Hold Dear

gifts of friendship...

I am a HOUSE OF FIRE finishing up prep for this upcoming weekend's Art in Ashland event! Whoa baby!! I am SO thrilled to be going to this! I'm roomin' with some ridiculously fabulous gals, Kari and Cassondra. I'm so crazy happy to also get to hang out with some super friends, Hope, Natalie, and Kim...this is all on top of taking classes with Anahata, Pam, and Amy. SO FRIGGIN' THRILLED!!!

All my prep has been happily waylaid these last few days because my dear brother, who lives in Minnesota, was in town for a very brief two days for a work gig. Last night, Miranda, Neil, and I went to Kell's for dinner and a pint, Irish Car Bombs, and diet coke. Guess who had which! :-)

In the next day or so, I'll post about about the trades I made for Art in Ashland. But first...I wanted to make sure I shared with you some pictures of the fabulous surprises I received from some very lovely friends. Unexpected surprises...and, I'm sure you'll agree, those are the best kind!

First up, I received a VERY gorgeous necklace from my very dear BFF Lilli. She said she saw this and thought of me...what a sweetie pie!!!

I really do love red and, prior to receiving this beautiful piece, I didn't have ANY red jewerly! Thanks, honey!!! I LOVE it SO much!!!!

Another unexpected surprise was from a very sweet friend -- Sherri (no blog or flickr)... :-(

Sherri sent me an email after I made this blog post admiring a big ol' jar full of vintage fruit sprays. Well, I got SUCH a lovely, friendly vibe from Sherri and so I decided to share my bounty with her. Well, dear reader, this proved to be one of those instances where my intuition was correct. I was spectacularly rewarded for this small bit of good karma...rewarded beyond my wildest dreams! Sherri, in return, sent me this FANTASTIC collection of goodies. I mean...it was EVERYTHING I loved!!! How could she have known? :-)

A sweet spot of this collection...

Sherri also sent me some of her handmade items...

The detail on this little matchbox drawer is SO delightful!!!

SUPER cool ATCs. This girl most def needs a Flickr!!!! Am I right???!!!!

Thank you, dear Lilli and dear Sherri, for your generous and thoughtful gifts. I am blessed for knowing you.

Howdy Do...

GULP!!! Has it really been two weeks since I last posted? Wow! I didn't plan on it but I think I just took an unscheduled blog break. I just haven't been spending a lot of time on the computer at home. I have; however, tried to keep up with my peeps and bop around Blogland as much as possible! Another instance of just being happy to be the spectator. :-)

So my sweet blessed life is very full right now. LOTS of stuff going on. And, very thankfully, it's ALL good stuff! Work has been really busy which is always a good thing. I also joined a Toastmasters group at my work which I'm pretty jazzed about. Oh and on another work-related side note, I got something in the mail from my employer that if I take early retirement, I only have NINE more years of working. Nine!!!! That's one less than 10! I've already been with this employer for 14 years so I can easily see hanging around for another nine. This is pretty much the light at the end of the tunnel, folks. A very happy, retired tunnel. This news is SO uplifting to me!

Okay...so our weekends have been absolutely FULL lately! Last weekend we went to a baseball game Friday night, then I volunteered at Pets in the Pearl all day on Saturday, and then Sunday we went to see Ringo Starr at Edgefield. What a fantastic weekend!

This weekend is only partially full...last night Glen and I volunteered at the Washington County Fair in the Washco Dems booth, hanging out with some awesome local politicians. It was extra fun because Miranda and her friend, Josh, came out to hang with us for a bit. Care to see a cute picture of this little duo?

So nice to see her in a happy relationship.

Tonight we're going to see our friend, Carl Wolfson, at the Jester Comedy Club with Glen's brother and wife. And then I'm VERY happy to report that tomorrow we ain't got nuttin' on the agenda! Ya-hoo!!!!

So would it surprise you to know that in the middle of all this busyness, I've actually been able to squeeze in artsy crafty time? Hey, it's what renews and energizes me so regardless of how busy life is, I will always find time for art! Even if it means letting the dishes sit in the sink! Sorry, honey! :-)

I was VERY happy I got to participate in Amanda's, of HodgePodgebyAmanda fame, Diamonds and Pearls charm swap. I had JUST found this ridiculously beautiful pair of old looking earrings at Goodwill that were full of diamondy, pearly dangly things so they were perfect to dismantle and use for the charms.  Here are the charms I made...

And the back...

Here are all the charms...

Miss Sweetness Herself, Amanda, even sent each participant a beautiful bracelet for our charms! How fabulous is that??? I haven't put my charms on the bracelet yet but Natalie did! Just gorgeous! Thank you so much Amanda for hostessing such a lovely party! :-)

I have much much more to show you, including the sweetest package of goodies I received from my new BEAUTIFUL friend, Sherri, but that deserves its own post! :-)

So for now, I'm off to enjoy a nice quiet Saturday afternoon and work on some fatbook pages for the post-ArtFest Fatbook that Kristie is hostessing. These babies are due in a few days...and they are still SUCH a work in progress...

Take care, lovely people!

Vintage Flea Market

I bet that post title got your attention! :-)

If you read this blog with any regularity, you are aware that I love animals, specifically, the kitty-shaped animals. You may also be aware that I volunteer at CAT, the largest no-kill cat shelter in the Pacific Northwest. It's something I am very passionate about and find it tremendously fulfilling to be a part of this wonderful organization. The work they do is nothing short of miraculous. Also, CAT is where we adopted Mr. Atti Pants from! :-)

August 2 CAT is having a fundraiser called Vintage Flea Market (get it? Flea? He he he ...) and when the call went out looking for donations, I, of course, offered to donate something. I just couldn't resist overextending myself just a little more for the sake of the kitties.

Okay...so back to the art...these are the items I made...two soldered pendants and a junk to funk neckace...

Front of pendant one...

...and the back.

(Ugh...I'm not happy with how that tape looks from here! It sure didn't seem that ugly in person!)

Front of pendant two...

...and the back. (I like this one! I think I'm gonna make another one for myself!)

I also made a necklace using some of my favorite bits and baubles. I also included a domino that I soldered. I recently found a box of really cool vintage dominoes at Hippo Hardware, of all places.

A close up of my favorite bits...

I got a sneak peek at some of the other items that are going to be at CAT's Vintage Flea Market and it looks like it's gonna be lots of fun. And you didn't hear it from me but....since this is all about raising money for the kitties, items will be priced to sell!!! If you're in the area, you may want to check it out. It's the weekend I'm at Art in Ashland so I won't be able to make it.

Oh and also, THIS weekend is CAT's Pets in the Pearl event. Check it out, if you can!

Okay...time to move on to the next thing on my project table...an ArtFest-inspired Fatbook that Miss Kristi is hosting. I'm planning using lots of techniques I learned at ArtFest so I went ahead and bought a roll of Red Rosin paper (learned about this in Lynne Perrella's class). This roll is probably gonna last me my lifetime...it was all of $9!

Okay...see ya on the flip flop! :-)

july 12 of 12

First...oh my soul! Thank you SO much for taking the time to leave such sweet and thoughtful comments about my new fun do! You flatter me SO much!!! Here's a little advice to you...if you EVER need or want a morale booster, post a picture of yourself on your blog! I'm quite overwhelmed by the response and just can't thank you enough for your kindness! You're the best!!!

Okay...July's 12 of 12. This is a fun thing that Chad Darnell came up with. To see more 12 of 12ers and Chad, go here. I actually spaced that it was the 12th until Andrea called me! I was out garage sailing (saling just doesn't look right!) and so as soon as I got home, I pulled out my camera and started taking pictures! Thanks Andrea!

So it was friggin' HOT in Portland today. When I got home from my errands, I went through the house to close the windows to put on the air and while I was upstairs, I took a picture from our bedroom balcony. I don't think I've ever taken a picture of this view during the summer. In the Fall it's fabulous because lots of the trees change color.

Next, had to make sure there would be iced tea for later!

Then I plopped down in front of the computer. GGGGRRRRR! I am so mad at Miranda! She showed me playlist.com and now I can't stay away from that thing! It's like when we first got The Sims -- I wake up thinking about my list!!! :-)

Next up...I went through the bounty of gorgeous fruit I picked fresh from today's garage sale tree! That cool scale? It was marked $5.00 but since today was the last day of a family's sale, everything was 1/2 price! Yep, I got it for $2.50. Please don't hate me. :-)

A bonus picture so you can get a close up of some of the sweetest bits! :-)

I stayed inside the house most of the afternoon since it was so hot (did I mention it was friggin' hot??) Once the sun went behind the house though, I headed out to water our raised beds. Just look at those tomater plants!!!

 

Needed to do a bit of grocery shopping for some fresh produce (couldn't go to the Farmer's Market because I went to garage sales!) but I just HAD to clean the refrigerator first. I don't know if it's an oddity about me but I tend to stick better to healthy eating when the refrigerator is clean and organized.

Of course cleaning one thing always leads to finding other things to clean. So in the midst of cleaning the frig, I started on the kitchen windowsill and I noticed how gorgeous our little neglected the African violets are. I pretty much ignore these plants and yet, they thrive!

I went out to do some grocery shopping in the cool of the day. When I left the market at 9:30 pm, there was still light in the sky. I LOVE this time of day! The ride home would have been completely perfect if I had put on Wilco's Either Way. (Click on song #1 Either Way -- the guitar solo in that song makes me weep!!!)

Miranda had raspberries on the grocery list and when I saw these, I thought "freezer jam!" They're gorgeous!

Before I left for the market, I made some coffee specifically to have an iced coffee tonight!

Lastly...squeeze in a morsel of craft time! I'm finishing up some pendants to donate to CAT's Vintage French Flea Market, a fundraiser for the Sherwood shelter on August 2. If you're a local, be sure to check it out!!! (I'll be showing you more pictures of these pendants later!)

That's it for now, all you groovy kids!!! Hope you have a fab rest of the weekend! See you next month!

who do? hair do!

Several weeks ago I found myself in need of a hair cut and some *a-hem* color. To, um, cover up those pesky "natural" highlights. (Wink!)

When I told Glen that I was going in for a hair cut, he asked if he could suggest something. "Say what?" I say whatted. He then suggested that I do something more with my hair. He said, "your hair doesn't match your personality" and then something sweet about how I'm fun and my hair isn't. Or some such tenderness. Now a little background here, people. Glen RARELY says anything about my hair. He's terrific with the compliments but he pretty much sticks with the "if Momma's happy, then I'm happy" philosophy when it comes to hairstyles. So when he made this suggestion, I took it as the sweet compliment it was and decided to heed his advice. Thanks, pal.

So when I went in to see my wonderful hair stylist, Ashley, this past Monday, I told him to make me look like I'm having fun. And cute too! :-)

Here's the "before" taken on Monday before I left for Ashley's...

(picture taken in the bathroom at work LOL!)

Then the "after," taken Wednesday evening...

 

I stuck with the same color and subtle hightlights but it's all layered! I've given in to my hair's curly nature! Go forth and curl, ye! And I have bangs! Bangs. I haven't had bangs in .... 20 years?

The evening of my haircut and yesterday my hair went through that, "I thought we were friends!" phase and revolted. Big, furry, fuzzy, and then flat! But after this morning's wash and NO blow dryer (oh man does my hair hate to be blow dryed!), it settled down and is now resting comfortably. :-)

Ashley said to be prepared to get carded next time I go out for a drink! LOL!

Yeah, don't worry...he got a good tip.

Circle Journal

Hot dog! We got some circle journal action goin' on over here!

First up, I'd like to share a LO I did in the Circle Journal group that Celeste is hosting. (Congratulations Celeste!) The journal is Gwen's and her theme is GRAFFITI. If you think that sounds like it'd be cool, you'd be right! I just plain had FUN with this one!

I was feeling a very frenetic energy from this LO. The phrase came to mind and I thought it needed a place to live. :-)

This page turned out crazy. I did a bunch of layering and added the words "look inside." Then a weird thing happened. The tissue paper that I layered on top was bubbling up so as I tore it at it, the words started revealing themselves which reinforced the whole "look inside" thing. It totally felt like it was the plan all along.

A sampling of my tape collection. :-)

Okay so this LO here is now not only one of my most favorite LOs for a Circle Journal I have ever done, but it's also one of my most favorite anything I've ever done! The background is a color photocopy of some work I did in Lynne Perrella's class at ArtFest. Oh and BTW, that's my Daddy in his Army Air Force uniform during World War II. :-)

So next up is the Circle Journal aka Round Robin LO I did in Rebecca's book. Her theme is BIRDS. This group is being hosted by the fab Elise!

Not much to blab about on this page...I had to add the scalloped circle because I had something there I didn't like and when I peeled it off, all the paint came off. And now I love this little touch. Things always seem to have a way of working themselves out.

The background here is a carved stamp I did for some other projects and then the bird is an acrylic overlay.

This was one of those pages that went through a VERY ugly phase. Ghastly. I kept feeling like I wanted to just trash it and start over but instead, I just kept adding more layers. Now, this is probably my most favorite page I did for this book! The red loops are embroidered...this is the front and then check out the back of it...

I strung beads along it to mimic berries! Oh how I entertain myself sometimes! :-)

Oh and also, the white "stamping" on this page was done with some textured wallpaper I picked up at Goodwill. I'm gonna keep my eyeballs peeled for more of that stuff!

The last LO is a color photocopy of an old tin that I have had forever! Renee might remember this one! I love the lines in the background.

So getting these LOs done means I get to start working on my trades for Art in Ashland. 25 more days!!Whoop-hoop! Also, there are a couple of fatbook projects can now be brought to the front burner too!

See you later, my lovelies. Oh and if I can get my hair to cooperate, I just may show you my new hair did! :-)

Happy Day...

Hello my dear world...

I am feeling pretty much back to normal today and aside from the fact that I sound like I'm 3-pack a day smoker, this short bout of summer flu is quickly becoming a distant memory.

I've been working in my little studio and am caught up with circle journals and charms. Don't get me wrong...I've still got several to work on but as of today, nothing is overdue or due. :-)

Oh and before I forget, I have been having fun over at playlist.com. You can set up your own personal play list and listen to your favorite music at the computer. Yeah, I know an iPod with that speaker set up would accomplish the same thing, but I'm just not there, technologically speaking, yet. (YET being the operative word!) So I'm sitting here, listening to Baby Blue by Badfinger and watching the butterflies outside the window (there are SO many around here this year). So needless to say, I'm in a good mood.

To see all the songs on my play list so far, click here. If you have a favorite song you'd like to recommend, I'd LOVE to hear from you!

Okay...so back to art! I finally have pictures pictures pictures of charms charms charms to share with you!

I participated in two grunge charm swaps (I wanted to make sure I had enough charms to make a full bracelet!) and a mica charm swap. The first up is the GOING GRUNGE charms swap which was hosted by my very sweet friend Melissa.

Here are the charms I made...

And here's the ones I received...I LOVE 'EM!!!

Next up is the DIRTY DOZEN charm swap hosted by the super cool and super clever Maureen. I can't wait to meet her at Art and Soul!

Here are my charms...

And here's the set of DIRTY DOZEN charms I received...such talent!!!

Those Army guys were decorations Maureen used on the packaging of the charms she sent to us. She also painted the packages camoflage paint and stenciled DIRTY DOZEN. See...I told you she was super clever! :-)

And then last, but by no means least, is a mica charm swap. A quick side note, I've heard of mica before but it wasn't until I bought some in anticipation of Nina's class at Art and Soul, I had never used it before. I was talking with Kecia about it when she was here and she said you can just cut it with scissors and can also make it as thin as you want by separating the layers with an X-acto blade. I am now hooked and it is SO versatile and cool to tinker around with!

This swap was hosted by Carina and the theme was HOME. Here are my charms...

Front...

Back...

And then all the charms I received...

Such beauty!! Some of these are a little large to wear as a charm so they may end up as pendants.

Okay...had enough for now?

I also have LOs from two different circle journals done and at the ready, but I'll save those for another day. :-)

Cheers!

peace & love...

I saw this on Chris Brown's blog urbanprairerefueled. We get to see Ringo this month so I was ALL OVER this! Ringo's Birthday Wish List – "Peace & Love" Ringo was recently asked by Access Hollywood what he hoped to receive for his upcoming birthday (July 7th). Ringo's answer was unconventional, he said, "just more Peace & Love." Then he expanded his wish further, "it would be really cool if everyone, everywhere, wherever they are, at noon on July 7 make the peace sign and say "Peace & Love." Wherever you are in the world, join him in making the peace sign and saying, singing, shouting, whispering, signing, writing or quietly thinking one simply beautiful and universal message: "Peace & Love." While some will do this on their own other folks may be gathering at Abbey Road in London; Capitol Records in LA; Strawberry Fields in NYC. To see more go to ringostarr.com. Peace and Love, Michelle

Happy 4th o' July!

Just wanted to wander on over and wish you and your families a very happy and SAFE 4th of July.

This aternoon/evening, we'll be celebrating 4th of July at the 7th Annual Neighborhood Cul-de-Sac 4th of July Potuck. Always fun. Here are pictures from 2005. We roll out tables,chairs, and barbecues into the cul-de-sac, feast on fabulous food, enjoy good drink, and then at dusk (9:00 pm or so), we start blowin' stuff up! :-)

Other than today's festivities, I don't have too much planned for the whole weekend. Good thing too since I'm feeling a bit under the weather (Why oh why on a long holiday weekend?!!!) Oh well...maybe staying around the home base will inspire me to take some pictures of things I've been gathering and stock piling. I saw on someone's blog that she likened her affinity to buying random stuff to how a magpie gathers bits here and there and then just stashes it away. I can relate. I can SO relate! Something shiny catches my eye and I'm all over it!

So having said that, I have lots of shiny stuff to show you so come on back in a few days!

Take care...be well and take care of each other. :-)

last friday evening was charming...

Hi there...just wanted to come on over and share a few things.

First of all, we had the BEST evening last Friday. We did, in deed, get tickets to see Avenue Q. Very funny and most definitely not for the kiddies. Plenty of swearing and some good ol' fashioned full frontal puppet nudity. :-)

So our "date" started out charmed...we drove into Portland and got a superb parking spot right near the Keller. When we went to buy our tickets, they had just opened up a "lottery" of tickets right in front. So we paid nosebleed prices and sat in the orchestra section row c. That's on the floor, four rows back from the stage. Oh yeah, baby! I could see the fur on Kate Monster's boobs, that's how close we were!

After this fabulous scoop, we headed over to a restaurant called Carafe. Super cute little French bistro with super good food. It was quite busy and so we asked if there was a chance we would be able to get seated within 10 - 15 minutes. The hostess checked the book and said, "One of our 'reservations' is 40 minutes late so I'm going to give you their table." Badda bing badda boom...we're sittin' down with menus in front of us! S'wheat!

Another SUPER fun thing...we saw Carl Wolfson who is a radio personality (and exceptionally intelligent and funny political humorist/comedian!) on KPOJ 620am. He was also going over to see Avenue Q. Glen has met Carl several times and since Glen is VERY active in our local Democratic party, he calls into the radio station once a month to plug the meetings and events. Well, it was cool enough running into Carl but THEN on Monday morning, while he was doing the chit chat thing, Carl was talking about Avenue Q, Carafe and then just casually mentions that he got to see "Glen Geller of the Washco Dems and his wife, Michelle." I know I'm a dork, I admit it, but I got such a kick out of this! Thanks Carl, if you're reading this! (I'm sure he's not!) :-)

So to reward you for sitting through that story, if in fact, you did (smile), here is a picture of an awesome charm bracelet I found at Goodwill. I am always on the look out for charm bracelets and more than not, I come up empty handed. But when I found this, t'was a good day. Check it out...

I can't begin to describe the fabulous clinkity noise it makes when I wear it. Those silver pineapple looking things are hollow and the colorful fruity beads are a heavy plastic. Click to enlarge! It's just delicious!!!

Oh man oh man...we are almost upon a glorious three day weekend! Can't wait can't wait!!!

Take care and see ya 'round, pardners!