33 Years and Counting...

It IS possible to stay married to the same person for 33 years!  

We met in the summer of 1972 and we've been together ever since.  We survived a brief separation due to Uncle Sam but through letters (remember those)  we stayed in contact.  Fortunately Jimmy was able to find a base close enough so that he could visit on weekends.  When he was finally free of his duty and settled into civilian life, we decided it was time to tie the knot.  I know this man really loves me cause if it was up to him, we would have made a quick trip to Las Vegas instead of having the garden wedding I wanted.  I compromised by keeping it small.  We've done a lot of that throughout the years.  Compromise.  I think that's one of the key elements to our survival in the unpredictable world of marriage. And lots of laughter.  If you can both laugh at each other without taking it personal, you've got a chance of making it last.  I've probably shared our story before.  Thanks for reading it again. 

I had so much fun this past weekend at Stampin' From the Heart with a group of dedicated woman who painted, stamped and glued the day away!  They are my kind of people!!  The subject of Josephine Baker came up and I mentioned that I have used her beautiful face to model some of the outfits I've created for my art dolls.  Just thought I'd let you take a peak at them.

Hoping you have a wonderful Monday.  I'm off to Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles.  I love the smell, feel and food they serve over there!  A great place to spend an afternoon with my better half.  

Runway Line-Up

Artful Runway - A Tag Project this Saturday, August 18!

Who would you choose to grace the cover of your book?

I'm partial to blues and greens so I chose Marina to grace the cover of my Runway Tag Book.  At the last minute I decided to add one more Art Doll to the line-up.  SEVEN TAGS!!  Marina  may look familiar to those of you who have taken my workshops in the past.  She was introduced at my second Make-it-Take-it several years ago only she's sporting a different fin, new hair-do and the background and colors have changed slightly.

Your tags will sit safely in pockets attached in your book.  This book is super easy to assemble.  Believe me, with seven tags to paint, stamp and embellish, I do not want to make this a stressful workshop.   

Please consider joining me this Saturday for a fun and relaxing day at Stampin' From the Heart in Los Angeles.  But you have to call the shop by Thursday to make sure I get a kit together for you.  Call 310-391-0466 to save your spot and to get more info.  Hope to see you!

Hot Artful Runway Artventure

This Runway Tag is brought to you by the color HOT.

The colors I used on this tag where largely influenced by the current heat wave we have been experiencing in the Los Angeles area.  Actually there is another influence.

During the summer months of my youth it was not unusual to find me at my grandmother's home.  She was a working grandma and my aunt who is nine years older than me would have the "pleasure" of making sure I was safe and tried hard to keep me clear of mischief.  Once my grandma was home she and I would spend what they refer to these days as "quality" time.  She showed me how to make sherbet using Kool Aid, sugar and evaporated milk (honest, I recently looked up the recipe cause the only ingredients I could remember were Kool Aid and evaporated milk).  We'd make super simple but super delicious cakes from small boxes of Jiffy cake mix (do they still make those?) adding hefty doses of freshly squeezed lemon juice in the Jiffy icing (which also came in a small box). 
One hot summer night we took off to Kmart for a little girly shopping spree via the bus because my grandma didn't drive.  We headed over to the dress dept and there hanging on a T-rack for all to see was the latest-coolest-psychedelic-looking dress I ever saw.  I was drooling and my grandma sensed it.  We found my size, purchased it and zipped back to her home.  Once there I tried it on.  Don't ask why I didn't try it on at the store.  Well, the dress didn't quite look right.  In fact, it looked funny.  OK, the dress made my head look BIG and it hung sort of strange on me.  It was also a little tight around my chest area and I didn't have much there to begin with.  Needless to say as soon as my grandma saw me in it she began to laugh uncontrollably.  So did my aunt.  And so did I.  LOL!  We quickly discovered that we purchased a Girl's size 7, not a Junior's!  We took it back and I can't remember what I got but I'm sure it was cool cause my grandma was cool and she would never buy me anything that screamed HIDEOUS.  
I miss my Grandma Della but I have a lot of great memories about our times together.  The dress that I put together on the above art doll was influenced by that ill-fitting dress from that late run to Kmart one hot summer night long ago.  Funny how it seems like yesterday.  

Hot Artventures

When it's too hot to sleep, make some art.

I had the most difficult time with this tag.  I moaned and groaned over it's development for two days.  The color combination was OK but I wanted it to look better.  Then she stepped in and it all came together with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  And now I'm satisfied and happy.  
This is tag number 4 from the Artful Runway collection.  You won't have to agonize over two days once you sit down to paint the background and assemble the art doll.  Lucky you.
Arftul Runway - A Tag Project coming to Stampin' From the Heart in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 18.  Hope to see you.  

Arftul Runway Info

Presenting "ARTFUL RUNWAY - A TAG PROJECT!" 

There's a fun and exciting class coming to Los Angeles at Stampin' From the Heart on Saturday, August 18.  It involves painting with acrylic paints, stamping with various inks and paint, altering a rescued book and six artfully finished 8 x 4 tags that you will create.  I'll post info on the book later.  

It takes me a full day, sometimes up to 10 hours, to figure out which colors, stamp images and art components for the art dolls work well together for just ONE tag but it should take you no more than 20 minutes to put one together.   

The art doll above had not been glued onto the tag when I took the photo which is why she looks as if she's ready to fly away.  LOL!  I pre-cut everything to make the assembling process an easy one.


I've only given you a preview of three tags but there will be three more for you to view very soon.  I hope you'll consider joining me for this class.  You'll leave with a handout of color combinations that you can paint on the blank pages of your journal or for future backgrounds on your preferred choice of material.


Sign-ups are now being taken.  Call the shop at 310-391-0466 to reserve your spot.  Total cost is $45 and all materials are provided.  Hope to see you and please sign up early to allow enough time for me to assemble your kits.


More samples of this class to come.  Make it an artful day!  

ATC Time

I spent the day at a friends home gawking at her art supplies.  It feels good to know I really don't have that much "stuff."  LOL!  


After a lunch of Chinese and Southwest salads it was time to get down to business.  I decided to work on a small scale.  I used a stamp image from the Invoke rubber stamp line.  The red and blue rhinestones encircling the head remind me of the votive candles that my mother and I would light in church after dropping a dime into the metal box that sat near the candle stand.  After lighting our candles we'd kneel and pray for the person we lit the candle for.  Last time I was in church I noticed the small red and blue glass votive candles have been replaced by tall glass candle holders and the metal box is no longer there.  You have to go to the rectory to pay for the candle you want to light.  Sign of the times.       

It was getting late so I had to pack my ATC and be on my way but not before visiting  Karen's garden.  I left with a beautiful cut from her Butterfly Bush and an old fashion scented yellow rose.  As soon as I walk into the kitchen I'm hit with the scent from both flowers and a reminder that I really need to take more time to stop and smell the roses.


Hope you have a wonderful weekend and take time to enjoy the natural wonders that surround your world.  

Colorful Summer

Little did I know that the first photo from my last post (back in May) would literally mean "Goodnight, Sleep Tight."  Well, after a hurdle of deadlines from the day job and a dose of antibiotics from a serious bout with bronchitis I am happy to report that I am finally AWAKE!

I first awoke when I realized my baby sister's birthday was coming up fast.  Like real fast.  I wanted to make her something special.  We're 11 years apart and we spent a lot of time together despite our age difference.  She's often said that I felt more like a mother to her than a sister.  I had some old photos and decided to make her a photo holder using some reclaimed wood, a little bit of paint, fiber, buttons and some sea shells.  A painted pocket was embellished and it made the perfect pouch for the surprise tag that sat within.

I photo copied an old photograph of the both of us and aged the tag with walnut ink.  I brought a little bling to the aged tag by adding some fancy shimmery yarn through the hole at the top.

My hubby has known my sister since she was four years old and I found an old Easter photo of the two of them.  I made a copy of it and aged it as well.

I was happy with the end result and my sister Rachel was equally happy and surprised to have an old photo of us in her possession.  I was touched when she announced in front of everyone that this was her favorite gift.  We're both pictured below.  She's the one standing over me and my mom and although my mother did raise us all, I can't help but notice my sister's body language.  She's leaning her head on me.  Oops.  Thank goodness  Mom does not read blogs!

 It's been quite a while since I made ATCs.  I plan on trading these at the stamp store on Thursday night.  There's a group that meets once a month to demo a technique and do a trade.  Do you think I used enough color?   

Hope you're having a great summer.  I plan on making mine colorful.