Fly Girl....

Vintage photo reprints, ledger paper, vintage text, butterfly wings and handmade embellishments.

This little beauty is one of my favorites in my vintage photo collection. I use her often. I bought a grouping of photos and there were ones from her infancy all the way up to about age 14. It always makes me so sad to find old photos that have been abandoned. I have to buy them because I know that I will appreciate them and give them a good home. It bothers me that they will just sit in a box and be forgotten. Sounds strange I know, but I can't help myself! I really enjoy giving them new purpose and letting their stories speak again. Speaking of photos and stories, you have to visit Tricia Scott's blog, "A Little Birdie Told Me" and read the story she wrote for Merlie Ann. It's amazing and touching and all that wonderful stuff we love!

Weird.....

My Mother at 2 and 11 and my Jar Faery

Am I crazy or do they really look alike? Something has been nagging me all day and I finally went and pulled out all the pictures of my Mom when she was growing up and now I know I felt weird because the faery looked familiar to me! Right now my Mom is saying, "No Jamie, you are just plain weird!" Love you Mom! I was drawn to the jar faery and there were several to choose from at the time. Now I think I know why! Do you see it or am I really just sleep deprived from a sick baby and too little caffeine?

Mail Treasures......

Look at the lovely jar faery that came in the mail today!!! I purchased this from the very talented Mrs. Kelli Perkins at Ephemeral Alchemy. I LOVE her site and all the wonderful art she has posted. I hope she doesn't mind me gushing on about her, but I am awed by her collage art and fiber art. She has "mad art skills":) Just think I never would have met her if it wasn't for the One World, One Heart Giveaway (she was one of my winners!). Another much earned thanks to Lisa! Then to make the day even better I was the receiver of a RAK from Kelli too! It is an incredibly generous sampling from her stash of goodies. Hand dyed cloth, ribbon, ephemera, vintage buttons, beautiful paper and a little bit of everything else! Thank you so much!!! Does this mean I have to learn to sew? LOL!

Half Acre....

Listening to Hem and journaling. Good way to spend the morning!

Half Acre (click here for their Myspace page and you can hear it!)

(Dan Messe)

I am holding half an acre

Torn from the map of Michigan

And folded in this scrap of paper

Is the land I grew in

Think of every town you've lived in

Every room you lay your head

And what is it that you remember

Do you carry every sadness with you

Every hour your heart was broken

Every night the fear and darkness

Lay down with you

A man is walking on the highway

A woman stares out at the sea

And light is only now just breaking

So we carry every sadness with us

Every hour our hearts were broken

Every night the fear and darkness

Lay down with us

But I am holding half an acre

Torn from the map of Michigan

I am carrying this scrap of paper

That can crack the darkest sky wide open

Every burden taken from me

Every night my heart unfolding

My home

Make A Little Magic Everyday!....

OK, that's totally out of my system for a while! Easter stuff is done and so am I. I haven't had a day where I crafted all morning in a long time. I love the process of creating because it is an escape for me. Hours can pass and I am completely unaware. It almost feels like meditation and I always end up feeling relaxed and calm when I am done. I hope your day was great and now I am going to wrangle the boys and get to the store:)

Eariler post from this morning:

Maybe it is all the testosterone and cowboy outfits in this house but I felt compelled to make something totally girly. So here is my magic wand with ribbon and beads and tulle and lots and lots of glitter!!! I think I have it out of my system, but I might just make some glittery Easter stuff today too. Thank you everyone for your sweet comments about my son. He and his brother are the best things I have ever created! Have a wonderful day all!

Know ThySelf...

Caught in the Wheel...

I was reading Cheryl's blog and she was talking about feeling overwhelmed with the never ending list of things we must do in life. She likened it to being caught up in a hamster wheel. I feel that way too so many times. It really got me thinking and then later that evening I dropped off the little one for a playdate and my 7 year old and I were alone for the first time in a long time. What did I do with our time? I went grocery shopping. I HAD to do it and it was easier with just one child. We finished our list and in line he asked if he could choose a treat and I said yes. On the way out he asked to ride the car ride they have right inside the entrance. The first thing out of my mouth was, "No, honey." See, I was focused on getting the groceries home, picking up brother, getting dinner started, blah, blah. But, then it hit me. How much longer will he ask to ride the ride? A month, a few months? What if he thinks it's for babies next week and I didn't let him ride because I was too self consumed with my own agenda? I stopped the cart and handed him 50 cents and said, "Go ride honey." I sat down at a table set they had for sale in the front and I watched every second of that ride. I tried to burn it into my memory. His goofy grin, the tops of his knees jutting out above the steering wheel and ohh, his heart crushing beauty. My boy, my baby and I almost lost this moment to the "THE LIST". And there I sat almost openly weeping in the grocery store. I guess what I learned from Cheryl and my son is to slow down and really live your moments. Don't let them pass by in the never ending circle of the wheel.

"...for a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served or a debt to be paid. THEN life would begin.

At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."

Daisaku Ikeda

It's Time!! It's Time!!!

I have had such a wonderful time this week . Thank you for all your kind comments. I hope we can do this again real soon!

Here is everyone's names ready to go. I did get you in Nici, but I must admit it was not typed nicely but written in my chicken scratch:)

!


Shaky, Shaky, Shaky!

And the winners are......

Kelli won prize 1 ( the ephemera) and Tammy won prize 2!!!!! I will contact you both for your mailing address.

What did Tammy win? Yummy Eastery Goodness. I dyed the tags in vanilla coffee and they smell so good! I hope it's ok!

Happy First Day of Spring!!!!!

Journal Page

I hope today finds you all well. I will be announcing the winner of the One World, One Heart giveaway this evening. I can't wait to find out who wins!! My sweet boys are going to choose the winning name and they are excited. But I have two boys and only one prize so I guess that means we will have another chance for someone to win!

See You Soon,

Jamie

One World-One Heart Giveaway!!!!

I'm a little late in the game on this one, but hopefully it's not too late! Here is my offering:

1 page 1934 ledger paper from a PA store
1 page 1873 ledger paper from a country store
1 check from 1833 (apparently you could just write them on paper back then. Sweeeet!)
1 half finished letter from 1934
an Easter tag (by Me!)
1909 Easter postcard
1931 check from one Mrs. Gertrude Fritzringer! Don't know why, but that name kills me!
2 CDV's from the late1800's/early 1900's


Hope you see something you can use. I love to collect ephemera and it's nice to share:) Just leave me your info and I will add you to my drawing list. Many thanks to Lisa at Heart of the Nest for hosting this for everyone.

A Mother's Love.....

This photo is from my personnal collection. Feel free to use it any way you wish. I love that they look so content and happy. If you do use it make sure to send me a link. I would love to see what wonderful creations you make! I am in the middle of making eggs. Don't know what to do with them yet, but I seem to be a little obsessed with them lately:) My mom sent some love through the mail yesterday. She makes beautiful jewerly and she made two new necklaces for me with stones that look like bird's eggs. She's my touch stone.

Fun Was Had By all....

collage danglie using vintage image reprint,1940's metal bathroom tile, wire and beads

So sorry for the slow posting, but Spring Break is keeping us busy. Yesterday we spent 3 hours at McDonalds while the boys played. I brought papers, scissors and craft stuff to keep me busy. All the other Moms were giving me weird looks, but at least I was not just sitting there. I always try to have scissors and things that need to be cut out in my car in case we have wait times and I am bored. It is nice to have that stuff already done when you get ready to create. Today we spent the day at The Science Place exploring the exhibits and feeding the birds. No squirrels today. I think it was because there were too many folks around. When we were done we saw the Body Worlds exhibit and it was AWESOME!!!!! The boys loved it and were so respectful when they were talking about the bodies. One of them had their sternum and ribs pulled open to better show the chest cavity and my 6 year old asked me if that was to let his soul out. I thought it was so sweet. Here are some pics from today.

Good To Be Back...

ATCs

I'm back from my weekend, tired and glad to have my house back:) Nothing exciting to report, but we did eat at Fogo de Chao on Saturday and it was really good. I did no creating, which has left me a little grumpy and I must remedy that today. I am also taking the kids to the Natural History museum for some dinosaur fun. After that we will feed the pigeons and squirrels (which I secretly think they only tolerate my ramblings about the Mesozoic era and plate tectonics so they can get at those squirrels when we are done!) I'll get some pictures and share tomorrow. Would you prefer things from the Jurassic or Cretaceous periods? Oh. Just the squirrels, right? I can't win:)

The World is Waiting For You

collage with vintage image, vintage text, paint,ink and magazine images

Busy day and now the kids are on Spring Break for the next week. We don't have any specific plans, but I am sure we will figure it out as we go. I see Chuck E. Cheese in my very near future. We have house guests for the weekend and I am not sure the computer will be available until Sunday. My husband and his friend usually tie it up when they are together. TOTAL computer nerds. Hopefully, I will get some creative time to myself while they are occupied. Have a great weekend Ya'll!

I need the "coughy"....

That's what my 6 year old used to say in the morning and then he would pretend cough. Cutest thing to wake up to in the morning! I do NEED the coffee this morning. Last night was Cub Scouts and I am the den mother. Trying to keep 7 six year old boys focused at 7:00 pm is an act in futility. They are a really sweet bunch, but rowdy!:) Thursdays are my day to volunteer at the school where my son goes to first grade. I taught for 10 years before I had kids and I miss the role of teacher. But, being a den mother gives me my "fix" and has turned out to be a fantastic experience. I better get going on my day. If I hurry I can get a shower before the kids wake up.:)

Mixed media collage using a vintage image reprint, vintage text, ink and paint

For every second of every day their hearts ached for her.
Altered Cabinet card

Wired!....

Too much coffee today! I was so scared for so long to start a blog and now that I have one I want to post about a gajillion things at once. I guess I should spread it out a little, huh? Here are some of my Spring things:)

Handle With Care....

I was reading the Studio Friday challenge for March 9th this morning about the most fragile things in your studio and how they are stored and protected. I don't have a studio, but I do have fragile items. The most fragile are my eggs and insects. I keep the insects behind glass until I need them and I keep the eggs wrapped up in about a billion layers of packing material to keep them safe from curious boys:)

Awakening...

Computer savvy I am not, but I will give this a try. My little corner of Texas is having a beautiful beginning to Spring. We are spending as much time outside as we can to soak it all in. The boys and I have been looking for signs that winter is ending and Mother Nature is not disappointing us. Everything seems to be budding and turning green. We rode to school this morning with the windows down so we could hear the birds singing and feel the wind. Wonderful start to our day! Here's a wonderful start to your day with a link to Stash Studios. Be ready to feast your eyes on Ugly Betty!