Evergreen Challenge

Did the holiday kick your ass????

It definitely did mine!

I feel like the month of December (and all the months leading up to) were a giant blur!

I'm looking forward to some downtime this winter so that I can get caught up on some of the projects that I have been wanting to get completed.

Speaking of which, here is my post for the Allegory Gallery Evergreen Challenge. This reveal was WEEKS ago, and honestly, we got together at the shop for a while on Christmas Eve eve, and that's how I got this taken care of!

I never did get it totally 'finished' but here you can see how it looks as it was being created!

I hope you have a wonderful New Year and can't wait for more challenges and book club meet ups! 

Here's to a slower paced 2016!!!!

Miss Peregrine Blog Post for Inspired by Reading Book Club at Allegory Gallery

It was so nice to finally meet up to discuss Andrew and William's move AND have two months worth of books for Book Club this month. Lol

I feel like every post that I write starts off with, I'm so busy or I'm so late posting this, etc...
But I am! 

I'm just really glad that before all of my jobs got really busy this fall (I work at a handful of shops in our town, and as an Administrative Assistant part time at our Township) that I had all the books read a few months out! 

I instantly fell in love with Miss Peregrine, couldn't finish Hollow City fast enough and climbed the walls until the last book of the trilogy was released (coincidentally) this September.

I don't buy books, so I'm a huge fan of our local library and was so excited that I got a copy of the final book within days of its release. I swear, it was hot off the press!!!

So, I'm sure you already know what happened in the book. But if not, and if you haven't read ahead in the trilogy, DO! You will not be disappointed!!!

(BTW, I use blogger on my phone, so I'm hoping that ALL the photos post Ok - orientation and clarity-wise...) it's also the reason that all of my pics are at the very end of my posts. Sorry!

#1. This is an old photo that I sourced from a house that my parents were flipping. I loved that it was old and the folks were canoeing. And in general, it's just damn cool! So it was funny when one of my friends in book club texted me about the ominous ending of the book. This photo just jumped to mind and I knew I had to share!!!

#2. As I read through each book, I thought to myself, I've got to do a project for each one... So I usually spend the month thinking about it and I whip something up as a project the day before or the day of the meet-up... hahaha. Sorry! So one day when I popped into a shop in town, I saw this 'strong guy' and I instantly thought of Brownwyn, the guy with the super strength.... turns out she's a she, but it works for all the times she uses that strength to save the characters in all the crazy situations they get into (in all 3 books).

#3. Quite possibly one of my favorite photos in book #3, I got to put my spin on this pic (see photo #4) whilst at a Hallowedding.... funny, right????

#5. But that wasn't what I wanted to call my 'project' for the 3rd book. I felt I owed it more than that! So this picture is from a scene in the final book where I think the woman just stares into a void. But those beads were too cool....

#6. So, these beads.... I made them myself. And I'm really not sure if I want to call them a Pinterest fail or not.... lol
My husband and I celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary this fall, and he bought me flowers for it. Like, had the florist deliver them to me at work (which coincidentally was the first day at the new job...){Thanks, honey}

Now, being crafty (or maybe looking at these beads, maybe not?) I looked online for ideas to re-purpose them. I stumbled across a tutorial for making beads from flowers, or basically rosary beads.

So, you've seen them. My entire family was really disappointed with the outcome of the efforts of my labor. It was lots of boiling, and lots of hoping that they would turn out to be pretty as Pinterest. Enjoy comparing pic #6 to pic #7....

In conclussion, I hope you enjoyed my turd beads! I'm still going to use them for something because they aren't too far off from lava beads or some sort of crazy nuts....

Allegory Design Challenges

Quick post!

Here they are: Last Harvest and Gold Dust kits!

Had a blast with both of them and I'm glad I got them both done on time!!!

(Don't forget to check out my Brave Angel post while you are here too, totally missed THAT deadline)

Be well and have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Brave Angel Challenge Reveal

I'm late!
I'm late!
I'm late!

This gal has a bunch of balls in the air and it amazes me how much I can accomplish. But I feel like a whirling dervish most of the time.....

So, as always, it dawned on me that I only had a few days to whip something up for this challenge.

My favorite tool to use is the Vintaj looper tool. I've shown it to quite a few people and they too agree that it would be a life changer.

I've figured out how to estimate just the right amount of wire that I need for a component without wasting a bunch and as a result, this tool becomes my go-to for when I need to get a beading job done, and in a hurry!

So without much ado, here are the pieces I made for this challenge. They are an homage to my Aunt who passed away 2 years ago this December. She was brave when she was diagnosed with stage 4 beast cancer and she gave it a great fight for a little more than 3 years.

Dammit that cancer took her away from us, but she's still my biggest role model and I find myself quoting her often when I find myself buying another pair of shoes or ANOTHER handbag, but i think of her most of all when I look at my little girl who was born on her birthday. So, in a nutshell she's always on my mind (and I'm thankful I stopped crying each time she was too).

So, Auntie C, my brave angel always, these two pieces are for you and if you were still here, they'd be in the mail to you - with a flamingo!

Upcoming Monday Classes at Allegory Gallery

It's been a lot of fun to teach Basic Beading classes on Mondays at Allegory. But it would be EVEN better if I had more folks who could come out and join the fun.

So, I have snapped some pics of the upcoming classes, and now you can see what's coming up and maybe get a friend to join you!

What's even better is that if you missed a class, we can still make the project! (Or, if you like one of the 2 prototypes, they are for sale!!!) So, tell your friends!!!! And see you soon!

Lunar Eclipse Reveal

Today is the day of the reveal for Andrew Thornton's Design Challenge. The kit this time was Lunar Eclipse and it was a blend featuring smoky quartz.

As soon as I saw it, I knew I had the perfect materials to use. My piece features several raw smoky quartz pieces that have a pyrite spacer. I tied it together with a remnant of metallic leather cord and when it's on, it's a stunner!

I'm looking forward to Brave Angel on the 29th! I've started on a piece, but I know I have time to do something more with all the great pink beads I have in my stash.

Stay tuned!

Pumpkins are driving me MAD!

So last Friday, I went to a local Paint and Sip event. I was looking for an excuse to get out of the house and when a friend of mine said she was free too, we couldn't pass it up.

The theme was Fall, and the subject we were painting was Pumpkins.

Have I told you that I'm already TOTALLY OVER this pumpkin spice everything trend? I mean fall is one of my favorite seasons, but ugh.

Anyhow, the painting class was going stunningly. We were laughing and commiserating about what awful artists we were (except my friend, who happens to be a terrific art teacher. Note: if you stink at painting, don't invite an artist, and especially don't let her sit next to you....haha!)

We started with painting the background, then the pumpkin on the right side. Mine was great. I was super pleased.

And then we started on the left. Apparently my brain was 1. Either not communicating with my left hand properly  or 2. I was not intoxicated enough. My second pumpkin turned out to be a super sized genetically modified tomato. And it was a total buzzkill.

So after we 'finished up' our paintings (I was ready to burn mine) we headed to the local watering hole. And clearly, I am a much better drinker than painter....

So when I got home, the hubs and I had a great long laugh at how ridiculous my painting was and I threw it onto the kitchen table. That damn thing has been haunting me ALL WEEK LONG!

Now anyone who knows me, knows that I'm allllllllll about the paper products. So how else did I decide to cover up the monstrosity? With paper, of course!!!

Let's just chalk it all up to the crappy ending I had to a most interesting day last week. I needed some art therapy, and I needed to fix that painting before I needed a real therapist!

So here's the results. Before (with GMO tomato). After, with a little bit of letters. After the after (where I added the dots to really jazz it up). And finally, 'on exhibit.'

I'm no Picasso, but I'm pretty clever. No one will know the difference until the glue wears off...

Today was a "plan g" kind of day...

So today was supposed to be the day where I completed a project and was able to take a great big deep breath and relish in all the hard work I've put into a project that I've been working on for the past few months....

But at 9:30 a.m. I was notified that I'd have to make a 'plan b.' So I did, and worked on, getting various updates throughout the day.

By 3:30, I was notified that 'plan b' needed changed to 'plan c.' And seeing as the finishing touches to the project were in the hands of the production team, I was still ok with things...

By 5 pm, 'plan c' was still in effect, but would be hand delivered to my location instead of me meeting them halfway. I thought, it's going to be close, but it's still do-able. 

I gave a status update to my team leader and got the kids and I ready to go. We were a little early getting to our meeting, so it was nice to have some time to chat and have a little laugh about the last minute hurdles today.

Then, plans quickly went to 'd, e, and oh f#%$!' The finished product had a glitch, and it was a big one! Again, not my fault, but it makes you question yourself. Was I not clear? Can't I explain myself? What will everyone say about me? What will they say about THIS?

So sadly, I wrapped up the meeting, sent folks home empty handed but hopeful, collaborated with production and went home myself. I've felt bad about this all night long, so I'm now on 'plan g.' Goodnight!

I know deep down that a good night of sleep to tackle this with a fresh head tomorrow, and the faith I have in the production team to get it sorted out, will let things work out fine!

Inspired By Reading Book Club: September Reveal

So, with this post, I'm super late, but not late to the party!!!

We had a great time with Mr. Penumbra's 24 hour Book Store. Our in person meet up was festive, as we celebrated birthdays and had a great time seeing each other. We had a lot of locals at the table, which made it really fun!

So, let's get to it. My piece was a giant size version of the 'missing link' that the folks who were reading books were hoping to solve through reading, but really, it had a deeper level to it, as the font from the typeset was what held the solution!

I found my giant 'R' at Walmart one day while I was shopping with my kids. So I spray painted it and turned it into the letter press letter, complete with the 'inscriptions' on the side...it happens to be a Scottish blessing that I thought would be cool to use to have meaning not just for book club, but when it's on display in our home!

My kids insisted that I take their creations with me to book club to show off, so it's only fair that they have their time on the Internet as well!

If you like this post, be sure to link up to my book club friends and follow along with all of us! This month we read Miss Peregrine ' s Home for Peculiar Children and because I've read it, the sequel and am anticipating the latest novel in the series (which just got published) I'm sure I'll have some serious Inspiration and probably SEVERAL projects!!!!

Stay tuned!

Warrior Stone Reveal

Today is the day!
It's time to reveal our Warrior Stone creations.
For those of you not familiar, this is a design created by me and it's made using the components of a bead soup mix.
My friend Andrew, who owns and operates Allegory Gallery, makes a mixture of beads each month. A friend of mine who is also an AG groupie, plays along with me! Together, we come up with some pretty cool creations. It's a lot of fun.

I'll admit that this month, I've had a lot of balls in the air. I finished this piece a few months ago and had grand ideas to jazz it up eventually. Well, that never happened...

So for this month, it's short, sweet and simple. Labrodite chips and small seed beads with an odd bead at each end. It's super easy, and sure to be a staple in my wardrobe for the fall 'greige' transition!!!

Thanks for reading my second post. I hope you stop by again and that you check out the creations of my fellow bead friends. There are some amazing pieces on here!!!

See you soon, L

I'm here! I've got a blog! Now what????

So, a lot of things have been happening for me this year.
The kids are old enough to ride the bus together and go to school all day. So what is this day dreaming formerly stay-at-home gal to do with herself?
I've been really lucky to have a great partner who is awesome at taking care of my basic needs, and then some.
If it were up to me, I'd spend my last dollar on something pretty and shiny rather than practical... so it's been pretty fitting that I'd fall back not on my education and degrees, but my passion for retail and trinkets (and craft supplies, and shoes, and oh wait- stamps, and bags, and such!!!! Like how I did that??? So clever... lol)
But anyway, I've been back to work this summer, and in addition to being a wife and Mom, I'm shop girling around town. And I absolutely LOVE it.
I've got some great gigs going, so I'll be sure to keep you up to date.
So why did I start a blog????
I've had my own Facebook page (check it out at www.stampsandbagsandsuch@facebook.com)
but I really wasn't using it for what I wanted to. So, now with all this time on my hands, I figure it's time to show the world what I've been up to and what I'm going to do.
So stay posted. I'm a work in progress!