A few new things......

A brief and fuzzy pic of a fun chandelier I just completed for a friend's shop.

This is one of my houses that I'm planning on including in my spring collection that I will be submitting for licensing. It's not completely finished, but I wanted to share it!

A girly Victorian-like barrette I made that looks SO lovely when you put in hair that has been pinned up (my sis wore it the other day and it looked fabulous with her shirley temple curls).

On to other things........

Ok, so my computer has been acting very funky lately....have no idea what the trouble is, been running super slow and sounds like a train engine. At times I find myself glancing over at the tower, wondering if I should make a break for it.....death by computer is not how I want to leave this earth and it seriously sounds like a massive explosion is in it's near future. Which will be a big bummer for me, cause there's no way I can afford a new one.

New Year.......2008....WOW. I hope you had a great and safe one. I spent mine in the comfort of my bed with the most amazing man in my life........my son. (Had ya'll going there, didn't I?) He of course insisted on watching the new Simpson's movie. That movie is something, let me tell ya. He spent the whole time repeating what Bart said, but replacing the bad words with words that are acceptable in our house. He's just the most amazing thing I ever did. And I'm so thankful to be starting another year where I can watch him grow (too fast) and where mommy still "rules". I hope I always "rule".

Christmas rush has come to a close...........

I hope everyone's Christmas was warm and cozy and filled with laughter, love and memories in the making. Mine went by in a blur, as we usually have to pick up and go to five different places over the holidays. And I think I've come to a decision. Next year, my Christmas will be spent at home. I love to see everyone and love the atmosphere of a packed house, but it kills all of my holiday spirit to have so many obligations. I will have a Christmas with all the trappings next year and if people want to see me and mine, then they will be more than welcome to come to my house. I just can't do all the running anymore, it leaves me no Christmas.

When I was little, I would get so depressed after Christmas. I think it might have had something to do with anticipating it for so long and when it was over, i was left with the question..."Well, what am I supposed to look forward to now?" I still sort of feel that childlike innocence in me whenever I feel the holidays coming to a close. Almost as if the kid in me is telling me it doesn't have to be Christmas for me to feel like it is everyday. So, on that note I think I might have come upon my New Year's Resolution quite accidentally, which is to live each day as if it is Christmas, then I'll never have to say goodbye to it again!

Fun Hairstyle

Ok, so I have five minutes until I have to leave for my son's Winter party at school.......but I just had to share this fun and quick hairstyle with ya'll. It's simple...put your hair up in a ponytail, seperate your ponytail into different strands, curl. Following the curve of the curl, bobby pin them into place around the ponytail holder...and voila!!!! Have a great day, everyone!

Believing is Seeing....

Yes, Virginia.....There is a Santa Clause....

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?"VIRGINIA O'HANLON."115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there.

Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Holy Smokes!....VIE CHAOTIQUE

I am SO not believing what an awesome night I've had. What turned out to be a day filled with sinus problems and a crick in the neck from sitting in my studio until 3 am last night......has quickly become a gem of days.....a total gem, worth more than diamonds.

A little backlog (if you will) - I consign with a local shop here but don't consider it "that big a deal" because, after all, the shop is owned by my aunt. Who knows if she really likes my stuff or if she just feels weighted down by that teensy nepotism thing, lol. Anyhoo......I have never been asked to consign for a shop, ever.


UNTIL TONIGHT!!!!!!!

I belong to the forums at Victoria Bliss, a beautiful magazine which I just discovered and absolutely adore....and got to chatting with a woman on the boards. Well, she left me a private message and asked if I would consider consigning with her lovely shop, VIE CHAOTIQUE.

I visited and it is just gorgeous. I am so honored that she would actually want to carry my designs. And if I ever wanted to consign with a shop, it's never been this bad......I love the whole "feel" of it and their philospohy....."C'est la vie chaotique, From Chaos Comes Beauty"....that is SO perfect for me and I am keeping my fingers crossed for this new endeavor. Merry Christmas to me! ((((Hugging Santa tight)))))) My Guardian Angel must be working up quite a sweat, because I'm telling you, i feel like a dream I've had since I was a little girl is finally starting to come true!

A quote that gave me chills....

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?"

–Nelson Mandela


I was yet again perusing when I stumbled upon Heather Bailey's blog. Very interesting blog and I went to the link that is labeled "Even More About Me" on the right hand side and was taken to her bio at the Freshcut Fabric site. A great find.......and wow....what a great quote.

Finished Dressmaker's Mannequin....

My crazy version of a Spring dress as a mannequin.....rofl. Sort of french-inspired, dontcha think?

Quick idea for Victorian flair for the Holidays.....

I know that this might be an idea millions of people have already had, but I thought of it and made myself one and am in love with the way it turned out. This is a very simple, quick, easy and affordable way to add the right touch of victorian flair to your wardrobe this Christmas.


What you need.....
1" satin ribbon in color and length of your choice.
Flowers or vintage charms, or almost any embellishment you might have lying around.

What to Do........
I took a piece of ribbon approximately 18 inches long and attached smaller ribbon, flowers and pearls to the middle of my ribbon. The flowers were wrapped around the ribbon with the wire that was attached (floral wire), the pearls were hot glued into places among the flowers. After I was finished, I simply wrapped ribbon around any ugly parts that were showing (hot glue and wire) and tied it onto my neck with a fluffy bow in the back.


I will be wearing my hair up with a shirt that sweeps just below my shoulders, so that the necklace is the focal point and doesn't cause a war with the rest of my outfit. I'm also thinking of re-creating the ribbon hairstyle that was in the recent Victoria Bliss issue.....Tasha Tudor's antique clothing line.


I just loved the way this turned out and wanted to share it...it was so easy and simple, not to mention affordable and it will give me a very unique style for the holidays!

Introducing Sally, The Spring Queen

I know the pics aren't that great and I'm sorry once again, lol! This is Sally, she is another addition to my Spring Collection. She is made out of paperclay, has her own felt flower basket and is covered in shimmery, glittery sparkle glaze for a really neat vintage finish. Hope you like her!

Kendra Binney and Daniel Merriam

Holy Smokes!!!! I just found the most soft, ethereal, dazzling, miraculous and wondrous paintings by a very talented artist. You've got to go check her out! Amazing....I am SO putting some of her prints on my "to get" list. Vists Kendra Binney!

I've also found another superb artist, Daniel Merriam. Not only is his work beyond words, but his bio is so open and honest, you feel as if you know him. Great site and such a great artist to look up to.

Sentimental Gifts at Christmas

Are you the type of person that likes to get something sentimental....especially from your hubby or significant other? See, I'm thinking of taking a poll....maybe go to Bravenet and get one of those poll meters to find out how many women find the "sentimentality" of a gift from their loved one very important.

Call me old fashioned, but I do. I would rather receive a card that makes me cry than something that my fiance thinks I "need". Because, really.....I can buy myself whatever it is that I "need". Who wants a gift from their fiance that they "need"? Ok, well, I do, I guess....but one little thing...one piece of sentiment thrown in among 10 things I "need" would be great.

I'm ranting a little here, and I'm sorry for it, but I have to go somewhere, lol. The thing is, I just got off the phone with my significant other and during our conversation he tells me that he has bought me several things he thinks I "need". With my fiance, this is bad......this is really bad, lol. I'm sure among some of those things is a tire-changing kit (the motivation being he doesn't have to come change it).

Anyhoo, when I asked him if he got me anything that would make me go "aahhhhhh"......he said no. Which, I figured he'd say, but here's the clencher.......he then says......."You know me, I'm not really the sentimental type." We've had a huge prob with this in the past, so much so that it caused me to move out, so when this comment was made, I felt defeated and disappointed. I thought we had made such great progress over the last few months. And I still think we have, but c'mon....lol.

So, what I'm wondering is this........Am I being too much of a ninny? I do appreciate the time he has taken to buy things I "need", I really do.....but am I asking for too much when I want just a hint of sentiment? Is that a selfish request? I really don't know....I don't feel like it is, but there's always two (or three or four) ways to look at something. I'd like to hear your way of looking at it!

New stuff........

This is a painting I did as a commission. It's for a woman I met at the library, oddly enough. We got to talking and she ended up asking me for a piece....one that signified hope and freedom. I hope I did it justice....guess I'll find out when I meet her for lunch tomorrow!

This is one of the bunnies in my spring collection. He's not fully done yet, I still have to add his base. I love the little guy, I've added sparkle glaze to give him that vintage easter look.

This is a piece that I might include in my spring collection. I thought I could dress up the "mannequin" as an easter dress......incorporate the spring style somehow. The "mannequin" is paperclay on a wire frame that I made (which really made my arthritis unhappy, lol).

Sledding Fun

We had a blast this weekend sledding in all the snowy white goodness!!!! Even though I got smacked so much in the face with snowballs that I eventually had to take my glasses off......they kept landing at my feet....rofl.

Sometimes What You're Looking For is Right Where You Left it.....

I have loved this movie since it came out. Not only for the eye candy (Josh Lucas) below.....but for the humor and real-life quality of it. I get tired of seeing movies where everyone is glitz-ified and glammed out......every once in a while I need a good down home country fix......and I pop in this movie when I need one. Another reason I like it so much is that it reminds me alot of my fiance and I. We broke up for awhile and this story just makes me realize even more just how lucky I am. Oh, and did I mention I like to look at Josh Lucas, who plays Jake in the movie??? LOL.......anyhoo, ya'll.....if you haven't seen it.....I highly recommend it, one of my most fav movies!

Christmas Past

This beautiful young lady is my mom. She'd kill me if she knew this picture was on my blog, so let's keep it our little secret, ok?? This was taken when I was about two years old. I went shopping for her today, and let me tell you, if you knew my mom, you would know what an impossible chore that is. The woman wants for nothing. Except for maybe coffee and her beloved cigarettes (which nobody can talk her into quitting, been there, almost didn't survive that, lol).

My mom left my paternal father when I was about three months old. He was an alcoholic and she knew that my life (and hers) would be better without him in it. So, my mom has always been a single mom, though she's been married since, it never mattered. If I needed something or someone, it was my mom that I counted on. At Christmas, my mom would go to elaborate measures to make sure I had the best Christmas. On Christmas morning, everything would be wrapped in paper I had never seen before (she'd drive two towns away to try and get paper that was not available where we lived) so that I would have the "santa was here" feeling as I nervously anticipated the treasures that awaited me.

She never asks for anything....never makes nonchalant statements proclaiming that she could really use this or that. So, I'm stuck. In previous years, I've made her something or wrote her poem and had it framed, but this year I feel as if I just can't figure it out. I guess it's back to the drawing board and different stores tomorrow so that I can walk up and down each aisle and wonder if the stuff I'm looking at is anything she wants, lol. I know that there is nothing I can do to make any Christmas as special as the Christmas Past she's given me, but I'd sure like to try....if only I knew where to start.

Preview of my Spring Designs

Sorry about the mess in the background....my studio is an absolute nightmare right now, lol.

New CafePress Designs

I have finally decided to re-open my CafePress Shop! The two designs at the top are what I currently have up! Hope you'll stop by!!!

Fun Quiz

I found this quiz on one of Luxe's designer's blogs, Tricia Arlington. I never have any quizzes or really fun stuff....so I thought I would add it!



1. your rock star name (first pet & first car). Maddie Regal

2. your gansta name (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie). Vanilla Bean Peanut Butter

3. your “fly girl"? name (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) Mhan

4.your detective name (fav color, fav animal). Brown dog

5. your soap opera name (middle name, city where you were born) Sue Belleville

6. your Star Wars name (first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first). Hanme

7. superhero name (the? + 2nd fav color, fav drink). The Green White Zin

8. nascar name (the first names of your grandfathers). Wayne Clifford

9. stripper name ( the name of your fav perfume/cologne/scent, fav candy). Warm Vanilla Sugar Hershey

10. witness protection name (mother’s & father’s middle names ). Jean Jean (lol)

11. tv weather anchor name (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter). Peffer Pennsylvannia

12. spy name (your fav season/holiday, flower). Fall Vinca

13. cartoon name (fav fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie" or “y"). Strawberry Sweatie

14. hippy name (what you ate for breakfast, your fav tree). Corn Pop Birch (rofl)

15. your rockstar tour name (the + your fav hobby/craft, fav weather element + “tour"). The Altered Rain Tour

Christmas Wish List

My fiance has it in mind to buy me a whole new wardrobe....since I constantly complain (apparently) about the clothes I own now, lol. Well, he asked what I would want for Christmas if the sky was the limit, so here are just a few of the things I would buy if I could......

Vintage Outfits by April Cornell

Anything from Sally Jean

I will be adding to this list over the next week......basically for my own enjoyment, lol!

Scrappy Design Team Calls

I was at iScrap this morning, just browsing and I decided to check in on the design team calls. I submitted to a few...but one call really interested me. Paper Trunk put out a design team call and the thing that had me so excited was that

1.) they were looking for an altered art or mixed media artist
2.) they wanted you to send in a personal statement, no formalities, they only wanted you to be yourself. You could write about anything you wanted that pertained to your life.

So, I jumped on the opportunity. What many of you might not know about me is that in a former life, I wanted to be a writer (and actually pubbed a few books), anyhoo......I thought, how fun would it be to just talk......not have any formalities to follow, just be yourself. So, I entered and I want to share with you my poersoanl statement that got sent it.......here goes.......

Altered Ulterior Motives..............

I live in rural Missouri, where you can find a good fishing pond almost every mile and where the weather can change in 20 seconds. I have a passion for helping all creatures (people and animals alike, though sometimes the people can be animals, lol) so I have three horses and one pony (none of which are suitable to ride), three dogs (none of which do anything but stink up my studio and lay around) and a chicken who doesn't lay eggs.

Among the manuer smell in my studio, you can also find the stench of my six year old son who refuses to bathe. He's the absolute best thing I ever did, but sometimes I worry that the best thing I ever did smells like a pig pen.

My dreams are big and bright, so much so that sometimes they blind me. As I sit here and write to you, I have collections upon collections that I have designed that I can't quite work up the nerve to submit to any licensing companies. That is my dream......to design collections for the home, whether it's paper items, cloth items or ornamental.....I'm there.....and I want to create. So, I work up these collections and when I'm all done, I lay them all out on my crowded and disorganized work table and scratch my head. The courage and conviction of saying (and believing) that I am an artist is coming to me and at this point in my life, I couldn't feel luckier or happier. After alot of years drifting, I've finally found my calling. A passion that keeps me awake at night and a fervor to just simply "be" who I am.

So, that is my personal statement. Oh, one more thing......a quote I came up with........"Magic is what the soul craves from a lover or friend, but what it expects from art."

Advice and failing faith...

I got advice from a very dear friend yesterday, but instead of the advice leaving me feeling satisfied, it kind of upset me. My friend has worked for two of the most prominent corporations in the United States. She's a very savvy business woman and so smart about business matters that sometimes she gets on my nerves, lol.

Her advice was given after a conversation in which I told her my plans for licensing some of the collections I have been making. I told her that I've received great response from my posts (and pics of my creations) on forums, my blog, my site, etc. She then advised me not to share pics or details of my collections with anyone if they are something I plan on licensing and profiting from.
Disappointment hit me hard. I was disappointed in her at first, that she would actually imply that the great artists I meet in cyber space would maybe do something like steal from me and then license them as their own before I did. How could she say something like that? Then I remembered that she works in an office where if you say "good morning", there's most usually a reason behind it.......to get the scoop on you so that they can talk behind your back or to give you the dish, to enable that never-ending carousel of gossip.

I do fully understand that if I were to take the chance to share my creations online, I must also take the chance that some of my concepts (or whatever) will be used elsewhere.....frankly, I find that a huge compliment. If someone thinks that much of my stuff, I must be doing something right. That's just my thinking, anyhoo.

But, I sit here and wonder what our society has become. Have we really gotten to the point where we hoard our passions and our happiness so that we can merely be selfish and keep it to ourselves? So that nobody but else benefits from the beauty we create? I think not. That is the reason I create.........to share. To spread what is in my heart and from my hands and hope that it touches someone else's life.

Soldered Ornaments and a Treasure Trove.

These are some of the soldered ornaments from the same collection I've been showing pics of. It's all blue, silver, and glittery crystal. I surprised myself with this.......I'm usually not "girly-girl". With anything, actually. I've never really like the soft muted or pastel colors and have always been drawn to deeper, darker shades.

But, something has happened in the past few weeks. I find myself slobbering over soft feminie colors and trinkets. For instance........I was running errands yesterday at the zoo they call Wal-Mart (at this time of year, anyway), when I was browsing the magazine aisles for some crafty inspiration........and there I saw it......one magazine in particular caught my eye.

Victoria stood proud, her regal front cover shining, almost blinding. Carefully, as if I had found a secret treasure, I picked her up and gently flipped through the pages. The pages of an article leaped out of me and I found pictures that made my heart melt. The new issue features the antique clothing collection of Tasha Tudor, unimaginably graceful and intricate dresses dating back to the early nineteenth century. Be still, my beating heart........I felt the color rise in my cheeks, almost as if I was embarassed to be so delighted by simple pages in a magazine. But, I couldn't stop the reverie. I stood there in the aisle of my insanely busy Wal-Mart and was transported back to a time where I would've worn dresses such as the ones I was looking at. Where I would've batted my eyelashes over a pearl-handled fan as I was being wooed and courted by some slick gentleman who kissed my hand and stood up whenever I left a table.

Needless to say, I bought the magazine, lol. And as soon as I got in the car after impatiently waiting to check out, I sat and poured over the feature once again. I'm glad I bought the magazine, or saw it for that matter, I never knew I would be so touched or moved by a Victorian magazine. If I had known the effect it would have on me, I would've subscribed long ago, lol.

The magazine also opened the world of April Cornell up to me. She has the most darling and unique clothing I've ever seen. I'm in love with her London line. I hope you visit the links, and while you're perusing, I hope you will be whisked away as well, into a time of romance where pretty things were an everyday necessity.

Why I've been busy......

This is what I have been doing........I have more stuff to take pics of. I didn't get outside in time enough today to get all of the pics taken before the sun went down. I just can't beat the lighting outside.....I seem to be horrible at taking pics of items. If it's people or scenery, I tend to do fine, lol. Anyhoo.....I'm going to see how these pics turn up inside and if it goes good, I'll be back to share more!

The crowns are made of wire, which I have fallen in love with. The stuff is so fun to bend and twist...you can make almost anything! I think I might donate a few of the crowns that I did to the children's hospital, I think a little girl would be thrilled to have their very own crown!!! Now I just have to think about what to do for the boys, lol.

It's a Drizzly Day....

Sorry about the quality of the pics....it's sleeting and very dreary here, so outside pics were impossible!

Okay, I have done nothing these past few days but work on the collection I'm wanting to submit for licensing. I've had a blast, but my neck hurts because I've been crashing into the studio floor every morning around 2 or 3 am and sleeping right where I lay....lol. The first pic is of an angel I'm working on, I had a few vintage doll pieces I wanted to use for something, and the cone was laying there.....so I put two and two together, lol. I'm surprised with how it turned out.

The second pic is of one of my wire crowns, I absolutely love making these, but my fingers are so torn up that it actually kinda hurts to type right now, lol. I will be adding a few more to the collection.....because let's face it......a girl can't have too many crowns! I'm off to the table again and probably have the studio floor to look forward to later. I promise to share pics of all the other stuff I've gotten done as soon as weather permits a better pic! Have a beautiful night, all!

Holiday Collection for Licensing

Okay.......I got my camera up and running (I haven't the foggiest what was wrong with it). So, I was able to take pics of a seperate holiday line I've been working on. This is one I am designing for a specific licensing company I have in mind. I have more done in the collection, but here's a start.....

Above is the back view of the Wonderland house.

Side View of my unique Santa. He is polymer clay.

His "jolly" bubble is soldered and hangs from the tip of his hat.

Here's the cute couple.

This was from my pink line that I wanted to take pics of the other night, but couldn't. My version of a pink holiday cupcake.....sprinkled with glitter.

Camera Caput

Well, I think my digital camera has bit the dust. I've changed the batteries four times now and nothing happens. I was planning on sharing more pics of my holiday line, but I can't because the dern thing hates me. That camera has had it in for me since day one, I'm tellin ya. It's almost not worth it to try and take it back and see if I had a warranty. I hope Santa's good to me this year and gives me a fancy schmancy new camera, cause without a camera....I am lost, lol.

Sneak Peek at Pinkish Whimsy

A few of the ornaments in the collection.

The top of the Blessings piece.

The enclosure of the blessings piece. A flower with a glittery leaf, a star jutting out of it's center is inside.

Full front view...sorry about the pics. I really need a new camera. The one I have is good, but not for product pictures. Thanks for taking a peek!