new space finished!

Hoping everyone had a wonderful and relaxing holiday so far. We have been busy, busy, busy here!

As promised, here is my booth/space as it looks finished. {better late than never, I hope. . . }

Things have since changed around a bit of course, as they do in a retail environment. But this is the jist of what I have to offer.

We will see how things go, but with the holdiays coming to a close, I may be going back to etsy full steam ahead! We'll see. . . .

new space!

I am embarking on a new adventure - a booth space for my hand-crafted goodies from Sweetie Pie Suite, within a store in {quaint} downtown Glendale! 

This is something completely new for me - quite different from the craft show genre - something I don't find wholly attractive, for soooo many reasons, anyway,
I thought this might prove to be a better route to go. We'll see!

Here are my first steps to setting up this undertaking. . . .

                                           got my little helper, ready to refinish
                                           a plain old bookshelf, donated by my
                                           wonderful mother-in-law!

he's still here! {what a great kid!}

                

                    the next step is bringing all this stuff to the shop . . .

this is what I had to start with!

          so, there will be more painting!

           look at him go!!

things are really coming along. . .lots of white & beige

       almost ready for the fun stuff!

     more pics on this coming very soon - promise!

autumn overlooked?

Is it just me or is the season of autumn being overlooked and forgotton? Driving home tonight after my sons soccer practice, we actually saw christmas lights! and that includes christmas trees as well!

Now, my son is only 10, and loves christmas as much as the next kid. But even he was shocked and disappointed by this! What does everyone else think about this phenomenon?   {or at least the creative blogging community}

As for me, I currently have my fall/autumn decorations on display: wreath, mini-scarecrows, maize corn, pumpkins, pine cones, etc. My blog header pic is from just outside my front door!

What date do most feel is appropriate to put up a christmas tree and or lights?


So, what do you think?

new issue - check this out!

To come home after a mediocre day at work to THIS in my mailbox!! The new do it yourself mag from better homes and gardens. This baby is jam-packed with SO many ideas - don't know where to begin - maybe just at the beginning!

imagine this - glass-front -  stuffed with fabric!

my dream. . .

could really use this - ok, want it!

very unique

I am so into fabric flowers lately - these are cute!

and have so many potential applications

here they are on that pillow

that's all the pics I have - you just have to buy this magazine! it's marked winter 2009, but I got mine in my mailbox. . .

halloween night!

Wanted to share some pics of actual Halloween night.

Some spooky stuff....

And of course, lots of trick or treaters were out!

 unfortunately, it would seem that there were more of them than houses to go to. . .

Still, lots of fun was had, and no one exactly went home empty handed!

a weekend in Globe/Miami

Recent trip to Miami/Globe,  . . . . Arizona, that is! More pics soon, but these made me smile just now.

Is this guy for real? Could the rest of us get away with this??

This sidewalk planter is so cute!

bath day!

bath day today - for the dog that is!

I went out back today to enjoy our beautiful AZ weather and get some painting done. Our beautiful dog Bella (is that redundant?) jumped over the fence to come see what I was doing. As she stretched in the sunshine and shook herself off, I could not believe the dust that went flying!

it's too sunny to open her eyes!

so,. . .  bath time! This dog claims to be a pit bull - a dog I swore I would never own. But I personally think she is some other type of dog - incognito as a pit bull - the most gentle, loving and laziest dog I have ever had!

now, I don't know about the rest of the pit bulls in the world, but this one was raised with so much love and affection, that's all she knows!

               Congratulations Bella!! You can now stay inside the house!!

Halloween tissue Skull Banner

time to get busy! halloween cut-out skull banner

I have totally been dragging my feet about really getting this blog going. Do I have the right pics, the right conversation, the right stuff?!?! It's kind of like having a baby! will you ever really be ready? or should you just jump in and do it?

Well, I think the jump in part is the way to go. I have been collecting pics, etc. for a while now, so no more excuses!


With Halloween around the corner, I have a cute decoration idea I just finished, pics and all! and wish to share!


So, with no further ado, here goes!!


Halloween tissue cut-out skull banner

supplies needed to complete:

tissue paper in halloween colors such as black, orange, yellow

scissors

wavy edge scissors

paper pattern (pic included)

marker and pencil

paper clips

jute, string or embroidery floss

craft glue

Step 1: gather your materials

here is the pattern I used

Step 2: Re-draw the skull design onto a sheet of printer paper, using a marker, or copy the above pattern. I folded the paper in half, then drew just half the skull and cut out. Cut out the edges with the wavy edge scissors.

Step 3: Fold 3-4 layers of the tissue paper together, in half

and lay the paper pattern on top of the tissue, on the fold line, attaching all together with clips.

I cut out the tissue at this point, or you could trace around the pattern and then cut, if you prefer.

Step 4:  Finally, unclip the papers, carefully unfold the tissue layers, and lay flat. Press with a dry iron to remove all the wrinkles.

Step 5:  Cut a piece of string or floss in the correct length to hang in your desired spot. Carefully, fold over a scant 1/4" along the top edge. Lay the string inside this fold and glue with a tiny bit of craft glue.

Voila! Your skull banner is now ready to hang!

Fall is almost on the way

in the desert, anyway. . .

maybe we should say fall is coming - finally! it was a few degrees cooler today, and slightly windy - can't wait for some cooler weather!

fall break is coming up next week, that's saying something!

look for some craft projects I have been working on, pics in the next day or two.
this is what I started with. . .

wait till you see the finished product! exciting!!

halloween is coming!

Just happened to catch these two having a cup of tea on the sidewalk. How nice!

Halloween is definitely coming, even if it is only September.

 Remember when September meant back to school time? Here in the desert, back to school happens as early as the end of July for some! But that doesn't keep 'summer' from stretching on and on and on. . . . . . . .     
Maybe I'll join these guys and see what's up!!!