Today's saying is "Frou Frou"

Ahhhh, my three favorite colors, pink, yellow and green. I just love this combination. Those of you that know me, know my house is a haven or roses, rabbits and these three fabulous colors. I never tire of them. They're so soothing, comforting and peaceful.

So why is it that this book I made at Art and Soul has blue and purple? Well, because it was the first class I took and I went with the flow of what Beth mixed up in the containers. Because most artists like bright, vibrant, vivid colors. Because most of the inks and paints that the instructors brought for us to use were not soft and "frou, frou." Because, unlike everyone else, I'm a "frou frou" artist! However, every class after this one, my artwork was pink, yellow and green and well... very "frou frou." It was actually quite comical because several gals were in the other classes with me and remarked on my elegant, soft colors and the pink. They even commented on how my art matched my rosey, pink, "frou frou" apron. I'm sure they may have been secretly sneering or puking just a little as I was the only one in all of the classes with this type of art, but I truly didn't care. I am who I am. After all, I'm a proud member of Make Mine Pink http://www.makeminepink.com/ I love my pink sisters!

However, with all that said, I truly love this book even if it is blue and purple. All the pages are handmade. We did a color wash technique and dried the pages on plastic. The outside of the book was a different technique with paper paste, rubber stamps, stencils and color washes. It was messy. It was sticky and it was so much fun. The book was hand stitched together and the biding has decorative beads that I sewed onto it. It's the first book I ever made and it was fabulous. I'm sure some of you don't quite get it (like my darling husband), but it's just a book of pretty papers and designs. It's art, not a novel. It's pretty, that's it. Our instructor, Albie Smith, was awesome! What a fabulous lady. She was very proud of us and we were proud of ourselves. The process was so much fun that I want to make another book. Of course, this one will be pink, yellow and green and just scream, you guessed it, "frou frou."

Have a good week,

Shell

This week IGF knowing who I am and liking myself anyway and the family that lost their home to a tornado yesterday found their pet bunny safe and sound hopping around the destroyed living room.

Art for my Soul

It came, it went. The Art and Soul retreat in Hampton, Virginia. I registered for classes back in November. My best friend, Beth, and I decided to give ourselves a 40th birthday present while we celebrated being best friends for 28 years. We met when we were 12. We made art together all the time. We were in art classes when we were little and to this day, we still love to create art together. What better way to celebrate than going to an art retreat. This is a picture of me and Beth. A little blurry because people can't operate my camera. Having a best friend like Beth is a true gift.

From the minute we got to the hotel on Wednesday, I knew we were in for a special treat. What a fabulous room! The people were so friendly and kind. Artists are usually like that. To be surrounded by some of the most incredible artist was so inspiring. We took classes every day from 9 until 4:30 and then again from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. We were tired, but not in the "gotta go to work and deal with crap" kinda way.

For the first time in years, my mind was free from responsibility and all I had to do was let my soul be and create. The paints, the inks, the glue's, the papers! The kindest people coming up to the breakfast table and asking if they could join us. Learning about their lives and their art was so much fun. I met so many artist that I have admired in my beloved Somerset Magazines. To see them and their work in person was a totally thrilling experience. To learn more about them on a personal level was even better.

I met a lady named Jo who is an incredible bead artist. Here is a picture of her holding a gourd that she painted and the beaded. It took her 2 years to create this masterpiece. She has won numerous awards and money for this one of a kind piece. The detail was amazing. She gave Beth and me a lesson on beading and we would love to go visit her in Williamsburg, VA for some classes. She was so nice.

For years I have admired the work of mixed media artist, Beryl Taylor. To meet her in person and be able to take a class from her was the icing on the cake. I could look at her art for hours and never tire of it. She is an incredible lady who is so funny and so incredibly kind. I could also listen to her talk all day long. She is from England. She signed her book for me Mixed Media Explorations and this is a picture of her and me and some of her beautiful work. She creates fabric from paper and that is what she taught us to do. I will be making a lot of this. It's so fun!

I will never forget this trip and I would love to go on another one. Maybe next time I can go to the one in Portland, OR. Maybe one day I could even go to the one in Italy. Hmmm, better start saving for that one. Of course, Beth will have to go with me. Best Friends Forever....

I'll put pictures of my work up as I finish them. I took 6 classes and learned so much. I want to take my time finishing the projects so I can hang them on the walls in "Bunnyville" (what I have named my studio).

Have a great week. Hugs to all and I encourage you to purchase art for your soul. It's good for you. Remember, no mass produced, fall apart Walmart! Buy original, buy handmade!

Shell

This week IGF having a best friend for 28 years and being able to shed responsibilities and just play for 5 days.

Make Mine Pink Shop Hop

Hi my friends,

I'm taking a mid-week minute to post some fun information regarding my friends at Make Mine Pink. Please join us for a shop and blog "hop" from April 21 through May 10th! You know it's going to be fun and the bunnies will enjoy hopping from shop to shop and blog to blog.

In addition to all the "hopping around," today we'll be sharing a favorite recipe (see below). On Monday, April 28 we'll have a Mother's day gift guide. On Thursday, May 1st there will be a celebration with flowers and May baskets and on Monday May 5th, we'll be having a special Spring giveaway. Oooooo, don't ya just love a giveaway!!!

Please join us at http://www.makeminepink.com/ for this fun event. Do something special for yourself. Heck, spend some of your tax refund!! Shopping on the internet saves gas!! Also, you help support a wonderful, fabulous, fun group of women in business!

STRAWBERRY ALMOND CAKE: This recipe is from a Create and Decorate Magazine and is from a lady named Lyn Stade. I don't know her, but I love her. This cake is easy and everyone loves it! Thanks for sharing Lyn!

Cake: 1 box white cake mix 1/2 c. room temp. butter 2 whole eggs 1 1/4

Parade of Homes

This week I wanted to share the pictures of the finished parade house. We won first place in our price category and then to our surprise, we won best in show out of the 58 houses in the parade. We are still in shock and so darn excited we can't hardly stand ourselves! If you read my earlier post "you just gotta laugh," you remember all the crazy things that happened when I was trying to get this house finished. So, to win best in show is such an honor.

Have a great week.

Hugs,

Shell

This week IGF the fact that hard work does pay off and the fact that I'm halfway through my 19 days straight of working and my art retreat is closer.

Only That Which Matters

What a perfect weekend. The sky was blue, the air was warm and I had time to clean, organize and weed out. Oh I just love a clean house. It makes me feel so good and refreshed. I do, well I should say, David has some serious nail holes to patch, but it's really not that bad. David says the walls are going to fall down from all the nail holes, but it really isn't that bad.

I went through the house like I do every year giving it a good cleaning. Every year I'm amazed at how much stuff accumulates. Stuff, stuff and more stuff. Stuff that people gave me, stuff I bought, stuff that I'm thinking, "why in the world did I buy that?" Upon looking around I saw my favorite, favorite things that I have had for years or that someone has made for me. Things that I would never be able to part with. Things that I would want to take to the nursing home. With this in mind I decided that I'm going to keep "only that which matters." I took down all the pictures that were just "fillers." I packed up all the nick knacks who's only purpose was to collect dust. I rearranged things so that now "only that which matters" is there for me to enjoy every day. David really loves it as he hates clutter too. However, he's still grumbling about the walls falling down from nail holes. It really isn't that bad.

By doing this, I feel like my mind has been uncluttered. I've simplified things so I don't get so anxious about all the stuff that needs to be cleaned. I will now have more time to spend with the real bunnies instead of worrying about the dust bunnies. In fact, I spent the whole day Sunday in my studio. I sewed and created something really fun (more on that later) and smooched and kissed and took photos of my sweet little fuzzy kids. As you can see from the photos, Razzy and Chloe were very happy to spend the day with me even if they did take naps.

Enjoy your week, do a little Spring cleaning, or just take a nap and enjoy doing "only that which matters."

Hugs,

Shell

This week I am grateful for napping bunnies and the fresh mulch in the flower beds (it's so pretty).

Eat Rainbows and Poop Butterflies

What kinda title is that for a blog post? I can hear all of you asking that question. As well as, "how much wine has she had?" Well, my sister and my nieces and nephew came for a visit this weekend. As a special treat, I took them the see Horton Hears a Whoo at the movie theater. During this one part there is this adorable little character that is fat, round, and has big eyes with a sweet toothy grin. She says, "In my world there's ponies and they eat rainbows and poop butterflies." I was quite impressed at how many adults in the theater knew this line and said it out loud. Could we all be searching for the utopia of eating rainbows and pooping butterflies? Hmmm. Could be. Needless to say, I laughed and laughed and have continued to share this happy little statement with everyone. Of course, the kids find it very funny that auntie thinks it's funny and they proceed to say it while eating their breakfast the next morning. As for me, the auntie, lets just pray that those rainbows have some fiber in them. Constipation of butterflies might be quite painful no matter how soft their wings are. (have I scared you yet?)

So anyway, the movie really was wonderful and being the total artsy geek that I am, I got lost in all the wonderful colors, animation, imagination and pure fantasy. I actually started designing things in my head that I could make with fabric. Lot's of artist get their inspiration from nature. All of my inspiration comes from people. Someone can say something and it makes me think of it in 3D. I love hearing about artists and how they came to create the art they do. I love to look at works of other artist, not to copy them, but to get inspiration to create something of my own.

Above is my bunny bag, which I am honored to say has been published in Haute Handbags magazine which is in the bookstore now. I still can't believe my little bag is in there and got a full page. I'm so darn excited! Dreams really do come true and worlds can be created by our thoughts. I bet we can even eat rainbows and poop butterflies if we just imagine it.

Have a fabulous week, oh, and I turned the music off the autostart. It's still there if you want to turn it on and listen to what I'm listening to. If not, enjoy the silence.

Hugs,

Shell

This week I'm grateful for three things: My niece, Laura, my niece Noelle and my nephew, Jonathan. Auntie loves you all dearly!

And I'm Feel'in Good

Here I am, 40 and I'm feel'in good. What a great birthday I had. My book club (hello my fabulous friends) treated me to a wonderful dinner last Wed. night at my favorite restaurant. We actually discussed the book for the entire dinner, which really never happens. The book is called Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Read it if you get a chance. It's incredible. So after discussing many points of the book, my fabulous book club friends decide to nag me, pick on me, and basically give me a hard time about going to work the next day on my 40th birthday. It's just wrong they say. Use this day as a turning point. Do something for yourself. For goodness sake be irresponsible for one day and just play!!! Ok, ok. I get the point. The more I thought about it, the more I thought I deserved it. I called my boss at 9:00 that night and told him I was giving myself a present and taking the day off. It shocked him a little bit because he knows I am a die-hard on the responsibility chart, but he also knows I have a crap load of vacation that I never get to take and this is my 40th birthday. He only called me twice during the day and I only took 3 calls from my subcontractors. Not bad for me. In fact, that is quite impressive if I do say so myself.

What a wonderful gift to me (with the encouragement and nagging of my fabulous friends). I had the best day. I spent it with my two fuzzy critters, my sewing machine, my tea and my beloved magazines. David stayed up late Wed. and surprised me by decorating the house with black balloons, crepe paper, 40 signs etc. It scared the crap out of me when I got up and came in the kitchen. What fun! Then he gave me a great, funny card about farting when your old. Anyone that knows David knows that he thinks farts are the funniest thing in the world. Seeing as I love funny cards, it was the perfect card from my sweetie, (isn't that just sick). He also gave me my new Canon EOS camera that I have been wanting so badly. It's incredible.

So as I spent the day with myself, my mind was free to think and ponder and wonder. Here is a new point in my life. At 40, I'm feel'in way better than I did at 30. I have much to be proud of. Much to be happy about and I'm ready to make some major changes over this next decade. I'm feel'in good. Yes indeed, I'm feel'in good. A turning point it is. Uplift my sails and head into a new direction. Change is good, but at the same time knowing who you are and realizing that who you are was developed early in life is a good thing. You see we may change a little over the years and try to become someone else, but in reality, we are who we are. As you can see from the pictures of me at 5 and 8, I'm still a pant's wearing, dress hating, critter loving, free spirited, silly, crazy girl and I'M FEEL'IN GOOD!

Have a fun week and feel good.

Shell

This week IGF my honey bunny, David and all my fabulous friends that always make me feel good.