sweeping away the cobwebs

I've been away from my blog for so long! Over the last few months, I've thought about blogging again and have even made attempts at "a first post", I didn't know where to start or what to say. How does one jump back in after being absent for almost 2 years?

I haven't been blogging for a combination of reasons, the biggest is that I started my blog without a clear direction, actually no direction at all, and a feeling that I had nothing of interest to say, soon came upon me.

While I was trying to figure all of this out, an email landed in my box from the Scintilla Project. Perhaps this is the way to sweep the cobwebs from my blog. Maybe this project will help me discover my blogging voice, so I signed up right away. Here I am now posting about the commitment I've made to give blogging another try.

What is the Scintilla Project you ask? Click on the badge in the sidebar for all the information and to sign up. There's still time!

CCC #6

I'm back! And I LOVED this challenge. When I first started altering things I bought lots of items on eBay ~ which was great, but really do you want to continually use the same pieces over and over? This was a fun and simple way to change up things that I really do love. Both the heart and the bar at the top of the piece above are metal made to look new and fresh. To find out how I put this together check out page 66 of "A Compendium of Curiosities" by T!m Holtz. To see more about the challenges, check out Studio L3!
I enjoyed putting this piece together. I've had these photos for more than a year, and found them to be perfect to use with this challenge.
I'm hoping to fill my 7 Gypsies receipt holder with all kinds of fun pieces.

Small Confession: I did try to complete the last two challenges, however, (big sigh) I don't know how to emboss!! I'm so ashamed! No worries, my buddy Studio Rose to the rescue, she's coming up next week and has promised to teach me!

Journaling with Teresa McFayden

I've long wanted to find a form of art journaling that I could do on a regular basis. I think maybe I've found it! I totally lost myself putting together these pages together.

I spent a few hours today prepping and painting pages that I can journal and doodle on while I have my morning coffee. I have to say the prep work was much fun! I finished several sets in no time.

Here's a closer look at the left page - yes, I put the holes on the wrong side, but I'll work that out with some ribbon or something once I do a title page. I used two white pens, one a uni-ball signo and the other an Inkssentials. Both worked well.

A closer look at my second page. Such fun!!

I have a question for you - I journal first thing in the morning about the previous day, because obviously, not much has happened that early! Do I date it the day it happened, the previous day, or do I date it the day that I journal it, the day after it happens?

I can't wait to see what Teresa has in store for us tomorrow.

More Tim Holtz in CCC #3

I had so much fun with this challenge! It was messy, inky with oh so cool results! You can find the details in Tim's book, "A Compendium of Curiosities" on page 51. To join in on the challenges's click on the link and visit Linda's blog.

I'm not sure if you can tell from this picture, but I used Tim's Texture Hammer on the corner brads. I've wanted one of those hammer's since I first saw them in his book and yesterday Michael's had them on clearance for $6.99! What a deal!

I was able to incorporate this weeks challenge into the book I am making by using it on the cover of a little Field Journal I stitched into the back of the file folder. (See last post for the cover.)

The pages are actually kraft wrapping paper that I found at Michael's. It's not as heavy as a roll of kraft shipping paper, a perfect weight for journaling or even adding photos or other embellishments. (I have the pages clipped together as they still want to roll up!)

Just so you can see the spine of the original folder where I stitched in the little journal. Now, to work on Claudine's class at BPS and hopefully be all set for tomorrow's challenge!

Thank you, Linda, for hosting, I'm having such fun!

Happy 4th of July!

Everybody Loves Tim Holtz!

It's been so long since I've posted to, or even visited, my own blog I had to log onto blogger to remember how to get here! Shame on me. Anyway, my BFF, StudioRose, talked me into joining the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge hosted by Linda, on her blog, Studio L3.

Getting off to a good start, I'm jumping right in with Challenge #2! (Okay, I admit I tried the first challenge, I was awful! I'm going to give it another go, so watch for that!) Challenge #2 was Fragment Basics, following is my attempt.

This is the first fragment I made using Paper doll pARTs stamp set, Basic Grey paper and Distress Inks from Tim Holtz. The fragment is attached with a Tim jump ring and then tied on with the same thread (colored with distress ink) that I used in the stitches across the bottom and at the corners of the pocket.

While I was waiting for this to dry I noticed a small round fragment that looked to be the same size as the smallest stamp in the set and made this next.

I attached this tiny little fragment using a Tim jump ring and a mini clip that I slid into a pocket.

I gave a lot of thought on how to use the finished challenges, some are making tag books, and I really liked that idea (StudioRose!). In the end I thought I'd use mine in the projects I was working on. That way I thought I'd not only learn the technique but how to incorporate it into my own work. We'll see how it goes! This is the front cover of a folder/book I'm working on.

The next challenge will be announced on Monday! Check out Linda's blog!

Here comes the sun. . .

We've been busy around here since thawing out. Maybe not Jake so much, unless you count chasing patches of sunlight to stretch out in.

I met with my landscape designer yesterday to go over her plan for my front side yard. It's beautiful! I cannot wait to see it finished. We'll probably start the end of February or the beginning of March. Everything she's chosen is native to our area, will do well in the Florida sunshine and droughts. Just about all the plants have something special about them, in that they attract birds, bees, and/or butterflies, some have berries, most flower - I think it's perfect! The flowers are all white - Oakleaf Hydrangea, Walter's Viburmum, Bridal Wreath with a little pink - Pink Perfection Camelia and Twist & Shout Hydrangea. There will also be blueberries and a thornless blackberry. Under our Cypress tree she's planning to put Variegated Algerian Ivy, which I love! Very excited!

I've also been fine tuning my studio - reorganizing, purging things I know I'll never use, finding better ways to store what I will use and most of all, trying to get rid of ugly clutter! I can't create in all that clutter! I've been in the room for 2 years now, and have a pretty good idea of what works for me and what doesn't. A redesign was in order. I ended up with a new desk and a new shelf which are now in place. I'm thinking I'll use my old desk - actually half a table - as a sewing table. I'm getting close to finishing up, as soon as I do, I'll post pictures.

My neighbor invited me to her knitting group last Tuesday - Loved That! Very nice group of ladies, very warm and welcoming. I've been knitting ever since and have even pulled out a couple knitting books to plan my next project - using my stash, of course!


Hoping you are enjoying your day!

The weather outside was frightful . . .

. . . but the fire was so delightful!

We have had historically cold temperatures here in Florida - hard freezes lasting several hours for more than a week. Granted other places have had much worse weather and snow to go along with it, but this is Florida! We aren't prepared! We don't own warm clothes! And boots? Forget about it! Okay, cute boots maybe, but nothing to keep your feet warm! Some homes don't even have central heat! No, I'm not kidding!

So what does one do? I for one, did as little as possible! I aimed my space heater at the comfy couch, curled up in a quilt with Gracie and Jake and started reading Stephen King's, "Under the Dome". When that got too scary I started watching "Sex and the City" on DVD - I made it through all 6 seasons AND the movie!

We've thawed out now, so to speak and I'm off the couch, but there's laundry and shopping to be done. I'll be back later this week, I just wanted to check in and thank all of you who have left comments - I love it when you do that!

Stay warm!!