Yikes... it's been a while...

Been busy, busy, busy. I don't know why this time of year always seems so chaotic. I think it's because I suddenly realize that summer is almost over, so I try to squeeze in a bunch of summertime activities before time runs out. I've only managed to complete one art project in the past couple weeks, although I have started many. Well, hopefully things will start to slow a bit. I always seem to get back to a normal schedule after labor day.

Here's my latest project, which I was inspired to create after running into Psalm 45:11 during my morning devotionals last week. It was quite obviously "God inspired" because it felt like I didn't even have to try. PLUS... no matter how many times I look at it, I still like it!! Which is very out of character for me :-)

Anyway, this verse meant a lot to me. I have a tendency to be very critical of myself, in so many ways. I was reminded of how I'm really dishonoring God everytime I criticize myself. Human nature and society really contribute to our tendency to be self-critical. It is so important for us to believe that we are beautiful simply because God created us, and that worldly standards of beauty mean nothing. If only we all believed this and viewed others in the same way, what an amazing world this would be....

one more thing....

Just thought I'd share one of my latest works. This was just for fun, but maybe I'll turn it into a print and post it to etsy. Not sure yet.... anyway, I decided to name it "Rainy Day Friends"....

My new Etsy Shop

Well, I have opened another etsy shop called Fanciful Finds (http://www.fancifulfinds.etsy.com/). Hopefully, I will be selling a variety of items to other artists and crafters for use in their own artwork. Over the years I have accumulated a vast collection of vintage paper, including greeting cards, postcards, stamps, colored plates from old dictionaries and reference books, as well as ribbon, lace, buttons, beads and soooo much more. My collections have gotten a little overwhelming, plus I really don't see myself stopping. So I decided that if I sold some of the stuff I collect, I can hopefully prevent my house from bursting at the seams and make my husband happy as well :-) And... the big plus is that I can keep collecting all the little things that I come across at yard sales and thrift shops. Check out these fairytale scenes that I found in a very old German children's storybook- aren't they great?

What a ham.....

This is my granddaughter.... isn't she the cutest??? Believe it or not, the pout isn't real, she put it on for the picture - what a ham !

Lemon-Lime Art Doll

Thought you might enjoy viewing my most recent creation. Her name is Lemon-Lime and she's a summertime fairy. I had no idea where I was going when I started her. But as soon as I finished painting her dress and cap, I was reminded of Sprite (the soda), thus the name Lemon-Lime :-) I tried out a new face on her. My daughter doesn't think she's as unique as my other dolls, but I really like her. I think I will continue with both styles, depending on my mood :-). I've posted her to etsy tonight, we'll see how she does.

A recipe for cucumber overload....

Ok, I've been slacking a little on my blogging- however, at this point it doesn't seem that I've had too many readers (only 2) so I don't suppose any body's noticed but me :-) In the event that somebody does decide to stop by, I suppose I'll continue blogging. Since my last post about my vegetable garden we have literally been swamped with home grown stuff. Our largest crop has been cucumbers. The thing is, they were actually supposed to be zucchini- at least that's how the nursery labeled the 6 plants I purchased back in May. I could have handled the zucchini. Unfortunately, they turned out to be cucumber plants. I had no idea how many cucumbers one plant could produce (keep in mind, I have 6 plants). Without any exaggeration, I estimate that we have picked at least 70 cucumbers!! We have pawned off as many as we possibly could and we still have about 40 left!! But thanks to my wonderful mother, who was kind enough to share a recipe for freezer pickles, it looks like we'll be able to make use of them. I figured I'd share the recipe here, just in case somebody stumbles upon this blog and happens to be in the same predicament that we are. Here it is, enjoy!


Freezer Cucumber Pickles
6 Cups cucumbers (thinly sliced)
2 Cups sugar
1 Cup white vinegar
1 White onion (thinly sliced)
1 TBSP salt
½ TSP celery seed
½ TSP mustard seed
Crushed red pepper to taste
Combine sugar, vinegar, salt and spices. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over cucumbers & onions. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. Put in containers and freeze.

Eat your veggies....

....and if you don't have any at your house, you can come to mine :-) Here are all the vegitables that we have picked from our garden in the past 2 days, and there's plenty more to come. That's the biggest problem with a vegitable garden (in my opinion). Everything comes in at once. How in the world are we supposed to eat all this?? Bills' answer; "freeze em". Well, guess what? I am not a kitchen person, and preparing fresh vegitables for freezing requires kitchen time!! Since he's on the road 12 hours a day, I'm the only one left to do the "kitchen time". I am not happy! I know... you're asking why in world I have a vegitable garden- believe me, it wasn't my idea... at any rate, if anybody would like some fresh vegitables, stop on by, we have plenty :-) .....

...the angel didn't happen

Well, I guess you're not gonna see the angel I promised. For some reason I just couldn't manage to get her looking the way I wanted. At first, because of the colors I chose, she ended up looking more like a pumpkin patch fairy- which really wouldn't have been a problem except that I just couldn't get her face right. After 4 attempts I decided that she had far to much paint on her face and I decided to scrap her completely - sometimes that happens :-( I'm thinking of starting over again today.... we'll see....

Meanwhile...here's a picture of a different doll. She kind of happened by mistake. I was sitting in a parking lot and saw some cracks on the ground (don't laugh!). They sort of resembled a profile, so I copied them onto a piece of scrap paper in my purse. Since I had been so unsuccessful with my angel, I decided to play around with the shape I had copied - just for fun. Well here's the result so far... not quite sure where to go from here, or what to do with her... any suggestions?

more doll progress...

Here she is again, top stitching is completed and wooden spool is in place. Now for the fun part.... the painting!! I'll post more pics later :-) ....

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an inspirational "finding"...

Well today began as a "yuk" day. Very rainy and cloudy. I suppose I shouldn't complain- we've had some gorgeous weather so far this summer. But anyway, I headed out at 6:30 this morning and just as I was about to get into my truck, my sleepy eyes spotted something tiny in the road. It was the remains of a broken necklace. The charm said something, but since my sleepy eyes are also old, I couldn't make it out without my glasses. When I got home and put my glasses on, I found out that the charm says "believe"! A little message from God maybe? It made me smile- it also gave me inspiration for the art doll I plan to work on today. I think she will be an angel and I will somehow incorporate my new "finding". Here she is, just sewn and stuffed so far. I have to do the top stitching and then I can start painting- my favorite part. I'll post more pictures as she progresses. I don't think today will turn out as "yuk" as I had originally thought. Hope your day is going well too :-) .....

Busy Day....and a new art doll

Today was a huge garden clean-up day. And although I love to garden, I have not been as ambitious about it over the past 2 years. Things were getting way over-grown, so I started early, but once I got going, I couldn't stop. What began as a quick clean-up, turned into a 4 hour project :-O However... my garden looks sooo much better now :-) I am happy!!

In addition to a major garden day, I had a very successful art day as well. I recently started creating art dolls in my "wee~mee whimsies" style. I've made four so far, but today's doll is my best yet. I just love her!! She's a "Beekeeper Fairy" and I was so tempted to keep her for myself. But I really need to try to sell her, so she's been posted on etsy tonight. Here's hoping somebody likes her enough to buy her....

...more about me & us

We've been married for nearly 17 years, have 3 kids (two from my 1st marriage and one of our own) plus a wonderful granddaughter. Bill (my hubby) is a truck driver and a big-time Harley guy. He loves his bike. Here's some pictures of a recent trip we took to the Pocono's for a Harley event....

In case you're curious

.... here is a picture of me with my guy. No, we don't dress like this on a regular basis. This was taken in one of those goofy photo boothes with props... just for fun...

Welcome to my blog. If you're reading this, you probably got here by mistake. But hopefully you found me because you were viewing my art work on etsy or flickr, and were so captivated by it that you just had to find out more about me :-) At any rate, thanks for stopping by. I'm new at this blogging thing, so things are a little boring around here at the moment. I promise that as I get used to this, things will get a little more interesting. Please stop by again to check my progress.