Random 5 Friday (on Saturday) oops...

I am joining Nancy at A Rural Journal for Random 5 Friday.  This is my first time, and because Friday was just one of those days, well, here it is Saturday for my post.  

1.  I am happy that it is finally Spring here in the Northeast United States...however, while sunny this morning, it is still quite cold with 20 degree nights.  Now what is with that?

2.  I love living in the woods.  It is peaceful, with an abundance of wildlife surrounding us.  My favorite wild things are the owls that keep watch over my home from the tall, tall trees, the deer that always keep my dog in a tizzy, and soon the summer peepers will put out a constant buzz that you don't seem to notice as it is always there.

3.  I belong to a group of talented chics and we meet once a month at a different location to share our creative talents, techniques and ideas.  This week, we made Soy Candles  

Arty Tea Party

4.   I am anxiously awaiting the postcards from the LYA Postcard Swap.  They should start arriving this week.  See my previous post for a peek at mine.

5.  AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... I HAVE THE DAY OFF TODAY!!!  And I am going with my group of talented friends to set up a corner of a new shop with our arts/crafts/wares...oh and to take my daughter dress shopping for her Senior Ball.  JOY!

Happy Spring and have a great, creative weekend!

Aloha!

Postcard Swap

LIBERATE YOUR ART POSTCARD SWAP 2013

This is my set of postcards for the 

Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap 2013 hosted by Kat Sloma!

Original with acrylics, oils, inks, sprays, white-out pen...FUN!

The original artwork was from the DOODLES UNLEASHED workshop I did

last year with Traci Bautista sponsored by Strathmore.   I had several copies made 

onto glossy card stock paper, and then cut out six 4" x 6" postcards. 

 Also made the envie to send them off in!  I can hardly wait to see the 

ones I get back via the good old USPS!!!

SPRING HAS FINALLY SPRUNG!  REJOICE! 

March Madness...SNOW DAY, AGAIN!

  March Madness © 2013 hula.la

A good day to stay home and complete the mailing for the 

LIBERATE YOUR ART postcard swap.

Almost Spring in the BIG WOODS 
© 2013 hula.la

Country road of home
© 2013 hula.la

I HEART PAPER

I HEART PAPER © 2013 hula.la

I have just completed my first submission to CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS for their premier issue of I HEART PAPER coming out later this year!  Anyone who knows me understands my craving for all things paper...vintage, decorative, books, sewing pattern paper, sheet music...I LOVE IT ALL!  

My submission of course included my Altered Books.  So, keep your fingers crossed.  It was my first try at a magazine, so I am not too sure I even did it right.  But, the idea was fun and I just couldn't resist.  For more info...check it out here...deadline however is March 4...

I HEART PAPER

Shabby Fabric Pin

And the winner of the

Shabby Fabric Pin

made from some denim scraps and

 some silk that I won from the GYBP...  

   Barbara S. from Long Hollow...

YAY!!!

Please email me your addie and I will get it out to you right away!

Also,  to my 100th follower...Nancy C. of A Rural Journal...

you will get one, too!!!

Thanks to Nancy and Lisa for hosting the 

Valentine's Day Blog Party!

 

 

Valentine Blog Party

Thinkin' Spring

Couldn't resist this photo of tulips from a group of children who visit me at work.  Yes, I love my job and I am thankful!  

As part of the 1st Annual Boost My Blog Valentine's Day Party, I will be giving away one of my Shabby Fabric Pins made from some of the silk fabric I won at the

 GYBP from Linie Cat @ Large 

Photo not yet available of pin, because it is not yet finished...so it will be a surprise.  I will post the pin when winner is announced!

To enter, it's easy...

become a follower...and post a comment!

Be sure your comment is linked so I can notify you... 

I will draw a name on Thursday Feb. 21

(gotta be in it to win it...) 

thanks for stopping by...continue on with the  

Boost My Blog Party here... 

Two Bears Farm

A Rural Journal

Turkey In The Snow

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY
© 2013 hula.la

© 2013 hula.la

Fabric Surprise

Fabric Surpise Package

Well, what a wonderful surprise to receive my package from Linie Cat @ Large for the

 GROW YOUR BLOG PARTY GIVEAWAY.

Pretty pretty fabrics

What a wonderful selection of silk fabric pieces to use in some of my 

upcoming projects.  The pretty fabric on the left is no doubt going to become part of my 

ART JOURNAL "HOP"...

 the very cool geometrical shapes will be part of the ATC's that will 

be on their way to Jo Murray in Australia...I think I will share the purple print one 

with Nina for her PURPLE PARTY. 

Possibilities are endless...wish I had more "creative" time.  

However, 3rd kid going off to college, so can't quit the day job...just yet!

Thank you to VICKI at 2 Bags Full for hosting the GYBP.  It is still going strong, so click the link above if you want to check out all the participants!!!

Art Journal Goodies

This is the stash of goodies I received from Lisa at Priti Studio.  Her group of talented friends collaborated on a JOY IN THE POST BLOG PARTY with AB FAB (absolutely fabulous) results.  Visiting all the participants to see and hear their points of view about working on a traveling Art Journal was an inspiration, and has surely lit a fire in me to get started on my own Art Journal "HOP" with my group of talented chics of the ARTY TEA PARTY.

A very special THANK YOU to Lisa D, Kat, Angie, Lisa W, Maggie, Tammy, Kim and Stephanie for sharing your wonderful art journal journey and for the terrific prize to get me started, and congratulations to Jo Murray. She was the other lucky winner, and I can hardly wait to see how her journal journey comes out!

GYBP Going Strong

Grow Your Blog Party

Many thanks to Vicki at 2 Bags Full for hosting such a

wonderful International Blog Event!  

I have met so many wonderful people from all over the world, from the comfort of my home in Upstate New York...where there is snow on the ground and I am warmed by the fire and kind words of new blog friends.   It's nice to see such creative souls...like minded individuals sharing their lives and their loves!

Knitting for Winter Warmth

A few knit projects
© 2013 hula.la

Infinity Scarf
© 2013 hula.la

Headband or Neckwarmer w/ Crochet Flower & Vintage Button
© 2013 hula.la

During the winter months here in the northeast United States, I always have to knit something up to keep the cold at bay.  Of course while sitting in front of the piping hot woodstove.  In the past, it has always been long scarves to wrap and wrap...well they are actually verrrryyy long scarves, complete with long fringe, and you can wrap and wrap and wrap yourself up like a mummy they are soooo long.  I did say winter warmth, right?

When a friend asked me to try a cowl type or infinity scarf, a tubular job, for her son's girlfriend, I just couldn't stop.   She got one, the son's girlfriend got one, another friend is getting the one above for a surprise for her birthday...hope she isn't reading this before Sunday when the surprise party is...

The Headband is copied from one that my daughter bought in NYC some time ago.  She always looks so good in any type of head gear, so I thought I would give it a try.  It came out great, and you can actually wear it as a headband or pull down over your neck for a neckwarmer or cowl type scarf.  

© 2013 hula.la

This one still on the knitting needles, is going to be mine all mine!

Artist Trading Cards

One of my faves...one of the first one's I ever made!

Artist Trading Cards, ATC's, are miniature works of art.

2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches...the size of a standard baseball card.

A great way to collect and trade art from all over the world.

They are easy to display or store, and the possibilities are endless!

Here are some of my faves!

Mother Knows BEST!

A fabulous work of art, here.

From Andrea...on the left she stitched my name VICKI.

 

 

FLY ME TO THE MOON!

Some are hung, and others tuck into a vintage tin.

If you haven't ventured into the ATC world, beware...the possiblities are endless, and it is truly addictive.  Fun to make, fun to trade!  

GO FOR IT!

Winter Envie Swap 2013

Decorated Envelopes

These are 2 of my decorated envelopes for a "Winter Themed Envie Swap" with the Arty Tea Party Guild that I belong to.  The Christmas tree is holding on to them for dear life, as we are not quite ready for the whole Christmas scene to disappear.  Though we are bound to get more snow to make the winter season bright.  (Until the sand and salt turn it into a yucky, slushy mess...tis the season.)

Honolulu bound...ALOHA!

 The envie on the right is headed for Honolulu Hawaii and a special person who is no doubt enjoying something cold on the beach.   Perhaps one day they will get to the northeast to experience real cold and winter.  Then again, that's probably why they live in a tropical paradise...no cold...no snow! 
(check out the Alaska Iditirod Postage Stamp...)

...let it snow, man...

For more on the Arty Tea Party Gang, visit here...Arty Tea Party  And of course, while you are hopping around, don't forget to visit Nina of Happy Herbs Soap @ Two Crow Cottage  There you will find a fabulous review of her Woodland Spell Incense.

...in the meadow we can build a snowman...

OUT WITH THE OLD...BRING IT ON 2013

one of my "old" faves

This is an "old" altered book I made with matchbox drawers...

letter charms were sewn into the pages...

very sexy, yes???



And for 2013, I vow to complete some of the many altered book projects that I have started and pushed aside while dealing with everyday life...

BEST WISHES TO ALL FOR A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND

PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!

and if you want to be inspired with "prosperity" incense for your own ritual,

visit Nina of Happy Herbs Soap.

CHEERS!!!

Let It Snow, Man...

YES....

I'm loving it....

I see something in the woods...let me at it...

In the meadow we can build a snowman...

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Snow For Christmas

Christmas Eve Dinner Table with Friends!

In town after church...candles and lights all around

Yes, they said there'd be snow at Christmas...
they were right!  It was a beautiful sight to wake up on Christmas morn to a nice , light white blanket of new fallen snow !  The beauty of Christmas, when we are all safely at home, with no place to go!!!  YAY!
LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!

In the meadow we can build a snowman...

Fa la la...

Tis the season for snow...and we are ready!!!

Paper snowflake...

LET IT SNOW, MAN!

the snow falls softly, softly to the ground

© 2013 hula.la

 

 My favorite time to walk in the snow is at night time...it is ever so peaceful in the woods at night

when the pure white, icy flakes land on your eyelashes as you look up into the sky to catch them on your tongue.  Oh and the dog...he romps and plays in it for the gift that it is...and he loves to play catch, with snowballs.  We must keep him away from the snowman, however, for obvious reasons.

Peace to all...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

Friday Fill-Ins

And here we go....fa la la...

1. Oh my, did you really just say that?
2. Shouldn't we finalize all the dinner plans with the in-laws, sooner, rather than later?
3. Buy one, hell, buy two, they're on sale!
4. Yes, I will organize the craft stash,  positively...after Christmas!
5. Soon, I'm going to have a "ME" day, because I deserve it!
6. Doesn't everybody wish upon shooting stars?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a big glass of wine, tomorrow, my plans include shopping and a concert,  and Sunday, I will finish decorating the tree...it's been up for days with nothing but lights...where does the time go?  And where have all the little elves scattered to? 

Handmade Stockings

Look at these lovely handmade wool and felt stockings from Dear Andrea over at Indian Springs.  Her appliqued cardinals are so divine with incredible details.  I just had to have one for a special person who is located in the Pacific Ocean and does not experience the cold, snowy winter months like we do here in the Northeast United States.  I believe she has some more of these beauties for sale...Andrea's Cardinals.  Fa la la...

Woodland Spell Incense Crows

You can even fill up one of those fabulous stockings with the great Woodland Spell Incense from Nina at Happy Herbs Soap @ Two Crow Cottage and some of her wonderful herbal soaps.  My personal fave is the Lavender/Patchouli blend, along with her pulse point roll-on scented oils.  I always feel AB FAB, "ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS" after using one of those...I am a very "scentual" person!  So please visit my friends...you will be happy you did!  Fa la la...and all that jazz!

Paper Play

My favorite art supply...paper

Now, everyone knows that I have a thing for books.  They are like OLD FRIENDS.  And I have more than my share, for sure.  They are prominently displayed in every room of my home.  The vintage ones that have such great character are just beautiful to look at and make for great home decor.

And then there are those that I acquire at book sales, some of which are destined for recycling...like the ones used for these wonderful paper stars.  For the binding is loose, and the pages are falling out, and they are just calling my name, pleading with me to give them an extended life.  So, here is their destiny...for now!

Paper Christmas Trees and delicate paper flowers.

I love these paper flowers.  They look great on some old spring pussy willow branches that the cat loved to play with, until all the soft fuzzy buds were off, leaving them bare just to make room for these paper beauties.   Aren't they sweet?

Yes, I love working with old discarded books and the tales they tell.  There is intrigue among these pages, especially now that they have a new life.  I think they smile at their destiny. They have a whole new story to tell, don't you think?

Love, love, love Altered Books...