OWOH Winners!

What an exciting journey this has been!  I started blogging last year right at the end of this event....and knew, instantly, that I wouldn't miss the opportunity this year!  What an absolute dream it has been to meet so many talented, spirited individuals....to have more new inspiring Blogs to visit....and have the great beginnings to many more lasting friendships! 

.....And isn't it cool that we'll have the chance to party again next year, afterall?!  I'll be there!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.... to all who've come to my little place in Blogland.....and an extra squeeze to those who come back again :)

Okay....so on to announcing the winners.

I wanted to find a way.....haha...thought I was just going to blurt it out, didn't ya'?!  I'm going to leave you in suspense a tad, but hopefully, I'll entertain you a bit along the way..........well, hear me out :)

So, I wanted to find a way to choose the winners in a different and playful manner...as to match the whole theme of my original OWOH post.....
I decided to employ the help of my trusty Assistant!

Okay, so the look on her face here doesn't look like she was willing, but she really was. Really!  I'm just a bad photographer...haha!

So, my brilliant idea was to cut tiny pieces of paper, write down consequetive numbers from 1 to 271......I know, 271!....blew me away how many that actually is!  I have the hand cramps to prove it :).....fold them into tinier pieces... that is what my helpful Assistant is doing here...

And....

Stuff them into a balloon!  Yes, seriously!  Maggie picked out two colors, cuz there were just too many pieces to shove into 1 balloon....and these were pretty big balloons!

See!

My Assistant loved it when I blew them up and all the little paper bits went swirling around like a little tornado in there!  There you all are!

Now when someone says you live in a bubble, you can tell them you've visited at least :)

So the plan was to pop the balloon over my kid's head with her hands cupped to see if anything fell in....thought she'd like the magical shower of paper dancing around her..... but not one to pass up a chance to do something seemingly daring with something sharp....she decided she was to pop them.

Well, at least I could take pictures this way!  I wasn't sure how I was going to pop and click at the same time anyways :)

So she stood over the table on a step stool with an eager cup awaiting beneath her....

2 loud pops.....271 scattered bits of paper....everywhere.....

Except for in the darn cup!

Oh man, what was I going to do now!  The time, the effort, the hand cramps.... Houston, we have a problem!

But wait, what's this?

My Cherub opens her hand and says, "Look, Mommy!" One stuck to her hand!

...and there on her shoulder...a speck of white....yes! The eagle has landed!

Are you tired of my corniness, yet....sorry.....but, isn't that amazing!  I'm so glad those bits of paper made themselves known, cuz I was about to tell Mags to just pick 2 up from anywhere she liked...haha!

We went back up to the Art room and I happily proceeded to package up my offerings....

Now, those of you who know me or have done trades with me before.......you understand....I do loves me a pretty package :)

As much as I love getting special somethings....I absolutely adore giving them!

I get a kick out of imagining someone's reaction to a bit of sparkle and polish :)

I know, I know....I've stalled long enough!  Those numbers were:

Wow!  If there were only a way of knowing ahead of time I could've stopped at 15....I would have avoided the whole cramping issue entirely ;P

The journals you'll be receiving will be a total surprise, I can't even remember which package is which!  Please enjoy them with my compliments!

Thank you again to you all!  It's because of you that Blogging is my favorite hobby....and why my Hubby yells at me to get some sleep at 1am in the morning :D

I'll be seeing you~

Cam



Mermaid Dreams

Hello Sweet Friends!

 I can't tell you how excited I am to have you along with me....over 100 followers (not that size matters, right :P) is just a humbling and incredible feat!  I thank you all so much for finding enough in me to spark your interest....and in a lot of cases, earn your friendship!  I truly am so tickled to have you here!

Well, that being said....and it NEEDED to be said....

I wanted to give you a look at some new Hair Clips I made from those wonderful sea glass bits I collected last Summer......(and some new art if you can wait til the end...heehee!)

Do you think a Mermaid might dream of this?  Well, hopefully a few of the land-dwelling kind do :)

I love that this one reminds me of Mermaid scales, all shimmering and shiny, washed ashore for me to find....

I tried something new with the freshwater pearls perched atop the sea glass....I just really enjoyed the punches of color and interest it gave....

I really like the hodge podge ones that incorporate bits of everything in them....this one features, sea glass, pitted shell and sea tumbled pottery.....

Most of you who've visited here know that we just bought a house....well, while we were on vacation we were waiting to hear about whether our offer would be accepted, and we were trying not to get our spirits up too high just in case it didn't go our way.....

Well, as I sifted thru the sand in search of lovely bits (every year they are getting harder and harder to find) this appeared!

Can you see that little house on that tumbled piece of pottery?!  Amazing to have this gem fall into my possession at a time of wonder and unease.... I took it as a sign!  It wasn't but 3 months later we were moving into our very own abode!

I'm thinking there's something special about this little green cottage :)

...and don't you just love those wonderfully crackled pieces flanking it?!  All natural!  I haven't altered these babies one little bit ;)

...And what brought all this Sea Stuff to mind anyways?

This new painting.....

"Among Friends" 8 x 10 inch mixed media acrylic on canvas....

I used a page from an old dictionary for her tail....

Doilies made perfect seashells for her top.....

I love the way she turned out....all except this!

Can you see that smudge in her hair?  Aaargggh!  I used watercolor pencil on parts of her hair, and when I brushed the sealer on....it smudged!  Oh well....it's definately a mistake I won't repeat!  At least it's an underwater scene.  I'll just try to pretend it's the motion of the water instead of letting it bug me...

Well, thanks again, my Blog Buddies for checking out what I've been up to....it makes me feel like one of the popular people for once....haha :)

Smiles,
Cam