Oh My Stars!!!

I have mentioned before how much I love my stained glass stars.  They were one of the first things I packed up for the move and they will be one of the first things I UNpack. Every time I see my stars in the front window, it makes me feel so happy.  I have gotten all of my stars from Kurt Knudsen's Piggy & Dirt Etsy shop.

I am very selective about products and artists that I support on my blog.  Not only are Kurt's starts beautiful but they also come in some of the most lovely packages I have ever received!

I am craving this one for Halloween:

(image source)

And I need two sets of these for my Christmas tree:

(image source)

Think Santa might be able to find his way to my new home a bit early?

Moving On

Finding a new home has been a stressful and humbling experience.  We dearly love the house we have been renting for five years.  It is going to be so hard to leave it.  Beyond that grief, there has been the struggle to not only find a reasonable alternative but also to "sell" ourselves to potential landlords.  A few times, we were convinced we found the perfect house only to be turned down by landlords who did not find us to be desirable tenants. Even though I know it's just business, it's hard not to take it personally.

After making us jump through quite a few hoops (that often felt humiliating), a landlord finally decided that we were acceptable.  We have found a new rental home. It is a fairly big step down from our current home but it is nice and clean with a yard for Noodle (see above photo).  We are moving this weekend.  I feel better knowing we will have a roof over our heads and that we will be more or less settled before Halloween.  I want so much for Noodlebug to be able to enjoy the holidays.  I want that for all of us.

The freelance work my husband has been doing is improving and he is slowly adding to our family income little by little.  I'm trying to view all the changes as the beginning to a new chapter in our lives.

2010 was the "annus horribilis" and it spilled a bit into 2011.  I think these past two years have been a time of transition and change for us.  Personally, I have been drawn to opportunities that allow me to work on myself.  I have been reading SIMPLE ABUNDANCE by Sarah Ban Breathnach all year and I have taken both Soul Restoration courses offered by Brave Girls Club.  I have been re-prioritizing my extracurriculur activities and trying to figure out the best fit for my family. I've tried to start exercising regularly and have become more active in my church. 

I think when I look back at these two challenging years, I will discover how much growth and learning took place.  I can't see it right now....but I will.

I'll be back online next week after the move and hopefully I will have gotten the chance to get my craft supplies organized in the new house. Thanks for all your good wishes.  They helped!!!

Mary Engelbreit Online Store!

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I just love Mary Engelbreit. I love her sweet graphic designs and I can never seem to stop myself from buying her products when I see them at Michael's.  I'm bummed that I missed out on experiencing her magazine but I am so so happy to hear that she is opening an online store!!!  The store open on October 10. Wahoo!

Check out the new store here and enter her contest while you are there!

Good Life

It's amazing how it was the combination of unemployment and the loss of our home of five years that brought me to my knees. These are not insurmountable obstacles but it felt so big.  It took me awhile to regain my footing and my perspective.  We have been lifted up by friends and family and surrounded by love and good wishes.  People that do not know me have sent me love and prayers and good thoughts.  It has been unbelieveable.  Only good things can happen. This is not the story of a family getting torn apart or about people facing deadly illness or the forever loss of a loved one. We are unbelieveably blessed.  I believe in the power of prayer.  I believe in the combined effect of goodwill and good wishes from others.  Look at what happened in Amy Powers' life last week.  Amazing.  Thank you to all of you for lifting me up.  I wish I could give each and every one of you a hug.

We have two applications in on two possible rental homes.  Hopefully, we will know something by next week.

In the meantime,  this is a Good Life.  A good good life.

Can't get this song out of my head today:

Lessons Learned at ART IS...YOU 2011

Art is...You was my very first art retreat. I had such a great time. Sallianne and Ellen are truly amazing women. I would never have the patience or fortitude to put on events of that magnitude and deal with all the myriad details and problems that arise.  And they always seem to be in such a great mood!

I have discovered that there are several types of classes that one can take at a an art retreat.  Some are strictly technique classes where you do not take away a specific project. Some are technique classes where you replicate a sample the instructor has given you.  Some are classes where you are given a design to work off of but you provide the theme and/or inspiration.  I have discovered that my favorite type of class is the last version.  I love it when someone provides the basic framework and teaches the techniques involved but then lets me create my own vision. Shelly Massey's classes were like that.  I left with pieces of art that I felt were truly my own.  I LOVED Julie Haymaker Thompson's class and I learned so many techniques but I feel I just replicated her sample. (with the exception of the cat which is all my own)  I love that piece but I don't see much of myself in it.  However, I can now take the techniques I learned from Julie and do something of my own.

Everything is a learning process and I just feel good getting to create!

I also learned about the power in gathering a group of creative people together. I met so many wonderful women who quickly asked me my story and then got involved in it.  Three women tied wish bracelets to my wrist this weekend. Two have already fallen off so I'm hoping those wishes come true soon. Even though these women don't know me well, they are sending me prayers and positive energy which is so powerful.  I feel lucky to have been a part of it all and can't wait for next year!!!  I hope you'll join us too!

Art is You Petaluma Day Three---DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW

My last class was with Julie Haymaker Thompson. She taught us how to alter cheap craft store birdhouses into wonderful whimsical pieces.   Of course, I had to do a cat instead of a dog:

Here is the other side:

So fun!!!  Last night, at the Trunk Show I finally got to meet the marvelous Cathe Holden in person.  Getting the chance to spend time with Amy Powers and Cathe Holden and getting to meet the wonderful Shelly Massey made my first art retreat experience complete. Can't wait until next year!!!

Art is You Petaluma Day Two----LICENSE TO CREATE

I took my second class with Shelly Massey today.  We continued our work with vintage license plates and made wonderful and whimsical boxes.

Here is one of Shelly's:

Here is my finished creation:

I did a "Bloom Where You Are Planted" theme with a funky flower growing out of an old shoe.

Goober shot from Shelly's blog:

See more photos from Shelly's classes on her blog.


I am taking tomorrow off and then return Sunday for Julie Haymaker's DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW class.

Art is You Petaluma Day One----PLAYTIME

Day One of ART IS YOU!!!

The very first person I saw when I walked in the door was one of my very favorite bloggers---Amy Powers!

Not only is Amy incredibly talented but she is such a wonderfully sweet person.  I cannot WAIT for her new issue of Inspired Ideas e-zine!


Amy and I both took Shelly Massey's PLAYTIME workshop.  Here I am with Shelly and some of her wonderfully whimsical examples:

And here is my piece:

I've been thinking a lot about moons lately.  My moon and stars are balloons.


Here is Amy's wonderful family portrait!

And here is Muriel's jungle-themed piece:

This is Prentiss' work in progress. It has a Alice in Wonderland theme:

Shelly is a wonderful teacher and her class was so laid-back and fun.  I am taking another of Shelly's classes tomorrow. So far, so fun!!!

Here is a shot of one particular goober from Shelly's website:

(image source)

Making an Effort (and it's a big one)

After a sleepless night filled with crying and gnashing of teeth, I am trying this approach today.  ("trying" is the operative word)

Art Therapy

This weekend I will be attending my very first art conference/retreat in my own backyard.


ART IS...YOU!!!

I registered for this event long before my current woes and I debated whether or not to attend.  In the end, I decided that I really need this. I haven't done anything like this for myself in four years.  The best part is that I don't have to travel somewhere in order to do it.  I can come home to my family every night. 

I am taking three classes.   Two of them are being taught by Shelly Massey. I love her use of whimsy and color:

WORKSHOP ONE:  Play Time

(photo borrowed from and owned by Shelly Massey)

WORKSHOP TWO:  License to Create

(photo borrowed from and owned by Shelly Massey)

The third class I am taking is being taught by Julie Haymaker.  I will have to incorporate a cat, of course.

WORKSHOP THREE:  Doggie in the Window

(photo borrowed from and owned by Julie Haymaker)

I am almost done with my trades and I have been sorting through my crafting supplies in order to pack my retreat kit.  I'm so excited!!!  I will do my best to take photos and share them with you throughout the weekend.  FYI---They are already planning another ART IS...YOU here next year so please think about coming out and playing with me!


P.S. Still no news on a new home. We are seeing two houses this afternoon and possibly one tomorrow.  Hopefully, we'll know something soon!