The many faces of... my crazy family!

Halloween is over, well, in this house it is.

DD #2 and I hit the local church for their annual Fall Festival. I really think it is a big ministry they take on themselves. They have FREE dinner, games, candy and a 'maze' where each room tells a different story of the bible. It really is a good thing for the community. We love it.

DH and DD #1 decided to stay home and hand out candy. They are wacky and decked out in makeup and black clothing. Not sure what DD was supposed to be (but looks beautiful anyway), but DH went with a Rock Star, sort of, and later donned a Pirate hat for fun. Doesn't he look a bit like Johnny? hehe
DD #2, after much crying, hemming, hawwing, etc... agreed to be Pippy Longstocking. I'm so glad she did. She was wanting to be a fairy in a ripped, stained and very cold dress up costume. She looked much more adorable as Pippy.

How was your halloween? Don't forget to brush your teeth!

Whipped Vanilla Mocha Java

DD #1 has an affinity for coffee. Just set aside that fact that she is 13. She thinks she can do better with her homeschool work if she 'just has coffee'. *motherly eyeroll inserted here* She has certain drinks she orders at Borders, Starbucks and even at our local coffee shop. They know her by NAME there. She plans to work there when she turns 14 in 2 weeks. That remains to be seen. Can kids work at 14? *shock* Anyway, this morning she attempted to make some cold concoction, like she orders at places. It was DELICIOUS! (pictured ------>) I asked her for a recipe (as a joke). She gave me one! So I'm sharing with you...

Whipped Vanilla Mocha Java

2 cups strong fresh brewed coffee
1 cup milk, 2% cold
3 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. vanilla syrup

Mix
Pour over cup of ice
Top with whip cream
Enjoy

Recipe by Alex Tuey

Art & Somerset Studio

Happy Halloween!!! (in 2 1/2 hours) Have fun trick or treating for some teeth rotters! I know I will!

(CLICK FOR CLOSEUPS)

Tiny bit of creating time this weekend and today. I was 'motivated' by the fact that I owe 12 thank you cards for a swap. I gave myself a challenge, use only scraps, even the cardstock (gotta empty my scrap drawers somehow!) Used mostly my friend Catherine's Sketches from ScrapAddict. Didn't even make a dent in the mass of paper in the drawers, but I got 15 cards done...


Had a good time with friends and family this weekend. Mom was in town for a brief moment and we ate and laughed and window shopped together. I miss her dearly. Can't wait until she is back here permanently. Went to a crop with local friends on Sunday. Enjoyed 2 baby showers at the crop as well. Didn't get a lot done, but I filled my soul with friendships. What is more productive than that? OKay, I did get 2 simple ATCs done for a swap (first pic.)

Rec'd my Somerset Studio over the weekend, or was it last week? The days are starting to run together. Anyway, if you don't get this magazine, you are missing out. This month's was particularly inspiring. Don't know if it's because I love Christmas so much or it was just the content, but if you have a chance to see it, DO SO...

Happiness, Halloween & Felting

Do you ever have that feeling that full happiness if just over -------> there, if I could just reach it? I'm a pretty happy person, unless my DH or DDs get under my skin but sometimes.... I think I or we or some people let happiness stay just out of their reach, probably because they're afraid of what to do with it. I was talking to a friend once about chaos, and whatnot. We discussed how growing up his life was chaos, family fighting, not dealing with problems, just 'letting them slide' and that is how he sometimes deals with things now. I told him, maybe he lets it be that way because he is 'comfortable' with that because it is all he knows. (My classes in psych are peeking out aren't they. *wink*) I think I do this sometimes. Not clean my house when I know it would make me happier and things run smoother. Not lose weight when I know I'd feel better. Simple things like not dye my hair even though I would feel prettier with it red instead of grey. Dumb stuff. And the even harder thing is saying 'okay, I've had enough, I'm not slacking anymore, I'm going to do what I need to do.' Then time/life gets in the way and I backslide... I haven't found a cure for this yet...

I'm WAY TOO philosophical this late at night. Need to hit the hay. On to happier things.

Homeschool skating party today went well. The girls looked adorable. DD #2 went with yet another concoction of her own making (pajamas girl, complete with blankie and stuffed animal.) I'm sure glad I didn't shell out big bucks for a costume. DD #1 and friend went as 80's girls and were adorable! I can see me in my high school years, in my DD's face. Ahhh, those were the days.

Mrs. Pom asked me to post pics of my felting project from my felting class. I also worked on a pin but it didn't turn out too well, even though some ladies (Lisa, Tonya and Trish) tried to help me salvage it during skating... I'll post felting project pics as soon as I feel comfortable with something I've made. Prepared to be amazed. Or to roll your eyes at me and go about your business.

Stay tuned...

Mom hits the friendly skies tomorrow and skids to a lovely halt here in KC. Can't wait to hug her! She is just here for a visit, but will be here permanently in 2 weeks. I'm in heaven!

Halloween & mom

We went to the fall festival at church on Friday. DD #2 had her pick of several costumes in the dress up box but she chose to mix and match her own creation. I think she looked adorable! For the next halloween party (Thursday) I believe she is choosing the pirate costume. Isn't life grand, to have so many choices at your disposal?!

DD #1 and her friend want to be 80's girls for the Thursday party. We looked up outfits online to get an idea of what she should look for when she went with said friend and DH to the thrift store today. She asked me what 'mall bangs' were and I was embarrassed to say I knew exactly what she meant. The 80's had some great things going for it, mall bangs and mullets were not some of them.

What you and your family going to be this year?


Mom is coming into town this weekend for her birthday (and moves here permanently to be with dad, in 2 weeks. YAY!) Happy Birthday mom. May all your days be young days filled with love, happiness and joy!

Shwonk Shwonk

I know I'm talking to myself, but I like to post here when I think of something, pretending you all are out there in blog-la-land laughing at, I mean WITH me...

Had the most fabulouso time at Needle Felting class tonight! This craft is so easy peasy! I just love new hobbies! I'll share my project as I get more of it done. I showed DH the project (interrupting his tv time *eyeroll*) . He showed minimal interest.
And then I said "Listen!"
*dead silence*
and then *shwonk shwonk shwonk shwonk shwonk* (sound of needle going in and out of the fabric and foam.)
"Can you sleep with that sound so I can felt while watching TV?"

Apparently he thinks not. I'm going to test that assumption tonight. hehe

For some reason I found this whole exchange extremely funny and can't believe I even asked him! ha

I was reading Pom's blog today and was so inspired, as usual. She was talking about doing art and others seeing it... (totally blog-quoting her here):

"It takes both guts and foolhardiness; a soft heart and a hard head; experience and innocence; rebellion and trust.

You need a thick skin to put your soul out there, whether you dance, sing, write, paint, sculpt, weave, garden, act, or play an instrument. It's much easier to remain quiet on the sidelines and keep to what is safe and known."

Don't you just want to hug another artist or something because of those inspiring words? Hugs to all, who put their souls out there for us to see. We SO appreciate your risk and creative spirits.

Projects

I was thinking today that i haven't really been 'collaging' lately. Seems funny to have a blog of 'Collage Contessa' and not have anything to show for it in forever. But I realize it may just be a metaphor for me. If you take all my parts, the old and new hobbies that interest me, my family & friends, my activities and everything else in between, you'd get a collaged view of my life. So maybe I'm a living collage. Or a mosaic. Probably a crazy quilt. hehe

I've had stuff sitting here to send to my secret sister (in a brown swap - ie: everything is brown) but could never find a brown container to put it all in. So I finally whipped one up tonight. I like it. Used an old fabric from who knows when, and lined it with already quilted fabric. Now I want to KEEP the bag, its so big! (about 14X16") ha I hope she likes it.

Very excited about tomorrow evening. I'm heading to a class at the local Quilt Shop. My friend Trisha is coming with me as well. We're taking a Needle Felting class. It's going to be a blast! I bought all my needles and Roving Wool on eBay from a wonderful seller! I want to learn wool felting as well, but one thing at a time right now.

And just for future reference, a list of things I want to try this winter...
1 - Braided Rugs (I've been saving jeans for years and I picked up the tools needed a garage sale. I'm all set!)
2 - Silk Painting
3 - Paper making
4 - Making paper out of fabric (I've heard you can do this, but can't find instructions)
5 - Try making a Crazy Quilt Pillow (start small is the key)
6 - Art of Japanese Sashiko stitching
7 - Finish my year-in-review Album

(Can you tell I've been catching up on my taped episodes of 'Simply Quilting'? ha)

What do you want to do this winter for fun?

P.S. Post for Audrey and Kathy (in answer to your posts). I finally 'wuss-up'd' and watched Flightplan. There is just something about the way that Jodie Foster and her wide eye shocking looks in the previews kept me away from this movie. Watched it last night and it was wonderful. We watched it in my bedroom so I did a lot of blanket hiding in anticipation. You know, they play that spooky music and you just KNOW something is going to happen. It wasn't scary scary like Friday the 13th scary. Just suspense scary. I would recommend it to anyone. Of course it has Jodie Foster. You can't go wrong there. We also watched A MidSummer Nights Dream with Kevin Kline in it. DD had just gotten the 'No Fear Shakespeare' book from B&N and loved it. Those books are great. On one page they have traditional Shakespeare. The page across has it in plain english. Very user friendly. Actually made her want to read more. The movie had its moments of almost nudity (men holding clothing in front of themselves *eyeroll*) but other than that, great.

The times, they are a changin'...

With winter coming I just couldn't stand the sight of my site. *big smile* It was all dark, dank black. So depressing! So I've been playing around. Added new links, books I'm reading at this time and new blogs to peruse. I feel much better now. That was cathartic. The topper is a pic of a vintage pieced pillow cover I am decorating my bedroom around. I just love the colors.

Off to clean said room and watch Flightplan. Got it from Netflix. Hope it is good and not too scary. I'm a wuss.

Domestication of Me...

I've been a domestic goddess this last week. Well, not really, but I sewed tea towels for a swap. Does that count? Yes, I'm behind on this swap but hey! They're done now. I got the most adorable tea towel from my partner. I use it daily. I'll have to take a pic of it, after it comes out of the wash.

Now, be kind. I know, it looks like a 12 year old did some stitching, but I'm really 12. No seriously. I am! Well, I'm 12 INSIDE then... I even bought embroidery patterns but in the end I resorted to my own sketching and handwriting.

Includes hand quilting and embroidery and some edge stitching on my new machine I'm still getting the hang of.

Okay, I'm off to find the needle I lost in the bed before DH wants to sleep in it.

Random Saturday Thoughts...

(pic of dd)

Enjoyed a wonderful mexican dinner with dad last night who has finally pulled into town for good. Hoping mom can follow soon, praying for a fast house sale (need a house in Fayetteville, GA? I have just the house for you!) so she can come home again. We miss her. Dinner was yum. Best spinach/chicken enchiladas with white sauce I've ever met.

After dinner we headed to Barnes & Noble for a little friday night family book time. For me, I wander around with pilfered pen and paper in hand making lists. List of books for DD & I to read. Usually from the library. DD squirreled away with about 7 beauty and skateboarding magazines and stayed in the kids corner barely watching her sibling so us parents could wander. I don't usually have something set to look for. I find I wander and certain covers catch my eye. I think I'm a visual reader. The cover gets me hooked but the description has to keep me there. Who knows how many fabulous books I'm missing out on because they are housed in plain book wrappings. I also people watch. Or not-watch. With my head down 'looking' at books on lower shelves, I can sidle up to many people and hear the books they're discussing, the plans they're making, etc... Not that I'm an evesdropper. It usually happens naturally. I'm looking for a book, I go to that section and there they are, people gabbing. So I just take a bit more time to find the book I can plainly see on the shelf. Hey! It's my entertainment for the moment! So sue me!

I checked out the list of the few people who frequent my blog. DD and I had fun discovering there were 6 countries in the last week that came to it. I'm sure some were cyber-bots but some were from legitimate websites or other blogs. Found several blogs that list mine in their 'daily reading' or 'fun reading' lists. I feel so honored and don't know what I said or did to earn that distinction. But I love it. I can now pretend someone cares! *snort*
http://www.maggiegracecreates.blogspot.com/
http://acouplewhiles.blogspot.com/
http://www.smallcreations.blogspot.com/
http://www.artwerx.us/links.html/

Getting ready to go try to fix my unruly hair and head to some thrift stores for a bit of 'me' time, and some shopping for DD. Shes grows so quickly, I'm not purchasing full price stuff most of the time. Besides, I might find more books I need or fabrics languishing on the shelves waiting for me. Who knows!


Off I go. Oh! If you're bored with me and want to see a REAL blog, go visit Ms. Pom. I always look forward to her ramblings. I always catch up on my 'Pom readings'. *Wink*

DD's Collages & Fabric Swap

Do you see that title up there? Collage Contessa? Well, I officially concede the title. My collages are dirty and random but most times they have an element of linear-ness to them. That is my analytical mind fighting my creative spirit. (You didn't know I could be so self searching this late at night did you?! ha)

I have trouble with the collages that include all manner of things all over. How do people think through that process, make it look fabulous AND know when to stop? I'm never sure of my collages when I'm done. Who knows why...

ANYWAY! I was talking about my DD. Maybe its the teenage-uninhibited-random mentality but she really has done some great collages for her room this week. She wants to frame some of them for above her bed... She always tells me she turns her mistakes into part of the art and I try to remember that when I make something. Here are a couple she made this week. They're about 14x14" and 14x16". They're even named; Delicate Impressionism (1st one) and Dental Exuberation Exploration (2nd one.) Aren't they great?

Oh, before you go, I am running another Fabric swap on Swap-Bot. Come join me!

About Wednesday... on Thursday

Okay, so I got sidetracked today and didn't post (talking about Wednesday since its 330 am on Thursday morn.) Life is busy like that. How was your day? What did you do?

I gathered up the 100+ books we had out from the library, returned them and promptly came home with 78. Are we readers or what?! Lots of good artsy stuff in there though. I'll let you know if any books catch my fancy.

I can see the floor in my art room finally. Now that's an accomplishment!

I watched Count of Monte Cristo while I scrapped 2 layouts. I was a bit disappointed, but I guess you would be too if you had read the UNabridged 1462 page version of the book and they make an 1 1/2 hour movie about it. It's just not all gonna fit. Gotta face that! However, from purely a good/bad movie standpoint, its great. Beautiful views throughout. Wonderful! Also watched Click. SO much language and innuendos that I didn't need to hear but it has a great message. Family comes first. DH and I both need to remember that more.

Okay, you are free to move about the country. I'm done gabbin'. *wink*

Links

I keep this mini galvanzied bucket on my desk. When I jot down a website to visit, a project idea to make, things to look up, books I want to order from the library, etc... I throw all those little papers in this bucket. I thought this was a wonderful idea because those little 'notes to self' kept piling up and getting all over my desk. When I have a moment I go through them all, look up the sites, order books, etc... I thought I would share links I've found lately that you might enjoy looking up when you have a 'free moment'.

Artsy Companies
9 ½ Design www.ellenikemotodesign.com
Piddleloop http://store.piddleloop.com/
Thimble www.thimble.ca (her Button of the Month club is the BEST deal! I bought it for my DD and plan to buy it for friends for Christmas! Go get your set! 6 months, $18.00!)
I Love Cute Things (Buttons) www.ilovecutethings.com
Truche www.trudesign.org (LOVE the new fall jewelry!)
Silver Faerie Designs www.silverfaeriedesigns.com (beautiful jewelry)
This is Swigg www.thisisswigg.com (drooling over everything, must have!)

Other Art Links
Art Institutes www.ArtInstitutes.edu/eg (my DD is looking at art schools)
Fabric Paints & other Arts http://www.pebeo-touch.com/#
Omni Gel www.houstonart.com
Art Catalog www.triarcoarts.com
Trace Products www.traceind.com

Homeschool
Five In A Row www.fiveinarow.com (based right here in my city, great books!)
Teacher Vision www.teachervision.com
States www.50states.com (great States/Capitals worksheets!)
School Express www.schoolexpress.com
Books & Beyond www.booksandbeyond.com
Vocabulary Puzzles www.vocabulary.com
Aesop’s Fables www.aesopfables.com
Thanksgiving www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/index.html
Plimoth www.plimoth.org
Holidays www.holidays.net
Reading Incentive Program www.bookadventure.org
Beautiful Feet Books www.bfbooks.com (Catalog of 'History Thru Literature' products)

Couch Potato Land

So we joined Netflix. I like the concept of never having to leave my home to go to a video rental place, search for movies that are actually semi-good to watch and finding that there are no more available that day. So far we've received Chicken Little (favorite with the kidlets), Pirates of the Caribbean (accidently ordered the 1st one, thought it was the 2nd, which incidentally doesn't come out until Dec 3.) and Lake House.

I love Sandra Bullock. And put her with the adorable Keanu and its a wonderful hour and a half of couch potato land. Just received Click and Count of Monte Cristo (since I read the 1462 page book for book club, I thought I should watch the movie) is on the way. Akeelah and the Bee for the kids will be here soon as well.



What movies have you seen or want to see lately that you recommend? I have room in my queue...

Projects

I've been busy. Haven't visited my own blog or anyone elses for that matter, in a month! Time flies when you're livin'... What has everyone been up to?

I have been experimenting with sewing lately. I bought that brand spankin' new sewing machine and have made exactly one bag and one pillow. When the tension on the machine messed up, I worked on a wall hanging (not finished yet) and just completed 1 mini fabric book by hand (for my funky fabric swap partner). I really need to read the sewing machine manual again.

Pic 1:Fabric book
Pic 2: Pillow seen in background of my color swap items


Haven't been artsy-ing much. Homeschool is taking up a lot of time with places to go, projects, etc... Hoping we get a routine going and can be more organized. I've been working on home improvement projects lately as well. Or at least shopping for the stuff needed, so DH can complete the lovely 'Honey Do' lists I've made for him. *wink*

Been on a fabric kick lately. Have several swaps I'm swapping FQs in, and have many Christmas projects in mind and some already started. Can't wait until I have more time to work on them. Only about 75 days, 20 hours and 35 minutes until Christmas! I better get busy. What projects are you working on for Christmas this year?

I realize I never stick with my goals to do more art, lose more weight, or even organize more. I thought I would try to do my best to blog more at least. Going to shoot for 3 times a week, but wouldn't it be an accomplishment to blog everyday until the new year? Kind of like a diary. I could see what I worked on all through the year. Gonna try.

Have any Christmas projects links or completed items to share with me? I still need ideas!