Helloooo and happy creative Sunday

t has been busy again. She took two different amber necklaces and one onyx bead necklace and made this necklace so far. She has more ideas and many pieces left over. She is on her 365 a piece a day project. I hope to keep her going. I really love that she takes my old jewels and re-vamps them into something I am excited to wear! We talked about other pieces for her to make. She is making earrings, bracelets and more necklaces. Very fun waiting to see what she does next! Stay tuned. . . .

I have one day off this week. Anyway, I got some chores done and some small projects done so I can sew. I originally made the folding screen that is separating the kitchen from the living room to use at my bedroom door for privacy. I don't like to close my bedroom door especially in the summer because it blocks our cross ventilation. I came up with all sorts of ideas but the easiest and least expensive is to make a short curtain that hangs by a tension bar. That is my sewing project today. I love the fabric that I got last week for 40 o/o off! It is a fabric that looks good on either side. One side is coppery-gold and the "right" side is a soft turquoise paisley pattern.

Creative abounds . . . .

I am a buzz with creative thoughts and ideas! I went back to Joann's Fabric on Tuesday after work to see if there were more patterns I was interested in while they were still on sale. . . and there was! Like I said when I was there before I did not prepare ahead or have much time there. I got 4 clothing patterns! I looked at all the fabrics on sale and got very inspired. Finally I dug around the Home Decoration remnants and found two fabrics to make purses out of . They were 70 0/0 off regular price. I got these lovely fabrics for about $7.00 a yard. Home Dec fabric is usually $20. and up per yard. Actually they were less than than! I bought 4 patterns at 99 cents each, the 2 yards of fabric (one at 24.99 and the other 34.99 - 70 percent off) and yard of the iron on lining 1.99 a yard that was 1/2 off. My total was 14.00 - less than 1 of the patterns regular price. I am pretty stoked to get rolling! I hope to sew and bike Sunday.

Saturday is for the ladies. Auntie She She and I are taking a bunch of jewels to t to show her for possibly re-making for me. I love "recycling" jewls! I am still glowing with pleasure from the pieces she made me last. It is like jewel christmas!

After we are done at t's She She (or Shesh as I now call her for short) and I will go junk store exploring and bargain hunting. When we are done we will hit Mom's 5 Star rehab to show her our prizes and visit. I will also take my sewing prizes to show and watch her wince at upcoming work. :)

Go forth and create!

Keeping it rolling

Yesterday I went to the big sale at Joann Fabrics. They have all Simplicity patterns for 99 cents! So you understand the magnitude of this sale the three patterns I got were normally $14.95 and $15.95 each! I wanted to look more but had to go meet my mom at her house. This morning she had her last replacement surgery. I may go back later today to see what is left. I have so many ideas running through my head - it's sooo cool! Looked at fabrics there and later at Mill End (smaller one in Beaverton) and got the creative juices flowing but did not purchase any. I am really enjoying the thought process and all the possibilities flowing through my Creative Moo brain!

Mom is doing well so far. She is still in recovery but the doc is pleased at how the surgery it went. In a few days she will be feeling so much better than she has in a long time! There was not much left of that hip socket. Just moving around was a chore and very painful.

The great (and creative) t!

My wonderful friend t has made me some beautiful jewelry pieces! I had the vintage black glass beads that I wanted re-worked. I met her at the Gem Faire last fall to hang out and look at pretties but ended up falling for the copper colored pearls! I bought them and sent the lot home with her. The above photographs are the result of her handiwork. She makes such wonderful pieces! I am excited to wear some this weekend at my dad's milestone birthday bash.

Please support someone in their creativity and check out her shop on Etsy and friend her on Facebook. Not only does she make wonderful jewelery she is a great friend. Kisses t!

I need to catch you up

I have had a lot going on this year already. I am helping my mom/parents get ready for my dad's 80th birthday/party, my mom's last replacement surgery (two days after) and my Auntie She She coming to visit for two months. She is going to help my mom after surgery. My mom is being pretty sensible but at the same time she is trying to get everything clean and organized for my dad and She She. That means I am helping every day after work or all day on days off for the last couple weeks. We have cleaned, sorted, framed and re-framed art, re-decorated and generally changed what my mom wanted to do. She could not do a lot of that with my dad because he does not have that artistic/creative side. It gets the other person to see things in a different light - refreshing. I'm glad I could be there for her and help. It is not fun to feel helpless and frustrated when you are injured.

In all the helping mom some decoration changed in my place. The couch my parents had in their family room is nice but it was too low for my mom to get up from. My parents decided to find a couch my mom is more comfortable with since she is having surgery. They found one they both liked so they asked if I wanted theirs. I said yes so that set in motion a day of moving couches. Once they replaced the couch that triggered a chain of decorating events. My mom got eight or so paintings back so we were re-arranging art until we ran out of room! That means I got some new paintings at my place! It has been lots of new looks at both places including fabric shopping, sewing, moving things and getting new. As the dust settles I have a new-to-me couch, a new coffee table/ottoman, art work, the pillows I re-covered in red, and a few treasures got from my mom and junking.

I was really tired last night after I finally got home around 8pm. (I got up at 5:30am and worked until 1pm.) I was up cleaning some new treasures from my junking and general mess before I gave up and went to bed. I slept for almost 12 hours but was tired when I got up! After coffee I started puttering, blogging, straightening, organizing and waiting to hear what my mom needed help with today. She called and said they were fine today but she wanted me to sew my pillows with the fabric that we got on our shopping trip after couch changing. My place was messy and I really wanted to be creative so it was great! I got them cut out, sewed and stuffed just need to hand sew them shut. I will finish that in the morning when it is light and I am fresh.

Before we go to the airport tomorrow to get She She we are going to IKEA to look at art lights but before that my parents are coming here to look at art placement. I think some need adjusted or moved or . . . ? It has been a busy but satisfying week. We will have some fun this next week before mummzy has surgery. The Geezers are on the move!

2011 is The Year of the Creative Moo - the Perfect Brainstorm

The Year of the Creative Moo - the Perfect Brainstorm
obsessive oblectation oligomania

Now that I have that established the year here is the brief explanation. I really want this year to be the year I nurture my creative side more. Reading the Asher Lev story really inspired me. He had to paint like the rest of us need to breathe. His art sometimes hurt those he loved but you have to be honest in your art - whatever it may be. I don't plan to hurt anyone (but Wil does not like things nice and pretty . . or tidy) but I have a need to express myself more creative. I fulfill my creativity in many different ways. Yesterday it was helping a friend frame some cool art she got for next to nothing for the least expensive way but coming out of it with something awesome! After that I went to a favorite junk shop to scout for furniture she might want. She is a single mom looking to move out on her own from her family this year. I ended up with some things I have wanted for a long time for a dollar each or less! I always envisioned the Elvis is King I have to be displayed on a music sheet stand. I have only seen one a few years ago that was not adjustable and wobbly for $15! Yesterday I found one that is all I wanted in a stand for $1! It needs a serious cleaning but the excitement I felt in finding this object to finish my creative vision was stimulating and got the creative juices boiling!

Here is the reason and meaning of the words. In surfing the web trying to narrow "my years" meaning I came on this article about creativity that inspired the three "O"words. The Perfect Brainstorm is where I got the first word obsessive and the second part of the year. The second word oblectation means enjoyment; pleasure which seems fitting when tapping into creative process. Lastly oligomania means obsession with a few thoughts or ideas. There you have it -the Perfect Brainstorm!

I am going to punctuate this declaring of a new year by sewing two pillow covers to go with my new-to-me couch soon!

Where does the year go?

I don't know where the year has gone?!? It seems like months are gone in weeks! Olga reminded me (thank you, Awesome!) it was time for the new Year in Marta's World - how could I forget? Since
I got the reminder I have been way too busy at work and helping my mom everyday after getting ready for A) Auntie She She to come for a 2 month long visit 2) My Pops 80th birthday and party and finally) her last replacement surgery of her hip. She will now be the bionic woman! I promise it is on my mind and will happen soon!