A Few New Artist Finds

This is called soft sculpture. It is done by artist Abby Glassenberg. When I first saw her work I immediately fell in love. The detail is amazing. Go to her website www.abbyglassenberg.com to see more.

The second is a photographer who takes mostly wildlife photos in Alaska. His name is Jasper James. My next step is to goggle his name to see if there is a website.

Soulmate came home today after being gone on business and he took us to lunch and then I fell into the deepest sleep for a couple of hours. Drool down my chin kind of deep sleep. So happy to have him back.

Pottery Pick Up

So Lady B and I made our bi-weekly pottery run and I dropped off some work and picked up the above. I'm really pleased with how it all turned out. We then went to a big craft fair put on by www.SugarloafCrafts.com . There was alot of different stuff- most felt mass produced to me. I get spoiled by being on Flickr and looking at all the handmade stuff. I didn't buy anything but held packages as Lady B went through getting a little of this and a little of that. She ended up getting this beautiful picture on canvas of a group of eagles done by Jasper James. Beautiful work. I may goggle him and see what else he has done. He was telling us he has been to Alaska over 60 times. I'd like to go just once. Beautiful!! After the craft fair it was off to grab some lunch and then get the queens off the bus. Well have to go write down all my ideas.

Fun Fabric Finds

I love the owl one. Not quite sure what it is about owls lately, but they keep talking to me. I've got to get the sewing machine out and see if I can remember how to use it. I see so many great things on Flickr and it makes me want to do.

It wasn't a ice day or a snow day but I got that 6:08am phone call to tell me the schools are going to be delayed an hour. So we had a compromise between Riley's snow dance and my Back to school dance.

Ice Day

Had a snow day yesterday(with only a inch of snow), might as well have a ice day too. Although, I'd rather shovel the snow. The ice was a little on the heavy side. The queens are getting use to this "no school" thing. Queen 2 performed the snow dance before bed. It went something like this " boom chakalaka boom chakalakalaka snap-snow" It had moves too. Needlessly to say I was rolling. Funny. The other thing about the "no school" thing. The county calls you to inform you there will be no school. Awesome right? But the calls come at 11:30 pm or 6am. I'm a old woman and need my sleep. Can't they call between the hours of 7am and 9pm? I'm just saying.....

The queens played wii and looked at new library books. (the library was open) We also played some board games. The Board above is on loan and handmade by one of our favorite people. Have a good night. I've got to go do my "go back to school"dance and get to bed. You never know when I'm going to get a call.

Snow Day

We had our first snow day. The call came at 6:15am from the schools that they were closing. We looked out the window with ???? in our eyes. The queens played wii in the morning. By noon I think we had a inch, maybe a inch and a half.. It was enough for the girls to go out and play in. They had a grand time. I had all the window blinds open so I could see outside. I felt like I was in a snowglobe- so beautiful and tranquil.

Swap 2 Done

Owl bookmark done and he is going to Kentucky. I'm going to put the swaps on hold because of all the February birthdays -11 total. I'm going to try for all handmade.

Sunday Sharing

The pictures were hung with care. Weekend project complete. Thanks Soulmate. Queen 1 had a playdate here with a friend from her old school and time flew. Queen 2 was at FunDay at church where she also got to bring a friend. They had pizza, had their faces painted, jumped inthe moon bounce and had a great time. While I was in church this morning I was thinking how if we hadn't made this move (which at the time felt like someone riping me from my life of seven years) I never would have found this church. I was also thinking about putting the church website on the blog today so family and friends could see where it is that I go on Sunday morning. I know I talk about it with some of you and the whole purpose of the blog was to share so while I'm not a big "preaching" kind of person I still would like for you to see it. www.thecommunitychurch.org So there it is. I came home from church to find that Soulmate had been doing battle with the computer for most of the morning. We had picked up a virus somewhere that was cutting off the internet. He finally got that under control, but it took him most of the day. Again Thank you Soulmate!!

New Things for the Manor

These are the placemats that had me squealing in the store. I'm on some sort of Black and White thing. It's a sickness. I had to stop myself from picking up some black and white towels.

Above is a candle stick I found at my favorite consignment store for such a wonderful price. The sign was from a craft store. Both pieces were under five dollars each.

The weekend project is going to be to hang two pictures in the lower level bedroom.

My next swap

I don't know what it is about owls lately. I know I told you that my next swap will be to make a bookmark with a owl on it. I'm using some crossstitch and felt, maybe some ribbon. Last week ,I actually got to see a owl sitting in the tree next to the river. At first I thought it was a large hawk. We have several of those around, but he turned around and I got to his his great owly face. He looked a bit like the picture above. I wish I was a bit closer so I could take in all his features. Ever since the bird swap I'm seeing so many bird things. Funny how different things make you more aware of things you wouldn't notice before.

Queen bonding

This was this Monday after being away from one another the night before. They watched a movie together, played board games and wii together and got along wonderfully. Their hearts were fonder.

New Swap

This little guy is a part of a swap I'm doing. I have to make a owl bookmark. The poke a dot fabric behind it it not part of it, just some placemats that I found today(yes! there may have been more squealing in the store. It's a sickness). So the plan is to put this little owl dude on some yummy felt and throw some embroidery around him to make it grand. It's still in the thinking stages so we will see what the finished bookmark looks like.

Lusting for months

After lusting over this chair, I finally got it. It is from my favorite consignment store. I'm just thankful it didn't get sold in my months of wanting it. I love it!

Drumroll Please.........

(With the help of Queen 1 who got very into this whole giveaway)

And the winner is....... Nichola.

As soon as I get her mailing info. this little owl is flying its way to its new home. Thanks everyone. I had a great time with my first ever giveaway.

Sign up for giveaway

Good Morning Everybody,

Remember to sign up for the giveaway bird for the "Birds of Change Exchange". I will send out my birds to Creative Kismet tomorrow and receive my birds in a couple of weeks. This ends my first ever swap. Never knew such things existed, but then again I never really knew the joys of blogging until a couple of weeks ago. A couple of websites to share: One is www.flickr.com. This is where people upload and share pictures. I use it mostly for crafty inspiration. The other is www.swap-bot.com. This one has a list of different swaps you can join. The max you can join is five at one time, but really who has time for five swaps. Hope everyone has a great day.

Birds of Change Exchange Giveaway

This is the giveaway bird for the Birds of Change Exchange. Just leave a comment to enter. I will close this at 11pm on the 20th. This swap was my first and was great fun to be a part of. Thanks Creative Kismet for putting this together. If you don't know how to comment you can go to my profile and leave me a email. Good luck!

After the Fire

Picked these guys up yesterday. Sometimes things come back like I thought they would and other times I'm surprized. I love the ornaments and the buggy eyes.

A Favorite Place

Lady B and I hit this favorite place yesterday. We both picked up more fun stuff to work on including teapot above.

Our first snow?

The question mark because where we last moved from they wouldn't have even blinked at this. The schools here were delayed an hour and some closed. More due to people not knowing how to get around in this than anything. It was nice to have that extra hour though. The queens went out with their brooms and swept the driveway and thought that was great fun flinging the snow dust at one another. I hope we get at least one big snow because they miss it.

The final bird

Ornaments

All of these were 90%off. The shopping gods were smiling down on me today. Nothing more than 70 cents.

Happy Hunting

I found these two cute little chicks and globe today. Loved them for the shelves.

New Coats

I got both Prince 1 and I coats. Prince 1 because he outgrew his old one and me because the deal was too good to pass up. I think I may have squealed in the store.

Nana's Frittata Recipe

I made this Sunday night and when I opened the oven the smell transported me to Nana's kitchen. Talk about comfort food.

Beat 4 eggs
1 c grated white cheese of choice- i used parm
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp Oregano
2 Tbs of chopped parsley
1 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup oil- I used veg.
4 cups or 2 large zuchini sliced thin or grated
1/2 tsp seasoned salt- tastefully simple is the best
1 clove of chopped garlic

Throw is all in a bowl, mix it up, throw it in a greased glass 9x12 and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Should pull away from edges and be firm in the middle.
Love it!!

Queens Playdate

With it being a cloudy and cold day painting seemed like a good idea. Queen 1 with gal pal painting little wood boxes. Queen 2 went to a friends house for the Sunday playdate.

#4- fat owl

I only have two more to go. What am I going to do once the birds are done?

Some Little Ladies

Look what I found as I was going through my painting supplies. I painted these gals a few months ago- before the move. Now to do something with them.

Third Bird

Moments of cute 2

Who wouldn't love these little faces? Such kitty-dogs.

Halfway Done

with the shelves.. Also with the bird ornaments. I have three more shelves to fill. This will take time because I don't want to put any old thing up there. Three more birds to make too. This swap has been alot of fun. Thank you J for talking me into it.

Bird Love

I signed up for my first swap. I have to make five bird ornaments, six if I want to give one away on my blog. I send them to the lady heading the swap and then she mixes them up and I get five birds that someone else has made. It is really getting the creative juices going. What do you think?

mass of muffins

Made this mass of muffins for the "Muffin Mania" at the queens school. I didn't make that up. This is a banana chocolate chip recipe from my new cookbook and they are yummy!!!!

2 sticks butter- salted
1 cup sugar
(cream together)
add 2 eggs
(cream until fluffy)
add 2 bananas
(cream until smooth)
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
(mix until smooth)
add 5 tablespoons of milk
and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
add mini chocolate chips- 1/2 bag
Spoon in batter to a paper lined cupcake pan

Bake 350 degrees
mini muffins- 20 minutes
reg. muffins- 30 to 40 minutes

ENJOY!

mug creations

These are the next batch to take to get glazed and fired. It is becoming a sickness- this painting. Maybe one day I'll start a business.

Busy day

That looks a little better. Four more to go.

candlesticks are a find at my favorite consignment store, candles from J, scarf from D- it's loike a piece of art.

afghan I'm working on

The stand that Soulmate built

The stand from upstairs brought to the family room

Man at work

exhausting work....but still guarding the new piece of furniture

taking a break for a little puppy love....Prince 1 is still on the job making sure all the pieces are there.

Soulmate with assistants every so willing to help......or is that get in the way? This is a piece we picked up at Target so that the tv can have a better home than a kids play table.

Annoying Soulmate with this darn camara again. Working from home in his office.

Family Room

So tell me....what is a family to do with all those shelves? Now that Christmas has been taken down, the place looks a bit bare.

Before the fire

My ceramic place has been closed and I am having withdrawls. I need to take these in to get glazed and fired and pick up some more bisque.