Cheerio Art

~ One morning Dyllan impressed me enough to get out the camera with a little bit of Cheerio abstract "Art" he made up!


~ Then he bit them to "hook" on the sides of the bowl!

My Mothers Day

~ So as promosed, here are my photo's to share of our family day trip to the LA Arboretum!

~ A peacock courting a female

~ Roosting high up in a tree!

~ This is the Santa Anita Depot which was moved from it's original location, brick by brick.

Brian by the most amazing fountain.

Dyllan hopping on some ABC stones

I absolutely loved the wrap around porch at the cottage and could only imagine days spent picnicking by the lake.

~ Queen Anne Cottage

Is only open to the public twice a year. Mothers Day and Christmas. Unfortunately no photo's were allowed on the inside tour.

I wore little booties on my shoes as the entire inside is all original all the way down to the rugs! Everything was so beautiful and I enjoyed looking in a book case at favorite reads, seeing framed photo's on the wall and gazing at the beautiful and lovingly worn furniture!



~ Baldwin lake is so amazing. And it's history is so rich with Movie appearances such as...

~Johnny Weissmuller swam in LASCA Lagoon/Baldwin Lake for three decades as Tarzan and later Jungle Jim.

~Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour took up a month-long watery Baldwin Lake residence in homes on stilts for the filming of Road to Singapore in 1939, the same year the Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.,/Madeleine Carroll film Safari managed to sink a paddlewheel boat in the same lake.

~Undaunted, television's original "Fantasy Island" lowered a pontoon plane by helicopter onto Baldwin Lake and propelled it across the water to disembark visitors to Mr. Roark's island paradise.

~Alex Haley's "Roots II", Baldwin Lake became Kunta Kinte's river home in Africa;

~It's easy to get turmed around as the map they give you at the front gate is a poor black and white copy.

~Here is Dyllan off exploring, we trailed happily, grateful for the shade.

~Taking a break in the beautiful rose garden.

~ The flowers were so breathtaking!

~ We took a shortcut through a orange grove. All Dyllan wanted to do was step on and squash the oranges that had fallen to the ground!

~Dyllan playing in a nearby fountain while I explored the cottage.

He is such the cutie and I would not trade his cow lick for anything!

~ The Coach Barn.

Lucky Baldwin housed his private carriages plus those of his guests in this Barn (a report of 1891 indicated 14 different vehicles in residence). Generous ornate stall space with was provided for carriage horses, and convenient hay and grain chutes were fed directly from the loft above.

~ Brian's photo's are scattered through out this post, feel free to visit his web site!

~This Victorian dog house just outside the Coach Barn once sheltered bull mastiffs,

Lucky Baldwin's ranch guard dogs.

~ I love how Dyllan's feet don't quite touch the ground yet.

~ Having fun at the Train Depot!

~ A beautiful show, everywhere we went!

~ Our little Dreamer.

~ Aftarwards we ate a nearby Tony Roma's and once we got home, I completley vegged out on the couch in the living room and did nothing creative in the studio. It was nice.

Bed of Roses

~ Sigh. I just now watched this movie for the 2nd time in my life and it was just as Romantic as the first time I saw it in the theater.
Funny, tearful and full of beautiful flowers.

Sigh...

Birds & Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap

Front
Back

~ I participated in Beth and Karla's

Birds & Bonnets Vintage Workshop Swap

I made images small so you click on them for enlarged detail! I had fun doing this and hope whomever recieves my panels, will love them!

I kinda made them all similar except for one.

The purpose was to decorate both sides of four 4” x 5 1/2” panels using at least one image or background from The Vintage Workshop collections (provided by the host) on each panel.

We could then decorate the rest of the panels with our own items.

Just the usual...

I have a few blogs goodies that I wanted to share with you before I let you know what I'll be doing this weekend!
Enjoy!
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Please visit Dawn's blog at Feathered Nest and help her land her image, the one on the right for a front page spot!

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Hop on over to Maria's blog to see how she turned this from drab to fab!

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~ A fabric flower wreath tuitorial by Amy of InspireCo

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Give a nice Congrat's to Dawn of Artist Reborn for getting this piece Published in Somersets, Gallery!

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Donna of the Ribboned Crown is featured in the current Artful blogging!

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Have you ever seen something so beautiful as this? I'm always entranced by papier crafting as I love to do it my myself. This is titled 12 Dancing Princesses

By Su Blackwell
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~ Learn how to make this adorable tutu, no sewing involved over at Jessica's blog!


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How exciting! Another one of my blog friends is published in this magazine!

Hop on over to Retro Cafe' Art and give your congrat's to Kristin!

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~~~~I'm getting in all my blog posting done today because tomorrow, Sunday, is my day to tackle my studio. Yea! I'm actually excited because Brian is taking Dyllan out of the house for the better part of the day so I can drag everything out into the hall way, sorting, organizing and tossing things.
*
~~~~~Yes, I Michelle, will actually throw things away! Materials and supplies are one thing, but I'm going to actually put a expire date on those things that I'm sure to make something with. They have been stacked and re-stacked mutiple times , often forgotten.
*
~~~~~My new thing will be if I have not used it in 3 months, it's gone. This will be especially helpful for when people give me things out of the goodness of their heart saying, "here...I thought you could make something with this.", or in other words, they have no place to put it and can't bear the thought of tossing it out, so that's where I come in.
*
~~~~~Till we meet again...
~Michelle
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May's give away!

~ Every month I will be giving away something from my studio. This is a example of the many Scrapboxes that I sell in my shop.

~ I have them listed under "mini-books" ,"clearance" and also in my "sold" section.

~~While you have Etsy on your mind... hop on over to the Goddess of Craft... I'm having a shop special availible only to those that mention "3 little words" when they buy something special from my shop!

...I firmly believe in buying handmade and supporting each other in our craft...

~Now on to the giveaway!
A "Scrapbox" is a mini-book that is all contained in itself.

Perfect to give as a gift or to keep for yourself!

The individual pages inside range from 4x4 to 3x3, allowing anybody to add photo's, sayings, recipes, or any treasured memory.

Comes a collection of embelleshments to match theme; ribbon,eyelets,stickers,matchbooks, slide mounts and more!~
The theme is Disney Princess!
The following can be found inside...Ariel, Jasmin, Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora.

How you can win~
1. Post a comment here
2. I "must" be able to reach you via your "active" blog or by e-mail.
3. go into your settings and make sure your blog is not set to private.
4.Visit often, if I see you comment on any other of my post, old or new, It will increase your chances of winning!
Starts today, ends May 31st.

Good luck!

Time to enter for the Fair again...

~ The theme for the 1st year I entered was "Flower Power"
And even though my I did a great job on this Lay Out, I did not place any ribbons as I did not fully understand the categories, being my first year entering.


~These are my entries from last years Fair, themed " Herefords, Surfers, and Sand"
Living in South California, this theme hit home for me!
My Bracelet placed 2nd in the amateur jewlery division under fair theme.
I kept it along the line of a Mermaid Sea Treasure.

~ My initial idea completely fell thru on this collage, and after putting it off for so long, I just through a bunch of stuff together. It earned a honarable mention ribbon.


My Crown got a 3rd place ribbon in the recycled division.
I made roses out of (un-used)paper napkins, vintage music sheets, ribbon scraps, buttons, rinestones and findings from the hardware store.

~ I thought my captured Surfer came out well. I made her for the fair theme division and even though she did not place I learned some new techniques that I'm happy to know.


My Scrapbox won 1st place!
I used a medallion stamp and spent many hours layering pieces apon each other.
Quite worth the effort.

I made the pics small so you can click for close up's!

~ So Now, what to do..what to do...?
The theme this year is "Say Cheese!"

And now I am stumped. I want my stuff to be crafty in my style, not corn ball. I have to decide quick as I need to register on line by May 21st,I'll still have time to make my items before delivery.

Here are the category's I plan to enter~ (if you are familiar with my work, any suggestions would be appreciated!) I will register Saturday May 17th.

I'm allowed 1 entry per class with a max of 10 entries.

Division 420 - Recycled materials
class 02 Paper/Cardboard
~I really like working with paper and such...I was thinking of making a stained glass like mobile?
Or another Crown?
class 03 Papiermache
I was thinking a papiermache faerie wand...

Division 458-Paper Crafts
Class 02 Collage
~I have a collage idea swimming in my head involving butterflys and a metamorphis of me? words? something...

Division 459- Scrapbooks and Stamping
Class 01 Rubber Stamping
I thought I'd used my medallion stamp to make a pretty card.
class 02 Decorated Scrapbook (50%) handmade
I want to make another scrapbox but with a new stamp set and make it alittle more 3D

Division 480-Help a Child Smile
class 01 Toy,stuffed-all features must be sewn, no buttons.
I ran out of time last time and did not submit a toy. I think I'll do a sock faerie this time.

My 1st year I cluelessly entered the Chili contest. I learned from the best that presentation is the "key". It was very hard and messy to make at home and then transport my chili to the judging tables. Even though I did not place, I had loads of fun being part of a "live" judging.

This year I have a better plan.

Dips
When; Sunday, July 20th, check in at noon, contest at 1pm.
Categories:
01 Cheese
02 Fondue
03 Other ~ I'll be entering my Garlic Artichoke Dip. Any idea's on what I should serve it in would be great!

Division 301 Amateur Jewerly
class 09 other beading ~ I'll enter a birds and nest themed piece

Division 303-Amateur Theme
class 01 Any item pertaining to the fair theme"say cheese!"
...any suggestions?

Whew! That puts me at 9 entries!

~ I'm looking forward to hearing some great idea's from all of you!

Dreamy Scrapbook Stores and the de-stashing RAK Winner!

~Thanks everyone for letting me know your favorite place to craft!

This photo below is from Sugar and Spice Paper Company.

they are in Central Point, Oregon.

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Lasting Memories

is located in Lynnwood, WA

Here is their blog, and they even have a Scrapping Cam!

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http://www.scrapaganzaonline.com/

is located in Davenport, IA

Check out their Blog to see what amazing events they have!

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Scrapbook and Co

is located in baton Rouge, LA

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Archivers Scrapbook Store

Here is a list of their locations, I'm sad they don't have one in CA as this place really ROCKS!

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This is my other favorite place to visit and scrap!

It's called Ever After Scrapbooks

They are located in Carlsbad, CA which is not super gas friendly close, but worth every penny when I do get a chance to stop by! Everything in the store is a an inspiration!

Here is their blog!

~The winner of the de-stashing RAK is

Veronica, Fiskateer # 1135!

She will get a theme of her choice custom lay out.

Congratulations!

Happy Mothers Day!

~ This is Queen Anne's Cottage. It's located in the 127- acre botanical garden and historical site jointly operated by the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Queen Anne's Cottage is only open twice a year, one being on Mothers Day!

I'm really excited to go on Sunday and look forward to sharing pictures with all of you!

Scary, but True!

If you post family photo's online, please read this!

Claudine Hellmuths current blog post summerizes what I've recentley suspected!

The other day I typed in (Faerie Dust Dreams) in yahoo search.
I was pleased to see that all 9 pages were about my shop or in reference to it! But I did find a strange site.
~It was like a search engine all their own, when you typed in search words, it came up with articles re: what you typed plus pictures to match the topic. 4 of my personal art pieces that I post on my flickr account were shown there with no reference to me. I also saw what looked like family photo's. and some of children.The web site had no contact info to reached at.

This is scary and true! We have a copyright on Dyllan's personal website but what's to stop some company from taking our images from blogs, flickr and so on!?

Please go here to read how it may also affect you, and what you can do to protect your self!

Inspiration by Tim Holtz

~ It's so refreshing to see "Men" being creative and I am forever inspired by everything
Tim Holtz shares with us!


Every month he shows on his blog , some new and amazingly easy technique!
~I really love this lay out because our son Dyllan also loves trains and to see how Tim incorporated a piece of model train track into the layout, just makes me go , WOW!

To see how he did this...go here.