I'm convinced it's a sickness

I know only crafty people will understand me when I say this......Do you ever find yourself out shopping in gift shops or wherever and you see something cute and you say to yourself " I can make that?"  I've come to the realization that even though I could make it....do I really want to make everything?  I mean, when is this sickness going to end? It is fun to be crafty, but it can also be tiring to try to make everything. I mean if it's a couple dollars I've just decide I am going to buy the darn thing.  I love love love to make everything.  I love to make wall quotes out of vinyl, I love to make jewelry, coozies, pillows, paint on glass..you name it, I'll do it.  I love to make gifts.  Above is the last thing I made as a gift. I saw it in a store and thought..." I can make this." So I bought acrylic paint and then when I was done I stuck it in a cool oven and set the temp. at 325 degrees for 30 min.  What this does is it cures the paint. you can only hand wash these.  It saved me whatever it would cost in the store and it was tons of fun.  However, I will say this to all of you crafty ppl. out there......give yourselves a break and just buy the darn gift! ;) thought I'd share this with you.

Our Wedding Collage

Create your own digital collage

She's Crafty

I was asked tonight if I've always been this crafty.  My first response was, "no." Then I remembered when I was little how I loved to color.  All throughout high school I took art class.   I wasn't the greatest at drawing.  I think it was learning the process and working with different mediums that fascinated me the most.  Then I started making cards at my friend Amy's house.  She and I would make a mess on her bedroom floor designing cards for hours.  I love giving gifts and handmade cards.  I worked in a couple flower shops.  I love flowers. It was then when I learned how to design flower arrangements and corsages.  On Mother's day I usually pick the roses and black eyed susans out of my garden and some foliage to make corsages for my Mom and Mother-in Law.  I am always doing some kind of craft project.  Some time after my 21st birthday I walked into a jewelry shop.  I learned the basics of stringing beads, wire wrapping and attaching clasps.  After I learned how to make jewelry I decided to do craft shows.  One Christmas I got a glass bead making kit and a Cricut.  I mostly use the Cricut to make vinyl wall art work.  There is a lot you can put vinyl art on.  I like to put quotes on ceramic tiles to display on rod iron stands.  I've also made the monogrammed letters that you see on everyone's cars.  Devin bought me a kiln one Valentine's day so I could put my glass beads and wine bottles in.  I took a glass bead making class, so now I can make my own beads.  After making the beads you have to kiln anneal them so they are less likely to break.  Devin originally bought me the kiln so I could melt wine bottles into serving trays. I also took a class on how to make my own sterling silver jewelry out of PMC.  I've always loved making things.  So when asked if I've always been this crafty, I should have said, "yes."

Bead Heaven

Dontcha just hate when you drop beads and can't find them? Unless I see where the bead falls, I will never find it.  I have carpet in my art room and the beads tend to weasel their way into hiding.  I hate to vacuum my art room because I can hear the beads (the ones I couldn't find) being sucked up. Beads are expensive! I know I'm not alone when I say they've gone to bead heaven. Kinda like the whole sock thing.....when you can't find the matching pair. You might as well give up...there is a sock heaven too.  Anyways....I dropped a crystal this morning and that's why I am writing this blog.  I will try to blog more often...especially to keep you posted on my upcoming shows in September.