Departing Soon!!!

 

Happy Thursday morning to you! I'm hoping everything is fine in your neck of the woods today! My muscles and bones have recuperated from the softball tournament thanks to much Tylenol and rest (mostly rest!) Thank you for the sweet comments!

For those of you who were worried and haven't heard from Marie at cpaphil (PFF)...she is ALIVE! and on the road to recovery! Oh I've missed her dearly and was about to fly to France to see what's happening! She informed me this morning that she was in the hospital for the past two weeks and is now getting back to her perky and positive self! Yay! {I missed you Marie!}

So instead of flying to France, Sarah and I are off to Texas! We are going to meet several other Bellas for the  Tidbits and Tassels Event hosted by Chantal Johnson.

I spent most of my day yesterday stuffing swap bags that we will be exchanging. I love to do that...it's so much fun! However the not so fun part was washing and ironing clothes and making sure everything was done before I left. I'm coming to terms that no matter how many times I leave, Hubby will survive without me!

We plan on arriving in Rowlett, Texas this evening, checking in the hotel and hope to chill by the pool. Tomorrow is shopping at Goodwill and a few other hot spots Chantal has suggested. Dinner will be at Chili's tomorrow evening and a fun day of Bella friends Saturday at Chantal's lovely home.

I hope to take lots of pictures of the road trip and the event and I'll post about them shortly after my return on Sunday.

Until then my friends, ya'll have a wonderful weekend and be safe!

I survived...

 

IF...if I could tell you how much fun I had this past weekend with my class at our high school alumni co-ed tournament, ya'll wouldn't believe me. At all! For starters...I've been praying {and doing extra good deeds} for two things since the first day of practice:

1. Please God, don't let me get hurt

2. Please Dear God, don't let me strike out in front of everyone

And, I must have been a REALLY good girl because neither of the above happened! Yay! Although I rarely made it to first base, I did hit a double (because of an error) and I did run through home plate for a score (thanks to my teammates) and I did catch a ball (even though it was a foul). Those were the highlights of my playtime! We went home winning 3 and loosing 3. Not as good as expected but it's not all about winning, is it? ;)

But the REAL highlight was the fun our class of '88 had, even off the field. It's amazing how some of us see each other maybe twice a year but we are still so close thanks to texts, emails, blogs, and facebook (which I just got online this weekend!).  Time and distance are irrelevant and it's amazing how we can  just pick up where we left off from the last visit. We truly have a great class and so enjoy getting together...

Off the field...

On the field...

Oh how I wish I could tell you that I'm the pretty blond, but nope. I'm the lidded one. That's me. I hate to be in front of the camera...I'm usually behind the lens. So these are RARE photos! (When I become famous...they just might be worth something! ;)

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Today is Monday and I'm up early...I'm back to the real world and I want to give you an update on Dad as promised. The MRI showed atrophy of his brain (shrinkage) so now my sister and I have to put our heads together this week and see how we will begin to deal with his rapid progress of dementia {Alzheimer's}.

Brett (my son) starts back at UL today, so that means a trip to Sam's to stock up his apartment before he starves to death.

Also, I will be leaving Thursday morning, headed for Texas. I'm going "play" with some Texas Bellas for the weekend. I'll have my laptop so I hope to stay in touch!

Now if I can get out of my computer chair without too much groaning, I'm going slather myself with Ben-gay & Tylenol! ;)

Have a great week!

RUMOR has it...

(only read this if you are willing to get a laugh! It's only for fun and games!)

Upon registering for Silver Bella last year, I was very uneasy when I read that one of the most important pre-requisites of the classes was the legal use of glitter. I thought to myself, I don't use this stuff but how bad could this be, right? Well, let me tell you...it was bad! (but in a good way)

My name is Jodie LeJeune and I have a phobia of glitter.

I was officially diagnosed with this glitter affliction in November when I was surrounded by many of my co-artists who were abusing glitter and using  it freely in their everyday art. Their hands, face, clothes, hair and their artwork was totally engulfed with this fine, sometimes colorful, shiny, gritty substance. I tried to contain my anxiety while politely passing it to the next person but just the fear of me being near the glitter was uncontrollable. I couldn't even stand to touch it! My co-artists did not understand me as they thought this was normal to use glitter. Like smoking in the 70's...it was the "cool" thing to do. However, I did not agree.

During those (long) 3 days of Silver Bella, class after class passed and my anxiety about glitter grew deeper and deeper. Only a few of my Silver Bella confidants totally understood my affliction and therefore accepted me the way I was. I was very different from the rest and I stood out like a sore thumb. My artwork was not shiny and colorful, however it did boast much vintage lace, velvet, buttons and shades of brown and cream. My Silver Bella buddies Pam, Sandy and Sandi totally accepted me for who I was and I began to feel much more comfortable, although I still could not understand the powerful effect that glitter had on all of these Bellas. Was I the only one who was "different"?

Maybe it was the abundance of color. Maybe it was the easy access and pretty packaging. Or come to find out, it was even offered in real glass imported from another country... German glass glitter. The addiction was compared to crack/cocaine and somehow, I just wasn't buying it. That is, until I tried it.

I'm still talking about the glitter here people!!!! ;)

Are you laughing yet? This is supposed to be humorous!

I confess. I tried it. I purchased lots of it, thinking it would help me get over my phobia, but to no avail. Come to find out, the use of glitter has also validated my diagnosis of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) in many ways.  You know, the neat and clean, sticky aspect thing? Also the perfect outline ordeal...you know what I'm talking about right?

So there you have it. After reading the comments on my last post, I laughed when everyone felt sorry for me. They actually thought I was allergic to glitter!!!

(Pam...you are so funny! You surely know how to get a rumor started girl!  ;)

I'm not allergic to glitter at all.

However, Glitter is on the bottom of my list of mediums to use in my artwork.

Chances are, if you see excessive amounts of glitter in my artwork, it's a fake and not a "JL original" tee hee!

This was such a fun post for me. I've always wanted to express how I feel about glitter...am I the only one who dislikes it???

Thanks Pam for helping me get it out of my system! ;)

The weekend is almost here, lighten up!!!! Go glitter something!

 

With a watchful eye...

 

It's rainy here today...the perfect day to curl up with a good book or get nose deep in a wonderful project in the studio. But unfortunately, I'm on my lunch break and just walked away from the weather news at noon. It's Hurricane season here in the South and I have my eyes glued to the weather channel, watching these storms form with fury, praying that they don't reach the Gulf. (And of course, praying they miss the states all together! )

So, since I don't have a whole heck of a lot to share with you today, I thought I'd show you a sneak peek of the latest Silver Bella Swap I'm working on...a mini art quilt swap. We have to make four 5x7 art quilts and mail them to our hostess. She then puts 4 together (from 4 different artists) and makes a larger quilt for each one of us! How cool is that? Here's one of my 5x7's done so far in the midst of all my little gathered trinkets...

I've never made a mini art quilt before. I have thumbed through the pages of Sew Somerset and Art Quilting Studio many times and gathered much inspiration! There is SO much talent in those magazines!!!

I love vintage ephemera and KNEW that I had to incorporate it, along with velvet, pearls and lace too!

I won't receive my completed Mini Art Quilt until I go to Silver Bella in November. I'll be sure to show it to you upon my return. As of now...I'm just dreaming of how beautiful it will be when my art will be combined with some of the most talented artists I know!!!! I'm so humbled...I hope mine compares!

Hey little sis Lynn, if you are reading this...thank you again for the cloth measuring tape...I've found the perfect use for it!!!! :)

A Colorful First Birthday!

I'm back from the big state of Texas celebrating Ella Jane's first birthday!

I'm kind of pooped out right now, so how about we let little Ella Jane tell you how much she enjoyed HER day...

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Welcome to my first birthday party!!!!!

Looky here, my cousins Candace & Josh bought me my first set of wheels. Me and Dad seriously need to discuss my gas allowance!

What? Did somebody say CAKE? eeeerrrrrch...

In order to eat my cake I have to wear this silly hat? Are you kidding me Auntie Penny? Momma, make her stop...it covers my beautiful little curls!

Auntie Jodie, make sure you get it on film that Auntie Penny is messing up my hair!

Okay then, ONE short pose for the camera and the hat comes OFF! Deal? I'm the Birthday Girl here...what I say goes!

                        

Before I mess everything up, let me show you my cake, their cake, and all my little birthday decorations. Auntie Payton did all this just for me...isn't she the just GREATEST Nanny???

Now Auntie Jodie, you know those people want some closeups...show them the details!

I forgive Uncle Drew for driving so bad that my cake slid all the way to the back of the box...he was just anxious to come see me!

Just a few more details...I'm hungry for my cake and my bottle!

Nanny Payton wrapped the utensils with napkins and made my birthday hat. Looky at all my E's...my name is Ella Jane...and it's all about ME!

And Nanny Payton made these precious little pillow boxes for all my grown ups. Inside she slipped one of my modeling photos of me in a dress and bonnet made by my Tauntie Belinda!

But my special keepsake is my beautiful birthday banner my Nanny Payton made just for me...

I love my Nanny Payton so much...

Auntie Jodie, could you pa-lease show them some details???

 

 

 

Wow, good job with the close-ups Auntie Jodie! Thanks!

Everybody sang me Happy Birthday and I loved all of the attention (even though I didn't want anyone to hold me all day...I like being stuck like glue to my Momma!)

Now it's time to eat my birthday cake!!!!! Yay!

WAIT a minute...They lit the candle on my cake? Seriously? Do these grown ups know how dangerous this is for a sneaky little one year old? And they give me some chocolate but tell me not to eat it until I make a wish? Don't touch? What the heck?

Okay enough of that, I'm digging in...whether they like it or not!

 

Did I ever tell you how much I just love me some chocolate?

It's time to open some presents now! Yippie!!!

My first computer laptop from Maw Maw and Paw Paw B! How did they know that's just what I wanted? And some clothes too!!!

Here ya go Daddy, I'm just gonna pass them to you so I have more room to open some more presents!!!!!

Lots and LOTS of presents from my Nanny Payton and Padan Kristian...oh I hope it's more clothes!

A girl can never have too much clothes right???

Yay! Clothes was flying everywhere! Pink, purple, blue and yellow...I love it all! I'm gonna be the best dressed babe at daycare! Yay!

Break time...I need a drink!

What's with the big box? Oh! My table!

           

Thanks to all my uncles for putting it together! (It took all three of them with the help of my Aunties telling them HOW to do it!)

I love it!

What? This is it? No more boxes? No more bags full of clothes? No more toys?

I want some MORE, MORE, MORE!!!

Taryn put all my new clothes in my room and Momma said it's time to take a nap...this is SO not fair...I wasn't finished with my birthday!!!

                

Auntie Karen said it's time to tell everyone bye-bye and you can turn off the camera now Auntie Jodie.

I'm going take a nap, thank you all for coming and thank you for my presents! Can we do this again tomorrow????

the end

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Right about now, Auntie Jodie is going take a nap too ;)

It's Almost Party Time!

 

Hello my favorite friends!

I know...

I haven't been posting much in August and I hope you don't think this is the norm. I usually post every other day or so but lately, most of my time has been in the nursing home with my Dad. (I will give an update on him after the MRI results).  I continue to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and sweet comments!!! :)

I am still going strong here and keeping my mind and soul as positive as I can be, without cracking up ;)

I am still working on Silver Bella swaps, practicing for our Alumni softball tournament (which is next weekend), and I am leaving for Texas tomorrow. Saturday is (my little niece) Ella Jane's FIRST birthday party!!! Her birthday is September 4th but this was the only weekend we could get the family (well...most of it) together.

These were the invitations that (my 16 year old niece) Payton sent to family members. The clothespin is a magnet to put on the fridge and little Ella Jane's photo hangs from the ribbon that is tied to it...too cute!

My two sisters and I (including husbands, kids, mother-in-law and a dog) are bombarding my little brother's house for the whole weekend!   He and his wonderful wife live in a Texas-sized mansion so there is plenty room for all of us to stay.  It's better known as the "Hotel Rougeau" ;)

And oh, did I mention his little wife was pregnant again and due on September 10th? Ella Jane and "the new baby" will be 1 year and 6 days apart!!!!!! Whew! Soon we will have another little patootie to spoil!

So I will leave you with some sneak peeks (without spoiling the surprise) of some of the wonderful things Payton made for the party!!!!! She worked so hard but we had SO much fun!

 

 

 

As you can see, I think I have Payton hooked on velvet too!!!! ;)

I still have SO much to post about! I want to give you sneak peeks of all the swaps I'm in! My little studio looks like it's been hit by a hurricane! Hopefully Sophie will clean it while I'm gone. ;)

So after all of the partying this weekend, I hope to bring some color back with me and post about Ella Jane's first birthday!!!

~I hope you all have a wonderful weekend too~

Even if you don't have a party scheduled, celebrate anyway!!!