Happy Thanksgiving

In getting ready for Thanksgiving I went to every grocery store in my neighborhood today. Every single one, and the only things I'm making is a pumpkin cheesecake, green bean casserole, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. But our supermarkets are small here, and I was missing ingredients at each one. Now finally, I am back home baking away, and it smells delicious in here. Hopefully those muffins will make it to their intended destination, which is my sister-in-laws table. I have a lot to be thankful for this year, and I hope you do to. Here's to feeling all full, warm and fuzzy tomorrow. Happy Turkey Day.

Handmade Gifts

I made this little collage with one of my nephews in mind. It's not finished yet, and after working on so many different collage techniques in class, I actually have some new ideas for it. It looks really sweet in an Ikea Ribba frame.

Homework

Our assignment this week was to do a collage about winter. We had to use photo collage as our technique (images from magazines or books). I decided on the iconic image of the red cardinal atop a snowy branch. I tried to let myself be messy, and quick in my decision of how to cut the shapes or glue them down. Messy and quick is hard for me, but this was actually fun. I'm going to be using birds for an upcoming project, so this was good practice.

Things I've done, things I haven't done

I saw this on Amy's blog. You are supposed to bold the things you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does playing in Central Park count? I was the egg shaker.)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (for a day when I was 9, not the same)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (does Thai Chi count?)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury!
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Homework

Our assignment this week was to make a collage of a memory. I decided on the memory of sailing with my Grandpop as my theme. My Grandpop loved to sail. His boat was in the Chesapeake Bay, and we took many trips on it. I loved hanging my legs over the side, and having the waves crash up on them. Later, when I was older, Grandpop let me man the rudder. The skies were blue, the sails blew open, and the smiles were wide.

Holiday Cheer

We have a new tableware set at Joann's Fabrics that would be perfect for a Holiday cocktail party.

Homework

Our assignment this week was to illustrate the nursery rhyme 'Hey Diddle Diddle' as a children's book spread, in fabric. I went a little off assignment. I used the characters from the nursery rhyme, and I used fabric, but I decided to make a mobile. I had so much fun working on this. I even learned some new stitches thanks to some great videos I found on the web. Now I'm ready to blanket stitch anything. I had a really great time working on the little characters, and the little dish and spoon really make me smile with their skinny little legs. The better to run away with.
*As soon as I find a blank wall in our apartment I'm going to take a better picture.

Holidays Underfoot

I am so excited to let you know that we are in a new product category - rugs. So far, all of our artwork has been on paper; greeting cards, gift bags, paper plates, etc. But we have now officially moved onto other surfaces, and it is very exciting. Home Comfort makes really fun throw rugs, and they have produced two of our Holiday Rugs, which will be available January 2009.

Candyland

It's never too early to start planning for the holidays, right? Well, it's a little early, but I am very excited to share this design with you.
Will you be hosting a kids holiday party? This tableware set could be perfect for you. Sweet tarts and gum drops abound while an adorable penguin hugs his favorite holiday treats, the sweeter the better.

Leaf Peepin' Trips

We recently took a couple of great leaf peepin' trips. The first was to New Paltz and the Mohonk Mountain House. This resort holds a special place in my heart, as it is where we got engaged. It was by the lily pond, on a bright sunny day. Mohonk is a perfect fall destination. The views are wonderful from any point on the grounds, and if you hike all the way up to their lookout tower, you can see 5 states.

Our second trip was to Woodstock, where we stayed at The Wild Rose Inn, and went to Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble. This was a Birthday surprise for John, that turned out not to be a surprise, but was still amazing. I think one of the best things about living in the Northeast is enjoying the four seasons, and although Spring and Fall seem much too short, they are a wonderful time of the year.

I've Been Tagged!

I was just tagged by the talented Miss Kate of Kate Honarvar Designs. We started our adventure in the licensing world together, and I love that we've been able to cheer each other on.

Now I have to come up with 7 things about myself that you all out there don't know about me, and then tag 7 other people.

1. My nickname in grade school was Vger.

2. I have way too much Britney Spears on my iPod, but come on, it's great for running.

3. I used to be addicted to Fritos Corn Chips (original or BBQ) and can still taste them when I look at the packaging, but I don't go near them now.

4. I can jump on a pogo stick and walk on stilts.

5. I like to make piles; paper piles, book piles, clothes piles. I am not naturally organized.

6. I used to brush my eyebrows straight up in high school (senior year specifically). I'm not sure why I thought it was a good idea, and why none of my girlfriends stopped me, but my senior year portrait will forever be proof of that beauty blunder.

7. The bottoms of my feet are VERY wrinkly. I like to think that's where all of my wrinkles will end up. My feet may look 70, but my face still looks fresh ; )

Here are some inspiring artists that I'm passing the TAG to:
1. Aimee Sicuro
2. Crystal Kluge
3. Jannie Ho
4. Holli Conger
5. Ellen Crimi-Trent
6. BJ Lantz
7. Jennifer E. Morris