Lets talk about journals.....

I love journals. Love to keep my own (although I never seem to finish one before I begin another), love to read other peoples. I am completely facinated by the concept of a journal. There are some new and very exciting books being published right now about journals. First off is the 1000 journals project. I just bought the book and am going to bring it to ArtFest because someguy, the author, is going to be there to sign them!! Love seeing all the excerpts of the journal pages and there's even some stitched pages (like the leaves below). How'd they do that!?! So cool!Also just bought Wide Open: Inspriation and Techniques for Art Journaling on the Edge. This comes with a deck of cards that on one side has a journal page by the author and on the other side a prompt or inspiration for journaling. It also comes with a handy little notebook for carrying around and journaling in. I like that it already has paint and colllage splattered on the pages, reminds me of Sabrina's journal starter book The True and the Questions - one of my favorite journal books of all time. Keeps you from being intimidated by the blank page.Coming in June is Keri Smith's new book Wreck this Journal and she's already launced an amazing interactive site about it. Check it out here!!! Keri is an absolute genius!!

Many of you have asked if I'm going to have a journal at ArtFest, like I did for Silver Bella. Absolutely!! I'm bringing a few, actually. I have no idea what to expect from ArtFest in general, so I'm bringing a little of this and a little of that and hope for the best! Here is my bare bones journal. Same style I did for Silver Bella and that worked perfectly. I just folded sheets of 6x12" double sided scrapbook paper in half and tied ribbon around the middle. Lots of fun colors and the ArtFest 2007 logo on the front. Should have plenty of room for doodling, autographs and bits of this and that:)

P.S. Less than 48 hours until the Spring Fling Tea Party!!! I've got lots of goodies planned and even a craft for us all to do:) The fun begins right here on Wednesday morning. For details about how you can participate, see this post!

Oh so pretty...

When I saw all these gorgeous packages that came in the mail they were almost too pretty to open. Just they way they were wrapped was a gift in itself. I just can't say enough about the goodies that are for sale at Little Pink Studio's etsy shop. I don't know where Cerri gets her goods, but they are wonderful. Check out these German Easter and bird paper images. I can't stop staring at them. They are just wonderful. I can't wait to use them in my spring projects.

Also bought her adorable vintage-inspired Easter basket kit and some tickets hand stamped with birds. Wonderful goodies from a fabulous gal!

Now for the truly awe inspiring swaps that I received...
This beeaaauuutiful canvas banner is by Karin, ms CreativeChaos. I had to giggle, because I gushed and gushed about the work she was giving away in a drawing on her blog. She said not to worry and she meant it. Stunning!
This mosiac egg in a nest is just amazing. Michelle, aka Mosaic queen you truly outdid yourself:) I'm speechless!

Angela of Norththreads made this totally unique and funky domino necklace. She also added in a really cool gingham peg bag (I will probably use it for pens). Wow...thanks so much!

The lovely little goodie bag with the oh-so-clever foam birdie is from Linda.

Long neck lady Sue did this wonderful canvas collage with a page from The Country Bunny.

Tricia Stirling also did a collage on canvas. Love the funky birds and the color is gorgeous! All of this amazing artwork I've been receiving truly means the world to me. A huge THANK YOU to everyone. Sure feels like spring in my humble abode... it's just around the corner!!

Tea Party Inspiration....

I'm really excited that so many of you are going to join me for my tea party here on Wednesday the 21st. I was on flickr and found some fabulous inspiration. See more of my favorites here. I think it's going to be really fun for us all to "meet" one another and mingle.

Have a great weekend!!

I was out estate saleing mid-week. Something I never do, but I think I'm still on a high from my $8 bag event last weekend. I also got my partner for Jenny's Vintage Kitchen Swap and it's none other than one of my very fave artists, Lauren Mumford! Woohoo:) We immediately began emailing each other back and forth giddy with excitement about what to keep our eye out for each other. I did find a few goodies for Lauren and of course came away with something for myself as well. I've been brainstorming how I'm going to keep everything straight at ArtFest. I am going to have quite a bit of art supplies with me, a bag with all my trades and a bag for the trades I will recieve. So I picked up this cute little "purse" with felt butterflies on it thinking that it could carry some supplies. I love it...and love that it only cost me $1!! I came home and had a package from none other than Pam Garrison with a vintage ledger book in it to use for my class with her at ArtFest called What Lies Inside. Ok, now I'm really getting excited!!

A fun little project....

I made these little hanging banners with some recent pictures of my kids and some fun vintage supplies. The hand with the flowers is from Linda Harre. I ordered the bird below from her etsy shop. I just love it! When I saw these adorable hangers that came with Jenni Bowlin's project kit this month, I couldn't resist! Love her style.

Two weeks from today I leave for ArtFest!! I can't believe it's actually going to happen...and soon! I registered in July and have thought about going for years. I am so very excited! I've been trying to get my supplies together and need to make heaps more of my trades. My dear art friend Cassondra is going to pick me up from the airport and we're staying in the dorm together. Can't wait to actually meet her in person!! If you're going to ArtFest let me know, I want to make sure to meet all my blogging buddies in the flesh. Maybe I need to wear a shirt that says ArtsyMama...don't you think?

An abundance of spring at my doorstep...

What a wonderful response to my tea party invitation!! I cannot wait to see you all here on the 21st for some fabulous festivities! I'm excited to see what surprises you will have on your blogs for your visiting friends. What a way to usher in the first day of spring!! See post below (March 12th) for more details... I've continued to be absolutely giddy by the **amazing** artwork that is showing up in my mailbox. The gorgeous birdy above is by Dawn. Love the color combination!!

This party hat is by the wonderfully whimsy Melfie.
This vintage-inspired Welcome Spring banner now hangs in my front window. It was created by Michelle. Gorgeous!
This truly amazing frayed rose sits perfectly a top a vintage saucer. Miz Smoochie Lips created it and has a tutorial on her blog here. Amazing!

Wonderful Bonnie in South Africa sent this beautiful handmade bag and the little chicks below. Love the hot pink handle!
You really can't get much cuter than this little guy by Jenny (Ms Polka Dot Pixie). He is so cheery, I can't help but smile every time I look at him!
Daisy made this whimsy little man peeking out from behind his mushroom. So cute!! Thank you all very, very much for the amazing swaps! I am humbled and honored to own a piece of your art. Thanks for bringing spring into my home:)

It's a party!

Ever since starting my blog, I have always hoped and dreamed about having a tea party with all of my blog friends. How fun would it be to sit down together and let our creative minds converge. Imagine the conversations we would have! Well, I’ve decided on the next best thing…EVERYONE is invited..spread the word!

Spring Fling (virtual) Tea Party

at ArtsyMama’s “house”

Wednesday, March 21st

This is how it will work. On Wednesday the 21st, nine days from now, around 9 am CST I will post here, signaling the beginning of the party, here on my blog! Show up whenever you can, whatever time zone you’re in. This allows for everyone to stop by at some point that day. If you want to come (and please do, the more the merrier!) all you have to do is post something tea related on your blog on THAT DAY. If you don’t have a blog, send me the post and I’ll post it here. Ideas for your post include anything you might contribute to the party (food, tea, cups, teapots, etc.), you in your party outfit, a tea related collection or art, or a story about your favorite tea drinking experience. Once you’ve posted, please leave me a comment on that day and I will then add a link to your site on my tea party post. Then other participants can visit your blog, you'll meet lots of new friends and the party will be smashing!

After the huge score I got yesterday (see last post) on vintage china, I will have plenty for you all to join me. I will have lots of treats and plenty of eye candy! You can wander around my house and take a look at all the amazing spring swap goodies I've been recieving. We may even do a spring craft together. You’ll just have to show up HERE and see!

Will you join me to usher in the new season with some tea and festivities? Hope so! When you comment here, please let me know what country (and state, if applicable) you are in so we can see how far everyone is "traveling". Thanks:)

What can you get for 8 dollars?

Today the answer is A LOT!! I hit the estate sale of all estate sales. I went yesterday and got some really fun vintage stuff. A gorgeous hand embroidered and crocheted table cloth, some china and other goodies. I went back today because they had such good prices and there were a few things I had my eye on. I was wandering around when a man announced, "folks, we're going to start the bag sale now...everything is included...fill a bag for $8!" I grabbed a bag and literally went to town!!! Here in Minnesota, there are estate sales every weekend somewhere in the twin cities area. On the second day of the sale, they usually mark things down 50% off for anything under $50 and 30% off anything over $50. Then sometimes at the very end of the sale they let you fill a bag for a specified amount of money. I haven't been at a sale at the right time to do this for quite some time (years, I would say). Today was the day and it happened to be a sale with TONS of goodies. So I packed my brown, paper grocery bag to the brim, hoping that it wouldn't rip! Here's what I crammed in there.....all for eight dollars!!!

Believe it or not, I also fit a vintage silver teapot and creamer and a bunch of other little old knick knacks in there. What a day!!!!

More spring surprises...

Spring, glorious spring, continues to arrive in my mailbox each day! Mother nature seems to be heeding the call as well. The weather has been in the 40's here in Minnesota (what we consider mild) and is just delightful! The treasures this week have been so colorful, I can't help but feel some spring fever! The whimsy tag above is by Becky Novacek. I am doing the happy dance here because she now has an etsy shop.This gorgeous beeswax covered ornament above is by Cari Kraft. She is doing her own spring swap. Stop on over and maybe you can join in! This lovely nest ornament is by Julie. She enclosed it in a baggie full of feathers so that I can feather my own nest:)This adorable purple fuzzy chenille brooch is by sue sue. Oh how I love chenille:) Absolutely fantastic ladies!!! Thank you. So now a spring surprise for ALL of YOU! Stay tuned Monday for a very special invitation....here's a hint!

Everyday is a holiday...

Everyday really IS a holiday around here lately. Or so you'd think, by the mail I've been getting! The spring goodies keep streaming in. This tag, nest and egg combo by Carol really put a smile on my face. LOVE the materials and the colors she used. Fabulous!


This little mini landscape creation by Debbie looks like its belonged in its mossy home (see yesterdays post) from day one. She made the eggs and mushrooms out of polymer clay. They look so real. Amazing work!
This tiny little spring book with wonderful quotes and stamps arrived all the way from Jennie in the Isle of Man. Absolutely beautiful!!!


When I stopped in at ArtsyTartsy (a local scrapbook store) the other day, I was talking with Bonnie. She was commenting on the amazing art I had been recieving for the swap. She said it must be so fun to display it all over my house and that she would love to see it. I told her it would be really fun to have some sort of a spring tea party at my home. She thought that sounded great! It's been in the back of my mind ever since. Then when I recieved a copy of the new Adorn magazine, there it was... an entire article spewing with lovely, colorful, cheery tea party charm!


Then today I got a copy of marie clair idees magazine from my French pal Violette. Some inspiring ideas here as well. I cannot wait for the latest issue of Home Companion to hit the newsstands. There's a whole feature on the amazing scrapbook store sweetpeas and snapshots. Take a sneak peek at some of the wonderful eye candy here. Swoon!

Stay tuned for more news about a tea party at ArtsyMama's house!! Since I know most of you do not live in Minnesota, maybe we'll have to do a virtual tea party as well:)