Joanie Hoffman

I'm Alive & there's a celebration!

2011-03-02T14:56:00.003-05:00

Well, the celebration is not because I'm alive, but because Amber Dawn is celebrating Internation Charm Day!
Check it out (please).

Feel Silly? Join Carla & feel sillier!

2010-09-03T13:11:00.005-04:00

Yep, it's Part II of Carla Sonheim's Art of Silliness Class! And you can win a spot thanks to Jackie who isgiving away a spot here! I signed up for Part I and it was fun. Check it out, and be silly.

1 more picture (of Savvy)

2010-08-30T15:49:00.002-04:00

10 pictures to catch up from the break from August Break

2010-08-30T15:19:00.012-04:00

2010-08-13T15:37:00.002-04:00

It's almost time to go home. This has been a busy day but I took a few minutes to look at some blogs & found a super duper giveaway.
Amy at A Thousand Sheets of Paper is giving away 1,000 sheets of paper!
Go see!
Happy weekend!

p.s. I reduced Fuzz-Marie's medicine and she is much more like herself. I'd rather have her happy than just have her.

August Break #11

2010-08-11T10:58:00.004-04:00

This photo is from last Summer, but these girls are so cute (and I was too lazy to go outside in the unbearable heat to take a photo), I decided to use this one. Emma, Jazmine, & Alli, are 3 of my great-nieces. They are beautiful & so funny & fun to be around. I wish they were here with me now.

Bee Man

2010-08-10T09:12:00.004-04:00

This is a scan of the Bee Man for the Book of the Bees.
You can see the other pages (not many, so far)
here.

Last night was not a great night for Fuzz-Marie. She had a 2 hour nose bleed. My poor girl dog.

August Break #10

2010-08-10T09:11:00.001-04:00

August Break #9

2010-08-10T09:03:00.007-04:00

August Break #8

2010-08-10T09:01:00.002-04:00

August Break #7

2010-08-10T09:00:00.002-04:00

August Break #6

2010-08-10T08:58:00.000-04:00

August break #5

2010-08-05T08:04:00.004-04:00

This is Savvy & Chopper Chan. Chan is one of those dogs that had 5 "homes" before me. He is the sweetest boy dog that I know (except at the vets, he hates the vets). He raised Savvy from kittenhood, cleaning her, playing with her, and sleeping right next to her. You should see them chase each other through the house or playing with the tug toy!
I wish I had moved the extra guttering before I took this photo, but if wishes were horses...

August Break #4

2010-08-04T09:53:00.001-04:00

August Break #3 Randomness

2010-08-03T14:44:00.003-04:00

Lindsey & her viola.
Tasha & her cello.

August Break #2

2010-08-03T14:38:00.001-04:00

a WIP & Savvy, who is also a WIP.

The August Break as stolen from Jazz

2010-08-03T14:16:00.005-04:00

"It’s called The August Break and is the brainchild of photographer Susannah Conway.

Here’s the plan for the August break: you simply share one photo per day on your blog – Monday to Friday, or every day. Or whenever you want. Using any camera – DSLR, compact, Polaroid, Holga, iPhone (my choice), Instax, 35mm, video – with or without words – anything goes – for the whole of August. No pressure - just looking at August through your camera lens as a way to be more present this summer. And to have a little break from the pressures and expectations of regular blogging.

I’m thinking of joining, anyone else want to play along?"

Haphazard Life can be found at this link.

And here is my August 1 picture!

My Daughter-in-Law, Kristin, and me, in hats!

My blog has a new title...

2010-07-30T08:23:00.021-04:00

I was driving to work this morning and the phrase "a person from somewhere else"popped into my head. I decided to call my blog that. At least for a while.

Fuzz-Marie had a good night. She stayed under the bed all night but ate a bowl of oatmeal & honey, some liver cat food, some peanut butter, and some sunflower seeds. She drank a lot of water. This morning she ate more oatmeal & went outside to pee for about an hour (not really an hour, just a long time). I don't think I'm going to do the chemo thing with her.

I'm reading a book recommended by Jazz at Haphazard Life. It's great. It's easy to get into and I like it.

And finally, a well written blog posting I highly recommend (sounds like eBay feedback but I mean it) from The Altered Page.

Happy weekend!

2010-07-29T15:23:00.002-04:00

This is my Fuzz-Marie. My ten year old girl. She was just diagnosed with
leukemia. I am incredibly grateful that my son, my grandchildren, my family are all healthy, and I know some of you are battling your own demons, physical and/or mental.
Why do I feel defensive about this posting? I don't want to offend anyone? I don't want anyone to think I value animal suffering over human suffering? I'm not sure.
Anyway, it's my blog and (I almost used "&", thanks to Jazz I know better), and I can post what I want to. Nanny, nanny boo boo.
I am incredibly mature, c'est vrai? Can you tell I'm tired?

Strip Ease: the book

2010-07-26T09:23:00.017-04:00

Michelle Ward of GPP Street Team has posted Crusade #42: Strip Ease. The directions: "tear your paper or fabric into strips and attach to your page". Easy peasy. A few weeks ago my grandson, Brian, and I made little booklets of watercolor paper. Mine was for Strip Ease, with a focus on children, Brian's was for Transformers and/or Greek gods. The
Library of Congress Prints and Photos online was a great source of children's photos. I also used some of my family's photos. And I used paper, fabric, transparencies, napkins, paper towels, acrylic paint, matte medium, heavy gel medium, water color pencils, and some other stuff I can't remember now. So here's the booklet!

front cover

pages 3 & 4

pages 5 &6

pages 7 & 8

pages 9 & 10

back cover (with a copy of a zombie vs. human drawing by Brian).

p.s. i forgot to scan pages 1 & 2, maybe tomorrow...

Collage Box#2 Collage at last!

2010-07-16T07:48:00.006-04:00

Back in May I showed you the snippets of paper
from Collage Box #2 started by LaWendula of Woven Letters.
And here is the collage!
I printed all the paper snippets on cotton twill or Lutrador and put it all together. The only part that wasn't spontaneous was the four squares of the background.
I still have to finish the edges, but haven't decided how yet.
Happy weekend to all!

My Buried Treasure

2010-07-15T08:57:00.030-04:00

Seth at The Altered Page has organized the Buried Treasure 2010 collaboration, and this is my contribution.
I had just about given up on doing any art, a long, boring story, but decided to give it one more go. So I signed up for some Yahoo groups & was in a few swaps, and then...I saw Chrysti Hydeck's article in CPS and a call for original art to be in a skinny book swap. I signed up and the pages below are the result. It was like I couldn't do wrong and my spirit soared! I sewed, painted, drew, used my own art & transparencies, glued, & more. I am so proud of these pages and here they are from 2008:

Team Brian!

2010-07-12T07:30:00.008-04:00

Saturday was ART day at my grandson's home and we made a book each and experimented with everything we had spread all over the table. Fun stuff & we learned from each other.
We each did a drawing of a Carla Sonheim bird/doll/creature (we weren't sure but it is cute!) which you can see here. Here are our drawings:

New dresses...

2010-07-07T14:49:00.004-04:00

Project 2010 continues!

Alice & Camilla inspired me: my June dress.

2010-06-22T10:28:00.005-04:00

Margaret of Alice and Camilla has a Project 2010 and she has made tiny little dresses ( and a wardrobe with tiny hangers to store her dresses).
So being a closet girly-girl I decided to join in. This is my June dress. I decided to make these dresses so that they can be framed (haven't decided if each will be individually framed or if it will be a group thing). When they are all done, it will be a present for my granddaughter, Lindsey.

Some things I've been working on...

2010-06-22T09:54:00.011-04:00

For the Queen Bee book, blank muslin journal bought from Lynne Hoppe's Etsy store.

For a Angela Carthwright swap.

For a Red Dog Scott swap (skinny book page).

2010-05-27T16:55:00.007-04:00

LaWendula (LW) of Woven Letters started the College Box Project which you can read about here.
Basically the idea is that LW sent off a box with 144 "snippets" of paper to the first participant, who can take out 12-20 snippets and put back in the same number from her own stash. Then she makes a collage with the snippets she removed and (I think) whatever else she wants to use (that's the part of the directions I need to read soon). Hopefully, I will make my collage this weekend and post it here!
Here's some photos of the box (above) and what I took out & what I put in.
This is what I took out.

This is what I put in!

An Octopus in North Beach

2010-04-28T11:11:00.007-04:00

This arrived in my mailbox yesterday:

so I opened the box and found...

an Octopus! A very beautiful octopus!

You can see better pictures at Mimi Love Forever, the blog.
p.s. she has an excellent etsy store!
p.p.s. Thank you, Karen, so very much. We'll always have a moray!

a Susan Tuttle giveaway...

2010-04-27T12:16:00.006-04:00

This is Susan's new book which is available now at Amazon or you might try to win a copy! by going to her blog.

An Art Bra Fabric Post Card

2010-03-28T22:57:00.004-04:00

Introducing the "Mardi Bra" an art bra made for a swap with the Yahoo Group FiberArtTradders. Ta da!

Love Gone Wild swap

2010-03-15T16:27:00.003-04:00

ATCs done for a swap hosted by Lenna.

Christmas banners

2010-03-15T16:16:00.001-04:00

These are some of the mini banners I made for a Christmas swap and didn't get around to posting until today. Exciting, huh?

Fabric postcards

2010-03-15T16:06:00.008-04:00

Ever notice how all the loose strings & dogs hair don't show up until the pictures are on a blog, mine anyway,

Quick-a last minute Giveaway Announcement!

2010-02-26T13:21:00.004-05:00

This is a picture of Roxanne Evan-Stout's wonderful little book, Song of the River.

You can enter the giveaway, and the drawing is, yikes, tomorow, 02/27/2010, or....you can actually purchase a copy!

Go here to read all about this beautiful book.

under construction

2009-11-20T11:57:00.003-05:00

I have been gone from my blog (poor neglected thing)for months.
I have been home for 4 months without the Internet, so there were no new postings.
Here's the scoop:
July 14th I fell at a Joe Cocker/Dave Mason concert and broke my leg in 3 places.
I now have a metal plate & nine metal pins in my right leg.
November 9th was the first day I could drive again. yippeee!
I'm back, sort of, at work 3 days a week.
I'm keeping this brief because I have been living this scoop and it's old news to me.
Hopefully soon I will have a new banner and a new blog name and something interesting to write.
In the meantime, what makes you go back to a blog?
Happy days,
Joanie

Want to visit a colorful, fun blog?

2009-07-02T11:39:00.002-04:00

Mary Green has a coloring, calming (and creative) blog and etsy store.
Take a peak.
Did I mention generous? she's having a July giveaway!
Happy days.

my granddaughter Lindsey!

2009-06-08T08:51:00.001-04:00

super video

2009-05-27T12:35:00.003-04:00

There's nothing, well almost nothing, as fun to me as sitting at work and laughing and/or crying at my computer. And that's what I just finished doing and I still have tears of laughter on my fat little cheeks. And it's not an email from Ms. Nozeybeetle this time, it's this video and this idea of laughter.
You can watch the video here at the Voodoo Cafe or here at my blog. Thank you Ricë and Susan and Lauren.
But I encourage you to go the the Cafe to read the wonderful post Ricë has written.

sp wednesday

2009-05-20T09:03:00.001-04:00

One of these things is not like the others....

2009-05-15T10:01:00.007-04:00

Actually, each of them is a little bit different (fabric). These banners are for Susie La Fond's "In the Garden" banner swap at the In This House and Garden Yahoo Group.

2 pages

2009-05-11T12:50:00.003-04:00

My pages for Debbie H's ABB called Contrasts".

Every Day in May

2009-05-04T11:31:00.003-04:00

From Kelly's blog to her friend Francie's blog to French Toast Girl's blog, that's where I was for a while looking at blogs and wanting to see what "Every Day in May" was about.
Now I know what it's about and I am not so sure, in fact, I'm pretty sure I won't, do this. But you should take a look.
Sometimes, just knowing I have the option is enough.

an old SP from another time...

2009-04-30T13:09:00.002-04:00

this is for Kristin, it's not invisible, but it's not me anymore.
you can see Misty's here.

My mosaic ATCs

2009-04-29T14:54:00.006-04:00

Stacy Alexander announced a 2 for 2 Mosaic ATC a while ago and I signed up. The first cards got kind of ruined when part of the art room ceiling fell so I made some more and mailed them off to Stacy. Hoping, as I usually do, that they will do and no one who receives one will be disappointed. We'll see. Happy days!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRIAN !

2009-04-28T15:25:00.001-04:00

Friday, and a posting about my Fake Journal

2009-04-24T10:58:00.003-04:00

A few postings ago, Gina of Artistic Dreamer, asked me how my Fake Journal was going. So, the first thing I had to do was to go to her blog and see if her Fake Journal was going well. It was going very well. This meant that I had to delay my answer to her. Why? Because by then my Fake Journal days were over for this year, and I wasn't sure if or how to let the world know. If I hadn't been so excited and hadn't made a big deal of this journalling event, I could probably get away with just replying that it was going okay. And it was going okay, for about 10 days. After that I kind of lost interest in the direction of the Fake Journal. I think the reason I stopped is because I didn't have a real feel for the journal's author. She was (literally) an eleventh hour inspiration. And I wanted to put some background info about her and her life but it seemed too forced. So I didn't really "know" her and I didn't know how or if to include stuff about her existence.
Which brings me to another question about the Fake Journal asked by Leanne of Mixed Media Martyr. She wanted to know what was the last minute idea that allowed me to even start the 2009 Fake Journal. The idea came from a photo of my son and two of my four grandchildren. There was a woman in the background looking directly into my camera when I snapped the photo, and for some reason her look stuck in my mind. So my author was going to be someone who saw photos differently from the way most (or all) people saw them. For example, she saw the background woman as having "hair made of sea glass" and whose "arms were so long that her hands touched the ground". On the first page in the Fake Journal I have a small black & white photo of this background woman, a written description, and a small watercolor & extra-fine point Sharpie illustration. The second day's entry is a small photo of my great grandmother, my sister, Jeanie, and me. This also has the written description of how the author "sees" my great grandmother and a small watercolor. I also used a photo from a magazine, a photo from my high school yearbook, and a photo from a cereal box on other pages.
I missed a few days here and there (4), and by the 16th days, I was reaching, floundering, and not having fun. So I stopped.
But I am looking forward to starting another Fake Journal next year. And I guess there's nothing stopping me from starting an Unofficial Fake Journal if I decide I want to try before 2010.
So that's the scoop on my 2009 Fake Journal.
Happy days!
p.s. The Fake Journal is in the bottom drawer of a dresser that I don't use, and there it will stay until I decide to look at it again. I'm not unhappy about starting or stopping. It's just an out-of-sight-out-of-mind kind of thing. ; )

WORDLE fun!

2009-04-24T09:13:00.005-04:00

This was made by putting in the URL for one of my very favorite blogs from WORDLE.

For Misty Mawn's SP Wednesday

2009-04-23T08:24:00.005-04:00

me & Fuzz-Marie / me & Chan

Misty's blog is here.

I have to get more artsy.....

Misty Mawn's unofficial self portrait Wednesday

2009-04-17T09:34:00.007-04:00

How to describe how I feel about my SPs, words (almost) fail me right now. I was kind jealous (?) on Wednesday that I hadn't been a part of this SP thing. I had given up using photos of me as a kid to represent myself, but sometimes it would be not only easier, but cuter. So here are 2 SPs. I refuse to write anything negative or funny as I usually do. I guess this is me, at least the outside.

You can find Misty Mawn's posting here.

Pink pages for Letha's Traveling RR Journal

2009-04-13T10:45:00.002-04:00

The Paper Traders Traveling RR Journal is moving right along. These are the pages I made for Letha.

Such and Such

2009-04-08T11:38:00.002-04:00

Want a chance on a simply lovely pendant?
Go here to Lora Hart's blog. Good luck!

Hell Wednesday a.k.a. the 1st day of the fake journal

2009-04-02T09:57:00.005-04:00

I had a major and terrible battle with the demon known to most of you as the "Inner Critic". I had never bothered to name this spirit, but as the oldest child, a Virgo, and a Catholic, I know it well. From this day forward, I acknowledge my Inner Critic. I have to, it won. But read on...
I was so excited by this idea of keeping a fake journal. I had a book and supplies ready. And when I got home from work, I quickly got the dogs outside (quick is good here), got dinner for the dogs, cat, and turtle served, ate my own dinner, etc., all the regular stuff so I could get to my fake journal. I read & re read the tips Roz had written. The Inner Critic rears it's ugly head: you've only been to Boston 4 times, your author can't live there, what do you know about being an 89 year old woman from Lithuania?, your author sees everything in black and white only, so what?, and your author is a 12 year old boy spying on you?, you're stupid and crazy, Joanie.
I can't seem to decide on an author for my fake journal, and I'm starting to panic. I really, really want to keep a fake journal for a month. And then I re read the tips once more: "A Word of Caution~This is supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to let your mind wander and play. If you find that you are staring at the blank page and sweating, well that isn’t fun. Just stop. It isn’t worth it." I realize that it isn't worth it, and as much as I want to do this, I'm not going to put myself through this. I acknowledge my Inner Critic, and I surrender. I may be stupid and crazy, but I'm not so stupid that I can't see this is not FUN any more. Okay, stay with me. I quit, but not entirely. I do some other things, I get ready for bed and I say what passes for me as prayers, and I'm okay. Maybe next year I'll do a fake journal.
Kaboom, I think of a photo I took of my son & grandchildren at the Viet Nam Wall, and I remember a lady in the background of this photo, and I have an idea! It's 10:57 p.m. and I can't be stopped.
FU, Inner Critic, fu.

Happy 1st day of International Fake Journal Month!

2009-04-01T09:35:00.003-04:00

Today's the day!
Get your journals out and start faking!
Here's the official blog for some really helpful hints.
Ready, steady, go!

Hoffman in a Teapot is open for business!

2009-03-31T16:43:00.002-04:00

ta da!
Help a sister out and look (and answer) here, okay? okay!

More Chocolate and Steel...a Giveaway from Christine!

2009-03-31T16:27:00.003-04:00

She's doing it again, giving away something beautiful!
Want to see what it is this time?

Please go look and try.

Really, really important stuff.

2009-03-25T11:05:00.006-04:00

This is Bernie Berlin, and she needs our help.

Please go visit Cynjon's blog ASAP to read about how you and I can help Bernie and her shelter.

Hoffman in a Teapot or Thepest in a Teapot

2009-03-25T10:09:00.002-04:00

Those are the potential names for a potential second blog, a blog of questions that you, the reader of the blog, would answer for me. This posting is a test run.
But first, a picture for you to see:

These are my feet in shoes on my back porch at night.
And my question is: why? Why do so many artist bloggers, to the best of my memory, these are all women, why do these bloggers post pictures of their feet? Feet in shoes or barefoot, toes with nail polish or toe rings or naked, feet in rainboots or Earthshoes? I have my own idea, but tell me what you think. Maybe you've posted pictures of your own feet. Why? One inquiring mind wants to know, please.

2, 2, 2 posts in 1

2009-03-24T11:03:00.005-04:00

First, go look at this blog .
Kristin is sort of new to blogging, like that makes a difference when someone has as much passion for life as she seems to have.

Second, Susan Tuttle is having another giveaway, but you have to enter today, because she's picking the winner tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon.
Amazon has the book also.

April is INTERNATIONAL FAKE JOURNAL MONTH !

2009-03-23T12:38:00.005-04:00

Oh boy, now I'm excited. Roz Wound Up has announced this. This being that April is Fake Journal Month.
Last year, the last calendar I was working on for the 2008 Calendar-Journal Exchange just absolutely threw me for a loop. The calendar itself was beautiful but the format was different from the others and for some reason, I froze/my muse was missing/I was struck dumb, etc. So at one point, and this point was in the last month before I was to send the calendar-journal home to it's owner, I considered writing up fake stuff. I didn't do that (pictures of what I did do are below in a previous posting), but it really appealed to me.
So now I can do that! I can keep a second *fake* journal.
Oh, I know I could have done this before, but now it's official (or something).
And I have the button that says so!

A second Chocolate and Steel Giveaway!

2009-03-18T10:55:00.001-04:00

Isn't this a beauty? There is no answer but "yes!"

You can enter here .

Altered Board Book swap images...

2009-03-18T10:46:00.003-04:00

These are the 2 pages I did for Samantha's ABB called "Seasons".

This swap is being hosted by Red Dog Scott through the Traveler's H'art Yahoo group .

Calendar Journal 2009: front cover and a few pages

2009-03-09T11:14:00.002-04:00

I really do more than sleep.

Chocolate & Steel giveaway...

2009-03-09T10:48:00.004-04:00

Want to take a chance on something lovely?
Christine is having a giveaway here .
The prize looks like this:

This is Jaxon.....

2009-03-06T11:42:00.007-05:00

Baby Jaxon is the son of my niece, Sarah.
I was home for 8 days in a row with a leftover cough from a cold, and a car that was in the shop (with a $1,200 repair bill), and my sister, Jeanie, came to visit. with her came Sarah, Jaxon, and my nephew, Danny, and lots of groceries!).
I might as well go ahead & add one more more picture.
Happy days, everyone.

We got some snow! 3-2-9.

2009-03-06T11:37:00.003-05:00

*** Update *** Fuzz-Marie's Auntie Margaret sent me a picture of her new puppy, Miss Sage in her first snow.

don't enter this contest unless..

2009-02-20T13:06:00.002-05:00

you plan on giving this red coat to Kelly if you win!
You can enter here .

My new words for 2009

2009-02-17T11:38:00.002-05:00

Nope, "commitment" is not my word. Hasn't made a bit of difference in my life, or maybe it has because now I know it's not my word. Now I have 2: Honest & Survive.
Boy, do I feel better. These are real words to me, and if I'm the one who has to remember them and say them, they need to be real.
What inspired this posting?
The calendar journal I'm working in for 2009 with a group of 5 women. My CJ will travel every 2 months from one home to the next, as will the other 5 women's journals. I am finishing up February, and then will send it on to Shelley who will send her CJ to Susan, etc. In 10 months, each of our own CJs will be home.
So I'm working on the cover and decide I cannot, no way, use another picture of me as a kid or a teenager, or any thing but myself. Honest.
I need to be honest.
Stay tuned for the scans of the CJ!
Happy days, Joanie

My Altered Board for for the latest Red Dog Scott RR

2009-02-04T11:27:00.008-05:00

Front cover & Welcome page.

1st page

Sign-in page and Back Cover

The theme is Ghosts.

A picture for Boo!

2009-02-02T13:06:00.001-05:00

update: Boo is the youngest daughter of my middle sister, and faithfully checks out my blog. So I posted a picture of her (not current, of course!). She is the little one on her tippy toes hoping that her sister, Courtenay, will give her at least one jelly bean.

Update to the hearts: the flowered heart is an old shirt! I did not embroider it.

2009-02-02T12:57:00.004-05:00

These are the journal pages for the last Calendar Journal I worked on for 2008. Sandy had chosen a wall calendar and it was so different (to me) from the other book-type journals that I was frozen in terms of how to handle the journaling. Sometimes it doesn't take much to rattle me. So I decided to use fabric and then use utility tags for significant dates. The journaling is in the beading. A bead represents each day of the month, and there are paydays and weekends and birthdays, etc. what do you think? It's different if nothing else. Happy days.

Meet Plop....

2009-01-28T13:05:00.003-05:00

This is Plop, my baby box turtle that I found on the side of the road some months ago. She's about 3" round. Her turn ons include live crickets, strawberries, tomatoes, and canned turtle food. She doesn't care much about long walks on the beach at sunset.

In the Spring, when it's warm, she will go visit some relatives in a safe place, far from busy roads.

Plop would say "Thanks" for the kind comments too if she could speak English. So far, she only speaks turtleish.

Thanks so much for the comments (ps keep 'em coming!)

2009-01-21T11:29:00.001-05:00

Thank you all for your comments, they mean a lot to me. I'm a little under the weather mentally/emotionally right now, and the positive notes are heaven.Happy days!

2009~my word of intention=commitment

2009-01-06T12:48:00.002-05:00

I've read on several blogs about choosing 1 word to represent my intentions for myself in the New Year (sorry, Happy New Year!). One comment on a blog led me here . And here is my word: COMMITMENT.
Commitment to myself and my art. Commitment to a goal that I set for myself 2 years ago, and recently extended another year. (thoughts become things, thoughts become things, thoughts become things), the charm having been said: my goal is a show of my art by age 61. whew.
The place is irrelevant: a bowling alley will do. I just want my art to be seen, ~~my loved ones there (does that sound too funeral-like?)~~ the people I care about who care about me there, and food & music. See why any place will do?
I have 1 year and 9 months to make this happen.

What is your word for 2009?
All my best wishes to you!

Main Entry: commitment
Part of Speech: noun
Synonyms: bond, duty, guarantee, obligation, pledge, promise, warranty
Synonym Collection v1.1Copyright © 2008 by Dictionary.com, LLC.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from me and my family!

2008-12-24T13:45:00.002-05:00

Sorry, I forgot to put Anthony's name on the picture...he's the handsome guy in the white turtleneck, handsome and silly!

UPDATE: Nominees! Winners! I'm sharing my award! My FIRST blog award! Merci beaucoup, Carole!

2008-12-22T09:10:00.007-05:00

My first blog award: The Marie Antoinette Award, courtesy of Carole at Madness and Mess !
And now the fine, FINE print:
Rules of acceptance:
1. Put the logo on your blog
2.Place a link to the person who nominated you
3.Nominate 7 blogs to receive this award
4.Place a link to those blogs
5.Leave a message on their blogs to let them know they have been given this award

And who to nominate? I'll be back soon to do that part.
p.s. You know the best part? It is Carole thanking me for being her blog buddy!

And the nominees are:
Grrl + Dog She is fun and inspiring. And she has a dog.
Dream with the fishes There is SO much to see on this blog & I like her comments.
Kate's Quilting & other fibre arts Not just because she's from Maryland, but beacuse she is incredible with fiber and very generous.
Emily Falconbridge From her Mini-art Journal Challenge to her photos to her camera straps to her smile, I like it all.
Well, I did 4 5 out of 7, not bad for an old broad! Merry Christmas!

But wait, there's more: mimiloveforever Because she combines embroidery, shiny stuff, and super watercolors on a canvas, and I wish I had thought of that myself (well, I can always imitate the original, but never as well), and because she has a great sense of humor, loves music~which seems to inspire and/or complete her art. And because she'a a Virgo, and because I like her & her blog.

a little explanation about the posting below, designed by Brian

2008-12-22T08:36:00.002-05:00

I have 4 grandchildren who I love with all my heart. Brynee' is 16, and she has a boyfriend, is a cheerleader, and is an honor roll student. Anthony is 15 , and is a natural at any sport (as well as being incredibly funny and kind): football, wrestling, baseball, basketball. He does it all ,and he's good. They have lives that don't include being home a lot, and that's the way is should be for now. Lindsey is 11, Brian is 6, and these guys are home more often and most of the time are still content to cuddle with Nanny (me!) or play and/or make art. One of Brian's favorite things to do when I'm with them is to give me a toy gun so we can go outside to evade Germans, Russians, and/or zombies. It doesn't seem out of the ordinary that his 59 year old grandmother is playing with him. I know I still haven't explained Brian's posting, but I love the chance to write about the kids.
Yesterday while Lindsey was playing a video game and her Dad (my son, Erich) was with her, Brian and myself went to the computer to look at Wookiepedia . Then we took a look a my blog because Brian likes to do that. He decided to play with one one the blog gadget pages, and spent a good amount time designing a posting for my blog, changing symbols, test, colors. then he was done and ready to post his design. At first the snooty, grown-up side of me was semi-horrified ("what would people think?"), but the Nanny side of me just said "sure, let's post it!".
"What does this mean, "call church"? I asked. Brian said it just means people can call a church if they want to do that. (Note: none of my family currently attends any church). "So it doesn't mean anyone has to call a church", I asked. "Nope", said Brian. So now you know as much as I do about this posting.

designed by brian

2008-12-21T17:23:00.000-05:00

Cyber Fyber ATC trade info

2008-12-19T12:27:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, January 17, 2009 CYBER FYBER will be celebrating ATC day! The highlight of the afternoon will be the INTERNATIONAL RANDOM ATC Swap!

ANYONE can participate....there's no restriction on age, location, or artistic medium! Here's how to add your ATC(s) to the mix:

Mail up to three ATCs to:
CYBER FYBER
2123 Park Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Include a self-address, sufficiently stamped envelope for each ATC you send. If you are located outside the USA....send the envelope with stamps from your own country! We will be bundling those headed to each country and mailing them to a volunteer who will drop them into the postal service!

DEADLINE: EVERYTHING MUST ARRIVE BEFORE JANUARY 17!

Stand by Me

2008-12-18T10:58:00.003-05:00

William to Judy then Toni Brown to Rice seen by me and put here for you!

A book from my Grandson!

2008-12-17T09:52:00.009-05:00

Last week, my grandson, Brian, went to the Book Fair at his elementary school. He bought a book for me and then gave it to me last Friday. He thought of me, his Nanny, at the Book Fair! and he picked out a book he knew I would love. And I do love it. This book will be put in my Art room and not in the living room on the "regular" bookshelves. Who knews what Art this book will inspire. Thank you, Brian Thomas!

A general posting

2008-12-11T13:16:00.002-05:00

Usually, I don't write a lot. I post a picture or two, or list a giveaway, etc.
Today I want to write and I think it's all due to Chrysti's posting today. One of my favorite books is POEMCRAZY and that's Chrysti's giveaway for today. I have the book, but if I win my copy is going to my friend, Janet, in Seattle. If you don't have the book, go buy yourself a copy for Christmas. I feel like writing words, words, words, but I'm at work, work, work, so this will be a shorter posting than I want it to be.
Some of my new favorite words are the verification words shown when posting comments on some blogs. Like "monogyper" and "croophs". Just think what a collage or two with those names would look like.
See what a great book this is?
Happy days!

Woo Hoo!

2008-12-09T14:12:00.006-05:00

Yes, I actually wrote "woo hoo!", something I have not written before. But there is a good reason, because there is another giveaway to announce: at Daisy Quilts just click on the badge to the right!

Another Christmas Giveaway!

2008-12-08T15:07:00.002-05:00

If you've been nice or maybe only a little naughty, click on the picture to the right of Old Saint Nick or go here and check out The Great Christmas Giveaway!
Merry Christmas

Lindsey is 11!

2008-12-04T09:31:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Lindsey!

A little saga through song~Part I

2008-12-03T10:30:00.000-05:00

LK Ludwig has initiated "A Day of Sharing Song".
I decided to tell a little more about me on this day & share some songs too.
When I was much, much younger I played my parents 78s and some 45s and found a passion for music and voice. Eartha Kitt was one of my favorite singers. and here she is...

A little saga through song, con't, Part II

2008-12-03T10:27:00.000-05:00

The Beatles, need I say more?

A little saga through song, con't. Part III

2008-12-03T10:19:00.000-05:00

I'm young, thin, not butt ugly, and I fall in love with my own "magic man": a bad boy who is gorgeous and has a sense of humor. He is 6'2" with long dark auburn hair and incredible blue eyes with dark auburn lashes. He has freckles. He steals cars. He really likes me. It didn't last long, but it was memorable.
This song also belongs to a heavy set guy named Joe with a Harley who was more sensitive than I thought (or cared) at the time.

A little saga through song, con't., Part IV

2008-12-03T10:14:00.000-05:00

I am divorced with a high school aged son. I ask Mary & St. Jude to send me someone I can love and someone who will love me. I get him. Be careful what you ask for, friends, you just may get it. We danced to this song. He was a "narcissistic predator" (my psych's words) who nearly destroyed my heart & soul, sadly, with my assistance.
Fade Into You by Mazzy Star

A little saga through song, con't. Part V

2008-12-03T09:58:00.000-05:00

Ghost Dance by Robbie Robertson
I found this song when I was in a Red Dog Scott deck swap called "Dreams, Visions, & Intuitions". It was incredibly inspiring to me and helped save my art life.

Yeay for Chrysti Hydeck!

2008-12-03T09:03:00.000-05:00

Chrysti is giving for the joy of giving.
You can read about it here .
Thank you, Chrysti!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

2008-11-26T12:08:00.001-05:00

Catatonic Charlie from Pioneer Woman on Vimeo.
Here is a video of what I hope to do a lot of over the next 4 days!

More sharing with LK Ludwig

2008-11-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

Share a song! read more here .

A Day of Sharing Words~~LK Ludwig's blog

2008-11-17T10:13:00.000-05:00

You can read all about it here . The event will take place on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008. All you have to do is post on your blog a poem or song with the author and source, then maybe add an image. Words that you love or that touch you. Happy days!

2008-11-11T10:40:00.000-05:00

Down Abbie's Road...
GIVEAWAY! Sweet Abigail and Sweet Sophia...
Just go here !

My first Zentangles.....

2008-11-11T10:29:00.001-05:00

My friend, Janet (as shown in a prior posting), got me into an invitation only Zentangle book.
I had never done a Zentangle on purpose, except for a practice one in a journal swap. So I did what I truly love to do: research! Lots and lots of Internet searching and I found lots and lots of inspiration from various sites (thanks to you all out there), and tutorials here .
And here are my Zentangles and the front & back covers.

2008-11-07T10:41:00.000-05:00

"What we need are critical lovers of America-patriots who express their faith in their country by working to improve it." ~ Hubert Humphrey

the sweetest boy dog.....

2008-11-06T09:44:00.001-05:00

Chopper Chan

My friend Janet

2008-11-05T15:57:00.000-05:00

My friend, Janet, at a workshop given by
Deryn Mentock (who let me use these pictures to share with you what Janet made).

This is a picture of Janet's Joujou necklace.

I voted!

2008-11-05T09:15:00.000-05:00

Embrace the Face Challenge

2008-10-30T09:24:00.000-04:00

This is my entry in the Embrace the Face Challenge. The theme this month is "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"

I didn't want the snake to be scary, but more like Cecil (from Beany & Cecil).