Excitement to share

I can now share my excitement over being chosen to share my blogging life through the newest release from best seller, Cindy Adkins. "Women: Blogging can give you wings", is the title and it is self explanatory.

 All of us know how freeing it is to sit and express yourself through our blogs. We inspire, offer help, support, and share our lives and our art with each other and although I never thought in a million years I would be among the women chosen to share, I am really excited to do so.

 I met Cindy just a few weeks ago while bed ridden from knee surgery. Meeting her through an email was like a ray of sunshine through gray skies. Trying to keep positive, her contact got me back on track again. There is always something that will snap us back to reality, and Cindy unknowingly did this for me. Thank you Cindy for everything you do and every word you write. I'm honored to be noticed by you, and I'm not one who likes recognition,LOL
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I hope you all get a chance to read Cindy's books. If you need inspiration, there is no better source.

Our Next Artist is Up for the Artful Gathering Blog Hop!

Celebrating Artful Gathering 2012 Online Art Retreat, 
Open for Registration!

Blog Hop your way for chance to win!

From June to August 2012, ArtfulGathering.com will be presenting TWO exciting semesters of premiere online video workshops offered by fabulous artists who are known nationally and internationally. We are all very excited to share out knowledge, skill, and creativity with you, and we hope that you will join us for this AMAZING annual online event.

Blog Hop with us for a chance to win a prizes from Jerry's Artarama!

Each week the faculty of Artful Gathering will be announcing a featured blog to visit.

You can hop along with us until the final destination blog is reached, and where ONE Grand Prize winner will be chosen at Random for a chance to win a $200.00 e-gift card from Jerry's Artarama!!!

Two Runner Up winners will also be chosen at random for a chance to win a $25.00 e-gift card from Jerrys.

Each week I will announce the next featured blog for you to visit, and there you will find a new secret word or words that you will need to collect along your way from blog to blog. Once you have collected all the words from each blog you visit, they will work out to say a very artsy phrase. Here are the rules:

1. For your chance to win, you must collect all the secret code words and submit them upon the final destination blog in May. A random drawing will be conducted from those contestants who have submitted the complete collection of secret words!
2. Three winners will be randomly drawn. One for the $200.00 e-card to Jerry's, and two runner's up for the 25.00 e-card to Jerrys.
   
   

Week by week we'll go from one blog to the next!

Remember to collect all the secret words. These words will work out to say a very artful phrase, and you'll need all the pieces to be eligible for the final prize drawings!

Please HOP over and visit the Amazing Mixed Media Jewelry Artist...
Kecia Deveney
http://lemoncholys.blogspot.com/
(Pick Up the Next Secret Word)

Another sunny day!

Yesterday started out rough but then my bud Dawn phoned to invite me to a movie. I couldn't go out and about yet so she came to visit. We met in the studio and planned projects and gabbed up a storm. She brought us a Fugi apple and it tasted like heaven. It was a mild and sunny day and if I could have, we would have been at the beach. I really miss the beach these days but I plan to make up for that in a couple of months. Thanks for visiting Dawn :-) You turned my day right side up.

I wanted to share a beautiful tag from my friend Terri. A lot of thought went into this pretty purple pleasantry.

 Terri slipped in some 100 year old pages to play with. I'm thinking more feathers!!!!! For those of you who asked about the feathers, I found the tutorial here.

Last evening I gathered the unfinished items I had been working on and slid down the stairs to finish them off. Mission accomplished!

 Well, almost, I just need to add straps. I will be teaching the purple and green CQ swing bag for the first Artful Gathering Summer class. It measures 7" by 9", a nice size for a beginner to work with and a fun accessory to keep or give as well. You will also learn my super easy method of construction. It will be a fun class and so will my second 6 week class which will be making a CQ eyeglass/accessory caase. For anyone interested go here to check out the variety of class offerings. Please read the FAQ's for all details.
I am among such a talented group I still can't believe it. I would be even more nervous but I just try not to think about it,LOL.
If you haven't already, join in the blog hop for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate from jerrys Artarama and two runner up prizes of $25 gift certificates. Each Sunday there will be a new blog to hop over to and collect a secret word. Read more at the blog hop. (see my previous posts)

I'm off to work on straps and I'll be putting the blue water bottle holder and purple purse on etsy this weekend. The pink one is a gift for a very special gal. Enjoy your day!

Tease

I created something for the Spring issue of Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine this afternoon and thought I would tease you a bit.

What could this be?

On a roll............

Wow look at me, two posts in one morning! I am finishing the project from a week ago, just have to audition some lace trim for the top and decide on a strap.

 I broke out the fringe trim from France. It is the softest most femine trim I have ever seen...hence it being from France, Oooooh La La! I don't usually trim these purses out but the color of the CQ and the trim was right on so.......................I did.

 Alright, back to play...........
Forgot to mention I bought the French trims from Liz here.

A little more stitching and self discovery

I stitched a bit yesterday and again, thoughts of spring inspired this piece....perhaps because I'm trapped indoors???

 I've never liked to be "mothered" when I had an injury or illness and  always thought I wanted to be left alone if I ever had any kind of accident where I would have to stay home for a long period of time but I now know having friends visit is the best medicine.

Ellen's visit last week and Laney's visit on Sunday then Jilly's visit on Tuesday and all the phone calls,emails, blog comments and treats in the mail have made me realize you do need a little help from your friends. Although I have been living in jammies (not the same ones) for almost two weeks now, I have happily sat, listened and laughed through each visit and didn't want the time to end.

These women have each gone through similar down time and know how important it is to drop by just to say hi and exchange some news. Now I believe I too will be one of these women who make a visit to a friend who's life has been altered, even temporarily. All this time just because I thought I wanted to be left alone, I assumed others did too. Funny what you learn as time passes. Thank you my friends.
Even when  I finally got to get online, your comments were like little visits too, you stopped by and took some time to send well wishes that made me smile. I appreciate each of you and I think I have a new appreciation for being "Mothered."
Now enough about that, I'm doing great. Mom and my brother are stopping by this afternoon so I better get cleaned up and stitch  a little before their arrival. Angell is doing fine and not missing a meal, LOL. Have a wonderful day!