bringing in the New Year

"What can be said in New Year rhymes,

That's not been said a thousand times?

                                                    The new years come, the old years go,

We know we dream, we dream we know.

We rise up laughing with the light,

We lie down weeping with the night.

We hug the world until it stings,

We curse it then and sigh for wings.

We live, we love, we woo, we wed,

We wreathe our prides, we sheet our dead.

We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,

And that's the burden of a year."
poem by
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Hiking in the New years at Log Hollow Falls, NC

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Looking back on 2011

Part 1
The beginning of 2011 wasn't the best mentally for me, I was going through an unwanted divorce, that's right, I got dumped for another woman. My spirits were definitely sagging and I had no idea of what I was going to do with my life. But there was one goal I wanted to achieve and it was to get published. I would lie in bed and repeat over and over that "I was going to be published"...I also said I was going to be famous too, lol...if your gonna dream, dream big, right? Well, I didn't achieve the famous part but I did manage to get published. Northridge Media, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul for accepting my creations and giving me the hope that things can be achieved if you try.

CARDS Magazine- May 2011 p. 111

Cricut Magazine - April/May 2011 p. 112

 ( one of my favorites cards for the year )

Cricut Birthdays - special edition - 2011 p.69

this one proves that submitting once sometimes isn't enough because I had to submit it twice before it was accepted!

Cricut magazine - June/July 2011 p. 92

Cricut Magazine - August 2011 p. 53 ( #1 )

This was a big moment for me as it was the first time that 2 cards were accepted for one magazine!!

Cricut Magazine - August 2011 p.52 ( #2 )

This was almost one of the most exciting moments of the year, because for a whole 30 seconds it had been requested to be published simultaneously in Cards magazine, but the next e-mail stated that it wasn't needed...oh well, I almost got over excited! lol

Cricut Cards - special edition p. 14 ( #1 )

Cricut Cards - special edition p. 110 ( #2 )

Paper Crafts - 365 Cards p. 37
I have to admit I love the fact that they pay you cash for your submission :)

Part 2
Well Part 2 just means I haven't received the magazines yet from Northridge, they usually send them out within a few months of being printed along with other "goodies". I admit I love seeing their box arriving AT MY DOOR! lol But I can post the projects since they have been seen in the magazines already. :) Part 2 also means the start of doing projects other than cards..so without further ado I'll just show the photos....maybe someone out there can tell me if they have seen them?

As the year closes I can look back and see several goals achieved, from the first card that was published, to having multiple projects accepted for one magazine, to having my first 2 page spread....now I am starting a new year with new goals....ok, being famous isn't one of them, HA! but I sure would love to make the front cover one day...hmmmm.....


oh and as for my mental state, 2011 has been a healing year too, I am moving forward, making new friends and carving out a new space for me in the world. Believe this or not, but every person that has visited my blog, left me a comment or joined as a "follower" has helped me in more ways than you know. Blogging has helped me to vent when needed, to express myself as desired and it's been surreal to feel that in some way I connected with one or two of you along the way. Thank you.

shabby challenge and another funny resolution :)

My first card was all about beading. It's not the best picture, for some reason my camera seems to find it difficult to focus on the entire card. The bottom portion is a little blurry, and I retook the picture 8 times! It actually looks pretty good and a touch modern but the red and green beading still make me think about Christmas. The yellow beads are actually dust balls and have to be glued on.

This is the card I am entering in The Shabby Tea Room's challenge: #94 a Colorful and Shabby New Year. My friend Amber is a guest designer over there, please go check out her project and her blog: The Country Scrapper! This is my first time entering a challenge for The Shabby Tea Room but it had 2 things going for it this time around, lol...Amber and the challenge to use yellow,green,blue and red or pink.  Yummy, huh?

I bought the yellow butterfly from a discount store, it was a hair barrette, and like a mean child, I pulled it's wings off ( ouch ) and beaded a green body for it and reassembled it back together. The rhinestones are Prima which I adhered each stone on individually. I used stickles for accenting the snowflake and I hand stitched the banner for Happy New Year.

and another resolution for the New Year...

I second that "Ummmm" and raise you one "huh?"....lol Hope you guys are doing better than me on deciding what your resolution will be in 2012!

resolutions?...and a WOYWD

What's on your work desk? Well I'm really not suppose to show you whats on mine right now 'cause I'm working on my new submissions for Cricut Magazine. But you can see the explosion of craftiness that goes on around me! lol

Go over to Julia's blog called Stamping Ground and you can visit other crafters work spaces. It's always a lot of fun, take a picture of yours too and join in on the fun!

 I also love boxes and got a new pair of UGHs for Christmas and I am sure I'll find some use for that box, don't you? I see by looking at the picture I could have a post called, "whats in your box?" I spy 4 boxes in this picture alone that I have utilized to hold, beads, cards, buttons...hee hee I don't even bother to decorate the outside of them though, very uncrafty of me, huh?


Which brings me to New Years resolutions...I have one or two floating around in my head....depends on my mood come New Years as to how serious I'll become on making them reality....but in the meantime, I've come across some light hearted resolution cartoons...I've been sharing them on my other posts as well if you want a smile, go check them out.


I figured this year I am only making resolutions that I know I can keep ;)

Would love to know what your resolutions for the year are!

wishing for snow...and a resolution I can keep

Another beaded card made for my stash of cards for the Cricut Fairy group. ( we send cards out to anyone who may need them for any reason! ) It's always good to have some extra cards around when you need them.  I got to play with my new cartridge Paper Trimmings, even though I am stuck on snowflakes because the weather is way too warm for snow.                                                                                      I am entering this one in the ODBDSLC90 "Anything Goes" challenge where you can do whatever you want but you must use one of their wonderful ODB Design stamps.

 

This shot shows the the micro glass beads off a little bit better, and maybe you can see the stickles that I added to the snow flakes on the paper and the embossing to the sentiment. (If you click on the picture you will get a real close up shot....shows any boo boo's too! Like where I crunched one...err...three of the snowflake 'petals' when I was punching the hole for beading.)

sentiment- Our Daily Bread Designs Mini Tags 3

paper- Anna Griffith

ink- Brilliance

beads- Mill Hill

embossing powder- American Crafts

Cricut cartridge- Paper trimmings

Even if it's not freezing outside, there is something about winter time that just makes me want a cup of hot tea. I love infusers too although the one I own is just a simple little ball, but if I was shopping for a new one, I think I would pick this darling little robot one! So sit back with a cup of hot tea and enjoy looking at all the inventive insuers over at Crookedbrians!

Robot Tea Infuser: Dip this cool little robot in your cup with your favorite tea leaves inside it till your tea is brewed.

and as promised, here is a New Years resolution I know I can keep ;)

Christmas dinner and my first New Years resolution!

 andSometimes, your just lucky and you end up in the best spot with the best group of people. This is what happened to me on Christmas Day. I was invited to a wonderful Christmas dinner which was prepared by their friend Chef Jim Voltz who created a mouth watering prime rib! Oh my but it was delicious! Not only is he an excellent chef, published with 3 cookbooks but has also just filmed his TV pilot debuting July 2, 2012!  .

The table was set with vintage china and retro era stem ware. An atmosphere set for good times and wonderful conversation. Eggnog was spiced, wine was chilled and the courses were passed around with genuine affection. And a big lovable black lab lounged under the table at our feet!   

Thank you Shirley,David, Jim and Nancy for inviting me into your home!  

     

Merry Christmas to everyone and to all a good night!

now, are we ready to start those new Years resolutions?

 

me too! lol

Challenge #38 'Anything Goes & Ribbon' Theme

While you are celebrating your Christmas holiday with family ( who is probably driving you a little crazy ) and unwrapping your presents ( hopefully you didn't get any coal in your stocking! ) take a momment and go over to Robin's Creative Cottage and link your blog up for a link up party...make sure to grab some of that egg nog first and a chocolate cookie ( before all the kids scarf them up ) ;)

I love my beads and snowflakes and considering it's 60 degrees outside and raining, this is going to be as close to snow this Christmas as I am going to get!            I love to recycle beads, I get them from thrift shops, yard sales. This was a necklace ( it's plastic ) and I just cut what I need from it and it actually came from my own junk drawer from when I was like 13 ( remember wearing chokers? I was quite the flower child )...OK so I hang onto items that I think can be used someday...it only took me ...what... 39 years and see, I found a use for it! LOL Oh you had to laugh at that didn't you? I don't mind; cause your laughing with me and not at me, trust me!....is there anyone that can relate with me too?           I am entering this into Really Reasonable Challenge anything goes and ribbon theme.

Really Reasonable Ribbon club assortment - August

Cricut cartridge- Winter Lace

DCWV Shimmer Stack

Helmars Liquid Scrap Dots

glass seed beads

stickles

Pebble Rub On sentiment

Crookedbrains today:

15 Cool and Creative Hand Carved Car Tires.

Can you imagine that work of art can be created from tires? What we have here is not only impressive but beautiful too; these are the creation of Belgian artist Wim Delvoye. These hand-carved car tires with their beautiful design and intricate patterns display the talent and patience that goes in the creation of these masterpieces. Impressive!

Seriously, if I could put these on my car, how cool would that be??

And my only Christmas request is to build back up my followers, I am hoping to have 25 by Christmas :)

Santa can't possibly be a man!

(Just thinking about Santa, I mean he can't be a man...we all know men cannot pack....)

We started out our night at a fabulous restaurant featuring California Mexican dishes. I had a frozen mango daiquiri which was delish! And chicken with sour cream enchiladas that were a taste of heaven. I truly could have ended the night there having dinner with friends and enjoying the conversation! Of course ( for me ) the best event was when they refer to me as the baby of the group, I'll take that compliment anytime, thank you very much!!!

(And still thinking about Santa here....I mean, Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red velvet.)

My friend Shirley took me to The Flat Rock Playhouse to see a production called Plaid Tidings. ( thank you Shirley!! ) From what I can gather from the history, this theater was established in 1952. It is small, but quaint!

(Ya know, here's another thought about Santa as a man...Men aren't interested in stockings unless somebody's wearing them.)

Then Shirley took us on a Christmas light adventure, this house was over the top but extremely tasteful too~ I wish I could have gotten a better picture of everything they had up! wow, the work they put into this is amazing!

so...Santa can't possibly be a man!

Men would feel their masculinity is threatened...having to be seen with all those elves.

Men don't answer their mail.

Men would refuse to allow their physique to be described even in jest as anything remotely resembling a "bowlful of jelly."

Having to do the Ho Ho Ho thing would seriously inhibit their ability to pick up women.

Finally, being responsible for Christmas would require a commitment.

just saying ;) ho ho ho!

and I am still hoping for some support from my fellow crafting buddies, please help me re-build my "followers", I really do appreciate every one of you that help me out during my reconstruction phase!

a beaded WOWWW

When you visit Mary over at CARDZ TV, you get tutorial videos, challenges, prizes! She has linked up with Theresa from The Scrapbooking Queen for her challenge over at Paper Playtime:

Say it with Sentiments #63 and this month anything goes! And what can I say? I was am in a beading mood, recently I purchased metallic floss, seed beads, seed bead floss and a beading needle from a small cross stitch store in Dillsboro, NC.

I just love my goodies and look at that white trim! I can't wait to find a project to use that on! And I'm so happy I finally found a beading needle, you don't know how many beads I broke on my last project trying to force those puppies over the needle! lol

This is my card I came up with. I used the Winter Wonderland paper from Reminisce. I love, love the snowflakes on this paper and used them to sew and bead like a stencil. Oh and of course I added stickles to it too...hard for me not to use stickles...and I am sure there is a Freudian thing concerning glitter...lol

Now the one thing I have learned about metallic floss...it's a little stiffer and you do need to be careful pulling it through your paper. And the beading needle is sooooooo thin, think about using a strand of dental floss as a needle, that pliable too!

I also used my stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs, Mini Tags 1. I really need to keep up my stash of get well cards being that I am a Cricut Fairy so I thought this would be an awesome card to send to someone who was not feeling so good!
...and I hope that Julia from Stamping Ground doesn't notice that I'm taking a picture of my desk a day early ( she might not as she is currently in a baking mode and is busy in the kitchen! ) but I had my camera out and went ahead and did my "Whats on Your Work desk" picture. It's at night so the picture of my area looks a lot darker than it really is.  Play along with WOWWW, it's fun to take a peek around the world at other crafters mess desks!

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Now I'm off to have a cup of hot chocolate ( with a smidgen of marshmallows ) and leave you with this thought...When you stop believing in Santa Claus is when you start getting clothes for Christmas!

and yes, I am still trying to rally from Blogger removing my other blog: as they thought I was spamming because I was doing a blog hop, so beware about visiting too many blogs at one time!! Any way, if your feeling generous I sure would love to build up my followers base again, I was almost up to 200 followers! Now starting over at ground zero...:(

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

My new motto :)

So God wanted me to buy a new flat screen TV today :) Yesterday my old TV ( given to me by my brother cause he knew it was going bad, lol ) just died. Simply shut off, not to be resuscitated! lol Funny that God planned a new blog, and a new TV all in the same week.....I'm afraid to find out what's next?

how do you like my fuzzy bed room shoes? They are really cool, you can leave it folded over or unfold and they cover your calves...but I think they look cute folded over! :) Now I am off to bed to read my Sookie Stackhouse book ( Dead Reckoning, book #11 ) and hopefully get a good nights sleep!