WELL OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW..I GUESS...WOULDN'T KNOW IT FROM OUR NEW YEARS PARTY..EXCEPT FOR THE DECOR...WE WERE ALL ' OLD' FRIENDS...RINGING IN THE 'NEW YEAR'. WHAT A HOOT!

THE HOSTESS SUSAN SCHWEIDT...NOT ONLY ORDERED THE ' EAT, DRINK AND GET MARRIED' MURDER MYSTERY GAME...BUT DECORATED HER HOME FOR THE 'WEDDING'!!!

WE EACH WERE SENT AN INVITE..WITH OUR PART IN THE PLAY, AND HOW TO DRESS...FIRST OFF...HERE IS THE BRIDE!!! HER NAME IS 'VIRGIN'. ALREADY YOU CAN SEE WHAT A FUN TIME THIS WOULD BE. SO..SHE CAME DRESSED..AS BEST SHE COULD...VEIL AND ALL........THATS HER ' HUBBY TO BE'....E-Z. HE CAME DRESSED AS A MOTORCYCLE RIDER...AND SO IT WENT!
HERE IS THE REVEREND! CROSS..BIBLE..AND FLASK!!! ITS A LITTLE COMPLICATED SINCE THE FATHER OF THE BRIDE WAS SHOT AT THE WEDDING..BY WHOM? WELL THAT WAS THE GIST OF THE WHOLE GAME.............COULD HAVE BEEN THE REVEREND SINCE HE OWED BLACKJACK ( FATHER THAT WAS KILLED) MONEY.
WELL I WON'T TELL YOU THE WHOLE STORY, CASE YOU EVER PLAY THE GAME. BUT SUSAN DECORATED FOR THE ' BRIDES WEDDING'. HERE IS THE RECEPTION TABLE. SHE DIDN'T MISS A THING! SHE EVEN CALLED THE ' BRIDE TO BE' AND ASKED HER FOR HER FAVORITE COLORS!!!
THE INVITE.......SORRY ITS SIDEWAYS. STILL NEED TO HAVE A FEW MAC CLASSES!
AND OF COURSE..THE CAKE. NO, VIRGIN WASN'T REALLY GETTING MARRIED. THATS JOANNE..AND SHE AND BILL ( THE REVEREND ) ARE CELEBRATING THEIR REAL 50TH THIS YEAR!
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO TRY ONE OF THESE MYSTERY GAMES...ESPECIALLY IF YOU KNOW THE GUESTS BECAUSE..WE HAD A GREAT TIME 'ADD-LIBBING'.....WOW DID WE EVER!

SO HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE...AS FAR AS NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS...NOT TO WORRY....I READ SOMEWHERE .......' IT WONDERFUL TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING KNOWING YOU'RE DOING ALL THAT YOU CAN DO.!! JUST DO IT!

CHEERS

birthday..number 70

WELL...ITS BIRTHDAY NUMBER....DRUM ROLL....70!! YEP.

AS SOMEONE ONCE SAID.........IN THE SEEDS OF AN APPLE..THERE IS AN ORCHARD!

SO I AM THINKING...THERE IS ALOT MORE LIFE LEFT TO ENJOY!!! SANDY AND DEBBIE PLANNED AN EARLY BIRTHDAY LUNCH SINCE DEB WAS ON HER WAY TO LONDON ..I WAS ALL SMILES ..MAYBE BECAUSE I WAS STILL 69????????
DEB GAVE ME THIS..ABSOLUTELY..BEAUTIFUL..YET USEFUL GLASS CONTAINER.

I DECIDED TO PUT MY COFFEE GROUND IN IT SINCE IT SMELLS PRETTY AND I CAN KEEP IT ON THE COUNTER WHERE I WILL SEE IT EVERY DAY!
WELL SHOWING IT LIKE IT IS..HERE ARE SOME OF MY FIRST BIRTHDAY PICTURES, TAKEN IN BED AT 8AM!!! I CALLED IN THE PHOTOGRAPHER, IF HE ISN'T SURE OF WHAT HE IS GOING TO see AND photograph WELL.. AT THIS POINT..ITS TOO LATE! HE HAS SEEN WORSE! WELL I AM..WHAT I AM..BUT THERE IS A HAIRBRUSH AND MAKE UP WAITING FOR ME...LUCKY.

I THOUGHT THIS CARD FROM THE GRANDSONS WAS SO CUTE " THE WEATHERMAN SAID THAT TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY TO SEND SUNSHINE TO SOMEONE YOU LOVE'. CUTE!

JOHNNY AND GERI ALSO FOUND A COPY OF THE COOKBOOK MOM GAVE TO ME 48 YEARS AGO FOR MY WEDDING SHOWER. THE ORIGINAL WAS BEAT UP...TORN COVERS..BUT STILL USABLE..BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO SNEAK IT OUT OF JOHNNY'S HOUSE! THEY FOUND A COPY ON AMAZON..WONDERFUL. NOW THE ORIGINAL WILL BE KEPT SAFE AND USED BY JOHNNY AND I HAVE ONE TO REMIND ME OF THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES AND...TRUTH BE TOLD THIS COOKBOOK REALLY IS GREAT...SO YES....MOM KNEW BEST!
OH..A BEAUTIFUL KNITTED SHAWL...EXCEPT...IT GOES OVER YOUR HEAD AND HAS A NICE NECK COVER KNITTED IN...SO SOFT...SO PERFECT FOR WEATHER HERE...AND FROM A THOUGHTFUL FRIEND..JAN, IN DENVER COLORADO! THANK YOU JAN!
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...WHAT HAVE WE HERE? A BANJO? YES. FINALLY. LETS SEE I THINK I FIRST MENTIONED I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY THE BANJO ABOUT 55 YEARS AGO...I TOLD MY SON DANNY THE STORY OF HOW I ASKED MY DAD TO LOOK FOR A USED ONE...AND..WHAT A SURPRISE. BEAUTIFUL NEW BANJO. ITS A WONDER UH...KIDS DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING YOU SAY..AND THEN...WOW...ONE TIME I MENTIONED IT..AND HE REMEMBERED!!! LOVE IT.
SO. ONE MORE BIRTHDAY ...THEY ARE FUN. PRESENTS. FOOD. FUN. FRIENDS. FAMILY...HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE A BIRTHDAY. DECEMBER 30TH IS HARD FOR A PARTY SINCE EVERYONE PARTIES ON DEC 31..AND WE DID ALSO. WILL SEND PICTURES OF THAT FUN EVENT...SOON. REMEMBER..I AM 70..THE BODY MOVES A LITTLE SLOWER..I THINK. ANYWAY..WILL TRY IT OUT!

WELL RUNNING OUT OF SPACE. I AM GOING TO TRY TO LEARN HOW TO ADD 6 PICTURES ON MY BLOG..DOESN'T THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY? AS YOU PATIENTLY WAIT FOR THIS TO END!!! THE END.

CHRISTMAS 2011 ..WITH MOM/NANA

WELL. WE HAD OUR ANNUAL.FAMILY .TRADITION...EAT, WATCH CHRISTMAS MOVIES, DRINKS WITH FRIENDS..AND THEN AS CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT AS POSSIBLE..WE SEE WHAT SANTA BROUGHT...THE GRANDKIDS CAN HARDLY WAIT. BUT..

AS YOU CAN SEE...WE GO THRU ALOT OF GOODIES FIRST...THIS PICTURE IS JUST THE DRY...UNFRIG STUFF..IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM CAUSE THERE IS NO ROOM IN THE PANTRY!!!
AND..HERE IS NIKOLAI..MY GRANDSON, HELPING US GET READY FOR ALL THE

COMPANY...HE IS A GREAT SWEEPER...WORKS FOR MONEY!!
MOM AND KITTY RESTING BEFORE EVERYONE COMES. MOM WAS UP UNTIL PAST MIDNIGHT...DRINKING AND OPENEING PRESENTS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED AT 95 AND 1/2
MOMS SNUGGLE. FROM JOHNNY AND GERI. IT HAS WORKED OUT PERFECTLY

WE PUT IT ON HER BACKWARDS SINCE SHE SITS IN THE WHEEL CHAIR...SHE SAID ' OH PURPLE..MY FAVORITE COLOR...SHE WAS IN FULL FORM AND IT WAS ALMOST MIDNIGHT!
OH YES. HERE IS GERI. WATCHING NANA. IN AWE. MOM TALKING, ACTING LIKE A 70 YEAR OLD...UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS GOING ON..IT WAS AMAZING. NEXT MORNING..SHE REMEMBERED NONE OF IT. SO GOD OPENED THE DOOR FOR HER...FOR ONE NIGHT..FOR ALL OF US...BECAUSE MOM..WAS MOM IF JUST FOR 5 SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE HOURS!

these are special times

WELL I DECIDED TO SHOW MY STUDIO...AS IT REPRESENTS MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AS I AM IN HERE FOR HOURS, I LOVE TO TURN AROUND AND SEE...THE BEAUTIFUL

PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENCOURAGED ME...THE HAPPY MEMORIES OF THE PICTURES OR EMBELLISHMENTS..SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU... CAN YOU SPOT THE GUY IN THE PICTURE AT THE TOP...THE GENTLE SOUL IN OUR HOME...AND ALWAYS OFFERING A GENTLE..LOVING..PLACE TO DROP YOUR HAT! IF YOU HAVE NOT MET HIM...YOU HAVE MISSED...

THE SHELVES ARE FULL OF EMBELLISHMENTS DONATED BY FRIENDS..BOXES LEFT ON MY DOOR STEP BY MY FRIEND WANDA.. 'A "FORK" FROM MY FRIEND DEBBIE WHICH HOLDS THE INSTRUCTIONS I AM TRYING TO FOLLOW ..AT TIMES...AND JUST ODDS AND ENDS SAVED AND GIVEN TO ME BY MANY FRIENDS AS I PUT TOGETHER THIS CREATIVE JUNGLE!! AND THIS IS JUST ..ONE..OF THE SHELVES!!
THIS PIECE...WAS FOUND AND GIVEN TO ME...AND I HAVE USED IT SO MANY TIMES INCLUDING ON MY LAST BOOK. THE BOOK WAS FOR THE 'OTHER SON'. ONE WAS THE AUTHOR THE OTHER IS AN ARTIST..TALK ABOUT INTIMIDATING ( INFO ON MY LAST BLOG). BUT I LOVE ALL THE WORDS ON THIS CARD. ONE SUGGESTION WHICH ISN'T ON THERE..IS TO JOIN A MIXED MEDIA GROUP..AND MEET SOME OF THE MOST CARING AND CREATIVE. ARTISTS....AND ABOVE ALL..THOUGHTFUL AND SHARING OF THEIR OWN TECHNIQUES..WANTING TO SEE YOU GROW..HELPING YOU EVERY STEP!!

AND YOU NEED A PARTNER..LIKE MY JOHN. WHO DIDN'T SIT DOWN AND CRY WHEN HE CAME HOME AND FOUND HIS GORGEOUS OFFICE FURNITURE GONE..AND A STUDIO IN ITS PLACE. IF HE LEARNED ANYTHING IT WAS NOT TO GO AWAY ON A BUSINESS TRIP WITHOUT SOME EXPECTATIONS ON HIS RETURN. TOMORROW WILL BE 48 YEARS WE HAVE SHARED MEMORIES TOGETHER.


OF COURSE THERE ARE LOTS OF ANGELS SITTING ON THE SHELVES..ALL DIFFERENT

SIZES AND COLORS..WHICH I LIKE TO USE AS 'KNOBS' ON THE BOXES..IN THE BACKGROUND IS A PICTURE OF MY MOM AND DAD..TAKEN YEARS AGO!! PEEKING OUT OF THE SHELF..BUT I CAN SEE IT CLEARLY EVERY DAY.

THIS SPACE ON THE SHELF MAY BE TINY, BUT IN "HEART" SIZE..ITS BIG..CAUSE IT HOLDS GIFTS FROM A FEW OF MY FRIENDS...THE PUMPKIN DOLL FROM SANDY, THE FRIENDSHIP WORDS FROM CHERYL AND THE BLESSING LAMB I FOUND SOMEWHERE..AND KNEW IT BELONGED ON THIS SHELF. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. THE SNOWMAN BOTTLE I MADE FOR MOM..SAYS ' PRETTY IS AS PRETTY DOES'..WITH A HAT AND ...WHAT...? THERE IS MOM IN THE BACKGROUND..CUTTING VEGGIES FOR SALAD!!! THATS WHERE MOM ALWAYS WAS..IN THE KITCHEN. THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO..AMAZING HOW MUCH HAS HAPPENED TO HER IN ONE YEAR
SO. AS WE APPROACH THANKGSGIVING DAY..WE NEED TO SAY A PRAYER OF THANKS TO ALL THOSE IN OUR LIFE WHO HAVE TAUGHT US HOW TO BE THANKFUL AND NOT JUST TO KNOW IT..BUT TO GIVE IT..THANKS..TO EVERYONE WE MEET. IN EACH OF US THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR...AND TO BE THANKED FOR. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL READERS OF MY BLOG..AND THOSE THAT DON'T! CHEERS!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

WELL HERE IS THE COVER FOR THE JOURNAL I WAS ASKED TO MAKE...FOR A BOY

WHO IS AN AUTHOR!!! AS I MENTIONED..I WAS SORT OF INTIMINATED AS I AGREED

TO CREATE THIS...SO I PUT MY FEELERS OUT FOR AN EMBELLISHMENT OF A

TYPEWRITER. THEN I FOUND THIS PHOTO IN AS ISSUE OF SUMERSET MAGAZINE

WHALLA!!!! THE COVER IS ACTUALLY THE COPY FROM THE MAGAZINE.
AND THEN..AS USUAL, MY FRIEND WANDA CAME THRU..WITH THIS SMALL ..TINY

TYPEWRITER EMBELLISHMENT..PERFECT FOR THE HANDLE OF THE BOOK!!!

THANK YOU WANDA!! I THINK YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT OF IT IN THE LARGER PHOTO
AND THIS WAS THE INSIDE COVER...THE TWO FOLDERS AT THE TOP..ARE LABELED

WITH TWO BOOKS HE HAS ALREADY WRITTEN....ANYWAY...TURNED OUT BETTER THEN I THOUGHT IN THE BEGINNING...
AND. AS PROMISED IN PREVIOUS BLOG...HERE IS THE 'AFTER' OF THE BOX FOR THE

POLICEMAN. THE BROWN PAINTED EDGES ARE PLASTER OF PARIS WITH STICKS

EMBEDDED TO LOOK LIKE A BIRDS NEST..ALSO MAKES IT HEAVY!!!
THERE IS A METAL SHEET IN BETWEEN THE PAPER SO I COULD ADD A BUTTERFLY

MAGNET.........THE PAPER WAS ACTUALLY A FOLDER I FOUND AND COPIED ONTO

HEAVY PAPER..AND THEN GLUED ON THE INSIDE OF THE BOX
AND PEOPLE WONDER WHAT TAKES ME SO LONG TO MAKE A BOX/BOOK!! BUT I ENJOY GOING AROUND THE STUDIO TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT ITEM..AND AS YOU KNOW..TRYING TO FIND ANYTHING IN THE STUDIO IS A JOURNEY IN ITSELF.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!!!

Fall is here!!!

WELL ITS FALL. FINALLY. NATHANIEL SPENT THE WEEK END WITH GRAMMIE AND GRANDPA..AND WE WENT TO THE BOTANICAL GARDEN PUMPKIN PATCH..FREE PUMPKINS AND LOTS OF IDEAS ON DECORATING!!AND I FINISHED 4 BOOKS FOR ALL MY CHARITIES. SORRY THIS PICTURE IS SIDEWAYS BUT IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY YOU WILL SEE THE GOLDEN HUMMING BIRD..WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY A HAIR BARET GIVEN TO ME BY MY FRIEND WANDA. THE PAPER IS HAND MADE AND I THOUGHT FOR SURE IT WOULD TEAR..BUT LAYS ON THE COVER VERY VERY SMOOTHLY...WITH THE HUMMINGBIRD..THE BOOK IS BEAUTIFUL!
MY SECOND FAVORITE. I THINK THEY ARE ALL MY FAVORITES. INSIDE COVERS ALWAYS HAVE SOME WORDS OF INSPIRATION BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHO WILL BE WRITING AND WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES...AND EVERYONE COULD ALWAYS USE A BIT OF INSPIRATION.
OH MY GOSH. POOR LITTLE ME...SAYS FLAPJACK, BUT ACTUALLY ITS A COSTUME HIS GODMOTHER SENT..AND LATER ON WE CAN USE THIS WITH SOME GLOW-IN-THE-DARK STRIPES FOR WALKING WITH DADDY IN THE DARK MORNINGS!!
AND HERE IS THE ' BEFORE'. A BOX FOR THE WIFE OF THE POLICEMAN KILLED IN ACTION LAST MONTH. I ALSO DO BOXES ANONYMOUSLY ..AND ENJOY EACH. I HAVE FINISHED THIS..AND WILL PUT UP A PICTURE ON THE NEXT UPDATE!! YOU WON'T BELIEVE THE ' AFTER'.
WELL ENJOY YOUR THANKSGIVING...ONLY 4 1/2 MONTHS UNTIL APRIL 2011..!!!

Fall is here!!!

well...Fall is here! Could not wait to hang my Witch!! Wish I could say I painted her but I did find her in a shop going out of business and only paid 10.00!!! love her!!And mom is also enjoying the outdoors. sitting in the sun..drinking coffee having breakfast, heaven knows mom has waited a long 6 months to get outside!!

This is a look at the end result of a music box i found.....but it wasn't all fun and games for a while...( thats an angel sitting on the top corner) Tough to see that this is also a heavy, embossed paper..which was needed..after all that happened......read on.This was the idea...soft paper with red fairies. but it looked terrible. terrible. and I had collaged it on all over.........so I PAINTED THE WHOLE THING RED...RIGHT OVER THE COLLAGE. I started over. So since the top was now NOT very smooth I needed a embossed or heavy paper...so I turned to the white embossed..
This is the Before...paper..and red paint.........very old but nice ..music box...with a difficult

shape..I will send a picture on my next update so you can see how i did the sides, since it had such an unusual shape. I also need to learn how to put these pictures in order!!!!! But there is always a next time.
Next time i will also put up the 5 new journals...I keep saying "start painting"...I get out the canvas...get the table ready..and then get an idea for a journal....or box!!!

Well have fun creating your day!!!