Featured In Somerset Memories

 

April 2011

I am SO excited!!! I just received the latest issue of Somerset Memories in the mail...and I'm proud to say, one of my projects,  

"Three You-Nique Boys - A Keepsake Window"

is Featured on Pages 50-53.

It hits newsstands on April 1, but if you can't find it locally, click on the magazine cover above to order yourself a copy! If you are a paper artist, scrapbooker or a journaler, you won't be disappointed. (I am NOT paid to say that!)

Here are a few photos of my vintage window...complete with close-ups,
just so you can see the very cool CHIPPY - RUSTY detail that came with the cast-off window that I saved from the landfill! Yay!!!

My three boys were definitely the inspiration for this piece. It marries my love obsession with vintage windows, collected findings and cast-offs, and my very favorite photos of them. 

I enjoy being able to reflect back on the memories we've shared, as they have certainly grown-up faster than I ever imagined. 

And I get to enjoy it almost.every.single.day, as this new family "heirloom" hangs prominently in my office at work...but I'm not in my office every.single.day!

It does my heart good and makes me smile when I'm there....

Note: I've linked up LATE to for obvious reasons...I didn't want to post photos until the magazine was out!

ETA: Just linked up to Gail's Catch-As-Catch-Can party over at My Repurposed Life. Go take a look at all the links....

A Link Close to our Hearts and In our Minds...

When we heard of the news of the earthquake and following Tsunami, 

our first thoughts were "who's over there working on the park?" 

Tokyo Disney Seas and  Tokyo Disney Resort, that is.

Immediately, we started naming of a list of people we 

work with on a regular basis.

Although, several were there, fortunately, 

no one we know was injured or was missing.

However, I cannot even begin to imagine the devastation and grief of the whole situation - even after watching the news footage and plethora of online uploads that followed that tragic day. 

It looked just like an action-adventure movie, but this was REAL! 

Real people. Real homes. Real businesses. REAL LIFE!

As I was surfing this morning for images within the parks for projects we've worked on, I just lost interest after seeing more of the damage 

and reading more.

One touching post I did find is below:

http://disneyshawn.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-our-friends-in-japan.html

Even though, it's so far away, it's still close to home....

Celebrate America!!! Home Decor Swap

Update: Looking for at least THREE (3) more players...

1. Me
2. Janice
3. Ginger
4. you're Next....
5. ...and you too....
6. ...this swap wouldn't be the same without you, as well...
7, 8, 9, 10, 11....  REALLY...the more the merrier....Comment below to join the fun....once the swap items are posted, you'll be sorry you didn't join up...NO matter how many play...you only need to make six items and you'll get SIX back...
*****************
As I sit here on this Saturday, thinking about my son, Kyle, and my cousins, Chadd & Aundrea, and friends, and friends-of-friends who are currently serving their country and NOT at home with their families, I began to visualize the house decorated in shades of RED, WHITE, and BLUE.

Vibrant or muted. 

I love both!!!

All in honor of our country and the freedoms we have.

Sure times are tough for many in our country right now. 

Homes being lost. Unemployment at the highest it's been in a long time. 

School budgets being cut. 

BUT

we need to stay positive, regardless of our political or religious views.

Our ancestors fought hard to make America a free country and even though we still fight for many rights and against unfair issues, we need to keep the colors flying.

In honor of our Heroes, near and far, present and past, 
let's honor them with a 

Celebrate America 

Home Decor Swap

The rules are simple.

Grab the Button on the Right...I know, it's HUGE!!! It should be...
It's our COLORS!!!! Fly them proudly!!!!

It is open to any and all designers, crafters, and artists who wish to create and 

share with others in the swap group. 

Each participant will make 6 home decor theme-related items. 

Stick with your favorite medium - be it fabric, wood, clay, paper arts or try something new...Just have fun with it.  

Use your imagination and let the creativity flow, just, please use quality items in your creations, so everyone will be proud to display them for years to come. 

There is nothing more disappointing, than spending days or weeks on a project and getting a folded paper and pipe cleaner menagerie that took 5 minutes to make in return. 

Sorry, but it had to be said! 

If more than 6 swappers choose to participate, the items will be randomly sorted and equally dispersed so everyone will receive 6 items in return for their 6 items sent. I am choosing to keep the item number low so the quality can be higher.

Feel free to make 6 identical items or 6 unique creations. The choice is yours!!!

Please email me (it's on my profile) and/or leave a comment so we can exchange mailing information in a private manner. 


You pay the postage to get it to me and I'll pay the postage back to you.

Once you receive your items, please post your creations and those you've received. I will link up all participants blogs so you can share and peek at what everyone else received too! 

Please ship to me by June 1, 2011 - please, NO exceptions. If you sign up and absolutely MUST bow-out, I understand, but please just let me know, so another swapper doesn't become the odd-man-out. That ruins the fun!

I'm starting this swap early, because I know how time flies the older you get, and want to make sure everyone has time to squeeze this one into their busy, busy lives...Lots of Holidays between now and then, Graduation Parties to plan, Summer vacations, June Weddings...see what I mean? 

June 1 will be here before we know it!!

Plus, that will give me time to turn them around and everyone will be able to decorate for the 4th of July...

 So, sign up and get to creating.....

Art Doll Quarterly

What an inspired magazine!!!

Lots and lots of eye candy....

Just look at this little guy, with his newspaper hat and little friend.

I LOVE this whole miniature vignette.

Get yourself a copy here:

ART DOLL QUARTERLY

February 2011 Issue

Have you seen it?

Read it?

Loved it?

I was intrigued by their latest challenge...

Gourd Dolls.

I have never, ever, ever made a doll.

I've dressed them up...

(see Emily here)

So, I took the challenge 

and my little lady is on her way 

to being featured in the Autumn 2011 issue.

Yay! I could just scream....!!!

I don't want to ruin the surprise,

but 

here's a little sneaky-peeky....

Spring Cleaning & Blog Hopping - Part 2

If it's good to find a home for one item, why not TWO??

Yep, it's time for a bit of Spring Cleaning.

But, what to do with all that stuff you don't want to sell or donate?

You offer it for FREE via a community BLOG HOP!

What a great idea from MeganDVD from Beauty in the Attempt.


This offering is for a cute Pfaltzgraff Naturewood spade-shaped spoon rest. 
Use it as designed, or as a jewelry holder, or just for decoration in your garden inspired room. 


Measures roughly 3 1/2" wide x 9" long and Made in the USA.

The simple rules are:
1. Become a follower of Patinamarie
2. Tell me why you like it, love it, have to have it.
3. If you are the only one interested in taking off my hands, it's YOURS! I'll even pay the postage. 
4. On Monday, March 28 at 9 pm,pst,it's yours, unless more than one person has their eye on it, then I'll do a random pick for the winner. That's the only way to keep it FAIR AND SQUARE!!!


Feel free to link up your stuff too! But it's NOT necessary to play...


Have fun! I'm off to see what others are offering up...

Spring Cleaning & Blog Hopping

Yep, it's time for a bit of Spring Cleaning.


But, what to do with all that stuff you don't want to sell or donate?


You offer it for FREE via a community BLOG HOP!

What's a blog hop, you ask?


Well, it's the brain child of MeganDVD from Beauty in the Attempt.


Just post a link to something you want to give away FOR FREE so someone else out in blog land can select it for their home.

My offering is an Angels Wall Plaque. 

It is approximately 8" wide x 4" tall and would be the perfect addition to your Angel collection. 

It has a hanger on the back side or could easily sit on an easel.

The simple rules are:
1. Become a follower of Patinamarie
2. Tell me why you like it, love it, have to have it.
3. If you are the only one interested in taking off my hands, it's YOURS! I'll even pay the postage. 
4. On Monday, March 28 at 9 pm, pst, it's yours, unless more than one person has their eye on it, then I'll do a random pick for the winner. That's the only way to keep it FAIR AND SQUARE!!!


Feel free to link up your stuff too! But it's NOT necessary to play...


Have fun! I'm off to see what others are offering up...

It's Officially Spring....

or is it?

 

I've been freezing ALL day!!!

Summer will be here soon enough 

and then I'll be complaining about how hot it is.

Am I never happy?

Yes, most times, I'm happy-go-lucky and pretty positive, 

but today I'm just cold.

I've had a cup of hot tea, but what I REALLY, 

REALLY want is a cup of mocha.

BUT,

I'm trying like the Dicken's to kick that craving.

There's a whole ton of fat in those little, satisfying drinks that I keep going to my favorite local drive-thru coffee stand to get. Even without the whipped cream topping, which I gave up saying "yes" to.

BUT,

my favorite local drive-thru coffee stand loves to share with their customers..

 

little espresso beans covered in yummy goodness...

So, in honor of Spring, I'm sharing my "beans" with you instead...

....see, I haven't eaten them for at least THREE visits!!!

Cheers!

 

Sew Green....

After this melted recently, I was taking A.J. to school and 

after dropping him off, I just happened to stop at a yard sale.

That's what I say..."I just happened to stop." 

Like the vehicle just pulled over and WOW! THERE'S A SALE GOING ON!!!

Anyway, I bought a couple little things, nothing to blog about really. 

BUT then....

as I was walking over to pay my whole $3.00 tab, 

this was being wheeled out...

(sorry for the not-so-great photos, 

but they were taken in the garage with my phone)

The tag sale guy loaded it up into the back of the car

and I got to unload it all.by.myself and roll it drag it across the

gravel driveway.

No small feat, I tell you. Do you know HOW HEAVY these things are?

I clearly had NO clue.

The yard sale guy didn't seem to break a sweat at all.

So after dragging two deep ruts in the gravel, I got it in the garage.

I opened it. And the angels wept!

This thing is gorgeous!!!

It came with a leather pulley strap.

Needs a good cleaning and a bit of machine oil, but it works like a charm.

There were some needles and modern thread in the drawer, 

so who knows how recently it was being used.

Not sure I really needed a vintage treadle sewing machine,

but who knows...I might feel so inclined to sew-green!

Happy Finding!!!

All in the details....

On a recent business trip to San Francisco, we took a break 

and toured the aquarium at the Wharf.

We've visited several aquariums over the years - Tacoma, Long Beach, Monterey, Maui but I'm still in awe of the detail the creatures have. 

The colors. The shapes. The textures.

Working in a business that is always trying to "fake" it (see day job link)

I love to see the REAL thing in all it's natural glory.

These jelly fish were stunning! 

I could sit and watch them all day...

I absolutely LOVE the contrast of them against the dark blue.

 When we were in the "tunnel" under the sea, this guy was above us.

So pretty.

Another star from below.

Kind of surreal.

 Man, don't mess with this guy.

Just look at him...I think he's a kingpin in the mob or something!

"Pucker up and gimme a kiss...."

Such detail.

I love the turtles.... 

and they love each other!

 ...and what the heck kind of creature is this?

Oh, that's a rare, tinabowbina in it's natural habitat!

That was a tight squeeze to get under there - it's meant for kids - but  I think everyone should act like a kid from time to time! 

We won't mention the McDonald's Playland experience a few years back...

See. I wasn't the only one...

My sweetie.

So happy to watch the penny go round 'n round 'n round...

xo xo

I have a thing....

for baby shoes...

I know that's random and all, 

but there's just something about their diminutive

size that just makes me smile.

I have a growing collection. 

These are just a few I recently found at one of 

my local thrifting haunts.

You know how I just love rust...

well, this little pair of leathers 

has spots of rust.

These were well loved.

I think it adds character!

And how about this pair.

I've never seen this type before. 

The leather sole wraps all the way around to the back.

Guess, I don't get out much....ha ha!

And speaking of character and babies...

 

I never did share the "airport" photo of Kyle coming home for 

the holidays...I cried like a BABY when I saw him!!!

I miss him tremendously, but I am proud at the same time...

He has a couple more months of Intel training, then we'll see what

news that brings...sigh.