Awarded and Tagged, how sweet!!!!

I made this yesterday, along with a few things for my swap partner Dolly from From My Cherry Heart but I can't show those yet...they're a suprise :)

While visiting Genevieve's *aka* Bella Enchanted blog, I was happily bestowed upon the You Make My Day award...awwww!!! I thought that was so very nice, Genevieve is hosting the Easter Basket swap, and has lots of great stuff on her blog, thanks Gen!!!



In return, I would like to award (and if you've already gotten one, just know that you're double loved!):

Lori, Miss Faerie Window whom I adore, she is a dynamo and a fab artist, and I don't know how she finds time for all that she does!

Shannon Miss Paint Mine Pink who is my australian sister, and who is about to launch her new online store!

Michelle, Miss Mosaic Queen who is a darling, and hands down, the most AMAZING Mosaic Artist!

Ele, A Bit of Pink Heaven So sweet, and her blog and shop sends me into a frenzied pink delight! Eye candy galore, and such a sweetie too

Sadie Lou, Craftily Ever After from whom I just recieved my first Betsy ( I will post a picture) She makes the most darling goodies!!!

Jackie, Fat Jak Originals who is such a talented artist, a fellow Chicagoan, and visiting her blog makes my day!

Jenn, of Noodle and Lou who's art makes me want to own every single piece. When we move, that is the first thing I'm going to buy, she is just lovely!

Mere, These are the Days As sweet as can be, and a blog full of fantasticness!!

Karin at Creative Chaos who not only has gorgeous eye candy on her blog, but her writing has tested my bladder control on more than one occassion, so funny!!

Last but not least, Natasha Burns who not only is the sweetest person in blogland, but her site always has new goodies, sparkley bling, and so much eye candy, I am in awe!!


Also, I've been tagged by the wonderful Miss Rowan Willow, who is another amazing artist that I was lucky enough to find through One World One Heart, for 7 weird and random things...I'm totally weird and random, so this should be easy LOL...

1. I took improv classes at Second City...we rolled around on the floor, acted like chickens, played games, and put on a few shows! It was the best time I ever had, and our troop was called Mud for your Turtle :D

2. I once incited a riot, and got expelled from school. Great fun!

3. I have 9 half and step siblings, but technically am an only child. (Not nearly as Jerry Springer as it sounds, just expensive around the holidays LOL)

4. I love show tunes, my favorite word is fabulous, I love shoes, glitter, pink and I swear that I am a gay man trapped in a woman's body LOL

5. I once met John Cusack at a U2 concert. I was 14, and he was sitting in the seat in front of me. He kept turning around saying "I know I can make you smile!" When I saw "Say Anything" I almost died! That's the guy from the U2 Concert!!

6. When I was in 6th grade I had to skip in the door during a play. I fell flat on my face!

7. I wish big hair was still in style. It was so easy!

OK, I tag everyone from above that makes my day, unless you've already played.
Smoochies to all, think pink and sparkle!

The one where I lock myself inside!

I'm off today and I am secretly lifting my no art ban!! I am dying to make something, and as long as I get it all swept up and put away before the real estate agent comes over...its our little secret *wink wink* Now don't rat me out, please!

I went to my favorite thrift store last night, they are open until 9 on Thursdays, and got these fantastic baubles, only 75c for the whole bag! They have what they call a junk drawer, and its only avaliable on Thursday evenings, it was such fun to look through...


I found these little cuties too, and plan to put them to good use.





So today I will not answer the phone, I'm locking my doors, I'm pulling out the glitter, and having a ball. Funny how when you do something everyday, you tend to take it for granted, and then when you don't get to do it for a week or two, you realize how important it is ("you" meaning "me" and "it" meaning "art")

Last but not least...my Cupcake Girl :D :D :D Annalise

The one with the Goodies!

I was hoping to get here sooner to post these pictures of my awesome fabulous treasures, but life got in the way for the last two days...
Friday was "one of those days" It was my day off (always a lovely thing!) and I was hoping to spend a little time creating (we had no showings on Fiday!), but it wasn't meant to be. Murphy's Law was in full effect that day...I was feeling a bit down by 9:00 am, and then the whole day turned around with the arrival of the days mail! Yippee!!

I got my lovely, wonderful, beautiful bunny from Lemoncholy aka the talented and fabulous Kecia. This little fella is amazing, and my pictures certainly don't do him justice, as I am using my old camera at the moment (don't ask, we're on a happiness roll!) He is just the sweetest guy, in his little basket, with his chick friend at the bottom, thank you so so so much, Kecia!! He just made me smile, I was just giddy over his cuteness!

I also got a fantastic package from the amazing Acaya the queen of the quill, and was positively blown away by the delicate star ornaments, so shiny from the side, and all made from paper! Acaya, they are so so lovely and delicate, I love them :)

My package for the lovely and patient Rowan WIllow will go out first thing in the morning, and I hope that it doesn't dissappoint.

AND...the Winner is...

The lovely and talented ROWAN WILLOW!!! Congratulations, and thanks to everyone who entered!!

Thanks too, to the AMAZING Lisa for this unbelieveable brain child of hers. The concept is beautiful, and the most wonderful part is finding so many awesome blogs. Lisa, you absolutely rock, girl

Happy Valentine's Day to All!!!

One World One Heart Giveaway!

Better late than never!! I am just not online as much as I have been, because of all the house showings, and I almost missed this!!! I know there are only a few days, but I was lucky to be a part of this last year, and I would be honored to do it again. I have been browsing, and am just blown away by how this has blossomed! Lisa's vision was indeed a wonderful one. Please leave a comment, for the chance to win my mixed media cupcake, and I will be sure to stop by yours as well!.

Time flies!

I usually don't go this long without a post, but our house is on the market, and we've just had so much to do! We also put an offer on another house, (which they accepted) contingent on the sale of our house. I haven't really been able to work on my art, because (shhhh...looks around) I sometimes get a bit messy

I am running outside twice a day, hiding in Gas station bathrooms to shake a little glitter about, and leave a trail of sprinkles behind me at the mall...anything to feed my addiction to sparkley stuff. Its a deep, shameful addiction...my family can see the glitter under my fingernails, and I even have some on my face sometimes...its a lonely road, I tell ya.

Anyway, I will be back to creating soon, and here are some pictures of the house we're buying...its on an acre, with its own pond (which they use for ice skating!) We've always lived on a small city lot, so this will be like having our own country LOL

Here is the front

The Kitchen

The STUDIO :D :D

and the pond



I quite like the bar as well


And this is the house that we live in now:


Here is my current kitchen:


and my living room:


xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Good Monday Morning

My poor baby girl has been sick for two days. Her little cheeks are so rosy, and she has been laying down relaxing, with an assortment of popsicles and lots of Sprite. I'm so hoping that my other kids don't catch it, as my oldest is going to Minnesota this weekend for a musical weekend, that he is so looking forward to. Vitamin C cocktails all around!

This is my second week at work, and I am loving it, but it does get sticky wehn the kids are sick, I am wishing that I was able to be home with my girl, but it is only for four hours, and my mom (who is a Nurse) is taking good care of her.

I'll be back to post some of the lovelies that I found on my wonderful day shopping! We are putting our house on the market on January 28, so guess buying more stuff should be put on hold for now (easier said than done)

My daughter, even though she is sick, is chomping at the bit to get at the art table, so tonight if her fever is gone, we will go into the studio and she can dig into the paper and paint that she loves so much...she is a cupcake girl, a girl after my own heart :D :D

Going through Glitter Withdrawal

Tomorrow is going to be a most extraordinary and wonderful day. I am going thrifting, to my three favorite, never know what you're going to find, stores, hitting Borders, and the cherry on top will be Hobby Lobby. Sounds like heaven to me :) The only thing that could make it even better would be having a yummy Starbucks Latte to go with it....(insert Homer Simpson voice...mmmmmm....latte...)

This past evening was spent looking around blogland, really enjoying each site, instead of rushing through. There is just so much beauty and talent. It is mezmerizing, and almost perplexing that the internet gives us access to all of this, where our parents would have really had to search and dig through magazines, or word of mouth, to find other artists with similar interests. Truly we are very lucky! Such a wonderful art community, such beauty, and right at our fingertips...so nice!

Don't forget to check out Pfatt Marketplace today, as Sandy is updating, lots of fabulous goodies just a click away...

***Happiest of Thursdays to one and all***

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone is recovered from the festive season. I absolutely love it, but am so glad that it's over. We had way too many parties, and all of them at our house, and my birthday is three days after Christmas. My birthday wish this year was a day of relaxing LOL and I did get it :)

This is a really wonderful new year for me. This last year I have had my first Art Shows, lost 83 lbs, gained a lot of confidence, and met the most fantastic artists, both online and IRL.

Now I have started a new job, which I absolutely love, and am so excited about making lots of new art this year. We are hoping to get our house on the market soon, and move to a larger home in a better school district, where I will set up a permanent studio. I am always afraid to hope for things, and have too many good things happen at once ( I am a total believer in what comes up, must come down) but knock on wood, this just may be a wonderful year :D :D

(ahem..sings...)Merry Christmas baby!!!

Blogland is so slow these days, as all of us busy busy chickees are shopping and creating and hopefully having some fun!!

We took our annual ditch day (shhh, don't tell) and went to the Museum of Science and Industry. The Christmas displays are so beautiful, and we look forward to it all year.

This is the lovely Christmas tree that greets you in the main lobby



The Christmas trees from around the world are so much fun to look at too



My daughter Annalise's favorite is the Colleen Moore Fairy Castle...the details in this castle are just breathtaking, pictures cannot capture the magic in these tiny little walls






The kids have a great time at the Farm Exhibit, especially Annalise. They have a really neat set up, the kids can even plant their own veggies, and dig them up



Getting everyone to stand still in the same place is always a challenge






They are always nice and worn out by the time that we're done seeing everything


We had a great time. I have a bit more to do...I had a call the other night for a custom Rocking Chair from the kids' old school, and I don't have much time...finished baking lots of goodies yesterday, now just have to finish up the odd bits, and go to a party with my Mom tonight.

Hope everyone is enjoying the season, and lots of big wonderful Merry Christmas wishes to all of you out there

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox