Full Moon Girl

Mellow Yellow

2012-02-18T09:58:00.003-06:00

My latest Couture Collage "Mellow Yellow". I'm into yellow and blue right now so I have also recently done another collage called "Blue" These are so fun to create and I never really know where I will end up! This collage has images from Maybelline ads, Christmas paper, jewelry ads and shoes from Vogue and Elle. I start my collages by adding a background color with acrylic paint, then add the border from various scrapbook paper and other papers.

Happy Valentine's Day Collage

2012-01-31T14:27:00.001-06:00

Well, I know Ground Hog Day is first, but I am not too inspired by ground hogs! I love red and have been saving a lot of red images for a new collage. Valentine's day is a very RED holiday so perfect for this new collage. I found a lot of Barbie magazines at a church sale so that's where I got that image. Didn't even know Barbie had her own magazine.

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-07T10:34:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year to you all! This is my latest collage inspired by the new year! I included some images that have special meaning to me. I am going to London and Paris in October so I included the Eiffel Tower. The little dog at the bottom looks like my sister's dog "Casper". The top hat and bow tie gives him a festive holiday look! The M is for my last name, the shiny world ornament for my future travels!

I used a lot of images this time from Pottery Barn catalogs and the clocks remind me of the new year, plus I like the image of clock faces. I search a lot of fashion magazines and catalogs and save the images that catch my eye. Have a great new year!

I'm Dreaming of a Couture Christmas!

2011-12-06T10:46:00.000-06:00

Haven't made one of these in awhile, I call them "Couture Collages". I search the high fashion and bridal magazines for images to use and they are relaxing and fun to make. Diamonds, beautiful clothes, Rubies, Emeralds and shoes, what more could a girl wish for?! Merry Christmas!

"Forever Marilyn" Statue

2011-12-04T12:22:00.000-06:00

Here are some photos of the "Forever Marilyn" statue on display right now in Chicago, IL. It is based on the scene from "Seven Year Itch" and it is HUGE! I went on a bus trip to Chicago on 12-1-11 and this statue was the first thing on my list to see that day. It is located on Michigan Avenue in Pioneer Court next to the Tribune Tower. It is only on display until May 2012 and then another art sculpture will take its place.

Forever Marilyn Statue

2011-12-04T12:15:00.001-06:00

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Beautiful Sunflowers

2011-11-10T16:04:00.000-06:00

Well, with the very gloomy weather here in IL the only sun around my house are these beautiful sunflowers! My friend Joan brought me three beautiful sunflowers on the day of my Halloween lunch. I took several photos of them and they brighten up my latest November post!

Halloween Lunch Party 10-29-11

2011-10-29T18:17:00.000-05:00

Today was my annual Halloween lunch party with some of my very favorite girlfriends I used to work with from Batavia, IL. I provide the beverages and cookies and they bring the appetizers of their choice. Lots of fun, lots of eating and a great time! I love decorating for Halloween and these girls really appreciate the decorating and the cookies!
My theme this year was "Masquerade" so here are photos of some of my decorations and the cookies I made. Thanks to Sue, Jane, Kathie, Carol, Joan and JoAnne for another fun time!

Collage Sisthars Group Sat 10-22-11

2011-10-29T18:04:00.000-05:00

The Collage Sisthars group met on Saturday 10-22-11 and we worked on altered pumpkins. Lots of original and neat ideas, all of us using the foam pumpkins to alter. Here are some photos of the pumpkins and the artists working on them. A wonderful group and we all have a lot of fun learning and inspiring each other. We meet once a month on Saturday at The Fine Line in St Charles, IL with a different collage idea each month.

Halloween Party Invitation

2011-10-19T17:46:00.000-05:00

Here is the invitation I made for this year's Halloween Lunch. I have two lunch parties every year with the girls I used to work with. A Halloween lunch and a Spring lunch. Every year I do a theme, and this year's is "Masquerade".

I saved a lot of time by making the ruffle out of Martha Stewart cupcake liners. I just cut the edges off the liners and glued around the edges of the mask.

2011-10-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween! One of my favorites times of the year! My house is all decorated with the Halloween items I have collected over the years. Here is my latest collage "Haunted Couture" created from images from Vogue, Bazaar and various bits of this and that from my collage stash.

Still addicted to these collages!

2011-08-31T16:14:00.000-05:00

Just changed my page image and added a new collage I have created using magazine photos. This one titled "Couture" They are so fun and addicting, you never know what you will end up with!
One on left is called "Hong Kong" main image is from an OPI nail polish ad, then added some great papers and image of shoes and jewelry.

Road Trip 8-16-11 Rotary Gardens

2011-08-31T15:36:00.001-05:00

On a beautiful August day I took a trip to Rotary Gardens in Janesville, WI. Partly to enjoy the beautiful gardens and weather, but mostly to keep my sanity since my older sister Carol was having Kidney cancer surgery that day. Her surgery turned out fine thankfully and it kept my mind off of it for minutes at a time. I took this great picture of these colorful andirondack chairs which at that moment were empty.
As I was taking this picture I was thinking how fleeting the summer is and what this same spot will look like in the harsh cold winter!

My Garden Chandelier

2011-07-31T13:56:00.001-05:00

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Teesha Moore

2011-04-07T09:20:00.000-05:00

I mentioned Teesha Moore as my inspiration for my "Couture Collages". Realized you may not know about her. I have added her to my blog list so see Teesha's Circus.

2011-03-24T15:35:00.000-05:00

More Couture Collages!

2011-03-24T15:29:00.000-05:00

Here are seven more "Couture Collages" I have created recently! So fun to do and great to create with some of my favorite things: shoes, diamonds, clothes and lots of colors.

More Couture Collages!!

2011-03-20T10:27:00.001-05:00

Couture Collage

2011-03-20T10:07:00.000-05:00

I belong to a wonderful group called "The Collage Sisthars". We meet once a month and learn a new technique. In January we had the workshop on Teesha Moore's journals. I just loved it and haven't been able to stop since. I gave it my own creative slant and create what I call "Couture Collage". A wonderfully relaxing and fun way to create.

I love high fashion, shoes, jewelry and with this type of collage I can use all of these images from Vogue, Elle and other fashion magazines. What fun!!

Christmas Collage

2010-11-21T19:44:00.000-06:00

Like the rest of the world, I have moved on to Christmas! Too late to post much about Thanksgiving except to wish everyone a happy one!

I took an ENCAUSTIC WAX class at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center on November 12. It was a wonderful all day class on working with melted wax in collage work. The Christmas collage on my header page was created that day and I really enjoyed working with wax, it gives everything a beautiful patina.

Fine Line is located in St Charles, IL and offers many wonderful classes. They also have many art exhibits throughout the year and have a wonderful "Christmastime at Fine Line" sale with the works of many artists for sale.

EEEEKKKK!!!

2010-11-04T14:28:00.000-05:00

Another fun picture of one of my Halloween decorations. Take a sweet little boy statue, add some wings, a spider and candy eyeballs and what a transformation!! EEEKKKK!!!!!

Spooky!

2010-11-04T14:13:00.000-05:00

I had a girls day out lunch on October 30 to celebrate Halloween! Here is a photo of one of my table decorations. My favorite ceramic girl all decked out for Halloween. The theme of my party was "Haunted Couture". I collect mannequins and dress forms so they were all decked out in haunted couture wear! I have a party every year in the spring and at Halloween and love decorating with new themes every year!

Tweety Says Nevermore!

2010-10-26T00:14:00.001-05:00

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A summer day at Rotary Gardens

2010-08-28T14:25:00.000-05:00

I spent a beautiful summer day at Rotary Gardens in Janesville, WI last Sunday August 22, 2010. A hidden gem that many are not aware of that is just beautiful! It is very similar to Chicago Botanical gardens but on a much smaller scale so you can see it all in about 1 1/2 hours.
Many beautiful spots to sit and view the gardens and take it all in without big crowds. The picture on my blog header was taken of some of the beautiful flowers that are blooming now. All the gardens looks great in spite of the dry and hot weather we have had in Illinois this summer.

It includes an English cottage garden, Japanese, Scottish Gardens, sunken garden and they change the color schemes for some of the gardens every year. I try to go in the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons as it takes on a different beauty with each change of season.

Summer Cookies

2010-08-21T15:43:00.001-05:00

Has been a very busy Summer and I sure haven't been on my blog very much. Wanted to share with you some fun cookies I made for the family reunion on August 7th. I have cutters for just about every occasion and they are always a big hit.

Cuneo Mansion

2010-07-01T16:27:00.001-05:00

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Back At Last!

2010-07-01T13:54:00.000-05:00

After a LONG absence from my blog I am finally back! Gardening has kept me away, as well as some beautiful summer weather here in IL. Hard to sit indoors on the computer when the weather is so nice.

New pictures here are from my tour of the Cuneo Museum and Gardens in Vernon Hills, IL. on May 18th.
Beautiful home and grounds on 75 acres with many garden sculptures and interesting Venetian style architecture. Mr Cuneo was a prominent Chicago businessman and he purchased the mansion in 1937 and it remained the Cuneo family home until 1990.

I will add more photos later. No photography was allowed in the home but I took lots of pictures of the gardens.

Trip to Chicago - The Art Institute

2010-04-23T20:40:00.000-05:00

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Spring Inside

2010-04-15T15:20:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures of a table decoration I created for spring. I got some tree branches and painted them a robin's egg blue along with some paper mache eggs. I dyed some egg shells with Rit dye which I scattered around with some little flowers, egg shells and blue and green Christmas glass balls. The little birds are candles I got at Pottery Barn. The sweet little bird in the tree is from Jo-Anne's.

Spring Inside and Out!

2010-04-15T14:58:00.001-05:00

Here are some photos of my beautiful daffodils! They have survived heavy rain, high winds, hail and frost here in Illinois! We are now having a really beautiful spring here with weather in the 80's!

Easter Cookies

2010-04-02T12:23:00.000-05:00

For the Easter Sunday get together with family I made Easter cookies! I made eggs, chicks and bunnies decorated with pastel colored frosting and sugars. I have cookie cutters for every holiday and they are so much fun to make. When I ask "what should I bring?" the answer is always - your cookies!!

Easter Tag Book

2010-04-01T17:03:00.001-05:00

I made 5 tag books for Easter this year. 4 to give to family and friends and one to keep. Tag books are made from shipping tags purchased at the office supply store and are great creative fun to make!
Its a great way to use up little bits of ribbon, papers and embellishments and lots of your stamps.

I colored many of the tags with TIM HOLTZ DISTRESS INK which comes in wonderful colors. Front page is some paper and flowers I found at HOBBY LOBBY. I attached all with hemp twine and attached some beads and a plastic tag that you can glue your own images to (Tim Holtz). The back page is some paper I made.
Any questions about the stamps let me know.
I made 35 tags and each one is different which kept the creativity going!

Come on in - its SPRING!

2010-03-25T12:48:00.000-05:00

Come on it to my house, its SPRING around here! I took pictures of some of my spring decorations. Sure cheering me up after a rough winter here in Illinois!
I have a little plaster frog in a basket with some vintage ribbon and crochet thread and the wooden painted Easter rabbit I got at a gift show in Chicago some years ago.

Another ATC!

2010-03-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

Still busy creating ATC's since I joined a new group on SWAP-BOT called MONTHLY ATC SWAPPERS GROUP. It is a group you can apply to join and have to be approved based on a good rating.
This one I finished yesterday and it is called "Purple Angel". This ATC swap is for the colors purple and green.
Since the weather has been awful (snow) this week-end in IL I have been busy creating.

ATC "Parisian Seamstress"

2010-03-19T11:05:00.000-05:00

I am back to doing ATC's again (Artist Trading Cards) as I have joined the trading group SWAP-BOT. I haven't done any in quite a long time so finding they are fun again. This one is for a ATC swap called pink and brown which are two of my favorite colors.

I used a new stamp I got from STAMP CAMP called "French Garden Plan" which I used for the background. The woman is a CATHRINE MOORE stamp, I really love her stamps. Ribbons are from Hobby Lobby. I know some parts of the country don't have this store, but if you do a great place to buy ribbon.

I also love to buy old patterns and the center circle is from the directions sheet on a pattern. Fun!!

Swapping on Swap-bot

2010-03-09T09:32:00.000-06:00

I have had many discouraging results swapping on various different swapping groups. I found out about SWAP-BOT from an artist while on the "Artful Voyage to Mexico" cruise with Tim Holtz.
It is a really great site and I have been swapping since October 2009 with good results. They track you and if you fail to send your swaps you will be removed from the site.

I recently made these two ATC's for a MUSIC ATC swap. I used a Tim Holtz stamp and they are both titled "Paris Song Bird" One went to Canada, the other to Brazil!

Check out the site, they do all sorts of swaps, not just ATC's.

Happy Spring!

2010-03-08T17:20:00.000-06:00

Even tho its still rather cloudy and gloomy here in Illinois, it is SPRING in my house! I got out all my spring and Easter decorations last week and certainly made me feel like spring is here. Love my chalk ware rabbit that I bought at a flea market several years ago. There was a booth with all new handmade chalk ware made using old candy molds. Wish I had bought more because when I went back the next month I couldn't find them!
Also, another photo of some of my favorite Easter decorations! A great ceramic bunny from Marshall's, a paper mache box with copies of antique postcards and honeycomb eggs.

Happy Mardi Gras!

2010-02-15T14:27:00.000-06:00

Ahh..the memories! I never was in New Orleans during the Mardi Gras but I was there twice. Once for my honeymoon in 1973 and again in 1976. This photo was taken in the French Quarter in January 1976. Here I am in my very fashionable rabbit coat. I really love New Orleans and had planned another trip there when Katrina struck. We were supposed to go in October that year. I love the wrought iron, the architecture and Creole food, great antique shops and cemeteries. It is like no other place in the world.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-01-23T13:24:00.001-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day! A little early but I have already decorated for the day in my house. Great to look at the bright red colors when it is so very dreary outside.
I think we have lost the sun forever, the day keeps getting more gloomy and foggy.
One of my favorite little angels even tho she has a repaired arm. She's very dramatic, wouldn't you say?

Happy Birthday Carol!

2010-01-06T20:11:00.000-06:00

This post is in honor of my sister Carol's 70th Birthday on January 7th! Happy Birthday Carol! Here are some great photos of her. Here she is with my mother in 1942 and the other in Chicago 1943 enjoying playing in the snow.
She's far away from snow now as she lives in California!

Let it SNOW!

2010-01-01T20:43:00.000-06:00

We have had a very snowy winter here in Illinois! Reminded me of this photo I took several years ago after a snow storm. I have a little wrought iron table on my porch with this little concrete angel. After the snow fall she looked so pretty with her snow blanket covering her!

Happy New Year!

2009-12-28T13:45:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year to all! Hard to believe it is already 2010 when it seem like we just celebrated the year 2000! Here are some cookies I made for my step-daughter's new year's eve party. I made numbers 2010 and large and small party hats and some stars.

Christmas Cookies

2009-12-15T21:30:00.000-06:00

I have been a busy little baker in the kitchen making Christmas cookies! I made some for my step-daughter's Christmas party and now making some for gifts. They are time consuming but I enjoy making them and people love getting them!

Gingerbread Fence

2009-12-15T21:18:00.000-06:00

We had our first big snowstorm last Wed 12/9 and it was rather heavy and clung beautifully to the evergreens and fences. I took a picture of my fence as it looks like gingerbread with a decorative icing on the top edges.

Its Christmas Around Here!

2009-12-15T20:53:00.000-06:00

Wanted to share some of my Christmas decorations with you. I try to do something different every year and use some everyday things to decorate with. I have some wonderful old vintage earrings and found this beautiful gold deer so I hung the earrings from the antlers. Surrounded are some perfume bottles, a great old deco rhinestone pin and under the glass cloche some more jewelry.

Christmas Shopping Trip To Chicago 12-3-09

2009-12-06T11:21:00.001-06:00

I couldn't leave these two photos out!

Another great photo of the Chinese dog at the Peninsula Hotel

View of the Water Tower Place mall taken across the street through the window of the old Water Tower pumping station. This is the only building that survived the Chicago fire.

Chicago Trip Photos

2009-12-06T10:00:00.000-06:00

Almost like being there! Here are some of my favorite photos from my day from BOTTOM to TOP:

1. Betsey Johnson Boutique at Water Tower Place - cute pink dress!
2. Chinese dog all dressed up for Christmas - Peninsula Hotel
3. Saks Fifth Avenue on Michigan Avenue
4. State Street in Chicago - Marina Towers and the Chicago marquee in the background
5. Macy's (formerly Marshall Fields) Christmas window, a Chicago tradition
6. Beautiful chandelier at Macy's. Lots of decorations were preserved after Macy's bought the Marshall Field's store.
7. The Walnut Room at Macy's a Chicago tradition to have lunch beneath the beautiful tree. An old tradition from Marshall Field's that Macy's retained.
8. Beautiful window grille and lights on a building on State Street
9. State Street and Macy's at dark. The big clocks are located on each corner and a wonderful old tradition in Chicago. "Meet under the clock"
10. Chandelier - Woops! now turned the right way!

I am big on traditions and like so many was upset when Macy's bought Marshall Fields.It is a real Chicago tradition to shop there and have lunch in the beautiful Walnut Room. Macy's did retain the traditions but doesn't seem the same.

I had a wonderful day and really got me in the Christmas spirit!!

Christmas Shopping Trip To Chicago 12-3-09

2009-12-06T09:51:00.000-06:00

I went on a bus trip to Chicago, IL on 12-3-09 and had a great time! Was wonderful seeing all my favorite old sites and discover new ones. This is a picture of Water Tower Place (upscale shopping mall) located on Michigan Avenue. I was taken through the window of the old Water Tower pumping station which was the only building that survived the Chicago fire.

Visit with Santa!

2009-12-01T11:58:00.000-06:00

Here I am visiting Santa, I am probably about 9 years old. The only thing I remember about this photo is that I was so HOT and SWEATY by the time I got my turn as I kept this hat and coat on!!

Blog Header

2009-11-24T19:51:00.000-06:00

I know I am skipping ahead to Christmas but couldn't resist adding this wonderful banner designed by Tiffany Marshall. Check out her blog, it is really wonderful. I don't know her, but found out about her from Sherry Goodloe (Got Art? blog see my blog list).

Beyond the Vintage Path
http://wwwbeyondthevintagepath.blogspot.com/

One of those wonderful blogs where you wish you knew this person!

Fall Feast Party

2009-11-19T07:09:00.000-06:00

I had a FALL FEAST PARTY for 6 of my friends that I used to work with and we did have a feast! It was a desserts and appetizers get together. They brought all the appetizers and I provided the desserts and beverages.
I made little pumpkin cakes, a caramel cake shaped like a pumpkin, and lots of decorated butter cookies!
We all had a wonderful time eating, laughing and visiting. I had a show and tell with all my pictures from the Artful Cruise to Mexico with Tim Holtz that I went on last month. And passed around all the wonderful supplies they gave us in the classes.

Happy Birthday Nancy! - Pumpkin Cake Creation

2009-11-09T08:02:00.000-06:00

I celebrated my good friend Nancy's birthday on 11/4 and made a pumpkin shaped cake for her.
I got a bundt pan set made for pumpkin shaped cakes and you bake both of them. Then you slice off the extra on top, add icing for the "glue" and put the two together. I added a glaze and orange sugar sprinkles and decorated with some vintage leaves and berries. Made the stem out of gold wire ribbon twisted to look like a stem.
We had a wonderful late celebration as her birthday was in October.

On the road to Madison, Wisconsin

2009-11-07T17:49:00.000-06:00

While on the way to Madison, Wisconsin this morning I passed by this very small cemetery way out in the country by a farm. I made a mental note that on the way back I wanted to take some pictures of this wonderful sign! I came by just at the right time, just as the sun was starting to go down which cast a beautiful orange glow to the silver colored metal sign. It is a very small cemetery with probably 20 or less tombstones.
Close up is of the sides of the sign, note the telephone pole way in the background on the one photo!
I went to a craft show in Madison and found nothing special. Actually, this sign was the most interesting thing I saw all day!

The Humble Crow

2009-11-03T12:03:00.000-06:00

Have been working on my Thanksgiving card. I found this great little saying about crows on a plate at Hobby Lobby and wrote it down. There was no author credited but I thought it was great and inspired my card.
Came back from the Artful Voyage to Mexico with Tim Holtz full of inspiration and new products to use. I used grunge board, various ribbons and wax to make my card.

Halloween Decorations

2009-10-29T11:01:00.000-05:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, especially for decorating. I collect Halloween decorations but also find it fun to dress up
everyday objects during the season. Look around and you will find lots of things you can turn into decorations that are fun, whimsical and spooky.
I collect dress forms and decorated this one with a spider web cape from K-Mart and a Halloween banner. Mr Apollo, my church sale find enjoys his orange witch hat, an angel turns spooky with a few pieces of Halloween confetti and my pretty girl bust gets all dressed up and mysterious this time of the year!
Happy Halloween and happy decorating!

Grim Reaper Dolls

2009-10-24T12:18:00.000-05:00

Here is a photo of some Grim Reaper dolls for sale at the market in Mazaltan, Mexico. Was one of our stops on the great cruise "Artful Voyage in Mexico" with Tim Holtz aboard the Royal Carribean ship Mariner of the Seas.

Artful Voyage to Mexico

2009-10-23T22:14:00.000-05:00

Here is a great photo I took while in Cabo San Lucas Mexico of a "Day of the Dead Doll". My only regret is that I didn't buy one. I went on a cruise with Royal Carribean with classes instructed by Tim Holtz. What a great time and I met so many wonderful artists! What a great personality she has!
Kind of reminds me of Phyllis Diller!!

My little toy Poodle

2009-10-21T22:31:00.001-05:00

Here is a picture of my little toy poodle "Sprite Boy" that I took last Halloween 2008. He was always pretty good about posing for me. He died August 15, 2009. I sure miss him.

Greenwood Cemetery

2009-10-21T14:29:00.000-05:00

The background photo on my blog was taken at Greenwood Cemetery. It is a great old cemetery in Rockford, IL. This is on the side of one of their buildings. Many beautiful, ornate and old tombstones.