Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Year's on the Ranch

Top 10 Ways to Spend New Year's on the Ranch

1. Wait for the chickens to lay the first egg of the New Year.

2. Sweep the pond and get out the skates.

3. Leave the fireworks to the city folk and the suburbanites. Herald the New Year by watching Grandpa using the cutting wheel & welder to recycle old steel.

4. Host a party for your friends. Attire: Camo casual. For fun, conduct Skoal spitting contests, rousing games of Name That Road Kill, and a few rounds of Farm-Opoly.

5. Forget watching the ball drop. Ring in the New Year by launching full scale frozen terd attacks and rocket propelled horseapple grenades from the pastures.

6. Spike the cows' range cubes then go tipsy - cow tipping.

7. Go deer hunting at midnight. There's nothing like bringing in the New Year with a buck.

8. Open a beer and the pen of green broke colts…then watch the boys get busy.

9. Turn your pigs into New Year's babies. Diaper them, then draw straws for changing duty.

10. Have your guests catch their own turkey or antelope. Just don't tell them they have to take it home with them.


This is My version of the list on Confessions of a Counterfit Farmgirl's Blog.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

2008-- Going ,Going, Gone!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday!

I wanted to share some of the goals I'm challenging myself for 2009.

I am TRYING to move myself beyond my comfort zone in my artwork and seeking to try things I have never tried before. I want to use techniques I have not yet tried, stay with a process long enough to enjoy it, use what I have before buying new and lose the inner urge to always think practical...as in, does this have a useful purpose or is it worthy to hang on the wall?
And another thing... I want to be a finisher. I am so guilty of getting into the process and then when it comes to finishing off the piece, I fall short in the creative freedom to embellish or adding the final details or whimsy that makes the project complete...drives me nuts!

I'd love to hear what you folks have in mind for strengthening your artistic selves for 2009.


CLICK HERE to take the quiz to see if you were paying attention in 2008!

Here's wishing you all a very Healthy, Happy and Artful New Year!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Merry Christmas


I want to send warm holiday greetings....to friends, old and new,near and far away.
Despite the dismal news on the economic and foreign peace fronts, the meaning of Christmas and the Spirit of the Season still makes this a special time every year.
Enjoy it with family and all those around you...then hurry back to blogging in the New Year! Blessings to you all!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Day 12


It is day 12 and the last gift was just opened...it comes from Virginia Madison from Richmond, VA. Isn't this little puffy quilted poinsetta pin just the cutest thing!! Thank-you Virginia! And Thankyou Jeri Aaron for organizing such a fun swap!

The 12 Day of Christmas was great fun and made the Christmas season so much brighter by having a special little something to open each day. You are all wonderfully creative gifted artists and participating with you has been the best gift of all. Thankyou and Merry Christmasa to ALL!!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Day 11


Isn't this necklace just beautiful!!!!
Todays Gift comes from Jean Bennett, way down there in Florida! I just love it and the handmade box that it came in is sweet! Thankyou Jean!!
Tomorrow is day 12 and I'm sorry to see this fun exchange coming to an end.
There's been talk of doing this again for Valentines...can't wait!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

New Book Exhibition 36


Susan Tuttle's new book, Exhibition 36: Mixed-Media Demonstrations + Explorations has just been released in bookstores and online. She will be giving away one copy to an eligible person if you go to her blog and sign up by following the instructions-- the random drawing will be held on Tuesday Dec. 16th.


Jennifer Williams, "Trial and Error" sent me this wonderful award. Blogging is about the friendships we create too....Thank-you Jennifer!

This award states: This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY- nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends, they are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these artists.

I am passing it on in no particular order to the following people:

http://bluebirdslivinginthemeadow.blogspot.com/
http://thriftycollageartist.blogspot.com/
http://somethingtwocrowabout.typepad.com/
http://artinredwagons.blogspot.com/
http://pamgarrison.typepad.com/

I hope you Visit them and come to appreciate all of them as much as I do!


and....I just had to share! My 12 days surprise and autograph Birthday present from my favorite online Guy!!
Just goes to show what a super guy he is!! Thanks Tim!!

Day 10


The gift for today comes from Susan Tidwell and it is a sweet soldered ornament!! The little girl with her teddy is waiting for Santa! So Sweet!

It came all neatly packed in a polka-dot TP tube...clever way to make sure it's journey to my house was safe! Thanks Susan!!
You can visit her blog by Clicking Here!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Day 9


Todays giftie is a bamboo tile necklace made with gel transfer and a beautiful jewel dangle. It is cleverly mounted to a Van Gogh playing card, love that!
Shelly Rae Wood is the artist and I want to Thank-You for such a wonderful necklace!
Now for the gift wrap...here's what she says...
"I made them by ironing freezer paper to snowmen napkins. The pouch is the pull treat pattern from http://www.splitcoastampers.com/. You don't untie it to open it, you just pull on the bow and it "magically" brings out your treat!!" Pretty cool!!
CLICK HERE to visit her blog!

Day 8


Todays present comes from Jeri Aaron. Isn't this cool...an antique teacup pincusion! It is the same Germany dish pattern as my Grandmas (that I didn't inherit), so now I feel all warm in the heart that I have sweet piece to remember her by ...and practical too!It came in a wonderful little gift box too! Thanks Jeri!!
You can visit Jeri's wonderful blog by Clicking Here.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Day 7


For Day 7, Gwynn Thoma sent this elegant dress ornament. The skirt is a dainty hankie scalloped fabric with crystal beaded fringe over the prettiest snowflake sheer fabric - in fact, it's the same fabric that my Day 3 gift was wrapped in. The package was just as pretty, a cotton fabric Bag tied with tinsel...everything so pretty!! Thank you, Gwynn!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Day 6



Is this not the coolest antique spoon?!!! I love it! And how sweet that the little girl in the snow is doing her chores just like a farm girl....I can relate.

Gloria Hanes sent this giftie all wrapped in wonderful music fabric with rusty bells and tags. It sure compliments the gift! This is wonderful, Thanks Gloria!
Take time to visit her blog!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Day 5


I don't know the story on these lovely earrings yet as Diann Scholl is out of town. Aren't they delicate and just beautiful?? Not sure what the stone/bead is but it is sure to match anything. Thank-you Diann!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Tim Holtz 12 Days Surprise!!

I just had to share....I'm a Winner!!
You all know I'm a big fan, been blogging about his 12 Days, heck my grandsons even know who Tim Holtz is!! After school yesterday, James wanted to see the new technique and we were reading down the red highlighted list of prizes and he read them like the Rudolf reindeers list. It was so cute and we were having a good time writing the modified lyrics for our comment to Tim. Low and behold when I went to see Day4....he had us listed first for the prize!! Can you tell I am excited!! A day early for my birthday, but what a surprise!!
Can't wait for James to get home!!
Go See!! I BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC!!

http://timholtz.typepad.com/

Day 4


Can you smell it? This giftie, a wonderful homemade soap, comes from Chris Cunningham.
Click here to visit her blog. Thanks Cris! I will put it out when company comes this Holiday!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Day 3



Todays Wooden Angel was my contribution to the 12 Days of Christmas swap.
I have to admit, that I bought these unfinished wooden components about 5 years ago. They were by the dozen and wholesale....so I got a few. I made some up all rustic for my booths to compliment our barnwood stuff. Long story short, I found a couple boxes that were stashed away and decided to shabby glitz a few with distress inks and stickles and they turned out pretty good... so I decided since I need 12 for the swap that these would work perfect! Hope every enjoys them!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Day 2



This wonderful Art Angel ornament is the Day 2 Gift of the "12 Days of Christmas" swap and was created by Barbara Hagerty of Artiphy the Heart. Love it! Thank-you Barbara!

Getting my Jingle on...
I'm guilty of leaving some blogs on my computor, just to enjoy the music...
Farmchick's blog is a daily stop as her music list is just wonderful! Visit her at Fresh From The Farm for great recipes and great music!

Also...
Don't forget about Tim Holtz's "12 days of Christmas" Tag techniques.
CLICK HERE and head over to his blog.

Another note...
Lisa Vollrath of 'ten two studios' is having a Countdown to Christmas. She will post free new downloadable images each day. Be sure to check out the "rules."

Monday, December 1, 2008

Day 1

of "12 Days Of Christmas" swap!


Hosted by Jeri Aaron of An Artful Gathering, who gathered up 11 artful friends to join in the wonderful swap!
Today's gift, Number 1, is from Angie Hall Haviland. Wrapped in a sparkley snowman bag comes a sweet vintage snowgirl domino necklace. I love the light green and festive look...it will be so much fun to wear this holidays! Thank-you Angie!!

You can see more of her beautiful artwork on her blog: Angie's Art & Full Life.

Sunday, November 30, 2008


Thankyou to my friend,
Diann Scholl
for passing on the Kreativ Blogger award to me! I'm now to pass it on to 5 of my friends who visit me often, leave great comments and who share awesome Creative Stuff on their blogs.
The rules for receiving the award are:
1. the winner may put the logo on their blog
2. put a link to the person who sent ou the award
3. nominate 5 blogs
4. put links to their blogs
5. leave a message for your nominees

I appreciate this award so very much, Diann!
All these ladies deserve this award for their outstanding art and blogs.

Linda - Just My Little Bit
Barbara - WW Creations
Patti - Altered Attic
Brenda - Memories and Treasures
Mary - Working Projects

Thanks again, Diann!
p.s. Don't forget...tomorrow is Monday...the start of "12 Days of Christmas"!!

Friday, November 28, 2008

12 days of Christmas


Aren't Swaps Fun! I was invited to join a group of wonderful gals for a "12 days of Christmas" gift exchange and the fun little packages have been arriving for the last few weeks. Talented artists, gorgeous handmade gifties...eeew, I can't wait!
This swap is based on the 12 days of Christmas and we open one a day, beginning on December 1st, which is this Monday. The true twelve days of Christmas begins the day after Christmas, but we open our goodies early to have more time to enjoy them. I'm Dec 3rd. I'll be posting all the gifts each day to share with you.
This should be Fun!

Also get ready for Tim Holtz's "12 days of Christmas" on his blog. He just announced that he is doing it again!
Last year it was wonderful to check in with him everyday to see step-by-step techniques using his new products and other Ranger products. This Year will be just as wonderful and I am really looking forward to it. He also blesses a lucky winner each day with goodies used in each days techniques, so you never know, you might get lucky! CLICK HERE and head over to his blog.
Monday is going to be a great day!!!!

Monday, November 24, 2008

I-Beam Collage

I call it an I-Beam because it is shaped like a capital I....hubby says it is a floor joist. When we did our remodel last Spring the carpenter mismeasured and had to cut 1 foot off every joist and was going to toss them...so, I snagged them with the thoughts that they would make great free-standing base for all types of mixed media techniques.
Recycle....and another cool thing, it can be reverseable or viewed from both sides if you choose. And if you don't have any lying around, you can get them at the lumber yard cut to size, if you take a whole beam, at about 2 bucks a foot... much cheaper than canvas.


I also wanted to mention that the barbwire is one of Tim Holtz's Masks and I used the throw-away waste and used it like a stencil.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Art Techniques FAT BOOK

Remember back in August, I told you all about the huge Fat Book Swap?? Where 120 artists create 120 4x4 pages of a special technique with instructions on the back??? Well, it ARRIVED!!
Wow! is all I can say. The time and effort, the wealth of knowledge, skill and inventive creative techniques that everyone put into this project is truely amazing and a beautiful Treasure!
When I knew the pages were on their way, I tried to come up with a way to put them together in book form. I made a left/right/doors type of hard covers that I could use my new Zutter Binder machine....

But when they arrived...it was WAY too FAT!


Two stacks of 60 was just NOT going to work. So today I made the same style book with 4 stacks of thirty pages that worked perfectly. All I need to do is figure out a creative closure for the front and I will be all done, then I will have a nifty way to store this wonderful FAT BOOK!!







Thursday, November 6, 2008

Elections Over!!


Voting over...short sleeves and shorts one day, full on blizzard the next!! Can't take a picture or it would be a white out, power lines are down in surrounding counties and here I am...with internet service....unbelievable!!

Monday, November 3, 2008

Catfishing


Heading down the hill to the Favorite Fishing Hole...


A secret place...peaceful and quiet.


Up on the rock face at a certain time of day, appears Chief Catfish!!


Enjoying one of the few Indian Summer Days...before extreme cold hits. We caught a stringer full, some to fry up when we got home and some for the freezer.


And a beautiful sunset to end the day.....

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Million Dollar Friend Award

Sometimes you cross paths with fellow bloggers that you end up getting to know beyond the posts on their blogs. Maybe from comments or e-mail conversations. Perhaps from forum art groups or ebay/etsy groups or swaps....
These friends are almost always distinguished in some way. They inspire, they listen, they share, they challenge or they just stand out in our blogging community.

I am thrilled to receive this award from sweet Brenda Wampler of Memories and Treasures,
who brightens the day and inspires wherever she goes. Thanks Brenda!!
So now I am supposed to pick four other bloggers that fit this bill, there are many, but I will list 4 that are most recent Million Dollar Friends.

Flora of Bone Head Studios who inspires with wonderful 'Works In Progress' of her art pieces.

Karen of Karen's Altered Dreamz who is a wonderful Soul Journal Sister!

Ruby Claire The youngest blogger I know, only 14, but has an old artistic soul!

Laume at Laume's Studio who always leaves supporting sweet comments....that's what friends do!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Halloween "SOUL" Party


Welcome to my Soul Journal Halloween Blog Party!
My Soul Journal Sisters are having a Halloween party today!
Be sure to visit all of my soul journal sisters and friends by click on the link below that will take you to the host site...Kathryn the Collage Diva. There you will find the LIST of other blogs. Fill free to scroll and stroll down everyone's blogs to see all the wonderful Soul Journal pages shared over the last few months.

Soul Journal Blog Party (CLICK HERE)



Halloween is fun. It's a 'throw away all your cares and be a kid again type of holiday'. People really need that, what with the stock market and scary economy. It's a big make-believe holiday where it is ok to dress up and play along with the kids.
Decorating is enchanting, treats are yummy and who doesn't just love to be someone else for an evening???







Feel free to use any of the pictures above...my TREAT!

Blog Candy Giveaway..... "EYE"let Candy
Okay, this is one giveaway you will DEFINITELY want to enter -visit Kristin Hubick at Reto Cafe'!!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Vanessa's Party was Great Fun and it was sure fun to see where all my visitors arrived from!

Tonight I pick a winner of my Giveaway!!
The Winner is.....
Lynn@ The Vintage Nest
http://lifeatcedarhill.blogspot.com/

There's another Party on Sunday, so please stop in again!!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Blog PARTY Giveaway



Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist (CLICK HERE) is the Hostess of FUN parties and this one is no exception! Looks like over 200 blogs so far have joined in, many with great giveaway Trick or Treats!
Don't miss out...visit her site to get the list and go blog hopping...oops
I mean, Trick or Treating!!

This 7 inch squared glitzy box is BIG and will hold alot of goodies for your lil'door-knockers.

All you have to do to win this, is to leave a comment after this post. I'd love to see where all the visitors are from, so add your town, state or country.
I will draw a winner on the evening of the 22nd leaving plenty of time for you to visit and in plenty of time to send it to you for Halloween!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Trick or Treatin'

Halloween....what a wonderful time of fun, costumes, masks, and scarey things that go bump in the night....oh and of course CANDY. I have always loved Halloween since I can remember. I grew up in Orange County, Calif where it was Very easy to fill a bag in just a few blocks. For my Grandsons, things are a little different. Growing up in the country where there aren't many people means your Great Grandparents had better live in TOWN in a pretty cool neighborhood for Trick or Treatin'.

The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840's by Irish immigrants fleeing their country's potato famine. At that time, the favorite pranks in New England included tipping over outhouses and unhinging fence gates.
What I didn't know was....
The custom of trick-or-treating is thought to have originated not with the Irish Celts, but with a ninth-century European custom called 'souling'. On November 2, All Souls Day, early Christians would walk from village to village begging for "soul cakes," made out of square pieces of bread with currants. The more soul cakes the beggars would receive, the more prayers they would promise to say on behalf of the dead relatives of the donors. At the time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven. Kinda a twist to the Day of the Dead traditions of our southern countries, don't you think??







Sorry...just had to share.