Better late then never...

I've decided to put my blogs together as I just don't have the time to give them both the attention thy need. So there will be a mixture of my nail polish endeavors as well as my creations. They are both creative outlets for me and that's what I like to share.

Here's my Christmas mani a little late. The base is China Glaze Paper Chasing.

I found this little blue tree last year after Christmas and thought it was so neat. I decided to take it easy and just hung some candy canes on it.

WOOHOO I finally got my Cricut!! It's been sitting in the living room since Thanksgiving teasing me and now I can finally play. I got the Cricut Create which is the size of the original with the features of the Expression. Big Lots had it on sale on Thanksgiving and I was there at 6:45 am waiting to get one of the 7 they had. YEAH!!!! I'll be letting you know how it goes.

Violet

Meet Violet. She is the latest addition to my new fabric flower creations. I am having so much fun making these. This one is attached to two ribbons so she can be worn several ways, such as a headband, choker, or even a bracelet.

I've been doing some rearranging of my creative space and boy have I collected a lot of crafty stuff. More than I will probably ever use. Once I get things more organized I'm going to have to do some destashing. I dream of the day I can have a studio and have everything in one room. Right now it's all over the house and garage. AAAHHH someday!!!!

Bubble Gum

So I don't know about everyone else, but I have the worst time thinking of cute names for my creations when I list them. I see most people give their items names on etsy rather than just pink flower for example, but it doesn't come as easily to me. Anyway I've decided to just go with whatever pops in my head when I look at the finished product. For this set of bobby pins Bubble Gum was the first thing so that is their name. The are made with several fabric layers in pink and white. They are available in my shop. Enjoy!!!

Flower brooches

I know I've been away for quite awhile, but I have made some new creations and am going to try and get back in the swing of creating and sharing. It has been really tough for me to find a balance between work and play. My schedule can change at a moments notice and it just wears me out at times. Any how on to my latest creations.

I have been playing with lots of different types of sheer fabrics and layering them into flowers for various items. I love getting out a big pile of fabric and just putting all kinds of color combos together. My first two are brooches. The first is Gypsy a blend of purples, blues, and greens. The second is Apricot a blend of mint green and peach with silver glitter accents. They are both available in my shop.

Oldies but Goodies

Well here's a few more of my faves. I just renewed them in my shop so please go take a look.
I'm getting lots of new ideas sketched out so should have some done soon.

Some favorites

As you know, I have been in a slump for awhile as far as creating goes. I finally got my sewing table cleaned off and set up. YEAH!!! I'll share some pics of the new set up soon. It's not a good pic day here today. Rainy. Anyway I thought I'd show some pics of some faves. I'm really trying to get back in the swing of blogging and creating again. It's been way too long.

Looks like a couple of my critters jumped out at me so here is todays faves. My adorable little chameleon and my sweet little parakeet. These are both brooches. They are both available in my shop.

Have a great day!!!!

E

YEAH!!!!!!

Just a quickie tonight. I've got to watch the season finale of The Closer! Well I got the job at Joanne's. Thank goodness!!! I am very happy there and hopefully I will be able to stay there for a long time!!!!

Apologies

Hi everyone. Wow I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post. Unfortunately my online adventures have taken a back seat to life lately. As some of you have read earlier I was looking for a job for quite awhile and I found a great job that I loved, but they cut their payroll and did away with my position. I was heartbroken, but hopefully things are turning around.

I was working inside Joanne's Fabrics in the sewing machine dept. for Viking. Well I was able to get a position with Joanne's as long as everything goes thru. I am a worrier and am concerned about the credit check. I was denied employment at one place because of my credit which completely boggles my mind. How can I improve my credit if I can't get a job? I can understand if something came up in the background check, which there's nothing, but bad credit? Have any of you run across this? Well I start on Wednesday if everything is good. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. I love Joanne's and am in there all the time anyway, so this job is perfect for me.

Working for Viking has inspired me to dig out my sewing machine so hopefully I will have some new creations to show you soon. I was able to get an embellisher while I was working there so I can't wait to start playing with it. I have to clean up my sewing area before I open it or it won't get done.

Well that's it for now. Hope to have some definite good new to share later in the week.

New Blog

I've decided to start a separate blog for my nail polish and make-up posts. It's called Nail Maiden. I hope you'll pop on over and take a peek.

I hope to be able to get back to creating soon. Things are settling down at work and I'm getting back into the swing of working. See you soon.

Glitter tips

Well I was going through my collection and I came upon this very chunky glitter and decided to use it for a funky french over my Greenwich Village. It made it last longer at turned out pretty cute I think. It has light blue, grass green, and holographic glitter in it. It is from Old Navy and it's called Baubles, unfortunately my Old Navy closed up recently, but I bought this a long time ago.

Fun challenge

Well I finally got off my butt and got something made. This is for my Etsy street team Melange. We have a challenge every Wednesday on the blog and this week the word was "FUN". I had to make something because it was my word that I suggested. I actually made this piece start to finish in one sitting. I think that is one of my problems that I over think everything. This one I just went with whatever popped into my head and did it. I had lots of fun with it and hopefully it has started me to get over my slump! Hope you enjoy it. It will be for sale in my shop as well.

Feeling green

Just a quickie. I tried out my OPI Greenwich village today and I love it!!!!! It has a jelly finish which is one of the few I have like that. Green is my favorite color. This is two coats. It could have used a third to get bottle color, but I don't really like a third coat. It seems the more coats I have the easier the polish peels. It lasts longer on me with fewer coats. Well here you go.

Wal-mart haul

Made a quick trip to Wal-mart tonight and picked up a few new pretties. It's been a long time since I've looked through Wal-mart's make-up section. I usually go in and out as quick as possible. I didn't get to look to long as hubby was with me and it was quite late. I'd been wondering where I could get Pure Ice nail polish and I found it there. Great colors and for only $2 bucks a bottle. I have to say I was looking at the other brands Maybelline, Revlon, etc. and for the same price or less I can get OPI, China Glaze, Misa, etc. online. Yes you can see the colors, but I would much rather get the other brands for the same price. Plus you can pretty much find most colors swatched online at some of the great polish blogs out there.

Back to my haul. From left to right. NYC Polyester Pink Creme. Hubby says it looks like Pepto Bismol, but I think it's pretty. Pure Ice First Time. Gorgeous light green crome. Pure Ice Peony. A pretty frosty medium pink. Pure Ice Scandal. A beautiful vampy dark red.

Spontaneous

My color right now is China Glaze Spontaneous. I couldn't get a good pic of this. It's less grapey and more dusty in reality. I just couldn't capture it. I'm going on my third day and it has lasted really well. Maybe it's the Orly Bonder I got. Well just a quickie today.

New sparkles

Just a quickie right now. I got some new polishes from Target, but haven't got a pic yet. I'll talk more about them once I get a pic. I did use one of them, Rimmel Out There to go over my Shower Together to get one more day wear out of it. It was starting to chip so I touched it up and jazzed it up with one coat. I'm trying to go as long as possible between polish changes so I don't dry out my nails with remover. Ok here's a pic.

I'm still in a bit of a creative funk and haven't finished any of my projects. I hope to snap out of it soon and have something new to share.

Field of flowers

Hi everyone! Hope your weekend is off to a good start. Just wanted to put up a pic of a pincushion I just relisted in my etsy shop. I know I promised a new design, but I'm still finishing it up. I will have it up soon.

I have another new haul to share just need to get some pics. I'll be back later with those.

Have a great Saturday!!!!!!

New colors....

I got my latest fingernail polish haul today. I ordered these from ebay and then found out I could have gotten them cheaper from here. Oh well, that's what impulse buying gets you. You should see my shopping cart from Head2toe. I keep adding to it now I just need to get some sales in my etsy shops to pay for it. For now here's these colors from left to right all China Glaze: Recycle, or Audrey, Paper Chasing, Spontaneous, and Breakin. They are gorgeous!!!!

Today I am wearing China Glaze Shower Together. I got this the other day in the haul I showed in my last post. I really like this polish. The first coat was streaky, but the second evened everything out. Please excuse any bubbles as I thinned my top coat and all the bubbles hadn't worked out before I used it. Plus the thinner turned my Out the Door purple. The thinner is clear, but I guess the don't agree with each other. Weird.

I'm still working on the new pincushion so be sure to check back for it.

Good news......

Well I got the job working for Viking! YEAH!!!!! It will be nice to have some steady pay coming in. I've been getting myself used to the idea of being in the working world again. I start on May 11th so I have a little time to get ready.

I used to be quite the girlie girl with hair, make-up, and nails, but since I haven't been working I didn't bother. Well it's time to get back into the swing of things. I'm getting my nails back into shape and I've found a lot of groups online to share nails and make up pics, so I will also be sharing them here. I've ordered the 120 palette eye shadow from ebay which is loaded with tons of bright, cool colors. I've seen lots of talk about it on you tube. I'll share a pic when it comes. I guess if I'm not painting collages I'll be painting my face. Either way I love color!!!!

This is what I'm wearing right now it's Cabana Banana from OPI. I have been collecting many polishes over the years so I don't know if this is still available or not.

On the creative front I had another custom pincushion request. I put a wrist strap on one of my existing pincushions. I've had plans to make some wrist pincushions, but just haven't gotten around to it.
I've got a new style using circles in the works. It should be finished up tonight. I don't know what it is about circles, but I love them!

VOTE.....

I just found out I am in the 2D artisan challenge on Blockhead radio. It is my girlie piece Apricot. I sure would appreciate any votes if you have time to hop over there.

I have some new toys I've been playing with. I'll post more once I get pics taken.........

I won...

I can't believe it, but I won something from a blog giveaway. A set of clear alphabet stamps!! The wonderful peeps at Lohman Trading Company were hosting the giveaway on this blog The Idie Showcase Blog. YEAH!!!!!


I just had to share a pic of this sinful cake I had from Publix this week. Talk about chocolate overload. I ordered it with vanilla cake rather than chocolate and I think that was a good choice. It was yummy!!

I finished up my custom pincushion order plus she bought an extra one for a gift! YEAH! I also sold another of the spring chick ones today, so maybe things are gonna pic up.

I have a job interview for a Viking sewing machine sales team inside my Joannes store this Thursday, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Oh to be surrounded by crafty goodness and get paid! It's actually the first interview I've gotten from all the jobs I've applied for. It's rough out there. I got denied a chance for a position at a sporting good store because my credit wasn't good enough. What's that? I'm still in shock and worried because most places I've applied to say they run a check. I never thought my credit would prevent me from getting a job. UGH!!!

Well enough of that. I'm just gonna believe in the Viking position and keep positive!!!

In progress....

Here are the works in progress pics I mentioned in my last post. I had lots of messy fun creating these pieces so far. I'm going to use one of them for an entry in Mixed Media Monday. They have a new theme every Monday to create a piece of art from and next weeks theme is "Come fly with me". I'll post it when I'm done. I've recently discovered Picassa and was playing around with these pics using some of the features they offer. I think they turned out pretty cool.

La Femme

My latest collage La Femme. She is available in my etsy shop. I've had her done for awhile, just needed to seal it. That's the stinky part.

I'm working on a custom order of pincushions in my other shop. They are acrylic versions of some of my pincushions. Allergy free. I'll post pics when I'm done. I got a new design idea while working on these. It's funny how ideas come to me. I had the pieces laid out working on a tree and the way they were looked great, so now after I'm done with the custom order, I've got plans for some new pieces.

I was able to work on some backgrounds today for new collages. I took some work in progress pics. I'll post them next time.

Well job hunting again today. Fill out the application and keep fingers crossed. So far not even a call back on any of the apps. They just have too many. Oh well! Trying to keep positive!! Gives me time to get more creating done which keeps me happy!

My sweetie

I have some pics of my little ittle bittle to share. She has my heart. It's amazing how something so small can cause so much love. She is a whole 5 pounds. She is sleeping in both which is what she does most of the time. She has her favorite pillow and blankie in one and she's guarding the remote and making do with an afghan in the other while her blankie gets washed. She must know I'm talking about her because she just woke up.

I also listed a couple new pincushions in my felt shop. I really like this design and am working it up in several different color combos. I love working with circles.

Grande Dame

Happy Friday!!!!!

I've listed a new collage "Grande Daam" in my shop. This one has a lot going on. It has a woman surrounded by sunflowers. I put a sunflower in the bottom corner. It is done on a 11" x 14" canvas panel. I attached a wire to the back so it is ready to hang. Enjoy!!

I'm waiting for some cheesecake brownies I baked to cool off. That's always the hardest part...waiting!!

Solemn Garden

A new mixed media collage. This one is 10" x 8" on matboard. I'm so pleased with it, I almost kept it. I decided to let her go instead, so she is available in my etsy shop.

I've also got some pics of a couple journal pages that I promised. They aren't anything fancy and I'm sure I"ll go back and add to them. I have creating ADD and jump from one project to another.

I'm still job hunting, but hopefully I will find something soon. It's rough out there. Well that's it for now. Goodnight!

A First....

I have a new mixed media piece in my art shop. It is my first attempt at painting a person. I'm so proud of how she turned out!!!

I also finished a custom wallet for my felt shop. I had a request for my spring tree on a long wallet. It turned out really well.

March challenge

I created this collage for the March challenge at Mind Wide Open. They will be posted on the 8th and you can go over and vote. I like the image, but finishing this was like pulling teeth. Sometimes everything just flows together and other times nothing seems to work right. I'm not completely pleased with it, but entered it just because I spent so much effort on it. I do like the background, but the lettering I used can hardly be read. I used these fancy letter stamps and they just are hard to read. It says "Journey deep into my soul" Well I hope you like it.

Sale!!!!!!!

I've marked down some of my older pieces in my art shop to make room for the new ones. All my ACEO's are on sale plus some 8 x 10's. This is one of my ACEO's. I've finished a few new pieces and will have them listed soon. I will also have some pics of my art journal. I love creating, but I'm not so fond of editing the pics and listing them. I just downloaded Picassa and am getting familiar with it. Takes me awhile. I normally use my Kodak software, which works pretty good, but I figured I'd try something with a few more options.

Finished....

I finished my little house to donate to the OzBushFireAppeal shop. It isn't in the shop yet, but should be soon. You can check out all the other wonderful pieces my fellow Metsy artists made if you visit. The shop will remain open thru the end of March. All proceeds go to the Australian Red Cross.

I also listed a new pincushion in my shop. I love the color combo.

I'm having fun with my art journal and will share some pages with you on my next post. I usually work on it at night and have to get some pics during daylight.

Well that's it for now. I have to go do boring life things.

New endeavor

Well after reading the issue of Somersets Art Journals I have been inspired to start one of my own. I've never been a journal person as I always felt silly writing down my thoughts. What if someone read it? Plus My life isn't all that interesting. Then I discovered art journals. You don't have to write anything or you can. You just do whatever you want. It is very freeing. Before whenever I would create a new piece I would hold back a little not wanting to mess it up. With the journal I can't mess it up. I will bring you with me on my journal process. The pics today are my journal before and in process. I am putting gesso on the pages for some extra support.

I am working on a 3D house for a wonderful shop on etsy which is donating all proceeds to help the victims of the wildfires in Australia. It is called the OzBushFireAppeal please take a moment to check it out. All the items for sale are donating by fellow etsians. They shipping is free and it is a wonderful cause. My friend Stacey from ArtSnark graciuosly donated all the houses for our Metsy group to make and donate to the shop. Here's some in process pics of it too.

Well I'm off to drink a cup of tea, vanilla caramel Yum-Yum! Then must get to work!!