100th Post and 2 new ornaments!

Gosh, some people give things away on their 100th post or whatever.  I'm selfish so I'm giving myself a pat on the back for just getting to that 100th post.  I don't even remember when I started this crazy blogging but it's a good format for showing off my work. Wait, work isn't the right word!  It should have been "play"....there's a big difference! So here's two of my latest "plays" and I'm up to 4 of 12 ornaments I'm determined to finish by Christmas.  Fortunately some of the grands aren't going to be at our house that day so I won't have to have theirs until later.  Wonder how "up" I'll be for making ornaments AFTER Christmas???  Hmmm.....maybe I'd better push for getting them all done by the 25th.  The one on the left is actually 10" tall....it will have to be for one of the spaces on the Christmas tree that is missing a branch and needs to be filled in with something!  Don't forget to click so you can see the hot glue strings....LOL!

Santa Ornament

My first ornament of the season....took all evening and part of the afternoon to finish.  I finally gave in and used the glue gun as there were just too many things to fasten.   Hate all those stringies from the hot glue but I may be able to melt them away with the heat gun.  I used clear glass ornaments and poured cheap acrylic paint into them....did't get many swirlies but the 4 of them seemed to get better as I went along.  Hoping to get several more finished in the next 2 weeks for the adult grandchildren.  Thanks to my Wacko friends, Sally Paul, and the gals on Latest Trends in Mixed Media for ideas and encouragement.  (Why do I wait till the last minute? ) Click to enlarge!

FREE IMAGES

Here's one of the best sites I've found for free images.  Look over to the right side of the page where it says WOW Great Free Images, and you will find a link for an astounding array of images!  I can't imagine how much time it takes to get all these wonderful FREE images scanned and posted for anyone to use.  Love it!

Peat Pot Santas

I made 5 of these peat pots with Santas, bottlebrush trees, some crepe paper garland and mica flakes.  Lots of fun!  The trees were very dark green and I read somewhere that you could bleach them with 2 parts water to 1 part bleach!  It didn't take long at all and they look quite vintage in person.    

In case you might be wondering, I have not touched Photoshop Elements yet....just too many irons in the fire.  It may even be a January project at the rate I'm going!  Happy Thanksgiving to all...........We get to go elsewhere for dinner tomorrow!  Yipeeee!

Photoshop Elements 8

Wow, I just bought myself a birthday present!  I am now the proud owner of Photoshop Elements 8 which I purchased at Costco for $49.95 with their coupon!  The regular price at Costco is $79.95 and probably close to $100.00 elsewhere.   My Yahoo group "Latest Trends in Mixed Media" is so helpful with these things.....everyone jumps in to help whenever you have a question or problem.   A great CD was included by Linda Sattgast  that appears to be the perfect tutorial.  I'm excited about learning so watch for me to post something soon!  If you are interested in the software, it's available for $49.95 for a while longer....ask for the coupon at the customer service counter if you didn't get one in the mail.  The CD from Linda is considered to be superior in helping in the learning curve.  Wish me luck!

Missing Stuff, Sketchbooks, and Blogging Without Obligation

Just can't figure out why my "Best Places To Visit" has disappeared from the right hand side of the page.  I can see it when I go behind the scenes but the actual blog doesn't show it anymore.  Boo hoo!  I did just put a link to a neat little video that CNN put out regarding sketchbooks.  I just completed one and haven't scanned it yet but eventually I'll post it here.  I got the idea from Roberta Schmidt (we just pretend we're 'cuzzins' since we share the same last name) because I fell in love with hers.  Mine has no rhyme or reason....just stuff I've collected forever and finally found it's home in the pages of the book. 

I'm blogging now WITHOUT OBLIGATION.  Such a great idea....no more pressure!
PS:  I just looked again and the "Best Places to Visit" is back!!!!  

Apple Pie

I got busy and made an apple pie tonight. Served up a piece to DH and didn't hear any comments good or bad. I finally asked him how it was and he said it needed more sugar and more cinnamon. It had 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of white.....hmmmm. Wonder if the fact that he's under the weather could have accounted for him not getting the full taste? Maybe I just can't accept that my pie isn't up to par! I'll admit it's not the prettiest pie in the world. I've only been at this cooking/baking deal for 56 years! Anyway, pies are a pain to make and Costco makes a fabulous apple pie. This might be the last apple pie to find it's way out of my oven. Bah humbug!
PS: The apple peeler/corer/slicer is the best thing ever invented!

Sewing Assemblage

Vintage sewing items and old advertising scrap is what makes up this assemblage. It's at Katrina's in Folsom on Sutter Street. I think it turned out pretty sweet. Everything is removable.....held together with glue dots. Old spools, little bottles of buttons, odds and ends of sewing ephemera. I had made another and permanently affixed everything.....people wanted to take things out! I'm very stingy with my advertising scrap but just had to use the old Coats and Clark advertising on this piece.

Leather Pendants

Here's a couple of leather pendants made for an online class .....New Trends In Mixed Media Yahoo Group. I made several and traded one for one. They have little "books" inside. Always have in my mind a teeny tiny pencil to put through the front but the only source I could find said they were discontinued! If anyone know a source, I'd love to know. They aren't fat like golf pencils.....they are only about
1/8 th inch thick.

Here is the Crow Theater starring Miss Crow-Ella Birdsong. She not only sports the shiniest black feathers, but has a crown on her head, a necklace and an ankle bracelet! This is about as "Halloween-y" as I get. Crow-Ella is a famous singer but only sings on stage....not outdoors. Occasionally she yells "CAW! CAW!". The glitz and glitter don't show up but it's there! Get ready, Crow-Ella....the show must go on!

Never Leave Me

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Whew......what a relief! This whole Etsy thing started eating away at me and what was supposed to be an adventure in the selling of our wares became a monster! My friend, Char, and I really and truly thought this was what we wanted to do, but suddenly we became acutely aware that is was a JOB now and no longer fun! So once the decision was made, I could again "play" and feel free to choose what I wanted and not what I thought our potential customers wanted. Charlotte designed a gorgeous banner for our blog and for the store. I wish we could use it for something just because I like looking at it! I admire all the Etsy members who pursue this way of promoting and selling their art and handcrafts because it is a heck of a lot of work and planning. I'm retired and want to stay that way!

Here is something I finished today. DH made the wood part for me. When I finished it, he said "who are those girls?" I said "they're your sisters .....don't you recognize them?" NOT! The key is tied with some very old silk bias tape (which is actually a soft aqua and not blue like the photo) and some vintage millinery flowers. I bought a little bunch in Amador City at Sandy's Country Home and I'm being stingy with them. Millinery flowers are hard to come by and expensive! They are limp and faded but I still love them. In fact, the wood isn't blue at all so why does it appear so in the photo? It's cream with a little crackle. The photo isn't good....I need to try it in a different light. The top photo is a close up behind the rusted antique metal fence....the rolled up letter says "Miss you. Come home soon". My mother had 3 sisters and left home at 18 for the big city. She missed her sisters so much and cried for them. This reminds me of all the sisters who have had to leave theirs behind.

Finally finished this cowgirl/boy box. I've had it for 2 years just waiting for inspiration. I still need to put some words in the left upper corner by the big nail. But nothing is coming to me right now.

The little hangings were fun to make from scraps. Might make a few with vintage ladies. They're about 4 x 6....give or take. My good friend Charlotte and I are working on an Etsy store in the near future.

The "loving cup" is another use for cabinet cards. I used 6 original cabinet cards on the 6 cups...they're nice and stiff .....better than photographs.

Ancestors Charm Bracelet

Got this idea from one of my groups....Red Lead...from St.Louis. Kitten (Debbie) made such a charming bracelet that I couldn't help myself and had to make one for our upcoming family reunion. I suppose both sisters and a few nieces will try to take it away from me! Wearing charm bracelets makes me sort of nervous...all that clanking around. Maybe I'll get used to it! I still think it's cute as a button (or a scrabble tile!) Thanks for the idea, Kitten!

Hydrangeas....Altered Art?

I couldn't help but post my 2 year old hydrangea (bottom picture). I tried to make it turn dark blue to no avail but it did go from pale lavender to lavender-pink. I'm convinced it will never be blue!

The little hydrangea in the top picture is just in it's second season and started out as a little branch which I just stuck in the ground! It isn't even a foot tall and blooms it's little head off! It loves being blue but had no choice since I fed it regularly with "Tru Blue" aluminum sulfate. I think they need to have a tendency to be blue on their own before the aluminum sulfate actually works. Is this called "altered art"???

4 year old Lauren

Grandmother's Day Gift from Lauren
Clay pot transformed with crackle paint, tissue paper, real ferns and pressed daisies. Gel medium used to apply all materials.
Same technique as the frog pot. Paper napkin bird and nest. Pressed pansies. These are really fun to make!

Had to post this! Little Lauren is my arts and crafts buddy and I couldn't help but share her pre-school picture. She just turned 4 and attends preschool and is smart as a whip. I can't help but wonder what she will become! I do hope she keeps her interest in art. She is forever making wonderful little things with her full cupboard of art and craft supplies. Yesterday, I received a little heart doilie completely covered with tiny stickers and her name printed on the back. It was delivered in 3, yes...3, envelopes. (?) I think providing children with fun materials at a very young age encourages a strong desire to create. But, on the other hand , I had nothing in the way of supplies as a child and I mananged to develop a strong creative desire. The creative desire must be built in...I 'spose you either have it or you don't. I'm glad I was one of the lucky ones. Can you say "never been bored?"