Crazy Life

It just never stops happening. I guess that would be a good thing LOL
So where was I? Do you want to hear about health problems, family issues and all the drama that has become my life lately. Or would you rather see what I do in ALL my spare time?
I thought so....
You all may have heard about the Flat Stanley project. They did it in grade schools all over the country. Kids made flat Stanley dolls and then sent him to all different schools for a "visit". I came up with the brain child of doing that in one of my groups. We made Flat Selves and then sent them on there way to visit  around the country. My doll is having a ball and I think I should start posting pictures of her and the other dolls, but let me first bring you all up to date. So first, this is ME...Flat and sort of my alter personality LOL

Oh stop laughing. She is adorable LOL..we also had a Secret Garden swap in another group. It was a 4X4 so I decided to make Teabag fold flowers and hide all sorts of fun things under the petals.

Lots of sparkle and some cool little bugs hiding.
I also got a beautiful tin made by Debbie from the CDA swap. Butterfly and all.

Ain't  that purdy? So then I had to come up with a gift idea for my Paducah girls. Every year we each make something special and hand it out when we meet at the cabin. Of the million things I could have made, I decided  I wanted to make birds.....

Yes, I know what your thinking and I'm sure most people would agree...LOL Wanna laugh even more? I made 3 of them in different colors.
As I sit in my studio working on swaps I ponder if I should take a break, drop out, so I can just work on gifts. So many people do such nice things for me and I never seem to have the time to give back.
For instance...look what my friend Norma made for me...she sent it along with all sorts of things she knew I would like..including a metal bird cage that I've been looking for...But this gift was made by Norma, who has even less time then I have.

Happy Birthday to me!!! Then I get this package in the mail from Patricia. A sweetheart that belongs to 2 of my groups. She made this for me to thank me, imagine that, for all I do. I think it is I who should be thankful.

Isn't she pretty? She went to Paducah :-) I've gotten some more pretties that I will have to show off after I take pictures. There is so much I'd like to make for so many people. I thought retirement would be a slower paced life. BOY!! was I wrong...Oh, remember that wooden "M" that I worked on for hours and hours sorting through just the right stuff to make it look stunning and to make Mary happy? Mary loved it, I mean really loved it. She wrote me a beautiful letter...she was NOT the person who had to send to me.
This is the  letter I got...the one that was supposed to be made of wood, or so I was told. Mine was made of paper...

So I sit and I ponder....perhaps I should give up swapping and just make gifts for people I love and appreciate and who appreciate me.
Stay tuned for the adventures of the FLAT ladies and more beautiful gifts...I love happy mail! Yes, I do believe that giving is far more rewarding then getting (at times it is a real good thing I feel that way LOL) but I would lie if I said that I don't love the Happy Mail I get from people who think of me and take the time to put together some of the beautiful things I've received over the years. You are all a treasure to me....

Never Dull

Isn't that the name of a polish, It's also my life. of course if it was dull and boring I'd be complaining also. I'd much rather have a life that moves along.
Pain in my knee has been mounting, waiting for Orthovisc (Thanks Mr. Obama for your fabulous Obamacare) funny before Obamacare I got the shots when necessary about every 8 months. I got almost a year out of this last one, good thing too. First Medicare took it's time with reimbursement and the the company was all back logged because the demand increased. Unbelievable!!!

So I take my pain (shoulder and knees) and sneak into my studio where I immerse myself in my art. Creating  keeps the mind busy and allows me to focus on something other then hurting 24/7. if I were not so into self hypnosis, I'm not sure what I'd do. As always I have been busy trying to get gifts done and swaps on their way out the door. Another pet peeve of mine. Why don't swappers take what they do seriously? You sit there and take what others make and have no feeling of obligation to pay it forward? Says a lot about your character.
I happen to enjoy swapping (except that one stiff that comes along every so often) for the most part it's fun and the gals involved are great. So this is what I have been up to while I've been so quiet here.
One group has a monthly lottery card..The theme was "Chocolate" this was my submission.

Cute huh? Then we had a challenge. Raeven picked a theme of Victorian Romance Altered Jar, this was what I did for that one.

That's about as romantic as one can get..sweets and flowers <g> My guys over at "My Favorite Things" would go wild!!! Then in my group we had a little Dotee Doll in a match box swap and I made this:

also in my group, we had a Tea Bag fold ATC swap.

Those are what the group did. The black ones with the bling are mine.
Then over at CDA one of the challenges was "What's in My Garden". My first  thought was a Fairy (how predictable was that?) then came a Butterfly followed by a dragon fly..still much too predictable. I like to be different so I made L'Orange (he's French) he is a caterpillar that will never become a Butterfly, poor guy. But I like him just the way he is, living in my house plants. I move him around just to freak people out LOL

Another challenge in CDA is in the art doll studio and that is a Alice in Wonderland theme. I am not much of a paper doll person. As a kid all my friends had store bought paper dolls, I had to draw my own and make my own clothes...Looking back, it wasn't much fun. I was going to make the Tea Party in a cigar box, then shifted to the Queen of Hearts in a bottle...but wait!! Didn't Alice drink  something from a bottle that said "Drink Me" and shrink? Perfect...

Alice is indeed made of paper. 3/8ths of an inch tall..standing on a bed of posies cut thin from fimo cane.The bottle is less then an inch tall. Simple but right on....
Then in AFTCM there was an Alphabet swap. We got a partner and had to do her initial in an altered state.
I looked at my partners album. She is a fabulous painter but she had a framed piece of assemblage , she liked it but since it was over $1000 she settled for a picture. So I looked at the picture and brought it to the letter of her first name.

The letter is painted in a hammered metal finish, the front was rusted with a rusting technique and then the assemblage was done with broken jewelry, charms and watch parts. Everything having a meaning to me and some , I hope, for her.
That's it folks. In between I got a lovely gift from my friend Norma, actually it was a box of delightful surprises. I couldn't find my camera at the time so I will have to take a picture of the collage she made me and this adorable cage...along with some other goodies. She always spoils me with her packages.
I'd like to thank you all for prayers sent to Alison Bird, her Mom tells me she is doing well. recovery will be long so keep those prayers coming. Also add our friend Raeven to your thoughts and prayers, she is having a terrible time dealing with her pain.Jeannies daughters BF was involved n a terrible auto accident so save some prayers for David as well. Then sit and count your blessings....  See you on my next "Time to relax" day.....



More fun

Doesn't even pay to try and keep up with this Blog on a daily basis. Few people can. You either have very good time management skills or nothing better to do...neither works in my case. My time management sucks and I am busy all the time.
I do like to try and get here a few times a week just to bring you up to date. Once again I have been busy with CDA. My last challenge , oh and what a challenge it was.
We had to take a Saturday Evening Post New Years baby cover and do it in 3D clay. You all know how I love bubbles..I mean what adult sits up at the pond and blows bubbles? So I took 1927 as my front Cover and this is what I did.

I didn't have time to fix the bottle how I wanted it. I only had one day to complete it. Not my best work but quite the challenge.
Also in CDA we have a swap going called  a Mingle. You alter a tin and then put goodies in it...the goodies have to be kept secret for now but here are some of the tins I made.

I love the last one..so dark and spooky. The Steam punk one was fun with the ladies face trimmed in watch parts. Actually they are all different, sort of symbolic of the difference in my multiple personalities ROTFL
I also had an Easter Post card due. I usually make them out of fabric but I was in a strange mood and decided on a butterfly explosion, causing eggs to fly about and say Happy Easter...

Perhaps tomorrow I will have a chance to post some of the neat swaps I've received. So stay tuned :-)

Happy St. Pats Day

Yes it is the wearing of the Green today and of course a dinner party with Corned beef, cabbage and potato's. Not that the Irish know what corned beef is, but who cares. We decided that's the "traditional" Irish meal, so be it.
I've been busy trying to wrap up all the swaps and challenges. haven't taken all the pictures yet but I do have some stuff to share.
WE had another  "Sample Tag" swap over at Jeannies group. You know those little sample tags of Formica you get at Home Depot or if your me, from the actual manufacturer . Yup, called and told them I had this project and needed some samples. they sent me 2000. It seems they want to keep them out of the landfill.
Okay, so I haven't figured out what to do with 2000 yet but these are the pendants I made .....

They really

are much prettier in person..No really LOL I used perfect pearls to give them some shimmer and Austrian crystals that really don't show up in the photos.

Another swap we had was a  mini journal. The theme was "Collections". Those of you who know me are hysterical right now. I have more collections then anyone I know. You name it, chances are I collect it, or I have collected it in the past. It was rough to narrow it down to one thing . So I didn't LOL

I notice that some people were able to make a rather small journal (few pages) but that didn't work with me.

I wrote on tags and included pictures of my collections of Angels, Fairies and Butterflies.

Then I got this great mini book from Raeven

 

That's the front and back cover and one of the pocket pages..she does such beautiful work doesn't she.

We also had a St. Patricks Day ATC swap. Here are the 3 I got (I already posted the 3 I made)

I got my eye shot this week. Doc said I am doing very well. He gave me the little bottle from the shot so I can make something.OMG!! Even my doctors are turning into enablers. This shot was rough, the pressure was great and I had some bleeding which hasn't happened. Funny how each shot is so different.
There is still no word about my Orthovisc..I wish there was a way to express my feelings to Obama for that fabulous Obama Care. I sure wish he had to depend on the same system he feels works for the American public. What I wish more is that I could send this pain to him. So between the knee and the eye I can't tell you how wonderful it makes me feel to get a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) from one of the gals I don't even know over at TG's group. It came at just the right time to add some sunshine to my life. So thank you Judy for this beautiful card.

If Judy can find the time to send some cheer to a stranger. So can you...Do something nice for someone today. Send a "Thinking of You " card to a friend. Drop off some cookies at a senior center, go write a letter for someone at your local Vets hospital....or do what I do. I have this angel glitter..actual little angels in gold, about a half inch .I stick them in envelopes when paying bills, or lay them on top of tip money or just leave a few on a shelf in a store..Somewhere along the line those angels will make someone smile.
You're smiling right now :-) Have a great day

Just a quickie

I start each day with meditation. It's when I take the time to be thankful for all who have touched my life. It's when I remember those who have passed, those who are sick or afraid. I pick a phrase and then meditate on how it relates to my life, how I can use it to better myself or someone else.
I recently made up an altered tin with some of my favorite words of wisdom. It was a gift well received and the person said "why don't you sell these"?
I had never given that much thought, I will now, but I did wonder why I don't share those words.
I think everyone can benefit by meditation. By a little bit of soul searching. So I think I will include "words of wisdom" in my postings from now on. I know there are many who follow this Blog. You write and tell me how you love my art or how you appreciate my honesty or my humor. I love the e-mails I get regarding this Blog. I want to give something back and I think the best way to do that is to give you something to think about. It is my hope that when you read these words you will ask yourself how they apply to you and how you can use it in your life today.
So here's the thought for today: If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future.If you are at peace, you are living in the present.
Today I wish you peace.....

Just keep hopin'

Yup, thats what I do. I keep hoping for more time to enjoy the things I like to do. Although I must say, I am enjoying these past two days, getting swap stuff taken care of. I'm almost there and then I can work on some babies...I feel like making some mini babies..the best kind..out of clay. They don't cry, wet themselves and best of all they don't eat. Just sit there and look "purdy". I can blame this on Kat since she has this challenge going where you make a clay kid depicting a Saturday Evening Post mag cover. I'm doing 1927...look it  up..or don't LOL
So I should have a bunch of stuff to post real soon. Mean while check this out  http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv1tMioGgXI?rel=0
The older you are the more you'll laugh. Really check it out. Don't be lazy because you have to cut and paste it. Just do it, I promise you'll LYBO

No sense in jibber jabbing just to fill in some space here. Life is busy but nothing exciting to report , hopefully soon :-) Mean while keep laughing...it's the secret to a long life.

So much for "Tomorrow"

I guess in the broad sense of the word it is "Tomorrow"..okay so it is actually today which was yesterdays tomorrow. But I told you several days ago I'd see you tomorrow. So how does that work?
As you can see I am not in my right mind. Was I ever? I don't really think so...or perhaps it is the rest of the world and I am the only normal one. I have been spending too much time in the glue again. LOL

So what have I been doing. Well for one, I have been looking for my second batch of 100 ATC envelopes. They are missing. I am sure they will be in the last place I look, I just haven't looked there yet. I did manage to hit "Full Circle" which some of you know is my favorite junk shop. I found a bunch of old bottles which Anna, the owner, felt needed a new home. They have been there forever. She knows I like bottles and I do things to them...bad things when you consider I am about to take away their antique value. Who cares, no one wanted then as antiques anyway.
My next Challenge in  CDA has to do with bottles. I love bottles so this will be fun. I have a swap going on  which is an Altoids Tin mingle , the ladies seem to be having fun with that. One of the challenges in another studio within CDA was a New Years Baby doll. That's what I have been working on...so here she is.

My kids say she looks like me, so I named her Katie. I was going to name her Nova because my friend Cherie said that is the Hopie tribe name for  Butterfly Chaser, but then I had another doll in mind for that so Katie it is.

So while I have been doing more, I can't really show you any of it at the moment..maybe tomorrow...when ever that is...