Glitter, Beads, Pearls and More!

It's that time of year...time to think of something fun to give to fellow teachers at my school. Last year I filled mason jars with a minty hand scrub mix. This year I tried my hand at filling clear ornaments with a birdie scene. Thanks to Somerset Life for the inspiration, and my friends Donna of Under the Red Roof and Lori of Vintage Flair. What fun!

I cut out digital birds and gave them glass glitter eyes. I filled the bottom with shredded vintage early readers and little glitter balls. I tied a bit of tiger tail beading string through a hole in the bird and let the bird hang down. I decorated the top with diamond glaze and glass glitter.

Here they are, all the birdies waiting for a home!
Now time to top them off with a bit of lace, and figure out a way to wrap them up....

A few other huge ornaments I did for friends...I put their childhood photo inside.

Now for a totally new project! I made these stretchy vintage inspired rings last weekend. After I made one, I had to make ten more! After wearing mine the first day, I got lots of compliments and actually sold one off my finger...how funny! They are fun to stack on top of each other.

My friend Sandy of My Lulabelles and I did a swap recently. Look at the goodies I just got!!
Cutie Pink Elephant...gotta love her!
Now WHERE do I start? I have enough goodies to play with for a little while! Thanks so much Sandy!

International Quilt Festival in Houston

It's November, and time for a day long shopping spree at one of my favorite places in the world...
The International Quilt Festival in Houston!!! I always go with good friends and comfy shoes. I had a great time this year!! I bought some fun fibers, trims, vintage goodies, beads, fabrics, glitter sprays, glitter paste, and so much more. Oh, and NO I don't quilt!!

Vintage silks, trims and velvet in my fav colors...YUM!I always hit the wool area, where I buy all their "end" pieces. They are perfect for crafts!
Some vintage flowers and lose petals from the Tinsel Trading Company!
Great fabrics sold in a big quilter's roll. Perfect for tea dying!
One of my freebies from Stampington...Got the year's subscription to Where Women Create.So that's the contents of one of one of my bags...hehe!

Lots of Goodies...

I've made a few canvases lately! This birdie canvas is for a local hospital fundraiser. Let the bidding begin!This one is for my new art friend Sandy of My Lullabelles. We are doing a little trade. She is a fellow puggie lover. I think her Pugsie and my Madeline could be good friends!!

And speaking of PLAYING....I've been making some fun trinkets lately. Here are some key fobs I made using pearls, glass beads, and fun velvet beads. The actual bead strip can be taken off the key ring and clipped on to a necklace! I think they'd also look cute haning off of a zipper on a purse or tote. I fell in love with these vintage milk glass rose cabachons, and wanted to do something fun with them. I made several pinkie rings using clear bands.
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Look at the goodies my good friend Lilia sent me!! Gotta love her!!

Can't wait to start playing!! Thanks Lil!

Halloween Happenings!

It's Halloween Time! My art friend Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist is hosting a fabulous Halloween Party On October 18th!!!Here are some fun Halloween images to get you in the MOOD!

I would like to invite all my friends...all dressed up in "grown up" clothes, ready for action! I am the curly girl in front!

I can't forget sweet Madeline the Pug...

Gotta include Samantha Stephens! Glamour girl one day...sassy witch the next.What should we all wear????

My favorite Halloween Treats....

Peanut butter filled cookie sand"witches" from the Martha Stewart Show. YUM!!!!And some sweet and spicy carrot cake
Here are some wonderful treasures sent to me by my Halloween Party Swap friend, Heather!
Aren't they fabulous!!

Fall Handmade Gourds are on my kitchen table...
Glittered spoons...perfect for a door prize! I made them using the instructions by Natalie Hansen in the latest Somerset Holidays.

Interested in fabulous vintage Halloween collections? Visit this site I found, from watching Martha Stewart last week. I was amazed at all the wonderful goodies from the early 1900's.

Such a fun Block Party!!

Fall Art

I know the cool feeling of "FALL" will reach Texas soon! It is still warm and humid here...

I have really enjoyed mixing paints and mediums lately. I've been creating some fun things that remind me of the season. Here is a large canvas piece I made starring two special little friends. I decided on a magical, forest theme. I used paint, paper, and some fun digital images. I added birds, butterfly stamps, and a Norwegian nursery rhyme.

Making Use of My Time!

Thanks to all of my sweet art friends for their support during Hurricane Ike. You are all so kind. We are all doing GREAT! We now have electricity, but there are so many others who still don't have anything yet.

I was SO lucky that our house didn't have any major damage. I saw many of our huge pine trees in the street, some on garages, and homes too! We picked up the many branches that fell down on our corner lot. Everyone was outside cleaning up soon after. We ended up grilling everything we had in the fridge. Our favorite was grilled frozen pizzas. They DO grill nicely! I think I missed my computer and phone most of all. We had no land lines or cell connection. We didn't want to waste any gas, because gas was not easy to find! We walked to friends' houses to see how they were. Some had generators to keep at least a refrigerator going. Of course we didn't...ggrr!

I did make some use of daylight! Since I had no electricity, I used my E6000 to help me create a few things! My first creation ....a homecoming mum for my son's date next weekend. Remember Texas Homecoming Mums?? The heaviest and "most tacky" mums are the best!!
The senior girl wears a white and gold mum...a change from years past with red and green. This mum was fun to make. It has lots of fun toys and games, plenty of high school spirit, and a cute bear with a flower corsage. It is quite heavy...there is a ribbon on the back so the girl can wear it around her neck. I always say, when the girl has to "hunch over" to walk, she has the PERFECT mum!!My second "Post Hurricane Ike" art activity was finishing a goodie bag for a Flickr Halloween Party Swap. My swap partner is the very talented Heather, of Bluhm Studios. Here is a preview of the package. I tucked a lot of fun things inside.

Hope she will enjoy it!

Thanks again for your sweet comments on Ike. We are all safe and sound! :) Mendy

I'm Always Inspired

I was SO inspired by the latest issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine. I think it is my favorite issue of all time. Lydia Bee's artwork is celebrated in an article called "Gone to the Dogs." I can't put it down!

I made this large canvas in honor of my sweet pug, Madeline...using the wonderful techniques of Lydia. She explains how to make these fun animal collages, step by step. I hope she won't mind me using her cute clown collar on my puggie! She is so talented!! Thank you Lydia!
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Are you familiar with TweetyJill? Here are a few samples of their newest stamp collections, WOW! Not only do they have totally unique stamps and papers, but their art books are incredible! I am so lucky to be a part of their design team!
I LOVE LOVE this set of Alice and Wonderland stamps! Aren't they cute?Don't be afraid to just dive in and create this week!