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

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter!


Wishing you & yours a very Happy Easter!
 
 

Thursday, March 28, 2013

In their Easter Bonnets...

Awhile back I was chatting with my dear friend Melody via email...she's still out in beautiful Southern CA & we, unfortunately, are not.  Melody is Mom to two adorable bunnies & I remembered seeing tiny straw hats around here somewhere...and I told her if I could find them, she might just get Easter Bonnets for the bunnies.
 
Well, I did find them & the one I decorated for Cypress...the sweet little girl bunny...is above.  I didn't take a pic of the hat for Pinto...he's the boy bunny...but boy-oh-boy...Melody sure did.
 
You need to visit her blog to see the bunnies in all their Easter finery...ready for the Easter Parade...if they don't eat the hats first!!!  Be sure to click on over to Melody's blog...you'll be giggling all day.
 
Happy Easter or Happy Passover...and hopefully soon Happy Spring WITH Springtime weather to you!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

One of my Collections...

I admit it...I'm a collector.  I love certain things & love to have them around.  I also love to use the things I collect...I'm thinking that gives them a certain redeeming social value, no?
 
One of my favorite things to collect is fruit & vegetable shaped stuff.  If these fruits happen to have a cover...like a sugar bowl or little fruit shaped container...all the better.  Another passion of mine is bowls...fruit shaped or otherwise.  See those bananas in the corner...they're bowls.  I hate the smell of bananas & can't even bear to be around someone eating one...but I do love how they look.  The watermelon & cantaloupe bowls are favorites, too.  The peach is from a way too long layover in the airport in Atlanta...and my Mom had lots of fruit shaped paperweights that are now living happily among my other fruits.
 
Each of these fruits has a story...and it makes me happy to remember where & when I acquired them.  The pineapple in the back is actually a tropical drink vessel that I talked the owner of a favorite Chinese restaurant into selling to me.  A week later, we planned to go to dinner there & the place was empty...it looked as if they closed down in a hurry.  Every piece has a story.
 
This shelf is in our living room...the bright colors add a bit of whimsy to the bookcase & the fruits are in easy reach when I want to use them.  My vegetable collection is spread out in various cabinets...but is well loved & used. 
 
Do you have a collection of favorite items?  Do you use them or simply display them?  Inquiring minds want to know.
 

Monday, March 25, 2013

We are NOT amused!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...not Easter!  Even Sunny Cat is tired of this crappy Ohio weather.  Schools are cancelled today...we are not in the least bit amused.
 
This is the backyard...the noise in the pic is the screen...which replaced the storm windows on March 9th when it was balmy & sunny outside.  I'm going back to bed...wake me when the snow is gone for good.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

You've gotta be kidding!

Remember the crocus from March 9th? Here they are today...
 
See them below...I was sure SPRING couldn't be far off...
Boy was I wrong!!!
 
To add insult to injury...it was 18 degrees outside when I first woke up...now it's 17...not funny!
I give up...I'm going back to bed!  I'll be the one curled up in a fetal position...you won't be able to miss me.
 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Happy Spring!

Well, the calendar says it's the first day of Spring...but you sure wouldn't know it by our weather here in one of the worst places we've ever lived.  It's all of 27 degrees outside and we could have that dreaded s-word stuff.  I'm so sick of winter I could just spit!
 
The pretty vintage brooch above is one of the springiest things I can think of right now.  It's vintage...belonged to my maternal Grandma...and was made in Austria, which is where Grandma was born.  I love it, but I've come to the realization that I never wear much of my vintage jewelry anymore, so it's time to release it to new homes.  It's for sale in my Etsy shop.  So is the little beauty below...
These pretty brooches & more are now available...please stop by if you care to look. 
 
Thanks...and HAPPY SPRING!!!
 

Friday, March 15, 2013

Patience is a Virtue...

...and it's one I don't usually have. 
Sometimes, however, it can pay off.
 
I just got the mail & in it was a copy of the Apr/May/June 2013 issue of The Stampers' Sampler.  The mailing label said "Congratulations!  You've been published in...The Stampers' Sampler."
 
Now...it's been ages since I've submitted anything to the magazines, although I used to do so quite often.  Having worked for Stampington & Company years ago, I know they may hold on to submissions for a long time, waiting for the right time to use them.  When I saw this card published, I vaguely remembered creating it...but I looked back in my computer archives & sure enough...I made this card back in October 2008! 
 
So...those of you who have submitted artwork to a publication...be patient.  You just may be published...eventually.  And continue to submit artwork if you want to be published...you can't be published if you don't send stuff in. 

More tags & ribbons...

These tags & ribbons make me happy. 
I love the process of dyeing them & waiting to see how the colors turn out. 
I love combining the colors to make pretty sets.
 
It's even fun to do the packaging so that each set looks pretty when someone buys it.
 
 
 
These tag and ribbon sets are the newest additions to my little Etsy shop
 
I'm also destashing more items from my studio.  How about some pretty pink envies?  I've packaged these in sets of 24 & of course they're sweetly wrapped.
 
I'll be adding some more items from time to time...More sewing patterns & vintage items are next. Please stop by if you care to browse.  Thanks!
 
 

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

It can't be long now...

...or at least that's what I keep telling myself.  These are the first crocus of 2013.  They opened nicely on Saturday, March 9th...and loved the warm sun on Sunday.  By Monday we were back into the cold temps and might have a bit of snow on the way.  These crocus are hardy little guys...as long as it's not a wet, heavy snow, they could survive it.  We'll see how it goes...but this is always our first sign that Spring is on it's way.
 

Monday, March 4, 2013

My friend Melody...


...is a very talented artist who has been VERY busy lately.  In addition to her fabulous service teaching at risk school kids through her Bits & Pieces Art Program, Melody has now opened an Etsy shop AND has released her first book! 

First...her Etsy Shop, Melody Nunez.  One of her recycled wine cork pendants is shown above.  Gotta love that trendy owl & the artistic touches Melody adds to each of her pendants.  She also has notecards & some super cool vintage pen nibs...with more items to come.  Stop by her NEW shop to browse & maybe find the perfect gift for a special friend...or for yourself. 


Melody's first book is also available.  It's called "An Altered Existence: Fictitious Stories About Faces from the Past".  You can read her blog posts about it here...and see her bunnies' endorsement of her book here.  It's available for purchase on Amazon NOW...AND in her Etsy shop...such exciting news from my dear friend Melody.

Congrats, Melody...I'm so excited for you and your new adventures!