Happy Fourth of July and All Things Red, White & Blue!

 He walked out just as I was taking a picture.

He even coordinates.

I bought these long flag banners from the old Martha Stewart Catalogue probably a dozen years ago, I miss that catalogue.  She had classic collections for every holiday. 

The Pringles can Buzz Light Year jet packs that June made for Danny last night.  She used 2 Pringles cans, red duct tape, and my ribbon scraps for the fuel fire flames. He doesn't seem to want to take them off.  June, that's pretty innovative I'd say.

Old Glory draped over the tv room door.

I remember sewing the above bunting (It's a full 10 yards) when we lived in Sugarhouse back in '98.  I purchased 10 yards of red, navy and white broadcloth and cut each fabric color in half to make two long strips, then cut them in half again to make four.  Then I sewed three strips, one of each color together to make a red, white and blue large piece.  If you do it using this method, you can make four buntings.  Pictured above is just one, but it surprisingly took quite a bit of time and then I didn't know where to drape them.  If you don't prewash the fabric and let the color set in, and they get wet at some point, the red dye bleeds all over the white and it's a red, pink and blue bunting.  And a huge bummer.  Yes, I did that.  I wrapped it around our outside house post and then we got rain.  Sad.

But I found a perfect place inside our little La Casa de Los Venados for one of them.  

 Elsa made these darling little spatterware mugs in her art class this year.  Check out her the handles she crafted.

 I love that after 10 years of storing these old sign letters from eBay, I finally have a mantel to put them on.

More Martha Stewart little ribbon garlands and one of her Old Glory flags.

The blocks below are from Chasing Fireflies.  They are pretty rad.  They have all the Presidents of the United States on one side, trivia on the other sides, and the flag when placed in the correct order.  The other vintage flag below is one I just draped over the lampshade.  

 The Lady of Libery and old history books I had on my bedroom bookshelves growing up.  I think my dad bought them at a school auction.  He used to buy us all kinds of cool things at those school auctions.  I remember seeing fiberglass Eames chairs.

A gift from my dad's collection.  His friend wrote a book using this old Royal.

  What's nesting in the teacups this month?

 You know the routine, it's the same day, place & time every year.

I love the U.S.A.!

My Peeps & Springtime

Just thinking about my little p e e p s who have been gone all week on a spring break trip to Santa Barbara.  They come home tonight.  It can't come soon enough.  

I like us all together.  

The whole thought process of making these little guys just reminded me of sticking with my own peeps. Sometimes they stick together in a row.  It's good to stick together.  There is more power and strength in numbers.  I think we do pretty good together.  

I won't start thinking about the fall when one little peep will leave the coop.  I'll stick to thoughts of spring while she's still a little peep under my wing.

(See the full Easter post h e r e. Very time consuming, but such a novelty.  I used the instructions from martha stewart.  A little tricky at first, but just go for it, the less you think about it while you pipe, the better they will shape.  Just try not to make too big of a batch.  The marshmallow cream stiffens the longer you wait to pipe.  I had a few malfunctions with the timing after I got overly excited.  I might have tried to triple a batch.  Not a good idea.)  

An Eggquisite Eggsplosion of Easter Eggs

 Grandma June loved Easter.  She would make all the grandchildren glittered eggs and panoramic sugar eggs with green coconut grass and tiny little plastic bunnies and chicks to view inside the peep hole.  She made every holiday special.  So grandma, here is to you.  I glittered, I foiled, I painted, flowered and ribbonized, just in your memory.  Most of these are little surprise boxes.  They open up into two halves and you can fill with small chocolates, money, gift cards, and little gifts (like diamonds or precious stones are always a nice surprise).  All eggs come with a glass pedestal.  They make great wedding and Mother's Day gifts too, just take off the Easter or spring tag and add a sweet note for mom instead.

Holiday Art Market 2011

Come join me!  This is my favorite show of the year.  Do I say that about all of them?  Seriously though, it's my real favorite.

I almost didn't remember my blog address tonight, it's been so long since I've met my standard with my blog postings.  Today would have been a great post too.  I went to a paper mache class / artist retreat with Terri Brush.  The unfortunate reality is that I left my two days worth of projects and the soldered winter scene up in Layton at the hostess's home.  Could I be more absent minded?  That is how much is on my mind these days, I walk out after 2 days with nothing to show for myself.  I felt right at home with my security blanket of market totes spilling over with crafting curiosities and tools, and not a clear surface in sight between the 6 banquet tables set up in Lorraine's basement.   I met other creatives, experienced my A.D.D. at it's peak of relapse, swapped supplies, enjoyed collaborating and ate amazing food. I only wish I could have stayed longer, but it was late notice for me when I signed up and I couldn't swing all the mom duties back at the farm.  I'll give you the nitty gritty of the who's, what's and where's, as soon as I can pick up my winter vignettes and menageries of snowmen & disassembled angels.  

Welcome! Come on in...

I love that there are gigantic eggs on my front porch. That must have been some bird.

Happy weekend.

Fresh Piped Spring

I love this "fluffy neighborhood bakery cake frosting" that I piped where my mantel should go. It temporarily hides the fact that the mantel isn't there yet. It screams "Fiesta!" to me every morning. It was purchased at my favorite little store, Tale of the Yak, in Berkley, California. I'll save that little curiosity shop for an entire post someday. But for now, celebrate that spring is almost here with a sweet nibble of cake off of my wall!

I Heart Valentines Day

May your day be filled with candy, sugar cookies and love! Happy St. Valentines Day.

(Sorry these pictures aren't better quality. I guess the day was too dreary outside to get the best lighting.)

My candy jars this month:

One from my first series of paper mache figures, "People with Heart", and a tribute to one of my all time favorite movies, "The Princess Bride":

An original painting Valentine I gave Matt last year by artist Barb Young 201o Valentines Art Market

My three daughters sharing the love, a 2010 commission to Ann Gardner.

Some of my work from 2005 (Queen of Hearts shadowbox), 2010 (Queen of Hearts paper mache doll) and 2011 (velvet candy box)

Valentines Art Market of Utah

Art Market is over, I'm sad if you missed it. I have a few things left from these pictures. I have a dozen heart keepsake boxes available. I don't think buyers knew what to put in these exquisitely crafted treasure boxes. Cookies, candy & chocolates, jewelry, and a whole bunch of other trinkets would fit beautifully. Of course I have 3 of them resting on easels throughout my house. Contact me if you need one for your special Valentine on Monday. Share the love this February!