Will You Be Attending? . . .

It's almost here!  This Friday and Saturday is the Holiday Affaire II event in Costa Mesa.  Below are a few items that I will be selling . . .

Christmas Angel - 8" x 8" gallery wrapped canvas

Christmas Tree - 8" x 8" gallery wrapped canvas

laser wood cut Santas and Elves and some
fun swimsuit & intimate Santa girl earrings

Some vintage goodies in the mix . . .

And of course I will be bringing some of my Eclectic Charm Necklaces . . .

Oh, and I just learned today that 4 more artists will be selling at the event.  That makes twelve of us now.  There will be something for everyone - sterling silver jewelry, candle holders, gorgeous holiday pillows, decorator dolls, whimsical creations, greeting cards, fine art and MORE!


Ooooh, and don't miss the Mini Marketplace.  There's going to be some really good new and slightly used items and even some vintage ephemera for sale at some great prices.


For address, time of event both days, etc., please refer to my blog post below.  Hoping to see you Friday, Saturday or maybe even both days! :)

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?  

Another Workshop and Scratch & Sniff

Saturday I spent a few hours in Old Town Tustin at Whimzy teaching three ladies - Kat, Pame and Katherine how to create charm necklaces using Fragments . . .
Creative chaos . . .

Collaging . . .

Dianne giving me "the eye" as I snap photos around her store.  Thanks for playing hostess Saturday! . . .

Sheryl wasn't able to play hostess today, but she still made time to leave some of her homemade cookies.  Photos? Sorry - cookies all gone!  Thank you Sheryl for my personal bag of cookies and cute card :)


Ready for Christmas? . . .

I always have a great time hanging out here . . .

I wish you could "scratch & sniff" your computer screen to smell these wonderful gifts I received in the mail from Linda Ledbetter when I returned home from Whimzy yesterday!


Bath Salts - 2 HUGE jars and Body Butter.  But not just any ole bath salts and body butter, Check out the LABELS!  OMG if this isn't special!  Oooooh, and the candle is just Heavenly . . .

And that's not ALL.  Check out the Warrior Woman Spa Body Scrub.  Ohhhh yes, I will be treating myself to THIS today! . . .

And my hair will just LOVE the Warrior Woman Spa Hair Oil . . .

I'm all set for my in-home spa treatment today!  

But WAIT, there's MORE!  This is a book that Linda made me to keep my musings in and a simply GORGEOUS card that was included as well.  Ooooh, Linda you have brought the biggest smile to my face.  I just love it ALL!  Thank you Thank you Thank you!

And as I looked further in the box, I found THIS gorgeous (handmade of course!) card from Hels Sheridan over at Ink on my Fingers!  Thank you so much Hels.  You have been by my side (albeit miles away) since the beginning of my journey . . .

And I received another book in the mail from my friend Dianne in Chicago by one of my all-time favorite authors (may he rest in peace), E. Lynn Harris . . .

What a nice way to end the day on Saturday and what an even NICER way for me to start my Sunday with all my "Spa Goodies"!  


Gotta run . . . the SPA is calling.  :)

PART I: Sorry It's Been So Long

Since August 1st everything has been moving so quickly.  And before still another week has passed, I thought I'd better write a "catch up" blog post.  So here's what has transpired to date:

Tuesday, September 14th:  Went into the hospital for my bilateral mastectomy.  Surgery went well.  After surgery my blood pressure dropped too low and I was fitted with a heart monitor and moved to another room in the hospital where they could keep an eye on me 24/7


Wednesday, September 15th:  Too much blood filling up (what I call "the grenades" from the Jackson Pratt drainage tubes) in the JP tube on the right side.  Hemotoma the size of a baseball


Thursday, September 16th:  Had to go "under the knife" again so surgeon could stop the bleeding


Friday, September 17th:  Released from the hospital to (finally!) go home

Wednesday, September 22nd:  First follow-up appointment with my surgeon.  Compression bandages removed and left JP drainage tube removed.  Right JP tube still attached as a precaution to infection.  Traumatic day emotionally as it was the first time I saw myself without the bandages.  Had my cry (and a few more since then) but feel emotionally stronger every day now


I will be going back to the doctor this Wednesday (September 29th) for another follow-up and hopefully to get the JP tube removed on the right side.  

I meet with the Oncologist (the Quarterback of my Cancer Journey) on Thursday, October 7th to discuss further treatment - chemo, radiation and/or hormone therapy.


What I can tell you so far is that the cancer did not spread to my lymph nodes and my margins appear to be clear!  Both of these things make me very happy.

And listen to THIS . . . when my surgeon was going over the pathology report with me, he said that there was another tumor in my right breast that never showed up on any of the mammograms, MRI's or ultrasounds that I had received almost weekly this past month and a half!  Soooo glad I didn't get a Lumpectomy for the tumor that could be seen.  I can't imagine having to go through all of this again when the tumor would have eventually grown and shown up at some point


God is good all the time and all the time . . . you know the rest! *smiles*


Part II of "Sorry It's Been So Long" will be posted after my afternoon nap :)

This Past Weekend in Review and Upcoming Events

I've been asked to be a guest artist on one of the challenge blogs this month (March 17th), so last Friday night I started working on that project.  I'll post on March 16th, as the blog originates in Luxembourg, so there is about a 9-hour time difference for me here on the West Coast.


Saturday afternoon I received a box at my door from "you know who".  Got this really cool artist apron . . .

And the best book for bedtime reading - at least that's where I spent my time with it Saturday . . .

I waited to purchase this book so I could get a signed copy from The Man himself *smiles* . . .

And in my mailbox the same day . . .

This was a surprise RAK (Random Act of Kindness) artist trading card from my blog buddy Deb Famularo over at Sparkling Scrapbooks.  I included her note in this post so you would know I was telling the truth when I tell you that this is only her SECOND atc that she's ever made!   Yep, isn't it GORGEOUS?!


Thank you Tim, Mario (he's the reason my book and apron got packed, shipped and arrived safely) and Deb for a nice art-filled weekend!


On Sunday I started playing with my new Distress Inks.  Ooooooo I just LOVE all of the new colors!  


It was back to "the day job" on Monday and more of the same through Thursday this week.  Friday - off work.  And then there's Saturday . . .

You know where I will be! *smiles*  Will you be there as WELL??????

Monday Mail Call . . .4.37 Miles. . .Latest Zentangle

In my mail box when I got home last night . . .

And this is what was in the box . . .

There were only 11 of the new Distress Inks included because Pumice Stone is still on backorder.  But look at all of the extra goodies that Eclectic Paperie included as gifts "just because"!

They even included some tags to use.  This is REALLY good, since I just moved and haven't gone through all of my boxes marked "Arts & Crafts" yet - *sigh*


If you read some of my earlier birthday posts, then you already know that this was a gift from my sil/bff Lezlei.    Thanks again Lezlei!


Now, check THIS out.  I mapped Eclectic Paperie, and they are 4.37 miles from my home.  Does this mean that I can just drive over and go shopping any time I want?  Be still my Tim Holtz lovin' heart!

Sad to say, but it looks like they are an online retail store only - no physical location/store front - darn it.  But I bet this is where all their stuff is!


Do you think I could call and tell them to just leave anything Tim Holtz-related at the back door and I'll just swing by and pick it up?  

Please?  I promise I won't tell anyone else about our arrangement.

PS  Here's a Zentangle-inspired piece I did before going to bed last night . . .

Have an art-filled day today!

(Fe)Mail Call

I was one of three winners on Nancy Donaldson's blog - All Pulped Out for the One World One Heart event this year.  This is the gorgeous necklace Nancy created that I won.  And isn't the enclosed card gorgeous as well? . . .

Thank you Nancy!!

I was also the winner of Julie Mitchell's OWOH giveaway.  I won this handmade Spirit Doll whose name is Sprite.  She now lives in Southern California with me *smiles*.  You can see more of Julie's doll creations on her blog When The Spirit Moves Me . . .

Thank you so much Julie!

Earlier in the week I received this tin full of alpha stamps for my birthday from my friend Mary Ann over at A Very Mary Design . . .

You always send the perfect gifts Mary Ann - Thank you my friend!

And then today when I checked the mail, this Artist Trading Card was in my box from my blog friend Susan over at Brokn Heart Art !  I remember leaving her a comment that I really liked this atc.  Awwww, how sweet of you Susan to send me a rak (that's random act of kindness for those of you not familiar with the acronym) . . .

Thank you again Susan!  We DO love our atc's don't we? *smiles*

Nice (fe)mail call I had last week.  And then this weekend I sold 8 items in my etsy shop!  That was nice as well *smiles*

Have an art-filled week ahead everyone!!

Over the Top Red Velvet Birthday Cake

Looking for my OWOH giveaway? Click HERE


I worked at our Diamond Bar office today and was surprised with a Birthday lunch by the instructors at that location and even one of their wives.


Lunch consisted of homemade chicken-green chili-cheese enchiladas topped with sour cream, homemade salsa (2 kinds) and chips, beans and homemade guacamole.  Yuuummmy!

Dessert? . . . this beautiful and oh so deeelicious Red Velvet Cake . . .

Look at the rim of this cake . . . all chocolate!

and chocolate-covered strawberries and even the Happy Birthday banner is made out of chocolate!  This is what was left for me to take home . . .

I was so full that I couldn't even walk down to Starbucks to get a cup of coffee with the gift certificate they gave me!

The weight loss program starts on Thursday after dinner with my son and his girlfriend on Wednesday *smiles*