Dandelion

This was wet on wet using masking fluid and Kosher salt.

Teacup ATC Exchange

Wendy made these gorgeous ATC cards for our trade.

These are the cups I made.  Lesley  is also in on this swap but poor Lesley is suffering from the effects of the Canadian postal strike; so she may not get hers for a while.  I slipped a digit and made cups instead of ATC cards!  They say the brain is the first to go.

I used an online template to cut the cups.  There are lots of great templates online!  Search Google images for tea cup template and you'll see what I mean.  After I applied the images, I covered all of the cards with Glossy Accents to give them a porcelain-like appearance.

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE!

Ruth Lyons was a Cincinnati radio and television personality who was one of the true pioneers of television.  Her trademark was her bouquet-covered microphone, which she always used.  Ruth had a saying that she loved:  "The Lord Will Provide!"  She loved telling stories of situations where people were in need in difficult situations and then something happened, seemingly out of the blue, that helped out in the situation.  I have a story today.

I'm unemployed and I figure that my unemployment check will almost cover my mortgage and utilities, but will not cover food, gas, or any medical bills or insurance.  So I'm going to have to get used to really tightening my belt until I do get a new job.

Yesterday I got a call from Fieldwork Atlanta.  This is a market research organization I have been involved with for years.  I have come in from time to time to do research studies - from 1-1/2 to 3 hours - for which I get paid.  Since I have been working full time, however, I have not qualified for studies that take place during the workday.  And these are the most lucrative studies. 

Fieldwork told me they had a study scheduled for Monday, July 11 for 3 hours.  They then took some specific info and said they would call me back if I was qualified.  I just got a call for them and I am qualified! For my participation in the study, I will receive $125 cash.  WOW!  This couldn't come at a better time!  Hopefully, I will be eligible and available for a few more studies in the next few months.  That would help out so much!

Fieldwork has locations in 12 U.S. cities.  Check out my link above to see if there is one close to you.  All you have to do is register with them, and then wait to get a call if you appear to be qualified for a study.  It's really a lot of fun. And if the study starts around a meal time, they have sandwiches, chips and drinks for you.  All this plus CASH!  I'm so grateful.

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE!

Monthly Themed ATC - "That Crazy Hat"

This month's theme is "That Crazy Hat," inspired by Princess Beatrice's incredible wedding hat.  I wondered if another royal lady might wear a crazy hat...

I received this incredible card from Esmeralda.

And here's the card with the little trap door opened:

Isn't this a great card?! I love it.

Vintage Dragonfly's Altered Matchbox Swap - June - Travel

This month our theme was travel - places we'd like to go, exotic and interesting destinations, etc.  I created the matchbox suitcase.  Instead of filling the box with goodies, I have a fold-out picture map of travel destinations.

Since I didn't have any goodies in my suitcase, I made some other items.  Karla, of Misses Peaches Meows, was my recipient.  I used two of her cats' pictures to create geishas (for when they travel to Asia), a key ring to hold important keys for car trips, and a button butterfly featuring Misses Peach.

52 Starlet Art Challenge - Mae West

This is one of my favorite Mae West quotes.  I've always wondered if she came up with her own lines, or if she had someone who helped her develop her persona.  I tend to think it was all her - just like her ample figure.  LOL.  My favorite Mae West movie is My Little Chickadee because I am a huge fan of W. C. Fields.  The writers used most of Mae's more famous lines in this movie and it is a lot of fun.

Postcard Exchange

I am participating in a postcard exchange. Each month one member of the group receives cards from all of the other members.  The next month, another member is showered with cards.  Lucky me - July is my month!  I have already received my first card from April.  I asked for cards that illustrated each artist's personal style.  I love April's style! Stay tuned as I receive more cards during the month of July!

Four Seasons

Spring

Winter

Fall

Summer

The Summer of Color - Week 3 - Pink - Two Studies in Pink

The Summer of Color - Week 3 - Pink

I painted this in watercolor - 5" x 7". 

Then, I decided I wanted to try a larger format.

Emily at the Beach

Here's my granddaughter, Emily, wearing the hat I made for her.

"Say CHEESE!"  Emily and her family

were vacationing last week at the Gulf Shores.

Command Central (My Work Room)

Here's the room where I work - in all its glory - LOL!

Here's one of my favorite things: my drying table.

Altered Spoon

This is the altered spoon I made for my partner in Tee's Altered Teaspoon Swap.

Here is the beautiful spoon I received from AJ:

I have received this beautiful book from Donna!

I received this gorgeous altered composition book from Donna!  This was from Tee's Altered Notebook Swap.  She also included a bookmark!  I love this so much!  Thank you, Donna!

Altered Composition Book Swap

Fun Summer Hats

I saw hats like this on someone's blog and I just had to make them! They were so simple to do.  I ironed fabric onto fusible webbing.  I used a petal template that I found on the Internet to cut out the flowers.  Then I folded each petal and ironed them to make them flare out.  I punched a hole in the middle of each flower and pinned them together with a brad.  I used needle and thread to tack the flowers to the hat from underneath and finished the centers with some large 'gems.'

This little hat is for Katie, my 2 year old granddaughter.  I was lucky to find a hat small enough to fit her, but since it had an image on the front, I had to use the flower to cover it up.



New Address!

To all those who trade with me from time to time - just to let you know that I have a new mailing address.  Formerly, I was having mail sent to my work address in Kennesaw.  My mail will probably not be forwarded to me from this address.

Now that I no longer work there, I am using a post office box in Smyrna.  Please see my profile for my email address and email me for my new address.

Sorry for any inconvenience!

Jeanie

52 Starlet Art Challenge - Greer Garson

Well, it didn't quite come out the way I wanted it to.  I covered the face with Glossy Accents and when it dried, it cracked a bit. Then I pasted it on little pads to make it 3D - but I'm afraid that effect is pretty much lost in this photo!

The Summer of Color - Week 2 - Green

I just wanted to celebrate the color green with leaves which are, I guess, my favorite green things.  I used brayered paper as a base.  The leaves were made of brown paper that was die cut, brayered and then hit with some mod podge to shine them up a bit.  A recent Gingersnap challenge featuring twine has made me eager to use it in many ways.

The necklace below is made from the same pattern that I used to make the blue pendant I posted last week.  The green version is the first time I used the pattern and I made it exactly as it was written.

Gingersnap Creations Challenge GC106 - Packaging Materials

Made from one of those boxes that contain brads and other small scrapbooking materials.

This week's Soartful Challenge

The lady in the original painting was holding a crystal ball.

I thought she should be holding something else.

It'll be way more useful. 

Amy's Challenge "What's it to Hue?"

Amy of Amybeads has a bead challenge going.  She will name a color and challenge us to make a beaded creation using this color.  The latest challenge is the color purple.

I decided to make a medallion.  I started out with a pattern called Persian Rug by La Bella Joya.  I embellished it with some Austrian crystals and seed beads.  I have recently realized that I have four purple blouses but have never made any sort of purple beaded jewelry to wear with it - so this is a well-timed challenge.  I may fix this so that it can be worn as either a brooch or a necklace.

Don't forget to sign up for the door tag swap!

You have until June 27 to sign up for the door tag swap. 
Please don't forget! 
We had some beautiful tags created by some talented people for the door tag challenge

We Want to Know

{1} You have been asked to give a 10 minute speech to teenage girls. What is it about?

Learn who you are before you decide to share your life with someone else.

{2} Do you have a pet? Tell us about them. No pets? Why?

 Two cats – Fanny and Tooky. I’ve had them both for 11 years. They keep me sane living in this house alone.  My late husband taught Tooky to jump up against the wall to beg for treats and he still does it, though he doesn’t get as far up as he used to.

{3} What is the biggest inconvenience about the place you’re currently living?

 It’s 500 miles away from my family.

 {4} What do you think is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?

 I’m not sure I’ve made any good ones yet.

 

{5} What are the THREE "nevers" of your life? (things you would never do or have never done)

I have never made the first move in any relationship. Afraid of rejection. Never pass up a good meal (groan!).  Never kept my house too clean. (LOL!)

52 Starlet Art Challenge - Ruby Keeler

The starlet for Week 5 of the 52 Starlet Art Challenge is Ruby Keeler.

Ruby Keeler was the only actress that I ever remember my mother mentioning as being a particular favorite.  I think it was because Ruby Keeler had that sort of wide-eyed innocent appeal that was so popular in the 30's.  I'm sure my Mom saw 42nd Street because she also had mentioned that Dick Powell was another favorite.  When I saw that movie as an adult, I realized that Ruby was not really a great dancer.  She just had an undeniable appeal. Any young, impressionable girl could dream to be like her.  All it took for success was luck and pluck and a modicum of talent.  Oh, and Busby Berkely, too.

The Summer of Color - Week 1 - Color Blue

First, I made this blue pendant. I started out with a wonderful new pattern I purchased from La Bella Joya called "Persian Rug."  The pattern is meant to make a bracelet which includes 3 motifs. I created one motif for my pendant and embellished it a bit further than the original design.  Bead weaving is my beading passion and blue is my favorite color; so I wanted to make a blue pendant as my first creation.

At the same time, I wanted to do a sort of freeform journal.  Now, I don't know if this makes any sense to anyone but me.  But that's OK. I enjoyed putting it together.   I lost my job this week and was putting everything I was feeling into this collage.

Calla Lilies from my friend!

My friend, Sandi, gave me these gorgeous calla lilies.  We had made a date to meet for lunch today before I knew that yesterday was going to be my last day at work.  Aren't they beautiful? I just love them!

What's Rocking your world

I lost my job yesterday. I guess you can't rock things any more than that!  It was not unexpected - I could see this coming since late last year.  But it was the uncertainty of things that has been so frustrating for so many months.  Now it's happend and at the moment, I feel exhilirated.  I plan to redouble my efforts to clear things up here in Georgia and move back to live in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area with my family as soon as I can.  There is much to be done before that can happen.  I have a large job ahead of me and I hope that I can keep blogging as much as I would like to during this transitional phase of my life.  Hope you will all understand and stick with me until I have gotten myself established in the rest of my life.

This is the REAL me!

This website is a lot of fun!

The Summer of color

I'm participatiang in The Summer of Color.  Click on the blinking icon to check it out.  It's a ten-week challenge.  Each week we are given a different color of the rainbow to work with.  Our task is to create something in that color.  It should be a lot of fun, so check back to see my creations starting next Monday

I have not yet decided whether I want to stick with the same type of thing to create each week, or just create whatever suits my fancy.  I'm leaning toward keeping my options open; but on the other hand, I have never made a journal. Maybe this would be a good chance to do that. I'll have to think about it.

We Want to Know Wednesdays

1.        Everyone seems to have a quirky family situation. What is something unique about your family dynamic?

My father, sister, three daughters and 6 of my grandchildren live in Kentucky and Cincinnati.  I am all alone in Georgia (except for my faithful kitties).

2.       What is the most stressful aspect to blogging (aside from the network going down).

So many blogs-so little time! I like to follow a lot of blogs, but sometimes I can’t keep up with all of the posts and still have time to post myself, and then craft and do other mundane things like cleaning and eating.

3.       We all end up on a blog at some point in our day, but name your top three favorite websites you flock to daily (non-blog).

Facebook, eBay, TV Guide website

4.       What’s your sign?  Believe in it or not, does any part ring true to you?

My birthday is July 2 – Cancer. Descriptive signs are emotional and loving, intuitive and imaginative, shrewd and cautious, protective and sympathetic.  Negative signs are changeable and moody, overemotional and touchy, clinging and unable to let go.  Sounds pretty accurate.

5.       Ice cream!  ICE CREAM!! We all scream for ice cream.  Name your favorite flavor/brand.

Butter pecan – anybody’s.