Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Soldered Charm Class

Do you love it!? I do! Oh, I do! I can't get enough of it. It's a little bit, you know . . . kind of organic . . .
but it tells a story, and it's warm and embracing . . .
each piece is a miniature work of art . . .

. . . a miniature collage . . .

a memento . . .

a memory . . .


And I will be teaching the class! I'll give the details as soon as they're all ironed out. I am currently in the hunting/gathering stage . . . assembling kits and locating suppliers . . . and I gotta tell you . . . I kind of like it. :)


This much, I know . . . the class will be held at The Empty Nest*, in Oakdale, California . . . the very minute the classroom is ready for occupancy!
This is gonna be a fun new adventure for me! I can't wait!
*Current web presence only on FaceBook

Monday, September 20, 2010

Made my deadline!

I promised I would post about Tinsel and Treasures today. barely I squeaked in under the deadline! It was just the best fun! Here we are; Rhonda, Dede and me. {I should have kept that hair appointment . . . sigh.}

The incredibly talented Colleen Moodywas there. She graciously allowed me to photograph her with some of her beautiful, beautiful pieces. I really hope I get to take one of them home someday!
Charm by Anna Corba. Anna has such a warm and welcoming presence . . . You must check her website . . . she offers workshops in her studio . . . I know this because Rhonda has taken one. {jealous. jealous.} I wish I could take the one she's about to teach in France!

Reverse side of the my new charm. {The sweet little notebook that I've used in these backgrounds was purchased from Nancy Jamar of Gilding the Lily.}

My Treasure Necklace . . . I'm adding Anna's charm to this. Gonna be gorgeous!


Although I been involved in a couple of wonderful projects with Dede Warren, we had never met in person . . . we all know about that. Dede's thing was the Make & Takes. I chose her journal . . . my goal was to make sure that we could get in a little visit. I had just the best time.

The teeie tiny papier mache' box and nest nest was made by C M Geiger Designs {Charlene} {who, sadly, apparently, has no web presence . . .at least that I can find} Such a dear, lovely and talented woman, whose booth was very nearly sold out, by the way. . . . Can you tell how eensie it is?! She made the nest from antique bullion {the crinkled wire}. I picked it up, held it, didn't put it down . . . and didn't put it down . . . and didn't . . . then the goosebumps. I'm serious. That's when I knew.
My daughter, studying it, listed the qualifications that made it perfect for me . . . 1. it's tiny 2. it's a box 3. it has a nest on it 4. there is something antique in it 5. the color is perfect in my house. Done deal. :)


This darling little note book, has absolutely nothing to do with the Tinsel and Treasures event, but everything to do with my fondness for any of Michelle Palmer's art. It happened to arrive in the same day's post . . .


Tinsel and Treasures is a small, intimate event, showcasing truly amazing artists. So much talent in such a small space . . . you will definitely want to go to the website to check the artist's/vendor's links.


{Note: I tried to make the links that I have provided go directly to related posts. Once you're there, if you are interested in reading the rest of the blog, just click on the title banner.}

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Tinsel and Treasures

THAT was wonderful! We had the best time at Tinsel and Treasures! I finally met Dede! I just love her to bits! Left to right, my girlfriend Rhonda, Dede Warren, and me! I am so tired! I have lots to share, but tonight, I really just need to get some rest! Burning the candle at both ends eventually catches up with you . . . I'm sorry! For more information on where we've been today, see yesterday's post. I plan to do this up properly tomorrow! I'll show you what I bought, and who we met! But for now . . . Goodnight Dear Ones! Good night!
Note: I'm sorry! I didn't follow through on my promise! Asthma kicked in and knocked me for a loop today. I'll try again tomorrow!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Ooohhh, Lookie!


I get to go! I've been waiting for it, imaging all of the wonderfulness and dreaming about it for months! And it's nearly here!

I was all set, had it on my schedule and everything, when they posted that Dede Warren and Nancy Jamar of Gilding the Lily were going to be there! Nancy, I've met, but Dede has allowed me to participate in two of her fat book projects . . . {if you're reading this Dede . . . I'm ready for another one! I'll do collage, I promise!} But Dede and I . . . we have never met! When you consider our history . . .




I think it's high time! {This was the project, in which Dede's is the cover photo, and mine didn't quite make the cut . . . sigh . . . but still!} {It was also Jenny Doh's last Somerset Studio before she left for other, presumably more challenging ventures.}



Anyway . . . Dede will be busy doing make and take projects . . . I'm assuming she'll be booked all day long . . . so I signed up for one. Not leaving anything to chance . . . I'm telling you!
{Look for the list of Dede's Make and Takes on Tinsel and Treasures' Blog}


Take a look at this list of participants, borrowed . . . er . . . maybe pilfered is a better word. . . from Tinsel and Treasures' blog!





I can't wait to tell you all about it!


P.S. If you do check out Gilding the Lily's Classes, 1. know that they are located in Fullerton, California, and 2. be sure to see what Robin Dudley-Howes is offering! Robin, teaches at several Southern California locations, but I met her at Gilding the Lily. You'll love her art!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Foodie-licious-ness

We spent a couple of days over the weekend tent camping for the first time in ages. I really don't remember the last time I went. Husband has an annual trip with our sons, but this was my first trip in ages. I hasten to add that I loved it. I adored slipping between ice cold sheets, tightly stretched over an air mattress, snuggling under heavy blankets pulled up over our noses. The kind of cold that. . . if you should let your arm outside of the covers for a bit, you know it when you tucked it back in, or in our case, my husband knew it when an ice cold limb sought his warmth . . . slept like a baby.

Our old angular, drab green, Coleman tent was nestled in the midst of a little community of the fresh out of the box, brilliantly colored dome tents of his family. We camped with my husband's entire set of siblings, several of their children and his folks. {Who actually stayed in town at a hotel. Age does have it's privileges.}

We traveled, some from North of Seattle and us . . . from the middle of California, the others, points in between . . . and met near Mount Shasta. It was lovely. Family members came and went, according to their work schedules mostly. Young and old. We hiked to the most beautiful waterfalls, giggled around a campfire, told stories we probably shouldn't have ;) and ate till we were sated. I think that might be what I will remember best, the food. Oh my, we are a bunch of foodies.

Driving a section of Interstate 5 while my husband snoozed, I read many a sign for The Olive Pit in Corning {California}. Not wanting to wake him, but really, really wanting to stop, enticed as I was by their tease of an Olive Tasting Bar, I resolved to make that a visit on our way home, and for once we actually did it. You know what I mean . . . the best laid plans, you know. It was oh, so very worth it. By way of apology for not taking you along, I'm sharing links with you. This is the stuff we couldn't leave behind . . . my tastebuds doing the happy dance like they were, and all . . . .


We bought: Muffaletta and Green Olive Tapenade . . . the Spreads link.
Garlic Olives . . . the link to the Olive page.
Delicious, thick, sweet Balsamic Vinegar,
and fresh, soft, ripe local figs.



Were you one of the kids who grew up with the world's best fig tree growing in your Grandparent's back yard? I was. I do so love a nice, ripe fig.

. . . and . . . I may never get over my Muffaletta sandwich! How is it that I didn't know such a thing existed? Muffaletta, ham, salami and provolone on ciabatta! {roll eyes and moan longingly here} I see now that it is a pretty traditional recipe, New Orlean, I think, and I loved it! I ate half for lunch when we stopped, half of the leftover when we got home, and the last bit for breakfast this morning! Stretched it out as long as I could . . . did not want it to end! I found this blog to share the recipe with you. I think you're gonna thank me! {This is also where I got the idea that might be a traditional New Orlean recipe.}

If you happen to be driving through Northern California on Interstate 5, and see the signs . . . it's easy off and on . . . you can spend ten minutes, or order lunch like we did, and I don't believe you'll be sorry. It's very worth the effort.

You are most welcome. :)