Happy Haunting Halloween...

 Last of the ATCs...well maybe.  I made these two folders for Roni and her Mom.  They hosted an ATC swap and the results of that will be posted next week.  If you have never participated in a swap I highly recommend it.  Lots of fun!

 Inside the ATC folder.  I kept this pretty simple and flat as I think my post office service is not fond of me or my artwork I pay extra to hand cancel and send safely. 
Here are the ATCs I included inside the folder. 

 Here is a piece of artwork I won from Lindsay.  Her work is unique and she has been published so many times I have lost count.  Please go see what Lindsay is up to in the creative realm. 

This is made on a Mahjong tile and I adore it.  Mr. C always says I ride a broom.

 Thank you Lindsay. 

 Here I am wearing my Halloween casual clothes.  Glittered pumpkin socks, a soft orange jacket my dear sister gave me that I get so many compliments each year when I wear it and my new Mahjong Witch pendant.

 Yes, another ATC that is in the mail.  By-the-way this is some of Lindsay's artwork that she got printed by Pinecone Press into 12" x 12" scrapbook papers.  Super cute drawings all over the entire sheet.  I only wish I had purchased many more pages. 

And you asked me to post my costume I wore at the local Chamber of Commerce Saturday as I hosted the Visitor Center.  Here I am in all my Witch glory...complete with Trick or Treat bag I made years ago. While I was at the CofC I had lots of people take a second look.  Several asked if they could take my photo and I said with a smile, "If you must".  :o)  It was a great day and I was definitely channeling my Grandma and Mother.  Grandma's birthday was October 30th and she finally gave in and always dressed up as a witch each year...of course creating her very own costumes and always out-doing herself every year.   So...
In the tradition of Halloween and my lineage I am continuing this Witch costume theme and enjoying it very much. 
Happy Haunting and Safe Trick or Treating to you all...

More ATCs and Lollypops...

 This Halloween Lollypop is made using a sports bar round coaster as the backing which I colored using a lovely purple Distress Stain.  A layer of gold tulle with gold glitter to the edges.  A cardstock pleated center with a fun ribbon bat.  This one is utilizing a drinking straw for the handle.  Off in the mail it went...

 This is a Fall ATC that I made for a friend's mother.  It is off to Texas.

 My friend Joy made me this ATC after I sent her one of mine.  The detail and colors are spectacular in person.  Thank you Joy.  It is truly beautiful.  Can you believe this is her very first ever attempt at an ATC?

 Lunch with some friends and these Lollypops are what I gave along with chocolates inside the cute purchased pumpkin bags.  Ladies can never have too much chocolate!

For the base of these I used a CD and covered it with some Halloween Tissue paper I received as part of a gift.  Again with the cardstock pleated centerpiece.  Finished with a button tied with the same purple yarn I used to tie the bag closed.  The handle this time is one of those plastic stir sticks.  Quick and easy and fun to make.  I think they would be a cute bouquet displaying several in a vase, pumpkin or gourd. 
Hmmm...I am thinking of lots of possibilities with these Lollypops for holidays and birthdays and anniversarys and celebrations of any kind.  They are also lightweight and easy to mail in a bubble pack envelope. 
Getting my costume ready for Saturday.  I will be hosting the local Chamber Visitor Center so it will be simple and easy to still function.  In the past I have been a mime while working as it is work friendly...and if you know me and my love of talking (and I have been told zillions of times that I am too loud!) then you can appreciate my ability to act like a mime and not speak...for an entire day!
Happy Haunting...

Autumn Inspirations...

 Our Autumn weather has been glorious.  Several weeks ago we had the cold snap that is required for trees to miraculously change their colors from greens to vibrant yellows, golds, oranges, burgundy and crimson.   Now it is sunny and warm with just the cooler temps at night.  This is a table I decorated with my favorite Fall pieces.  Pumpkins and gourds and silk leaves.  Nothing real or organic inside the house as my furchild will eat it and then give it back to me so generously. 

 See the little felt heart with pumpkins blanket stitched on?  This is very simple to make as it is felt.  Great project to make and give as little gifts.  Do you see the seed pit encrusted pumpkin?  Hmmm...

 Here you can see my decor incorporates my love of mice which I collect.  The large pumpkin gourd was created by a local artisan and gifted to my by my bestest friend.  See the little mouse peeking out the side faux hole?  So precious...the mouse pumpkin and my friend.

 The fabric pumpkin in the background I purchased at a local bazaar.  I always try to support fellow crafters.

Here are some pieces I bought at the local elementary school boutique to help the kids earn money for their school activities.  The little happy gourd, clay leaf tray and the framed dried leaves.  Nothing was more than $5 a piece and it really helps the kids.
So with lots of Autumn inspiration indoors and outdoors I shall fix a cup of tea and relax reflecting on how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy such amazing beauty.
If this is Monday I will be doing laundry...washing, drying and ironing...all of which I enjoy doing. 
Do each of you have your Halloween costumes ready?  This is the final week before all the parties and Trick or Treating.  I shall be getting my costume ready for certain.  Each year I end up hosting the Chamber Visitor Center on Saturday just before Halloween so I always wear a costume and greet visitors and locals with a basket of Treats.  It is fun to see their reactions. You do know by now that I am merely a grown up child!  I love to have fun and be in the spirit.
Wonderful week to all...

Art Journal Calendar 2011...

Here we are one week into this wonderfu new year 2011 and all that it holds for each of us.
This is an Art Journal Calendar 2011 which I received as a giveaway gift from the artisit Paula McNamee. She is a Portland artist and please check out her blog to see the interesting art she creates. Paula was also one of the artists who participated in the Portland Art Collective Show and Sale. Unfortunately I was not in Portland during this time frame so I was unable to attend.
I like my Art Journal Calendar as there is sufficient room each day to write notes or keep track of something special.
Each month also has a quote or two for inspiration. January is:
"One gets into a state of creativity by conscious work" Henri Matisse
"Let choice whisper in your ear and love murmur in your heart. Be ready. Here comes life." Maya Angelou
There is a simplicity about this calendar that I really appreciate.
Thank you Paula for gifting me with this daily reminder to be creative.
As for my day I spent it hosting our local Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. I do this volunteer effort at least once a month and sometimes more. I love meeting people and listening to their stories. I meet locals who live here and others who have traveled near and far. It never fails that every single time someone asks me something I do not know or have never come across before so there is always learning involved which I love. Yes, there are some interesting characters that come in. I have been doing this for many years and I still enjoy it very much. Today was slow as it is extremely cold and not a lot of people out and about. Amazing how exhausted I am at the end of my day. Good excuse to get comfy and cozy and eat some warm grilled cheese sandwich and soup for dinner. I love comfort food. The kind I grew up with.
What are you doing this weekend?
Warm Hugs and Sunny Smiles...

Scrapping...

I was working on this scrapbook when I got the call. Please, please can you do this Saturday?

Well, this was last Thursday afternoon and I just cannot say no. So last Saturday I spent my day at our local Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center as a volunteer to greet people and help them with what they might like to do in town or what they would like to eat for lunch or dinner. Unfortunately it was pouring rain...again. This is my third Saturday that it has rained and needless to say it makes for very few people visiting and walking around. I practically open the door for anyone even close to it so I can invite them inside.

Luckily I knew when I was going that it was raining so I went prepared for a lot of down time. I scooped up this mess of pictures, papers, tape gun and scrapbook and toted it along with me to the Chamber. As I had so few visitors I busied myself with sorting, ripping and taping all of this into my little book. I actually had more time than supplies to work on.

My little book is well on it's way to being up-to-date. It will never be complete as it is ongoing. I shall share additional pictures with you soon. It chronicles my girlfriend and I becoming and making "Saucy Chicks". It is so funny to look back over a few years and see what we were doing. The phrase "What were we thinking?!!" comes to mind.

I have some additional things to include in my little scrapbook. Then I will take some more photos to share with you.

Talk about UFO's! This is a major task just to get caught up on this one. It has been sitting well over a year and I did it in a day and a half thanks to rain.

Do you have any rainy day projects?

Chamber of Commerce day...

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in my little town. The weather was perfect and the sky was gorgeous blue. It was the perfect "Chamber of Commerce Weather". People were visiting and I got to meet them. I volunteer for our local chamber and host the visitor center from time to time. I met people visiting from Amsterdam, Romania, Belgium and of course local locales such as the bay area and Reno.

It was also the day for our local air show...Airfest. It is held here at our local airport every other year. You would be surprised at the level of pilots and airplanes we get each time. Cal Fire also does an impressive display of their amazing capabilities. Mr. Hubby attended all of this while I was chamber hosting. Normally I attend the Airfest however this year I was unable to do so. I did get to see lots of the planes as they fly in and out as they are in the sky over my home.

What a great season to enjoy all of the wonders of nature and Nevada City. It was also our local Growers Market on the block in front of the chamber so I got to enjoy the live music and watch people which is one of my favorite things to do. If you want to check out the chamber link here it is www.nevadacitychamber.com for your viewing.

I hope all the people I met and tried to help with directions to visit the places they wanted to see had a wonderful experience. Safe travels to all.

Visitors...

No photo for this blog. And I must make it quick because the day is short and I have much to do. I just wanted to post my day of...
I volunteer for our local Chamber of Commerce in this historic town I live in. So today I spent the day hosting the chamber office which is also the visitor center. It was also the first Saturday for the local growers market which is held on the street right in front of the chamber. I love to watch people and listen to the live music so what a treat I had today. As for visitors it actually was very slow for a Saturday...only about 41 people and 19 phone calls. Unfortunately I had to do a lot with maps and directions for people. For anyone who knows me (Mr. Hubby) I am the worst at directions. Especially here where it is so easy to get on the wrong highway since we have two separate highways each with the same number but going in very different directions of the compass. And it never fails that someone comes in or calls with a question I have never gotten before (after 11 years of doing this) and I of course do not have the answer and no matter how hard I try to find it I just cannot come up with any info for the question asked. I find it frustrating and I am certain the person who needs the answer finds it frustrating. All in all the day was beautiful weather wise and I met lots of very nice people. If you ever watched the Hallmark movie "The Christmas Card" you have seen a bit of our beautiful and wonderful town and area as it was filmed here a few years ago. I still get people come in and ask about certain locations they saw in the movie.
My days at the chamber are always interesting and rewarding. I try to bring a smile to each persons face.
Thanks for "listening" to my day. Enjoy your Sunday and new week ahead.