Friday Night Lights and CQ Art

The school bells will be ringing soon.  It will be the time when the kids and teachers are fresh for the school year.  Fall sports will be going on and in Texas, the Friday Night Lights will shine proudly in every little town around.  Friday night High School Football is a strong tradition here in Texas and I am sure other places.  I am only familiar with the Texas tradition though, but would love to hear about y'alls  Friday night school functions.   You could always find where the football field was in any town but the giant lights.  They would light up the whole area.  Saying here we are come on over.     We don't go to these any more, we did go a few years after our daughters graduated but just wasn't the same.  Not that we didn't enjoy seeing all the young kids in the activities but just wasn't the same. 

Our daughters were in the band and that is the half time show of the football games.   Such excitement and we always looked forward to the tunes they played and the formations they formed with their straight lines .  Always with precision.   The French Horn and Clarinet were the instruments that we were familiar with that our daughters played.   I was always amazed at how one band director could teach all those students to play the horns, teach them to march and all at the same time.   

Now I don't have a clue where this post came from it was not where I was going this morning but here it is.  

I have been doing some of the Day of the Dead fabric art and have sold my first one.   Crazy Quilt style with the DoD style.  The bright colors and just the fun of the whole pieces.   Now my faeries are just taking a week's break but  I will be back in the saddle with them soon.  I mean I even have new pastel pencils to break in and they are calling my name.   "Annette come play with us and see what you create".   New art supplies are like new shoes, you have to wear them and see how you feel wearing them.   Running faster if you have new tennis shoes and jumping higher.  I am sure my new pencils will have the same effect on me. Don't you?

 

So here is my DoD purse, I have just almost sort of finished two.  

 

Front of the purse, it is like 8 inches long and 6 1/2 inches wide at the bottom a fun size to hold things ladies carry and has a pocket inside and on the back.  Hey it is ready for most anything. 

 

Close up of some of the bead work.  I do love doing the bead work on any Crazy Quilting.  I piece it together and put the pretties on it and then it seems to come to life when the beads come into the picture.  I have a drawer full of the beads.  I think I need a hoist to lift it at times.   I have been truly blessed because the majority of the beads have been gifts.   Oh I have bought a few odds and ends of the weird colors I use sometimes.  

 

The back of the purse.

There you go  what I have been up to lately.  Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.  

                                                             XOXOXO
                                                              Annette

Faerie Eggs and Fabric Books

Hello and hi there, well here it is August!!!! I mean already August.   Man alive time if truly flying by.  Can you see Father Time floating by with his banner across his chest and his staff?  Well I know they show him as a baby January 1 with a banner across his chest and at the end of the year a very elderly gentleman with long beard and all.   I can truly see why he looks that way..wow just keeping up with us for a whole year has got to be exhausting. 

The other day I received some happy mail as I call it.  When I get an unexpected package with treasures in it.   I guess that is why I like to send them out because I know how they make me feel.  HAPPY !!!!   One of the things - treasures in it was a little tin of Fairy Eggs. Yep you read correct.  Now what do they look like you may ask?  Well here they are.

Is this not the cutest tin?  I love it and Fairy Eggs?

 

 

The back of the tin is just as cute.   Had to show it also.

 

Here you go the Fairy Eggs in all their full glory.  This is just the cutest idea and the sweet lady that sent them said she just couldn't resist being as I have been creating faeries like crazy.   I have sold one of them and some of the ciggies and cards. Those little gals have been good to me I have to say.

 

Now this has nothing to do with Faerie Eggs or Fabric books but just had to share this Bougainvillea with you.  I do think it is outdoing it's self this year.  Such a breath taker isn't it?

 

I have been busy making some fabric books and wanted to share with you what I am doing.  Remember I have this beautiful lace and this one is for a gift so I did block out some of the pics until she gets it.   I hope she likes it. 

 

I did use some of my Faerie ciggies that I printed up from my art work.

Here is one more fabric book, it is small and I made it for my lace angel that gave me the lace from Taco Tuesday.  I don't know her at all so I hope she likes the book.  I didn't make a giant one for her so fingers crossed

 

Now I have one more fabric book done and will share it in a few days, I don't want you to have lace overload.  Of flower overload from some pics I took of our patio.   Granted we only have trees we have planted since we have been here but a tree is a tree in our flat land of the Texas Panhandle.

 

I guess the most challenging thing I am fixin to do is possibly open an Etsy shop.  My friend Geraldine and Mary Jane have urged me to so I will make a stab at it.   Yikes. 

 

There you go for today and thanks  for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

XOXOXO

Annette

Dream Girls and My Angel

  I have been taking a Dream Girls class from Ady Almanza, lots of fun and with my beloved pastels.  It has been a while since I have played with them and Ady brings back all the fun I had with them.  She is a talented lady from Germany and shares with her whole heart.  I do love it when instructors do that and not hoard their knowledge with themselves.  I have known people like that.  Just thought about them being hoarders, I know there are hoarders of "stuff' but hadn't thought of  knowledge hoarders .     Guess I shouldn't get to pat myself on the back  ( AKA Atta Girl Annette) for thinking of that.    I know that is not original is it?

Anyway this gal shares all with notes and videos and is so sweet doing it. 

Here you go Ady's influence of the pastel gals.  Loved her skin tone colors she uses.

Just had to share some are with you, just finished a fabric book and that was fun.   Like doing puzzels I took pics of it and will share with you as soon as my lazy bones process the photos.  Digital- so much more work than film in this person's opinion.   With film just click and take the picture, compose and expose it correctly you are good to go.  With Digital computer work first.   Oh well guess a sign of the times or I am getting older I guess.   No way Jose.   : ) 

Now not everyone gets to celebrate Taco Tuesday at Rosa's here.  I think a chain of the restaurant. OK Mexican food, forgot to order a margarita with it but a decent price. We usually treat ourselves with this little meal after we mow and edge our yard.  We have an acre so we think we deserve it.  Right?  Gotta treat ourselves every once in a while.   Well maybe all the time at this late date in our lives.  What not?

On the way home, the back way we go thru this neighborhood and what was there?  A garage sale, now most of them are on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays. Usually one and a half days of any two of the days.    Eldon said do you want to stop and thought why not.  So he turned around and  back we went.  It turns out the couple had sort of just moved there from a neighboring town we use to live in back in the late 60's.   Turned out, we bought nothing they were just setting up but were selling to those who stopped.   The ladies mother use to work at Cloth World there in Odessa, now the odds are that I had visited with her because I use to make all three of our daughters clothing and mine back in those days.  So as much as I went to Cloth world we had to have crossed paths.   The garage sale lady said her Mom had passed away a few weeks ago at I think 92 and she had lots of her lace left over for when she worked at Cloth World.  She said come into the bedroom and I will show you. Well show me she did have  Tons of it, she said do you have a use for it?   Do I ever I replied and grinning all the while.  I asked are you putting this in the sale, she didn't know but she said pick out six of the spools and you may have them.  I had a discussion about paying for them and she would have no part of that.  So I took the lace and of course going to make her a Fabric book with my faeries and doings. 

The sweet lady was indeed my Angel for the day.  I am so lucky to have Angels visit me always and just goes to show they are around all the time.

 

Now what do you think?  I tried not to be a pig and made sure to leave what I thought the best laces for her incase she ever got the urge to use them.  

 

There you go my angel meeting and her sharing with me.   I am blessed I do believe.

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

 

XOXOXO

 Annette

A Little Peek of WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING ANNETTE?

Have you ever just been flat stumped at a project? Redoing it and redoing it time and time again?  For some reason when we moved into this house I was stumped.  A flat mental block about what to do with every room.  Still working on that problem.   Our master bedroom, this is at least the third time I am redoing it in almost 5 years.  Yes and I am thinking what in the world is going on?     I know I have painted it three times and it is not a small room and has giant ceilings.  I think me and the 8 foot ladder are way past and beyond first name basis.  It sees me coming and thinks, if ladders think-  NO NO NO not again and she drags me and doesn't lift me.  But I do confess Eldon will help me on the ladder moving as it is so heavy. 

This little jaunt on the redoing of the master is almost finished.  ALMOST !!!!!  So I thought I would give you little peeks at it.  One or two great things, I found the comforter on sale!!!!! Yes at DILLARDS for $79.  AND the loveseat cover was on sale at IKEA on line for-wait for it----- $39.  Now in my book that was hitting a home run.  

Still have some things to do to finish it up but will tease you a bit with some peeks.  Not sure about over the bed pics though, I want something I painted but right now this retired lady just doesn't have time, so I may run out to Garden Ridge and see what kind of fun things they have for right now.   Maybe.


Now this oriental rug was in the dining area but I think it needed to go in the master room.  I still have one red wall and this rug  on the floor just makes it I think.    Gotta tell a cute story about the rug and the fur babies.   Now remember they are outside dogs-EXCEPT- when it is cold, hot, wind blowing, raining, snowing or anything that is not perfect weather you know.   When we give them their snacks,  AKA chews for their teeth but we tell them they are snacks they go promptly to the red rug.  The most expensive rug in the house-of course.  So when I moved this into the bedroom we gave them their chew and they trotted off to the red rug.  They didn't even slow down when they saw the rug gone, just trotted on into the bedroom. They knew a good thing when they saw it.  

 

 

                                                                         On a pair of lamps  

 

                             Of course "her majesty pillow "still  has a place of honor.

 

There you go a change of style for us.   Now the furniture we have had for oh maybe 30 years but the other stuff just comes and goes. 

 

When I finish it I will share the whole picture. 

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

I did have a free "ciggie" signup on my other blog and now to think of a give a way for this blog.  

 

XOOXXO

Annette

 

 

Just a Hello

Hello and hello.   Just wanted to touch base with y'all.   That is a cute saying isn't it?  Touch base?  Like we are all playing baseball and gotta touch base just to say hi.  I don't even know where that saying came from but I use it a lot.

Summer is perking along and before we know it school activities will start before school starts.  Volley ball, football and band to name a few.   And it starts so early here in the US.  I remember it didn't start until September but I guess that is dating me isn't it?

Been sketching and painting those priceless faeries  STILL !!!! I don't even know how many are waiting in the side lines now, patiently waiting their turn to glow and light up the paper.   Now I did start one the other night and she didn't want to be finished so to the bottom of the stack she went. 

Here is one I finished the other day.  Thought you might like to peek at her.  I will wait until I get 3 more finished and then off to the printers for cards they will go. 

 

Now this little cutie and her surroundings did not start out this way but she had her way with the paint brushes.   So here you go !

 

 I am fixin to start some fabric books they are almost as addicting as these faeries.  Will keep you posted.  

 

This is a short post but I know it is Summer and y'all are busy doing Summer things.  Ball games, the lake trips and even stay cations. 

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

XOXOXO

Annette

Dia de Muertos

OK,  I bet you are thinking what in the sam hill is Annette typing in now?  The English version of this is the Day of the Dead.   I have seen whole shops of this art in Santa Fe and other places.  I mean whole shops.  So I thought to myself,  Annette check this out.  It could be fun and it is certainly colorful.  Now you know I am not afraid of color. 

I checked it out in Wikipedia and a little part of it said :

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it is a national holiday, and all banks are closed. The celebration takes place on November 1 and 2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased.
Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The holiday has spread throughout the world: In Brazil, Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures.

Now I think that is pretty interesting. 

So I got my needle and beads -of course beads and played with two types of fabric I found.  The sales lady told me it was a holiday celebrated in May.  I didn't argue but politely said it was a colorful one.  I then added some black lace, pretty blue silky type fabric and then put some pink sheer over part of the blue and this is the fabric I started with.  Then the fun began with the stitches, not fancy ones but stitches.  Added beads and little things on it also.  I didn't do my silk ribbon flowers on this one though, didn't think it called for it. 

Soooooooooo this is what I made.  It certainly surprised the lady I made it for. She has lots of it and loved it and couldn't wait to show her Mother.   We ran upon her at the Art Festival they had here at a booth with some of this art in it.  Nothing like this with all the beads but I have to have bling. 

 

Told ya it was colorful.   Two of my friends-Geraldine and Janet said they use to make these.  See it could be a Crazy Quilt piece.  Beads, stitches and several pieces of fabric stitched together.    Just had to share and was so fun to make.   Now off to work on more Faeries.  

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today

 

XOOXOX

Annette

A Long Trip Home

You know sometimes we might complain because we have to walk a ways to a certain place.  You know we do.  But after you read this heart warming story and a tear will come in your eye you will never complain again.

I have known sweet Sara since she was like 4 or 5 years old. Way back there, we photographed her wedding, probably one of the last ones we photographed but she is a special young lady.    I had lost contact with her but yea for Facebook----found her. 

This article was in the Abilene Texas paper and she posted it on FB.  I cannot say enough about it so please take the time to read and see what you think.  Your heart will swell with love and you will indeed have tears in your eyes.  I made the pics large enough so you could read the article well. 

 

Sara with her two 1/2 children and one brave  Sukoshi.

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

XOXOXO

Annette