Email from Stampington

Just received an email that my Poe jewelry is going to be featured in a technique based article in the new Somerset Holidays issue that will be out 09-01-2007. I have to write between 650-800 words and it is due by May 25th.

YEAH!!! Get busy writing.

Juicy Weekend

This was my husband's and my first weekend since he has been home from his 2 week training with the Army National Guard is Mississippi followed last weekend by his normal monthly weekend duty for April. And since next weekend, he has National Guard again - this was our only free weekend. So we had to SHOP!

I actually got him up before 9 am so that we could be at the PX at Fort Jackson to pick up some Juicy Couture sunglasses. I had seen them in the sale circular and I had to have them. They were only going to be $39 instead of the regular $240. They are probably last season's models, but I didn't care. They are too cool to pass up. This is the lense cloth - I love the crown.


And they come in this cool pink leather case - alot pinker than this photo. I went ahead and got two pairs. One is black for normal wear and the other is almost clear. I can wear the clear ones when riding on the Harley at night - so my contacts don't dry out. And we bought a pair for my step-daughter (if she doesn't want them, then I will have 3 pairs!)

Then we went to Books a Million and picked up the new Somerset Life magazine and my new Somerset Studio had also come in the mail. So on Sunday, we relaxed and I read my magazines.

Husband's night out

Wednesday nights, my husband and his "Blue Knights" budies usually go for a ride on their Harleys and out to dinner. So that leaves a free night for me to get some things done without hearing "What's for dinner?" when I walk in from work.

So besides catching up on some house cleaning, I am going to catch up on "The Tudors". I am a Anglophile, so I love anything British. And since I love history, this show fills both my needs.

Something interesting - My step daughter's name is Catherine Howard - the same name as Henry VIII's fifth wife, who beheaded in 1542. My husband and step-daughter never made the same-name connection till I came along!

I am also a Francophile and Juicy Couture lover, so this picture is cool.

Another Poe item for my collection

Just received this Linoleum Block Print of Poe from ebay. It is the size of an artist trading card, but will look awesome matted and framed.


I just added The Daily Puppy on the right side, under Blog Archive. These guys are so cute. You can click on a this element to go to another website and then click on individual puppys for more pictures of each puppy! (I am trying to figure out how to put the elements on the left side...)

Stuff

I did a little errand running yesterday while my husband had Army National Guard duty in Florence. I picked up a frame for my new Poe poster that I bought on eBay. The artist is Gerard Damiano and he was commissioned by the National Parks Service to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Poe's death. The Poe house in PA is part of the National Parks.

I also received another eBay purchase - this Poe bookmark. I will probably make it into a necklace. It says Nevermore on the back.

Then I found these cool red coral bracelets at TJ Maxx. TJ Maxx was taking donations for Autism Speaks, so I made a donation. This is my 13th year of working for the State of South Carolina (9 years in the IT department at USC) and this is my 4th year at SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department. I love my job because in some small way - designing and maintaining the computer applications that the counselors use to work with clients - I am able to help people with disabilities lead a better and fulfilling life. So anytime I can, I try and help.

At Target, I found another Eiffel tower for my collection - in the office supply area. It is 12 inches high and will look great with my others.

And although I don't do scrapbooking, I like to stop by the different stores to look at cool papers and other elements I can use in my art. I spotted this system of containers and had a great idea.

See I am always working on about 10 different projects at a time. How I usually start a new project is looking around for "supplies" from my stashes that may be used. Like if it was something Poe related, I would gather skulls, black and silver elements, pages from an old Poe book, ravens, etc. Then all the things are right there in front of me to inspire the creative process. The problem is that before I finish, another brilliant idea hits me and I move to another table in my studio and start gathering for that new project.

But when I saw this, I had a great idea. (I think this was originally for scrapbookers to hold 12 X 12 paper in the containers.) The containers fit just right for me to hold my "supplies" while I am working. Then, if I want to work on something else, I just close the lid and put in in the wheeled shelf. And I can wheel it right under my studio table. This is very cool!!!!!

Right now, I have an art journal that I have two containers full of stuff that need to be put in, another one for an altered book I have been working on since I took Nina Bagley's class (with the copper mesh and clear plastic holders), another one for an altered red book, and one for a new challenge to send into Artitude Zine. There is one empty one - I am sure something will be in there shortly.

Published - 2 page spread!

I was looking on the Stampington web site to see when the new Somerset Life magazine was coming out. I also checked to see when the new Summer 2007 Somerset Gallery issue was going on sale. When I clicked on the page, I saw my art work!!! It looks like I have a two page spread - pages 90 -91. It is called Paris Evidence and has a bunch of tags/cards that fit in an envelope. This is so cool!!



I just received my new rubber stamps from Michelle Ward at Green Pepper Press. I can't wait to mount them and start using them. I am going to use her super cool method of mounting stamps. It is so easy and inexpensive. I used to try and get wood cut to the sizes I needed. but the wood was never flat and the stamp would not stamp evenly. This method works perfectly.

Shopping update - I just bought two new purses for my collection. I love Kate Spade, but I just loved these two purses.

A Dooney and Bourke Zebra bag from Belks:


And a Juicy Couture bowler:


I want candy!

Art Submissions

Here is a set of Poe pendants that I made for the Halloween issue of Somerset Studio. I know the pictures aren't that great - I need a better digital camera! I used one of the cool Michelle Ward Clearly Impressed - Rock and Roll rubber stamps with the Raven, that are available from Stampington.





And this is a vintage photo that I altered. It is Sleepy Hollow High - Hallowe'en.

Art work mailed

I finished all my submissions and mailed them today. I will post some pictures soon - hopefully they will be selected. Of course, I did something with Edgar Allan Poe - which I relate with Halloween. I am going to make a chart of upcoming submission deadlines, so that I can work ahead of schedule.

And my studio is back to normal now. It was a mess with all my "stuff" all over the tables as I created - it is the only way I can work. But once the art is done, I like getting the room all back in order and everything in its place. Now I am ready to start the next one!

Art Due

I am working on a couple pieces for Somerset Studio - the theme is vintage Halloween. I need to mail them by Monday so they get to California by the 15th. I love Halloween, so this is easy for me. I am also going to do something using Poe - of course. My studio is a mess!

I received the Kate Spade I had bought on eBay this week. It is my first Kate bought on eBay - all the rest I personally bought from Belks. But this bag was almost new and the seller had also purchased it at Belks in Greenville, SC. She even included the sales receipt from Belks and price tag, so I know it is authentic. It looks just like new (I can't tell she even used it) and I saved a bunch of money getting it this way.

I am working on a new part of my web site called "The Creative Life Studio". It is sort of like an electronic zine. I define a creative life as something that feeds my intellectual side (history, literature, authors/poets, movies, places), my soul or inner health (solitude, journals, religion), my body (physical health), my style (home, clothes, stores, web stores), and of course my artistic side (Art Studios, techniques, artists, inspirations). I believe all these things can make a creative, full life for us creative types. I haven't decided whether to do this monthly, or just post information and thoughts in these areas. Any thoughts or ideas?

Saturday = Shopping

I love to shop - I REALLY love to shop! I started the day being a soccer aunt - watching my little neice play.

Then I stopped by McDonald's for a Happy Meal to get a Madame Alexander Wicked Witch of the West.

Then it was shopping time. I went to Target to get some new flip flops and a magic eight ball, for those times I need help making decisions.

And at Steinmart, I picked up some really cool Minnetonka sandles (I love black and white!).

At Chico's, I got a couple tops for work and some cool Zenergy crop pants. And at Books a Million, I picked up the number one book - The Secret - to see what it is all about. I have a hunger for information, so new books and ideas like this interests me. I usually wait for this to come to the library, but it was 40% off, so I went ahead and bought it. I am not sure what this is about, so I will let you know.
Then I went onto Fort Jackson to the BX to buy some Juicy Couture. The scent has been on my mind since I first experienced it in a magazine, so I had to have it.


Now, I am going to do some work around the studio! I have some art I need to work on for publication and for a couple contests.