Sicky-poo. . .

It has been cold and rainy here. I have to say I have been feeling sympathy for anyone who lives in the Pacific Northwest. A beautiful place, yes, but a very rainy one. Not sure I could do it. Anyone have any pointers on surviving with all that rain?

Today is pretty, but since I have been sick haven't felt much like a walk or anything. The dogs are feeling a little cooped up. The most exciting part of our day is the mailman (which I am generally excited about, I love mail!) but I don't like when it is the ONLY exciting part of my day. Bleck!

This is to remind me of the beautiful Spring days that are surely ahead! Funny thing is, these are rain lillys, which need rain to bloom. Oh well!
These are the last cards I worked on. This was before Christmas. Doh! Okay, butt in gear for real, once I feel better.
This is Finley's impression of me for the last 4 days. He is such a comedian!

P.S. Notice this post follows one from exactly a week ago. Go on with your bloggin self! haha!

Winter in Texas

The snow days were novel for the first 1 or 2, since we shut down everything in Texas when there is any sort of frozen precipitation. Now, however, I think we all have cabin fever and are ready to get back to life. I have been terribly lazy. I think this weather sort of lends itself to that. Watching movies, loafing around, and so on. I did get some new house magnets started, but that is about all I have done in the last 3 days. Tomorrow I am going to attempt to go to work. We'll see how that goes. I hope I don't run into something or someone. The city ran out of de-icing agent for the roads. That is funny and frightening at the same time. We aren't used to having more than a day of this icy weather. I took several pictures and videos. Included in this set are the flowers that were pretty just a few days ago, and a dog toy that is frozen to our deck. Finley was completely confused and entertained by this! Pretty cute watching him paw at it to no avail. And then there is Lola in her Pirate shirt. It says A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME. Pretty darn cute and so fitting!

 

Terrible Blogger, I am, I am

So, I have to start this post with that fact that I am a really bad blogger. Everyone is so good at posting things so often. I am your basic slogger (that is a slacking blogger). I am also a dork, but that is no secret!

On a brighter note, apparently my backyard is a butterfly making machine. I found this hanger (after it sat on the porch in the laundry basket for a day or so) with a caterpillar attached. We hung him safely on the porch and he has formed a chrysallis. He isn't the only one I have found. I would love to get to see him hatch. Not sure why I have decided it is a him. Anywho, pretty fun stuff.
And I found the rest of his brothers and sisters munching down on my passion vine. I hope they don't all get taken out by the cold weather that is on the way!
I have been busy crafting (fun!) and working at my 'real' job (which could be worse, but making stuff is WAY more fun!!!) I just finished a bunch of bowls. I need to figure out how to make the lettering better. It says home, but maybe it doesn't look like that so much. It will be better on the next batch.
And then there is Finley. Maybe if he would get a job, I could quit mine. I kidd, I kidd. His job is to be sweet, precious and loyal and I must say he is darn good at it!

Lots and Lots of House Magnets

I have been hard at work on lots and lots of ceramics. I have more to come, but here is a custom order of house magnets for a nice lady!

South First Artwalk

This weekend was the South First Artwalk and my first time to participate inan art fair. My little brother came by to visit and told me he would split the profits 50/50. He is a comedian and a schwindler. Here is the 'spread.' I think it turned out nice!

 

Dia de los Muertos

I have recently discovered the world of postcard swaps. I have always seen them, but never participated. This particluar swap them was Dia de los Muertos (an old obsession of mine!). Below is what I came up with. I can't wait to see what others did! It is so much fun and gets you to do stuff that you may not have otherwise! I think you will be able to see photos of the others here. I went to Tesoros, one of my favorite stores for inspiration and bought the ceramic skull (great excuse anyway!)This led to me digging out my Loteria set and making some cards. I am pleased. I think I will list them in my etsy store as a set.
With the milder temperatures, the plants are coming out of Summer hibernation. Here are a couple of photos of some mallows in my front yard. I have never met a mallow I don't like!

Ceramics, Round 1!!!

It is finally decent enough weather to get out in my studio. It has been in the mid 90's with only 30% humidity as opposed to 102 with 50% humidity. Oh, the joys of living in Texas!!! So here is what recently came out the kiln. There is more in the works, but I fired a couple of things to keep myself motiviated.

These little houses are going to be turned into magnets!

Bird House!

This is a flower pot, complete with drainage hole, of course. Don't you hate it when you find a really cute flower pot and there is no drainage hole. That is no fun. And I put a little mantra on the pot for the plant: grow. Everyone needs a little encouragement! ; ) 

Goodbye Summer

We have been keeping our fingers and toes crossed that the repressive heat of the Texas Summer has passed. It has been nice enough to take the pups hiking to Reimer's Ranch. Lately is has warmed up into the 90's again, but they say this will soon pass. I hope they are right.

Lola hearts Reimer's Ranch!

The Summers here are so hot that everything ceases to grow. It is nice when you start to see things blooming again. We saw some pretty flowers on our hike. Not sure what this one is, but I thought it was pretty!

Finley and Scott go for a dip in the Pedernales River. Finley looks like a beaver. I think he would swim until he drowned. . .

We have had a lot of fungi popping up in the backyard lately. Milder temps bring all kinds of things out.

greenwheel to Berkeley!!!

So I just got some exciting news from far, far away! Kelly and Nancy of Relish at Home (Berkeley, CA) have told me that they would like to carry some of my cards. This is my first brick and mortar shop outside good 'ol Tejas! Yippee!! They have a nice site and are working on an online store. You should check it out!

I am hoping to work on some new designs this weekend. I can't wait for the 100+ temps to go away so I can get to the ceramics!! People, it is hot here!!!!!!

greenwheel is going to Renegade!

Our friends at Crafters for Critters have selected greenwheel to be among the crafty people they are taking to Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago September 16 & 17. So, greenwheel won't physically be there (that would be me, I am greenwheel) but our precious handmade cards will be. Thanks to Melissa at CFC. Please check out Crafters for Critters. She has great bunches of indie craft and it is all for a good cause. Love me some of that!!!

I am also in the process of filling my first custom order. They will be 60 thank you cards for what looks like will be a splendiforous wedding! Thanks Gillian, I promise you will love them!

Long Time, No Post

So, this weekend, I bought something really fun. Probably shouldn't have, did anyway. It is a doctor's cabinet from the 1940's. Kind of strange, maybe, so wonderful looking, definately!

I am keeping all my crafty things in it. See my stamps all oh so organized, but more importantly, see the chrome drawer pulls. Love them!

I have managed to get a couple new designs together in the last couple of weeks. I really like the chairs. Check them out on my etsy store!

 

Blend

So, Erin at Operation Paper Cut was blogging it up about Blend Creations. So, I checked it out cause she is a crafty lady with good taste. They have really fantastic goodies.

I really like the long mother of pearl. Mother of Pearl always reminds me of my grandmother. Not sure why?!? It would look great on this chain.

And their cards are so neat-o. I like Nature Series 1 & 2. The kraft colored paper and silhouettes of flora and fauna are so beautiful.

My birthday is just around the corner. Maybe someone will give them to me. Wouldn't that be an awesome treat!

More Cards and First Harvest

I am filling an order today for a local store. It is always nice to see that much of your work at once. Makes you feel accomplished.

And while the first day of summer just passed, and all of you are starting to feel the warmth of the summer sun, I am sweating! But on the positive side, I also already have tomatoes. Bunches and bunchs. The cherry tomatoes are exceptional this year. A hybrid called 'sweet 100'. Yummy!

These were my first. . .aren't they precious!

Busy Like a Bee

I haven't posted anything in a couple of weeks. I have been job hunting and the hunt is over. I start on Monday. I am going to miss working at home with my trusty canine assitants, Finley and Lola, but we will all adjust. . .

I have been hard at work on new cards and my sister-in-law is buying me out and I am going to show cards to a new store today, so things are going well. It is too damn hot to be making ceramics right now. It may just have to wait until the Fall. We shall see. . .

Anywho, here are some of my new designs. Enjoy!

New website!

So my fantabulous husband got my website up. It is simple for now, but it gets the job done! I think it turned out very nice. www.greenwheeldesign.com

I am also very excited because I went to one of the stores where I sell my cards and she was all but sold out and then I got 2 new stores to put some in their store as well. I feel very accomplished!! yea! I am working on getting stuff listed on some other internet stores and see what else I can come up with. Anybody got a great store where they sell? On the internet or off.

That is all for now. New designs in the works (as always) and ceramics-- I swear I am going to get back to work on that soon!!!!

Creative Spark

Well, I feel like after a long (too long) hiatus, that I am finally feeling crafty again. I have been making new cards along with some ceramics. I fired my kiln on Thursday, and something went wrong. I noticed a lot of steam coming out. I think what happened was it needed to be fired empty. It has been sitting in the weather for some time now with a tarp on it, so I think it had a lot of built up moisture. So, I am firing it empty today, and going to start some new ceramics. Everything that was in the kiln was ruined. Oh well, live and learn. But, good news is, I feel a real flow of creative energy. I have listed a couple new things on my etsy site.

The dragonfly. . .

and the moth (or butterfly). I think it is a moth. I put both of these on my etsy site. They come in several colors, which is fun. I haven't done that before, we'll see how it goes.

I haven't put this one on etsy yet, but I will in a day or so. I like the matching envelope! I want to make some books and other things, but it has been 4+ years since I have made a book. And there is such instant gratification from the cards. After the stamp is carved, they go fairly quickly. But, I will gfet to the books. Maybe after I successfully complete some ceramics, I will get to book making. . .

New Blog!

Here are some of the fun things you can find at my etsy shop.

This is a cute card for baby. Inside it reads 'on your new sprout.'

And a little 'hello'. . .

I really like this little pair of sprouts. One sunny, one rainy

And cute little card sets too! Hooray!