Have you met...and a Giveaway Preview

There are so many incredibly talented bloggers in the Land of Blog. I am in awe of these fabulous artists who are so gifted they are experiencing great success at exhibits, sales, and contests. Some are even published in national and international publications.


One of these fabulous artists is Cindy Adkins. Most of you know Cindy, and if you don’t hop right over to her blog and pay her a visit…

WAIT!  

OK, I’d appreciate it if you wait until you finish my post first. Where did you leave your manners this morning?

Cindy is a mixed media artist from Louisiana who is exceptionally talented, with an eye for detail. I own many of Cindy’s pieces of artwork. Some, I purchased from her Etsy store, but I was also gifted, by Cindy herself, several items; she has the heart of a giant.

Recently, Cindy expanded her Etsy store to include home décor. She offers many re-purposed items for your home for $10 or less. I know that speaks to your thrifter soul.


As if she isn’t busy enough, Cindy also publishes a weekly online magazine, Whimsical Musings Magazine, where she spotlights other artists, their wares, and their blogs. What a giver she is!


You can find Cindy in the spring issue of Creating Vintage Charm and this summer, she will be featured in a French magazine. Congratulations, Cindy!

Now before you go visit Miss Cindy, I’d like to show you what goodies will be in my One-Year Blogiversary Giveaway package that will appeal to those with a creative soul. To all my mixed-media, scrapbook, card making friends, I am offering a collection of embellishments, tags, and ribbon to add to your stash.

The giveaway will begin on June 28.  Stay tuned for more previews...

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

To Bead or Not to Bead…

…that is the question.

While in Florida, Melanie planned a fun Girl’s Day Out. We went to get pedicures in the morning and then picked Cheryl up for an afternoon of beading followed by an evening at an auction in Palm City.

The day before our outing, Melanie and I visited Beads and Baubles to see what classes were available. Beads and Baubles is a quaint shop on 2nd Street in Historic Dowtown Fort Pierce featuring custom designed jewelry, beads, and all the supplies needed to make beautiful beaded jewelry.

Susan

Susan is the owner and is as sweet as can be. She is very accommodating and told us we should feel free to bring cheese and wine to enjoy while beading. She assured us we would complete our project during the three hour class and would have enough supplies to complete a second project. FANTASTIC!

Daughter's Bracelet

We chose a class to make this delicate Daughter’s Bracelet. Isn’t it pretty?

While I am not an artisan, I feel confident in my ability to follow directions and to mimic the actions of others. The three of us looked forward to this fun afternoon. Melanie and I planned to make our bracelet and then make one for someone else since we would have enough beads left over.

We arrived early to choose our supplies and to meet our instructor, Stephanie. Let me just say here and now….Stephanie has the patience of a saint because WE WERE A MESS!

Stephanie works with Melanie (L) and Cheryl (R)

So far so good

Stephanie would show me what to do and I would do it correctly for a couple rows and then suddenly I’d have a growth on the outside of my bracelet. SERIOUSLY?!?! Melanie and Cheryl weren’t fairing well either; although, Melanie eventually caught on.

I got it now!

After one and a half hours, Susan suggested we take a break for lunch. In our haste to get to our pedicure, we forgot to bring the wine and cheese so we walked around the corner for a quick (30 minutes) bite at a little deli.

While we ate, we discussed the likelihood that upon our return Susan would have locked us out of the shop and she would tell us through the LOCKED door that Stephanie had to leave unexpectedly. As it turned out, Stephanie was still there; what a trooper! She caught us all up so we were all at the same place. Wasn’t that sweet of her?

Concentration

I’d like to say that lunch helped our concentration and that we completed three works of art in record time. Yep, I’d like to be able to say that, but I cannot tell a lie. The truth is we didn’t complete our bracelets at all. We requested a copy of the pattern so we can finish it on our own…or at least try.

My masterpiece after 3 hours

By the time we left, the waist band on my shorts was damp from perspiration. We told Susan and Stephanie we were going down the street for a drink.

You may think from this account that we had a horrible time. To the contrary, we had a phenomenal time. We giggled to the point of tears the rest of the week as we reminisced about our ineptitude. It was good for us to laugh at ourselves.

The next evening, we ran into Susan at Bike Night. We all had drinks in our hands and I told Susan we were still drinking from the night before. She apologized for the stress, but we thanked her for the wonderful memory. 

I would highly recommend taking a class at Beads and Baubles….just don’t tell them La sent you. They may lock the doors.

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

Spring Foliage: One Way or Another

Happy Spring!


I know I have been lamenting about the lack of spring foliage and sunshine lately. Spring is very late this year in the Buckeye State.

I decided I’d fool Mother Nature and make my own spring garden indoors. I know…I know….It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature, but my patience (Mo) has run out. What more could she do to me?

Don’t answer that!

Several weeks ago, Jenny wrote about the wreath tutorial she saw on Patti Schaffer’s blog. Because I always do what Miss Jenny instructs me to, I hopped right over and read Patti’s post.

The following weekend, I went to JoAnn and purchased my supplies. This is MY kind of craft project because it takes less than an hour to complete. I’m all about instant gratification.

I enjoyed making this one so much I made one for my sister-in-law and a smaller one for work.

Take THAT Mother Nature!

Source

OOPS!

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!

I will be linking this to Blue Mondays.

Big Sister: Makayla

Hello Friends.

Saturday I went to a baby shower for my nephew's wife, Amanda.  Curt and Amanda will welcome their second daughter, Charlotte, next month.  Their older daughter, Makayla, is 7.  

I wanted to do something special for Makayla as to make sure she didn't feel left out.  Makayla is a girlie girl so pink was definitely going to come into play.   

Shopping online didn't yield many ideas; although, I did order her a disposable camera and a photo album that said I'm the Big Sister. The next move was to go to Hobby Lobby and JoAnn Fabrics, buy some supplies and try to put something cute together for her.  The results?  A Big Sister tote bag for her to take to the hospital. 

I filled the bag with the camera and album, art supplies, Jelly Bellys, and a sports bottle.  She loved it! 

Here, Amanda and Makayla share a funny moment.  I also want to share the Diaper Cake my sister-in-law, Becki, made with my nephew, Jason's wife and sister-in-law: Amy and Jennifer. 

ISN'T IT ADORABLE?!

  

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY!    

I will be linking this to Mosaic Monday.