Beaches in Maine

The 1-year anniversary of New England Bloggers is January 27, and in honor of that I'd like to share my thoughts about one of my favorite places to visit in Maine, Popham Beach.

One of the things I like most about living in Maine is living close to the ocean and being able to visit the beach. I do love the beach – but we only go in the summer because it’s too cold in the winter! After living in Washington State for a couple years and Newport, Rhode Island for a couple years - am grateful to be back here for good!

When I was a little girl we lived in a sweet little farmhouse that was just minutes from the beach. When my cousins from Massachusetts would come for a visit we would take them, and my Grandparents to the beach and play in the water. The road to the beach was long and windy, I always got carsick and throw up all over the car - my Mother always thought I could wait until we got home - and I never could. When we finally got to the beach we would always visit the fort – and get a candy necklace at Percy’s. Maybe it was the combination of the candy and the roads that made me sick!

I love taking my son to the same beach. I feel like I’m sharing a part of my past with him and he can visualize stories of when I was a little girl as I tell them to him. We always park near the fort and plunk our blanket down near the Coast Guard Station. Creatures of habit I guess, lol. We walk up and down at the water’s edge collecting shells and trying to get the dog to go in the water. One summer we found the sweet spot – and found 105 sand dollars in one day. We haven’t been that lucky since. But we always go back to the same spot hoping to find it’s going to be sweet for us again. It will, I’m sure of it, maybe this summer.

It’s nice to sit and watch him play in the sand and clean off in the cold New England water. Often I dare him to jump in, the water is so cold – even in the middle of summer - I always expect him to say no. He never does. Creatures of habit.

It’s such a wonderful thing to be able to drive to the ocean and smell the salty air, there’s nothing like it for sure. If you’ve never been to a beach on the coast of Maine, you should. It’s a wonderful – peaceful way to spend the day.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you’ll go on and check the rest of the New England bloggers and learn a bit more about this part of the country.

Join the Magic Carpet Ride, the One World, One Heart Global Blog Event

Sign up here for the OWOH event! This is a perfect opportunity for you to win one of two magical things I’m giving away! The first item is a small coffee table album, ready for you to personalize for yourself. You can add 4x6 photos to the sleeves or create 4x6 scrapbook pages to insert. The second item I’m giving away is a little needle felted tree stump pincushion I made from directions in Jenn Docherty’s book, Sweet Needle Felts. It’s a little different from the one she made, but still sweet and magical!

In order to be eligible you must be an active blogger with a link back to your blog OR leave your contact information (email address) in your comment so I can contact you if you win. Winners must respond by February 25^th with their address, if I don’t hear from them another winner will be drawn. I will be choosing two winners this year, so be sure to comment and leave your name and a way for me to contact you.

In case you don't know what One World One Heart is, you can read about it here. This is a great way for everyone to get to know more artists that are in the blogging community. Just a reminder, please comment ONLY on this post in order to have a chance at winning. The contest closes February 15, 2010, and the winner will be determined using a random number generator.

Good Luck everyone!

CHA here I come!

As I was looking through my picture folders today I came across this funny one from when I went to the Brimfield Antique show last year! Since I don't have anything creative to share, I thought you'd enjoy this.

Don't forget to check out One World One Heart and join in if you want! I'll be posting my give away on Monday the 25th!

I'm on my way to California to work at the CHA Meeting - I'll try to post from my phone, but if not - thanks for stopping by - see you next week!

Gearing up for OWOH!

I leave for California early early early on Friday morning, even before the birds get up. I'll be working in the EK Success Brands booth at the Craft and Hobby Association Convention, demonstrating some new, and I must say very very cool new products in the InkaDinkado section of the booth. It's going to be a busy, and exciting week, they always are!

I'm looking forward to meeting old friends and renewing creative ties with them, and meeting old friends for the first time and I'm also looking forward to forging new friendships with kindred spirits during the 7 days I'm there. If you are planning on being there, I'd love to see you - so please stop by and say hello!

This week I've been busy getting myself ready for my trip, so not much in the creative world is getting done. I do want to remind you that the One World One Heart Global Blog Event begins on January 25th, that's next Monday. I'll be posting my give-aways (yes plural, LOL) then and I hope you'll stop by and leave a comment so you can be eligible to win. This will be my third year participating in the blog hop, this is what I gave away the first year. I can't show you what I'm giving away this year, but I think you're going to like them!

Gotta keep moving - pants to hem, pictures to print, bags to pack and the list goes on and on. Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a great evening!

Random Stuff from an Art Girl

Saturday we went to the flea market while Mr. Art from the Heart (he he he) took a class to tie some kind of fly for fly fishing - and Saturday night he had his friends over for craft night so they could all tie flies too. (he he he, that's another story - LOL!) Anyway, while he was crafting at his class (ROFL) the boy and I went to the flea market. He had five dollars and I limited myself to twenty.

I hadn't been for quite a while, but my favorite vendors didn't disappoint, they had some great stuff. My favorite button lady sold me two bags of shell buttons for a dollar a bag! I didn't get a close-up of the post cards, but they are really pretty. I've got a project that I need to do for someone that I am planning on using the daffodil one on.

My favorite notions lady has been saving tape measures for me for a while - and I got all these tape measures from her. The silver plated dish I am going to use to make a wind chime - using the silver ware I bought the last time I was there.

Another lady let me have that large heart mold for just a dollar! And can you believe all those little molds were only $2., I couldn't and snatched them right up. I only found 3 old tiny keys - they charge so much for them and I just don't like to spend that much on them.

I was pretty happy with my $20. worth of goods.

Continuing the randomness, thought I'd share a picture of each of the trading cards I made for the Red Lead Very Vintage swap.

The one below is the one I made for myself.

We've had a lot of snow in the last couple of days (getting it out of the weather pattern for my trip to California on Friday, phew) and the cross country skiing has been great, except my skiis need to be waxed. The path was very inviting, don't you think?

This is my favorite field, it's big and I usually go all the way around the field and back to where I started. It's snowing in the picture - as a matter of fact - it's still snowing now! They are forcasting another 5 to 9 inches on top of the 12 or so we got yesterday.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you are having a great day!

New Valentine Punches being released at CHA!

Hey everyone, how are things?? TGIF, really I am so glad it's Friday! One, because my friends are coming over tonight for our crafty night of the month and two - because I can sleep in tomorrow. No getting up early to get the boy ready for school. Anyway, about the video, Joy is demonstrating a Limited Time Offer of NEW Valentine punches. The little crown/heart and heart/wings and scalloped hearts only available for a short time - when they are gone - they are gone. So ask your shops to order them if they haven't already! I made all the samples that she uses in this video - way back in October I think. Hard to think about Valentine's Day when your house is decorated for Halloween, LOL. I hope you like the video and the samples I made, the video is not that long really, about 7 and a half minutes or so. Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!!

So excited for my friend Vic!!

I mentioned last night that I had something exciting to share, something that my friend Vicki Chrisman designed. She's so darn talented, sometimes I wonder how she keeps it coming, it seems like she's always got something cool and beautiful posted on her blog. I have a lot of creative dry spells compared to her, she can crank it out like there's no tomorrow!

Vic and I go way back, gosh - we met when we were on the ScrapMuse design team together - that was AGES and AGES ago. About 6 or 7 years ago, I think maybe longer. I went out to visit her in Nebraska a couple of summers ago. We have dinner and lunch whenever we are at a CHA Convention together, and email – but not as much as we should, she's a great friend and I'm happy I could support her in this exciting time!

As a Creative Artist Team Member for EK Success Brands, I'm pretty exclusive to EK Success Brands. So as far as designing and making projects using products made by other manufacturers – I don't do it. I mostly use their paper, adhesive, tools, inks etc. (As a matter of fact, I used their Cutter Bee Scissors, Cutterpede paper trimmer, and a little Martha Stewart Ink on this project!)

Anyway, I was really honored that Vicki asked me to make something with the product that SHE DESIGNED. Get out. That is just so cool! Vicki is the Design Team Leader for Crafty Secrets and she came up with a fantastic idea for two 3D Shadow Box Cards, YES - two of them, it's just so cool, and very easy to put together‼ The die is available in a Portrait or Landscape style, and each card has a center shadow box style 'stage' to showcase a multitude of creative themes and styles. You can create photo keepsakes, 3D cards, shaker boxes, altered art and dioramas! The project I made uses the portrait style. It was really easy to put together too. And since I stitched on mine, I stitched two of the bases together to hide the stitching for the birds, frames and bingo card.

This is a really darling project, I hope you like it. here's some close ups of it.

THANKS for stopping by, hope you have a GREAT day!

Cleaning up some Loose Ends

I made lots of headway on my to-do list today. And it felt good. I also found time to get on the treadmill after I'd gotten a few things done. And that felt good.

I jumped on the scale too. And that felt GREAT! I've been battling with my weight for 2 years now - despite eating healthy and exercising regularly - I was gaining and gaining for a while and then holding steady. Despite dieting and exercising - nothing worked to make it go away. Finally, I changed things up a bit and I'm down 8 pounds. I've. got. to. loose. weight. Especially if I don't want to buy new black pants.

I'm going to need black pants next week in California - when I go work for EK Success Brands at the Craft and Hobby Association Convention next week. I refuse to buy new pants for them to sit in the closet until next year. The alternative was to loose weight.

Of course, I might wear them if I got a job outside the home. I don't think pink polka dot fleece pajamas would work in the workplace. Not that I wear them every day, but I did wear them today as I flitted around the house working on crossing things off my list.

The first thing I worked on I hope to share with you tomorrow. It has something to do with my friend Vic and I'm really really excited about it, she's such a talented artist. I may have a conflict of interest, even though it's a project made just for fun. I'm crossing my fingers that it works out.

The last thing I worked on today was this necklace, I made it for myself to wear next week at CHA. I've always LOVED this button and have saved it for something special. Earlier this week I worked on a project to send to Belle Armoire Magazine and had made the blue beaded necklace to go with my submission, but it didn't work out so I set it aside to make it into something. I restrung it and added the buttons and pearl and I really love the way it came out. I can't wait to wear it next week!

I might wear it tomorrow when I go to the movies to see George. George Clooney I mean ;-)

I also finished up these ATC's I made for a swap over at Red Lead. I just love that store and wish I lived a lot closer - I think I would be shopping there A LOT!

Well, thanks for stopping by. Hope you had a great Wednesday.....

Sew Somerset

I took these pictures a while ago and forgot to post them with the hubbub of the holidays and then school vacation. I sent quite a few cards (and a few other things as well) to Stampington for this issue. I was so happy that they had room to give me 2 pages for a grouping of 4 cards I made. I love that gorgeous girl on the cover, not sure who created it but she's just lovely!

I'm anxious for them to come back so I can send them out! I love how they all came out, especially the one that used the Heidi Swapp mask that wasn't sticky anymore.

They were fun to make, hoping they publish the rest of the things I sent for this issue in the next one, I don't have time to make anything for the January 15th deadline! I've been too busy working on My Creative Classroom and a couple fun things for the Jewelry publication, but need to get them completed so I can send them out on Tuesday - that's what I've been doing for a good part of the day. Along with finishing up some other loose end projects. Phew, it was a busy day.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a great MONDAY!!

Wire, Paint & Paper at My Creative Classroom

Last semester I taught a Holiday Sewing class at My Creative Classroom - it's been over for a few weeks and I've been hard at work on classes for the next semester. I'm really excited to shar with you what I'm working on, and hope you'll jump on over there to see my and all the other classes we've got on the schedule! This is what I've got coming up for the Winter/Spring semester, enrollment starts on January 18th.

First up I have a Mixed Media Jewelry class that starts on February 17th. I'm really excited about this class - as I created some really sweet projects for it.

On March 17th the Wire, Paint and Paper class starts. This class will be all about creating a new canvas each week for 5 weeks using the technique and supplies and the 6th week will be a larger canvas incorporating the techniques from the previous weeks into a larger piece, which will be a source of inspiration every time you look at it. I promise you will LOVE this class, I love this class!! On March 31st I have a short punch class starting. In this class I will have a complete presentation on punch maintenance and different things you can do to extend the life of your punches and things you can do to make them punch better if they aren't doing such a great job. We'll also create several great projects including a card or two, a little shadowbox and an Artist Trading Card or two. If you have any questions about any of these, please feel frree to email me or leave a comment and I'll answer your questions here. In other news, if I was a cat, I'd say I lost one of my lives today. Or at least got SEVERAL more new gray hairs, as if I needed any more this year, LOL. I had planned to go to Portland with my Mom and a friend of hers to pick up some more wool roving to feed our addiction I mean for our needle felted projects and my son stayed back with my father because he was going over to play at a friends house. They were going to pick him up - and the plan was all worked out after I left, but it was worked out. In the middle of the store, my phone rang and his friend's Mom, Mrs. S. was on the line and wondering if my son was still coming over, and if I was giving him a ride. He was supposed to call her when he was ready for her to come and it had been almost 45 minutes with no phone call. She had tried to call our home with no answer and also my Dad's with no answer. Needless to say, for the next 20 minutes I had no idea where he was. And, we'd had a strange van driving around in our country neighborhood today (we live in a private neighborhood where no one but the people that live here or their friends ever come), and that's all I could think of. My neighbor (she's also my sister-in-law) ran down the street looking for him and couldn't find him. I was relieved after a very long 20 minutes when Mrs. S. finally called to say that my Dad gave him a ride to their house. We had headed home but then decided we had time to do a little more shopping. When I got home I gave him a short lecture about when his plan changes he needs to call his Mom! But, Phew, what a relief!! Let's hope I make it through his teen years with the rest of my 8 lives intact and hair on my head! LOL, I know, it's just the beginning!

2009: A Review of ATC's

My friends Nat and Vic both posted a recap of their favorite scrapbook pages for 2009. I'm rather embarrassed to say that I didn't do any scrapbooking for myself last year - it was all for EK Success Brands. I am happy that I did some, well - so maybe that should be one of my resolutions for 2010. To scrapbook more for ME and my family!

Anyway, since I don't have any favorite pages to show, and I really like the idea of sharing my favorite projects - I thought I would share my favorite ATC's from 2009. They are not in any order, but I will say my favorite one is the THANKFUL for You - second one down.

And, also thought I'd give you a baker's dozen, just cause that's how I am.

I'm busy working on getting my three classes at My Creative Classroom ready for enrollment, which starts on January 18th, and I hope to post some sneak peaks soon - as soon as I can.

THANKS for stopping by and have a great day! Also, One World One Heart starts January 25th, need to figure out what to give away this year!

My Latest Addiction

I've been bitten by the needle felting bug, and it hurts sometimes, LOL. It started out when I met my friend Hannah. At the time she made mittens from sweaters and added patterns to them using wool roving.

Last fall she had the cutest little snowmen that she was selling at her craft fairs, and I bought one because he was the cutest thing. She started having classes on how to make them - and I took one - and I was hooked. I borrowed a book from her by Jen Docherty and have been drooling over the little animals in the book and decided to stop drooling and start making.

Yesterday I started (and finished) this cute little tree stump pincushion, pretty close to the one she shows in her book, can't remember the name of her book for the life of me - but you can check out her blog and website here. Today I made another tree stump, but I like the way the one from yesterday came out better. Very time consuming to add the yarn, but oh, how sweet they look. I think they need little bluebirds resting on them, don't you?? That's next on my list, figure out how to make sweet little birds.

On a snowy day after Christmas I got tired of making snowmen and made a pumpkin head girl. She's still not finished because I need to finish her dress and add the face, but you can see what I want her to look like. The face and dress are pinned into place.

Isn't she sweet?

I was looking at the new Stampin' Up flyer on line and then this little gal jumped into my head. Just love how she came out - except her eyes look a little freaky. Need to work on that.

Anyway, that's what I've been doing lately. Need to get working on my new classes for My Creative Classroom. More on that tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!

Well Hello Snow!!

We got a LOT of snow over the last few days A LOT! Over a foot maybe even a foot and a HALF or more, not sure of the actual count where we are! The picture above is our first snowbank of the year - and keep in mind that my son is almost 5 feet and 1/2" tall - it is huge! HUGE, I tell ya! I am hoping that's the only large snowstorm we have this year.

This morning I decided to dig out my cross country skis and check out the back 40. It was pretty, but the skiing was rough going since no one had broken the trails before me. They must have been waiting for me to do it. I love my new hat, picked it up at Dick's a couple weeks ago. My head was toasty warm, and when it was too hot - I slipped it off my head and tied the pony tails together so I didn't loose it. It was great.

The snowed in trail ahead, someone had gone out yesterday but the tracks had all filled in.

The trail behind me, you can see how deep the snow is. It was hard going, the snow stuck to my skis and got embedded between my shoe and the ski - I almost twisted my ankle several times. Once I turned around to head home, the trail was great so I went back and forth over the path several times.....I was pretty tired when I got home! I think I was gone over an hour and a half....my legs are a bit sore tonight!

I've got some crafty goodness to take pictures of tomorrow!

THANKS for stopping by and hope you have a great night!