More Swapping

I signed up for yet another swap today. This one is being organized by Maria over at The Junk Drawer. She's calling it the "Tussie Mussie Goody Swap" and sounds like it is right up my alley. Each of us will make a tussie mussie and then fill it with goodies. I have had some blank tussie mussie cones in my to do stash for quite a while now so when I saw this swap posted I jumped at the chance to join in! Doesn't it sounds like fun? The deadline for sign-ups is Friday, July 20th so there's still time for you to be a part of it too!


We went up to the cottage again this weekend, but there was no time to do anything fun this time. My husband had two truck loads of topsoil delivered as well as a load of mulch. The construction of the cottage last year left the front yard stripped of any decent soil and since most of the county is sitting on bedrock it was necessary to have good soil brought in. So all our time was pretty much spent spreading that all around. And we are no where near being finished. I think maybe we got 1/4 of the soil spread and most of the mulch put down where we want the planting beds. I think my DH husband thinks we are both still in our 20's and can still do this type of manual labor without any effects on our bodies. Needless to say I am pretty stiff and sore today. Like they say in the commercial, "I'm all Advil!" Fortunately the weather cooperated and it wasn't too hot or humid, so at least that was a plus.


I brought my supplies with me as I planned to make more inchies in the evenings, but I was too wiped out to do anything other than watch season two of 24. But when we got back home, I saw my order had come from Cerri over at Little Pink Studio and the contents of her Collage on the Go Kit will make some wonderful vintage inchies. She still has a few kits left, so if your are into making inchies you should check it out.

More Inchies

New Obsession

Look what I am addicted to....INCHIES!! I discovered these tiny little delights on ArtJunk's blog and it was love at first sight. Each of these little squares is 1"x1" and so much fun to make. Dear Lia has been so sweet to explain how she makes these and give me the details of her "inchie on the go kit" that she put together so she can make these teeny tiny creations wherever she goes. That did it for me ~ I just love the idea of being able to slip a little box into my bag and have everything with me to create art. Love it!!! The photo above shows my first 16 creations and there are more to come. I made these while watching TV the other night. When I cut out my first inchie square I was shocked at just how tiny one square inch actually is and thought how in the world am I going to fit anything on this tiny canvas? But once I got going there was no stopping me. I am so into making these that I signed up for the Green Inchie Swap at ArtErratica where we each have to make 16 fabric inchies in the color green. Besides Lia's fabulous blog, I found this site and this site for more inspiration. Take a peek and you might even get hooked yourself!

Crown Swap

I just cannot wait any longer to share with you the crown I made for Claire as a part of Holly's Crown & Tiara Swap we were in. I mailed it a week ago, but haven't heard from her yet as to whether she got it or not. Of course there was the July 4th holiday in between so that may be why it is taking so long. I sure hope it didn't get lost! That would make me very sad. Or maybe she received it and didn't like it at all!!! Oh, no....that would make me even sadder! Well, I am going to think positively - so Claire, if you are reading this post and you haven't received the crown yet and want to be surprised don't look any further. For everyone else, feel free to continue on and have a look.

*Update ~ I just heard from Claire that she did get the crown and loves it! Hooray!!!

Claire told me she likes vintage children's books and retro things, so what could be more fitting that images from a Dick, Jane and Sally school reader? She also told me she liked the colors red and sky blue. Besides the images of the children, the crown is embellished with rick-rack, ball fringe, vintage buttons, crepe paper, seam binding and text from the book. And since this is a Crown and Tiara swap I gave little Sally a gold crown of her own!
I decided to make a tag to go along with the crown when I found this image of Miss America in a book about beauty paegents. Here is the front of the tag:
And this is the back of the tag. The text says, "She desired to see herself be queen for a day." I had a lot of fun working on this swap. I hope Claire likes it......if it ever arrives! I can't wait to see the one she made for me! In the meantime I have been enjoying all the crowns the other participants made here.

Nature Walk

Last weekend we were up at the cottage and went on the most wonderful walking tour of this lovely place. Our tour guide Marion was so informative and full of knowledge that the two and a half hours of walking simply flew by. (Marion told us that she gets reprimanded occasionally for going over the scheduled two hour walk time, but she confessed that she just gets carried away with enthusiasm for the place. Believe me, we didn't mind one bit!) The Clearing is a Folk School established in 1935 by Danish landscape architect, Jens Jensen. One might think that The Clearing got it's name from the meadows found throughout the grounds. However, The Clearing has a different meaning to Jens Jensen. He wanted the school to be a place where "one can come to clear the mind and feel a kinship with the earth." Week long classes are offered in a variety of subjects ranging from drawing, woodworking, knitting, music, literature, paper arts, quilting, nature study, photography, and others at this 128 acre forested setting along a secluded shoreline. Delicious meals are served family-style in the lodge and students stay in cozy cabins like these:

The cabins look rustic on the outside, as they are original to the 1930's, but they are ever-so-comfy on the inside with each bed made up with crisp white linens and a handmade quilt made by students in the quilting classes, a fireplace, desk, table, and modern bathrooms.

Meals and down-time take place in the lodge which houses a dining room as well as a large sitting -room/library with a giant walk-in fireplace. The windows in the lodge offer glorious views of the forest and water beyond.

Classes and special events are held in the classroom building which is built of stone (pictured below) and features hand-carved woodwork and trim made by students, instructors and volunteers. Even the railing leading to the path in front of the building is made by students in the woodworking classes. All the saw dust from those woodworking classes is used to create the paths through the forest.


I first visited The Clearing with my parents when I was a child. Even back then I became smitten with the place and it's setting. I dreamt of someday taking classes at the school and leading the life of an artist. Years later I took my own family to see The Clearing and my daughter was also impressed. Although she was quite young at the time, she still remembers our visit there. Although many years have passed since my childhood days, I still dream of taking classes here. Now that we have the cottage, perhaps my dream is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Studio Time

This is a little assemblage that I created called, "Nest." I have had this idea in my head for months now and yesterday was finally the day it came to fruition. The quote on the roof is by French philosopher Gaston Bachelard and says, "A house is a nest for dreaming, a shelter for imagining." Don't you love that quote? I used colors similar to the ones we have at the cottage, so I think that is where I will hang it. I made an extra one to put in my Etsy Shop, so if you are interested you can find it there.

I worked in my studio all day yesterday and oh how good it felt to be in there. I must admit I have been having trouble lately finding the time to create. There is always something else that demands my attention and I am not really good at doing "a little art here" and "a little art there." I like to have big blocks of time to work on projects. You see, I have found that I work best when I can start a project and see it all the way through to the end. That is a big problem since it's difficult enough to find enough hours in a day to complete all the routine tasks that need to get done. Typically that doesn't leave much time to spend with my creative muse. And then there is the guilt that comes from taking time away from household and family responsibilities to sit and play. (I am not Catholic, but my friends all say that I would make a good one with the amount of guilt I carry around!) Talk about putting the squelch on creativity! Yikes!

I read somewhere that we all should carve a little time out each day to work on our art. ..even if you do not have a specific inspiration to focus on. Just like with anything, setting up a routine is the first step in accomplishing something. If nothing else, simply creating backrounds in your journal for future use is enough to get the creative juices flowing. This goes along the same lines as Julia Cameron's (The Artist's Way author extrordinare) morning pages. And I must admit when I was working on my Morning Collage journal every day I did feel so much better. It was amazing how I never had trouble coming up with a topic to collage about and I really looked forward to getting up each morning and going to my work table in my PJ's to see what would happen. Also, working on my art first thing in the morning was kind of like what financial experts advise their clients who are having trouble saving money - pay yourself first! By "paying myself first" with a shot of creativity every morning, it really set the tone for the entire day. I was happier and didn't feel as "put upon" by everyone else's wants and needs.

So I think that is the answer for me. Work on something small each morning (perhaps it's time to resurrect the morning collage journal) and if it leads to something bigger, then I will go with it. And if not, then I will still have the satisfaction of having created something each day. Thanks for letting me work that little problem out with you all. If any of you want to share the way you keep your creative juices flowing or any suggestions you have for carving out creative time, please leave them in the comments section of this post.

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July! Hope you all are enjoying the holiday. We are just kind of "winging it" this year. Doing some work in the garden and enjoying the weather. Later we will probably grill some hamburgers and sit on the deck. Tonight we will go see the fireworks at the park where my husband's office is. They put on the best and longest fireworks show in the area. I can remember when I was a little girl always thinking the display was much too short. Just when we were really getting into the "oohs" and "aahs" the show was over and it was time to go to bed. So what do you all have planned for the day?

Last night I made this little patriotic collage. The text says, "This stillness held a greater tribute." The man in the photo is my grandfather, Hans. He immigrated to America from Denmark in the early 1900's. I used this photo of him because Grandpa was the most patriotic person I have ever known. He was so proud to be in this country. He and Grandma met on the ship coming here and later were married. Soon after arriving they both were anxious to take English lessons so they could become U.S. citizens as soon as possible. Grandpa's favorite holiday was July 4th. He would always fly the flag and my aunt tells me they always would have their picture taken holding little flags. (I wonder who has those pictures now?) That was back in the day when people were anxious to do what was necessary to gain citizenship. And they were so proud when they achieved it and were grateful for all the opportunities this land had to offer. Grandpa, this tribute is for you!

Back Home Again

I can't believe it is July already. Wow, where does the time go? I got a little present in the mail while we were up at the cottage. The sweet little collage above is from Heather as a part of Jenny's Bits & Pieces Collage Swap we participated in. Isn't it simply lovely? I can't decide which square I like the most. I think I love them all! You can see more of everyone's collages here.

We had a great time at the cottage. We didn't get any of the yard work done that we planned to do. The weather couldn't have been more perfect so we played instead of worked. We went on a fantastic nature walk that I will tell you more about in the next day or two. We brought our bicycles up with us this time. I can't even remember the last time I was on a bike. I was surprised that I could still do it without making a complete fool of myself. My DH and I met while riding bikes right around this time of the year...many, many moons ago! In fact I still have the brown Raleigh bike I was riding when I met him - I've told you before that I am a pack-rat! However, that is not the bike I rode over the weekend. I did get a new bicycle at some point, but never could part with the old one for sentimental reasons.

Below is a sneak peek at the crown I made for Claire for the Crown and Tiara Swap we are in. I can't show too much of it as I don't want to ruin the surprise for her. Once she receives it, I will post a picture of the whole crown.

Bits & Pieces Collage Swap

Here it is! I couldn't wait any longer! This is the collage I made for Heather as a part of Jenny's Bits & Pieces Collage Swap. I mailed it out Monday so she should be receiving it either today or tomorrow. I hope she likes it. The color scheme is one that I love (and Heather too) so that made it so much fun to make. You can see close-ups of the individual squares here. This was such a great way to use up all those left over scraps from other projects. And I love to make tiny pieces of art. Such fun! Thanks for arranging the swap for us all Jenny!

We're leaving for the cottage tomorrow morning. It's been 2 months since we were there last. That is a long time. I hope the house is still standing! It will be nice to get away since May and June have been so hectic with all sorts of things coming up at the last minute. It's time for a little R & R.

What Kind of Flower....

I am an Echinacea What Flower Are You?

"You are a health conscious person, both your health and the health of others. You know all about the health benefits and dangers of the world around you."

I don't know about how health conscious I am about myself, but I do think I am health conscious about the people around me. Click on the link above to find out what kind of flower you are.

I was working on my Bits and Pieces Collage Swap for Heather this weekend. I put the finishing touches on it and will send it on it's way this morning. I had so much fun putting it together. Jenny tried to pair people together who like similar things so that made it even more fun. I am happy with the way it turned out. . .I almost didn't want to part with it! Sometimes I feel that way after I create my art pieces, do you? Below is another sneak peek at the finished project. Don't peek Heather, if you want to be totally surprised!! I will post the whole thing after she has received it.

Besides finishing up the collage this weekend, I finally got around to cleaning out the room we use for storage in our house. It sounds very lavish to have a whole room just to store things in, but that wasn't the original purpose of the room. Actually the room is supposed to be my dear husband's workshop, but he really can't do too much work in it since it has become over-run with boxes of stuff that we've accumulated over the years. Well, to be perfectly honest the room has become a complete dumping ground! It all happened very innocently when I just put a box or two in there "temporarily" until I was able to put them away where they belong. And you know how that goes - soon the boxes started multiplying like a litter of rabbits and eventually we could hardly walk into the room!! I hated to go into that room because I was constantly reminded of my chronic procrastination and also of what a pack-rat I am. Seeing all those boxes made me so stressed out.

Then yesterday I was inspired by Kari's latest prompt in her Everyday Notions Challenge which dealt with emptying some area in order to spawn creativity. In the book, Foolsgold, the author states:

"Giving over to silence, waiting, allowing, listening....In the emptiness we might get an inkling - as if something lights up and twinkles - of how we'll begin to form and open to who we're becoming, who we most truly are. We need to leave space both for what we'll discover and what will emerge to discover us."

I must admit that I feel so much lighter and freer after finally clearing out that room. Now I enjoy opening the door and seeing the emptiness of the room. I am hoping that the process of purging all that excess will leave room for new ideas and creativity to move in.

Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek at the Bits and Pieces Collage that I am making for sweet Heather. She likes pink and aqua like I do so it is fun putting this together for her. Jenny over at Every Day is a Holiday was nice enough to host this swap. It is such a great way to use up your scraps and leftovers.

Artsymama is hosting another challenge called Everyday Notions which I am going to participate in. Kari is such a creative artist and her past challenges like the Book of Dreams and Cabinet of Curiosities were totally awesome. She will be posting prompts on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so you may want to check it out if you are looking for some artistic inspiration.

Day Trip

Yesterday was a gorgeous day here so we decided to take a drive up to the Milwaukee Art Museum, which is located along the Lake Michigan waterfront. The museum building itself is quite a masterpiece. The main pavillion is a Santiago Calatrava designed building featuring glass walls enclosed by the Burke Brise Soleil, which is a sunscreen that can be raised and lowered creating a unique moving sculpture. At noon the huge wing-like sections of the building slowly lower down enclosing the glass walls. It is worth going to the museum just to see this amazing structure!
The photo below is taken inside the pavilion looking up at the Burke Brise Soleil.
Below is the view from inside the main pavillion which overlooks Lake Michigan. It is an absolutely marvelous setting. The museum cafe where we ate lunch looks out over this same view.

Another example of the cleverly designed bulding where the structure itself creates a work of art.This Chihuly glass sculpture is the only bit of color inside the pristine, white marble and glass pavillion. After finally getting over our amazement of just the museum building, we went on to enjoy a special exhibition of Impressionist Camille Pissarro, whose work inspired great artists like Renoir, Monet and Cezanne. In addition, the musuem is the home to great works by Monet, Picasso, O'Keefe, Worhol, and Rodin just to name a few. It was a delightful way to spend a sunny June day.

Pink and Aqua

Pink and Aqua - my current favorite color combination courtesy of Flickr.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I recently signed up for a couple fun swaps. First of all is Holly's Crown and Tiara Swap, which sounds like pure fun to me. Who wouldn't love to add a tiara to their wardrobe? Then today I signed up for Jenny's Bits and Pieces Collage Swap, which sounds like a great way to use up all those leftover scraps that I can never seem to part with. (What a pack-rat I am!) Check out Charlotte's post on this same subject. If you hurry you can still get in on this swap. Then Dawn, Melissa and I are working on a Winter Wishes collaborative which sounds like it will turn out to be an amazing keepsake project. And finally, I have a collaborative Recipe Book that I have been working on with an art group that I meet with in my area four times a year. This group started out as a Rubber Stamping group over 10 years ago, but has evolved into a mixed-media art group as the members styles and tastes have changed and evolved. We have some extremely talented ladies in this group. I can't wait to see the end result of this cookbook in November.

Graduation Journal Update

Thought I would give you an update on the graduation journal I am making for my daughter. I still have a lot of work to do on it, but I always enjoy seeing other people's work at various stages of completion. This is a journal for my daughter to add her own thoughts and ideas to, so I want to leave a lot of the pages free from embellishments so she will have room to write.

Update on the Patriotic Crown Box and Collage Kits that I offered through my etsy shop - the last box that was in question was paid for so they are completely sold out now. Sorry. But I am working on some new things for the shop now and will let you know about them soon right here.

Tuesday Topics

Thank you to everyone who ordered the Patriotic Crown Boxes and Collage Kits from my Etsy shop. I was so over-whelmed by your response and happy that you loved those crown boxes as much as I did. I packed all the orders up and shipped them out this morning, so hopefully you will have them by the end of the week. I may have one more Crown Box and Kit available. I will know by tomorrow or the next day and let you know here.

I hate to say it but I think that icky throat thing that I had last week may be coming back. I noticed that my throat started feeling a bit sore again this afternoon. How can that be after taking all those mega-doses of antibiotics? I don't want to have to go back to the doctor. Maybe a popsicle will help soothe the pain. What do you think?

Did I tell you about my cooking mishap over the weekend? I saw a recipe for Cobb Salad in the latest issue of Redbook Magazine while I was waiting to have my hair cut. The picture looked so tasty that I decided to make it for supper Saturday night. The recipe called for crumbled bacon and instead of frying it I decided to be more "health conscious" (well...as healthy as bacon can be) and broil the bacon instead. When I took it out of the broiler, the pan slipped pouring hot bacon grease all over my hand and wrist. Yeowee!!! After letting out a blood-curdling scream, I quickly got my hand under the cold water faucet. The pain was tolerable as long as it was under cold water, so we decided to eat our salads outside on the deck while my hand soaked in a bucket of ice water. (I wish I had a picture of that to share with you!) Fortunately the pain subsided by the time I went to bed, but by the next day the huge, ugly blisters and scorched skin appeared and believe me - it wasn't a pretty sight. Now that a few days have passed, the burns seem to be healing pretty well with the help of lots of aloe and Neosporin. I am sure it will leave a scar, but I am so grateful that I didn't have to go to the emergency room. Oh, and if you were wondering. . .the cobb salad tasted just as good as the recipe looked!

Something New in the Shop

I just finished adding these fun little patriotic crowns to my etsy shop. Each crown is actually a box and I have filled it with an assortment of goodies to help you make something fun for July 4th. The box itself makes a delightful decoration on your table or perhaps crowning touch atop a stack of cake plates. Use your imagination to come up with a collage, a card, a scrapbook page, an ATC, etc using the contents of the kit. Have fun and have a great weekend!