Through The Ringer

Found this quote on Photobucket today and felt it was an appropriate depiction of my life lately. While February is generally a favored month in our house, due to my Rachel's birthday and Valentine's Day, this year, February was a month full of trials and tribulations.

Anyone that is a regular reader of mine knows that I never talk about my husband. We will be married 27 years this June, but have been separated for the past four years, yet still very connected emotionally. The dear man I married many years ago, that has often been a rosey thorn in my side, has been very sick this past month and it just breaks my heart. I'm sure in time he will be fine, but as many of you know, it's the time from here to there that's the hard part.

I am good about stealing moments for myself, learned how to do that during my heavy mothering years. I'm involved in so many things right now - my regular ATC Club, current cards pictured, an Altered Book Club, Alice Tag Swap, A Life Made by Hand online journal class, Art Journal Love Letters online class and I just joined a May Day tussie mussie swap. Not overextending myself too much, right? I guess when we feel overwhelmed with the guises of life, we have to grab and hold onto whatever we can to guide us through.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Will try to visit and comment here and there. I certainly need a blogland fix!

Sweet Sixteen

Rachel will be 16 on February 11th. We're having her party next Saturday. We made up these invitations for her to distribute to her friends. I love the paper she picked. It's such fun!

We're going to have dinner and then see the movie, "Valentine's Day", which opens the night before. I brought Rachel home from the hospital on Valentine's Day so I've always considered her my little Valentine. Her birthday parties have always had a Valentine theme, but we're sweet sixteen now and little goody bags with heart rings, stickers, pencils and candies won't cut it anymore.

City Place is a fun place on a Saturday night with a band in the center court and lots of tables and chairs set under palm trees aglow with tiny white lights. There's a cute little trolley that takes you from City Place to Clematis Street where there are lots of fun restaurants and quaint little shops. And it's a great place to people watch. We get many visitors this time of year and you never know who you might see there! Should be fun. I'll keep you posted!!

Magazines, Books And More Books

I had such fun browsing through Barnes and Noble on Sunday. I couldn't hold out any longer and finally used the gift card I received for Christmas. It was hard to choose as there were many items that captured my heart and stirred my soul.

Artful Blogging is always a favorite. I love to find new blogs and this gives such great snippets to pique your curiosity. I'm only about the third blog in and am trying to savor the inspiration for as long as possible.






This is a "keep dreaming" magazine for sure. The studio spaces that some women have are simply to die for. A bit drastic of a measure, but you could definitely do some serious drooling. Not sure what I like more . . . all of the art supplies or all of the space to keep all of the art supplies.




I have a definite weakness for books . . .


There always seems to be one I do not have . . .

And sure enough, the following week there's another one I do not have . . .

Whether it's inspirational art or gorgeous spaces, I love them all.

So of course I had to buy another one!!

And now I've got lots of reading to do and I'm loving it!!

January ATC's - Family

The theme for January's Artists Trading Card Club was "Family". Here is my ATC. I think I was 3 in this photo and Carol was 5.


We always do a "make and take" which is such fun because we learn new techniques. For this card, we used Glimmer Mist which is truly phenomenal. I bought three different colors and am having such fun experimenting with them.

I love this frame from 7 Gypsies. It's great to display the current month's ATC's. When I get the next month's cards, I transfer these to a binder with plastic sleeves.

It's always such fun to see what everyone comes up with. The theme for February is metal. I'm envisioning a copper heart and copper Stickles. Can't wait to sit and play!!