Oh Martha, You Naughty Girl!

Well, of course, I have jumped on the Martha bandwagon. Wait till you see how crazy I went! We are watching Pan's Labyrinth and I have to hurry back, but I wanted to share this with you.

This is Martha's Photo Family Tree project re-done with a beach theme. I made it for my mother-in-law. It is not completely finished here, but I had to make preperations for wrapping and thought I better take a quick picture of it before I get too far along.

There were pluses and minuses with this project. Let's start with the pluses. It is quick and easy and even if it is not perfect I think it still comes out relatively pretty. The minuses make up a slightly longer list but it is still totally worth it. Here they are though.

1. The Martha label is glued on to the decorative frame so be very careful when removing it. Mine marred the decorative side pulling off some of the finish and I had to sand the whole thing to disguise the marks.

2. Martha tells you to use approximately 26 collectors pins for this project. However, only 6 are provided. They are WAY too long for the box though and if you cut them with wire cutters to a more appropriate length they snag the fabric on their way in.

3. Packaging is lovely but not terribly easy to open and maintain.

4. Martha does not specify which thickness of double sided adhesive foam dots to use.

This project is still an awful lot of fun and certainly worth working around the incredibly minute snafus (hmm have not ever written that word before). If you try this project and have any questions feel free to send me an e-mail.

Tomorrow, we are off for a day trip to B.C. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Hugs. xox=vv.

Projects Coming Soon.

None as incredible as these. I am in love.

Attempting To Build A Blog 2.

All right, I am pretty sure this is a battle, but still completely unsure of who is winning. Am I getting closer? Gosh and golly, I hope so. We may need to make a book exchange tomorrow. The ones I have are a bit too "tutorial." As in, "Now open the site that we have created and click on some of the type. Go up to the toolbar and hit the "center" button and change the format of the text to center it on the page." I mean, I know that is not so bad, but first of all come on ... page 225? You have got to be kidding me! Is there still anyone out there who does not know how to center text on a page? Also, I don't want to open your training site. I want to work on my site. I do not need a tutorial on everything. Just please tell me how to edit the css and the xml (both of which I figured out the majority of on the first day sans books). I want all the details but I don't need to open three other programs to learn how to center the font.

Oh yeah, and here is a postcard I made. not to be a tease, but I am sure there will be more on that later. I am exhausted. well, all my love to all you lovelies! xox=vv.

*All of your sweet comments were saved to Haloscan at the time of original post*

Seriously Sorry.

Okay so this week’s Illustration Friday Topic was “sorry”. However, I am really sorry that I have not been able to keep up with all of you delightful people. I have glanced at all of your blogs, but I have not had the time to comment.

The surprise that came from the Apple store was a new Wacom Intuos3 9x12 tablet!! Soooo exciting. I am learning a lot, but more than anything I am trying to finish up current projects. I am having a hard time with printing from Illustrator and I am experiencing some frustration. Also having trouble getting ”usable” pictures out of it (this one should be b&w).

I have a ton to share with you, including such delightful things as: Cheerleaders climbing ropes in an old airplane hanger (yeah ... hot!), a stationary design for miss Lisa, a few more drawings, maybe a couple of surprises and hopefully, very, very soon a little shop with a coloring book happily for sale.

So why am I sorry? Well I think I need to continue on my unscheduled blog break. This time though, I am scheduling it. I think I need a week away from the pressure of the computer. I have some non-electronic things that I would like to accomplish and since I love you all so much I find it very very hard to stay away and not return e-mails immediately. If I owe you an e-mail I hope to get to it after the break. Thank you very much for corresponding with me! In the meantime I will be thinking of you all!

Lastly, I am kicking it old school with this little free hand sketch that I drew in Illustrator today (bleh). I am trying to get used to the tablet. You can blame Lisa for the request for more drawings and please let me know if you tire of it!!

*All of your sweet comments were saved to Haloscan at the time of original post*

For Lisa If She Would Like.

Long story short, in a blur of inspiration, ten paintings also possibly soon to be link buttons “hung” in a link gallery. Lastly, could there maybe a story book here? I may show you a few more of these tomorrow.

This one is almost finished it needs touch ups, but it is almost ready to mail to Lisa if she would like it. She may take one look at it and say “no. you keep it.” I doubt that though because she is just so much sweetness! Unfortunately this had to be redone and did not turn out as great as the first attempt. I may have to redo it later. I apologize for the horrible photo.

Would be all to pleased to know if you would want to read a story about “lisa and the lovely pink coat”?

*All of your sweet comments were saved to Haloscan at the time of original post*

Wow ... Now That Is Some Serious Green.

It may be the low blood sugar or the fact that it is 1:30 in the morning, but I thought this photo was interesting. This is part of the preparations for a painting I did, in a college art course, a few years ago. I was looking for a green picture and well ... it is umm ... certainly green! I should probably share some more important things with you, like today’s Panty O’ Scopes.

Here we go. If you are wearing:

Red Panties- Today you will discover something new again.

Orange Panties- Do not wash the windshield of your car today. Seriously... don’t.

Yellow Panties- Today you may decide to cut off a friendship that might be getting a little to interesting (for more info. see yesterday’s post)

Green Panties- You will find a moment of peace today. Enjoy!

Blue Panties- Today you will feel extremely productive and get a million things done. Then, you will wake up from your afternoon nap and realize it was all a dream.

Purple Panties- Beware of moldy cheese today. It is not a refreshing snack time treat as some might want you to believe.

Black, Brown or White Panties- You will wish that today was as exciting as yesterday.

Floral or Patterned Panties- Today you may experience some cinfusion.

*Don’t forget to add the words “in bed” to the end of your daily Panty O’ Scope if you are wearing lace panties today. I’m having some funny font issues after re-installing Appleworks. Hope to have it fixed soon. Let me know if this font is annoying. Thanks!!

*All of your sweet comments were saved to Haloscan at the time of original post*

One Is Silver And The Other Is Gold.

I ordered one the second I saw it. After falling in absolute love with this post (containing a picture of a similar necklace) on Posie Gets Cozy, I rushed over to Lindsey’s site and bought the first one I saw. My heart fell on the floor (which was very messy) and I used all my “goodie” money right then and there, no regrets. Except one small and weird one. This necklace is perfect in every way shape and form. I prefer to wear silver. However, somehow I fell in love with the gold color of the necklace in Posies picture. I asked Lindsey if she was planning to make any more in gold and she told me a secret. The necklace that Alicia received was also silver, it was simply a difference of the photograph’s lighting. Here is where my dilemma begins. She said she could make it in the gold I desired.

Speaking of precious things... this is part of a comment from that I received from Janet to my “At the Dawn of Creation” post and I wanted to share it with everyone:

“I'm a new blogger, and I know exactly how you feel about the creative community. I always thought I had good ideas until I got involved with blogs! Then I started seeing everyone else's work and thought mine was not up to par. Only recently have I decided to just do what I like and stop worrying whether it's as good as, or on the same level with, or....you get the picture. Afterall, isn't creating an expression of one's self....so to put limitations or restrictions on my creativity is like putting them on who I am. I know that a lot of my things aren't what other people like but as long as I like creating them that's what matters to me. “

This endearing and insightful comment made me realize, that having other people like your work is great, but loving your own work ... well baby, that’s gold!!

*All of your sweet comments were saved to Haloscan at the time of original post*

Partici-Great.

I dream of participating in:
:: Artomat - An awesome program which uses vending machines to dispense something that should be far more addicting than cigarettes. Art. (source of photo above)
:: Open Yours Too - A swap for arties and crafties by a fabulous artist, Dawbis.

I would love to participate in:
:: Artists Helping Children - A creative way to help children in need with a little love and handiwork.

I am participating in:
:: 52 Figments - 52 weeks of creative questions to get the artistic ideas flowing.
:: Postcards From Cletus - Who else deserves a photo op than a traveling fetus?

*All of your sweet comments were saved to Haloscan at the time of original post*