American Science and Surplus store

What a fun store!!!!!
Check out their website and get the catalog.

Look what I got on Saturday when we went to the Milwaukee store...

Glass test tubes and rubber stoppers, small round light bulbs, cool brass compasses,
an amber colored lens, light covers, brass rings, and ping pong balls!!!!
All for less than 20$

1.25$ for a foot -not sure what I'll do with it though????

tiny bottles 18 cents each for bottle and cork!

A Challenge to Build a Creative Life

Walk on my Friend -detail

Walk on my Friend
mixed media painting on wood 5x5 inches

Being creative is easy for me, It is almost a need. I have to work on creative projects on a daily basis. Not to say that everything is a success and everything I make is "ART" but each has a purpose. An outlet.

The challenge for me is turning this need to create into a livelihood. What a great dream! I've been working on this dream for a few years....working hard but not always working smart. So my goal now is to find a way to work smart!

No pressure, huh!

To start with, I'm trying to expand my time in the studio working on art and not just fun craft projects. My outlet for craft is helping Emma with her teen craft club.

Spending time in the studio is a pain for me in the winter because my home studio is in the cold, dark, basement. No amount of lighting hides that fact. I just surround myself with my supplies, my iPod, and a space heater!

Another goal is to yet again, try to blog more. I'll take advantage of my iPod touch.

Swap- bot swap

I stopped joining swap-bot swaps last year after a few disappointing swaps. I decided to jump in again and I'm glad I did. I'm not yet finished with my partners puppy but I already received my goodies in the mail!

Two needle felted duckies. Sue did a really great job on Scooter and Fern, even Fern's head poof! I had to give them a place of honor, right under my favorite painting and next to my favorite teddy.

Please visit this fabulous artist blog. Her art dolls are awesome! She said my duckies are her first time needle felting...wow!

Tutorial Tuesday -Mini Chalkboard

Another tutorial on the WIST blog!

Snail Mail Goodness

Meet Berri, my new springtime dotee from Suzi. Isn't she sweet!

Just look at all this stuff! I can't wait to use the fabric! And a chicken timer *grins*

The wonderful yellow plush bird was my Pay It Forward goodie from Jenny here. She sent yummy chocolates (gone) and bird note paper (I already used a lot of it). See how nice her bird looks on my shelf! I never got any comments on this PIF post, but I'm trying again. Go to this post and comment if you want to join. I'll make you something!!!!!

Swap Stuff

First of all...everyone is healthy...yay! Can you believe in the end we found out Ethan had scarlet fever and a virus! Just his luck.

V is for Vivian

for a Gashlycrumb Tinies inspired swap

I guess for an actual couplet it would have to be ----

U is for Ursula in a dishwasher was mangled

V is for Vivian in Kudzu was strangled

This is for a Vintage Dotee In a Jar swap

Playing catch up

My little monster made Valentine monsters for school exchange...so cute!





And also the Valentine Postcards I sent out a few days ago for a flickr swap. I had so much fun making them! I love the cardboard and cheese cloth combo. I got the idea from a Katie Kendrick article. She made a book using recycled cardboard and cheesecloth. I love cardboard...hhmmm cheescloth too. Great idea!
I sent these out just before the deadline. I put each postcard in a clear envelope and took them to the Post Office counter. I was happily surprised to find out I could mail them for 41cents each. Well the next day there was a note in my mail box from the Postmaster. She was wrong I needed to add extra postage. Hopefully they weren't delayed too long.

Soon I'll post photos of the cute postcards I've received so far!

Minneapolis, Mn

I'll be in Minneapolis this weekend for a sale on Sunday at the James Ballantine VFW post. Sounds like fun! Stop by if you're in the area. I know it will be ccccccooooold but you can always warm up with handmade goodies!

Ok I know I am horrible at posting. I want to, I find myself writing blog posts in my head. Actually sittting down and doing it is another story. I signed up for the Thing-a-day challenge. so far I've made more than one thing each day. Again, the problem is photography and posting. Hopefully I can get my butt in gear and play catch-up.

Busy Busy!!!

It's after 1 am, I gotta get up way too early for the holiday art/craft show today. Wish me luck at Tinsel Trail!!!!!----Stevens Point, WI Holiday Inn 9-4pm