Tiny Book Swap

I received my Tiny Book Swap from Julie Collings. My pictures do not do these justice! They are all incredible little treasures! I didn't pay strict attention to instructions. My books are a bit bigger than they should be!

Creative Time

I have been working on my Embroidery project I started with Teresa of My Minutia... this is SO fun. I love it! Check out this project (you can sign up, too!) on the sidebar.

I also attended my 5th grade daughter's school play last night. Their rendition of Shakespeare's As You Like It. It was great! She's in front in the blue ribboned dress!

More Fashion!

I was visiting the Calamity Kim blog this morning and she posted about some wonderful wool gloves and hats, but how living in Florida might limit her use of them! Well, I would love to own a pair of these, and they would come in handy during our Montana snowstorms! You can find them here on Etsy!

New York Fashion Week

As I've mentioned in a long-ago post, I love fashion, though I dress like a frump! It is Fashion Week in New York and you can view the Fall 2010 collections online here. I am showing a few of my favorites from Anna Sui - probably the only designer I could see myself in! The 4th dress down is my favorite. I love the colors, patterns and textures! Did you ever want to be a fashion designer when you were growing up? I sure did. I spent hours drawing and designing!

We Have a Winner!

I used the Random Number Generator to choose a winner and it's #102!

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 257

Result: 102

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congrats to Shazza - she is the winner of the vintage/Shabby Chic goodies for OWOH! I will get this out to you asap. Thanks for your address! This was such a great way to visit other blogs. Thanks to all of you who came by for a visit! I didn't win one thing...but that's ok. I will definitely do this next year!

Winter Olympics

As we near the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, I just have to mention that my daughter Amber's friend Heather McPhie will compete in the Women's Freestyle Moguls for the U.S. Olympic Ski Team! I think the competition is on Saturday, Feb 13th... We are very excited to have someone we know compete! Wish we could be there!

Back From Vegas & New Book Purchase

Yes, I finally got back from Las Vegas. I will have pictures to post as soon as I can get it together. We had a great time, but it wasn't very warm! Also, I just purchased this book today. It's really a great book, even if you don't have small children around your house! Lots of great ideas/techniques. You can win a copy here - on Shona's blog or order it here on Amazon. I can't wait to get started on some of these projects!

Vintage Dollies

I recently found these in a closet - I had forgotten about them. I remember when I was very small my mom had these sitting on a shelf in the bedroom I shared with my two sisters. I know we weren't allowed to play with them and very rarely got to touch them. As we got older they got tucked away somewhere. I found them in a closet at my parents and asked my mom if I could have them. They are Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls. You can read about them here. I am hoping to repair them to display - so much detail on them!

Viva Las Vegas

Guess where I'm headed on Thursday? Yes - I'm goin' to Las Vegas. Jim and I are going with our friends to spend a few days away from the snow and cold! I'm looking forward to getting out of town! We are staying at the Polo Towers. Looks like a fun place.

January Dress

I have finally completed my "January Dress" for the monthly dress-up challenge offered by Margaret of Alice and Camilla blog. January is cold and snowy here in Montana so I wanted something 'quilty' yet with a few flowers to remind me that spring is on it's way! I've used vintage lace and ribbon, plus a tea-dyed paper doily for the collar and a strawflower from last year's garden! You can view the other participants dresses here as well. I'm still working on the closet to house all the creations, so I will let you know when it's done!

Magic Carpet Ride

When I saw the theme for One World One Heart was the Magic Carpet all I kept thinking of was the song Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf. It was a 'psychedelic rock' piece recorded in 1968! Wow. Check it out here... I love this song. It makes me think of peace and love. And yes, I was alive and I do remember when it played on the RADIO!

Here are the lyrics!

I like to dream yes, yes, right between my sound machine

On a cloud of sound I drift in the night

Any place it goes is right

Goes far, flies near, to the stars away from here

Well, you don't know what we can find

Why don't you come with me little girl

On a magic carpet ride

You don't know what we can see

Why don't you tell your dreams to me

Fantasy will set you free

Close your eyes girl

Look inside girl

Let the sound take you away

Last night I held Aladdin's lamp

And so I wished that I could stay

Before the thing could answer me

Well, someone came and took the lamp away

I looked around, a lousy candle is all I found

Well, you don't know what we can find

Why don't you come with me little girl

On a magic carpet ride

Well, you don't kow what we can see

Why don't you tell your dreams to me

Fantasy will set you free

Close your eyes girl

Look inside girl

Let the sound take you away

So for the giveaway part!!! It's nothing very psychedelic but more shabby chic vintage...! I'm sure I will add to this collection but I have some vintage lacey pieces, a tin container, locally grown lavender, a charm pack of Moda L'Amour fabric, handmade salt dough heart ornaments, and more goodies! Hope you'll leave a comment to say hello! I will draw a winner on February 15th!

One World One Heart

I had read about One World, One Heart several weeks ago, but time has slipped away, so I don't have a photo of my giveaway until tomorrow! Hope that's ok. OWOH is a great way to meet other creative bloggers and to sign up for some really awesome giveaways from around the world! Please go to A Whimsical Bohemian blog for all the details! I am looking forward to this! Come back tomorrow to sign up for my giveaway! I will be naming a winner on February 15th so you can leave a comment on tomorrow's post!

Tiny Book Swap

I have joined a TINY book swap hosted by Julie Collings of the adventures of bluegirlxo. I have made these books before. Each page is about the size of an ATC (altered trading card). I am so excited. Photo is from Julie from a recent blogpost...! I think you can still join the swap if you are interested! Julie has instructions on her blog and you can also find instructions here and here. By the way - Julie is the author of a fantastic book I recently purchased - Pretty Little Felts. Some very yummy projects in here!

Paper Doilies

I saw this on a blog - tea-dying white paper doilies. I thought I'd try it. I soaked them in boiling water with two Lipton tea bags for about 10 minutes. I kept them mostly together. I let them dry, then separated them. I will probably iron them so they'll lay flat. Cool, huh? Not sure what I'll use them for but I like them.

Project for 2010

I am going to join Margaret of Alice and Camilla for this very fun dress project for 2010. We are going to use the pattern that Connie Govea Stuart created in the first issue of Somerset Life. I am going to create a little 'closet' for the clothes, similar to what Margaret has done! You can join us as well or check back on the blog for each month's creation!

** pictured is an image of Connie's dress from Somerset Life...

Best Buds

I really haven't posted a photo of me before because I think I'm terribly UN-photogenic... but I like this picture of me and my best bud, Karla, whom I've known for 18+ years...I believe this is one of the few pictures of us together! This is from my recent 50th (ack!) b-day party. I should probably photoshop out the green beer bottle. Don't know if it's hers or mine! I think this was taken during the dwindling hours of Saturday night... I'm not wearing make-up...I'm on the right!

My Color

I LOVE Alabama Chanin. If you are not familiar with her designs, lifestyle, etc. please check out her blog/website. I really like the look of her clothing. This dress is something I would love to wear - and it's one of my favorite colors. If I have to pick a 'color of the year' for me in 2010 - this will be it. I had a WONDERFUL birthday. Oh, my goodness. We had a house party with family and friends and I couldn't have asked for a better time. I just wish a few others could have been there!!! So ~ here's to my 50th year!!!

Check out this giveaway

Please go to Tammy's blog - The Other Side of Me - for this fantastic giveaway....

isn't this the most clever organizer?

New Year, Birthday Countdown, Etc

Well - Finally a new post for the new year! I have been busy. Well, only two days until I turn 50... we'll see what the year brings. I am very excited about being 50!! One of the 'creative' things I want to learn is embroidery. It is something I have been wanting to do for awhile... I remember way back in 1979 I actually took a college class (I was a Home Ec major at the time...) where the professor actually taught us embroidery and we were graded on our stitches! Can you imagine? Needless to say, I learned only what I had to in order to pass the class and then promptly forgot everything. So here I am again! I just purchased a new book called A Rainbow of Stitches. It has embroidery and cross-stitch patterns. Looks really interesting. I will post (soon I hope) some examples.

Road Trip

The day after Christmas my friend Karla and I took a short road trip to check on her guy's animals while he was out of town... it was a beautiful sunny day, but cold. Enjoy the photos....!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Survey!! Forwarded from my two sisters... Here is my response -

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper - I LOVE wrapping paper!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Love the real trees. Usually a Charlie Brown tree

3. When do you put up the tree? anytime after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? By New Years day or the weekend after Christmas

5. Do you like eggnog? yes, with brandy!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A refurbished old, black Singer sewing machine from my parents - I think I was 8 or 9. I got a fully loaded sewing kit as well, plus lots of fabric. My bestest gift ever...

7. Hardest person to buy for? Everyone, if you don't have lots of money! No one, if you do!

8. Easiest person to buy for? My 11 yr old

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I don't but I'd love to have one like my mom's - an old German set that is like nothing I've ever seen

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Christmas cards, of course!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Its a gift! It can't be bad.
12. Favorite Christmas Movies? Charlie Brown Christmas and Mickey Mouse Scrooge
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Yesterday
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Never
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Anything, but years ago I loved my grandma's homemade ravioli's! She'd handmake enough for Thanksgiving and Christmas for 25+ people...
16. Color of Lights on the tree? I had white blinky lights, but they broke. Now I have multi-colored

17. Favorite Christmas song? Chipmunk Christmas Song, Silent Night, Silver Bells

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Usually had Christmas at my sisters (she's now moved to Alaska) but this year at our house, then to my brother's later on.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have my grandma's vintage silver and white star!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The frazzled look of shoppers! Relax, people!
23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? We have a mixed theme of ornaments that were given to me every year as a kid, plus all of my kids' stuff they've made
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? My family to be safe and happy

Christmas Color

Just thought I'd share a photo of my daughter and my 'grand-dog'!!! Glad they are here visiting for the holidays. The other photo is of my vintage table cloth and napkins... I LOVE this color - not a true red, but very pretty - kind of a pinkish red. It will look good on the table at Christmas!

Winter Giveaway and I Won a Giveaway!

A lovely giveaway is happening at White Linen ~ Lavender Field . Please check it out. Turquoise is the color of 2010!!!! Check out Pantone's color site...One of my favorite colors. I'd love to win this! Speaking of winning - I won an Inspired Living calendar from Melissa of The Garden of Pink Shadows! Can't wait to use this!

A Dream of Mine

This is VERY far-fetched, but I have a dream. I want to have a cute little house where I can have artsy-crafty workshops, gatherings of friends, a small gallery and shop - maybe coffee and treats... I found the PERFECT place right here in my town ~ in a lovely downtown location. Check this out. I haven't made a phone call... it is zoned 'commercial' so I could do it!

Twelve Days of Christmas

Jo Packham from Where Women Create is having some fantastic holiday giveaways! The drawings end soon but you can still comment to win any of the twelve gifts (one of them is pictured above). I really love this magazine and the following is a quote she has shared.

Woman is born to create. In creating she becomes herself, accomplishes her destiny. Her whole life is only an initiation into creative power. To create is not merely to produce a work, it is to give out ones own individuality.-Jeanne de Vietinghoff.

I won a giveaway!

Corey from Tongue in Cheek had a fabulous giveaway and I was a lucky recipient of old French papers and other emphemera!!! Here is a photo of some of the treasures included in the package. Corey is now selling French 'goodies' she finds at the local brocantes through her blog, Tongue in Cheek. Too wonderful!

The Feathered Nest Giveaway

One of my top-10 favorite blogs is The Feathered Nest. I love Dawn's style and her generous nature. She is having a fabulous giveaway! Check it out here.

KC Willis Workshop! Don't Miss This Opportunity!

KC Willis is hosting a marketing workshop geared toward artists. She is putting together is an on-line workshop that you can participate in at any time, whenever you want. She will cover every subject imaginable as it pertains to marketing your work to the public. And it will be delivered in such a way that there is info there for the novice, those working and selling some already and those in the full throes of their art career, but who still want to take it up a notch into wholesale or licensing. There will be lots of videos by subject matter so you can pick and choose which ones you want to see based on the subjects that matter to you.

For the time being access to the class (which will be a lot more than a one day thing) is $144. When the videos go live in December the class will be $244. In celebration of this upcoming workshop, KC is giving away one of these..."The Women-The Flag." 50 women for the 50 stars. Big piece too...32"x50".

Check out more info on the workshop here http://www.marketingmindset.ning.com/.

Also check out her blog here http://www.kcwillis.blogspot.com/.