I love the creativity some people around town have when it comes to dressing their mailboxes…

It has been a very, very busy week, month, year here in the studio.  And for this, I give thanks.

As a matter of fact, I give thanks every single day for all the great things in my life ~ my health, my rock-solid Captain Hubby, my brain, my talent, my ability to make a living with said brain & talent without punching a real clock, my friends & family who love me, the roof over my head, the food in my pantry and just all the little blessing that come my way each and every day. Sometimes I am even grateful for the stumbling blocks because I know they make me stronger (this usually comes after I’ve griped a little bit :-).

I wish everyone a happy holiday and that you are able to recognize & appreciate all that is good in your life and give thanks for it.  Every day.

The other night, after a long day on the computer in the studio I was tired, but wanted to sew.  I didn’t want to spend too long, or fuss with a pattern.  I wanted instant gratification, I tell you.  Something useful I could hold up and say “Ta-Da!” in half an hour or less.

Then my eye landed on the cardboard wrapper that I had saved to make myself a coffee cozy someday.  That day (OK, night) had come!  And lucky me, I had a couple pieces of felt that fit the bill ready to go. A couple of quick cuts and a freeform run around the sewing machine and I was almost ready to say Ta-Da…

But it didn’t look finished…it needed something…hey, a ragged flower with a bright button in the center perks up just about anything, I say!  I took it to Starbuck’s for its very first outting yesterday. 

….ans the Road To Marrakesh Fat Quarter winners are….

Jenny and Jen Eskridge ~ email me your addresses girls and I’ll get these out to you!

I gotta tell ya’, people, this was ridiculously fun. Of course, anytime I can combine learning something new with creating art that isn’t my “normal” licensable art, I get a little giddy.  And collaging with beeswax was certainly a refreshing, new experience. I am eager to try it on some other ideas.

Even though it was too glorious outside to be in this past Saturday, I was happy playing among the wax, the papers & bits…  This could get messy….

Oooh..and fun! How did I miss the zebra print?

Claudine (left), who was a great teacher, gives us a demo (her eyes weren’t closed the whole time :-)

Here’s one side of the room, busy at work having FUN!

I usually like to take in-progress photos of work, but I was having such a ball I didn’t even think to snap a pic of my first piece until it was done.

Came to my senses on my second piece ~ here we are getting started with the base…

Moving on…she seemed so dreamy I felt like a watery-sea feel was somehow called for.

And yet, I was in a color-tastic mood that day…

A few finishing touches and voilà!

Hey!  It’s only 2:30 ~ I’ve got time to do one more!

Still in a brightly lit mood!

More color & some bits of lace and it’s time to clean up!

So, how much fun was that??  On my way out, Claudine was nice enough to pause for a photo-op. Thanks for the great day, Claudine!

Does that strike fear in your heart?  Make it easy on yourself…and support an artist.  Check out these stellar Etsy finds…

I am seriously crushin’ on these prints.  I love, love, love their dreamy quality. Also available are bookmarks (love ‘em!), stickers and note cards.  Find these and many more ethereal images at Jennifer Gordon’s Etsy shop stilettoheights.

I need more jewelry like a fish needs a bicycle, but I always seem to pick up new pieces (and likely always will no matter how may times I have to clean out my stash).  You just never know which will become your favorite go-to piece.  I don’t normally like heart motifs, but this one captured my…er…heart…

As a matter of fact, nearly everything in this shop caught my eye…here are a few more pieces.  Go check out Jody McGill’s shop 1ofmykind and see if you’re not as smitten as I am. Just look at how romantic these earrings are…

Hint, hint, hint…

I recently received samples of my latest fabric line, Road to Marrakech, from Studio E and am thrilled with how they turned out!  I am looking forward to seeing what you talented folks do with these fun patterns.  So let’s get the sewing party started ~ I am giving away two bundles of fat quarters (one each to two lucky winners) of the blue/green colorway.  Just leave a comment telling me if you’re planning to make any of your holiday gifts and if so ~ what and for whom?  I won’t tell ~ I promise!  I’ll have Captain Hubby draw the winners sometime next week.

While we’re on the subject of Road to Marrakech, check out this free downloadable project from Studio E ~ isn’t this fun? (I am showing the pillow out of size-proportion to the quilt so you can see the cute frills…

Are Mondays sometimes overwhelming?  Do you find you just don’t know where the heck to start?  Well, it is usually that way for me.  The one little thing I do that seems to help on these scattered-feeling mornings is to make a list of no more than five-ish things that I want to accomplish.  My actual To-Do list is much, much, much longer, but I find that breaking it down to five things to aim at that day seems to focus me in the right direction.  And if I cross them all off and still have time ~ I can revisit my longer list.  But that hasn’t happened yet….

p.s.  Be sure to include something you know you can cross off quickly!

Gracie Loo Hoo fell in love with our ottoman.  Specifically the way it feels under her claws.  Luckily, she doesn’t have the same amour for anything else, so when we replaced the furniture some time ago, we kept the sacrificial ottoman.  But I must say, it didn’t look too pretty, so I decided a slip cover was in order for when company comes (the rest of the time I disguise it with a throw and Gracie still has hook-ups with it).  Mistakes were made, it doesn’t fit perfectly, but overall, not too bad…what do you think?

Have you seen Denise Clason’s fabulous book ~ Quilted Bags & Totes?  You should really check out all the fun projects ~ like this one: “The Amber Bag” that Denise made from my SoHo fabric collection that I did for Studio E.  Getting your hands on this gem of a book is only a click away to Amazon.  Hmmm…looks like I am going to have to get busy and make something myself!!!

And speaking of SoHo… you can download these free quilt projects made with SoHo fabric from Studio E here.

Meet Gracie

Name: Gracie

AKA: Gracie-Ellen, Gracie Loo Hoo, Yoo Hoo, Buttzilla, Orsen (as in Wells), Bella Roo, Gracie-ella, Bitcherella, Boopsie-noodle, Jabba da Butt, The Alpha Bitch, Boo Boo Kitty

Weight: 12± of pure witch

Origins: Mamma was a stray ho that had me in the lobby of a hotel where a friend of Mommy & Daddy worked.  He convinced them they needed me after their beloved Puss (19-1/2 yrs) passed away.  I’ll never fill his claws, er, paws and I suspect that is what makes me such a witch.  I can’t help myself. The vet has told them it is because I am a torty (they don’t like me much there at the vet’s; I live up to the mean-face sticker on my chart).

Likes: Helping Mommy work, lying on mommy’s chest first thing in the morning (as close to her face as I can get), growling at the “other two”, food, food, food, prowling the perimeter of my back yard, belly dancing for Mommy when she scoops my box (Ok, it is more like rolling around, but she seems to like it), getting my butt smacked around (I’m a sick cat) and shower water.  Oh, and treats!  I have no dignity when it comes to them.

Dislikes: Everybody.  Except Mommy.  Sometimes.

Biggest adventure: Hmmm.. I don’t go far from my food dish & bed, but I have brought a few snakes in the house.  Surprisingly, Mommy does not like this.

Most distinctive quality: Extremely diminutive meow for such a full figured gal.  Boo-hooing arias over Stinky Baby (nearly decapitated stuffed mouse I’ve had since I was a mere kitten; I bring it to Mommy almost everyday). Orange dot right between my ears.

Meet Menace

Name: Menace

AKA: Min-Min Chin-Chin, Miss Legs, Cutie Patootie, Killer, The Brat, Mini (as in Mini-Me to Cry Baby), ChinnyRoo, Jingle Butt

Weight: 9 lbs. of lean mean killin’ machine

Origins: Was from one of the neighbor kitty’s litter (makes me related to Cry Baby somehow) and I decided to escape.  I parked my cute butt on Mommy & Daddy’s porch until they took me to the vet and had me fixed - because the toms in the ‘hood can be scary for a little gal like me - (even if I can kick their *ss)!

Likes: Leaving Mommy & Daddy previously-living presents like bullfrogs, squirrels, birds, moles, snakes, lizards, etc. under the patio rugs, stalking Cry Baby, peeking in Mommy’s studio window, snoozing the day away on my chaise lounge, or in my bowl when it’s cold and seeing how many times I can make Mommy open the door for me then let me out again.

Dislikes:  Thunder, other cats in my yard, offensive patio rugs (I must ball them up occasionally even if I have nothing to leave underneath), lawn mowers, and dogs. Gracie doesn’t bother me, she knows I’ll kick her fat *ss.

Biggest Adventure: Spent 5 nights,in the rain, on top of a 40 foot palm tree until a very distraught Mommy & Daddy found me.  The rescue was quite an event.

Most distinctive quality: Whiskey & cigarette Meow, heart-felt headbutts and a vibrating butt.

Meet Cry Baby

Name: Cry Baby

AKA: Chunky-Butt, Good Boy, Mr. Boy, The Beast, Beaster, Kitty-long legs, CB, Fraidy Cat

Weight: 18-20 lbs. of pure love

Origins: Belonged to neighbors but decided to keep visiting these folks.  They feed & love pretty good & there is peace.

Likes: Anything I can eat, ESPECIALLY popcorn which the prospect of makes me unusually obnoxious.  Prowling the wooded lot behind our house. Long brushies. A little “mat” time or chatchin’ a snooze on the couch. Sleeping on the chaise lounge - when Menace gives me a little space!

Dislikes: Being stalked by Menace (she’s sneaky), being harassed by Gracie, (I’m a lover, not a fighter) lawn mowers, thunder and dogs.

Biggest adventure: Let’s just say Mommy & Daddy were very surprised when I came home with a professionally stitched up leg after being missing for four months.  I’m not talkin’.  (I stick closer to home these days)

Most Distinctive Qualities:  Loud, snore-like grunt-purr, must slop most of water out of dish then stand in it as I drink from it (I can’t explain) and the ability to go limp as a drunken sailor when picked up.