Cloth Paper Scissors January/February 2012 issue

I'm on the cover!  see that little red heart? yep, that's one of my velvet heart brooches. I also have a 3-page article inside on my "vignette" necklaces.

2012 is looking real good to me!

Stationery Card

Star Notes Thank You Card

Shop thank you notes and photo cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Father's Day

Yesterday was Father's day and I was so excited to have Jack give his papa these matching t-shirts i found on Etsy .. (SuperSweetCreations). Unfortunately Papa was not at all excited to wear it in public but he did let me take a picture of the 2 of them which is soooo cute. I also accidentally bought him a father's day card that was for a "grandfather".. oops! it was in such small print that i never even saw it. That, along with the t-shirt did not win me any points. I think i am going to have to buy him an ipad.

Jack turned 2!

My sweet little boy is already two! As someone said to me, "the days are long but the years are short"...  i feel that is sooo true with children! It took me a while to get Jack to smile in his birthday hat. I am obsessed with that Hat! I think it's the greatest thing to write the year on it so you always know what birthday it is. I found it on etsy and i am determined to get a picture of him every year with that hat on until i am dead and can not force him anymore. (i say that with great love, of course!)

strawberries and flowers

We have a little garden on our balcony thanks to mother! and we already have strawberries growing but they don't have much time to hang out because as soon as my 2 year old sees one, he picks it quickly and shoves it into his mouth!.. clever little kid. I got a photo of this one before i even let him on the balcony...  this one is gone too.

skull pendant

For my friends birthday, I made her this skull necklace/pin with a matching wooden box! It's so cute that i think i need to make a few more!

Sailing Lessons

For one of the gifts my husband recieved for his birthday was Sailing Lessons. I folded up the certifcate into the shape of a sailboat, then blopped his head onto a sailer in photoshop!  I thought this was such a cute way to present sailing lessons!

Joyeux Anniversaire!

Today is my husband's birthday!  Since he has been learning to play the guitar and Jack is obsessed with his guitar... i thought this made a cute birthday card. I assembled it in photoshop.

Sunny Day in Parc Monceau

I have been in a creative wave making different necklaces that i am really excited about. The toughest part for me is giving a title to these necklaces. The ones i come up with never seem to properly give them the excitement and flair i think they deserve. So in a quiet moment, it dawned on me to name them after incredible gardens i have been inspired by and visited. This piece is the start of that and Parc Monceau is the perfect description of  this piece in my opinion! All of my pieces are inspired by gardens so naming them after famous parks and gardens seems like the perfect fit. I am now excited to do research on all the famous gardens of the world!

Spring Garden Creations

Butterflies in the Garden is one of my new creations. I am loving the beaded chain and the the rich sparkly ribbons in this piece. It is really gorgeous in my opinion :)

Nashville

Ok, I can be so lame in keeping up with my blog! First of all, i was in Nashville, TN on business a few weeks ago (who am I kidding... it's now a month ago) where i had the pleasure to sneak in a private art class with Cindy Wunsch!  http://www.cindywunsch.com/.  Not only does she have a personality that could light up the sky, she is a great teacher and i learn several cool and different techniques. I highly recommend checking our her artwork too. Here is what i did, which is obviously completely inspired by Cindy!

45 life lessons

Written by Regina Brett,
90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written."
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words :'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift

June, Me, & Claire -- My Art Buddies

Here we are lounging outside on a big cabanna bed in Las Vegas.
We are sooo royal.

Art & Soul Retreat 2011

I had the best time AGAIN at the Art & Soul retreat this year in Las Vegas with my two buddies June & Claire.

This is what i made this year:
Day One - Fluid Romance with Kari McKnight

I learned some really cool NEW techniques in this class involving molding paster, deli paper and gold foil, which i am excited about. I also thought Kari was a fantastic teacher that gave a lot of energy to the class.










DAY TWO - Soldering for Virgins with Sally Jean Alexander

I was intimidated by this class because, quite frankly, i was a little nervous to use a soldering iron for the first time and really really didn't want to burn myself!  After a tense 20 minutes or so, i started to relax and get into it. It's a lot of fun and really like what i made. Jump rings are tricky getting on and i really need to practice this. I think i need to get a soldering iron for my birthday!


EVENING CLASS: The Art of Steampunk Jewelery with Brenda Mattson

I only took this class because June and Claire wanted to take it and i didn't want to be left alone!  I discovered that steampunk jewerly is interesting to make and has a history. I walked away having made these 2 pieces and i really love them.

DAY 3 - Color My World with Lisa Kaus

We all have taken a different Lisa Kaus class last year so this year was a similar experience. Paint, crayons, collage on wood. I just LOVE this whole medium and want to do more of it. I love the vibrant colors and i think i have a real knack for it! Oh and my baby jack on the carousel for the first time... priceless

My little one found my paints

My little guy is 21 months old and he really likes to get into cabinets and drawers, which we had to put those babysafe latches on..... however, i was holding out on my creative desk since he never noticed the cabinets below or the drawers. There is always too much crap on the desk to distract him. But this past sunday, the honeymoon is over. He discovered the cabinet with all the paints stored inside!....  Uh oh...  Honey?!, we need to put those latches on my desk now...  yes, dear.

Bloom

i think green and brown are my colors -- i am in love with this pendant that i made and have been wearing it. My friend Joyce thinks i should call it Bloom. I think i will.

Red Velvet Series

These are of the first in my Red Velvet Series....  i am obessed with this gorgeous Red Velvet I found and i am having fun embellishing them Swarovski crystals, czech fired glass beads, decorative brads and lace. They look so luxurious to me that i just want to sip champagne while i wear them.

I have also found this one-piece pin back with bail that I am now putting on the back of my pieces because it allows them to be worn as a necklace or a brooch. The bail allows you to string a chain or ribbon thru it so you can wear it as a necklace or a choker. As a brooch, you can wear it on your hat, scarf, jacket or in your hair. Wherever we need a little "je ne sais quoi" ! I am slowly getting them on my etsy shop!

Collage of Antoine & Jack

There is a lovely couple in France that we are good friends with that had son just 10 days after our son was born. The odd thing is that our sons look a like and got along very nicely. I decided to make a collage of some of the photos i took and i really like how it turned out!

Tracey Pezen

I have a very talented friend at work who just whipped up this little painting for me and gave it to me for christmas!  how fun!

Christmas 2010

 By now, everyone got their Christmas presents from me and here are some of the things i made by hand

Below, I made little ornaments made out of wood and wire of my family

The next 3 images pertain to 2x3 sized magnets that I collaged with images of the recipients’ loved ones. I then gift wraped them with tissue paper and used the birdy cut out to place the receipients name and then placed in these organza bags!  so cute!



Here a made a collage for my darling sister-in-law who worships her children and grandkids

 I also made some wooden statues of my boy. My sister recieved the garden themed one and my mother got the fairy looking one!

I also made one for my darling friend bettina of her little baby girl. This photo i took of her seemed to work so perfectly in this fairy rendition

I also made some slip-knot bracelets for many of my friends. They are fairly easy to make and when you find a fabulous stone, I think they are quite chic! I also wrapped these up nicely with red organza bags.

I also made some amazing sugar scrub by hand and made cute little labels for them with the recipe. I found nice glass containers at the Container store.

I