A whole town...

More and more houses today. Stacie invited me to her studio today. I love working there because it feels like I'm going to "work". I actually get ready and eat breakfast and head in my car to work! Even though it is only 4 houses up the street :) But I need to haul my supplies, so a car is needed.
I made another Halloween house and a couple others. This time around I am incorporating precious and semi-precious stones. I like the idea of using the stones for their healing and chakra properties.
Hopefully I will deliver some to the Muse tomorrow afternoon.

I want to have about 20 houses done by the end of Sept. That's not asking too much? Is it?

Hope you're having a creative week!
See you soon!

It's Friday and I've started HOUSES!

Well I can't believe that the week is already at an end! It's been a busy busy week.
A fresh batch of calendars was delivered to the Muse on Wednesday and I finally got started on those tricky little houses!

I am so happy with how they are turning out. I even made a Halloween one for sale next week (again at the Muse!)
I started out with my new shipment of paper birdhouses and collaged/covered them with all vintage book pages. I had some french pages as well as old english pages.
The next step is painting the base colors in acrylics. I almost think they are perfect just plain like that... But then comes the fun collaging/detailing steps.




My favorite part... being able to create each house one of a kind and according to my mood at that moment!
Here's a picture of the Halloween house... creepy...

All in all, this was a very productive week; With a couple breaks built in for school volunteering, lunch with friends, errand running and exercise, the week just rushed by.




Oh, one more thing... Stacie sent me a video about artists this week. So many times I feel discouraged and wonder, "what the heck am I doing?" I wonder if making and selling pieces is worth the time and effort. I found the video very inspiring and encouraging. I realized I really do love creating things with my hands; I love the satisfaction is brings when something is finished and packaged either for sale or as a personal gift. It helped me justify my decision to create with my time & not take a more traditional career path that is just not for me.
It was helpful to me... maybe it will be for you too... or maybe not. If you have a few minutes, check it out!

Krista Vernoff "Commit to Thrive" from Omega Institute on Vimeo.

I hope you have a great weekend! See you next week!

Going to the Muse on Wed!

I can't believe it, but I think I will be able to get to the Muse on Wednesday! It's been a busy couple weeks and I'm still feeling a little out of the swing of things. My friends and I were just talking about how things are not fitting just right yet.


I do have the calendars ready for delivery and something new! Wine Glass Tags. I will be offering the tags in sets of 4 and 10!
Also in the batch are Halloween sets!


They fit right around the base of a wine glass and are made from very sturdy card stock... although they are meant to be disposable!
I will also begin to offer them at my etsy store soon!



The photos with the wine glasses are meant to show how they are used.




That was a prototype and after several design changes, I decided to go with pretty papers with lots of color!



So That's where I'm at for the time being... somewhere between blissfully creating and watching the clock hands spin out of control...

Where are you these days?

More Calendar Pics!

Ok... so I haven't even had time to start my birdhouses yet this week... hmph! But I did finish my first batch of calendars! They are ready for shipment to stores.
I think I will start putting them out next week!
Here's a few more shots of the pages!
Tomorrow is a day off for the kids so I'm not sure if I will be working or not. Depends on what the day brings I guess. I'm hoping to get to the birdhouses by Fri, but chances are ... next week.
That's the way it goes... I suppose... :)

2011 Calendars are in the works!

Probably one of the most rewarding projects I do annually is the paper bag calendar. I love the whole process of making them. From folding and sewing, painting, embellishing and assembling... each step requires attention and creativity.
When the "spirit moves me", I sit down and make a few pages. When I am having a creative block, I have to set them aside. Forcing the pages always shows in the end result!
Yesterday I had one of those perfect days; when colors and inspiration all came together. So I got right to work!
I can tell... I'm going to fall in love with 2011~!
here's a couple photos of what I did so far.

The style of these calendars have evolved in the past 4 years and this year the theme, "Imagine", has emerged!

As the time gets closer, I will keep you informed on when they will start being available in stores and online!

On the agenda for next week... more birdhouses!
Thanks for checking me out today! See you soon!

additional FALL 2010 Cards...

Here's just a few more cards that I am working on this week. This line is distinguished by the vintage photo corners (so far...)!
It's fun to work with this new size: 3.5"x5".

Some more exciting news... My box of blank birdhouses arrived yesterday! So next week those will be added to the schedule. YEA!

This week is flying by... as usual. How's your week going? Any new projects in the works?

A NEW Look and A Mousy Birthday....

What do you think of the new look?
My blog page was due for a makeover... the original one was a basic template that I found randomly online. After some consideration I decided to go with this one from Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates! This site has a ton of really cool designs... and it couldn't have been any easier to update my page!
If you are looking for a new template... you need to check it out!!!

Here's a card from a new small card line I am working on for this fall.
Little mice are so cute!
This card measures 3.5"x5" and features this cute mouse clown. all colored with blended alcohol inks and raised on dimensional. I used photo corners on all four and the swarovski jewels detail the wording. The inside sentiment says, "Wishing you all the best today and every day".

Stay tuned for more mice!~

Some Distressed Tags to Share!

Happy Monday Everyone!

Last week went by in a flash! The first week of school was a huge success for the kids and it was so exciting to see them so happy and enthusiastic! Only a few little confusions... and a bit of exhaustion... so far so good!

I also had a great week. My friends and i got together for our annual planner making day(s).
We had a great time laughing, talking, eating and creating!





Moving forward to this week... I started off the day with TAGS! Distressed tags made from 100% recycled material. These will be at the Muse by Fri.

I'd love to hear what types of tag styles interest you? Vintage French?, Mod?, Cute?...or something else? Let me know what you think!

I'm on a schedule for the rest of the week which will include calendars and more tags.

Hope you are having a great start to the week! See you soon!

I'm the Featured Artist!

Exciting news today! Stacie of Stacie's Jewelry has chosen little, 'ole me on her blog today as her featured artist! She makes the most creative PMC jewelry and she is my very close friend! I have watched her work and it really is a labor of love with each piece.
Anyway, please check out her blog (www.staciejewelry.blogspot.com)! She's also offering a contest for FREE jewelry! So click on over!

On other business news, I've made the face plates requested by Art Partners and they are ready to ship! So AP, you can expect them by the end of the week!

Some new paper mache' birdhouses are on their way to me to be made into new Inspiration Houses! Can't wait til the shipment arrives!

That's it for now! See you soon!

School's in!

Today is the first day of school for my kids and the first day to get back on schedule for me!

Here's a new card to start off the day... (or afternoon...)
Each felt flower is hand sewn on the card stock and then layered on a few layers. Vintage brads in each center.

also working on more face plates for Art Partners...

My friend, Stacie, is featuring a new contest on her blog. If you like PMC jewelry, you need to check it out! (staciejewelry.blogspot.com)

Hope you have a great Monday!

HOPE treasury on ETSY

It's been so long since my last post~ I've been gearing up for the school year...! YES, the countdown has begun. 10 days til day 1!
So with that comes cleaning out everyone's closets and dressers (hmph...), back to school supplies ($$), last minute mini family trips (Yea!), and cleaning and organizing my studio (always a challenge)!
Not very interesting... I know...

I do have some exciting news to share... my "HOPE" birdhouse been featured in an ETSY TREASURY by Beadwire - HOPE! (click on Beadwire to check out her store!)

If you get a second, check it out! -
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c61c066347c6d91281cf718/hope

Thank you Jen (Beadwire!) for featuring my piece in your beautiful selection of HOPE items!

and please stay tuned for some fun and new projects and ideas at the start of the school year!

See you soon!

Fall is in the AIR!

I can't believe it... it's already August!
I went for a walk today and it actually "smelled" like fall. I'm not sure how else to describe it. It was also a little cooler than the usual late summer day... so with that and the "smell", it is starting to feel like fall.
I am still designing new Fall line cards as well.
Here's one for birthday!...

tomorrow I will have 2 birdhouses up on etsy and I will deliver some to the Muse (freserick) by next week.

Hope you are having a great start to August! See you soon!

Little Boxes on the Hillside, Little boxes made of ticky tacky...

I've been busy... making birdhouses for etsy and the Muse! They would make a great gift for a new house, new baby, birthday, teacher... and more.
Here's a peek... They all need extra touches, and some are just at the beginning of their journey...
These should be ready by Tuesday~ I'm excited!
Have a great weekend!

I've been featured on ETSY Treasuries!

In the past week I've been featured on a few etsy treasuries.

These are items selected by fellow Etsians as their picks in certain categories.

MY FAVORITE COLOR by ARTREASURY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY by DEBS102

and SPICE by SUGARCHILLS

I'm so honored to be among these selections!
THANK YOU!

Check out a treasury I made yesterday!:
PEACE LOVE and HOPE
ENJOY!

another new addition to the fall line up

This simple card is stamped individually in 3 colors and a vintage button is added for detail. Clean, smooth, simple card for any birthday!

get well card

Spent most of today designing new cards for the new fall line.
Here's a get well card... straight, clean lines with floral focus.

new birthday cards and a new home!

it feels nice to get back to making cards. sometimes when you are away from it for so long, it's hard to get back in the "groove" of it. Lately I've been noticing how beautiful fabrics are and they feel so cozy. It's nice to try and incorporate them into my papercrafts. Here I used a green scrap I found in my bin. Used permanent ink to stamp on it and sewed it with my machine.
This next card uses a vintage fabric scrap from a friend and the small pieces are perfect for making the houses out of.
And finally I used a quilting idea to use many scraps of designer paper I had to make mini squares and border this image. A little ultrafine glitter in the window really makes it pop!

This birdhouse was one I made as a birthday gift. (Whitney @ the Muse!). I have found that I love collaging on birdhouses and other 3D items. I have decided to make some for the store as well. so stay tuned in the coming weeks for available houses!

So that's it for now. New cards will be available soon on Etsy. Thanks for visiting! See you soon!

Back from MAINE!

It's been about a month since I last posted... We've been enjoying our start to summer and took a trip to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor in Maine! What an incredible place to vacation. This was our first time going north for the summer... we usually go to NC or FL. And we will go back again for sure!

We spent days hiking, kayaking, swimming and taking in the Bar Harbor bustle...
Highlights: Climbing the second highest peak on Acadia (Dorr Mountain), gathering wild blueberries on our hikes, enjoying the crystal clear waters of Jordan Pond (I mean CRYSTAL!), and spending time in our beachhouse and on our sandy beach searching thru tidal pools for starfish and other amazing creatures.
Oh, I almost forgot, LOBSTAH!


So now we are back and the 4th of July festivities are ending... it's time to get back to work.
I have to admit... I'm a bit lazy today. But I do have some new designs on the drawing board and some new goals set.
Stay tuned in the coming days for new ideas...

Stay cool! (Whew... 101 today!)

new bookmarks on ETSY!

Just a quick hello today!
Today's the last day of school for the kids! YEA! I am so excited to spend the summer with them. We just get to go and do whatever we want...

So before the fun begins... I posted several bookmarks this morning.
Off to a small garage sale with friends! Hope I find some treasures!

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

it's been two weeks...

I'm sorry I haven't been on to post lately. Apart from regular life I have been a little under the weather. So I have not actually been making any cards. Just been laying in bed and getting spoiled by my friends. (Thank you Kathy and Stacie... ).

Tomorrow I hope to at least get a couple designs put together. I will try my best...
Tomorrow is also the last day of school for my kids... so they get out early and we have our yearly ritual for last day (as long as I'm feeling better).

I Will see you soon (hopefully tomorrow) !