The Perfect Gift,Career Day and a Super Duper Giveaway!

It's been so gosh darn beautiful around here lately.Hubby gave me the perfect gift for Mother's day..an outdoor swing..and I am so loving it!!

Every night after dinner I go out there and sit and listen. I'm so thankful for it. Lately I've noticed a group of birds clustering by my Confederate Jasmine.As I was walking by it yesterday,I could hear why...

This week I was also asked to speak at my sons school on Career Day! It was so much fun and I think the kids enjoyed my casting demonstration...

I am also so excited to announce that I have a new post on Paper Whimsy...

I gave  a quick tutorial on how to work with embossing powder...

you dont want to miss it so be sure to stop by the Paper Whimsy Inspire Blog and check it out!!

Plus..

today I am offering a

Super Duper Double Decker Giveaway!

Enter for a Chance to win one of these!! 
1- $25 Paper Whimsy Gift Certificate

Courtesy of Gale from Paper Whimsy.

2-Four $5 dollar off Coupons with a $25 Purchase.

and

3-One of my Soldered Pendants

That's 6 Winners!

Holy Smackeroonies!!

Here is what you have to do to Enter:

• Leave a Comment here on my Blog with a Way to Reach You if you Win. (Email)
•  Sign Up for the Paper Whimsy Newsletter For Current Specials, PW Inspire Tutorials, and Giveaways. 
• You can Also  Like the Paper Whimsy Facebook Page to Learn More about Current Whimsy News.

The Winners Will Be Announced May 24th
Is this exciting or what!!!

"Long ago God drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. You were never not coming here. This was never not going to happen.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Here's to making every minute count,

Artful Gathering

On Sunday I got together with some local Art Buddies.

Lisa,Barbara and Cyndi

We decided ahead of time to go to the Melbourne Art Festival.

It was the first time I ever attended and it was great.

So many great booths and beautiful Art.

Here's Lisa and Barbara checking out some goodies.

We had a yummy lunch and then headed to Lisa's house.

A couple of weeks back I read about an artful gathering at Helga's house.They all exchanged a handmade gift using a particular color.I thought it an awesome idea and so me and the girls did the same.We each had one person to exchange with and our color was blue.

This is what Barbara made Cyndi

This is what I made Lisa

This is what Cyndi made Barbara

This is what Lisa made me.

What a bunch of Lucky ducks we are!!

After arriving home from such a splendid day with friends...little man and I  jumped into something else blue...

Ahhh..

Enjoy your week friends!

"Long ago God drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. You were never not coming here. This was never not going to happen.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Here's to making every minute count,

Springtime

It's been a while since I checked into Photoshop...sometimes...well,most of the time, it's just easier to stop by one of the many quick photo editing programs to pretty up a picture....but lately,with Spring on the rise...

(Confederate Jasmine spreading its lovely fragrance in the yard)

I have been itching for a new look for the blog and decided to create a new header in Photoshop.Inspired by so many png. lovelies at Paper Whimsy,I picked up this sweet daydreamer on the swing...

dont you just feel like playing on a swing..I know I do...

huh...what was I saying...

oh right...

So anyways...I had fun making the header and hope it feels new and ....

"Springy"

heehee...

Now be sure to stop over at the Paper Whimsy Blog

I have my first ever post

as part of the amazing PW Inspire Team

woohoo!!

I'll admit,it's nerve wracking having to work with amazing artists like  

Jill McCall

and 

Theresa mARTin

and of course going after the likes of 

Nancy Maxwell James

eek...the pressure.

Well,I just ran with it and had a blast creating with such yummy art goodies...

Here's a sneak peak at what I made...

Have a lovely day friends!!

"Long ago God drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. You were never not coming here. This was never not going to happen.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Here's to making every minute count,

Paper Whimsy Fun and Giveaway Winner!

Oh dear...I'm lost in fun using Paper Whimsy products...

and it's easy to see why...I love the fancy wood shapes  and the beautiful collage sheets...

Here are some sneak peaks to some of the items already planned for upcoming Stampington issues...

Plus I am so excited to have my first Inspire team blog post coming up soon on the Paper Whimsy blog...my PW art Sisters make the most inspiring and delicate things...check out Jill Mc Call's current post...it's dreamy,I promise.

---------------------------

Now for the Giveaway win...

Dum dum Duuuuumm...

My teenager...that no longer lets me take a picture of her(what's up with that)...picked out...

Alison from http://alisonbomber.blogspot.com/

Now,Alison is a new friend and I just visited her blog

and holy smackeroonies...her art is amazing!!

Thank you so much to everyone that visited me and left me a comment.

I really really appreciate it.

-----------------------

Now before I leave..I'm sharing a photo I recently took of myself.A publisher requested it for an upcoming issue... and omygosh I had no idea it was going to be sooooo difficult to take a self portrait...

100000+ photos later..

I kind of look like a goober...but after a while I couldn't stand the site of myself

so I pushed myself to make a decision.

Check out my cool new Cat in the Hat apron..

found it here..

https://www.etsy.com/shop/justsewblessed

snazzy huh?

heehee.

Have a wonderful day friends!!

"Long ago God drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. You were never not coming here. This was never not going to happen.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Here's to making every minute count,

Easter! Sale! Doo-dads Giveaway!!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful and blessed Easter.We had a quiet time at home and I loved every minute of it...except for the not being able to use the kitchen sink part...heehee...we are in the middle of a kitchen remodel and yesterday hubby added sealer to our back splash so I could not use the kitchen sink...normally it would not be an issue...but considering the kids and I had some baking to finish up and an Easter dinner to prepare for..it was a challenge...

But beside that..

it was a wonderful day..

 I am so thrilled to announce that my class "Memories in Paris" is scheduled to go live on April 22nd!! As an introductory special I am offering the class at $75.00!! When the class goes live the price will go back up to $ $95.00. To get info on the class just go to http://creativeworkshops.ning.com/

 One of my Etsy shops is called "Doo-dads for the Mixed Media Soul"...

doo•dad (ˈduˌdæd) 
n. Informal.1. a trinket or bauble.

...and I call it this because as a mixed media artist I find that I can use just about any doo-dad in my art...and for that I am thankful.Today I am offering a Doo-dad giveaway....some hand dyed gauze(rust,tea stain and soft blue), rub ons, ArtchixStudio wood Artbits, some casting pieces made by me and three blank metal sqaures, two 1/2" square stick bezels from Ice Resin...ahhh...these are my kind of doodads!!

If you want a chance to win just leave me a comment and I will announce the winner on 

Friday the 12th!!

"Long ago God drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. You were never not coming here. This was never not going to happen.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Here's to making every minute count,

A few of my favorite things...

So many wonderful things going on...first of all I have a new workshop coming up at Creative Workshops!! After visiting sweet Paris,I became inspired to make this beautiful pendant....ok ok...I never really went to Paris...never really walked the streets and went to the top of the Eiffel tower...but that's ok...a girl can dream..

This class opens on April 22nd and to find out more about it go here

I am also over the moon excited to announce that I am now designing for Paper Whimsy.This is a full circle moment for me.From the beginning of my creative journey PW Collage sheets and Art finds have been a source of inspiration and I am so honored to be part of this amazing team! To see some of their delicious bits go here

I am also thrilled to pieces to have not one,but two articles in the latest edition of Belle Armoire Jewelry!

What an honor to be included among so many talented artists!!

Plus my beautiful Art Sister Corrine is teaching at Lucky Star Camp and her class

Creative Abandon, 

No Permission Slip Required

(isn't that the best title ever)

looks AMAZING!

Lastly,a new message for my heart and yours...found this sticker in the craft store, and wow...these words just spoke to me...so I purchased it and placed it on a tin that rests on my sewing table...this way I can see it everyday!

"Long ago God drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. You were never not coming here. This was never not going to happen.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Here's to making every minute count,

Around the Bend

There is something in the air I breathe today.A gift in the silence.This gift has opened me up and magnified everything around me.The cold air and throbbing pain in my right hand.The bird flying overhead,the song on the radio, and the thoughts of moments past...that at last have become clear.All of these things,I am profoundly thankful for.

There are moments when things become very clear.So clear that they frighten me in believing that it will never come again...but that feeling soon passes and I am again able to see with new eyes.

So many kind souls on journeys of their own..each searching...hoping to find what they seek around the bend... aren't we all straining our necks to see.

These moments of clarity,when you reach out your hand and grab your truth,and claim it as your own.

It's a step,the first step.

www.lovestartswithme.me

Years ago when I first started on my creative journey,I did not think for one minute that it would lead me to where I am today.I feel blessed to be able to do what I love everyday....but when I left my day job last month,of 21 years,fear settled in.

...but this morning as I walked in the sun,breathing in the cold air as I brought  in the groceries, Grace reminded me of the words that choose me for 2013..

"Out of Love,not Fear" Elie Tahari

"Out of Love,not Fear"

and I knew at that moment that for the last month..I was doing it out of fear,not love.

and I knew that last week when I told someone about my "wall" of making friends...that that wall was now gone and I was ready again,open again.

and I knew that the pain in my right hand was a reminder,a reminder that I was blessed to work with them and every now and then this pain comes for all those that cant...

and I knew that my frustration in the last couple of days was really about wanting to find a local tribe...a gathering of those that want the same...that want to learn everyday and show Gratitude.

at that moment...as my hand touched the wall and I stretched out my neck 

I could see

 that

and so are you.

"Long ago God drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. You were never not coming here. This was never not going to happen.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Here's to making every minute count,

Happy Place and Giveaway

My art room is small and it's jam packed with everything I love.

I'll admit,I have often imagined a huge workshop with tons of space and light.

But since I started years ago,working from my dining room table

 I feel blessed to now have this small happy place I call my studio.

I was recently asked about space...

So I thought I'd take you along for a little tour...

This is where I normally sit and work on some jewelry..

It's a bit cramped,but it's nice having all my tools within arms reach...

This is where I sew...my favorite spot because I love having the window open and listening to the pool fountain and bird music outside..

I wish you could see my beautiful Underwood Typewriter on the left...it's covered with some vintage photos so it's hard to see...

On the other wall I have my counter...full of paints and glues and paper and kits and artbits...geez..when did I gather so much stuff...

Can you see the lovely Artbits from Paper Whimsy...oh dear..I'm in love with her wood goodies...

Now can you tell what my favorite tool is by looking at these photos?

huh?

guess again?

yup.

The label maker.

heehee..

I label everything..

even found this old photo of Wolfie...

Hubby says I have a problem..

I don't know what he's talking about.

heehee.

Now it's time for a Giveawy!!

I am offering two mini tins that are currently in Belle Armoire. These little treats measure approx 2" x 2" and they are just puuuuurfect for hiding away little treasures!

Just leave me a comment here

and I will pick two winners

on March 8th.

"Long ago God drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. You were never not coming here. This was never not going to happen.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

Here's to making every minute count,