My Marie Antoninette piece!!

Another piece I did from the classes at KC willis. My interpretation of her art. I am proud of all the work I have done on these pieces and find it very fulfilling I hope to find more embellishments at flea markets and garage sales. It is a little hard to find beautiful hatpins and brooches to use in this art.

KC Willis $300 Giveaway Shopping Spree!!!

This is going to be a fun giveaway.You must have a blog to enter this giveaway. Can you imagine shopping at Lipstick Ranch and buying anything you want for $300.00? I took the class and made 3 wall hangings so far and am so impressed with the down to earth quality of this artist and how plain and clear the videos were. It is so much fun and will give you a new outlet for all your creative talents. These beautiful pieces will make wonderful gifts for your friends and family for years to come. Just click on the logo and go to the Lipstick Ranch blog. I am so excited to tell you about this.
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If you look down a little you will see the pieces I made in this class. and a description of the class in the post before Mother's Day. You can still take the class or buy the videos which are wonderful. I can't say enough about this.

New swap stuff! A "Hello" from my front porch!!

Starting from the bottom-pages for tag book-Misc. Doodle challenge for PID group.-ATC challenge ffor PId group, also doodle-Pages 1-2-3-4-5 chunky book swap for PID. Trying to catch up on the swaps and challenges, that is my goal for today. Top is Stripe misc. swap for PID.
The final 10 pages for the chunky book and a new ATC Jackpot card which the theme is script.
Had my man take a picture giving you a Howdy from my front porch. Just added the pergolla for shade and a trellis so Hey to you all!

Just a chat!! 1ST Ladies Detective Agency.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day and a parade is in order for the day. Love parades and wouldn't miss it. Making some barbequed pork chops and egga megga macaronei salad for dinner. The mac salad is a recipe from "Big Daddy's House" on the food network. Wow is it good. Lots of eggs and seasonings.
Have you been watching "The First Ladies Detective Agency "series On HBO?? Wow it is so good and you can see the whole season if you have On Demand in your area. Did you know that Precious(the nain character) and her secretay are both from New York? Interesting what a grasp they have for the accent. I love this series as I did the books that Alexander MC Call Smith writes, His 44 scotland street series is good- 3 books and also " the Isobel Dalhousie series is really good too. If you like precious you will like the other series too probably.
I am working on a RR tag book for PID yahoo group and a chunky book with 10 pages for that same group. Finished the tag book and 4 pages of the chunky book.
Starting another KC Willis piece tomorrow. Going to do a large one called "The Belles Of Paris" all can-can girls.
It is a beautiful day today and have accomplished quite a bit. Here's hoping you have a wonderful Holiday with family and friends and do not lose sight of what our military has given to all of us.

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Thanks to all the Fallen Men and Women!!!

Second Wall Hanging!!!! and Third!!

This is my second wall hanging- with the same basic method. It is 22 x 24. Hope you like it. In person it is quite rustic. Love the process.
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The top pictureThis is number 3 -it is 14" x 16", the picture is of my "Gram" and Grandad and 4 of their 6 children. The top if my Dad and my Aunt Jane-the bottom is my Aunt Opal and My Uncle Bun. I love these pieces and hope you do too.

My KC Willis wall hanging!!!

here is the new picture..........................
This is my first piece from the class I took. I am very proud of it and wish the picture was better. I took a dozen and this was the best. If you like it leave a comment.There is some beutiful flowered cranberry fabic, hard to see it this piece is 17 x 28 inches. Also red and tan check fabric. All fabric and everything is coffee dyed. Love the smell of coffee.
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Finished my second piece and will post the picture tomorrow. I am pleased with it and hope you all will be too. So much fun.

Mother's Day Frugal gifts for MOM!!

This was my Mother, she died when I was 16. I had other important ,strong women in my life that helped me to become the person I am today. I don't believe anyone really cares about a person more than our MOM.
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Fabulous and Frugal Gifts for Mom
What to do? Mother's Day is just around the corner and there's just no money in the budget for gifts. Not to worry! Just look over this list of inexpensive gifts to buy or make and you'll be all set. These budget ideas with a lot of heart can mean more than 2 dozen red roses to a mom!


1. Bring your mom a bouquet of flowers from your own garden. Use a vase you have saved from a time when you received flowers from a florist or spend a little on a pretty new vase. Tie a ribbon or raffia bow around it and add a card (make it yourself on your computer) and your gift is ready!

2. Buy a single bloom at the florist. The florist in our town will put one carnation, daisy or other flower in a bud vase along with a little baby's breath and add a bow for around $5.00. And they will deliver.

3. Give your mom an afternoon with you! Not with your kids or spouse along, just you. How long has it been since you spent uninterrupted time with her? Look at old pictures, reminisce, or go window-shopping, whatever. The point is just being together.

4. Make your mom's favorite dessert and present it to her along with a gift certificate for a homemade dessert once a month. Especially if your mom lives alone, this can really be a treat.

5. If your mom is elderly or lives alone, give her the gift of a Saturday spent doing things around her house. Such as washing her windows, changing light bulbs and air conditioner filters, working in her yard, hauling away trash, anything she finds it difficult to do for herself anymore.

6. Gift baskets are always fun for the recipient and the giver, too. Fill a pretty basket with things you make, cookie mixes, dried herbs, needlework, a mug filled with a couple of specialty tea bags. Line the basket with a lacy doily or napkin, add a raffia bow and you have a great gift any mother will love.

7. If a card is just all you can do this year, make it really special. Have everyone in the family write a little note; toddlers who can't write yet can draw a picture.
8. Invite your Mom for breakfast. Make something she loves.
9. Take her a cherry tomato plant to keep on her patio and enjoy during the summer.
10. Give her a DVD for a movie she would like to see.
11. Take her to a local garden sanctuary in your area to see the lovely spring blooms.
12. A magazine subcription to her favorite, Better homes is only 7.00 a year and she can enjoy it 12 months.
With a little imagination, you can create a gift your mother will be elated to receive! And she'll wonder what you'll come up with next year!

Life began with waking up and loving my mother's face.
- George Eliot, English novelist
Some of these tips are from Cyndi Robertsand some are mine.
Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's out there. Have a great day with your families.

Mother's Day!!!

KC Willis class I am taking!!!

I must tell you about this wonderful class by a true artisan that is sharing her expertise and talent with the people that took this class. The videos are so well thought out and clear and concise on how you do these beautiful works of art. I am so impressed with her-as she is a down to earth person and uses all her knowledge to give you tips and ideas on how to do this and save money while you are turning out this beautiful product. I do not know if you can still sign up ,but if you can do it!!! It is going to be so much fun. Click on the icon on the right and read about it.

Let's talk about digital art!

How do you feel about this medium? Is this going to be around for a long time? Do you use certain facets of this in your altered art, scrapbooking, paper arts and cardmaking? Do you plan in the future to continue using more and more of this wonderful addition to your art and craft work?
I personally like the hands on approach to my method of art work, I do use some programs to help with altered images ,etc. I see the digital work as being quite beautiful and also has a 3 dimentional quality that looks real. Will we all eventually go to this as an alternative and an addition to what we do? I would like to hear opinions on this subject. I started this last week and it seemed to be going in a different direction than I had imagined. I am starting again because I would like people to get involved in this discussion and if you are an artist that does digital work maybe some tips and ideas that you would be willing to share. I try to share what I have learned and always think that someone may grab something from my tutorials that they can use in their art and craft work.
Do you have concerns about the use of digital images( I mean total digital) A few years ago , I belonged to a fabric postcard group and they did not allow use of digital images.