August and Halloween time already! ?

Pulling out all of my halloween scraps, bits and pieces. A fun swap (Halloween Door Hanging), my partner is in Arizona, so perhaps some bones would be in order? I dunno, an image of a thirsty skeleton (!) comes to mind...

Hosted by Jaime (thanks, M'am) -- find her shop: http://www.stinkbonejones.etsy.com

and her blog: http://www.hjcompton270.blogspot.com

So, I'm off to create

Time to Begin another Book

Tada! I'm in a new Altered Book swap. Can't wait to get started...france and emotions....24 participants and Rhonda's going to bind a book for each of us. How cool is that?

Oh, and I just got commissioned to do a Children's bookshelf for a Juvenile Diabetes Auction.

Stay tuned for fun photos!?

Recycling Art - Folk Art Robots?

Fun this past week creating whimsy of all kinds. Tomorrow in Georgetown should be a blast! Oh...maybe I should make a rocket for one of the bots?

This guy/gal is called "out of the dark". Hope you like it.

Come see us at the festival, will you?

Spring and the Serendipity Festival and More Art

Upcoming Serendipity Festival on April 12th at the Community Montessori School in Georgetown!

Inspired by my recycled art creator, Erica Greening Costenbader, and urban folk artist, Anthony Pack (this photo is from his flickr page, quite a brilliant construction), I'll have a booth where children and adults can create robots as well as add to a community totem pole. So, save your tin cans, your odd-bobs and whatnots, and we'll put them to use.

By the way, I SAVED an AMAZING clock face out of a burn pile yesterday...it's 16" at its widest point and has roman numerals and the coolest gear works. Ay yi yi...what else could be in that filthy pile? I digress...

Come play with us on the 12th...otherwise, see you at the Earth Day celebration on April 19th at Republic Park!

You never know...how much fun Mail can be...

Got this amazing package today from Lije Handmade. What a doll...I mean her, not the goodies, well, yes, the goodies include the most FANTASTIC dolly things: a sweet chicken toy, a fabulous bird apron (I adore birds) and a scarf with the sweetest dolly decoration...all handmade by Liliana Jesus. Unbelievable.

I feel bad because I've never done a private swap and didn't come anywhere near what she sent...I didn't know what to expect! I've been disappointed by a couple of group swaps (once not receiving anything) and another time receiving an item not too exciting (ouch, can I say that)! :) So, it only goes to show that the one time I don't go overboard, the other person does!!! How utterly embarrassing.

I'm off to write my thank you note and to begin work for the next group swap I'm in. So, if you believe in paying it forward, just hope you're on the receiving end of my “Hanging Up Springtime” swap!

The Search

Pat Metheny's song "The Search" is playing in the background...along with "American Heartland", I've been repeating them as they cheer me and are delighting me on this fall morning. Thinking about my Dad, thinking about life, thinking about my amazing daughter.

This photo is of her in September, laying on our concrete floor...it appears that the wind might be blowing in her hair...she's such a sweet bird...

I'm off to do some artsy crafting, but am reminded by Van Gogh: "The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others." and my search is over (today), and I'm off to boil some water for tea and to load the washing machine, lovingly.

Glitter, stamps and fun...

The past few weeks have been fun creating little whimsys for my favorite store, Gatherings, in Georgetown, Texas. They're having their "Holiday Open House" this Thursday, so I've been working a lot with reds, greens and cheerful holiday papers.

Fun tags, a door hanger and then a trip to the "Settlement Home" garage sale...I've got lots of fun to deliver to the owners today!