Wait for it...
I know you have been waiting for it, a long time too.  Something new is on the horizon and I can't wait to share it with you!  

Friday evening musing...I am having a little back issue and two days of dental work so I decided to do something crafty.  This always makes me feel better (other than time spent with my grandsons).  This new paper is from Graphic 45 called Little Darlings, and of course I purchased it from Buffalo Stamps & Stuff.  I am creating a 3-D collage that takes a bit of time cutting 3 pages and then adding just the right embellishments.  I will post a finished project for you soon.  Have an AWESOME weekend, Kat

Art & Soul Retreat for 2

Sorry for the delay in posting since we have returned from Art & Soul Retreat, Virginia Beach, VA, but reality and the pace of "life on the hill" hadn't missed a beat and we are back in to many appointments and allowing the healing to continue with the boys.  I was SO thrilled that my mom decided to join me on the trip (she was a blessing for sure).  She had to learn how to use the iPad as a GPS and those back roads of the PA mountains were certainly a challenge to say the least.  I thought it would be funny to have us wear these I.D. bracelets reading "IF LOST PLEASE CALL..."   LOL  Luckily, no one had to call Jim or Dad.  :)  We made it home safe and sound.  Well, we made it home safe...sound, may be another story altogether.  There is much to share about the trip.  The new friends and new musing ideas were amazing...

My first class was American Still Life with the very talented Jenni Horne.  We were to pick from several photo copied images that she shared and I picked a a quaint simple church.  The image was traced with white transfer paper under the image on black primed wood.

The imaged completely traced and ready for the painting to begin.

You can see the process coming to life and I am loving it.  It was so relaxing and the technique was fun.  Jenni also suggested we use paper and other embellishments and I picked a tissue paper tape with music for the sidewalk to the church.  I also added glossy accents for the light and scrapbook paper for the doors with 2 brads for the door knobs.

Ta da!!  Complete with a frame that Jenni brought with her for our class.

Mom signed up for the Third Times a Charm class by Julie Haymaker Thompson.  Mom created 3 pewter wrapped charms and then aged and distressed them prepping them for the unique embellishment technique using beads, pearls, crystals findings etc.  I will add more retreat information and fun on the next stolen moment for blog time.  


 Have a wonderful day and thank you for stopping by!

Art & Soul Retreat or BUST

Hello again, yes, so quickly. I wanted to show you my Artist Trading Cards for this month at Buffalo Stamps & Stuff, the theme was chocolate.  I had a great time coloring these little ones, they make me smile when I glance at them.  The image is created by Mo Manning, I adore her images.
I also wanted to tell you to keep posted...yes, I am about to have an adventure with my mother and attend for the first time Art & Soul Retreat.  I will post the road trip fun and the musing along the way!  Ciao dear friends.

February Closing and Hello March...

This winter has been known as the winter that wasn't.  We are behind some 100 inches of snow to the dismay of the local ski resorts.  Due to all the appointments I have been traveling to...I LOVE the lack of snow and slippery roads.  But we did manage to find a few days that mother nature had to remind us of what we are missing.  

A stolen moment or two I have used my "big girl crayons" aka copic markers and prismacolor pencils with gamsol.  Aren't they sweet?

No words are necessary here....just an amazing reflection of LOVE, LOVE and more LOVE !  Have a WONDERFUL day !!

Back to greet the world...

This holiday my entire family was together for the very first time in many many years.  Papa Pete, Matthew, Robert, Michael, Gregory, William, myself and Mom.  You can only imagine what a group this is, characters to say the least.  Love you guys!

 My creative muse has been limited as of late, but I thought I might show you an image that I  colored during a stolen moment at my mom's crafting table late one night.

 This photo was taken the Saturday evening after Thanksgiving.  This is the day we had our Polish Thanksgiving with the kids and for some reason I was drawn outside to catch the sunset.

I end this entry with our grandsons in a snapshot that shows their love for each other.  Hugs to you all...

Fall is here and a few other notes...

This is a picture I took of the boys and I just LOVE it.  I adore the fact that there is a blur when looking at an arm or leg.  This is the way children are, always in motion and so precious.

I got a new copic marker chart from my FAVORITE stamp store, Buffalo Stamps & Stuff on Sheridan Drive.  It it perfect, except that I wished it was easier to match up my paper choices...then, about 2am I had one of those Ah ha moments!  (cuz that is the way I am)  I have a tool that creates holes for grommets and it works perfect!  Ta da !

Driving home I found a RAINBOW!

This lovely place was taken at Hurd Orchards while we were there for a centerpiece workshop...SO much fun!

My mom, Pretty Pat (as Cheri calls her) and her lovely arrangement, great job mom.  :)  I have to tweek mine and then I will add a picture soon.

My grandson James was baptized recently in my christening gown that I wore 51 years ago!  How awesome is that??  More pictures to come soon!  Have a lovely day !  Hug inserted here.

A fun and rainy, rainy weekend...

I attended my first class at Aurora Sewing Center Saturday.  What a treat !  It was a Hot Ribbon Quilting Class instructed by Lennie Honcoop from California.  She is amazing to say the least.  I was curious about the class as it includes copic markers to make these wonderful wall hangings.

 

Hot Ribbon Art is an iron-on, no sew, 1/8" wide ribbon that can be used to finish the raw edges of applique. Imported from Japan, Hot Ribbon is gaining in popularity with quilters who like to finish off their projects quickly and have a dramatic look.  This was the leaf that we appliqued in class on to black fabric and outlined with the hot ribbon.  After this process you color the ribbon to match the fabric and create the dramatic look below with Lennie's finished project.

This picture does not do this wall hanging quilt justice, it is JUST beautiful !

I went for a ride in the back 40 and found this fun bush of milk weeds.  When Peter was two we rubbed them together and tossed them up in the air.  He asked to go back the next day and play with the "cow feathers" his named version of milk weeds.  :)

Glorious, glorious SUNSHINE and a splashing of RED and YELLOW against the very BLUE sky.

How precious is this picture?  Peter and his new little brother James!  How full my heart is !

A fun rainy afternoon of coloring with My Big Girl Crayons !

Hey Deb (the most amazing copic artist who has taught me all the wonders of copic markers), this is for you.  I found a way to put a hole in each block of color so you can match up the paper!!!  whooo whoooo!  Two thumbs up?  :)

Moxy Monday Musings...

I made this card for a sweet friend and I just LOVE it !  I so enjoy inking Mo Manning's images.  I struggle at times with creating the actual card but I like the simple but sweet way this one turned out.  :)  I have several books and magazines that offer so many cards plastered with 3D flowers etc but I sometimes really enjoy the focus to be on the image and how they make me feel...happy.

I have a friend who likes to work with steampunk art and she gave me this really cool shadow box that she made for me.  It has computer parts, ceramic doll arm and other bits and pieces.

Now the interesting and fun part of this artwork is that the image in the middle is my actual cat scan.  No kidding.  How many people have their cat scan so artistically displayed?  :)

Just a little bit of sunshine to add to your day...enjoy !

Vibrant FALL is on the way !

Today was a day of SUNSHINE and FUN!  My mother and I met a few friends out at Hurd Orchards today. It was vibrant and lovely and a perfect way to spend the afternoon.  They created a wonderful cheese platter they served out by the zinnia garden.

The gift shop is loaded with jams, jellies, baked goods, soaps, stationary, kitchen towels and much more.  I purchased a peach bread loaf, black berries and pear almond jam.

A beautiful sunflower waved to us while the sun danced on our flesh.  Can you feel it?  What a enjoyable afternoon.  :)

Mom's lastest creation !

Mom and I have been taking classes at Buffalo Stamps & Stuff for just over a year learning some wonderful copic marker skills. The image is a Mo Manning and she colored the image with copic markers. This is mom's latest card and I HAD to share it with you...I am so proud of her !  How lucky is the person that gets this card?  Great job Mom!

Invitations, place cards, cake topper and some summer flowers

Jim and I were working together at the dining room table which is also used as a craft table, conference table and drafting board.  LOL  This day we were sharing the space.  Jim was doing calculations on blueprints and I was putting some invitations together.  These invitation were a great deal of fun to make.  I used a screen door die cut kit from  Buffalo Stamps & Stuff.

 I LOVE the way it turned out.  We have invited 10 of my mother's girlfriends from high school.  This group of lovely ladies have been gathering together on a regular basis for over 50 years!  I was lucky enough to join them for a few of there parties and I so enjoyed the spirit and joy of friendships that have lasted over the years.  They call themselves the Girls with the Grandmother faces.  Jim and I with the help of a few of my favorite girlfriends are going to have a dinner party for them next week.  I picked this image from Phindy's Place because she looks just like me.  :)  Also, one of my favorite parts of our home is my screen door and I added a thin wood welcome sign.  I hope they can tell just how thrilled we are to do this dinner party.

The wedding that I have been helping with asked if I could make one of my whimsical cake toppers.  Of course I said, sure!  They told me a bit about the characters they wanted and here they are.  A teacher and a Buffalo Bills fan.  They were made with polymer clay and baked as directed on the package.

The place cards were doubled as a thank you (on the back), and held up with wine corks.  I sanded a flat edge so that they would stand easily and cut a slit into the other side of the cork. The bride had someone make these lovely wine charms that we tied on.  I punched the corners with a fun edge punch and distressed the cards.

 Just for the joy of looking at at rose I have include this wonderful scented rose. 

This Gerber daisy was given to me by Rox and was planted in a special place to greet you when you come to visit.

A summer wedding and a puppy tooth !

One of the weddings that we are invited to this summer, the theme is wine and the centerpieces are wine bottles.  I created some wine labels with a list of the couple's favorite wines.  I used a wine stamp with Distress Ink, bundled sage and put them through the printer for the words.

I discovered a neat idea while I was distressing another project (the favors...pictures coming soon), instead of distressing on scrap paper, I used a sheet of acetate from an old report of Jim's.  It works WONDERFUL.  Now, some of you may think...duh, use your craft sheet from Ranger...but, I am one of those crazy gals that create and have fun in every room of the house and currently my craft sheet is buried alive.  LOL

Putting together a new image from Mo Manning...to be continued.  Really.   :)

While Peter visited last weekend we found one of Bella's teeth and we made a booklet for Peter to take it to school for show n' tell.  Someone else has a missing tooth.  :)

Jim suggested he take it to school in an old fashioned film container...I came up with this idea.  LOL
Gotta love those old film containers.  Have an idea of what to do with them?