A Holiday Affaire II - December 2nd and 3rd

Hello Blogger Peeps! I will be participating in the upcoming event on Friday, December 2nd and Saturday, December 3rd with some of my other artsy friends. Please note the times for each day. Friday - noon to 6pm and Saturday - 10am to 4pm.

The event is being held again at the home of my friends Linda and Bob Bucci in Costa Mesa (see above for complete address).  Their house is on the corner of 19th and Raymond.

AND we're going to have a "Mini Marketplace" where you can get some good deals on art books & magazines, vintage ephemera, inks, ribbon, rubber stamps and soooooo much more.  First come-First served.

So mark you calendars and spread the word!  Bring your cash, checks and credit cards.  There will be a credit card machine available and I'm also hooked up with the SQUARE Card Reader on my IPhone.  We've got you covered any way you want/need to pay for what you can't live without this holiday season :)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving next week!

It's Wednesday, December 22nd - WOYWW 81

Time is a figure eight, 
at its center the city of déjà vu. 
Robert Brault

I spot 2 tonic scissors

Sheeeesh, this workspace doesn't look too much different (or better) than it did LAST Wednesday.  Feels like déjà vu.  And what's with all the "2's"???

2 distress crackle paints & 2 color washes

2 adage ticket books

2 ring blanks in this dish

2 sides of this box (it flips) full of "th" trinkets

I didn't get all of tim's 12 Tags of Christmas completed (or in some cases even started) this year.  But I'm not beating myself up over it.  

2 (on the left) of the 12 tags of christmas completed

And did I make Christmas cards and get them in the mail?  Nope, didn't do that either - not even 2 of them!  

I AM working on some New Year's cards though - 2 wips here . . .

And I DID purchase some cards to give out at the office Christmas celebration at Dave & Buster's later this morning and I even purchased my gift for the "steal a gift" game we always play.  It's in that brown paper package tied up with string on the table.  

I thought it was just too cool!  So much so, I bought one for myself (so that makes 2).  You can see "Fun in the Fridge" Snowman in action HERE.

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Natal, Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun, Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan, Glædelig Jul, Hyvaa joulua, Joyeux Noel, Fröhliche Weihnachten, Mele Kalikimaka, Nollaig Shona Dhuit, Buone Feste Natalizie, Shinnen omedeto, Sung Tan Chuk Ha, God Jul, Maligayang Pasko, Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom, God Jul, Sawadee Pee Mai, Chuc Mung Giang Sinh, Vesel Bozic - thank you Cardarian :), Nollaig Chridheil - thank you Marilyn!


And if I've missed saying it in your language, please know that however it is said, I wish you a double dose (that's 2!) of the merriest of Christmas  celebrations!  And of course you can let me know how you say it too :)


And if you'd like to see some other work spaces, hop over to Stamping Ground where Julia Dunnit hosts WOYWW every week.  So tell me . . . what's on YOUR workspace this week?  

Safe and Sound and One Last Reminder

me in my tim holtz hoodie in las vegas

Wanted you to know I had a really fun time and made it back safe and sound last night from Las Vegas.  The Charlie Wilson concert was "off the hook!" and I went to the Old School party both Friday AND Saturday night. 

Now THIS part is FUNNY . . . On Sunday when I got up from the table at brunch and started walking through the casino, I looked at one of my cousins and said "daaaang, my legs are really sore this morning".   She replied, "Well, when was the last time you partied like that?"  Duuuuhhh

The legs are feeling better today and I'm back at "the day job".  I sure hope I make it through what has become my "Nap Time" today *smiles*

And just as a reminder, the Holiday Affaire is this Friday and Saturday in Costa Mesa.  I will be participating both days and would just LOVE to see you there . . .

Have an art-filled week!!

This Thanksgiving

This morning I was watching Good Morning America.  It is Robin Roberts 50th birthday.  George and the gang surprised Robin with one of her favorite artists and friends, India Arie, who stopped by the studio to sing "It's a Beautiful Day".  This is a song that Robin co-wrote with India.

Maybe it's because Robin is a breast cancer survivor whose story I have followed even before I learned that I had breast cancer myself.  I'm not sure.  Maybe it's because I am a survivor like Robin and appreciate each and every day so much more now.  I'm not sure.  But when India sang "It's a Beautiful Day" to her, I was moved and have had the lyrics stuck in my head all day.


What I AM sure about is that I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving - more so than any other Thanksgiving in the past.  And if you are reading this blog post over the Thanksgiving holiday, know that YOU, my friend, are one of my many blessings that I am thankful for this year. 

Here are the lyrics to the song . . .

Life is a journey, 
Not a destination, 
There are no mistakes, 
Just chances we've taken 
Lay down your regrets cause all we have is now 

Wake up in the morning 
And get out of bed 
Start making a mental list in my head 
Of all of the things that I am grateful for 

Early in the morning 
It's the dawn of a new day 
New hopes new dreams new ways 
I open up my eyes and 
I open up my mind and 
I wonder how life will surprise me today 
Early in the morning 
It's the dawn of a new day 
New hopes new dreams new ways 
I open up my heart and 
I'm gonna do my part and 
Make this a positively beautiful day 

La la la la la la la la la

It's a Beautiful Day

Life is a challenge not a competition 
You can still smell the roses and be on a mission 
Just take a moment to get in touch with your heart 
Sometimes you feel like you've got something to prove 
Remind yourself that there's only one you 

Just take a moment to give thanks of who you are 
Early in the morning 
It's the dawn of a new day 
New hopes, new dreams, new ways 
I open up my eyes and 
I open up my mind and 
I wonder how life will surprise me today 

Early in the morning 
It's the dawn of a new day 
New hopes, new dreams, new ways 
I open up my heart and 
I'm gon' do my part and 
Make this a positively beautiful day 

La la la la la la la la la
It's a Beautiful Day

Let's make this a wonderful 
Let's make this a powerful
Let's make this a Beautiful Day 

It's a Beautiful Day 

Life is a journey, 
Not a destination, 
There are no mistakes, 
Just chances we've taken 
Lay down your regrets cause all we have is now

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

OCAM Holiday Affaire

Mark your calendars and don't worry about making a shopping list.  There will be something for EVERYONE at this event!

FEATURED ARTISTS

Linda Bucci - Ms.Gotrocks Jewelry

Robert Bucci - Fine Artist

Keely Reichman with her enchanting Sandman Dolls

Carolyn Waitt - Magical Bottles and Swarovski Jewels

Debi Harvey - Hand forged silver earrings and bracelets

Jody B Designs – Custom monogramming, aprons, 
pillow cases and baby items

Linda M - Christmas stockings and throw pillows

Johnyne Helm - Handmade beaded journals and bracelets 
to wear with your jeans

Jeri Wilkinson - Art supplies, Paper, stamps, inks, 
vintage treasures and gift wrap

Sherry Goodloe - ZENful canvas art, 
holiday charm necklaces & earrings and all things Alice in Wonderland

Kimberly McIntosh - Cookie Elf, appetizer passer and wines

Refreshments will be served and beautiful wrapping papers and baskets to gift wrap items you have purchased will be available as well.  


I hope you will be able to come out and support me and these other local artists!  And I would love it if you could help spread the word as well.

No Matter How You Say It . . .

Happy New Year!

Onnellista uutta vuotta

GODT NYTÅR

Buon Capo d'Anno

Feliz Año Nuevo

Gott Nytt År

Sun nien fai lok

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu

Feliz ano novo

Xin nian yu kuai

Gelukkig nieuwjaar

Aide shoma mobarak

Bonne année

Aith-bhliain Fe Nhaise Dhuit

Gutes Neues Jahr

Hauoli Makahiki Hou

Shanah tovah
Happy New Year hun -
(said in an English/Cambridge accent by Linda Elbourne)

and remember:  "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."   Ralph Waldo Emerson

2nd Saturday Blog Post

Took a break from the 12 Tags of Christmas to work on some artist trading cards (atc's) . . .

The Twelve Tags of Christmas - Tag #1

Ok, this makes, #6, #9, #10 and now #1.  Four down and 8 to go!

My rendition of Tim's Tag #1 of the 12 Tags of Christmas:

The Snowman stamp I used is a custom stamp that was hand carved by my friend Linda Bucci.  I stamped the Snowman and cut it out around the border and applied foam tape behind it and attached to the tag to make it dimensional . . .

Other products used on this tag include a Paper Distresser, Happy Holidays rubberstamp, heat tool, Carrara Marble Coarse Glitter by Martha Stewart, Pearl Acrylic Paint Dabber, Dried Marigold and Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain Distress Inks, Just For Fun snowflake stamp, Glossy Accents and Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist 

The Pearl Paint dabber was used on the snowflake stamp and after stamping, I heat set the snowflakes.

The little crown on the Snowman's head is Grungeboard that I faux rusted and attached with Glossy Accents.   Coordinating fibers were strung from the top of the tag for hanging.


And I guess you know by now . . . Platinum Stickles Glitter Glue can be found on this tag as WELL!  *smiles*

The Twelve Tags of Christmas - Tag #9

I'm up early and back working on the tags!  I really AM using all of Tim's techniques, I'm just not always using them on the tag HE used them on.


Below is my version of Tag #9 of Tim Holtz' 12 Tags of Christmas:

The Santa stamp I used is by Inkadinkado.
Holly stamp is by Paper Inspirations
I used a Dymo labeler to print "He knows when you're awake"


Other products used: Pearl Acrylic Paint Dabber, Ruby Red Liquid Pearls, Green and Red Stickles


The background of my tag was coffee stained and then distressed using various Distress Inks.  I sprayed Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist over the tag and let it dry before stamping on the tag. Once stamped, I used the Paper Distresser to fray the edges on all sides of the tag and darkened with a darker Distress Ink.


I don't have the Tiny Attacher, so I had to use my regular office stapler

I used Tim's Film Strips and his wonderful little Santa photos he gifted us!

Variegated silky ribbon was used for hanging the tag.


And YES, Platinum Stickles was used on Santa's ball on his hat!  *smiles*.   Did I tell you that I LOVE Platinum Stickles Glitter Glue?  LOL!




You can find my Tag #6 in the previous post if you missed it last night *wink wink*

Zentangle, Paris to the Moon, Friends, and UPDATE on Grandmother Status

Lots to share today.  I'll start with the Zentangle class I went to at Mary and Trina's home on Saturday.   Penny Raile gave us a free introduction to Zentangle for 2 hours.

This was Penny's first time teaching Zentangle since she took the workshop with the creators, Maria and Rick, so Penny was using us as guinea pigs (so to speak).

Penny had placed Zentangle samples all around for us to check out. Here are a few of them. To see the detail, just click to enlarge . . .

We all had a wonderful time together, and Mary and Trina were the perfect little hostesses *smiles*.

Here are a few photos I snapped at the party . . .

above is Penny, our instructor.  Click on the photo to see her Zentangle-inspired shirt she's wearing.  How cool is THAT?!

My buddy Diana

From left to right:  Trina, Nicole (Owner of The ARTbar) and Mary
PS - Nicole is having a HUGE sale at the store that you might want to go and check out

And I just HAD to show you this fab-u-lous Christmas tree!  Mary made this about 40 years ago.  The photo does not do it justice, but if you click on the photo you can get a closer look.  AND, there are mini lights throughout that are wired behind the framed tree.  Look at all of the jewels Mary used to make this!  Just GORGEOUS!

After the class I mentioned that I was going over to Paris to the Moon in Costa Mesa.  Mary replied with, "What's Paris to the Moon?"  OMG, I couldn't believe that she had never been there, let alone had never even HEARD of the place!  So you know what happened next, right?   Yep, the three of us went to Paris!

After we left Paris, Mary and Trina went back home and I stopped by Linda's for a quick hello since she lives just right around the corner from Paris.

Remember a couple of weekends ago when I was at Linda's showing her how to make those snow people?  Well here they are all completed and in their wonderland!

 Aren't they cool?!








And of course Marley had to get in on the act last night.  Here she is wearing her Christmas collar . . .

Ok, so I saved this news for last. I am an ex-grandmother! a grandmother.  Below was is my new grandson.   Seems my teenage manchild was not ready for a 3-week old baby!  Great lesson learned in less than 2 whole days by the way.

Yep, he was definitely cute *sigh*.  He has been placed in a new and loving home that can care for him properly. . .

I'm just glad that my teenage manchild realized the great responsibility it is to raise a baby.  Babies do more than sleep!

PS  I hope you are enjoying my Christmas/Holiday selection of tunes here on my blog.  This is the first day that I've been at the computer long enough to hear all of the songs.  I think I did a pretty good job of picking some uplifting tunes!