Suffering from Unfinished Project Syndrome!

How does time go by so fast?
One minute, I'm having a wonderful Summer....reading an actual book (haven't had time for one of those in ages!) and sightseeing with my family....

The next, I'm ushering my child out the door, arms flailing out like a rubber octopus grabbing for keys, sunglasses, purse, lunch, backpack, sunscreen, that thing I needed to return at the store....etc!

I'm nagging my poor Husband to get up on the roof and wield a brush in one hand and paint can in the other while balancing on our sloped tiles (We got notice from our HOA before we left for vacation to repaint our shutters...and he won't let me do it).

I'm looking at a stack of fabric that no matter how much I wish, won't turn itself into a set of curtains and cute, little pillows...

I'm busy.....like...always doing something...busy....
But, nothing seems to be getting done.
I have grand plans to unveil dazzling  "after" photos of all our efforts around here.
Truly...

Like, our yard.

I've started planting some pots....but, I can't put them where I want them to go until we get the rest of the yard done (including grass....we got notice for that, too)....

That dirt under the pot is my lawn :)

Halloween is on it's way!  I got an early start this year.....

With this cute door hanger...

That needs to be sewn shut and have it's ribbon hanger added with ghost button accents.

....and I'm attempting a felt monster for the first time. 

Though, right now he has no arms, legs or filling....haha!

I have been spending my free time recently getting ready for my SIL's Baby Shower this weekend.

It is monkey themed...these are the prize bags.

I wanted each to be slightly different.  I did these all with just circle punches (and a hand drawn oval template). 

 I think they turned out nicely :)

I still consider this an unfinished project, though....lots of tags, favors, decorating and table signs still to make.....busy, busy!

There are more incomplete wonders here....many, many more.....but, if I keep dwelling on them, nothing will ever get done...haha!

What's been keeping you busy?

Until later, My Pretties...

Cameron

Random Bits

Hello my Dears!
Just a simple post filled with random goodness! 

We put a beautiful creation in our bouganvillea today.....you can't see it, but she decorated the inside for the birds to enjoy, too...
...and just in case they didn't know it was for them...she labeled it...haha!

We sat on the porch and admired the happy flowers....

I've decided a pot filled to the brim with pansies is going to always be a Spring tradition!

I love having them by the front door welcoming me home ;)

Those flowers smell so wonderful when you walk by them....

The roses are in full bloom now, too :)

Hope you've been enjoying random bits of pleasure, too!  You deserve it!!
Love ya' guys,
Cameron

Ummm....

Hello Everyone....

I'm having one of those days where your mental agenda spins like a hamster on a wheel...over and over again in your mind....

All the things that I need to do, want to do and should do, collide like bumper cars vying for position.... So, I'm gonna do things a little differently today.  I wanted to spend the morning creating a little something new to post here since I haven't shared anything with you since last week....(and I do SOOO Love sharing new things with you) but, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

I have a lot of new things going on, actually...here's the short list:
   
 -I have an appointment with the buyer at a metaphysical store called Visions & Dreams tomorrow....while I'm terribly excited about having my work available in a retail location, I'm not fond of leaving things on a consignment basis...so, I thought I'd mark things way down for Wholesale pricing just to have some cash in hand, not have to worry about keeping track of what sold and what didn't, and move out some older stock in favor of not storing it any longer (and making room for new creations ;o) 

I made peace with this decision, but my Hubby (who is out for the Summer already and shaking up my morning routine..haha) is telling me that I'm selling myself short and not making what I'm worth, etc, etc..... I think it's better to take what I can get now, than wait around for the possibility of more later...does that make sense?  I had a business in the past, and I have quite a few pieces left from way back then....out with the Old, eh? :)

     - I'm spending a few hours every weekend painting a mural on my daughter's preschool wall.  This is the big news I alluded to in an earlier post!  I'm actually doing 2 walls.  I'm getting near completion on the first :)
How this got started is a pretty funny little story that I'll share with you when I post the finished product.  Here's a sneak peek....hee hee!

     -I have committed to a whale themed Swap on Swap-bot and just finished carving some stamps to use in the project....alas, I haven't "tested" them yet.

     -Just bought materials to make some Plushies (stuffed dolls) and I'm at the stage of..."Okay, Cameron, you have everything now...get moving!" So, that'll be a future post, too.

    -Oh, and we finally have ripe tomatoes. (I'll just put a picture of them up right now and call you updated...lol)

So, as you can see, I have my fingers in lots of pots!  I hope to have some exciting pictures to put here for you all!

Thanks for reading my ramblings...I needed to check something off my list today!  Hope your week is productive and bright :o)

Off I go again, Cam

Am I going Mad?....Yes!

So I'm sitting here on my computer typing away when I hear clanking, rustling and an odd amount of giggling coming from the back yard.  Now, I live in an apartment where the yards are back to back, so the sounds of children playing, neighboring voices, household noises, etc.....are not unusual coming from back there.....even had oppossums digging around once....but this was different....

Like the tinkling of chandelier crystals and the scratch of metal chairs being dragged across concrete.....

Like the tromp of footsteps thru tall grass...and an eerie laughter...strange laughter....high-pitched then suddenly low and booming like something, or someone of a delirious nature....

I walk to the window and peer outside.  What on Earth could be going on out there?!

I don't see anything out of the ordinary, but decide to step out there and take a better look.  And then I notice it...a little mirror that wasn't there before.  So, delicate and pretty, I decide to peek in.

It looks like my garden, but things are a little...off.....everything in it appears to have changed ever-so-slightly.....and instead of being clear, the reflection is hazy and much too bright!  I close my eyes, despite trying to keep them open...there is only white behind my eyelids...and when I open them....
Much to my surprise....

lay an array of colorful and magical costumes just beckoning me to wear them.....

and a gorgeous tea pot filled with, what I gather to be Cinnamon Tea....since the spicy aroma fills the air around me.....begs me to come closer.

Sweet offerings  and pretty fabrics adorn the beautiful setting.....

Even a cute brown Bunny has dressed up for tea.....

I'm enthralled and ready to join the celebration!  I smile and pick up a candy heart to pop in my mouth...when....*POOF*

It all disappears!

I shake my head in disbelief...and in dissappointment...who doesn't like an excuse to dress-up and play for a while?  I'm thinking I need to go in out of the sun...when the familiar, spicy fragrance of cinnamon wafts by me....and that laughter, again!....softer now...with an echo, as if in a dream.....

I hurry now, as if getting inside will make my hallucinating less serious :) But before I get to the door...I see this hidden in the Lavender......

It's For You!

Inside it says,

"Be Mad, be glad, be oh-so silly,

Come revel in your insanity,

Wear hats with bats and socks or spats,

Come dressed all willy-nilly"

"Don your mask,

And your glittery bows,

No need to ask,

For I already know....

Of course, I've saved you a seat!....

Now....how would you like your tea?"

Come join the Festivities on Saturday, June 26th

by signing up to be a part of this year's Mad Tea Party! The link is at the top of my sidebar. 

Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist is hosting, yet again!  I'm excited to be a part of it..to get kooky and have fun.......being my first time, and all...hahahahah! (now, I'm the one with the maniacal laughter!!!)

Hope you enjoyed the prelude to the madness.....

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Cameron

Memories are Made by the Passing Days

Spring break is coming to an end...and I have to admit that I'm looking forward to having the house to myself again in the mornings 3 times a week.  Wanna get back into a creative routine...though I don't have an art exhibition to prepare for, I'll be plenty busy :)  I have more of the pieces from it to put in my shop, some murals to paint on my daughter's preschool walls (more of that story to come), some trades that I've commited to (that I'm really excited to be a part of) along with some unfinished and new projects on the list to complete....whew!  The  part that astounds and delights me, though, is that I don't see this mental list of neverending projects as a deterent to DOING anymore...  it is more, now, a list of creative stepping stones that get me ever closer to the Life I want for myself.  I'm giving myself credit now for what my mind and hands do, rather than making the excuse of it not being "real" cuz it's not my "job"...

No job, other than Motherhood, gives me such profound self-discovery or enrichment as art does....and I don't get paid for being a mom, either... and it doesn't make me less of one :)

In fact, due to my daughter's cleverness, I have a new photo filter to share with you that gives such a dreamy, fuzzy quality to the portrait....no computer required!  My daughter found it all on her own!

Who would've thought it would be Tupperware?

Turns out opaque buckets on heads makes for good photography.... 

Okay, maybe not good...but, funny, at least!  :-D

Bucket wearing was just one of the things we enjoyed on our walk yesterday.  It was a beautiful day!

We checked on our little front porch garden to see how everyone was progressing... The pansies are always a happy sight!

My Pumpkin Girl's beans have just flowered and are starting the process of growing lovely beans.  These will be sugar snap peas when fully grown.

She had received a "paint your own toadstool" kit in her Easter Basket, so we gave it a spot in one of the pots.

We inspected the trees for more fairy homes, as we've been fortunate to spy them before,

lots of potential locations, but no actual sightings this day :(

There is a large water fountain in the front courtyard of our apartment complex.  She likes to walk around it...sometimes finding sticks to stir the water with to make "witch's brew" .

A walk isn't complete without looking for roly polies. 

I remember the days when turning over a rock and finding a bug, or two, was so special.

Also tried my hand at rounded corners on my photos.  Do you like them better this way?  I'm still undecided.

Well, it's been nice having my 2 Beloveds home....but now I'm ready for a little "me" time.  Maybe that pedicure I didn't have time for last week :)  Heck, my birthdays coming up in a few days.... I think I can splurge!  Oh, and by the way, speaking of birthdays, Faerwillow had a cute little link on her blog regarding what type of tree you are and its meaning.

It turns out I'm a Maple...Here's what that entails:

MAPLE TREE (Independence of Mind) - no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress

Eerily right on the money!

Check out what type you are:

http://www.wowzone.com/whattree.htm

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend, too!

All my best,

Cam

Keeping Crafty

It's a cold, overcast Friday today....a perfect day to stay inside and craft. I had this idea for little Easter treat bags. I found about 20 of these Bunny prints left in the filing cabinet and decided they needed some new purpose.

The fact that I only had 20 is pretty amazing....You see, I used to make cards to sell at art & craft shows back about 8-9 years ago....this was before the whole handmade card craze kicked in. The only place to find unique cards back then was Papyrus. So I started a little business and went to shows on the weekends. The restaurant I worked at, at the time, was kind enough to let me take in a little basket of my cards to show guests who were interested.....I enjoyed quite a following and met lots of handmade-loving people. I began to do little paintings to put on the cards and found a way to color copy multiples per page to cut down on the cost. Well, after all this time, I still have a filing cabinet full of copies! Though I'm finally starting to reach the end of a few (and won't ever be making more) the majority are very plentiful indeed!


So, I hope these little Ballerina Bunnies (I named this piece, "Hare-abesque") will find new life bringing some special girl a bit of Springtime joy!

My Spring Faerie has also reached the last of her run (3 sheets). I'm planning to use her for some Springtime fun, as well. Not exactly sure, though....large gift bags?.....Any ideas?

It figures the weather turned cold today, since my daughter and I just did some more gardening yesterday. Planted a few more pansies and made trellises to support the veggies.

Then we ran into this little guy! Isn't life grand!
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend :)
I'll talk to you all again soon!

P.S. Happy Birthday, Hubby! I love you to the ends of the Earth....and since the world is round, my love is neverending!

Home is Where your Door is

It is February now, and this month's challenge theme is Home! How wonderful! It brings together all the things I love most in this world....my family, a place for all my stuff, comfort and warmth, memories and laughs, a place where we can all be ourselves....this is what home represents to me.

My daughter and I just planted up some pots I had on the front porch, abandoned and ugly after the last batch of annuals died off. I've been avoiding them thinking that our hunt for a house would end soon, we'd move, and I could continue gardening again, there.....Well, the house hunting has gone on and on, and so has the dismal setting at the front porch. Seeing nothing but pots filled only with dirt and brown twigs.

So we went to the store, she helped me pick out flowers and herbs...even a cherry tomato plant (one of her favorite things to eat) and got our hands dirty. She was so proud of our hard work!

The best part of this fun gardening project was catching Daddy observing us while we worked. He saw us intently filling and patting and talking about how pretty everything was going to look, and he just stopped and watched, smiling to himself...that is, until our Girl saw him....then it was, "Daddy we're gardening! Come look at this. Wanna help?!"

Now when we enter our place, it looks like this. It's such a joy to see happy little flower faces greeting us where guilt and neglect used to be. The herbs are delightful, too. They are still fresh and small, but as soon as they get full and robust, I'm making a mushroom/herb omelette!

P.S. Operation Hubby started this morning in full swing! Details to come!