daretodream

Viscountess Purrs Like a Kitten

That's my Ya Ya name! What's yours? Tell me in my comments box!! oxox

Art Books

I've been surrounded by art lately. I'm hosting an incredible swap for 3 Chunky Books. The pages have been coming in by the boat load and I'm staying on top of it...YEAH! I've got files standing up in my Goodwill File Stand, slipping one of each set of pages in each file as they come. I'm amazed at the creativity of these artists. There will be over 200 books of 65-70 pages each once finished, each page created by a separate artist!! (can someone say 14,000 pages?) There is nothing like artisitic enthusiasm to spark my creative self! I ordered three books on Amazon, receiving two today. I'll have links to the right if you want to check them out! I received an Awesome book By Bev Brazelton called Altered Books Workshop...I'm just dying to try some of her techniques. Lynne Perrellas book came, as well..incredible!! Artists' Journals & Sketchbooks. The image above has really given me an itch to pull out my wine corks and start carving some really cool stamps!! Just LOOK at the treasures in that box! I want an entire tray filled with inky, dirty cork stamps. :) That picture was taken from a Rockport book called Making Journals by Hand ~ 20 creative projects for keeping your thoughts. by Jason Thompson. There are awesome journals inside by Teesha & Tracy Moore, Juliana Coles, LK Ludwig and the maker of the cork stamps...Peter Madden. Peter, wanna be my new best friend?? Sooo much to create, so little time! oxox

What's My Color?

This is interesting. Some of the things are right on and actually what I've been recently dealing with!

you are lavender #E6E6FA

Your dominant hue is blue, making you a good friend who people love and trust. You're good in social situations and want to fit in. Just be careful not to compromise who you are to make them happy. Your saturation level is very low - you have better things to do than jump headfirst into every little project. You make sure your actions are going to really accomplish something before you start because you hate wasting energy making everyone else think you're working. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Steamboat Springs

"All art is but imitation of nature." -Lucius Annaeus Seneca

With one month left before my trip to Arizona, I've finally gotten hubby to commit to a family vacation! This will be our first one with kids and dog in tow. We're driving to Steamboat Springs, Colorado! I'm so excited I could scream! It looks as if I'll be able to spend a day and night in Fort Collins to visit my friends Sarah Fishburn, Lisa Hoffman and Tana Mitchell, too...I'm going to be teaching a workshop at their favorite shop. :) If any of you are in Colorado and want to learn how to do fun Polaroid Transfer imitations using Ink Jet transfers...come take a class from me on Aug. 16!! OXOX

1st Boyfriend at 15yrs

I got an email yesterday from Greg Pylant....my first official boyfriend. I was 15, he was a year older. In this photo, we're posing before going to the Xmas Raiderette (drill team) banquet. My mom made the dress. :) I haven't seen or talked to Greg in about 23 years. I moved from my hometown soon after highschool and lost touch with just about everyone...since I never moved back, I've never experienced what many people do, watching childhood friends grow...OLD! It was so fun just hearing how he's doing...seems he's in Oregon too (I grew up in Bedford, Texas). My sweet, dear hubby acted uninterested when I told him last night...but I heard a little twinge of jealousy when he said..."are you two going to get together and rekindle old flames?" He was just kidding...yeah...bless him! So, here's to being 15 and hearing from the first boyfriend 25 years later. Thanks Greg! oxox

Oooh, the life of Art is interesting!!!

I've seen it all on the web...tampon art, boob art, and now...edible art!
I'm totally new to Blogging... (slang for web logging aka: web journaling). I find the most fascinating things by following the links of the people who have peeked into my journal... I thought it was high time I share the fun...
ready for an adventure??
buckle your seatbelts!!!
It's time to visit Traveling in Style with your host "Suzette".
and
Art for Housewives!
Take a look at these Bra Purses! I don't know about you, but I wear my bras until they're two round bandaids connected with thread and safetypins. Not sure I'll be buying any sexy victoria secret bras for a purse...can we make a bandaid/safety pin purse??

Okay, I know, I know...I have 1 million unanswered emails in my inbox, the million dollar pooperscooper needs to be emptied and my house is undescribable... (how the H-E double toothpicks do you spell undescribeable?)
does that mean I can't have ANY fun??

I'm gonna make some Cardboard Box Doodles to submit!! Ooooh, I'm feeling giddy!!!

NO WAY! I've got art in my antique potato crock and didn't even know it!!!!

Have you had enough??
What about this?!?!

Vagina Chocolate Pops...(*wondering what kimber will think if she sees this*)

Oh, that doesn't float your boat? You're such a prude!
Would a Vulva Puppet Gallery suit you better??
NO?? Man, you're hard to please...
how about some Maxi Pad Slippers?
They're a great granny craft bazaar item, you know!!

So there you go. I'm sure you're all enlightened by my secret stash of womanly links. Hope you've had as much fun looking as I've had showing! oxox
ps...Does this blog make my butt look big?

Sunday

Nose Troubles!

This picture cracks me up...it was taken when Kimber was in second grade. She'll be starting middle school this fall...*sniff* Little Kimber thinks she broke her nose today. I got a phonecall from her dad around 6pm. Kimber was jumping on a neighbor's trampoline when her friend's knee popped her in the nose. She was in the bathtub trying to clean up during the phone call. Steve said that she was crying and hysterical because her nose was crooked. He wanted to take her to the hospital and she wanted me there. A few minutes later he called back. They decided to give it a little time, call our doctor and see what she said. No hospital visit but probably a trip to the dr. to have her nose reset if it's really broken. I dread this. I can only imagine what a "resetting" would be like. Kimber's called every hour with an update. She's feeling better but worried about that nose. I'd appreciate prayers for a miracle! oxox

Ahhh, Saturday!

Ahhhh, Saturday! This is my kid free weekend. We had a horribly hot day yesterday. Kimber called me at 10:39pm last night absolutely miserable. Her dad doesn't have an airconditioner. She'd mistakenly taken Tubby, her hamster, with her for the weekend and was worn out from blowing on him, trying to keep him cool. :) She begged to come home. I reminded her that she should be thankful that she's so tiny, not much body fat to keep in the heat! Today I'll make a huge mail run. If you're waiting for a package from me, fear not...it'll be on its way soon. If I owe you an email, please be patient...I've been swamped and promise to answer shortly. oxox

We are what we do.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle. I love this quote. It really holds me accountable to what I do on a regular basis. Do I spend most of my time complaining, moaning and groaning, gossiping about others?? If it's true, that we ARE what we repeatedly do, then I want to consistantly be praising my children, sending encouragement to my friends and family, creating wonderful art. The little house pictured is something I'll be teaching at Art & Soul this year. This one was made almost 2 years ago and sold on ebay to one of my artist idols, Laura Shuran Meseroll I'm lucky enough to have one of her paintings, but OOOOHHHHH how I'd love to have more. Hey Laura, I'd trade a whole neighborhood full of wax house blocks for one of your collages...whattaya say...huh, huh?? :) It's been crazy today...little kimber friends over, costco trip, michaels and craft warehouse....the girls and I each got a pair of knitting needles, yarn and some how to books...we're going to become knitting queens this summer. Yes, the email inbox is still over 130...but I can't spend every waking minute answering emails, can I? I have to be a good mom too! How to juggle it all...Hmmm... oxox