Southern Girl...Northern Woman

snow days....

2012-01-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

early this morning i had to drive my daughter to work

as her little vw bug would never make it in this type of weather...

snow...

and...

lots...

of...

it...

this kind of day is calling me into the kitchen to make a big pot of split pea soup

what kind of weather are you having??

my new etsy listings...

2012-01-05T16:20:00.000-08:00

some new listings in my etsy shoppe today...

merry christmas to you and yours...

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

circa 1963

Merry Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

merry christmas eve

from all of our furry family!

A Peek Of Christmas At My House....

2011-12-23T23:19:00.000-08:00

such a busy time of the year

for all of us "moms" out there

we wear different hats the month of december

a "cook's" hat

a "decorator's" hat

a "baker's" hat

also included would be the super shopper hat

and mindreader (cause we're suppose to know what everyone wants for christmas)

oh....and don't forget housekeeper

cause we all make sure our homes are spic and span for the holidays

and then there would be the "wrapper"

and where are all those gift-wrapping set ups they used to have available in the mall?

by not having them they've added another thing to my list!

well, i'm glad i had a head start on some things

other things, well, they will all get done in their own time

tomorrow is another day

only one more day till christmas

are you ready??

i'll leave you with a few photos from my home....

merry christmas eve!

Spur of the Moment

2011-12-22T23:37:00.000-08:00

while we were out looking for some craft fairs to go to

(me, my daughter, my mom and my sister)

we came across a sign at deepwood estate in salem, oregon

that said there was a craft sale there

the...day...before...

apparently they forgot to take the sign down from the previous day

so, when we found that the house was all locked up

we began to explore the gardens

it was a crisp cold day

but that didn't stop us from walking the lovely paths that we saw

it was like a secret garden

and we took advantage of the photo opportunities that it held

here are some shots from our little "excursion"

some times there is a surprise around every corner!

A Blingy Night

2011-12-13T20:41:00.000-08:00

it was a very blingy weekend at my home

whatever lola wants lola gets jewelry

had an open house showcasing all of it's lovelies...

take a peek...

thank you to everyone who came out to see what lola's had to offer

and for the praises that were given to me - i am humbled

i hope that you enjoy your purchases

and I hope the gifts bought for those on your lists enjoy them too!

take a peek at some custom work that I just finished

your precious family photos can be put into an heirloom piece you could wear!

Every Breath I Take...

2011-11-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

while out shopping at an antique store in oregon last year

i was shuffling through some old sheet music

(i am always looking to add to my collection)

my fingers stopped shuffling as i read the title to one of the songs

"with every breath i take"

i knew i had to purchase this music as it had meaning to me

my husband had recently sent me some text messages

that said this exact phrase

so, for my husband's 50th birthday

i knew i had to create something special with this music sheet

this is what i came up with...

i took my favorite photo of our wedding day and soldered it into a glass frame

with some vintage lace, silk flowers and of course rhinestones

added the word love to a decorative piece and soldered it to the frame

if this piece was to hang in our home, of course the color scheme had to be RED

an old hardware piece with some vintage typewriter keys that spell "xo"

someone had given me some old upholstery fabric scraps in red

so i used these with some burlap for the main piece

a vintage flower from an antique hat i found plus some vintage velvet leaves

love these old dry cleaner wood hangers

i scanned the sheet music and then printed it on some cotton muslin that i aged in instant coffee

some vintage buttons were used to frame the border

i also scanned an old card he gave me with some roses and printed it out as well

i used vintage buttons and a heart charm to frame it

i love the key i found to add to the bottom of the frame

i has a heart cutout perfect for this project

voila!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T01:37:00.000-08:00

as I was about to haul all of the christmas decorations

up from the basement today

I realized that I never took any pictures of the

fall decor in our home

nothing says happy more than the color orange

and some pumpkin love

I will be thinking of all my U.S. friends and family today preparing their turkey feasts

while I put all of these lovelies away until next year...

ride em' tom!

and I also thought I'd put a little bit of creepy doll head art in for good measure!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Plucky Maidens - The Holiday Event

2011-11-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

getting super excited for this event

NEXT WEEK!!

i've been super busy in the studio creating new pretties

so that my booth will be stocked just like santa's workshop

i will have a lot of my usual "stock"

but also some one of a kind items

as well as some new pieces making their first appearance at this show

if you are going to be in the portland area i would love to see you

come by my booth and say hi

and do some christmas shopping while you're at it!

Suitcase and Puppy Love

2011-11-05T12:13:00.000-07:00

i was looking through my photos this morning

and came across these from last year

back when Lola's puppies were very little

and adorable....and cute...cute...cute

this is an old suitcase that i turned into a dog bed

(since finding one in a pet store to "match" my vintage look

in my home was out of the question)

a picture taken with Lola right after i made the cushion

notice the pristine condition of the suitcase

little "buddy" posing in the bed

notice the condition of the suitcase now

after the puppies used it as a chew toy

but how could i get mad

after looking at a picture like this

too cute

i am linking up with Funky Junk Interiors: SNS Link Party #106 - vintage suitcases

October? It Must Be Time For Art Camp!

2011-10-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

october to me always means time for

terri brush's beach art camp

it is a wonderful workshop retreat

filled with great projects

and a wonderful group of "like-minded" women

who share the same love of creating art

it is a time for "re-charging" that "creating" need

that I constantly seem to have

and this 4-day retreat never fails

it's also a time for me and my friend christina from ottawa

to reconnect and have many days of non-stop laughter

if you are one of the lucky women to attend this camp

trust me that you will never leave hungry

that you will never leave without feeling pampered

and that you will leave with a long list of new friends

and the ocean view that we saw outside of our table areas every day

was "to die for" gorgeous!

the line-up of teachers was fabulous

and our guest attendee jenny doh

shared with us an inspirational talk

this year terri had a photo booth area and we made sure to have a lot of fun there

a lot of these photos are courtesy of:

jenny doh, kristin kirkendoll, krista moore

me and christina hamming it up

the weather was gorgeous for the month of october

treating us to some sunshine (and of course, it wouldn't be oregon without some raindrops)

suzi, krista, amy, teresita

the whole art camp group

tina, christina, jenny

moi

me and christina preparing the mask supplies

love

our view

baking the masks

christina and her class mask sample

billie, christina and me enjoying lunch on the deck

me, terri and christina

cupcakes in a jar by teresita

working in the wee hours of the night

some of terri's yummy jewelry

our view every day

the house at night

a short walk to the ocean

jenny and terri

pumpkin carved by ilona

more photo booth fun

a sunny lunch

Add caption

one of our "surprise" projects from terri was a halloween glass house

we were told beforehand that there was going to be a halloween house contest

so I gathered up some of my supplies and came up with this....

she's a bit creepy, but she's totally halloween and I love her...

christina taught the paper mache mask

and everybody's was so different

a reflection of their own taste and personality

of course mine was vintage papers, soldered, and had bits of black

a little fluff of feathers and butterflies

and some BLING

here are some of the jewelry pieces I finished up while there too

love this bracelet class that terri taught

and beach camp wouldn't be the same without our friends from Texas and Arizona

amy, krista and suzi

loved our "photo shoot" laughs!

always look forward to this time

and can't wait till the next one

thank you terri and christina for your amazing talents

thank you jenny for your words of wisdom and inspiration

thank you krista, amy and suzi for the never ending laughs

thank you teresita and the rest of the kitchen gals for the amazing meals

thank you resident photographer kristin for the paparazzi shots

thank you billie for your sweetness and hugs

and to all the other women there - we shared a great time

now i must go home and continue this fabulous streak of creativity!!

Fieldstone Vintage Market

2011-09-25T22:36:00.000-07:00

it was a long day yesterday

but so worth it

the weather was gorgeous

(might I say how lucky we were because today it...is...raining...again)

there were so many wonderful vendors

and so many people that came to see this great market

a BIG thank you to Lily and Rachel of

Birch and Bird Vintage Home Interiors

for organizing this event

I hope that they are putting their feet up today

and taking a well deserved break for awhile

they have earned it!

it was great to finally see so many blogging friends

and to also meet new friends

here is a photo my daughter took of my booth

it must have been later in the day because I look so t...i...r...e...d

i was busy as a bee for so many weeks

creating new pieces for this market

these beauties were a hit

and these are a few of my favorites

and because feathers are the "craze" this summer

I decided to add some new fun pieces with some peacock feathers

i love making these cuties with comical sayings inside them

and I was finally able to meet up with Donna of Funky Junk Interiors

she has a great blog post about this market on her blog HERE

can't wait until we have a "junkin" day soon....she knows all the right places to get great finds

and here is the photo of us together that finally made the cut

if you read her blog post here you will find out why

photo courtesy of Donna of Funky Junk Interiors

I met many new like minded gals

and saw many lovely vintage goods and creations

I just only wish I had more time to take photos of all the other booths

go HERE to see all the other vendors who were at the market

and their blog posts about this day

Gettin' Ready

2011-08-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

I'm in Oregon enjoying some sun....FINALLY

staying at my parents' house and enjoying some day trips

one day we went to Junction City for the Scandinavian fair

that is held there every summer

here is my sister and I having some fun

ate some great food there and the bonus was that the sun was shining

even my sister's little pooch Riley was enjoying the sun

he loves living the life of a prince and being carried around in her purse

a trip to Macy's department store is always on the agenda

my sister found this display and took a picture of me with it

my mantra.....

and today I was doing a trial run with the new canopy and new banner

for an upcoming show I'm a vendor in

canopy went up really easy

if you are in the Portland/Troutdale area

be sure not to miss this event

this Thursday, August 18th from 1pm - dusk

Plucky Maidens Junk Fest

and BE SURE to come by my booth to say hello

I have LOTS of jewelry and new stuff to see

Where Bloggers Create - Better Late Then Never...

2011-07-16T21:53:00.000-07:00

oops!

you caught me in the middle of working...

let me put away my tools of the trade

and tidy up this mess of mine

just gotta finish up these last few...

to add to this finished pile

there we go

all neat and tidy once again

now I can invite you in

welcome to my space...

a look to the right...

and a look to the left...

and to the far far right...

my room is a little 10x10 space

but I have utilized every square inch of it!

and the pretties of the room begin...

lots of storage for supplies...

and some fun pieces

love this mermaid in a seashell frame that Grace from Pink in the City

made for a swap we were both in - I was lucky to have her for a swap partner

and I love my storage boxes
all in that pretty aqua blue color
jewelry boxes repurposed!

and yes
all of these boxes have something inside them
it's just remembering the "what" that is inside the box
that is challenging!

shiny bling to add to jewelry pieces

I thing I have enough to last me awhile!

some chandelier crystals to add to some project I'm making...

love this egg tray from anthropologie

and a fabulous recent find from oregon
and look at the perfect shade of aqua it is!

many glasses on hand
because I always seem to misplace them

and of course a fan to cool me off

while I spend hours and hours soldering

I always remember to p...l...a...y

many pages of old vintage text to add to my glass pendants

love this old stamp holder
repurposed to hold tiny salt shakers full of bits and pieces...

and when I do get to play
I come up with crazy ideas for forgotten photos

I am definitely following my passion
doing what I love to do

it brings me joy
bringing others joy

and I still love my apron made by the amazing Holly

and this little gem I made was mailed off to a special recipient

someone who has made a difference in so many peoples lives

giving back to her
what she has given to me

I hope she enjoys it!

and now, I must get back to creating
these little bottles are waiting to be filled with pretties
all soldered up for someone to wear around their neck

and these lovelies
waiting to be made into special adornments

thank you for visiting my little space
and thank you to Karen Valentine for hosting this
hop on over to her blog to see all the other glorious spaces out there in blogland!

I Am Running Late.....

2011-07-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

the story of my life

where bloggers create started today

and of course

keeping up with my reputation for timing

i am going to be late

i hope you will come back tomorrow and visit

i will have my creative space all laid out and pretty

till then take a peek of it here at last year's party

The Plucky Maidens Junk Fest

2011-07-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

i am so glad to be a vendor in this upcoming show

maria from collage and pam from one gals trash

have put together this junk fest

i can hardly wait to see all the treasures

Plucky Maidens website

and just take a peek at the location

McMenamins Edgefield

it looks like a glorious place to be

out in the open air on a *hopefully* nice day

(one never knows in oregon)

so if you are in the portland area

come and enjoy a thursday evening

plucking through junk

oh, and also be sure to come by my booth

i would love to visit with you!

A Birthday Swap

2011-07-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

recently I participated in a swap

a birthday swap

hosted by the sweet amy powers of inspire company

we were to take a shadowbox

and make a special birthday keepsake for our partner

my partner Kathy let me know she loved the color green

it was the take off point to my design that

started to transform in my mind

before i put it to fruition

most of the elements that I added to the box were vintage

did you expect anything else from me?

the only thing that took a long time to do

was the painting and distressing of the boxes

once that was done

everything else went smoothly

I had this old pocket watch with the glass still intact

this lovely gibson girl image came from an old pattern book I have

I just had to bling it up with the rhinestones

some wish dust for the birthday girl

lovely image

an old earring clip I had in the perfect colors for Kathy

and old wooden spool of green thread and a vintage button

I can't believe I also had this green dice

and I just loved transforming this long forgotten doll

into a little garden fairy complete with wings and a crown

tweet tweet

an old typewriter key

make an extra special wish kathy!

an old cabinet hardware thingy I had for the top of the box

you'll have to wait to see my box from kathy

because of our postal strike that just ended

the mail is slowly trickling in

so I hope I get my box soon so I can share!

Summer Bliss

2011-06-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

mmmm.....

the sweet smells of summer

i wish i could send scents through the internet

then you too would be intoxicated by these blooms

summer has arrived through the beauty of these peonies

hope you are enjoying your lazy summer days

2011-06-16T23:22:00.000-07:00

come and take a peek at what's new over at my jewelry blog

Whatever Lola Wants Lola Gets

Where Have I Been??

2011-06-14T01:02:00.000-07:00

i'm still here

keeping myself busy with indoor projects

since the "outdoors" is still wet

this next project has been looming in my mind for quite some time

this hutch used to be the 70's basic brown wood color

i have wanted to spruce it up for some time now

now it is sporting a new cream antiqued look

minus the cupboard doors with the 70's bottle glass

a beautiful way to showcase my red collection...

love this tray stand my sister made for me for Christmas

a special cheese dish from my parents

some more red love

love the polka dots

found this cute polka dot kettle at an antique outdoor market in arezzo, italy

some of my many cake stands

i have also been a busy beaver at the sewing machine

making these pillows for a sale coming up at the end of this month

the ivory vintage market

i love these graphics i found online

i have used them in some of my jewelry necklaces as well

so now you know i've been around

but just not around online

happy june!

News from Antigua

2011-05-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

some news from Antigua

where the UFV women's basketball

has been for the past two weeks

they have been holding clinics in high schools there

and also playing some exhibition games

the cascades have won the first two of three games

go HERE to read up on their trip

2011-05-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

come on over and check out my new jewelry blog

Whatever Lola Wants Lola Gets

My Bling Booth

2011-05-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

if you are ever in the ottawa, ontario area

you must check out my friends' store

St. Elmo's Fire

it has very unique items for sale

and she has a variety of classes and workshops available too

i am honored to be able to say that my aprons and jewelry are among

the different items that she has for sale in her shop

when i was visiting in march

we took the time to set up my "area" in her shop

here is a peek...

so, go on and visit the town of Stittsville, Ontario

and be sure to stop by

ST. ELMO'S FIRE

you will not be disappointed

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

wishing all you moms out there

a very wonderful day!

NYC Part Two

2011-05-04T22:58:00.000-07:00

the whole experience of the new york art expo was a whirlwind

the building was filled with so many different artists

some appealing...some not so appealing

all in all it was a window into the world of art

and what appeals to the different personalities of our world

here are christina and i poking fun at her painting

there were some "live art" sessions during the weekend

christina was spotlight for one of those sessions

she did a session on encaustic painting

she involved the audience in the demo's

to give everyone who was interested in the session

a chance to participate and learn the technique

here is our friend amy from texas giving it a shot

the "altered art" canvas

if you would like to take a peek at a video from this session

go here

one artist's work that caught my eye was

Anna Razumovskaya

her paintings were so moving to me

and so romantic

i loved how she had her booth space set up

she had mannequins with her sketches as the dress

very unique

love

she was so kind to let me choose a

sketch to take home as a keepsake

i chose the one below

love this

mannequins speak to me

after one long day we met up with the gals for a drink and dessert

so fun to catch up

on our last night there christina was invited to a cocktail party

that was being held at the Trump World Bar

we met this fellow "Sir Shadow"

he does amazing one line art

christina and i had the opportunity to chat with him

and we each came away with one of his pieces of art and a calendar

with his artwork and he was kind enough to take a photo with us too

here is his website

after all the excitement from the cocktail party

we met up with our texas/arizona gals for a late night snack

before we made the drive heading towards home

it was an amazing trip and i'm glad i got to tag along with christina

there is never a dull moment when i'm with that girl!

NYC Part One

2011-04-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

well i'm finally getting around to sharing my new york trip

it sure was a whirlwind of a time

even though i was away from home for ten days

when i left my rainy b.c. weather

i arrived at the ottawa, ontario airport to this...

snow...snow...snow...

christina picked me up from the airport and we were off to her home

to pack up the van for our road trip to NYC the next day

her husband cooked us a fantastic italian meal

and then we went to the task at hand of wrapping all her paintings

before we packed them in the van

off bright and early the next morning

heading to the u.s. border crossing

2 hours later (long story)

we were finally headed down the highway

our destination for the night was rhode island

made it to her publisher's home in the country

beautiful couple with lots of hospitality

great meal, great wine, great dessert

thank you paul and kirsten!

next morning we were on our way

NYC baby

weather was not great

more of the cold, rainy kind i am familiar with

seeing this sign meant we were close!

yippee!

i guess i am the "old" rochelle

since the "new" rochelle resides in new york!

arrived at pier 94 to unload all the paintings

only to find out that we might not be able to do this until the next day

a bit of coaxing and we were able to get started

christina so excited to actually have HER paintings

showcased at this BIG NYC art show

the staff of angelnook publishing

setting up the booth

"the shift is key"

"deste more"

"an ugly truth about humanity"

and

"the shift is key"

christina's wall in the booth

the four in the middle of the wall are all done with encaustic

close-up

another artist with angelnook publishing

jp madison's work

we finished setting up the booths on the next day

so we were able to do some sightseeing and shopping

a few hours to shop before we needed to meet the group for dinner

so naturally on our list was this fab store

sadly though i found nothing that i really had to have

no clothing found - just houseware stuff

once again though the window displays are over-the-top

and more...

rockefeller center

and all the people skating

times square at night

certainly the "hub" of the city

so much energy could be felt here

our friends amy, suzi and krista

all the way from texas and arizona!

what little time we were able to spend with them was a hoot!

this is the only statue of liberty we had time to see on this trip

part two to come...

christina's debut on opening day at NYC ART EXPO!!

NYC - Here I Come!!

2011-03-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

today i am...

leaving on a jet plane for ottawa

(which, by the way is still in the dead of winter)

but i don't mind cause I get to see my ontario bestie

whom I met here a few years back

HERE

(photo taken last fall at Terri Brush's Fall Art Camp in Lincoln City, OR)

i'm so excited that i finally get to see her store and art studio in stittsville

st. elmo's fire

then a few days later we are on a road trip to the big apple

seven hour drive baby

lots of time to catch up

and gab...gab...gab...

we are staying in this swanky place

Ink48

and then on to this

where christina's paintings will be showcased

can't wait to see what she has in store for us

and to view all of the other art there too

3 funny special ladies will be meeting up with us there too

krista - amy - suzi

you know who you are

our new motto will be

"what happens in new york stays in new york"

it will be a fast whirlwind trip to nyc

but the trip back to ottawa will be enroute

boston and rhode island doing what we love to do best

shop...shop...shop...

can't wait for all the antique and art places we will lurk at

more to come....

Have a Heart

2011-03-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

simply said

Tick Tock

2011-03-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

tick tock

goes the clock

i had this vintage porcelain clock face

and wanted to make a necklace out of it

i made the links out of sterling silver wire

added some vintage religious medals

some chandelier crystals

and some glass beads

i love it

and i love wearing it

It Was Dreamy.....

2011-03-08T18:50:00.000-08:00

billows and billows of tulle

in soft pastel candy colors

like dreamy clouds in the sky

this is what this weekend felt like

like you were floating on cloud 9

so many beautiful dresses

taking you back to a moment in time

when life seemed grander and yet simpler

love these vintage materials

in creamy pastel shades

and ruffles upon ruffles

in the most dreamy vignettes

is what made this past weekend

one that I was honored to be part of

so many amazing women there

all like-minded when it came down to creating our projects

tiffany and terri

YOU ROCK

thank you for such a momentous weekend

a dream girl weekend

where we were all treated like queens

if you would like to see other posts on this event

see the following links:

the fancy farmgirl

maison douce

lisa's little house
mimi charmante
jeanne oliver

Perfect Love

2011-03-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

when i was searching for some vintage papers

to use in some soldered pendants

i came across this title in an old hymnal

perfect love

it was just the perfect words for this cross pendant

perfect love

the love that our God has for us

The "Queen" Of All Things Soldered

2011-03-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

a crown fit for

"the" soldering queen

t is for terri

a lady who has inspired many of us

to dream

and to create

she has gone over the top with her workshops

and has given us ladies a place where we can create pretties

both spring and fall art camps are located by the beach

and are oh so perfect a venue for those of us wanting to escape our cold climates

she is truly the queen of all things that are soldered

and she comes up with the most fantastic projects for us to do

she gets our creative juices flowing

and makes us all feel like queens

so terri

this crown is made for you

wear it and be proud

that you are the one and only

soldering queen for us

happy belated birthday!

Under the Umbrella with my Fella

2011-03-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

under the umbrella

with her fella

a photo of my grandmother and grandfather

inspired me to create this one of a kind necklace

and yes that is an eyeball from a vintage doll

my grandmother had brown eyes so it totally suits this necklace

some religious medals

rhinestone baubles

and a vintage cut steel flowerette

along with an old key

a "g" typewriter key for grandparents

and a vintage watch parts vial filled with pearls

i constructed the necklace links from sterling wire

and hammered them for a rough finish

do you have any special family photos?

On Their Way To Nationals

2011-03-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

last home games finished

5-year farewell finished

playoffs finished

now these girls are off to the nationals

off to saskatoon on thursday to play some more ball

DREAM BIG and WIN BIG

and this was the keepsake i made my daughter

for her 5-year career with the ufv cascades

GOOD LUCK GIRLS

COME HOME WITH 1ST!!

Heading Down the I-5....

2011-03-02T00:33:00.000-08:00

heading down the i-5 this friday

to this fab weekend event hosted by this wonderful fancy farm girl

with classes taught by this amazing "soldering queen"

a whole weekend spent with like-minded women

women who "get it" and the art we create

can't wait for the fun and laughs we will share

yes, this is truly a "dream girls weekend"

and i have been dreaming of this art getaway the moment i heard about it

look at these amazing projects that we will be making

love it

and this

i only wish the weather would cooperate too

unfortunately it looks like rain is in the forecast

i guess it is better than snow...

Bittersweet Ending

2011-02-17T15:47:00.000-08:00

this friday and saturday mark the end of a five year ride

for this little girl - oh, i mean "young lady"

who knew back when she was just this little muffin of a child

that she would become a full time university student/athlete

giving up much of her free time and weekends

devoted to the sport of her choice

basketball

yes, both in-season and off-season this girl has dedicated her life

to the daily grind of working out and practicing and playing

the game of basketball

this weekend she will play her last "home" games in the gymnasium

she calls her "second" home

it is a bittersweet ending to a l....o....n....g five years

ones i'm sure she will remember forever

they hold a lot of special times

spent with special friends and teammates and coaches

yes, saturday night will be a very sad night for this girl

but the memories of the past five years will remain priceless

alyssa

we have enjoyed watching the journey you have taken

may you remember these times and never take for granted all that they were

may your future hold many more special experiences to last you a lifetime

oh, and we almost forgot

PLAYOFFS - OH YEAH BABY!!

xoxo

mom and dad

go here to see her "last hurrah" in the local paper

Change of Seasons

2011-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

I am posting this blog entry again in celebration of Valentine's Day

I am linking up with:

My Desert Cottage's Love Story Linky Party

Go and visit her blog to see many more inspiring love stories

This fall will not only bring a change of seasons in the weather, but also a change of season in my life. The cooler, darker days seem to keep me cooped up inside with more time to think, read, and reflect. At this point in my life I feel blessed for what I have - a roof over my head, a good family, a great husband, and a full life. But, there is always change...some good, some bad and some just different.

The change of seasons in my life had begun just last month when we brought our youngest to university. No more children at home anymore...empty nesters is what they call it. I call it time to reflect and think back to the time before we had children...it seems so long ago when we didn't have children. And, in fact, from the beginning of our marriage there has always been a little one underfoot. You see, when I married my husband I had already had my son and he was 2 1/2 years old.

Let's go back to where the story began:

Many years ago (I was 18 at the time) a girlfriend and I had sub-letted a condo for the summer from this couple that was going to visit family in Sweden. It was going to be the first time that both of us were on our own and we were ready to experience everything about being on our own too. That summer was a blast - we could get up late if we wanted, go to bed at ridiculous times, eat whatever we wanted, and just love life being two girls on their own.

One day we decided to spend the day in San Francisco. We visited Fisherman's Wharf, shopped at Gunne Sax factory (a favorite of ours), and ended the day with shopping at Pier 39. Our last stop was eating at an ice cream shoppe before we headed back to our apartment.

Here we are in some photo shots (circa 1980):

Me enjoying my ice cream...

And Koryn enjoying hers...

As we headed down the road passing all the other piers that would lead us to the highway, we spotted a blue corvette and a motorcycle in the middle of the road with 3 guys flagging down anyone who would stop. Yep, we stopped (you must know that I would never do this now, but this was 1980- things were safer then - at least that's what I tell my daughters now). Once we stopped and started talking to them we found out that they were from Canada and that they had just graduated from high school and they were on a summer trip. They were looking for a place to stay and asked us if we knew of any hotels. We then had them follow us back to the Fisherman's Wharf area and when each hotel we went to said "No Vacancy", we asked them if they would like to come back to Campbell and stay with us at our condo. Needless to say their answer was yes and we then were on our way back home (to our condo).

It was an exciting part of our summer (meeting not only guys, but guys from Canada!) and we crammed a lot of things into the few days that they were with us. Movies, Great America theme park, the beach, etc. My girlfriend and I both played hooky from work so that we could have fun in the sun with these guys. Time came for them to leave (they were venturing on to Los Angeles to go to Disneyland, beaches, etc.) and we were sad....but, they came back on their way home to Canada. They spent another few days with us...we learned a lot about them...what Canadians are all about...what these guys were all about. There was a connection between one of those guys and myself...and, by the end of their trip he had professed his love for me and wanted to "spend the rest of his life" with me. I laughed at him because I thought how could this be possible?! Never could I have imagined in a million years that it really would happen!

Here I am with "the boys"...

My future "hubby" showing me the car functions...

I got to take the corvette for a spin...

At Marriott's Great America in Santa Clara, CA...

The boys posing before they left to go on to Los Angeles...

Such a strong man...

This was a photo I sent him later on in those "Flashdance" days...

We said our goodbyes, exchanged addresses, telephone numbers, and then went about our normal lives not thinking this relationship would have a future. We kept in touch through letters and pictures...him busy with his business, me busy being a dental assistant. We were young and carefree. We of course were only 18 & 19 at that time so life just went on with our daily routines and jobs. I would get the occasional letter from him and get a glimpse of what was going on in his life and I would send him a letter back and let him know what was going on in mine.

Our lives went on and in 1983 I found out I was pregnant (another long story) and my life certainly took on a different focus and future. I was still working as a dental assistant up until I had my son and then I went back to school at night to become a word processor. I lived part-time with my parents and then with my grandmother so that someone could watch him while I attended school at night. When I finished with my schooling I got a job in a bank in downtown San Jose as the word processor for the loans department. It was a good job and the people I worked for were great. My goal was to eventually save up enough money for my son and I to have our own place to live in.

Fast forward to 1986...World's Expo Fair held in Vancouver, B.C. An opportunity came up for my mom and myself and my son to go to the World's Fair Expo in Vancouver (her boss had free tickets for the fair). So, I knew that "my guy" still lived in that area of B.C., so I sent him a letter and filled him in on my life (you know, job, life, and the little fact that I had a son) and said that we would be coming to the fair and I would like to visit him. Well, he sent me a letter back filling me in on his life...the fact that he owned a house, had some chickens, oh, and he had a wife! He said that he would love seeing me again and that we were welcome to stay with them. So, we made our plans and looked forward to August when we would be flying north.

Our plane tickets purchased and plans put forth, I called him a couple of months before just to make sure that it was still okay that we stayed with him and his wife in case we needed to find other accommodations if it wasn't. Well, it seemed that things had changed in his life - he and his wife had recently split up (she found someone else at work) and we were still welcome to stay with him. We were excited about the trip and I was looking forward to seeing “him” again.

Getting off the airplane in Vancouver was exciting…I hadn’t flown anywhere in a long time. The thought of seeing new things, new people, and new sights thrilled me and to experience a different country was cool too! When we both saw each other at the airport I felt the sparks between us once again. This was going to be a very memorable trip indeed!

We spent the next week sightseeing the different places surrounding Vancouver. We went to the Expo a few days, shopping, and I even went to one of "his" friends' weddings. It was a whirlwind week and we tried to fit in a whole lotta stuff in such a short amount of time. It was indeed a great trip.

One of our last days was spent in Victoria, BC. We visited the Buschart Gardens and had a really enjoyable time. The day was sunny and "his" sister kept my son for the day so that we were truly able to have an uninterrupted day as adults. Little did I know that the ride home on the ferry was to be one of the most memorable ferry rides I would ever take!

As we headed back that night, "he" asked me to take a stroll outside on the deck. My mom stayed inside while we walked and talked outside. The night was cool and the waters calm. We sat down for awhile and this is where the memorable part comes in...he proposed! Yes, I was getting married...

The next year and a half was a whirlwind with either me flying to Vancouver or him flying to San Jose. It took a year and a half for his divorce to become final (in those days there were no "quickie" divorces) and I also had to go to our immigration office to file on my own to move to Canada. Since "he" couldn't aid us over at that time, Canada wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to become a statistic and abuse the system. Therefore they had to make sure that my occupation was "in need" in Canada and that I would be able to find a job once I landed there. So, this process took a l..o..n..g time and a lot of money (the airplane companies got a lot of it) but on January 1, 1988 the wedding between "he" and I took place. It was a very simple wedding with just immediate family at the reception. A small group in an intimate setting. It was perfect as I reflect back on it now.

The morning of my wedding...

At the Bedford House Restaurant in Ft. Langley, BC (the sight we had our reception dinner at)...

Many years have passed...many trials...many joys...many dreams. But one thing that remains is our love. Three children, five houses, many holidays, many birthdays...and more to come.

Now as we spend our lives as "empty nesters" it is our time to bring back the focus on us as a couple (along with our many dogs!). We will always be "parents", but now it is just the two of us in the home and only our needs to meet. Making meals is so different now. Laundry is a breeze (gotta love that!). And those little messes around the house have dwindled in comparison to what they used to be. I can get used to this!

So, here's to us and the life we've led and the future we will be part of. To many more years of "living our life" to come!

Love you honey...

Celebrating 75!

2011-02-04T20:37:00.000-08:00

this past weekend was spent celebrating

my dad's 75th birthday

a road trip to bend, oregon was the destination

for this monumental year of his life

there are many things that i love about my dad

he's honest

he's strong

he's a man of integrity

he's consistent

he's a great role model

he's stable

he's a great cook

he's a loving husband and father

and he's able to do any task that i've ever asked help with

when i think of my dad

i imagine this pillar of strength

who is always there for me

who would move the heavens and earth for me

without giving it a second thought

thank you dad

for always being there

and for all the memories

i have with you to last a long long time

you are the best father a little girl could have ever asked for

i love you

and now a trip down memory lane...

a boy and his dogs

a mischievous looking boy

8th grade football

high school graduation

side profile

my dad was very athletic throughout his school years

he excelled in track, basketball and football

here are some track photos

such a handsome lad!

for as many sports as he was involved in

football was the one that stood out above all

he's that handsome #29 in this photo

#29

so serious

and #16 was his basketball number

here is his team and coach in a serious halftime talk

more football

i've heard that he was a heartthrob with all the ladies
can you see why?

my dad's childhood football landed him a scholarship to USC
where he played for a few years

this was some funny dress-up that the football players were involved in

a james dean look with that cigarette hanging out of his mouth

my dad's first car

and these photos were from a camping trip that he and his friends took

by the look of the empty beer bottles on the table i'd say they had a good time

something was funny

my dad the welder
most of his life was spent as a welding teacher
at a vocational school in san jose, california

this newspaper clipping was for a movie he was in called
"the revolt of mamie stover" in 1956

when he was in the national guard

and here he is today
you haven't changed a bit dad
and i hope i age as well as you!

a celebratory photo after dinner

what do you get your dad for his 75th birthday??
well....you create something so unique - just like him!

so....i got the USC football field for the background
and then some cheerleaders from that era
and collaged my dad's head onto a USC players body

wait....those cheerleaders look familiar to me

there's me holding the flag in the air
and my sisters and daughters rooting him on
and my mom closest to him in the photo

all hail USC

go richard go!

richard richard
he's our man
if he can't do it
no one can!

definitely our hero

and a photo from last year's birthday celebration

and this says it all

dad

you are my hero

and i love you

i am looking forward to many more years of memories

and special times spent with you!

Lineage of Love

2011-02-02T20:29:00.000-08:00

I was asked to make a special bracelet recently

a bracelet that reflects a lineage of motherly love

each link representing a generation of strong women

love handed down from one to the next

great-grandmother - grandmother

mother - daughter

thank you Sandy

for letting me make this for you

may it be a special keepsake for you

Fresh Photos

2011-01-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

had some fresh fallen snow last night

perfect opportunity for these fresh outdoor photos

on this lovely antique velvet pillow couch

thanks becca and martin for being my photo subjects

and thanks for taking the photos of me!

Super Cute Kitchen

2011-01-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

see my oven

do you see those uber cute towels hanging from my oven

here

come a little closer

they are just too darned cute

i can't stand it

according to the pictures

i only have to bake on saturday

and make supper on sunday

i guess i am off the hook the rest of the week when it comes to cooking

and monday is the only day i have to do laundry too

yippee

thank you for making these for me mom

they put a smile on my face every day

and they make me have a super cute kitchen

xoxo

Maybe My Word Should Be "PURGE"

2011-01-03T21:10:00.000-08:00

i have a problem

i love magazines

and the inspiration they give

problem is

when i find the inspiration

i should immediately rip that page out

and put it in my inspiration folder

as you can see

i have NOT done that

i have my work cut out for me this next week

many hours will be spent going through these

a lot of people are coming up with one word for the year

i think my word should be PURGE

that way it would save me A LOT of hours

going through these

yes, i think my word is PURGE

i did however organize

ALL of my stampington magazines

now all hidden in their new

cornflower blue holders i found at staples

who says organization has to be boring

and now i am off to

PURGE!

Custom Jewelry

2011-01-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

I just love vintage antique photos

they tell a story of a time way back when

so when I get the opportunity to create a piece using old photos

I can't wait to see the outcome of the jewelry piece

these two necklaces are some custom work

I just recently finished

here is a mother and daughter together

the complete necklace with a hand beaded chain

here is another piece using an antique photo of a bride and groom

I like to use beads that compliment the photo

in this case black, silver and grey were the colors that worked best

I love the way these two turned out

I hope the person that is going to receive these loves them too

if you have any personal photos that you would like put into a custom piece

email me or comment on this post and I will contact you back

have a great week!

2011

2011-01-01T11:21:00.000-08:00

all the best to you in 2011!

Christmas Dinner

2010-12-30T10:59:00.000-08:00

table set...check

christmas crackers...check

a meal fit for a king...check

a Christmas meal spent with the ones you love...priceless

Snow Buddies

2010-12-28T10:01:00.000-08:00

tonight was a crafting night

my daughter and I made these with paper clay

now they are keeping warm in the toasty oven

baking until they become firm so we can paint and decorate them

little snowmen heads to be made into ornaments

one mr. snowman for me

and one mr. penguin for her

Sweet Time Together

2010-12-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Last night we finally iced the almond sugar cookies

that me and my daughter #2 baked the other night

a little green icing

and a little red icing (well, more like hot pink)

daughter #1

daughter #2

and voila!

can't wait to eat them!

Merry Christmas To All

2010-12-23T13:51:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to stop by and wish to everyone

very

Merry

Christmas

(there's still time to be good and not pout and not cry)

Vintage Yumminess

2010-12-18T12:46:00.000-08:00

there is something new hanging around in my living room

something I created in my studio the other afternoon

a little bit of what I call "vintage yumminess"

full of red and white vintage Christmas gems

all decorated around a silver tinsel wreath

my oh my how this brings back memories of my childhood

when at Christmas time these cute little hugger elves would melt your heart

and the rolly polly santas were so jolly

little putz houses came a dime a dozen

and reindeer were a sign that santa was coming soon

I just can't get enough of those vintage past times

I think I should have been a housewife back in those days

then my "whole" house would be a vintage wonderland full of merry little things

I will just have to settle for looking up at my new little wreath

and let the memories put a smile on my face and warm my heart

merry little vintage Christmas to you!

A Special Nativity

2010-12-17T10:57:00.000-08:00

this nativity is special to me

not only for the significance of what it holds

"the birth of our Christ child"

but because it was given to me by my dad and mom

for me and my husband on our first Christmas together

my dad built the creche out of twigs from their yard

and the roof is made from bark from the trees

I found a place in town that sells the matching pieces to the set

so every year I add a few animals to it

I love the antique look

the company name is Fontanini

I added this camel last year

I put some battery candles underneath the berries and garland

at night it has a subtle twinkle that glows in the rooms darkness

oh look

we have a few of our own animals lurking in the room too