Floors Refinished!!!

Well, I can't believe it took us this long to have this done. Scott had thought of doing it himself, but I think we will be very glad that we have let the professionals handle it-- although it is very unlike my husband to do that.

They have only done the first sanding but they look AMAZING!! In this photo you can also see the baby's new paint job in HIS room! We found out it is a boy last week and couldn't be more excited!! I can't wait to get started on his nursery. I have already picked out material for curtains and bought some precious bedding. His mobile is in the works as well. Oh, but we were talking about floors. Check them out!!!

Journal from Operation Paper Cut

I have been longing for a journal from Erin at Operation Paper Cut and I finally got one. It is super cute and the quality is fabulous. The illustration is my favorite part. I love the little Robot with the hearts! Thanks for making good stuff Erin.

And it was nice that it came oh so lovingly wrapped with a little extra cute card.

Fabulous Swap

Shona from LALA dex press and I finally got around to swapping some hand made goodness. All her cards are so cute, and I especially like the Happy Birthday Little Doggy. My husband's 30th is next weekend. Maybe he will get that one. It is always so hard for me to give them away. Isn't that terrible? I just want to hoard all the precious cards I have from so many crafty gals. Maybe this is the first step in my recovery! ; )

Anyway, thanks Shona. They are wonderful!

Rainy Day

The weather is a bit dreadful today, or at least I think so. It is 'spitty', not raining. I think I would like it better if it would just RAIN! I am trying to get motivated to move on out to my little studio, but I just want to drink coffee and play on the internet. I fired the tiles that the clients at the ARC made. I think they turned out well. I hope they are as excited as I am about them. I am going to put little saw tooth hangers on the back of them this weekend.


St. Patrick's Day with my brother and father at Dog and Duck was an experience. It is one of my more favorite pubs in Austin, but everybody and their mom's were there, literally, except my mom. ;) We followed the festivities with dinner and then I did some more celebrating with friends later. There was a middle-aged man (or actually more than middle aged) that ran onto the patio at Billy's (another pub) with nothing but a thong and a green hat shouting "happy St. Patrick's Day" It was so funny. But as I sat there dumbfounded by the experience, I couldn't grab my camera quick enough, otherwise I could share with you that image! You know you want to see it!
Notice how my father makes a ridiculous face in my photo. Thanks dad . . .
Newest Moleskine addition. Check it our at my etsy shop!

Craft Fundraiser for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Hi crafty friends!

I am helping a friend of mine that works with adults with developmental disabilities come up with craft projects that her clients can sell to raise funds for their art program. So far, I have thought of bird baths created from terra cotta pots that the clients can paint and decorate, bottle cap magnets, and toad abodes (essentially a clay pot turned upside down and decorated). We are trying to do Spring like things because that is when they will be selling them. Perhaps we could also help them decorate some greeting cards to sell.

Do any of you have any great ideas. I need to keep it relatively simple as I don't know the abilities of the individuals and I believe we only have 2 hours to complete the projects. Maybe more, but I am not certain.

Any ideas would be greatly appeciated!!!! THANKS!

New Ceramics

Before firing. . .
After! Like little jewels.
Maybe I am obsessed, but I can't resist including pics of my 4-legged children. These 2 normally steer clear of one another, but it was chilly, so they were snugglin'!

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!