What can I say?

Please vote for this zombie

2011-11-10T07:20:00.000-06:00

Home improvement wedding shower

2011-09-15T23:54:00.000-05:00

My team threw a very creative home improvement wedding shower for us. Look at all the fun details they came up with to decorate! Thank you, Alise, for taking pictures. ;) Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen and sent us wishes for a happy future together. We appreciate all the time, effort, and great ideas. You made us feel very honored!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-31T22:57:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-17T21:49:00.000-05:00

wordless Wednesday

2011-06-01T07:25:00.006-05:00

wordless Wednesday

2011-03-09T05:31:00.001-06:00

National Craft Month

2011-03-08T21:45:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to think of some ideas for fun giveaways on my jewelry blog this month as part of the National Craft Month celebration. I think I need a Ya Ya day to get my creativity level up.

In other crafty news, I'm learning some new things about my camera--out of auto mode.

Thank you, friends!

2011-01-31T21:53:00.005-06:00

Just a note of thanks to all our friends and family who came together to make Herman and me feel so special Saturday. I love each and every one of you and I can't begin to thank you enough for your generosity. I'd like to try, though!

T H A N K Y O U !

I hope that our wedding will be as joyous and wonderful as your surprise engagement party and that we make you feel as special and loved as you did for us.

Love and hugs,

Stacie

-4-0-

2011-01-04T18:16:00.002-06:00

Today I am 40 and it's a wonderful day. I am very grateful for all my friends and family who have sent me love and birthday wishes. Thank you all dear ones!

Turning 30 was hard--not being older necessarily, just many of the things that happened around that time in my life weren't pleasant. I think my 40s are going to be a great decade!

I feel like a celebrity so I'm having a giveaway

2010-12-15T19:34:00.001-06:00

My post appeared on the Lark Crafts site last night!! I'm so excited! You can enter to win my snowman earrings. Check it out! http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/holiday-jewelry/

If you leave a comment here by Sunday, December 19, midnight CST, you might win a different pair of salt dough earrings! ; )

Another giveaway at CraftGossip

2010-12-07T20:00:00.004-06:00

I have another book giveaway in progress at CraftGossip. Check out my post to see if you would be interested in winning any of these 3 titles. I LOVE the origami one! I also wrote a review for another Lark Book that will be given away as well. It's from Lark's 500 Series - 500 Judaica. Check out the review and enter for a chance to win this one, too!

Next week, I'll have a guest post on the Lark Crafts site. I'll keep you posted so you can read my tutorial for making salt dough jewelry and enter for a chance to win the earrings I made.

It's a good day

2010-12-07T17:00:00.004-06:00

Have you ever experienced a time in your life so wonderful that you felt guilty and scared it would end all at the same time? My friends tell me I deserve this happiness and more but when I look around and see those who are struggling, worried, stressed, and down it makes me wonder at the injustice of life. Why are all my prayers being answered when so many seem unheard? I'm VERY grateful and know life holds ups and downs for everyone...I guess I'd just like it to be a perfect world where everyone has what they need and gets at least some of what they desire. I hope the Universe is listening!

Book giveaway at CraftGossip

2010-11-16T21:37:00.003-06:00

I have three new, signed Lark Books for giveaway over at CraftGossip! They are from the Lark Books Beadweaving Master Class series. Head over and leave a comment for your chance to win if you are interested.

November 12 - a "box" for my ring ;)

2010-11-16T21:18:00.004-06:00

I took vacation time Friday to help paint the boy next door's living room. I gave the very-unenthusiastic-about-painting boy excuses to run errands including an oil change for my 1995 Honda. When he came home he asked, “Can you take me somewhere?” I covered the paint, walked out to get my car and saw the 2011 red, hardtop Miata in our driveway and asked, “What’s that doing here?” His reply - “It’s yours, Babe.” I already felt like the luckiest girl on the planet to be dating him. Then he proposed. Now a new car. If I’m dreaming, there will be hell to pay for whomever wakes me!

Hers

2010-10-01T20:27:00.003-05:00

I posted a wedding anouncement on the Little Rock Mamas Forum.

Wordless Wednesday - HIS

2010-09-22T05:20:00.001-05:00

When the cows come home...

2010-09-21T11:15:00.001-05:00

Juline finally received her cake topper in the mail last Thursday and all in one piece! Pieter glued the cows to the base and it's ready to go THIS SATURDAY! I can't stand it that I won't be there. Hope the weather is beautiful for their happy day!

I'm engaged!

2010-09-13T12:31:00.003-05:00

I'm still in shock but oh so happy! The boy next door proposed to me Sunday morning. It was a gorgeous day with blue skies and perfect temperatures. He caught me completely off guard and he absolutely takes my breath away. May we always make one another as happy as we were yesterday!

While talking about what to do for the day, he threw in, "should we get married?" I thought he was joking for several minutes after all the wedding talk generated by our trip to Vegas. After I realized he was serious, it didn't take me long to say "YES!"

We haven't decided any details yet but I'll keep you posted! : )

Keeping my fingers crossed

2010-09-07T09:16:00.002-05:00

The wedding cake topper still hasn't arrived safely in South Africa. There's only three weeks left until Julines's wedding. I sure hope it gets there in time! *sending good vibrations to my cows in transit...*

I know some gossip...

2010-09-02T18:07:00.005-05:00

CraftGossip, that is!

As of September 1, I am the new jewelry making editor. Come get the latest gossip!
http://jewelrymaking.craftgossip.com/

Wedding cake topper for Jules

2010-08-01T12:52:00.002-05:00

My friend Jules is getting married in September. Although I can't be there for the wedding, I want her to know how happy I am for her and Pieter. I made a cake topper with her favorite - cows! I hope she loves them and they make her day a little more special. The cows are made from wire (copper eletrical wire and a coat hanger for the thinner parts), aluminum foil, and polymer clay. I added some glass bead details to the "wedding dress," ribbon roses for the bouquet, and some mica powder to make the bride's costume shimmery.

Wishing Pieter and Juline all the best on their day and forever after!

PMC workshop

2010-07-30T18:37:00.011-05:00

Hey,
Just wanted to tell y’all about the PMC workshop I went to on the 23rd. It was mostly basic info about PMC. Did you know PMC was created by Mitsubishi? (The metal works division, which is a sister company to the car maker.) Our instructor said it is believed the binder in PMC is cornstarch, so even the fumes from the kiln are not toxic. Really old PMC will sometimes grow mold because of this but is still usable until it dries out. After PMC has dried out, you pretty much can’t reconstitute it. You can add water to make it creamy and use it for slip (much like clay slip) to bind jump rings and pieces of PMC together. It was believed this material would sweep the jewelry industry but that hasn’t happened. Jewelers stick to their craft using torches, saws, grinders, etc. PMC really appeals more to crafters like me who don’t know metallurgy and are kinda afraid of all those traditional jewelers tools. The original PMC had much larger particles of metal, which means more air holes around them once the binder burns away. As a result, it is very brittle after firing. The newer stuff (PMC+ and PMC3) have much smaller particles of metal, so Nancy recommends them. She told about wearing an early PMC ring during a car accident where she was not hurt but the ring hit the dash and shattered. The precious metal clay with the lowest firing temp has the smallest particles – not sure if it was + or 3. During firing the edges of the metal get “sticky” but the metal doesn’t actually metal. The particles fuse together as the binder burns out.

We worked with very small amounts of clay (that was included in the price of the workshop) – we tried the silver, brass, and copper PMC. They have recently added steel PMC to the lineup, too. While the kiln was firing our pieces, Nancy showed us how to fuse copper and silver and do enameling with a torch. That was fun but the fused pieces I tried pretty much sucked. I burned out the middles of two of them with the torch. : )

She showed us how to add jump rings to the backs of pendants using PMC and also how to set stones. There are a lot of stones that won’t work including diamonds. They turn back into carbon in the kiln. CZs will work, though. Rio Grande sells stones that will work with PMC. Lab grown stones work better than natural ones because the natural impurities can cause stones to break or burn out when firing. Some things, just as with glazes in traditional clay work, seem to happen by serendipity (or not) when firing PMC.

The best part of the class was learning about mold-making for PMC – you can use the two part stuff from Rio, or Hobby Lobby (I’m going to try the really flexible kind from hobby lobby like Tim Holtz recommended since I have some of this), cheap polymer clay, or 100% clear silicone caulk if you want to make a lot of molds. Did you know that E6000 and Goop are really just 100% clear silicone caulk? You can use those two products to make molds as well but the caulk is much cheaper. There was a lady in our class who brought in some really cool Chinese boxes. I made a couple of molds from them - bamboo and a dragon. (thanks Betsy!)

If you decide you love this medium, the start up cost is reasonable. Around $1300 will buy everything you need to get started from Rio. They have a kit that includes the kiln, a tumbler, and other pieces you need. The best part of PMC according to Nancy is that it really brought down the prices on kilns that have precise temperature controls. You can use the PMC ones for enameling, glass fusing, and small ceramic pieces as well. The tumbler helps polish your pieces and also work hardens the metal to make them stronger. You can burnish them to help strengthen and clean them but tumbling is faster and less labor intensive especially for really small pieces.

It was a great workshop. Thanks Nancy!

Look at what Denise made me!

2010-05-18T22:56:00.013-05:00

My talented artist friend Denise created this wonderful piece from a vintage, hand sewn quilt block made by my Grandma Ila. I see love in every stitch! Thank you so much, Denise! It is a beautiful tribute and I simply love it. I can't wait to see the other pieces you created using her squares.

To see some of Denise's other works, check out DeniseFelton on Etsy or you can read what she's been reviewing -- Needlework news at Craft Gossip.com.

Wordless Wednesday - 4-10-10

2010-04-14T04:57:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday - Spring

2010-03-24T12:20:00.005-05:00

Wordless Wednesday - Home improvement

2010-03-10T05:47:00.001-06:00

All grown up

2010-03-06T09:21:00.003-06:00

I finally completed filing my taxes last weekend. I’m very grateful that several years ago, my sister insisted on showing me how easy Turbo Tax is to use. She helped me start doing my own taxes AND how to reconcile my checkbook. My sister knows a lot about being a grown up. You should see her with wiring, too. I’m loving the DVD player she connected to surround sound speakers.

It’s such a relief to have my taxes finished. I don’t know why I fret over them every year, but it’s one of the things I get really anxious about doing. It always makes me feel like a 12-year-old masquerading as an adult. I qualified for a tax credit on energy efficient home improvements, though. Yea! I love the new windows and the credit was a nice bonus. One thing I bought for myself with my return is a passport. I want to be ready when any of my friends win the lottery and invite me to go some place warm and sunny. : )

It feels so weird to be doing taxes, remodeling, and worrying about such “grown up” things. I might as well be really responsible and spend the rest of my return getting my master bath finished. I really just want to go outside and play now that spring is finally beginning to show hints it’s coming. I think I will. : )

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-03T04:45:00.000-06:00

What a week

2010-02-26T16:53:00.002-06:00

I'm so glad it's Friday and the week is over. It's time for some rest, margaritas, and crafty silliness with the girls on Sunday. I have been looking forward to this break all week. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-24T05:59:00.001-06:00

This card was a long time coming

2010-02-22T22:34:00.005-06:00

I’ve had the idea for this card rolling around in my head for over a year. I made this card especially for my friend Kenny, who truly appreciates my twisted sense of humor. I call it the “zombie spinner card.” It’s no surprise that I would procrastinate on actually producing a card but I also had technical difficulties as well. Kenny celebrated his birthday in early December; I just mailed his card last week. I’m glad he knows me well enough to understand my problem with procrastination. : ) Since it took me just under 3 months to finish, I’m glad his card was well received!

I had a really hard time making this card. I scribbled out the text for it in a creative burst about 8 months ago but then I had a hard time figuring out how best to put it all together. I planned to hand-write the text on the card but wasn’t happy with how it turned out. So then I decided to digitize the text so I could alter the layout. Then I had to clean up the scans I made of the text. Have I ever told you I REALLY have OCD when it comes to playing with pixels in Photoshop? So I finally got the text like I wanted and started pulling together images from Halloween to use. I think the ones I selected work pretty well but I wasn’t all together happy with the round format since it cropped part of what I was trying to illustrate in each shot. But the round pictures did work well to swivel on the brads, so that part was pretty successful. I even had problems punching holes for this card. I felt like I’d never used scissors or paper before the whole time I was working on this one. I’ll probably make another version now that I have all the pieces created. Let me know if you have any ideas on how to make it better.

Happy birthday

2010-02-18T22:44:00.002-06:00

Wordless Wednesday - favorite Fluffy pictures

2010-02-17T05:44:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T21:11:00.000-06:00

This is the only card I made during my day off for snow. I think Mom liked it very much.

Shutterfly - win your free photo book

2010-02-13T10:33:00.007-06:00

What is better than your very own book filled with pictures you selected? Not much! My sister gave me several gift certificates for free 8 x 8 photo books from Shutterfly. There are lots of places that offer this service but who can pass up free? I ordered two different books and passed along the rest of the gift certificates to friends. I received my first book Friday afternoon. It includes pictures Kristina took at girls night to celebrate my birthday. This is one of the coolest gifts from my sister (and me) ever! My cost was $8.63 for shipping; the 20 page book normally sells for around $30.

I have one code left. Leave me a comment before 2/18/10 and I'll randomly select a winner! The code will expire on 2/28/10, so you'll want to order your book right away. For more details about photo books, visit www.shutterfly.com.

Wordless Wednesday - Fluffy and Ms. Lynn

2010-02-10T05:31:00.000-06:00

Another snow day

2010-02-09T10:21:00.002-06:00

Isn't the snow beautiful against the blue sky?

Bye bye fishes

2010-02-08T21:16:00.006-06:00

Saturday I sent my fishes back to their original Mom. I'll really miss them and the aquarium but I'm not going to miss the expense. Or the worry when there is the possibility of a power outage. I know Dene will take excellent care of them so when I miss them, I'll be happy they are in good hands. This is a terrible photo; fish are really difficult to photograph!

Wordless Wednesday - the River Rail

2010-02-03T05:13:00.002-06:00

Snow day

2010-01-31T16:04:00.015-06:00

Friday was an icy, bone-chilling day. Woke up to the sound of sleet hitting my window but still had to go to the office for a few hours. We were sent home at 10:30 so it wasn't terrible since the worst of the weather hit my house around noon. Fortunately, I was able to hitch a ride in to work and back home again so I didn't have to show my non-existent winter driving skills. (thank you Rick and Chad!) I was glad to have a few extra hours to do some things I've been procrastinating on including getting some cards ready to mail. I even got a few new ones made in my extra hours.

The neighbors were out playing, so I couldn't be left out. I got to ride on the 4 wheeler with the boy next door and watched Ms. Lynn entertain some of the neighbors' kids. She pulled out a sled from the garage (who knew we had one?) and a plastic wading pool for them to slid down our driveway. Then she gave rides in the street to a couple of the girls. Looked like fun! I rode with my neighbors to rent movies and we all had dinner Friday night.

Thank you, Kristina, for sharing your pictures!! To see more of Kristina's pictures, check out her blog post about the snow at Mouthy Kid, Moody Mom.

Saturday was a lazy day watching the rest of the movies but today I've been productive cleaning and baking cookies I owe my friend Kenny for his birthday - in December! Better late than never. :)

Wordless Wednesday - crafty weekend with Kimberly's treasures

2010-01-27T05:40:00.001-06:00

It was a very good long weekend

2010-01-26T17:31:00.019-06:00

I had a busy but fun long weekend when we were off for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. I worked a few hours on Saturday morning to finish a really important project for the office. That wasn’t particularly fun but it was rewarding in getting it off my plate. Then I got to spend some time with a few of my favorite friends and neighbors as we wished Matt and Kerri farewell. They are moving to another city for his job and will be missed dearly. But it is an exciting opportunity for them, so that is the silver lining in their departure. It was a great party; Tara has a beautiful home and was a lovely hostess.

Sunday I went to church with my neighbors and got to visit Stacey at her Sunday school class. Stacey teaches a stretch and tone class (or stretch and groan depending on whom you ask) for First Assembly North. I was happy to see her smile at some of her regulars showing up in her other class as well. Love ya, Stacey! After church, I got to visit one of my favorite “Aunts.” Really she belongs to Kimberly and Debbie, but I want to be adopted. : ) Aunt Toots kept us laughing with her stories while Kimberly and Debbie were busy crafting. Debbie looked fabulous when she breezed in wearing her stylish, handmade hat and it warmed my heart to see her smiling and feeling like playing. It was good to visit with Anne, too. She stays so busy; it was nice to hear about some of her sewing projects firsthand – and to see her sewing efforts in person. Sunday she was wearing the resplendently redesigned sweater she made.

After I came home from another fun day at Kimberly’s, I packed up my beads and headed out to see the Chartreuse Butterfly, Charlisa. We had a great time talking and beading until about 3 in the morning. The next day, we went to Hughes to a big warehouse sale, where she bought some gorgeous fabric to reupholster her loveseat. Hughes is a tiny town; it’s hard to believe this warehouse was so busy on a Monday in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. But if you have a great sale, they will come! Cotton Country is the place to go if you need upholstery fabric at reasonable prices. Charlisa showed me some of the sites in her new town – and some unusual local residents.

Like so many main streets in small town America, lots of buildings are now empty. I can only imagine that the walls of this building are full of honey. Talk about a cleanup job from hell! Charlisa and I have been friends for many years now but I am constantly amazed at her talent. She walked me through some of the things giving me problems in my own jewelry making and made it seem quite simple.
Here’s some of the pieces we completed over the weekend.

I really love her sense of style. And here are some of the pieces she’s given me (including a couple of new ones for my birthday).

If I had lots of money, her Etsy shop, Chartreuse Butterfly, would be empty.

And in between all these things that kept me busy and happy over the weekend, I was able to dash across the street to see the boy next door and get a few hugs and kisses. It was a very good long weekend, indeed. : )

Empty bucket

2010-01-22T17:51:00.002-06:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and the conclusion I've drawn is that I have spent too much of my life being an empty bucket. I don't mean my life is empty. My cup runneth over and I am very grateful. What I mean is, by letting anyone toss things in, my life hasn't always been a true reflection of what I value. Easily clouded by others' negative thoughts, emotional turmoil, and obligations, I haven't always stayed true to the path I wish to walk. Certainly not everything has been harmful. Life lessons, challenges, and different perspectives to expand my thinking have been very beneficial.

But it's not good to be an empty bucket. What does one do with the void when no one is around to throw things in? And how do you keep out the detritus that steals the joy from life?

One of my goals is to stay present and make life better one moment at a time. Spending more time with friends and family, taking care of my physical self, and helping others are priorities.

Now to make my previously empty bucket full of moments that reflect these priorities...

Wordless Wednesday - Wearing the hat

2010-01-20T06:14:00.001-06:00

Wish it were spa day again...

2010-01-16T09:33:00.000-06:00

It's almost two weeks since spa day and it already seems like a distant memory. But my car's clutch was fixed and the fridge got fixed Tuesday morning. We made very good progress on the big project at work this week, too. Even though my manicure is ruined and I have sore muscles in my shoulders from yoga that a massage would really help, thinking about spa day for my birthday makes me smile. I guess that money might have been better spent on all the repairs but you only turn 39 once, right?

And I have the pictures Kristina took right after my makeup was done to remember the day. Too bad the facial made my bangs greasy.

TGIF

2010-01-15T23:46:00.001-06:00

Looking forward to a long weekend. Gonna wish some friends farewell as they embark on life in a new city, visit friends I haven't seen in a while, and give Aunt Toots a big hug while she's in town. It's going to be a good weekend.

Hope you have a great weekend, too!

Wordless Wednesday - Playing post office

2010-01-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

Things I've learned from Debbie

2010-01-12T17:10:00.002-06:00

We aren’t in control of what happens in life but we really are in charge of our attitude about it.
There’s nothing like a genuine, positive outlook to uplift those around us.
We all get by with a little help from our friends.
Remember the good people in our lives, keep them close, and love them lots because they are what makes living worthwhile.
Our memories are a comfort when we are grieving but even better is to do something -- like the Jennifer Project.
Have faith things will be better because you never know who you will inspire.
Always, always fight like a girl!

Wordless Wednesday - Taco Eve 2009

2010-01-06T22:43:00.010-06:00

Wisdom from my niece...

2010-01-05T19:29:00.001-06:00

It is sad that I needed wisdom from my very smart niece to make me wake up and see reality but there it is. She nailed in 3 words that no matter how your heart gets broken, you can count on your chicks to pick up the pieces. Thank you Sweet Girl for your tender heart, wise words, and putting up with your Auntie and her eccentricities. ; )

I see so much of myself in my niece yet she has strength that I never had at her age. I'm very proud to be a part of her life and to know the person she is becoming.

And thank you to all my Chicks for being there. I'm sorry I lost sight of my anchors by trying to hide under my covers. Love you all! : )

Happy new year

2009-12-18T15:41:00.005-06:00

A new year, another chance. . . here's to a happy new year and a fresh start.

Sending love and hugs to my friend Deb. She is the Goddess of Overcoming Obstacles and I want to be just like her when I grow up.

The boy next door

2009-09-06T13:20:00.002-05:00

It's been a long time since I freely admitted I really liked a boy. It has been my experience that admitting to such was to invite disappointment. But the boy next door asked me out. He's good looking, smart, funny, and genuine. To say I was surprised by his interest is an understatement. I was pleased but nervous about this change in our intentions toward each other. He's been a good friend and I'd really hate to mess that up. We've had some funny, awkward moments working through what we've been to each other in the past and trying to decide where we are going from here. I am still reeling by how happy I feel, though. Giddy, even. This week I found a single, chocolate kiss outside my door. Who wouldn't be happy to find chocolate outside her door? I was really moved by this simple gesture more than if I'd found a lavish gift. My friends know I'm likely to cry at the littlest things so I'm sure it's no surprise this gesture brought tears to my eyes. He really is the sweetest thing and I feel like the luckiest girl in the whole world.

It’s a wonderful life

2009-01-09T15:44:00.001-06:00

I turned 38 on the fourth day of this year. I still feel doubtful that I did the math correctly. How can I be 38 when most days I feel like a girl making adult decisions? In some ways it seems like forever since those rites of passage into adulthood. My twenty year high-school reunion should be in a few months after all. I remember when my Dad attended his and having the thought that twenty years seemed like an eternity. My own twenty years away from all those kids I grew up with seems to have flown by and yet the years have surely separated and changed us. I keep waiting for the day when I feel inside my head the way the world sees me. I guess I’m not there yet.

As birthdays go, this one was special. My friends spoiled me and made me feel how much I am loved. Being surround by people who love you certainly takes the sting out of being a year older.

The end of the challenge

2008-12-09T21:51:00.004-06:00

It's official - the card challenge Kimberly put together is done. What a great year of fun projects from my crafty friend! Thank you, Kimberly, for all the planning that went into this. It was great to see all the different interpretations for each challenge project. Having at least one card commitment each month kept me productive this year, too. Kimberly, you rock! Thanks again. : )

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T10:37:00.001-06:00

I feel very grateful for all my friends and family. You share your time, love, and comfort not only on these special days but all the other days in my year, too. I am thankful to have a job that allows me time off to spend the holidays with those I love. I cherish my splendid memories of holidays past while looking forward to building new traditions, too. I miss those who are gone but you will be lovingly remembered.

Blessings and love to you all!

Such a lovely Saturday

2008-11-08T16:09:00.004-06:00

I hope everyone enjoyed the day. It was truly gorgeous here.

Bling

2008-11-08T15:51:00.005-06:00

Ah, the beauty of the human form...

“British artist Damien Hirst revealed his latest work of art at the White Cube Gallery in London, June 1, 2007. “For the Love of God” is a life-size cast of a human skull in platinum and covered by 8,601 pave-set diamonds weighing 1,106.18 carats. The single large diamond in the middle of the forehead is reportedly worth $4.2 million alone. Hirst financed the project himself, and estimates it cost between 10 and 15 million. Of course, it will cost someone a pretty penny to own the work: it’s priced at $99 million."
Reuters

Talk about being a succesful artist! I would really love to touch this piece. I imagine the bumpy, cold texture would feel like touching a reptile. Rijksmuseum spokeswoman Elles Kamphuis said the piece was cast from a skull of a man who died in the 18th century. Hirst bought the skull from a London dealer. (What sort of dealer has bones on hand?) The teeth used in the finished casting are from the original skull.

Kamphuis said the skull will be on display in Amsterdam for six weeks starting November 1.

Cathy's Halloween party and the coffin

2008-10-27T23:40:00.006-05:00

I love Halloween! Here are a few pictures from Cathy's party including the coffin I helped paint and line with fabric. The girls had a great afternoon working on this project and drinking margaritas. There was lots of giggling and plenty of weird looks by everyone driving by that day.

There were less weird looks Saturday when everyone was in costume. ; ) I think I had even more fun seeing every one's costume than using the blowtorch on the coffin.

I decided to go as a zombie this year because

it was cheap
it was easy and
it was comfortable to wear.

The secret to making the fake blood look real was adding chocolate powder. The downside is it made me really crave chocolate all night.

Hope you all have a happy and safe Halloween!

A creepy Halloween shadowbox and spare parts

2008-10-21T19:45:00.004-05:00

I made a shadow box for myself using some of my creepier rubber stamps.

And here are many spare parts for cards I have made. Not what you were thinking after the shadowbox, right?

Painting for Carol

2008-10-21T19:39:00.002-05:00

Here are pictures of the painting I did for Carol. The style of the original was very loose and painterly. I thought it would be easy for me to emulate. I was wrong. : )

Photos of cards from scraps

2008-10-16T00:11:00.004-05:00

Just got done looking for a water leak in the wall. Oh, the joys of owning an older home. And not even a particularly cute older home. As my friend Denise says, "oh well, la la."

I guess a picture is only worth a thousand words if it isn't blurry so here are just a few words then about the cards made of scraps...

This one has stickers, die cuts, and stamped images.

I used markers to color this stamped image.

Embossed and die cut pieces from the cuttle bug.

I made the background marbled paper when Denise and tried the technique of floating paint on starch.

This stamped image is embossed with granite ware embossing powder.

This delicate lion was made by my friend Crafty Pig. She's so patient to cut out all the little pieces.

Too bad the Pearl Ex on the flower doesn't show up in this photo.

This was my September challenge card.

Another with granite ware and silver embossing powders.

more card photos

2008-10-14T21:53:00.005-05:00

I'm a horrible blogger

2008-10-13T15:51:00.011-05:00

Not only do I neglect my blog for weeks, I barely scribble a line to go along with the photos I post. But a picture is worth a thousand words, right? I've been busy for several weeks getting ready for a giant yard sale at the end of October. The storage unit is almost empty! What a huge relief to be free of all that clutter. I still have lots of organizing to do in my garage but things are feeling less chaotic.

All work and no play would make Stacie a dull girl. In the spirit of getting rid of clutter, I have also been making cards with my scrap papers. I have lots of pictures to post; I'll make that a goal for this week. I also completed a painting I started for my sister many moons ago. It's not a fabulous painting, but I am pleased to be "done." Since Carol seems to like it, all is well. I'll post a picture of the painting soon, too.

Since I last posted any news my sweet friend Juline had her baby girl, Shyenne. I really hate being on the other side of the planet for this event!! I would dearly love to hold this precious little thing! Jules is out on maternity leave until January. I can hardly wait to see more pictures and hear how they are all doing.

Last week was a big one--Les Mis at the Rep Thursday with some of the Ya Yas, girls' night at my house Friday, Race for the Cure, and the birthday party for Amy and Kristina on Saturday. I'll have to find some pictures from these events to post also.

Happy October!

And finally, all our platters...

2008-09-24T21:33:00.005-05:00

Here is a photo of everyone's platters. They are so varied and everyone's turned out really cool:

We have platters!

2008-09-24T16:22:00.002-05:00

Here is Denise's fired platter. Isn't it gorgeous?!

Geronimo!

2008-08-29T15:20:00.004-05:00

Here is a picture of the collage I donated to the Candle Lighter's Gallery of Hope. The collage features a picture of my Daddy when he was itty bitty along with an arrow head he knapped, and trade beads from his black powder rendezvous days.

Still waiting...

2008-08-14T22:17:00.003-05:00

I called Firefly Studio Wednesday and it looks like we are still about two weeks out on getting our platters fired due to the back-log from Splatters. Oh well, that means they are doing a great job helping the Centers for Youth and Families raise money, right?

I'll keep you posted and get pictures of the finished platters posted ASAP.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

2008-08-14T22:07:00.005-05:00

Yes, I will be the fairest of them all when my lovely new pendent arrives from Remarkably Red!

It looks gorgeous in this picture but I've seen it in person and it is even more fair. And if that wasn't reason enough for me to be happy, Charlisa now has her own blog! Check out Through the Clouded Glass.

Oh what fun!

2008-08-02T15:01:00.009-05:00

When I picked up supplies Friday, Beth told me we were the first to have a Splatters Platters party. Both Tiffany and Beth are waiting to see how things went for us. I am very happy to report that the party was a big success! I hope everyone had as much fun as I did painting, talking, and eating. The only sad note for the day is that Anne was not able to stay with us. Our love and thoughts are with you and your family, Anne! I am glad you are still able to paint a platter so you don't feel left out. I'm posting results from this morning's efforts. Well, the painting that is. The efforts that went into the delicious potluck are sadly not shown but were very yummy! Thank each and every one of you for making this a successful fundraiser for the Centers and for contributing to a wonderful Saturday for me! It was an awesome day. : )

We need a few more painters to benefit the Center for Youth and Families

2008-07-13T14:25:00.005-05:00

If I counted correctly, we have 6 potential participants for our Splatters Platters party (Lisa, Denise, Anne, Janna, Bethany, and me) but we still need at least 4 more to schedule a party. Does anyone know someone they'd like to invite to participate? I'm looking at Saturday, August 2, if we can find a few more painters in time to get the party on their calendar. I'll plan to pick things up at the Firefly Studio and make something good for us to eat while we have a fun day painting.

I checked with Tiffany and she said painting platters for our party would be fine. She also explained the auction:

The pottery painted from our Splatters Platters Parties are not included in the auction at Splatters. Since it costs $35 per person, this includes the cost of the pottery, glazing, firing and each person keeps their piece of painted pottery. However, if someone wants to participate in the auction part of Splatters, then they will complete the Artist Information Form and return to me. They can go to the Firefly Studio and choose between 2 styles of platters (styles were chosen by the Art & Auction Chairs) to paint. Since the artist is donating their time to provide something to our auction at Splatters, there is no cost to the artist. All these platters painted by the
artists are included in the silent auction.

Let's plan a party

2008-06-26T17:40:00.004-05:00

How does early August look for a Splatters Platters party? I received a follow up e-mail from Tiffany with details about scheduling a party at the Firefly Studio.

Here's the highlights

Parties should be scheduled 3 to 4 weeks in advance to assure supplies are available.
We need 10 to 16 participants who agree to have all proceeds from the party directed to The Centers for Youth and Families.
The cost to participate is $35/person
There can be no parties on Saturday at the Firefly Studio.
The Centers will send a thank you letter stating the charitable portion of their gift to each person who participates.
Each guest keeps the piece they paint. They may pick it up from The Firefly Studio once it has gone through the firing process.

The party can actually be held somewhere other than Firefly Studio if the host picks up the pieces, paints, and tools and returns them to be fired. Since we’ll need a large group to participate and this could be a messy endeavor, I figure it's easier to go to Firefly unless we need the party to be on a Saturday. In that case, I’ll make arrangements to pick things up and we can plan to paint at my house.

Tiffany recommends having a theme for the party and suggested several really good ones. We can do one of these, think of our own, or keep it simple and just enjoying talking while we paint. We would provide the refreshments and other goodies for our party.

Ideas they recommend:

Wine and Cheese Party – personalize your own wine glass or paint a cheese platter. Invite a wine expert to come and talk about wine. Serve wine and cheese.
Beer Party – paint a beer stein and have a demonstration by Diamond Bear Brewery. Serve Beer and Pretzels.
Garden Party – paint a planter and invite your garden club and a master gardener to speak. Serve fun snacks.
Holiday Party – paint a holiday ornament, plate for Santa, etc. Use red, green and white paint. Serve holiday food.
Ice Cream Party – paint an ice cream cone or bowl and serve/build your own sundaes.
Tea Party – paint a tea pot. Host your own tea party.
Popcorn Party – paint a bowl for popcorn, serve popcorn and sodas, show a movie.
Princess Party – paint a princess crown. Have guests wear crowns and they can be a princess for a day.

Let me know how August looks for you and if you have any ideas for our party.

Hope you each enjoy a celebration of our independence today. May our troops be blessed and safe until they are home at last.

I've been tagged!

2008-06-24T21:21:00.003-05:00

Six unimportant things about me:

I hate to back up files. Being OCD, I'm always anxious something will be left out, won't work later, etc.
I am a terrible procrastinator especially if I don't feel I have time to do things the way I want them done.
I wear my retainer almost every night since I paid for braces and suffered through wearing them as an adult.
Mascara makes my eyes itch.
My work space is currently in a mess which makes me feel uncreative.
My contacts decided to self destruct today, which made the commute home very interesting. I'm happy to report I did arrive safely, though.

Model Magic

2008-06-18T18:39:00.007-05:00

Have you seen this stuff from Crayola? My sister gave me left-overs from my niece's school project. It's cheap, comes in different colors, and air dries quickly. When dry, it is very light weight. It holds details pretty well, too. I know it can be colored with markers but I haven't experimented with paints yet. The problem with marker ink is slow drying time.

The little piece I colored red left smudges on my fingers and the table. Once dried, Model Magic feels kinda like foamies. It doesn't break if you drop it but it was no match for Gunner the Pomeranian's teeth. (Note the gash above the lip of this little devil, who is also missing a horn after his run in with the dog. He faired better than his model magic brethren who were all eaten.) It's non-toxic but as dogs seem to like to eat it, I'd store it high if you have pets. Create sheets with a pasta roller and it can be stamped. I'm not sure super fine details would stamp but the chunky one I used worked just fine.

Forget Me Not

2008-06-17T23:15:00.010-05:00

I stumbled across an interesting site called photomuse from a link on the ICP Web site, which I found on The Frontal Cortex blog. I came across images from a 2005 exhibit called Forget Me Not: Photography and Remembrance. Take a look at some photos from the collection:

Makers unknown (American),
Portrait of a young woman with wax flower wreath,
c.1890
Albumen print, copper plate with impressed words “At Rest”, wax flowers and butterflies, woven human hair, wooden frame with glass
87.2 x 82.0 x 19.0 cm
Private Collection

Makers unknown (American),
Portrait of husband and wife on their wedding day,
c.1890
Albumen print on card (cabinet card), rosette, veil, wooden frame with glass
40.0 x 31.5 cm
Private Collection

These remind me of Denise's collages--only without witty stories or funny punchlines. See the press release from this exhibit. I really wish I could have seen this exhibit in person but the catalog will have to suffice. I can hardly wait until it arrives.

Twice as witchy

2008-06-15T00:15:00.006-05:00

My twin friends just had a birthday and we are taking them to dinner next Friday night to celebrate. Here are twin surprises for them. I had fun making these witches today. I printed them on my laser printer from my clip art CD. I then used gel pens, pearl ex, and layers of paper with foam dots for dimension. I also used a couple of tiny jewels to embellish them. I made a couple of extra witches so they are sure to pop up soon in another box or two.

Tiffany says...

2008-06-13T17:33:00.004-05:00

I received an e-mail response from Tiffany today. Here's what she says:

"Hi Stacie!
Thank you for your email! I am so excited you are interested in hosting a painting party for your friends. This is a new twist to our splatters platters and we are excited by the interest. We are actually meeting with our Splatters Platters Chair soon to solidify some of the details. I will contact you with more details soon. Thanks again for your interest and support for Splatters Classic and The Centers."

I'll keep you posted on what I learn.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Happy crafting! : )

More Splatters

2008-06-12T18:57:00.006-05:00

I get e-mails from Hot in Little Rock most everyday. And guess what yesterday's topic was? Splatters! Here's what they had to say about it:

"Are you jealous of those kids’ parties going on at the paint-your-own-pottery stores? Whenever we take our kids to a birthday party at one, it’s hard to leave without pulling up a chair and grabbing some greenware ourselves. Well…here’s your chance to make your dreams come true, and the dreams of all your friends!
Every year, The Centers for Youth & Families puts on “Splatters: Another Fine Mess” in October. This fun event, coupled with an always sold-out golf tournament, features lots of art and platters painted by fabulous local artists. Well this year, they’re starting early. Not only will they have their big party in October, but they’ve created a new event called “Splatters Platters.”
These mini-events are coordinated by anyone who wants to throw a party for The Centers. You can have the party at Firefly Studios or at your home. Just invite at least ten of your friends to paint a platter and donate the cost to The Centers. The pieces painted are you and your guests to keep.
So throw a wine party and paint wine coolers, or a coffee party and paint coffee mugs, or a Razorback party and paint some party plates for tailgating season! Whatever you want, Firefly will work with you to throw the best painting party ever – and it’s all for a great cause: helping the kids and families in Arkansas who need it the most."

I'll let you know all the particulars when I hear back from Tiffany and maybe we can put together our own mini event!

Craft for a cause

2008-06-11T23:04:00.005-05:00

I received information in the mail about Splatters this week. Splatters: Another fine mess is the annual fund raiser for the Center for Youth and Families. Artists can submit their own piece of art, a platter painted in their own medium, or a platter painted at The Firefly Studio in Little Rock to benefit the Centers. Many moons ago, I painted a platter for them. Here's a picture of the unfired piece.

Splatters will be held October 12 from 6:30 - 9:00 at the Pleasant Valley Country Club. This year, a juried art process will be added in addition to the non-juried platters. 50 pieces will be accepted for display and sale through this process. The top 10 will receive honorable mention and those 10 artists will get a return of 50% of the auction price. To submit your piece, e-mail splatters2008@thestroudgroup.com no later than August 15, 2008. Images should be no larger than 8x10 and 72DPI. Artists will be notified the status of their piece no later than September 15, 2008.

The platters will not be juried but are very popular at the auction. Platters can be picked up at The Firefly beginning July 1, 2008. You can paint it there or take it home. September 1 is the deadline for turning in all Splatters Platters to the Centers Foundation office.

For more information, call Tiffany at (501) 666-9436 or e-mail twarriner@cfyf.org. The Firefly Studio is located at the Village in Pleasant Valley (I 430 and Rodney Parham Road). They are right next to the Dixie Cafe and in the same shopping center as Wild Oats Market (formerly Beans and Grains) and Chili's. According to About.com, the store number is 501-225-1403 and their hours are M-S from 10:00-6:00.

Living on…

2008-06-10T22:26:00.007-05:00

I was reading on The Frontal Cortex blog about the limits of technology to capture the world around us and early fears that photographs and cinema would make art and artists obsolete. I found the quote Lehrer posted from one early cinema critic really interesting.

“…but with movement, action, familiar gesture and the words out of their mouths, then death will not longer be absolute, final.”

How comforting I find the images of my Dad, who will be gone 7 years this month. It is strange to me that I find comfort in the still images; frozen bits of memories of those dear to me, yet seeing movies starring actors who have died makes me feel sort of sad and empty. As if somehow seeing their familiar gestures and hearing the words from their mouths emphasizes that they are now lost to us.

Ghostly images

2008-06-09T22:24:00.010-05:00

Lately I’ve been using a technique in my shadow boxes that incorporates stamped transparencies "painted" with Pearl Ex powders. I stamped images on transparency film with Staz-on ink, then colored them with Pearl Ex using my Stampin-up aqua painter filled with acrylic floor wax. I really like how these layer in the boxes and I’ve found them much easier to incorporate than glass slides. The only thing I haven’t had much success with is using embossing powder on transparencies as it warps and shrinks when I heat the powder. As it cools, the embossing powder wants to chip of the slick surface.

And here's a box that incorporates Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum with scrolls stamped then embossed with gold embossing powder on transparency film.

This is a fun technique to use on cards with windows. Here’s one I made. If you try this technique, I’d love to see your results.

Finished at last!

2008-06-08T22:54:00.008-05:00

I finally found my staple gun and attached my mini art quilt to its frame. What do you think? I'm not entirely pleased with it but I'm ignoring my inner critic since I actually finished it.

I'm donating this piece to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of North Central Arkansas for their auction at the annual Karaoke for a Cause fund-raiser on July 24. I hope it finds a loving home and also helps further a good cause. For more information on this event, call 888-393-9027 or visit their Web site.

If you haven’t heard the good news about Denise’s new endeavor, hop over to her blog to read about it. I owe Denise a big thanks for pointing me in the right direction on Google Reader last week. It makes reading all the blogs I love much easier--especially since I seem to have developed an aversion to sitting at my computer after work hours.

Bits and pieces

2008-04-23T22:17:00.008-05:00

Well, I'm hopelessly behind reading Ya Ya posts but I am nearly done with my April card challenge. With help from Anne, Denise, and Scarlett I think my idea for the card is funny now. Then again, my sense of humor is so warped we'll see if I'm the only one laughing. : ) This has been a challenging month, so my sense of humor is not in top form. I'm planning to get my card posted by Friday. (See? It's in writing. Now I have to do it.)

Speaking of getting inspiration from that trio of talented ladies, I had a great time at the Drunkin' Bunkin' party working on fabric collage. I'm still working on my piece, which is also my first attempt at beading. So far, my "row" of beads is, well, not in a row. Not sure how the finished piece will look but it has been a fun learning experience. I thank each of them for sharing their goodies, ideas, and inspiration!

About a week or so ago, I received a pretty card from Debbie and a purple bracelet that reads "Cure CF." I haven't sent her a thank you note but I thought it was really sweet for her to share. I feel happy to wear it as a way to remember and honor sweet Jennifer.

I finished another shadow box. Look Kimberly! I used the rest of my crackle paint to refinish the frame. Thanks for sharing and letting me experiment. Now I'm wondering what I can add to regular acrylic paint to make it crackle. I'll let you know if I discover the answer.

Stormy weather

2008-04-07T14:56:00.006-05:00

My sister's car was pummeled by her Bradford pear tree in the storms last week but I have no other damage to report for my crew. She lives about a mile from the NLR airport, which was hit pretty hard. I hope everyone else faired well during the foul weather.

pictures

2008-03-30T22:49:00.008-05:00

Here are pictures as promised of Charlisa's domino necklaces and recent progress on my screen.

Spring

2008-03-28T11:02:00.002-05:00

I’m really glad spring is here--and more sunshine. I’ve been playing in the garden sweeping away the last bits of fall and winter, cleaning up the canvas so Mom can paint it with pretty flowers. Since the days are getting longer, I feel I have more time to be creative both in the garden and in my studio.
Taxes and boring organizational tasks out of the way, I can focus on fun. I have painted once since working with Charlisa; I’ll post pictures of the additional work soon. Since I completed quite a bit, I’d like to push and finish one of the panels this weekend. I also need to get caught up on cards since there are a couple of birthdays I’m about to miss. I can’t quite figure out where I lose all my time. I feel rather inadequate I’m not producing more art when I have so little to show for my time. I see so many tremendous artists who have children, husbands, jobs, and other responsibilities to steal away their creative time yet they produce so many beautiful things. Is it that I’m too easily distracted or just too lazy? Spring is full of fresh growth and new beginnings so I’m hoping to inject my all projects with spring fever.

Treasures

2008-03-21T14:21:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I received treasures in the mail--Charlisa sent me two very lovely domino necklaces strung on beaded wire. Even though I picked out the dominoes when I visited and knew Charlisa was planning to mail them, I was completely blown away by their arrival. Both necklaces were packed in a pretty, red organza bag but the real surprise was how much the beading changed the look of the dominoes. I was expecting more casual looking pieces but instead each piece is refined, delicate, and very elegant. I will post pictures soon to share the alluring alcohol-ink abstracts adorning each piece. In the meantime, you can check out Charlisa’s other creations on her new Etsy site:
Remarkably Red

Progress

2008-03-03T20:59:00.004-06:00

Here is the progress from Friday night's painting frenzy. Thanks Charlisa for a fun, inspiring weekend!

All done

2008-02-13T23:36:00.006-06:00

My butterfly is finished after much fretting over the wings. I finally achieved the look I wanted using tee shirt transfers on tissue paper. I coated one side with white glue to add a little stiffness and attached a wire using super glue. I then drilled holes in the butterfly's body and glued the wires supporting the wings in place. The original technique using liquid polymer came out more like the texture of a bat wing and the resulting wings were too heavy to stand up under their own weight. These are much more delicate and still a little translucent.

Art therapy

2008-02-07T16:09:00.002-06:00

I’m a collector of unfinished projects. I have everything from a tri-fold room divider I’ve been “painting” for about 10 years to an unfinished car restoration I embarked on 6 years ago. Working to squelch my tendency to procrastinate and start a new uncluttered life, with fresh eyes I’m beginning to sort out what still fits and conclude everything that doesn’t. The Spitfire is a prime example of a project that no longer fits my life. It only serves to remind me of the past and money wasted. Even if it were magically finished, it is an unwanted weight on my shoulders. That project goes in the discard category. A few of my unfinished projects I’d still like to see completed. One obvious reminder of often started projects I’ve failed to follow through is the painted screen standing quietly unfinished and forlorn in my living room. Completing this visible reminder will be a huge victory in overcoming procrastination and a symbol of accomplishment. My friend Charlisa, who is a very talented painter, has volunteered to provide motivation and lend me a hand in finishing the project. After this emotionally difficult week, I’m really looking forward to some carefree time spent doing “art therapy” and sharing lots of laughs. Even if we don’t finish, I will make real progress toward a goal—and get a chance to catch up with Charlisa.

Hatching the butterfly

2008-02-01T13:21:00.001-06:00

Well, I'm nearing completion of my creation for Eggshibition. The only remaining element is the wings. I'm excited about trying a new technique to make nearly translucent wings but a little nervous, too. If they don't turn out right, then what? Here's a picture of the wingless version.

The marabou really adds movement to the piece--and a mess floating around my studio.

Messages from a distant friend

2008-01-25T13:23:00.001-06:00

My South African friend, Juline, sent me a couple of e-mails this week. It was so nice to hear that she received and enjoyed the package I sent her for Christmas. I've been watching Supernatural season II on DVD, which was a Christmas gift to myself. Juline introduced me to the show and I must say that whenever I'm watching, I am also thinking about Jules and remembering hanging out on Thursday nights. I'm so grateful that even though Juline is a world away instead of across the street now, we still have ways to connect and continue our friendship.

Just before Juline returned home to South Africa we had the thought to start a project idea book as a way to teach each other craft techniques. So across the ocean using e-mail and recently videos, we are beginning to build our books. I’m taking part in Kimberly’s Creative Card Challenge 2008; I'm sure to have many exciting new things to send Juline this year. If the other projects are as fun as smackin' acetate, she's sure to love them. My project book is also going to be a repository for my collection of scraps of paper--ideas from magazines, photos, and such. These things will be a visual reference library of sorts. Getting my book together in a usable format is another of my many organizational resolutions for the year.

Vacation is nearing its end

2007-12-30T15:49:00.001-06:00

Why does vacation always fly by? Even though it is fast slipping away, this has been a wonderful holiday. We celebrated the second annual Taco Eve at my house and had a wonderful Christmas dinner at Carol's house on Sunday. Carol and I managed to get Chloe's loft bed "built" and I've come really close to having my office/studio completely organized. Thanks Carol for the new shelves in the closet! That is a big help. I'm ready to tackle my egg for Youth Home and have made progress on my "Project Book" Juline and I started. I finally mailed her the package I've been putting together including the recipe for salt dough and some ornaments I made for her.

I read Denise's blog today and am so happy she got the best gift ever. She does indeed have two beautiful daughters. I hope all my Ya Ya sisters had a gift equally special this year!

Might as well join the fun

2007-12-21T10:47:00.001-06:00

I've been enjoying Denise and Annie's blogs so much that I've taken their advice and started my own. I procrastinate so much I often wonder how I get anything done; we'll see how my blog progresses over the coming year. The Art Ya Yas are such an inspiring bunch that I feel like I can do anything! Maybe my blog will inspire me to create more, dig for information about my interests, and help someone else be inspired. That's my hope. Now I'll add some work to the mix and see what happens.