Dog training, ugh.........

Last trip to the vet, Winston tipped the scale at 108 lbs!  Dr Ingram asked how the walking was going, well not so good for Winston.  I felt bad so it was time to get the leases and take a stroll around the neighborhood.  Winston knows what to do and how to behave, no problem.  Maximus on the other hand hasn't been on many walks.  They were both so excited when they saw the leases!  I struggled with Maximus, should of been a sign of things to come.  We get out the blue door and to the sidewalk just fine.  But soon all heck broke loose!!!!  I didn't even make it two houses down before I was tangled in leases and dogs.  No one was listening to me.  I finally got some control and headed straight back home.  They are like hey this came be it?

It's not their fault I'm such a bad dog mom.  Training begins with Maximus.  I put him on a lease and practice "heal".  First day, awful.  Second day, better.  Third day, good.  Fourth day, no pulling!  Fifth day, awesome.  I'm so excited and think what a darn smart dog Maximus is.  Yesterday, we take them for a "real" walk in the neighborhood.  OMG.  He forgot his training and was awful. Constant pulling and needed too many corrections that my arm was so tired by the time we got home. I was so miserable and defeated. But, I'm determined and it's back to training.  I'll keep you posted.  (this post reminds me of a dog hero story I need to tell you about)  Stay tuned.

Did someone say flowers?

Not, my Mr. Valentine!

  This was so yum

He so knows me......

(nothing like posting a month late, "jobi time")

Sleepless nights

Just the other day I was bragging about how my sleep schedule was better, then here I am fully awake at this hour!  I've been super duper busy with so much fun stuff, makes my head spin.  

I was asked to make some "Save the Date" magnets for a quincearia. She wanted a beach theme, sea shells, starfish or mermaid on the magnet.  I found this image through Google, it was perfect for this project.  I was able to size it to a business card size in order to use the magnetic business cards. Worked perfectly, I attached them to piece of cardstock....but not done there.  I added some twine and a bead and tiny shell.  

I found some extra lunch bags and aqua colored ribbon .

ta da,

These were fun to make.

Nestabilities

I bought these die cuts not even knowing if they will fit my die cut machine.  I have a Epic ''something or other" that I bought because it can do letterpress stuff.  I'm so die cut machine challenged.  I need to get it out of the box!  I need to overcome my die machine fears.....I'll keep you updated.

New lipsticks!

SCARLETT
(HAS SPARKLES)



WINTER RED

New art

I got inspired by helping out on decoupage project.  I punched out 1 1/2 inch squares of various sheets of scrapbook paper in complementary shades. 

Glued them on chip board with a gel medium and then coated them with a whitewash of gesso. I'm using them as the cover of a recipe scrapbook.  The scrapbook is a wedding gift.  I had the bride's family and friends give me their favorite recipes.  I'll post more photos of the finished book.

I couldn't stop punching out squares so look at what I did...

They're not finished, but I love the subtle shades.  They make me smile!

Sad (printer) face

Today my large format printer decides it doesn't like magenta ink.  For whatever reason it won't print correctly.  I replaced ink cartriges, cleaned the nozzles, deep cleaned the nozzles, twice.  I ran all troubleshooting ideas and still no reds.  See the sheet on the printer, it printed GREEN!  It's supposed to be a brown shade, ugh.  Canon doesn't make this printer anymore and I really couldn't find any help on the internet.  I'll try again tomorrow.  This is so sudden, I'm not ready to part with my dear friend i9100.

Art Journal Every Day

February journaling

Join us!

Hand mixer joy

Anytime someone asked what I wanted as a gift I would mentioned I could use a hand mixer. I have the large KitchenAide one, but a hand mixer would be nice for  smaller quick jobs.

My Mom sent me one for my birthday!  Aren't Mom's great.

 I remember when we'd fight to lick the "thingies"

(whatever their called, blades?)

Meet my new love....

Kalon

Fabric Shop

I was at a fabric shop today & it reminded me of how I was introduced to sewing.  When I was 12, two women came to my low income neighborhood and gathered up a group of us girls and invited us to join their 4H club. It was amazing what they did.   They met with us in a small neighborhood church and taught us how to sew.  Arlene and her sister Lois were such great teachers and had a huge impact on me and the other girls.  I was a member of 4H into high school.  Our projects started with a simple apron to detailed blouses, dresses & slacks.  Our sewing projects competed in the State Fair & never got less than a purple or blue ribbon.  I learned so much from both Arlene and Lois, but Arlene is a major influence and mentor.  I tell her all the time how grateful I am that she is a part of my life.  She gave me possibilities.   Funny how a trip to a fabric shop moved me today.

Martin (Arlene's husband), Arlene and her sister Lois.

My January Art Journal Every Day

 I had so much fun journaling everyday.  As I mentioned before, I'm using my work desk calendar as my journal.  Feels great to journal this way.  I found it's best to watercolor the backgrounds a few days in advance so not to tear threw the wet page.  I found it was so fun to add to it while I'm on the phone or eating my lunch.  What a blast.

This is my journal art kit.  I have a watercolor kit, a watercolor brush (cool tool, has a water reservoir), pens in shades of blue, couple of reds, a thick & thin black sharpie, typed words and glue stick.  Amazing what you can do with such few tools.  Loving it!
Stay tune for February's art journal.  

Recycle

Clip boards from work needed to be replaced and I was asked if I could do something with them instead of throwing them away or buying new ones.  I primed them and set them aside.

I didn't want to spend too much time or thought since I'm limited on my free time right now.  So I thought why not paint stripes with whatever paints I had around the craftroom.

I think they came out nice.

The back was painted with leftover pantry shelf paint. 

 

They'll be finished off with some black highlights.

Blog, I've missed you.....

I'm finding it tough to get to posting on my blog.  I've been a busy person on the creative side of my life and of course there's my real job, too.  This is what I've been up to...

Designing, printing and assembling wedding invitations for a few people.  I finished one and I'm in different stages on two others.  I've taken out my sewing machine and made a few small projects.  Just for fun I'm working on some funky hairpins for my niece, I'm working on my daily artwork journal....will be posting pics soon.  I'm also working on a project for five friends having to do with a little bit of journaling.  In between, I've made a few sets of earrings and I'm still finding a minute or two to paint.  Oh yeah, that reminds me I have five clip boards to paint for my real job.  One big job was to unload all the photos off my camera storage cards...over a thousand.  I'm very organized with my photos, plus I back them all up on an external hard drive.  Ugh, that was a big job.  I'll post some of my favorites.  But as for now I need to get to my real job.....  Thanks for stopping by.

Check out my niece!



Amanda with her daughters, Hadley & Channing



Meet Amanda, she's making the cutest bows!  

 Check out her website.

 http://www.bumble-bows.com/bumblebows/