Anything For a Friend...

I got an email.

Well actually, let me start from the beginning. While reading Stephanie's blog (who is hosting a Silver Bella swap which I missed out on somehow), she politely wrote in one of her recent blog posts:

"My Bella friend Jodie is so computer savvy, maybe she could 'whip out' a swap button for the ladies participating in my swap."

Moi? Geez Steph, I wouldn't go that far...I'm just a regular blogger, I'm nothing like those talented people out there, not even close.

But suddenly my head started to swell, my broad shoulders reared back and I thought I could handle this, it is on!

This is the deal...

Number one ~ I'm bummed that I missed out on the sign up of her swap. I must have been EATING at 12 noon!

Number two ~ I am SO not computer savvy...I just fake it.

Number three ~ I could NEVER tell my Bella friend "no" for anything or for any reason (within the legal limit ;)

Sooo, I clicked on my trusty old Photoshop icon and started playing working away. After much sweat and tears (thank goodness no blood) because this is a BELLA project, I knew I had to give it my ALL!  This button will be present on some of the most talented blogs in blogland...oh the pressure!

To make a long story short,

20 minutes later, this is what I 'whipped out'...

I got another email.

Stephanie LOVED it! She's happy, I'm happy.

So if anyone is reading this and you have signed up for Stephanie's Silver Bella Sassy Bella Stash Swap, (whew, say that fast!) please feel free to add this button to your side bar.

If you did, I'd be one honored computer savvy swollen headed, {but regular} blogger! tee hee

 

A Week of Creativity...

 

I promised I'd post something pretty this time! I quit whining about the heat~thank you all for the sweet comments! :)

So I decided to make the best of my air conditioning by cleaning my studio. I'm getting it ready for July 24th as I am participating in a blog party that Karen of My Desert Cottage is hosting  called  "Where Bloggers Create". That will be so much fun, mark it on your calendars and be sure and join us!

These images below were given to me by my sweet friend Sandy of sew revived. She was my partner in crime for our "Wish you here" series that I posted during the month of April. That was so fun!

Geez, I've mentioned the word "fun" a lot so far...that's because I think this whole blogging stuff IS so much fun! I love to create, share and get inspired by all of you wonderful bloggers out there!

And speaking of inspiration, that's what lead me to this post...

Lori of Before the Stroke of Midnight has recently jumped deep into the digital art creations. She has joined many challenges and she shares them daily (sometimes hourly :) with us. All of her art is really beautiful, so beautiful that she started a second blog specifically dedicated to her digital art and named it  The Maiden's Quest. She's just so darn talented! (sigh)

Feel free to right click and save these images below for your files. They may inspire to you create something beautiful such as a calendar, a journal, a gift or add it to your digital art. (like I did in the photo above which took two seconds in Photoshop)

The possibilities are endless but I have no fear that you creative and talented artists will do something spectacular with these!  Have fun!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think my favorite days (according to these) would be Sundays & Thursdays...what about you?

Have a wonderful week, half of 2009 is almost gone!

A Roasted Wiener...

I told myself I wasn't going to do this. I was NOT going to post about the heat. But I'm such a wiener...a roasted wiener!

Just to let you know, these photos were taken Thursday night at around 8:30 in the evening!!!! Note that the temperature is still near 100 degrees even after the sun is going down...errrr.

Then, to carry on with my whining, do you remember my little pot of onion tops?

It looks like someone took a match to them! Not only is it HOT here, we haven't had any rain...not even a drop...in at least 4 weeks! Yes, I do water the plants...but our water is so chlorinated and all, it's not the same as natural rain water.

And my pretty irises?

Well, they're not looking so good either! (there's proof of the water hose, I do water them!)

That evening, hubs came running inside, telling me to come with him outside...he wanted to show me something beautiful that we haven't seen in a LONG time...

A thunderstorm off in the distance...the only thing present in the big blue sky! It was oh so beautiful as the sun was setting but so sad that it was so far away. We need rain here...we need for things to cool off! Imagine if the temperature is 100 degrees, the heat index will rise (because of the 100% humidity) to around 110-115 degrees easy.

As you can see, the grass is dead/dying...all 6 acres of it and we just gravitate to any shade we can possibly get under...and so does that ONE little purple bloom of wisteria!

Did I whine enough already?

I'm sorry...I promise to post something pretty next time!

xoxo, the roasted wiener 

 

ps...the coolest thing is that it's not too late to hop over to my Silver Bella little sis's blog create...breathe and enter her giveaway...

Postcard Friendship Friday ~ PFF

Well Good Morning to you all...I hope you are having a wonderful beginning to a beautiful weekend!

I know I am as I can surely say something that I haven't said in quite some time... I have NO plans this weekend Yay!

So therefore, I am even more happy to say that I can FINALLY play with you and my dearest bloggie friend Marie today!!! I've soooo been wanting to play PFF on Fridays but my "scheduled life" never let me! (how dare she ;)

So if you don't mind, I'd like to join in the fun and share this post card with you all...

"Ring around the rosie, a pocket full of posies.

All the boys in our town, call for little Jodie."

{{{Okay, maybe that's not really how it went, but...}}}

Playing Ring around the Rosie was so much fun as a child. Now I'm all grown up and although I don't play this anymore (can you imagine how sore I'd be?), I imagine it as holding hands through our blogs and running in circles with others who are participating in Postcard Friendship Friday! Oh this is SO much fun!!!

If you're in town and would like to hold hands and join in on the fun, (but don't call me ;) click on the button below to see the list of lovely playmates!

Whoa, I think I'm about to fall down...

Help, I've fallen and I can't get up!

Okay, just kidding. I couldn't help myself. Let me quit being so silly...I really am all grown up~

Thanks Marie!!! I hope you'll let me play again?

***

{For those of you who missed my last post...please scroll down and meet my little sister...she's waiting for you!}

A Happy Little Giveaway!!!

 

 

all photos in this post belong to Lynn Lesbeck of create...breathe.

Okay girls, I'd like to introduce you to my sweeeet "Little Sister", Lynn Lesbeck. Yea, most of you know that I don't have a real life little sister ('cause I'm the baby girl) so here's the scoop! Lynn and I were paired up to be Big/Little sisters for the upcoming paper arts event, Silver Bella. I (the big sister) am supposed to be guiding Lynn (the little sister) in the right direction, making sure she doesn't miss out on the fun, answer any and all questions, etc. Somehow, she keeps me on my toes and I already love her to death...and you will too!

Lynn is an educator and now since she's out for the summer, her creativity has gone through the roof!  Since signing up for Silver Bella, she has since started her very own blog create...breathe.

Wait! Do not cheat and go sign up until I'm finished my introduction! She's celebrating her 20th post and is having a fabulous giveaway and the drawing is on Sunday.

So please, if you love me, I ask that you go visit my little sis Lynn, introduce yourself and welcome her to the family. Scroll through her blog to see her wonderful creations. This girl not only has a smile to light up the room but she's got talent!

Am I just talking to myself? Hellllooo? Anybody out there?

My gosh, I guess everyone is on their way to Lynn's.

"Hey little sis...they're coming!!!!"

Sharing a Special Request...

 

Since I started making these beaded bookmarks, I've had so much fun. I love taking vintage images and matching them with the perfect crystals and pearls. But most of all, I have enjoyed giving them away to friends and family which led me to this awesome custom order...

My sister Karen belongs to a prayer group in Texas. They call themselves the Joy Faith Sharing Group and every year they exchange little gifts with one another.

After "winning" one of my bookmarks in my first ever giveaway (everyone who left a comment was a winner!), my sister thought this would be the perfect little gift for her to give to each of her prayer sisters. She found the perfect vintage holy cards and sent them to me and I had the pleasure of editing, sizing, distressing, gluing, beading, admiring and packaging these little beauties. With the help of Photoshop and my trusty little sewing machine (thanks Belinda!), I am near the end and about to ship them to Texas and surprise my sister with them. She has no idea that I custom wrapped them for her...do you think she'll be excited???

Here's one packaged up for example...I used Photoshop to create the prayer group's logo on card stock (front & back), slipped the bookmark in a plastic wedding favor bag, folded the card stock in half, ran it through my little sewing machine and it's done!  :)

Simple? Yes, quite simple. The only thing that takes the longest is the drying time of the glue and the acrylic finish I spray on them to protect them.  Well, and the beading...but that goes pretty quick too. The hardest part about that is choosing the right ones.

Well now, let me finish packing up these little beauties so I can send them off to Texas! I sure hope those ladies love them as much as I enjoyed creating them...

What have you created today???

*edited after many emails and comments asking if I sell these...YES!

I have some in my etsy shop and they need a new home...not bad for a $5 gift! Take a peek at www.everythingvintage.etsy.com or click on my etsy shop link on my side bar.

Bird of Passage...

Read the definition below & think about it.

I LOVE this.

As I opened the box, this is what greeted me and filled my heart with joy!

This precious little tag sat on top of a fluffy stuffing of vintage sewing patterns.

It was a treat to dig through it, but the best was yet to come!

Full of yummy detail, I could only imagine the time and effort this wonderful (& generous) artist has put into this beautiful work of art. It seems my photos simply do not do it justice.

So I hung it near the mirror so you could see the detail of the front and the back.

Then I laid it on the table...

Then I hung it on the tassel on the mirror where it will stay until my studio is clean and worthy of this beauty adorning it's wall!

Where did I get this? Who made this? How did I end up with it?

Miss Sandy of Quill Cottage

hosted a giveaway giving away pieces of her art work and I was one of the lucky winners. Not only am I a lucky winner, but I'm a new follower of her blog. If you've never visited her...please go soon (& be prepared for LOTS of eye candy!)

I'm so happy this little birdie landed with me!

Thank you Miss Sandy!

All boxed up and ready to go...

 

Thank you all for participating in my Summer Giveaway!  I am so thrilled to have soooo many entries...Gaaah!

And thank you for your sweet comments about my latest creation...

Summer Bracelet

I hope you had a wonderful First Day of Summer. I was very lazy today and stayed indoors as it is in the high 90's with a triple digit heat index. Just talking about it makes me want to pass out!

So without any more hesitation,

Congratulations to:

 

Katie of Ragamuffin Gal

 

Thank you ALL for participating!!!

There are SO many generous bloggers out there, I'll be back tomorrow to share what I won from Sandy @ Quill Cottage! I just love giveaways!!! I really enjoy hosting a giveaway (& winning them too:) I get to meet so many sweet people who share the same interest in art!!! Most evolve into long lasting friendships, even if it is across the country/world.

Thanks again!!!!

Are you ready for Summer?

Well I am but I'm dying down here in the Louisiana heat but before I go any further...

I NEED TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO LEFT ME SWEET COMMENTS ON MY LAST POST!!! YOU MADE ME FEEL SO SPECIAL!!!! MY BREAK WAS FANTASTIC!!!

I am rejuvenated...thanks to all of you!

But most of all, I missed all of you and thought about you daily! I was able to get a few things done and I was even able to be a little creative!

So, back to the question in my title...

Are you ready for Summer?

If you tell me yes...this bracelet could be yours.

Summer is coming (feels like it's already here)

and I'm dreaming of the beach...

Sparkling blue water...

And sea shells plenty.

Is this dream for real? Yes, it is. My dream is for real!

Just leave me a comment on THIS post for a chance to win my handmade SUMMER BRACELET, loaded with tiny sea shells, blue, green, brown and clear crystals, pearls and abalone shell.

When is the first day of Summer? You guessed it...June 21st.

So on Sunday evening, June 21st, I will draw one winner, slip this bracelet in the mail and pass my Summer Dream on to you!

Whew it's hot...can you feel the heat???

 

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

oh I hope that your week is going along as planned. If it is...I am envy of you. Mine is not so great so I'm letting you all know that I will be sort of absent for the next week (or however long it takes for me to get my head on straight) ...nothing major, don't worry!

Maintenance on some doors of mine is long over due. I need to get a handle on things so they may open freely for me again...

Shall we call it a leave of absence or a blog sabbatical? It certainly won't be a vacation. I just need to take care of business around the LeJeune compound. Maybe  evaluate and consolidate a few things here and there. Simplify and reorganize life around here as we know it. Adjust and attend to some things that need attention and fine tune some details.

Some things just need a little polishing, know what I mean?

Although I won't be here, I will still visit you in between my restructure (can I call it that?). However, I probably won't have time to leave a comment but please please know that I can't stay away from you, my favorite bloggers! You bring such joy to my day...I cannot do without you! I'll certainly be peeking in on you!

You are about the only thing that doesn't need an adjustment in this household! ;)

Thanks for always making my day and don't have too much fun without me!!!! I'll be back as soon as I can...I promise!

Temporarily Out for a self renovation or rejuvenation...I'm just not sure what the hell to call it!

~ Jodie

This is my one year blogging anniversary month &  I've earned these days off after one year of service. I need to take them before I loose them...you know how that goes! ;)

A Queen's Revolution...

I just wanted to give you a peep of my FINE necklace that arrived today from none other than the cool Junk Revolution! I won the giveaway that they had donated on behalf of little Bella. I was ecstatic then, but totally overwhelmed when I saw the package....

How do minds get this creative? I totally love it ... it's totally cool ... it's totally over the top!

Then I open it and I didn't think I could get much higher than this!

I love it!!! It is so me!!! I vow to wear it proudly to all garage sales and flea markets on Saturday mornings! And if something should happen to me (God forbid), they will be able to check my dog tag and know who I am!

If you get a chance, you can visit their web site at www.junkrevolution.com and see some totally cool stuff!!!

Come with me to the Lake...again!

 

You may have come with me a few weekends ago here, but since I love taking you along with me everywhere I go, how about we spend the day at another one of my friend's camp along the lake...let's go! It's a whopping 91 degrees out so dress cool!

My car is a little messy as I've just had a BK lunch and I'm listening to the tunes of Aretha Franklin...I'm all by myself so I'm so glad you could join me!

Well, I'm not all by myself...I have friends in front and behind me (I can multitask such as drive and snap pictures but I can't turn around, drive, and snap!)  But you get the picture...

After about an hour drive, we are now at Lewis & Julie's camp.   Let's park, stretch our legs and enjoy the views.

We are greeted by moss covered oaks...

And the sounds of water...splashing on the shore.

Make yourself at home and fix you a drink. Grab a snack or two since I ate without you and we'll take a walk around the grounds, it's a beautiful day!!!

The boys are going sailing so we will just stroll the grounds and admire the peacefulness of the shady surroundings...

Above is an original oil painting of the camp, a view from the lake. It is magnificent!

But let me show you the details...

Oh look, the boys are coming in from sailing...let's go see!

Whew! Watching them makes me tired (& nervous)...I think I'll call it day. Let's say we take a ride on home...Aretha is in the car waiting for us!