Unveiling My Totally Tiara - Imagination

Well, I don’t know if it is bad or good but, it’s Friday the 13th. The only one for this year. So I hope everything goes well for everybody today, no mishaps.
I do have one more thing to share from the workshop last weekend. But first, when I signed up for this class back in the beginning of January, in the comments area I put I was taking this workshop as a present to myself, as my birthday was the following weekend. Ok, so last Sunday when Brad came to the studio their daughter, Erika, came as well carrying a box of cupcakes from Saint Cupcake. Sally said it was in celebration of my birthday and all birthdays. I was floored and touched that she would remember I put that in my comments about my birthday. So we sang the happy birthday song and enjoyed the cup cakes.

Alright, so onto the Totally Tiara. I just have to say I loved making mine and am already thinking on ideas for my next one.

Wearing of the Tiara!

The Front View, I added beads to the small glass vials and soldered them to the bubbles for a little something different.

The Right side, I used a couple of tokens from Tim Holtz

The Left side, another token from Tim Holtz

The Back. I added the numbers for the year. And dangled a few of those letter charms I got from my local Joann store that were on clearance for 0.25 cents each.

So this is the top view, I don't know why I took this but it does show how big my head is, wow.

Ok, so when my tiara is not being worn it has a proper place on this pedestal atop my cabinet in my studio.

So that is my Tiara. I hope it was worth the wait. I know it was for me.

Though don't forget I still have my giveaway going on through Saturday, see here, for a chance to win a goodie bag.

Ciao for now.

Animal friends at the Studio

During the two day workshop we had some two and four legged friends visit us. Of course the lovely Lucy watched over us as we were working away.

Both days Joseph, the studio bird, came to visit. He enjoys eating the peanuts off the plate through the open window. He has been coming around ever since Sally moved into this studio. So she puts peanuts out for him to enjoy. He would just sit there and eat some peanuts and then fly away.
Sunday Brad brought in his dog Indie, a gorgeous chocolate lab. Though on his papers it states he is silver. Sally told us the story about when Indie came to live with them. Indie got his name from the state that he came from, Indiana. Indie was a father’s day present for Brad last year. So he is still a puppy full of energy, though Brad has been training and working with him. Well behaved dog. I asked Brad if I could take a picture. So as you can see when Brad gave him the sign to lay down, Indie stayed put.

On another note, don't you just love those wooden floors in Sally's studio.

Friday is coming and I am working away at completing my Tiara.

So back to work I go.

Continued

What goes hand in hand with a Sally Jean work shop, lunch at the Paragon. So here we are heading to lunch.

When we got to the special Brad and Sally room we had these wanting for us on the table. The famous Rosemary Fries. Oh the Yummiest.

As we sit down and dish out the fries, Brad tells us that they go really good with the mixture of ketchup and horseradish aioli for dipping. He was right.
On Saturday while we were there waiting for our food to come we saw this coming down the street.

Horses with roses strapped to the back of their saddles.

Of course last weekend was our local Rose Festival parade and events.

Tomorrow, the studio pets.

Need some Ideas, chance to win a goodie bag.

I received my paper dolls in the mail, WooHoo, from Tammie Moore’s Spring time swap. How cute are they.

So there are a total of 22 dolls ranging in height from 8” to 11”. I have wall space and shelf space, but I’m not sure how I want to display them. So that is were you come in. Leave me your comments on ideas about how you would display them. Then the morning after my birthday bash, Sunday morning, I will draw the name of the lucky winner of this goodie bag (not filled yet). The quarter next to it gives you an idea of the bag size.

I am still finishing up on my Totally Tiara. With a two day class and 11 fabulous ladies (and Brad) we socialized alot during the class so not all of us completed our Tiaras. Guilty.
Though here is a little peak.

Oh, wait I got farther than that, let's try this one.

The finished Tiara will be displayed on Friday. My deadline to get it done so I can wear it at work.

Look forward to hearing all the great ideas you come up with for my dolls.

Where does the time go.

With the weather here in the Northwest still feeling like early spring, those highs trying to reach 60 degrees. All the rain still coming down. It doesn't feel like it should be June already. But it is and half the year is going to be over before you know it. It may be because I have been waiting for June to come for a couple reasons. First, it was back in January that I signed up for Sally Jean’s 2-day Totally Tiara workshop that happens this weekend. Yippy!!! I have her book and have tried some of the projects though the tiara was a big one and haven’t tried it. So why not create and learn more from the artist herself. Should be a blast. We even get to head over to the Paragon restaurant for lunch. Yummy.
Second, there is a big event that happens on Flag day each year. I know most people probably don’t think it is a big event, that their birthday comes each year. But I try and do something for myself. That is why I splurged on the Sally Jean workshop. It falls close enough to my birthday. If people aren’t aware Flag day falls on the 14th. So I thought in celebration of my birthday I would giveaway a good bag. So stay tuned, more to come about that. Something different than my monthly RAK.
One last thing to leave you with. I have been working on these ATCs over the past month or so. Here is a peak at a few of them. Of course using the lovely Ranger products.
These I used the paint dabbers and embossing ink and power and rubber stamps.
For these the Alcohol inks were used and rubber stamps.
So with all the swaps and trades I have been doing. I had to order more Moo cards. Here is the photo that I used. Next time around I will update the photo to add more of my newer creations.

More to come.

Charm Swaps and more

So along with taking Stephanie Lee’s classes I have been working on my charms for a couple of the swaps that I am in and hosting. So the first one has a theme of game pieces. I have several odds and ends pieces that I could have gone with. Though I went with the Monopoly pieces. The houses and hotels. This is what I came up with.


The other on is through my Charmsters group and the theme for this one is Grunge. So I scrounged up some old keys and those wooden measuring sticks. Took some wire and wrapped them all together.
So what do ya think? Leave me a comment and let me know.

So on Friday I was heading out to my parents house and had to stop by the Harbor Freight store to get me some metal stamping letter sets that were used in Stephanie’s class. On the shelf above those was this great Doming block and punch set. Could not pass it up. For a 25 piece set I’ve seen priced at $85 - $90 dollors. Way out priced for me. This one was even on sale for $24.99. I could use it as a paper weight, it is that heavy. Just kidding. It has a nice spot on one of my shelves.

This last week I have been doing some thinking about my artistic creations. I have that full time other job, it pays for all the bills and me being able to do all my creating that I do. Though with that I do want to take myself more serious as an artist. I’m not just getting all these supplies and tools just because. I would like to work into selling my creations. I have a room designated for these supplies and tools that I have called my Hobby/Craft room up until know. This is what I have know put above my door way to this room.





Pretty good find. I was at Joann’s last week and came across these alphabet charms, in the clearance bins up front. It showed they are used on purses. Yeah right. I went through all the bins to try and get each letter of the alphabet. I came away with all but three of the letters. Not bad. Only .25 cents each. What will I do with them. Any and all ideas are welcome.

So as I am letting my creativity flow. One of my sweet kitty cats, Tiger, has a nice nap. Isn't that the cutest face.

Off to sleep I go. Sweet Dreams to everybody.

Still Lots going on and a Winner!

I know it’s already Friday. Were does the time go, I’ve been bad about blogging, the lack of it. So about last weekend I have to say it was Great. Thank goodness for that extra day off. I headed out to Diane’s studio in Clackamas OR for Stephanie Lee’s Chain Gang class on Saturday. Loved it! Loved it! This lady is just an Awesome person and artist. Learned so many new techniques. I have been doing soldering for several months now, with a soldering iron, but today I got to play with a micro torch for the first time.

Now I have added that to my list of tools I Need. Along with the Metal Bench Grinder. Makes short work of grinding the bezels I made. Found another use for Paster of Paris.

So as the day wound down the group headed back out to the round Cedar house in Diane’s back yard. As it came to my turn to do my wish and intention. I said that I intend to finish my bezel creation, still working on that intention,

and my wish was that I would have been able to get into the class on Sunday but it was full. WELL, as the group was heading back into the house Diane mentioned that she had a cancellation and the person on the waiting list has not gotten back to her. Would I want the spot. I jumped at the opportunity. So this is were I’m thankful for that extra day off.

The weather we had that evening, on Saturday, was just like a great Midwest storm, thunder and lightning. Living back in the Midwest as a kid, I loved those storms. It may be kind of odd but I would go outside and sit on the patio and just let the storm rumble through me, figuratively. So that is what I did Saturday night. Went out on my back deck and soaked it all in, literally it was raining along with the thunder and lightning. Though my cats aren’t too fond of the storms. They go and hide under the covers in the bedroom.

Ok so back to the classes. Sunday was the Junk Drawer metalsmithing class.Ok, first on a side note these classes I took were smaller class sizes, 9 students, than those art retreats of up to 26 students. Much more personable. Everyone got to interact with each other. Great group of ladies. In this class I learned a couple more techniques. I have to say I learned a new way to use ALL of my rubber stamps and StazOn ink pads that I have, on metal.

Use of Metal Alpha stamps on solder. Another tool item for my list. Made more bezels.

Alright, thank you for reading through my ramblings. I would like to thank all of you who visited my sight and left comments.
I have pulled the lucky winner out of my hat, ok so it was a bowl.

The winner is - Becca

Hope everyone has a Smashing Day.

P.S. It was not until Tuesday after work that I got my lawn mowed and yard work done.

Goodies and Giveaway

I have more memory. Not for my brain but for my camera. Got time to delete several photos, so that I could add more to it.
Here are some of the mail goodies I received while I was gone. The great tag kits from Michelle’s swap.

My song quote chunky book. Already has a spot on my shelf.
So here is the stack of trades I got from: Mindy, Hitomi, Jan R, Gloria A, Linda H, Jacki K, Nancy Lynn, Julie A, Ruth A, Judy H, Kathy L, Marvadell Z, Michelle R, Andrea F, Debbie W, Bridget L, Susie G, DJ, Kathy E, Janie S, Angie M, Debi B, Stephanie, Margo and any one I may have missed Thank you for trading with me. I enjoyed the whole experience.

Coming up is a three day weekend. Got to love those holidays. I need it. Heehee. The short work week is good. The evenings I've spent doing laundry, working on keeping up with my swaps and making up for time spent away from my two kitty cats, Jasper and Tiger.
Though I’m sure my new friend Charlene from Chicago will need even more time, she has 9 cats to give extra attention to since she was away. We had got to talking while on the cruise and she told me that there are not many people who get her when she tells them she has 9 cats. I totally did. We connected shared stories and pictures. Her and her husband own a couple bead stores in Chicago, Briolette Beads and more and Caravan beads. They have been going strong for 13 years.
So that extra day this weekend I will spend mowing my lawn and pulling weeds. Hope the weather holds out. Though I do get to have a fun day on Saturday taking a Stephanie Lee class at innerstandings.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Holiday weekend.

On my trip while we were in Skagway I was suppose to have an excursion to do some flight seeing and Dog sledding. Though with the weather the way it was, pretty much cloudy with rain, snow and showers all day and the low hanging fog. It was cancelled. Very disappointed, so looking forward to that. Since I did not get to see the doggies at the camp I went into town and brought one home with me. I named her Cruiser.

So on to my giveaway. I have this lovely 8 x 8 album kit.

How can you win ~
Post a comment here.
Make sure that I am able to reach you via an active blog or email address.
Starts today and ends May 29th.

Lucky winner will be drawn the morning of May 30th.

Here is another picture of just on pile of my scrap booking stash that I still need to go through and organize.

Thank you for visiting my little corner of the blogging world.

Melissa :)

Happenings while I was gone.

Of course the mail keeps coming and amongst the stack of everything, catalogs, a couple bills, and junk mail, there was some good stuff. I am currently hosting a couple swaps so I received some packages from participants – Keep those coming.
I received a package from Michelle Cummings who hosted the tag kit swap. I had sent mine off the week before I left for vacation. Great turn around time. Here is the picture of all my tag kits. Such goodness in each.
needing to empty at least one of my memory cards before I can take any more photos. That tells you about how many photos I took on my vacation.

I also received the Song Quote chunky book from the swap I was in on the BookArtz group. Great to see all the different songs everyone picked. Also photo to follow.

While on the cruise there were the informal trades going on. Luckily I heard about them in time to create some ATCs and charms to trade. I was happy to trade with who ever.

Got to bring home this little suit case. Read on and find out what was in side.







On to more pics from the cruise. Some of my class projects and others of the cruise. Enjoy!


The first project was this fat book. We made using Tims Grunge board for the covers. Inside are the new papers from Heidi Swapps line. I think it is called Travel.




Below is the lovely tin that all the embellishments came in. the book fits so nicely. I have not done any filling of my pages yet. Though I am sure what goes in it will be from my Alaska cruise.


















Tim's new Idea-ology line. We got to work with and make some charms or necklace pieces. What ever we wanted, it was pretty much free time to create with these pieces.






All the fun stuff to create with and the cute bag it came in.









Ok, can you say loving Grunge board. this project we took a plane out wood framed mirror and added strips of grunge board to it. After we used the paint daubers on the grunge board and distressed it with sand paper and other tools.





Picture frame. We used the fragments and glued them to pictures that Tim printed out relating to our cruise to Alaska. then trimmed around the fragments and glued them all over the frame. Not sure what picture from my cruise I will be putting in it. I have alot to choose from.





Tim surprised us with having a rubber stamp created just for this cruise. So the stamp fits just so nicely in the little suit case. He told us after they were made he had the plates returned to him so no more could be made.










Some of the goodies I bought at the on board Emporium store.



















Ok, so while on the cruise these are some things that I ran into.





Big Waves. Definetly found out that my porthole window IS leak proof.







NCL takes Free style cruising to a new level. The Deck 14 level.










What a piece of Glacial ice looks like up close.






Some great chocolate covered Strawberries delivered to our rooms from Jim at Scrapmap.






And New friends. We found the lifestyle room on board for us to go and create while not in class. Gloria, Lisa, Earlene, Nancy, Astrid and Debbie W. Creating away.



A shout out to my new bud Gloria, the lady on the far left, it is her Birthday today.

So if you have gotten this far Congratulations. You get to hear about the give away I will be doing tomorrow. So come back and read even more.

Tah tah for now.

Melissa

I'm Back and Important News





Ok, with all the hundreds of photos and hours of video I took over the course of my vacation. I did put some out on my flickr site.

To more pressing matters.
There are two bills that are coming up in the House and Senate that will change copyright as we know it.They were shot down once before because of action against it --- but now they are back as bill numbers H.R. 5889 The Orphan Works Act of 2008 and S 2913 The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008
If you or someone you know post any family photos or any photos online. You need to go to this website arts and crafts law to find out more information. Then go here and send in this letter if you want to protect your rights. I ran across this on Claudine Hellmuth’s blog. Thought I would pass on the information.

This is text from the Illustrator Partnership web site:
Due to the lack of publicity about this bill, the most innocent victims of this plunder – those who put images online - are still completely unaware of it. Who am I talking about? Average American families who have enjoyed the internet as a way to share the happiest, and even saddest, moments of their lives with their friends and family across the country, and even around the world, through the wonders of technology. Google has already said they plan to use these orphan works in the millions. Why should companies like this be allowed to harvest our property from private web pages, blog sites, share sites and the like?

Here are just a couple photos from my vacation. Many more to come.

Me with Tim at the Welcome Reception.

Can you tell, it's me with Glacier Bay in the back ground.

Thanks for stopping by.

Melissa