Happy New Year~

What a blessing to be ringing in a new year~I've always got such big-big plans starting each new year... no disappointments though if nothing on my list actually gets accomplished. Life is to precious to sweat the small stuff :-)
Anywho, here is my resolutions for this upcoming year:

Learn to paint roses~

paint all the cabinets in my studio~

exercise-- again, no pressure to actually do these things~

use things I already have.... *gasp*~

declutter.... *shudder*~

organize-organize-organize~

Happy new year everyone :-) Lets hope its another good one....

Metal tape~

I bought two brand new rolls of metal tape this past summer at a yard sale for .50cents each. The rolls normally run about $8 bucks each at Home Depot. I've been wanting to play around with the tape for some time-- and finally got an urge to use it. For next Monday's mixed media challenge piece using the theme of "leftovers" as the challenge, I have an idea in mind...... so with that said, I covered a cardboard shape and a resin heart that I hope to use in the piece I make. The resin heart I wanted it to appear to be broken, so I used a file and made a line in the heart then I drilled holes into the piece on either side of the line so I could lace it back together....The tape is really easy to work with, and I think the results are wonderful. I threaded some gold wire through the holes to give the appearance of the heart being laced back together, I even made the wire into a bow at the top. no easy task!Once the tape was smoothed onto each piece, I removed the red ink on the tape with a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on it. To make the tape look like real metal, I smeared black paint over both pieces with my fingers. Thats it~ neat huh?

Canvas bags~

I have been wanting to start using my own shopping bags instead of using the plastic and paper ones given out at the stores. I wanted fabric canvas bags instead of those plastic covered fabric ones that advertise the stores name on them... Sooooooooo with that in mind, I purchased some canvas bags that I bought at a thrift store for .50cents each. I washed the bags first, then I used a linen dress that I picked up at the same thrift store for $1 as the "fabric" to cover the bags. I didn't bother to iron the fabric as these are going to be folded/rolled/crammed in my purse from now on.Here is a smaller bag that I recovered for my grandson, this one is going to stay in their van to hold the plastic folding toilet seat cover that he uses whenever they go out and about. Just keeping it real~It was soooooooo easy-peasy. I just turned each bag inside out and drew the outline of the bag shape onto the fabric I was using to cover the bags. I used the hemmed edge of the dress across the top of the bag. Essentially, I just made a pillowcase for the bag. I turned it right side out and dropped the bag into the "pillowcase" and then just stitched around the top of the bag. Thats it~
Now hows that for reusing, recycling and repurposing? I feel so green~ Of course, that could also be blamed on all the left overs I've eaten...

Merry Christmas

May you be happy with all your presents....But most of all... be happiest in his presence~Merry Christmas~

Last minute gift~

Well here it is Christmas eve... all is quiet... I figured I'd get some things finished up seeing how tomorrow is Christmas~ I have been wanting to make a holder for my grandaughters hair bows that I've been making her. I've made her a bag full of hair bows, which she will receive tomorrow, I figured this would tie in nicely with the bows.I've had this thrifted gold frame for about a year now-- it was tucked under my bed. I pulled out the flowered embroidery piece that was in it, I'll donate that back to the thrift store. I just hot glued the black grograin ribbon onto the back of the frame. Thats it. I think it turned out super caute! If my daughter likes it, I'm going to suggest I find one of those super big vintage type frames that are 4'x2' and do this in a larger scale. I have a funny feeling Miss Chloe Rose is going to have a large collection of hair bows!
Now, I'm off to find something else to work on... I'm soooooooooo bored~ I've started and ripped out 3 different crocheted blankets (so far) I can't find a pattern I like!

Christmas Eve~

Well the big guy had a chance to meet the grandkids recently.... here is my grandson Jonathan who informed Santa he needs "Cars, Nascar and two Monster trucks" What a vocabulary huh?My grandaughter Chloe~She informed Santa she wanted some diamonds and a new tiara. Santa said he could swing some diamonds but the tiara would have to wait. Obviously Santa felt the wrath of that statement~If Chloe isn't happy, no one is happy~

Bored....

I've been feeling very bored lately.... don't ya just hate when you feel bored? I think it has something to do with it being winter and it being all gloomy outside. Mind you, I live in California, but none the less it gets pretty cold. Ok well cold for me. When it hits 59 degrees or below...I suffer! My bed looks something like the bed from "Princess and the Pea" with me being the "pea." I have layer upon layer of quilts and blankets on my bed... Anywho, enough complaining :-)

I was thinking I need a crochet project to work on during this long-long horrid winter... First things first though, I am needing a basket to hold my yarn, hook and the pattern for whatever I chose to make. I've had this basket forever, which in itself is rare. Yes, its been in the pile to be donated to the thrift stores a few times only to be pulled out at the last minute. I recently painted it white, and now I'm liking it! So, I committed myself to keeping it... and made a fabric insert for the oval basket. Now, I'm just needing to find a crochet pattern to mindlessly work on to take me into summer~