Getting Artsty/Craftsy

This week we had an Art Time class...

at first the table was set all nice and Easterish...with an example of the Charm Tree that we were going to make...

my little laughing bunny....there was a year when these were all the rage!

then I started adding all the things we would need...

there must always be snacks...

we needed tulle (in my opinion you can never have too much tulle)...

there were plenty of pots to choose from...

twine and trim...sticks and fabric...and it is beginning to look like crafting will be done here!

Everyone got to work...

and with just the right amount of fun and silliness...some beautiful things were made!

Our Charm Trees were planted in their pots and adorned with flowers and a few tiny bugs (made out of shells of course!).

One of the things I love about doing Art Time is that as everyone works you can see their idea of the project emerge...

we had an all yellow tree where the flowers were attached right to the tree...

and a lovely green and white tree where some were attached and some were hanging...

accented by it's precious little container.

New friends were made (another one of the things I love)...

Mom's and kiddos crafted together...

as I demonstrated here and there.

The table became my favorite kind of chaos...

and a good time was had by all !!!!!!!!

You must come and join us next time!

xoxo     Elizabeth

Daffodils!!!!!!!!!

This weekend I was at Trader Joe's and the daffodils were in!!!!!  Every year I look for them in the Spring - it is so nice to be able to grab five or so bunches and put them all into one vase to make a huge bouquet. 

For some reason when I told my family I had gotten the daffodils I called them daffodil down dillies...of course everyone looked at me like I was a bit daft (that happens a lot around here) and I wondered where my little brain (something Madison used to say) had gotten that bit of silliness.

After a bit of research I found this nursery rhyme....

Daffy-down-dilly
Has come to town
With a yellow petticoat
And a pretty green gown.

 and here she is...Miss Daffy-down-dilly!  So - I am not daft after all!

Here is a little something else that always makes me thing of Spring...the sweet little birdies that my Honey (my grandfather) made many years ago.  Two little peepers with their mouths wide open waiting for the worm that Daddy has brought.

This is my contribution to Spring - a little 'Charm Tree'.  This one is filled with Spring flowers and even a few little Spring bugs...I am working on what the Summer charms will be.

Spring is such a fleeting thing...it lasts only about as long as these daffodils will...so go take a walk or pull some weeds in your garden before that crazy Summer sets in!

xoxo     Elizabeth

Sending out Love....

Today I have a great feeling of accomplishment....

I have successfully made, wrapped (in pretty stuff), and wrapped (in brown bag stuff) and addressed many things to send off in the mail.

There were cards and packages...some for babies, some for grown-ups...some to say thank you, some to let someone know I am thinking of them.

And, I am so happy that by tomorrow they will all be traveling on their way to their various destinations...spreading love and warm thoughts...

One might even be headed your way!!!!!!!  Now those of you who (like me) have things lying around that need to be wrapped and mailed... or maybe a card that needs to be written...you can do it!  And it feels so good once it's done!

xoxo      Elizabeth

Boutique = Success!

Our boutique was so much fun!  We picked flowers from the garden...

brewed some lovely iced tea...

and my girlies made the most beautiful cookies I have ever seen!

Just look at that wonderful detail...they look a bit like lace.  The cookie idea came from University of Cookies - there is a great tutorial that leads you right through the process.  What I think is so fun is that even though you watch the tutorial and follow the directions you achieve your own version of the cookie!

We displayed all of our wares throughout the living and dining rooms - the only draw back there is that sometimes people want to buy my things!

Here are the Spring mice sitting on their hunks of 'cheese'...

some little hat picks to stick in your summer sun bonnet...

These are my newest set of earrings.  I make a collage on water colour paper...first I swirl it with colours...then I cut images out of magazines until I am seeing stars...and arrange them on the water coloured paper...I add tissue paper, more layers of magazine cuttings...and just keep going til I can hardly find a space on the paper.  Usually Brian and the girlies tell me "That is enough!  You must stop now!"  Then I take the whole thing down and get it copied front and back and laminated.  After that I am ready to cut out shapes, add beads and make earrings!

This happens to be my own personal piece of furniture...Lane painted and adorned it for me for my birthday...but she is now doing custom work for anyone who would like to have their own piece!

The detail is amazing...all the large beads are handmade out of paper and each of the seed beads are placed one by one!

My Hoot Owls attended the party...

as did the Bluebirds of Happiness.

One of Lane's decoupage boxes...

my new little 'purselets'  - these are knitted and then I added a little fabric rosebud to each.  They are tiny and will hold little things that might get lost in your 'grown-up' purse!

The girlies and I made some garlands - so easy you can do it too!  We stamped self adhesive paper, cut circles (with a paper punch), then stuck three together with a string in the middle.  You can make them as long or as short as you like. I saw something similar here and it inspired me.

I am very happy with my fairy wands...and I even made fairy head pieces to go with them...I will try and find a little fairy for a photo shoot so you can see just how they look!

Madison contributed the photos for this blog...thank you my Madison!  It was nice not to have to think about taking pics on that day!  But...she didn't take pics of any of her own work!  She made some beautiful jewelry that will be in our etsy shop soon.
 
I want to thank everyone who came to support us...it was so much fun having you all here - felt just like a party!  We are looking forward to doing it again soon!

xoxo    Elizabeth