PIF Exchange

Thought I'd post one of my mini-alters for The Day of the Dead. Luckily, I live on the border so I have access to lots of cool stuff. My mother's wonderful cleaning lady brings me things from Juarez, and this week I'm going to ask her for a couple of more sugared skulls. I wish I could go over, but there's just too much killin' going on there...the drug lords and their merry group of criminals are having a great time killing many right now, and just too many innocent people are in the wrong place at the wrong time. So far it hasn't spilled over here, but give it time.

One of the members of a Yahoo group I'm involved in started a PIF exchange and it's sounds like lots of fun, so I'm passing on the fun to you too. Here's how it works, I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this exchange. I'm not quite sure what my gift will be, maybe a little muerto doll or a piece of my silly jewelry, and I promise you will receive it by the end of the year. The only thing you have to do in return is play it forward by making the same promise on your blog, "This will be like a seed of abundance of creativity that will bloom in many wonderful works of art."

Ok, let's start playing...who will the 3 be???

Wonderful Week

Here are two of my little pumpkins I made for my Halloween display. I began painting little pumpkins a few years ago after getting the idea from one of the grocery stores that sold painted pumpkins that quite frankly, were just too ugly in my opinion. They're fun to make and really quite low maintenance. The only sad thing is that they don't last too long, so they're just a temporary little piece of the season....tear!

Had a great week and looking forward to more of it. Lunched with my good friend and her BFF...had sushi. She's having problems with her mother (her mother and I went to high school together) and my friend needed some advise. I'm her crazy older, oldest friend and she sometimes needs a little perspective and I'm just the gal to do it!! Afterward, I called my daughter and told her to thank her lucky stars she has a mother like me!!!! Don't get me wrong, her mother is a love, but she's not my mother, thank God!

Going to a Dia de los Muertos party on Saturday and I can't wait. Guess who I'm dressing up as....LA LLORONA, of course. I already bought my make-up and I have plenty of clothes for dress-up. I'm still debating if I should buy one of those stupid wigs, but my head will be covered with a shawl. Oh well, not a big problem, it's going to be fun!

This Thursday I'm having lunch with another young friend. The reason I have all these young friends is that I went back to college and graduated 3 years ago at 53, so all these youngsters were my class buddies, actually studio buddies, when attending college. Anyway, she is also very special to me because I met her when I began my studio courses in art and she had just graduated from high school starting out as a frosh. I haven't seen her since her bridal shower 3 years ago but we talk on our birthdays, we share the same birthday Feb. 1, but she's 30 years younger!! Anyway, in those 3 years, she married had a baby and now divorced. Sad thing is that the ex-husband and his mother ran off with their son and she hasn't seen the little boy in almost 2 years....very sad. She has been working with police and has a private eye on the case, but so far no sign of where that jerk is, was last seen in Albuquerque, NM, but the case went cold after that. Just keep her in your prayers and hope she will be reunited with her baby boy soon.

Well, signing off now...still have some things to say, but will leave that for another time. Peace out!

My New Lifestyle

Here is a pic of my breakfast from this morning. Looks good, right? Well, it was if it were a friggin' sample plate. The pancakes were quite good, but the sausage reminded me of bad breath, that is, the taste of bad breath....blah!!! It's one of those veggie meat substitutes; I'd rather have eat grass!!!! The entree is called "Silver Dollar Pancakes" well they couldn't have given it a better name, the pancakes were the size of silver $$'s! An ant could starve to death on this!!

My husband and son went to a friend's house for a cookout and watch the local college football game being televised. I had to back out because my discipline just isn't where it should be and I'm afraid I'd give in...bratwurst, homemade potato salad, fresh rolls and homemade cake and pie. If that doesn't put me in a foul mood, I just don't what will!!! LOL Anyway, for now I must stay focused because I'm tired of lugging around this extra whale blubber.

Well, it's time for me to head back into the kitchen and enjoy my Jenny Craig Pot Stickers and a trough of salad.

Icon Doll

Thought I'd post a picture of my Icon Doll. Chaska had this great online class on icon dolls and this is what I finally came up with even if it's a bit out there, but then I'm a bit out there! Her name is "Malina y El Cacahuate." I just love her and now have her in my living room, placed on my Mexican chicken cage; she really lites up the room with all that colour. I'm planning on making another one for my sister for Christmas, but first have to get her reaction when she comes for a visit next month. She just moved into a her new house and I don't know what direction she's going to take with her decor. She is keeping her same furniture, so this would match her set, but who knows.

Today is a free day with nothing happening except doing some work in the studio. I'm hoping to complete a couple of bracelets for my nieces for Christmas. They'll be coming for Thanksgiving so I want to just hand over the gifts rather than ship. I'm working with Shrinky Dink and it's a whole new experience for me. I've never used the stuff, so I'm doing some experimenting. I have some great Dia de los Muertos rubber stamps and will be having fun with those today on the shrink plastic.

I started Jenny Craig on Monday and my life sucks!!! I just couldn't lose the poundage on my own and I had to take drastic action. My sister's on the Dr. Siegel cookie diet, my daughter is on some weird New Age thing (told her if she was going to have to go through colonic cleansing to at least tell them to buy her dinner!!!) and I'm doing the "spend mucho $$ on Lean Cuisines. Actually, I was on Jenny Craig back in '92-93 and it worked. I was able to keep the weight off until menopause, then the waistline, became a wasteland. No one asks me when the blessed one is due because I'm a bit mature looking for that, so it's just surmised I'm FAT!! Well, I'm back on it and hope this will be it for me.

Have you seen the fat broad section at the department stores???? OMG, the clothes are just like the skinny clothes except there's much more fabric in the making. Because of my wide hips, I was always taught never to wear horizontal lines.....EVER!!! But there they are and short skirts...mirrors, ladies, mirrors!!!!

Well, I'm off to have my Jenny blueberry muffin with 1/2 a fruit and an 8oz. glass of milk....bona ape tit!!!

The Craft Whore

One day I was bored (a rare day) and just running through some videos on YouTube, I came across the "Craft Whore." " Well, I don't remember laughing so hard, so I've been following her videos since then. She has a group of crazy friends who perform with her equally as funny. I can't seem to find her website I book marked, but she's easy to find, just Google the "craft whore."

I've included a couple of my favorite videos on my blog, so just go down beneath the bookshelf and there you'll find her. Enjoy!!!

Thanks

First of all, I want to introduce you to the Brothers Bob. They're fraternal triplets sharing one body, but don't tell them that; each one thinks he's in charge. Sometimes, we all feel we're in control, but life has a way of tapping us on the shoulder and letting us know, "it ain't so!" Wow, can't you tell it's a Monday???!??

I want to thank those of you who commented and left me your blog/websites to post. I'm hoping more of you will participate. I want everyone who visits my blog to enjoy those on the list and discover what I have discovered, what a bunch of wonderful, talented, creative people out there and awfully nice too!

Today is my anniversary...married 7 years. This is my second and I'm his 4th!! When we met, on that first date, he told me about his wives ("Ok, Henry the 8th!") and all I wanted to do was RUN!!!!! After all I was just 2 blocks from my apartment, but since he picked me up, he knew where I lived. Well, the courtship went on for 2 years...I wanted to make sure this was the one. I also had a made a promise to my son that I would stay put till he graduated from middle school. My son, Ian, is autistic and doesn't do well with huge changes, so I had 2 years to ease him in. Anyway, my husband, Vern, is the warmest, kindest, most loving man I've ever known. Sometimes I wonder what the heck I was doing with the other one for 25 years!!! LOL Oh well, he did me the favour by saying bye-bye.

So what are we going to do tonight, you wonder? Have a nice steak dinner, salad, sour cream and cheese smashed potatoes and homemade apple pie I made during the weekend. After that, watch our favorite television shows and after that....don't know!!!! hehehe!!

Well, need to run. Taking my mom out to do her grocery shopping. We can't leave my father for too long, he is no longer able to walk, so he needs some tending. Have a great Monday. Peace out.

Oops

For some reason, my little lady didn't come out in the preceding post. Oh well, here she is.

Muerto Art & Other Stuff

Thought I'd post of few of my creations I've been working on for a dear friend who owns a
kitchen shop. She asked me to make kitchen witches, but instead, I've come up with KEETCHEN CREETERS. She also asked me to make some Dia De Los Muertos art and in keeping with the integrity of the subject, kitchen, I came up with something really funny. I was watching "Bones," of course, the other night and the idea hit me like a bolt of lightening, not that I've ever been hit by a bolt of lightening, but my idea hit me like a jolt or boom! I grabbed my sketch book and began making a few thumb nail drawings. The next day the ideas began flooding in (I keep making wet related metaphors...I guess the rain and thunder outside are controlling my verbiage)!!! The doll with the red polka dotted dress is actually an old napkin I received as a set at one of my wedding showers 38 years ago. The marriage didn't last, but the napkin did and was put to a good, creative use.

So hope you like my new stuff and leave comments, please. I can take it!! Need to get back into the studio since I've got lots of time today. My husband and son went to my stepdaughters new place to move her and her family. If they stay long enough, they'll just stay and watch the Cowboys game (my husband is a die hard Cowboy's fan, but as for me, "Quite frankly my dear...). I've got most of the day or afternoon if I don't off this thing. Just me, my art and the laundry!

Muerto Art

Thought I'd publish some of the muerto art I've been creating for a friend of mine. She has a kitchen shop and asked me to make some kitchen witches and Day of the Dead art for her. I decided I didn't want to do kitchen witches since they are so passe, so I created "Keetcheen Creeters" instead. My dolls turned out great! I even used a napkin I got as a set for my bridal shower 38 years ago. The marriage didn't last but the napkin's still around, so I put it to good use.

I had to think of how I was going to make the Muerto art and keep the integrity of the subject matter, that being "kitchen." One night I was watching "Bones," of course, and it hit me like lightening, not that I've ever been hit by lightening, but it's the only analogy I could come up with that sounds like a jolt or boom!!! Any who, I grabbed my sketch book and did a few thumb nails. As I began to create, the ideas just flooded in (hmm, I guess since it's raining outside, I keep coming up with wet related metaphors)!

Well, I'm going to get off this thing and get started on my other stuff in the studio. My husband and son our at my stepdaughters new place moving her and the family in and if it gets late enough and they're still there, they'll stay to watch the Cowboy game (my husband is a die hard Cowboy's fan, as for me, well, "Quite frankly, my dear...) giving me most of the day till around 6 this evening...yea!

Familia

Feeding my daughter Banana Pudding in abstencia

My Baby, Ian

Daughter Andria (in abstencia)

Mr. Happiness (Joel)

Well, here I go, I'm going to break one of my most precious rules, I'm going to post pictures of my children (none of pets so far...they have to do something extraordinary for that). I had a party for my 2 boys this past weekend and if I say so myself, it was a success, of course there were only a few family members that came. It was nice to have an adult party....hadn't had one of those in a while. The food was gooood as was the desert. My older son, Joel a.k.a Mr. Happiness, asked for Banana Pudding and my youngest, Ian, asked for rice pudding. Mission accomplished even though I had to go to Municipal Court for jury duty, for class C misdomeanor (traffic court???) on Friday (was planning on getting everything done for the party then). I got there, after having to deal with downtown morning traffic, parked across the street, fed the slot $4.35, walked across the street just to be told the case had been settled! I told the guy I had just fed the slot for parking and he just grinned and said "My bad," yea, well, "My bad" this!!! Anyway, I managed to do the right thing and told this poor woman who was circling the parking lot looking for a space that she could have mine, after all, it was paid. My only request was that she in turn do something nice for a stranger.

I then called the wife of my ex-husband, the other woman, and told her I was on my way to pick up Ian. She knew of my situation concerning jury duty and I told her what happened and even quoted a little Shakespeare....whoosh, over her head!! So I pick up Ian at O-dawn:30, he's barely awake, but was glad I got him early. He didn't want to have to go with his father and stepmother to watch them get their pedicures and manicures...oh my.

Took my 86 year old mother to visit her sister, my 90 year old aunt, and they reminisced about their youth when they would visit relatives in Northern Mexico during the summers. It was fun listening to them talk about dances and old beaus. I know these little visits will be a thing of the past soon, but while I can, I'll make sure there will be many more visits for them.


Well need to run now. Was able to talk my hubby into taking me out. Wasn't that hard actually, just told him I didn't want to make dinner tonight so he was taking me out!!