Pretty pretty flowers

While Trev was here he surprised me with roses! They are still looking pretty good after all this time!

counting sheep...

....well not really - I'm totally tired, but I can't sleep. It's 5am and I have not had a wink of sleep yet. There's nothing on but infomercials, my eyes are too blury for art, so I'm messing around in photoshop till I drop, I guess.

Here's a layout created for an art journal challenge on the DSP boards. Today's theme is about altering photos so they look a little artier. I did mine about my firstborn love, Trevor.

100th post! And a reflection on a wondrous week

Wow - I've made it to 100 posts! I have learned that I'm not a journal girl - in a book with a pen, but it looks like I'm a blogger. Oh I can see some of you frowning.... Another person lost on the computer and neglecting the pen and paper, but that's not me - I promise. I love to write letters, real letters that require a lick of the ol' envelope and going to the actual post office. (Believe it or not, the post office still takes letters - not just eBay parcels). I love sending letters and cards, but a journal girl I am not. And that's ok.

OH!!!! But what what I am now is an ordained minister! Yes, you read that right! My friend Rosie and I are starting a chapter of The Church of the Craft, here in Florence. We are hoping to get it running by July, but it might be August. Craft?... you ask.... yes - not witch craft, but arts & crafts! Read all about it here. We decided to go full swing and become ordained. Like I said, it's been a wondrous week.

I sold 2 pieces of art this week too - that's been swell! And I'm waiting to hear from a company to see if they will be accepting a piece of art that I sent to them, into their catalog. Please cross your fingers for me, because I really need this gig.

My oldest son Trevor and his sweet girlfriend Mickala got all dolled up for prom tonight. Aren't they a lovely couple?

I'm working on a commissioned pendant right now. I'm having a bit of a tough time with it because it's not my artwork she wants soldered up, its icons of our town on one side and icons of New York and California on the other. I think I did ok though, I've been tweek'n images in photoshop all afternoon. Tomorrow I'll solder and add beads and it will be ready for delivery on Monday.

My birthday is coming up on the 15th. As I look at my life I still feel like a kid, not like I'm turning 37. I'm sliding down the slippery slope to 40! How can that be? I don't own a house yet - or a terrific car - that's what responsible adults have, right? I'm still dancing around the house to club tunes and looking up new hello kitty items on eBay. What's wrong with me? Oh well - hopefully I'll stay 'young' forever and when the grandkids come along, they will think I'm the coolest granny on the block. Holla! LOL

Good to be home!

I'm home... 2 days early because I was feeling homesick, like a silly little girl. Thankfully I have the best kids in the world, and they understood. I am incredibly lucky.
While I was away, I had the best time outfitting Trevor & Mickala's new home. We had a blast picking things out. Tyler was his usual adorable self - all he has to do is smile and I just melt. He got the short end of the shopping stick, but he's a good egg and knew I had to help his brother out.
I travelled between my son's house, my mom's house, my sister's house and back again.... my mom got a kick out me lugging all my bedding around from place to place and actually made a chart for where I was staying on every night it was there. That was pretty funny.

So after a very long train ride beside a man with the worst smelling cologne in the world, I'm SO glad to be home. I spent the day at my desk, filling & packaging orders that happened while I was away, answering emails and phone calls and then out for dinner and margaritas with Amanda. My soul-sista in Florence. I would die here without her. I think I will pack her in my suitcase when I move to Bellingham. Yes, that sounds like a plan.

Sweet!

I was looking at EBSQ today and looked up my profile to see if I needed to update anything and there was a cute little icon indicating I won an award...kinda! One of my hand-bulit pottery pieces got a 'member's mention'. I couldn't be more thrilled to have been noticed by other artists. Sweet!

I sold one of my beach assemglages at the "looking at the small picture" show at the FEC this weekend too - so that's wonderful. I am so glad the one I wanted to keep didn't sell! Often I'm not overjoyed with what I create - so many things don't turn out as grand as I planned them in my head ;) But I've become attached to the one beach box (Ocean Secrets) that has the quotes. I think I'll hang onto that one. I did put the 3rd (darn, I like that one too) on Etsy - but I can't keep em all can I? After all, I do have bills to pay and I am trying to make a go at this 'selling' stuff. Ha!

AND since I'm in such a good mood - I'm thrilled that my oldest son Trevor has just got his first place, on his own. He really needs this and I'm going to be happy for him, even if I do worry a little. Hey - I'm a mom, it's my job to worry BUT I'm so thrilled to see him so happy. Now if I can sell a little more art, I can go up and visit him in his new home and do the fun stuff like teach him how to cook and stuff - ok, I better get crack'n and sell some more art.

I hate goodbyes

I just hate saying goodbye to my kids. I have to get up at 6 tomorrow to get my son ready for the train ride back up to his dad's and it's 2:53 am. I can't sleep, thinking about tomorrow and having to send him off. It's been fantastic to have him home, I can't wait till he comes home for good this summer.
Today we drove up to Lincoln City to get out for the day. We spotted a fantastic rainbow on the way. I shot these from the car, driving down the 101.
We trompped through a thrift store while we were there... Here's Tyler trying on jackets. He wants a black suit jacket to wear with his t-shirts and jeans, but all the arms were too short.
I love his style - he's so confident - he makes me laugh.

On the bright side, Trevor, my oldest son will be here next month with his girlfriend. I'm counting down the days!