Ringing in the New Year

The snow is falling and it has been the perfect day to shut myself in the studio and get some scrapbooking done. It's amazing the kids have not been fighting today, so I managed to get a few pages done. I'm posting some here to share with all of you.

We had a wonderful Christmas and I'm looking forward to ringing in 2011. I have not had the chance to ponder over all my new year resolutions, but I have set a few goals for the new year. Here are just a few of my goals for 2011

1. Get back to running on a daily basis

2. post a project on my blog weekly

3. daily family scripture reading...sometime after September we were really slacking

4. Two or more craft shows

5. Fewer trips to town...this is probably going to be the hardest one

Wishing all of you a Joyous New Year.

Rhonda

My Studio

I can't believe I am about to show you this side of me. This is my studio after 3 months of work and only one cleaning/organizing day. I think these pictures should be sent in to Hoarders anonymous.

Anyways, the reason I am posting these pictures is to motivate me to get through this mess and get things back to functioning. My toes will be so grateful when I am done. The real reason for the sudden urge to clean this mess is, how can anyone feel creative in this mess. I have trailed things all the way to the dinning table and my family is ready for me to put a stop to the crafting madness going on in the house right now.

I really have lost the creative mojo and don't even want to look at this room. I realize after this show I did last month that things are not set up in a productive manner, even my husband commented on this one. We both have some ideas to move things around and build some rolling storage that would better suit me when things are being worked on. I really liked his idea about putting things on casters, so I can wheel them out of the closet when using them and then just wheel things back in there when I am done. Last year I had a much bigger space 16ft X 13ft and I had to downsize to a 9ft X 11ft space. Much of my furniture pieces had to go and I miss my standing island where everything was at my reach.

I am excited to get things ship shaped again, so I can function in my happy space once more.

Really, It would take me a half hour just to get to the sewing machine if I needed it.
Surprisingly the closet really doesn't look that bad. Maybe that is, because everything is laying in the middle of the studio floor and not put away where it needs to be.
Ha Ha Ha, sorry I just had to laugh. This is so bad! Hope ya'all have a great week.

Rhonda

Best Christmas book ever

One of our family traditions is to buy the kids each a new book for Christmas. I love books and think that all kids need to read and get away from the TV. Where did they hide my presents is one of the books I purchased for the entire family to enjoy. I loved this book. The kids and I sat around and read this the other night and laughed like crazy. This was definitely one of those books for all to enjoy. My kids range from 3-13, so it was a joy to find a book that we will all cherish. My 12 yr old and the 6 yr old argued over who was going to get to take it to school first to share with their class. I am totally recommending this read for all ages. Not only was it a funny read, but the illustrations were amazing.

Rhonda

Holiday's knocking at my door

Hello and happy holidays to all of you. I can't believe we are already a week into December and moments away from Christmas and a New Year. This year has been a grand year for me. I am excited about all that I have accomplished this year and all the projects that are in the works for next year. I just wanted to stop in and share some pictures of the signs of Christmas around our house. I hope you enjoy and have a blessed holiday season.

Rhonda

Candles and holders were found at Hobby Lobby on clearance a few years back. Total cost for all was just under $6.
Table center piece is a metal basket purchased at Goodwill for $2.50 and filled with a box of pink glass ornaments from Michael's on clearance for $.25 cents. I added some greenery from our backyard and pine cones I found in our church parking lot. Then sprayed the pine cones with snow texture. Total cost for centerpiece $2.75
The chair backs are also made from the greenery from my backyard and sprayed with the same snow texture. I added one pick of greenery from Hobby Lobby on 50% off sale and a ribbon bow to finish it off. Total cost was $10.50 for all 8 chairs.

Winner!

First up, the winner for the ornament giveaway is Kent. Yay! Kent, email me your address and I will send your awesome little penguin on his way.

Things are finally slowing down a little and I have big plans for a studio re-do. We had some water damage in the ceiling and had to make some repairs, so I thought why not spruce things up with some new paint and finish painting the trim we put in after the wood floors. Also, doing some organizing which means some purging. I've already donated two boxes to our school and still have more to go through.

Thanks to everyone for their comments on my new pieces.

Have a creative week, I know I will

Rhonda

Craft show and giveaway

This is only a handful of some of the critters that will be on display this weekend at the local craft show. I had so much fun creating all these pieces. I am partial to the caroler below. Hope they all find good homes this weekend. I am still not at all ready, but I am still hopeful it will all pull together at the end. Gotta get back to work just wanted to drop in and post a few pics. (not great ones...due to weather). There is still a few days left in the giveaway. If you want you can still post your comment here and be entered in the random ornament giveaway.

Rhonda

My daughter Rachael's birthday is today and we are about to bake birthday cookies.
My husband talked me into making this one. He thinks everything should have a little Husker love.

New header

Totally stressing these days. I'm letting go of all the negative opinions and working like crazy to get prepared for this coming weeks craft show. I have been wanting to design my own logo for months now and just kept putting it off. Today I sat down and accomplished what I thought would be impossible. So, here it is as my blog header.

I have been watching all the Christmas stuff being put out in all the stores and I have to say it is putting me in a great mood. I love the holiday season, but what I love more is spending it with my family. My sister is coming out this Christmas and we always end up with funny stories to tell after spending a week together. We once made a song about how many times we had to drive into town from my house and it was set to the 12 days of Christmas. We named it 12 trips to Kearney. Let me just say, it is like a half hour drive and there is nothing but vast fields of corn, and cows, and an occasional small town. That year we laughed like crazy even though we spent most of her vacation in the car.

I already have the Christmas music playing for a little inspiration, while I am creating all these winter folk. It's funny, because Christmas has already been on my mind since August. I guess that is just how the life of a crafter goes. I have already been sketching ideas for Spring, because I know I will have to start creating for the Spring show right after my family leaves. I love being able to work like this.

What are you looking forward to this Holiday Season? Leave me a comment here on my blog and you could be the random winner of this little CUTIE.

Blogger Blues

I've been trying to upload these photos of the new clay critters I made, for over a week. This new blogger is a slight headache and I finally ended up switching back to the old blogger. So, here they are uploaded in all their glory. Less than two weeks and counting, until they are on display at the local craft show. The days are flying by and I was hoping to have much more finished. This will be my first big show ever and I am excited. I have been working nonstop at....

Building the perfect snowmen

creating a Jolly bedtime santa
baking the sweetest of couples
mastering a unique snowman family

hunting down the little pig that went to the north pole

instead of wee wee wee all the way home
helping this santa at finding just the right belt to hold up his suit bottoms
defrosting the cutest little penguins
and warming this adorable little girl in a hand muff made just for her
Hope you enjoy them all as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Rhonda

A few more finished projects

I spent the entire day in the studio and finally finished some more critters. I sent in my paper work for the local Craft Show and I am excited to be doing my first ever show. My kids all got a little crazy this evening and the drama was at an all time high, so I think I will take tomorrow off and get some cleaning done and spend a little quality time with the kids. As for tonight, I am not sure if I will settle down with a good read or a movie. I'm glad the night is coming to an end and so is homecoming week. My son will be marching in band again this weekend so we will be out of town, but maybe, that is a good thing. It's always nice to get away from the house for a day or two.                                                                                                                                 

 

I just love this happy little elf and his hand full of sweets.

 

Alright, I know these fellows are in the wrong season, but I just love their happy spring faces.

Thanks for stopping by,
Rhonda

Holidays around the corner

Fall has begun to set in and I am in full gear working on projects and trying to keep up with the mess in the studio. Just getting to post some of these projects I have been working on lately. These clay figures are headed to a local store for consignment. The weekly challenge thing has not been working out so great. I always have tons of ideas and no time to create. I did get some scrapbooking in last week and have a plan for some paper projects that will be started by the end of the week.

Rhonda

No rest for the overly excited

My two little ones were home sick today. They were up most the night and that meant no sleep for mommy. My husband came home from work and then headed to do some farm work, so I still was not able to get relief from my mommy duties.When the hubby finally came home I headed out to the garage for a little peace and quiet with these babies. I have been sanding away on a few pieces for about a week now, but today I was able to get the compressor going and start the painting (the fun part). What's in the works right now...a coffee table, a set of storage cupboards, an end table, 3 wall shelves, and 3 floating shelves for my mom's bathroom. I am way to excited to get these pieces finished so I can decorate them before the holidays. I did get some clay pieces finished and hope to have those posted tomorrow when there is better lighting.

Oh, by the way the red coffee table in picture 1 is a new purchase for $3. I can hardly wait to get it painted and set up in my living room.

Rhonda