did some shopping....

our oldest son has been asking for cowboy boots for like a year, probably longer. last night he had saved enough and gotten gift cards for christmas to go in to town and look. low and behold, we found some that he liked....

while i am down on the floor to take the pic of the boots, the wild kingdom here thinks i am on the floor to play...

changing it up....

i had bought this vent cover this past fall because i liked the architechural elements to it.... i made the bingo cards- stamped background, found flowers (they were already painted the wonderful blue) and carefully glued on the hose clamps. and yes, that is a T-square.

i had bought this very old picture frame at an auction for a $1! such a score (i think so, now if you were to ask my husband....he may tell you something else.) the picture is from a local artist here. i have more pics to add with my change, just haven't gotten the rest up yet. i was really liking my "hanger" for the pic- that was a rummage sale score. enjoying the new style!

you're it-

you can see when you look at my first pic that it shows the back of the tag. i apparenly tend to be messy and in my typical fashion- i piled the UTEE on too thick and as it melted, it ran under my tags. it doesn't botherme, but, if i were going to do more than use these for personal use....i would have to be more careful!

i also was not very patient and should have probably put at least one more coat of white paint on; but, overall, i was very excited!!

i made the metal tags off of pinterest.....they're the bomb!! hope you liked my pics.

cheese...

i was fortunate enough to get a new camera for christmas... i am laughing- this was the best one of myself. i either was cutting off the top of my head, or my chin. so after like 4 pics i decided this one would do.

Christmas Eve....

bringing some reindeer cheer....

hallows eve

apparently you cannot wait until the 31st to buy your pumpkins....so we have squash. happy halloween!

a path....

looking forward to the coming weekend, and the hope that this beautiful something will take my hand... and lead me on a creative journey.

boundless

work is governed by rules, regulations.... art, knows no bounds.

count down

9 days....i am so excited that september is finally here! i was afraid to start counting down before actually getting to the month it was in....can you guess what in the world i have been so impatiently waiting for?

what else....but,....junk bonanza!! it will be the best junking day ever!

here is some things i am hoping to find:

• vintage clocks (love the "bens")
• keys- you know the ones...cool, rusty, small
• metal tags (anything...locker tags, animal tags- good steampunk stuff)
• vintage fabrics (cuz i am loving sewing snippets of fabric onto anything!)

do you junk?

labor day weekend

headed to the black hills for the holiday weekend to see friends and family....

list of "to do"

• good conversation
• drink coffee (and maybe a beer of two...)
• enjoy meals with the table full of people and wonderful food
• play board games

have a wonderful last weekend of summer...what are your plans?

adding to my "arsenal" of music

i may not be the hippest mom on all the new music, especially with the kids, but, these this song is one of my favs right now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnwfTHpnGLY

80's girl...

a little change in medium is amazing...

weekend bliss...

i was thinking yesterday while standing in my shop...how can the day get any better? i have watercolor spots in my coffee cup that is now empty and watercolor on my legs lightly tanned by the summer sun...this is how weekend days were meant to be spent.

anticipation....

wednesday, thursday, friday....painting, hanging with my mom, the goss. what else needs to be said?

hellooooo....

hello there newly found vintage clock...luv you!

sew perfect....

this weekend has been one with no requirements...no commitments. yesterday was the perfect mix of sun and clouds and a touch of the lightest breeze. my neighbor gave me fabric, doilies, and crocheted items she did not want from an auction box she had won. i made two cards...one for the neighbor and the other a friend.

speaking of being perfect....looking around today there is a blog that is giving away the most amazing trip. i looked at the post for the flea market...and now am praying to win! i am such a sucker for flea markets....

creative rejuvenation

last week in the midst of total chaos i managed to sneek away feeling initially very guilty about taking time for myself for some creative time. my mom and i had signed up for a watercolor class at blue cloud abbey.

i can't even begin to explain the creative bliss that was found last week. not only were we painting in a beautiful church, but, somehow the quietness and peacefulness was transformed into total creative freedom.

so not only was i very prolifically creative, but, i also managed to learn a few things along the way.

things learned:
1. i CAN paint in watercolor
2. i CAN paint in watercolor and NOT have an initial plan of attack
3. MY plan of attack CAN be NO plan at all- just get some paint down
4. i CAN paint in watercolor on canvas with the help of a wonderful product called watercolor ground
5. MY watercolor CAN be NOTHING like anyone else's and still be cool

question...

my elderly neighbor asked me, "what i was going to do with my life?"

is this a rhetorical question...he didn't wait for an answer- just kept right on talking to me
and i was thinking initially to myself, "aren't i doing that- i mean? living me life?"

but, funny he should ask this question now. as i have been contemplating this same question....i am struggling with some of the politics at work along with the rigid guidelines, yet constantly a moving target versus just finding a more creative purposeful life.

friendship with belated birthday wishes

friendship...
a quiet lunch between friends in the midst of a chaotic work day
good food
great coffee
belated birthday...sometimes the perfect ray of sunshine on an unexpected day
the perfect gift from a friend who totally gets you

life...with kids

a proud moment last week as track has started. tk had run on both saturday and monday. did outstanding considering she is only 8th grade and was running against the "big" schools...sioux falls, sioux city, omaha. i am not sure how in the world we fit into that category, but, good to see groups we don't normally see and compete. after monday, our oldest son decided to trade golf for track...so, has been practicing. tomorrow we will see. i only pray for each of them to do their best...and good weather.

life has been busy...sometimes i feel like i almost get lost in the kids stuff...jo vball, track, after prom...i need to step back and grab my husband- he is coming, just not as quickly as the mom. i just want to be a part of their lives and what they like and to enjoy in the things they do well too.

life..
family...
love it.

winter....

well winter can be done...except, for basketball. i could watch basketball until the cows come home- oh, good thing they are all frozen in place and won't be able to get home....so, onward with basketball!!

tk plays center for 8th grade, and was asked to step up and play with the freshman team. tk and a guard. what great experience for the girls and the freshman have been so welcoming which is nice, because i know how not nice girls this age can be. tk got to play more tonight and put up some points...we even had one set of parents that said that tk played really well and was a nice addition to their group (proud parent moment...). keeping life busy for us, but, fun...

happy new year

twenty eleven...what are my aspirations for this year? what are your aspirations for this year? i'm not going to use the word "resolution" because i feel like that is supposed to be a fix for a problem and life is way too short to worrying about all the problems. i want to focus on dreams, aspirations....

my aspirations for 2011:
move more, as in exercise...focus on keeping my body in shape
declutter- get rid of the junk- everywhere! if i haven't worn it- gone; if it is not being used- gone; if it just hanging out cuz it doesn't have a better spot- gone
do more art...just go to the shop and turn on the music and let it be- but, much more often
focus on family...keep everyone engaged- life has gone so fast
find my balance...stay focused and keep doing something (this is for you Gramma Bee...you are already missed every day). gramma always said- her idea of hell was having nothing to do; the pic is from our art show this fall in november...

what are your aspirations?