T'was The Night Before Christmas

....And the cats were all nestled and snuggled in their bed, with thoughts of juicy mice, that danced in their head....
Well 4 of them anyway. The other two naughty ones were still awake and prancing around in the house. I guess Santa Paws won't be bringing them anything. ho ho ho. Note their little kitty stockings hanging on the tree.
I have neglected my blog for awhile. Some things I just couldn't post, because of course they are Christmas gifts! I have been busy as an elf in the workshop this past month creating gifts for friends and family. I will post them after the holidays as shhhh.... they can't peak until then!

Tagged

I have been tagged by Marloes

These are the rules
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. List 7 things about yourself. Some random, some weird.
3. Tag 3 more players and let them know.

The 7 things about me

1. I have been to all 50 US states and 19 countries.
2. I am an ailuromaniac (look that one up) I have 8.
3. I love feathers and winged things.
4. My favorite food is sea food.
5. My middle sister and I are the same age one week out of the year.
6. I have a BS degree in art and education
7. I grew up in North Dakota

I shall now tag Linda, Gabriela and Michelle.

What are the odds?

Have you ever had a connection with something or somebody that it seemed too coincidental that it was erie? It has a couple of times for me, but this one just seemed too remarkable!

I have traded on Swapbot and although I don't trade as much as I would like, I felt very compelled to join a dragonfly ATC exchange since I love winged things. The exchange is purely random and even the host of the swap doesn't know who she gets paired up with. As it turns out, I read the gal's profile of whom I was paired with in Mississippi and much of her was like me! We both loved peacock feathers, bold bright colors, zebras, painting, beads, etc. We also post things that we are hunting for and one thing she was looking for, caught my eye. It was an aluminum Colander with a star pattern and I knew just where to find one locally. I also searched for other star patterns for her and naturally checked ebay. One was particularly different than what I had seen locally that was a vintage one and this one was new. I wasn't sure if it was stainless steel or aluminum so I did an enquiry. I also noticed that the place that it was located was at a hardware store in McVille, ND. It's a small town in the middle of no where and it's not likely no one would really know where it was on the map let alone has been there. Mind you I live in Ohio, but am originally from ND. I had never been there until I met up with a gal on the Ohioquilter's list. She had ties with Ohio since she had a son living here, we also quilted, so we had a connection there. Anyway I was destined to meet Jan and did one day when we drove to visit my family since it was on the way so to speak even though it took a different rode home. So that's how I met Jan.

When I enquired about the colander, I told them that I was checking on it for a friend of mine in Mississippi and I said BTW, I have a friend that lives in McVille. The guy was very impressed and amazed that some one in Ohio knew where it was. He let me know the content of the colander, and I wrote back to him and thanked him. I also said, I know McVille is a small town, and you might even know Jan Thompson. He honestly couldn't believe it and he just had to write back to say, "YOU ARE KIDDING! Jan works for me putting up the listings on ebay for the store and this was one of her ads!" He said "go look at the ad and you will find the initials jt." LOL

SO WHAT WERE THE ODDS!?! I had no clue she worked there and had it not been for this other gal from Mississippi, I would have never looked for the colander or at least inquire of it's content since she was specifically looking for aluminum or find the accidental discoveries that unfolded! So my friends, I thank my lucky stars for remarkable things that happen in life. Perhaps this is that theory of six degrees of separation.

Maybe you are also in need of a lucky colander and there are more available for purchase. I am guessing Jan works on commissions, hence the initials. So if you purchase one, tell them Wanda sent you:) Ebay link

Trick or Treat!!!

A lion tamer and two little lions



The nurse and the clown



A young future Logan cheerleader



Trick or Treat on Moore Rd.


Sunday was our neighborhood halloween trick or treat day. It was my favorite holiday when I was a kid! I loved to play dress up and run through the neighborhood at night with flashlights. Those times have changed to become safer for kids and even though it is just for a couple of hours and in the day light, it lets us have a better glimps of their costumes.

Even though those times are gone we can still have the oppertunity to get some FREE candy in a drawing on Oct. 31st. Feast your eyes on a chance to get some treats for all of you artists and crafters. Get some eye candy at a blog giveaway!

Catch Your Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year and is mostly lovely in the Hocking Hills. We usually go to the caves, but I had never been to Clear Creek and it isn't far from us! Not being a native to Ohio, I never really thought about it and asked my husband and he said he's been there many times, but had never taken me! So off we went on our fall adventure and it proved to be most gorgeous! I wanted to catch my fall as I know that it would be gone all too quickly!



I marvel at the beautiful tall trees of red, green, orange, yellows and gold. Having grown up in ND we see so much plains so this is an awesome sight!



In addition to trees, there is such wonder in the rocks formed by glaciers over time.



This is Written Rock which is made from sand stone. I marvel at it's awesome textures!



Some beautiful patterns at each area you view.








Just so much variety in the same rock!



Or you might find the rock in a forest covered with moss. Looks like a green creature!



I love viewing up through the magestic tree tops!




The woods also produce other funky looking creatures! Doesn't this look like a long slug or snake?



Here he is in full view



I am sure there are other creatures that lurk in the forest and only show themselves when they want to. This is a perfect home for the elves and faeries. I think If you look really close, you might even see some eyes peering out! Hmmm..... wonder if we would see some activity here especially on Halloween!

Memories Of the Past

I must admit I have had a blast from the past! I discovered a site that will allow you to change your hair style and format you into a yearbook. I found it very funny and even amazing while wearing the hairstyles that my mom, aunt and grandma wore. You can try it for your self here!



Here I am today! This is pretty much my own hairstyle. I do color my hair, so no, I'm not a blonde but I can act like one! ha



More of what my hair color use to be. I guess I don't look too bad with tight curly hair.



Wow, I look like a mushroom! ha ha ha



Now this is really trippy! Peace!



Well if this isn't just flippy! Funny thing is, it came back in style not too long ago, but didn't like it then or now!



I look at this picture and I see my grandma!



I look at this picture and I resemble my Aunt!



I look at this picture and I look much like my Mom!



This one reminds me of a teacher!

BUT WHAT IF I HAD BEEN A GUY.....................




Just call me porky or Butch. lol



Hmmm.... not bad!



I guess I could be handsome. lol



Then maybe NOT! (I'm dying laughing at this one! Looks like a guy I dated in high school!)



This is like my dad when I was born. He passed away 11 years ago, but I have fond memories of the past. This is for you daddy, I miss you so much!

The Evil Eye

In a Fiber Art Trade that I am in, (F.A.T. for short) The theme is cats! Lord knows owning 7 of them that I could ship one out and never know it was missing! Oh sure, My fur kids can look very sweet and humble at times but they can also be two faced in more ways than one. One girl portrayed her kitties two faced so no doubt she is a bona-fide cat owner! One minute they are innocent and the next thing you know it, they are into something! I just caught Herky this morning up to no good!




He was blaming it onto Fritzie and I actually believe him as I have found her stealing my embellishments before. I buy them their own toys but never find them until one day while cleaning under large objects ( a rare occurrence) I found 54 fake mice and one fuzzy ball of yarn(I wondered where it went) under the sofa! It then occurred to me, the female cat was just like me! (while she is the only one that can crawl under the sofa), Here she had her own stash! OK Ok, we admit it, we both have a problem and now need to go to stashoholics anonymous (well maybe in her case.... anonymouse!) We must give to the less fortunate and I have... several bags of old fabric went to charities to make quilts with, before it all rotted away. Fritzie on the other hand had to share with the other 6 kitties. There, now we feel better! Right Fritzie? (Somehow I am getting the evil eye)



Well on to creating my cat! I know we all get inspirations on things we create. Perhaps a word or a photograph or even daily events will trigger our muse. For me, we had recently been to the Lancaster fair. It's my favorite as it is the last one of the season and I love the fall air, the smell of fried onions, the popcorn and the cotton candy!



Well speaking of candy.... I caught some eye candy with one of the rides called Pharaoh's Fury! It was very dramatic in color which caught my interest, but as I pondered on it, it occurred to me, why not do an Egyptian cat for the trade! I started sketching.



And gathered other photos for elements and started my quest for my traded cat.




I worked in the pharaohs stripes in the ears and the wings, that lead me to my finished piece.... and oh, yes, Miss Fritzie contributed too, with that evil eye!

I Need Therapy!

toothpastefordinner.com

O.K. SO I NEED THERAPY........
My husband had a meeting to attend in Columbus this week so I tagged along with him and went to a quilt shop to see if I could teach there. The shop owner was very interested in what I teach, however it wouldn't be until January, before she could set anything up and even then It seems that their class attendance has been down. In fact they were offering 5 free classes this month to jump start and sell their supplies. Everything that I could teach would have to be geared for class supplies that they could sell.... beads, trims, timtex, angelina, paints, dyes, yarns. I could get quite a few things thought out, but if it is like anyone else, they will try to use what they have in their stash so it may not be to her advantage on smaller projects. A Large quilt class would perhaps be better selling more yardage of goods and especially kit wise. Even then the turn out won't be like it once was. I think we are in it for the long haul with the economy. Something is going to have to give at some point though. Fabrics, trims and notions are so expensive any more that I think people are more or less making do or going without. I walked into Jo Ann's. It had been awhile since I had been to one and they had a super store in Columbus. I felt like a kid in a candy store! I wanted some trims and they were all 40% off, but even then I was very selective in what I bought and even just half yards. Perhaps a good thing that I am sewing small these days! One trim I fell in love with was over $11.00 a yard, so I quickly had to fall out of love. I decided $3.95 a yard was the highest I would go and then it had to be 40% off of that. So my $20.00 bill stretched just a little. All in all, it is not only my recreation and entertainment, but is also my therapy so perhaps a real bargain at that.

Making Babies

I think way back before women had jobs, they stayed home and made babies, so I find myself doing the same. I mean, after that little tramp insident in the later post below, I found my self in that situation with unprotected sex. ha ha ha. I guess she should have met Happy Harry in a much more previous post. (Gee, maybe that's when Harry Met Sally! hee hee hee ) Well, she's on a roll now and can't stop making them! lol You can see more of my babies here. Anyway, I am content making these little guys because they all turn out so individually different. Sort of like our own children. We never expected them to turn out like they do! I mean that in a good and a bad way. lol Take for instance my daughter, she was like my Madame Vadoma (below), a little miss know it all when she was younger. She could predict the future and always telling you the way things are and to be! I am proud of her though. She just finished up getting her Masters degree this month, so maybe she really is little miss know it all!

MISS VADOMA

It's a glamorous job!

O.K. so I have resorted street walking and looking for a glamourous job. One that I wouldn't have to be on my feet all day and live the life of a queen! lol Just this past week, I got an internet offer that says "save gas and work from your bedroom"! hee hee It gave me an idea that I just couldn't resist in turning it into an art doll that reflects desperate measures one may end up doing in an uncertain economy. I named her Trixie for the obvious reason. She loves the color red! That famous red color that in nail polish is named "I'm Not Really A Waitress". Dangling earring and bling is her thing to attract the best of customers. You will find her in Vegas on the magic mile where men not only play the slots! Need I say more?

The one thing that I find myself gifted in is a good sense of humor and making people laugh, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of jobs for clowns these days even though life is a juggling act. I am sure the right job will come along. I think we find ourselves being reinvented in various times of our life in the working world . We find ourselves asking the question. What am I good for? So tonight I have sat down and re-polished and updated my resume and ready to put in a full time job tomorrow learning to hunt and be ready to take on the world.

Heavenly Harvest

This is my favorite time of year when the gardens are plentyful of the best vegetables that you can ever have. Tomatoes and fresh basil are my favorite and I look forward to making tomato pie. I wish I could share it all with you.....then again maybe not! lol I will however share the recipe:) In addition to making tomato pie, I baked 2 apple pies. Wow! They were out of this world too! The apples were home grown and incredible flavor! My friend Peggy gave me her bountyful fruits. She's a very generous friend to have! Enjoy!


Tomato Pie

Make or buy your favorite pie crust.... mine happens to be a frozen Pillsbury Pet Ritz brand crust.
Bake single pie crust for 10 min. Over the bottom of the pie crust sprinkle a layer of dried bread crumbs to absorb the liquid. Peel and thickly slice enough tomatoes to cover the pie shell 4-6.
Dice 1 small onion
Slice 2 large portabella mushrooms (I didn't have any more for the above pie, but oh my goodness it really adds to the pie!)
Chop as much fresh basil as you would like
Add salt and pepper and mix and put into pie shell. In another bowl mix together 3/4 cup mayonise and 1 1/4 cup of shredded sharp cheddar and spread over the top layer of tomatoes. Bake 35 mn. @ 350 degrees. Let stand 5 min. and then cut and serve.

What I do all day

My husband often wonders what I do all day so just had to illustrate with Miss Fritzie >^..^<



Actually I have been producing while Miss Fritzie is on inspection detail. I decided to do some experimenting with folding paper. I have always been facinated with origami. Even as a kid, I remember getting a kit for Christmas one time and spending hours trying to make them. The one that I am showing here is actually a spin on those old fashioned coin purses I use to see. I remember my grandpa even having one. I made this one a lot larger. Size wise, the base could fit a CD in it which is what I had intended it for as a gift package for someone when I made it. Once I got the size I wanted, I drew it out on butcher paper. I covered the butcher paper in a combination of matte medium and torn issue paper.(You could also do this with a half and half water to elmers white school glue mixture) I let the layers dry and then turned it over and painted the inside with an acrylic paint and sponge brush. I also used a rubber stamp and stamped dragonflies all over it and put a sealer on it of gloss mod podge. Then the fun begins in folding it. For fun, I auditoned a clay face on it. I even thought that I would be able to do this with felt, but unfortunately I felt it wasn't stiff enough. Perhaps 2 fabrics with Steam A Seam or other bonding agent would work better. I will have to do that for the next ones that I do. I will report back of my findings later.