icandy...

Been busy... and cupcake crazy!

2009-11-08T10:48:00.001-08:00

Magnets, ornaments, etc. I've been trying to get a few things done this morning. Soon, I'll be taking a break to have an early dinner out with Cory and Mom and Dad...
Awww, I was on a roll!!! :)
I'll get back to the studio later!

2009-11-06T14:10:00.001-08:00

I've been feeling queasy for most of the day today. YUCK! Tried to sleep it off... didn't work. Ate a bagel, didn't help. Hanging in there but I'm just not feeling myself, pretty sure that it is stress. Maybe Cory and I need a vacation... HA! :)

2009-11-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

I've been busy! That's a good thing!

2009-11-04T19:12:00.001-08:00

I've been trying to stock the shelves at Cottage of the Seasons, but not fast enough! Poor Melissa and Karen are waiting VERY patiently for me provide some new Christmas inventory. Tonight was the Holiday Open House ( I should have already had a truckload of new goodies in the shop for this...) and we stopped by for a bit to visit...everything looked just beautiful! Trees, tasty treats and talk.... mmmm. Nice. The shop looked so festive and it was a real joy to see everyone! Thank you! And to Joey, thanks so much for my "faces" :)
I've been making paper flowers like a madwoman and have been trying to use them in some of my art. They look very sweet randomly stuck here and there. Sometimes, that's all a piece needs in that special spot! Yet another craze that I can chalk up as an addiction! HA!
I cannot get Christmas out of my head.... this is crazy. I am ready to decorate my house RIGHT NOW! Last Sunday, I took down all of the Halloween and wanted to leave the look of Fall around the porch...well, that didn't last long. I'm getting ready to create a winter wonderland around here! Hopefully, by this weekend it should look very different, fo~sho! I'm even going to try and get all of our trees up inside. Colette??? Where are you??? I NEED you!!! LOL Hugs!
I'll keep you posted!
Christina

First Monday! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!

2009-11-02T04:43:00.001-08:00

Hope to see you there! It's another gorgeous day here in the Midwest!
Christina

The most pleasant Halloween weather...EVER!

2009-10-31T21:11:00.001-07:00

Honestly, we could not have asked for a better Halloween day!! It was sunny, mild, not a cloud in the sky, 60 something degrees... the makings for a beautiful day! The parade was a lot of fun, the High school did a terrific job marching and the trick~or~treaters this evening were adorable, as always! We had visits from the cutest Elmo ever, a masquerade ball maiden, an escaped insane mad scientist, a butterfly... with her Grandma dressed as a butterfly catcher walking behind her (too bad I never came up with THAT idea when my babies were little) and countless others! These were just a few of my favorites! Everyone had a great, safe time!
This Halloween was a bittersweet one for me. My daughter is old enough now, that she did not want to trick or treat and my son has lived away from home now for a couple of years. This was kinda hard for me... I was actually home to hand out candy with my husband. This was the first year that Beth didn't want to hang out with mom and dad. Fun, of course, but I wasn't walking my own kiddos around the neighborhood. Kinda sad how fast time flies!
We all had a wonderful evening and have the chance to wind down now. Guess what? Now that Halloween is all wrapped up, the holidays are upon us. I want to get into the spirit early this year just because I'm extra busy these days~ pumpkins will be put away tomorrow and slowly, I'll begin to incorporate Christmas throughout our home. I'm excited!!!
Hope everyone had a boo~tiful night!
OH! Real quick, we made the front page of the paper... Cory was interviewed about our "haunted house".... interesting and spooky facts about experiences that we've had here since buying our home. Maybe I'll post the article later!
Christina!

November First Monday! Here's what we'll be up to...

2009-10-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

Awww, right!! Class time is approaching... to our local friends: please join us at Cottage of the Seasons, downtown Atchison on Monday, November 2, at 7:00 pm. We will be enjoying another evening of creativity, munchies and fun! We have a really great time together.... bring a pair of gardening gloves.... we'll be bending lots of wire! :)
Hugs,
Christina!

This is such a great storybook.... BOO!

2009-10-25T18:38:00.001-07:00

Trick or Treat!!! Can you believe that Halloween is this weekend? Where did the month of October go, anyway? We just need to get a few more spooky days out of the way~ and then I'll really be thinking of Christmas! The Holiday season is definitely upon us...
I hope that everyone is doing just great and had a very nice weekend, we were pretty busy on this end!
Let's see...big ideas, big projects and lots of sparkle... visions of sugar plums already dancing in my head!! My gears are beginning to turn... I can't wait to share with you all!
Happy Halloween week,
Christina

Thank you Jann you are very special!!!

2009-10-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

Ahem... drumroll please!!!!!!!

2009-10-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

Thank you all so very much for participating in my first giveaway ever... I must say, I love doing this, which means, there will definitely be many more to come in the near future! Each and every one of you are so sweet and special to me... I can't thank you enough for being such wonderful friends. My beautiful daughter was in charge of drawing the winner.... we made sure to mix up the names really, really good...enough of the small talk, though. I am very excited to announce the winner of this giveaway....

Will Jann please stand up????!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to my dear blogger friend~ Jann from Forever Jann and.... Thirteen Thorny Roses!!!!!!! I am so happy for you! Please be sure to send me an email with your address... can't wait to get this sent off to you~~here's to hoping that you enjoy it all!
Hugs, and thank you all again for entering.... keep those eyes open for more!

Rosemary, Rosemary...

2009-10-20T18:40:00.001-07:00

...How sweet! Thank you for making me feel like a QUEEN! A bewitched queen, that is! :)
Hugs!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!! (it's only fair~~and about time!)

2009-10-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

I have been so very lucky lately and have met SO many wonderful, creative friends that I think it's high~time I give something back to you now! This giveaway is for........ really no reason at all. I'm past a few of my blogging milestones already, SO....... this one's just for fun! The winner will receive one of my "baby~cakes", one of my bottlecap pins, and a pretty rose bouquet. How's about I just do this.....
I'll draw a name out of a basket on Friday, October 23.
You know the drill, just leave me a comment..... I only hope that you enjoy the treats that I've chosen!
Good luck.... I'm actually really excited about this!!!
Hugs,
Christina

I am such a lucky girl!!!!

2009-10-10T16:21:00.001-07:00

Kelly and LuLu..... I just love you guys! I am so grateful to you both! Check out my newest goodies........ a vintage stationary assortment and an oh~so~yummy Halloween cake! This stack of greeting cards with old wrapping papers was picked just for me, and aw.... boy, did Kelly do a fantastic job!!!!!!!!!! No, I can't actually eat this new cake of mine...... it's strictly decorative and oh, just so gorgeous, but getta load of that faux icing!!!!!!!!!!! I am blessed to have met so many wonderful friends in this big, beautiful blogland that I have become quite addicted to! I also think that I am pretty spoiled rotten now, huh? *swoon*............ I love all of my treats! Beth Perry also sent me a wonderful "recipe" box. Recipes full of scrapping ideas!!!! How cool! I still need to take pics of it, Beth.......... that'll come next!
Okay, I'm not very good at this, but I feel as though it's MY turn to host a giveaway. What would you think about that? I need to gather some goodies and just go for it. Stay posted and I'll hopefully come up with something in the next few days!!!! How does that sound???? I'm actually really excited to do it. I'm well past the 100th post and I don't think it's a blogiversary, so this will be just for the heck of it.........
OH, and DONNA..... I still have those acorns! Yikes! I'll get them out to you soon~~~ I haven't forgotten about you, I promise! :)
Hugs,
Christina!

What a gorgeous day today!

2009-10-04T15:50:00.001-07:00

I couldn't decide whether or not I needed my sweater today. It was so wonderfully sunny, not a cloud in the sky and quite comfortable outside, but while in the shade, it did get a bit chilly. We spent most of the day outdoors walking around the neighborhood. What a great day~ the Autumn chill is in the air and I love the cozy nights!
I missed our Oktoberfest downtown yesterday and from the few folks I've spoken to, they mostly said that it was pretty nice. I really wanted to go and see my blogging buddy Jane this year, but I had to work on Saturday. Jane makes such sweet things, I'm very sorry that I did not make it. Next year? Or before...... if you come to my place for coffee?!?!?! :) The door is always open, just let me know when you are back in town......
I want to get lost upstairs in the studio, I've got big ideas tonight. BUT, I also love the bright, natural daylight and it's later in the evening by this time. I may be up late....... what have you been working on? Inspire me!
Christina
OXOXoX

Happy Saturday!

2009-10-03T05:42:00.001-07:00

Here are a few things that I picked up last week at the Fall church sale. This wonderful black and white is a 5x7 golden framed pic~ love it, it's a very striking piece! No really exciting pictures yet... I'm still working on those. Wait 'til you see the baby book scored and the linens and such...I did want to show off the paper clips, they are some of the smallest I've seen! Tiny copper and matte black looking, these will be great for my journals. Ok, more later... I've gotta get to cleaning. Oscar arrives today and I've got bunches to do before work.
Hugs,
Christina

Hello there!

2009-09-28T16:30:00.000-07:00

*WHEW*. Ok, so..... I do realize that a kinda left you hanging on my last post~ which by the way, seems like forever ago! I'm sorry about that. Where do I begin? This may seem quite silly to some, but I have been lucky enough to get my "dream job" back!!!!! Yes, back. A few years ago, I was employed at our local public library. I made an extremely hasty and poor decision and left my job for reasons that were extremely petty. I have regretted that decision ever since. I recently, stumbled across the chance to reapply~ all in thanks to my wonderful friends and co-workers for putting a bug in our new director's ear. :) I interviewed, was hired and started working there again last week. I am absolutely on cloud nine! I was a bit nervous coming back into the atmosphere knowing that I would need a refresher course... well, that took about 10 minutes!! It was like hopping back on a bike again, it all came right back! With the exception of a few computer changes, it worked out beautifully. I am familiar with the services and systems offered at our library, so there was really no training involved. YIPPEE! Again, I could not be happier and I am so very grateful for the opportunity to serve the community again! Thank you to everyone that put in such a good word for me! For those of you that already do know me, yep, I'm still at Lopez....... I'm working six days a week and splitting shifts between jobs. Normally, I would dread the thought of that, but I really am very content doing this. I love the library with a passion~ it is such a rewarding and fulfilling job for me. I love to help people and deal with the public. Crazy? Maybe..... but, I think I'm pretty good at it. I don't mind working my butt off when it comes to doing the things I love.
The kids are doing great! Poor Beth is being very patient with my new schedule, shuffling alot more and running around like crazy people but we're doing good! She has her Homecoming dance this Saturday nite, she's really looking forward to it. We already got her dress and shoes, she's good to go! Spirit week here we come! Brendan is working his tail off and commuting back and forth~ he loves the weekends as much as the next person! They (he and his girlfriend, Katie) are down to one car and both work hard at the whole carpooling thing. They are enjoying the new place though and live in such an artsy~fartsy college town! KU campus is just out the back door! He loves that town!
Oscar (Cory's business partner) is flying in on Saturday, art class on Monday, AND.... more news, the Director and Young Adult librarian have asked me to hold altered art classes at the library bi-monthly for our YA patrons!!!!!!!! These will start on October 14th! I am very excited about all of these new developments~ my life finally seems to be in order! Next, I'll be getting some Christmas projects done a bit early......hopefully! I really have to budget my time better now, I must admit, I have neglected, but checked the blog and FB every nite, just haven't taken the time to get involved the past few days!
*Whew*.......... alot to catch up on, and no pics but I'll get around to those, I promise! Hugs to all and thanks for putting up with me.............. and my absence! :)))))))
TTFN,
Christina :)

more makes....

2009-09-16T16:46:00.001-07:00

Pricing these to take to Melissa's!! I, by the way, am one of the happiest people on earth today!!!! I'll fill you in later on!
Hugs!
Christina

My flea trip finds were all pretty tiny.....

2009-09-15T16:47:00.001-07:00

You know how I love the cake decor.... my new belt buckle in the post below totally ROCKS!!! I can't wait to sport the junk gypsy look with that buckle and my old ragged blue jeans! (my usual get~up!) The Valentine stickers... I think I had the very same package many moons ago, not a single one is missing, by the way! :) Oh, and check out the "greeting card negatives"?????? below.... (wth???) I'm not quite sure what they were used for, but I definitely know what I'll be using them on! Collage, he we come..... again....Muahahahahaha!!!! TTFN
Hugs,
Christina

some flea finds.....

2009-09-15T16:23:00.001-07:00

2009-09-15T16:14:00.001-07:00

Forgot to download pics of First Monday @ Melissa and Karen's~ here's a few.....

Went to a flea market today!

2009-09-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

I'll be posting pictures soon of my findings, but right now I have to get ready to go and see my son's new apartment! I can't wait...... he's having us all for dinner!! Love it~~ what a nice way to bring this weekend to a close! :))) I'll be back later on sometime...........

May God bless America on this Sept.11th. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

2009-09-11T19:29:00.001-07:00

princess in progress...

2009-09-11T18:45:00.001-07:00

I'm not quite satisfied with my little pink birdhouse yet...... she needs a teeny bit more bling, in my opinion.

This has been a pretty wild week for us, I really think that we are ALL glad to see the weekend!! Beth is playing a half-time show tonight at the football game, Cory went to watch the game and I'm just at home farting around on the computer. I just haven't been feeling myself for the last few days and today, it finally got me down and out. I'm exhausted~ and a bit sick to my stomach. Yuck! :{ I'll feel better in the morning, I'm sure..... I just need to get that good nite's sleep! :)

Saturday approaching.....what to do... what to do..... Who knows, if I wake early enough in the morning, I may even throw together a yard sale! We really need to have one, poor Beth sorted boxes and boxes of her old stuff about a month ago and still has piles around~ she's waiting for me to pick a date and finally get one set-up. I still haven't even sorted through our stuff yet. UGH! It'll all depend on how I feel. Uhhh...... okay, no.... it's safe to say that I will not be doing this tomorrow morning. Maybe next Saturday! Actually, I think that I'll want to be doing a lot more of my artwork instead this weekend because.... after all, my art is my therapy! :)

Welp, here it comes, a bit of R&R.... very much needed, if I do say so myself. Sorry if I seemed to ramble.......T.G.I.F.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reuse, Remake, Restyle....

2009-09-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share something SpOoKy that was made tonight...

2009-09-07T19:23:00.001-07:00

I guess I'm in rare form, tonight! Muahahahahaha
Hugs!