I'm baaaaaaack.....

Yep, I'm back from an awesome vacation in the the lovely state of Michigan with relatives....most awesomest time ever with bonfires and blueberries and babysitting the grandkids....just the best! Unfortunately, one of the little ones came down with Strep but they caught it early and he was put on meds ASAP and is doing fine....I however, came back with an upper respiratory infection which I had last week and I too (with the help of meds) am doing much better. So, I'm back on track with my "even" days post. I'm hoping to post, in the next few days, a little of what I've been up to while away.
So, with that said......stay tuned....till next time, yinz crazy guys!

Umbrella of Grace.....

I know I said I would be blogging on every even day....but now I'll have to, as my Pastor says, ask for an "Umbrella of Grace" as for the next week or so I will be enjoying the company of this awesome crew.....
...and I will probably be sitting on a back porch swing watching these many evenings while I stitch or draw or read with my wonderful hubby by my side....
...and I know for sure I'll be eating lots of this....

......and keeping warm by the fire with a little of that....

....and for sure enjoying loads of fresh those....

So, with that said....where in the world is Lucy?????......I'm out of here, yinz crazy guys!!! Have a great week....I know I will!

Sandcastle in water....

I'm making an attempt at watercoloring....can you tell. Actually, watercolor and ink. This is Sandcastle Waterpark in Pittsburgh PA. We got a great deal on passes this year and have been going when we can and when it's hot. It's just like being at the beach except the park is on the river...but the place has a real beach feel to it.
I've tried to do some watercolor pics of it but I think I just need to keep practicing. I get so impatient tho....but everyone I read about who is a watercolor artist/journaler stresses practice and doing something with it everyday.
So, with that said, it's back to practicing....till next time, yinz crazy guys!

and more journaling....

As you know I do jump around in my crafting and I also do so in my journaling. Lately I've been doing some watercolor and ink drawings but these are ones I've done about a month or so inspired by the lovely Teesha Moore.




These are fun to do as they are rarely done in one sitting. It's like you start a bunch of pages then just go back and forth depending on what is inspiring you at the moment.
So with that said, another post is under my Even Days Only belt.....Happy August and till next time yinz crazy guys.....

Psykopaint...

This is my granddog, Reese, done in an app called Psykopaint! My son took a pic of his dog, I uploaded it into Psykopaint....picked the Monet setting and "Reese in Monet". Psykopaint is so much fun. He's not as "Monet" as I wish he was but still it was fun playing. I could even print this out and frame it...all for free! My son also hooked me up with Google Chrome....I'm the Google Queen so this was a real treat for me. So many free apps with the same great search engine Google is known for. So if you want to have some fun playing and drawing on the computer, along with some awesome free game apps, just search for Google Chrome and start downloading. (weatherbug app is the best by the way!!)
Okay....another "even" day post under my belt...till next time, yinz crazy Psykos!!!

My journal...

Even day #2....this time I'm going to post some journal pages I've been doing. Oh, first off, for those who asked (Meari)...Moleskine is really just a very nice journal. Sorta like buying expensive yarn to knit with or a nice linen fabric to stitch on with really beautiful overdyed threads. There's a nice website where you can learn more about them....just google "moleskine". Stupid me thought the cover was made out of moles in which case it would have taken quite a few to make one journal...duh!
Anyway, here are some of the pages I've been working on. This first one was a co-effort from hubby as that was what he called the lesion that was in my nose. Notice the patriotic flag flown from the nostril... (click on any pic for a larger view)


This is just a nice background I did with watercolors, collage and gesso stenciled butterflies. Haven't added any writing yet.


Did this while at Sandcastle, our Pittsburgh waterpark. The park is on the borders of the river and it just looked so pretty that day....all done in watercolors.

I just like watermelon...and the colors of it. Not much writing on this one yet.

And I love Sunflowers but I noticed I didn't add enough petals....but who cares....it's my journal!

So, that's it! I've been reading alot about art journaling and such and the one thing everyone says is to practice, practice, practice....so that is what I'm trying to do. Draw everything! This is so difficult for me to do as I'm such a planner as you know. To just sit down and draw or paint without any ideas and let things flow is one of the hardest things for me to do in art. But I'm trying....and I'm liking it! Even if it's not always to my liking.....I've got to keep pluggin' away.

So, hope you enjoyed a few pages from my moleskine...till next time, yinz crazy Moles!!!

Challenge....

I think I'm going to challenge my self to blog on EVEN number days...(I know I could never do every day...at least not yet)......let's see if I can do it!

So on this EVEN number day, let me give you a little update on what I've been doing. I have been cross-stitching of course and trying to do the Prairie Schooler American Strawberries.

Haven't put one together yet, but as soon as I get the second one stitched, I will.

Secondly, been journaling....mixed media art journaling. This is really hard for me as I'm so used to following patterns and such. This really makes me try to let go and let flow.

Got a few journals going but my fav or course if the Moleskine journal. Plan on taking that one on vacation.

Thirdly, doing some crocheting. I know a little girl who loves loves loves her Barbies so I'm doing some clothes for her as I will be seeing her in August.

Sorry about the pic...cat did not want to move!

Just started a purple dress too. So many patterns on the internet and I also got a used book from Amazon for like $3.00 plus shipping....gotta love Amazon.

Also doing some crochet jewelry that my lovely niece if going to try and put together. It's done with floss....but I think I may have an easier time with #10 thread. Still playing with that.

Okay...first EVEN day blog finished....till the next EVEN day, yinz crazy guys....stay cool!

What a busy summer...

Oh, how I wish I could be like so many of you bloggers and keep up on this. I've been doing so much stuff but never seem to find the time to sit down and post it all. Not to mention my son and DIL were living with us inbetween apartments and just moved out, so my main computer is once again free and doesn't have a bed in front of it. YEAH!
We've been also spending alot of weekend time here.... (click on the pic to see the website)


Love this place. Got a season pass at the great price of 2 passes for $99 for the summer. There is a giant wave pool, a huge swimming pool, tons of water slides, a lazy river ride, a hot tub and a few kiddie pools. A long boardwalk with food shops, a bar and all built on the banks of the Allegheny River...(think that's the River's name...we have three of them here) Either way what a great deal. It's only about 1/2 hour from us so it's well worth the drive.
This week, however, after work I've been helping out at this...


It's exhausting, hot and loads of fun for one whole week. I'm in charge of the craft team and our numbers doubled since last year...116 kids so far and going up. We got a little short on crafts but we're working it out. I'm so drained by the end of the day, it's all I can do to pour a nice chilled glass of wine and stitch a bit in front of the tv before falling into bed.
So with that said, let's hope I can get some pics up like I keep promising to do. But I am having such a fun summer and I hope you are too...so till next time, yinz crazy guys!

What your mother taught you....

I Owe My Mother!
1.My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .
"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
"You are going to get it when your father gets home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"


...till next time, yinz crazy guys!

Holy Smoke...

Wow...has it been since April that I posted last! That's not right! Just checking in to let everyone know I'm fine...busy having fun in the sun like everyone else I'm sure. I'm cross stithing,reading, crocheting and journaling....and going to the pool. Hopefully this weekend I'll post some pictures of my stuff and adventures.
So with that said...stay cool...have fun....till next time, yinz crazy guys!

Spring finally...

Well, it's finally Spring...and with that brings the energy to clean and file and so forth and so on. When the weather is dreary and cold, I can't figure out where the energy in me is going to come from to clean up and change decorations in the house....but then that first warm sunny day comes along and BAM, there it is and I literally can't stop! So that's what I've been doing. Been doing a little crafting in between too. I've been doing a little crocheting. This little cross from bedspread cotton is for a little girl far far away.

It's supposed to have a tassel and be a bookmark, but for her I think it will serve her better has something to hang which is why I put the little hook at the top. Did a couple of crochet shamrocks too. Never did get enough done to hand on my dowel tree....maybe by next March 17, I'll manage to get a few more in.

Then I was in the mood for a little journaling. Did a couple of pages while hubby was out of town just to keep myself busy. I also just like to draw whether it's good or not and play around with colors. Guess it goes back to my crayon and coloring book obsession as a kid. Having trouble getting some pics uploaded but I will.

Also did a Saturday afternoon cross stitching with some of my gal pals at a local Panera. Even tho there was nothing there to purchase other than food, I managed to fall in love with one of the ladies new battery operated LCD Ott lights and came home and purchased one on amazon myself. It is so lightweight and portable. Just hope the batteries last awhile. Well, that's what I've been up to. Tho I don't always comment on everyone's blog, I still love to read them and get inspired. Thanks for reading mine and hope I can do the same. Till next time yinz crazy guys.......

Is it March already??

Well, Valentine's day is come and gone and finally Spring is a speck on the horizon...a little more sunny days and warmer weather. Backtracking a little bit, I did manage to have a wonderful Valentine's Day with Sweetie Man even if it was a week later. Made him his very very favorite chocolate pie (His mom's secret recipe). He loved it. Had to take a pic as this one turned out great...perfect meringue.

Then I secretly stitched this little saying for him, padded it and put a little backing on it for him to hang in his office cubicle...along with all the other stuff I stitched for him. They do tease him at work...I love it!!

Also, finished up a HOE swap and received this BEAUTIFUL needlecase from my partner. It actually is my first needlecase I ever owned. She added some petite needles (my favorite) and other goodies....how did she know I'm a lip gloss junkie???

This is what I stitched for my partner. She hasn't a clue who she is getting something from so I'm safe in showing this. Found the pattern on the Creative Poppy website. I love sites where I can just download and start stitching.

So, that's what's been keeping me busy. Finally getting to do some things for me without any deadlines to meet...it's great! Until the weather warms up, I'll be stitching inside in front of the tv with some occasionally treadmill breaks. So, till next time yinz crazy guys.........

Happy Valentines Day Blogland!!

Ever since I made this dowel tree I keep finding things in multiples that I want to put on it. This time it's crochet hearts in pink and red. So many patterns of these on the web when I googled it...just picked an easy one and made a dozen.

Now I gotta find something to make for St. Patrick's day for my little tree. Easter stuff is already in the works.
So with that said.....
hope yinz guys all have a Sweet Day.....till next time, yinz crazy guys...

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL???

It's been a little crazy here in the burgh these past two weeks. As you saw in my last post, I decided to make Spirit Gloves. Well when we added my hubby making Steeler buttons, business BOOMED!!! EVERYONE went crazy. We literally could hardly keep up with all the orders. Here's a pic of just some of the buttons he designed on our Badge-A-Minit.
This is one box of the pom-poms I was up till midnight a few days making for the Spirit Gloves.
Today (Super Bowl Ever) even hubby got into making pom-poms with our nifty pom-pom maker. It's not easy finding the black and gold yarn either. It's fun but extremely exhausting. One day I was actually delivering gloves to someone at their job, and someone in a van could 't roll their window down fast enough to ask me where I got them. Unfortunately, I was for the most part making them to order as I couldn't get ahead of the game to make them to sell outright without orders. It's crazy!!!

So with that said, hubby and I are off to finish more Spirit Gloves for tomorrow at our church so....till next time, yinz crazy guys......GO STEELERS!!!!!

Steelers are goin' to the Super Bowl!!!!

And in honor of this, I made some SPIRIT GLOVES! They are so much fun to wear! I know I'll have my pair on during the Super Bowl and you can have your pair on if you just visit my Etsy Shop at www.gfigure.etsy.com

There are a limited number available so don't delay...especially if you want them in time for February 6!!! So till next time, yinz crazy guys....GO STEELERS!!!

Long awaited post....

I couldn't wait to show all this stuff but I had to wait till my niece's family received it all as I know she reads my blog. Her and I are the family crafter's and love to create stuff for each other as well as share crafts. I love it. The problem is is that I find something to make her or her family and then I keep finding things. (already working on the next holiday) This is the reason they didn't get any of their Christmas gifts till last week....I called them New Year's gifts. Please excuse my pictures....taken with the phone on my camera.

So without further adieu, let's get started.

First off, I stitched and framed two cross stitches for her adorable children....matching birth announcements. One for a boy and one for a girl. Stitched them on 28 ct. antique white monaco. The patterns are from The Cross Stitcher magazine, the February 2010 and the April 2010 issues. I learned how to frame using the pin and tap method, so that was part of the fun.


My niece loves penguins so I found these adorable penguin coasters on Ravelry made from crochet cotton. I varied the eye colors just for fun. These were super easy and fast to crochet.
I'm addicted to fingerless gloves and there are so many free patterns to google. I just picked one out and did it. So many styles too. I want to try all of them.
Made this hat for my niece's hubby. It's made from a supper soft alpaca blend I found at Michael's. I'm still a beginner knitter so this pattern is one I got from the internet awhile back from someone's blog....it's call one flat had on #10 straight needles. I knitted a few of these already. Basically start off with 68 stitches, 1 and 1/2 rib stitching then stockinette stitch till about 5 and 1/2 inches long. Then start decreasing every other row at each end till about 4 stitches left. Gather and sew seam. That's the pretty quick version from what I remember of the pattern....you may have to adjust here and there to fit. This hat is really nice looking and fast for even a beginning knitter like me.
The headwraps are another pattern that there are a million online free patterns and it's just a matter of what one you like. Ravelry has alot....and for those of you who haven't joined Ravelry (free to sign up)...you are definately missing out on alot of great free and pay for patterns by many talented people who contribute to it. I've found so much there. The gray one is for mommy and the white one is for baby. (I just basically used a smaller needle and cut down the stitches for the smaller one)
This is my head wrap. This is yet another pattern I found and I'm in the middle of making another one I found online. As I said there are a ton out there. Just "google" it. I like these cause they don't mess my hair up as in a whole hat but are very warm.
So that's about it for now. I'm trying to keep up on my promise to post my updates, finishes or not finishes once a week. So far so good....so till next time, yinz crazy guys...

Stayin warm and cozy...

Yep, that's what I'm doin'...stayin' warm and cozy,craftin' and watching tv. (Okay, I do hit the treadmill every so often.....one day I may actually get on it instead of just hitting it.) Anyway, besides what I CAN'T show you cause it was shipped out on Saturday to the lucky recipients (and you know who you are....then again, maybe you don't) this is what I am working on.

At my last cross stitch get together (January was cancelled due to bad weather...bummer), it was the day before my birthday, the ladies coerced me to purchase one of the hearts done on 10 ct and stitch it. I spent the money of course and did it. I really like working on 28-32 ct anything, so this was a change for me. But I actually LIKE it. Learning lots of new types of stitches too.

These patterns are from Sekas & Co. All of the hearts are so adorable.

My second thing I'm working on is a mobius scarf. But instead of knitting or crocheting it, I decided to try the knifty knitter. Had to watch a few youtubes to remember how to use it, but it's coming back to me. Knifty knitter's are so easy and with using only one strand of woolease, it's coming out nice and lacy-like

I made myself a dowel tree a few years back and now that Christmas is over, I took off the cross stitch ornies and decided to replace them with crochet hearts in red, pink and white. Here are a couple of the pink ones. There are alot of patterns for crochet hearts online so I just picked one that was easy and quick.

That's about it for now. Have a couple of cross stitch patterns I'm going to start also, will show you the progress on those shortly. Just keeping my fingers busy and my mind occupied in hopes that the winter months will fly by...I'm not real fond of cold weather.

So with that said, hope everyone who is in the cold months, stay warm, and those who aren't...know that I'm jealous! Till next time yinz crazy guys.....

It's fun to learn different stitches and the thread is soooooo nice. I'm thinking of doing this into a pillow and maybe doing more of these hearts. They are quick to work up for sure.

More stuff...

A few other things I forgot to show in my last post is this wooden tree I bought at Michaels for $5 right before Christmas. It was plain wood with holes already drilled in it. I painted it, added a little textured snow and a beaded garland and of course the lights in the holes. Nice for a cheap fun decoration. It stands about 2 feet tall.


I took off the beaded garland after Christmas and added white lights and decided to keep it up for another month or so.

We also started a prayer shawl ministry at our church. The lady in charge needed a blanket for a 9 year old boy in the hospital so I happened to have this fleece at home and crocheted around it in a deep blue. Perfect to cheer I little boy, don't ya think?
A friend of mine from my bible study group made about 13 sets of these for all of us for Christmas presents. How cool was that! She crocheted all the scarves and did the hats on the Knifty Knitter Loom. She did a great job and they are very warm.
With it snowing like crazy outside this evening, I'm really in the mood to get my fingers crafting. So till I'll show you some of the "secret" things I've been up to, it's off to craftland for me. Till next time, yinz crazy guys.... (GO STEELERS!)

My Wish for

You in 2011

May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.

May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.

May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!

May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy

May the problems you had, forget your home address!

In simple words ..............

May 2011

be the best year

of your life!!!

Happy

New Year,

Yinz

Crazy Guys!

Lots of pics....

First off...Merry Christmas to everyone in Blog-land!!! I have been crazy busy crafting and still am and finally am able to post some pics of what I've been making....now that some people of got some of them! (and the family whose hasn't knows who they are) Thought I'd start off with a pic of our Christmas tree. Alot of homemade ornies but not too good of a pic...just trust me, it's beautiful!

We had (are having) a great Christmas Holiday! I was actually still finishing up some gifts a couple hours before they were to be opened Christmas morning....I think I do some of my best work then. A couple of gifts were going to my stepdaughter and hubby in Germany. I made a glass block light present and a rag wreath with a matching small tree (tree not pictured) as well as some small stockings and a pillow (also not pictured) They luckily received them before Christmas which was a miracle and they loved everything...they wanted Christmas decorations for their new house.

This was the ornie that I swapped with over at the HOE exchange. It was the Lizzy Kate Snowman for this year. I stitched it on 32 count and made it into an ornament. My partner really liked it and actually said she was just about to stitch this piece.

My son and daughter-in-law got their share of homemade also. My son plays alot of World of Warcraft and he's always saying he has a "raid" he has to do (he's a Raid Leader in W.O.W.). So I made this simple painted t-shirt to match some pj bottoms I bought him. He really liked it.

Front....

and Back.....

Also crocheted this LOOOOOONG scarf for him and put the Alliance emblem from W.O.W. on it. (he liked this also but was intent on watching something on tv while I was taking the pic)

Bent Creek had this wonderful cross stitch wedding sampler that I couldn't resist. They both received that as a present for their apartment as they said they need things on their walls. I even framed it myself!

Check out this Harry Potter scarf I made my DIL. She loves Harry Potter and I found this on the Lion Brand site...there is a crochet one and a knit one. I made this much longer than it called for though so she could wrap it around....another gift well-enjoyed.

I cross stitched this Lizzie Kate for Hubby's office space. I love this saying....and I think I'm loving Lizzie Kate more and more. I just did a simple finish....sorta like a "pin and tap" without the frame.
And once again I was recruited into making 15 of my shelf ladies. I found a new technique on the Martha Stewart site that I applied to these and it worked out great. They are made from simple roof flashing that you can get at any hardward store. They are fun to make!

I made about four of these mustache/beard hats this year. My son saw them for sale online and asked me if I could make it. The patterns were no where to be found so I just studied the picture alot and came up with something very similar. They work up pretty quick. He wore it to the movies once and a stranger asked him where he got it. My son suggested I sell them in my Etsy store....I'm thinkin' about it...IF I can find the time!

So that's about it.....I turned 54 a few weeks ago and just love this picture I took of myself the morning of my birthday in the bathroom mirror when I woke up. It always makes me smile and reminds me that age is ONLY a number!

So, with that....I'm thinkin about making one of my resolutions to post more often.....so keep tabs on me with that one, ok?

Till next "year"....yinz crazy guys!!!