Yesterday's Trash

Thanks For Visiting...

2009-04-11T16:59:00.004-04:00

Due to a change in marital status, I'm now going by the name Michelle Renée Bernard. You can follow me on my blog at michellereneebernard.blogspot.com Thanks for visiting!

Full Moon Tonight...

2009-04-09T22:11:00.001-04:00

Full moon tonight. I love a full moon. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the "half," the "quarter," or the "crescent". . . but there's just something about a full moon... Howwwwwwwwl!

Feelin' Groovy...

2009-04-08T20:57:00.001-04:00

Not only do I like to use decades-old stuff in my art, but I also love to wear it too! Currently, this is one of my favorite combinations... a 70's polyester print shirt, complete with a groovy scarf... a steal for $12 at a local flea market. And a peach short sleeve shirt I got at J.C. Penney for only $1.98!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Dead Roses

2009-04-07T19:02:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite techniques is the Polaroid transfer. You take a slide photograph and expose it onto the old polaroid peel away film (the gunky kind)... pull off the paper tab when it's done... and place it onto watercolor paper. The result is absolutely unpredictable. The roses above were left in a vase while on vacation and upon returning, they looked good enough to photograph. The transfer technique really lent itself to the overall feeling of the photo.

Listen To The Universe...

2009-04-05T23:22:00.000-04:00

Did you ever wonder what the Universe is trying to tell you? Do you think twice about those serendipitous coincidences? Or perhaps those life lessons are more like a slap in the face (the Universe definitely has a sense of humor!). Well, wonder no more...

I totally recommend that you sign up for "Notes from the Universe" where you will receive a special message—Mondays through Fridays—via e-mail. And I'm not kidding when I say... the Universe is watching you! And that's a good thing...

Your Love Is Like Bad Medicine...

2009-04-02T22:22:00.000-04:00

Mom was going into town, so I said, "I need cupcakes." Not, "could you get me some"... no... I need them. Ahhhhh... and what good medicine!

Patterns

2009-04-01T23:01:00.001-04:00

Today was a day of looking at patterns. No matter how much you think you see as you're standing right on top of them... all you have to do is take a couple steps back and your perspective totally changes. Take a giant leap back... and then you have quite another view! The image above is actually a vintage countertop from an Asbury Park boardwalk concession stand.

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: 7 O'Clock Shadow

2009-03-31T20:09:00.001-04:00

This eerie looking infra-red photograph was taken in a Charlotte, NC graveyard in the early evening when the sun was low. It wasn't planned... I was just walking around with my camera when I noticed the long shadows that were cast. I asked my "model" to pose by this larger gravestone to capture the stark contrast.

I Once Was Lost... But Now I'm Bound...

2009-03-30T21:29:00.001-04:00

My heart is bound and cannot see. It's taking time to heal my heart and mind. Lots of time.

Too Much Rain...

2009-03-29T21:36:00.001-04:00

April showers are coming a little bit early this year. The weather has been very strange here on the NJ coast this weekend. It's been raining extremely heavily overnight... and then not really at all during the day... even though it looked like rain all day. Sunday it was foggy most of the day, and then we had a thunderstorm around 8:30 in the evening. Weird...

Clear The Mind...

2009-03-26T18:39:00.001-04:00

Took a walk on the beach the other day to clear my mind. But I always find good stuff when I go there... so I make sure to bring a ziplock bag now. I discovered lots of glass from an historic building being torn down, tons of my favorite shells, some sea glass, and even a skull of some sort. All-in-all a very good haul... and I did manage to clear my head too.

Laundry Is Exciting?

2009-03-25T20:43:00.000-04:00

That's right. I've never been so excited to get my laundry done! My bags are full and it's been way too long. You see... my washer is busted and I've been using my mom's next door. But with all that's been going on these past couple weeks, I have not gotten to the laundry. So I am so glad to have jeans and my favorite shirts to wear again. Yay! Next Monday I get my new washer and dryer set... then I will be even more excited to do laundry. Can you imagine?

Cotton Candy For Coraline...

2009-03-23T20:56:00.003-04:00

Oooooh... I almost forgot! I meant to make my "Little Me" some yummy cotton candy. It's her favorite. I made an aluminum foil base, glued an unwrapped cotton ball around it, and sprayed with a paint/water mixture. Nice and fluffy! The cone is out of cardstock and I painted red stripes on it.

Time For Nesting...

2009-03-22T20:31:00.001-04:00

A group of crafty chicks—we call ourselves the "Tiara Chronicles"—get together every couple months and make something creative. This weekend, Debbie Tlach taught us how to do this nifty nest pin (adapted from instructions by Deryn Mentock's Belle Armoire Jewelry article). We had lots of laughs, took way too long, and everyone's piece turned out great!

We used annealed wire and made the eggs out of translucent polymer clay, with Distress Embossing powder mixed in to create the speckled color. It was easier than we all thought it would be. Gotta love when that happens!

A Little Spotty...

2009-03-19T21:19:00.000-04:00

I usually try not to air my dirty laundry on my blog. But sometimes, things in life happen and they affect your heart, your spirit and unfortunately... your creativity. Lately, my blog entries have become rather “spotty” and not my usual weekly tradition. This is due in part to a very unsettling circumstance brought to my attention a few weeks ago.

This particular development has been so difficult for me on so many levels. I’m trying to be strong. But it’s going to take some time. I feel like I just got hit by a freight train, and those wounds run deep. But, no matter how long it takes... I will get stronger... I will get past this... and I’ll get to live the life I’ve always imagined...

Green For St. Patty's Day...

2009-03-16T21:06:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patty's Day everybody! I myself am: German, French, Polish, English and American Indian. But everybody's Irish on St. Pat's, right? To celebrate, I'm going out with my Italian friend and her Scottish husband and I'm going to have myself some domestic champagne! What are you up to?

I've Been Trying To Get To My Taxes...

2009-03-15T20:38:00.001-04:00

But sometimes... things just get in the way! Can't wait to be done with them. Except then it's on to the next thing I've been avoiding on my "hard stuff to do" list! Yuck. Nice distraction though!

Just Chillin...

2009-03-11T22:31:00.001-04:00

Taking it easy this evening. It's been kind of a long week, even though it's only Wednesday. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about...

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Magic Midway

2009-03-10T20:48:00.001-04:00

So, obviously you get the boardwalk thing from the entry below, but that love extends to carnivals and fairs as well! This photo I took and colorized the old-fashioned way... by painting the non-colored areas with a photo masking fluid, letting it dry, and then dipping it into a bath of orange dye! When the desired intensity of color was had, you let it dry and peeled off the mask! You gotta love Photoshop!

A Juggling Act...

2009-03-09T19:16:00.001-04:00

Over the weekend, I stopped into one of my favorite little antique shops and found this gem. Living in a beach town and having grown up at the boardwalk, I really love these game-themed pieces. I think I'm going to hang it on the wall.

Little Me... Fini!

2009-03-05T17:22:00.000-05:00

Here I am... in all my Little Me glory. Want to come and play with me?

Can Little Me Come Out To Play? Patience, Dear... Just One More Day...

2009-03-04T18:54:00.001-05:00

So, I wasn't happy with the tea dye color of my Little Me, so I re-tea dyed the whole doll. But all I had was Celestial Seasonings Lemon Zinger... and it made her pink! Too funny, but not my intention. Serendipity, perhaps? I painted on some lips and freckles...
Fashioned a skirt and hand-dyed peek-a-boo crinoline...
Added the arms and made a cute pink sweater from one of my own sweaters...
Added a darling vintage pin as a barette... and tomorrow I shall reveal my Little Me finally completed! This doll was so much fun to make. Having sewn it by hand, I really felt like a little girl in the Colonial days... making her own little dolly. Until tomorrow...

I've Been Snowed!

2009-03-03T18:36:00.001-05:00

Yup, that's right! The biggest snow job in quite some time! Monday's storm brought our New Jersey coast about 10" of powdery white stuff. That sure was a lot of shoveling!

Little Me...Coming Around...

2009-03-02T17:42:00.000-05:00

My "Little Me" doll is starting to come into focus! I traced out the hair placement with pencil so I could add the eyebrows and eyes in the appropriate place. Before I sewed up the doll after stuffing, I inserted a long triangle made of cardstock for the nose. Cute, but it keeps slipping sideways though. So I may need to sew it into place later on...
More fun! Adding the hair. And... uh... it's pink... did anyone guess that's what color yarn I would be using? She's really developing a little personality...
And of course, matching pink striped stockings! Hello dolly...
Until next time...

Little Me...Coraline Style...

2009-03-01T20:31:00.001-05:00

Okay, so being inspired is quite addictive! It's been a real Coraline "Little Me" weekend. I realized from my original pattern (already cut out), that I forgot to add her ears! So I was able to sew them in while sewing the entire doll by hand...
To age the doll, of course some tea dying was in order. I do like to get messy when I create. I used the tea bag "direct-to-surface" for optimum color, but rinsed a little of it out. I think I might want more color, but I'll wait and see...Stuffing is fun and therapeutic! And, as you can see, the "creative juices" are flowing...
Until next time....

Nice To Meet Me...

2009-02-26T23:06:00.005-05:00

Inspired by the movie Coraline, I have decided to make my own "me" doll. In the movie, Wybie brings Coraline a doll he found in his Grandma's attic... and it looks just like her! So I'm making one that will look like me. Since I don't have a sewing machine, or much experience sewing... it may take a while. But I want it to look hand made, so it's all good. So happy to feel inspired again. It's been too long! I'll take you along the journey as my doll makes progress...

Coraline...

2009-02-25T21:01:00.000-05:00

Went to see Coraline last night. If you are an adult with a kid's heart... go see it. If you love to play in the mud... go see it. If you want your movies in 3D... go see it!

©photo courtesy of LAIKA/Focus Features

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Solar Boy

2009-02-24T17:48:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite photos, this was a serendipity kind of thing... the subject in the photo was trying on my sunglasses, and a table lamp reflected in both lenses. I said, "don't move!" and got my camera out and snapped this shot. To make it even more interesting, I solarized it during the developing process which gave the final photo really dark shadows and silvery highlights.

Opening Night Party... Art & Soul, VA...

2009-02-23T20:28:00.004-05:00

House of Rock and Roll. Okay, here it is... the finished project I'll be teaching at the Opening Night Party for Art & Soul, Hampton, Virginia. We'll be using Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Sticky-back Canvas, Paints and Gesso, Memory Frames, Glass and Capsules, Alcohol Inks, die cuts, clip art, Tim Holtz stamps and masks, Cuttlebug dies, rock and roll memorabilia and so much more to decorate this Maya Road house and tag set. Included in the party is dinner, and there's also a cash bar... woohoo!

©photo by Debbie Tlach

Asbury Park...

2009-02-22T20:34:00.000-05:00

There are so many happening things going on in Asbury Park, NJ these days! Cool concerts, car shows, gallery crawls, and new restaurants opening all the time. In this economy... this is a great thing! Went out to eat Saturday night to one of the newest restaurants... Langosta Lounge. With a really great decor and "vacation inspired" cuisine... it was really a treat!

Life in 3-D...

2009-02-19T17:05:00.000-05:00

Lately my life seems a little flat... a little 2-dimensional. I've been working my regular job and working after work. That's a lot of work! I am looking forward to taking the day off tomorrow and having some FUN... and getting back to a 3D existence...

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Cliff Hanger

2009-02-17T21:53:00.001-05:00

The Cliff Hanger ride in Keansburg, NJ is really pretty cool. You lay down on your belly and it's like you are hang gliding! Here's another Cliff Hanger: this week I'm working on a project that I will be teaching—along with my associate Bonnie—at this year's Opening Night Party for the Hampton, VA Art & Soul! I'll have to keep you in suspense until we're done. Until then...

Dentist Appointment...

2009-02-16T18:57:00.001-05:00

Had a dentist appointment today. Just a cleaning. But I seem to find it very relaxing. Perhaps because I just get to lay back with my feet up and have someone take care of me for a change.

Laundry Day...Yawn...

2009-02-15T19:30:00.000-05:00

I waited as long as I could... but it's time to do laundry today. My washer is broken, so it takes extra long. But I am lucky that my mom lives next door and that I can carry my clothes back and forth... rather than dragging them to the laundromat. Did a little straightening up today too. Feels like nesting. I think the 50-65 degree weather last week made it feel like spring was coming!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone...

2009-02-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

I hope you are surrounded by lots of caring family, friends and pets on this day and every day. This Valentine's Day is a little different for me this year... but I'm happy to be celebrating the love!

If Lovin' You Is Wrong... Then I Don't Wanna Be Right!

2009-02-12T21:33:00.000-05:00

If a cupcake wanted to be a cookie... then this is it. One of my sweetest new obsessions are these frosted sugar cookies from Lofthouse. The cookie is soooo soft and the icing is fresh. Sometimes they give me a sugar belly ache. That's why... only one per day! Mmmmmmmm...

Retail Therapy...And Then Some!

2009-02-11T20:46:00.001-05:00

Tonight I went to JC Penney to look for a button down long sleeve shirt... I found a patterned short sleeve shirt and a two-tone scarf instead. Then I went to Forever 21 to find a long sleeve shirt... I found a pink polka dot short sleeve shirt and a green tye dye scarf! Then I went to Macy's to find a long sleeve shirt... instead I got a sexy lace top (short sleeve!), a velvet jacket, a ruffled skirt and a pink skull and crossbones tee (but hey, it was long sleeve!).

Then I went to the card store for Valentine's cards which took ever so long to pick out. Then off to the liquor store to get my favorite champagne splits, but they don't carry them anymore. So I went to a different liquor store. Stopped at the dollar store for wrapping paper... and finally the gas station to put air in my tire and fill up on gas! Whew! Lots of stuff, but I feel like I really accomplished something and I love all my new clothes!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Teacup Ride

2009-02-10T20:03:00.000-05:00

I used to love the teacup ride! Spinning around in a circle and making the teacup spin around too... dizzy, dizzy. It was fun! Lately I've been making my own decaffeinated tea. I was trying to stay away from too much sugar and using Diet Iced Tea Mix... but one doctor says no caffeine, the other says no artificial sweeteners! So I compromised. I'm using the caffeine free, very flavorful Celestial Seasonings teas and Agave Nectar for sweetening. It's not too bad.

Artful Ideas Using Yesterday's Trash...

2009-02-09T21:11:00.001-05:00

Last year, I developed a fascination with repurposing the plastic blisters from packages to use in my art. Funny because the company I work for... Ranger... came out with these Memory Capsules at the most recent Craft & Hobby Association show. They are little tiny, 3-D, decoratively shaped capsules that you can fill with all kinds of objects, place ephemera behind them, back with Ranger's Memory Glass and then place into our Memory Frames. It's an instant piece of jewelry or a creative embellishment. Pretty cool.

Full Moon Fever!

2009-02-09T09:16:00.000-05:00

I was sitting on my couch at dusk and something told me to look out the window... and what a really cool full moon I saw!

Altered Violin...

2009-02-05T20:49:00.000-05:00

Having recently returned from a very long business trip, I haven't had much time to be creative. Too much grocery shopping, laundry, housecleaning, and the like! But I thought I'd revisit this altered violin I made for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's charity... Art Strings. It really has a balanced combination of all the things I love... collaged music sheet pages, beadwork, silk flowers, vintage photos, butterfly wings and random words on a tiny tag. Originally, the violin was going to be pink, but I do a LOT of pink. And then I thought, violet... violin... hey, I'll make it purple. And since the piece had a woman's photo, I named her Violit.

Retro Inspired...

2009-02-04T20:59:00.000-05:00

Happy early Valentine's Day to me! I bought myself these lovely red-inspired kitchen accessories tonight. I will be using them for crafting most likely. Love Retro!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Icing On The Cupcake

2009-02-03T20:01:00.000-05:00

I have to admit... I just love snow. And today we had a little bit of snow that was extra nice. It was light and fluffy and soft. Driving home at night as the temperatures got only slightly cooler was awesome, as the flakes looked like little pieces of mica shining in the headlights. Upon arriving home, the sugary coating over our garden made me think of... what else? The icing on a cupcake! Of course!

Waaaaahhhh...

2009-02-02T20:25:00.000-05:00

First day back to work after CHA and I'm feeling a little under the weather. My throat is kinda scratchy... feeling a little warm... body is tired... must rest. It will pass... it will pass... it will pass...

I'm Ready For My Close-Up...

2009-02-01T19:53:00.000-05:00

Here's my first ever instructional video for Ranger. Hope you like it!

Back From CHA Winter 2009 Trade Show!

2009-01-30T18:31:00.000-05:00

Whew! What a ride... 7 days of busy, busy, busy times. Despite the economy, our Ranger booth did very well. We are usually a pretty popular stop on most retail store's buying lists. Check out the new products we introduced at the show! And here's some of the fun parts...

One of our signature artists—Claudine Hellmuth—doing her make-and-take. She created a tiny, wearable house pin using her Studio Paints and Stickyback Canvas...
Here is the final wall of houses from the Claudine Hellmuth Designer Challenge. Everyone did such a great job...
Maya Road had some fabulous new ribbons, stamps and chipboard books... including a cupcake one! Must have...
Melissa Frances came out with mica flakes and bottle brush trees in baby blue, cream and light pink. Also must have...
And Darice had these cool fuzzy stick things with wire down the center so you can bend them to your crafty delights. Hmmmm, the possibilities...
Lots of cool stuff... but I am glad to be home again.

Pretty Please... With Sugar On Top!

2009-01-25T09:07:00.000-05:00

Okay, here it is... my secret project that I made for CHA using Claudine Hellmuth's Studio line of products from Ranger! Our challenge was to create a "house" using a papier maché dimensional form we were provided, Claudine's products... and the rest was up to us! So I created a shrine dedicated to my favorite sugary treat... the Cupcake!

The circus tent awning, pennant-style flags, and the back and sides of the shrine are made of Claudine's Sticky-Back Canvas. And the gorgeous colors I mixed using her Semi-Gloss Acrylic Paints. I glued everything on using her Matte Multi-Medium. I love the line so much! It's so versatile.

See you when I get back on the 30th. I'll be sharing pictures from CHA then...

CHA Here We Come...

2009-01-22T17:42:00.001-05:00

I'll be flying out tomorrow to California and attending the Craft & Hobby Association trade show with my employer... Ranger Industries. While being in a giant convention center, amidst all the craft industries' cutting edge new products sounds like fun... we are actually there to work! We'll take a 5-and-a-half hour flight, check in to our hotel and go to the convention center to begin assembling our booth for 2 days. Then we'll be doing sales in the booth for 4 days, breaking down the booth on the last day... and then flying home the next. Whew!

But... in-between there is a little time peruse other company's booths, do some quick make-and-takes, relax in the shade of the tall palm trees and enjoy some nice meals with friends, associates and favorite designers. I'll be posting some photos from the show after I return on the 30th. In the meantime, I'll be posting my finished top secret project I made for CHA on the 25th! See you there or see you later!

Yup, It's That Time Again...

2009-01-21T17:33:00.000-05:00

The busiest time of year at work for me, is when Ranger is preparing to attend the Craft & Hobby Association's Winter Trade Show in Anaheim, California. We've had months and months of preparation, creating package designs, logos, press releases, testing product and making all kinds of creative stuff! And all will be revealed the first day of the show, January 25th! As you can see here, my little helper Juliet is assisting me in picking out my wardrobe.

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Birthday Me

2009-01-20T13:15:00.001-05:00

Here is a whimsical canvas project I made after perusing Claudine Hellmuth's craft technique book Collage Discovery Workshop: Beyond the Unexpected. I used a baby picture of mine as the head of this funny birthday girl and utilized some of the methods in the book to create a polka-dotted background. Fun stuff.

It Was A Dirty, Low Down Trick!

2009-01-19T20:30:00.001-05:00

Yeah, that's right. I'm sayin' it! My favorite, favorite, favorite all time radio station —106.3 WHTG, New Jersey's only rock alternative— sneakily changed formats today! Yup, on my way in to work it was awesome alternative rock music, and on the way home it was cheesy Top Hits radio. I was so sad. I am so sad! How could you do this to us? You bite! You leave me no choice... I guess I'll have to get XM Radio now.

Tabletop Dedication Party...

2009-01-18T19:47:00.000-05:00

So here I am toasting my finished pink table with pink champagne! A few months ago, I was one of 12 artists who had their round canvas selected to become a permanent tabletop for the Belmar Arts Council.

We're In The News...

2009-01-16T21:48:00.001-05:00

The company I work for—Ranger Industries—was recently in the local paper. An awesome article in the Asbury Park Press talked about our exciting "lean manufacturing" strategy in these tough economic times. In other words... I think we got it goin' on!'

I Was Totally In The Dark!

2009-01-15T19:13:00.000-05:00

In the mornings, I get dressed in the dark—or in whatever light is shining through my changing room window. This morning it was snowing, so the overcast sky left the room fairly unlit. Well, unbeknownst to me, until around 10am... was the fact that I put on two different boots today. One black boot and one brown boot. I was a little embarrassed, but it cracked me up so much that I had to share it with my co-workers. It was a great source of amusement during a very busy week.

Mother's Little Helper...

2009-01-14T22:17:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to show you one of the most wonderful jewelry-making thing-a-ma-jigs ever invented... the ChainSta! It keeps chain link bracelets and necklaces in place while you are adding beadwork and charms. No more guessing if everything is lining up correctly. It keeps everything in place. And it has a channel to use for jump rings and beads and a ruler on the front for easy positioning of elements. It was a tremendous help in making my 51 cent souvenir bracelet below. If you make any jewelry... it's a must have!

The 51 Cent Souvenir Bracelet Is Done!

2009-01-13T17:42:00.000-05:00

Wow, I can't believe I'm finished already. I guess all those years of wanting to do something with my 51 cent souvenirs really lit a creative fire under me. I combined a bunch of fun mementos and random beadwork with my squished pennies and am thrilled with the results! It makes a really cool sound too when all the pennies clink together.

Well, Isn't That Sweet...

2009-01-12T21:41:00.000-05:00

Recently, a very good friend of the family—who understands my love of sugary sweet treats— gave me this ceramic cupcake she made as a little girl. So not only is it a super appropriate gift... but it's also nostalgic. The top comes off and I can use it as a keepsake box too! Thanks Mary!

I've Been Tagged: Addictions (Guilty Pleasures)!

2009-01-11T20:14:00.001-05:00

My good friend Tanya tagged me this week and I feel so guilty... and it's a good thing! I'm supposed to list 5 of my addictions... which I like to call... guilty pleasures. Then I get to nominate 5 of my own, so... read on...

Guilty Pleasure #1:
Cupcakes. I just love sugar and the best way to quench my sugar addiction is with a sugary treat of soft cake with a glistening top of swirly goodness. Sprinkles are a bonus.
Guilty Pleasure #2: Cigar Boxes
I love cigar boxes and I love to create all kinds of assemblages using new or old cigar boxes. My secret? I pay 25 cents for them at my local grocery store.
Guilty Pleasure #3: Mochaccino
I'm supposed to cut out caffeine, but I must have my morning Mochaccino. I just cannot go through a day without tasting that thick, frothy, milky, bubbly-on-top, chocolatey treat.
Guilty Pleasure #4: Reality Shows
Okay, I confess... I love reality shows. They're like a bad wreck. You just can't look away. I love watching Project Runway, Survivor, Top Chef and the like for the socialization factor. I like to see how people handle difficult and stressful social situations. I really learn from that. Then there are the others that I like for the sheer entertainment factor, like Celebrity Rehab, Rock of Love, and The Bachelor.

Guilty Pleasure #5: Singing In The Car
If you ever heard me sing, you'd probably cover your ears... but in the car, I'm a rock star. I can sing along to any tune and pretend I sound really awesome. Even the guy in the car next to me at the stop light thinks so!
Guilty Pleasure #6 (Bonus): Flea Market Shopping
No matter how many dolls, buttons, ephemera, vintage magazines, skeleton keys and costume jewelry pieces I have, I can never have enough. I think I'm trying to buy back everything I owned in my previous lives!
Now it's my turn to tag some others and see what their guilty pleasures are. So I nominate Bonnie Egenton, Debbie Tlach, Claudine Hellmuth, Jen Cushman and Suze Weinberg.

Back On The Merry-Go-Round

2009-01-08T22:12:00.001-05:00

Oh boy. Life is tough sometimes. I thought I had something good and it turned out bad. Then I thought I had something bad and it turned out good. I'm all topsy turvy... I just don't know which way is up. Hopefully I can make heads or tails of all this.

Ho Hum... Lots Of Rain Today...

2009-01-07T22:03:00.001-05:00

All day long rain just pounded the earth today. Good weather for wanting to hit the snooze... stay under the covers... and go back to sleep. But alas, a busy month at work beckons me to get up and get moving.

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Magic Shoes Transfer

2009-01-06T18:13:00.001-05:00

Back in the early 90's I learned how to do a Polaroid Transfer. This involved taking a slide... placing it into a Polaroid Day Lab machine... which would expose the image onto the old style Polaroid Film. After you let it develop... you'd peel off the paper to expose the image... and then place it onto watercolor paper. You never knew what you would get, but that was half the fun. If you have an old Polaroid that uses the "peel off" kind of film, you can do it by taking a picture and putting it directly onto the watercolor paper!

Time To Take Down The Christmas Tree...

2009-01-05T20:32:00.000-05:00

Okay, so do you think I love my kitties or something? With all the air time they've gotten on my blog lately, you'd think so! But this one was just too precious to pass up.

The 51 Cent Souvenir..

2009-01-04T19:24:00.001-05:00

Whenever I go on vacation, my absolute favorite souvenir is the "squished penny". Perhaps you've seen the machine? You insert two quarters and one penny... you pick a picture... and turn the giant crank. The machine drops your penny into the press and stretches it while imprinting your image onto the coin. I've been collecting them for years and keeping them in a shoe box. Well, I've decided to show them the light of day and turn my collection into a bracelet or necklace of some sort. A good way to honor the places I've been, don't you think?

Top Secret...

2009-01-02T17:41:00.001-05:00

For the past couple of weeks—in my spare time—I've been working on a project that will be revealed at the Winter 2009 Craft & Hobby Association Trade Show. As Ranger prepares to re-launch Claudine Hellmuth's line of Studio products, we will have an entire wall decorated with projects created by over 20 craft industry talents using her products! I am honored to be a part of this challenge... and will reveal my special assignment in three weeks. But for now, here is a little "taste" and a photo of my favorite helper...

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T22:47:00.001-05:00

May 2009 be filled with wonderful surprises that please and delight you! For example, I recently realized that my beautiful orange tabby, Romeo, has sprouted one single black whisker. How cool is that?

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: On The Other Side?

2008-12-30T18:34:00.001-05:00

Is he the prisoner, or are you? This photo was taken of one of my brother's friends back in the early 90's grunge days. Teenagers are totally into posing for photos... when they don't have to smile that is!

A Walk On The Sand Clears The Mind...

2008-12-29T20:18:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a really strange weather day... windy, cloudy, and very warm. It had to be over 60 degrees! Which, in a New Jersey winter is like a heatwave. So I took a walk down to the beach. It was so nice. And theraputic too! I was feeling a little under the weather (no pun intended!) and it was good to get out of the house and stretch the legs. And what a place to stretch them! I'm pretty lucky.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

2008-12-25T22:45:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and I'm sending wishes for a Happy and Exciting New Year to all of you. May 2009 bring wonderful things!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Stop Fighting What Is

2008-12-23T19:04:00.003-05:00

One of the things I'm learning in life is that if I'm in disagreement with how things are... I can create suffering in my life. And that's no fun! Everything is what it is... my job, my life, the economy, my car that needs the fuel injector cleaning and new filters, and so on. And the more I get mad at things and don't accept what is actually happening... the sadder I seem to be. So one of my new mantras is, "stop fighting what is!" And here I have illustrated that point with one very amusing "flea market family" photo I acquired for my collection... and then added the "WHAT IS" in Photoshop.

We Got Some Snow...

2008-12-22T21:03:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, we got a little snow here on the coast of New Jersey. Not much really... less than an inch. But everything looked so pretty. It was nice. Rain on Sunday washed it all away. Until next time...

Sticky-Back To The Rescue!

2008-12-21T17:44:00.001-05:00

Okay, so this winter, I took my wool coat out of the closet, just hoping that none of the moths we usually get over the summer thought that it was a tasty treat. But, to my surprise, a kitty cat must have snuck into the closet and seen it as a scratching post! The back of the coat near the bottom had a giant nest of undone fibers, sticking out everywhere! Aw crap. And I just loved that coat!

So I hand wove all the fabric pieces back together and glued them in place with Liquid Stitch. But the glue kind of made the coat look like it was dirty. So then I tried to paint over it with acrylics, but just couldn't get the color right. Then it looked like I sat in something! Sigh.

So, I remembered we had a Sizzix die of a flower and thought—as a last resort—I'd try to cover up the area with flowers using Claudine Hellmuth's Sticky-Back Canvas, Studio Acrylic Paints and some vintage buttons. I'm so happy about how it turned out. Now I can go out in public again! Yay.
*Note: you'll eventually need to tack down the edges with Matte Gel Medium, as the fibers won't hold forever.

Last Minute Gift Idea...

2008-12-18T18:51:00.000-05:00

For all those women in your lives... mothers, daughters, aunts, grandmas, cousins, friends, teachers, bosses... who really need to learn to take time for themselves... who have been through a rough year... or a tragedy of loss... or just need a kick in the pants... This is one of my most favorite books:

Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach

Each chapter is a day of the year and is only 1-3 pages. For example, the first chapter is January 1. So as it teaches you day-by-day how to appreciate yourself, take time for yourself, notice the little things and such... it goes through all the seasons and has anecdotes and rituals perfect for those times of year.

A very good friend of mine gave me my copy after a very tough episode in my life and I'm telling you it changed the way I look at things. I think I'm going to re-read it again this year. Happy shopping!

©photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Ode To My Favorite Treat...

2008-12-17T19:20:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I don't usually buy ornaments for myself, because I've gotten so many over the years as gifts that I have enough to decorate two trees! But hey... it's a cupcake... I had to!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Portrait Of A Barber

2008-12-16T18:19:00.000-05:00

This photo I took as part of my college courses. The assignment was simply to... take portraits. We had to shoot at least one roll of film and print our best photo. Well, I went around to all the people I knew and had them pose, but try and act natural. But this photo of a complete stranger... a real barber on his afternoon break... was my absolute favorite. I told him, "just pretend I'm not here." I think that worked! This photo captured more real emotion than any others I took.

Recession-Proof Holiday Shopping...

2008-12-15T21:02:00.000-05:00

So I did things a little bit different this year when it came to holiday gift shopping...
I decided, since we're in the middle of this economic crisis, that I would shop for my presents in the wonderfully quaint towns I live so close to. I thoroughly enjoyed perusing the shops in Asbury Park, Spring Lake and Manasquan too. And do you know what? There was no pushing and shoving... every shop owner made sure to greet me and say thank you before I left (even if I didn't purchase anything!)... and every single place wrapped my purchase up and put it in a nice bag! The towns were filled with bands belting out Christmas tunes, carolers, trumpeteers, lots of Santas, and even a stilt-walking juggling nutcracker! I really enjoyed supporting these local businesses.
How is your Christmas different in this recession? Do tell...

Busy Weekend, But Good Kind Of Busy!

2008-12-14T19:32:00.000-05:00

Whew! I really did a lot this weekend, but it was relaxing, fun and holiday-ish!
• Bought, set up, and decorated my Christmas tree
• Started and finished the majority of my Christmas gift shopping
• Took myself out to lunch at Pete & Elda's
• Decorated the house
• Vacuumed up lots of pine needles!
• Took a well-deserved bath
• Wrote out Christmas cards
• Cut my mom's hair
• Put away some stuff in the studio
• Played with the kitties, and
• Organized some photos
Now, I'm going to finish making dinner, watch the Survivor Gabon finale, and try to get in at least 30 minutes of exercise!

Craft Night At Ranger

2008-12-11T22:31:00.000-05:00

Tonight some of the girls stayed late and worked on sample projects for Ranger's upcoming trade show for the Craft And Hobby Association. We played around with Melt Art products and Child Safe inks. Everyone did such a good job and we always have a fun time.

©photo by Bonnie Egenton

Bake It Or Buy It?

2008-12-10T21:26:00.001-05:00

I have to say that I love sweets. But I'm not a very patient baker. So, typically, if I want something to satisfy... I'll go to the bakery and buy it. But sometimes I need a quick fix. And these sugar cookies are just too cute.... and tasty!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Flea Market Family

2008-12-09T19:21:00.001-05:00

In much of my artwork I love to use vintage photos that I find at flea markets, antique shows, rummage sales, and the like. I try to buy them for 50 cents and I usually can find them or pass them by for that price. I also tend to be drawn the photos of strange looking people, so they usually go for less. Funny. Cheap and interesting, not a bad deal. I call them my Flea Market Family.

Nothing Is What It Seems...

2008-12-08T21:20:00.000-05:00

Will she live happily ever after? You know, I'm beginning to think she will. In fact, I think she's living happily ever after right now! But enough about me...

I absolutely love this photo and purchased the original cabinet card for more than I usually spend because... this is a photo of a little boy! From what I could gather—and I've heard this more than once—in Victorian days, parents would dress up their boys to look like girls for the first couple of years. I've heard that the gypsies would steal little boys, but not girls. I've also heard that it was easier for changing diapers and such... but that wouldn't explain the really cute hairdo, now would it?

It's Holiday Time!

2008-12-07T20:12:00.001-05:00

It's time to clean the house... and find the perfect tree... and decorate with festive lights... and start my holiday shopping... eat too much... drink a little more... and of course...
It's the perfect time to appreciate our families, friends, little critters, the roof over our heads, the money in the bank... and all the little things.

I don't want to work...

2008-12-04T20:34:00.000-05:00

Tonight I was supposed to work on a freelance project... a logo design. But guess what? I didn't feel like it. My mom and some of her friends were going out to dinner at one of my favorite pizza places. So I chose fun. I had a wonderful meal and a fun time. I deserve it.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Ocean Grove Critique Group

2008-12-03T18:38:00.000-05:00

Tonight I'm going to an art critique group right here in my hometown of Ocean Grove. The group gets together the first Wednesday of every month and there are all types of artists! Last time I brought some of my freeform collages... this time I'm going to bring my altered birdhouse purse that was featured in Haute Handbags. Should be fun!

©photos by Debbie Tlach

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Vintage Signs

2008-12-02T18:10:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I absolutely love retro signage from the 50's. All those cool metal structures with their tacky colors and bright neon. I just can't get enough of them. This is one of my all time favorites, from a car wash in the Seattle area. It even rotates... Bonus! And it's pink... Double Bonus!

Oh, Just One More Day Off...Pleeeeeease?

2008-12-01T19:25:00.003-05:00

Oh, it's been so nice to have some time off. Although I did not do very much... unless you call relaxing doing something... can't I have just one more day to do nothing? Pleeeeease?

The Re-Birth Of Me...

2008-11-30T21:19:00.002-05:00

Recently, I have been doing a lot of soul searching and can actually say that I am finding myself. And as I discover new things (or old things) about me, I learn that there are things I want to improve about who I am and how I interact with this world.

Recently, I picked up a copy of Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers. I finished the book and am excited to begin on a journey to be the author of my own life... as scary as that might be for someone like me!

In the final chapter, where she sums up how this process might unfold, she cites a quote from the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. In the story, two nursery toys are talking about becoming Real. This passage brought me to tears because... I get it!

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real, you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once, " said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Happy ThanksGiving Everyone!

2008-11-27T21:24:00.000-05:00

Hope you all had a wonderfully thankful day filled with good food, family and friends! Today, I am thankful for:

• Being surrounded by family
• My health
• A good job that is also fun
• My two kitty cats
• Many friends
• My art studio, and my whole house for that matter!
• Time for creativity
• Being on vacation this week!

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Me and Mom

2008-11-25T20:13:00.000-05:00

Here's a photo of my mom and I when I was only a couple months old. My dad was an American in the army and was stationed in Munich, Germany. I was born there in the army hospital and my mom and I stayed until I was 9 months old. She liked to make matching outfits for us. Doesn't she look so mod!

Nesting...

2008-11-24T20:48:00.004-05:00

This week I am lucky enough to be on vacation. It usually works out that I have a couple of days left before the super busy season at work... and it's nice to have a full holiday week to relax and do fun stuff at home.

But much to my surprise, I did not want to have fun. I wanted to nest! I guess like a little birdie who's settling down for quite some time, I really wanted a clean home in which to while away the time. I have a few more rooms to get to, some laundry to do, and some items to categorize in my studio... then it's play time!

Ahhhhhh...Sweet Relief...

2008-11-23T19:25:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend I took a bath in my very vintage claw-footed bathtub. During the fall and winter months, I love to fill the tub with hot water and open the window for a nice cool breeze. It's almost like bathing outside! This time, I actually stayed in so long the tops of my toes were wrinkled!

The Scrapbooker's Creativity Kit...

2008-11-20T18:43:00.000-05:00

This really cool book by talented artist Claudine Hellmuth, has a "guest layout" by yours truly. I was honored to be a part of this interesting publication that comes complete with a deck of inspiration cards and an 80-page book with samples from all types of designers. To get a sneak peek inside, visit Claudine's blog here! The book won't be out until January, but it's available for pre-order on Amazon.
© photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Little Pink Houses, For You And Me...

2008-11-19T20:15:00.001-05:00

Now see... here's a chipboard house from Maya Road that I started and it knew exactly what it wanted to be. Maybe I'm a pink girl? Maybe I'm more inspired when it comes to pink? Hmmmmmm....

I do love this house, though. The top is removable and it comes with little windows and 6 tags that fit neatly inside. I've already worked on a couple of them... a few affirmations for the "House of Me."

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Let's Hit The Bottle...

2008-11-18T17:48:00.001-05:00

I really enjoy antiques of many kinds, but I have a soft spot (or should I say soft drink spot) for items with any kind of advertising on them... such as these vintage soda bottles.

I photographed them in black and white, hand colored them with dye inks and roughed up the surface with sandpaper to age them a bit. One of my all-time favorite techniques.

Chips, Candies...

2008-11-17T21:18:00.001-05:00

It seems like as soon as Halloween is over, and you made it without stealing too much candy from little children... that all of a sudden the cold weather kicks in... and all you want are chips and chocolate? Funny.

Sometimes You Just Feel Stuck...

2008-11-16T20:41:00.003-05:00

Hey, maybe if I stare at this thing long enough it'll turn into something wonderful! That's what I've been saying about this little starry house I've been working on. Last June, I purchased a bunch of really cool house boxes from a local yard sale. I started to work on this one and just fizzled out. I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps I might be thinking about it too much and maybe the answer is to just... do what I know. Use some techniques and embellishments that I've used before on projects of this type... and stop trying so hard!

Campfire Girl...

2008-11-13T22:04:00.000-05:00

Fall is really here. Cool air, brisk winds, leaves already turned the colors of fire drifting to the ground. I just love stepping outside to the scent of burning wood from a nearby neighbor's fireplace, most likely keeping them warm and toasty. It's one of my favorite olfactory pleasures, reminiscent of all my years being the fire-tender when camping. It's still my favorite task (and my favorite smell!). If I could change one thing about my current home, it would be to have a real fireplace. One day...

Let It Snow...Man!

2008-11-12T19:21:00.001-05:00

So, I kept my promise to myself and got busy this weekend having fun painting and working on all my snowman assemblages. I'm very happy with the way they turned out. They all have their own personalities, but I think my favorite is the one with the ladder to the moon. And I really love the Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints, Brushes, Mediums, and Gesso that I used to create these cigar box scenes.

Pick-A-Photo Tuesday: Cabin On The Lake

2008-11-11T19:03:00.002-05:00

A while back, my mom had gone to a funeral. At this funeral, she had spoken to one of the family members about having to "go through things". The woman mentioned that she had so many old photographs that she had to just throw many of them away. Mom said that was too bad as her daughter (me!) uses them in her artwork. Surprisingly, the woman mentioned that she did not "empty" the trash yet and could take them out and send them to me. And so she did. How very sweet.

As I was going through the photos, I kept noticing several that had this cabin on the lake pictured. It looked just like a cabin of a distant Uncle who I used to visit with my family when I was young. That cabin was in New York on one of the many lakes upstate. Last week, I had the opportunity to pass the photos on to a visiting relative and ask if it was my Uncle's cabin. And guess what? It was! Pretty cool.

photo courtesy of Ms. Bobbi Cidern

Still Finding Myself...

2008-11-10T13:37:00.001-05:00

I can see myself out there... floating at the edge of the stratosphere... peeking out from behind my heart that has been bound... only temporarily... until I am found.

Feeling A Little Blue Today...

2008-11-06T21:38:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling a little blue today. Maybe it's the weather... it's been cloudy and raining all week long here. Maybe it's because I'm so busy at work. Or maybe it's that I've had a lot of obligations this week... albeit fun ones, I just haven't had enough me time. Tomorrow I think I'll just stay home and paint some snowmen. Now that sounds like fun!