Good Samaritan

I've been so busy getting everything ready for Christmas, I have yet again, ignored my blog!

Today, I drove back from a quick weekend visit to Iowa. It was just the kids and I. Well the weather wasn't so great. About 20 miles from my brothers house I ran into trouble. I hit a very slick patch, fishtailed, and went off the road. I wasn't completely in the ditch, just enough that I was stuck!

Luckily, two other vehicles stopped and with the help (and muscle) of four strangers, I got out! I wish I knew who these people were...I thanked them profusely and off they drove. So to all the nice people who will stop to help a stranger...

THANK-YOU AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Snow Day

the duck pen when I woke up this morning

They played hard and then slept!

Winter Sew Somerset

My newest article came out in "Sew Somerset" today. I'm so excited. The photos look wonderful, they did such a great job. So vibrate and bold.

This is a tutorial describing my technique for using used dryer sheets to create fun and functional fabric. I'm very happy how it all turned out.

If four full pages wasn't cool enough....The editor (Amanda Nolan) was
kind enough to include me in her "Letter from the Editor"!!! Yay!!!

The whole issue is fun and interesting..pick up your copy today :-)

More new work and tutorial link

Here is a quick peek of some new book collages.






I posted another tutorial on the WIST blog today too!

Library Project and New Work

Yesterday I taught a mini class at the local library to make the above ornaments/ necklaces. Everyone had the option to use family photos or vintage images to make their project.
Some made necklaces, some ornaments, or a little of each.

I had a lot of fun and I think everyone else did too! Of course I forgot to snap any photos!

I've been working so hard to get new artwork made that after the class, I ate lunch and fell asleep. I have nice kids that they let me sleep :-D

After a nice doze I went right back to work!
Next weekend my artwork will be at Lapaceks Orchard for their Handcrafted Hoedown for the Holidays. Visit their website for directions! They are only 30 minutes north of Madison.

Eventually I may actually get things listed on Etsy. Ya know I need a longer day or loose the need for sleep!

These are the new birds I've been working on. Each is a lightweight bird shape wrapped with fibers. Each is on a base of recycled and found objects. I can't wait to make more because they are sooo fun to create!

Swap Ornament

Ornament I made for a swap here.

Tutorial Tuesday -Mini Chalkboard

Another tutorial on the WIST blog!

Halloween 2009

The finished Jack o'Lanterns turned out great, but the hunt was just as fun.

Too bad Halloween comes and goes so fast.

Maybe in the summer, watermelons would work????

Evil Eggs -venting

Why are eggs out to get me?

At least this is how I feel. In August I kept getting really sick, GI problems. After some work and a food log, I figured out eating eggs was the problem. For some reason, after 38 years, I'm intolerant to eggs.

Not just that, today I finally got in to see an allergist, only to have a reaction to the scratch test for egg protein. They drew blood for further tests, but it seems I have a full blown egg allergy! The doc was concerned enough that I now have to carry an Epi-pen! Now the blood test can come back saying the Epi-pen is not needed. Either way I can not eat anything with eggs.

I know things could be worse, things can always be worse! I'm in the self pity stage right now, dwelling on all the things I can't eat. ahmm chocolate chip cookies w/out egg? Pumpkin pie w/out egg? Banana muffins w/out egg???

Maybe I'll lose weight avoiding all those treats?

I'm just feeling a bit sad right now because of it...and my arm still really itches from all the tests! ugh! I hate limitations. I'm off to Google "vegan chocolate chip cookie recipes"

Bluto Ornament

I just got this in the mail from a wonderful Etsy seller, Christina Studio.
She did such a wonderful job, I added my Bluto ornament to my DOD shrine for him.

Tutorial Tuesday -Dia de los Muertos Shrine

I have another tutrial on the WIST blog here!
And this is a shrine I made for a swapbot swap that is ready to be customized.

Octoberfest!

My Etsy shop is finally reopened and I'm slowly but surely getting it restocked!
Right now I'm having an Octoberfest Sale...free US Shipping!

Also check out the list of other WIST stores participating in our sale

Tutorial Tuesday -CD Case Frame

Hello, another tutorial here!

Tutorial Tuesday -Swaps

Check out the post I made on the WIST blog this week
and let me know if you want to join in on the swap!

My Birthday

Isn't this the cutest cake? Saturday while Mike was at an auction, the kids made me stay in my studio while they baked me a cake. I love the way they decorated it with Playmobil guinea pigs eating out the words "Happy Birthday Mom". I was yummy too!
So yesterday was a good day. It had to be the coldest birthday I've had...only about 65 degrees. But it was a beautiful day to be out. At Henry Vilas Zoo my favs are the capybaras and the prairie dogs. so cute!

Then we had lunch and did some shopping. I found a novel I've been wanting. Unfortunately I couldn't wait and I stayed up most of the night reading the book! So I'm moving a bit slow today *Yawn*

Gotta get moving. Today is the last day of summer vacation for Emma and Ethan. School starts tomorrow and we still need to get a few things.
remember ......

Tutorial Tuesday -Bleach Stencil Tee

Check out the tutorial I wrote on the WIST blog

Tutorial Tuesday on WIST

I have a cute little tutorial on the Wisconsin Street Team blog. Please check it out here.

Being business minded

I am not a very business minded person. I have fun brainstorming packaging and display ideas but the nuts and bolts of business, no way! Sometimes I wonder if I should have gone to collage for business and marketing. I figure either way I would be when I am now, making art. Maybe I'd know better how to make a good living at it. I do think about what my other options are. Do I want to sell at art fairs forever? Do I want to teach more classes (I taught one so far)? Do I want to go more into designing for others? Should I follow through and illustrate the children's books I've already written? So many question marks!

I found this class while surfing the web. It is taught by Laura Bray of Katydid Designs:

Multiple Streams of Income:
An Online Course
Begins September 7, 2009

Attention Artists and Crafters!

Are you struggling to make a living doing what you love?
Do you feel like you are working all the time and getting nowhere?
Do you feel overwhelmed and confused about all the ways artists and crafters can make money?
Are you always jumping from one idea to the next without following through on anything?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, this online course is designed for you!
*****

Sounds like what I need! Maybe more information would help me figure out a direction? You'd think at my age I'd have a direction for goodness sake!
I you are also interested in learning to expand your art and craft options go here and get the class details.

We got egg!

Straight from the straw, dirt and all

All washed up

One of our ducks, not sure which, layed their first egg! The egg is a bit small and the yolk is a darker orange. I've never had a duck egg, but it was delicious! I scrambled it up so we could share it easily. Ethan thought it was the best scrambled egg he'd ever had!

Carnival Day

In the years I've volunteered at my local library, I have planned so many kids activities but this was the most challenging! How to have a free mini carnival with prizes for a very small amount of money?

I came up with 5 games, face painting, and the library director hired a gal to make balloon animals. Everyone loves balloon animals! We had goody bags for all and two gift baskets in a drawing.

Yesterday was the day, 50% chance of thunderstorms in the forecast! I woke to a dreary rainy morning. I had my art fair tent set up outside and out two of the games inside in the Library meeting room. Luckily the rain stopped, sun came out, and we had a great turnout! I was swamped the whole time doing face painting, so a good friend and "helper" took photos.

Each game booth was run by volunteer carnies (my kids and friends from school). It was fun but exhausting and I don't want to do it again in the near future!

Everyone loved the bean bag toss..this game I got from my brother and

all I did was paint a bulls-eye on it

Yes, the game was knocking plastic golf balls off tees with a water filled ketchup bottle!

It worked better than a squirt gun.

Me painting ants down his arm :-)

Moo Crew Feature

I am the featured WIST member (Wisconsin Street Team on Etsy) over on the Wist blog. Stop by my Etsy shop and look at what prints I have and then leave a comment here. One winner will be picked at random to receive their chosen print!

Yay! Free Art!

This weekend I'll be in Mount Horeb. My booth will be accross from Moonhill Mercantile, just before 3rd Street. Stop by and say "Hi!"