Friday Fill-ins

I have enjoyed Friday Fill-ins this year and reading your fill-ins!  I think I will step it up this year and join in the fun!

Happy New Year to all! So...here we go!


1. I feel sad that 2010 went by so fast, but encouraged by what 2011 will bring!
2. Everything goes better with a little art and song.
3. It's New Year's Eve and a new beginning for everyone.
4. This year went by fast...and how.
5. On New Year's Eve I will create art to celebrate.
6. Practice, practice, practice.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a good night sleep tomorrow my plans include food, family and friends and Sunday, I want to start the year out right by attending church!


Stay Creative!

Lezlei

Am I Ready for Christmas?

Well by now I'm sure the "big guy" has made his list and checked it twice.  How is your list doing..did you check it twice?

My list wasn't very long this year.  I am proud that this year I didn't procrastinate (nsm) about my trips to the post office.  All my gifts that needed to be mailed have made it safely to their destination and are safely tucked under the recipients' Christmas tree...CHECK! I sent Biscoff to all my siblings and a few special friends...the best cookies in the entire world.

I am still doing little projects around the house to glam it up for Christmas...it's all about the bling this year for me.  Mostly it has been just displaying those festive items that have been packed away since last year's after Christmas sales...SCORE!  But of course there have been creative projects...

My glorious 12 Tags of Christmas journey with Tim Holtz inspired these gift tags...

A special Christmas art doll for my favorite grand daughter (becoming a tradition..this is year 3)...

A little technical creativity...

Today's project is faux mercury glass to build a Christmas display for a table.  I am using instructions that were shared by Eileen at bluebirdluxe. I have collected all the supplies:

1.  Vases from the dollar store

2.  Krylon Looking Glass Mirror-Like Paint

3.  Spray Bottle for Water

I will share the results tomorrow!

Stay Creative!

Lezlei

Askari, the Keeper

A recent mixed media art doll, "Askari, the Keeper" arrived safely to her new home in California to a dear friend of over 40 years, Edith.

Askari, the Keeper is a one-of-a-kind (OOAK) Art Doll or “figurative sculpture” created for the birthday of a dear long-time friend, Edith. She offers one of the many hearts she has kept over the years, each representing years of love and  almost 40 years of faithful friendship.  What a blessing!  (Now ya-ll know I am over 40...smiles.)

About Askari: She stands approximately 20” tall . Her face, hands and feet are hand sculpted from paper clay, hand painted with acrylics, then stained and sealed. Her body is a soft sculpture with a wire armature re-enforced on the right side with copper to allow her to stand. Her “hair” is made from the twisted pages of a vintage book of poetry that have been sealed and strengthened with bead gel. Askari’s clothing includes bits of vintage ribbon, lace, and fabric; her sleeves made from reclaimed silk fabric; her shawl from a vintage lace cuff. The hearts she carries are all hand-made from bits of fabric, and lace.

Here is a few pictures that show Askari's "evolution"

I hope she makes you smile!

Stay Creative!

Lezlei

12 Tags with Tim Holtz

It starts tomorrow!  I feel like the lady with her face pressed to the window of the Target on sale da waiting for the store to open...you know the lady (smiles).  Where will I be at 12:01 AM...the Tim Holtz 12 Tags party blog!

Come join in and kick start your creativity!  Here is a link to the party!
http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/11/just-one-more-day.html

Stay Creative!

Lezlei

The Best Christmas Card I Ever Got !

There are moments in the struggle of being a single Mom that are so precious that they can never be forgotten and will always be cherished. Just wanted to share a hand-made Christmas card I received from my youngest son Aaron many years ago- definitely one such moment...

The front was simple...just "Merry Christmas".

But what was inside was a poem my son had written and one of the greatest gifts I have received...

Just in case you can't read from the image...it says:

When I was young

You made sure songs of Nat King Cole were sung,

The tree was well decorated,

And I was well loved,

Everything I wanted you found a way to get,

I think because you loved to see

My eyes happily lit,

Now that I’m older that same love is true

You constantly keep giving

Though there’s no gift for you,

When I can change that believe I will,

So you can feel my love,

As yours I feel

But until then you will have to settle for my love,

Which will stay as pure

And as flightful as a heaven bound dove.

Love,

Aaron Young

Aaron is 27 years old now, married and a Sergeant in the USAF...as YES he still loves his Mama.

Here's wishing you a memorable Holiday season!

Stay Creative!
Lezlei

Creative Block Workshop with Tim Holtz

Lucky Me!!! I was on the wait list for the Tim Holtz classes being offered by Monica at Stamp Asylum in Plano, Texas...and I got into the "Creative Blocks" class.  It was a blast as always with Tim, Mario and the crew.  Two other great classes were offered...maybe next time...

Above is a picture of the project I created at the class.  And of course, a picture with Time and Mario!  They are the best!!!

Stay Creative!

xoxoxoxo Lezlei

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

President Barak Obama turns 49 years old today!

I LOVE this President! This office is NOT easy. I love this President, not because he is perfect, but because he has the wherewithall to stand up in the midst of adversity and do the thing (based on the intelligence that is available to him) that he believes is right for this country and the integrity to stand behind it!

(the whole) The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

wisdom to know the difference.

Living one moment at a time

Enjoying one moment at a time

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace

Taking as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it

Trusting the He will make all things right

if I surrender to His will

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.

--Reinhold Neibuhr

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

xoxoxo Lezlei

What Happens in Vegas...

...stays in Vegas because I was probably sleeping when it happened...smiles. I spent a few days in Vegas this week with my sons. It was great to be all together in one place for a change. We took the opportunity and had some family photos done. These are a few of the photos. Aren't they handsome!

Stay Creative!

xoxoxoxo Lezlei

A Vintage Wooden Screen...Hmmm

Well...I was over in Bonham, Texas a couple of weeks ago and picked up this vintage wooden screen. I am looking forward to dressing it up to hang on my bedroom wall. Isn't it LOVELY!

Now let's catch up! Here are some bedroom transformations (remember...new apartment).

First...a "faux" headboard fashioned from a metal wall accent purchased for 15 bucks at one of my favorite stores. Loved the rust...but painted with "oyster" acrylic paint and distressed to "flow" with the bedroom theme.



Next...I redecorated this lamp...yet again. I painted the base silver...added lots of tulle to the lampshade and a distressed fabric flower and a row of ribbon. Finshed up by framing a piece of vintage jewelry in a frame found at a garage sale for 25 cents.

Stay Creative!

xoxoxo Lezlei

African Art Dolls

These colorful ladies were made to use as part of the centerpiece for a Women's Fellowship. Here are some work in process pictures and some final pictures of the "ladies without a voice".

Stay Creative!

xoxoxo Lezlei

Are You Still There?

I know! It has been 9 months since my last post! Are you still there? I hope so.

In my last post, I was on my way to the Tim Holtz cruise the "Artful voyage" to the Mexican Riviera. It was WONDERFUL!!! Tim and his entire team are so gracious!

So let's spend this week catching up...briefly.

I remain a creative spirit. I will share some of the projects from the recent months. I moved to an apartment 3 months ago (until I find a house) in order to have more creative space...long story. My recent creativity has been associated with getting settled in the new space and unpacking boxes that have been in storage since my move from sunny California.

I have a nice patio space and side yard. Here is some of the patio creativity.
First, my Mom found this Singer sewing machine base at a second store about 5 years ago and never did anything with it. I added a boot tray, a few plant and touches. I love it!

I planted a container vegetable and herb garden (has to be able to move to the house easily).

A few other patio pics...

Next post...African Art Dolls.

Stay Creative!!!

xoxoxoLezlei