I have not done Ticket to Venice or finished Full Tilt Boogie but I just had to buy this one! I LOVE Mary Ann Moss!!
Who else is taking it?
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
JULIE'S NEW STAMPS!!!
I received Julie's new stamps today!! 5 beautiful girls, a gorgeous set of border stamps and some sweet wings for the girls!!!
Can't wait to play with them!!
Can't wait to play with them!!
Monday, July 1, 2013
KEYS 4 ART 2014!!!
As every year, it always seems that I am staring to plan so early! After all, the retreat is not until March!!! However, 8 months go by so QUICKLY!!!!!
The 2014 retreat will once against be in Key Largo from March 23 - March 29!! So exciting!!
Stay tuned for a wonderful surprise!!!
The 2014 retreat will once against be in Key Largo from March 23 - March 29!! So exciting!!
Stay tuned for a wonderful surprise!!!
PART 3 - EXCITEMENT!!
So here we are, it's Thursday, and I think that a lot of us are star struck by DJ. There were some in the class who had never been to Donna's studio so I am sure they were double star struck!!!
Bill has the greatest personality!
TOMORROW: The last post on this wonderful workshop and pictures of our journals! I was very happy with my journal despite the fact that there are certain things I will do differently once I take it apart! LOL!!!
We got a personal look at DJ's fabulous book (see part 2) and were ready to rock!
The first thing we did was to cut our pages and gesso them. Jacquie and I used Liquitex Super Heavy Gesso.
This stuff is AMAZING!!! The texture it makes on your pages is outrageous. Smooth and just gorgeous. Donna recommended it and let us take it back to the hotel to gesso our pages (it absolutely needs to dry over night). We also used paints, sprays, gesso and everything else we could get our hands on to color our fabric strips.
Bill has the greatest personality!
Donna had bought Karma a few days before the workshop and had her in a little bag the entire weekend to "bond" with her new baby! Is she not the cutest thing EVER? (Karma Donna, Karma!)
WE WERE ALL IN HEAVEN!!!!!
And so we end Friday! The days don't last!!!
In the meanwhile, Donna's mom cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for us!
She is a wonderful cook and everything, as always, was great!
Then of course there is Donna's candy bar!
The best part????? A container full of Bit O Honey!!
The day went by so quickly!! We took our pages back to the hotel and gessoed them. Jacquie and I had pages all over our hotel room.
We were tired but so anxious to go back the next day and DO IT.
TOMORROW: The last post on this wonderful workshop and pictures of our journals! I was very happy with my journal despite the fact that there are certain things I will do differently once I take it apart! LOL!!!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
DJ PETTIT PART TWO!
On Thursday morning Donna picked us up at the hotel. She has a gorgeous little mini cooper perfect for DJ, Eileen, Jacquie and I.
DJ had this HUGE suitcase with her but after ascertaining that she did not have a dead body in it we were fine!
We arrive at Donna's Studio at about 9:00 am. Her studio is just fabulous! Charming, cozy, full of wonderful art supplies and Donna's art on every inch of wall space!
From the teal and black colors of the wonderful doorway to motivational notes on the windows, Donna Downey Studios will feel like home the moment you walk through the door.
After breakfast provided by Donna's mom - we are ready to rock!
DJ PETTIT PART ONE
This past week, on June 19th my friends Eileen, Jacquie and I went to Donna Downey's studio in North Carolina to take a four day workshop with DJ. That was a dream come true for me. I have always admired her work and longed to take a workshop with her. I really thought I was going to have to go to Italy to do it!!! Well, thankfully I did not have to go that far, although I would have "sacrificed" and made the trip!
DJ Pettit
I love going to Donna's studio. Not only is she a fabulous artist, but she and her husband Bill make you feel like you are their new best friend every time they see you. Going to their studio is like visiting an old friend. A friend with LOTS and LOTS of very cool toys!
Jacquie and I flew from Miami to Charlotte where our friend Eileen was waiting for us after her trip from New York. Eileen is the greatest person and I love her dearly. She too had wanted to take a workshop with DJ so this was just perfect.
The workshop involved created one of DJ's awesome journals with fabric, buttons, lace and oh yea, paper! If you have lived under a rock and are not family with DJ's fabulous work, google her!!! You will be amazed at the wonderful work she does!!
DJ designed this project just for our workshop!
We were not really thrilled with the idea of sharing sewing machines with 22 other women so Jacquie and I had discussed buying a sewing machine in Charlotte and returning it after the workshop. Tacky, I know, but it is what it is.
We took a taxi from the airport to the Hampton which is a couple of miles from the studio. This is the hotel where most of Donna's "guests" stay and I really like it. We were all starving and walked across the street to this great little Mexican place Jacquie and I ate the last time we were there. In search of a sewing machine and without a car, we asked the waitress if there was a fabric store close by. As luck would have it, there was one in the same shopping center along with a Tuesday Mornings which we love also.
We went first to Tuesday Morning and were thrilled to see that they had a sewing machine though not so thrilled that it cost $300!! However, as obsessive as we are, Jacquie bought it any way.
We then went a few doors down to Hancock Fabrics. We went a little crazy looking for lace and fabrics (surprised?). I saw this adorable little sewing machine (Janome Mini) and for only $80.00. Eileen told me that Lynn Perella had told her that she travels with that sewing machine as it only weight 5 Pounds! PERFECT!! Jacqui returned the sewing she had purchased and we each bought a Jaome Mini (after seeing ours, a lot of the ladies went and bought one of their own!). Great little machine!
We ended Wednesday night watching TV and looking forward to meeting DJ the next morning!!!
I love going to Donna's studio. Not only is she a fabulous artist, but she and her husband Bill make you feel like you are their new best friend every time they see you. Going to their studio is like visiting an old friend. A friend with LOTS and LOTS of very cool toys!
Jacquie and I flew from Miami to Charlotte where our friend Eileen was waiting for us after her trip from New York. Eileen is the greatest person and I love her dearly. She too had wanted to take a workshop with DJ so this was just perfect.
The workshop involved created one of DJ's awesome journals with fabric, buttons, lace and oh yea, paper! If you have lived under a rock and are not family with DJ's fabulous work, google her!!! You will be amazed at the wonderful work she does!!
(PHOTOS FROM DJ'S JOURNAL)
We were not really thrilled with the idea of sharing sewing machines with 22 other women so Jacquie and I had discussed buying a sewing machine in Charlotte and returning it after the workshop. Tacky, I know, but it is what it is.
We took a taxi from the airport to the Hampton which is a couple of miles from the studio. This is the hotel where most of Donna's "guests" stay and I really like it. We were all starving and walked across the street to this great little Mexican place Jacquie and I ate the last time we were there. In search of a sewing machine and without a car, we asked the waitress if there was a fabric store close by. As luck would have it, there was one in the same shopping center along with a Tuesday Mornings which we love also.
We went first to Tuesday Morning and were thrilled to see that they had a sewing machine though not so thrilled that it cost $300!! However, as obsessive as we are, Jacquie bought it any way.
We then went a few doors down to Hancock Fabrics. We went a little crazy looking for lace and fabrics (surprised?). I saw this adorable little sewing machine (Janome Mini) and for only $80.00. Eileen told me that Lynn Perella had told her that she travels with that sewing machine as it only weight 5 Pounds! PERFECT!! Jacqui returned the sewing she had purchased and we each bought a Jaome Mini (after seeing ours, a lot of the ladies went and bought one of their own!). Great little machine!
One of my posse - and we are ALL enablers - told us that this little beauty was on sale at Home Depot online for $59 and FREE SHIPPING!!! Well, can't pass that up! I bought two of them so that we can use them at next year's Keys 4 Art (exciting new about that later!)
We ended Wednesday night watching TV and looking forward to meeting DJ the next morning!!!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
My AHA moment
Last night I was on a very small clip on TV in regard to a case I am involved with. Very small but not enough to disguise how fat I am!!! I had no idea when it was airing but my assistant called me and told me it would air at 10. So I watched. And I watched. And I had what Oprah would call an "aha" moment.
I am over weight. About 45 pounds over weight and I hate it. I really do. I knew I was over weight. I have known for a while - but SEEING myself, really SEEING myself was a humbling experience.
Okay so this is the moment where those of you who love me or are just kind say.... Oh, you are not THAT over weight; You have so much on your plate; blah blah blah. Nonsense. I am over weight. Period. I will get hate mail telling me how "being over weight is not a crime", how "you can be over weight and be a wonderful person" - blah blah blah - all that is true. But it is no less true that NOBODY wants to be over weight. Yes, you can be a wonderful person but I would rather be a wonderful and HAPPY person, thank you very much. If you are happy being overweight - good for you! I'm not.
I can find a lot of "reasons" for it - menopause (which, by the way is kicking my ass), 100 units of insulin a day, the fact that I SIT all day in my office, or simply my love for rice, potatoes, pasta and dessert!!! But I hate it.
But see, being overweight is not like being blind or unable to walk. It's is not a permanent, unchangeable condition. It is not easy to lose weight any more - not at 52 - but it certainly is not an unattainable goal.
So what's the problem? Lack of motivation; laziness; lethargy; complacency; all of the above? I really think it's a neck and neck race between laziness and complacency. Ugggh. I am SO not the type to "settle" for something that makes me unhappy. And that is exactly what I have done. I don't say that in contemplation of a pity party - just stating a fact.
I have written posts about this before and all I have actually DONE about it is gain more weight. Not very encouraging and certainly not a successful endeavor.
My good friend Jacquie - God bless her - is encouraging me to walk every day. "Get up early" she says; "you will enjoy it" she says. No I wont. I am NOT a morning person - AT ALL - and can not think of ANYTHING more boring or depressing than walking - iPod or not - just for the sake of losing weight. Not going anywhere - just going around and around. I see people walking and I see a bunch of hamsters in a cage going around and around on a wheel. Really?? Nope. Not for me. I love you Jac - but I don't see it happening.
I was put on an insulin pump on Tuesday. I will hopefully need a lot less insulin so THAT excuse is no longer available to me. In the end, diabetes is like that damned hamster wheel - eat... gain weight/high sugar... high sugar/insulin... insulin/hunger... eat! Yep, a frickin hamster.
Okay so I digress into an "almost" pity party...
Today I went to see a Zumba class. I have always wanted to do Zumba. I love music and I love to dance which totally offsets my hatred for gyms and machines that are meant to torture you into submission. You think twice about stuffing something unhealthy into your mouth - not because you are "disciplined" (that's a bunch of shit!), but because the idea of getting on one of those machines makes you want to stuff your finger into your throat and throw up that wonderful, sinful, fattening Twinkie you just ate. Yes, it's true - please don't patronize me by saying you actually "enjoy" working out - who BELIEVES that? Nobody. It's like those people that "love" Starbucks. Really? You need a damned masters degree just to order a cup of coffee. You guys only pay $85 for a cup of coffee because it makes you feel good to order a cup of coffee in 30 words or more.
Don't give me that - "oh I LOVE the way I feel when I work out!" Bullshit! You hurt like hell the next day and just want to roll on the floor and die.
But Zumba? I can do that - I think. I will let you know if I don't drop dead of a stroke in the middle of a merengue.
I am over weight. About 45 pounds over weight and I hate it. I really do. I knew I was over weight. I have known for a while - but SEEING myself, really SEEING myself was a humbling experience.
Okay so this is the moment where those of you who love me or are just kind say.... Oh, you are not THAT over weight; You have so much on your plate; blah blah blah. Nonsense. I am over weight. Period. I will get hate mail telling me how "being over weight is not a crime", how "you can be over weight and be a wonderful person" - blah blah blah - all that is true. But it is no less true that NOBODY wants to be over weight. Yes, you can be a wonderful person but I would rather be a wonderful and HAPPY person, thank you very much. If you are happy being overweight - good for you! I'm not.
I can find a lot of "reasons" for it - menopause (which, by the way is kicking my ass), 100 units of insulin a day, the fact that I SIT all day in my office, or simply my love for rice, potatoes, pasta and dessert!!! But I hate it.
But see, being overweight is not like being blind or unable to walk. It's is not a permanent, unchangeable condition. It is not easy to lose weight any more - not at 52 - but it certainly is not an unattainable goal.
So what's the problem? Lack of motivation; laziness; lethargy; complacency; all of the above? I really think it's a neck and neck race between laziness and complacency. Ugggh. I am SO not the type to "settle" for something that makes me unhappy. And that is exactly what I have done. I don't say that in contemplation of a pity party - just stating a fact.
I have written posts about this before and all I have actually DONE about it is gain more weight. Not very encouraging and certainly not a successful endeavor.
My good friend Jacquie - God bless her - is encouraging me to walk every day. "Get up early" she says; "you will enjoy it" she says. No I wont. I am NOT a morning person - AT ALL - and can not think of ANYTHING more boring or depressing than walking - iPod or not - just for the sake of losing weight. Not going anywhere - just going around and around. I see people walking and I see a bunch of hamsters in a cage going around and around on a wheel. Really?? Nope. Not for me. I love you Jac - but I don't see it happening.
I was put on an insulin pump on Tuesday. I will hopefully need a lot less insulin so THAT excuse is no longer available to me. In the end, diabetes is like that damned hamster wheel - eat... gain weight/high sugar... high sugar/insulin... insulin/hunger... eat! Yep, a frickin hamster.
Okay so I digress into an "almost" pity party...
Today I went to see a Zumba class. I have always wanted to do Zumba. I love music and I love to dance which totally offsets my hatred for gyms and machines that are meant to torture you into submission. You think twice about stuffing something unhealthy into your mouth - not because you are "disciplined" (that's a bunch of shit!), but because the idea of getting on one of those machines makes you want to stuff your finger into your throat and throw up that wonderful, sinful, fattening Twinkie you just ate. Yes, it's true - please don't patronize me by saying you actually "enjoy" working out - who BELIEVES that? Nobody. It's like those people that "love" Starbucks. Really? You need a damned masters degree just to order a cup of coffee. You guys only pay $85 for a cup of coffee because it makes you feel good to order a cup of coffee in 30 words or more.
Don't give me that - "oh I LOVE the way I feel when I work out!" Bullshit! You hurt like hell the next day and just want to roll on the floor and die.
But Zumba? I can do that - I think. I will let you know if I don't drop dead of a stroke in the middle of a merengue.
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