whoa!! where does the time go?? i’ve been MIA again!

 

 

happy day to all of my family and friends and I certainly hope that you had a blessed easter sunday!!  we spent the day with family and i couldn’t have asked for anything more~ it was a beautiful day here!! 

what have I been up to?  I’ve been blessed with many things to do…my plate has been pretty full lately.   (welp,  at least I’m trying to stay outta trouble, right?  hehe)  just trying to keep busy~ you know what it’s like, the list goes on… family, holidays, starting up and preparing for first monday workshops at cottage of the seasons again,  getting involved more in our community with a handful of  side projects, working…

geez, and I don’t know what is going on with this blog o’ mine?!?   twice now I have spent over an hour trying to fix my blog background… to no avail.  one of these days it’ll look the way that I want it to!  in the meantime, bear with me, please.  I’ll just try to keep my uploaded pics interesting!  :)

sending sweet love and wishing you all a wonderful week~ I’ll check in again soon!

hugs,

christina

and the sweet winner is…

YAY!!!!  congrats to my lucky girl, holly!!!! 

everyone ended up having their name on a ticket,  plopped into one of my cutie vintage bowls.   holly’s name was chosen and is hereby proclaimed  **the winner**!!!!!  (hand picked by that super fabulous daughter o’ mine!!  thank you, beth!)   I’ll get in touch with you and get this into the mail for you asap!   congrats sweet friend and oh yeah, holly~  you rock!!!  make sure to stop by holly’s blog ~~ Hollyrocks ~~ you’ll just love what you see! 

thank you all for being a part of this, I’ll try to do this more often!

hugs,

christina ox

the giveaway~

the sun is bright,  this makes for a better photo.

misha and lorraine, you are entered, thank you so much! 

hugs to all!

christina

just a little giveaway… because you are all so sweet!

overdue I know. 

sorry for the delay, but here we go!

all together now… here’s the loot!

my photos aren’t the best this time, so please bear with me.  the sun decided not to shine today, so my pictures look just as gloomy.

first off, I’ll be offering 4 " little blank books”.  these are small hand painted and doodled, accordion style books to jot tiny notes/affirmations.  perfectly and conveniently packed in a well-used child’s watercolor paints case.

teensy tiny sweet candies in a very teensy tiny frame…

a repurposed decorative tray with a “happy'” cake… 

oh, and I couldn’t forget a “sweet shoppe” silly necklace…

who knows?  the winner might even get an extra special something surprise.  hmmm, maybe personalized?  yes.  that sounds like a really good idea!

it’s all so easy peasy.  all that you have to do is simply leave a comment on this post and I will draw a random winner on monday, march 7th.  you know the drill~~ if you are a fellow blogger, I’ll know how to contact you.  if not, just make sure to leave me your email addy.

good luck and thank you all for being such dear, sweet friends!  I appreciate YOU so much!

oxox 

christina

going through some old photos for inspiration today…

this is a personalized journal that was done for a customer around Christmas time.

ahem.. *cough, cough*… still need to make one for a friend’s daughter… I promise, I will get rolling on that one, girl! 

ox

HEY! I just love my new thrifted window valances!

our family room in the back of the house… let the sun shine in!

(as soon as it comes back out from behind the clouds!  )

oxo

Happy Valentine’s Day, lovelies!!!

U R SWEET

oxoxox

completely frustrated over here.

sooooooo…

  i’ve been working on the appearance of my blog.  for some reason, i CANNOT get a header photo to show up.  i’ve been trying to tweak  it for two days now and my patience has expired.  i still have hair left, so it’s time to stop.  

maybe i’ll come back to it, maybe I won’t.

ox

My eyes were the size of silver dollars!!

I’ll bet now, you can understand why…

Thank you, sweet Claudia~  you know me so well!  OX

Christina

just checking in!

sending wishes to all in hopes that everyone has a terrific day today!!!

ox

this is truly a laughing matter!

um, so yeah.

just a quick visual.

an explanation of how and why I accumulate so much “stuff”!!!  notice the price of my not-so-new popcorn containers.  still attached and waiting for a good washing… for FOUR of them, at that!  they’ll go great in my retro kitchen!

notice.

HAHAHA!!!

hugs and wishes for a sparkly day!

christina

hello, my friends!

happy new year!  a commitment to blogging really should be one of my resolutions for the new year.  i have been terrible at keeping up with my poor, neglected  icandy….

hey,  here’s a quick peek at what I’ve been up to the last couple of days...  i’ll be finishing  these in the next few days so that they can be delivered downtown!  stop by cottage of the season’s soon and take a peek at the latest originals up for sale!

thanks for looking! 

hugs to all and stay safe and warm out there!

christina

Good morning!

Busy, busy morning working on a few custom journals!!  I’ll be donating ten to a local organization for the holiday and I’m in the midst of creating a sweet, customized keepsake for a very special young lady!  I just can’t wait to complete them and share the results with you all!  Check back to see photos in the next week, it’s crunch time!

oxox

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

Oh geez, time as gotten away from me~ AGAIN!  I’ve been keeping busy working on handmade gifts and getting some CHISTmas shopping done here and there.  (this coming from the woman that is normally racing around like a mad~person on Christmas eve…)  It is sooo hard to believe that it’s right around the corner, it’ll be here before we know it.  Why do I feel like there are not enough hours in the day? 

Hmm… today’s to do list.   I’m waiting on paintings to dry, catching up on a bit of housework , trying to get a few custom journal orders ready, then off to the groomer and work in a bit.  (Diesel needs a makeover!  hehe! )

Things here are going great and I wish you all a wonderful day, my friends!  I’ll be back soon!

Hugs, CJ

Good day!

The haunted season is upon us…  a special shout out to Day Hasson ~ the creator of  my haunted houses, what an awesome and unique addition to my holiday decor!  (I still need to frame the transformation of OUR home).  ;)   Day provides custom work at such a reasonable price and takes such good care of her customers.  If you are on facebook, you can find her @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/DaysDreams/366059692775

She’s gearing up for the holiday season, so place your orders quick!   Just imagine a customized Christmas scene…  they make such wonderful gifts!

They are just fabulous!  Love ya’ girl!

Christina

ox

Thank you all so much for your input.

I think that it’s safe to say that I overreacted… that episode just rubbed me the wrong way.  You are all so sweet, knowledgeable and gave me some very sound advice.  I really appreciate you taking the time to comment! 

HUGS!

ox

Should I be angry or flattered?

Because, I am extremely angry.  While dropping off more of my   Halloween creations downtown today, a group of women come in to browse the store.  Long story short, one of them started snapping photos of my artwork.  Turning, staging and zooming in, she snapped a good size handful of pictures.  I was lucky enough to be there and actually witness it while it was happening!!!!  (NOT~ that was an exaggeration!) I was not aware of what was going on, until I see the flash going off and this woman was backed into a corner around my inventory. 

Okay.  Biting my tongue, I said nothing to her simply out of respect for the lovely shop owners and because I am a representing artist there, but my blood was boiling.  I’m sure that you can imagine what I wanted to do and say...  to be quite frank, i am pissed.  Yes, I need to calm myself down and remember that old saying.  Something about the greatest form of flattery is……………………COPYING??????!!!!!!!!!

Who knows what she is  planning on doing with the photos of my work… I can only speculate and assume.  hmmmm. 

Ugh.  Thanks for listening guys, I just really had to vent.  What is your opinion about things like this?  I know that it must happen all of the time, to all of the great artists out there… I just hate that I had to SEE it first hand happening to MY artwork.

On a lighter and absolutely wonderful note, I had just stepped foot into the store when Melissa & Karen told me that someone very sweet had just left after purchasing a few of my things.  I apparently, just missed her.  :(  They also let me know that *you* had told them how much you loved my work.  To the sweetheart that just made my day, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  It’s people like you that inspire and make all of us so happy to do what we love to do.  I only wish that I knew your name, I would love to meet you!  Melissa did say that you took home my card and might check out my blog… PLEASE do and let me know exactly who you are if you decide to stop by for a visit sometime!  Big hugs and much appreciation to you, you really made my day!  :)

oxox

Christina

Extra, extra… read all about it!

Spooky stuff going up for sale…

Taking these to Cottage of the Seasons next week!

Madly making more… stay tuned!

ox

$4.oo I say!

a shot of some of my goods… “ love sweet love”  this cutie picture says it all!

metal clipboard advertisement calendar & fancy picks.

oh, the cake decorating sweets, ribbon, mini eggs in perfect colors and doll heads.

these are the most delicate mugs.  gorgeous hand blown glass, i was afraid to wash them.  eeek!

lovin’ the necklace!

up close of the calendar dates… fantastic!

what can i say??? i have a secret love affair with ironstone… and the butter dish?  almost as huge as the platter!

did you really think that i was going to leave this little heart chain behind???  L.O.V.E.

silly popcorn bowl but big and can be put to very good use in my art room.  imagine how much i can stash away in that~ out of sight and cute to boot!  oh, and the bag inside??  SpIdEr WebBiNG for my spooky creations. 

YE~HAW!!!!!  it was a good day!

hugs!

I just LOVE the finds that I find!!!

Ok, I am still scrubbing and cleaning so I will post photos in a bit of the treasures that I ran across today thrifting.  I spent…wait for it… FOUR DOLLARS today!!!!!  Did you hear me people? $4.00.  I cannot wait to show off some of my favorites...  can you tell that I’m jumping up and down?  Well, I am!  ;)  Stay tuned to see the loot!

ox

Where have I been????

The answer to this question is easy… facebook.  Yes, it seems that I’ve succumbed to the convenience of seeing what everyone is up to with the click of a button!   Must. get. back. to. my. icandy… I’ve missed it terribly.

Things here have been somewhat busy over the last few weeks.  School is back in session~ always a sad time for me.  I keep asking myself and wondering, where did our summer go??  I’m getting to be an old fart… time is passing  by too quickly! 

We  managed to have a yard sale last week and actually did pretty well selling a few knick-knacks and household items.  The fun started about 7 a.m. and we could only hold out until about 11 because of the HeAt!!  I’m hoping to have another one very soon, Lord knows that I have plenty to get rid of!  *hehe * ;)  Borderline hoarder?  Organized chaos!  Hopefully, I’ll have one before next week,  thinking maybe on Friday??? :)   Let’s hope that it cools down just a little.

I’ve been keeping busy at the library and have also been trying to fit a bit of creative time in here and there.  Speaking of creative… WOW!!!  The downtown shops are already decorating for Halloween and this is REALLY getting me in the mood for the holidays and the crisp, autumn air.  I’m so looking forward to “sweatshirt” weather because we’ve all had such a hot summer!!  :)  Yesterday, I started making spooky stuff…Eeeeek!   I’ll post photos soon. 

I am so honored and extremely excited about something that I don’t even know very much about yet!!!   :)  Not sure of  all of the details~~ I’ve been told that Atchison is hoping to host an Art Walk and I have been asked to participate if it all works out!!!!  Many thanks to Karen and Melissa for approaching me about this exciting event!!!  I will keep you all posted as soon as I know more information.   It’s not supposed to be until the end of next April, so I’ll have plenty of time to prepare.  HA!!!  This, coming from the world’s greatest procrastinator??!!  ;)  I’d better get my rump in gear, huh?  Just in case…

Thanks so much to all of my bloggy friends for putting up with me, I have been such a lazy blogger lately.  I sure do hope that everyone is doing well… and keeping COOL!  ;)  Let me know how you are!

Hugs for now,

Christina ox

color, color!

hope everyone is having a good week!

ox

christina

Ta~Da! Our next class will be…

You may need to look a bit closely at these photos.  Do you see the tiny colored roses and leaves that grace my sweet little tot?  We will be making these amazing flowers for our next First Monday class downtown at Cottage of the Seasons!   They can be used to embellish jewelry, how cute would a bouquet of these be as a brooch??  They can be added to photo frames for a romantic touch, what the heck, they can be used to embellish whatever you’re heart desires!!  The possibilities are endless.  I tend to find sweet orphan figurines that have a flaw… too cute to pass up.  This is one example.  The baby was in perfect shape, with the exception of a couple of broken ceramic parts.  Guess what was glued onto the damaged areas?  Handmade roses!  (among other things…;) ).

You must join us as we explore the miniature world of  flower making.  I have to also mention that these wee blooms were made by yours truly a good 15 years or so ago.  Made from a secret recipe of handmade clay, they have withstood the test of time and were never even sealed or coated for protection.   No worries, I’ll be sharing that recipe with you!  :)  Now, please don’t go leaving them outside in the rain and such just to prove a point! ;)  They are so much fun and really do resemble  fine china when finished!  Make as many as time allows, experiment and surprise me with colors, variations and uniqueness!  Remember, whatever it is that I show to you how to do, I would never expect (or want) you to copy the design completely.  I  hope that you  take the main idea or skill and create something entirely different!  That’s the fun of ART and creating!

I’ll post a reminder as the time approaches… hope to see you there for an evening of fun and friendship!!

ox

Christina