shea's home over-the-top gorgeous!

Of course Shea's studio spoke to every woman there

as creative souls just 'know and understand' a

place of creative perfection when you're in the midst of it...

The laying out of all the details just waiting to be used...

Here I am midpost, and I've run OUT of time to leave for Gilding: Day Three..

so for now, I'll leave you with this...

and I will begin again either later tonight or tomorrow!

I'm home again from the final day of Gilding, and resuming the beauty!

So here we go, girls!

We're still on day two.

Back into Shea's studio for a moment...

You can just walk around her HUGE room and admire arrangements like this...

and mannequins with wedding dresses or velvet dresses

spilling onto the floor...

Shea is going to be featured in the magazine Where Women Create

I belive in December,

Look for her Gilded Life studio on the COVER!

I know you're thinking how FABULOUS this all is, and, girls, this was only the

Beginning of the FAB!

Next came our Doll class taught by the fabulous

Colleen Moody

who makes masterpieces like this...

and you can see more of these amazing dolls by clicking my link to her!

She taught us how to decorate and make a "bird doll"

A wonderful instructor, and SO patient with us too!

We created all day...

There were crafting stations throughout the room...

Here is how my bird doll turned out...

All of our supplies to make her were (as with everything we were given)

presented beautifully too!

There was a little bag attached to the back with all the pieces to create our bird!

The crafting was fabulous, the food was fabulous,

Shea and Debe and her whole family were warm and creative and fabulous!

Divine!

Thank You so much for making all of us feel like

(Creative) Queens all day

and all weekend!

I will post more this week on Gilding: Day three!

Welcome To A Gilding: Day One

2010-07-31T07:23:00.002-05:00

The sun isn't even up yet, and just the slightest nudge from my dog Ollie (this Saturday morning) sent my mind from a sleep state, dreaming of a perfect creative day of crafting and flea market shopping, to an awake state and trying to calm my present excitement for the "Gilding: Day Two."
So, here I am blogging when I should be sleeping. I see a crash about 6 p.m. today, maybe not, but maybe so!
A Gilded Life started in the Palomar Hotel here in Dallas where we all met to catch our luxury bus ride to Canton Trade Market Days. The gals gathered...

There were squeals and hugs for those gals who haven't seen each other for a while...

Then we all gathered on our luxury bus with our lovely host

Shea

(shown here a bit later in the day)

Isn't she adorable?!

And she pampered us but good!

The luxury bus ride had Starbucks coffee and homemade scones,

free beauties too. notice the gorgeous flower on Shea's hat?

Her mom made all of us one!

And there was a gorgeous cell phone case

(I'll share that later)

I felt so special as her guest, but we're moving down the road, so let me keep moving too...

Those of us who participated in the bag swap has to get down to the serious business of swapping!

I don't mean to confuse you here, but I thought I'd thrown in between the pictures of some of the Canton Shots I got from one beautiful shop

(thank you so much for letting me snap a few pictures!)

The bags began emerging...

(and now a beautiful flea market vignette)

And the bags keep becoming revealed in all their glory!

Ahhh... you know what I'm saying...

the colors, the chandelier, the gorgeous mirror...

I love the look of the gals watching on here as Kim Caldwell

opens her box...

can you say anticipation?!

Here is Kim's bag...

I again am in L-O-V-E with this shop...

Here is my sweet and adorable bag partner, Heather Ales ....

Her partner made her a lovely bag, don't you think?!

And here is the sweet bag Heather made for me!

Oh, wow..

Let me share just a few quick pictures of our catered lunch

at The Gypsy Pearl in Canton...

it was just lovely, and so were our hosts!

Yes, more beauties!

On the way home we were treated to homemade chocolate chunk cookies that Carrie made

just for us

(and spent two hours wrapping up pretty to present!)

Thanks, Carrie!

You're sweet

(and I LOVE the necklace YOU made too!)

Well, time's a tickin' here this morning

and now it's time to prepare for Day Two of

being Gilded!

I hope you enjoyed Canton!

Ready, Set, Go!

2010-07-29T23:23:00.000-05:00

Just a few short sleep hours away, and I'm off to A Gilded Life's party!
I was able to spend a little bit of time gilding up a gift bag for my swap partner...

and...

These finishing touches are usually the details that are the most difficult to accomplish

Time: There is just not enough!

Having only ONE swap to do made this final detail happen!

I EVEN found time today to play with our childhood friend

Shrinky Dinks!

I created a necklace for myself to wear this weekend...

It turned out great and it was so much fun to watch through the oven door

to see it curl and shrink!

TTYS, my bloggie friend!

Getting (ready to be) Gilded!

2010-07-28T21:45:00.001-05:00

I’m starting to do the happy dance again as I’m very close to the beginning of the creative fun of A Gilded Life's "Art of Communion" Art Retreat here in the Dallas area!

I signed up for one of the swaps, a messenger type bag for your partner to use when we all climb aboard the party bus..

(Well, I HOPE it’s a little more plush than this one! EEK!)

We’re heading out Friday morning bright and early to First Monday Canton Trade Days.

You DO need to begin EARLY here in Texas when the date on the calendar says July 3oth!

You can just IMAGINE what the temperature might reach by, say, noon! I’m going to be ready to rock ‘n’ roll though! My Canton cart, my comfy sneakers, a “rag” to wipe off the sweat and away we go!

I just had to share the messenger bag I’ve created for my partner! I’m full of…

That my partner will like what I’ve created.

I formed an image in my mind and just set forth to create it!

First I scrounged through my images, and when I saw this image, I knew

it was what I should use, no doubts at all!

I used the packing tape method to transfer her and then stitched her in place on

my altered book bag background.

Ethereal, mysterious, other-worldly…

I knew my image needed this Pablo Picasso quote too….This is on the inside flap of the bag.

The colors are from watercolor crayons and the doilies created with glimmer mist and inks…

Let’s show it off properly now, shall we?

And the backside…

A beautiful iron-on from Michaels!

And I free form sewed a strip of an old lace curtain for the strap!

See, this is why I keep so many “goodies” on hand (message for my husband! Ha!)

I’ll not be back to share more until Monday or Tuesday!

Have a great rest of the week and weekend!

Really beautiful Pink Saturday

2010-07-23T22:29:00.000-05:00

My husband said something REALLY nice to me tonight. He said, "you really need to slow down." Seems odd, I know, but I'm always busy, mostly working six days a week. I 'think' I may be a workaholic, so I do appreciate when I do allow myself to relax, and my recent creative weekend at Paper Cowgirl was just fantastic to this end!
I am SO behind though showing all the swaps I received, and I'm embarassed to say that because I received overwhelmingly beautiful swap goodies from all of the (six or seven) swaps I participated in!
So PINK SATURDAY is going to be a day to share more of what I received.
First I want to share my Vintage Box Hat Swap AND the beautiful BOX it was delivered in!
Let's start with the box, why don't we?

EVERY surface was decorated so beautifully! I love the glittery, sparkly S!

The quotes were just PERFECT!

What a strong woman figure was Eleanor Roosevelt!

How true is that?!

And look at all the work my swap partner put into even the inside of the box!

And of course, my LOVELY hat that now adorns my dress figure in my craft room...

What a great surprise was this beauty!

Another swap I participated in was the Beauty Sash Swap, you can a peek here,

but I'm not even sure if I can do this beauty justice in this post, but I will try...

Can you see above the peek of the underside, YES, it was professionally lined and

beautifully sewn together!

It also adorns my vintage party dress and I just MUST show you different angles of it,

I think you'll be OOHing and AHHHing too!

My swap partner was concerned I might not like it!

Can you imagine?!

It's utterly to-die-for!

The PEARLS, the DREAM, the LACE, the SILK...

Yes, I can hear your sighs...

The removable glitter crown with a tissue paper flower from pattern paper...

And just one more view...

And now I'd like to show you a very original gorgeous cuff that was in our free goodie bags

for signing up for the weekend...

I'm not quite sure if it was a burlap, but I think so!

Very pretty!

Here it is on my outstretched (ink stained fingers)...

Love it too! I have a lovely cuff from a cuff swap too, but I'll save that one for another day.

I thought you might have noticed the background pretties, so I thought I'd give you a closeup of them too!

My daughter found this at good old Hobby Lobby on clearance.

I thought it needed a few vintage buttons...

And this pretty lady was from a past trip to an antiques shop in Waxahachie, I think it was, in fact, the

previous year's Paper Cowgirl Retreat!

That is all for today, gals!

I hope you'll vist my dear friend LISA at PupyLov

this Pink Saturday, as if you've ever had a comment left for you from Lisa

you'll know just how SWEET she is!

Choosing LOVE

2010-07-20T23:38:00.001-05:00

Each time my children have reached a certain age in their lives, I began wondering, worrying, inquiring, praying for them to find love (in all the right places, that is!)

Because…

Mighty 2 Save

I do agree this is true. I pray this would not be their choice – to choose unhealthy love, unhappiness or to choose love for any other reasoning other than that they’re in love!

It can happen though.

It’s difficult when you’re young like my 21 year old is to know for sure what true lasting love looks like when you still don’t even know yourself.

My simple advice has been that your future “love” should be as sweet as your dogs…

And if the “love” you choose doesn’t LIKE dogs, well there’s a sign! Ha!

You should also remember the essence of pure love, such as in this case, her love of being

Aunt Katie to our Madison…

Having fun with Madison’s Mommy, Megan on your left

and Aunt Katie getting the smooshie kiss in too on vacation!

Our hearts are so delicate and need to be protected and nurtured…

Mary Ruffle

I wish I could save heartache for my children, but then I suppose there’s no way to grow if all in life and love comes so simply…

Lessons learned give us the gift of wisdom in our lives…

Mary Ruffle

My wish for my children, as you wish for yours, that they are divinely happy every day in the simple joys of life…

Mary Ruffle

That the Love they choose encourages, inspires and supports them to move to becoming more of

the genuine person God created them to be….

Mary Ruffle

I worried for my firstborn as I do my youngest, and I remember to have faith

as in the words of my daughter Megan, Fairytales do come true…

Megan and Oliver said “I do” August 4, 2007

Yes, a Fairytale came true, but it only remains through a dedication

to grow and the learn and to compromise, to forgive, to forget, to enjoy,

to laugh with, to spend time with, to hold close those whom we love and

Who love us back… Suzie Button

Love Midori

”I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

When Harry Met Sally, 1989 via Love Midori

Craft a little, snack a little!

2010-07-20T07:03:00.001-05:00

There's nothing better than having both a delicious dessert and a creative afternoon, so I thought I'd quickly share a bit of both today.
Which one should we start with? Ok, I agree, we should start with dessert!
My friend Maria made this Martha Stewart Rainbow Cake for our friend Gail's birthday celebrations...

Didn't she pick just the perfect colors?!

It was delish!

Warning though: It was time intensive!

And just a new blog I found today that drew me in with it's title...

Craft Lab: Your Imagination, Distilled

and simple, yet great videos such as this...

Iron-On Transfers w/ Lotta Jansdotter from Rowenta USA on Vimeo.
So get out your iron and delve into a creative day!

Pink Saturday Pretties!

2010-07-16T23:21:00.001-05:00

Hi, Friends! I almost had a panic attack while "partying" late into a Friday night at my friend Gail's house that I didn't have my Pink Saturday post organized and then I remembered that Gail's home is PERFECT if you're looking for something pretty AND pink to post! So we'll start in her kitchen where she collects MANY gorgeous cookie jars...

and more...

and of course more...

OOPS, there's my friend Debie peeking in my cookie jar pic!

She's in town visiting all of us from Osaka, Japan where she's working now!

Hi, Debie!

I am asking Gail as I type this how many cookie jars she owns, she said over 200!!!

No, they're not ALL in her kitchen!

Oh, cute little Bo Peep!

Where ARE her sheep?!

She has a few extra pinks too..

Aren't these so CUTE?!

Then I moved on to see what I could find in the living room...

Gail found this tin in Paris, OOOLALA!!

So, we're partying by eating...

a LOT!

And I heard grief because they saw my peach cobbler posting below so we all decided

we must have one tonight!

So off to the grocery store to find ripe peaches and home to Gails to bake a cobbler!

He,he, girlfriends are the BEST!

Here's a crazy picture of us while our peach cobbler is cooking!

Too much fun!

Happy Pink Saturday!