tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18865263692870955092024-02-06T23:42:48.064-05:00Creativity CakeTake a slice of crafty goodnessKaren Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-59452152948754019642012-05-15T11:07:00.003-04:002012-05-15T11:11:06.885-04:00I've Moved!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hey everyone, wondering where I have been? I have been working on my new blog home and it's ready for you to see. Please follow me now at my new blog address:<br />
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See you there!</div>
</div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-51636885655317816322011-08-10T23:54:00.002-04:002011-08-10T23:58:13.712-04:00Here we go again...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well I am going to try my hand at this again! Sorry I have been missing in action but it's been a crazy few months around here with all kind of time consuming crap happening in my life. I really didn't have much good news to share. The only good thing is that I also moved into a period of new directions with my artwork, I'll share something about that at the bottom of this post. I want to thank all my friends for encouraging me to take this up again, especially Pat Q. and Ursula. </div>
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This is my cat Bailey who lays across me each night as we relax at the end of the day. He is so sweet!</div>
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As you can see, we have all been in a funk around here. This is Miss Beezie.</div>
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Unfortunately Miss Beezie passed away last week after a long battle with Thyroid disease and Cancer. We miss her.</div>
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This is our Super Cat Spencer, able to climb tall cabinets in a single bound. You just never know where you'll find him.</div>
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Here is Cutie Pie (this is not his real name, he has a past so he has asked us to use an alias) sleeping away in the lap of his favorite guy.</div>
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As promised, here is the first of a new series of collages I am working on. Currently this piece and another one in this series is hanging in a art show called "New Directions" at the<a href="http://www.townsendlibrary.org/content/meeting-hall-art-gallery"> Townsend Library.</a> This series depicts scenes from women's lives in the 1950's and 1960's. It is a mixed media collage using vintage wall papers, vintage magazine clippings, old Sears and Roebuck catalogs, and one of my mothers recipes in the background. I have a lot of ideas for this series.</div>
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I have started my first e-course this week with Kelly Rae Roberts in an effort to get my creative business up off the ground and start selling some of my art. It is only the beginning but I am enjoying it as well as really enjoying the camaraderie and all the wonderful support that the members are giving. I think there may be some long distance friendships born here. </div>
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My mantra through these last few trying months is: Just keep moving forward. That's all I can do right now.<br />
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Next up: My visit to the Museum of Fine Arts to see the Chihuly exhibit.</div>
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Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-21115314291062912192011-03-27T15:58:00.004-04:002011-03-27T21:55:24.502-04:00Out Of The Mud, Into The Light: March's Gifts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxw0y1NX61h8JydFWOFNwzzhs8SfBBJTCRInFC2zwKFDNtYu4ecCDNY12s8CCYGlO7TR-OIh_TsEcc71070LRp1drdOqTkFd8l0mMb-bhtBR5kof-qEUyEeID3Tq_CAtcm_Jr0vVbbQ/s1600/stuck+in+the+mud+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxw0y1NX61h8JydFWOFNwzzhs8SfBBJTCRInFC2zwKFDNtYu4ecCDNY12s8CCYGlO7TR-OIh_TsEcc71070LRp1drdOqTkFd8l0mMb-bhtBR5kof-qEUyEeID3Tq_CAtcm_Jr0vVbbQ/s400/stuck+in+the+mud+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here in New England, we are finally thawing out. The snow is melting, little by little. With thawing, comes saturation, which creates mud. My life has felt much of the same way. I have been frozen, blocked creatively, for some time. I have personally been saturated with all kinds of issues and responsibilities in these last few years that have become like mud in my mind. I couldn't seem to make a clean step out of this deep stuff, to make real art that was soul satisfying. However, the last two weeks, I have experienced a shift, a thaw. I picked up the latest issue of Somerset Studio magazine to read on a relaxing Sunday morning. I opened the front cover, and turned to the "Letter from the Editor" page and within a few sentences, there was this quote: "<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">Vision without action is a dream</span></b></i>" by Joel Barker. Boy, did this hit home. I have been dreaming about doing more artwork, but if I don't actually DO IT, it will only remain a dream. I then came to the article on the artist Kelly Rae Roberts. I know her work very well, and purchased her book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Flight-Inspiration-Techniques-Creative/dp/B004KAB2WG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301250307&sr=1-1">Taking Flight</a>" when it was published in 2008. After finishing it back then, I put it on my bookshelf with all my other fabulous art books. A few months later I would experience just the beginning of a personal deep freeze, dealing with several personal losses that would last into 2010. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, I read that article in which she describes her personal journey into art and how she started from point zero in skills and experience and just dove in and painted her way into becoming one of the most sought after mixed media artists today. I was so inspired. I went to my bookshelf and pulled down her book and re-read it in two days. At the top of the introduction page was another quote: "<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">When once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return</span></b></i>" by Leonardo Da Vinci. I so wanted to feel that deep satisfaction of "flight" that I have felt before. It happens when you work on something that just feels so right that you know this is what you were born to do. Between those pages of her book, she shares her feelings and her techniques with the reader. It was just what I needed to read at this moment of my life, not back in 2008. I felt inspired to start anew with a seed of an idea. I have been in the studio working on collages again and I am so happy with the results. I will share them with you soon but for now they are tender seedlings that need time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">This month I have received so many gifts. First, let me thank Kelly Rae Roberts for sharing her journey, but maybe more importantly, her heart with us. You don't know how much you have helped so many hopeful artists with your thoughtful words. I am also thankful for friends who think of me, and send me things I love. My soul-sister Karen from <a href="http://karenharveycox.blogspot.com/">A Scrapbook of Inspiration blog</a>, brought me some wonderful fabric swatch books this week and Pat from <a href="http://art4liberty.wordpress.com/">Art 4 Liberty blog</a> gifted me with this...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Spring is a time for new beginnings. I went outside today and saw these tiny shoots breaking through the crust of dirt to emerge and grow in the light. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">This is how I feel creatively. Growing. And eventually with much attention and nourishment, Blooming!</div></div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-150802745774947722011-03-03T00:34:00.000-05:002011-03-03T00:34:54.527-05:00Check This Out<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here's what I am working on this week....<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I made some presents for my co-workers for our annual "belated" holiday party the other evening. I really enjoy giving handmade things to these crafty gals because if anyone can appreciate the work put into things like this, they can! This year I made them a "glitter station". While antiquing this past year, I found some diminutive wine glasses, and small apothecary jars to hold glitter. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I first started decorating the wineglasses with tiny pearls or seed beads individually glued around the rim. I used a variety of adhesives: Super Glue (if it can hold up a construction guy by his helmet, wouldn't you think it would hold a bead on to the edge of the glass???), then I switched to clear Liquid Nails. As I picked up the finished glasses, invariably I would knock loose a couple of beads. Very frustrating. I fixed these with Glossy Accents, dripping the adhesive between adjacent beads to secure them not only to the glass, but to each other.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8qzjI52CW9rJD0xyYh-eb26OmRWsk0su7uRl09Ku3xzDj8XkPJErOeGVZ0OwEC2-wEMaVbYog2IOxa1l4XxnQfA-6MzCsQpuvyME8r_6_GevlxuilrUoPt3IgsBSkWqj4DIbvkbEDw/s1600/staff+present+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8qzjI52CW9rJD0xyYh-eb26OmRWsk0su7uRl09Ku3xzDj8XkPJErOeGVZ0OwEC2-wEMaVbYog2IOxa1l4XxnQfA-6MzCsQpuvyME8r_6_GevlxuilrUoPt3IgsBSkWqj4DIbvkbEDw/s400/staff+present+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately the super glue made a super mess, dripping down the edge of the glass. But like most mistakes in crafting, the solution I came up with added greatly to the overall design. To hide the drips around the rim, I glued lace, trims, and rick rack from my stash.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5IURn-tkYD2XAhdYoFyVKieQKrNHDc0Qqb-KngWyA-MKs3gacHnUdtLNMZdTJ_Hr_M1w0IgdC34bGbo-R0LUdqLs_3M8bvNKJxIoWyeG5mIdfnisvh86jl3z4wmBqqCTHYAp45fIyw/s1600/staff+present+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5IURn-tkYD2XAhdYoFyVKieQKrNHDc0Qqb-KngWyA-MKs3gacHnUdtLNMZdTJ_Hr_M1w0IgdC34bGbo-R0LUdqLs_3M8bvNKJxIoWyeG5mIdfnisvh86jl3z4wmBqqCTHYAp45fIyw/s400/staff+present+4.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I added the words "glitter me" that I typed out using my vintage Royal typewriter, and sponged them with a little matching Distress Ink before cutting apart the individual letters and glueing them to the glass with Glossy Accents. I tried to add details to the individual glasses that I thought fit that person. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJC7L_Otqibhkl3oVSS8T-cZKoD84d6pJqmkZVLF7GlsoxOmT0gADLMDKXMdD3GjTVwotUh0HeGsiHKnpMTHer-ZzDFJRhsDnyA7HqtuD_ysyOgKMsO7O5bESur7XwuzxnZNDFoWhQQ/s1600/staff+present+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJC7L_Otqibhkl3oVSS8T-cZKoD84d6pJqmkZVLF7GlsoxOmT0gADLMDKXMdD3GjTVwotUh0HeGsiHKnpMTHer-ZzDFJRhsDnyA7HqtuD_ysyOgKMsO7O5bESur7XwuzxnZNDFoWhQQ/s400/staff+present+1.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">For the apothecary jars, I glued more pearls around the rim of the jar, and added some torn pieces of vintage paper doilies around the sides of the jar, again sponged with some Distress Inks. Finally I tied on some scraps of ribbon, attaching a charm to each that is etched with the word "create". </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-yRQboacNSRK78vXawjF657Y-R46APJqlkWlxbrfwKP4VNKlme6JO7BSEKjMh4AmdM4eI1Wc3se6vf__Y3d6eloSemKdWyYey9elKHdsC8HMrIhE3Yk-SEaK63UqGSI-YalCgjuRLw/s1600/staff+present+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-yRQboacNSRK78vXawjF657Y-R46APJqlkWlxbrfwKP4VNKlme6JO7BSEKjMh4AmdM4eI1Wc3se6vf__Y3d6eloSemKdWyYey9elKHdsC8HMrIhE3Yk-SEaK63UqGSI-YalCgjuRLw/s400/staff+present+5.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I packaged them up in little clear bags, each sitting in a cupcake paper liner and a fluffy bed of shredded paper. I tucked in a small bag of tinsel glitter and a vintage demitasse spoon to sprinkle their glitter with.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have also been finishing up a project for the annual Altered Art Show at Ink About It this Friday and Saturday, March 4th and 5th.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeGQHLgMDZ_5V3sYI_teQZE7_OBvzPklCWUiBa0M2kruOk5cZyZiV8VVphnxQ5P3fWd1ig5xCyvUHCSzgqragEJyjxjtapVLp-EiElljKGCnHD5gRxnibSLk8giUkluHpUpnLtF3q3g/s1600/mannequin+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeGQHLgMDZ_5V3sYI_teQZE7_OBvzPklCWUiBa0M2kruOk5cZyZiV8VVphnxQ5P3fWd1ig5xCyvUHCSzgqragEJyjxjtapVLp-EiElljKGCnHD5gRxnibSLk8giUkluHpUpnLtF3q3g/s400/mannequin+1.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I started out with this plain paper-mache mannequin, that I passed out to participating members of the Altered Art Club round robin project group. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKu4Mco8iwjcTal_Hx43MtjEiFiIJ3vmAtVoGW5pVuR5qgq7nAvAITs7NEiwF0iR-NQvI2EKsO_wOtyaujBNeLiuBFd2pQ03JBR3PF2DZO_dwfg3y49vN66Ogb8OdR2Co1LMly00AIFg/s1600/mannequin+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKu4Mco8iwjcTal_Hx43MtjEiFiIJ3vmAtVoGW5pVuR5qgq7nAvAITs7NEiwF0iR-NQvI2EKsO_wOtyaujBNeLiuBFd2pQ03JBR3PF2DZO_dwfg3y49vN66Ogb8OdR2Co1LMly00AIFg/s400/mannequin+2.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This is my finished mannequin (At least I think it's finished). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3ZvjsIIECTc95693iyjoxXWF-lU0uNgbtIdO4zF1bTRwe-kmnyBM5KODNaTeBCUgGKydnluxGX4O91sjAH-mdKdaUDYKWHUgnf1fX7j0dSR5Qq6UfvkejZTEQpFqxFLDluqAeHw05Q/s1600/mannequin+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3ZvjsIIECTc95693iyjoxXWF-lU0uNgbtIdO4zF1bTRwe-kmnyBM5KODNaTeBCUgGKydnluxGX4O91sjAH-mdKdaUDYKWHUgnf1fX7j0dSR5Qq6UfvkejZTEQpFqxFLDluqAeHw05Q/s400/mannequin+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am calling the piece "I Just Found Out That Lady Gaga Is My Half Sister".</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCuyAAysDKDN6vOap7tCITVt8ixvnFWy2mOR0il_PLPKATa9Isy6IiC4uKQBxGwp4JGr4HBOBT9_mSBsBPtyVbBktk7LUII4EYS6ZT1tuluhtmgqPb0DUsDcO5MaVJ5kl3j_KOwPQ1g/s1600/cigar+box+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCuyAAysDKDN6vOap7tCITVt8ixvnFWy2mOR0il_PLPKATa9Isy6IiC4uKQBxGwp4JGr4HBOBT9_mSBsBPtyVbBktk7LUII4EYS6ZT1tuluhtmgqPb0DUsDcO5MaVJ5kl3j_KOwPQ1g/s400/cigar+box+1.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am also including another piece called "Frida's Closet" which is inspired by my favorite artist, Frida Kahlo.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddJwYNg5onjs30c0lj15npGm0BbVccZVdTErFBJLjf9QoAcCeHFsLenzniKV3aXlt7rDV4O9_1303AuAHnHKNeAOGIRdBaX0CYksm40PBEURFJ7k9eZTZ1PkVbhnmB8nqD8N1jVvjgQ/s1600/cigar+box+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddJwYNg5onjs30c0lj15npGm0BbVccZVdTErFBJLjf9QoAcCeHFsLenzniKV3aXlt7rDV4O9_1303AuAHnHKNeAOGIRdBaX0CYksm40PBEURFJ7k9eZTZ1PkVbhnmB8nqD8N1jVvjgQ/s400/cigar+box+2.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This was a challenging project as each of the ten members brought an embellishment, and from those ten embellishments, we had to use seven of them in our project which was housed in a cigar box. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Please come and see these and many more fabulous works of art made by our members, at our show this weekend.</div></div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-76486542565506395792011-02-27T17:54:00.003-05:002011-02-27T18:35:34.475-05:00Sticky Fingers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hi there. Today I am joining my first blog party which is hosted by my friend Amisha at her blog <a href="http://gorgeousandfun.typepad.com/">Gorgeous and </a><a href="http://gorgeousandfun.typepad.com/">Fun Things</a>.<br />
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Amisha's theme for the blog party today is "How To Learn". Like Amisha, I love to learn from books and magazines. I have taught myself many different projects and crafts by reading about it. I flood my brain with as much visual information and articles about what ever topic I am interested in. For me, this is the best way I can learn. I can read those directions over and over again until they sink in, rather than being shown once. I have a vast library of Art and Craft books....<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzowfbG3uSNeTjeWd0QxWCiD2VzbLAgR4GgHsTFX6Qi0hPGcJae9T3keMhO_W6hzkXSHacnFMFwwfI7xEXEkDLZrvR-zFiPbctMpPLefmHPDJ_9GroSX0CB0Kj1n4KI8u_R5OMyZVCXA/s1600/book+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzowfbG3uSNeTjeWd0QxWCiD2VzbLAgR4GgHsTFX6Qi0hPGcJae9T3keMhO_W6hzkXSHacnFMFwwfI7xEXEkDLZrvR-zFiPbctMpPLefmHPDJ_9GroSX0CB0Kj1n4KI8u_R5OMyZVCXA/s400/book+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here's some mixed media books in my studio...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRU4mVn0KsZDma-_sxS-p0kDYtIfH506RCJju0likxDXoRFi-4xtRP_WjmH0q-lh_WoFA4MPHyjwoKdjl0tZPJey4y0G_br0h71Y4cUFzGVZDxpYBnhxM87FVNv1J48OqBFUXwn0zmg/s1600/book+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRU4mVn0KsZDma-_sxS-p0kDYtIfH506RCJju0likxDXoRFi-4xtRP_WjmH0q-lh_WoFA4MPHyjwoKdjl0tZPJey4y0G_br0h71Y4cUFzGVZDxpYBnhxM87FVNv1J48OqBFUXwn0zmg/s400/book+2.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br />
and here's a stack of books and magazines on my nightstand....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvlGzXgIQNcEp3D1jJ39V-BYWtGuszMGzjEG0P_45UnuJJ9MWXRGu27XZ1CqHYUeeFwi9lI4s1uNp48aBI9iDzBeb5-TKe4FRH4vMkxThhyxZnbVOvJiZ8ygBzmRlLaG0m5b3nZ6ThQ/s1600/book+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvlGzXgIQNcEp3D1jJ39V-BYWtGuszMGzjEG0P_45UnuJJ9MWXRGu27XZ1CqHYUeeFwi9lI4s1uNp48aBI9iDzBeb5-TKe4FRH4vMkxThhyxZnbVOvJiZ8ygBzmRlLaG0m5b3nZ6ThQ/s400/book+3.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br />
and here is a stash of art instruction books...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSTHM1SNoKrJUPTIOa255qRap3dKU95QgN1uuALekU4iHOMJDyQoc-_7motL0fblYep9An0qoTD17Sgjgo-g96SHASsv1VKpijyqIDq4h693U8slhdUeXPoGeTJ9hbmS3g-COYePNYg/s1600/book+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSTHM1SNoKrJUPTIOa255qRap3dKU95QgN1uuALekU4iHOMJDyQoc-_7motL0fblYep9An0qoTD17Sgjgo-g96SHASsv1VKpijyqIDq4h693U8slhdUeXPoGeTJ9hbmS3g-COYePNYg/s400/book+4.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br />
and some fine art books in the television cabinet and...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs15N_n22e0n43rcXwgAiqzC2XtF29pPN5wHJKdIQurp1-jZflLO33Y0okFQrned1BcyKn6xaIgqkpA5f3krdUfGbFjohCVqWrp66-2YP7WtATxQsjguLyXmlTcayu4S2ag4MeiFRJIg/s1600/book+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs15N_n22e0n43rcXwgAiqzC2XtF29pPN5wHJKdIQurp1-jZflLO33Y0okFQrned1BcyKn6xaIgqkpA5f3krdUfGbFjohCVqWrp66-2YP7WtATxQsjguLyXmlTcayu4S2ag4MeiFRJIg/s400/book+5.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br />
a small stack to read in the living room.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">So as you can see for yourself, I LOVE BOOKS!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today I am working on a project I got from the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Mother-Practical-Fitting-Creativity/dp/B004KAB4V0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298846742&sr=1-1">"The Artistic Mother: A Practical Guide To Fitting </a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Mother-Practical-Fitting-Creativity/dp/B004KAB4V0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1298846742&sr=1-1">Creativity Into Your Life"</a> by Shona Cole. It is a little "glitter station" made from a tiny vintage wine glass that I have embellished with pearls. Glueing those pearls ONE BY ONE on to the edge of the glass was MURDER! My fingers are all sticky with the residue of glue!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEMKSx5MJRsmDA6JBmvi67QdARXzkr6pZViwxbAPivOnrxQfiFZcTacWNLbiLT3yulLc0htatzb506A_3oqdmm7AhhGWJneem1yoA6RJv05VXbZbSpxIQbiRtTISm8iBlWxfWJQ_Bxg/s1600/glass+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEMKSx5MJRsmDA6JBmvi67QdARXzkr6pZViwxbAPivOnrxQfiFZcTacWNLbiLT3yulLc0htatzb506A_3oqdmm7AhhGWJneem1yoA6RJv05VXbZbSpxIQbiRtTISm8iBlWxfWJQ_Bxg/s400/glass+1.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">They are still a work in progress, as I have more embellishing to do but I did want to share them with you today.</div></div></div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-5821398640090455722011-02-14T22:32:00.000-05:002011-02-14T22:32:34.166-05:00A Confession About My Obsessions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlvNh8HaUXJ15snbJxFWGFNvpd-Du9HDiZ1_RBu7Wfwn1wUgSvckMs82jfrWyD9q9_VbPgjI0xhKmhI6jQCIA4Gpm6nHriD9mpByiDxHhnTDZt1EXectKnRgvmfU_WMFP84xupYG_Ew/s1600/vintage-valentines-clipart-graphicsfairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlvNh8HaUXJ15snbJxFWGFNvpd-Du9HDiZ1_RBu7Wfwn1wUgSvckMs82jfrWyD9q9_VbPgjI0xhKmhI6jQCIA4Gpm6nHriD9mpByiDxHhnTDZt1EXectKnRgvmfU_WMFP84xupYG_Ew/s640/vintage-valentines-clipart-graphicsfairy.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Graphic Supplied from the <a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/">Graphic Fairy</a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Happy Valentines Day! </span>I decided to do a little creative work today using Valentine's Day as my muse, and I needed to make my husband a little something to show him that I care. I first decided to make him a collaged Cake Slice Favor Box (I have the die from my party favor business <i><b><a href="http://www.afavorsafavor.com/Cake_Slice_Box.html">A Favor's a Favor</a></b></i>) to hold some candy. I started gathering materials for my collaged cake slice from my stash. I grabbed some collage papers, some sheet music from an old French book, paper napkins and some of my....<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">but first a confession.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOcNFmjxcafmBAueDrjFOLXCvY6Iz1NuIn6xTFI7GgWBlA0X_-m9LJb5Hn_9ETu5YVU-cu5gl0o21TLOgscWG2AMvx7GZew37soi_PtHrSrdqX_V_Siz-Rsdt5E2IyakMR8-nZQcyUg/s1600/tissue+obsession.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOcNFmjxcafmBAueDrjFOLXCvY6Iz1NuIn6xTFI7GgWBlA0X_-m9LJb5Hn_9ETu5YVU-cu5gl0o21TLOgscWG2AMvx7GZew37soi_PtHrSrdqX_V_Siz-Rsdt5E2IyakMR8-nZQcyUg/s640/tissue+obsession.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">my Tissue Paper Stash</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I confess, I have a compulsion to keep all tissue paper that comes in to my life! I love to collage tissue paper on to a project. I like that it is semi-transparent when glued down, and I love the wrinkly texture. Embrace all wrinkles in your life, I say!</div><div style="text-align: left;">I started my project by cutting the box pieces on my Accucut machine from watercolor paper. I wanted to do a light wash of color on the box, but did not want to add a layer of paint because acrylic paint can make a box cover stick or not slide on properly. I chose to try a new medium that I have never tried before; Liquid Acrylic Ink. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6ce12w8YibROq0uUvfwWzAGIdkfMxAovRShkkSuQjKZslOFyey4nNW3BMkC4PHDpWSRxbxxpqtR5zWWMGSmSgP-PcjrCtm_wmBsFpUQZvkHGTbx6KQ33BywHRUgqhwX9i2bYdRN9kg/s1600/ink+bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6ce12w8YibROq0uUvfwWzAGIdkfMxAovRShkkSuQjKZslOFyey4nNW3BMkC4PHDpWSRxbxxpqtR5zWWMGSmSgP-PcjrCtm_wmBsFpUQZvkHGTbx6KQ33BywHRUgqhwX9i2bYdRN9kg/s640/ink+bottle.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I had purchased some bottles of this ink on sale when Charette closed it's retail store in Woburn, MA. I squeezed some drops of the pearlescent magenta color, and quickly spread it with a wet brush. I immediately fell in love with it's pearly quality, the surface of my project took on a high sheen. All I could think of was spun cotton candy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYERDgSKqyxv3kCnRCRF7RhASK9fLv7uAAwlSpro-B4UgFYvpPe4IQJs9waTI2Iwn-o8w6y88Sl3zgieBmR-TebqHkR3xHNKb_FwLwffI8IBRtPCGxK7YxJ0QG2vp817QBca7gZpxuIg/s1600/cake+box+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYERDgSKqyxv3kCnRCRF7RhASK9fLv7uAAwlSpro-B4UgFYvpPe4IQJs9waTI2Iwn-o8w6y88Sl3zgieBmR-TebqHkR3xHNKb_FwLwffI8IBRtPCGxK7YxJ0QG2vp817QBca7gZpxuIg/s400/cake+box+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It really dries quick, and doesn't saturate the paper it's applied to. I decided I didn't want a pink top for the cake box, so I painted over the acrylic ink with some gesso. I really like the small jars of gesso that Claudine Hellmuth has with Ranger. They are a lot easier to open than larger jars and don't dry out before you can get to the bottom of the jar.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5SGjET8UZo31CcuIOtRqh-GpS4fgE6BNtzCKKcpm4isTPmAcbNDTSyLNhzmMKIhmhjTEuwOq33I0UC4UzPttPnn7pfm66kagSZn9ZbU3bOEa2fJcfMe9mMQVy8vvc9N_ZaQHhG8B5w/s1600/cake+box2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5SGjET8UZo31CcuIOtRqh-GpS4fgE6BNtzCKKcpm4isTPmAcbNDTSyLNhzmMKIhmhjTEuwOq33I0UC4UzPttPnn7pfm66kagSZn9ZbU3bOEa2fJcfMe9mMQVy8vvc9N_ZaQHhG8B5w/s400/cake+box2.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> I then started composing the top of the box using the French music paper, an Eiffel Tower image from some collage sheets, and roses cut from a gorgeous paper napkin that my friend Lorraine gave me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpLKooOd1wgC8wwuVQGEi-hRIqL08tIv_cPrSIA_yRisF__A8ddmyRxv2QhIa5rGSvvS1bDQ9o4AEQglS872B03U6K4wHIYlA1gG6TCtlqCXujvj_fiHNT59yLD_Eqks2JN09EoE3Aw/s1600/cake+box+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpLKooOd1wgC8wwuVQGEi-hRIqL08tIv_cPrSIA_yRisF__A8ddmyRxv2QhIa5rGSvvS1bDQ9o4AEQglS872B03U6K4wHIYlA1gG6TCtlqCXujvj_fiHNT59yLD_Eqks2JN09EoE3Aw/s400/cake+box+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">After glueing all my collage elements with Golden Soft Gel medium, I added some little punched out hearts to the side of the box cover.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2gyVdNQoHOYYWJ0jcbFFqYKPwVnw9qB8m-kpX4y1XhLdHSW8H4Clu4fi9kIFrG7sdy0RRn65wNXqgdDUd6UCxI7utX-4mXpylb9xXQEBPoAoQ2iGu2u553AbATKCWaVUBQK4sFGRTA/s1600/cake+box+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2gyVdNQoHOYYWJ0jcbFFqYKPwVnw9qB8m-kpX4y1XhLdHSW8H4Clu4fi9kIFrG7sdy0RRn65wNXqgdDUd6UCxI7utX-4mXpylb9xXQEBPoAoQ2iGu2u553AbATKCWaVUBQK4sFGRTA/s400/cake+box+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">One little heart tried to escape....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2Dl7cOjhd7qNclcR8mPVG_TsySSjVfh1wuyqLrKp-MX3mhe0xtVl8wL5UkezXzFCtp_N6QtBDWngjgMS1gczKV7jFhePnSY0s83-PNBLxom2FLmS2-35jBiFleGKjmD6p8w2ZPy4HA/s1600/cake+box+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2Dl7cOjhd7qNclcR8mPVG_TsySSjVfh1wuyqLrKp-MX3mhe0xtVl8wL5UkezXzFCtp_N6QtBDWngjgMS1gczKV7jFhePnSY0s83-PNBLxom2FLmS2-35jBiFleGKjmD6p8w2ZPy4HA/s400/cake+box+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally, I added gold glitter using the the Quickie Glue pen. I always say, when in doubt, just add a little bling!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__l10tyIIDSH8YXesjU-3yfawB7hASQQIUyqxcUTAAxW5PTy2GcECqjJk3ALmTT1vKujNyYC3w4vJyVXNnCVPLVLqsWi__XEvYQZs2HeZtt0ZTSXzfZki_F4oA22nDpB-0tStGQR4CQ/s1600/cake+box+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__l10tyIIDSH8YXesjU-3yfawB7hASQQIUyqxcUTAAxW5PTy2GcECqjJk3ALmTT1vKujNyYC3w4vJyVXNnCVPLVLqsWi__XEvYQZs2HeZtt0ZTSXzfZki_F4oA22nDpB-0tStGQR4CQ/s400/cake+box+6.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I then turned my attention to the box bottom. I didn't want to hide the glossy pink wisps made with the brushed ink on the box, so I decided to stamp some swirls on each of the three sides. I felt like there was a disconnect between the colors represented on the cover and the box bottom, so I collaged a few more roses from the paper napkin to link the pieces together compositionally. Finally, more glitter.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYSaZ318d0vrJmpdsZJcS0OB4RI2ye2xn0e0WNGnxXd8nH0BtSJ0bg1JQD-VCoPCGbENcXEuH_rgX4NleRF9yL5jHIp89ExguEmo3j3bYEsyeq_pMHuBnsDB6yIBY6RPLIN6TXMfe2Q/s1600/cake+box+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYSaZ318d0vrJmpdsZJcS0OB4RI2ye2xn0e0WNGnxXd8nH0BtSJ0bg1JQD-VCoPCGbENcXEuH_rgX4NleRF9yL5jHIp89ExguEmo3j3bYEsyeq_pMHuBnsDB6yIBY6RPLIN6TXMfe2Q/s400/cake+box+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The last step was to add the word "Amore" to the top with gold sticker letters. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now you're probably wondering where the tissue paper came in. It turned out to be a misstep. I thought this box needed a more sturdy construction than watercolor paper, so I cut out a box from chipboard that the watercolor paper would then be adhered to. I thought that gold metallic tissue paper would make a dandy lining, so I glued it to the wrong side of the chipboard. After constructing the box with the two layers, I realized it was way too bulky. I was able to tear apart the layers, just in the nick of time. I ended up lining the box with some red mulberry paper infused with gold threads instead.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I also baked my hubby his favorite dessert today; his mother's recipe for Bread Pudding. This is a traditional dessert for him at the holidays, as he and his sibilings joke around each year, checking that the other hasn't gotten a bigger serving.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkamRDByhS2gfU2QbSlxOg5GKgFMnThwXdgurdxWNHSf7lmBLTtXjQGzwLirswBkvhdRRFlnmMLlAIlVNGGQz2oQ6lf6B9Vao33Y-OQ0QyApYNjHtl5SzEjhAclmMT3BpW3YjFYQf1A/s1600/valentine+bread+pudding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkamRDByhS2gfU2QbSlxOg5GKgFMnThwXdgurdxWNHSf7lmBLTtXjQGzwLirswBkvhdRRFlnmMLlAIlVNGGQz2oQ6lf6B9Vao33Y-OQ0QyApYNjHtl5SzEjhAclmMT3BpW3YjFYQf1A/s400/valentine+bread+pudding.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As far as a card is concerned, I decided to make a large tag to accompany the gifts. Now about my other obsession of the moment....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGReQHdlelAxEUqrWRVz15VzD6DvqhLqJ544pQqKzKb6Vwg03ODEo4NvTB5mySVtSxNpGY4daJZ7278Z3vDwHYW7fTE6p4-z_UftdYhMqPxX9PiWeDe0Xl8UPiqkdRLJqYo3HIsL7LQ/s1600/valentine+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGReQHdlelAxEUqrWRVz15VzD6DvqhLqJ544pQqKzKb6Vwg03ODEo4NvTB5mySVtSxNpGY4daJZ7278Z3vDwHYW7fTE6p4-z_UftdYhMqPxX9PiWeDe0Xl8UPiqkdRLJqYo3HIsL7LQ/s400/valentine+tag.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">the "<a href="http://www.rangerink.com/products/prod_alterations_bigz-dies_reindeer-flight.htm">Reindeer Flight</a>" die by Tim Holtz and Ranger. I fell in love with this die last holiday season, while cutting out forty of them for tags that adorned goodie bags for a "Shop Hop" bus trip. Right in the middle of those forty cuts, I fell in love. I decided I needed that die for myself, and sold several of them to staff and customers at <a href="http://inkaboutitonline.com/">Ink About It.</a> Everyone agreed; once you start using it you realize it's charm and value. I used this die to label my Christmas packages this year. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Last week, I got an idea to use this deer die to make cards for other holidays, not just Christmas. Why only use this beautiful die one month out of the year I ask? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I started off by making a spring deer card using the die....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qPTUj1Cm8PDhlBeBvXdmCKNzQ2wpS57LqmBdXIVNyMadLlN7nkPoAcmi3DnlBdrh2VSWaea8QMsnY7M5of9jOBx4F2pJkflVN9cyQpK7W7zbZhbMLlgf8z8OpTN_LwxGJbO8Y-KEzQ/s1600/spring+deer+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qPTUj1Cm8PDhlBeBvXdmCKNzQ2wpS57LqmBdXIVNyMadLlN7nkPoAcmi3DnlBdrh2VSWaea8QMsnY7M5of9jOBx4F2pJkflVN9cyQpK7W7zbZhbMLlgf8z8OpTN_LwxGJbO8Y-KEzQ/s400/spring+deer+card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">While making this card, I got an idea for another one. I love silhouettes, so I decided to make some silhouetted deer in front of a forest at twilight using a Hero Arts Birch Tree stamp...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW02_6iJIwIjRKjym4Aa_g5ZbHaRhPZuoWKDuAA52ymAmwNncG6_O0cowVzzBy95ny_IOLVmK0kh3SPQR4V78ZJPt6n4v8KbbORxf7i4o-7cTRyWABm9D1Y5JdcFcSzh9felSMiu31A/s1600/twilight+deer+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW02_6iJIwIjRKjym4Aa_g5ZbHaRhPZuoWKDuAA52ymAmwNncG6_O0cowVzzBy95ny_IOLVmK0kh3SPQR4V78ZJPt6n4v8KbbORxf7i4o-7cTRyWABm9D1Y5JdcFcSzh9felSMiu31A/s400/twilight+deer+card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Check out the blog post on<a href="http://blogaboutit.typepad.com/"> blogaboutit.typepad.com</a> referencing the store owners"concern" about my obsession over this die.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you've done anything "non-Christmas" with this die, send along a photo in your comment to this post. Be a "Deer" and send it along, won't you?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-31351666863708235932011-02-01T18:57:00.005-05:002011-02-07T20:06:58.264-05:00Getting Back to Some Kind of Normal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXGOH-Mct6apZ4qBdqP4V9_ikTqhad-Hn9j1w6fvKgDiiTWeUII_oXodCFr2u74CgmD3tCbcxYwvSUeGAMUF5L9pf9qk-cukFY-bSVBh4B0VxJRAAaZoMevJk-jhoBJhRAu6FLOAaYg/s1600/studio+at+xmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXGOH-Mct6apZ4qBdqP4V9_ikTqhad-Hn9j1w6fvKgDiiTWeUII_oXodCFr2u74CgmD3tCbcxYwvSUeGAMUF5L9pf9qk-cukFY-bSVBh4B0VxJRAAaZoMevJk-jhoBJhRAu6FLOAaYg/s400/studio+at+xmas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Does this look familiar to any of you? This picture of my studio workspace was taken just a few days before Christmas. Especially at Christmas time, my studio gets really trashed. All surfaces, including the floor are covered in last minute projects and unwrapped Christmas presents. Glitter is found everywhere (you don't want to know where - you know what I mean). Drawers left open with contents spilling out, not to mention some small pieces of furniture that must be moved out of our living room to make way for the Christmas tree. I really don't enjoy my space when it gets like this, and even worse is the post-Christmas clean up!<br />
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It was an especially hectic holiday season this year as our youngest son got married on New Years Eve. Here are photos of some of the projects that were created for that special event:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzDS1clEkgH_acIJhgwt9-qkOe54xpQJuaKoFItXenIkIdYxkTk4TfPwXh8kFPtWxcKCjyhHeExaXwYJ7VgkuExtC7i8JHX7RY6iI-yVvwIGOyZUs9csCunSbfHEK1232qqMLs-NF8A/s1600/rehearsal+dinner+invite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzDS1clEkgH_acIJhgwt9-qkOe54xpQJuaKoFItXenIkIdYxkTk4TfPwXh8kFPtWxcKCjyhHeExaXwYJ7VgkuExtC7i8JHX7RY6iI-yVvwIGOyZUs9csCunSbfHEK1232qqMLs-NF8A/s400/rehearsal+dinner+invite.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This was the rehearsal dinner invite that I created using a Memory Box snowflake rubber stamp (you may remember this image was also used on the wedding invite I did). I lined the envelopes with my new favorite paper: <a href="http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Silver-Glitter-Wrapping-Paper/3650.040/42055503.html">Glitter Wrapping Paper</a> by Paper Source. It is a paper weight instead of a card stock weight, therefore it is less bulky, especially for lining envelopes. I wanted a real "wow factor" when the recipient opened their invitation. I also punched out some glitter-paper snowflakes and glued them as a seal on the back of the envelope with my trusty zebra-stripe Xyron sticker machine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7z22jYMnihkbFzY2GGEPqRnEqOrRTDwdUP9ZoDNdHex00oYpp5Y7uomKSR7ibgp75gwCpEq0b2dTwF_3QZMsviptwpnXztRHLh4BSbC-yoC_vdVLLIKIslyBtAdjDLub6Z51h1FxXw/s1600/xyron+with+snowflake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7z22jYMnihkbFzY2GGEPqRnEqOrRTDwdUP9ZoDNdHex00oYpp5Y7uomKSR7ibgp75gwCpEq0b2dTwF_3QZMsviptwpnXztRHLh4BSbC-yoC_vdVLLIKIslyBtAdjDLub6Z51h1FxXw/s400/xyron+with+snowflake.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I also created some die cut snowflake place cards with my Cricut machine, and snowflake-topped <a href="http://www.afavorsafavor.com/Flower_Top_Pyramid_Box.html">favor</a> <a href="http://www.afavorsafavor.com/Flower_Top_Pyramid_Box.html">boxes</a> for the rehearsal dinner table.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQimIRGaj_iQl6c_0EJSjZv66Tom_4fqnAJgSvV-pRnen4ATk-DFSQ8__aQ87Ej-5oUKxeRd-QX66h_x2okJ6Xw8bcfjE7-KefXbT_esLR1pAckOx-9MLjT3l9SWd0VmQSUqrCwxYmA/s1600/snowflake+favor+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQimIRGaj_iQl6c_0EJSjZv66Tom_4fqnAJgSvV-pRnen4ATk-DFSQ8__aQ87Ej-5oUKxeRd-QX66h_x2okJ6Xw8bcfjE7-KefXbT_esLR1pAckOx-9MLjT3l9SWd0VmQSUqrCwxYmA/s400/snowflake+favor+box.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a photo of the rehearsal dinner:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoR5HntGJwMrYGimGiUVZOFm0FXdhjzVgapCdDWmXQNJFFmU9NLeAFWiYque5wT2pCB1odUmYn8PpCSYwAceWJ6pDcijRtJIQrrMLNB2dGTa8VqoVJBbP73APS-oI6_7qMvJZgATs2NA/s1600/rehearsal+dinner+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoR5HntGJwMrYGimGiUVZOFm0FXdhjzVgapCdDWmXQNJFFmU9NLeAFWiYque5wT2pCB1odUmYn8PpCSYwAceWJ6pDcijRtJIQrrMLNB2dGTa8VqoVJBbP73APS-oI6_7qMvJZgATs2NA/s400/rehearsal+dinner+table.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I also made menus for each person with more embossed snowflakes, and the edges of the menu pages punched with a Martha Stewart snowflake "Punch Around The Page" punch set. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I was also able to finish a family cookbook project for my sons that I have been working on for the last 2 1/2 years. I have been scrapbooking photos with favorite family recipes and stories and I was able to finish covering the album just days before Christmas. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeQuM069VfOJ_ZuvT1LSH-KaSAFatcRzWkfwzuW50KoYPCd4ShQ9GqoqrKWEGZ1wRzHApsogNHe5CkjIyBLsoYx2ON0Z0IfykCgF8G9Z7MArqh3hPpPvN1d-L0lj7wh6P3KwQ5HomQw/s1600/kyle+with+recipe+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeQuM069VfOJ_ZuvT1LSH-KaSAFatcRzWkfwzuW50KoYPCd4ShQ9GqoqrKWEGZ1wRzHApsogNHe5CkjIyBLsoYx2ON0Z0IfykCgF8G9Z7MArqh3hPpPvN1d-L0lj7wh6P3KwQ5HomQw/s400/kyle+with+recipe+book.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Because I was so busy with the wedding plans and the holidays, I was not able to squeeze in some blogging time. Here are some favorite photos from this past holiday season that I would like to share with you now:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o95skiXL0PZBHXDpKCGuUmPhMOaimUxRoDQdFfSqNjmmUTrcNsDyDki2p4FGdJ2oLWD_0tKttGGBaY0EjbrQCMHq7C9ujZk4mXxpN7dYtGmU0Nl4FWQf_fp1XdoVYAImrPt_Zxe66Q/s1600/west+trees+pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o95skiXL0PZBHXDpKCGuUmPhMOaimUxRoDQdFfSqNjmmUTrcNsDyDki2p4FGdJ2oLWD_0tKttGGBaY0EjbrQCMHq7C9ujZk4mXxpN7dYtGmU0Nl4FWQf_fp1XdoVYAImrPt_Zxe66Q/s400/west+trees+pic1.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The path to heaven on earth.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFIdE4kXjlpWAvZqIA1jnqbtxyIcoCV5u_0NVo9DbNgDdGxS8qZzm-ZpZrcC6Zywuj8WVoyaFQc3ye5QUpFXY472OQ6_qmlWj9QNCmh-I0nCIdvZgNHuGDp4oLtrsO1QPQs0_q9iNMw/s1600/west+trees+pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFIdE4kXjlpWAvZqIA1jnqbtxyIcoCV5u_0NVo9DbNgDdGxS8qZzm-ZpZrcC6Zywuj8WVoyaFQc3ye5QUpFXY472OQ6_qmlWj9QNCmh-I0nCIdvZgNHuGDp4oLtrsO1QPQs0_q9iNMw/s400/west+trees+pic2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I look forward each year to visit the West Family Tree Farm to tag our Christmas tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zvILpayKJy6vI1z73ixf_tXoInGn28qOcgI7-1GWhyi33C4qTnt5gRJCOSlkkpeRZkIsqmicJDfWqJ-fCTG1kB8NYROZhfW1_Td8F9u6bE88Cg6FKBgSzZv51u_lr88IFVLUNNTV6Q/s1600/west+trees+pic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zvILpayKJy6vI1z73ixf_tXoInGn28qOcgI7-1GWhyi33C4qTnt5gRJCOSlkkpeRZkIsqmicJDfWqJ-fCTG1kB8NYROZhfW1_Td8F9u6bE88Cg6FKBgSzZv51u_lr88IFVLUNNTV6Q/s400/west+trees+pic3.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's where we put a $2.00 deposit and mark our name with a crayon to register. Mr. and Mrs. West come out of their quaint farmhouse upon our arrival, to chat about the year we have had. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMxfzVYbaPKYwbSQ_mdcq4smSgi12feD4m9Fla0QhWrIl5nszqqoOfWQHl9ja2NpielHgpYe9Lrxlm96xFDiMoFFs73XcIVOb9POnqKs9I-Zx5iXRtZshNtnvNlud4SuomfbuQNiBeA/s1600/west+trees+pic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMxfzVYbaPKYwbSQ_mdcq4smSgi12feD4m9Fla0QhWrIl5nszqqoOfWQHl9ja2NpielHgpYe9Lrxlm96xFDiMoFFs73XcIVOb9POnqKs9I-Zx5iXRtZshNtnvNlud4SuomfbuQNiBeA/s400/west+trees+pic4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Remember when the ground was this color?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBJxUDY3UgVqz97qU8s8vCXgTQxf9g9nKvW3GKrT8Xy37Jc32EHKaTGBwhj3bSvQNVNEg6altXIy8o34zBWl63dIYKB0KX0koz36Ty6HWzca-rYFRqvwj6k9qNhiWv9xhvkGHKNsgKw/s1600/west+trees+pic5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBJxUDY3UgVqz97qU8s8vCXgTQxf9g9nKvW3GKrT8Xy37Jc32EHKaTGBwhj3bSvQNVNEg6altXIy8o34zBWl63dIYKB0KX0koz36Ty6HWzca-rYFRqvwj6k9qNhiWv9xhvkGHKNsgKw/s400/west+trees+pic5.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We found a beautiful tree to tag. While walking the property looking for the perfect tree, we saw a tree that was not only tagged by it's family, but decorated by the child of the family. We thought this was such a charming idea that we returned the following weekend with an ornament to put on our tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgjdTgzD5BtcAJb-CPkYtUSSmjrz-6Rcezqd7ykahDioinRQo5hGxWhTmgbSgfff-PgVOv_GNGPIyNIOhj4D29ArSjoksZHKAMfe4Z6-1igfK0vxHMYkNClrWLRyjbhTDhz-7k0R9cg/s1600/west+trees+pic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgjdTgzD5BtcAJb-CPkYtUSSmjrz-6Rcezqd7ykahDioinRQo5hGxWhTmgbSgfff-PgVOv_GNGPIyNIOhj4D29ArSjoksZHKAMfe4Z6-1igfK0vxHMYkNClrWLRyjbhTDhz-7k0R9cg/s400/west+trees+pic6.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We also left a note on the tree that so inspired us....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStKM2q5KbzulOX8_yK9mZ-heAFVdaqVUQ52mfvR7bXyI_hJbsZufbeYAjTamETTkaOWZ-DLyR8k_bDwPeMGEbWAip0ES6LOdRaAEkT3ZNgW9rVmdvfyoEaG7FfqkhygZU5IAhmpfqTg/s1600/west+trees+pic7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStKM2q5KbzulOX8_yK9mZ-heAFVdaqVUQ52mfvR7bXyI_hJbsZufbeYAjTamETTkaOWZ-DLyR8k_bDwPeMGEbWAip0ES6LOdRaAEkT3ZNgW9rVmdvfyoEaG7FfqkhygZU5IAhmpfqTg/s400/west+trees+pic7.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyrrZE15DulISRzXtxu2fuYy5jFKDIYyWzfsJRqHhdf-Wh-wYiVE_sGDjy72s0LA0LQQ4X8yfk8mtUcbEabGKnYbJqDpjtC1esLFi-TyqQk4kDrptAcLYHbSyatZYobukkbPMYKoF8Q/s1600/thank+you+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyrrZE15DulISRzXtxu2fuYy5jFKDIYyWzfsJRqHhdf-Wh-wYiVE_sGDjy72s0LA0LQQ4X8yfk8mtUcbEabGKnYbJqDpjtC1esLFi-TyqQk4kDrptAcLYHbSyatZYobukkbPMYKoF8Q/s400/thank+you+tag.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdera1kL7blwiyqctMKDepwE88neoDjUwWYopqFROTMyumaC9zr0rZkM2CaCdGkGHynNmx1-vSLBlff_pNj6MQnZSbdfs4AouZUobq-vyDvXgYy8Gc7eGfznUrdeCI9F_daI4SClX6pg/s1600/gizmo+waiting+for+santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdera1kL7blwiyqctMKDepwE88neoDjUwWYopqFROTMyumaC9zr0rZkM2CaCdGkGHynNmx1-vSLBlff_pNj6MQnZSbdfs4AouZUobq-vyDvXgYy8Gc7eGfznUrdeCI9F_daI4SClX6pg/s400/gizmo+waiting+for+santa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our cutie pie is anxiously waiting for Santa to come.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cuiWJVV2WfABJCASWKtPpzA2R_kECSyjPIYMenDa1Ft8huwvl3kkd4IALId5xor-2ApdYtOw7ekaTKWjdddSVd11ooz_aOq92z5GzCLj1V0oPewATC_ib8ab3mTHCg80WHFtKksz8w/s1600/spencer+and+bailey+xmas+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cuiWJVV2WfABJCASWKtPpzA2R_kECSyjPIYMenDa1Ft8huwvl3kkd4IALId5xor-2ApdYtOw7ekaTKWjdddSVd11ooz_aOq92z5GzCLj1V0oPewATC_ib8ab3mTHCg80WHFtKksz8w/s400/spencer+and+bailey+xmas+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">While visions of field mice danced in their heads...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiri4JbhwJrCXAzYdwxBUsMqtDhjIcvAmsgMGX2vBTN0dd9taLmTPSdOV1D2rqe0419YyFA20Qq0m3jfLz4FVHSVlqIe97PenXDteMfKYY9B087xnzTHtJ62BqFK6uRhLLZXWK797TDzA/s1600/dennis+and+pets+xmas+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiri4JbhwJrCXAzYdwxBUsMqtDhjIcvAmsgMGX2vBTN0dd9taLmTPSdOV1D2rqe0419YyFA20Qq0m3jfLz4FVHSVlqIe97PenXDteMfKYY9B087xnzTHtJ62BqFK6uRhLLZXWK797TDzA/s400/dennis+and+pets+xmas+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Santa stuffed our stockings...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiLba-i2lilhSoIsCMQspoTuMVvesg4DzM-tPkNneCT6gtsRMnK9maHA8k2KPKW4xdCHns57_lfb81R_IVvt-NCwla8D130Q_b87xnr765Ln7YIMNckvE_rhMwg7fM_jnuvDjV1CO-A/s1600/gizmo+xmas+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiLba-i2lilhSoIsCMQspoTuMVvesg4DzM-tPkNneCT6gtsRMnK9maHA8k2KPKW4xdCHns57_lfb81R_IVvt-NCwla8D130Q_b87xnr765Ln7YIMNckvE_rhMwg7fM_jnuvDjV1CO-A/s400/gizmo+xmas+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">...and brought us new toys! Boy, do I love to party with my family! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Yippee!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhXpddp5lOWaDba2stFpiRhYeqwEAaelvkdOqH3j9vkOam8iRI6FUq7ZnX9s2rPFK3pnAtqVJozpNKy_gGO5-XTa1nJuHgKrwToSiJM0Yz2VYBYF4KKT0etc4dNNLbf_hmNUSufOUgg/s1600/gizmo+tuckered+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhXpddp5lOWaDba2stFpiRhYeqwEAaelvkdOqH3j9vkOam8iRI6FUq7ZnX9s2rPFK3pnAtqVJozpNKy_gGO5-XTa1nJuHgKrwToSiJM0Yz2VYBYF4KKT0etc4dNNLbf_hmNUSufOUgg/s400/gizmo+tuckered+out.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">December 26, 2010</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that the holidays are past, and a new year has begun without the pressures of long term projects ahead of me, I find my attention turning to some new exciting projects.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtUsnXADaGBlYlwKDD_SgmCAfxgBSYSlBsnViO_e2pk5-SXWIffov2aOH-fvbdbrP8UDi9UEartzkszykbSo1RzG6fKz0HueXKs_DjzInkoxASKYNevMYydM7fxtvtmkMT8zWfPt7-A/s1600/sewing+with+mascot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtUsnXADaGBlYlwKDD_SgmCAfxgBSYSlBsnViO_e2pk5-SXWIffov2aOH-fvbdbrP8UDi9UEartzkszykbSo1RzG6fKz0HueXKs_DjzInkoxASKYNevMYydM7fxtvtmkMT8zWfPt7-A/s400/sewing+with+mascot.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">I started a small quilting project</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnFutoy7QQNNdID1KNUV6i6lxrWyIMDxnKIs0kokVZHimxteaQgI99iTqsZBJGAcL7d4nr8iP8opzO1VoUPPDoXfMtFEgvJxyb8iVyIs5PS8h9AeMNq2Q8-gZ8HVDlbVXBSP1A9yPQA/s1600/art+emergency+kits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnFutoy7QQNNdID1KNUV6i6lxrWyIMDxnKIs0kokVZHimxteaQgI99iTqsZBJGAcL7d4nr8iP8opzO1VoUPPDoXfMtFEgvJxyb8iVyIs5PS8h9AeMNq2Q8-gZ8HVDlbVXBSP1A9yPQA/s400/art+emergency+kits.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I made some altered art emergency kits for my Altered Art Group. They were made from toilet tissue cardboard rolls and were inspired from a project in a past issue of "Green Craft" magazine.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhON66U9Y1youoaIwKd_ymRZ3uCOpQCiy-2QoYfxUIAnHn1tirCj3DUteG2i2mNzg6ZIHkSgELluT7SjYP_cTQ_DC4AqunAUhjSCLom4RxuSY6EmCbunKhNCT-xJFyqEmTsO0j-7gMg/s1600/frida+ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhON66U9Y1youoaIwKd_ymRZ3uCOpQCiy-2QoYfxUIAnHn1tirCj3DUteG2i2mNzg6ZIHkSgELluT7SjYP_cTQ_DC4AqunAUhjSCLom4RxuSY6EmCbunKhNCT-xJFyqEmTsO0j-7gMg/s400/frida+ornament.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I altered a plain white plaster angel Christmas ornament into a Frida ornament for our Altered Ornament Swap.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98reiWRtXzICy9fArhGffL0sFSsx0xJxQGn60O0T1lOraRV9pmhGB9FT2nIKOMPlEOLzMiRLSIyrmzhQ1Tzdvlrx1V6xt8aElhm1kuMTfet7SHY3wB8Kxt-kTxDeT8Bu-P7z0gwHpqQ/s1600/Kyle+and+Jason+sketchbook+jan+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98reiWRtXzICy9fArhGffL0sFSsx0xJxQGn60O0T1lOraRV9pmhGB9FT2nIKOMPlEOLzMiRLSIyrmzhQ1Tzdvlrx1V6xt8aElhm1kuMTfet7SHY3wB8Kxt-kTxDeT8Bu-P7z0gwHpqQ/s400/Kyle+and+Jason+sketchbook+jan+2011.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyle and Jason</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Recently I met Sue Bleiweiss who hosts "<a href="http://sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com/">The Sketchbook Challenge</a>" blog at a Jane Davies workshop at <a href="http://inkaboutitonline.com/">Ink About It</a> and was interested in pushing myself to pick up my pencils and draw again. The first theme for the challenge was "Highly Prized". I couldn't think of a more prized subject matter than my two sons. I must admit, I am a little rusty to say the least; my apologies to my more handsomer sons. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I have set a goal for 2011 to push my limits, and do the artwork I was born to do. This is a good start for January. But I can do better.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-7800788419569049252010-11-30T00:57:00.000-05:002010-11-30T00:57:45.921-05:00I've been away too long...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYDkx4NV8nHltzIliuvsfAum99BGCXvRZ__naHR4rgRAIdcEKw_Rv9meItt3Lu0_aZL1_W0n_SxnlHjhf5scT_7DvsxIwUdxbGeq7xGHeYsAxYxMhC3Fp36yNDecKL_FF66CmgLTxXQ/s1600/island+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYDkx4NV8nHltzIliuvsfAum99BGCXvRZ__naHR4rgRAIdcEKw_Rv9meItt3Lu0_aZL1_W0n_SxnlHjhf5scT_7DvsxIwUdxbGeq7xGHeYsAxYxMhC3Fp36yNDecKL_FF66CmgLTxXQ/s400/island+blog.jpg" width="345" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can't believe so much time has passed since my last post! I have been away on a remote island, isolated from my friends and my artwork. Even though this beautiful photo shows an idyllic spot for a restful vacation, the truth is they work you to the bone out there! While the sun is shining warmly outside, I was stuck inside laboring away. No working on my tan on a pearly beach, or sipping an umbrella accented tropical libation for me. Cut, cut, cut! Stamp, stamp, stamp! Emboss, emboss, emboss, emboss, emboss! One day I will need to have an X-ray and the doctors will be puzzled about the metallic spots on my lungs. I will explain that years earlier I was stuck on this island and inhaled so much embossing powder that I have silver lung disease!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Truth is it was a labor of love. I have been making wedding invitations for my youngest son and his fiance for their New Year's Eve wedding. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmO6yN_lb_lA3R3n6jhfeQqPH8QLWYiU4mBc41SrRqLp5oFp7McsvVhUAKy8KdJUDIhHTuUuGcilmm08XW9s2PtYENPw1azMZB_1uDngl372xTed7E1KlfayuOrWyRaEF7iAQ-QWbGw/s1600/kyle+and+sarah+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmO6yN_lb_lA3R3n6jhfeQqPH8QLWYiU4mBc41SrRqLp5oFp7McsvVhUAKy8KdJUDIhHTuUuGcilmm08XW9s2PtYENPw1azMZB_1uDngl372xTed7E1KlfayuOrWyRaEF7iAQ-QWbGw/s400/kyle+and+sarah+blog.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The color theme of their wedding is silver, platinum, and ivory. I used the Amuse shimmer card stock in platinum and silver brocade, with metallic silver for the outer folder and ivory matte card stock for the actual invitation and accessory pieces. I made a couple of different samples of invitation styles and they ultimately chose the original vision that they had for their invitation.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfSxwaFQqaLLWrjfh0JMX5znnY-nHJa7qya7Bbvwy1hargntm8PU0Z2qe8nUAGC0fDRHdgiI0iPg-YFIO17KpHxdYfJX5r4Tr3Ih_Bv28XPRuh45qnsVxVcwlGhjsgMifTnX0L3iggQ/s1600/wedding+invite+blog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfSxwaFQqaLLWrjfh0JMX5znnY-nHJa7qya7Bbvwy1hargntm8PU0Z2qe8nUAGC0fDRHdgiI0iPg-YFIO17KpHxdYfJX5r4Tr3Ih_Bv28XPRuh45qnsVxVcwlGhjsgMifTnX0L3iggQ/s400/wedding+invite+blog+1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The invitation measures 5"x7" and is in a "landscape" format instead of the usual "portrait" mode. It has a flap that tucks under a label which is printed with their initials and embossed with a silver snowflake. I used Ranger super fine detail silver embossing powder and a snowflake stamp from a Making Memories cling stamp set I bought last year at Ink About It.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPY9_IKWbeUSVYKZT52GxCWQSXfWrLnI90OAHDfi6UfXEJ8W9AlT04JeUQakJNU2wfJN5uS4EhfKFemTtkq67Jm677VUqHiDsh0ufph3vQKc0GIEla-EsxpvTaD3Av-NXFnZbYFS3LTA/s1600/wedding+invite+blog+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPY9_IKWbeUSVYKZT52GxCWQSXfWrLnI90OAHDfi6UfXEJ8W9AlT04JeUQakJNU2wfJN5uS4EhfKFemTtkq67Jm677VUqHiDsh0ufph3vQKc0GIEla-EsxpvTaD3Av-NXFnZbYFS3LTA/s400/wedding+invite+blog+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A sneak peek of what's inside</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the actual invitation, I printed it, justified right (all printing done with Microsoft Word and my trusty Epson printer) then stamped with the beautiful new Memory Box #E1410 Crystal Snowflake and embossed in silver.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzMB-fBr8QujzAYmWNpC_8EEsoftOYTjBUwhilT8uWta3qhVhIpFfdJpZCEnv2MbjPnt0kc6YEXQ9kLb72IK0c-CTpZKe9a3WhY5qGvIVqALTSBWBdVnHrCHLVOM8I07Vi_j_WXSnhw/s1600/wedding+invite+blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzMB-fBr8QujzAYmWNpC_8EEsoftOYTjBUwhilT8uWta3qhVhIpFfdJpZCEnv2MbjPnt0kc6YEXQ9kLb72IK0c-CTpZKe9a3WhY5qGvIVqALTSBWBdVnHrCHLVOM8I07Vi_j_WXSnhw/s400/wedding+invite+blog3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When opened it measures 5" x 15 1/4" with a 1 3/4" notched and folded pocket. Now when we decided on the format, it didn't dawn on me that even though I could obtain 11" x 17" stock, there isn't a paper trimmer around the store or in my studio that can cut the card stock lengthwise! Thank god for Printing Solutions next door; they swiftly and efficiently cut the 100 sheets of card stock in half for me for a nominal fee. However I wasn't out of the woods just yet. I had to figure my plan of attack carefully. First I scored all fold lines with a scoring blade on my Carl paper trimmer (that is after I lost my scoring blade, purchased a new one, only to find the original one later). With the strip of card stock folded up on a score line, I then scored (through 2 layers simultaneously) 1/4" line down the length of the card stock, on either side. I snipped a 1/4" notch at the pocket score line, then cut off the rest of the 1/4" score line that I had just made, on either side. All this to get a scored 1/4" gusset to fold under and make a pocket with. Lastly, I cut the squared corners off the other end for the flap. The cutting for the silver metallic outer folder took 11 hours alone. Have I talked you out of doing invitations yet?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcfXq3wOkdEhhi4oGzwe7r7tMucJq6UdaYlEDiEkGrwU44B2gAoW7drp84PvCePemsggfyvyPaO22qFeDO1l_8m3iSr_GJZpyoLNWbEwK13mRyEcU_xIBXmtkGYVLv3w9YoczamwI2g/s1600/wedding+invite+blog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcfXq3wOkdEhhi4oGzwe7r7tMucJq6UdaYlEDiEkGrwU44B2gAoW7drp84PvCePemsggfyvyPaO22qFeDO1l_8m3iSr_GJZpyoLNWbEwK13mRyEcU_xIBXmtkGYVLv3w9YoczamwI2g/s400/wedding+invite+blog+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are 3 components inside the pocket; the reply card, reception, and direction information cards.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SbYu7BC4yedO5jhBagk_XrUYkdY1zq957OQoE2F0Eyf-tS5nnTZNipqa1QoAOZocihDNsdCqdqzJIXt7Y5iPPibpVQxGaK-oeXZrHoliVvfiNnSH_OCGblJMsrN7fR-xgoqQ5uRMLQ/s1600/wedding+invite+blog+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SbYu7BC4yedO5jhBagk_XrUYkdY1zq957OQoE2F0Eyf-tS5nnTZNipqa1QoAOZocihDNsdCqdqzJIXt7Y5iPPibpVQxGaK-oeXZrHoliVvfiNnSH_OCGblJMsrN7fR-xgoqQ5uRMLQ/s400/wedding+invite+blog+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These pieces were cut so they would stack uniformly, and each one has - let's say it all together now - <i>more</i> <i>embossed snowflakes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now<i> </i>just for fun, I decided to make them a "fantasy" style invitation sample. I got the idea for this invitation on a drive home from work one night and had to make it come to fruition. One of the decorations for the reception are silver branches that will be in large vases on the tables. I took my cue from these silver branches for the following sample....</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJJMAr4gT8U83XE1F51e_gqOp4c1Te2zVi_qTMHhLDW5p8J07tCLg7uCAy5h4QEGPyfN71igxeaNxwhNwn3AEIpx7x4M6-Kl0QVHT1eUj11d0_90b5dXGqXkNFU5TT-jMXCuEu0NAlQ/s1600/wedding+invite+blog+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJJMAr4gT8U83XE1F51e_gqOp4c1Te2zVi_qTMHhLDW5p8J07tCLg7uCAy5h4QEGPyfN71igxeaNxwhNwn3AEIpx7x4M6-Kl0QVHT1eUj11d0_90b5dXGqXkNFU5TT-jMXCuEu0NAlQ/s400/wedding+invite+blog+6.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Imagine receiving a thin ivory box in your mail box....</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjNdkrVoXt7Ldpf7ZIytvXIWa6S9WrXIvI-l_gQJjw8CWhQIvaTzpBmsyyo_tI7u5pUm5cAQnMzmLcxM0O-aWWPZ1jgqio57-Ka4Jef95LZA2bQXUuLigOOPBNwIM7EzQf3daQ80Glw/s1600/wedding+invite+blog+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjNdkrVoXt7Ldpf7ZIytvXIWa6S9WrXIvI-l_gQJjw8CWhQIvaTzpBmsyyo_tI7u5pUm5cAQnMzmLcxM0O-aWWPZ1jgqio57-Ka4Jef95LZA2bQXUuLigOOPBNwIM7EzQf3daQ80Glw/s400/wedding+invite+blog+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">When opened, it reveals a wedding invitation under a silvery branch, tied up in platinum organza ribbon and...</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9TSvsqIHBtfzbJAox1toDqtk5wMgGN__Cj8RH_Z8VwrNDZnCR0vpcYSUBp78aJpeXSojLfCVUr4ovhFkqdPNZ9yJR-lj0rG9Tp540TKbIKGvxs-xOudcFnkwq6SFMbRZM4iqwgZFtA/s1600/wedding+invite+blog+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9TSvsqIHBtfzbJAox1toDqtk5wMgGN__Cj8RH_Z8VwrNDZnCR0vpcYSUBp78aJpeXSojLfCVUr4ovhFkqdPNZ9yJR-lj0rG9Tp540TKbIKGvxs-xOudcFnkwq6SFMbRZM4iqwgZFtA/s400/wedding+invite+blog+8.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">yes, snow!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurbYNl2UKczCOLOlNANQKO7VJY5yI6yztadBg5Cn9Y98jWL9RJi6BOdQF8QDH7ay_DURAIVVu_ewImjLJqud_5SexUWsdQ7ur2c4YKfxEXa23RDXZsXhKAQfCxLeUSD98vFwFk2ipgQ/s1600/wedding+invite+blog+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurbYNl2UKczCOLOlNANQKO7VJY5yI6yztadBg5Cn9Y98jWL9RJi6BOdQF8QDH7ay_DURAIVVu_ewImjLJqud_5SexUWsdQ7ur2c4YKfxEXa23RDXZsXhKAQfCxLeUSD98vFwFk2ipgQ/s400/wedding+invite+blog+9.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Underneath is all the information needed to attend the crystalline event.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had so much fun making this sample. The box is from the Paper Source and it is legally mailable (albeit costly). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please bear with me as there is more projects to be completed before the wedding in 32 days - yikes! I will post as often as possible in this time period and look forward to the quiet month of January when I can begin anew on my artwork and blogging about it.</span></div></div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-1780301987727068732010-10-11T20:58:00.000-04:002010-10-11T20:58:18.371-04:00Apple Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcjX01OELLejhDPQIPBb-LkAxRqpcW6KYSgCQaF1b5UxbGPcLzCuueJyCfK0cLUZofChdS0pAFciUyODtyjkCW6h-I7VpDC_CLEk4lF3jYdiInXY_jGx8zDG3gJWQJM7Q-dxm4oMQ4A/s1600/apple+for+blog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcjX01OELLejhDPQIPBb-LkAxRqpcW6KYSgCQaF1b5UxbGPcLzCuueJyCfK0cLUZofChdS0pAFciUyODtyjkCW6h-I7VpDC_CLEk4lF3jYdiInXY_jGx8zDG3gJWQJM7Q-dxm4oMQ4A/s400/apple+for+blog+1.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Here in the Northeast the air is turning cool, which signals apple harvest time. Like any dyed-in-the-wool New Englander, this is my favorite time of year. I much prefer my fall/winter cooking and baking recipes over my spring/summer barbecue fare. Two weeks ago my husband and I went apple picking to get some apples for eating as well as for making delicious apple recipes. We traveled an hour to Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury specifically for their fabulous apple cider donuts. You can watch them being made, and then snatch them while they are still warm and sugary!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This one didn't even make it out of the parking lot.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeF1KIeVg-NIJFdeYL8PvMlgAatW3hiUueZpTIoG1Hnw3FOcQBOG78RenpqZmTL5ZcUFzisjL_yrhyphenhyphenUuBe1KIFDvNSwqXYKWDo336tkh-RTlGWsXK-K1Y7gem60xnUBH5EZYT7dMJykw/s1600/donut+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeF1KIeVg-NIJFdeYL8PvMlgAatW3hiUueZpTIoG1Hnw3FOcQBOG78RenpqZmTL5ZcUFzisjL_yrhyphenhyphenUuBe1KIFDvNSwqXYKWDo336tkh-RTlGWsXK-K1Y7gem60xnUBH5EZYT7dMJykw/s400/donut+for+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They have a beautiful property all decked out with the season's bounty.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEKFjzgpgq1wvP0wjeheeX15ufirEvyq7UPZshayUcNXKC8A1IiuCgMDTJTYbIzDPvBLvwlUPDYrbit9hZebdBr6rbl7EvVyJc3d3U5_GwMgFOcu8n7_eV9xnkMUt7DvO0n3STOli0A/s1600/cider+hill+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEKFjzgpgq1wvP0wjeheeX15ufirEvyq7UPZshayUcNXKC8A1IiuCgMDTJTYbIzDPvBLvwlUPDYrbit9hZebdBr6rbl7EvVyJc3d3U5_GwMgFOcu8n7_eV9xnkMUt7DvO0n3STOli0A/s400/cider+hill+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo1ha_jfNH06tdr_fuSYsBdCO-iolhAVTPbQuuKBkb8OkPvqhCbb_lHQFmQ7LDYzMGUBJ8Kzdxq3gPGkSKyYM2M-Q5JRlYqqxql9n8MwusbtmS1tpW2oIiRviQgcMYviKMJd1Wak7oQ/s1600/cider+hill+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo1ha_jfNH06tdr_fuSYsBdCO-iolhAVTPbQuuKBkb8OkPvqhCbb_lHQFmQ7LDYzMGUBJ8Kzdxq3gPGkSKyYM2M-Q5JRlYqqxql9n8MwusbtmS1tpW2oIiRviQgcMYviKMJd1Wak7oQ/s400/cider+hill+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We walked up the hill to pick Honey Crisp and Macintosh.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqwq-P0a7UlHaaKstHWRpTYQFeknW660VHBH1Iy7b0e-wbk4cYKRO0KVMOVwywhTxUmupiQLLCKlNtMYhxxKKGXsdWm_zd_vf_gU8FRGnm-mESTkjTFDOeYWLHqO60JZ8OnFYbWbYGw/s1600/cider+hill+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqwq-P0a7UlHaaKstHWRpTYQFeknW660VHBH1Iy7b0e-wbk4cYKRO0KVMOVwywhTxUmupiQLLCKlNtMYhxxKKGXsdWm_zd_vf_gU8FRGnm-mESTkjTFDOeYWLHqO60JZ8OnFYbWbYGw/s400/cider+hill+3.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They have a small petting zoo with farm animals like goats,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1udxquRuhjxKOjtS-FZM4C_8OZWHirovJPS7y5SwoBiJREybLULOxncmpzgL9GDmYqa7D9PUFs7mit079T2CxznnCfiSOiNBbjg3a2yZv5MFn3h6BZd0p6QFS0AtIXT9SvmXhPvdoMg/s1600/cider+hill+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1udxquRuhjxKOjtS-FZM4C_8OZWHirovJPS7y5SwoBiJREybLULOxncmpzgL9GDmYqa7D9PUFs7mit079T2CxznnCfiSOiNBbjg3a2yZv5MFn3h6BZd0p6QFS0AtIXT9SvmXhPvdoMg/s400/cider+hill+4.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXF6UGdCWPC2E07IT70ZHin_IJ48EHhRic_SQz4qrlEzZfP28nWu9KNCj4GiJWeB-M-GzSHt8_6gOCWGZLbjYo2mDxRSuEB8T_MscrJ_HL6KWsTUVTnM5rzOotikACqhNDS0ysrb2BWA/s1600/cider+hill+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXF6UGdCWPC2E07IT70ZHin_IJ48EHhRic_SQz4qrlEzZfP28nWu9KNCj4GiJWeB-M-GzSHt8_6gOCWGZLbjYo2mDxRSuEB8T_MscrJ_HL6KWsTUVTnM5rzOotikACqhNDS0ysrb2BWA/s400/cider+hill+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a big tom turkey</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfl0TDBr_Tcy6z1kO5cQZ-VBIFNEvnoqlm-lWAqbTuiywr66NGhFQLuJcjwOxTHPvubu0ZqUlWxTHQpocme8hG8lOv13smYIn3xZ6DH03RUD_PZAYZ8i5Rg5WC_9RNke_wdtum0QUwiA/s1600/cider+hill+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfl0TDBr_Tcy6z1kO5cQZ-VBIFNEvnoqlm-lWAqbTuiywr66NGhFQLuJcjwOxTHPvubu0ZqUlWxTHQpocme8hG8lOv13smYIn3xZ6DH03RUD_PZAYZ8i5Rg5WC_9RNke_wdtum0QUwiA/s400/cider+hill+6.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We brought home two enormous bags of apples and a <s>dozen</s> eleven apple cider donuts. I planned on making some kind of dessert with some of the apples the following weekend....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Later on that week, I was walking my dog in the neighborhood, when I saw a couple of boxes sitting by the curb. Of course my inner dialogue said "there could be something I could use in an art project over there", so I walked over to check it out. In the first box I saw a bunch of empty glass spice jars. I rationalized that these could either be used for storage or could be part of a mixed media project. I gathered as many as I could and stuffed them in every pocket I had. In the last box, I found three cast iron skillets. There were two small ones and a larger skillet that all looked like they were in fairly good condition but entirely too heavy to carry home with the spice jars and a dog on a leash. I quickly finished my walk with the dog so I could take my car back over there to retrieve the skillets. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo39deGua370cK9o2rohSJWQ-U2m8fvpzsDXtHBtcEtgX4m3t0N2_niR0yAUk2CXQPtrJDwe47Pu_2M19s8SiCiGEAyYc1Iu3YKioQJgWoYbgM0IB5uhknxCZe3UNsnhtqGiQxaiszA/s1600/skillet+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo39deGua370cK9o2rohSJWQ-U2m8fvpzsDXtHBtcEtgX4m3t0N2_niR0yAUk2CXQPtrJDwe47Pu_2M19s8SiCiGEAyYc1Iu3YKioQJgWoYbgM0IB5uhknxCZe3UNsnhtqGiQxaiszA/s400/skillet+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I knew they just needed a little cleaning, but being cast iron I thought it was a good idea to find out how to clean them. Whenever I need to learn something, I immediately turn to my new favorite instructional guide: You Tube. Sure enough, I found quite a few videos on how to clean and season rusty cast iron cookware. I followed the instructions to wash in soapy water (after all they were living outside), scrub them with a warm oil and salt mixture, and finally season them by buffing in a little oil. After about 1 1/2 hours of elbow grease later, I had three velvety black skillets.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeAAWGy34H2rDS_7Z7bfHRcUY1_0dYqtgUtRI_Rs0AI-BkhXWqA2swtd_H90hmhqz0hKuIx8WipQFVRm3t_nRD7nyydXjk6wlzkAYTpJIEUW4U55H-gC_ioJhZ2KsbIe7Fqh_cTGmiQ/s1600/skillet+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeAAWGy34H2rDS_7Z7bfHRcUY1_0dYqtgUtRI_Rs0AI-BkhXWqA2swtd_H90hmhqz0hKuIx8WipQFVRm3t_nRD7nyydXjk6wlzkAYTpJIEUW4U55H-gC_ioJhZ2KsbIe7Fqh_cTGmiQ/s400/skillet+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I passed on the two smaller skillets to my sons, and kept the large one for myself. The great thing about cast iron cookware is that it is the original "non-stick" cookware and using it regularly actually supplements your daily iron intake! It cooks as well on top of the stove as it does in the oven, and it's practically indestructible. I say "practically" because my mother, who was know in my family as the "destructor-bot" broke the handle off of her large black iron skillet.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">For my first foray into cast iron cooking, I found a Skillet Apple Cobbler recipe on the blog <a href="http://www.othersideoffifty.com/2010/10/skillet-apple-cobber-happy-birthday.html">"The Other Side Of Fifty"</a>. I made it as shown with the exception of the boiled cider and as I always do, I substituted half of the white flour with half wheat flour. It filled the house with the sweet scent of cinnamon and it was delicious with a little vanilla bean ice cream on the side. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So if you have a cast iron skillet in the back recesses of your kitchen cabinet, get it out and try this recipe with some of this season's bounty.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AU1LIKbGroLUhXfIGKpcL5sEwcwXY1Tp7WZfjMgA4yc-2ai-MYONfulhzd8BJIlNIT6q1KKeNaUG9cJiH-OjbEtQ2UKivYoiDfOrzrZsjDCKM9V9EwuHngLsrE0XPnEclpXLEackHw/s1600/skillet+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AU1LIKbGroLUhXfIGKpcL5sEwcwXY1Tp7WZfjMgA4yc-2ai-MYONfulhzd8BJIlNIT6q1KKeNaUG9cJiH-OjbEtQ2UKivYoiDfOrzrZsjDCKM9V9EwuHngLsrE0XPnEclpXLEackHw/s400/skillet+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-47698243734125814102010-10-04T14:44:00.000-04:002010-10-04T14:44:19.077-04:00A Studio Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJO0eHVzhSU8GE-be2bQImVJOTLL_xUCC-oTl0jDpAAHUN_x1NJqLpV6e7FhYAHOzuQBs9Z9Dfi1mfiGXQYxOoRf1OM8yLdhT0VBhqxBL98DtWflg64zBwzYOXB8tVOSmk5sqQFx-8w/s1600/October+3,+2010+069_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJO0eHVzhSU8GE-be2bQImVJOTLL_xUCC-oTl0jDpAAHUN_x1NJqLpV6e7FhYAHOzuQBs9Z9Dfi1mfiGXQYxOoRf1OM8yLdhT0VBhqxBL98DtWflg64zBwzYOXB8tVOSmk5sqQFx-8w/s400/October+3,+2010+069_edited-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I thought I would</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">show you my happy place: my home studio. My husband and I redecorated our son's bedroom when he moved out to his own place. Before then, I had always worked wherever I could find a place to temporarily spread out. When we lived in apartments, I would use the kitchen table as my craft lab. When we bought our house, there wasn't any room for my stuff, so I took over a small part of the dining room. Problem was our dining room is a pass-through to the rest of the house and my piles of fabric; I was a quilter at the time, was expanding with no where to go. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When my son went to college I asked him if it would be alright to use one wall of his room. After all it was completely empty on one side and I really could use the space. He graciously agreed. Little did he know that over the course of his four years away at school, my art stuff would grow like one of those giant pumpkins you see at the county fair. I had not only started art school myself, but I discovered the wonderful world of Altered Books, Collage, Sculpture and Mixed Media. When he came home to visit, he literally was sleeping inside of a craft closet!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today I have a beautiful room all to myself. I painted the walls a sunshiny yellow, which was inspired by the quilt artist <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=6bo_bPG_SlIC&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=Freddy+Moran+studio&source=bl&ots=ujMS19aREK&sig=YU8eEU_OqEMKHorxi7skQoJvASQ&hl=">Freddy Moran</a> and her beautiful quilt studio. I saw an interview on television with her and I always remembered her saying that her yellow studio was bright and sunny even on the grayest of rainy days. I feel instantly happy when I open my studio door. The woodwork was painted with a hint of yellow mixed into the paint, and I painted the ceiling a light sky blue. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQdzhDay09BPdP5oIv1o6WuVzbkF5IOy0iPGGSE9mLN0lqDj6DBRe3q1tu6EipflYQ3hJ2C-vGgzctgvC6djrMNHDZqyKZP-3XEqFlxrt-kQ9htRlHsMeFxDwbSiJwWG8puYWGr50ag/s1600/October+3,+2010+025_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQdzhDay09BPdP5oIv1o6WuVzbkF5IOy0iPGGSE9mLN0lqDj6DBRe3q1tu6EipflYQ3hJ2C-vGgzctgvC6djrMNHDZqyKZP-3XEqFlxrt-kQ9htRlHsMeFxDwbSiJwWG8puYWGr50ag/s640/October+3,+2010+025_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is my cutting counter that I bought for $25.00! It was a discontinued floor sample. I keep my altered books, unfinished projects, a sewing machine and drill press behind the doors.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazt9lB4L3glhxiVhGgroDvX6xmnCvlHoFhvhgxlHsTsix2338-zztnXl6Elh3nyfv9hKgLD84pQQtdjcFHTW8EhNmlJyjFuCP-Ud3QCC5sXDXOe9IMwbi-sRwQVI843eU1DnY1uZGbA/s1600/October+3,+2010+056_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazt9lB4L3glhxiVhGgroDvX6xmnCvlHoFhvhgxlHsTsix2338-zztnXl6Elh3nyfv9hKgLD84pQQtdjcFHTW8EhNmlJyjFuCP-Ud3QCC5sXDXOe9IMwbi-sRwQVI843eU1DnY1uZGbA/s320/October+3,+2010+056_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These mannequins were made by members of my Altered Arts Group.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzZNidD8LT1JYLEIGEFrOpefSBCr86WITilSDcmZDfC5xMCbY4DzFz8UI_ht9cnbLVOJxI6TVBRQHTdFo7PoP1AEl_iE34-PoTkKdWOkbozZp7fRhZdqD5z1EuJjopNpJDTMZraZ6pg/s1600/October+3,+2010+049_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzZNidD8LT1JYLEIGEFrOpefSBCr86WITilSDcmZDfC5xMCbY4DzFz8UI_ht9cnbLVOJxI6TVBRQHTdFo7PoP1AEl_iE34-PoTkKdWOkbozZp7fRhZdqD5z1EuJjopNpJDTMZraZ6pg/s640/October+3,+2010+049_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is my chandelier with a little friend perched on it. It really is more useful than decorative.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5kz89wHkGYoG8VFFj0TIuZv5yehxnRdnrIKLCMNYJOY2llovDGBX-HT-EBgzC1GxDpQMefLoYpEBEodVtNz7hEqsGHnRBB0LjYa5i7azDCRGSztSkd2QKV8mP6j1RfQI3vfX4Qc61A/s1600/October+3,+2010+035_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5kz89wHkGYoG8VFFj0TIuZv5yehxnRdnrIKLCMNYJOY2llovDGBX-HT-EBgzC1GxDpQMefLoYpEBEodVtNz7hEqsGHnRBB0LjYa5i7azDCRGSztSkd2QKV8mP6j1RfQI3vfX4Qc61A/s400/October+3,+2010+035_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I do most of my work on this drafting table that I got for $15.00. Notice the beautiful quilt on my chair which was a Christmas present from my friend Peggy.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmleXqm6kZUAkOqmgaEsBbGUA7ty5VwLMrk8AGRZfOtXI5m7azWSVAPlYRM0EQe8JIlAYQYjnCPexA7eiFyBpn_BLl5V042zuuoFN96vEEfW4mw4ySQgsvZ3geYhSiJNumIGg2tAxWg/s1600/October+3,+2010+027_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmleXqm6kZUAkOqmgaEsBbGUA7ty5VwLMrk8AGRZfOtXI5m7azWSVAPlYRM0EQe8JIlAYQYjnCPexA7eiFyBpn_BLl5V042zuuoFN96vEEfW4mw4ySQgsvZ3geYhSiJNumIGg2tAxWg/s400/October+3,+2010+027_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwucEN8B8gXnXCxOCkyPpJtDkDTik0oq6146PGlnKL_IMK_Y_x1AXX2DMcboDikVOhyfoImRlshj4zFYH070PvsJ4Bft4jSGodmA5ts-U9MTkwemsvcesu_FuuPjPVOZ2pLU-tWp28w/s1600/October+3,+2010+070_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwucEN8B8gXnXCxOCkyPpJtDkDTik0oq6146PGlnKL_IMK_Y_x1AXX2DMcboDikVOhyfoImRlshj4zFYH070PvsJ4Bft4jSGodmA5ts-U9MTkwemsvcesu_FuuPjPVOZ2pLU-tWp28w/s400/October+3,+2010+070_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This inspirational fortune is taped to my swing arm task lamp for me to ponder every day.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJudBE9mwmqG4wtM6eCAtqW3S5Ad90Gr6lMGYxN9NYh-jdajZiX86xA63sevYFGyVjNZdiUS_3KVcsOQYinIdT3A_esHaEXYOXv7NURr9GZlHRAGTPGplXSiLReD0KI124aQjM0ejaZA/s1600/October+3,+2010+057_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJudBE9mwmqG4wtM6eCAtqW3S5Ad90Gr6lMGYxN9NYh-jdajZiX86xA63sevYFGyVjNZdiUS_3KVcsOQYinIdT3A_esHaEXYOXv7NURr9GZlHRAGTPGplXSiLReD0KI124aQjM0ejaZA/s400/October+3,+2010+057_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is my main ink pad storage and little drawers for tiny bits and bobs.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI89Gr31g6ARuhZH7doh3egpz75WVmag7XSh3vQWCScoT_EWuPe90fjXkzA_ZKxWeCxvYYqWhm7bWsz9roir9qGB-AiAr7cnxgEh2sz6WOOTlCy1ihQHdyrYG7SEif-yowCfRsYQNbSA/s1600/October+3,+2010+065_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI89Gr31g6ARuhZH7doh3egpz75WVmag7XSh3vQWCScoT_EWuPe90fjXkzA_ZKxWeCxvYYqWhm7bWsz9roir9qGB-AiAr7cnxgEh2sz6WOOTlCy1ihQHdyrYG7SEif-yowCfRsYQNbSA/s640/October+3,+2010+065_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plenty of tools to color and paint with in pots on the counter.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLuM6dk29BN2DS6KhBPCSZgJ-mLOzUyviGRYaW1g-v9aSpNdl_84TPKjPbBo9hQbVdQ9igzxBNdZhyphenhyphen18Om4VDIFe69rpY8HSWJHkPKZe-oHWnA3lpaZPAQOtEZj6zZdOTeWErMLVfDA/s1600/October+3,+2010+075_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLuM6dk29BN2DS6KhBPCSZgJ-mLOzUyviGRYaW1g-v9aSpNdl_84TPKjPbBo9hQbVdQ9igzxBNdZhyphenhyphen18Om4VDIFe69rpY8HSWJHkPKZe-oHWnA3lpaZPAQOtEZj6zZdOTeWErMLVfDA/s400/October+3,+2010+075_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is my favorite storage piece. It is a Closet Maid drawer system which holds tools in the two top drawers and the other deep drawers hold adhesives, paints, glitters, embossing powders and punches.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSq6I_Fcx6kO6doIEfZlBjpRG5vt8gaqsZtq4fs_6_Z7U4JhCQsL1Fd97PQwSr5OEcjE5bOaOXfsN7jU62VGdEz6WLEcWK9-PljMf1Da4cpmsQZO5ZK3Muxrq8s7TXltZZjelD4SwTg/s1600/October+3,+2010+076_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSq6I_Fcx6kO6doIEfZlBjpRG5vt8gaqsZtq4fs_6_Z7U4JhCQsL1Fd97PQwSr5OEcjE5bOaOXfsN7jU62VGdEz6WLEcWK9-PljMf1Da4cpmsQZO5ZK3Muxrq8s7TXltZZjelD4SwTg/s400/October+3,+2010+076_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3uARtOFU1VKYYx8T1Tfz7Nw4FBCBw8jhyphenhyphenj6-CScznXwFnxaA18pX9Kkf0dC8PRP9bpLAk0FaxtXRQwYPODf9GD2mvMtSiD6-Nc5HUZbAxlR9jZtKzoMgcKIwB30z_lsmTdgsWAsgGA/s1600/October+3,+2010+077_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3uARtOFU1VKYYx8T1Tfz7Nw4FBCBw8jhyphenhyphenj6-CScznXwFnxaA18pX9Kkf0dC8PRP9bpLAk0FaxtXRQwYPODf9GD2mvMtSiD6-Nc5HUZbAxlR9jZtKzoMgcKIwB30z_lsmTdgsWAsgGA/s400/October+3,+2010+077_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Did I mention I have a few jars of paint?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzpvFtE6FF2lkD17XCTPt5AioG0iukNGphUXguus6_uIZGj1ssB09cA1zMmjMkaPSoEZS2seJHeXHcpB6-sCDnNPl-PXFtjFZeKbmXA4IIodoWxW9T0wMZtIk8EVvu-sThX72dodo0w/s1600/October+3,+2010+078_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzpvFtE6FF2lkD17XCTPt5AioG0iukNGphUXguus6_uIZGj1ssB09cA1zMmjMkaPSoEZS2seJHeXHcpB6-sCDnNPl-PXFtjFZeKbmXA4IIodoWxW9T0wMZtIk8EVvu-sThX72dodo0w/s400/October+3,+2010+078_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Another drawer holds Colorbox chalk and Fresco ink pads.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgU0WkzauV_4svMT-FY1utvKDLXtRtmAK4-RyQzWKlGVPV5RTJXW2aKdgseEPiXLGNaRxjjT6Q-D-UusKnXEruFM-HaK3BNy_iRP5ZQj-qNRSC-rFR_NFqm4vFORuCJjZ81fybLmpA7w/s1600/October+3,+2010+063_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgU0WkzauV_4svMT-FY1utvKDLXtRtmAK4-RyQzWKlGVPV5RTJXW2aKdgseEPiXLGNaRxjjT6Q-D-UusKnXEruFM-HaK3BNy_iRP5ZQj-qNRSC-rFR_NFqm4vFORuCJjZ81fybLmpA7w/s640/October+3,+2010+063_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is my sweet baby Singer Featherweight.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinP6aJf0HVskfS3_QVqAnwyqBATP_qXwbDgtBNda8O9A1pMKOr5JifYC2x9ZbVscf2yDRyq448EV7N4byZhC9Nk_qPFJocGGrZHm837Uovi2UK8kCYprxEEZTXY_E-h5otitY7Jwwkyg/s1600/October+3,+2010+099_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinP6aJf0HVskfS3_QVqAnwyqBATP_qXwbDgtBNda8O9A1pMKOr5JifYC2x9ZbVscf2yDRyq448EV7N4byZhC9Nk_qPFJocGGrZHm837Uovi2UK8kCYprxEEZTXY_E-h5otitY7Jwwkyg/s640/October+3,+2010+099_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sometimes I like to type out some text for collaging on this old Royal typewriter.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXodJr13PVSRth_Zby8aMjtssRCQRkK0Gyp_u0keV-8s7_LxNzOAQTiKM1BQVlRW8dMWFYX1KAIwkO1GFOdJJBBsmCWGyCzNzIhlsgVAVaqguN2Ts1PAzCDkyxu9gUXrh4gcCvPAvR7w/s1600/October+3,+2010+079_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXodJr13PVSRth_Zby8aMjtssRCQRkK0Gyp_u0keV-8s7_LxNzOAQTiKM1BQVlRW8dMWFYX1KAIwkO1GFOdJJBBsmCWGyCzNzIhlsgVAVaqguN2Ts1PAzCDkyxu9gUXrh4gcCvPAvR7w/s400/October+3,+2010+079_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My collection of art & craft books sits on a long shelf over my work area. I also display little works of art from friends here too.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ4lXiYgYgR0BSv_e9cMlADW6kvcDZN6PSaHDIfnNeiDdMObANbcrd6Dv-A7j0psJuuUIf-1v8V6E7Pmc9F8kqkBHUhWznGSqbebvNTi7aFR-3w0oNO1rOkw0A9bqdChYOqBemZBVoA/s1600/October+3,+2010+037_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ4lXiYgYgR0BSv_e9cMlADW6kvcDZN6PSaHDIfnNeiDdMObANbcrd6Dv-A7j0psJuuUIf-1v8V6E7Pmc9F8kqkBHUhWznGSqbebvNTi7aFR-3w0oNO1rOkw0A9bqdChYOqBemZBVoA/s640/October+3,+2010+037_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is my itty bitty, extremely awkward closet. I have it packed to the max with raw materials and magazines, magazines, magazines!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTWYreZn6W8yn07MbORh3oFiQEcFj8glBwsIN5vgYDx46suKgn-9merpvswgDtQqLCZBJqdZ1xGJyb5hsnwdgDoREDnRdqHBUWi1F9_Ob1lVcjxzhjPx-qlAaXBhQ8i67PqaC-8yv-Q/s1600/October+3,+2010+042_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTWYreZn6W8yn07MbORh3oFiQEcFj8glBwsIN5vgYDx46suKgn-9merpvswgDtQqLCZBJqdZ1xGJyb5hsnwdgDoREDnRdqHBUWi1F9_Ob1lVcjxzhjPx-qlAaXBhQ8i67PqaC-8yv-Q/s640/October+3,+2010+042_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the latest addition to my studio, this fabulous storage unit from Ikea. It holds so much stuff.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EC1M6ZSJHapLuxFIIWSn7rYFblK91uON6gAddb-cmvl-7YVr9GnxTzibcu8Geql-KYdRNTYhyphenhyphen6pDWvq3Bqdr-CtujueGNWRRxSkPcTXVJxzh-uG5jKO9u7rw7QYg0ZZAHSzt33QVyw/s1600/October+3,+2010+087_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EC1M6ZSJHapLuxFIIWSn7rYFblK91uON6gAddb-cmvl-7YVr9GnxTzibcu8Geql-KYdRNTYhyphenhyphen6pDWvq3Bqdr-CtujueGNWRRxSkPcTXVJxzh-uG5jKO9u7rw7QYg0ZZAHSzt33QVyw/s400/October+3,+2010+087_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More paint - Golden Glazes.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3IPXZY3tygRxndA2cUp6C_FlqwkQEMWtflFUOjTSJS-cQj-DLCDqFtOiZQKaFzbqQhunkixfofPK4H8jP2o19SAsqa_twfuGn3703RzX8ftVoDv1q7hV8xzxWxh0hvTphCY8S5TPQw/s1600/October+3,+2010+088_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3IPXZY3tygRxndA2cUp6C_FlqwkQEMWtflFUOjTSJS-cQj-DLCDqFtOiZQKaFzbqQhunkixfofPK4H8jP2o19SAsqa_twfuGn3703RzX8ftVoDv1q7hV8xzxWxh0hvTphCY8S5TPQw/s400/October+3,+2010+088_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">These old metal lunch boxes makes great storage for all sorts of things.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJk4YdNQldKVpbr-M4Pn_OvSNb5p5sKkOOErOnXYTLvxo8lt2XggCZ0JvIKWhLkI9j-A-MaBNDfPOOn5KAlAD4XOrhr4bZZKJLCq8sPx4E9fz3gjk2hcaV9PSQ63aztpTFsYvPfeNGqw/s1600/October+3,+2010+092_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJk4YdNQldKVpbr-M4Pn_OvSNb5p5sKkOOErOnXYTLvxo8lt2XggCZ0JvIKWhLkI9j-A-MaBNDfPOOn5KAlAD4XOrhr4bZZKJLCq8sPx4E9fz3gjk2hcaV9PSQ63aztpTFsYvPfeNGqw/s400/October+3,+2010+092_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is my new rubber stamp storage. I used to have my wood stamps stored in 2 six drawer rolling carts and my unmounted stamps stored in four over sized plastic shoe boxes up high on a shelf. Now everything lives together organized and labeled in these Stampendous "Thickers" storage containers. Each one holds a single layer of stamps so you can easily see and get to your collection. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdgdVELKQog2u0Hv4DTFQOvkd8lrVSchKLjp82TcnM9ZFJNx9pIigcAMI6XffVITmPUDBN7L80tLYR9BwPKu0jnGQoqjpWobsG-R-SvT1j-j5V4SL2OssSzO9E7tGnWFTQD6EgWpmpQ/s1600/October+3,+2010+046_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdgdVELKQog2u0Hv4DTFQOvkd8lrVSchKLjp82TcnM9ZFJNx9pIigcAMI6XffVITmPUDBN7L80tLYR9BwPKu0jnGQoqjpWobsG-R-SvT1j-j5V4SL2OssSzO9E7tGnWFTQD6EgWpmpQ/s640/October+3,+2010+046_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is my BIG storage cabinet for fabric. I got this for $25.00 too!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOl-2eRygPPOB-vTFn573LEizgP2K8qazHzK_z3my5NxDb3MpJfAnFn6riSLoVji2PQZU1zAkCnV_wig3hzQaa0uJbHwSsaPeVdaDIi_ri6A9emCd0BSQnfxuchiIo4Stb3shjHPtmg/s1600/October+3,+2010+044_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOl-2eRygPPOB-vTFn573LEizgP2K8qazHzK_z3my5NxDb3MpJfAnFn6riSLoVji2PQZU1zAkCnV_wig3hzQaa0uJbHwSsaPeVdaDIi_ri6A9emCd0BSQnfxuchiIo4Stb3shjHPtmg/s640/October+3,+2010+044_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The shelves can barely hold up from the weight of the expansive fabric stash. Each basket holds a different color. On the top shelf is my ribbon storage in Snapware containers.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79X4xWhEGD6gwpcMDeN4FCQRkVnlcH5R7555lpXsPW6JCEBS5niHMapUpGRhKmIwpcS7JXIe7DdnY3s1bVHWfugd7PlfruINZIngpxWgMQHA7KHMiF2Am0saQG52vh8BYFkVfT9RE6Q/s1600/October+3,+2010+048_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79X4xWhEGD6gwpcMDeN4FCQRkVnlcH5R7555lpXsPW6JCEBS5niHMapUpGRhKmIwpcS7JXIe7DdnY3s1bVHWfugd7PlfruINZIngpxWgMQHA7KHMiF2Am0saQG52vh8BYFkVfT9RE6Q/s640/October+3,+2010+048_edited-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On the back of the studio door is my large art paper storage. I used five curtain rods to hold over 75 sheets of paper organized by color. When I want a sheet, I just unhook the curtain rod, get what I want, then clip it back on the fixture. Underneath are a few tote bags and to the right, a step stool.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Home Sweet Home Studio </span></b></i></span></span></div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-10588335787940008362010-09-18T10:46:00.002-04:002010-09-19T13:37:58.500-04:00What's in a name?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here is my little mascot, all 2 1/2 inches tall, who has recently had a makeover. Thank you to Sandra Evertson for her wonderful blog tutorial on making little crowns: </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sandraevertson.blogspot.com/2007/11/teeny-tiny-royal-crowns.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://sandraevertson.blogspot.com/2007/11/teeny-tiny-royal-crowns.html</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was able to make this teeny tiny one for her.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn79B3vOYO7jtgzhWdlqlcWgCyEJqKmPzmk03YWEbyymVZl1xx4g2EmffC6e6b-cgJTCLgDE9AOTiEfdzWqIPC1GxvmhPZk2QRpuxbgXJZjdQqw-7S98UrXFoHDLaKUmnItPQmTc1f7Q/s1600/I+need+a+name.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn79B3vOYO7jtgzhWdlqlcWgCyEJqKmPzmk03YWEbyymVZl1xx4g2EmffC6e6b-cgJTCLgDE9AOTiEfdzWqIPC1GxvmhPZk2QRpuxbgXJZjdQqw-7S98UrXFoHDLaKUmnItPQmTc1f7Q/s320/I+need+a+name.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am requesting your help with naming my little mascot who will pop up from time to time in my posts. Please leave a comment with your idea for a name. Whoever comes up with the name that is chosen will get credit for naming her as well as a little thank you gift from me and I'll post a link to your blog. Thanks for your help!</span></div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-15117199477498933642010-09-12T18:37:00.000-04:002010-09-12T18:37:22.527-04:00Can't get enough of these blueberry muffins<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYibHHz1Zo_AO784iqbVSPv3ZQHi5diKlyhC1fmP6t3CmowVJR2iAY5l0Wn3t0ocBgun-IB7M_B0gbsCXKiO6RNQI0rc4eYkR9pi24RlHCGS0ff9XRKCC861fx6AewiZZw6ucQr5i05A/s1600/blog+post+8-30-10+032.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511370267600777810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYibHHz1Zo_AO784iqbVSPv3ZQHi5diKlyhC1fmP6t3CmowVJR2iAY5l0Wn3t0ocBgun-IB7M_B0gbsCXKiO6RNQI0rc4eYkR9pi24RlHCGS0ff9XRKCC861fx6AewiZZw6ucQr5i05A/s400/blog+post+8-30-10+032.JPG" style="float: left; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; width: 240px;" width="300" /></a><br />
Last week I baked some blueberry muffins, a recipe I have been using for years. They are soooo.... delicious I decided I just hadn't had enough of their blueberry goodness, so I made another batch this morning.<br />
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>Those of you who know me well, know that I am not a morning person, but somehow I can pull myself together, just after getting out of bed no less, to make muffins in the morning. I find it not only a relaxing way to start my day, but I must admit that I love homemade muffins for breakfast. I usually make Jiffy Brand bran muffins at least once a week. It makes just 6 small muffins but I haven't found a "by scratch" recipe that I like better, and besides, how easy is it to empty the mix into the bowl, add egg and milk, stir, and spoon into a little muffin pan? You don't have to even be fully awake to manage that.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>I started out with the recipe for my blueberry muffins from this great little book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Muffins-Sixty-Savory-Recipes-Favorites/dp/0517222493/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1283203849&sr=1-3">"Muffins" by Elizabeth Alston</a>. <br />
<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>The Best Blueberry Muffins</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1 cup granulated sugar </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2 eggs </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2 teaspoons baking powder</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1/4 teaspoon salt </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (mash 1/2 cup with fork) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2 cups flour (I substitute 1 cup white and 1 cup wheat) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup milk</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1 tablespoon sugar mixed with 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 12 muffin cups including area between cups or use foil baking cup liners.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In medium size bowl, beat butter until creamy. Beat in sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Beat in vanilla, baking powder, and salt. Mix mashed berries into batter. Fold in half of the flour with a spatula, then half of her milk. Add remaining flour and milk. Fold in remaining blueberries.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Scoop batter into muffin cups. Sprinkle with nutmeg-sugar. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let muffins cool at least 30 minutes in the pan before removing.</span><br />
</div><div><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511371376824004210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGD5zpr3psDzMccb_e11rjw7KmSfA-OHTIewFxIbr-h8sHM1Lsxpnr459fA1QDwmogeKLfthoFdyVD-wDXAcMfCdLL2WSX_f6H29UpwMWrkEcZkehvKImh8utF2PmbKwsetiFjBuNPg/s200/blog+post+8-30-10+002.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" width="150" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The sweet cream butter mixed with the sugar makes for a beautiful soft yellow glow in the bottom of my mixer bowl.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This recipe has 2 secret tips. The first one is to mash some of the berries and mix it into the batter. It helps release the berry juice and make these muffins so much better.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511426220311808306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_h3GK1_g_jnMI7Qhu1zuV3o7HWn3MuhjsAAvisHhqqk4wKsPbgOzAHPhbsbQpbcJO41eMptuThI_RMRCLJybov73CrT94hxSU73dHW24_yUL2fEGp9uVnEhRh2kCgl3PX2Zyh4SQGw/s320/blog+post+8-30-10+007.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I do change Ms. Alston's recipe just a little: I replace half of the white flour with wheat flour. It has no effect on the taste of the muffin but does change the color of the muffin slightly.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The other secret tip for these muffins is to sprinkle each one with some nutmeg-sugar just before popping them into the oven.</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511428298519621506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYUeT8kiaw5hGbnOCjXWkoUJnz0tX68wxV9_sohuUfhwWs88MHr_47RrLtjpzrWOu4x3WqkMx6JLBrU_pZxBeBxbUvutIqyCMnXWS4CA5cItkYZu6a315a4neeTOGhmbC5zKbTKQbFQ/s320/blog+post+8-30-10+022.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This makes them a little crunchy on the top. It is a challenge to let them cool completely before carefully prying them out of their little cup cradles. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511430349587850210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFN37w5EL3aXDpI5ogVREhVkHTFIpCEYtxY4KnQkfpiADTue-9ijRglAaBe2IY9hPrewpwKTAYU9_MJy7X0uHKRWFHJwOnM4D_DShsI36yg-_-bz37IySKDgGqIIAtkL1CYO1bBGLTg/s320/blog+post+8-30-10+039.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This makes mornings just a little bit more palatable.</div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1886526369287095509.post-33507028899514277202010-01-31T18:05:00.017-05:002010-10-04T14:43:23.701-04:00New Year, New Beginning, New Hope<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHupc79rWz2HRzw1w974r8imwN_NQKqRhqp48TDC8j0WKAiYzGOFFNIrpkBZpgiMJZkc4wCggYQbcpIbeqVoVm109K55Ec3UXqyKPz4sENnkKYc-wdOCwXVUCwzQHlXO7J7fhpnVBOqg/s1600/img058.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511422324330836290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHupc79rWz2HRzw1w974r8imwN_NQKqRhqp48TDC8j0WKAiYzGOFFNIrpkBZpgiMJZkc4wCggYQbcpIbeqVoVm109K55Ec3UXqyKPz4sENnkKYc-wdOCwXVUCwzQHlXO7J7fhpnVBOqg/s320/img058.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 212px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9sJzThAIQZz4pXsMLdy8p3AUmgxjIl-IC9_s76b8RlydpfL2Y0cN8p4dtLB4Z8Os-GJ5OqC4C-OdkuD4dNYa3cqh15L9C84luJgFX2OMpxStj_IcjarUq_LAc-eHtTNZ-bicW_-MIA/s1600/Dad+card.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511421716521088642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9sJzThAIQZz4pXsMLdy8p3AUmgxjIl-IC9_s76b8RlydpfL2Y0cN8p4dtLB4Z8Os-GJ5OqC4C-OdkuD4dNYa3cqh15L9C84luJgFX2OMpxStj_IcjarUq_LAc-eHtTNZ-bicW_-MIA/s320/Dad+card.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNAQb7BPMwGv_9aEI_1y_jJ_VTysjxGG5LnxnRFNmQO9il8Kk5R-xQAjh5hOjL7y8d3iW2nAnvdt_GToJNZVD2VcBmJ4yjMzqS3N3BZUHEvXZwOc2FbTFtuiQ24LX0fBpaT_YgG4oew/s1600/Dad+card.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> </a>Well it's taken a while but here it is - finally! I have stewed for quite a while about starting a blog. Unfortunately life just didn't allow me the time to start one, until now.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Since this is the beginning of my new blog, I thought it only fitting to start at <b>my </b>beginning, with art work featuring my parents, and also with endings as well as rebirth.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I had a horrible series of events in 2009 that didn't allow me much creative thinking time. We went in to New years day 2009 hoping for a brighter future as my husband was laid off from his job in mid 2008. Over dinner, we toasted in the new year with my parents and sons, our hope for a better year. Little did we know what dark days lied ahead of us.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Shortly after that toast my father suffered a congestive heart failure and subsequently died 10 days later. They had been home visiting for the holidays, and they left an active lifestyle back in Florida. My mother was showing beginning stages of dementia and we knew immediately that she could not return to live alone without any support system. We moved her back home to be near us, and help her live as independent life as possible with her increasing failing memory. She had a very difficult year, being diagnosed with a small skin cancer lesion which was luckily caught in time, and needing knee replacement surgery. She would never get that surgery; the day before it was scheduled she suffered from a TIA and went on to fall several more times in a few short months. It was discovered that she had a detached retina and did undergo surgery to fix it, only to succumb to a major hemorrhagic stroke which ultimately ended her life on January 8th, 2010. We could never have guessed when we made that New Year's toast of 2009 with the two of them that we would be seeing the New Year of 2010 come in without either of them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Going forward in this new year, we do have new hope. On the day my mother passed, my husband found out he got a job! What an unbelievable range of emotions we had that day. With all the responsibilities of taking care of my mother, work and teaching students how to be more creative, it didn't allow much time for my own creative play, something I use to cope with life's stresses.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This new beginning will be to reconnect to my own creative soul, my rebirth, and I will be documenting my journey as much as possible. I have never kept a journal for any period of time before, so it will be a new challenge for this as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So here's to this new year; I will try to live my life more fully, begin anew with new ambition and new hope to enjoy the ones I love for as long as the universe will allow me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433044368327638178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6sicArw75NV_F6MimLWlqTarKQElSio0ZXybID4ZCsVIz1zXs2x1fYI5I0PbXXq-oF6KOByWZVFGlmLL42KLxMCD7ReudVGkf2cWX9QEZWJ6tEeRuNYbMmd-P5xjSfGcUOo8XYty4sg/s320/collage+self+portrait.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Karen Provosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05926571433835769939noreply@blogger.com0