Pack the Emergency Kit Next Time, Ditz!

This past weekend was supposed to be a non-scrapping (shopping and taking in art ONLY) weekend Dallas getaway with our very good friend, Mshell, who moved to even further away Wichita Falls. My sister, Nancy, in Abilene was even able to join us since it was close enough for her to meet up and spend the night!!

And, do you KNOW what I ended up doing??
Scrapping in the motel room!! I even got Nancy busy on her own gift!!

THE STORY:

Nancy just found out she's expecting her first baby and suggested that I would make another trip out to TX to scrapbook her a baby book. She makes that comment to me as she's driving into D/FW and we are actually at a scrapbook store!! When it occurs to me that what I'm looking at would be just the PERFECT paper for a little mini- "Expectations" album! Grabbed embellishments! Ribbon, charms, yes-- even a stamp!
Do I even have a pair of scissors with me this weekend? NO! Nor adhesive! We GPS (yes! those units are good for other things besides Geocaching!!) the nearest Hobby Lobby and get some essential tools and I completed the album before the night was over!! And, can you believe it?? I forgot to pick up ink!! So, I didn't get to use the stamp after all-- I will have to drive all the way to Abilene just to put the final touch on it!!

My point in telling you all this??
To new scrappers and old-- always pack an emergency travel scrap-kit!

October Snow-Storm!

Weather in AR is crazy and unpredictable. But, even Ed, Tom and Joey didn't see this one coming!!




One evening last week I walked into the living room to discover this....




Could THIS sweet little thing be the culprit???


Reddie says... "What?? It's only a little pillow! And, it was probably one of the cats that did it!!"


"I'm sorry... I'll never Never EVER do it again!"

Mind your own knitting!

I was sent on a mission by Mae.
Now, it used to be that this kind of mission meant a trip to LR.
Thank goodness, we have a new store on Main Street-- "Knit Unto Others"! Woohoo!! They sell all kinds of fibers for all types of needlecrafts- even some bamboo threads!! So cool!
It was such a feast for the eyes! I couldn't resist snapping some pics...

Christopher Columbus!

Gotta thank that guy... if he hadn't sailed over the ocean blue, we wouldn't be celebrating an semi-official holiday this coming Monday!! Most institutions nowdays don't even recognize it (except for the retail industry and of course the USPS!) and Deltic Timber!! Yippee!! Byron will have an extra day off!! PAID!!

So... in honor of good ole' Chris Columbus we celebrate the spirit of discovery!! Gotta wonder though... why didn't they name the New World after him? We could have been the United States of Columbus! It might have made a huge difference in our diets- for sure pasta and wine would be mandatory on all our menus, how very civilized!!

Go forth!
Discover something wonderful in the art realm!
Experience some great Italian cuisine!
Just don't try to send anything snail-mail!

Cut Pork Barrel $pending- Elect an Artist!

I got to thinking how creative types are good at cutting corners and making beautiful designs out of the leftovers.

Sometimes not even having the pennies to $pend on real domestic necessities-- and certainly not frivolous art supplies. We're always pinching pennies with our stash. Many of us will try to figure how to get one more piece of art out of that little scrap of ______________________ (fill in the blank) thus making the initial investment go that much further.

It's called economy.

When it occurred to me that artists would make great government leaders-- especially, in regards to the debt crisis.

So.... any nominations for the most frugal artist?? How about the most colorful???

I don't know why the colors on this image (when first uploaded) were so wonky and even my crayola went missing! I've corrected it... this is the wrong version (below)! Isn't that wEiRd?? If any of you CS3 geniuses can tell me WHY that happens sometimes- I'd be appreciative! ~S

Friday FURtograph

Samson...
sunning on the kitchen stool.

He's most at peace with the world when he's nearby to whatever I'm doing. This day, I've been working on finishing decorating the kitchen. It's only taken TWO YEARS!!!

I chose the colors, had new flooring installed, ordered the recliners (at the time they were to sit in the area between the eating area and my art room) and then life handed us several curve balls. After all the flip-flops (even a couple that were over 15 miles away) the chairs are now in a whole 'nother room of the house but the colors and ephemera I'd been collecting for well over 20 years just sat around waiting.

The time finally arrived! With dh outta town during the weeks- I've been able to wreak total havoc on the domestic bliss and I'm almost through! With the kitchen anyway!! The rest of the house still has some work to be completed (and he thinks I'll start all over when I finish anyway!)... but, progress is being made!!

I'll take some "glamour shots" of the kitchen when I've nailed everything down!! But, it IS sassy green!! And, contrasts very nicely with "Orange-Man Sam" dontcha think??

In the meantime... I've also learned that I hadn't forgotten how to cook a roast!! Yeah!!!

Tomorrow- I look forward to spending some quality time with the Singer as the special foot required to perform free-motion quilting has arrived and B will more than likely be you-tubing on the computer. We spend a lot of our together time in my art-room nowdays; but in office chairs!! If I'd been asked to predict the future and define tranquility in August of 2006- I wouldn't have guessed that this would be where we find ourselves!!

And, with all that is dear to us intact. He is so gracious to His little children.

Yes... Sam has it right. Hanging out nearby to those who love you is happiness, indeed!

Celebrity Artisan- Friday

Inspiration note: a while back I added the sidebar feed for Vincent's art and the bottom of the page feed for "image of the day". These have been really valuable and it occurred to me to dedicate Friday's posts to celebrity artisans. Obviously- Vincent is my main man! So, I must start with him. But in doing some research for images-- I rediscovered this site. Very useful! You'll be seeing images from there and the best part?? They are copy-right free!! Woohoo!! Load it into PS, edit, manipulate, alter, print and use in more art pieces!!

Without further ado-- on with the show!

Vincent VanGogh

Starry Night over the Rhone 1888
Oil on Canvas, 28 x 36 Inches (approx)
The painting is currently displayed at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

About the Starry Night over the Rhone Painting

One of several night scenes painted by the famous Dutch master. Van Gogh's star filled sky in Arles was done after his ealier success of the Cafe Terrace at Night and before the more famous "Starry Night" painting that now hangs in the New York Museum of Modern Art.

In a letter to his sister Wilhelmina, Van Gogh said "At present I absolutely want to paint a starry sky. It often seems to me that night is still more richly coloured than the day; having hues of the most intense violets, blues and greens. If only you pay attention to it you will see that certain stars are lemon-yellow, others pink or a green, blue and forget-me-not brilliance. And without my expatiating on this theme it is obvious that putting little white dots on the blue-black is not enough to paint a starry sky."

"Gourd"geous Thursday

How often does you get told to do the very thing you love to do??

My dh, Byron, told me to go shopping!! Who am I to refuse him??

Shop I did. He wanted jeans and he wanted them yesterday. He wears THE most popular size in the world (cuz they rarely have but two pairs) and I drove off to Little Rock to fix him up. Can you believe it?? They didn't have even ONE pair in his size! Of course... they were having a sale- but, this was the FIRST day of the sale! Thankfully-- they can order them and ship them to me, so- that part of my mission was accomplished!

Onto the more FUN part of the day., stimulating the economy... or more commonly known as trolling for gifts and art projects! Surprise! I am completely CURED of the "oh-mi-gosh do you see that CUTE scrapbook paper, I gotta have it" syndrome. I came home without ONE SHEET of paper!! Naturally-- I'd made a list of the hard to come by items (even paper fasteners are hard to find in our town) and for the most part I stuck to it! I did score big at Hobby Lobby as some of the tools of the trade (paintbrushes and such) were 1/2 off-- yippeee!! I also used my 40% coupon on a Somerset magazine- such inspiration in those things.

I did discover some really swell coffee mugs in my favorite melon color and the finish reminds me of the anodized metal drinking cups, yet they are ceramic and a good size. Just right for the kitchen redecorate project. Picked up some much favored treats for Mae and a few Christmas stocking trinkets.

Then, I got stuck in 5 o'clock Little Rock traffic. Somebody said a bunch of ouches and I saw the banged up cars that had us all sitting stock still at the eight-lane part of the interstate. It was backed up for MILES. But.. it put my arrival to the home exit at the lovely time of twilight that is magical for taking pictures. I stopped at the Caddo Nursery and did just that.

Here are a few more images from the day.





Earlier this week I had spotted this line up of scarecrows at the nursery. They are so fun!

I'm a FURtogrpaher, ok???

Somedays... life finally reveals itself crystal clear. Like when I gaze deeply into Reddies eyes.... I finally "get it". The meaning of life. And, what it is that makes me tick.

Plain and simple.

I'm a "FUR"tographer... not just a photographer.

I also keep stumbling across like minded individuals like, Judy and their blogs... thanks to message boards and groups.

Without further ado- I submit the FURtograph of the Day.


Subject: Lil' Miss Reddie
Favorite Treat: anything really (not picky)
Favorite Toys: newspapers & squeaky toys
Favorite No-No: getting on Mom's bed
Favorite 4 legger: That's a toss up between Wrigley and Tabby Tom
Not-So-Favorite: strangers