Saying "Thank You" is an Understatement...

My gosh friends, today is already Friday and another week has already passed through my grubby little hands and right under my nose. How did that happen? Let's see...

It's been a week since I participated in the "Where Bloggers Create" party hosted by Karen and I have to tell you that I am STILL not finished party hopping! If you participated and I haven't stopped by your blog yet...I will and I'll be coming soon! And for those who have stopped by and visited me and Sophie, I'm sending many thanks to you!!!! Your wonderful comments made me smile! I really enjoyed reading each and every one of them. I love the personal and "in detail" comments. That is the kind of comment I love to leave on blogs that I visit. After all, when I am visiting you, I do love the "one on one" devotion time you give me!!! ;) Through this party, I have met some wonderful new friends that I've added to my blog family circle. Ya'll are some wonderful people I tell ya!!!!

And of course, Debbie hosted a baby shower for her little granddaughter Bella Marie. I couldn't help myself sticking my nose in that one too because little Bella has become such a big part of our blog world! They say everything is BIG in Texas and that is true. Bella's blessings were huge as she is preparing to come home soon and be with her family that has been anxiously awaiting her. That's the best news ever! She is a miracle indeed!

I had a wonderful visit from a blog friend Sarah of The Gypsy Mermaid. She spent the day with me and I took her to the 5 & 10 store. After depleting our funds, we came back home and played in the studio...it was so much fun!

And my most favorite part of my week since last Friday was that my little niece Payton came to play with me!!! She stayed two nights and one full day. I haven't seen two o'clock in the morning since I was a new mother 21 years ago. But I have to tell you, I saw the clock strike two in the morning TWO nights in a row and this old body has never caught up since! Having her here and staying up all night was funner (no, that's not a word but I'm using it anyway!) than my first date or any slumber party I've ever attended! We played in my studio day in and day out, coming up for air only twice. Once was the smell of hubs barbque and the other was I had to leave and go to softball practice. (Yes, I am on a softball team and that's a whole other post!) I can't show you any photos of our creations as we made "stuff" for my precious little niece, Ella Jane's first birthday party. We want to leave it as a surprise because sometimes Ella Jane's mom reads my blog. Payton (16) is Ella Jane's godmother and is hosting her 1st birthday party over in Texas. So I helped her out as much as I could and I have no doubt everything she'll put together between now and then will be perfect! After the party, I'll post about what we created!!! The party is August 15th so hang in there, I think you're going to love it!

I signed up for three swaps for Silver Bella. Deadlines are coming up soon and I cringed when I realized it was already the end of July. August is just around the corner and again, another month has flown by! I finished one of the swaps this week and what you are seeing in the photos is a sneak peek of the items I gathered to create it. It's the Holiday Fat Book hosted by Michelle Geller. She's so incredibly talented, I am honored to be in her swap.  I felt joy and a sense of fulfillment as I packaged the box tightly with my Fat Book pages and walked into the post office. One down, two to go. Oh wait, I am not almost done with my swaps...I still have Sarah's Spooky Vintage Halloween Swap and Sandy's charm bracelet swap! So let's rephrase this...One down and four more to go! whew!

So for those of you wondering what I've been up to...this is it. I apologize if I haven't visited lately and I do promise to catch up with you soon. Mostly though, I just wanted to thank each and every one of you who stop here and leave a sweet comment. It's because of you that I keep on blogging. I should mail out each and every one of you a check. Why you ask? Because blogging is like therapy to me and I think it would be better to pay ya'll instead of a therapist! What do you think???? ;)

Thank you for sharing my little (sometimes busy) world. I'm so happy that you always come and visit. You make my life much sweeter and my days much brighter.

Speaking of sweet...Payton called me last night. I asked her if she was still creating Ella Jane's "stuff" for her party and she answered back..."Yes Aunt Jodie I am, but it's not fun without you."

(smile)

Well my friends and my sweet little Payton, that's exactly how I feel about YOU!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

 

Make My Day Pink, For Bella's Sake

 

Today, my dearest friend Debbie is having a (virtual) baby shower for her little miracle grand baby...Bella Marie!!! I just couldn't help myself from celebrating too!!!!!

There are many reasons to celebrate such as...

* Debbie is a new grandmother

* Jenn & Roby are parents for the first time

* Bella weighed under one pound at birth and defied all odds of staying with us

*And many new friendships were made because of this little bundle of joy!!!!!

So in preparation of her coming home soon, I've gathered a few of the things that I love the most...

Baby Ephemera!

 

 

 

 

 

Ain't they the cutest little things?

Not even close to as cute as Baby Bella Marie!

Thanks for coming and you can view Bella's miracle story here!

everything vintage Studio Tour...

Next!...Oh, Good Morning! Can I have your ticket please?

Welcome! Are you with the "Where Blogger's Create" Party Tour...Could I have your name please? Aahh yes, you are at the top of our VIP list. Come right in, I've been waiting for you!

My name is Sophie and I'll be your tour guide today. I've known Mrs. Jodie for quite some time as I am her studio playmate. Oh the fun we have together! Mrs. Jodie is at her real job today but she might be home by the time we finish the tour. I'm sure she'd love to see you.

I must start off the tour by telling you that this is a private tour. ;) It is for bloggers only! In Mrs. Jodie's whole year of blogging, she's never posted about her little studio and only a handful of special people have been allowed to play in here. You see, Mrs. Jodie is sort of a private person, but don't tell her I told you that. She doesn't like me talking about her private life and such. You won't hear any of that from me, no ma'am.

Mrs. Valentine of Desert Cottage has worked very hard in getting you a VIP pass to enter everything vintage.  And since this is a very private tour, there are a few rules we ask that you follow:

But most importantly, I ask that you complete the comment card at the end of your visit so Mrs. Jodie knows she's getting her money's worth in hiring me to be your tour guide for today. And of course, tips are welcomed ;)

Please refrain from asking questions during the tour. We are on a tight schedule and I cannot make you late as I was told that you have many more tours to attend today so I will try and cover everything possible. I encourage you to email Mrs. Jodie with any and all questions once you return home.

Now, with all that said, Please follow me...

Mrs. Jodie and her dear husband built this home in 2003. If you notice at the top of the doorway, there is a transom stained glass. Mrs. Jodie herself made several in the home but this one in particular represents Louisiana Mardi Gras. The pictures along the wall depict her love for this holiday, hence we call it the Mardi Gras Room. Well, she just calls it "her room" but actually I stay in here 24/7 , it should be called "Sophie's Room"... hmpf!

This room was originally the music room which her husband and son enjoyed very much. Full of electric guitars, drums, and amplifiers, the sound of rock and roll filled this room almost daily. Tragedy struck Lucky her, her son graduated high school in 2007 and left home to attend college. Her husband had no one to play with so he retreated to his outdoor shed where he now spends most of his time. Mrs. Jodie made good use of the now abandoned room by  turning it into her creative oasis and a new home for all of her flea market/yard sale finds. And if I do say so myself, she brings too much of that stuff home and she's running out of room in here. But I don't tell her that, she'll just disagree.

We'll start off here as we meander through the room. In the bookcase is Mrs. Jodie's extensive collection of Stampington & Company & Somerset publications. These magazines host many articles of her friends and she spends much time thumbing through them. When the mailman brings one or two of those, I don't see Mrs. Jodie for days. I don't like those magazines, they take up too much of our playtime together. Makes me jealous.

Also to the right is a rotating store display she found at a yard sale. It holds almost every sticker from this store. Mrs. Jodie has a secret about those stickers. She never opens the packages. Instead, she puts them on her copy machine and cuts the ones she needs as she creates. I asked her why she just don't use them and she rolled her eyes at me and said "because they cost money Sophie!"

This is also where she keeps her beloved cabinet cards which she fondly calls them "her extended family".  It makes me jealous when she plays with them and not me...(sniff sniff)

And to make matters worse, she has some real friends she plays with too. Although I never see them, she calls them her "computer friends". I know they are for real because they send her stuff and she hangs it on her Eiffel tower.

They always have boxes coming and going in and out of here, sometimes I feel like I work at the post office.

Mrs. Jodie is spoiled...that's what her boys say all the time but I could never tell her that. She'd put me to the road.

I'm so jealous of her "computer friends" and her dear husband feels the same way. Sssh, but just between me and you, if Mrs. Jodie don't get out of this room and start paying attention to her man, I just might have to take action! He's so lonely out there...I bet he could use some good cooking & a foot rub. He works so hard and all she does is spend it I tell you! But you didn't hear that from me. I'd never tell anyone Mrs. Jodie's business.

Do any of you watch the Lifetime Channel? That's Mrs. Jodie's favorite channel when she's in here. I think she watches the television more than she creates. All of those movies about cheating couples and murders, hmpf! I know that ain't healthy to be watching, but I don't tell her that.

What's that suitcase on the floor you ask? Now I told you not to be asking any questions but I'll answer this one. That's Mrs. Jodie's Silver Bella suitcase. That's all the "stuff" she came home with last year. Some of it she made & never finished but most of it was given to her by her "computer friends". You know the ones I never see but I know they exist? I get so tired of her talking about Silver Bella this and Silver Bella that...and she's going again this year! She better get her another suitcase if you ask me.

Let's carry on...we're almost half way through. I don't know what's taking so long with this tour, it's not like I'm telling you any of Mrs. Jodie's personal life or anything. You know she's such a private person, I'd never tell her business to strangers, no siree.

This area above is where Mrs. Jodie keeps her paper, wrapping stuff and beads. She's pretty organized and all but I hate it when she makes me dust. I have to be really careful because she has some really special things that she don't want me messing with.

She says some things are irreplaceable...

and very cherished...

Here in this corner is Mrs. Jodie's paper cutting stuff.

She makes little tags and cards. These floral boxes below are filled with Sizzix dies. And she has two machines, one for each arm I guess. She's so lucky to even have arms...I'm so jealous of her. She's so spoiled, but I'm glad I'm her playmate! :)

Oh my goodness, you are going to be so late! I cannot believe it's taking me so long to get you through the tour of Mrs. Jodie's little studio. Let's hurry because she'll be home shortly and I'm sure she'll want to come in here to play.

Speaking of playing, Mrs. Jodie has an extensive amount of rubber stamps. She has many wood mounted but her favorites are acrylic. She has many from Stampington & Company and her favorite artists are Sandra Evertson and Lynne Perrella to name a couple. A long time ago, Mrs. Jodie was head over heels about scrapbooking but lately she's been telling everyone it's called "paper art". Does anyone in here know the difference? To me, if you play with paper, it's all the same! I wonder if there such a thing as paper t.v. watching art because that's what she really does!

And speaking of favorites, her latest "kick" is vintage velvet ribbon. Mrs. Jodie scored really big on some new old stock, which she cannot bear to open the package so she leaves them out as "display only". Now we all know that no one comes in here but me and her. Are we supposed to just look at it??? go figure.

Mrs. Jodie has this cute little sewing area, you would think she would sew with the vintage velvet ribbon but nooo. Just look at all the other velvet ribbons she has on her shelf. She even has some beautiful ruffled vintage velvet that she bought from Heather and she can't even use that! S-P-O-I-L-E-D. Plain & simple. I wish she'd sew me a new apron with some of that pretty velvet ribbon. I think this room is getting too small for the both of us, but don't tell her I said that. She'd light a match to me!

Well this is the Queen's throne. Mrs. Jodie sits here in all her glory (& watches the t.v. most of the time!).  However she does write in her journal  often (I hope she's not taking notes about me!)

She keeps her small things within reach and jots down ideas as she sees them or reads about them.  Her desk is neat above but usually it looks like this below...

There's always some inspiration near Mrs. Jodie, always!  

Well beautiful people, it was so nice that you came. You don't have to go home but you can't stay here. I hear Mrs. Jodie coming down the hall as we speak...

"Well good morning Sophie, I see you have company. Hello friends, my name is Jodie. I'm sure by now, Sophie has given you a tour of my studio and I hope you enjoyed it. I hope she didn't bore you with any of the little details, she can be quite talkative sometimes. Mrs. Valentine just called and informed me that your next tour is ready to begin. You have a full day ahead of you, I hope you have lots of fun.

Thank you for coming and hope to see you again soon!

***

So tell me Sophie, did they enjoy the tour? Did they ask anything about me? Thank you for working today...now let's go read the comment cards! ;)

Today...

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been 21 wonderful years...

Happy Birthday Brett! 

Triple Good...

My evening will be a triple good evening and I owe it all to my mailman and...

These are the three wonderful magazines that I'll be snuggled closely with until I fall asleep tonight! {besides hubs & the little furry one}  ;)

This is the Premier issue of GreenCraft Magazine and I love it! It will be out in bookstores on August 1st.

Many of the wonderful girls at Stampington & Company wrote about the most playful yet "green" {environmentally aware} creations such as aprons made of re-purposed plastic bags and jewelry made of magazines! Too cool, you gotta see it!

And there are many very talented artists that contributed wonderful articles and shared their eco-artware!!! Awesome I tell ya! Even the cover feels like it's been recycled as it's not the usual glossy thick cover as the rest of their publications.

This is the fourth issue of Where Women Create and it's also coming out on August 1st. As you can tell near the spine of the magazine, I started reading this one today at work and it already looks worn out! There are some great studios and creative spaces in here!!! So many talented women!!!!

Speaking of creative spaces...don't forget to join us Friday as Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage hosts Where Bloggers Create.  There are over 100 bloggers participating and I am one of them. So if peeking into inspiring studios is something you like to do, then you are going to luuuuuv this blogging party!

And finally, with a beautiful gray and pink cover, this issue of Artful Blogging is indeed a visual inspiration!!! You guessed it, it will be out on August 1st also.

So if you are jealous of me and wish you had these in your hands about 10 days early...please go to Stampington & Company and sign up for their newsletter called Post Script. Once you sign up, you will then be eligible to pre-order these wonderful magazines at a discount price and free shipping!!!

I'm off to enjoy my triple good evening...it's raining outside, my air conditioning is blowing cold and I'm getting lost in these beautiful magazines above.

Come back on Friday, I'd love for you to visit my little creative space!

Until then, I'll be wishing for something triple good to come your way soon!!!!

ps...Thank you all for the sweetest of comments on the last post about my sister's pillow. It is  your encouragement that keeps me creating and gives me the courage to post about it! That's what I love about "our" little blogging family...we build each other up and keep it positive. Thank you for always inspiring me with your sweet comments...each and every one of them I cherish! In return, I hope that I may have inspired you in some sweet way too!!!!! :)

A little bit of this & a little bit of that...

Those who know me know that I don't know how to sew. I can't sew a button hole nor can I even mend my hubs shorts BUT I do know how to PLAY...

I gathered all the things I love the most...vintage velvet, old cotton, lace, millinery, ephemera & my imagination and had some pure old fashion FUN with my sewing machine!

Remember that hat with all the velvet millinery that I found last weekend??? {I bragged about it 4 posts ago} It's plucked!

I cut, ironed, plucked, sewed, glued, stitched, & stuffed my heart out. Sorry about the lighting in the pictures. I only have ONE window and I have stuff in front of it so natural light is non-existent in my studio. 

Yep that's right, I can't even sew a straight line so I sewed TWO lines! Kind of shabby that way. Can I say "I meant to do that?" haha

Anyway, I played all day to make something special for my sister in Texas. She loves vintage stuff (she's the one that always spoils me with it). Her birthday is the 26th of this month so I needed to whip up something to put in the mail & this is what I came up with...

One side of the pillow...

The other side of the pillow...

The details...

"I love you" was stamped onto muslin with distressed ink by Tim Holtz. The color ink is called peeled paint.

The green vintage velvet ribbon was given to me by Kelley. It's very special because it was the same ribbon her grandmother used to make her mother's prom dress!

The vintage millinery comes off of my recent hat purchase.

The brown velvet pearl flower and the lace comes from Wal-Mart, can you believe that?

The red & white old cotton material was given to me by Sandy.

The vintage millinery comes off of my recent hat purchase.

I quickly whipped up two crystals and a silver dangle.

The old rhinestone brooch came from a garage sale. I stuffed it with some more of the vintage millinery from my hat.

The ephemera was a holy card. It is one of my sister's favorite images. She sent it to me a while back to make some bookmarks for her prayer group. You can see the bookmarks here. I added the text and printed the image on a fabric sheet.

I also printed my little everything vintage tag on the fabric sheet too and sewed it on.

The pretty pink, red, and green fabric came from a jacket I found at the thrift store. I picked it up to cut the mother of pearls buttons off of it but then I decided to cut the jacket up into usable material too. It was too pretty to throw away. In this case, I think it added just the right color :)

So thanks for playing along with me on this wonderful Sunday. Now I have to go package this little beauty so I can mail it first thing in the morning.

I hope your weekend was both productive and playful!!! :)