Remember Me

Lightning Strikes ~ "Girl Interupted"

Lightning hit our house last night and my computer is "FRIED". All art projects have come to a screeching halt! I can't believe how SICK and UPSET I am that I do not have access to my beautiful vintage images, my verses and sayings, my links to fellow artists' blogs, etc. I will know this afternoon if my computer is repairable or not and if my data is salvagable or not. Meanwhile I am shutting down my Etsy shop as it is just not possible to run a business from the town library computers! So.....I will be offline until my computer is fixed or we get it replaced. Thanks for your patience and understanding. Emily. XOXO

Mermaid Mania

I just can't help myself ~ I love Mermaids!!!!! I haven't been able to pull myself away from the Mermaids long enough to get sewing! Here is what I worked on today:

Isn't she sweet? This cute "mer bebe" has a little easel back attached to her so she can stand alone. I added some glitter sticker dots to trim her hat & dress and then put a dot on each polka dot on her tail.

She is listed in my Etsy shop right now. She would make a sweet "Muse" ~ encouraging and inspiring!

I also made a Mermaid "window card" that measures 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". The frame around the front of the card has a clear acetate sheet attached and is mounted with an 1/8" thick double-sided tape that raises it up from the background of the card. The mermaid is also mounted for a 3-D effect. I added 3 faux crystals to look like bubbles. (The rick-rack is actually hot pink, but is scanning in more of a red).

 

We'll see what tomorrow brings.....until then.....nighty-night!

Girlfriend...It's Spring...time for a new wardrobe!!!

I so admire my Granddaughter Allison! No matter what she is wearing, she is FABULOUS!!! She is so sweet and cute & knows just how to dress for any occasion.

I, on the other hand, am CLUELESS! Buying clothes is torture for me. I would rather have a root canal than go "shoe shopping". I have, in fact, only two pair of shoes to my name...a pair of scruffy tennis shoes (my yard shoes) and my Mary Janes.

My husband is always begging me to go shopping ~ can you believe it ladies?!?

I got through winter with my 3 pair of sweat pants & 3 sweat shirts. And I am down to one dress that, frankly, is worn out.

So, now the weather is warming up and I know I need clothes. I don't like anything I see in the stores and besides that, I am upset that EVERYTHING I LOOK AT is made overseas! (Don't get me started about Fair Trade and the low wages those poor workers receive).

I was getting so depressed, then I thought about something...

I have a huge stash of vintage yard goods, tableclothes, pillow cases, sheets, chenille bed spreads, vintage trims & buttons of all kinds ~ I should design some clothes for myself! It might be fun! I could also make some cute clothes for my granddaughters. 

So my challenge for this week is to dust off my sewing machine, pull out those patterns and make some clothes for myself! I like the thought of reusing/recycling/repurposing old fabrics and notions ~ good for our environment ~ good for my wardrobe. 

I have also wanted to start on some fabric art. I am so inspired by the fabric collages of:

* Collete Copeland of Pomegranate Place

* K.C Willis of Lipstick Ranch

* JoAnnA Pierotti of Moss Hill Studio

This isn't the half of it....I have tons of additional vintage/antique white and cream fabrics, textiles, trims & buttons. My art studio is brimming with treasures ~ time to get to work!!!

My Etsy "green" purchase for Earth Day

I decided to purchase these lovely seed packet tags from Alicia at threeseasonsdesigns at Etsy.com.

"Grubby shipping tags with printed one of a kind altered vintage graphics. These prim tags are made using heavy cardstock. All tags come with scented twine ties attached. They are ready to use and smell so yummy with a hint of vanilla and baked apple!"

I will be using these tags, along with some recycled brown grocery bags as wrapping paper, for my gifts this summer. They will be so CUTE and will also remind my friends of the many vegetables, herbs & flowers that our Earth so bountifully provides us with.

Thanks so much Alicia!

Celebrate "Earth Day" Etsy Style !!!

Today is "Earth Day", a day for us to reflect on and get involved in activities that will benefit our Earth. Our environment is fragile and needs our gentle care. We are all connected ~ to each other ~ and to our Earth. There are so many things we can do...Reduce/Reuse/Recycle...use compact flourescent light bulbs...drive less often by using public transportation,walking, or riding a bike...GO ORGANIC! Buy local and organic food.

I am a member of Vernon County Freecycle. "Freecycle" is a grassroots nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free. Check out their website and find a group in your town! http://www.freecycle.org/

Here are some additional "Earth Day" and "Go Green" links:

*   http://earth911.org/

*   http://www.nature.org/earthday/?kw=google

*   http://www.care2.com/

One way I am going to support our Earth today is to "shop green" on Etsy. I love Etsy!!! There are so many talented artists, so much inspiration! Etsy has begun a series of articles in their Storque e-newsletter called "Earth Tones" which will feature artists that reuse/recyle materials in their artwork or that make eco-friendly products. Here are a few of the goodies I have found so far. I will post tomorrow about what I bought!

The "Pink Artist" Doll ~ Revealed

From Monica Magness's Blog:

Her name is "Love Squared."

She wears 180 two inch art squares.

182 artists total created her.

She is just under 40" tall

and weighs 6 pounds and 2 ounces.

She smiles because already she knows love

and is able to give love unconditionally.

To many, she is a symbol of hope.

She stands for COURAGE and was built

by a community of givers.

"The Pink Artist" is a community of artists joining together to create one joint art doll to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. When the doll is complete, it will be mailed to Art Doll Quarterly before finally being auctioned off on eBay at a later date.

I was so happy & proud to take part in this wonderful project! Monica asks that we share our project on our blogs and dedicate it to a friend or family member who has touched our heart...Mom, this is for you. Your battle with breast cancer opened my eyes to the suffering of others coping with this horrible disease. And now, as my own life has been touched by cancer, I also dedicate this to all of the courageous people going through their treatment right now. Know that I breathe a prayer for you each day.

Live Life Beautifully!

Dream

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Funny thing, dreams.....they often get misplaced or abandoned due to the daily routine of our busy lives. Seems like there is always a chore to do, an errand to run, or a crisis to "handle" instead. We seem to have forgotten what it was we dreamed of doing when we were younger. So many of us take the first job that is offered to us or the job that makes the most money just to be able to "live". Thus, our career path is set and we end up doing the thing we HATE the most! If you are unhappy, unfulfilled, even miserable ~ it's time you dusted off your DREAMS!!!!!

"In your heart, keep one still, secret spot where dreams may go and sheltered so may thrive and grow." ~ Louise Driscoll

You may have forgotten your dreams. Take time to rediscover what it means to "Follow Your Bliss".

*   Take an inventory of your favorite activities ~ what are you doing when you feel happpiest, fulfilled, excited & energized?

*   Take an inventory of your skills. Match favorite activites/skills to discover your "dream job."

*   Make a "DREAM BOOK" ~ Journal (write down) your dreams and embellish with artistic illustrations or magazine clippings. READ your DREAM BOOK for inspiration & encouragement!

*   Research what it would take to make your dream come true.

*   Believe in yourself!!! 

"Look for the dream that keeps coming back. It is your destiny. ~ Author Unknown

Secrets

Secret

Pronunciation: \ˈsē-krət\

1 a: something kept hidden or unexplained : mystery b: something kept from the knowledge of others or shared only confidentially with a few.

We all have secrets, things we will never tell anyone. Our secrets may be painful, embarassing, overwhelming, debilitating.  Sometimes we want to share them ~ to ease our conscience, to release the pain.

One of my favorite websites is PostSecret. PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

PostSecret is not an easy website to view. Many of the secrets are tragic, and may seem dirty, vulgar or obscene to some. But understand, people are pouring out their hearts and souls, sharing things that have kept them in anguish, sometimes for years. On the other hand, some secrets are joyful, funny, sweet & uplifting. It is an intense and emotional journey. I cry every time I read PostSecret.

Go to the PostSecret Community page to find information on PostSecret events, take part in a PostSecret chat, watch video secrets, get the PostSecret address & news, or buy one of the many PostSecret books. (Many people who have felt uncomfortable mailing in their secrets often go to their neighborhood bookstore and place their personal postcard inside a PostSecret book for the purchaser to read.)

New secrets are posted to the website every Sunday.

Spring?!? I don't Think so!

"Snow Day!!!" Remember how those words brought sweet delight to you as a child...that was then...this is now...

March 21st ~ This is the view out my "Art Room" window this morning. We are smack dab in the middle of a winter storm! But you know what...I LOVE IT!!!!! I am snowed in and will be having an ART DAY today!!! Yipee!

Get Your Geek on...It's "Pi" Day....3.1415926 !!!

Happy Pi Day!!!

Pi Day is observed March 14th (3/14) because Pi is equal to roughly 3.14. (Pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.) March 14th also happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday! The founder of Pi Day is Larry Shaw. Pi Day was first celebrated in 1988 at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Go to their 20th Annual Pi Day Celebration page.

*   How much do you know about Pi??? Play the Pi Trivia Game.

*   Check out "The Joy of Pi".

*   Sing Pi Day songs: http://www.winternet.com/~mchristi/piday.html

*   Pi jokes: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/Div/Winchester/jhhs/math/humor/pijokes.html   

OK you Geek Girls and Nerd Boys...here are some links to some fun math & science sites:

*   http://www.scienceagogo.com/

*   http://www.brainpop.com/

*   http://www.factmonster.com/

*   http://www.jayp.net/trivia/science1.htm