Christmas is coming...

The girls got together at C's for our annual CCC nite.  That's Collage Christmas Card...It was a small group this time, just me C and A.  But the smaller the group the juicier the gossip!! 

Here are my results: 

Cougar Christmas

 It's hard to read the writing in this scan, but it says, "There's no better time than the Holidays to say "Thank You"

Snowflake Christmas

 I love this one because when C. was cutting out a bunch of magazines whilst babysitting her nephews, one of them said, "This looks like Grandma!".  It's true, C's mom is very glamorous!

Fruity Christmas

 This guy, would be drinking that drink, and eating apps off that skewer...very festive!  I'd party with him!  :)

Obsession Christmas

 This one is my fave.  It reminds me of an Obsession commercial.  Hence the title.

Last, but not least, 

Too much Pinot Christmas

Last one made that evening...enough said!  

Be good!  Only 18 more days til Christmas!!  --yikes!

Boysenberry

My necklace was included in this yummy treasury on Etsy

Halloween

Halloween was fun this year.  For the second year in a row our girls creative night theme was "pumpkins and pinot."  I'm happy to report that once again there were no knife/wine related injuries.  *Plus* I hosted this year, therefore I got to keep all the tasty pumpkin seeds for myself!!  H even cleaned the guts off them for me. 

A bunch of us also went out to shake some tailfeathers at the Booty Vortex show at Johnny D's.  (despite the Noreaster!)  I got crafty and made my own costume this year.  Took an old baseball cap, removed the brim, painted it black, and sewed a bunch of rubber snakes to it.  Added a pair of star sunglasses and I was good to go.

Second place baby!!!

 I just purchased another 50 snakes to improve my headdress.  Just wait till next year!!                                

Hello again

 Yep, so once again I've abandoned you all to dead air.  Sorry, but honestly you must be used to it by now. 


So I'll now deluge you with a flurry of catch-up posts, not necessarily in any order....



Thanksgiving was last week, I'll start there.  Tim fried another fantastic turkey, delicious as usual.  I made some super-yummy pumpkin hummus.  I also renewed my gym membership, and as luck would have it they were hosting the "Pie in the Sky" event, so I purchased a pie as well, fetching me a discount on my membership, $ for charity, and a Pumpkin pie.  win-win-win!!

Now I have to give a shout-out to the maker of my pie....A whole slew of Boston restaurants donate pies to this charity, my pie happened to come from "Cakes to Remember".  I had never heard of them, but both my Mom and I thought it was the best pumpkin pie we had ever tasted.  I had to dig the box out to see who made it.

Just got tickets on TicketWeb for TREE , Honkeyball , Roadsaw , Space Humpin: $19.99 at Middle East - Downstairs on 09/17/11

Just got tickets on TicketWeb for TREE , Honkeyball , Roadsaw , Space Humpin: $19.99 at Middle East - Downstairs on 09/17/11

The sweet variety

New necklace up on Etsy.

Wood and Brass

New necklace up on Etsy.

Raspberry Lime Sherbert

    New necklace up on Etsy.  Click here to view listing.

 

Copycat

Last Christmas my friend C's very fashionable sister handed her a picture cut out from a catalog, it was a picture of a necklace that she *loved* and wanted.  A perfect gift for a mere $388.00.
After recovering from sticker shock, C handed it to me, "yeah right."  I looked at it, "You know...I could totally make this...I could get all these beads." C looked at me... "DO it!"

Well, last Christmas season got a bit hectic for me...so it didn't happen.  I found the picture again recently, and for kicks I found all of the supplies I would need to do this.  Along with the shipping costs from the different places they came from it did come to $85.00.  A lot more than I had thought, but, still a bargain compared to $388.00.  C still wanted to go for it.  (She is a good sister.  :)  

It came out pretty dern good, if I do say so myself.  Of course I can see flaws, and if I had to do it again, blah  blah blah...but I am my own worst critic.

 

Viola!

Happy Summer!

Summer is finally here!  It even *feels* like summer today!  My garden has finally woken up out of sleep mode.  I'm fighting the birds for my strawberries and eating tons of salad with my fresh lettuce and radishes.  Peas are ready to pick at this very moment!  I planted some of these babies the other day...can't wait to see if they really are gigantic as Burpee says! 

Big Mama lima beans

 What with the warm weather, the girls and I have been out and about in the city checking out some great art.  We went one night to the ICA to see the vinyl show.

 

It was a fantastic show.  All different kinds of media, the obvious, sound.  Also sculpture with the physical records, photography, painting, instruments, film, etc.   Plus we went on the free night.  You can't beat free culture!

The girls and I also took a day from C's birthday week (I always take days off during her birthday week, this woman KNOWS how to celebrate a birthday week!!!)  We went to the MFA to check out the Chihuly show.  My brother is a HUGE fan of Chihuly so I already knew *quite a bit* about him....if you've heard my brother talk about something he is passionate about you know what I mean.  

View Large!

Seeing his amazing work in person blew away everything I had read or heard.  It is just amazing stuff, the COLOR is unreal.  Please go if you can, you won't be sorry!  It really made me want to go home and paint something colorful!!

I've also been checking out some live music at my local bars.  I heard some great Americana/rockabilly/blues music by The Whiskey Boys , Coyote Kolb, and Mister Sister, and my good friends Adela and Jude from They Will Hate Us fresh from their tour down south.  I was also able to catch some facemelting metal from Planetoid at their new record release show. 

 

Kick Ass

I'm still working on jewelry, and some painting.  I seem to have even less time in the summer, but hopefully will have something to show soon.  Stay tuned!

Same bat time, same bat channel...

Wine Charms

 My latest project was a commission to make 70 wine charms for a wonderful woman's 70th birthday party.  This was a super-fun assignment.  Here are all 70...you might want to enlarge to see them in all their glory!   

 No two could be alike, so I was really able to dig around in my bead hoard.  Since I was attending the party, the most fun was seeing who picked which charm.  Many of the ladies chose to match their outfits, some their earrings.  One woman who was wearing the earrings I had given her as a gift and found a charm that matched them.

 It was a beautiful day in a beautiful location.  A good time was had by all, and we were able to christen the brand-new fire pit!! 

Now off to the next commission, do stay tuned!

 

Crocodile

I promise I have some new stuff going on to show you soon, but meanwhile I created another etsy treasury, this one is called Crocodile.
                                      

Crocodile ring  by Angidega

I was happy to learn that one of the items in my list sold within a half an hour, due to my creating the treasury.  Take a gander! (click on crocodile above!)

I recently had another creative night with the girls, H. hosted, she had great snacks and made a super still life.  We also found a new member!  J didn't even KNOW any of us personally but was fixed up with us by a friend.  She fit right in.  I don't have a pic of my drawing handy, but I do have a nice shot of the still life.

I also went to see The Kills with C. at Royale a couple of weeks ago, they were Phenomenal!!!  I currently have a girl-crush on Alison Mosshart, and channel her with my leopard-print cardigan.  Although she *really* needs to quit smoking!!!  

 Something about seeing live music really triggers my creativity, I just want to go home and spawn something new.  If only I could be granted more time. 

ETSY treasuries

I have occasionally posted here about some of my jewelry being chosen for an Etsy treasury.  You've probably thought, "gee, that's great, what the heck is it?"

Treasuries are  lists of sixteen items created by members of Etsy – shoppers and sellers. They’re often based on a theme or other commonality between the items. They could be inspired from a color, song lyric, place, movie, a holiday or season.  The possibilities are endless, and it's fun to come up with new ideas. They are not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy.

I like treasuries because they’re a fun way to browse on Etsy. It’s such a big place, and this is a great way to begin. I’ve discovered many shops that I wouldn’t have otherwise found. Also, especially unique or beautiful treasuries are chosen by Etsy staff to appear on the front page, so there are benefits for sellers like myself who create treasuries.

I'm so happy and flattered every time one of my items is chosen to be in someone's treasury.  I'm now returning the favor, I have created my first treasury!  If you're curious, take a look...it's called....

                         "A Fairy tale wardrobe"

    Photo from etsy store Beadmask


Enjoy!

Spring Inspiration

My new bracelet was chosen to be in an ETSY treasury called Spring Inspiration

 

...and it sold!

New Painting

I finished a new painting, at long last.  Well, it's not really finished-finished, but it's as close as it's going to get for now.  At this point I will only ruin it if I continue to poke at it.  Time to start something new.  

                                                 Through the trees

                                                     detail

I'm eagerly awaiting gardening weather.  I've planted my peas, and have many seedlings started.  I hope to document my garden a little better this year, maybe make a gardening journal.  

 

Peeptastic

Last night was creative night.  (Yep, we're still doing them!)  I hosted this time, so I got to pick the project.  I know Easter is a ways off this year, but the peeps are out and they are calling to me.  After stuffing my self with their marshmallow yummyness at work, I decided they would be our muse for the evening.

There is a website called "Daily Paintworks"  where artists put their work up for sale.  They have a "weekly challenge" you can try, and post your results for free.  These results are also for sale so you could make some money while you're at it.  I chose the "10 minute challenge"  for this weeks project.  You have 10 minutes to paint in each 3x3" square, when the timer goes off you rearrange your still life and start again.  It's a great challenge, it forces you to stay loose and not get too tight and meticulous about what goes on the paper.

Here are our results:  

H's Peeps

C's Peeps

My Peeps

I love how they are all so different!  T made us a healthy dinner, and we had peeps for dessert.  Except for C, she hates peeps!  :-O

Super-moon mural weekend

I'm catching up here, only a couple of weeks behind now!

2 weekends ago I went home to paint a mural on my Mom's friend's kitchen wall.  She *so* loved the birch mural that A and I painted for my brother and his wife that she wanted birch trees too.  She re-painted her kitchen a lovely color, and I think they came out rather nice against it.

  

                                        It was also the first weekend of Spring, and the Super moon.  We went down the street to Peggoty beach to better view the moon.  When we got there the moon was HUGE and RED, after much oo-ing and aah-ing I finally thought to snap a picture.  It was now fully up so doesn't look as huge and red in the photo as it really was.  It was amazing though!  

I'm back...

Wow, August??

I'm afraid writing just isn't my choice of creative expression, plus, I'm lazy.  So if anyone still checks this blog to see if I've actually posted something new, I apologize for my extended absence.  I'll try to be better, I promise.


SO, when I last left you all at the ends-of-your-seats waiting for my next post, it was mid-August.  Let's pick up where we left off and catch up from there, shall we?  


I was trying to keep up with the harvest from my garden, I had a very bountiful season.  In addition to the huge pepper harvest (I've provided a picture of some of the types I had) I also successfully grew: Sugar Snap Peas, Collards, Kale, Garlic, Zucchini, cukes, 2 types of Eggplant, Lettuce, Strawberries, a few varieties of tomatoes, and a wide selection of herbs on the back porch.  

                             Pepper Harvest 2010

                               Habanero, Anaheim, Big Jim, Jalapeno, Hungarian hot


As Summer led into Fall, I was judged and accepted into a Christmas Art Fair in Jamaica Plain.  The date was the first Saturday in December so I began making jewelry non-stop.  I ended up having a great day, not *as* great as last year's fair, but the other 2 connected art fairs that usually run the same day didn't happen this year, so I think as a result there were far less people.  The place is usually jam-packed but this year not so much.  Still, I was pleased with my results.  I made some good connections which resulted in some etsy sales as well.  Sadly, I did not take a picture of my beautiful table all set up, I'm so mad at myself for that!!

Etsy HandofStone

With the fair over, I breathed a sigh of relief.  I could now *finally* begin my Christmas shopping and preparations for the family Christmas we hold at my wee little apartment every year. 

Then, a couple of weeks before Christmas I received a request from a former client, she wanted a toy chest and rocking chair for a Christmas present for her grand-kids.  OY!  I love this woman, she is so nice, which is probably why I said "yes".  

Let the insanity begin. 

It wouldn't have been so bad, but it was all raw wood so I had to sand, prime and paint before I even began the design work...
She wanted a "sports" trunk, with everything you see painted on it, plus a rocking chair with daisies and wording.  I know they both would have been better, had I more time.  Not to mention the rotten cold I acquired didn't help.  

All in all, I was okay with the results, and my client was thrilled.  Sent me a sweet thank-you saying how special I made Christmas for her family.  *sniff* Made the stress all worth it!!  

  

 The rest of the Winter was pretty quiet.  The girls and I continued our "Creative Wednesdays" I dabbled with some painting, and Tim and I took a really nice trip to Montreal with G and L.  I've never been there, it was a beautiful city.  It reminded me alot of Boston except larger, and I have to say I think in general they dress much more fashionably there.  Even in winter!  Here is a picture from our lovely suite of downtown Montreal.  







   

February was a sad month, our little buddy Spot passed away.  He outlived 3 dogs and 2 apartments.  He is greatly missed!  :(                                                     

So, to wrap things up, I also attended some live entertainment.  Some local metal bands with C and J, also the more well known Clutch, Motorhead, and the most excellent "Dead Weather"  I saw some Fantastic Burlesque shows courtesy of  Rogue Burlesque, as well as The Bread and Puppet theater with A., a record release show for my friends in the band "They will hate us" and some other fun events and dinners.


That's pretty much it in a nutshell, more to come soon!!!  I *promise*!