Holy Mackeral, everything has changed! I mean, E-V-E-R-Y THING. I hope I'm in the right place. This is all very strange, folks, like coming home to something you don't recognize anymore. An all new Blogger. Sure, the actual page looks the same but you should see it from back here...have I ever mentioned how much I hate change? I've got enough to contend with on Facebook and now Blogger shakes things up too. That's modern technology for ya... as soon as you get used to it, they go and change it!

I haven't been making much lately but I've been stocking up on some lovely things. Like these oh-so-beautiful hanging dress forms from Rosanne. I'm shocked that they were still available in her Etsy store, shocked! My goodness, when the first one arrived and I opened the package, it took my breath away. It was a hundred times more beautiful in person. I decided my sister should have it and ordered the pink one for myself because we both deserve it! The shimmer from all of the embellishments is crazy. I wish I could make these myself but I know my limitations...this takes patience and I have none. Especially when it comes to sewing, and Rosanne hand stitched all those little charms. Thank you, Rosanne!

I also bought one of Rosanne's dress form .pdf files and cut myself a form to decorate. You need to view one of her video's to see how pretty these can be and get an idea of what I was going for. Link here. I love all the bling and frufru, but I can seldom pull it off to look as good. It always ends up looking a bit garish, so I've kinda stopped where I am because I like it this way. I'll just let it sit and if I'm moved to add some bling here and there, so be it. (It will definitely have stick pins.)

I'll have a few more posts during May so be sure to stop back. I have a fabulous lace kit coming in from Rozella and I can't wait to share it!

I've Failed the UIU Pledge

I tried, but it just wasn't working for me. I've been a bit distracted with art journaling classes so I've bought a lot of new pens and markers. Then our Michael's started a renovation and holy cow...the stock they had on clearance! My sister and I paid them a visit yesterday and my wallet got a whole lot lighter. I was amazed at all the new paper stacks...my goodness, I haven't bought scrap paper in a long time. I resisted the urge but I bought even more markers, a beautifully decorated candleholder, and a canvas to collage on.

I could have spent several hours wandering around but the aisles are too small and the store is really jam packed. It's very hard to shop when you're all crowded together with people and merchandise, especially when they have a sale. I think it'll be really nice when they open up the additional square footage. It can't be soon enough!

'til next time...

Lettering with Gelly Roll Pens

Never did I think I would enjoy this so much! This morning I worked on Lesson 12 of Joanne Sharpe's Letter Love. Isn't this cool? It's called black light letters - done with Gelly Roll Moonlight Pens. It was so easy and so fun to make. Can't wait for the next lesson!





Have a beautiful day!

What's in a Name?

AJ asked what the new kitty's name was, but the truth of the matter is that I don't know. Is it a big deal to a dog or a cat what their name is? If I listen carefully will she really TELL me what it is? Or is it the name she came with?

Lola is the name she came with and I don't care for that name. My girl is too small and delicate to be a Lola. How about Chelsea? I thought for sure it was Chelsea! For a day. Than I played around with the name Lola and made it Lily. Great name! The same name as a good internet friend who just happens to be Queen Lily. Well, my girl is quite a princess, so that seemed fitting, but it still didn't roll off my tongue as I think a name should. Like Frasier or Magnum. Those names were perfect for my boys, but I just can't seem to find one for this little gem.

I wonder what she would think of Callie. Isn't that the name of a character on CSI? I can't stand that character...lol! She's such a contradiction with that long blond hair and sweet southern accent, all lady like you know? Then she struts around with a gun on her hip and kicks butt...totally unbelievable. Just like snickers here. She's all lovey dovey and nothing but sweetness until she lunges at your ankles. We'll give it a shot and see what happens. Just don't tell anyone I've changed it again...people are starting to give me odd looks when I correct them. It might be best to wait a while.

More Letter Love

I am sooo loving this class! I haven't had this much fun coloring since I was a kid. But I must say that the tools have certainly improved over the years. I'm definitely spoiled now by the Faber-Castell Pitt Pens. They are so smooth. And the Tombow colored markers...I'm getting more. In the last picture I used Tombow colored markers and watercolor paint..hard to tell the difference.

It still takes me a while to get it done...but that's what happens when you keep adding more and more detail...you just get into a zone and the world goes away.

This is my favorite grid so far. I must have worked at this for hours without a care in the world. Unfortunately, I took a crappy picture!

I thought this was going to be nothing but a big mess. Much to my surprise, I "love" it.

I'm still working on this one...can you read my name?

Letter Love with Joanne Sharpe

Do you know Joanne? If not, you should! She's been published in Art Journaling, Somerset Studios, Cloth Paper Scissors, and more! I've seen her work often and marveled at what she can do with letters, so when I saw her online class I signed up on the spot! One of the students in class named Joanne the Queen of Lettering, and rightly so. She definitely knows her stuff and even better...she knows how to teach it! I think everyone that started in February is pretty close to being done but they're still very active! The enthusiasm is amazing!

I'm only on Lesson 6 but look what she has me doing already! And I know what's up ahead so I'm definitely looking forward to it!





There's a ton of comraderie and laughter in this group, and you can join the fun by signing up at Letter Love. Classes are only $35 and so worth it! I really can't wait to do the next lesson! I'm just so slow and so easily distracted...but there's no rush because everything will be available to me FOREVER! For $35 I have total access to every lesson and every video forever. So I can take my time and REALLY enjoy the class.

The Power of Fur

When I lost my Frasier, I hung out with some wonderful cat people at the FFRC Chatters Group. I received a lot of love and understanding. One message posted to me was "Please find someplace to go SOON where you can get your hands in some fur-I think it's the only balm for your heartache." Was she ever right! I never realized how many times a day my fingers would run through that precious fur, or how it was so natural to just reach out and softly pet him as he curled up next to me on the couch. It was an actual physical habit that I was withdrawing from and my heart ached for it. So the next day I ventured out to the shelters not knowing if I was ready for this or not. I went every day to a different shelter, or to Petco and Petsmart where the fosters without homes were kept in cages. I wanted to bring them all home but I couldn't, and settled on this beautiful little girl with the big plume of a tail. One record says she's a Maine Coon mix, another says Turkish Angora, but whatever she is...she's now mine. Or rather, I'm hers.