"Hey, if I had somewhere to go, I certainly wouldn't be in Cleve-Land." -Howard the Duck

Thursday, July 8, 2010

New Bracelets in my Artfire Studio!

I've been enjoying a creative streak since I bought some Memory Wire to make bracelets for my Artfire Studio.  I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE beads & these bracelets show them off beautifully.  They would make a great gift for a birthday or just because...and they are priced so you can treat yourself, too!

Here are the other bracelets just added...and more will be added soon. 






I'm also working on some charm bracelets...so watch for that announcement in the days ahead.  You can check them out at Kitten Creates or click on the link in the right hand column of my blog. 

Thanks for looking!


Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy 4th of July, 1962 style

Phil & I now live in the house I grew up in...a very typical 1950's style suburban tract house.  This neighborhood was a great place to live as a kid, since there were so many families with kids around the same ages as my brother & me.  We were all friends & if someone else's Mom told you to do something, you listened & did it...it was just the same as having your own Mom tell you.  Suburbia.

Now, many of our neighbors here are the same Moms & Dads who started their families' Ozzie & Harriet style lives here...we're all just older.  The kids are out on their own...some scattered across the country as we were before we moved back here to help Mom.  Many are still living in NE Ohio & always have...although personally, I cannot understand why, when there are so many better places to live...like Southern CA!  The neighborhood is what I'd call an older, established one...but there are now some young families moving in.  You don't see all that many kids out playing these days...times have changed. 

I remember so many years when we'd get up early on the 4th of July & dress in red, white & blue, then decorate our bikes or grab a flag & have a 4th of July Parade.

We would march up & down the street...first one side & then the other.  Life was good & we were living our parents' suburban dream.  I recently found these photos from 1962...you've gotta love that they're in black & white with very cool deckle edges.  I was 9 then, going on 10.  My brother, Bob, was 6. 
Here we are, in our 4th of July "finery"!

Bob was tall for his age...and this year he was supposed to be Uncle Sam. 
LOVE the crooked mustache made from cotton balls!

So on this 4th of July, 2010, I send you greetings from a far simpler age than the one we live in now.  Blessings to all our soldiers who are fighting to this day for freedom...& even though I do not agree with the wars we are now in, I admire & respect the sacrifice of our Armed Forces.  Blessings to the families of these fine soldiers, too.  May they all come home again safely & soon...very soon!

From Parma, OH to you, wherever you are...
Happy 4th of July, 1962 style!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Altered Patina Art Charms


I figured it's time for some art...so here goes.

I'm hosting a swap over at the Red Lead Paperworks Yahoo Group & we're swapping charms made with these awesome patina charms that Red Lead sells.  The charms are due to me by July 31, so there's still time to play if you'd like.  Just join the group & sign up for the swap in the database...all the details are in there.  You'll need to stop by Red Lead if you're lucky enough to live close enough for that....or order your charms from their online shop.  Then have fun creating...I sure did! 

The swap is 4 for 3...one of your charms will be shipped to Red Lead Paperworks to be on display in their store...cool beans!  The dragonfly charm above is staying here with me...and the ones I'm swapping are shown below.  I hope you enjoy them.