Before.....

Sadly, this fall I lost a friend. Yvette was someone who I don't remember not knowing. She was older than me. We had gone to the same little church together all my young life and through the years she and her sister and her sisters girls became part of our extended family. Loosing a friend is different than loosing a relative. I am not sure that I can express it in words since I am an artist I think that is where I best express myself. But, the loss is real. It reminds me once again how life is so short and that in a turn it all can change. Along with her sister and nieces my mom and I have helped in cleaning out her house. This piece has been in her garage for years. I can't remember if it was her Grandma's or a piece she bought but it was obvious it hadn't seen the inside of a house in a long time. So, it is on loan to me for awhile.
I loaded it up in my SUV and drove her home.

My dear Mother came down and brought my step Dad (also known as the best help we can afford (free) and they are good help for sure) and we carried it into the kitchen. But, first we had to re-arrange the furniture moving tables to the basement and a cabinet to the front porch. The drawer was messed up and it was DIRTY and needed some kind of treatment. Mom to the rescue.

Tomorrow I will post the after pictures. For now I am happy to have it in my house for how ever long as it reminds me of Yvette and her Grandma.

Did a little shopping this WEEKEND

I live in the MIDWEST where it snows and gets cold and everyone is surprised when it does so. I love being inside it forces me to tackle projects and get things done. Today I finally got the area where I take pictures just the way I like it. Check that off my list. Plus, I did a little shopping. I love what I found and will be listing it all this week in my etsy shop. I know someone is going to love the headless DOLL and all the other stuff. Check my shop often as I try to list something everyday.

YOU ARE THE CHEESE TO MY MACARONI

The box signs have all arrived. See the side bar of my blog to purchase these beauties for yourself or to give as a gift. This one would make a great VALENTINE'S DAY gift even for your MOM.

Dog Love ya!

When my brother and I were little my Mom made us dog and cat pillows. She keeps talking about them so this is my version of the DOG. I will make a CAT one (with different fabrics) real soon maybe this weekend.
The ribbon is hiding the stitches.

I used 9 different fabrics. Designed and patterned by yours truly.

For SALE in my etsy store.

Remember my goal: To use up all my fabric....

Craftaholics Anonymous: t-shirt pom poms TUTORIAL

I don't know if it is my age (made these when I was a kid) or what but I LOVE pom poms. My niece got married last year and my MOM made pom poms to use as decor. I want to make these!!!!! Jenny Holiday had this on her FACEBOOK and I had to share. Let me know if you craft some up.

Craftaholics Anonymous: t-shirt pom poms TUTORIAL: " got an old tee or two {or 20!} that you don't wear anymore? turn them into *pretty little pom poms!* they're fun and easy to make. &nb..."

Special Order

My friend Becky gave me a picture of her Grandmother, a wooden window(frame) and a box of photos she bought at a yard sale and said do whatever you want. This is the best kind of special order because too many wishes for the work can spoil it for me. So I layered and stitched and painted and dotted and even included an original VIV collage that I won in 2009 through a blog giveaway. Last night I met with Becky and she loved it. So happy that she did. I like working small so BIG is always a big push for me. You can't see all the details in the pictures. My favorite spot is the rusty paper clip on the photo leaf.

new stairs

My friend Shaun, introduced me to a blog called Design Sponge (listed now on my favorite blogs list). The first post I saw was where someone had collected yard sticks and attached them to the risers of their stairs. From moving so much lately I wanted to wait a year and live here and figure out how I wanted to my house to feel. (Don't get me wrong everything is hanging on the walls) But, I wanted to wait to paint colors and make changes. SO yesterday I had my sweet Mom and step dad down and we did little projects and the best is now my ugly messed up stairs are covered with these wonderful yard sticks that my neighborhood pals (Sandy and Char) have been helping me collect. So really 6 people made this little project happen and I LOVE the way it looks.

Before...some of the steps had been covered with drywall at some point (OLD HOUSE) dirty ugly steps.

Upclose of back steps.

FINISHED back steps. Measure TWICE cut once, drill tiny hole and then use a finishing nail. I had a hard time doing it on my belly so my much smaller Mom did the ones on the floor.

Jim working on the front stairs that lead to the upstairs or to the hall where the other stairs are on the other side.

Love! Had to use some folding rulers to make it work. I would like to thank Shaun, Jim, Sue, Sandy and Char.

I have been in such a wierd place for so long and then the calendar changed and it seems like that's all it took. I have been making stuff from all the FABRIC I have like a crazy person. (i use to have a wholesale line...I make multiples :) Yesterday I made 3 door pillows, 2 rectangular pillows and finished this "ugly doll" plus everything else that I do in a day I told my Mom that I want to use up all the fabric that I had and she said there is no way. So now it is a CHALLENGE bring it on Sweet Sue!!!! So this is just the begininng. Stay tuned!

SOLD

another vivian maier photograph

Flash from my PAST

If you knew me when....I made a line of paper mache cats and sold them all over the United States and beyond for almost 10 years...so last night while Ed was at a hockey game I made a big CAT pillow, a nod to my past. MEOW!~

About mid-week I decided it was time to get crafting again. So many distractions in 2011 really did have an effect on my being able to work as much as I have in the past. I also feel like so much has happened and alot of it was sad and it is hard to work "happy" when you are dealing with all the sadness. The NEW YEAR does bring a sense of a fresh start. Our first year in this house will be here in Feb. and my studio still isn't right (at all) to work in so....I brought the sewing machine and only a bit of fabric and ribbon that I have down to the dining room....so far this is what I have made. Of course it is all for sale and will be on etsy this coming Tuesday or before. I am working with what I have but as always I needed stuffing so there will always be SHOPPING!

Heart PILLOW $18-


Square Pillow $18-

love PILLOW $15-

Love DOOR hanger $8-

The Lost work of Vivian Maier

This is one of her pictures which I love since I am a "Big" girl myself. Her work is amazing and I just wanted to share the blog with you. The story of finding her work is great too so go to www.vivianmaier.blogspot.com and to check out more images. I would love to see her work in Chicago may have to take the train up.

New LOOK New YEAR

I have made a few changes on my blog. New Year starts with change. I have been focused selling vintage items in my etsy store and will continue to try and list something everyday. I also have lots of plans to make some dolls, blank books, journals, pillows and more. I hope to list some of the handmade items in the next week or so.

also....

This past SPRING I went to OHIO with some friends and found these BOX SIGNS so I bought a couple and gave them as gifts well...everyone LOVES them so I will have some for sale here on my blog (hopefully once we figure out how to download everything) and I am selling them at Exit 76 Art & Antiques in Edinburgh, Indiana. As You Grow Up is $59.50 plus shipping and Do The Thing is $27.50 plus shipping. More are on there way and should be here by the end of the month. They just have a great messages. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for stopping by.