It's beginning to FEEL a lot like Christmas

 At last all the Christmas bins are gone and I can sit back and enjoy the sweet jolly music in the background(currently playing "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" by Johnny Mathis)

I love this time of year...yes..it's a crazy time of year...

but I still love it all..

Sometimes the family get's caught up in so many other things that it's easy to forget how important we are to each other...

so we decided to take the kids out of school and hit the road to 

 Universal Studios in Orlando. A "regrouping" sort of day..and boy we all needed it.I am so thankful for every second!

Harry Potter village

Daddy and Joshua

the biggest Cinnabun I have ever seen

Me and my little man.(Teenager no longer like Momma to take photos..sniff sniff..)

I hope you are all enjoying this blessed season.

Sending you all big hugs to you and yours.

Giveaway Winner

Now, I really tried to copy and paste my Random Generator to show the winner,but for some reason I just couldn't figure it out and  finally decided I was taking way to long...Ugh... doesn't that drive you crazy..heehee...

anyways..

The winner of my Rub-on and Artchix Giveaway is 

Sharon!!

Congrats Sharon,I will get in touch with you!

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

Artchix and Rub on Love and Giveaway!!

The truth is...I love me my Artchix Studio supplies!! When I get a package in the mail...it's like Christmas!!

One of the pieces I was just dying to play with were these sweet natural keyholes...

I first added some Gilders Paste to the top...

Then some Gold Rub n Buff (It's the same as Gilders Paste,I just had it in front of me at the time and was to lazy to reach for the Gold Gilders)... ( :

Then I took some of my second favorite playthings...Rub-ons...Now some of you may know that I started selling these in my supply shop and I am so glad I did because everyone else seems to LOVE them too...

After I added the rub on,I cut out an image from one of the delicious Artchix Collage sheets...glued it to the back and gently hammered in some 1/16" long eyelets to the holes...

and lastly added Ice Resin to the top...for that extra...Pizazz...heehee...

Come on...admit it...these are fun and you know you want to try...

so today I am offering a sweet Giveaway with some delicious ArtChix wood artbits and some of my rub ons from the shop...

For a chance to win,just leave me a comment and I will pick a winner on Monday the 17th!!

One last treat before I go.I came across this video and I Love every single thing about it!! This artist has vision and I can see,hear,feel...every ounce of it.

Enjoy.

As Always,
thank you so much for stopping by

Now

When I started this Creative Journey in 2009,I started it with a plan and a time frame. I had my creative goals in check and all I had left to do was Believe I could achieve them.

(2009)

My Creative Goals were planned out in this order 

1-Start listing items on Ebay

2-to start a blog to promote my work

3-to open up an online Etsy shop

4-to have my work featured in a Publication

5-to start making money at what I love

6-to reach 10 publications in order to apply to teach

7-to start teaching at National Retreats at 2015

(2010)

Now,I'll be honest,my hope was to get enough publications by the time my kids were old enough (2015) so that I could start traveling and not worry so much about Home stuff...

(2011)

But as the powers that be would have it,my goals were reached sooner rather than later and I have been blessed with every step and my heart is full of Gratitude for every open door...

(2012)

and my last goal came to fruition with an email a couple of weeks ago that made me want to cry and laugh and scream...

I am so thrilled to share that I will be...

Stamford Cn. 2013

and I am scared out of my mind...

but that's ok

because...

So I guess what I'm trying to say is...

it's always nice to have a plan...

actually I think it's important to have a plan

and work hard everyday 

to achieve what you must,

what burns deep inside you,

and makes your heart sing,

but sometimes 

the powers that be have something else planned...

and you need to look that opportunity right in the eye

and with trembling hands

and a racing heart

just 

go 

for 

it.

(http://karenjasper.blogspot.com/)

because..

"There is only one law in the Universe: 

Now"

-Alfred Sutro

and 

I'm not going to let "Now" slip away..

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

Giveaway Winners!!

Thank you all sweet friends for entering my little giveaway!! A big thanks to those who donated to the Sandy relief efforts.If you have not had a chance to check it out go here and read all about it and the wonderful efforts being made.

Now to announce the winners of my giveaways...

Congrats to...

Kj from http://karenjasper.blogspot.com/

(I will be in touch with you to see what color glass pendant you want)

and

Lisa from http://lucidmoonstudio.blogspot.com/

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

Art is....Helping

Art-Is You Art Retreats is working with Family to Family to provide relief from Hurricane Sandy. As a bonus, if you donate you have the chance to win original artwork! Check it out HERE and donate if you can.If you do make a donation stop back here and let me know,I am also offering a made to order pendant called "Uprising" Sublimis ab Unda which means "Raised from the Waves".

The winner will be announced on Nov 7th along with my other giveaway.."A Youthful Heart" soldered Pendant.

Thanks you friends.

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

Magic Hands and a Giveaway!!

Do you know someone with "Magic Hands"...you know the kind of hands that when they touch something...things just grow and grow beautifully! My sister Ingrid has magic hands and while I was in NY I woke up early to get some pics of her totally beautiful magic Garden.

Pond full of big Momma fish!!

OOOOoooooooh....

now she also has her hands full with chickens and pups and cats and her newest additions...Goats..

Here's Edward the Goat...

Sis and I also had some belly laughing  fun on the computer....here's me and my Sis clowning around...I laugh every single time I look at this..It's our Alien Look!!

(l-r Ingrid,me)

Come on...that's funny!!

Now before I leave,I have a new Giveaway offering!!

This pendant was created by using a delicious wood house from Artchix Studio,a vintage button,and more.It has a soldered edge and measures 1 1/2"x 1 1/2"

For a chance to win,just leave me a comment and be sure to spread the word!!

Winner announced Monday Nov 7th!!

As always,

thank you so much for stopping by

Sometimes...you just need to have fun in the rain

When it calls you...

answer.

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by

Art is You,600, & Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

I'm sorry for the delay in announcing my winner dear friends.Last night I arrived from Art is You and I am still spinning from my amazing trip!!

Beginning with a late night plane ride

and my Sister Ingrid picking me up at the airport...

and traveling early into Manhattan to have breakfast with my niece Dani...

(Dani & Ingrid)

Then driving to Connecticut and look what we had waiting for us at check in..

handmade name tags by Ellen Lagare ..

Here's Sis showing her name tag off...

Here's a top view of Saturday's Trunk Show..Omygosh..so many goodies..

and me and Kecia

and Pajama Breakfast with some of the teacher talking about their "Brave" moments...

like the amazing Jodi Ohl ,Tracy Vurdugo, Kecia and Seth Apter 

and of course the amazing class with Richard Salley...Here's Jessica his helper who had the most amazing jewelry too...

There were so many other wonderful moments for me and I simply forgot to take picture...Grrr...I think it's because I was feeling emotional with all the creative goodness going on..I didn't know If I was coming or going!!

Moments like meeting Corrine(I'm still mad at ya..no I'm not..heehee)

and meeting Pam and meeting Colleen and so many others...Oh..it was Wonderful!!

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

Can you believe I have 600 followers...Holy smakeroonies!!

Now I had to announce my Giveaway winner for the "My Home Song" dvd...

but since I have reached such an amazing milestone I decided to pick an additional winner!!

So the two winners of my dvd are...

Theresa from http://thoughtful-notions.blogspot.com/

and 

Hope Amen

I will get in touch with you ladies!

As always,
thank you so much for stopping by