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

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Happy Halloween!!!

This is our sweet Sophie Cat back in much happier Halloweens in Corona, CA.  I guess she's now our Halloween kitty ghost...hope she haunts us as much as possible.  I do still find a bit of kitty hair & I even found a whisker the other day...I believe it's a sign she's still here in spirit.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y'ALL !!!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Dia de los Muertos Bracelet

This is my Dia de los Muertos bracelet...finally complete...or, knowing me...probably finally complete.  I often make changes to the stuff I keep of what I've made...so nothing is really FINAL as long as it's here.

These charms are a combination of some that I have made, some purchased ones such as the dancing skeleton, and some lovely crosses, a heart Milagro & Virgin de Guadalupe medal gifted to me by my dear friend Gabriela in Mexico City.  Muchas gracias, Gabriela!

Yesterday's mail brought an envie packed full of MORE Dia de los Muertos loveliness...the charms from our swap in the ArtCharms group!  I think y'all know what I'll be working on next!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Halloween Bracelet

So here is the best reason to participate in ArtCharms swaps...my new Halloween bracelet!  It's a combination of swapped charms & some of my own to fill in...and I just love it.  Thanks to all my swap sisters who played in this one.

Just found out that our Dia de los Muertos charms have gone postal...so another bracelet will be created soon...I'm really looking forward to  receiving those charms.  I'll share a pic of that bracelet, too. 

Please remember that if you are able to help, my friend Melody is still collecting donations for her Art Supply Drive to help at risk school students.  Many thanks to all of you who have helped already...it's a great cause with tangible benefits...and hopefully benefits for years to come for these kids.



Saturday, October 8, 2011

Humane Society Fundraiser update & a call for Art Supplies

Thanks to permission from Jeanette Janson, I am able to share the pic above of some of my donated items for sale at the Humane Society fundraiser.  You can read more about the fundraiser on Jeanette's blog.  I was so happy to be able to donate & to see the little tribute card I created about our dear Sophie included in this display.  You can also see more of the event photos here.

In other art related news, once again my dear friend, Melody, is teaching art journaling to a class of at-risk students in Southern CA.  Melody has been volunteering her time to teaching these students for quite a few years now & can really use any donations from all of us.  It seems that as artists, we always have extra supplies...or access to great deals on supplies...and it's a great feeling to be able to share with these kids. 

Melody can explain it much more eloquently than I can...so please check out her Art Supply Drive on her blog & please donate if you are able.  She shares a great video explaining her program at that link.  Please take a few minutes to visit my dear friend's blog & please donate if you can.  I know times are tough for all of us, but every little bit helps & all of it goes to very good use.

Thanks & have a great weekend...it's actually NICE weather here for a change...a complete opposite of last weekend's gloom & doom.  We'll be out enjoying it as much as we can.


Sunday, October 2, 2011

Art Charm swaps

One day of looking at that icky photo as the first thing on my blog was more than enough...so I'm going to share pix of some recent charm swaps I've done with the ArtCharms group.  The one above was Woodstock & the 1960s...well, I wasn't at Woodstock, but I definitely was around in the 60s, having graduated from high school in 1970. 


Then there was a Summer Garden swap...I did 2 different designs for that one...both with flowers & butterflies.  Fun swap.


A Summertime quick swap where we only made 5 charms & got 5 back.  I did 2 different sets...the fishies & the SUN!  We'll do the same swap for Autumn, that nasty Winter, & Spring, too. 

Here are my charms for the Going Native theme.  Bone beads with chips of turquoise & red jasper.  All of the swaps above have ended & our charms from others in the group have returned to us.

Our most recent swaps are due to the hostesses soon.  My bone skeletons for Halloween are above.  I adore those little skull beads.

And then the swap I was most excited to see...a Dia de los Muertos swap!  My sugar skull contribution is shown above.  I'm currently working on a Dia de los Muertos bracelet for myself, & the charms from this swap might just end up as another bracelet once they have returned to me.  This was a big swap...28 charms...so that will be a nice, full second bracelet...or maybe a Dia de los Muertos altered book with the swap charms hanging from the spine.  Only time will tell. 

There were also quite a few swaps I didn't play in...I have to limit how many I do.  If you want to get started in making Artcharms, or want a nice active charm group, I can recommend the ArtCharms Yahoo group...lots of great art charms, fun people & everyone pitches in to answer questions if you need help on a technique. 


Saturday, October 1, 2011

As for me...I'm going back to bed...

Well, October is here in O-HELL-O.  This is the best pic I could get out the back window...no way am I going outside today.  It's been so cold & rainy that we had to give in & turn on the furnace last night...on September 30th...the blasted furnace was on!!!  No turning it off today, either...the forecast is bleak.  It's in the 40s already...way too cold for me, but I know it's gonna get worse...lots worse & that winter crap will last for around 6 months.  I definitely have SAD & shouldn't have moved here to begin with...but can't fix that mistake right now.  One day...one day we'll escape again.

Have I told you lately that I hate it here???

I got brave & opened the front door...this is the view looking east down this street of ticky tacky 1950s suburban "dreams". 

My plan for this first October Saturday?  I'm going back to bed!
  Phil already did that...he's a smart man.