My newest design inspired by the realization that 50 is creeping up on me and I still have a lot to do!!!!

One of the hardest things to believe is that our someday is right now!

Someday I will exercise
Someday I will eat healthier
Someday I will be organized
Someday I will not procrastinate
Someday I will go on a creative retreat with other artists
Someday I will go to Italy (maybe for a creative retreat)
Someday I will make more money then I spend on my jewelry
Someday I will have my own shop/studio
Someday I will live in a warm climate (or have another home in one)
Someday I will get away with my husband for a much needed vacation
Someday I will be visiting my girls in college (back to making more then I spend)
Someday I will accomplish all I want in a day (back to the organized thing)
etc. etc. etc.

Someday I will have the courage to be the person I always knew I could be


Time Flies ~ Live your life to the fullest, the time is NOW ((:

Girls Weekend

A great girls weekend brought on by the chance meeting of two very creative souls that recently came into my life. I met Jeannie at a flea market and she introduced me to Sharon who so generously offered to take us up to her beautiful farm in Door County, WI.


The perfect girls weekend with two very like minded junk loving, treasure hunting, creative, business minded, beautiful, sweet, supportive, FUN new friends. What better way to really get to know each other then a 4 hr. car drive up north with various junking stops, story telling, much laughter, food & WINE. A perfect getaway for a gal like me.


One of our stops along the way was suggested by Jeannine at
http://chippyshabby.blogspot.com/2011/01/chippy-shabby-shops-farm-girl-antiques.html


An eclectic antique shop called "Farm Girl"
http://yourfarmgirl.blogspot.com/.
We met Lisa the owner who went out of her way to offer the best friendly customer service, complete with demonstrating how to pound out a vintage spoon and stamp words on it to hang or use in your flower pots. Can I say I was very envious of her anvil for those of you metal workers out there.

Look at this picture of Lisa isn't she the cutest funky girl, well she has a personality to match. Stop by and see her when you are in the Milwaukee area!


Once up in Door County one of our many adventures was to go to a fund raiser where you picked out a ceramic bowl made by local art students and then enjoy numerous varieties of soups of our choice. We spent about a half hour just looking at all the bowls, it was so hard to choose.


Jeannie chose one with a face and big red lips!


We stopped by a few shops, this gallery had the most beautiful colored glass bulbs and Adirondack chairs in the yard. Who would think something you associate with summer could look this beautiful in the winter. The colors just popped against the snow.


One of the highlights for me was the this beautiful shop named "Viva La Cottage" with such creative display. All soft whites and natural linens, burlaps in a mouth watering shop where you discovered something new around every corner. Unfortunately, my pics did it no justice so I did not post any of them. You will have to stop by and visit yourself or just take my word for it. In the meantime you can check out the owner Angie's blog~
http://www.vivalacottage.blogspot.com/

Angie was not there the day we stopped by so I did not get a chance to meet her, but I had the pleasure of meeting Carol (what a sweetie) and we spent time talking and taking some pictures with her (we are facebook friends now). Rumour has it we have to come back and check out Carols place in Door County, Sharon said it is something to see. Here is a picture of Sharon, Jeannie & Carol.


O.K., I am going to wind this up. Unfortunately, I cannot post all the pictures here of our fabulous weekend. All I can say is it felt good to get away and spend time making and sharing new friendships and taking in the beauty of Door County!
I cannot forget to mention our fourth traveling companion "Jackson", I would say the sweetest dog I have ever spent time with!
This is a true companion dog((:


Thanks Girls, until we meet again ~love you~ xo

Valentines Day SALE!

Valentine's day is almost here, hard to believe and for all of you that need a token to share your love with yourself or others...
I am having a SALE in both of my Etsy sites! Starting today through next Sunday take 20% off all items (use code "blog20" at checkout). Links to both sites are on my sidebar. Hope you can find something for yourself or a great Valentine's Gift.

I have taken the image that I created in Photoshop as seen in my last post and made it in to a belt buckle. Here is a picture of it. I think it turned out great, if I do say so myself. I listed it on my Etsy site today.


I am spending these cold snowy days filling out the FAFSA form for college funding. Yikes, am I really old enough to have a college bound kid already? I feel 50 getting closer as I recieved my AARP card in the mail this week )): As a friend told me the other day, I will enjoy getting old and seeing my wrinkles as it is better then the alternative of not being here at all!
So I am embracing my life wrinkles, failing eyesight, sore joints, and all, glad to be alive and to have a daughter that wants to go to college.

Can I hear an Amen Sista!!!!!

Playing in photoshop again, this is my latest piece! Funny, but I had to call baby girl down a few times to help me to figure out how to make my visions happen. Me...a college degreed graphic designer needing help from a 14 year old. Now a days if you do not stay active with the programs, everything changes. I was doing graphics when we still did everything by hand, "cut and paste" is what we called it. It is a whole different field now. So many more possibilities. It can be FUN((:
One of my New Years Resolutions to PLAY more with my art! You never know where it will lead you.

On a completely different subject~ One of my best friends is a very talented story teller and writer. Rhonda is a professional horse trainer and although I know she is an expert in her field...I kept encouraging her to write a blog with her wonderful stories. Every year Rhonda includes a story in her Christmas Card and it always would make me laugh, cry or both and I will never forget any of them. They stick with you.
So grab a cup of coffee or glass of wine and check out her blog and read some of her stories you will not be sorry, I promise!
The story "Young Prince Taj" still gives me goose bumps. "Finding my Friends" is a must read!


This is a picture of Rhonda on the right and her friend Mo on the left. If you read her first story it is about their friendship. You will love this story.
http://rhondahasstories.blogspot.com/

It has been awhile since my last post I know! This was a busy month of Holiday shows, parties, being with my family and unfortunately many colds and sickies in the house. So I wanted to sit down and do a New Years post, but was not feeling very creative while blowing my nose, sneezing etc. etc.

I just found out though that my good friend Sandy from Rhubarb Reign http://rhubarb-reign.blogspot.com/ has been featured in Somerset Magazine this month and I am so excited for her. Sandy and her business partner Joe are some of the most talented people I know and are very deserving of this article! I am so glad they do the flea market near my home every month so I can go and see what goodies they will bring! I currently have them working on a belt buckle display piece for me. They created my cute chicken wire dress form that I featured on here a while ago. Not only are my friends in this issue, but one of my favorite artists Misty Mawn, whos work and blog I have been following for a few years is featured in & on the cover. Misty writes a beautiful blog http://mistymawn.typepad.com/and has the most amazing photographs and artwork. I have enjoyed her blog for so long now and hope some day to meet her and take a class.


She has a book coming out that I cannot wait to get my hands on. It is sitting on my wish list on amazon and just waiting for the release date!!!



I look forward to a New Year full of
New... ideas, friends & experiences and hope the same for all of you.
cheers~xo