is it summer yet?

i love this.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU


(i wanted to embed the video, but can't figure it out :p)

cardboard testimony

what is your cardboard testimony?

thursday favorites

1. Goodies from OneRipePeach! (my "go to girl"), 2. Birthday Tea Party Invitations..., 3. They sang in the moonlight together........., 4. The Posie studio, repainted and reorganized at last!, 5. A thank you for a friend, 6. hat3, 7. Festive Hats, 8. Vintage Wallpaper, 9. birthday fairy wands, 10. rosettes made with paper punch., 11. Dreaming of a *Pink* Christmas! I can't wait!!, 12. Easter, 13. Original Art by Lisa Kaus at Daphne's Cottage, 14. Untitled, 15. Pretty Vintage Seam Binding

been thinking about a new project i'm working on
and got tons of inspiration tonight from flickr.

glad

to be back. it's been a while and i've been super busy.
been feeling the bug to sew & create...so i decided to make some aprons,
and quilts and a bunch of other stuff. take a peek here.
maybe you'll find something you like :)

more to come...

soon.
i promise.
been working on lots of stuff.
can't wait to share.

santa cruz

hi everyone!
we're back from vacation.
had a great time.
been busy getting
the kids ready for school.
been enjoying the last
few weeks of summer.
hope you are too!!

posted more pix from the
trip here.

we're off on
an adventure
for a few days.
lots to talk
about when
i get back :)

embroidery anyone?

you need to run...i mean run...over to Red Velvet Art Kit Club and order this kit. The girls put together all the goodies you need to make this fabulous design board and fabric covered push pins. so cute and lots of fun to play with. and now i have this fun little board to hang in my scrapbook corner. makes me happy :)

happy sunday.

ok...so i joined this journal swap over at SIStv. the rules were you could make a journal or send your buddy materials to make a journal. so being as busy as i have been i figured i would just send all the goodies. well then i found out my swap buddy was someone who totally inspires me on a daily basis...kerry lynn. i love how she adds vintage items to her pages and her style is just amazing. if you haven't seen her stuff...check her out. anyways...when i found out i had kerry lynn i knew i HAD to make her a journal. so here is a peek of the journal i made her. i used old book covers and bound them with wool fabric and vintage feedsack material. i mailed her package already...when she gets it i will post the whole thing. i absolutely love how it turned out. hope she does too :)

finally able to take a breath

coming up for air.
literally and figuratively.

this last week has really
been crazy. been working
on deadlines, and watching
kids :) but today is finally
a down day. a day off to just
lounge and play with the kids.
my asthma has really been
bugging me this past week too.
getting harder and harder to
breath...had to go for a breathing treatment last night. finally able to take
a deep breath without coughing.
feels really good.

here's a pix of drew from last week...showing me his beautiful leaf he found :)

happy wednesday.

its gonna be a hot one.
109 degrees today.
definitely a pool day.

so excited.
got an email from Rachel
at Red Velvet Art Kit Club
asking me to be the guest
designer for their JULY project!
love their kits.
and you guys are gonna love
THIS kit!!! so fun.

stay cool.
happy friday.

it's all about my love for fabric! In fact, i've issued a challenge this week over on the streetWERX blog to use some sort of fabric or stitching in your art. I've been wanting to make a fabric book for a while now and took this opportunity to do so. I just love the digital collage images from LazarStudioWERX. I picked one of my favorites and printed it on muslin to use on the cover. Used a variety of different stitches, some stamping, and lots of my favorite ribbons and trims. Added a few eucalyptus leaves and some other ephemera and its complete. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!!

last week on the studiowerx street team blog, Lu challenged us to play in our art journals. Her journals are amazing and definately inspiring. so as soon as i had a free minute i pulled out the paint, dye, ink and stamps, and made this page. i found that quote a while ago and have really been thinking about it. i've always been a "glass is half empty" kinda person, but i want to change that. i've been realizing how much we can affect outcomes based on our attitude. positive thinking goes a long way. i just need to keep reminding myself of that. happy monday :)

wow! can't believe its been almost a week since i posted. i was on a roll there for a while. was busy all last week working on fathers day gifts and my mom's birthday gift, played in my art journal a little bit...and got a little scrapbooking done. yesterday afternoon was spent watching two lovely little girlies that i have known since they were wee ones :) all the kids played wonderfully together and couldn't have been happier to see one another. it's been a long time...way too long. and then i got to catch up with my dear friend...always laughs and tears. we are truely saps :P here's some pictures of some of the things i've been working on lately.
have a great tuesday!

this was the scene yesterday afternoon at our house :)
11 kids and 6 adults.
lots of fun...
staying cool...
eating good food...
hanging out with good friends...
laughing...
screaming...
eating ice cream...
smiling...
racing...
splashing...
jumping...
plans on this becoming a regular tuesday afternoon get-together.

this past week has just flown by. I was busily making teachers gifts since it was the last week of school. yeah!! the kids are all really excited for summer to finally be here. we've been using the pool tons and they've been loving it. their little bodies are as tan as can be...already. This week we have lots of playdates set up with friends, but i'm hoping to fit in some quality art time :) maybe start on that quilt.

hope you have a great week!

so here it is...my first project for lazar. we had to come up with something using their awesome digital products and a manila folder. i think i went through a whole pack of manila folders trying to get the pattern right :) really like how it turned out. has all of my favorite elements. the old photos, some paint, ink and some stitching. be sure to check out the rest of the girls' projects here. they seriously are cool!
shannon is feeling better after a little bit of rest. we took the kids to see shrek the third this weekend. so funny. and i laughed even more when drew kept asking, " is it over yet?" and i had no idea that popcorn costs about $10 a bucket. when did that happen?? :)
i will be baking banana bread all day. the last day of school is tomorrow and i always make bread for all the teachers :) gotta go warm up the oven.

happy monday!!

it's funny how a trip to the fabric store can lift your spirits and make you feel so inspired. from the moment i walked in....the smells..the colors...the feel of the fabric. so many possibilities. love that feeling :) left with a little bundle to start a new quilt. also got the latest edition of quilting arts magazine. this is my new favorite magazine. lots of great information and full of inspiring art quilts. take a peek if you get a chance :)

got a sick one today. shannon woke up with a sore throat and running a fever. bummer being sick when the weather is so nice.

i finished my first challenge for the lazar street team and i love how it turned out. i will post it later.

hope you have a great thursday :)

pulled out the paints today and have been playing in my friend libby's circle journal. her topic was "what makes you smile". i just had the best time making this page. just playing around...stamping...painting...inking. makes me happy :)

if you're up for a little challenge...the lazar street team is working on our first. let's see what you can come up with...use some digi and manila. check out the challenge here. i can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.