preparing for a show.....

sorry - these are cell phone pictures. 

I am busily preparing for an artist market

Saturday November 16

Danielsville, Georgia

Historic Courthouse 

It has been one of my best shows in the past, and if the weather is good, should be again.

There will be a few 

Lace and button angels

A new item design for me.

I bought the wings stamp years ago

Had not stamped one thing with it ever

(please make me feel better here and pretend you do this) 

I didn't even tuck it away, it was on the shelf in full view, I just had no idea how to use it.

Then the muse came to visit. 

I LIKE HER

Made on a similar design as the button fairies. 

Stamped and embossed wings on card stock - heavy plastic - vellum - etc

Metal wire threaded with buttons/beads/stuffs

Added lace

Pretty little face

Assorted halos (lace, jewelry findings, rhinestones, big buttons)

Note - none of these buttons are super valuable - they are a mixture of glass, metal, MotherofPearl and plastic. 

I ramble through my stash (playing) and decide what fits the personality of the sweet face and wings

There are also these wonderful  - children appropriate - wood block nativity sets.

I've painted several sets and, with help, gotten them all stained. 

Nice, stunning, 20 inch wide, butcher board  with sawmill marks not included. 

Maybe, I'll see you guys on Saturday

Still here....

Show prep. Wide open. Full time job and at least three hours most nights in the studio.

Living. Loving.

I do love my life.

The picture is some altered chip board shapes converted to metallic look elements. I used them on a composition book.

Heartfelt thanksgiving. 1/30

Food was the prompt. Wrote a note and gmail address on the card and left it on the bakery case in the grocery deli. We will see if I get an email response. 

I am tremendously grateful for every meal.

#STASHTAGS 31/31

We are here --- I am excited. This project turned out to be so much more than just a fun way to use up stash materials. I learned about me and I learned some new techniques. Let's look at today's tag then I'll be posting about the November version of #stashtags.

Materials -
-cream cardstock tag base.
- simple rose watercolor print from a card top.
- pink letters
- this is the only one with a message on the back - it reads  "deep emotional words often go too long unspoken" ----  its from a mothers day card I sent my mom years ago when things were still quite stormy between us. I am so thrilled this is not the case any longer.
- the hanger is some ribbon Mom gave me from her stash (fitting I thought)

Its a reminder that healing relationships are never too far gone to keep trying - even if the only part you can manage to actually do is secretly Hope and pray.

Now for November ---

It will still be a #stashtags project over at instagram.

I am calling it Heartfelt Thankgivings - since we celebrate Thanksgiving this month.

I will still be making the tags each day. Still decorating them - simply as I like or with a theme if it fits the day. I have based my chosen themes using Ann Voskamp's Joy Dare prompts (you can find a printout for the year here.)

Some I have decided on --- for instance one of the days the prompt is three things government - I'll be looking for a US, state, or local government employee and hand them a decorated tag - thanking them for being someone I am grateful for. Maybe even a little note on the back. I'll blog the reactions here - with the rundown on the tags.

So here is the plan for me - I have my calendar marked. Tonight I will make the November 1 Tag and give it tomorrow sometime - the tags will be heartshaped and embellished. I'll decide who to "target" and in the morning I will instagram and facebook the tag and the theme - after I have given it - I will blog the tag and theme and reaction(s). and yes - in my mind some days there will me more than one tag.


You never know - maybe being nice and recognizing people as blessings can start a NICE revolution.

Please let me know if you are playing along.

Here is my list. and some ideas.

1. food - grocery store or fast food
2. clothing - store or someone who's outfit is inspiring
3.  starts with N -
4. gathered - a farmer or gardener or group of people we gather with
5. small as an acorn -
6. government - I'm thinking a post office worker or local government or local state college employee
7. from my window - maybe a different fast food person - or even my neighbor across the street
8. salty, sweet, or sipped - I do hope there is a waiter bringing me a margarita for this one.
9. harvest - farmers market person maybe
10 Bible or church - pastor - pianist - ss teacher - the lady who types the bulletin
11. Remembering - a veteran or a teacher from you childhood
12 Noon - lunch involved
13 behind a door - somewhere I am going into
14 Silent
15 golden
16. Grace
17 Laughter - not posting here, but I KNOW who gets this one
18 shared
19 Autumn
20 tradition - honor someone who has a recognized tradition with you - aka we always have donuts at the lake for Christmas - let them know how special that has been.
21 family - multiples here
22 grateful - this is a random category - just pick someone to encourage
23 Christ - some one you KNOW Christ put in you life
24 Humble
25 Ugly but beautiful - I will recognize some of my cancer caregivers or other survivors here
26 preparing - this would be an awesome day to recognize special teachers for preparing each lesson
27 held
28 community - maybe a police officer or fire fighter
29 red
30 astonishing - that person who has the "you wont believe this but ......." effect in your life.

Just ideas --- come on let's start a NICE movement. Even if you don't play along - please let me know your thoughts about this little project.



Have a great day.

#STASHTAGS 30/31

Today's word - PLAY. I made the tag last night - and I honestly didn't feel a bit like playing. I have been sick for a week. Just the crud , but I am quite miserable. Add to that a tiny bit of a pity party for me and well - the last thing I wanted to do was play.

What I did do was play a couple of rounds of solitaire with real cards - and break out the coloring book and crayons. I'm thinking every responsible adult needs crayons and a coloring book in the mental health stash - I store mine right beside the liquor bottles - just kidding.

Here's the listy
- tan cardstock tag base
- ring around the rosy image cut from an old day planner I had
- "play" snipped from an old reader snagged from the FREE box at habitat reSTORE.
- a QUEEN of clubs cutout off a random playing card (thanks to my clubmate MaryAnn for loving me even when I'm felling quite sorry for me)
- a snippet of aforementioned coloring page.
- the hanger is some old chunky cording stuff. I used to wear this stuff around my pigtails (anybody else remember the stuff?)

quite quick and easy.

Then I hunkered down with my xacto knife and trimmed the edges of the papers on these compostition books.

20 of them ready for emery board sanding around the edges and altering / embellishing.

I bought a paper pack on the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby and it had a sheet of these old fashioned images in it. (I love it when I can trim these and use them other than on the whole sheet) 

I was cutting them apart and I saw that this sweet little girl image would look good on that top compositioin book. So I grabbed the scrap box and added a couple more paper bits to it. A little glitter star finishes the top of the tree wonderfully.

A bit of trim finishes the area where the paper and the binding meet and this one is done. Love it when the muse is right there at the work table with me.

I love these compostition books and used them even undecorated as journals - here is where I blogged about my most treasured one. (I have received a few really nice leather journals and I record extra special things in them - but these are where you will find the real gritty every day things of my life. Much like the vintage daybooks or farm books that I love to find in flea markets or antiques malls. You may find a shopping list - a to do list - a recipe - or just a jotted note from a church sermon or a quote that resonated with me. Because they are not expensive, I have no problems changing ink colors or scratching through things.)

Thinking about buying one - I have several in my booth at Junk in the Trunk in Athens, GA - and I will have several available at the November 16 artist market in Danielsville,  GA.

Have a great day --- I'm off to see the doctor for my OFFICIAL review of my scans. I already got the unofficial good news.

#STASHTAGS 29/31

Today's word COMFORT - and since I actually make these in the evening before I post them - I'm sick and this is reference to what I am doing to comfort myself. I've got the crud.

Here's the list
-tan cardstock tag base
- a piece of coca cola flannel fabric (I'm in my flannel pj's and drinking coke with ice and a straw - first cola I             have had in months)
- a torn magazine bit -- (yes, I am reading a cheap trashy magazine of the type you  find at the grocery check
            out line - aka STAR)
- a crochet granny square - (I'm on the sofa under a blanket my mama made)
- the little teddy bear is a reference to the 80lb footwarmer on the sofa with me.
- the hanger on this one is a scrap of acrylic yarn very much the same as the blanket I am under.

We are almost done with October ---- I plan to continue the game with Heartfelt Thanksgivings in honor of the Thanksgiving season. These will be tags too - only I'll be using heart shaped ones. I've enjoyed making these so much that I'm going to make me a few more - I may keep the message private in some cases (to protect the guilty - hehe) but I will still be sharing the decorated hearts --- and I have all those left from the wedding chairs to use up anyway.

Also - it is fall show season and I am getting ready for the Holiday Artist Market on November 16 at the Danielsville Courthouse.

Here is the current state of the FLOOR in MaggieGrace world ---- covered composition books drying.

Whoo hoo.

This is a stunning red tree - seems fall is appearing in stages here. I took this on a windshield time trip today.

And we all know that Rusty is mama's dog. Never far from me if I am at home.

Well ------

That is --------

Til this one surprises us and comes home from college ---- Then he abandons his job of keeping my feet warm - to love on his missing buddy.  We were all really glad to see her. 

Have a great afternoon ---- it is a beautiful day.

#STASHTAGS 28/31

Monday's word - GRATEFUL

I am oh so very GRATEFUL for my many many blessings.

Much like the leaves that fall this time of year I have blessings raining down on me. That is the reason for the leaf theme of this card. And it is in my favorite colors too.

Materials
- dark green cardstock tag base
-  orange paper leaf left over from my Martha Stewart leaf wreath (which I do believe has gone to live in Athens, GA with my married child -- Molly please confirm if this is fact)
- copper and gold ribbon leaves - fussy cut from a favorite ribbon.
- a copper flashing strip stamped with letter stamps from Harbor freight.
- copper and black ribbon makes the hanger.

All favorites of mine in colors that I love. But mostly, I love that I am blessed and that I recognize those blessings.

Have a wonderful day my friends.

#STASHTAGS 27/31

Today's word - HELP

Closing in on 31 of these - I am thrilled with how these are turning out - this one hit just right too. I am sick and had to call for HELP to cover Sunday School and Nursery duty for me today.

Here is the ingredients list ---
- cream cardstock tag base
- letter "o" diecuts formed into a linked chain.
- square punch letters behind some punch through the paper frames. (I have two of these gold frames and  a
        few silver ones left - they are a pain to work with and I will be glad to see them GONE)
- a little foam leafy thing that filled that space nicely.
- the hanger makes reference to the Ecclesiates 4:12 scripture of a three fold cord and it is a three cord braid
        made from plain old garden twine

Just a few more days - then the Thanksgiving countdown starts -----

Have a great afternoon.

#STASHTAGS 26/31

October 26 - Beautiful is the word.

I have a beautiful life. And October 26 is my very first re-birthday. On this date 17 years ago I had a lumpectomy of my left breast and was told after that surgery that I didn't have cancer anymore. See I found a lump - I was 31 years old - I had small children - and the doctors tried to reassure me it was nothing. But the needle aspiration showed an "aggressive growth stance" and I insisted that they "get this out of me". Three things stand out through that immediate process --- Dr. Abney prayed over me before the surgery. As I was strapped with my arms straight out by my sides, my last thought before the anesthesia put me out was "I wonder if this is what Jesus felt like. And as I was coming to in recovery Dr. Abney saying "you don't have cancer any more."

My life is full on beautiful. Today and as long as I choose to live fully, it will be.

I'm going with good karma that this word hit on this date........

Now ---- here's the list.

- blue cardstock tag base
- graphite blue-grey sparkly paper (one of my favorite papers ever)
- the laser cut butterfly is from a greeting card (I saw this and just knew it would be wonderful against the
        dark paper)
- the word BEAUTIFUL cut from a greeting card
- satiny purple ribbon makes the hanger.

Simple but wonderfully beautiful.

Have a great afternoon.

STASHTAGS 25/31

Today's word --- TOUCH.

Another of the word's that I immediately knew how I was going to put together. I've been putting the bits to choose from for this one in a little dish on my table for several days. Just fun. And there is a story here too. I have to touch yarn in the store - fabric too - and beads hanging in the store - gonna stroke my hand across them. Those things just feel good. My Molly - she is a very tactile person and has a strong opinion about the feel of surfaces. AND SHE HATES THE FEEL OF VELVET (OR ANYTHING THAT HAS THAT PLUSHY FEEL)

So here's the listy of stuff (notes about my thinking too)

- blue cardstock tag base.
- anaglypta wall paper - (love this stuff) these bits were left from wedding prep
- red velvet ribbon bit (just for Molly)
- scrap of copper roof flashing (metallic, and cool to the touch)
- tiny corner of sand paper (scratchy)
- scrap of creamy burlap with fringes left on it (rough and tickly)
- a rolled edging of beads ( I have been hanging onto this for years. When I would run across is it in the bead
        Jar I would rub it much like a worry stone. It is glass beads and has a smooth and yet nubby texture - I
        just liked it.
- the TOUCH was stamped using metal stamps from Harbor Freight Company. (you can feel them as you
        touch the copper stripe too.
- the hanger is satin cording. ( I actually despise to work with this stuff, but had a bunch left from projects
        I think it is like dust bunnies and multiplies in the jar - but is gave me a silky textured something to add
        to the tag.

Now for a few studio glimpses -

These were stacked on my table last night.
The ribbon scrap container
The bling jar
A clear thing of threads
And some seed beads bought as a clearance mix.
A button jar - don't think I even need to explain this do I?

I've used quite a bit of stuffs for the STASHTAGS out of the ribbon scrap container. This is a repurposed clear food container (fresh pineapple from the store). It stays on the table or a nearby surface all the time. As I have ribbon, cording, and lace trimmings left, I plunk them in and pack it down. I also cut the ribbon hangers from the shoulders of sweaters and such and any reusable ribbon packaging bits. Before I cut more for a project, I generally dump this out and paw through it.

The bead and bling jar (I think i first featured this jar here.) This is almost as much fun to play in as a button jar or box. Contains bits of beaded trims. Sequins, all kinds of beads, some fun threads - just stuff) I will never use this all and I keep adding to it because many button boxes wind up having random beads in them.

Then as I was putting things away last night to have a clear space to trace nativity figures on wood blocks, I saw my favorite storage purchase EVER. I bought cases of these stacking bottles/jars. They are hard plastic and have a lip on one side so they stack nicely. I use them for things like you see pictured. Love them and have been on the lookout for more for years, but not seen anything like these again. I have even spent hours on google with NO succcess.

Anyway -- there are you some studio glimpses 

Have a great weekend. Mine includes LOTS of planned studio time. 

#STASHTAGS 24/31

SPARKLE ---- my eyes are today .

I had rescans as follow up on my Kidney Cancer Road trip on Tuesday. Instructions included drink 48 ounces of water between 6:15 and 6:45 AM. Do not empty your bladder before the test. Then my appointment is at 9:45 AM. ---Upon arrival and registering, I expressed the desire to lodge an official complaint about the Doctors Office location. To get there, I had to cross the train tracks AND two parking lot speed bumps. Can you say miserable? The registrar had absolutely NO sense of humor. Oh - well - I do and it has served me well at times. When I finally got to go to the bathroom, it was the most amazing relief moment.

Late yesterday, I got a text from Sissy who works at the doctors office. Scans look good.

So yesterday there was added SPARKLE in my world. Amazing the coincidence to this being the word. I was not supposed to know anything until next week.

Here's the list of goodies (and a note on those straight lines)
- white cardstock tag base.
- sparkly alphabet stickers
- double stick tape
- black, pink, orange, and blue fine glitter
- the hanger is grey and silver sparkly thread

Now for the glitter lines.

Double stick tape the first strip on the card - I did the orange. Sprinkle with extra fine glitter. I press it along the tape with my fingers. Dump it off and put the excess back in the bottle (touch your nose so you have orange glitter on it.)

Add the next tape strip - mine was the blue. Sprinkle - press - dump. This time touch your chin.

Repeat - process for as many colors and stripes as you like. The colors stay crisp since the glitter covering the tape is not sticky.

Touching your face is very important - because "oh you have a speck of glitter right there" is a great conversation starter. Not that I would know ANYTHING about that...........

I hope you are enjoying this series as much as I am ---- it has challenged me artistically and emotionally at times. I am thinking on continuing this into November. There are plenty of words left on the list. And the things I am in the studio making right now are just repeats for festivals this fall. so this gives me a creative little challenge.

Have a great day --- see you guys tomorrow.

#STASHTAGS 23/31

Another one that I just knew how I wanted it to look ---

Here is my facebook and instagram caption

Mine is full of gratitude and love. Passion and empathy too. My HEART is just full.

Full to overflowing is a great way to put this.

Ingredients list -

- green cardstock tag base
- hearts punched from assorted scrap papers.
- red heart is punched from a scrap of the Sasheen ribbon
- the word was cut from a recycled greeting card.
- the hanger is a piece of red satin and screened ribbon

I do hope your hearts are full.

#STASHTAGS 22/31

I actually have had a few days of "I knew exactly what I want to do on this one". 

I have had these Sizzix letter die cuts for many years in a box. I cut a load of each letter one Sunday afternoon and have used them for several projects. These are cut from some gold gift wrap that I loved then and still do. One of my favorite papers ever. 

Love is all we need ------ 

Recipe --- 

- green cardstock tag base

- base rectangles of various silvery sparkly papers

- L O V E die cuts from gift wrap

- a heart punched from silver glitter ribbon

- the hanger is lace hem tape. 

And yes - the greatest of these is love.

Have a wonderful day.

#STASHTAGS 21/31

Last one to be caught up on blogging.

October 21 - WONDER

For you parents this one will be immediately understood. 

Your toddler can talk - goodness ,  can that toddler talk. And in being able to talk and trying to learn about the world around them there are the constant questions. Mom - why is the sky blue? Mom - whatcha doing? Mom- how does that bird fly? Mom - what? Mom - where? Mom - when? Mom- why? Mom - how? THERE WERE TIMES I WANTED TO CHANGE MY NAME TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN MOM. Yes I've even threatened to do that in my loud voice.

Please note - I did NOT change my name and I never stopped answering the questions or helping us all learn the answers ------ because WONDER and discovery can lead to the ultimate word - amazement. 

So that is the idea behind this one. Again just a few elements, but I think it conveys my message. 

ingredients

- tan cardstock tag base.

- a toddler boy image snipped from an old planner book of mine. 

- hatching chicks image snipped from the same planner book (because I wonder "which came first - the 

    chicken or the egg?")

- WONDER stamped in blue ink. 

- A couple of eyelets

- some elastic bracelet beading cord

- three little egg shaped stone beads

- the hanger is some blue and black textured ribbon.

So - I think I really like the humor of this one. Do you?

#STASHTAGS 20/31

I am sorry that I got so far behind on posting. I have stayed on the making schedule and these were posted at my Facebook and Instagram pages on schedule. 

October 20 - PRAY

When life's storms swirl around you - pray.

This contains a lot of personally symbolic imagery. I'll try to explain in the list of stuffs. I am familiar with storms - we all are familiar with storms. Unfortunately - some of my reactions to the storms of my life had long term consequences - but with prayer and forgiving of myself and others - I find myself in a much better place today.

Here is the list.
- tan cardstock tag base.
- a picture from an old Ideals Magazine of a woman sitting on a church pew alone, head bowed in prayer.
     (my place was Day Chapel at the Botanical Gardens on the campus of UGA. I wrestled with so many
       things there. It is still a very special place to me. Funny thing is - I have never been inside the chapel. It is
       nestled in the woods on a hillside and there is a rock wall at seat height off to the side looking off that hill
       through the woods. That was my place of solitude. I found peace and acceptance of lots of things
       there. There are other places that give me that kind of feeling. My church sanctuary. Other natural
       environments. Even the woods trail where I most often run. While, I so appreciate the support of others
       The time spent alone with my thoughts and praying is very important as well.)
- Pray - my word was snipped from a scrap of hymnal page.
- beautiful cream colored sheer trim. (a gift from a friend - the satiny embroidered detail looks like swirls to
       me. I had a hard time cutting this, but it just fit what I wanted this card to say. And I am sure that Carrie
       gave me this to USE and not to hoard)
- 5 assorted buttons - the number five is special to me for lots of reasons. these buttons are from my Nanny's
       stash. I have a small baby food jar of them and yes - these I may continue to hoard or used only for
       projects that I am keeping.
- the hanger  - is a simple length of cream satin ribbon.

Some of these tags are simply constructed like this one - with only a  few elements - but each element is carefully chosen to mean something special to me. This project has given me much insight about my psyche. Some of it has been very enlightening. I am gaining understanding into so many things through this and a specific prayer verse our church is focusing on right now.

Hope you have a wonderful day.

#STASHTAGS 19/31

October 19 - JOY

I actually spent Saturday manning my booth at the craft fair held by Jones Chapel UMC. It was a great day of socializing and selling wares. My sales were ok for the day - and the tags/cards that the youth sold were great performers - thinking there needs to be a continued effort to make tags for that fund raiser.

From my instagram note --- Joy to the world the angels sing.

Stashy bits
- green cardstock tag base
- ornaments cut from a vintage card (kind of a parchment type of paper)
- red and blue glitter accents
- words cut from a spool of ribbon
- the angel accent is a mini tree ornament (lets just say that was a trick to get attached and be okay with that statement.
- the hanger is a green and a silver metallic pipe cleaner twisted together.

and we all sing ------ Joy to the World -------

have a great Monday.

#STASHTAGS 18/31

October 18 - SHARE

here's the text from my Instagram feed for this one. I spent several days "rippin and rompin" and it has been nice to rest a bit.


 "Bright colors, because sharing makes the world a brighter place."

I really wanted to use the bits of the Sasheen Ribbon that have been peeking at me from my scrap container and this seemed like the perfect pace for them. They have the most wonderful sheen to them and the colors are just bright and happy. 

On to the list. 

- Tan cardstock tag base (I had bunches of the tan paper)
- Green, orange, blue sasheen ribbon scraps
- tiny bit of bright yellow satin ribbon
- tiny white tag diecuts from scrap paper
- assorted color eyelets
- bright colored confetti flowers
- bright circle alphabet stickers
- the hanger is bright green ribbon (off a Patron tequila gift box) and some bright blue tulle.

It is unusual for me to work in such bright colors, but this one was just plain fun.

Happy Monday.

#STASHTAGS 17/31

Sorry - I fell behind on blogging these details. I've posted these each day on my Instagram and my Facebook page. I was off gallivanting and blogging from my phone is so tedious. So there are several posts to catch these up this morning. 

October 17 - word - STRONG

Here's what I had to say about it.

 My support from my church was strong when I joined that cancer club (twice). Tribute tag for Jones chapel and with pink for breast cancer awareness and green for kidney cancer. A heart because I love you all so much 

Let's look at the details.

-tan cardstock tag base.

- a cutout from the front of my church bulletin (Our church is white brick and is way out in the country and I love this place.)

- a sliver of pink paper (for breast cancer)

- a sliver of green (for renal cell carcinoma - kidney cancer) 

- pink pen lettering using a stencil I have had for many years

- a tiny heart embellishment (I have several of these from a wedding table scatter I bought on clearance) 

- the hanger is lace (lace looks fragile but in most cases is a very strong material) and scrap of black yarn

This again was an easy one to put together for me. As I chose my words for this project, many of the tags designed themselves in my brain. I wanted to pay tribute to my church family because this was a difficult thing to go through and so many of them helped me when my faith grew weak. Thank you Jones Chapel -- I love you all.

Happy Monday. 

#STASHTAGS 16/31

Today's word ---- CREATE. 

Hmmmm - decisions, decisions. what to do about this one? Everything I make is a creation. I'm inspired to create by people, places, things. Ideas I want to capture. I work in multiple mediums, so there is not a single "passion" 

Then last night, I was working on cards for the youth fundraiser, and decided to simply gather some bits laying around and see if I could describe this thought. 

I have to CREATE. Even if the material options are limited, when the muse shows up, I have to find a way to express what she is telling me. While I try to always have a little bag of crafty bits with me, improvising is one of my favorite ways to work. 

this is a sample of that IMPROVISING - I had an antique shop add that I picked up that day, red cardstock, glue, and scissors were in my bag. I worked with what I had available. The whole process  is blogged here.

Anyway back to the tags - here's the listy on this one. 

-tan cardstock base

- dark green circle die cut from cardstock

- crochet rose - tutorial was found here.

- a bird punch 

- a butterfly punch

- a grungy washer that I picked up in a parking lot somewhere (I cannot help myself, I have to pick them up if I notice them)

- a seashell - some of my favorite inspirations come from Mother Nature herself.

- an ink pen 

- a felt tip marker

- the hangtag is some rayon string that I thrifted because it was green

use what you have in unique ways to make your own special artistic creations. 

Have a great day all. 

#STASHTAGS 15/31

Today's word - HAPPY

I wanted just a fun kind of card. And I do not normally work in these kinds of colors, so this was a bit of a stretch for me. 

But every - single - day is a gift and I am happy to be unwrapping them. 

Recipe

- tan cardstock base

- assorted bright papers

- a birdhouse die cut from some where

- a HAPPY shiny bit (cut down from confetti)

- a gifty sticker

- a swirly sticker

- the hanger is some sparkly wired stuff from ????

Hope you are having a great day.