Hamlet

Another CJ page -- This one isn't my favourite. Too structured and balancey. I used an ATC that I made for this month's ATC trade at Bizzy Bs -- the theme was 'Quotes" and I chose Shakespeare because I have a set of Shakespeare Quote Stamps. But somehow, I misplaced my favourite one( "And above all, to thine own self be true" ) so I picked another Hamlet quotation for the ATC (I had already made all of the Hamlet backgrounds) At least I got to use my favourite in the spread! I wear a ring (every day) that says"To thine own self be true" It's a reminder. I also wear one that says "Grace in all simplicity". Another reminder.

August's CJ pages.....

Karen O had a CJ that didn't have pictures to alter, so I was on my own. This is the first of my pages, opposite a calendar of August, that I filled in with all of the particulars of my month. I quite like this page. I definitely see Kelly Kilmer's influence here! I painted the background turquoise acrylic, then sprayed on some Memories "margarita" spray. Then I used a white Signo pen to write "To be or not to be...." And then my response to the quotation in red pen. But I partially covered both of those with papers. I was influenced by Shakespeare throughout the month. More to come for the rest of the week -- stay tuned.....

Woo Hoo, the bestest mail day ever!!

First comes a little square box. I open it and there is some tissue -- when I lift off the tissue, a layer of flower petals! then a gift wrapped in tissue, with a big green ribbon, sittling in a nest of yarns and fibers. That Beth really knows her presentation. And look what was inside! A zetti doll!!! She said that she wouldn't have time! She is so busy. Her baby was born yesterday (and she named her Lauren -- isn't this the prettiest name ever???), and she has a 1 year old too! Beth, I don't know how you do it. This zetti doll is so cool --- what I have dreamed of making! I LOVE IT! Isn't she beautiful? I love all of the fibers and little bits. The face and the front are transparencies. And Beth hand sewed the whole thing. I made Beth one too -- I'll post it when she gets it.
Then there's a package from Somerset. I don't remember ordering a magazine. As I'm leafing through, I see something familiar. It's my ATC. A long time ago I sumitted a Halloween ATC -- and there it is, published in Somerset Holiday. Lauren (my Lauren)was more excited that I was. I was just happy to have a free ($14.95 plus $10 shipping to Canada USD) magazine. I'm going to submit to every issue from now on. I like the free issue thing...... Oh, right, I'm on page 106. If you know me, you probably have one of these ATCs -- I really liked them.....

And I also got my (late) issue of Craft zine and my issue of Sept/Oct Cloth Paper Scissors. Ruth has a wonderful article in this issue. Go out and buy it right now!

And then I opened a package from Fiona. It was my birdie folder for ATCs. OMG -- it is brilliant. AND 3 birdie ATCs. Thankyou Fiona -- It is definitely worth the wait!!! (the top pic is the front, then comes the back, then the inside with the birdie ATCs!)
I HIT THE MAIL JACKPOT!!! Aren't I the luckiest person ever? Karma. I've been a good girl lately. (well, I try to be a good girl always, but I had some misses....)

I'm baaaack

With no new pictures. I spent a lovely week away with my sewing machine in tow. I made 3 skirts, 2 dresses, 3 pair of pants, and lots of coffee cuffs to share with my holiday friends. I didn't make too much for etsy, but I'll take some pictures soon.... My gears will now shift to school, so my posts may be more school related for the next little while....... I won't have time to create anything new until October! (all of my September weekends are already booked up!) I don't know when I'll do my RR books.....

Gone fishin'

I'll be back next week!

Forest

The theme of Heather's (Heats) book was Forest. I went to see A Midsummer Night's Dream in High Park a few weeks ago, so I really needed to work this in. I used a bit of stippling and stamping, added some pages from the play, and one of Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies. Oh, yes, I know, I've broken some copywrite law, so if the book is ever published, my page won't be. C'est la vie........
I also used double sided tape. I don't have a dispenser, and I think that if you use double sided tape you need to have 3 hands. I struggled so much! But I do like how it lies so nice and flat. Yes, mom, it's acid free..... not that the paper is! i like to use glue stick -- but it never stays stuck -- because of our high humidity alternating with our drYness. It just pops right off. Rather like Rubber Cement -- my favourite (and most toxic) adhesive. Its new formulation just peels apart. I apologize to the people who have received ATCs from me that are peeling apart. Please just use your favourite glue and stick them back together. Thanks........

Questions answered

Sometimes people ask me questions in the comment section -- but I can't reply because I don't know your email address, LOL, or I figure that you're not going to read the comments section again for a reply. I could edit the post, but do you really go back and re-read posts? Not likely. If you really want an answer to a question -- email me privately -- my address is in my profile.

Tag Charms on my Keely Bracelet (August 3): We took pieces of acrylic (from CoffeeBreak Designs -- good luck reaching them.....) and used diamond glaze to attach paper, and then to seal the backs. I have also had really good luck using plastic microscope slides. I score them with an exacto knife, snap them apart, drill holes (or punch with my crop-a-dile, my favourite tool). Then I sandwich paper between two pieces of plastic -- adhering it with diamond glaze -- you have to squeeze it to make a good seal. The bracelet itself is woven from Conso cord -- in a macrame kind of weave -- a figure 8 weave -- if you want more instructions, please email me.

The zetti days of summer......

When I hit a creative block, I turn to what I do best -- fabric. This is the prototype for some zetti dolls that I am making. The idea seems to be by Keely Barham. The face image, and the embellishments on the torso, are by Teesha Moore ( she has added new rubber stamps -- go now and buy some!!!!) -- I think that she is very zetti -- and she seems to be enjoying my garden. She seems hardly afraid at all of the monster ghost dog who is lurking just outside of the frame. The next dolls that I make will have a bit shorter arms that slant down a bit more. But I think that I did a pretty good job on my first try. She's a keeper!

beads beads beads

I needed to do something that would come easy to me....... so, here are some fabric beads that I made last week. It takes forever to sew on the seed beads. The black ones look very elegant in person -- they have a black and brown kind of flocked taffeta base, then are wrapped with tulle and black fibres, and then beaded with a metallic coffee coloured bead. I had lots of fun with the colourful ones -- upholstery fabrics, eyelash yarns, and some other fibres, all topped off with some larger beads. Some of these are for a swap, and some are to be sew onto future projects..... (you really need to click on the picture for this one)

Keely Bracelet finished!

I finally finished the bracelet that I began in Keely Barham's class last NOVEMBER. (You can stop laughing righ now, Debby and Heather R) I was tidying up a bit, and came across the box, and said, "I should finish that", and I promptly began doing something else. But this morning, I needed something to do that wouldn't expend any energy (it's at least 10 billion degrees here, I'm not kidding)(and for the first time ever, the heat/humidity is giving me asthma problems). So here it is, in all of its glory, TA DA:
(special thanks to Debby H who emailed me the instructions many months ago, after I lost mine.....) I am actually going to make another fringe bracelet -- with no centrepiece, and without the giant charms -- I'll make smaller charms. If it cools down enough tomorrow, I'll take a walk and buy some more conso cord....... (click on the image to see it life size -- it looks very pretty)

Harry Potter (maybe a spoiler, if you know me)

I finished the Harry Potter book (2 days)(Ray read it first) It was muchos excellentay. And, this isn't really a spoiler, but I was right about Snape. Ha. so there. I'll miss those darn characters. Well, the next book that I'm reading will be so much less exciting: Teaching for Comprehension in Reading, K-2. Wooooo -- hoooooo! I'll be starting it tomorrow, at the library, out of the stinkin' heat.

Happy Birthday, Puppoooo!

Andy turns 1 today. He's upstairs right now, in the stinkin' heat, barking at ghosts. I told him this morning, that now that he is a big boy, that he will be good every day. No more chewing my scissors, spools of thread, or brand new Pitt Pens. He promptly commenced chewing on the handle of my trowel.
Happy Birthday Big Boy!These are cupcake pins I made to celebrate Andy's birthday. Some will be on etsy later today.... aren't they cute????