Memory Monday

Today's topic was "a childhood memory of snow". A favorite memory of mine from childhood and snow was when we were in Spring Hill, Kansas visiting my father's parents and i think it was Christmas time. I remember waking up in the morning and seeing this snow all over the ground. up until then i don't think we'd seen much snow. and i'm not really sure how old i was. maybe, 6 or 7 ish? but anyway, we looked out in the backyard and "Santa" (our dad) had written our names in the snow. we thought that was so awesome! then of course, we wanted to go out and play in it, but i don't think we really had the right stuff to wear, so my dad took plastic baggies and wrapped them around our feet to make little booties. it was so fun. somewhere i have a pic of my dad wrapping our feet, so i'm going to try and find it and then if i can get my scanner to work, i'll post it!

altars and Memory Mondays

i was blog hopping the other day and ended up reading around Cathleen's blog, Urban Rosary and her topic was about altars. she showed some great pictures of altars belonging to her Aunt Vicky and another family friend. So as i was looking at, i realized, that i had an altar of my own of religious statues, but really hadn't realize i was building an altar. I was not raised Catholic and do not know alot about these statues, and like Cathleen, i find them mysterious, interesting and beautiful all at the same time, so i started collecting them as i came across them at flea markets. my interest in them isn't necessarily religious, but more spiritual in nature.

in an way though, even if you aren't using these type of religious statues, i think also, the little "vinettes" that we create are types of altars. Altars of comfort i'd like to think. they are usually pretty little things that bring us joy. we like to photograph them and share them on our blogs. so what kind of altars have you created?

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Well it's about time! i'm finally getting back to Memory Monday's - boy that was a long hiatus, wasn't it? i 'm not sure if we will be doing it every Monday, but more likely one random Monday every month (so i don't run out of topics!). feel free to add this little widget to your blog if you'd like to particpate in Memory Monday's. what it was - was i would post a topic and TRY to find a picture to relate to it (not required though, as some of you don't have access to your old pictures, scanners, or whatever!) then i would share my memory and so would you! all you need to do after reading my memory is to leave a comment so that anyone participating can go read your memory. some of my friends without blogs were leaving their memories in the comment section and that is fine too! i hope you'll play along - winter is dull, boring and blah and this would be a fun way to connect as we hibernate! it is also really fun reading the different stories about our childhood memories. so look for a post tomorrow on the topic of "a childhood memory related to snow"

Pay it forward 2009

This is going around on several blogs, so i decided to sign up for the PIF (pay it forward) that Kathryn of KVCreativeDesigns is having.

here's how it works. 3 people signed up for Kathryn's PIF, me being one of them, and we shall at some point during the year, receive a handmade gift from Kathryn. Now in turn, i 'm posting my PIF here for 3 people that would like a handmade gift from me. However, to play along, you have to be willing to do the same, find 3 people that you will make 3 gifts for. So basically, it's a sharing of talents and giving - that's what we Artist do best. If YOU would like ME to send you something homemade and are willing to make three gifts for three others, be one of the first three to let me know! (leave a comment to this post)PLEASE, only sign up if you are positive that you will be able to follow through!

update: thanks, i have my (3) players:

1)karen of Recycled Rita

2) kim of artdogslife

3) danielle of collective elements

remember this piece?

My friend, Abbie, commissioned 2 necklaces using a picture of her great grandparents. She gave them as Christmas gifts to her mother and grandmother. She sent me a picture of the two of them wearing their gifts - it is so cool to see others wearing my work.

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now coincidentally, Abbie was the winner of my wreath contest with the closet guess of me using 150 ornaments to create my vintage wreath. (i used 151). i told Abbie that i was glad she won because it made making her prize really easy!

swapping necklaces

here's the necklace that my friend, Maija made for me in the necklace swap we did together with our other friend, Kim. Maija used a piece of costume jewelry and then added a pewter wrapped tile that she covered in mica and then added some finishing nails . isn't it cool? it is very festive and looked so pretty when i wore it with a red top. she also put a little bird dangly by the clasp cuz she knows i adore birds. thanks again, Maija, i know you how hard you worked on this for me.
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here is the necklace that my friend, Amy, made for me. another beautiful necklace. We decided to do a swap and then we would give them to each other when were in California for Cindy Forrestor's class. Unfortunately for Amy, she wasn't able to attend last minute, so we did our exchange later when i got back home. we both did soldered necklaces. she did a bird for me, but used a piece of beveld glass with dimension. i really like how she used 3 different chains on my necklace - it really funks it up. thanks amy!