The Way I See It.

Creatively Made

2012-01-24T10:11:00.000-05:00

So, I have been spending time watching Jeanne Oliver's online course Creatively Made.

Week one was dedicated to altered journals, their covers, and making altered journals from catalogs. Each week also features guest videos from other artists.

It's great fun to watch and listen! Jeanne is just adorable!

I have made journal/book covers before, so didn't feel the need to follow her example. However, it is really fun to watch how someone else does it.

I did, however, try my hand at Jeanne's style of background and altered magazine images.

It's frustrating to not have any decent craft/art supply store nearby. Of course, I can order online, but sometimes it's fun to go browse, pick things up, and really look at it first.

I used what I had, which is always a good thing. I think the skin is a bit yellow, but the process was really fun. It is completely not my style, which made it even MORE amazing to try. We should all try things that are not in our comfort zone!

xo

Swap Gals

2012-01-22T16:58:00.001-05:00

OK, here goes:

We'll swap in order:

I mail to Shannon
Shannon mails to Jean
Jean mails to Cassie

QUICK CHANGE UP HERE
Cassie to Jessica
Jessica mails to me.

How's that sound? Stuff a $5.20 sized priority box full of stuff, and try to get it in the mail by next weekend.

Email me your addresses, and I'll pass around. Shannon and Jean can get it from PDA. Cassie, send me your address via email and I'll pass it on. Shannon, I still think I have yours floating around.

Good digging!!

ONE MORE DAY

2012-01-21T07:57:00.000-05:00

OK gals, c'mon and join the swap!! See below.

You know you have goodies just waiting to be used!

You know how much fun it is to get new stuff.

C'mon, you know you want to!!

Supply Swap Time!

2012-01-15T15:35:00.001-05:00

Ok boys and girls, time to go dig into your stash!!

As you know, I won a membership to Jeanne Oliver's Creativley Made E-course. There is a members-only FB page, on which some funny gal posted about her talent for collecting ~~stuff~~ errrrrrrrrrrr supplies. Supplies, we all love to hoard them, and yet how many of us have little treasures that have been sitting around, just waiting to be used.

Well, the wait is over!! This is a swap for anyone who wants to be involved. Even if it's just me and one other person....

We can go two ways. One, stuff a $5.20 Priority Mail Box full of stuff and mail to your partner. Or two, use a larger bubble wrap type envelope, stuff, and mail. You tell me what you preference is, and majority rules.

So, let me know if you are interested. You can email me your address. If we decide to to envelopes, I'd like to pair people who are geographically close, especially if any of you are in Canada.

In your comment, please leave a list of things you want, or need to get rid of. That will help too!!

Today is Sunday, sign up will be for one week. Happy digging!!

It's Just Like Riding a Bike... sort of

2012-01-10T16:42:00.002-05:00

So, as I mentioned, I headed home the week after Christmas. It's been a year since I've been there- way too long. Last year I went just for a few days, this year I went for 6.

The thing is, it just makes me want to go home more. It makes me want to move home more. SIGH.

My parents and sister have Welsh ponies. I have two myself (really my mom's). I haven't ridden in years, but my sister asked me to go cross-country with her. So, she helped me saddle up, and I donned some of my 11 year-old nephew's gear (helps to have a big nephew!).

Riding a horse is like riding a bike. You don't really forget... but your MUSCLES sure do!! We went out for about an hour, wearing bright jerseys as so avoid getting shot by some deer hunters.

This is Christine on Jim, on the second ride.

The first day I rode my sister's gelding Gentleman Jim, a registered section B pony. It was really fun. We walked and trotted. Then I asked him to canter, and he let out a few bucks!!

I laughed and laughed, and Christine says "Oh, I forgot to tell you he did that!" Ah, all the more fun!! At one point we were cantering and he bucked and swerved... I managed to stay on, my sister yelling "STAY ON!" As if I had anything to say about it. ** laughing**

The next day Christine asked me if I wanted to ride again. I hemmed and hawed, mostly because I was in the middle of cleaning something out for my mom (I am RUTHLESS when it comes to junk). Jason said to me, "Can I go if you don't?" I think my heart audibley broke. 1. because it was so heartfelt, 2. because all the other kids ride and mine don't have the opportunity like they do, and 3. because I had to tell him "no, you don't ride well enough." Oh, it makes living up here in Maine SO much harder!

Jason and Jim

But, I rode again despite the fact that muscles I forgot about were sore, not to mention my "seat bones." Lord, it felt like someone had hit me in the butt with a bat! hahaha. Gwr (pronounced Gore) is a stallion, a bit fiesty, but well behaved. We had the same sort of lovely ride, including some bucks too. But a much calmer day, overall. That's a good thing, because I'm thinking that if I'd gotten thrown it would have been ugly.

Jason was able to do a little riding in. It made me glad for him. And it also makes me more determined to get him riding up here. So, if anyone has a bomb proof pony, let me know.

hugs, Lee

I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2012-01-08T08:08:00.003-05:00

Ok, first let me say that I have tons of stuff to tell you.

I want to tell you about my trip home, for the first time in a year. How I rode cross-country with my sister, pulled my niece's tooth, hung out with my mom, and wished that I could move back again.

I want to tell you about the snow, the ponies, and the kids.

I want to tell you about the flying squirrels that run through my walls, and occasionally (and recently) get into the house.

Yeah, all of that.

BUT, first I have to tell you that I won two things in the span of about 2 weeks. I have entered SO MANY blog contests and never won a thing. Not once. There are some bloggers out there who are constantly winning things, and I often wonder how that is.... anyway.

First, I won the cool, sweet Christmas tree that I mentioned on a previous post. My BFF Tammy made it and offered it in a giveaway. I told her in my comments to give it to someone else, since I know her (and can twist her arm at any given moment to make me something), but she gave it to me anyway.

Swooooooooooooooon.

Second, I mentioned Shannan over at Flower Patch Farmgirl before too. Shannan has a wonderful blog. She is super funny and writes well. I love her thoughts on raising kids, FOOD, and her faith.

So, she offered a give away for the fantastic Jeanne Oliver's Creatively Made e-course.

*The art projects taught in this course

Santos dolls

Vintage Journal with old books

Image Transfers

Mixed Media Vintage Girls

Leather and metal Stamping

Journaling

Mixed Media Collage and Tips

How to use photography in your art

“Painting” with Stabilo pencils

Like so many of you out there, things have been so difficult lately. It can really bruise your heart and leaves you breathless and tired and wondering where the light at the end of the tunnel is (and hoping it's not a train). Creatively, I have lots of ideas, but often not the time or the gumption to make them real.

So, I'm sure you can see where this is going... I think God is giving me a little boost and telling me to get off my arse and CREATE.

Sign-up for the course ends tomorrow. It's a reasonable $48, so if you got any Christmas money, go spend it!! Otherwise, as you surely know, I will be sharing this as I go.

Thank you Tammy! Thank you Shannan! Thank you Jeanne!!

PS. As I finished this post, I realized I wanted to change the blog music, and I Hope You Dance popped into my head. I say popped, but I'm sure it's You-know-who tapping me on the shoulder. This time, I listened. It made me cry as I sat and listened to the words. He is telling my my word for the year- DANCE.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T09:09:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from all of us at the Weber household!

Christmas gifts

2011-12-22T14:02:00.000-05:00

As promised, here are the lovely things my pals sent me.

Tammy send me this cool glass carrier. I love it. It could be used for food or crafty goodies. Tammy also makes amazing tags, and this one will join some other ones on my tree.

Ramona sent me a timely box of bath salts, scented soap (vanilla, my fave), some glitter tags and a wall decal.

Thank you SO MUCH, my friends. This Christmas season is proving to be the most difficult yet.

xo Lee

A Lovely Giveaway!!

2011-12-15T19:30:00.002-05:00

So, I'm realizing that I'm sounding quite whiney lately. Things are about the same, but at least hubby is working here and there.

I have received some wonderful stuff in the mail the past week or two. I'd love to show you, but the camera is dead until the batteries charge. Ahhhh, kids. **I promise, I will add pictures this weekend!!

Anway, Ramona sent me wonderful box of goodies. This is pretty generous for a gal who lost most of her crafting/art supplies in a flooded basement. She is a gem of a blogging friend, and I can sincerely say that I wish I knew her in person!! She's a talented artist and crafter, wonderful mom, and manages to live and breathe her faith, act, run, and be politically active!!

Tammy, my BFF of 30 years, sent me a cool vintage looking glass carrier. It could be used for a ton of things, including drinks!! Tammy is extremely talented. She has this way with paper that I can only dream about. She has perserved through a lot of adversity, and still manages to have a smile on her face (with gorgeous teeth, I might add!) She has moved quite a few times, and manages to make each house a warm and cozy home. Her taste in impeccable, and Tammy is an amazing hostess. SIGH. (Can you tell I miss her??)

I know I've touted her talents many times before, but seriously, you have a chance to win a gorgeous bottle brush tree in her 4 year blogging anniversary (geez, how long have I been blogging...).

Go visit HERE

to win THIS:

And P.S. Katherine is giving this cool stamp set away. If you win it, please share...

OK OK

2011-12-04T20:12:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know I've been a bit of a slacker lately... I have a pin to send to Lily, an ATC and some other things to send to Shannon, and I'm still thinkng about Terri's prize....

Things have been crazy here. Crazy like crying every day, hiding it away from everyone. Wandering around the house. Trying, trying, so hard to believe something good will happen soon. Feeling like this life of mine has become very surreal.

I know lots of people are struggling. Me too. I'm running out of steam.

I'd like to say I'm in the Christmas mood. Like to. But, I'm just hanging on, hoping Santa really does come this year.

Anyway, the biggest thing to remember is WHY we celebrate Christmas. I believe. I really do. And I know thing will be just fine.

xo

Art Appreciation

2011-11-19T15:55:00.002-05:00

First, let me thank Ramona and Terri for giving me shout outs on their blogs! Both were kind enough to go check out some new-to-me blogs, and enter my giveaway. Ramona received a box full of stuff (which she thinks I should sell), and Terri's prize is still in the planning stage! Lily chose a rose pin, which is about half-way done.

Shannon, one of the go-see-this-blog people, has asked for an ATC. Let me just say, that is a small canvas to work with!! Quite a challenge for me, as I have become accustomed to working in the 5x7 size, esp. with the Paper Digital Arts challenge groups.

I pretty much love the way this came out, BUT, and yes there is a but, the colors are a tad muddy for some reason. Hmmm, maybe a brighter white for the base. The other thing, her right hand is a bit goofy. When I enlarge the photo, she's holding a staff/wand in a funny way. What I really need is a tiny little buttlerfly to perch on top of the staff! Oh well, I think I may have to re-do this card.

Our Interpretations group came to an early end. Attention and effort was definitely waning. Then, when a member lost a spouse very suddenly, our fearless leader Kim (check our her link on the right side of my blog) decided it would be a good time to close. Too much going on in this member's life right now.

But, I did do a page for the translucent theme. I was inspired by the art done at sea by sailors, full of shells and whatever they could find. However, mine is more like a tribute to a sailor from a lover or wife.

Now, there are things I don't like. For instance, I should have paid attention to the book page I used. I had to white wash the front, because I felt like the content of the page was distracting. In hindsight, a sheet of music might have been better, or some lovely letter in Spencerian writing. But, I was playing with Mod Podge and glued about 6 pages together to make the base, so I wasn't really thinking about it. I suppose I could have still used book pages, then glued something else on top. Oh well. Leason learned.

PSA- the lovely silvery translucent scrapbook paper buckles when you glue it. What a pain. I can't imagine trying to use this stuff in scrapbooks- it would drive me crazy. I guess if I had glued it just around the edges, it might have flattened out more. I cute a piece to fit the opening (trying to conserve the lovely stuff) and then ran some glue about 1/4 inch outside the edge of the oval. Hrmph. I don't think I'll use it again.

Enjoy!!

Retro Cafe Art LOVE

2011-11-14T12:02:00.000-05:00

So, one day I was over at FLICKR and checked into the latest updates from my contact list.
I was looking at Debrina's sPaRK*YouR*iMaGiNaTioN's photostream, and she had a giveaway for a sweet tin, in conjunction with Kris over at Retro Cafe Art.
So, I hopped on over there- and it was LOVE at first sight! (or site!!). Anyway, after browsing all of the amazing collages, etc., I picked up her blog button and put it on my blog.

Sad to say, I didn't win anything in the giveaway, but lovely gal that she is, Kristin sent me an email and let me choose 2 free digital collages, FOR FREE!! Is she an angel or what??

I picked the one below, and one of Mason Jars with French labels. I chose the faeries, because they were used to make sweet little faery jars with the mason jars.

Currently, mine are half made, but I wanted to share this site. Kris is constantly giving away stuff over there. Now- if I could just get her to give me some of the ATC sized mica....

hugs, Lee

Winners winners winners

2011-11-10T12:54:00.004-05:00

Well, at least four of you out there went to go see these lovely blogs.. so,

Lili at Fearless Nesting a ROSE pin,

Terri at Pringle Hill Studio

Shannon from Tin Roof Studio an ATC,

and Ramona- from Better Than We Deserve, a box of goodies,

you all win!!

Tell me what you'd like, then I'll get to work!!

Thanks and a big shout out to those blogs!!

Thanks

2011-11-08T14:20:00.001-05:00

Many heartfelt thanks to those of you who chimed in with some good thoughts! Or condolences- whatever.

I'd like to say it was just the day, or that I'm better, but it's the same. Today I walked around thinking "I can't take much more." I'm hiding in the bathroom, crying. Crying in my car. My shoulders aren't feeling so broad these days. Not so strong. Chris and I vaccilate between holding on to each other, and circling each other warily. Each of us is a bit raw, a bit tender around the edges. We don't speak of the disappointments. It's the elephant in the room.

I told him to just find a job, anywhere, even if he has to be in another state. OUCH. Not where I saw myself. Not what I signed up for, this move to Maine. It was supposed to be for US, together... not far apart. Not in different states. But that dream is gone. Just gone. It must be something else...

Which leads me into this-I have been reading Shannon's (I believe that's her name) blog Flower Patch Farmgirl for a number of months now. Like many bloggers out there, she recently wrote a 31 day series on the topic of her choice- Letting go. And boy, it really touched me.

Basically, for me, it means coming to terms with the move here, with letting go of home, of expectations, of how I thought things would work out here. Because frankly, they haven't-- not even close. Perhaps I am too busy fighting what God wants of me. Not what I want- what HE wants. Perhaps I am too busy grumbling to myself to hear what He is telling me. I don't know. I'm just putting it out there. At this point, we have made one bad decision after another. I'm thinking I need to make another type of decision. Like- to be STILL. To pay ATTENTION. Because obviously what I'm doing isn't working. I'm not sure of how to do that, exactly. I can admit that I'm damned scared to hear the answer.

What's God telling you?

Bloggy Love Time!! And a Giveaway!

2011-11-06T17:34:00.000-05:00

As I have mentioned before, I am a member over at Paper Digital Arts, where I have been involved in the Interpretatiotins mixed media altered page swap. You can look through all of the photos that members have uploaded, and I have to say, that I REALLY love Shannon of Tin Roof Studio. The girl has serious talent.

So I followed her member page over to her blog, which as LOVELY art- and what do I see NADA, NOTHING, NO COMMENTS! Very sad. Very sad.

And then, I find the same thing over at Lynne's Gypsy Art. Great art, no comments. UGH.

So, here's what I'm proposing... head on over, leave a comment on both places, then let me know.

Up for grabs- your choice:

1. a box full of stuff from my stash- to include lace, metal number tags, a vintage laundry pin, maybe a mini-bottle or two, some glass glitter, and tons of other stuff.

OR

2. a rose pin from my etsy store, which can be customized to what you would like.

OR

3. a piece of art, your choice- ATC, 5x7 a la Interpretations pages, or a themed piece.

I'll pick the winner thursday, November 10.

READY.

SET.

GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly.

2011-11-05T13:25:00.000-04:00

I wanted to post something cool today. Some post about the latest art piece, or my silly boys, or some such thing. Something funny and smart and, well, maybe not so honest...

So what exactly do I mean by that? Well, like some many others of there, in so many places, things aren't so hunky dorey here. We are really struggling. Questioning every. single. decision we've made in the pat two years. Everything. Not so confidence-inspiring.

Maine is a beautiful place to live, but that's about it. Truly. The pay scale is terrible- I cut my earning potential by ONE-THIRD just by moving here. The job market stinks, just like every where else. Real estate- ha!! We couldn't sell this house if we had to. I wish we could. I really do. My bags are still packed from when we landed almost two years ago.

I'm scared. Every single day. Chris, my amazing husband, is home from school- pumped for a job that isn't materializing. I still work part time- all the ~~crappy~~ employers around here post for part-time jobs- good luck finding full time.

So now what? I don't know. Keep holding my breath. Keep being stunned that I am almost 45 and in a sinking boat. Keep trying to be grateful for what I do have- at the moment, anyway.

Anyone want to buy a small farm?

Wow- a flounce on a two year old post.

2011-10-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

So, I received an comment this morning on a post that's two years old, on one of my favorite photos. I had labeled the post Another Gypsy Woman. Apparently:

That is not a Gypsy woman is a Ruthenian woman from Ukraine and the picture is from a popular New York book called something like "The Faces of Europe. From an anthropological point of view she has not a single gypsy feature, look at the nose, face structure, and everything. You need to make a research before you label someone...

1. Thanks for the heads up.
2. I clearly stated in the post that I didn't know where the photo was from, only that I loved it.
3. I do not have the time to check your sources, so I'll take your word for it.
4. Maybe I'll blame it on artists license....

Anyone have this happen?

Paint it BLACK- wainscoting, that is.....

2011-10-23T10:40:00.001-04:00

I received an email this morning, from a gal who did a search on black wainscoting, and was directed to my blog. hahahahahahah Who knew??

Anyway, it lit a fire underneath my proverbial arse to get some pictures taken and posted. So, let me just say a few things... I primed and painted the wall with Country Beige, which is really a warm white. Ditto on the trim and doors, but in semi-gloss. I painted the newer doors, and they immediately looked better. I haven't painted the old doors yet, because I am loathe to cover these beauties up. Stripping pain off old door is a pain. Hubby told me to go ahead and paint them, but 1. I ran out of paint, and 2. we have other doors in the house that are already white, so ~~I'm~~ he's going to move them.

I primed the the wainscoting with a primer tinted dark gray, then topped it with semigloss black. It turned out beautifully. The only problem is, it really does show dust along the bottom (read cat hair). The semigloss seems to attract everything, like static almost. Maybe paint can do that, I don't know.

I didn't paint the heat register because I wanted hubby to pull it off the wall, sand it, then repaint it before putting it back up (which we did in our last house with great success. Although, he sandblasted it at work that time, so maybe that's the key to reviving registers... 'cause replacing them is expensive- we've checked). He said no, just paint it..... OK, added to the list, meaning I haven't gotten around to it yet.

We took the louvered doors down, and it turns out they were broken in the middle. Still very usable, but hinges had been added in spots. I didn't paint them because 1. they're broken, 2. it would take a lot of work, and 3. because the shelves still wouldn't be usable once the bed was in place. And although this house is big, it is short on closet space (as most old farmhouses are).

So I bought some (cheap) curtains, spray painted the silvery curtain rod black and, voila!! (And just in case your wondering, they aren't hung all the way to the right to the doorway because that is a brick chimney under there. But I could fake it by extending the rod.)

WRONG COLOR. You probably can't tell from the pictures, but they are too blue. And too short. (I had planned to add a gorgeous swatch of fabric to them for added length).

The next issue it brought up is this: if I hang some gorgeous cool fabric there (read TOILE), what. the. heck. do I do with the windows?? I think drapes would be waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much fabric for this relatively small room. I'm thinking shutters?? Prepainted white??

Which brings up the next questions, if I pick a patterned fabric for the drapes, what to put on the bed? A solid fabric? I think I like the idea of white drapes on the closet, with a gorgeous spread. Or maybe not, maybe toile in the back, with a solid duvet cover. I love this crushed velvet bedspread we have now- it has a very subtle floral pattern, but it's not right for the room now.

I have a really nice headbord that is medium brown. I'd like to paint it, and the ~~ugly~~ sidetables a color, but white? Black? Gray? Something else?? I guess it depends on the fabric I choose for the closet- if we keep it draped.

So, now I'm stuck. Any ideas?

I like having blinds, in the summer time there is some serious brightness by 5 in the morning! And I like the insulating factor of drapes for the frigid winters.

So, come on gals, give me some ideas~~ Lee

Spidery Goodness

2011-10-17T08:22:00.000-04:00

Head on over HERE

to win THIS:

Loser

2011-10-13T09:03:00.001-04:00

Yes, that's me. Feeling like a loser parent these days... Got a phone call from Adam's kindergarten teacher, who wants to do a RTI (response to intervention) plan on him. Why, you ask?? Because he doesn't know some of his letters (about 6, the end ones like X, Y, Z). Oh.

OK, so my first thought is- isn't that what kindergarten is for? To teach him letters and numbers and sounds?? Apparently not. He's supposed to already know them.

My second thought is, why didn't I notice it? Am I too consumed with my own time, hobbies, laundry, putting away laundry, stripping beds, vacuuming, bill paying, taking care of the animals, barn work, cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking, etc.?? Oh yeah, and my job too.

Apparently he can't sing the ABCs right either. You know, the middle part, yeah.... the part that I correct him on when we do sing it. Yes, that part... Now, I thought he could sing it. I didn't realize it was a problem. So, do YOU ask your kids to sing the ABCs to you, so you know if they can??? Me neither. So, I guess I suck as a parent.

So, in addition to being in school all day, we have to school all night. The kids get home at 3:30. I give them a snack and some time to unwind. Now, I've started at 4:30 with computer time on IXL (math))- which I have to do for both. I've started Adam on Starfall too for ABCs. I have to do reading with both kids. And spelling with Jason. And capitol and lower case letters with Adam. And somewhere in there is supper time and dishes.

So, I know this is the job of a parent. I know that some work at home is expected. I guess I've just been clueless. But when do the kids get to be kids? And what responsibility lays with the school? I'm not sure. Tell me what you think.

Apples, Apples Everywhere...

2011-10-09T12:13:00.000-04:00

... and not a single one to eat!!

OK, not really, but our apples are not the gorgeous ones you see piled up at orchards. Ours are the real deal, not sprayed, full of dings and dents and bugs.

But they taste pretty good. The boys and I cooked them up and fed them through the fruit mill to make applesauce.

I got about 6 quart bags full, then gave up and fed the rest to the ponies. The apples take a lot of prep because they are dirty and buggy and need to be cut in half and trimmed up before going into the pot.

But it was a chance for the boys and I to be outside together. Can't complain about that!

Soon She Will Wake

2011-10-02T13:38:00.005-04:00

It's raining cats and dogs here, the fire is burning and keeping us warm, so I figured now was a good time to post!

This is the latest page for the Paper Digital Arts swap Interpretations. This September's theme was dried flowers- which, of course, I had none! I even tried to go buy some at the small local store- nothin'!

So, I improvised and used paper flowers. They were roses, rolled fairly tightly and glued, so I just peeled them like onions.

The words are lyrics to a song called Shadowlands, by Big Head Todd and the Monsters. You can listen to it here.

Ah, soon she will wake

When love is in the

air she breathes

Of course, the symbolism in the piece is pretty obvious. She cradles her heart in her hands, hopeful for what married life will bring her.

I tried using a birdcage instead of a house, but the one I picked just didn't work. You can see how changing just one element in a piece can totally change the tone of it. Instead of looking forward to her life in her home with her husband, the birdcage would have implied that she would be trapped.
This page was heavily inspired by a piece called LIFE by Susie over at Gathering Up Bits of the World. I happened to be blog surfing, and came across her's, which is now bookmarked! Something about her page just really stuck with me.

I think we must be very careful not to copy, and to give credit where it is due. However, I also believe that each piece of work we do has our own stamp on it. It was a great opportunity to try new techniques with shading, color scheme, etc. Backgrounds are not always a strong point for me, and I just loved the look of hers.

Enjoy!

Embrace Change!!

2011-09-25T11:20:00.001-04:00

I received an email today from Natalea that she got my package and canvas yesterday! She loved her's too- which makes us both EVEN!

Her topic was "embrace change." We all need reminders to do that, right??

It took me awhile to find a quote that I liked. I originally wanted to take the "one door closes, another opens" route, but I couldn't really solidify the total image in my head. I thought about a building with lots of doors, different shapes and colors, but the canvas took a different direction.

Some art comes fast and furious, some not. This was in the latter category. And not in a bad way, either. It just took days and days, layers and layers of glue and paint. I first painted the top of the canvas blue. Then glued the green grass (patterned scrapbook paper). Next came added paint in blue, white, and yellow. I edged in brown ink, outlined in black ink pen.

The drying time actually gave me time to reflect and move the canvas along. In the end, I was very happy with the total picture. Eventually I built each little house, without gluing anything down. That my friends, was the key for me. I switched houses, women, even roofs, until it finally was finished.

Enjoy! And remember, nothing is static. Everything and everyone changes- how you react to that change is up to you.

Art Swap Goodness

2011-09-23T10:21:00.001-04:00

So, my friend Natalea and I recently did an art swap. We gave each other a topic, and planned to work on an 8x11 canvas. Mine turned into an 11x14, simply because it's the only size I could find. Short of ordering on online, or driving and hour to Michael's, this was my only choice. What a challenge and opportunity! I've never done anything that big.

I received Nat's package a week or so ago, but I didn't open it. I wasn't finished mine yet, and I didn't want to be influenced by her's. I just mailed it yesterday, but here is a little peek. Nat's theme was "embrace change."

My theme for Natalea was "shine." After the roughness of the last year and a half, I felt like this appropriate! Here is my new art!

Seriously!! Wonderfully warm colors, textures, and glitter! Look at the strength in this woman's features.

A lovely necklace, which I'm sure Nat made:

And this FAB-U-LOUS collection of paper. I love paper, and it's fun to receive someone else's stash.

SIX vintage French vocab cards- I am a HOARDER when it comes to flash cards and game cards.

These would make amazing covers for journals- if I knew how to hand bind... ah well, that's another project!

MANY MANY thanks Natalea- and when she gets hers in the mail, I'll post pictures too!

Somerset Apprentice Volume 4

2011-09-13T10:47:00.001-04:00

As you can see from my new badge on the site (and a previous post), I have a piece in the new issue of Somerset Apprentice.

Somerset Apprentice provides a more basic and thorough understanding of techniques and includes easy-to-understand instructions and close-up photos. Kelly Rae Roberts, Donna Downey, Traci Lyn Huskamp, Bethany Kartchner, and 16 other talented artists are featured in the Autumn ’11 issue of this popular magazine. Each artist takes you on a step-by-step journey with them as they complete a work of art! In the From the Pros section we offer tips & tricks from successful artists – this issue showcasing Nathalie Kalbach, Pam Garrison, Julie Bergmann, Angela Harris, and more. From layered collages to assemblage art, you’ll find all you need to stimulate your creativity!

It is the cover from the Lyrical Intepretations round robin that I put together a few years back- gosh- years?!????

Anyway, this project was a lot of fun, and pretty easy to set up. I contacted a bunch of friends with my idea, outlined the time table and rules, got the mailing list going, and voila! ART.

Blogging-artist friend Marilyn Healey submitted Interpretations book, from which my Bound By Love page was chosen. Being enthused, and a bit of a copy cat, I sent my book in too. And my cover was chosen.

I'd love to show you more pages, but Stampington still has the book (click on the link above and go to the Flickr site). Cross your fingers that they pick some other pages, from my artsy friends, to be highlighted!

Love and all that

2011-09-11T07:57:00.001-04:00

It's the 10 year anniversary of 9/11- the horrific terrorist attack that forever changed the United States. It has become the defining question of my generation. It's not "where were you when they shot JFK?" but "where were you on 9/11?"

I was at work, and I watched TV all day, which in hindsight was probably too much. I saw each building burn, each fall, the Pentagon on fire. Being in DE, we sent equipment and personnel north. The hospital was put on alert. No one came. No one.

I suffered from anxiety for months. Had trouble sleeping. The whole nine yards.

It makes me weep to this day. I'll never understand the radicalism behind these, and other, attacks. God. Buddha. Allah. Isn't the bottom line the concept of agape? Of true and deep and undying unconditional love from our Father?

I'm going to go hug my kids. Call my husband and tell him I miss him. Call my parents and check in. Love you.

What a Week!!

2011-09-02T11:04:00.001-04:00

We lucked out with the crazy New England storm this past weekend. By the time it reached us in Maine, it was a tropical storm. We were without power from Sunday afternoon until supper time on Tuesday. It was a little scary, sitting in the glassed in back porch (where the last light of the day was), surrounded by bending trees, eating PB&J and cheese sticks. The wind was coming from the opposite direction, or we wouldn't have been out there at all. We were lucky, many Mainers are still out of power.

My in-laws didn't lose power. So we spent some time over there on Monday and Tuesday. I babysat some friends' children on Tuesday, and we spent the majority of the day over at the pond. Luckily, when we came home that evening, the power was on. I lost all of the refrigerator, and some stuff in the freezers. But we still made out OK, as my father-in-law brought a generator over on Monday and got the freezers and frig back up to temperature.

The wind blew out a window in the old milking parlor of the barn. Having picked up all of the debris myself, I must confess that it probably didn't take much...

The one to the left is completely gone. The whole fram and all three windows came down. Now it's just a hole.

And then there was the very-urgent trip to the vet on still-powerless-Monday, after Duchess our dog got into a fallen hornets nest (I think). Her face swelled up, her skin (all over) turned almost purple, and she vomitted. I was scared. Maybe I should get her an EpiPen... Anyway, she's fine now. But as you might imagine, my last nerve became VERY FRAYED at this point. Oh, and did I mention hubby was stuck in NJ, which was essentially closed down???

I am proud to say I only cried for about a minute. Really.

Then Wednesday came and Jason went back to school. Adam and I took the bus to school and visited his Kindergarten class. Yesterday was his first full day, but I missed it while I worked. But his super Grandnan took care of it and made sure he hopped on with no problems. Jason, being the good big bro (for now, anyway), has been sitting with Adam on the bus. Watching them go today was sweet, and bittersweet. My babies are getting big.

How 'bout you? School? Kids? Storm?? Do tell.

hugs, Lee

fly away home

2011-08-26T20:56:00.000-04:00

Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home.

Your house is on fire;

Your children all roam.

The bottom scanned blurry because the tag is mounted so it is lifted up off the page.

Except little Nan

Who sits in her pan

Weaving her laces as fast as she can.

Ok, the poem is a bit gruesome, but you can see it fits perfectly.

This is the latest installation for the Paper Digital Arts Interpretations altered book swap. The theme this month is polka dots. Enjoy!

Birthday Pictures

2011-08-23T09:52:00.000-04:00

Jason, my oldest, was born early on a Thusday morning, after hours of labor that went no where...

He was a big baby at 8 lb. 12 oz., much bigger than expected by me or the doctor. Statistically, nurses who work full time give birth to smaller babies, simply from being active and on our feet. So much for that theory...

Anyway, I bought a strawberry shortcake for his family party. Jason LOVES strawberries.

We got him a new bike for his birthday. He is a brave boy, very coordinated, and has been a daredevil on his bike since he was about 5.

Happy Birthday Jason!!

More Art....

2011-08-17T07:50:00.001-04:00

because I'm too embarrassed to show you pictures of the still-in-the-middle of painting my bedroom!

OK- not really.... the wainscoting and trim are all done- black as black. The walls and window/door trim is white. However, I need to touch up the white- boy does black show up!! And let me tell you, the ~~crap~~ advertising about the tape that doesn't let paint run under is NOT TRUE.

The louvered doors got held up as I waited to get my mom's sprayer from Pa. Then, when I finally had hubby take them down, he says "why don't you leave them off and just hang some fabric." Cool. I had thought of that, of course, but there is a shortage of money these days, so the fabric will have to wait. That means = ONE big ugly wall right now. Trust me on that one.

This page is for the Paper Digital Art swap I'm in, with the theme "ripped." I didn't take it too literally... Enjoy.

Sneak Peek (sort of)- Somerset Apprentice Fall

2011-08-12T18:41:00.001-04:00

Stampington is debuting the fall issue of Somerset Apprentice, in which I have a 4 page spread.

LINK

Clik on the link, you'll see it right there! I haven't received my early copy yet- can't wait!!!

A Sort of Confession

2011-08-11T08:38:00.000-04:00

I have to admit, I was sort of glad to see the boys go for two weeks- for many reasons.

The first being that my last nerve ending was frayed. Frayed like the best jeans you've ever loved, but washed too many times. Sometimes I feel like life becomes a cacophony and my soul cannot take it. I want to cover my ears. Close my eyes. Too much input into my brain.

I have always been this way. I was the kid who cried at ever birthday party. I am one of those people who gets a little frazzled in department stores.

I was looking forward to the alone time. To the quiet. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. This time will allow me to be a better mom in the future. It has given me time to unwind. It has given me time to appreciate the boys, who I love more than anything. It has been MY time, but in the end, it is really THEIR time too.

A tangle of bikes is waiting for the boys to come back home.

The second reason is this was good family time for the boys. It was a chance to be immersed in cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. And surely, that is a good thing! The boys have been spending the days shooting and riding, playing hard and falling asleep early. That's GOOD stuff for their souls.

The gang in April, when they came to visit.

Jason has been missing me. My sweet oldest boy, just getting ready to turn 8, has been crying a lot, so my sister has said. I have found myself tearful a time or two. Two weeks is a long time to be away, heaven in some ways, hell in another. Adam, at 5, is probably just going with the flow. His sense of time is a bit different than Jason's, I would imagine. I'll bet that both boys will be a bit clingy when they get home. And that's OK. Because I'll be clinging right back.

Mackworth Island, ME. Photo courtesy of Vicki Lund Photography.

hugs- Lee

The Scarlet Letter

2011-08-05T12:12:00.001-04:00

This was for last month's installation of Intepretations. The there was "Stained For Life." I took my inspiration from Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. I know it seems like an odd thing to choose for a theme, but it was one of those things that just rattled around in my head until I made it. The quotes, the hymn paper, everything just came together. **Click on the photos for a better view, they aren't as blurry as they look here.**

If you're not familiar with the story, Hester is a young bride sent to live by herself in America, by her much-older husband. She has a child, obviously not her husband's, and is forced to wear the letter A for adultery.

There are many archetypal images and themes in this classic, which I used for inspiration. Her lover is a clergyman, thus the hymn paper in the background. The quote is from a book completely unrelated to the subject matter, but it fit perfectly!, and it reads " I have heard it preached that pain is the currency of salvation. If it is so, surely we have bought heaven."

One token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another. ~ Chapter II "The Market-Place"

Ah, but let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, Chapter II "The Market-Place"

Despite the persecution, Hester keeps quiet about the father of her child. She lives her life quietly, even though she is tortured by her husband who arrives on the scene (but keeps his identity secret).

Her daughter's name is Pearl (notice her headband). She is called an Imp by some, so the wings fit perfectly.

But this had been a sin of passion, not of principle, nor even purpose. ~ Chapter XVIII "A Flood of Sunshine"

Enjoy!

Where the Boys Are

2011-08-04T09:56:00.000-04:00

Here's a litte bit of what they boys have been up to:

getting riding lessons from Aunt Teeny at our parent's farm:

Jason is riding Joey's pony Judge.

Matthew is holding his pony Vinny. Adam wasn't so sure about the whole lesson thing...

playing with the cousins:

shooting off the porch... can you say hillbillies??

Jason is right-handed but left-eyed, due to the lazy eye (which is almost normal now).

miss those litte boys!! xo

It's A Little Lonely

2011-08-02T07:58:00.001-04:00

In an unexpeted turn of events this weekend, like in a two hour span on Sunday, the boys headed to Pa. with Chris to spend two weeks with in the family.

That's right - TWO WEEKS.

I can't remember the last time I had this much time alone. It's been almost eight years since Jason was born. Eight years. That's a long time. Now, that's not to say I haven't had days here and there. But there's always an underlying feeling of having to rush during those moments. Rush to get things done, rush to pick the kids up-- clock watching. You know what I mean.

Believe it or not, as long as two weeks sounds, I do have commitments to work and babysitting a co-workers kids to keep me busy.

But, there is going to be significant time for me to be alone. Alone! It gives me time to do chores around here- continue the endless painting, purge toys, clean out various boxes and rooms.

It also give me studio time. It gives me time to go to the pond and sit and read a book. It gives me time for reflection. I have a lot circling in this brain of mine. I'm considering a job change. A haircut. Running. Being healthy. Becoming more sufficient here at the farm.

Lots to consider, and two weeks to do it.

here's the real deal

2011-07-26T08:22:00.001-04:00

OK, so you know I had a procedure, right? I have this pesky, HUGE fibroid that likes to sit on my bladder and keep me up all night... so I had a uterine artery embolization. Long story short- needle/catheter in through the groin, into the artery, snake it up, shoot arteries feeding fibroid full of little beads to clot it off and kill it. Voila.

Well, of course I had a complication- bleeding at the groin. Thank God a co-worker was there to hold pressure, while it took the staff TEN minutes to answer the bell. I spend the night (he was going to let me go home). I spend another 12 hours on bedrest. UGH.

Fast forward to the next day, no cramps or pains like I thought I would have, so I go home.
My Dad and brother-in-law came up to take care of me until Saturday. They did great, the kids had a blast.
The cramping started Friday morning, and escalated. I thought Sunday morning I would have go to the hospital for pain control. I got it under control eventually, but the pain meds make me itch. Of course. I am constipated from the narcotics. Of course. And for someone with irritable bowel to begin with- not pretty.

I am tired and weary and sporting a fever. Feeling like I have the flu (which is expected). Feeling crappy. Now let me just say that I chose to have this done. The symptoms are getting pretty bad, and it will take 3-6 months for the fibroid to shrink to it's final size. I chose this, because I cannot wait until the end of October when Chris gets done school. Oh LORD, what was I thinking?? I was thinking that I'd rather do this than have a hysterectomy. I do not have time for that.

What hurts me is the complete lack of help from people that I thought were my friends. Maybe that's telling me something, I don't know. I am a nurse at heart, a very loyal friend, and I would offer to bring you meals, take the kids, whatever... so where are my friends? Hmmmm. Just something to think about.

My question to you- do you go our of your way to help those you love? What about friends? Casual acquaintances? Do you think outside the box? Do you ask yourself "am I giving enough?" Do I "do" for others? I think it's very easy to get "stuck" inside our own lives. But let me tell you, there are those of us out here who could use some kindness. Really.

Achy Breaky Heart

2011-07-23T06:05:00.001-04:00

Whew- it's been a scorcher here in Maine. It's hit 96, with who-knows how much humidity. I know that's not as hot as some places, but understand, it does not normally get so hot here. No one has central AC, maybe some window units....

Anyway, I had a little procedure this week, so my dad, brother-in-law and two nephews came up to keep me and the kids company. I'm OK, crampy and sore, so let's just say fibroids stink, shall we?

I ma unbelievably grateful they were here. I miss them so much, especially my dad. He loves me and the kids, loves to spoil them rotten and order me to go lay down!

All of my yard work got down, some branches trimmed, and an old tree taken down this week. I am THANKFUL!!

The boys played and played with their cousins. Played until exhausted type of playing- gotta love it. Every day was spent at the pond, and in the barn. They giggled and laughed. Hardly any fighting.

We are blessed.

As I layed in bed this morning, around 0400, I listened to the birds while waiting to hear my brother-in-law and dad wake up to leave. Both kids were sleeping with me in my room, cool for the first time in days (I put the still-unpainted doors back up and put on the AC). I said a prayer of gratitude for my sweet boys. For the wonderful family I have. For this week with my dad. (And for the AC, I'm not going to kid you.)

I was sad to see them leave. It make me homesick. And I expect some tears from the boys today when they realize Pop Pop and the cousins are gone. But, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

hugs, Lee

Where Oh Where Art Thou?

2011-07-15T09:17:00.000-04:00

Seems my readership is down. No one is stopping by. Wonder why?

Am I boring you? Do I need to write about something else?

Welllllllllllllll, let me see.

Summer is in full swing here. I have tomatoes planted, and some broccoli. But that's about it. Hubby and I wanted to do a big garden this year, but as I'm here mostly by myself, I put the kabash on it.

This when I first planted.

Yes, this is right by the house. My BIL asked me why, with 12 acres, would I plant it there. Easy answer: 1. that's where the water is, and 2. why would I want to walk all over when this is the perfect spot to watch my plants grow. Duh.

Hubby is in NJ at a school for commercial diving. He has been gone almost 6 weeks, and will be done at the end of October. The first few weekends he came home, but has switchedto every two weeks. It's a 9 hour drive, and that's a lot of sore fanny time and gas money for basically a day and half home.

OK, this isn't really what he'll look like in his diving gear. hehehe. This is him in waders at his Dad's in May, putting the dock in.

OF COURSE, it goes without saying, I am glad when he's home, as are the boys. They really miss having Daddy home. Me too. I have become a single mom. I'm taking care of everything. I'm mowing our property (which takes about 4 hours), taking the trash to the dump, doing all of the barn work, PLUS the usual laundry, shopping, cooking and cleaning.

Just between you and me, my shoulders are getting tired of all of the responsibility already. Wow. It's going to be a long 4 months. The hardest part is the constant needs of the boys. There is no down time, no breaks. Plus, I'm swapping daycare twice a week with a friend (thank God or we'd be eating grass for dinner), which means even less free time. Sigh.

I'm hoping the light at the end of the tunnel is a real one and not a train....

Bedroom Updates

2011-07-09T10:18:00.000-04:00

So, I talked to my mom the other day. She asked me if I had painted the bedroom black yet. Well, not exactly....

Why you ask?? Well, because decided to do it properly and started from the top- painting the ceiling first. Ugh. I started with one color of ceiling white, then switched brands to get the one with the pink colorant in it. Let me just say- of course- that they aren't the same color and I had to paint it twice.

Then, THREE STINKING coats on the walls, including cutting in around 5 doors and two windows, and wainscoting. I mean- seriously- what was I thinking??

Then came the time- do I paint the trim black? Nope, decided on white- the room is too small with too many doors to not end up dark and choppy.

via paperwhite

The doors? They're going to be black.

The wainscoting? I'm undecided. So...

wainscot solutions

Enter the primer. Yes, this wood must be primed. Two coats of Kilz on FIVE doorframes. (Oh, did I mention I have a 5 gallon bucket of Kilz... yeah, that's how much painting this house needs. And, Kilz is not my fave, BIN is better.)

I have primed one of the windows. Believe it or not, I will totally finish the window before starting the other. Why? It gets light very early in Maine, like 0430-0445. So, you see my conundrum.

So, here's a few before pictures, wall by wall, so you can tell me what you think as far as the folding doors- black or white?

I will post some in-process pictures tomorrow. Stay tuned!!

Wood and Flowers

2011-07-06T08:50:00.000-04:00

It's beautiful out today. It's warm and sunny. The green here is still so bright and fresh- not the dark green that often comes after lots of heat. I grabbed coffee and headed out to the barn. The goats were bawling for breakfast. The chickens bawking to get out- OUT they say!

Out.

That's where we should be. Eating breakfast and drinking coffee in the meadows and the orchard.

Perhaps. someday, I'll have a party there. Lights strung, the tub full of ice and drinks.

here

Lots of laughter in the shadows. Someday.

The wildflowers are in bloom here. Fields and fields of them. I wish I could capture it better on my camera. When I look out, I see a sea of greens and purples. I love the purple weed- kvetch perhaps?

I'm posting some additional pictures of the barn.

Enjoy.

A Stroll Through My Barn

2011-07-05T11:29:00.000-04:00

Summer is finally here in Maine. We're actually hitting the 80s. The great thing about living here is that it still goes into the 60s an night = great sleeping!!

We have a large barn- three storeis, 158 feet long. And that's not counting the mikling parlor. It is a money pit. It leans. It needs a new roof. I really have no idea how we'll ever afford to do it. But, if we don't the barn will continue to deteriotate. Hopefully something will come through... maybe a grant. Maybe an act of God.

Milking parlor to the left, part of the front of the barn.

Back side

Anyway, I'd like to have a barn sale here some day. Can't you just picture it? Furniture and junk and food and clothes and every little thing you can think of.

We have open stalls

and closed stalls.

The ponies live here, so technically these probably wouldn't work!

We have three stalls like this that are filled with junk, and one is full of old windows.

Apples for picking and goats for petting (ok, not really, the one bites... but you get the picture.)

This is an old tub up by the orchard. You can see an apple tree in the background.

Chickens to feed.

Two of these- the speckled ones- are roos! darn.

Fields to wander and flowers to pick.

Would you come?

Messy Faces and Summer Fun

2011-07-02T14:14:00.000-04:00

Ice cream faces

Bug hunting

Farm Animals

Swimming and Fishing

Black and White

2011-06-20T07:39:00.004-04:00

I've decided to paint by bedroom floor a high gloss black. It's already mostly black anyway. I found some amazing pictures through Flickr, one of which had black trim and wainscoting. I love the look, but I think my room might be too small. Especially in light of the fact that the closet doors would have to be black too, which would really make it dark.

**edited to add** Gigi asked why the closet doors would have to be black- take a look and see what you think. There a total of FOUR stinking doors (and FIVE doorways) in that room, PLUS the four sets of louvered closet doors, plus two windows. If you look here, you can see the doorway on the right of the picture goes into a small bedroom. In the "middle" is the door the bathroom. And next to it is the doorway to the hallway (has no door at the moment, I'm sure it's in the barn).

So, I've given the ceiling a new coat of paint- ceiling white. I know some people pooh-pooh that idea, but I like bright white ceilings. And let me just say that not all ceiling whites are the same color- as I just learned yesterday. I prefer the brightness of the Behr, but bought the Glidden that has the pink stuff in it (so I can see where it's going) This might be an advantage, because it seems to have a gray cast, and I like the idea of a pale dove gray ceiling too. We'll see.

I think the walls should probably be pretty bright white too, but here's the thing- I already have a gallon of a color called Country Beige (from when I painted the living room). So, I'm going to give it a whirl and see. Then, I'll have to decide on what shade white to paint the trim (isn't that a weird idea- so many colors of white!).

Enjoy!

Good Day, Sunshine

2011-06-15T12:26:00.000-04:00

Finally, the sun is shining so brightly here today. It's been weeks of rain with a day or two of sun thrown in. Needless to say, my lawn looks like a hay field.

What a change of mood the sun can bring! Do you find that to be true?

My outlook is brighter.

I feel like doing more.

I feel like being more.

Know what I mean??

Things I Should Be Grateful For

2011-06-11T11:28:00.000-04:00

Things sometimes go by quickly, sometimes slowly. But they pass just the same.

If I had written this post last week, it would have been vile. Filled with self-pity and utter grouchiness. Some of it fueled by hormones (yes, there is a definite pattern which I despise). Some of it fueled by loneliness. Yes, profound loneliness.

I have always been fairly independent, being the oldest child and all. My Mom once told me that she never worries about me, because she knows I'll be fine. For the most part, I am. I can handle a lot, I really can. I just knuckle down and do it, one foot in front of the other.

But there are times I feel let down by friends. Please, please don't tell me to call whenever, to ask for help- and then be too busy. Don't even offer. You aren't doing me any favors. It just hurts my feelings. Then it pisses me off.

But then I rethink it- maybe the fault lies within myself. I know rationally that I shouldn't take such actions personally. But man, does it sting sometimes.

So, instead of feeling sorry for myself, I am listing some things I am grateful for:

1. a roof over my head. It's big, and ugly, and lots needs to be done. But it's here, and it's ours.
2. my children. They are happy and healthy. They are royal pains at times. They are all-consuming. They are wonderful and fresh and funny. They have stinky feet and wonderful hair. I love them.
3. my husband. He is away for 5 months in a diving program. He has left me a very full plate, juggling too many balls. Buy he left in order to make things better for us, his family.
4. my husband coming home on the weekends. It is short, sort of bittersweet in a way, only really spending Saturday together. But there are military families all over this country who don't even get this. I can hug and kiss Chris, even if only for a day at a time.
5. my family. I have a good family, even though they are far away. Some people out there have no one. They are lonely and displaced. I'll be your family, just give me a call.....
6. my health. I take care of very sick people at times. I took a man outside yesterday for the first time in 52 DAYS. It was AMAZING. The breeze blew on his face. His wife beamed. We snapped pictures on cell phones and sent them to her family. It was priceless.

There is a lot more. Lots and lots more. Thank you God.

The Before and Aftermath- Renovation Nightmares!!

2011-06-03T16:18:00.001-04:00

Get your thinking caps on readers, 'cause I need some help.

To recap, hubby Chris and I moved back to his home state of Maine in December 2009. The next day there was a blizzard- perhaps I should have taken that as a GIANT red flag... but I digress.

We bought an old, very large, empty-for-2-years farmhouse. It had been a boys' home for 8 years, and was owned by the state housing commission (read "absolutely NO improvements" at all). Yes, stupid us. It was cold and snowy, and Chris and I ended up making our bedroom in the odd middle room in the house for four reasons. 1. It had an adjacent bathroom; 2. the front of the house, which as 4 bedrooms, HAS NO bathrooms; 3. close to the boys room; and 4. it was the cutoff for one of the five heat zones.

This room, approximately 14x14, has large closets with shelves, plus two other small bedrooms located off it (which are basically dressing rooms for Chris and I) It had HORRIBLE orange carpet, worn and dirty and old. We cleaned it a few times, but basically left it as it was. Why?? Lack of motivation- homesickness and winter weather. Lack of money. ~~Lack of vision.~~ Well, not really, we have lots of ideas, but nothing has come of them yet, other than I took down all of the wallpaper and painted the room a very pale sage green (because I had the paint from our old house and didn't have to buy it- I'm all about using what I have).

So, I get it into my head recently that I am SICK of this gross, 1980's carpet. Now, I knew from looking under the rug previously that the floor had some damage. It also had black stuff on it. But I decided I'd rather have a clean floor than a nasty carpet. I rationalized- it's not winter, I'll just walk on the bare floor. Or buy some runners. Or paint it. Um, yeah right.

The carpet was so old and worn that it wasn't really even stiff anymore. The gluey stuff on the back, that makes it stiff, has broken down. So had the carpet pad. It just disintegrated. Throw in some dirt, and it's what you see below. I pulled out staple after staple, plus tack strips (OUCH).

I found remnants of old tile and glue. The felt paper was at least just glued with glue, and not black mastic, like in our house in Pa. WHO glues tile over wood???? I removed all of the loose felt paper, but in some areas it it stuck. And there are patched areas.

Checo out the gap between the bottom of the doors and the floor- what. the. heck.

This is the worst of it here.

There is a patched area in a corner that was padded with newspaper date 8/23/87. I'm thinking the carpet is actually older than that.

So, now what? Paint? What color? What do I do about the beadboard, the trim, the doors?? Hubby said I can't paint the beadboard, but I may veto that one. I need a designer. I need HGTV. Send David Bromstad pronto.

Help.

Some Artsy Stuff

2011-05-25T19:01:00.000-04:00

Here's the lastest installation from the Paper Digital Arts Design Team. We were provided with a collage sheet of Theda Bara pictures. Theda was a silent screen actress, and from what I've read, there are NO recordings of her voice anywhere. (you know, how some silent screen actors made the transition...)

To start with, it was a difficult subject for me. I'm just not that into this type of subject. However, I gave the old college (or should I say collage) try, and I came up with this banner. Normally, I would try to do the "odd" number thing to keep it visually balanced and interesting, but it just wasn't happening... mostly because the word I chose to use was 4 lettered- VAMP. Theda earned the nickname for her femme fatale roles. She made more than 40 films between 1914 and 1926, but complete prints of only six still exist.

The parameters for this month's Design Team challenge, besides the pictures, was to use only ONE other color. I chose purple- a very regal color, don't you think? I started with two sheets of black and white patterned paper. The white pattern was a flower motif on one sheet, and butterflies on the other. I embellished it Zentangle style with a white gel pen.

Each photo was matted in purple paper, and the chipboard letters were covered in tons of glitter.

I wanted to add some further sparkle, so I added clear and purple seed beads, as well as diamond glaze.

The ribbon that I strung the banner on is vintage black rick rack. The V in it holds the pieces exactly where I want them. Plus, I thought it added some visual interest.

I have to talk to Kim, the wonderful woman who runs PDA, but I'm thinking this banner should be given away.... what do you say??

It's Been Hectic

2011-05-20T20:02:00.000-04:00

So, bear with me...

We had another bout of a terrible GI bug. After two days or running back and forth to the doctor and the pharmacy, Jason ended up having to go to the ED for IV fluids. Let me tell you, even a a nurse, the hardest thing I have ever done is hold his hands while the nurse put an IV in. He cried, and yet he was SO brave! My sweet boy felt better two days later. Then the little guy Adam got it. Luckily, I had some awesome meds to help stave off a full blown bout. However, he was down for about 4 days. Both boys lost weight- but are now back in FULL eating mode!! Lord help me when they are teenagers.

Then I came down with a terrible cold, probably from the stress of it all.

So, the moral of the story is, I have nothing intersting to post.... BUT, come back soon and I'll try to have something cool, or profound, or something for you to read!

hugs- Lee

Photographs

2011-05-07T08:15:00.000-04:00

This month's theme over at Paper Digital Arts Interpretations altered book group is photographs. Pretty broad, no? And you know, being a child of the 80s, all I could think of is the Deaf Leppard song...

Anyway, each month I try to do something different. I think it's wonderful to look outside of the comfort zone and try new styles or new colors. I'll be honest, I'm not sure everyone over there is, but that's my goal for this 13 month project.

So, my first thought was to do some type of pull-out, accordian photo album. I also ~~drooled over~~ looked at the mini tin-type albums on eBay. Those go for BIG bucks, even though they are about 1 x 2 inches big. I also liked the old vacation-souvenir albums too.

I recently purchased some digital collages of old cabinet cards to play with. Looking at the faces from so long ago can be very inspirational. I wonder what kind of lives they led, and what they were like as people. Did they flirt? Did they fall in love? I went off to my stash of books and looked for phrases that I thought would work. Romantic Liaison.

I could not resist.

My second thought was to keep the pages monochromatic. I had seen a really great piece on Flikr that was all-white! My plan was to work in white too, but ended up more shades of cream.

I pulled out all of the stuff that I had, and spied some stars that I had cut out from some drop cloth (you know, the unbelievabley cheap and versatile material used for curtains, upholstery, pillows, and oh yeah, painting...). Although it's not a typical thing you'd see in a photo album, it was kinda cool.

The background is made from sheet music, with the edges painted white. I sewed the photos on, glued some names and words down, and glued on some remnants from a vintage wedding dress. The ruffles are handmade from dress pattern paper (I love that stuff).

And voila!

Enjoy!

An Etsy Treasury

2011-05-02T09:32:00.000-04:00

Our sweet little hearts

were featured here:

I Was Feeling Purple and Aqua Today.

Etsy treasuries are a great way to browse all of goodies on Etsy, then group them together by theme. I've never done one myself, as the slots are rarely open... there's only so much room for your lists, and you have to wait for a slot to open. I think the expire after a certain amount of time.

Anyway, I thought I might put together a little TREASURY of my own:
A little blue dress:

Blue Earrings

Blue Mason Jar Pendant Light

Aqua Blue Fenton Glass

Enjoy!!

Spring Additions - PIC HEAVY

2011-04-30T10:17:00.001-04:00

Lots going on here at the Weber Farm... my Mom, sister Christine, her two children, and my neice came to visit the week before Easter. We miss them so much, it was a great treat to have them here for 5 days!

We celebrated Adam's birthday.

We played outside.

So, what's new? To replace the four hens we lost to Red,

we picked up 6 chicks: 2 Barred Rock (black), 2 New Hampshire Red (yellow) and 2 Speckled Sussex (brown). They are really growing fast.

Already, we have moved them from the plastic tub to the min-coop. They zoom around, scratch, and sit on the roost. The barreds like to sit on the waterer and feeder too. Silly birds. They will soon go outside to join the big girls.

My parent's have a farm, Clarwood Welsh Ponies, and the grandchildren ride. My kids, unfortunately, are missing out in it. So, it makes sense to bring some of the ponies up here- after all, we have 12 acres just sitting here. Enter Spring and Mariposa. Spring is 9 y.o. Mariposa is 2. Posey has some growing to do, and Spring is pretty much bomb proof- perfect for the boys.

Adam isn't all that interested, but Jason has been out ther every day, gooming Spring. Posey is a bit flighty for him, but she is coming along nicely. Having grown up on a farm, I believe learning to be confident around animals, especially large animals, is a huge plus for my boys. Learning how to care for them, including mucking stalls and cleaning water buckets, in all kind of weather, is an important lesson in life- not all things are easy, and all life deserves respect.

I'm hoping the nest addition to our place will be some apples! We spent some money and had our old trees pruned. We also graded around the house last fall, so we are in dire need of plants. Anyone have some good ideas??

hugs- Lee

A FUN giveaway!!

2011-04-16T09:29:00.000-04:00

Budgets are tight....

And we all NEED new art supplies... And Jeanne has a wonderful list of things to help all of us gather supplies for our art addiction!

So, go visit, but if you win, please share...

Jeanne Oliver

Musings of a Creative Life

hugs- Lee

Stuff..............

2011-04-11T19:38:00.000-04:00

OK, so I have been totally MIA these past few weeks. Yeah, I know... in order to keep readers coming back, I need to post. So, here goes....

The kids have been sick. I am beyond DONE with this winter (and now spring) cruddy illness that's going around. First Adam had a sniffly nose, fever and cough. Then Jason got it, and stayed home with a fever for a week, with nebs three times a day. Then both got a little better, now Adam has it again. Green stuff from the nose, the whole deal. SERIOUSLY DONE. The only thing I have to say is: WASH YOUR HANDS before touching my kid, K?

So, I mentioned it was spring, right? Yeah, well this is Maine. Bring on one last snow storm. UGH. And it was wet, pulling down lines, etc. We lost power for a day. Good thing we have a woodstove. Which, btw, the cats love!

Things continued to decline as three of my hens have been snatched by the local fox. First Pook. She was just gone one day, no evidence, nothing.

Clockwise from the top: Squeak, Bossy, Punkin, Mimi, Bella, and Pook

Then a few days ago I heard a rukus outside, and saw the most beautiful fox run by the house. A FOX. By the house. With my chickens out.

I run out, screaming, and chase him off the lawn. I am PETRIFIED. I come back in the house, get my shoes on, and run out to the back lawn.... to see the fox grab Bella and take off with her, and my MOST favorite Bossy dead on the snow. Feather littered the ground. Feathers and feathers and more feathers. Stewn across the snow. I hoped for a small second that she was still alive, but she wasn't. I picked her up and cried the whole way back to the barn. I seriously thought I was going to puke- not from the tiny amount of blood, but from the sheer grief and guilt.

Bella taking a dirt bath last week.

Bossy chick, before she fully feathered out.

Now, I know, they're just chickens.... but, they were also very friendly and fun and sweet. I only had 6, each a different color and personality. Yes- personality. Ah, my sweet girls.... Bossy and Pook laid the most gorgeous blue eggs. Bella's were brown. The remaining hens are now in the coop and run for a few weeks, until Red figures out somewhere else to go grocery shopping. Did I mention that Chick Days start on Wednesday??

Last summer in our back field.

What else? Oh, still making the ~~stupid~~ curtains for the living room. I've already made 6 pairs of curtains out of drop cloths: two for the laundry room, four for the living room. They are a pain, and if I could even remotely afford to just buy 8 pairs of curtains for the living room, I would. Trust me. I think next I am going to paint the ceiling a pale, aqua blue.

My Mom and sister Christine and her boys are heading up this Saturday, bringing two Welsh ponies to add to my brood. Now, won't that be FUN!?!

Zettis!

2011-03-26T18:48:00.005-04:00

I just recently discovered what Zetiology is. Zetti (aka Zettiology) is a folk art style originated by Teesha and Tracy Moore. There's no real definition but there are some common characteristics such as static faces, striped legs, shapes for bodies, bright colors, found images, objects and papers, and lots of pointy hats.

I've seen it around, but didn't actually know the name. There are tons of examples out there, and Flickr has a great group.

Anyway, I ordered myself some collages from Tumble Fish Studio to get started with. Marsha has a great etsy shop, and I bought two collages for the faces, arms and legs.. Then I tailored these gals around two things: 1. Stampington has a call out for the color chartreuse, and 2. my next page for the altered book swap over at Paper Digital Arts, with the prompt "on the fly." (As you can see, I don't take prompts too literally).

Let me know what you think:
#1

The bee body and wings are from the Graphics Fairy. The wings are coated with Diamond Glaze, which made them lift and curl in a very cool way. Glitter is from Martha Stewart.

#2. she still needs a quote.

The body is also from Tumble Fish. The butterfly image is from the internet. The aqua glitter is Stickles, and the pink is German glass glitter.

So, which should I submit, if I submit at all? Think they'd like it?

Addendum: So, I added the quote "Where can you fly"? to the bottom of Blondie. The brown ink from the twigs bled through the white ink (I have been having this problem all along). So I decided to add a spray of matte acrylic clear coat. IT SMEARED!! CR@P. Now I have to wait to see if it can be fixed, or scrapped. DARN IT.

Glittered Hearts

2011-03-24T16:11:00.000-04:00

Are available at our etsy site, Twigs & Feathers. I also have small aqua hearts and small silver hearts coming...

Let me know if you want any.

Hugs- Lee

Star and Hearts and Glitter

2011-03-15T14:02:00.001-04:00

Making your own embellishments is pretty fun, albeit time consuming and messy!! Be prepared to get sticky fingers, and glitter everywhere.

You'll need:
chipboard - I use recyled cereal boxes because the chipboard is thin but sturdy
glitter- I have coarse German glass glitter ins silver, and fine glass glitter in silver and shell
glue- Elmer's is fine, I use Alene's ClearGo Tacky Glue
paint- I like to paint the chipboard the same color as the glitter I'm using
punches

Paint the chipboard, let dry.

Punch out shapes.

Coat in glue. Dip in glitter. Place on waxed paper to dry.Voila!

The starts on the left are the fine glitter. Up to now I've been partial to the coarse glitter... now I might have to change my mind!

If you look very closely, you can see the silver paint under the edges on the pink hearts. This is why you might want to paint your chipboard with a coordinating color.

The stars I've made have shown up here:

Enjoy.

Re-using Old Books - Make Your Own Pages

2011-03-12T09:48:00.001-05:00

Ok, this really isn't an old book... but if I had gone to a thrift store, it would have been.

Anyway, I'm part of an altered book swap over at Paper Digital Arts, and one of the required elements for the pages is a super-sturdy substrate. Now, I often recycle paperboard in my art, but Kim wanted us to use something heavier.

I went to the arts and crafts store- nothing. Turns out you can buy chipboard letters and shapes, but plain 8x11 pages- not so much.

So I headed over to a discount store and picked up this:

I wish I could blur out the title and words- but I have NO idea how to do that on my simple little Picasa program.

Now, I looked for something close to the 5x7 size I needed, and this was pretty close. To cut it down, I marked the top page with a straight edge and cut through with a box cutter (BE CAREFUL). The edge isn't perfect, but it will be on the bound side, so no biggie. I kept the binding of the original book intact, and now have a cool little, narrow book leftover to play with.

Next, I sanded the gloss off. This does get messy, as the paper dust is colored.

Then I put a couple of coats of white acrylic paint. I did the first set with gesso, then paint, and I can't really say it made much a difference. To keep it from warping when you paint, put a X on the back side with paint. Now, if you want these pure white, it's going to probably take about 3 coats. Mine, I don't care so much, because I'll be covering over it anyway. Do the back side too, but you won't need to do the X, because you've already painted the front side.

As you can see, I left the upper right corner rounded. It doesn't matter to me if it's different, and you can't even tell here.

BTW, this cardboard is HEAVY. You can't sew through it. So, if you think you're going to sew on your page, make sure you are working on a separate piece of paper, which you can glue down when you're all finished.

So, hope this helps. What have you made lately??
hugs- Lee

Somerset Layout

2011-03-03T19:03:00.001-05:00

So, as I mentioned previously, here is the art chosen to be in the latest issue of Somerset Apprentice vol 4. It was a 2-pager, but they only picked one. sigh.

I can tell you that it's really quite amazing to see my art work blown up to such a big size. My heart stopped for a minute!

My title choice was Bound By Blood, which is very appropriate for the subject. I mean, it's about a vampire and is splattered in "blood"!! But the Editors changed it. Oh well. Marilyn's album was made out of an old 45 record album, which coincidentally, so was mine! Her's still had the covers intact, but I had to make new ones for mine.

This is Marilyn Healey's spread- they chose two of her pages.

Somerset Apprentice is set up as a how-to magazine, so I followed Marilyn's example and came up with these two beauties:

The little girl will go to my swap partner over at Paper Digital Arts, as she more closely fits this month's theme of "roses." The little boy will stay with me (he's not quite finished, anyway). Both images are from PaperWhimsy.

Next post, I'll show more detail of the "kids" and how I did them. Enjoy!

Bad Case of the WANTS

2011-02-21T12:45:00.000-05:00

Somebody give me a credit card!!

here

Drooling yet?

I Have A Piece in Somerset Apprentice

2011-02-18T17:46:00.001-05:00

I am THRILLED to announce that I have some art being published next month in the Spring 2011 issue of Somerset Apprentice. The whole magazine is LOVELY! My internet pal Marilyn Healey submitted a round robin book that I had some work in. I am thankful she sent it in.

Somerset Apprentice showcases some really lovely work, but the added bonus is each piece has instructions so you an try it yourself! It's like a mini-workshop!

I would love to show some sneak peaks, but for some reason my scanner won't "talk" to my lap top. I need to figure that one out, since the printer works (same machine!!).

Please enjoy, and go order!

Mended Altered Book Page

2011-02-17T10:08:00.001-05:00

This is flying across the pond today, to her new owner.

The theme for this month's page is "mended." Of course, some bizarre stuff floated through my head, mainly body parts roughly stitched on with the thought "I don't know if this can be fixed." HOWEVER... not too sure if Wendy would have enjoyed it. Maybe I should just make a macabre book for me.... hehehe

Hugs- Lee

Heart

2011-02-15T11:09:00.000-05:00

OK, so I'm a day late... but this cool folding heart is part of my goodies sent by Sally, as mentioned in my last post. She made it herself- clever girl!!

Enjoy!

Paper Digital Art- Interpretations "Handwritten"

2011-02-07T13:34:00.002-05:00

I know I've mentioned Paper Digital Arts before. It's a great online community for sharing art, joining groups and swaps, plus tons of free images. Best of all- it's free.

Our theme this month was handwritten. I had tons of ideas, some pretty, some kind of odd. That's the cool thing about these themes, you can run in whichever direction you want.

So I started by trying to make a hand out of wire. I wanted it kind of skeleton looking, but I couldn't get it to bend the way I wanted. I think I may need a thinner wire. I envisioned it looking kind of Terminator-like, with some scratched message on the page behind it. Oh well, maybe I'll revisit someday...

I made her instead. Her first set of wings were made from a sheet of transparency. They looked cool, but the acetate isn't forgiving- i.e, get a little glue on it, and it doesn't wipe clean. SO, they came off, and some guinnea feathers went on instead.

My page came from Sally. She did an amazing job:

Cool, huh?? Now go JOIN.
hugs- Lee

Got Me Some New Critters!

2011-02-02T19:54:00.000-05:00

I have been missing my cat Peanut, who we lost this summer. She was a great lap cat, and loved to sit on me for a good scratch. So the boys and I headed out a few weeks ago and adopted two new boys from the local shelter:

Mati is a 10 y.o. Himmie. His is a big boy- 10 pounds- who loves to have a good scratch. He has figured out that he can soak up heat from the woodstove while being pretty inconspicuous!! He has amazingly HUGE blue eyes. Our pet name for him is Buddha Boy!

Spike is a crazy 5 y.o. Siamese mix. He has luxuriously soft fur, and blue eyes too. He runs around a lot at night, and likes to play with string. We think we may rename him Spaz!

hugs- Lee

Where I Create

2011-01-27T11:02:00.000-05:00

One of the perks of moving into this big house is that I have a WHOLE room for my studio! No more cramped spot in the basement!!

It is a work in progress. I move things around.

I purge. I buy. I stash.

I display. I also create- but in this cold winter, I'm also in the kitchen infront of the stove! I am one lucky gal. Where do you create?

Art and Stuff

2011-01-22T09:27:00.002-05:00

This little beauty is flying the coop to her new owner:

I have these available too:

SOLD- thanks

I haven't been doing much sewing these days. You all know how that is ... but I love to look at fabric and dream. I have some of this fabric, Pen Pal by Waverly. It's not actually heavy enough for furniture, but it's so much lovelier than this photo shows!

Now, I just need the amazing chairs to reupholster! Dang, they are expensive. Ah, one can dream.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65731845/arm-chair-with-french-script-fabric

Carolyn Quartermaine's collections are to die for:

((SIGH)))))))))))))))))))))

January Dreaming

2011-01-16T07:30:00.001-05:00

OK, so I've been kinda absent... Christmas was a whirlwind. Chris had been out of town, for most of the month, then home right before Christmas. Christmas Day was fun, with all the usual trimmings, except I had to pack the boys up for the trip to Pennsylvania. Chris and the boys left on Sunday 12/26, while I worked that day.

My original plan was to leave very early in the morning on Monday, but the blizzard changed that. So, I hunkered down, got impatient, then left at 7:30 p.m. and drove all night. Let me just say, now I remember why I hated working nights. Pulling an all-nighter, driving through snow- not the most enjoyable ride...

But I arrived safe and sound the next morning, and had a really great visit with the family! We spent two nights with my sister, and one with my mom. The boys got to soak up thier cousins and grandparents (as did I!) I also caught up with an old friends that I hadn't seen in 27 years- gotta love Facebook!

We blew back out of Pa. at 0330 Friday morning, as I had to work on Saturday. It was a short but sweet trip! I miss my family. It was weird to be home for such a short time. I was really afraid that it was going to make me homesick again- something I have been fighting since I moved here. I am, for the most part, NOT feeling terribly homesick these days, but I was afraid of even cracking the lid on that Pandora's box... I think the short duration of the trip prevented that- it was too much of a whirlwind!

I miss my family. I don't think anything will ever change that. But I'm doing OK here too.

Hugs- Lee

Timely Thoughts

2011-01-02T13:01:00.001-05:00

Wel,, first let me say that I don't make New Year's Resolutions... they are nothing but a set-up for failure.

That being said, I thought I'd try to come up with something profound for the new year. hahaha My friend Tammy has a great list going over here, and I think I could copy it and paste it, as it is very relevant to my life also.

Instead I'll post this, from the site Bone Sigh Arts. It's been a tough year for me, moving away and trying to establish myself, make new friends, find a job, etc. many of you out there have suffered too. The good news is, with a little laughter, a little courage, and a dash of bravery, I CAN DO IT. You can too.

maybe it's time to take care of yourself.

maybe it's time to scream out loud

that you don't have the answers

and you just plain can't figure out what it's all about...

but you're in this for the full ride.

maybe it's time.

Maybe it's time to stop doin' the half ride.

maybe it's time to step into it all.

to weep your guts out.

to hurt all the way to your core.

to allow the hurt to be there.

maybe it's time to embrace the love

and believe in it even tho it's not always perfect...

but it's always right.

maybe it's time to shout out to your depths that you do matter

and you will do all in your power to live healthy.

maybe it's time to stop just getting through, just surviving.

maybe it's time to grab the gift you've been given.

and celebrate every piece of it -

including the pain that brought you here.

maybe it's time .

forget the maybe...and know it..

it is time.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T07:09:00.000-05:00

Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Enjoy the holidays!

hugs, Lee and the gang

Too Hot!!

2010-12-18T08:21:00.001-05:00

OK, the reason for my title will become clear in a moment. Promise!

Our kitchen has a woodstove. It sits on brick pad, with a woodbox next to it, for storing logs. The mantle is relatively high, but narrow. The room also has wood beams in the ceiling. All of them were a nice 1970s walnut brown, which I painted white.

Last year we didn't have stove at Christmas, so we actually hung the stockings on the mantel and had three lit trees in the hearth. Not so this year... We use the woodstove for supplemental heat, and it gets HOT! So, I'm not hanging anything combustible on the mantel!

I wasn't sure what to put there, afraid of the heat. But I did my best, and this is what is there:

I found this child's crib frame in a dump back on some property here in Maine. I am hoping to go back and look for the rest of it. The wreath is a wire form, wraped in aqua ribbon and lace, with a little cement angel at the bottom.

I also deocrated the adjoining kitchen. One of cabinets is open on the top (which BTW, was the squirrel's hiding place...) and I put all of my carolers up there. These were a gift from my mom. She had collected them for a number of years, but then grew tired of them. I added some twinkly white lights for a little magic.

I made these mittens last year for our Etsy shop. Each has a set of vintage earrings on it. The black and white toile is very festive and classic.

The blue and brown looked perfect with the corduroy!

How is your decorating going?

Hugs- Lee

Some Christmas Spirit

2010-12-16T08:14:00.000-05:00

My mom asked me the other day if I had done any new posts, particularly Chrismas decorations... so here goes.

Last year I saw a picture of wreaths hung on the inside of windows. Of course, I can't find it now, but I did go out and buy some wreaths on clearance. I stashed them away with the rest of the decorations.

The photo showed the simple green wreaths, with no decorations, hung from the top of the window with thick ribbon. I used a snowflake fabric that I ripped into strips. I decorated the bottoms with stuff that I had. It took some creativity, as I have 8 windows in the living room.

Each is a little different. Four on my windows have curtains, made from drop clothes. Four are still bare and have just shades. The wreaths are attached to the wood with pushpins. I thought about tying them to the curtain rods, but they are pretty flimsy (someday I'll have pretty ones hung).

I have more pictures to post later. Enjoy!

Cover Sneak Peak

2010-12-12T14:56:00.002-05:00

For the Paper Digital Arts swap I mentioned, we are responsible for making a set of covers for ourselves and our partner. I don't know who my partner is, but this is what I came up with. (They are slightly blurry- I took them out on a cold porch to photograph, and I think the lense started to fog up.)

Front cover.

The inside cover is supposed to be a statement about our point of view.

Pretty plain, just supposed to give our info.

Back Cover

I refused to share the front cover on the PDA website, but since I don't hink anyone (except Jean) comes here, I thought I'd show them. The kicker- I may keep these and do similar ones for the swap... hehehe

Inspirations

2010-12-07T13:13:00.000-05:00

As if I don't have enough on my plate, I joined an altered book group over at Paper Digital Arts. (We're still looking for 4 more players- and membership is FREE).

We are required to make 2 set of book covers, one for ourselves, and one for the person on our mailing list. Then, each month has a pre-set page theme. The group is called Interpretations, and the first month's theme is Handwritten. So, we take the them and ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun (like Forest).

Anyhow, these gals will show up in mine somewhere... aren't you curious??

GO JOIN!! hugs- Lee

Squirrel Update

2010-11-30T14:44:00.000-05:00

Nope. Nada. Nothing.

After that very noisy night, and my mad dash to the hardware store for a trap... nothing.

The little bugger (THANKFULLY) must have found his way outside. In fact, normally we hear them run across the ceiling at night around 9 p.m., but since the kitchen chase- nothing.

I'm not complaining.

It happened again

2010-11-29T13:07:00.000-05:00

Well, something happened with my hard drive- again... . If it's not cheap to fix, I'm dumping the stupid thing. So I'm using the laptop.

Not much going on in this neck of the woods. Chris is perpetually gone. I'm mostly a single mom... very stressful.

We have the Christmas tree up already- the earliest ever for us. I'll snap some pictures soon. Today will be filled with more decorating. Some crafts with the boys later. Maybe some online shopping.

What are you up to?

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T08:07:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart

Blessings and thanks to my friends out there in blogging world. {Lee}

Who Knew Squirrels Could Fly?

2010-11-22T09:54:00.001-05:00

Well, it's always interesting around here. As some of you know, when we moved here last year, we found a bone yard in one of the walls. Obviously, squirrels were getting in the house. Chris repaired the area, but as the cold has settled in, the critters are back.

Mostly, we hear them at night, running across the ceiling. There's no way to trap the buggers, because they're in the floor, not out in the house.

Until yesterday.....

I've been hearing a lot of noise in the kitchen at night, but since the activity in the house had started up, I figured they were in the walls. And what can you do about that? Not much, except find the problem area, which we hadn't done yet. And in a house of this size, as old as it is, it's going to be hard to pinpoint. Turns out the little buggers can get in very small openings.

So last night there was quite bit of noise in the kitchen. The dog and I went to investigate, and saw a little squirrel run across the floor. Scared the you-know-what out of me!! I though I blocked it under the cabinet, and left it at that. Except I kept hearing it scurry across the wood floors, and banging around last night. Greeeeeeeeeeat.

So, this morning, repeat of last night. But the little thing was just sitting in the middle of the kitchen, looking at me. I think it's wearing down, or starving. I tried catching it with a bucket. STUPID. I should have used a towel, I could have caught it then! Anyway, it jumped off the top of the refrigerator, past my head, and onto the stove. CRAP. Now what??

So, I head off to the hardware store, where after talking to a clerk, figure out it is a flying squirrel. Hence, the jump-past-my head-thing. I bought a tiny little Haveaheart trap, and hope to get it tonight (they are nocturnal).

Seriously, I thought the leaky sink, blown off barn siding, and blown off roof had tipped me over the edge. Nope, but this might.

Cross your fingers. I'm going out for the day!

Found My Mojo

2010-11-14T10:31:00.002-05:00

Oh, the mojo has been gone for quite awhile! I have been so consumed with life in general that my art work has taken a backseat. No, more than that. It was left be the roadside somewhere...

Some recent good news **hint hint** has inspired me to get moving! I hosted a round-robin awhile back, and my book had some unfinished pages. I knew that it needed some additional artwork, and the ideas started to come. Here is the latest page:

It was very labor intensive, to say the least, But it was fun. Enjoy.

Lots of Little Things Add Up to BIG Things

2010-11-09T08:36:00.000-05:00

Well, a lot has been going on these past few weeks. Chris is off in Colorado, hunting elk. I hope he gets a big one!!

Before he left, we tackled at leaky faucet. I found the leak while he was gone on a previous business trip. He walked me through how to shut if off in the basement. What a pain, though, the same pipes feed the downstairs bathroom where the kids brush their teeth every day.

Anyway, after being off for about a week, and after his return, I walked past the 300+ pound soapstone sink and noticed there was still some water running. Hmmmm. Two thoughts crossed my mind. 1. How does that happen? and 2. This is not a good sign.

We removed the sink... yeah, all 300 pounds of it. Chris put a 4x4 beam underneath and jacked it up with a 2-ton jack. Then we gently and carefully moved it to the laundry room. It felt like it was going to topple over every. single. minute. It was nervewracking!! I was scared. Chris thought it was fun. (warped, I know...)

The stench of mold coming from behind the sink was overwhelming! The wall was black and green. The drywall was soaked. We poked until we found the dry parts, then cut and started pulling. Then we just ended up gutting the wall. The drywall had the consistency of packed wet sand.

The faucets came out of the holes in the wall, above the shink. This is where the leak was. The wet spot had extended about 8 inches above, and two feet on either side, as well as down to the floor. The adjacent wall to the left, underneath the window, was also wet.

Underneath the wet drywall was equally wet wood clapboard. Underneath that there was no lathe, it just backed up to the plaster wall in the bathroom. My guess is that it was an outside wall at one point. The other walls are stripped to the wood at the moment. That will come down too. But, at least the wet stuff is gone.

The water had dripped down and the floor boards are rotted near the wall, as it part of the 8x8 beam underneath. This is an old leak, I'm sure. Making the mold worse is that fact that the baseboard heating is on that wall, keeping it nice and warm. So we had to rip up the floors too. There was old tile, over subfloor (overzealously stapled about every 2 inches), over particle board, over wide plank wood. Seriously- that many layers of flooring??? I doubt we can save much of the floor, at least on that end. It's rotted.

Chris is standing on particle board, and that the subfloor to the right. The tile had already been removed.

We found another spot of mold on another wall. We were surprised. We can't figure out where the moisture would have come from at that particular spot. We also found another corner that is dryrotted- we'll dig into that when Chris gets home from hunting.

See the spot near the floor, to the right of the door. Black mold.

So, now this little "utility room" has had to become top on the list for fixing. That's annoying- we have other projects to tackle first!

Like the barn, which was damaged the other night in 60 mph winds. It was a long scary night, and I head the siding rip off. Ugh, just add it to the to-do list.

What's on your to-do list?? I'm going to add "hit the lottery" to mine.

hugs- Lee

Grey or Gray?

2010-11-04T12:22:00.000-04:00

Which is it? I'm not sure.

I woke this morning in darkness. It was only 5 a.m., and part of my mind wondered if I'll ever sleep much past 6 again. Sunrise was 7:21, but it didn't seem like a real sunrise. Not really. It was so dark and gloomy out. So gray. But there was a touch of pink to the sky. Just a touch.

I wandered through the house, looking out windows. It was very quiet, and cold in the front part of this giant house. This giant house. It seems so ridiculous sometimes. Almost embarrassing. We are so fortunate to have a house, but it's so big. I walked room by cold room, through the front of the house where we don't live. Through rooms that are bare and empty. Bare floors and walls, waiting for something.

Again, so quiet. I looked out the windows. There was frost on the roof, and on the grass. My mind reeled a little... already? It's only November. Then I realized it was 9 a.m., and still frosty and gray.

Will it be a hard winter, I wonder?

Some Goblins Missing Teeth

2010-11-02T19:12:00.001-04:00

This is what happens when the littlest

kicks the oldest in the teeth!

BOO!

PS- yes, they were already loose. Not ready to come out yet, but loose. One of them bled pretty heavily and popped right out, the other needed just a little tug. Oy vey!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T08:28:00.000-04:00

BOO!

My boys have been busy carving pumpkins and getting ready to go. These are our pumpkins, that I've had to hide from the chickens (see the hole?).

Jason is going as Darth Vader, and Adam will be a skeleton.

Enjoy the evening!

Bats in the Attic

2010-10-26T11:40:00.000-04:00

Now that's SCARY!! Grab your copy today.

Time To Purge

2010-10-22T13:52:00.005-04:00

OK gals, I'm cleaning out the studio.... yes, I should have done this before I moved the goodies up here, but... you know how that goes.

Anyway, I have a few ledgers, some receipt books from 1918, and some other cool ephemera. If you're interested, email me an offer and we'll talk! Everything is negotiable.

~~Receipt Book for Oleo Margerine,~~

~~Tower City, PA July 1913-Sept. 1914~~

$5 SOLD

Appr. 5. 25 x 11 3/8, binding intact, bluish-green cover, pages are nicely browned, written in pencil.

~~Standard Order Book~~

~~Prospect Park, PA~~

~~Mostly Blank, Few Missing pages~~

$4 SOLD

Bluish-gray in color, binding intact, approx. 3 7/8 x 9 1/2 in.

~~Vintage Standard Receipt Books~~

~~Amazing Graphics~~

~~$3 for the pair~~ SOLD

Approx. 6 7/8 x 2 3/4 in. Binding intact, pages are clean!

A little bit of soiling on the back pages of one of them, which you can see of a few of the reecipts.

One has only two pages missing!

The other is half full.

~~1918 Marbled Cover Receipt Book~~

~~Amazing Condition!! Pages are edged in red.~~

$4 SOLD

1936-1938 Red Goose Shoes

Personal Spending Record

11 pages, half of one page is missing. The first page, shown below, is loose.

Approx. 2 5/8 x 5 1/2 in. Binding intact. Great graphics.

~~The Palmer Method~~

~~of Business Writing~~

~~Early 1900s~~

$2 SOLD

Approx. 5 1/2 x 8 3/4. Binding intact, about 10 pages missing. Great graphics!

Ok, so help a girl out, K?

xoxo

A Banner Kind of Day

2010-10-19T10:06:00.000-04:00

We have two 6 x 6 porches on our house, one on the front and one on the side. Like many of you out there, we don't use our front door too often. The side door has the enclosed porch- enclosed by the old windows from the house! Cool, huh?

I saw this on Tracey's blog, and LOVED it.

I set out to spiff up the porch. I painted the ceiling haint blue. I bought red paint to do the floors- and match the barn trim. I never got around the painting the floor after I realized it was in such poor shape- like please-hold-up-for-another-year shape.

But, it is a really cool spot for dressing up. So, I finally got around to making some banners for the windows:

I recycled cardboard from various boxes. I covered both side with wallpaper from a sample book and some leftover drop cloth fabric. I embellished with burlap, lace, paper and buttons- whatever I had laying around in the studio that fit the color scheme. I stamped one piece with each of our initials and added some black glitter Stickles. Then I punched holes and strung it up with some pretty yarn. Easy peasy. I think I'll leave this up, and add holiday decorations around it. Which means I'd better head back to the studio and get started!

Happy Fall!

Before and After

2010-10-17T08:51:00.002-04:00

We recently spend a bucket load of money on two new windows for our kitchen. They were old, single paned, and big heat wasters! We had the big orange store come out and do it, because they could custom order them, and we did the pay-it-off in a year with no interest plan (now, if we can just DO it!!).

It was a bit of a fiasco. The first time they were supposed to come, we diligently cleared everything out of the kitchen and dining area, only to receive a call that the window order had been mixed up. One window is very long as was to be three double hung windows, and the smaller window over the sink was to be a big pane with two smaller double hungs on the side. They switched them! Ugh. So, they had to be re-ordered.

Three weeks go by. Nothng. I call. Miraculously we get a call back in two days that they are ready. We schedule the date. We clean everything out- and they call again to cancel because the installer is sick. Great. Normally I am very understanding about this kind of stuff, but in this case, I was just ticked off. Mostly because it's already getting cold here, and I wanted to ge them in before we had to have gaping holes in the walls for a few hours during installation. Making it worse, Chris is scheduled to be out of town a lot over the next 2 months, and there was no way I was having it done without him here. So, I called and gave them the ultimatum- have it done by this day or cancel the contract. Well, that got results! So, Before:

And after:

We're not crazy about the new ones over the sink. The casings are too wide. We both think they look cheap- which they weren't! We have three other windows like this in the house- 2 in the laundry and one in the boys room. However, when we do replace them, they will three double hungs, just like the other new ones in the kitchen.

This hole was open for a few hours, I was freezing!

We eliminated the bow, because we want the outside of the hosue to be a little more uniform. It was the only bowed window.

Oh, and here's the kicker... The windows above are STILL incorrect. These are called 6 over 1- see the mullions? They are supposed to be 2 over 1 to match the rest of the house. They've been re-ordered- but seriously...?? LOL.

Happy fall.

Fall/Winter Twigs & Feathers Zine is Here!

2010-10-02T07:45:00.000-04:00

Our second issue is now available. It spans from Halloween:

to Thanksgiving:

to Christmas:

It's full of fun articles, projects for kids and adults, recipes, and creative holiday pages.

I would love to show you more, really I would, but then I'd give all of our lovely secrets away. Please head on over to Lollishops or Etsy and and purchase yours today! Then slow down. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy our efforts.

Hugs- Lee

A Little More Sneaky Peeky

2010-09-27T09:20:00.000-04:00

OK gals, this is just a little of what's coming... we're due to launch the Fall Zine in the first week of October! Tammy and I have been hard at work, with Tammy doing ALL of the layout. (I think it's time I do some PE classes). Natalea Kanderfer is back, with an amazing 2 page journaling spot. And Tracey Leber, of French Larkspur, has chimed in with some sugary goodness.

This 36 page issue is FULL of eye candy. You can pre-order here:

Don't miss this issue! hugs, Lee

Number Goodness

2010-09-16T20:03:00.003-04:00

Ok, I have a thing for numbers. There. I admitted it.

Why? I don't know. I m attracted to numbers and letters, actually.

(These aren't mine- any of them- I'm just lusting after them.)

Paper ones- you name it. If I could bid on all the ones listed on eBay, I would.

And metal?!? Don't even get me started. I have a drawer full. I love to browse eBay and see what's out there. I also have to say, some are ridiculously priced. I mean, I would love a nice, big cow ear tag, but not for what they're listed for. SIGH.

My barn and tractor shed have some old cool tags from the lightning rod company that installed the system back in the 70s. Trust me- it's taken all my self-control to not rip those things right off.

Here's the best of both worlds...

What do you ~~have a fetish for~~ like?

Some Painted Walls

2010-09-13T11:00:00.001-04:00

Ok folks, here's some more renovations. This is the ugly green walls and lovely wallpaper we've been stuck with. The stupid chimney doesn't even work!! There was a fire in the house may years ago, and it's capped in the attic.

Turned into this:

Doesn't the chimney look better?

The living room is L-shaped. I chose two different colors, so that it doesn't look like a big white box. The one side is white, the other side is cream color- better than the green!!

Ignore the stain, it came out with a good cleaning.

I also tackled the back hallway, which is high traffic and gets dirty fast. Right now, this is just Kilz, but isn't it nice and bright? I'm going to keep the doors white, and do a big blackboard in the middle. I'd love to do the whole area in black and white.

It's hard to tell, but this in a dingy cream, lots of dings and dirt. The floors are pretty gross, but not in the budget to change right now.The door you can see on the right is had holes in it, which were spackled. This are goes into a whole other room- mostly recycleables, the large freezer and some other stuff.

My little helper.

So, I'm kind of "painted out" right now. hehehe. I'm making curtains for the living room out of drop cloths. They look like linen, which is awesome, and they cost a mere $40 for what will turn into 8 pairs (after I cut and hem the edges). Can't beat that!!

hugs- Lee

PS- I think I'm going to paint this tile floor black and white checker!

SNEAK PEEK

2010-09-05T14:37:00.002-04:00

Just a little peek at what Tammy and I are up to... all 36 pages will be available verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry soon.

Wanna pre-order?? Go see us over at Twigs & Feathers.

Change

2010-08-29T17:57:00.000-04:00

Hah- got you to look!! I've been cutting in with Kilz all day, welllllll, not so much. It's hard to do with the 4 y.o. helping me. hehehe

This is what I'm working on.

Seriously?? UGH. Mint green walls. Brown wallpaper with big flowers all over it. Blech.

So I pulled the wallpaper off, and there's enough glue on there to... to.... I don't know what. But ewwwwwwwwwwwww.

I hate wallpaper. Really. Stay tuned.

Pre-K

2010-08-24T07:46:00.002-04:00

Adam will go to pre-K today. Just a trial run, to get the feel of the place. It should be interesting. He's already told me he doesn't want to go. I guess he's forgotten how he's wanted to go to school for the past two years, when he watched Jason get on the bus in the morning.

It's hard, dropping off your child with people you don't know, in a place you don't know. Luckily, the daycare/preschool is one mile from here. When Jason went to pre-K, he attended a school that my niece and nephews had already attended. I had all sorts of information about it from my sister-in-law, so for some reason, it wasn't so hard. With Adam, it's a little different- we don't know any other families who have used this daycare. I hope he adjusts well. I want him to succeed.

I am amazed how quickly they have grown. Jason just turned 7. We made the agonizing decision to keep him back in first grade this year. The move really just caused him to shut down and stop learning. I feel that the school dropped the ball- no extra one-on-one time was give to him, nothing special to help him catch up. He jsut floated through the class, feeliing like a failure. That's what we've been trying to un-do all summer. I feel I missed the ball, not quite aware of how stalled out he was (even though there were multiple conferences and emails). Anyway, I can't imagine him struggling for the next 12 years, when an extra year in the early stages would do the job. It's weird to think of having to tutor your first grader, but that's what we've done all summer. It's been difficult.

I have to admit, I'll be glad for the break when both boys go to school. It's been a long time coming- quite solitude and "me" time. But it also signals the new chapter in our lives, the chapter with older children, school activities, sports, and all the rest of it. I hope I'm up for the challenge.

Before and After

2010-08-19T17:02:00.000-04:00

OK, these pictures are a little boring, but some of my family and friends wanted to see them.

We get a lot of water in the basement, which apparently is common in Maine. We are, after all, only about 300 ft above sea level. The ground here tends to be very sandy. Luckily, our is pretty good soil.

I wanted to just have some grading done so that the water drained away from the house. I also wanted to do some planting, and the bamboo was too deep, so that needed to be dug out too.

Well, you know how the story goes... a little bit of grading turned into a lot of tearing out old trees and bushes, and laying pipe around the foundation that will be connected to the gutter.

Now if Icould only keep the chickens out of the new grass seed!

Yummy Birds- and then some...

2010-08-17T17:10:00.001-04:00

Here are some recent creations I'm offering:

Did I mention they were inspired by KC Willis' Collage Camp?

And that she'll be holding a class at my house in October?

Enjoy!

And a big PS- KC is offering her Collage Camp DVDs in a box for the last time. Now they will go in a cool bag instead. You'll still receive three workshops (Collage Camp, Altered Books, and Altered Shrines), and a signed collage in a cool little bag. But hurry, times awastin'!

P.S.

2010-08-15T16:59:00.002-04:00

Some of you out there know me personally, some of your only through the internet and this cool blogging world. I wanted to add a postscript to the last post, to explain how truly grateful I am.

I was married at 25 and divorced at 30. I was mentally abused, worn down, made to feel as if I had nothing worth giving. I wasn't this and I wasn't that. So much for not believing in divorce. Hey, when one partner wants out, the other is left holding the bag.

I went home to my parent's, depressed, unable to function, save go to work and come back. I went to lick my wounds, tail between my legs, feeling like failure. I had to find myself again. That was 1997.

I entered nursing school. I realized I was smart. I went to counseling every week during the school year- it's free at the university. I went for 2.5 years. Then, one day, I realized I didn't need to go anymore. I had worked out my demons. I smiled at my AMAZING counselor and said "I don't think I need to come anymore." He smiled. "I don't either." I graduated with a BSN and entered into critical care. That was 2000.

I met my amazing husband in 2001. It seemed like I had been single forever. He was the man I was waiting my whole life for. He loves me for who I am. He takes the good and the bad. He calms me. He makes me laugh. We were blessed to get pregnant right away, while one of my dearest friends struggled with infertility. It was a hard place to be, but instead of it coming between our friendship, she rejoiced with me. And a few years later she was blessed with a child too.

So, if you'd asked me, way back after I was divorced, if I'd ever be married or have children, I would have said no. But, luckily for me, God said YES.

Seven is a Magic Number

2010-08-14T08:02:00.000-04:00

Seven years ago, Chris and I were blessed with the birth of this lovely child. Thank you God.

The Way I See It.

Creatively Made

Swap Gals

ONE MORE DAY

Supply Swap Time!

It's Just Like Riding a Bike... sort of

I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas

Christmas gifts

A Lovely Giveaway!!

OK OK

Art Appreciation

Retro Cafe Art LOVE

Winners winners winners

Thanks

Bloggy Love Time!! And a Giveaway!

Honestly.

Wow- a flounce on a two year old post.

Paint it BLACK- wainscoting, that is.....

Spidery Goodness

Loser

Apples, Apples Everywhere...

Soon She Will Wake

Embrace Change!!

Art Swap Goodness

Somerset Apprentice Volume 4

Love and all that

What a Week!!

fly away home

Birthday Pictures

More Art....

Sneak Peek (sort of)- Somerset Apprentice Fall

A Sort of Confession

The Scarlet Letter

Where the Boys Are

It's A Little Lonely

here's the real deal

Achy Breaky Heart

Where Oh Where Art Thou?

Bedroom Updates

Wood and Flowers

A Stroll Through My Barn

Messy Faces and Summer Fun

Black and White

Good Day, Sunshine

Things I Should Be Grateful For

The Before and Aftermath- Renovation Nightmares!!

Some Artsy Stuff

It's Been Hectic

Photographs

An Etsy Treasury

Spring Additions - **PIC HEAVY**

A FUN giveaway!!

Stuff..............

Zettis!

Glittered Hearts

Star and Hearts and Glitter

Re-using Old Books - Make Your Own Pages

Somerset Layout

Bad Case of the WANTS

I Have A Piece in Somerset Apprentice

Mended Altered Book Page

Heart

Paper Digital Art- Interpretations "Handwritten"

Got Me Some New Critters!

Where I Create

Art and Stuff

January Dreaming

Timely Thoughts

Merry Christmas

Too Hot!!

Some Christmas Spirit

Cover Sneak Peak

Inspirations

Squirrel Update

It happened again

Happy Thanksgiving

Who Knew Squirrels Could Fly?

Found My Mojo

Lots of Little Things Add Up to BIG Things

Spring Additions - PIC HEAVY