A Cracked Heart and Cheaters Get Married

I haven't posted in a few days because of taxes. My husband has to bribe me every year to do my part of the taxes, because I hate organizing the paperwork. Hate it, hate it!

So......to celebrate getting my taxes done, I spent the last couple evenings in my studio. 

I enameled these little hearts at the Constant Muse Art Studio last weekend, and I thought I'd make them into earrings. Enameling is the fusion of a special powdered glass to metals (just in case you wanted to know.)

As you can see, it didn't go so well. I thought I was being careful riveting, and all of a sudden........ I start seeing little things flying. It was pieces of enamel!

Grrrr!

Once the shock and disappointment wore off, I stuck the lonely mate in the Misc. box. Who knows where it will end up. The Misc. box holds those unfinished projects or pieces I don't know what to do with.

So.......I moved on to my next little project.

Because I'm going completely blind and always find myself relying on cheaters to see anything close, I need to have these babies nearby at all times. I got this brilliant idea to make some kind of chain to hang them around my neck.

You know that Misc. box I just mentioned? 

I started digging around in it and found two unfinished necklaces, and....... TaDa!

One is a crochet beaded rope that I must have got tired of making, and the other....I'm not sure where I was going with it. 

Anyway, they both happen to match in color, so now they are married!

Don't you just love when there is a happy ending?

Another She Art Girl

Here is girl #3 from the She Art Workshop. I like this one the best. Her body shape came out better. I used scrapbooking paper for her dress and the grass area and acrylic paint everywhere else.

I like to add a quote, but I can't seem to find the right one, so.......

In case you're interested in seeing my other girls, here is the first one
 and here is the second one.

Could It Be? I Was Touched By Angels?

I haven't done much creating this week because I've had other committments to tend to.
But......

I did meet two wonderful ladies today. One just turned 98 years and the other turned 89 years. They were both very cheerful ladies and lovely to talk to. The 98 year old only uses a cane, and she didn't look a day over 80. I asked her what her secret was, and she said "hard work and good food." She's right....exercise and wholesome organic food.
It would be so fascinating to talk to her about History and hear her thoughts on what changes she's lived through. Think of all the changes in technology she has seen? She's a walking History book!
How I came about meeting these two ladies is through volunteer work (Faith In Action). I delivered a flower bouquet for their birthday. I have to tell you, after talking with them and seeing how happy the flowers made them, I was happier too.

I drove home feeling like I'd been touched by Angels. 

Critters On My Jean Jacket

Participating in TAST this year has motivated me to do some hand stitching.

This jean jacket is a work in progress. I wear it like this too. I wonder what people think? I started embellishing the jacket a couple years ago. The scene is inspired by a quilt I want to make. 

Excuse the bad picture. I had to dig the "before" picture out of the archives.

Every once in a while I get the urge to add to it.

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon adding the bear. Can you tell he's lifting his foot?

Should I remove the underside of his paws? I can't decide if it looks funny or not.

Oh well, I'll keep it like this until it bugs me. I also added some detailing to the tree, bird and owl. I'm thinking it needs one more critter in the tree and one more on the bottom. How about a tree swing? I don't know....let me stare at it a bit more.

TAST - Week 2

TAST (take a stitch Tuesday)

Every Tuesday, Sharon challenges us with a stitch for the week. This week, it's the buttonhole stitch.

The red thing is supposed to be lips, but it looks more like a leaf on its side. Oh well!

Fly Stitch

I finally finished my Fly Stitch sampler for week one of TAST (take a stitch Tuesday.)

This is a great way for me to practice embroidery stitches. Each Tuesday, Sharon shares the stitch of the week. There are about 400 people following along, so it will be fun to see the different ways others are using each stitch.

 I wasn't sure what I wanted to stitch on, so I decided to use an old linen dish towel that I've had sitting in the linen closet. I bought it at a flea market many years ago and never used it (except for display.) I figured it was ready to move on to it's other life, so I cut it up. The little embroidered bear was too cute, so I left it on the bottom.

She Art Girl and Flea Market Finds

I thought I'd share a few things I did this last weekend.

Here is my second girl from the She Art Workshop. Isn't she cute??

Christy is sharing a lot of fun techniques, and I am having a blast creating my girls. I am choosing not to work on canvas, but in my art journal.

I also went to the local flea market. I like to hunt for interesting things to add to my handmade journals and quilt projects.

I found some cool beads and a few mother of pearl buttons.

I also found this beautiful Metallic Brocade fabric. I'm going to add it to my stash for my future Boho Bag. Patricia Winter is the designer of this bag, and she has a step by step instruction booklet that you can find here, if you're interested.

A Broken Heart, A Heart Shaped Tear and St. Christopher

I know a lot of mothers go through this.....a broken heart when a child leaves the nest and goes off to college or moves out on their own. I didn't realize how painful this event would be.

My son left for his first semester of college, and I know he will do great. I pray that he will be safe and no harm will come his way.

As we were hugging and saying our goodbyes (I'm still composed) he assured me that he would be back in 4 months.

To him, yes, it was only four months. What he doesn't understand is that it's four months of not being able to give him a hug or see his beautiful smile or have breakfast with him. All the things that have been a part of our daily lives for the past 19 years.

I started to feel a sharp pain in my heart as I watched him pull away.

It was at this point, that I broke down. I felt this huge wave of sadness come over my heart.

As if I wasn't hurting enough, I decided to sit in his bedroom while the sadness consumed me. My daughter came to give me a comforting hug, and as she leaned over to hug me, a huge smile come over her face as she looked at me and pointed to a heart shaped tear stain on my shirt. I couldn't help but smile.

On a happier note.....My son has never kept a journal and is not much of a writer. He will be doing a lot of traveling during his college years, and I wanted to make him a special journal just in case he gets the urge to write about his journey. 

I placed St. Christopher (the patron saint of travelers) in the cover. I used a piece of Mica to cover the medal, which moves freely. Even if he decides not to write in the journal, at least St. Christopher will be by his side.

I know my broken heart will mend, slowly.

She Left Her Fears Behind

My head hasn't been on straight lately. I've been preoccupied with my son going off to college, and I've been putting things off....that does slow down time, right? Meanwhile, I've been doing more art journaling as a way to cope with the upcoming change.

This is my first She Art Girl. I'm taking an online class with Christy Tomlinson called She Art Workshop . I had a lot of fun making her, and I'm really enjoying the class. I like the messy part of art journaling......the painting, stamping and gluing.
She turned out a little plump, but I think she came out cute. Actually, that's how I'm feeling these days.....a little plump, especially after the holidays.

I'll try and slim her down a bit the next time around. There are a few more She Art Girls to make, and with each one, new techniques will be taught.

A New Year and A New Journal

Hope you are having a good day. I spent the day putting the last of the Christmas decorations away and finishing up a new journal.

I like to carry a small journal in my purse for quick notes and journaling on the go. It measures 4" x 6".

It had to have certain features in order to withstand the rough journey in my purse. 1) it has to have a sturdy cloth covering, 2) it has to have a binding that will allow the book to lay flat when open. This makes it easier to work in, 3) it has to have some sort of closure. Closures are the tricky part. I'm not too sure about this one, but I won't know until I use it. If it didn't have some sort of closure, my pages will get damaged from other things in my purse, and....

 4) it has to have a pocket. I'm always collecting paper items that eventually get glued in my journal. Well, I'm off to doodle.