And the winner is....

A little random number generator has selected 12. The 12th comment happens to be Miss Margeaux, or Mux as her friends call her. Miss Mux, email me your address and 102 1/2 wishes will visit your mailbox in a few days.

There are 2 criterias I use to buy wine; either I've already tasted it or it is in a really cool bottle. The above was purchased for criteria #2 but I thought it was relevant.


Thank you for all your posts, your kind words. I hope that each and every one of your wishes materialize. Just keep fighting for it-whatever it is.





"Any given moment can change your life, you just have to be there for it. " (Curly Girl)


P.S. Kits for the "girls" coming soon in the Etsy shop.

The Girls and A Little Gift

The day after Christmas I always get the post-holiday "blecks". Not wanting to take down the Christmas tree but not really wanting to look at much longer, I decided to indulge myself in a few projects that I (for nothing then more than my sheer enjoyment) wanted to do and ignore the decorations.

These supplies have been waiting to be transformed. Thanks to the (the Queen again and her Ezine)

From the pile of junk, came 102 1/2 wishes. An old book, some paper scraps, a velvet ribbon-Voila! A blank canvas to house all those wishes.

2009 is lurking around the corner. I don't do "resolutions"-non-commital Gemini-but I do have an ongoing list of to-do's with this life.

*****Giveaway Alert******

To celebrate 2009 and a blank slate from which to wish and dream your butts off, 102 1/2 wishes will go to some lucky person. Leave a comment to this post with one of your wishes and on Tuesday, the 30th, I will randomly draw a winner. In the meantime, start your list!

Wow, that was fun.

Now, the Girls.

Whatever intrigued me about clothespin people, I haven't a clue. These two are the first. For the practical people of the world (and who share in my life here on this blog)-No, I haven't a clue what I'm going to do with them. But aren't they cute???

Off to take the tree down, I can't stand it anymore.

Wish #33-That life's irritants continue to be what they are today. Little miss, put my scarf back.

First-

No, I really don't have 567 "to-do's" on my bucket list. Just sounded better than #20. The pajamed princess ornament was also featured on One Pretty Thing so I must give some love to Rachel and her awesome sight. Thousand of darling to-do's, neatly organized, and hand selected.

That my friends, is #567 and 1/2-CHECK.

Second-

I spent the day baking cookies with little miss and mister..literally there was flour and food coloring everywhere but we had a great time. Little Mister asked to wear an apron--my heart skipped with glee when he donned the original Fruity Bitch apron and did a little dance. His first comment was, "Mom, I think you need boobs to wear this thing." (Maybe they help, but he sure looked cute, er, handsome?)

After cleaning up the "glue" (what happens when you mix flour and water), I hightailed it up to the studio to finish an order I promised for Monday.

Turned out very cute, if I say so myself. Present for a "friend" from a "friend" but after receiving this they may just end up as more than friends. I ran out of pink cardboard cake boxes and had to substitute. (Martha Stewart, or her packaging, saves the day.)

So, that's it for today. One more official day of work, one more to finish Christmas shopping, and then pure home hang-out time..bliss.

Bucket List #567-Check.

The Market is both killing me (not really,but I'm tired of finding stray strings hanging everywhere) and causing me immense joy this Holiday season. I've got orders that I need to complete before Friday but let's face it..we all need a time out. I took one tonight. Bad girl, I'll regret it on Thursday when I'm up until midnight.

We (the subscriber's of the Bella Ezine Comfort and Joy) are on day 8 and I've yet to play with any of the awesome tutorials Ms. Silver Bella herself, Teresa McFayden, has put together. Seriously, if you are in an "inspiration slump", these will yank you right out. There's a little sneak peek at Vintage Indie of Day One.

So, friends, my version of Day 1:

There she goes again with the damn glitter..I know.

Please note: The center silhouette is a freebie (the good kind) courtesey of Vol. 25..Her purpose was to use them as gift tags but,oh the possibilities.

And, Oh yes, the bucket list part.....

Bucket List #567-Publish Something

The writer gig is up there on my top things to do before I die.

However small it may seem, The Pajam-ed Princess Ornament Tutorial, which I wrote and designed, was featured on a crafting blog-Whip Up. I'm going to count this as, "publish something." for now. Thanks Kathreen for the press. Go on over there and visit-your inner crafty girl will explode with glee! (I'm doing the woo-hoo dance as we speak)


One more useful yet random tool I just learned about. If you read more than 5 blogs a day-use google reader. The seasoned blog community is yelling at their computer screens, "Duh, chick, it's like been around forever." But, this newbie is thrilled. It's like e-mail for blogs. Keep track of all the blogs you read and when they're updated. You don't have to visit each one--a little efficiency to our lives is never a bad thing.


Get out your notebooks,kiddies, and make that bucket list...2009 is right around the corner and you never know when you just might get to cross one off.

The Pajama-ed Princess Ornament Tutorial

The 4-day Thanksgiving weekend was much needed. I spent much of it trying to get inspired to create.

I wrestled my Christmas tree and got it up-without the Christmas Tree Nazi complaining that I hadn’t fluffed enough. Every year, I promise myself that I will buy coordinating ornaments and have a themed tree. In my mind, this tree of calculated coordination would be Macy’s worthy-glittery gold and matching with pink and cream feathers and ornaments.

Yet, each year, I pull out the dried glue gingerbread man with a picture of little mister as a toddler and the glittery reused spool that little miss constructed in first grade and I just can’t make myself pack these away for the sake of design. So, yes, this time of year to me is about tradition.



This summer, I subscribed to Marie Claire Idees after reading about it on more than one blog. The kicker is that the whole magazine is in French and I haven’t a clue what any of it says. BUT oh my, the wait was well worth the pictures.

(Amazon offers a subscription but some bad reviews about people not receiving anything, so I subscribed through UNI-PRESSE. Got my first issue, as promised, 8 weeks later. The only glitch is that I am Mr. Rebekah on the address label, but whatever.)

On a side note: Do you ever play that game-“Would you rather be blind or deaf?” and have ridiculous debates with your friends? I never could come to a conclusion, but I’ve since realized-Deaf would be my choice.)

The inspiration for the rest of this post stems from this photo-courtesy of Marie Claire Idees.

I love my children, who doesn’t right? Why not immortalize them and add to my sentimental collection of ornaments?

The Pajama-ed Princess Ornament Tutorial

Supplies:
-Favorite Photo

-“Pabric” or Fabric (Don’t have time to wait, visit this link for printing from your inkjet directly onto fabric)

-Ribbon (3" piece or so for hanging)

-Fabric Scraps or Paper (for ornament backing)

-Some Type of Stuffing- Fiber Fill Etc (I have so many pieces of scrap fabric that sometimes I use these to fill too.)

-Embellishments, if you’d like

-Take your photo. Using photo editing software of some sort, remove the background from the picture. I use PaintShop Pro and the eraser tool. I also changed my photo to black and white.

-I like to insert my image into a text box in Microsoft Word. There I resize (this ornament is approx. 6” tall) and copy to get the correct layout so I can see how it will print onto an 8.5” x 11” piece of Pabric. “Pabric”. Not paper, not fabric. Genius.

-Layout your photos making sure you leave enough space to cut ½” border around each picture.
Print.

-Decide what you’d like to use for the back of your ornament. You can use fabric scraps, paper, whatever.
Pin the fabric with your photo and your backing fabric (or paper) wrong sides together. Cutting through both layers, leave ½” or so border around your image. (You’ll need somewhere to sew the two together.)

Insert ribbon into the top (fold in half) and pin, catching it in the seams when you begin to sew in the next step.

Using a ¼” seam allowance, sew around your photo leaving an inch or so opening to allow a place to stuff your filling.


Stuff your ornament to your desired fullness. I like the “less bloated” look so I used less.

Close the opening by handstiching or machining the opening closed.

If you’d like, you can now dress these up. My glitter addiction made me add some, and little Miss looks lovely with a little crown.

TADA..Easy, Personalized and so cute.....

P.S. Thank you, friend of little Miss, for your photo.

If you have any questions after embarking on this little journey of creativity, please contact me. (In a hurry? If you don't have time and would like me to whip some up for you, please email me.)

Happy creating!

Damn, I'm tired...

The Frozen Tundra Holiday Boutique is tomorrow and I am t-t-tired of the factory work. Once again, as is my creative process, I rushed around all day and forgot to stop and take pictures (other than these) of the goods.


I'm obsessed lately with all things "grandma-y". These little strawberries (yes, made by me) are so cute. Reminds me of a pin cushion I saw around our house when I was little. I packaged them as ornaments because if you don't buy things that haven't a purpose-then these just don't otherwise make sense. The practical people of this world.....(sigh)


An artist is somebody who produces things that people don't need to have. -Andy Warhol

I whipped up some felt brooches (another grandma thing) too--Damn they were cute, I wish I would've taken a picture. Maybe I'll have some left??

I realized, too, that my carbon footprint has to be atrocious since I'm a sucker for good "packaging." My theory is, "If you're going to create something special, then it should be dressed up."

I'm going to clean up the studio because Hurricane Rebekaha has left a disaster in her wake. Plus, another Market happens again on Saturday. AND the Bella Ezine (a gift from the godess of creativity) posts tomorrow and provided it's everything I expected, I'll not sleep again.

More pics to come...in the meantime, SHOP HANDMADE.

I've decided something: Commercial things really do stink. As soon as it becomes commercial for a mass market it really stinks. Andy Warhol

I haven't made cards in what feels like a million years. I still don't particulary feel like it but these 5 are going to a silent auction to be packaged with other creations from some creative women to raise some money for a good cause. (Please note...lately I have had this serious addiction to all things glittery.)

The weekend flew by:

-Took little mister to open ice skating

-Finished Wally Lamb's new book, "The Hour I First Believed". (Still like, "She's Come Undone" the best Mr. Lamb, if you check blogland for opinions.)

AND

Little Miss has very recently been granted her driver's permit. For the past three days, I have been demoted to back seat passenger. (She tells me, I'm a back seat driver. My reply is that I would like all of us to at least see our next birthdays.) So while Big Mister sits in front and coaches little miss, I sit in the back seat and recite novenas until we arrive at our destination. (Boy, it really is scary.)

During a Hail Mary this evening, the verse for the red card came to me. "Sometimes not getting what we want is exactly what we need." You don't say?

The Market has 3 more dates coming up very soon..have a few projects I'll share once the long weekend sets in. Looking forward to Thanksgiving...good food, no pressure and a Friday that is free.

By the way, forget Black Friday and buy or make something handmade.

A few observations today:

By the way, Happy Birthday, Ma.

I read somewhere once (I have no idea if there is any truth in this) that our heads, due to its size and shape, resonate sounds differently.

That being said, it is safe to assume (in my opinion) that
*Certain sounds can either:

A.) Harmonize with our inner tone creating a soothing, relaxing response or


B.) Create a “fork across a plate” shriek that when heard, makes us want to grind our teeth and snap like a jealous dog.


I’m convinced that it is scientifically possible to have reaction B to the sound of someone else’s voice. I’ve been trying to figure out how I can be so irritated by someone that is so nice.
Eureka! The notes F flat and G sound just fine played separately, but together they make a really ugly sounding chord.


What’s a woman to do? I’ve heard that Pamprin might change the shape of my resonating chamber so that I can sit for 8 hours without the hair rising on my neck.


I am also fascinated by the studies done on the differences between my Generation X tendencies vs. those of my younger peers. I witnessed something that I have not yet read about in any article. It happened two days in a row, by two different people so there must be something to it.


You ready? These Y’s like to carry things.

Perhaps an evolutionary shift caused by the “consumerism” in this country-practice toting 10 lbs of excess baggage so you may case two tiers of the MOA before you need to make a trip to the car? I have no idea.


Case in point, following a young Y out the door yesterday. A huge bag the size of two year old draped over her right shoulder, a purse attached to her right forearm, keys in right fingers. In her other hand, a mini cooler for her lunch (you know the size..a six pack of beer fits nicely in these), and across her index finger a neon green Nalgene water bottle was dangling. I thought to myself, who needs this much shit to go to work? I’m dying when I have a purse and a laptop bag to carry.

This morning, it happened again. A purse, an extra large Vera Bradley, the Nalgene water bottle (this time it was pink) and the lunch bag.


This might not be that earth shattering but as a mother, it kills me. Motherhood teaches you efficiency-we don’t do bags for each purpose. One bag-wallet, lunch, water bottle, excess crap.
Keep it light because there is no doubt that you will be, in addition to your bag, carrying 20 extra pounds of thrashing toddler sometime that day. Am I getting old? Unhip to the ways of fashion? What can you possibly have in that big bag that you’ll need during the hours of 8 and 5?


Anyone have insight into this? (Next thing you know, I’ll be complaining about how many miles I had to walk to school in my bare feet.) Whatever it is, these future 30-somethings are going to either have spines of steel, huge biceps, or some serious posture issues.


One more and it speaks for itself.. horoscope from Monday. Go figure.


GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have no problem figuring out what it is you want. The trouble comes when you realize that you'll have to wait for it. Try not to think of waiting as a static condition. All the while be busy making yourself ready.

Silence?

I haven’t had much to say lately nor have I wanted to hear my voice write anything anecdotal.

In the past weeks, I have been receiving 4 caring bridge site updates to my inbox on almost a daily basis. If you are unfamiliar with Caring Bridge, it is an internet outlet for those who are sick and/or hospitalized to keep their friends and families “in the know” and allow you to electronically voice your support, your prayers, your wishes to the patient and their family.

There is Ms. Courage who is battling ovarian cancer, Mr. and Mrs. Together at Last who have a baby awaiting a bone marrow transplant who have several other children at home who have been in the hospital for too long, Mrs. Ray of Happiness who has two small boys and a young husband who has suffered a stroke, and Mrs. Eldest Girl who, too, has cancer everywhere and is doing everything in her power to live.

So, I don’t like out-dated hairstyles, hot dish, or Facebook. So, I can shop. Big freakin’ deal. Doesn’t it all seem so trivial? These people just want a normal life back and here I am—blah, blah, blahing. There is some guilt associated with my ramblings but….


It goes on and that’s just it. It will always be something. Herein, lies my lesson for today. Live your life. One has no idea when the game will change. “Normal” today just might not be “Normal” tomorrow.

What I Know for Sure Today (can you tell who graced my mailbox recently?):
1.) I have a lot to learn.
2.) The phrase “If I knew then, what I do now…” now makes sense.
3.) When it comes to moments in your life, the word random is never involved.
4.) What goes around, comes around.
5.) Attitude really is everything.
6.) You get out of it as much as you put into it.


I also have a few new quotes I “randomly” came across today:

-NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST.

And

-BE NOT AFRAID, YOU WERE BORN FOR THIS.

Debut #2

I still don't feel like hearing myself talk. So once again, a picture is worth a thousand words-let's hope for this post's sake it's worth a little less.

I have two jobs; one I do for love, one I do for money. The love job won today so tomorrow you know where I'll be.

Silence.

Graphic lessons for today...Sometimes we are much cuter when we don't talk.

Why not Wednesday?

Yes, I realize it is Wednesday. I also realize that I almost never post mid-week but a few things prompted some thoughts today.

Received an "O" Mission calendar inspiration email today. Normally, I read and delete but today I felt the spark of relevance.

The greatest joy of life is to accomplish. It is the getting, not the having. It is the giving, not the keeping.
—Frederick Banting

Received this in the mail today.


The "Golden Rule" at it again.




Also received this today....remember my quest for vintage teacups?

The Curly Girl Design calendar graced my front step this weekend,too. (I really love this.)

June happens to be my favorite.

One more random quote:

As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
—Nelson Mandela

So, change a few things, let your light shine, accomplish some and give.

Joie de Vivre..

It's been snowing here in the upper Midwest.

("Go figure."those of you might say who think it's arctic here all the time.")

It's a grey, grey day-good for catching up. If you know me, I'm always trying to beat myself at this little game.

I made the fortunate (yes, fortunate) mistake of bringing Urban Market samples to my day job. Received a few orders so I spent Saturday in my individually owned sweatshop whipping up these beauties. I can't wait to package them up and give them a good home. Someone might actually like their Christmas gifts this year.

I finished these up on Saturday. (Yes, my weekends have been reduced to sewing and playing taxi. What happened?)

So, today. No time like the present to organize the studio. There is nothing like a clean slate to get the juices flowing again. Must get manufacturing for debut #2...

So hung up my tape measures (yes, plural...I bought another since I couldn't find the original.)

Seems that little miss was measuring to confirm her arguments that a trip to Victoria's Secret is an immediate necessity in the very near future.

Needless to say, I found the original buried under a week's worth of dirty laundry. (Again, not a surprise, in this house.)

I realized today that "fabric whore" might be a term I can assimilate to. A little harsh, yes, but I do make "Fruity Bitch" aprons. I believe we've discussed the dichotomy of my personality in previous posts-so I apologize to any new readers.

So, after seeing my little room take shape into something now better described as neat and tidy, I looked to my work table (which as of 3 minutes ago, I could once again see the top). Behold, my inspiration board that I've just recently started to use.

On my weekly "Micheal's" excursion..I picked up the "Twinkle Type" that I've been wanting and the angels of paper sounded their horns of approval. My empty "Inspiration Board" glared at me and subliminally screamed, "Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize!"

Ta-Dah................................................

Joie de vivre-

Joie de vivre (from the French joie, "joy"; de, "of"; vivre, "to live, living"; "the joy of living") is a term sometimes imported into English to express a cheerful enjoyment of life; an exultation of spirit. Joie de vivre, as one scholar has written,
"can be a joy of conversation, joy of eating, joy of anything one might do… And joie de vivre may be seen as a joy of everything, a comprehensive joy, a philosophy of life, a Weltanschauung. Robert's Dictionnaire says joie is sentiment exaltant ressenti par toute la conscience, that is, involves one's whole being."[1]

Ok, so forget the snow-this too shall pass. Muster up all the "joie de vivre" you can find, take a deep breath, and organize your life.