I don't hate Mondays

Each time I reached into the box i kept finding a prettier package---is that possible?  But look what a wonderful presentation this was.  I was going to be a tease and not show what was in the packages until the next day.  I changed my mind as I started opening.  I couldn't wait to show you and put all of it on my Inspiration Board.  I feel like a Queen.  Two packages in one day and they are both perfect for me.

This was a bits and baubles collage swap.  Samantha went over the top and sent these spectacular gifts also.  The tags she also included were from Bluebird Lane.  I am going to have to check them out. 
Samantha, you are so talented!!!!!  I love this.  Thank you so much for being such a wonderful swap partner.  You were so generous.  
My swap partner for the pink and green swap was April Ortiz from artchics.  I knew she was going to be a great partner from her blog.  Everything including her logo labels are pink and green.  I really can't believe I had the self control not to rip open all of the packages.  Thank you April for being such a great swap partner.
I love the birdie and the bird house.  That will be my theme next month for my inspiration board.
Oooooh, I just love everything and needed whatever I recv'd.  I even rev'd another chipboard box to alter.
I had to put the little pink and green suitcase on top of my crop case----Am I going to be the envy of every cropper or what?
I have few words for my swap partners, because I am in awe!!!!!!!  Oh my gosh, I am like a little kid at Christmas.  Taking pictures was torture....I just wanted to open everything right away.  I did take pictures.  It was like stopping and smelling the roses.  Whatever I planned to do today came to complete stop.  I changed my inspiration board right away while I was inspired and in the mood.  Happy Monday or Happy Swapday or Happy Mood Board day or whatever your day was I hope it was happy. 

Marie Collage

    This is the collage I made for my swap partner Samantha.  As usual I was so excited to be able to post about something I didn't have any link information to post.  I sent out three swaps last week, so I am a little confused.  I am almost 99% sure Samantha does not have a blog, but I will check our emails to be sure.  It sure was fun to make.  I love the colors of Marie Antionette--her powdery white skin and hair and for some reason I guess the movie I always think of her with the powder blue, pink and white theme.  For some reason I thought of using a garter cut in half and glued to the bottom  as a trim.  I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I had great weather for my garage sale, went to a really nice fundraiser for a friend and today I am trying to continue the organizing and purging.  

Queen's Loot

    I did say this blog would be a tribute to Marie all month......I didn't say I would get distracted by all the other parties in blogland.  I love blog surfing and checking out other blogs during the parties.  The talent in blogland is amazing.  I want to thank everyone who voted for my craft space as the messiest---we all lost our enthusiasm when we saw one space had over 3,000 votes.  I appreciate all of your efforts and honestly every time I saw all of those messy spaces I didn't feel so bad about my space.  I am still purging and cleaning out.  I have scheduled a garage sale for this weekend for sure.  The weather sounds perfect for this weekend.  Right now the weather is just like the Monet image on my sidebar.....it is foggy and the trees still are bare.

It is great weather to price and put together boxes to be sold for my garage sale.  I do love to have a garage sale.  After the garage sale I would like to send some of the paper decorations to my blog readers who leave me comments as a thank you.  If you like something let me know with a comment.......and you never know.....I am in a giveaway mood and my 100th post is coming.  I plan on giving to my regular readers, so you have about 10 more posts to leave me comments to let me know what you like and for me to get to know you better.    I have put a few things in my Etsy shop and the theme will be changed for May---so now you see it and in May you won't.  

Mermaid Party

     I am joining Lisa Kettell's mermaid tea party today.  Did you ever hear of sea glass?--after reading some books and hearing about festivals I learned some people refer to it as mermaid tears or fairy glass---I don't, but I feel there is something magical about sea glass.  I joined two sea glass collector groups in the last month.  The groups inspired me to think of why I collect sea glass.  I think you know by now I do like to collect and have to narrow it down sometimes.  For me the joy of collecting sea glass has been:  I will think something like "I haven't found any blue glass in a while" and what do you know a few steps later there will be the most beautiful cobalt blue glass.  This doesn't happen all the time, but it happens and when it does it is magical.  It puts a big smile on my face and I just feel no matter what is going on in my life everything is going to be just fine.  One group made me think back to a week back about two years ago.....each day I ended up having  a theme---I need to find where I wrote it down--I can only remember one day......I like to find blue and green glass the most---one day I had a pocket full of clear glass and it was a day like today----a beautiful crisp blue skied clear day.  I got home and started writing.....how it was a clear day and I found nothing but clear glass....as I was writing Rachel Ray was on and Donny Osmond was her guest...she was giddy---I was giddy--he was my big crush growing up (I wore purple socks for years and Marie and I share the exact b-day)  and he just made an album of classics.  He sings "On a Clear Day".  I was by myself, but I was smiling ear to ear.  Magic---I tell you!  I hope to journal more about my finds on the beach and the beauty of blogging is a couple of years from now I will know exactly where to find what I wrote down.  Enjoy your mermaid travels......I am off to do some mermaid surfing to the mermaid party myself.

Mood Board Party

     Welcome to my Mood Board party!!!!!!  I am a little early--the party is actually Saturday!!!!  I thought maybe this would give you a chance to join in.  The button on the sidebar will get you there---easier than a yellow brick road.  When I first started to blog my inspiration board looked like the second from the top.  Then I went to Silver Bella and had plenty of inspiration and I was so happy it was all there to look at all the time.  I thought of my favorite passions--reading the magazines and books--Where Women Create and decorating seasonally--I decided to combine the two and use my mood board as my banner(header).  I love to do this.  I have to admit I don't know whether it is the weather or my own mood, but I try to set goals.  This month I was going to do a Marie Antionette board and it never happened.  It is still Spring, so I figure my banner is OK for now.  Hopefully I will get a lot of encouragement for my boards and it will motivate me to do a new one.  Because, right now, I am feeling very blah, pink, green and not very inspired.   With your kind words I hope to be motivated to make a new board, soon!!!!

How does pink and green feel?

      I don't know but that is how I feel.  I don't feel blue......I feel pink and green.  Above are my sneak peeks.  I have to make this post shorter than I thought.  We are in the middle of scholarship applications and the list goes on....I will post again when I am feeling less pink and green and a little more focused.

Easter Wishes

      As we embrace a Holiday full of rejoicing and New Beginnings may we celebrate what is important to us.  The air finally feels like Spring.....may it warm your hearts.  Good Friday has always been a day of reflection for me--and I will be doing just that.  I will be celebrating Easter Sunday with my family.  No cooking---yea!  Enjoy your Easter holiday or Passover and your Spring break if you have one.  Happy Easter!!!!!!!!!!

Confessions of a bedroom crafter

Ok---I have been blogging since November---I am ready to confess this is my Craft space looking from my bedroom (I know I know my poor husband).  We might be showing our house soon to rent or sell.  I need to make some changes.  I need help!!!!!!!!!  I entered a contest it is at http://www.scrapboxusa.com for the messiest craft space.  You can go there once a day everyday until 4/22.  When you get to the site hit the skip info button then hit the craftbox giveaway button.....hit on the cast your vote now! button and vote for #46.  The person with the most votes wins not the messiest.  Vote for #46!!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!  It would be great, because we will probably be moving to something smaller and I am still going to need to craft (probably more then ever when I am an empty nester.
The stacking trays on the left I purchased recently to organize all my printing paper---I have to work on it more and label which is sticker paper, copy paper, cardstock etc.
I haven't touched this side of the room yet.  Except for changing my inspiration board for Spring.  I will start purging again soon when I get the courage.
This is the hoosier cabinet I was able to take about half of it's contents out.  It was heart wrenching, though.  I was able to go through my projects and throw away all my little scraps.  I have a hard time throwing them out.  I did fill about 3 boxes all together full of supplies to sell at my garage sale(was supposed to have this weekend, but the weather and the way I felt was awful). 
This is what I am working on now---the collage sheets are FREE!!!! from Cassandra--the button is on the right and she is celebrating her birthday this week.  Hit the top Marie button and go over to wish her a Happy Birthday.  She is really generous with giveaways and these collage sheets--I love them!
So, this is what I have been up to lately.  I was able to find these canvas drawers for $2.99 each--I filled them pretty fast.  I am trying to empty hutches and will sell them when we decide to move definitely.  I did have fun organizing all the drawers and when we move I can carry them easily, by flipping them on their backs---they are nice and light.

The hunt has begun

This is what my eggs looked like when they left here.  Ok.......here comes Peter Cottontail hopping down the blogging trail........hippity blog hopping we go!!!!!!!!
I feel like the Dr. Suess book---Are you my mother?
I sent one for Viv--I don't know which one she kept--so I have all three pictured.
Did you find this egg in your mailbox?  The following eggs are what I found.
This egg looks like it was made especially for me--love the blue and white and the jeweled embellishments.
I love when I receive anything that is sewn for me..........I have trouble threading a needle---so I really appreciate every little bead sewn  on this egg.
Oh, I feel like I found the golden egg--I love the eggs I found---Now I am off to hop down the blogging trail to find my maker.

Shopping trip to Parcel

This was by the door when you first walked into Parcel.  I am so glad I took a picture.  When I got home I kept looking at the picture.  It is everything Spring and certainly brightened up a rainy April day.
I loved when Marlene first took this picture she said  "ooooh I was able to get Magic in the backround".  I love this shot.  It was great to hear in person all of the Magic---Lisa has up her sleeve. Hopefully she will be sharing the news with everyone soon.
Marlene, our Queen Bee of Creativity---is she the cutest or what?  There were lots of bees to pleeeeeeeze her.  
Zandra and Marlene peeking through all the ribbons,  I loved the paper lace and crocheted ribbon the best.
     What a bunch of happy girls.  We finished up shopping and the salesgirl was so nice, she even took a photo of us.  On the bottom is Ralene, starting on the left is Lisa, Zandra, Marlene, Joan and me.  Not only did I get to share a fun shopping experience with them, but I get to share if with you too.  Luckily you can order off the internet and not be too jealous.

Get your sparkle on

     I am lucky---I went to leave a comment on Amber's blog and I won her giveaway.  She is very generous and holds a giveaway every other Monday.  She is doing another sprarkly giveaway this week.  As I was writing the title of the book I thought wow--it almost correlates with my word for 2009--SHINE then I read the caption on top of the page.  It says:  Create and wear the gems that make you SHINE---do you believe it?  These are affirmations for me--I am the right road---where I am going I don't know--but, I am having fun trying to get there.

     I have not seen my issue of Marie, yet.  But, my friend Zandra did buy one in a store and ordered one from Somerset----so I at least know I will have an issue and not run to Barnes and Noble and find one that carries it.  I am having a lot of fun visiting all the sites featuring Marie.  I learn something new everyday.  Today is a good day--it is raining and miserable, but I am meeting up with the tea ladies for a trip to Montclair to a store called Parcel and dinner out--yea.  Running out of leftovers from the party.  TGIF!!!!!!

Celebrating Marie

     Listening to the news today--our President Obama meeting the Queen of England--and me celebrating the life of the Last Queen of France Marie Antionette.......how different life has become since that time.  One of the biggest changes is our country exsisting and being based on We the people and France is more about the people now too.  I hope we don't depend too much on our leaders to make our economic problems go away.  I say to our people buy American---buy homemade!!!!!  Or how about Stay calm eat a cupcake........Most of all I hope we can all keep the faith and hope for Better Days.

     The Marie parties on the buttons on the right sidebar are not disappointing.  They are a wealth of interesting information on jewelry and fashion of Marie Antionette.  I added a new button with a cupcake to Cassandra's site.  She gaveaway a free collage sheet yesterday with cupcakes and Marie images---very generous.  I printed mine on sticker paper already and will use them in my crafting today.

     Cassandra guided us also to four very talented women who spanned the world with a Marie round robin book featured in the new somerset Marie magazine.  They are also featuring giveaways.  Ginny,  Pretty Petals, Holly Doodle,  and Natasha Burns.  They have some beautiful pictures of the book and great stories to go with it.

     

As I make each one of these Marie Antionettes the last one I make becomes my new favorite.  I just downloaded the last one in my etsy shop making for a total of ten wall hangings.  My friend just told me she got her hands on the new Marie magazine by Somerset, so at least I will be savoring it soon.  I am enjoying visiting the Marie Blog parties on the side bar.  I will be featuring some Marie information later in the month.  I have a miserable cold right now and am just enjoying reading everyone elses posts and seeing the art work featured in the magazine.  I am so impressed with all the work I have seen already.  It really was an ornate time during history.  It was the height of glamour---nothing else has ever compared to their way of life.  I ended up taking 18th century literature in college and was surprised how much I enjoyed it.  I love when art correlates with life.  The decorative arts at the time were a direct reflection of how life was for the rich at the time---lots of gold and glitter.  Not what I am all about, but I truly admire it.