This is my inchie for the everyinchiemonday group.  The word "fancy" was the challenge this week and this is my interpretation.  Click on the image to get a closer look. 
Hope you have a good Monday and if you can, make it a fancy one! 

Sunday Stroll

This morning I decided to take a Sunday stroll through my backyard.  Cecile Brunner is doing just fine and dandy, thank you very much.  I love her pink frills and I can smell her five feet away!  Heaven.

I was happily surprised by the vibrant and subtle blooms I encountered.  This bright garnet geranium left my hands with a sweet peppery scent.  Love it!

Well this is a first for me.  A two-headed Bird of Paradise!  Nevertheless, the colors are vibrant and beautiful.  This plant made itself home by sneaking under the fence.  It's other half is in my neighbor's yard!

This pink ivy geranium took off from a cutting that originated from my grandmother's garden.  My mother took a cutting during the early 60's, planted it in her yard and it took off.  Three decades later, I took a cutting and here it is.  I plan on passing cuttings to my son and daughter.    

I love the vibrant red blossoms that dangle in this drab corner.  My Bottle Brush tree is in full bloom and very soon I will have the needle-like droppings to prove it!

My Martha Washington geranium is loving this spot.  I took a cutting from the school's garden patch last summer, stuck it in the ground and watered her until she took hold of the dirt.  Mother Nature did the rest and it helped to have lots of rain this winter.

"Old Faithful" keeps coming back year after year.  I wish my other hydrangeas were as strong as she is.  She bloomed earlier than usual this year and I'm hoping to enjoy these Lace Cap blooms a little longer.

My sniffy, runny nose is now paying the price for the Sunday stroll I took earlier today but it was so worth it. 
Hope you have something pretty to look at today and if not, look in the mirror.  Don't laugh.  LOL!!!

Spring Break

I hadn't planned on being away so long.  In fact, I hadn't planned on being away at all.  But, the spring bug bit me and spring hadn't sprung yet.  You could say I had a bad case of "pre-spring" fever that flowed into spring.  It was really bad.

Poor Momma Cat tried her best to pull me out of the "fever" by doing silly things that were actually subtle reminders that I had a "to-do" list that I had better get to right away - like sewing new curtains for "our" art room. 

Even Frida's gaze couldn't scare me into getting those much needed projects started or finished.  I looked to the Virgin for help but I was taken by the beautiful colors and images surrounding her to forget about the help I meant to ask her for. 

I felt like "chess boy" trying to figure out what move to make. 

And then one day while trying to clear my desk area, my fever began to drift away.

The projects began to unfold.  It no longer seemed to matter that my hours at work were cut.  I began to look at less hours at work to mean more hours in my art space.  What was I thinking?! 

So here I am again.  Slowly making my way back to the world of paper, paint, stamps and words.  And  hoping you're still here to read them. 

Inchie Monday

This week's word for the every inchie Monday challenge is "dance" and after watching Black Swan I knew that ballerinas had to be the main subject. 

Have an entertaining day!   

Inchie Monday

"Fishy" inchie on deck!

This week's word for the inchie project is "fishy."  I knew immediately that I wanted a fish with big lips exploding through paper making for a grand appearance.  I think I captured my thoughts pretty right on.  
After completing and photographing my inchie for the week, I usually place it in my mini journal with a few words.  Being Valentines Day, I thought it would be apropos to compare my fishy inchie to my real life catch.  My hubby.  HAHAHA!!! 

As I folded this week's laundry, it dawned on me how much pink I wear!  I think I set a record last week.  What's your predominate color? 

I did a lot of baking and of all days it would have to feel like summer!  But I made it though and I got rave reviews from what has to be one of the easiest cookie recipes I've ever made.  One box of Funfetti Cake Mix (I think it's Pillsbury), two eggs and 1/3 cup of oil.  Mix it together with a spoon (I finally threw my hands in there like when I'm making meatloaf), make little one inch balls that you flatten with the bottom of a floured glass tumbler to about 1/4 inch on an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake for about 8 minutes at 375 degrees.  I'm sure you can do this with mini chocolate chips and chocolate cake mix and sprinkles with lemon cake mix and on and on. 
Make it a sweet Valentines Day!  Kiss Kiss......              


                                    
                                      

Phew.

This week is over.  Phew.  They say time speeds by when you're having fun.  Hmm.  I've also heard that the older you get, the faster time goes by.  Based on last week I think the latter is my excuse.
It was a week of RAKS to make me smile..........
.....postcard received from Carolee.  I love the stitching and colors.  Very Mexican.... 
  

.....inchie received from Christina.....very a la Van Gogh.......

I found time to do some minimalist journaling in my mini journal......

This week there were games to play in honor of our 100th day of school!........

...books to give away...cause you really can't celebrate 100 days of school without giving a book away......

....and there were saints to watch over me to make sure I made it through the week.

If you want to experience a jaw-dropping moment, go here  to get a colorful eye load of one of the most flashiest rag dolls you'll ever see.  She's Voodoo-licious and will make your heart race.  Lots of attention given to detail.  Perfect for your inner monster or the little monsters in your life!  Designed and hand-made by Jill, creator of Bellakarma.  Go take a look.  You won't be disappointed.
Enjoy your weekend!  I'm off to make some valentines.  Paint + Dirty Fingers = LOVE.

Every Inchie Monday Plus..

Due to a stomach virus and demanding book fair, I was unable to participate in the last two Every Inchie Monday projects.  I'm happy to report that I'm back and ready to face any art challenge that crosses my path! 
This week's word which my inchie should reflect is "electrifying" and this inchie sums up how I'm feeling now that I'm well.  You can't get any more electrifying than being on fire!     

I found an old drawing that I had put aside a few years ago.  I added some background color and stamped a message on the front.  This was all created on a discarded catalog card. 

Another found piece on my desk was a piece that contained stamped verbiage.  I have no idea where the stamp is or who makes it.  But it's very interesting that I came across it today.  I had to place it in my mini journal which is mainly to hold my inchies.  But I've found lately that my mini journal is just the right size for adding small bits of my life.  I find the words of this found piece interesting because of something I learned yesterday.

My hubby and I are going to be grandparents for the very first time!  Our son and daughter-in-law showed us the first set of pics yesterday and we flipped!!!  We can't tell if it's a boy or girl but it's got real small feet.  LOL!!  This stamp has been hanging around too.  Believe me when I say I have no idea why.  

Isn't it interesting how things come together as if they're all part of a puzzle?  Does this mean I'm going to start buying baby stamps now?  And when did I buy that one up there anyway?  I think I'm going to get a lot of use out of it.  It'll make great tags to place on handmade items.  wow.  I'm gonna be a grandma.  sigh.