She's Amazing

As I explained in my post the other day, Rosie has had an appointment at Rainbow Bridge twice before.
The day that I wrote that post, Rosie sat here watching me cry, she's deaf so I knew she couldn't hear me telling her how much she has meant, not just to me, but to all who have known her. I swear she reads lips.
About an hour later she cried to go out and down the steps she went, more amazing was when she came back up the steps. This is a dog who I had to lift with a sling for almost a week so she could walk up the steps. A dog that was so weak she would list over to one side as she walked.
I'm not quite sure it was me surrounding her with positive energy or all of you sending her energy and positive thought, but she is like a new dog. She has slept through the last two nights, she is eating and drinking normal and she is walking up and down steps. This morning she did something she hasn't done in weeks, she walked down to the barn with me to tend to the goats..Tail wagging and a look that said "I'm not going anywhere until I want to"...bless her heart. So thank you for all the well wishes and happy thoughts, something worked, that's for sure.

Mean while to keep myself busy I worked on some projects. I only took pictures of one, but I also finished up my seaside charms (two sets of 10), plus I sent out 10 R.A.K. to the mini album group. The owner felt it would be fun to send out RAK's  ...although she said we could send to whom ever we wanted, how can you do that? There are only 11 people in the group for Pete's sake. Making them up was fun. I shared some ephemera that I've accumulated. Things I believe they can use in on going projects.

WE are getting ready for the Mystery Challenge in the mixed media studio and I am very excited. I think those who signed up will be very happy with the finished project, which for most, will probably end up a Halloween display. I'll post some pictures here as we move along, but most detailed instructions and patterns will be sent  via e-mail for those who signed up.

For one swap we were supposed to make a Birds nest charm...any color we wanted. I must say I truly enjoyed making this piece and I'm very happy with the way it turned out.

I used liver of sulphur to darken the copper wire, then turned wire into a woven birds nest,. I was so pleased to find natural pearls in my stash that actually looked like eggs. After the piece was complete I polished off some high spots and brought them back to copper. Added an antique copper chain and called it done. I hope my partner likes it. She said she wears mostly gold, but I made a shiny gold one and didn't like it at all, so she can wear something different for a change LOL I wish you could see the true luster of the pearls, they are just lovely.
So that's it for today. My Rosie is still with me, she seems happy and not in any pain so all is right with the world. Thanks for stopping by.

A Rough Few Days

I know most of you have pets, be they snakes, lizards, spiders, rats, dogs, cats, sugar gliders etc.
We never truly 'OWN" a pet. You hear that expression used ; "he owns two horses and a dog"...No he doesn't. He shares his space with his animals. When we own something, we can sell it, give it away, break it, or have it forever, tucked in a draw. Our pets are not forever. I'd like to introduce you to one of my pets.
Her name is Rosie

Rosie came to us in the fall of 2002 as a tiny little pup. WE brought her home and when I got her out of the car I put her down on the grass and said "You must have to go potty bad honey"...with this she squatted, did her business and I just jumped for joy, told her what a wonderful little puppy she was and that was that.
Don't I wish all my dogs were that easy to train? Shorty after that she was forced to spend 9 hours in a snow storm, in the car, then spent two days at a friends in a strange environment. She made us proud. Everyone expected this poor little pup to at least have an accident, if not cry all night. Rosie did neither. She remained calm and when she was put outside she did her business. She has been an absolute delight to us her entire life.
Two years ago Rosie developed some sort of allergy. It caused her to lose her hair, go blind in one eye, she was a mess. We felt she was suffering and made up our minds to do the right thing. It was a hard decision but I have always said to people 'you have to love enough to let go'. and we certainly loved Rosie. The Vet said he wanted to try a shot that had worked on other dogs, would I mind?Hell no!! Rosie responded, hair grew back and her eye cleared up . It was amazing to see her improve with each new day. Another year passed and then suddenly the same thing began to happen so back to the Vet we went. I fully expected him to say this was the end and I had accepted it in my heart.I was prepared.
He said he had never seen a patient need another shot, but he was willing to try. At that time Rosie had developed a big knob on  her leg that proved to be a slow growing cancer. The Vet said the time may come we would have to remove the leg but she was still using it and was in no pain. Once again Rosie responded to the shot Bless her heart, she just wasn't ready to leave us yet. This time her hair grew in thick , soft and more beautiful then ever. Don't you agree that she looks like a dog in pretty good shape?
Last week, Rosie stumbled up the only two steps we have. I noticed she couldn't put the leg down, but bless her heart, she still manages to let us know when she needs to go out and she still goes down those 2 steps but with difficulty. I made a sling to help her back up the steps (I lift her hind end and she uses her front legs).
This week has been hard. I look at her beautiful face and tell her I'm not ready to let her go. She looks back with those sad eyes, almost like she is sorry that I'm hurting.
So once again, like twice before I am telling myself 'she deserves better' . Once again I sit here wondering if she is in pain. If I knew she was in pain the decision would be easy. All I see is the difficulty she has getting up, sort of like me when my knee is bothering me. Should I be put to sleep? So once again I will bring her to the Vet. She can no longer stand on that one leg. I feel she is two old to remove it. 12 years old is old for a Lab or any other large dog. 10 to 15 years is about all we can expect. My dogs usually make it until 16 to 18 (I've been lucky) . Looking at it another way, we've had Rosie's love for two more years then we expected and that was truly a gift. I feel blessed to have  had her this long. She has been nothing but amazing.
I felt a need to share her with you while she is still with us. Keep a happy thought for Rosie that all goes well when she sees the Vet on Tuesday. I will do what ever it takes as long as it helps Rosie.
Thanks for stopping by.

Something Done

Boy, it is difficult to work and play at the same time. trying to declutter my studio teehee that tickles me to even say it. Also working on swaps and challenges.
So the challenge was to make something from a clothes pin. Meet Dapper Duck

He's a little bit punky, his wings are actually metal leaves but you'd never know it. Bad picture. I first had the clothes pin reversed so he could have held something in his mouth, but I liked the look of a "quacker" so too bad how he holds things.

He has a purpose and that's all that matters. I met the challenge and can cross it off my "to do list".
My charm group has a seaside charm swap..Things you'd find on the beach. Not sure you'd find a goldfish on the beach LOL but I will add some beach glass and it will work.

I think my kids were 5 the last time I played with Shrinky Dinks but I signed up for 2 sets of 10 and I know what I'm doing for the other set. I've been wanting to try the shrinky dink thing and I'm happy I did. Then charms should be cute when done. Sorry I didn't get the white stuff...this clear stuff doesn't show as well.
So that's about all I did yesterday. Well that and make some more faces and organize a shelf in my studio.
Onward I go. It's like Christmas!! I keep uncovering things I had forgotten I had. That's the fun part about cleaning (if there is a fun part)
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

It's a dogs life

Don't I wish...I'd switch with her in a heart beat. Too bad it's so dark. That's my Choc. Lab Punkin. She must have heard me say I was changing the sheets yesterday, I got done in the kitchen and this is what I found. Miss Punkin got up in bed fixed the quilt to her liking , plumped the pillow and took a nap. When I ask her what she thought she was doing, she yawned, stretched and rolled over as if to say "what does it look like I'm doing?" It's her house. The only living thing that comes before her is Rosie, our yellow Lab. Punkin adores her. Rosie is now deaf and blind in one eye so Punkin goes out with her and guides her. If Rose strays, Punkin is right there pushing her with her body. She's a great companion.Meanwhile they eat the same food we do, never had to work a day in their lives, nap when ever they please and have someone to clean up after them...who, may I ask, is the dumb animal?
So I have nothing new to show you today. I had an endoscopy yesterday that left my throat kind of sore, between the stretch and the biopsy. So I lost a day of "doing" Going to try and make up for it today.
I promised myself I'd work on one crafty thing and one hour cleaning my studio...at that rate I should be done with my studio in 2017..But it will get done LOL
Oh the item for the shoe box today was red paper. Cellophane would be good, but red tissue paper or plastic dyed red would work also. Opaque is okay as long as light shines through.
Back to work I go...Thanks for stopping by.

Different Directions

As an artist/crafter do you find yourself going in many different directions or am I the only one who can't stay focused? I have so many things on the drawing board at different stages of completion. Please tell me I'm not alone.
On my own group  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mixedmediastudio/ I started a mystery challenge. It will eventually be something wonderfully spooky. I told everyone to get a show box so I could give them things to gather. Like a scavenger hunt. So far they have a pringles container and today they have to look for something that looks like spider webs, not to mention digging out any spiders they may have collected along the way. Oh stop laughing. Tell me you don't have at least one spider in your collection of 'stuff'.As I was thinking about this challenge and I thought 'spiders' I wondered where I would purchase them at this time of year. Then I began looking...YIKES!! I don't even like the little suckers but you'd never know it by my collection. I have spider charms of all sizes, sticker spiders, plastic spiders and even ones I made from pipe cleaners and others I made from beads...Holy cow!! I will be posting tutorials on things to make as well as some pictures people may want to use, so stick around and play even if you aren't a member of my group.
If you're not, why not? It's a fun group.
Mean while I want to get back to making dolls, figured I'd make up some faces. These are from Sherry Goshen molds.

At this point I'm not sure it is the molds or the clay (paper clay) but I'm not happy!! Seems I have to work real hard to get things smooth and paintable. I'm probably better off painting my own faces. Even if I use these they all always come out different somehow...nothing is cookie cutter that's for sure. I am excited because Cherie agreed that we really should start having a doll swap each quarter..Something unusual so now I have that thinking cap on LOL My head isn't big enough for all these hats.

My friend Norma is in the hospital so I made her a little post it note thing. Actually it was something  I had to do for another group and it was so much fun to make that I thought Norma might like one.

Kind of cute huh? She likes birds . I wanted to keep it easy to pop into the mail. Normally I go crazy with embellishments, but I mail so much out with all these groups that I'm learning..I can keep it simple and still embellish. I hope she likes it.

So that's about it for activity today. On my way to Binghamton for an Endoscopy, they are always so much fun...NOT!!! But Barrett's Esophagus dictates that I have one every year. Just one more thing on my to do list.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a glorious day.

Happy Fathers Day

Well that's what it is, I can't say Happy Mothers Day.
So yesterday as the day progressed my connection got crazy and I wasn't able to share my Happy Mail.
One of my favorite swap partners sent me the micro mini album and what a wonderful job she did.

The pages are full of little mini tags, cute little embellishments, it's just adorable. Is there any doubt it was made just for me?

Also in the envelope, aside from a beautiful little note card, was this Alice in Wonderland Post card.

How beautiful is that? I have a wish jug just like that one, bet she didn't know that :-)
Unfortunately I didn't make anything yesterday. Had the best intentions but you know how that goes.
Perhaps today will be a better day.Less cleaning, more play. Sounds good anyway.
Have a wonderful Sunday and thanks for stopping by.

SHE LIKED IT!!!

Remember the story about my swap partner for the initial ? I was so worried. As it turns out , she does like the beach and shells and seems very, very happy with her initial. You can usually tell by the way people thank you if they really liked something and I'm sensing that she truly liked it and appreciated the time that went into it. She also mentioned it being special because of my NZ treasures. That is important to me, letting go of the treasures I collected was hard, so to know they will be enjoyed really makes me happy.
So I haven't done very much since my last post other then clean and organize my studio. What a job and far from over. I had a Butterfly charm swap. My first thought was to make it easy. I have butterfly charms, add a bead and be done. Do I ever do easy?

I made 10 of these. First sizing down the butterflies for both sides. That round one was a bugger.After the inside of the scrabble tile was painted I glued the flat side (bigger Butterfly) Butterfly, distressed the edges and gave it a coat of 3D Glaze, I domed the second coat and gave it 3 days to cure. I wasn't taking any chances. Next I glued in the tiny round and gave that a coat of 3D glaze, then another when it was dried..Note the bubble? I forgot to hit it with the heat gun :-( Add a pin with a silver finding, a jump ring and call it done.

This is a post it note holder, for another swap. I actually enjoyed this because it was so easy..They make nice little R.A.K.'s They could really be decorated much more but I try to keep swaps flat and easy to mail.

I believe I posted a picture of the Banner I made. This is one I got from Karina. Much different from the others I've gotten. It is so delicate, sort of shabby chic in design. Love it...

I posted my TP rolls and these are two I have received so far.

 This one on the left has 3 folds. Not like the usual tag holder. I love unique. It has tags all over the place, now I'm sorry I made mine so simplistic.You can tell the things I'm not used to doing. They often fall short of what the could have been <sigh> Always well made but these two are really wonderful. The pink one by Jan has a little note envelope on the front...Nice touch. So as you can see the Happy mail just keeps coming.
Rich ran to the PO today but I figure it will be all Fathers Day stuff anyway...







Oh, guess what these are?

Remember I told you Jeannie was having Christmas in July? I had to make 25 of a number 3 and send them to her. She took every ones numbers (that's 25 sets folks) and made sure we all got a set that we will open each day, starting with July 1...They are all wrapped so pretty. It is just something to have fun with. I think we need more fun in our lives, don't you?
So that's my show and tell for today. Back to work I go . Organizing sure is a pain. I have two things of paper clay somewhere. I need them. Do you know where they are 'cause I sure don't LOL
Thanks for stopping by.....

Happy Mail!!

Those of you who know me, know I get super excited over Happy Mail. I'm like a kid at Christmas. No, really. I know some people open  their mail (swaps), look at the item , smile and say.."how nice" or "It's about time. This is really well done". Trust me, I've witnessed people opening stuff and I'm always far more excited then they are. Even when I see other peoples stuff it's OMG!! OMG!! That gorgeous!! I've had people hand me swaps in person, because they live close or are visiting and I'm sorry to say, even when I LOVE something (which is almost always), I never get excited as I do when I get mail. Hey! It's lonely on this hill and mail is the high point of my day (why do you think I order so much? Yup, just to get mail)...
But before I show you what I've gotten, let me show you what I've done. Little by little things are getting out of here.

Can you guess the Theme? LOL I found that cute little guy in the middle and the minute I saw him I said to myself  "looks like he is about to go in a pie"...so I circled him with 'Cinnamon, sugar and pie crust...Oh My!!!' I was also amazed while looking for apples to see how many had hearts carved in them. Seems like a good alternative to flowers.. I love making 'exploding' anything, so I did it to the apple. I sort of like it. What about you?

We continue with the banner. The whole series is titled Vintage Winter but each month they have a sub title that is optional. This month was "Jungle Bells"..I made the "lace" trim from glittered card stock in silver, added silver trim on top. Used my die cut on a vintage picture of a kid in the snow and silvered the edges. The bling up in the corner is made from that sparkle mesh and was a lot of fun to do (aside from the blisters on my fingers), Of course I had to include the song sheet of "Jingle bells" and finish it off with silver jingles as my dangle. I'm happy with it. I'd be happy to get it. So it goes out today...the cards are long gone.
So far that's all I've totally finished but there is more to follow.
On with the swaps:

This altered clock

was made by Robyn -MixedMediaStudio swap. It's all punked up and even has lights. I just love it.

This beautiful initial was made by Cherie- Mixed Media Studio swap- Obviously people know what I like.The pictures never do justice. This is absolutely beautiful in person and certainly says Kathie with a capital "K". I'm thrilled with it.

This was made for me by Holly -ArtFor TheCreativeMind- it is a 4x4 and the theme was There's a What in My Garden? How hilarious is this ?

These ATC's are the last project of my group SOMMA. I have combined both mixed media groups.

The theme was Apples and these were made by Teri. The Zen tangle one is my favorite, but they were all well done and  a great addition to my collection of ATC's

The battery died in my camera so there will be more tomorrow. I'll leave you with the beauty blooming in my garden. I love Poppy season. Short lived but FABULOUS!!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Just call me crazy

LOL I went to the thrift store to purchase my "Doll" a summer outfit. She had been wearing a gown for the Holidays. Enough already with the Bling. She seems a lot more comfortable now.

Oh stop laughing. You know you always wanted a mannequin but were always afraid to say something for fear of sounding crazy. I wanted one as a kid. My parents thought I was nuts and when they checked out the prices tried to get a rich family to adopt me. I was an only child until my brother came along 9 years later. He was my "doll" for a few years until he started following me around. Now in retrospect I should have just asked for a Chatty Kathie LOL Her name is Sabrina and she is a perfect size 6, I hate her. She is a great conversation starter and we move her around just to freak people out. No sooner did I get her and they came out with a "full figured" mannequin  <sigh> it would have made me feel so much less inadequate
I put a back light behind the "S' but it is difficult to get a picture.

Use your imagination

Funny story, well sad sort of. I looked to see what my partner liked and she hadn't filled in the space. Then I heard through the grapevine that she loved "Shell Art". Since it was something new and different for me I totally enjoyed making it for her only to find out it was the wrong person <sigh> Ya win some ya lose some. One can only hope she will like it anyway.

I had to make a 4X4 with the theme "There's a WHAT in my Garden" and this is what I came up with.

shush, he thinks he blends in and you can't see him LOL The 4X4 is an art canvas. I used Golden Brand molding paste to make some texture and then used Distressed paint. The overlay is copper paste.

Other projects are on the table so I best get too them.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Lions and Tigers and Bears...Oh My!!!

A funny thing happened to me on the way to the compost pile. yesterday I gave the peacock house a good cleaning. Shoveled out all the old wood chips, pooh, eggs, hay, food that was on the floor, and feathers. I ended up with two large plastic buckets of stuff. AS usual I loaded up the MULE and took it over to the compost area..Not really compost but animal pooh mixed with hay and other stuff (not food from the house). AS I emptied one of the buckets I heard a low rumble, like a growl. My first thought was a bear since I was up in the area I've seen them before, but I dismissed it. It happened again when I dumped the second bucket, a growl followed by a sort of sneeze. I looked around but the brush is thick and all I saw was black, shadows, figured it was some animal.
This morning while enjoying my first cup of coffee for the day, look what I saw headed for that very same place I was yesterday.

Yes, that be a bear folks, a rather large black bear. It's hard to tell size but ya know those little "smart cars"? Yup, that be about the size LOL We've had bear before, since we do not kill things here, nor do we allow others to kill on our land, critters tend to stay around. They know they are safe here. We have come face to face with bear, coyote and many other critters. There seems to be a mutual respect. Of course we don't play with the things or attempt to befriend them. But we do enjoy sights like this over early morning coffee.

Meanwhile I finished up my last set of spool pendants

Lots of sparkle. Here they are wrapped and ready to go...

I also finished up my Initial for my partner. Her name begins with an 'S' and I discovered she liked shell art.
I enjoyed making this. It was something different then my usual.

It's on a drift wood type base and most of the shells came home with me from New Zealand. The Paua shell, native to NZ is very high luster and looks lovely when the light hits it. Unfortunately, pictures never seem to do justice to work like this. There's even a real pearl..How about that?

Last but not least is my Toilet paper card holders. They each have a floral tag...I used handmade paper..again a bit different from what I normally would do.

So now I have a banner to do, a 4X4 that's on my table, a coaster pad and butterfly charms whew! I thought I was taking a wee break but it doesn't look that way does it? It's a sickness I tell you.
Thanks for stopping by....