Pink Roses

more tags...

I hope you guys don't mind me showing you these tags I've been making for Emily's 52Q challenge.  Some tags are better than others, some you might not even like at all...and that's OK... their just tags, so I'm having fun.  This was week 10, and the question was : "name 5 movies that inspire you creatively" ...

I don't watch a lot of movies, and when I do it's usually a "chick flick", or a romantic comedy.  Marie Antoinette  inspired us all, but other than that, I can't think of any movies.  Suggestions?  I made this tag out of things I found while I was cleaning out an old purse.  I am constantly picking up bits and pieces of things: feathers, shells, rocks, and yes trash.  The bottle cap and ticket were both found objects.  The polka dot mint wrapper was from a restaurant in Florida, and it was WAY too cute to throw away.  I used those 3 items for my inspiration.  You wouldn't believe the stuff I have in my purse, and no, this has nothing to do with movies...

Week 11: "What keeps you awake at night?"...

I haven't written the question on here yet, because I don't want to ruin the simplicity of this.  I used an old letter for the background here, and it was only when I photographed it that I realized that the first 2 words say "something unknown".  That's kind of creepy.  I guess something unknown would keep me awake at night, but other that that, I sleep very well...

Week 12: "what are you grateful for right now?"...

I made this on Saturday, when it was raining and I was cleaning up my studio.  I found a stack of paint cards that I had stamped with images, and decided to use this blue one.  The stamp of the nest with two eggs represents my children, and I am always grateful for them, so this is the first card of this series that actually makes sense!   While cleaning I also found a package of self adhesive index tabs from the office supply store, so I stuck one on the end of the tag.  Then...I discovered that I had not 1, not 2, but 3 label makers (2 Dymo, 1 Avery)...so to justify this, I used one of them...

Now I'm all caught up...until a new question gets posted today!  Thanks for letting me share!

plan B...

Well, I woke up this morning to a flood watch, and tornado warnings, and thunder and lightning and RAIN, and it didn't seem like a smart idea to get in the car and drive for 4 hours.  So, no Nashville, no flea market, no daughter for me today.  I'm a little disappointed.  But I thought of "plan B"...clean up my studio and re-discover some of the junk I have already purchased at the flea market!  Like this...

Some old boxes of rick rack, still filled with unopened packages...

Hidden treasure, right in my own house...almost as good as the flea market...and the bathrooms are way cleaner!

wish list...

I'm headed to the Nashville flea market in the morning...a day of junking with my daughter will be Heaven!  My flea market "wish list" is a mile long these days...it would be quicker to write down what I DON'T collect!  The first rule is : it must be cheap, because honestly I don't need a thing.  Other than that, if it's shabby and worn, PINK, or with roses...lace, sewing things, calling cards/postcards...I just might buy it.  I'm bringing my camera along, so I'll give you an update when I'm home.  What's on your wish list?

52Q: week 9...

I'm a few weeks behind on the 52Q challenge, with the kids being home, and me being sick, but I will catch up.  Actually, I'm a few weeks behind on LIFE in general, but who needs clean towels?  Or bread?

No, it's much more fun to justify my need to buy an entire grocery bag full of Plaid stamp books at the flea market, by making this tag.  Do you remember these?  I remember S&H Green Stamps.  I think they may have been from A&P grocery.  My mom would let me put them in the books for her...I'll have to ask her if we ever actually redeemed them for a prize.  OK, enough procrastinating for today...my laundry awaits...

Somerset Life...

  The gorgeous new issue of Somerset Life arrived at my house this past week, and it is filled with beauty.  From cover to cover you will find old friends, familiar faces, breathtaking photography, and lovely projects. 

 

Last summer I participated in a project organized by Charlotte Lyons, that is featured in this issue.  Charlotte assembled a book of "Well Wishes" as a gift for Pam Garrison, after Pam had back surgery and was recovering.  Such a thoughtful, heartfelt gift...one that Pam will cherish forever. To say I was honored to have a page in this book would be an understatement...thank you Charlotte for the opportunity!

This new issue will be on newsstands April 1st...be sure to take a look!

inside out...

I took apart this old hat a few days ago, and literally turned it inside out trying to salvage every useable part.  I really liked the textures of the ragged falling apart insides, so I took a few photos with this fading rose.  This is how I am feeling today...a bit faded and ragged...I NEVER get sick, but I came down with a horrible flu on Monday, and have been in bed for the past 3 days.  It's nice to be up and about again, although I am still sneezing and coughing my head off.  Christopher has been in and out , and will occasionally bring me soup.  He tries to help, but I'm not much company.  He left this morning to go to Nashville to see Elizabeth and spend the night with her at Vanderbilt.  It makes me happy to know that my children are friends, and that they enjoy spending time together.  That was always a big deal to me...getting along with your brother and sister.  Friends come and go, but family is forever.  When my kids get along I feel like I did my job.  Sorry for rambling...just checking in.  Back to bed for me...

puppy love...

Did I mention that Christopher brought a 7 week old puppy home from school with him?  Her name is Bailey.

She likes to chew-which is why I am wearing socks with my sandals. He is pet sitting for a friend.  I am falling in love.

She snuggles in little corners and naps.  {sigh}  Puppies might just be the cutest things in the world... 

last night...

 

Last night Christopher and I went to see Elton John and Billy Joel in concert.  It was a mother-son night and a birthday present for him.  The concert was at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, and when we were inside, I was buying Christopher a concert tshirt.  As we were standing looking at the tshirts an attractive man came up to us and said "Hi, how's it going".  He asked us if we were excited about the concert, and we said "yes".   We talked for a few minutes.  Then he told us he was with Elton John and asked if we would like to sit in FRONT of the stage as his guests. 

I was suspicious and said "Are you serious, why are you doing this? "  He said we seemed nice, and fun, and he liked that we were together as mother and son.  He gave us the VIP tickets, and I said "can I give you a hug?"  He laughed and hugged me.  He shook Christopher's hand.  He said "I'll see you down there".  We went through the entrance and down to the floor.  They ushered us to the front.  We were shaking...

Last night we were front row center for Elton John and Billy Joel.

Last night during the concert, Billy Joel shook Christopher's hand!

Last night we stood (danced and clapped and sang) for 4 hours and listened to these men play their pianos and sing.  It was an AMAZING concert!  

One of the last songs they sang was the Beatle's "You say it's your Birthday"  They dedicated it to everyone having a Birthday.  I smiled at Christopher and said..."Happy Birthday to you!"

A big THANK YOU to the nice man in the blue shirt with the tickets-whoever you are-you gave us a night we will always remember!

blooming branch...

Do you remember that tree branch I was obsessing on last Fall...the one I wrote about HERE, that I decorated with snowflakes at Christmas?  Well,  Elizabeth and I re-did the branch for Spring and I'm loving it!   We were inspired by all the Spring things we saw in Atlanta last weekend as we were window shopping.  I had a bunch of old crumpled tissue paper that was too pretty to throw away (I know I'm a pack rat)..3 different pink colors from Victoria's Secret bags, and the green from another shop...

We cut small squares of tissue and gathered them in the middle and then just scrunched them up to look like flowers.  We cut little rectangles of green and twisted both ends to make leaves.  Very loose interpretations of flowers mind you, so imperfect, yet beautiful and simple.

We used thread to wrap the ends, and tie them onto the branch.  We made some little buds for the ends of the branches...  Every flower was different, and we had so much fun sitting at the kitchen table, listening to music, and figuring out how to do this.  No right or wrong. No rules.

I put one of  Heather's glittered birds up in the branches too...(I need to clip that thread!).  I still have a few flowers to add...

I think some small branches would make a nice table centerpiece, blossoming out of a clear glass vase...very light and airy...perfect for Spring!

mood swings...

My mood swings have nothing to do with menopause, although I suppose I am old enough, I have no signs of that yet.  Wait, is it hot in here?  My mood swing today was brought to me courtesy of Christopher Duda, my one and only son. 

I had to be in COURT this morning at 8:30am, because HE got a SPEEDING TICKET when he was home at Christmas.  He could not be there because he is at school, so I had to go on his behalf.  This put me in a crabby mood.  In 30 years of driving, I've never even had a parking ticket...no accidents...I am a very safe driver.  He got his ticket at midnight, in the rain, going 19 miles over the speed limit.  Seriously? 

He came home that night and handed me the ticket, and his keys, and his driver's license.  I didn't even have to ask.  He is currently at school with his old green bicycle.  NO CAR FOR HIM.   I wanted to tell this to the Judge this morning.  I wanted to tell him that paying a fine is not a punishment for him.  He has no money.  I paid the fine.  MY car insurance is going to go up.  I am punishing my son.  This ticket is punishing me.  But I didn't get to say it, because I didn't have a lawyer with me!  So I paid the fine, and left the court.  Cranky.

By the time I had walked a few blocks down the town square to my car, my mood swing had set in.  I noticed how blue the sky was, and how pretty the blossoms were on the Bradford Pear trees...

And then I started thinking of what I would cook for my son tomorrow night when he comes home from school for spring break, and oh gee, I need to order a cake for his birthday on Sunday.  And we're out of ice cream.  And sprinkles.  I was suddenly happy and excited and feeling the love for the boy once again. 

So am I crazy, or hormonally imbalanced?  Do I have short term memory loss?  Can blue skies cure a crabby mood?  Or is it just part of the beauty of being a mother, that our love is so deep and unconditional, that we just keep on loving them no matter what? 

He will pay me back with chores while he is home.  He will learn a lesson.  We will call it even. 

Forgiveness.  It's a beautiful thing.

I'm not cranky anymore.