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!

Weekend in Review

Yesterday I finally got started on some backgrounds for a couple of shadow box projects I've been wanting to do . . .

The larger box on the bottom didn't have a removable backing, so I'm working totally inside the box of that one . . .

And the birds?  These are a couple of the birds that sil/bff Lezlei made that she's selling in her etsy shop, Breath of Art.   Using decoupage medium, printed papers, pattern tissue and some distress inks, I've started bringing life to the little naked birds.

I will keep you posted on my progress of the two shadow boxes I'm working on here.

Now to this past Saturday . . .

I spent the day/evening with the Bucci's, Linda and Bob.  Linda had been wanting to learn how to make the Snow People that I was obsessed with making last year, so Saturday was the day.

When I arrived, Linda had the dining room table covered with paper and vintage bottles and salt shakers and ribbons and glitter and pearls and well, you get the picture . . .

These are the start of some of Linda's Snow People.  They aren't fully dressed yet and they don't have on their makeup, but I asked if they would mind if I took a couple of photos anyway.  They didn't mind . . .

I just LOVE this one with the blue vintage bottle body and red ear muffs!  Linda really liked the Jack Hair I had used on one of my Snow People, so I remembered to bring some along for her to use as well . . .

I can't show you any finished Snow People, because it was getting late in the day and we needed to eat. Remember the steak dinner I told you I was getting?   Well, here it is, and yes, it was as good as it looks!  Thanks Linda and Bob!! *smiles*

P.S.  There were biscuits (that Bob hand rolled!), but once they came to the table and another glass of wine was poured, I had to put the camera away . . .

JUST IN!!  Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas is coming December 1st!  Read all about it HERE

Will Teach for Food?

This Saturday I'm going over to my friend's (Linda and Bob) house to show her how to make these . . .

snow girl with vintage jacks for hair

And because we live in California, I thought I should bring along some California winter miniatures to use inside the Snow People bottle bottoms . . .

sand, shells, flip flops and a miniature Christmas tree

I wonder if Linda will want to make as many as I made last year?!  LOL  They ARE addicting to make you know.

Snow Lady wearing glittered Christmas package as her hat

California Snow Guy wearing a resin filled bottle cap hat with a shell, fish, and the word "ocean" encased inside.  And did you notice the palm tree?

And guess what?  I get a bbq'd steak (prepared by Bob) dinner (salad is always prepared by Linda) just for going over and playing!  Ya can't beat THAT now can ya?! *smiles*

Lots of glittery goodness and vintage tinsel

Can't wait to show you photos of this year's Snow People!