Craft Swap 2012 Project ...

My gift for the swap ...

 

The whole gang, drying ...

And a baby gift ...

 

detail shot ...

Sometimes It's a Little Harder than Saying "I WILL" ...

Hi !
If you have been reading this blog, you know I decided that I was no longer going to say "I wish" and I would replace it with "I will". I wasn't going to let work take over my life , I was reclaiming my time . Wellllllllll. I tried that . And guess what ? No one stepped forward to do it for me !! Can you imagine ?!! No fairies, no imaginary staff, no one. Not even my beloved cats. No.One.
So it is a little harder than just making the decision ... and I knew that I guess. Because if it was that darned easy, why wouldn't I have just decided years ago ? Seriously.
So that explains no posts for weeks ... no messy painty hands ... no happy place feeling lately. And that's okay. I have been working like a fiend to put all the steps in place to make it happen. Decluttering my house, my store, my life. Re-organizing so I can get my work done more easily. Re-thinking how I do business. So it is all going to take time but sometimes a little more time and work are worth it if you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And it is a glorious light - sunshiny and full of colour ... and I am getting there !!!
I'll keep you posted !!

It's Swell to Gell ...

I just received my Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate in the mail ... I was so excited ! It was like Santa had delivered it ! lol.
So I watched the videos, my beloved found me some scraps of Tyvek, and I went to town (for a few minutes ...but that's the beauty of it ... you can make a few prints even if you only have 10 minutes !! Love it !!)
I tried one with just 2 colours because I didn't really like the way the 3rd colour seemed to muddy it up a bit. I'm a bit of a colour purist ...haha ... I only like a few colours at a time. I used some Americana acrylics and Claudine Hellmuth Acrylics. I would really like to get some Golden OPEN Acrylics ... they seem to give such a beautiful transparent sort of colour when brayered. But I was pretty happy with what I had for a first try. I used the tyvek donuts, bubble wrap, and punchinello. (love punchinello !! Waste product, my eye !!)) So here are the results !!

 I love how the residual paint shows up on the next one ... yes, that's right, I did not clean it every time. I like the hints of orange in the green ... Can't wait to do more !!!

Skull-a-riffic !!

"Who are you lookin' at ?"

My latest wrap bracelet ...

"Come Alive"

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs ; ask yourself what makes you come alive.

And then go and do that.

Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. "

Howard Thurman

Today is the day !

I work too much. I waste too much time. I squander minutes worrying about things that are not going to happen. Did I mention that I work too much ? I fret about what I wish I was doing.

That ends today. I am taking the steps to start a journey of my choosing. No one is going to do it for me. It is up to me ... and I say "Hell Yeah !"

Today I will begin to work hard in the hours I have for work - and then stop. Work will not creep into my evenings and take root in my weekends. It will not wake me in the night & say "I want to talk". If it does I will not answer.

Today I will start trying not to worry about things that will not or have not happened. Wasted minutes. I will worry when I need to - not before.

I will try not to waste time . I don't consider reading, cuddling cats, watching the tides, or wandering in my mind to be wasting time. Wasting time is when I use up time that could have been spent making myself or those I love happy or satisfied. Use it up fretting, running around doing nothing, staring at a computer long after it has ceased to be interesting, thinking up ways to avoid going somewhere or doing something- that's wasting time. I will not fret. I will do things with purpose. I will surf for a reason & for pleasure - not to simply pass time. I will simply say "No, but thank you".

I will cherish my minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years and spend them wisely.

I will embrace my dreams and take the first step to make them real. No more I wish.

I WILL.

Endless possibilities ... can't you just imagine ? Well, that's what you would have to be doing (as am I ). I talk of endless possibilities and then don't post for weeks ...lol !! Time has been gobbled up with lots of work, dumpster feeding ( another term for big clean out !!) , trying to stay cool, and a million and one things. I did spend time in the studio but it was to make kits for work so it wasn't overly exciting (maybe I shouldn't admit that ...hmmm) . But HOLD ON !! I did make something I love ... let me go get it ...

Earrings !!

(oh, and a lemon buttermilk cake with glaze & lemon scented sugar sprinkled on top ... that was none too shabby ... LOL !!)

New Blog !!

New Blog ! Like a fresh new scribbler in school ... so exciting, so filled with endless possibilities ! I started blogging several years ago and had/have a blog called "Up to My Ass in Life" www.uptomyassinlife.blogspot.com . I wanted to be at least that deep ... exploring every minute. I had a bunch of friends and we were having a ball. But I was really in denial of my "inner introvert" !! After a while, I really didn't want to be embarking on actual adventures, outings, and group activities. I realized my "happy place" is at home with my partner-in-crime (aka husband) , my cats, myself, and all the things I love doing there & with them. I feel that my life is FULL even if I don't leave the house for days. I practically purr with contentment. (Too much time with the cats ??!) I think that when you find your true groove, the possibilities are endless !! So this blog embraces my introverted nature and celebrates the endless possibilities every day. I wake up knowing that those possibilities are out there - and I am going to find them !! :)