More ATCs Already!

It feels like we’ve been marathoning the ATCs, but that’s just because we got behind and are trying to catch up.

January’s theme was either “winter” or “new beginnings.” After a discussion of what they might do for new beginnings, the girls both opted for doing winter.

They both did blue backgrounds with darker blue accents, then stenciled white snowflakes. They liked using the stencils! Then they added stickers and iridescent sparkles.

I opted to use a photo I took yesterday of a tree that is already blossoming out, and adding the caption, “Winter?  What winter?”

Before we know it, it will time to get busy on February’s cards!

On a positive weather note, we got a little rain on Wednesday, and even more on Thursday. Not enough to reverse the drought, of course, but at least we seem to have broken through the front that was keeping us dry!

Sharing a Friend’s Joy

There is a saying that “girls compete with each other, women support each other.” From the moment I heard it, I knew it was true.

I got some validation for that today.

A friend of mine was just published in Stampington Magazine’s Green Craft. She’s over the moon excited!

Being published in Stampington is one of my dreams. I could easily be jealous. But I’m not. I could easily feel competitive. But I don’t.

Lori is a wonderful artist, a member of my art group, and a great friend. And I’m so happy for her that I don’t see how it could feel any better if it were happening to me! It’s a GREAT feeling.

I guess that means I’m a woman! Heeheehee!

Now I’m going to stop bragging on her and go read that article!

A Pending Creative Bust

Sometimes I go through periods of time when I am so busy I hardly give a thought to the creativity (or lack there of) in my life.

Other times, it is all I think about. Sometimes it’s so bad that my head feels like it will explode I have so many ideas in there.

I had hoped that in working my word this year (organize) I would come up with enough extra time in my life that I could spend much more time in creative mode (and I HAVE made some progress – just not enough!) But here we sit, about to say goodbye to the first month of the new year, and I am not NEARLY where I want to be in my creative pursuits.

I have not even LOOKED at the 1st lesson in Lifebook 2014, let alone the 2nd, 3rd or 4th.

I’ve BARELY checked in with One Little Word.

I at least STARTED the Documented Life Project, but am falling a little further behind every day.

On my behalf, I have joined an art group and participated in 2 get-togethers. I’ve learned to use my gelli plate, and used a couple of the prints to make tip-in pages for my journal. I made Christmas ornaments for my ATC group, and completed my last set of ATCs and began the 2nd set.

So, I guess I’m not a total loser. Heeheehee!

Anyway. The next couple of weeks are going to be pretty much a creative bust, I’m afraid. So much going on. I doubt I’ll even be blogging much (which for me will be sheer hell!) But keep an eye out! I’ll pop in when I can!

Creativity is a Way of Life

Man, creativity has taken a backseat in my life lately!

I mean, I’ve done some creative arrangement of furniture. I’ve done some creative purchasing of clothing with co-ordinating jewelry. I’ve been creative in cramming more into a day than can reasonably be expected.

But it’s been a week since I picked up a paint brush, or beads, or a needle or any other implement of actual creativity.

That needs to change.

…and my life is suffering from the lack of it.

Sharing Sweetness

I have to take a minute to share my sweet granddaughters. Again.

They had their winter piano recital today.

 

Hannah has been taking lessons for a few years and has had a number of recitals before this, but this was Bea’s first.

It was so sweet. Little Bea didn’t seem nervous at all. She was the very first to perform, and just marched up to the front, plopped down and began to play. It was so cute.

Hannah has improved so much since even her last performance.

We bring flowers to all the recitals, and Bea was very happy to get her own this time!

One of the wonderful parts of living so close to them is that we get to share in all these little moments in their lives. We are so blessed.

 

Didja Miss Me?

You may have noticed there was no Tattered ‘n Worn with your coffee this morning.

We had company over the weekend, and I got caught up in both a marathon viewing of season 1 of Mr. Selfridge, and trying to boost the economies of Placer and Sacramento counties with the help of my bestie. So, no morning post, and I believe life went on. Pretty sad. You’d think that at the very least the earth would have fallen off its axis. But, no, everything is fine. I think I’m insulted.

However, I have a few new pairs of shoes,

(OMG, I LOVE these boots!!!)

a cute little cabinet of drawers for the entryway, a bunch of metal flowers for the garden, a shower gift purchased for Meegs and Baby Lexie, and ideas for more storage containers, so all is well.

BUT, I missed you. And I feel guilty. Well, a little guilty, anyway. Nah, who am I kidding? A lot guilty! Blogging every day has become such a big part of my life that I feel like a slug when I miss it!

So, I guess it’s a good time to thank you for coming along with me on this crazy journey. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy life to read what I write…

Flowers, One Way or Another

We’re in the middle of a drought here in California. At best we’ll begin mandatory water restrictions, soon, and most of us have begun voluntarily cutting back already.

For me that means not planting any flowers this year. Best case scenario we’ll get some rain before the dry season sets in, but it’s not looking good. We’ll try to keep the perennials holding on by their fingernails as long as possible – just enough water to keep them alive. But it seems wrong to plant annuals until we know for sure.

Should we hit stage 5 water restrictions, all outside watering will be outlawed. That means the possibility of losing all of our landscaping – almost certainly the lawns and perennials, and possibly the trees as well.

But, as bad as the garden will look, I will make it as pretty as possible.

Today I came upon some lovely metal flower stakes. Not a perfect solution, but it will help with the illusion of a garden and keep a little color out there.

I would rather be planting beautiful fresh annuals, but given that that is not an option, I can be happy in making the best of it. I’m actually kind of excited to get the garden cleaned up and the new treasures out and looking lovely!

 

December ATCs and a Gift

The girls and I took a break from doing Artist Trading Cards for awhile, but we’re back at it now.

December’s theme was “Christmas Icons.” When I asked the girls what their favorite was, they asked “what’s an icon?” I told them it was a symbol of Christmas and they should choose their favorite one. They both said “baby Jesus.” Isn’t that the sweetest? I thought they would say Santa or candy canes – the typical, so I was quite surprised, and really proud of them.

I picked gingerbread, because I had these cute little felt gingerbread men I was anxious to play with!

I was the hostess for December’s swap, and decided to do something a little different to thank the ladies for participating. So, I made a funky little Christmas ornament made with old wooden spools, beads, buttons, wire, glitter, paper, ribbon, and a bird to symbolize our fly tribe. It wasn’t an original idea (except for the bird part.)

There were several different kinds at the Vintage Fair I went to last year, and I fell in love with them. I’ve been itching to do something a little less arty, and a little more “crafty.” These fit the bill!

Now I’ve got the bug. I already didn’t have enough time for all the playing I want to do with the gelli plate, now I want to play with ornaments!

Hard and Soft Deadlines

If I’ve got a hard deadline, and a bit of time to meet it, I’m good. I can take even a complex project, break it into pieces and get it done, even when numerous things pop up to derail my plans.

Where I have issues is when I have a soft deadline that suddenly becomes a hard one that runs into an existing hard one! Then I can make myself crazy real fast.  But I can usually still cope, and make it happen. Add a third, and it’s a recipe for a cold sore (which showed up like clockwork!)

So now I’m running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and I look gross to boot! Heeheehee!

But, truth be told, I do my best, fastest and most organized work under pressure. I can’t remember the last time I got so much done in such a short period of time.

Now I have a little bit of a break before another deadline sets in. I’m going to play for a few days while my bestie is here for a visit, then I’m going to try very hard to wrap up what I need to do PRIOR to the deadline, so I can relax a little.

You’d think by now I’d have that figured out!

Who knew?

Last week on Nashville, Deacon was having trouble with his song-writing, and finally figured out that his issue was he had always “created” from a place of pain, and now he was happy, and didn’t know how to create from that place in his brain.

Well, I have a parallel situation going on. I just realized that this morning. I clean house when I’m MAD. Not so much when things are going well. And things are going REALLY well these days. So, if I want a clean house, I need to be pissed off all the time? Wonder what Mr. Tattered would choose if those were his choices? Happy wife = messy house – OR – Angry wife = clean house. What a choice!

Anyway.

So, I’m still trying to get organized after shifting rooms around. I took a break and jumped on-line to find the cabinet I want for the family room. Back in the back of my mind I remembered one I had seen at Pottery Barn awhile back. I lusted after it at the time, but had no room for it, so I sorta forgot about it. Now with a whole wall just begging for something awesome to fill it, I remembered and went on a search for it. AMAZEBALLS!   It is still available, and best yet, on sale! EEEEK! It was meant to be!

I’m in total LOVE!

I love everything about it. And did you notice it’s RED! It’s flippin’ RED!

I didn’t want to try to match the wood of the existing entertainment center (which we got at Ashley Furniture a few years back.) They no longer carry anything remotely similar, and matching is sooooooo hard to do, so co-ordinating is a better option.

Red is my go to color in almost all situations, but I’ve never gotten this bold in a main living area before. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it!

In a few weeks, it’s going to be like having a whole new room. Hmmm. I wonder if once I have my “new” room, and an actual office space for Mr. Tattered I will feel like keeping the house looking nicer without being mad?

Maybe for awhile. A girl can hope.