OWOH GIVEAWAY

I am so excited about the amount of people who have visited my blog with OWOH! So many of you have stopped by to say hi and to give me so many wonderful comments about my blog! Thank you!!!

Now..... let's see.... there is still the little detail of WHAT to give away isn't there????? I've been thinking about this quite a bit and have asked myself over and over: "in these really really REALLY tough economic times.... what would be the greatest thing to share with a fellow artist? " I have come to the conclusion that instead of MAKING something, I will put together 1 or 2 (maybe even 3!) "ARTIST GOODIE BAGS". What do you think? I know for a fact that there are so many of us out there who would really love to try new things but do not have the financial wherewithal right now to buy the coolest new tool or the hottest products; some really great collage sheets for our art; some cool new product to play with. So this is what my OWOH giveaway will be....

I am going to put together two ARTIST GOODIE BAGS (ACTUALLY BOXES), of some really cool things to use for your art. Paper, collage sheets, doo-dads (yes, that is a new artistic term).... Yes, I think you will be pleased.

I will draw two names and they will receive this little CARE package. One condition though.... I WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU ALL CREATE!!!

WAY TOO MUCH TO DO!!

Can someone PLEASE get me the winning lotto/powerball ticket??????? I am SOOOOOOOO not into working right now.

I think I'm going through a mid-life crisis. Actually I KNOW I am!! I've always loved my profession; always LOVED what I do. For the past few months I've just not been able to get "into" it any more. It seems like I only do what I absolutely HAVE to do (which reeks havoc on my deadlines and is giving my secretary and legal assistant hives) and really is not fair to myself or my clients. UGGHHHH!!! Maybe I just need a vacation? Or is it more serious than that?

You know how you've always had these wonderful dreams of what would be the IDEAL life for you? Well, every since I was FIVE (or thereabouts) I wanted to be a lawyer. NEVER did I even THINK of doing anything else. It was a given - I would be a lawyer. Coming from immigrants (from Cuba)... a father who was a mechanic and a mother who worked in factories... nobody in my family on either side had EVER gone to college.... well, it was a lofty goal! And I did it. I defied many many odds and made it. Now that I'm here (practicing for 15 years) it is so NOT what I want to be doing with my life.

I don't want to have every minute of my life run by my staff and an agenda! I don't want to "argue" for a living... I don't want to be a part of destroying the lives of children in divorces where their parents hate each other more than they love their kids.... I don't want to "strike deals" with prosecutors .... I don't want to wake up stressed every day knowing that I am going to have to deal with lawyers with no ethics and no morality......

I will share my dreams with you ... you may be the only people who can understand me... I want to move to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico and open a bed and breakfast there. I want to invite artists from all over the world to come and play in this retreat a few times a year.... I want to wear shoes only when I feel like it and NEVER EVER wear a suit again! I want to wear flowery skirts that come down to my ankles and make me feel like I can fly. I want to wake up to the sounds of soft music every morning. I want to trash my agenda and my watch!! I want to sip coffee on a balcony overlooking the water.................... I want to just STOP AND BREATH.

A BLOG AWARD!!

My friend Tracy awarded me with this very cool Maria Antoniette award for my blog!! Thank you Tracy! It's great to know that there are so many people who drop by just to say hi and see what's going on!!!

The rules are as follows:

1. Put the picture of Marie Antoinette on your blog
2. Link to the person who you received the award from
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs
4. Link to those blogs from yours
5. Leave a comment on their blogs to let them know you've shared the award with them.

These are some of my favorite sites (although I will admit there are more than 7!!):

1. Valerie Brincheck
2. Pat Winters
3. Penny Duncan
4. Lady Cherie
5. Just Di
6. Kelly Rae Roberts
y. Jades Funki-Junk

I hope you guys enjoy these sites as much as I do!

And thanks again for thinking of me Trac!!!!

DOTTEE DOLLS / COMFORT DOLLS

I am totally in love with Pat Winters wonderful comfort dolls. Not only the dolls themselves (which make you smile just looking at them) but the whole idea of donating these dolls to abused women who will know that some other woman somewhere took the time to care.

I belong to an on-line group called Dottee World that make (you guessed it!) Dottee dolls. I made my first two dolls last night and thought I'd share them with you. I still need a lot of work but I'm happy with them! I used some of Pat's ideas while still remaining true to the Dotte doll requirements of tail, hair, etc..

What do you think?

(PS, if you are interested in these Comfort Dolls, look over to your right under TECHNIQUES and click on Pat Winters Comfort Dolls)

ONE WORLD - ONE HEART UPDATE!!!!!

I am so proud to be a part of this event! I have just today decided to join so I have to put some thought into what I will be giving away. I would like to do more than one giveaway.... I'll let you guys know in the next few days!! For right now it will be a "mystery giveaway"!!! This is such a great way to bring the world into one room!!


UPDATE: PLEASE SEE POST OF 01/30/09

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NO LONGER A "MYSTERY"!!! PLEASE GO TO POST OF 01/30/09 FOR UPDATE!!



All you have to do to win on my bog is to post a comment on this blog! This giveaway is open to everyone. Please make sure you leave me your contact information so that I can contact you if you are the winner!

This giveaway will end on February 12th, 2009 when the winner will be announced! For more information on this greate event, just click on the One World One Heart logo above!

Thanks for joining us and GOOD LUCK!

Gypsy Dreams

I had such a hard time starting on this project! I've known about it since November and only started them over the last few days. Major block. I have no idea why that would be because I absolutely LOVE gypsies! It's one of my favorite themes.

This project is for my Advanced Artist Trading Card Group. A wonderful artist and great lady, Susan Young, is hosting this swap with only 8 players. I was so flattered to be one of the ones to play! We each make 8 cards and we get back 8 (including one of our own) on a ring. All the artists involved are spectacular and I am so excited to receive their art!!!

FINALLY!!!! SOME ART!!!!

I've been in such a slump lately. Sad over so many senseless deaths this past year, such horrible accidents. Drowning in work with absolutely no desire to do anything.... midlife crisis? Maybe I guess. But I've never been the kind to sit and feel sorry for myself so I have finally been able to DO something.

I am a member of a wonderful group called Oriental Stamp Art which - you guessed it -does only oriental art. I joined a postcard swap in that group and this is the postcard I made. I made them all the same because I felt that the New Year card would be something the person receiving it could use.

This year is the Year of the Ox - not a beautiful animal by any stretch of the imagination - but nevertheless a strong beast of burden. Given the world today, we all have to be strong (although not necessarily a "beast of burden"!!! LOL!!!). These pictures depict the front and back of the postcard.

PS: I actually MADE the paper in the background!!! (Go Elena!) I am so proud of the way it came out! The pictures really don't do it justice.

MISSING/ENDANGERED ADULT: TEISTA SWAIN

Wow! Can you even imagine the heartache for this family?? TINA SWAIN, a wonderful online friend and artist is desperately seeking any information on her daughter Teista who disappeared from the Northwoods Mall parking lot area in N. Charleston, South Carolina on December 25th, 2007. PLEASE TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THIS PICTURE - IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION AT ALL PLEASE CONTACT THIS FAMILY OR THIS BLOG.

MESSAGE FROM TINA SWAIN POSTED ON HER BLOG ON 12/26/2008

HELP US FIND OUR DAUGHTER.......

Our Daughter Teista has been missing One Year to the Day....So I thought maybe we would try posting a poster through the WEB. We have tried many different avenues for help, but NO ONE seems that concerened with the fact she she is gone. We have tried the state police and the Secret Service has been working the case....But She Is STILL GONE!!!

So PLEASE if you could bring people here....to this site, or send these posters along to your frinds and contacts we, her family would much appreciate it. Maybe with the help of you and others we can find our Daughter.


She is soooo missed and loved by so many, and we all just want her home.


Thank You All so very much for help.

OKAY, I'M HOOKED ON VAMPIRES!!!

Tim Holtz recommended Stephanie Meyer's TWILIGHT as an excellent book. I didn't pay much attention to the recommendation since I'm not really into "vampire books". I heard about the book constantly and decided to buy it.

IT IS FANTASTIC! I have already downloaded part two of this saga to my Kindle and can't wait to start reading it!! It's not your typical vampire story - it's a love story and there's mystery and passion and action... all wrapped up in one awesome story!

This saga definitely goes into my favorite books list! By the way, if you love to read and do not yet have a Kindle.... GET ONE! I used to have the Sony E-Book and thought that was great but the Kindle blows them right out of the water. For anyone who enjoys reading the Kindle is the bomb (see it on Amazon.com)! I even get my newspaper downloaded on my Kindle every morning! The best part? Well ONE of the best parts? Where a new book will cost you (hardcover) approximately $26.95 at the book store - it costs only $9.95 on the Kindle!!! Yeah!

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS: DONATIONS NEEDED

AMBER DAWN DICKERSON


As I shared with you in a previous post, my friend Brenda Schenck lost her 11 year old granddaughter, Amber, in a freak accident. Amber choked on food and died on Tuesday, December 30th. The family not only has to deal with this unimaginable loss, but also has to face funeral expenses they can not afford. Amber was laid to rest on Saturday, January 3rd, 2009.

Any donation at all would be so appreciated, $5 from as many of you as possible would make a huge dent in the overwhelming debt this family has to deal with on top of their pain.

DONATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO:
Colonial Funeral Home
127 Ellisboro Road
Madison, North Carolina 27027
Please write on the check: ON BEHALF OF AMBER DAWN DICKERSON

I thank you in advance for your kindness to this family.

CRAZY QUILTING

Just today I was asking what Crazy Quilting was and in going through Pat Winter's art, I find she has a site where she shows her Crazy Quilting AND provides instructions on how to do it!!! CLICK HERE. I find Pat's work with crazy quilting to be one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

COMFORT DOLL PROJECT

Pat Winter, a wonderful doll artist is involved in what she has called the COMFORT DOLL PROJECT. These are dolls that are made by artists to be given to women who have suffered abuse. The project is huge and has the support of many artists from all over the world. Pat gathers the dolls and donates them to shelters for battered and abused women. The dolls bring comfort and the knowledge that somewhere someone cares for these women who have gone through so much.

The dolls I have posted are all made by Pat. Any artist who loves dolls will love her blog at http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/patdoll.html.

Please make sure you visit and if you can, help with this wonderful cause.

KREATIV BLOG AWARD

Wow!! My friend Arlene (www.alteredbyme.blogspot.com) nominated me for the Kreativ Blog Award!! That is so cool! Pursuant to the Rules, I am to list 7 things I love and then nominate 7 other blogs for the award.

Things I love:

1. Bring smiles to the faces of both friends and strangers-waiting-to-be friends. I am blessed with so much that when can make someone happy by sharing with them something they may not be able to get for themselves, it gives me a high like no other.

2. SItting by the ocean and reading a great book

3. The sound and feel of a very windy day.

4. The sound of the rain outside.

5. Getting my hands (and everything else!!!) full of paint, glue and just "junk" while I see a work of art come to life.

6. Being surrounded by my children and grandchild.

7. Sharing my life with my on-line sisters.

I will get back to you on the 7 blogs... there are just SO many that I love!!!!

Thank you Arlene!!! I'm thrilled!

Just a thought.....

The 2nd day of the New Year is ending and I've had so many things to think about over the past few days. I don't believe much in New Year's resolutions - well intentioned but not very realistic.

So how to approach the new year? Well, I have a few ideas of how I would like to start my year:

1. The first thing I'd like to do is learn how not to "sweat the little things". All in all my life is very good. The entire country is going through tough financial times and I am no exception but I still have it so much better than so many others.

2. Make more time for myself and most importantly, not feel guilty about it. It's only natural to put your children and your family before yourself --- but is it fair? I don't think so. I have every intention of being a lot more selfish of my time. Sounds awful doesn't it?

3. Take time to let my friends know how much they mean to me. My family already does.... but my friends - both physical and online - are truly my daily inspiration.

and

Finally, learn how to listen to the "whispers" Kelly Rae Roberts refers to in her book Taking Flight. Those whispers sometimes know more about us than we do. My inner whispers are getting progressively LOUDER!! (Lord I hope it's not that I'm becoming schizophrenic!)

I wish you all a wonderfully artistic 2009. Some of you, like my friend Brenda, have started the year with unimaginable pain - others have started the year with other types of hurt and losses.... wake up every day and thank God for what you DO have - you can't do anything about what you don't. And when you lay your head down at night, leave your problems with God - he doesn't sleep anyway!

Hugs.

YOUR PRAYERS FOR MY FRIEND BRENDA SCHENCK

As many of you know, I am very active in a wonderful yahoo group called Paper Imagery Designs. One of my dearest friends on that group, Brenda Schenck, has emailed me today with horrible news. Her 11 year old granddaughter choked and died on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008. She is being buried tomorrow. My heart hurts for my friend and her family. I can not even IMAGINE her pain.

I will pray fervently for her and her family; for God to grant them peace in their hearts and healing in their lives. I ask for your prayers as well for this wonderful woman who has lost a beloved granddaugher and her daughter who has lost her child.