BOO!!!!!! from Casper

This is my son...Tony...when he was 2 years old! I just love it!
Happy Halloween Everyone!!!! Hope you all have a "spooky"
kinda day! I have been so busy ...haven't had much
time to work in the studio...Later today...there is a Halloween
parade downtown..All the little
kids dress up in costume and
march down Main Street. Ty
told me she is going as a
"Dead Rocker"....this I gotta
see....so Andy and I will go
later and take photos.
It is sunny out today..but
lots cooler....I can hardly
believe that tomorrow is
November!!! Already! October
flew by...FAST!
I got another bottle from
my friend...Beth...Yesterday.
I am still looking at everything!
I will post a picture later! I am
going to try to get to some of
my favorite blogs today...
I love checking on everyone
and see what they have going on!

Holding a Butterfly!!!!!!

Some years ago
we took Ty to
"Butterfly World"...
I love this photo of
her little arm and
hand holding a
butterfly!

Favorite Kind of Day...

This is one of my favorite postcards that I made....it's so simple...
that's why I like it! I found the background...and the woman
is from something else....it "fits" absolutely perfect!
Below are some
of my favorite
photos...and
"things"......
I love shoes!!!!
and that sunset
was so outrageous!
Today I have some
errands to run..
post office....
grocery store...
and the stamp store
to get the new
Somerset Studio.
I heard on the news
that rain is coming
this way....but for
today...it's simply
beautiful outside!

Awesome sunset outside my studio window...

Some Favorite SHOES....

Me and Mom...My 1st birthday!

Here Comes the Sun

Sun Collage...pencil...stickers for eyes...and the rays are cut out of magazine pages! This is from one of my journals.

Here is another one of my doodles!
I like drawing lions for some reason!
I think it's the eyes...

"Be....witching"....

I just finished talking to my cousin in PA.....This is the doodle
that I drew in the notebook that sits next to the phone! It's
been a busy day...people in and out...animals in and out....
cleaning this....doing that...I'm tired! The daylight savings
time change has me all messed up...I woke up way too
early and couldn't go back to sleep...so did the animals..
Toby started barking...the cat started purrring in my ear
so...I got up....and I am ready to go take a nap....it's 3:00
in the afternoon! I'm too exhausted to do any art...so I'm
going to bake some banana bread...and finish some dusting!
Believe it or not...I'm not under any pressure to finish anything
for a swap...I do have to make a theme card..and I have some
personal swaps happening...some mail needs to go out
tomorrow....other that that...I'm pretty much caught up.
It feels strange! Here is my chance to get caught up on
some house-cleaning! Hope everyone is enjoying the
weekend!

Most Crammed-Full Bottle Award

Lisa had so much stuff crammed into this bottle!
It was awesome! Paper....lace......ribbon....beads...
seashells...fibers...sculpey...beads...fairy dust...little
red bells..brayer..bird...a bag of seashells...fabric...
just to name a few!!! Thanks so much Lisa! I will put
all if it to good use! This was fun!

10 Things to be Happy about Friday!!!!

I am happy about this beautiful view out the kitchen window!!!!
1.duck-egg blue.
2. exchanging enlightening interests.
3. kidnapping your lover.
4. riding a roller coaster.
5. open-air flower markets.
6. the intoxicating smell of bacon frying in the morning.
7. watching someone take a nap.
8. bobbing for apples.
9. being too busy to notice.
10. when you think you're a kid again. AND 5 MORE!
11. HOT, gooey chocolate-chip cookies.
12. a private collection of pleasures.
13. dark blue sky.
14. a smile from a stranger.
15. antique books
16. new friends to help us stay young.
17. small snowmen with twigs for arms.
18. a cat purring.
19. the quiet spirit of holiday music.
20. Caesar salads.
I went to the library yesterday...I found some really nice old books...one was a geography book published in 1922...and the other one is called "The Red Lily"...by Anatole France. This book sounds wonderful...Here is the very first paragraph...On her bare shoulders, touching them lightly with his fingers, he put the great cloak of red velvet embroidered with gold and lined with ermine, and said in a low voice, very briefly and very distinctly: 'The'rese,---I love you".
Sounds good to me...I can't find a date on this book anywhere...but it's very old...it has those old brown crumbly pages...and smells just like a very old book smells...it also has the most beautiful illustrations...with that light parchment paper over each one to protect it...I'm going to have to scan it, and post a photo...I LOVE finding books like this at the library! I get really excited whenever I step through the library door...anticipating what glorious treasures I will find...I could spend all day at the library...I've often dreamt that I get locked in...and I have to spend the night in there....just me...in that huge old place...surrounded by book after book...I even thought about hiding in the bathroom...everyone leaves...and oops! there I am! Ha!

winter...fall....summer....spring

Here they are...each tag...I am getting ready to mail them today. I SWEAR...I get side-tracked so easy...I still have not made it to the store...I went outside to water my flowers...then decided to start raking...threw some "quince" (they look like little apples) for Toby...I'm back at the computer posting pictures...(finally)....think I'll stick with this while Blogger is being nice...

The Tags

I am having a hard time with Blogger this morning...I've been trying and trying to post a picture for hours....I finally managed to get this in here...I have lots more! I'll keep trying! I got the tags done!!!! Here they are all together...I am satisfied! I used all kinds of handmade paper...inks....chalks....glaze...etc. Fun! I got my bottle from Lisa yesterday!!! I have pictures of it and all the wonderful goodies she had crammed in it!!!!! Also....today is "10 Things to be HAPPY about Friday"...so that will be coming...right now I have to go get my Dad something to eat...and run to the store...

Spookiness

I took a drive up to one of the local apple ranches to get some fresh veggies yesterday....it was the middle of the day...sunny and bright outside...but the picture I snapped came out like this!!!!
Very spooky!!!!! I worked on the tags yesterday...and guess what!!!??? They are finished! I will take some photos later and post them...AND...I started the house-cleaning!!! I still have lots more to do...but at least I made a start! I'm going to work on more art today....and go get a pumpkin..it's not Halloween time with no pumpkin to carve!

Who Me ????????

Here is the latest of one of the kittens.... (dirty little nose and all) playing with string...they are sooooooo cute!

This is the "Summer" tag that I finished....it's really not a very good scan...so I will go outside later and try to take a better photo...I used all kinds of homemade paper...H2O's....little pieces of shell...gold flakes...I finished the "Fall" also...Today in between the cleaning I am working on the other seasons. YES...I am in a frenzy to get some cleaning done today...scrubbing the floor...dusting...all the stuff that I want to get over with...I use to be such a cleaning freak....one little speck of dust and I was on it!!! Not anymore!!! I've come to realize that it's just not that important ...so many more things to do...THAT are way more important...(like blogging)..ha! No...really....there are just too many things that I'd rather be doing with my time other than house-cleaning! So...instead of being a freak about it now...I wait alot longer before attacking the dust.....instead of mopping the floor every other day...now it's once a week....and I'm alot happier! I still DO have to make the bed everyday.....(some things will never change)....
I went back down to my friend's shop last night for a few hours...we started cleaning out cupboards...actually got quite abit done....I picked up a few more nice cards...and some luscious smelling pineapple soap....can't wait to take a nice long bath and use that! Perfect for tonight after my housecleaning today!! It's abit cooler today...and windy...still feels nice though!

I have got to finish those tags today!!!! I am staying home all day in my most comfy levis...and old t-shirt...and working on projects!!! Art....and cleaning out another stack of old magazines....making some banana bread...watering the flowers...
I went down to my friend's shop last night...she owns a Bath and Body shop here in town called "Body Basics"....I helped her put away box after box of the most luscious smelling goodies...candles...soaps...lotions.....oils...incense....cremes....pure heaven for the nose!!! Of course..I wanted one of everything! I did get my new calendar for 2007 from "Camelot"...and some nice cards...(one of them is above)....also some great "lip theory" from a company called "einstien"....they make the greatest lip creme to keep moisture in your lips...I'll be going back down there tonight.....think I'll bring back some wonderful soap....I usually get paid in cash or merchandise...and..I usually go for the merchandise....treat myself!
I am babysitting my son's dog today...."Bella"....she's a good girl...I love her...I'm getting ready to go take her and Toby for a walk...another beautiful day!

Little Angel Baby

She is adorable!!!!! This is baby "Lola"......I just got this photo...and wanted to post it! My friends who live in The Netherlands just added this precious little girl to their family..She was born in July.....I think she is the sweetest...look at those little lips...and those little cheeks...I can just imagine how baby soft her skin is... I can smell that clean fresh scent of a baby....I love this photo...I wonder every time I look at it what she is dreaming about ??? This is "PURE INNOCENCE".

A postcard from one of my fellow post-crossers in
Finland...so appropriate! I decided to do Daisy's
meme...here goes!
1. What was your first childhood pet?
A collie named "Lady".
2. What was your favorite comic?
A comic called "Millie the Model"...I also liked Baby
Huey...Little Dot...And Veronica and Betty.
3. What was your favorite childhood book?
I had MANY favorite books...I've always
loved to read..."Heidi"...The Bobbsey Twins...
Little Women...Nurse...Cherry Ames...and
every one of the Nancy Drew books.
4. Did you ever have an imaginary friend
as a child?
Yes...a little dog that I named Chuckie that I
would talk to all the time.
5. Did you play an instrument as a child?
I started to take piano lessons...but didn't have
the patience to finish...Darn!
6. What was the first hit single record
that you bought?
It was probably one by Elvis...but the one I
actually remember is Traveling Man by
Ricky Nelson.
7. What tune sums up teenage summers?
For me...it's "In My Room" by the Beachboys
8. What was the first pop concert you went to?
It was the Rolling Stones at the Memorial
Auditorium in Sacramento with my cousin
Maryellen..I was 15 years old. "Satisfaction"
was the hit song.
9. Fave teenage TV program?
American Bandstand...and Ozzie and Harriet...
I had a crush on Ricky Nelson.
10. Were you a naugty or a good girl at school?
I was a good girl...of course!
11. Miss Popularity, Artsy Pants, weirdo or
geek, which of these groups classify you at
High School?
Miss Artsy Pants...no doubt...I was Art Editor
of my 8th grade yearbook...Art Club president
in High School...and painted a huge mural on
one of the hallway walls in my High School...
I've always loved art!!!
12. Girl most likely to (as in your yearbook)?
In my yearbook under each Senior class photo
was printed just one word that describes that
person...My word was "Mirthful"......
13. What color did you paint your bedroom
as a teenager?
I painted mine olive green...to match my carpet.
I also painted my furniture, and drew pictures on
it.
14. Very first paid job ever?
Well...I decided that boy's shouldn't be the only
ones that were allowed to have paper routes!
So...I applied...and got the job!!
I was in the 8th grade. I even got a special pin
that says..."Honorary First Girl-Carrier
of The Bee" (the Sacramento Bee is the paper I
delivered)....I made out like a bandit on that job!
Especially around the holidays...people thought
it was so cool to have a "girl carrier"...so they gave
me good tips and gifts. I still have that special
pin to this very day!
15. Have you ever been really drunk?
Yes!!! How many times? Lets just say Yes!
16. Did you smoke dope? Did you inhale?
C,mon...I'm a child of the 60's...Haight Ashbury..
flower power...and all those good ole' hippie
days...Yes...to both questions!
17. A stupid thing you did?
Got caught sneaking into the High School
swimming pool with a bunch of friends
(male and female) and going skinny-dipping!!
(sure felt good though).
18. Left-handed or right-handed?
Right-handed.
19. Should you play a board game with me?
Sometimes....depends on my mood. I like
Clue...Monopoly...Battleship...Scrabble..Aggravation...
Scattergories...brain games that asks you questions
that make you think.
20. If you came to visit me what would we do?
Well...that depends...Summer or Winter?
Summer we would talk and laugh..have some ice
cool drinks...do some art....go for a dip in the pool...
relax...eat lots of good food...BBQ's...go for a
summer hike..look at the flowers..play with the
animals.
Winter...would be the same except we
would relax in front of the huge stone fireplace
...roast marshmallows...and hot dogs...and in the
evening run you a hot bath that you would
enjoy with soft glowing candles...and big warm
fluffy towels...
That about does it!!! Except for...Name 3 songs that
best describe you?
My 3 songs are....
1. "Lady of the Island" by CSN&Y
2. "Cool Change by Little River Band
3. "Leather and Lace" by Stevie Nicks
Now.....It's your turn!!! Thanks Daisy! for the fun
memories!

My art deck challenge card...the theme is "metal"...4 of Clubs!!!! (finally got this one done).

A very cool postcard that arrived in yesterday's mail.....from my friend Emily Townsend...front and back!

Garage Sale Saturday

Breakfast yesterday was nice!!!!! On the way home I spotted a Garage Sale sign...It said..."HUGE GARAGE SALE".....5 FAMILIES....so of course I had Andy pull the car over!! It turns out that the majority of the sale were items that belonged to two of the sweetest elderly people...He is 84....She is 85....they had been collectors of EVERYTHING for years...and finally some of it had to go....I got this set of juice glasses from the 50's....they reminded me of when I was growing up...they were an outrageous .25 a piece!!!! The entire set was 1.50 !!!!! I also found 2 little mini tin lunch pails..(for altering)...a little ceramic Dutch girl....3 old dolls that I thought would come in handy for some kind of assemblage....a little rabbit for my sister...and a cat for my cousin....All for the price of 6.00!!!! I just love it!! It was beautiful yesterday...temps. in the low 80's...I had to snap a photo of my (still lovely) flowers!!! The last "BURST" before Winter arrives....
Today looks like another warm sunny day...I need to go to the grocery store and hope to work on some tags for a swap...Hope everyone is having a "Serene Sunday".....and...I can't forget to say Thank-You and a big hug to every single one of my blogging buddies!!! for all your kind comments....and wonderful creative support!!!!!! (I'm smiling a HUGE smile right this very minute).....

Side-tracked.....

I was working on "metal" yesterday...got totally side-tracked!!!! I made this little pin...the back is a bottle cap that I beat flat with a hammer....painted it gold...drilled 3 little holes and added the beads...the middle is a glass pebble with a little fairy behind it...and around the pebble are beads. I have a big box of old junk jewelry that I've collected over the years...the wings and the top are made from pieces of jewelry that I took apart. The picture is not the greatest...but you get the idea! That's what I did with my day yesterday....along with some cleaning and making a trip to town to the local stamp store "Stamp-It-Rich".
I'm up early ....(Saturday)...we are meeting Andy's sister and her friend for breakfast at the local "Waffle Shop". Chicken fried steak with country gravy for me!!!!!! It's supposed to be in the 80's today...another beautiful October day!!!

My friend gave me this little pixie yesterday....it's little leg was broken...so I fixed him and put him out in the cactus garden...

10 More Things to be Happy About Friday

1. the chatter of talking women.
2. fabric collage paintings.
3. laughing to keep from crying.
4. thunderstorms.
5. breath-catching evenings.
6. magic lanterns.
7. dogs that guzzle beer from a dish,shed profusely,nap on the living room sofa, and sleep on a family member's bed.
8. being remembered long after the holidays are forgotten.
9. time to browse.
10. Morris, the finicky cat.
These Fridays seem to be coming around faster and faster! Oh!!!! and another thing I'm happy about today is that I feel lots better! I drank lots of water....and relaxed most of the day yesterday....and read a book...that seemed to do the trick. I have a few errands to run today...and I'm going to try to work on the tags...and do the "metal" card for the art deck challenge...Hope everyone has a FANTASTIC weekend!

My creation

My creation
Originally uploaded by Vicci Ann.

When your feeling really crappy....make a flickr mosaic!

I am sick today!!!! It started last night with a runny nose....getting worse as the night went on....today I feel downright yukky!!!! I can't be sick!!!! I always have too much to do...and always someone to take care of...I took some Advil Cold medicine...hope it works! My eyes are droopy...and I feel like just going back to bed....but...instead I'm going to go into the studio and work on those tags...and a theme card...the theme this week is metal....I have to think on that.
It is another beautiful day today....temps. are supposed to be 75 to 8o.....such perfect weather. Can you believe that it's Thursday already??????? Daylight savings time is a week from Sunday....This photo is one of my plants outside....I think the different colors of green in this plant are pretty...I'm going to have to bring my plants in very soon....Not Yet!

Cutest Baby Award

Oh my gosh!!!! I want this baby gorilla! I found this picture in an old journal of mine and just had to share! I'm flitting back and forth today...from studio...to do the laundry...to outside to water flowers....back inside to water plants and fold clothes....back to studio...etc. It's that kind of day!

This is the 2nd page for Deb's calendar. I'm going to finish the tags now....and I'm making some atc's....I will also put the last few little things in the bottles and get them ready to mail....then....on to more swaps!
I did make the coconut cake yesterday that I had been planning on....It came out divine!!! It's huge with 3 layers...tons of frosting....and lots of coconut! I'll take some over to my brother's...and down to my sister's office...
It is really beautiful out today.....the sun is bright and warm!!! The dog and cat are both sleeping in the sunshine on the front porch....I love it!

My 1000 POST !!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my 1000 post!!!!!! Wooooo...Yeah.......Yippee!!!!!! I made the coconut cake yesterday...seems perfect for the 1000 entry!!!!!!

ATC for my cousin Amanda.....

This is July's page for Deb's calendar...the brown paper behind the blue is actually sand paper....and inside the little envelope is a poem...a story...and a seashell. Today I'm in my pajamas (lounge pants and a sweatshirt) all day! I'm working on another calendar page...some tags...and some atc's...and listening to music by Mat Kearney.....I'll have to venture outside later and enjoy the sun and the flowers...take Toby for a walk.
I also want to make a coconut cake from scratch...I found a recipe that looks yummy...I got all the ingrediants at the store yesterday.....I'm almost finished with the bottles for the swap...they are both crammed full of all kinds of goodies...then I have a secret sister swap coming up for the Holidays...."The Holidays".....OMG!!! they are coming up quickly!!! I really haven't even started thinking about them!!! I sometimes wish I was the kind of person that right after Christmas started shopping for the following Christmas....then at this time of year I'd be almost done....but...I can't do that. We are usually broke right after Christmas...plus I can't get into shopping in the middle of July when it's 100+ outside! Oh well...maybe I'll start a list!

I noticed that one of my pepper plants has some tiny little peppers starting to grow...I don't know how long these will last....

I don't believe this! I tried all day to post photos....and finally at 3:39pm....I was finally able to post this one! I don't know what's up???? but whatever it is???? I hope blogger has fixed it! This photo was taken yesterday out in the front yard....I still have quite a few flowers...here are Sage....and Cosmos...I'm glad I took some pictures yesterday....today it's raining!

Well...I have been fighting with this blog all day!!!!! It will not let me post pictures!!! It is driving me crazy! I've been working on Deb's calendar pages...almost finished with one of them. I haven't got one thing done today that I really wanted to do!!!!! Geez! and Andy will be home from work in 1/2 hour! It is raining lightly outside....and today is actually the first day that I've had a sweat-shirt on for the entire day...back to the art room.....I'll keep trying to post pictures........

A tag for Colleen.......

More Art

The MeMe of Three

The MeMe of Three.....I was tagged by Maryellen at http://oldcrowknee.blogspot.com/

1. Things that scare me:
snakes
war
forest fires

2. People who make me laugh:
my son can always bring a smile to my face and make me laugh.
My friend Charles.
Robin Williams.

3. Things I hate the most:
Rudeness....Rudeness....and Rudeness.

4. Things I don't understand:
rude mean people.
people that are abusive.
people who hurt animals.

5. Things I'm doing right now:
getting ready to do some house cleaning.
making my Dad breakfast.
thinking about what kind of tags to do for a swap.

6. Things I want to do before I die:
travel to Europe.
go sky-diving.
finish my quilts for my Granddaughter.

7. Unique things I can do:
Anything I REALLY want to do.

8. Ways to describe my personality:
friendly.
smart.
talented.

9. Things I can't do:
math problems.
drive a stick-shift.
hurt an animal.

10. Things I think you should listen to:
Rock and Roll...really loud!
silence.
laughter.

11. Things you should never listen to:
gossip.
the media (all the time).
rude people.

12. Things I'd like to Learn:
how to knit and tat and crochet.
how to skydive.
how to solder.

13. Favorite Foods:
tacos.
rice pudding.
pizza.

14. Beverages I drink regularly:
water.
tea (hot).
Squirt.

15. Shows I watched as a kid:
Martin and Lewis.
American Bandstand.
Ed Sullivan.

The three people I am tagging:
Dave Navarro at: http://6767.com/

I'm only tagging one......and he's it!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This is a photo of my beautiful Mom....She died from Breast Cancer in 2000. Please all you lovely women out there.....don't forget your mammograms!!!! This is so very important!!!

More Things Friday the 13th.....

Happy Friday Everyone....I took a little drive yesterday to Camino... headed to the tiny little Post Office...past these pumpkins at Boa Vista Apple Ranch....had to stop at the thrift store (of course)....I got a wonderful vintage Nature book that was published in 1943...lots of cool photos of flowers and birds...and butterfies...images that I like to use for my art...I always get so excited when I find old books and odds and ends that I can use...right away my mind starts seeing cool collages...and atc's...and postcards...cabinet cards...whatever..also found some goodies to stuff in the bottles for the bottle swap that I'm doing. I took lots of nice photos on my little trip..like the pumpkins in this photo...Don't these pumpkins look perfect...???? They are all shaped so round and smooth...great for carving! Here we are on another "10 things to be HAPPY about Friday"...again!
1. a wood fire.
2. the apple of your eye.
3. a romp in the hayloft.
4. in the autumn, ravines aglow with the fiery brillance of sugar maple and witch hazel.
5. butterscotch brownies.
6. a walk down a pine-needled path.
7. reminiscing.
8. daydreamers.
9. the only sounds at night being the conversations of tree frogs, locusts, and owls.
10. the early dry dark of an October.
************************************************************
How's that for a "Fall-ish" list of things!!!!???????
I have to go to the grocery store this morning.....but...once I get home I plan on working on a tag that I need to send off....another cabinet card....and who knows what else...I am most definitely on the creative fast track lately....can't seem to concentrate on anything else...I go to bed thinking about all the art that I want to do...so much...that sometimes I get up and write it all down....I should be cleaning the house (dusting all those cobwebs).....and a million other things...oh well...it is...what it is...Hope all you wonderful bloggers that I LOVE have a simply CREATIVE FRIDAY!!!!!!! Full of DOING ALL the things that YOU LOVE to do!!!!!

I love getting close-ups of Nature!

Necter of Life

I took this photo out in the front yard yesterday....

My creation

My creation
Originally uploaded by Vicci Ann.

A new mosaic that I made at flickr of some of my very favorites....

Is today REALLY Thursday???!!!!! Here is an atc I made the other night....I decided after I made it that he needed some glasses...(so he could read better)...
I am going to be working all day on ART...getting packages ready to mail...starting another cabinet card..(I am addicted to those now)...and going to the store for milk!!! It is another picture perfect day outside...speaking of pictures...I'm going to grab the camera and go on a small little photo taking journey!!! I have more Halloween atcs to post later...