Lemonade

2010-10-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

Because it is a woman's prerogative to change her mind, I've returned to my roots! You can find me at Tender Arts Studio!

I captured a fairy today!

2010-02-28T21:48:00.000-08:00

Well, actually, she flew in through an open window. I tried to keep her as long as I could, but I could see she was longing to return to her meadow, so I set her free. She sure was cute, huh?

Truthfully, I made her for a fun doll challenge. The pattern was a free download from Judi Ward. I couldn't resist! My little Maggie-moo, my roommate's 13 year old daughter, made the wings for me. I'm so happy with how she turned out.

I'll be interested in hearing how little Fairy Wendy did. Wish her luck!

It's Valentine's Day- Have A Heart!

2010-02-14T21:32:00.000-08:00

How sweet are these little darlings? Even more special because they were made from my mother's childhood coverlet. It's not a real pieced quilt, the design is printed, but it is still very vintage and very dear. I estimate that the coverlet dates to 1945. Amazing that my grandmother kept it for so long and then my mom. By the time I got it, it was disintegrating, but I'm so happy to give it a new life!

As I was stitching up these little hearts, I was reminded of a favorite little poem that I first spotted at my friend Sandra's house. It's by Beth Yarbrough and it's called "A Mother's Heart". Here it is:

Pieces of laughter

Patches of tears

Threaded with tenderness

Tattered with fears

Bits of forgiveness and

mounds of grace

Quilted together with

Love, Hope and Faith.

Doesn't that just sum it up? I've made lots of these, so after gifting my brother, my kids and myself...the rest will be up for sale at my shop.

Happy Valentine's Day, Friends. We're enjoying the weekend here and declaring today a "No Weight Watchers Day"! Speaking of which, Kelly has lost 25 pounds and I've lost 15 since we started in October. Wowie!

Sick Day

2010-01-20T17:33:00.001-08:00

I suppose that if one must be home sick in bed, they could do worse than these cozy surroundings, eh? Even better than the cozy bed set up, is the view from the bed:

Yes! Tender Arts Studio is back in business! I bought this great desk at the Salvation Army last weekend. Hauled it home in a rented Home Depot truck all by myself too! I did get help with getting it in the house though- thank you, teenagers! I covered the bulletin board myself too.

I even have a doll to show for my efforts too! This is Meg March. I started her in 2008 and she languished about in her unders for over a year- poor dear! Sunday afternoon I sat at my new work station and finished her. Pure Nirvana!

On Monday, I woke up and felt like a ton of bricks had been dropped off in my head. I came home from work early and I've been in bed ever since. All in all, NOT the worst sick experience I've ever had!

Hugs to all!

2010: Year of the Tiger -- Rabbit - Astrology.com

2009-12-31T18:17:00.000-08:00

2010: Year of the Tiger -- Rabbit - Astrology.com
I'm going to check this link again next year and see how it panned out! In the meantime:

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone peace, joy, prosperity!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-27T19:24:00.001-08:00

In my little Christmas village, Santa is still handing out gifts and the Richingtons are still out visiting, but here at home we are all holiday-ed out!

It was a great Christmas for our family, I hope it was for all of you too.

That was fun!

2009-11-07T00:21:00.000-08:00

I've had a really hard time posting photos here lately, so I've kind of given up! For now anyway! But I did just post my bedroom on HGTV's Rate My Space and that was pretty fun. The link is here if you want to check it out. It's a fun site and I love getting my "decorating fix" there because I get to interact with it and leave comments.

(oh sure...now it works! whatever!)

Orthographic Projection

2009-09-14T22:05:00.000-07:00

We had our first presentation today in Rendering. This is my Orthographic Projection. I think I did pretty well. At least, the responses were nice from my fellow classmates. Next week I'll get my grade.

You might recognize this room from photos I've posted here on the blog- yes, it's my room! I wanted to do a space where I could refer to the measurements as much as I wanted.

Next, we're working on Axonometric Projections. To make it easy for us, the instructor has said we can use the same room, but I think I'm going to make it a little more fun by changing up the color scheme a bit!

And below is a gratuitous self-portrait. This is what I wore for my job interview last week. The good news is that we all got hired on with the new management company! I was playing around with the new features on picnik. This is supposed to be me 39% thinner! Yikes! But, it's okay.

The dress is a black and white and the skirt portion is trumpet shaped and I have the cutest wedges in black and white too. Doesn't it look 20's - 30's?

Playin' House

2009-09-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

The boys are back in school and I've been enjoying having a home that stays picked up for more than ten minutes! Of course, I STILL haven't painted yet, but I'm sure I'm getting close! I have been stitching up some pillow covers:

And playing with sea shells and hot glue!

It really is true what they say about "back to school"- it's the most wonderful time of the year!

What is it about me and August?

2009-08-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

It just is a super long and tiring month.
Sweet Carmen moved away to Tennessee this month with her beloved Jeremy.
Poor little Yoda had to be put down.
My new, wonderful boss found a new job and left me.
My employer is severing it's contract with the HOA I work at, so in about six weeks I may be unemployed.

*sigh*

It can only go up from here. Right?

Time for the "Way Back Machine"!

2009-08-23T22:13:00.001-07:00

Awwww....look at those cute kids! That's me and my little brother, Jonathan at our auntie's wedding circa 1971.

Oh my, look at those handsome young people! That's my wedding in 1984.

And now...uhh...well...what good looking, portly middle aged people! This is my brother's wedding in 2003. Actually- he looked good then and he looks even better today.

That was pretty fun, eh? Thanks to Jon and Deb for emailing those top two photos to me. That made my day!

Love Letter From 1956

2009-06-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

That is what this little ottoman is- a love letter! I bought this last fall at my favorite Goodwill. It was one of those silly moments we thrifters all have- you see an object and immediately grab for it, afraid that someone else is about to d0 the same thing! And then...your rational mind steps in and reminds you that the object is a stained and tattered ottoman! It's a real clash of the left and right sides of the brain, isn't it?

Anywhoooo.... this was covered in a beautiful old barkcloth, but it was water stained and ripped. It took many months to finally get around to re-covering it. I think it turned out pretty cute! The very enchanting part of the project came when I had the thing flipped over and was struggling to tug the cover over the foam. In very faint pencil this was written on the bottom of the ottoman: "This was made by Neil and Margaret, Sacramento, Cal., 1956". Awwwww. How sweet is that?

I did some other decorating in the living room too. Since my dining room is now my roommate (and beloved stepdaughter), Kelly's room, I've had to re-think a lot of my home's layout. I originally moved my big craft hutches into the garage, but recently realized that they would be a very welcome addition to my living room! Check it out:

Nice, huh? I think it really brings in that coastal vibe I've been wanting. See the little hope chest under the window? I'm picturing yellow and white cabana stripes painted on it! So bright and happy!

Now I am really itching to paint the walls! Except, I think I will cut the blue in half with white. I really want it to be very soft. In the photo below it looks great, but at night it's a little more colorful than I want it to be.

Just to illustrate how much my poor living room needed this change, this is how this room has looked since Earl moved out last summer:
Ugghh! No wonder I'm ready for a change. Especially since this entire color scheme was chosen to accomodate him. I didn't hate it, but it never felt like "me". Hope you all have a lovely week!

Hugs to all!

Thriftin' Adventure with Carmen

2009-06-12T13:46:00.001-07:00

Last week Carmen and I had breakfast with Grandpa, which was very nice. He took us to his morning hangout, The Country Waffle and introduced us to all the other regulars. We were treated like celebrities!
Afterwards, the girly and I decided to hit Goodwill and check out the treasures. I don't know if it was the waffles or what, but we had such a bad case of the sillies! It seemed as if everything we saw was a visual treat. Like this lovely very vinyl purse:

Or this lovely assortment of knick knacks:

Very lovely, yes?

As far as these last two items, I don't think I can say too much here on a family blog! I'll let you use your imagination!

Oh my!

In the Good Ol' Summertime

2009-06-10T12:11:00.001-07:00

Can you believe these pictures? The boys and I went to Lake Natomas yesterday, June 9th, and had the whole place to ourselves! What's up with that? It was a little breezy and overcast, but still nice. That's okay- we didn't mind!

Nobody but us and the geeses!

It seems like every week Eric and Max just get more and more handsome! I love this photo- it really shows how much alike they look.

Oh my yes! Very, very handsome! Buddy is handsome too, isn't he?

I hope you are all enjoying your summer too!

Hugs to all!

Janet Hill Studio

2009-05-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

What a talented lady! She has beautiful work and her prints are so reasonable! Check out her etsy shop here and her blog here. *sigh* Seriously lovely.

One Third of Three Final Projects!

2009-05-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

I'm so proud of this! This is for my Beginning Drawing and Composition class. This is 18"x24" and is done in black and white conte crayons on a beautiful aqua drawing paper. These are all shells that I bought when I visited Morro Bay last fall with my dear friends, Sandra and Monica. I have to do two more very different drawings of these same shells, but I just had to show you guys this one because I'm so pleased with how it came out! This one might even see the inside of a frame in my new living room!

Hugs to all!

Changes Are Coming!

2009-05-06T16:29:00.000-07:00

Talk about eager! I just couldn't wait any longer to get a glimpse of my future living room! This is Tracey's Robin's Egg Blue. I happen to think it is exactly the same color as Bettsi's Seafoam Blue! LOL. I even started painting some of the mirror frames in white. I love it, love it, love it! There's a glimpse of the soon-to-be white chenille couch. So pretty.

Now, have I finished my kids' rooms? Of course not! Apparently I think I am Super Woman and that this summer I will get all of my projects done. Well.......I can try anyway!

Hugs to all!

Quick "Bulletin Board", Even Quicker Post!

2009-04-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

LOL! Talk about quick and dirty! All I did was tie ribbon to the slats of my closet doors. The knots are in the back. I would have done all four, but I ran out of ribbon! I'm loving it- I finally have an inspiration board, of sorts.

In other news, the semester is almost over! I'm finishing up my final projects which I really want to share with you all when they are done. Then it's sweet, sweet summertime! So ready!

Hugs to all!

I Met Tracey and Tracey!

2009-04-20T06:11:00.001-07:00

And it was great! Yesterday I treated myself with a drive up the block to Roseville to attend the 1st Roseville Antique Market. I knew the Tumbleweed Cotillion girls would be there and could not wait to meet them. Last year, when E and I separated, it was a post on Tracey's blog that led me to discover Getting Past Your Past and that blog has been the biggest help to me over the past nine months. It meant a lot to me to be able to tell Tracey about that.

Both of the Traceys are SO NICE! They are just so warm and kind- I wanted to sit down with them over coffee. I picked up a few little treasures from them, but they were already just about cleaned out! And it was only 10:30! Their stuff is so cute and the folks in Roseville seemed ready to buy. I picked up their adorable glitter clothespins, some sweet vintage seam binding, a tiny, glittery bouquet and a fab little photo of the Eiffel Tower that I had to add to my Paris bathroom.

The whole event was so great- I wish I had taken more pictures. I met Lisa Golightly too, who is enormously talented. In fact, she has just recently had some of her great designs licensed, so you'll be seeing more of her name, I'm sure. She was super nice too. She had the most amazing painting that she had done on canvas that combined decoupage, paint and resin that was stunning. I just found it here, but trust me when I say that it is even more cool in person.

The Tattered House is awesome! I can't believe how cool it is! They have great furniture, accessories, sea shells, crowns, soaps, etc. all housed in the sweetest little turquoise cottage. I can't believe I've never been there before. I will definitely be back- a great place for filling out my future coastal living room and a great place for gifts too.

My big find of the day was two king sized chenille bedspreads. Not fancy, just plain white. I'm going to turn them into slip covers for my couch. AFTER I get out of school for the summer, of course! I dreamt about chenille bedspreads Saturday night so I knew I would find them at the Market and sure enough, the very last vendor on the block had them. She let me have both for $35! I'm going to have custom-made chenille slipcovers for $35! (And a lot of elbow grease!)

Anyway, it was a wonderful morning. I wish I could have stayed and spent longer! I should have been at home working on my take-home math test that is due tonight and umm, yeah, still isn't done. *sigh* Maybe I can finish it on my lunch break.... Oh well, it was worth it!

Hugs to all!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-11T14:15:00.001-07:00

I just had to show you Wendy's new Easter dress! I made this from a beautiful hankerchief given to me by Elaine Jackson in a doll swap four years ago. I hesitated over cutting into it, but it was just so perfect! I embroidered the little flowers on the front to match the original crochet edging. So pretty. She is a very happy girl now- this was her first new Easter dress in two years!

I hope you are all enjoying a blessed day. The kids and I will be taking dinner to my brother, Jonathan, tonight who is in the hospital, but coming home tomorrow. He was driving his little Honda scooter and got hit by a car! This was two weeks ago and it's been a really tough time for him. His left leg was broken in a really horrific way and they couldn't even put the plates and pins in until this past Thursday because there was so much swelling. There was so much damage due to road rash on the skin that they had to do a skin graft. Bless his heart, he has been so great through this. And, of course, we are just so thankful that it wasn't worse!

Yesterday, Kelly and I set this up for our six (!) kids so they could make these:I don't care how old these kids get, they still love to make Easter eggs! Actually, I have to qualify that last bit. Carmen was not here so it was five kids. She spent Spring Break in Colorado with her dear friend. She tried to ski and found out that she inherited the "no ski" gene! Sorry Carmen!

Well, I'm off to munch on jelly beans! Hugs out to all!

All I want is a room somewhere...

2009-03-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

Wow! Isn't this gorgeous? Chris at Just Beachy did this. She did all that paneling herself and she even painted her doorbell mechanism to blend in. I love that attention to detail! Here is a post about how she extended her paneling up the wall to accomodate her growing children and here is another about how she pulled it all together. Brava, Chris! You are an inspiration!

Just Beachy is one of my newest favorite blogs because she has a passion for coastal style, which is a look that I am loving lately. I used to be quite a snob about coastal style- I felt that if you didn't live near a coast, then you shouldn't fling it all over your house! But now that I am dreaming of a future on the coast, it's become my obsession! I love to be surrounded by images and objects of the beach that inspire me to keep moving forward.

I don't know where I'd ever find the time and resources to re-do my living room in the next couple of years, but if I could, I would definitely give it a beachy-vibe. Not outrageously done with seagulls and such all over the place, but just a comfortable, inviting room that gently references the sea. A soft soothing shade of ocean blue (like Chris's) on the walls, some natural sea grass baskets with shells in them and that's about it. Ahhh, wouldn't it be loverly?

Hugs to all!

2009-02-26T10:42:00.000-08:00

How cute is this little guy? Click here to learn more about him and maybe help him too.

Happy Sunday!

2009-02-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

Yoda and Buddy (he's sacked out on the floor next to the bed) and I are chill-axing this morning. I had to share this photo because this is how my bed looks now most of the time! School books and computer now occupy the blank side of the bed. I won't even show you the rest of the room! You can definitely tell there has been a bit of a sea change around here.

School is great! I love it so much! It's the other stuff (you know, the four-letter word that starts with a W and ends with a K) that gets very tiresome. Especially the receptionist job. That's the one that's swingshifts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Not that I'd be having a big social life or anything, but it would be nice to do a little housework!

Ah, well, I can't complain too much on that score either. My dear step-daughter Kelly is staying with us currently and she has really been a help to me. There is finally someone else in the house that knows how to do dishes!!!

I took the photo below a few weeks ago because I wanted to show off my new, old lamp. It's alabaster- ain't it pretty? Hurray for garage sales!

Here's a closer view, but sadly, I can't capture the "glow" of the alabaster. It's just so pretty. How do you like my little mermaid bendy doll? She was a custom order from Princess Nimble Thimble. Her name is Libby Oceana and she encourages me to remember my long term goal of life in Morro Bay when I get discouraged by all the work and study. Isn't she so cute?

Well, that's it for now- back to the chillaxin'! I'll have to leave for work soon enough! I wish you all a lovely day- whether it's football or NOT!

Greetings, Friends!

2009-01-17T08:29:00.000-08:00

I finally had a minute to look through my photos from Christmas and just had to share this one. This is Christmas morning. My old brown sectional was in need of some creative concealments and I love how these bedspreads look. I really love how cute Yoda is in that spotlight of sun that is coming in the fanlight of the front door. Kitties know how to do things right, don't they?

It's been a tough week here. I can't go into details, but a dear family member is in the hospital, so prayers for my family are welcome. There has also been a bright spot, unexpectedly, but it's too soon to talk about that. We will see if the bright spot remains just that, like Yoda's spotlight, or if it grows into something more...

Wishing you all a lovely weekend with the people you love.

Weeeeee!

2009-01-13T10:03:00.000-08:00

Next week my classes start! I've thriftily ordered all of my textbooks online, in advance and have saved myself over $100 by doing so, she said proudly. They're almost all here and everytime I open one, I get so excited. I mean, wouldn't you?

Uh, yeah, me either on that last one! How embarrassing to be taking pre-algebra too. Well....it's been a long time since I've done any math other than adding up yardages and calculating sale percentages! Carmen is going to take it with me so that should be fun- two arty girls trying to help each other with math. I don't even care- I'm just so excited. For me, this is better than Christmas.

Sometimes, I still try to talk myself out of this. I'll say things like, "But now I'll never have a social life." and "Really? You really want to spend your time selling window coverings to entitled rich ladies?" I still have to answer yes! Yes, I want this degree even if it only ends up being something that enriches my personal life. I can make a living cleaning houses if I have to- I've done it before. If I find that I don't like one particular way of making a living at interior design, I will find another way. Actually, what I'd really enjoy (I think) would be a sweet little storefront specializing in unique gift, party and home decor items, with services to match. If not that, then perhaps I will write about design or teach design. No matter what I do with my lil ol' AA, I know I'm going to enjoy the learning process. As far as a social life, I suppose that can wait a while.

Hugs to all!

Now If I Just Looked Like Audrey Hepburn!

2008-12-28T20:24:00.000-08:00

This was a fun little quiz, and I have to say that the description is eerily correct! There is a link at the end...try it yourself!

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are an Audrey!

You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

* If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure

* I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this

* Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit

* Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally

* Ask me questions to help me get clear

* Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery

* Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings

* I like a good discussion but not a confrontation

* Let me know you like what I've done or said

* Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey

* being nonjudgmental and accepting

* caring for and being concerned about others

* being able to relax and have a good time

* knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around

* my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator

* my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now

* being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey

* being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive

* being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline

* being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally

* being confused about what I really want

* caring too much about what others will think of me

* not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often

* feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant

* tune out a lot, especially when others argue

* are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents

* are supportive, kind, and warm

* are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Merry Christmas, Friends!

2008-12-24T10:32:00.001-08:00

My busy month will be kicking into supersonic speed today as I put the finishing touches on food and home in preparation for tomorrow's Christmas dinner. I just wanted to stop in quickly and wish all of you a bright and happy holiday. I hope to really relax tomorrow after all the preparations are done and just catch up with my family and enjoy the day!

If you haven't seen this little bird before, she is Folkbird. She is a little sweetie that I created last year. She goes together pretty nicely and the pattern is free. Just click here to go directly to a .pdf that you can print. Just a little token of affection from me to you!

My Garland is Showing!

2008-12-10T22:55:00.000-08:00

Well, this is fun! It's been a while since I participated in a Show and Tell, but you know that Nester, she is hard to resist! If you would like to participate, go here to add your post to Mr. Linky.
Since I don't have a mantel, I've gussied up my beloved china cabinet. This garland has been adorned with my very finest Shiny Brite ornaments, which like the cabinet, are part of my mother's legacy. I don't trust them to the tree- too much rough housing goes on in my living room! This year I added some big, glittery snowflakes that I bought at a fabulous decor store in Pismo Beach and a tiny little pink bird that I bought at Dollar Tree. I also included the sequin tree we made last year. So you got your vintage, your handmade, your expensive and your cheap all in one place! Just the way I like it.

Next I've got to get the inside of the cabinet as cute as the outside!

Remember me?

2008-12-07T11:15:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends!

I sure was gone a long time, wasn't I? Right before my last post, I had a lovely birthday weekend with my dear friends, Sandra and Monica. We went down to Pismo Beach and it was awesome! When I find the photo card, I will share.

Right after my last post I started the worst job of my life! I only lasted there for a month, but it was so stressful and horrible! I ended up walking out which is something I've never done.

That was in mid November and then my full-time job became job hunting! Luckily, I've landed on my feet and I just started working in the Clubhouse of an active retirement community. I started Friday night and I already love it! It is the complete opposite of the very bad, no good, terrible job and it has restored my belief in humanity and good business practices. Whew! I needed that! So, I will be working at my old job on weekday mornings and then on the weekends I will be working three 8-hour shifts at the Clubhouse. And be able to pay my bills and mortgage! Yay!!!!

Some other big news: I am going to back to school in January! I am finally going to get my degree in the thing I have loved since junior high- Interior Design! I don't even care anymore about what my inner critic says- I am just doing this because I love it so much that I don't even care if I'm not good at it! LOL! Who knows? Maybe I am and maybe I'm not, but I'm going to get my AA for it no matter what. Just because I can't wait any longer! I already have the general ed taken care of so now I get to just jump into the fun stuff.

So, life is good. I am blessed and I know it. I wish for all of us a lovely holiday season and a super 2009!

I Didn't Mean to Disappear!

2008-10-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

Friends, I owe you all a long post, but today I just want to encourage you to check out The Butterfly Project. This is a beautiful way to honor the 1,500,000 children killed in the Holocaust. Be sure to read the guidelines before starting your butterflies.

Hugs to all!

Show and Tell Friday!

2008-10-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

This vignette is still a work in progress, but I wanted to show you my "BOO" sign. Pretty cute, eh? Well, that Joy is one amazing crafty girl. She shared the "how-to" on this post and I am so happy with how it turned out! Good ol' Dollar Tree! The paper I used is a scrap of ledger paper from work and the font is Black Adder. I think I printed it at 145 pt. The orange matting is just scrapbook paper. Now, I just need to finish my beloved Wendy's little Jack-O-Lantern costume-I'm picturing green tights and turtleneck, a face on her pumpkin dress, and a green yo-yo hat- so cute! I also need to paint my *ahem* "developmentally disabled" white pumpkin whose elegant orange cousin is obviously embarrassed by! Sometimes you can replicate a craft and sometimes you have to buy the original! I do get a kick out of my pathetic replica though!

This incredibly beautiful glittery frosty pumpkin is a result of Andrea's tutorial. Hers are especially beautiful because she used her gorgeous glass glitter. I had to be satisfied with my plasic Walmart glitter! The vintage sparkly earring is just sitting at the stem so I can use it again. That tip is also from Andrea- very smart!

I would love to do a whole pile of white glittery pumpkins on this cake stand. Hey- they're from Dollar Tree! I can afford that!

Happy Friday, Friends. I hope you all have terrific weekends. I don't have to work at OSH this weekend and I am really hoping to get started on the boys' room. Hopefully, I'm not too exhausted from my work week- it's been a tough one!

Thankful Thursday

2008-10-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

Thankful today for my silly boy, Max! He insisted on arranging his breakfast like a face AND taking a picture of it! Pretty funny, huh? And, no, I don't cook like this every morning! I have three evening shifts at OSH this week and that always makes me look harder for other opportunities to connect with the kidlets. Luring them with a home cooked breakfast works really well!
Max is turning twelve later this month! Boy, that sure went by fast. That's okay..

...he's still my baby!

If you would like to join us grateful gals, be sure to drop in over here for the guidelines.

What are you thankful for today?

Show and Tell Friday!

2008-09-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

Oh boy! I found another "share along"! I enjoy these because it's so fun to see how other bloggy gals do their "thing". I just stumbled on Show and Tell Friday via Tales From An O.C. Cottage. Kelli at There Is No Place Like Home is the lovely hostess. Why don't you play too? I love seeing people's treasures. So, this is something I have actually never talked about or shared before. This is a tiny bit of my Wexford collection. There is nothing special about Wexford- it's just pressed glass from Anchor Hocking that first came out in the late fifties I believe and it was made until the mid-eighties. I could be completely wrong about those dates, but I'm pretty sure that's the range anyway. My grandma had Wexford and so did my mother. I never thought about it- it was just regular glassware to me while growing up. In fact, I remember donating what I had to Goodwill back in the early eighties when I was setting up house for the first time. I had bought a full set of "modern" drinking glasses and didn't want my odds and ends anymore!

After my grandma died in 1996, I was the happy recipient of her Magnalite pots and some of her other kitchenwares, including a few Wexford goblets. Seeing those goblets made me so happy and nostalgic! I began noticing Wexford at my usual thrift stores and starting picking up pieces. What you see in the cupboard above is just a portion of what I have. I have mostly vessels, but I sure wish I could get my hands on some dinner, dessert plates and platters. They aren't nearly as common, but I know Anchor Hocking did make them. Someday, someday!

I love this stuff because it's so durable! Yes, sometimes we break a piece, but not as much as we would with thinner glass. This is thick and heavy and I just think it's pretty. I know it's not as nice as crystal, but I can afford this and it's just so special to me.

Will you join in Show and Tell Friday? I would love to see what you share! Go visit Kelli and get signed up!

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

Well, that week flew by! Thankful Thursday already!

I bet you already knew what I was thankful for too! Daughter Carmen made the prettiest blog banner for me this morning. I figured it was time for tea and lemon now that summer is gone. My cute little thrifted bluebird dropped by for a sip too. Thank you, Sweet Carmen!

What are you thankful for today, Friends?

I Forgot How Much I Love Swedish Style!

2008-09-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness! This post is so long and pic heavy! Sorry guys!

Carmen and I were at the library yesterday and I ended up, as I usually do, in front of the decor and craft section. There was nothing new to me, but I picked up this old friend for some fresh inspiration: I first checked this book out in 2000 and I still think it is quite timely. Probably because Ms. Waddell's interpretation of Swedish style is based on Carl Larsson's home which is, of course, timeless. It's a great style- like a paired-down cottage look, I think. That's perfect for me because with teenage boys and pets everywhere, I can't do a lot of cute collectables anyway. (That's why I love my china cabinet- it's all enclosed and safe!) Sasha Waddell still designs and sells lovely, Swedish inspired furniture pieces at her website and there are even some really beautiful fabrics here.

Anyway, I've been thinking lately that I'd like to decorate my dining, crafting, computer room in a "cottage garden" theme, but haven't really been able to get started. (Well, duh! I'm still not finished with my bedroom, nor have I started the boys' room! When it comes to decor, lately I feel like I am all talk and no action, but I'm sure I will get it all done eventually, say 2036 or so!)

When we first looked at this house, it was this room that sold me. Even though it is a north facing room, the fact that the kitchen was connected to the dining room with a big breakfast bar and that there were windows on two sides of the room, really made it seem light and airy.

I had seen a dining room on HGTV that I loved and I wanted to replicate with lime walls, white painted furniture and blue and white china with blue toile curtains. It looked so fresh to me and I thought it would be the perfect way to show off my blue and white china pieces. So we moved in and painted the walls green. It immediately got the nickname "Hulk Juice"! Then I went shopping for my blue toile for the curtains and instead fell in love with a red and white fabric collection! Here's how it pretty much turned out:

This is obviously the dining/working side and below is the wall opposite my work wall where we had enough room for this cute little loveseat that I slipcovered.

Directly to the right of the loveseat was the computer area. So... that was all good and cozy and cottage-y... except for when we tried to take photographs of actual people in this room!

Submitted for evidence:

Exhibit A: Yikes! My brother Dean and I against eye-befuddling red checks

and Exhibit B:

Max's tenth birthday party set against Hulk Juice walls with a seasonal orange tablecloth. Ugghhh....So, I knew I wanted to change some things! Last April I painted the wall in Toast, the same color as my living room. Here is how the room looked for Easter:

Hmmm, still not liking it. The toast color, which is so warm and cozy in the living room is just ...harsh and orange looking in here. All the colorful linens (vintage bedsheets) are gone now and I just have beige panels on the slider and this table and chairs:

Earl took the big table which is fine- it was his choice anyway, not mine. I adore my little table- it was a dumpster find, but that is a story for another day! I like my craigslist chairs too, but after my re-do, they might become outdoor seating. I think I need a more traditional wooden chair for a Swedish style room. *sigh* Like this beauty in this Larsson painting:

Sasha Waddell says in the book that it's the northern light that makes the difference and I think that's really true when you see this painting. Also, since my room is north facing, I think this pallette is much more suiting. Another thing in the book that I thought was interesting is that she suggests adding a small amount of raw umber to paint to soften the color. I really want to try that, but I don't still don't know what color to paint this room! I'm leaning towards an antique white with simple muslin curtains (I've talked about that idea before, I think, on my old blog) and then bringing in color with fresh flowers and accessories.

Well, Friends, if you've read this long rambly post all the way to the end, I salute you! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this room. It's big and it works hard. What kind of paint color and curtains do you think you would choose for it? I'm keeping the furniture where it is. There is still a computer in the corner and I think I want to paint the big craft cupboard to look like the TARDIS! Shhhh....don't tell Carmen- I want to surprise her with it! And yes, I do think it would still look cute with a Swedish style room!

Introducing Miss Josephine March

2008-09-23T09:47:00.001-07:00

Sorry Jo! She hates to be called Josephine, you know. If you don't know, she is based on the character Jo in Louisa May Alcott's classic, "Little Women". Before reading this book, I had read lots of Nancy Drew and then I read (and loved) The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. "Little Women" was my first BIG book. I read it in the fifth grade and I was as happy as a clam to come home from school, make a peanut butter and butter sandwich with a glass of milk on the side and start reading, reading, reading! I would lay on my side on my blue gingham canopy bed and put the book on the pillow next to me. It was so heavy! When it was time to turn the page, I would roll over and take the book with me and lay it on my other side! I loved this book so much. I think I love it even more now as an adult. I feel like I have related to different aspects of all the sisters at different times in my life.

Anyway, this is my version of Jo. She has just joined Beth in the shop. Who shall I do next? Meg? And leave Amy for last? I think that would be fitting since she is the baby. I am thinking of making Meg in her wedding gown. Wouldn't that be pretty?

Twenty Little Things to Treasure in Autumn

2008-09-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

An end to watering and mowing!

Colorful leaves dancing down the street

Driving through the leaves dancing down the street

My birthday!

(Emily, made and sold in 2007)

Max’s birthday too (he was supposed to be a girl and he was due on Halloween so I referred to him as “my little ghoul”. Guess I got a surprise, eh?)

Max and Eric, Halloween 2005

My dear sister-in-law Deb’s birthday (love you, Deb!)

High school football games

The Mighty Mavericks at their first home game Friday nightEric, his friend Travis (on the left) and the rest of the band provide the heartbeat of the game!

Geese honking overhead

Socks and shoes after a season of sandals

Halloween in my neighborhood! It’s like Mardi Gras!

Seasonal decorating

Snuggling under my favorite throw on the couch with an old movie and a bowl of popcorn

Switching out the sheets to flannel

Roses in our cheeks

Walking through the fallen leaves

Mmmm, sweaters

Crows! Quite possibly my favorite bird

Candles- the soft light and fragrances so appropriate for fall

Using the oven again- hurray for baked goods!

The coziness that one only gets from life indoors

Big thanks to Melissa at The Inspired Room- this was a fun exercise. She has Mr. Linky up with other bloggers ideas of Twenty Things to Treasure in Autumn. A good way to spend the first day of Fall, don't you agree?

Farewell to Summer, My Enemy

2008-09-18T11:25:00.001-07:00

Summer, I am not sad to see you go. You were a difficult season, to be sure. You are much too hot for a girl raised in a temperate clime and this year you were not just hot, but very sad and trying for me as well.

Mainly I dislike you, of course, because of my separation from E. Your blazing heat made that difficult situation harder than it had to be. Early into that experience, after the decision to separate, but before E moved out, Carmen and I escaped your punishing weather and our sad home at Barnes & Noble. There were many other “browsers” there that day too, all wanting to get away from you, Summer. I discovered the book “Vintage Vavoom” and lost myself in the gorgeous vignettes photographed therein. Once home, I busied myself re-working my china cabinet. Inspired by what I had seen in the book, I attempted to create a more soothing, monochromatic display of creams and browns, with a few hints of blue and pink. I arranged jars of river rocks and sand, a dish of sea glass and my antique vegetable bowl full of pottery shards that we discovered on our hike at Folsom Lake last year. All of these are mementos of happier summers. I also included photos and artifacts from my ancestors. When I look at the cabinet now, I think I was creating a visual story of sentiment and loss. It helped me process the changes our family was facing.

Another thing that made you so objectionable, Summer, was the fact that you were all work and no play this year. There were no vacations and no outings to beaches or lakes or rivers. If not for Uncle Jon and Aunt Deb, my boys would have been prisoners at home. For me, it was work, work, work. I am very thankful to be able to provide the neccessities for my family, but did you need to taunt me with the sight of happy, vacationing families driving past me on the road? Their roof racks proclaimed their purpose and left me feeling sad for all the adventures that I was NOT providing to my children. It’s a pretty sad Summer when a cemetery tour is the highlight!

I am grateful for this new chapter in my life, difficult as it may be at time, but I want you to fully know, Summer, that you made it worse than it had to be.

I’m ready to embrace Autumn, who has always been so kind to me, with her brisk breezes and visual delights. She offers fresh hope for happier times. I am looking forward to decorating my home and china cabinet to welcome her. I am thinking longingly of the new, happy memories I will create with my children and my oven is trembling with anticipation of being put to use again.

But you, Summer, are no friend to me and I bid you a glad adieu.

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

For more information about Thankful Thursday, visit here. Will you join in?
Photo found here at flickr.

Am I thankful for propellors? The 1940's? Women workers? Well, not exactly, but I am thankful for work. The economy being what it is, I know that I am blessed to have not just one job, but two. And I am so thankful for them. At 9:30 at night when I am getting off work at the hardware store, it's easy to forget, but I am only human! I do enjoy both of my jobs and all of my co-workers. I am thankful.

What are you thankful for today?

This and That

2008-09-16T08:28:00.001-07:00

I've got a few more things hanging in my bedroom. The little pink shelf/corbel was my mother's. I've always loved it. The blue pocket is a Victorian watch pocket. Victorian women made them for their husbands as a place to protect their pocket watch at night. I guess that makes it a "pocket watch pocket"!

Anyway, back in the eighties I checked out a book from the library that was all Victorian crafts. I was very inspired by it and made this for my husband, Jerry. It's velvet and it was the first time I had ever done any bead work. I think I will put a photo of Jerry in it and I need to find a more attractive hook than a pushpin! He loved it and used it every night so it's a pretty special little item.

On the other side of the bed I have these pastel portraits. They are a little big for the space, but I love to look at them when I wake up or if I get a nap in on the weekend.

The portrait on the left is Carmen at age three and the other is me at age three. They were both done at Disneyland in New Orleans Square. I grew up looking at the one of me and when we took Carmen to Disneyland I had to have her portrait done! I gave it to my mother and they have been together ever since. I think they are kind of sweet and nostalgic looking.

Here's something you don't see everyday- a naked Josephine March! I am continuing my Little Women sister dolls. I have the most adorable tiny hounds tooth in navy that will be her dress. Very Jo, I think!

Also, on swap-bot I have really been getting into handmade postcard swaps. There is something about postcards that is "just right" for me. ATC's are what a lot of people enjoy, but I get a little too intimidated by them. Postcards are just ...mail, I guess. It really frees me. The one on top is for a black and white artwork swap and the green one is for an alphabet postcard swap. It's so cool- it's going to take about a year to get through the whole alphabet, but when we are done we will have such an awesome collection! By the way, "S" is for sequin if you couldn't tell. I sewed them on by hand and then glued a backing to it. We are not going in order so that kinds of adds to the fun. Plus, I make each postcard tailored to the profile of my recipient so I can't jump ahead and just do letters randomly. It's kind of weird how much I am enjoying these!

In spite of my brave quote about attitude yesterday, I was having a very hard day. Yesterday would have been my twenty-fourth wedding anniversary if I hadn't been widowed in 1995. I think it hit me extra hard because instead of celebrating, I am mourning two marriages. I never thought I would find myself in this position at age 44. I am re-thinking my whole life, I guess. My mother married five times. All I ever wanted was to find Mr. Right and a picket fence and settle into the blissful domesticity that I never experienced as a child. I was so happy with Jerry and before he died, it seemed that I had exactly what I had always wanted. Instead of facing the fact that my life had changed in a very profound way after he died, I tried to replicate my happy life with someone who was not right for me in any way, shape or form. I tried for years and years!

Now I am really coming to terms with the fact that that old, old dream is gone and I must come up with a new plan for my life. Just as my marriage to E was an in-authentic (is that a word?!) choice for me, so is my job. I'm not completely sure how to get there, but art therapist is really looking like a compelling choice for me. I've never been able to commit to a career choice, but this one is different. To work in art and help people at the same time? Wow. That is amazing. It will take a lot of work to get there. First I need a bachelor's degree and then a master's! Whew- that's a lot of schooling for an old gal. But exciting too, huh? Of course, ideally, I would really love to be a full-time student, but I doubt there is a some big benefactor out there handing out scholarships big enough for that! And that's what I'm wondering...do I love this dream enough that I will work at it while still working full-time to support my family? I think I do!

Photo from flickr.

I Didn't Say It, But I'm Glad Someone Did!

2008-09-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company…a church…a home. The remarkable thing is, you have a choice everyday regarding the attitude you will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. You are in charge of your attitudes."

-Chuck Swindoll

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

Thankful today to honor the memories of the fallen Americans. It's hard- every year it hits me hard just like the first 9/11. So much loss and so hard to comprehend.

I had only been at this job for a few weeks when it happened. I never watched the news in the morning, but I did that day and I didn't know why. It was just moments after the first plane hit. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. At that point it wasn't even known what kind of plane it was. I woke up Earl because it was so surreal. Carmen asked if the tower would fall and I said, "Of course not!" It seemed incomprehensible. I took her to school and when I got back, I got Eric up for school. More news was coming in. It was becoming apparent that this was not an accident, but a terrorist attack. I remember questioning whether to take Eric to school and whether to go to work- would it be safe? But I decided that I wouldn't be ruled by fear- if I were, then "they" would win. Win by terror. So I took Eric to school and I went to work and it was horrible, but I'm so glad I did.

My heroes are the passengers of Flight 93- regular Americans who demonstrated the ultimate bravery; they sacrificed their lives so that others could live. Yeah, hard day today, but I remain thankful.

"We can be changed by what has happened to us,

but we refuse to be reduced by it."

(paraphrase of a quote by Maya Angelou)

I made a little thing...

2008-09-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, actually I embellished a little thing! This is a business card case that I received as a gift many years ago. It's very scratched up, but it's the only one I have. I want to be little more proactive with Tender Arts Studio so I needed something to keep my cards nice. A few little bits and bobs and presto-chango! A new case! I really like it- I think it looks sentimental and sweet. The business cards are printed on a laserjet printer onto Mylar. I get scraps of the stuff at work that are big enough to cut into 8.5"x11" sheets. I found the template at Business Card Land - a very cool FREE resource!

That blue paper doily is from the same package I used when I made my Queen of the Nest crown:

For the first time, I'm beginning to feel a hint of Autumn in the air! There may be an Autumnal Crown inside of me waiting for creation! All I need is more time! And money! I'll tell you, Friends, this single mom thing is much harder than I thought it would be. I'm squeezing the pennies really hard these days. I'm getting more hours at OSH now so that will help a little and the shop is full, so that should help too.

I'm just wondering if going back to school is an option for me? I have about two years of college completed- I'm just not sure if anyone is going to want to hire such an old college graduate! If by some miracle I could get financing to be a full-time student, I would be 48 when I finished! How much older would I be if I have to attend part-time? I think it would be pretty neat to work in geriatrics. I like seniors- they've always been my favorite customers when I've worked in retail. Maybe I could find something like administrator in an assisted living center or something? Or art therapy! Now that would be cool!

Anywhoooo....got off on a little tangent there! Happy Wednesday, dear Friends!

Dollmaker Shout Out!

2008-09-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

I was cruising around etsy, enjoying all the sights, when I stumbled across this very talented dollmaker, The Dollimama! Isn't that clever? Anyway, she makes adorable traditional cloth dolls for children! This is a wonderful thing to know given all the problems discovered last year with children's toys from overseas. So, let's see....no harmful chemicals, supporting an independent artist, cute as a button...I can't find anything NOT to love about this shop! Go take a look for yourself. Remember- Christmas is only 106 days away and indie sellers are not like Walmart- there won't be anything left if you wait till the last minute!

I am just in love with this darling boy and his dog, Joey and Roscoe! Aren't they precious?

Happy Tuesday, Friends!

Happy Monday!

2008-09-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I have photos to share! But this is not what I did this weekend. This is from last weekend. (Hey, I'm slow, but I get there eventually!) My brother, sister-in-law, sons and I went down to the Bay Area for an important mission. Carmen was not with us- she was at SacAnime winning the art contest! I will try to get her to scan in her winning entry another time. It is darling!

And here is what we were doing in Hayward: We were having our own Ancestor's Day! My mother's birthday was August 30th. We were there on what would have been her 70th birthday. Her niche has had nothing but her ashes in it since 2002. We decided to do a bit of decoratin'! We took a "more is more" approach which is how Mom was about everything! I'm sure we'll be back to do something a little more refined, but really, this is Mom's style right here! Colorful and exuberant and full! The yellow card with the large Y/tree is a card I made for her back in 1991. She kept it on her bedside until her death. It reads: "Youth fades, love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; a mother's secret love outlives them all." by Oliver Wendell Holmes. You moms out there know it's true. Nobody loves our children the way we do and nobody has ever loved me the way my mom did. I know she is thrilled about her babies being together on her birthday and celebrating together. My grandparents and great grandparents are also at the same cemetery, so everyone got attention. What can I say? It was a really cool way to spend a day!

Anyway....when Jon and Deb and the boys and I were done, we went to Val's Burgers for lunch. This place is a Hayward landmark- it's been in the same location, offering the same menu for 50 years! It's so cool! And delicious!

Here are Deb, Jonathan and Max chowing down. The shakes are killer! They even give you the metal canister the shake is made in! It fills the glass three times! Yes- I know, not exactly healthy, but when it comes to diners, this is nirvana!

Look at this awesome root beer float Max got! A giant scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of a pint glass of root beer, topped off with whipped cream and a cherry. Mmmmmmmm.

He did a pretty good job with it! He said his grilled cheese sandwich melted in his mouth!

Here's Eric with the Mama Burger- a half pound of artery clogging hamburger- but oh so yummy! He even got creative with it and topped it with a raw onion slice, grilled onions and an onion ring- a born chef, I tell ya!

Me? A classic tuna melt and a chocolate malted, thank you very much! So good!

In shop news, someone new has arrived! Meet Beth March! Do you remember her from Little Women? Sweet shy and gentle Beth was one of my favorite characters in the book. I'm so happy with how she turned out, but my photos are atrocious! I will take more and hopefully they will be better!

That's all the news that's fit to share for today. Have a beautiful day, my friends!

Some dollies!

2008-09-05T15:43:00.000-07:00

This is Miranda! I listed her on Tuesday and by Wednesday she was sold! Same with Maddie, below. They both went to Connecticut together!

I was at Mimi's blog and she is doing some wonderful OOAK girls, including this little witch. Her dress is made from the sleeve of a cashmere sweater and I just love the look of it! It's very similar to how I made Miranda's blouse and I thought I would explain how I did it. Miranda's blouse is the sleeve of an antique christening gown which came with a Horsman TineyBaby I bought for only $20 at a street fair this summer. The doll and gown were both a mess, but especially the gown- rips, tears, mold-ick! But I couldn't throw it away! I put the doll in a nicer gown that I had and I saved this one even though I never thought I could put it to use.

When I opened up the cupboard looking for fabrics for Miranda, I was trying to find something that was not too stiff and when I reached the whites, this gown was on top. So soft and fine! Then I saw the beautiful hand worked buttonholes and scallops on the the wrists. Wouldn't that be a pretty waistline treatment? So, after some pondering, I cut the sleeve off, cut tiny new sleeves from the neckline of the gown, attached the sleeves to the blouse, and then gathered the new neckline with a running stitch and put it on Miranda. Perfection! The belt is braided embroidery floss. It's so pretty, I wish I could have the blouse in grown up size for myself!

Thankful Thursday

2008-09-04T14:57:00.000-07:00

Do you know Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses? She is such a nice lady and she makes beautiful quilts that make me sigh. She has begun a beautiful tradition called Thankful Thursday. I've always believed that being grateful for our blessings helps us to avoid focusing on our worries. Having said that, I am not always very good at acting on my belief! This will be a good exercise for me! Will you join in too?

Do you see this darling, darling doll? Isn't she amazing? Guess what her name is! No, really! Guess! You'll never guess! Her name is Little Bettsi!!!!!!!!!!!! I am stunned and flattered beyond all belief! Martha made her and I think she is one of the prettiest dolls I have ever seen! Not only that, but she comes with outfits and all kinds of little extras- she is a cloth version of a paper doll. You can see all of her winsome wonderful-ness here at the Ebay auction. Wow! Just wow!

I am humbled and thankful to be a tiny part of one of your beautiful dolls, Martha! You have made my day and then some! Thank you, Friend!

Tender Arts Studio

2008-09-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

Dolly Dingle (sold)

Amy (sold)

Oh, Friends! I've been so busy! I had a lovely three day weekend doing what I love- making little pretties! I just listed some new goodies in my shop and when I get home from work I'll be listing more. I was super happy and encouraged last week when a nice lady from Cardiff-by-the-Sea bought Amy and my Scrappy Charm pillow! It just really gave me the boost I needed to get to work on finishing some of my projects and get them listed. I'll also be listing some vintage aprons that are SO cute plus one handmade apron that I was so excited about, but when I finished it, it didn't fit me! Darn those vintage patterns made for those skinny women of yesteryear!

Scrappy Charm Pillow (sold)

My goal now is to complete and list one doll per week. I think it's do-able. That way my shop won't get empty again and there will be plenty of dollies to pick from. I don't know if I have mentioned before that I am available for custom orders too. You can look at my "sold" items at etsy or check out my flickr set to get ideas for a doll you would like to have or give to a little girl.

Rooster Pillow (sold)

One new thing that I have decided to institute is free dolly spa treatments for the dolls I have specified as child friendly. I know that kids can get kind of rough so if I sell a doll that I say is suitable for children, I will fix it up again if it needs it. Hair, especially, seems to "go astray" and I want happy customers with happy children! The only expense to my customers is the cost to mail the doll to me. I will cover the postage back. So many dolls are factory-made and disposable, but I want my dollies to last for a very long time.

Now that I am not hunched over my needle, I am looking forward to visiting all my bloggy friends! Hugs to all!

Back to School Already?!

2008-08-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

My baby goes off to Junior High. I hope those big eighth graders take it easy on my little "sevvie"! Dang, he's cute!

I cannot believe how big these boys are! That's Cody there next to Eric. He is my unofficial son. They have been best friends since diapers. Cody once said that when he was little he thought Eric was his brother! Very sweet.
The boys and I are in the process of re-doing their room. It seems like this picture was taken just yesterday, but this was 2005. Look at those buzz cuts! Since we still have blue carpet, coming up with new ideas for their room has been challenging! The funny thing is, Eric still likes blue best and Max still likes red best. But neither of them wants anything country or Americana. I am thinking of using blue, red, grey, black and white and going very modern. I thought graphic stripe "headboards" painted on the wall would be kind of neat using varying widths of those colors. Not sure what to paint the rest of the walls. Grey? That would be very neutral for them. Opinions welcome! (Of course, we know it will be Christmas before I get it done! I have so many home projects that need attending!)

Hey! What's this? It's Raggedy and Maddie! I love my sweet Raggedy Ann! And Maddie is going to be for sale. Where? Ebay or Etsy- I am having a hard time deciding.

Speaking of decisions- I did restate my position with E. He was so eager to separate in June and since then he has done a complete 180 turnabout. He's even wearing his wedding band and keeps my framed photo on his desk at work. His work ...where I also work. Whatever. Everytime I restate my intentions, we get a little further along in the separation. For the most part, that is exactly what I want. However...all this "alone" time just brings to the surface all my insecurities. I am having to face just how much I "need to be needed" and have thus contributed to state of my marriage. Well, anyway, it's all a learning experience and I am doing the work to get to a happier place. I'm thankful to have this blog and be able to share this kind of thing here in addition to having "in person" support who are helping me find that happier place.

Hugs to all!

For me?

2008-08-14T10:25:00.001-07:00

Woweee! Isn't that pretty? That is an award from my friend, Helene. You may already know Helene, she's very chic and talented. She lives in France and eats macarons from Laduree! How glamorous is that? I'm sure she would say she is not glamorous, but Puh-leaze! Paris, macarons, Laduree! I'm just sayin'! She also has a fabulous doll collection and amazingly, has even included a couple of Tender Arts dollies in it! I'm still blown away by that. Thank you so much, Helene, for the support and the award. I am tickled!

Now I have the lovely honor of bestowing this award on five more bloggers! I pick:

You girls are ALL creative bloggers. I'm on my way to let you know to come pick up your award!

How-do Friends!

2008-08-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

As you can see, my yo-yo obsession reached its culmination. Pretty cute, huh? I'm not sure if I will sell it or keep it. It sure makes me happy every time I see it. Look at this next photo- all kinds of things to love in one spot!
I got my new pillow, my crazy cat who thinks he is a baby and a new dolly-in-the-works! She will go into the shop very soon.

Speaking of new dolls, after I finish the little cutie above, I need to make a Raggedy Ann! Yes, I must! The amazing Martha of JelliesJamsDolls has just finished a new batch and they are SO cute! Her Raggedy Anns are less about "decor" and more like the character of Johnny Gruelle's illustrations. Here is one of her newest dolls:

See what I mean? Doesn't she look just like she is on a real adventure? She and her sister are listed on ebay here, if you are interested. I would bid if I could afford one, but I know they will go pretty high-as they should! Really wonderful artistry in these dollies.

I've been pretty busy this week getting the boys ready for school. I just can't believe my babies are getting so big! My baby, Max, is starting junior high! His dad took him and Eric out for some school shopping and when they got home they were sporting their first piercings!
Can you see it? Eric got one too. It sure is a tiny little earring...I guess I could live with it. Especially when he looks so adorable. Look at those eyelashes! Lordy, I am so jealous! Eric's earring is invisible as his eyes. That boy needs a haircut! E's been teaching him how to use his bow and arrow which he left here because, well in an apartment there is no shooting range! Anyway, Eric has really taken to it. Check out how close all his arrows are to each other:

It's interesting that E is spending more time now with the boys than he ever did when he lived here! Apparently he has a new appreciation for family life. And for me too, I guess. Not really sure how I feel about that. Well, no, I do know. I don't care for it. And yet, I'm weak enough to be flattered by the attention. *sigh* As Scarlett said, "Fiddle-dee-dee!" Oh, wait, I meant, "I'll think about that tomorrow." Today, I have both jobs to work and a Raggedy Ann to make!

Hugs to all!

Gratuitous Cute-ness

2008-08-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

See? Pretty cute, huh? My fingers were itchin' to do some stitchin' last night and I remembered that my poor neglected Dolly Dingle never got her hat finished. When I opened up my little red suitcase, the overwhelming cute-ness slayed me. (You may remember the pillow from my etsy shop.) I finished her hat and took this photo to share.

I've also been stitching up a veritable yo-yo blizzard. I have the blurry photo to prove it!

I don't think I'm going to do a whole coverlet, but I sure can picture a pillow cover with these darling little things.

So...all this to say...I don't think Tender Arts Studio is dead! There still may be hope for this tired old dream of mine. Not really sure how to make it work, but I cannot abandon my stitchin' little fingers and my entrepreneurial dreams. If I can work in a hardware store part-time for part of my income, couldn't I do craft fairs instead and work for myself? Or maybe there is a store out there that would like to carry my humble little offerings? I don't know yet what the answer will be, but I sure want to find it.

Wish me luck, Friends.

Not Quite A Home Tour!

2008-08-04T13:41:00.000-07:00

Well, here's an unusual property...

Hmmm, what is this place? Not very well-kept, is it?

Oh my! It's not a home at all!

I very much wanted to participate in Julia's very cool home tour, but I never got to any homes this weekend to get any pictures of. And, Lord knows, my house is not tour-worthy yet! However, I did get to see how some folks "on the other side" get to live!

This is the Sacramento Old City Cemetery and it is pretty darn cool! My sister-in-law, Deborah and I took the tour Saturday and I was just so impressed.

Love that patina!

Is this not a gorgeous view?!

Civil War memorial.

One of many very cool crypts.

Awwww....so sweet!

So even though it is not the usual type of "home", it is very pretty isn't it? I can't wait until the end of October when they have their "Lantern Tours"! Don't you think the kids will love that?

Anyway, go visit Hooked on Houses and enjoy the tour!

Dipped In Honey

2008-08-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Hi Girls! Mary Elise, you asked about my paint color and I have not been able to respond to you because Blogger keeps telling me that your profile is private. I would love to get an email from you so I could give you a proper response- I've enjoyed your comments so much! Anyway... Dipped in Honey is a Dutch Boy color that I got at Orchard Supply Hardware where I have a part-time job. I'm sure Dutch Boy is sold in lots of places, but here's the thing: I think it may be a discontinued color, but when I get home tonight I will at least make note of the number and that could be helpful. I'll add it to this post in an edit.
Edit: The number is DT08 and it is NOT Dutch Boy, it is American Living by Sears (who happens to own OSH)

Speaking of my bedroom which has become such a sanctuary to me, I took a few photos yesterday morning. I thought you guys might like to see it so far!

First, here is my anitque cast iron headboard! It looks even better today than when I first pulled it out of a dumpster seven years ago! When we moved into our house in 2003 we decided it wasn't the greatest headboard for us and we put it in the backyard. Well, the further "aging" in the great outdoors has just made it look even better! I love the little bits of rust. How do you like my crazy mismatched pillow cases? I'm still a little disorganized- bedding is on the list for August, but I have to say that I do kind of like the crazy quilt effect of these too.

The vanity top. Still a work in progress, but I love my little house candle holders- I've had them for probably twenty years! And doesn't Wendy look so cute?! I love that sweet little face! By the way, does anyone else enjoy White Shoulders as much as I do? It just smells so heavenly to me! That fabric is a piece of a fat quarter. I bought a bunch of them at Joanne's a few years ago. I just love the blue and white plates against the yellow ground, but when I try to put it to use, it seems so busy. I'm thinking of just using it as an accent on throw pillows and maybe a bias binding for whatever window treatment I end up with. I have maybe eight fat quarters of it.
Here is the bedside table (with lots of yellow lamplight!). Talk about some chippy paint! This poor table has been far too abused. Those darling ducklings that I posted about here used to live on this table in my grandmother's house. At that time this table was polished, elegant wood. It's one of those graceful reproductions made shortly after WWII. I'm sure my grandparents bought it at Capwell's where Grandpa worked. Anyway, a few years ago I painted it, but I did not prime it and the paint just started flaking off. Not sure yet if I want to try it again or leave it like this.

Lastly, what bedside is complete without a great assortment of magazines for dreaming with? I was recently at a local thrift store and picked up a bunch of Victoria magazines from the late 90's for .30 and .40 each!!! That was a score! Also got a few Country Living magazines for the same price. So they're getting lots of ooooh and aaahhh time lately. The cute "bucket" was also a thrift find. I love the cottage-y look of it.

So, there we are for now. I am still finishing up the painting. (I know, right? It's taking me forever!) and then it's on to the bedding and curtains and getting some artwork on the walls. I am hoping August will be very productive for me.

Welcome To The Land of Stability!

2008-07-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

Pic from flickr here

I am learning so much from Getting Past Your Past (http:/gettingpastyourpast.wordpress.com)! I was just there reading about using your life inventory and relationship inventories to help you understand what need you were trying fill with your relationship(s).

I realized that when I met E, my life felt very out of control. I can remember telling someone that I felt that my feet had been strapped to a skateboard and then I had been pushed down a hill in San Fransisco. What I saw in E was someone who had had some really bad breaks and made me feel like a rock who could provide stability. What I NOW know is that without being on stable ground myself, I couldn't see that we each need to provide a stable base for ourselves. I couldn't give him that stability and eventually, I had to face the fact that by doing what I had done, I didn't deal with my own instabilities. Mind blowing, I tell you!

So then, I had this lovely mental image: I pictured me on a big, stable raft on a slow and steady river, pulling up alongside someone else who is also on a big, stable raft and saying, "Hi, I see you are from the Land of Stability. I am too!" That crazy image is partly fed by a tee-shirt my son told me about with a goofy, wanna-be guy on it who says, "I see you're pretty gangsta... I'm pretty gangsta myself!" Except, I won't always be a wanna-be -- I really am going to reach The Land of Stability because I am doing the work and walking the walk, sisters-of-mine! I'll know you when I get there!

Our Favorite Things!

2008-07-26T17:43:00.001-07:00

How lovely to have a little fun! This week has been so grim, I needed a little frivolity. Cindy at My Romantic Home came to the rescue! She is hosting a little show and tell. You can join in too- here's her post with the details.

These little ducklings by Stangl always had pride of place in my glamorous grandma's living room. I am so blessed to be the owner of these darlings now. Right now they reside under this glass cloche in my china cabinet. For the better lighting, I brought them out to the kitchen table. Aren't they sweet?
Now I am off to see the other "favorites". Hugs to all and thank you for all the wonderful, supportive, loving comments. You ladies are a treasure!

Progress Report

2008-07-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

Pic from flickr

I don't really have as much structure in my life as I would like and I want to work on that. One area that I am currently struggling with is my financial situation. I have no wiggle room in my budget and as a result, I need to be very diligent about tracking my spending. Well, this weekend I was not diligent and I am paying for it today. I overdrew the checking account by $4 and incured a $35 overdraft fee. To cover the shortage, I took a Wells Fargo direct deposit advance. That will bite me in the butt next month when it plus the 10% fee come due. And in the interests of complete honesty, I made some purchases with a credit card last weekend. I did need a bed frame, but I don't know that charging it was the wisest thing to do. I was impatient and now I will pay for it.

Ironically, it was the constant financial strain that led, in part, to me wanting out of my marriage. Of course, in that situation, there was more money coming in, but the outflow was harder to control. I was thrilled at the thought of being in better control of the money, but now I have cooked my own goose!

I could wring my hands and call myself names and question every decision I have ever made in my life, but I'm not going to. That is my old mode of operation and it usually just makes me vulnerable. The more I question my abilities and my choices, the harder it becomes to make better choices. So...hmmm....let me think...

I admit my mistake. I was inattentive to my spending and the budget. I exhibited some immaturity with my choices. The consequences are all mine and I will work to become more mindful of my long term goals so that I don't waylay myself with my short term desires.

Emotionally, there have been some real rough patches this week. Many of you know that I work in a very small office and that E works with me. It is not easy to spend eight hours a day with someone you are divorcing. Especially if you put yourself in the path of their pain. I am job hunting, but I am so conflicted about leaving my job. It's an easy job, but easy isn't always best. I guess I am coming to terms with the fact that I'm going to have to stretch out and try some new things.

In the house, my bedroom is coming along nicely! The walls and ceiling are painted, but I need to clean up the juncture where they meet. The wall are a color called "Dipped In Honey" and the ceiling is "Azure Landscape". It's such a pale blue, that it passes for white, but I really love it against the yellow. Here is my cute little vanity that I bought at the Goodwill for only $9.50 on Independence Day. (Ignore the creepy cat under it!) I painted and antiqued at using the directions here at Cindy's blog, My Romantic Home.

This, obviously, is the before pic. In the lower left is a gold, shiny plastic mirror that I also antiqued and put in the bedroom. Anyway, it's all getting there! I am very, very thankful for the changes in the bedroom. It really is becoming a haven for me- just what I need!

Lemon Tree, Very Pretty

2008-07-18T09:40:00.001-07:00

Even prettier in a pair! These are dwarf lemon trees and they are a little gift to myself. I think I will be doing some mosaic work on those pots. I'm thinking blue and white plates would be pretty- what do you think? This picture is also reminding me that I need to paint the siding over the canopy and there is a nast oil spot on the walkway-yuck! *sigh* I still think my little house is pretty- she just needs a little TLC. And to tell you the truth, I'm really enjoying it!

Truth No. 2 by Dixie Chicks

2008-07-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

Why I Am Here.

2008-07-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

Photo found here- great, isn't it?

Hello Friends.

I've been having such a difficult time putting posts together. This breaking up thing is really hard. Every time I start stringing thoughts together to share with you, I begin to edit myself. I edit myself down to nothing. But I don't want to do that. I am trying to break out of a pattern of ...what? Perfectionism, maybe? There is a part of me that doesn't want to come to the table without a perfect dish to share. I am learning, however, that when I do that, I starve! I love blogging. I love reading blogs and I've grown as a result of reading other people's blogs. It helps us all, I think, when we can reach out and share our experiences with each other.

I also know that ideally, that kind of sharing works best when it is done face-to-face, but long before I got connected with other women in a helping kind of environment, I had the internet. And it really can be a community. There is a difference between communicating individually and communicating in a group. Synergy is an over-used word, but it really applies here, in my opinion. A group creates a body that is more than the sum of its parts. A blog can become a "group" and function as the "minutes" of that group at the same time!

Even if this blog becomes nothing more than me, regurgitating what I am learning as I am learning it, it will still be a help to me in acting as a place to keep all my thoughts together. I do hope that I can bring something worthwhile to the table. Something that, while possibly imperfect, may still have some value to somebody else.

Francis is showing you my newest thrift treasure- a lemon teapot!

So....here I am, at my table. Or lemonade stand!

I don't want to go into all the details that have led to me ending my marriage because, after all, there is another person involved here. That has been the other part of me editing my posts down to nothing! Since all I can control is myself, I will do my best to limit my sharing here to MY experiences.

What I feel inspired to share today isn't even my own work! I found this wonderful article in the comments at Tracey's blog, Notes from A Cottage Industry. The article is called The Emotions of Grief During a Breakup and is on this blog, Getting Past Your Past (http://GettingPastYourPast.wordpress.com) by Susan J. Elliott, J.D., M.Ed. which looks to me like a good resource to tap into often-- like everyday! It is really a great article. All of the phases that the author speaks of are so familiar to me! I love the way the author talks about "cycling" through the emotions of grief repeatedly. When my children were little I read some parenting books by Louise Bates Ames and she talked about the "cycle" process too in terms of child develoment. Also, if you look at nature, you know that growth occurs in cycles with the seasons. I have often thought that all growth is like this. We know from experience that we don't grow in a linear fashion. After all, the phrase "Two steps forward, one step back" must come from somewhere!

I think that personal growth is like a spiral. We know that we want to get to the top, but as we follow the coil, we can sometimes lose sight of where we are going and sometimes we lose sight of where we've been. Sometimes we have to go in the same circles repeatedly before we find our way again. (If you've read to the last book in The Narnian Chronicles, you may remember the end when all our heroes were going higher and higher or in the song, Circle Up by Chris Rice- aahhh, the journey's end!) I feel that the last year has helped me to find my path to a way of living that is authentic and true. Lies that I used to accept as truth (because I didn't know any other way of getting my needs met), I can no longer tolerate. I used co-dependent behaviors for a long time as a way of not feeling or owning my feelings. Once I opened my eyes and was able to behave in more healthy ways, I stopped condoning behaviors that are destructive.

The biggest issue for me has been coming to terms with the fact that I made a mistake in 1995 and I have been punishing myself ever since. Punishing is probably too harsh. Okay, I will back up. When my husband, Jerry, died in April 1995, I was hurting a lot. Instead of allowing myself plenty of time to grieve and surrounding myself with a good support system, I ran away from my feelings and tried to be strong for my children, Carmen and Eric, who were four and one years old at the time. I went back to school to get my bachelor's degree and found a bachelor instead. One who thought I was attractive and didn't treat me like I was broken which is how I felt most people treated me at the time. Granted, I was rather broken, but I didn't like being treated like I was! Long story short, I got pregnant seven months after being widowed and tried to make it "right" for the next thirteen years.

Now, was I punishing myself? If a dear friend were telling me this story, I would tell her that she had spent thirteen years trying to do the right thing. The problem was that E and I are completely wrong for each other. That was true then and it's true now. I told my friend Sandra that it's like taking off a poorly fitting shoe after suffering with it for SO long. The last thing you want to do is put it on again!

This blog is not my "divorce" blog. I hope it will be my "life" blog. As I got closer to the end of my marriage, I felt increasingly fragmented with my blog. Tender Arts has always been primarily about dollmaking and crafting. I know now that those activities were part of a coping strategy for me. There was very little about my life that I felt I had control over. In happier days, family and homemaking were a bigger part of my life. As my life became more chaotic, my dollies and crafts were one area where I knew I had complete control.

I hope now that I have a better respect for myself and that I can integrate all the aspects of my life and share them with you. Let's take the bitter and make it sweet- like lemonade!

love,
Bettsi

Welcome Friends!

2008-07-11T15:48:00.001-07:00

Here I am!

There has been a big change in my life. My husband moved out of the house a couple of weeks ago. I am the one that caused the separation. Making that decision was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I have really felt the need to start a new blog. I want to express myself more fully than I did on the Tender Arts blog, which was primarily about my dolls and crafts.

Having said that, I have had such a difficult time composing this first post! So, fine. I will just say "welcome" today and perhaps tomorrow I will have more to say!

Hugs to all!
love,
Bettsi