cards

I have a DeNami heart set and used 3 of the 4 stamps to make this card.  The ink that I used was called Brilliance Ink.  It has sheen to it and dries fast.  The "thanks" is a Cuttlebug die cut. 

I made the background with a crackled rubber stamp.  There are some green swirls and dark green ferns.  I had a smaller fern stamp for the green block in the middle.  An oval punch with a nice happy birthday sentiment.  The ink I used for the sentiment is chalk ink. 

A pretty whippersnapper stamp colored with prismacolor pencils.  The flowers have DeNami yellow glitter which is very vibrant.

I used all chalk inks on this card.  The technique was one that DeNami was demonstrating at the Stampaway convention.  The flower on the right and the bottom flower was made with two different size hearts.  The flower on the left was made with a leaf stamp.  I added glitter and perfect pearls.

Here I used prismacolor pencils and raised the flowers and the curtain with foam tape.  I also added glitter and raised up the flowers in the pots.

I picked up a couple of these pads at Hollos Papers in Ohio.  I stamp on it and try different stamps and colors out on it.  It is watercolor paper just heavy enough that the ink doesn't bleed through.  When that page is full, just tear it off and throw it away. 

This was started with very inexpensive colored pencils. 

This is done with the prismacolor pencils before it is blended in.  What a difference!

This is color in with copic alcohol markers. 

A friends stamp colored in with prismacolor pencils.  It is an Inky Antics stamp.

Book Review-The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett

I received this book from my friend Colleen, who now resides in Georgia.  I don't get to see her much anymore and it was so nice to receive this package from her.  We like to send books we think each would like after we have read them.  She was right, I did enjoy this book.  I started reading it right away and finished it in no more than a week.    The beginning setting was in California with a young woman and her mother.  The young woman met a man from church who had been studying her from afar for 9 months.  He finally asked her out and they eventually ended up being married and for 3 years they were together.  The woman worked only at part time jobs and then would drop her husband off at school, because he taught, and she would take the car and just drive.  It was like she was searching for something, but she had no idea what.  She would be back in time to pick her husband up. He was a kind and loving man, not exciting in the least.  One day she found out she was pregnant and just decided it best to leave with just a short note to her husband.  She spoke with her priest to go to a place to have the baby and choose adoption for it.  He pointed her in the direction of Habit Kentucky where there was a place for unwed mothers run by nuns.  She drove and drove across country and had a few mishaps and adventures.  A good portion of the book is her life at Saint Elizabeth's.  The history of Saint Elizabeth's is very interesting how it came about.  The characters in this part of the book have pasts that you immerse yourself in.  I am a "glass half full" person and I had a hard time understanding Rose, the main character.  She would leave people with no discussion, these were people who were very close to her.  She would turn her back and drive off.  I have yet to understand why she totally left in the first place, I suppose to give her unborn child to a family because she didn't feel she could be a good mother and she realized she didn't love her husband.  There was absolutely no discussion. 
This book gives the reader lots of things to think about.  It flowed very well and was an easy read.  I enjoyed the nuns, especially the one that could talk to the babies while they were in the womb. 
If you read this book, please come back and leave a comment on your take of the book. I would really appreciate it.   

I've a little catching up to do

I took on the challenge of 30 posts in 30 days and have failed miserably but I have had a lot of fun in the meantime.  Let me tell you some of the things I've done.  My sister Linda treated me to the musical Les Miserables and it was FANTASTIC!  I just love musicals.  I used to watch them with my Mom on TV.  Oklahoma, and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, The Sound of Music.  Then in high school I was in the band and we had so much fun.  Marching in parades and at Disney World and band camp and also contests, and we were very good.  I was also in the Jazz Band and we played for the school musicals and I just loved that too.

Here I am, my senior year 1978, with my little black scarf and Farrah Fawcett hair and my shiny baritone.  I played the valve trombone in the jazz band.  We performed for company parties and they made donations to the band.  It was a good time.  The last time I played was for graduation, I put it away and never played again,though it left a lasting love of music.   

The next weekend my three friends, Michelle, Theresa and Toni and myself made our annual trek to Sharonville, Ohio (it's a suburb of Cincinnati) to the rubberstamp convention.  It was a good show and we had rented a suite at Hawthorn Suites.   So we set up the room that night for stamping and watching movies and ordered pizza in and lots of snacks.  We stamped till we couldn't keep our eyes open anymore. We did lots of talking and laughing and had so much fun! 

One morning last week I woke up and it was clear and pretty.  Then all the sudden the fog started rolling through.  It was very eery.  It then went away as fast as it came. 
I have been walking with my neighbor Cathy, 3 to 4 times a week at 3+ miles each time.  I do so much better when I walk with someone. 

This is my last week before classes begin and I have been savoring it. The classes I am taking are creative writing, federal income taxes and intro to forensic science.  It all can be interesting.  I picked up my textbooks today and the creative writing has no book to use, he must be going to hand out printouts.  I am amazed at how much textbooks cost.  They do offer used, and rental and eversion.  I have a hard time parting with my books, sometimes I do refer back to them, so I just out and out buy them with the option of selling them back. My two books cost over $400.00, that is just unbelievable. 

I am sorry it took me so long to post...I was out having fun.  Thanks for checking in on me.  I have many ideas to post about now.  Sometimes I get kinda stagnant especially when I am busy.   

Hazell M.

When we were in Michigan in June we visited Jackson Michigan where the old state prison was, next to the prison was an old building that has been turned into artist galleries.  I found the most charming gallery called Hazelle M. - A visual Art, Jewelry, and Unique Gift Store.  The owner Suzanne and I had a great time talking about art and blogging and different artists and where she finds them.  It was a really nice afternoon. 

I picked up this print from Artist Kristen Jongen.  I thought it would go well with my work "The Nest" that is shown under my paintings on the left side of my blog.  She is a word artist.

I also picked up this book and a couple of other pieces from her. 

I also found these earrings that were made by Marjorie Baer.  Here is her website, I have worn them often.

Lastly I found this necklace (aren't we always seeking bliss?) which I wear often also by artist Kathleen M. Hubbard of Riverpath Studio and Artworks.  Here is her Etsy page.

 If you get to Jackson Michigan, stop in, you never know what Suzanne has picked up on her travels seeking artist.  It's a good time. 

Tonights Pictures

Walking around the house with my camera tonight to see what has recently bloomed. A zinnia from the porch pot.

It had been cloudy all evening and then the sun started to peek out in the west.

A volunteer sunflower.  I especially like the blue sky behind it.

If I want to put it in a picture I like to get the leaves right.

I also like to get how they protrude off the stem.

I really like the color of this sunflower.

This was from the packet of seeds that were sent in the mail. 

Such a pretty color.

The sun as it is getting darker.

And darker yet......Thanks for stopping by so I could share this with you.

Fun morning 8 0f 30

 

I took some time this morning to make cards to put in my stash.  I had not used my viney die cut before and enjoyed it.  I cannot remember the company that made the flowers but they are acrylic.  The Happy Birthday is a Stamps by Judith and the leaves are from Outlines.

A nice card for a gardener.  I particularly liked the banner.  The little letter stamps I got in the dollar bin at Michaels.  They worked out really well. 

The inside of the card.  A pretty pot of flowers.  

for a friend Post 7 of 30

I finished the watercolor I was working on. My friend Theresa's beautiful home.  It measures 5 X 11.

Westport, MA Post 6 of 30

The pictures in this post were taken on our vacation while we were driving around Westport.  The photography is not that good as I was taking them from the moving vehicle.  I didn't want to keep asking the driver to stop then the irritated look would come out, though he did slow the car down for me often.  I did my best to record this pretty place. A Cape Cod with the weathered clapboard siding.  We were just a few miles from the ocean.

These people really took pride in their yards and homes.



Indiana does not have the stone fences like the residents of Massachusetts. I couldn't get enough pictures of the different kinds.




Daylilies growing along the road against the white fence.

Another stone fence

Another New England home, so neat and tidy with the American Flag and group of daylilies.

A little fuzzy but a different kind of stone fence.

I just thought this was cute as could be. 

The hydrangeas were abundant and beautiful and the colors were awesome. 

 

Even though it was just a month ago it seems much longer.

 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Baby Card Post5/30

Tom's cousin in Texas recently had a new addition to their family, so I had to get in to the studio to make a card.  I had been watching videos from the designers on PaperTreyInk about making your own background paper, so I was inspired.  I had an early set of Stampin up background lines that I used on a light blue paper from PaperTreyInk.  I don't think I could work for just one stamp company because there are so many great stamps out there to use.  The toy is a Judiths stamp along with the baby elephant.  I couldn't find it on her website anymore so it must be retired. I used the Cuttlebug to die cut the frames and the word baby.  3-D crystal was used on the toys, punches for the circles. A little bit of blue glitter for the elephant.  The craft paper came in a set from Michaels, with craft envelopes.  It is not a bad weight for layering.  I really like the look of craft paper also. 

The inside sentiment of the card I made on the computer.  The stars were acrylic from a bargain bin and the yeah baby, was an early Stampin Up set. 

Will be picking up my gift card tonight and getting it out in the mail tomorrow. 

Thanks for stopping.

Oh for the love of fabric 4th post of 30

Mette of the Erleperle blog located in Denmark and myself exchanged some of our over abundance.  She sent me so many great pieces to work with, it was very exciting. Opening the package was such a delight.



These beautiful pieces came from a quilt shop in Johnson City New York. 



Last week while visiting the Quilters Hall of Fame, I picked up the bottom piece from the Marie Webster collection.  I also found the Peanuts fabric, it was too cute to pass up. 

I don't know what I will do with these, but the enjoyment of just looking at them is enough for the moment. 

Just dreaming of the possibilities. 

What to do for dinner 3/30

I left home this morning with no thoughts of what to make for the evening meal.  I don't know about anybody else, but some days I just draw a blank.  Sometimes you can make breakfast for dinner, some people just have bowls of cereal.....that would not fly at my house.  There would be complaints.  Throw burgers on the grill which is quick and tasty.  My husband is a much better griller than I am, that is his job.  When I have to grill I am in and out and sidetracked by making everything else.  Something gets overdone or burned....just not a good thing. He just does excellent.

So I came up with Taco Salad.  I had hamburger that I thawed in the microwave.  I always have taco seasoning on hand.  I like to get Krogers lower sodium packets.
Everybody makes their taco salad different and I am sure I make mine different each time.  It's usually what I have on hand.

I started out with my cooked ground beef with the seasoning.

 



I then tore apart and salad spinned my iceberg lettuce and spinach.
Layed it out nicely on the plates.



I then added black beans and corn.



Putting a few dollops of warm meat on top of the corn and beans.



Fresh tomatoes from the neighbors garden.



Scrunched up nacho cheese taco chips to pour on the top.



Finally a little bit of cheese that I had on hand.  Normally I use cheddar but that wasn't an option tonight.

The finished result, a beautiful and tasty taco salad. 

I added a little of my favorite dressing and it did the trick!

I am curious, who usually cooks in your house?  Do you have any good ideas for quick evening meals? I am interested in something new.
 

The end to a really nice day 2/30

Today was an unusual weather day for July.  67 degrees, breezy with dark clouds that would come and go.  When 4 o'clock came around the sky cleared up and the sun came out.  Tom and I went out for a walk and it was a beautiful evening. 
 We had a fire burning outdoors, watching our favorite Tigers on the porch and ate beef vegetable soup and smores when it so cool earlier in the day, it seemed like a very fall day.  It was a nice, slow Sunday and we got a few things done.

This sunset around 9:00 was just a great end to a nice day.  I thought the cloud formation and colors were very enjoyable.  I put the fountain and pond to add a complement to the sky.  Tom's grass is a carpet, he works hard at keeping it nice. 

Thank you God for such a beautiful day - in many ways. 
I hope you had one too.