My First Train Case!!!

As you know I spent some time vacationing in sunny CA with my sister-in-law and best-friend-forever (i.e. sil-bff) Sherry Goodloe of GotArt? ...don't you just LOVE her blog!!!

Well, Sherry, my sil-bff, over the years has picked up some beautiful vintages cases. When I visited her they happened to be stacked up in preparation for the move that was cancelled for May.

If you have read my blog and hers, you are familiar with her unending generousity. As I was packing for my departure, Sherry was continually adding to my "loot" from my visit, throwing in things that she knew I would be able to use creatively.

The she looked over at the stack of beautiful vintage cases and said, "I oughta give you one of these cases", to which I replied, "Yes, I would love one".

Sherry perused the stack of vintage cases and pulled out a case. (My heart was thumping with anticipation.) She opened the case (she had a few item stored in the case) and said, "I was looking for that". She examined the interior, then closed the case and pulled out another, and I'm thinking, "that's fine, I love all of them".

She opened the next case and examined the interior, in excellent condition. She looked at me, put the case back in the stack and said, "I'll find you one". Meaning that she was NOT going to give up her treasures, but would find one for me while she was doing her "rounds" (i.e. flea markets, etc.).

Didn't she find me a beautiful vintage train case! I can't wait until it gets here!

I am so glad she is my sister-in-law best-friend-forever!!!

I will let you know when it arrives! Stay creative!

Lezlei

Been Missing My Blog

What have I been doing? My "favorite" thing, of course...spreading myself too thin!

First, there is the commitment I made to complete my unfinished projects. I finished Bernice and began working on the costuming for my other paper clay doll project. Costuming is a new thing for me with my art dolls...not easy. But I forgot...

I had signed up in January for Cyndi Mahlstadt class (Gwendolyn) that started in March over at one of my favorite online shopping spots, Joggles. The class has a specific duration, so I really couldn't postpone my participation. I love her dolls and I am having a great time in the class. See the pics. And then...

I joined the Art Dolls Only (ADO) Ning Network. I am sooooo excited to be participating in this group! And not exactly being the "bench warmer" type, I signed up for my first ADO challenge - Shakespeare. For my inspiration, I chose Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" characters, Katherine (Kate) and Petruccio. It needs to be complete by May 4 and I am making pretty good (not great) progress, but having so much fun creating...but again...the costuming! I will finish the armature for Kate today. Then I needed a quickie...so

I went blurfing (i.e. surfing my favorite blogs) and bounced over to Creative Workshops, a site created by Gail of Shabby Cottage Studio. The site offers some great workshops and lots of "eye candy"! While I was enjoying my browsing, I noticed that Gail has a free gift bag tutorial available on the site!!! Perfect! Finishing the little gift bag in one sitting gave me a bit of a a sense of accomplishment I needed. (Yes I bounced over and did some shopping at Shabby Cottage Studio...you KNOW I did.) There is also a picture of my finished gift bag...thanks Gail!

Enjoy the pics and feel my frustration!

Stay Creative!

Lezlei

I Just Had a Thought!!!

That Sherry!!!! I've been bamboozled...taken in by an elaborate method of deceit!!!

Remember back in February it was her birthday. Well, I decided that books would be my birthday theme for her...so I bought her a few books for her birthday. She made a comment in an email yesterday that we got so many books that now we can't remember where we saw the haiku brush technique (we both bought a Haiku brush while I was visiting).

DO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DID!!!

Day 1 - Wire Dress Form

The first day (Thursday)...I wake up and find a gift for me. I thought, "how nice". Then Sherry told me that there would be a gift every morning!!! Wow! I should have thought of that! When I arrived I just handed over the goodies I had for her. My first gift (above) - a wire dress form to embellish (I can't wait to rust it up and embellish!)

Day 2 - Tim Holtz Ornate Plates

Day 2 - Tim Holtz Grungeboard & Ephemera

A Tim Holtz Day! These items are new for Tim Holtz and probably JUST made it to market. Sherry picked up these precious items at the Stamp Convention...cool. I know what I want to try!!! Yippee!!!

Day 3 - More...see that cute little birdie! A tin for my Cyndi Mahlstadt Class!

Day 4 - Rusty Things!

By now the days are running together! I am having trouble keeping the things separate so I know which day they belong to.

Day?...Masks, Butterflies, Chopsticks, Friend Coupons...

Day?...More Ephemera! Beautiful Lacy Paper Napkins

Day?...More! Hey I know what I can do with that doll head!

Day...Glittered Letters and Flourishes, Special Glass Glitter, More!

How was I bamboozled?

There were so many wonderful gifts that I couldn't fit them in my suitcase! Since I didn't want to pay for an additional piece of luggage, I decided to mail them. There were so many gifts that they would not all fit into the FREE boxes available at the USPS! I had to buy a large sized box to fit everything. I threw in the few items I purchased while there.

My box arrived on Saturday and I began to unload it. Where am I going to put everything in my 1 room existence (another story) so I can remember where it is when I need to use it.

Now I am thinking...all the gifts were PAYBACK for the birthday books! What do you think?

Sherry...thanks for all the wonderful gifts...hehehe!

Stay Creative!

Lezlei