Granddaughters Rule!!!!!!!!

My beautiful grandchild..Tylene Mae (Ty)....she will be 10 years old in July!! I can hardly believe that! It seems like only yesterday that I was in the birthing room waiting for her to enter the world....Just as I was leaving the house today to run errands my Son called and wanted me to come over and stay with Ty until her Mom got home...He had a meeting to attend....she is sick with the flu that is making the rounds...Andy is just getting over it. I stopped at the store for some juice ...and headed on over ......Ty wanted me to watch her favorite movie with her called "Aquamarine"....about 2 young girls and a mermaid...it was really cute! I hate it when the kids get sick......and after Andy being sick these last 2 weeks...and my brother...and my sister-in-law...I've about had it with this flu bug that's goin around...it seems to just hang on...Its been such a strange winter....freezing cold at night...warm during the day...and NO RAIN! We are setting a record for having the least amount of rain in a January....I hope it rains soon...or else we will have a hot dry summer ....with hardly any water in the rivers and lakes...
When I was over at Tony and Dawn's I got this BEAUTIFUL picture of Ty.....I just LOVE it! She is also such a sweet little girl!

Another fabric 4x4 for Patti's swap...I love printing onto fabric...but my printer doesn't always want to cooperate. Had a lovely day yesterday...An and I went out to Wal-mart..ended up getting 3 movies for our collection...I got 2 of my all time favorites "Tombstone" and "Chocolate"...and An got some strange one called "Mortuary"...he likes those second rate B movies! (I always tease him about it).....We munched on left-over pizza from Friday night...I worked in the studio for abit....I'm into the sewing machine right now....also finished the book I was reading...we stopped at the library and I got another book (like I don't already have "stacks" to read)....."The Forest Lover" by Susan Vreeland..She also wrote "Girl in Hyacinth Blue". This book takes us to another time at the turn of the twentieth century on the lush, untamed coast of British Columbria...She begins the story of the legendary painter, naturalist, and icon Emily Carr. Sounds good huh?!!!!
Had 2 nice visits yesterday from my son, and Ty.....and my cousin Maryellen..oh! and from our good friend Charles...all too short...but SWEET!
We are getting ready to run to the store now....we are going to have a HUGE breakfast! ..then I think I'll watch one of the new movies...and play in the studio..maybe even do some more raking outside...looks like another beautiful day!!!!!!

M&M...ME

Here I am as an M&M...You can make one too at
http://www.becomeanmm.com/

4x4 chunky book page for Patti's swap....This one I collaged with fabric...I feel like using the sewing machine lately! The theme is "Romance"........

Sweet thoughtful Janet sent me this atc.....I got it in the mail yesterday! I love birds! Thanks so much!!!! Janet just started doing atc's not too long ago!!! I love the background with the subtle writing...I think she's secretly been doing atc's for years! :-)

Happy Friday

This is a journal I created for a swap hosted by Lenna Andrews....The theme was "By the Sea".
Boy! this Friday sure did come around fast! Here are today's "Happy Things"......
knowing it's almost Spring when people are starting to panic about income taxes
roadhouses
a book nook
old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read
a snowman on the football field
feeling wonderful after washing your hair
hardware stores with an inexhaustible supply of eminently useful items
collecting pinecones
snow swirls
the yellowing pages of old books
spaciousness
challenging your lover to a game of checkers or Scrabble, baking some cookies and adding Spanish sherry and mellow jazz
really thick eyelashes
secret lands
sleeping sprawled out on the bed
life's great pleasures
ink etchings
going on the roof and examining your neighborhood
flower seeds
passion and compassion
a morning tea party: lighted fire, small clove-studded apples floating in hot cider, homemade toast with honey butter, and breakfast sausage cooked in maple syrup
and last but not least.....opera houses.
That should be enough to ponder on today!!! I am making good progress on the studio...baked a yellow cake yesterday with chocolate frosting...and took Toby to the groomers this morning for a bath and cut! I've been reading a really good book called "Wild Swans" by Jung Chang...and listening to "Los Lonely Boys"....."Little River Band"...and "Joan Osbourne"....I hope to finish some chunky 4x4 book pages today..and read some blogs!!!!!! Hope everyone has a loving....peaceful....exciting Friday!

Sergeant Salem L. Bates
My Grandmother's brother. WW1 Check out the uniform and the gun! He is standing so erect and proud!

Charmed I'm Sure.....

Finally....I am done working on the charms! They are being mailed today...These are for a charm swap that I'm in called Oh So Charming. You can check out lots of the charms at http://dawnsellers.typepad.com/oh_so_charming/
My goal here was to create something different....we were asked to try to use recycled items to make the charms.I Used a strip of balsa wood that I cut into squares to match the stamps....I varnished the wood with Instant Age Varnish. I have a huge suitcase full of postage stamps that I've been collecting since I was a teenager...some of them are very old. For the back of the charms I cut up an old map and printed out the words "Enjoy Your Journey". I embellished them with jewelry findings and beads from my stash box of jewelry. I then glazed all of them with 2 coats of Diamond Glaze. I made a total of 25.
I'm going to the post office to mail the charms today...and going to clean up the studio..or at least try to make some progress on it!

Saturday The 20th.....

This is how my Saturday the 20th started...(my horoscope was in my e-mail)...notice the last sentence. A bunch of us bloggers and artists decided to get together here in Placerville for visiting....and meeting some new faces. We decided to meet at The Golden Dragon restaurant for Chinese food.
I Had so Much Fun !!!!!!
I enjoyed seeing my friend Annie who lives in Turlock, and meeting her friends, Biene, also from Turlock, and Barbara who lives in Diamond Springs. I got to see my cousin Maryellen who lives in Sacramento...whom I don't get to see enough. I also got to meet my fellow blogger and artist friend Lisa (oceandreamer) who lives in Fremont.
We had a delicious lunch and exchanged all kinds of goodies....we laughed...smiled alot...talked...ate...and had a great time...only thing was the time went by way to fast!!!!

The top photo is at the restaurant.....the middle photo is our cute waiter giving us the peace sign....and above is: Maryellen...Me...Biene...Annie...Lisa...and Barbara. (outside in the parking lot getting ready to say Goodbye)....

Goodies....Goodies...

These are some of the wonderful gifts that I received yesterday...lots of goodies from Maryellen....an old book...little pouches...glitter and stamps..and my Christmas present...the beautiful angel wall plaque that says "Evening Angel"....
Annie made little pillows with the softest fabric trimmed with beads...and Lisa gave out awesome mugs that she painted....also my tag from Lisa and the fortune that was in my fortune cookie!!!!!

Collaged Candles

These are the collaged candles that I made as gifts..each one is personalized for each individual...Biene who likes the outdoors....Maryellen who is the kitten child...Annie likes anything to do with Italy....Lisa who is the Oceandreamer.....Sara who is into gothic...and Amanda likes turtles and Buddha.....

Magpie Fairy at Work.....

It's been a busy weekend! It started Friday evening when Andy brought a huge box into the studio....It was full of goodies from my girl...Paige (a magpie fairy) over at http://skinnylittleblonde.blogspot.com/
The photos are just some of what was in that treasure box...a beautiful collage box that she created....(bottom photo is a close-up)...candles...little boxes filled with trinkets...beads...buttons....a little angel statue that I'm going to put pens and pencils in....a cool pen with little mirrors all over it...vintage cards...a little ceramic vase....cinnamon toothpicks (yum)....an American flag....some bath salts with a scrubber....a most awesome apron for when I bake cookies...and a watch!!!! (that happens to be black..which matches what I wear)...on and on......It was like Christmas all over again! Thank-you so much Paiger!!!! I love it all!

Happy Things Friday

sitting on the grass with a child and playing
getting rid of a headache
mountain-ledge flowers blooming on sky-high rocky peaks
letting your skin breathe
living life spontaneously
icy clear water
places heavy with history
african violets
a quiet, unspoiled island
glowing all day
photographing the changes of season
making root beer floats with long spoons and straws
whims
when small miracles occur
the flag flying
noticing how dirty your windows are and knowing that winter is almost over
****************************************************
I just noticed how dirty my windows were the other day......but....I don't think that winter is almost over! We still need to get all that rain in March! I've been in the studio listening to music and working like MAD on some projects!!! Hope everyone has a stunning Friday....and a weekend that is perfect!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to MY SISTER!

Happy Birthday Tina !!!!!! I hope you have a wonderful day Sweetie! You are the BEST sister ! and MY BEST FRIEND!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!! (you are catching up to me now)!!!
(Well...almost)......XXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOXXXXXX
The photo at top is my Mom and my little sister Tina...in 1957!

Dad...Naval Training Base..San Diego...1935

They look so proud! This is Great Aunt Lillian...and Great Uncle Aaron. My Dad tells me that Great Aunt Lillian was quite a stylish dresser in her day...

Altered Board Book ....I made the cover from Polymer clay.... ...the wire holds the moon face...and behind the face is screen mesh...The Book is called "Seeker of Dreams".

ALTERED Book PAGES.......

Altered Book Pages...

Altered Board Book

Grandma...(at top) Great Grandma and Dad 1918

Sweet Valentine ATC

Here is another ATC for a Valentine swap....

Animals in Fur Coats

The pond with ice...and the animals wearing fur coats on a Winter's day....

Valentines ATC Swap....

Baby...It's Cold Outside !!!!!!!!

I must have my mind on the cold temperatures! Here are 2 more vintage photos...the top one was taken at my Gram and Grandpa's ranch in 1945. The bottom photo is from left to right...Great Uncle Polly....Aunt Sis....Grandma...Great Aunt Lillian...My Dad..and ???? on a trip to Tahoe in JULY !!!!!!!!!! 1928.

Cake...Ice...and Warmth !

It's been very cold....so..yesterday I baked a spice cake with caramel frosting....took a photo of the little bird bath with ice in it...and kept a fire going in the big old fireplace.....I realize that if you live in Minnesota..or someplace like it...that the temps. here are "warm"...it's just that us spoiled Californian's aren't use to the temperatures dipping down in the teens and twenties!!!! (unless you live in Truckee California which is one of the coldest places ever) I am sitting here at the computer with 2 pairs of socks on...2 pairs of pants...2 thick sweaters..and gloves!! It takes awhile for this big old house to warm up!! I hope everyone is warm and cozy today!!!

Happy Things Friday

My Great Grandfather Bates...My Grandmother.
It is a very cold Friday morning...on that note I'll post the "Happy Things" to be thankful for today....
reading all night and sleeping all morning
keeping a smile on your face till the shutter clicks
the nickname "BooBoo"
fresh supplies of wood
long walks across the frozen lake to the post office
abracadabra
making mushy valentines for your lover
outdoor glow
eating alone
facial masks
snow crunching under your body, snug in its snowsuit and boots
wooden steps
experiencing much love
oatmeal raisin cookies
church lofts
beautiful things, seldom easy
scenes from old movies
cooking big chunks of juicy apples slowly with cinnamon and sugar, letting the white mist carry the smell into the day
I don't have too many plans for today except to keep the house warm....bake a cake...and work in the studio...Hope everyone has an awesome Winter Friday!!!!!!

Vintage Photo for the Day

My DAD....my GRANDMOTHER....my AUNT SIS

This is MY Dad.....1917

CD cover for a FRIEND......

Gram Klare and Dad.....I love the outfit that my Grandmother is wearing...

Another one of Sandra's projects from Somerset workshop 2.
A simple matchbox !!!!!!!