Sunday, Empty Nest Contest, etc.

I tried to post last nite repeatedly, but I could never actually send my post. My computer/internet/blogspot whatever just froze at the final sending!

Anyway, I drew a name out of a bowl (no hat was handy) and the lovely Anita of castlescrownscottage.blogspot.com won the drawing for my empty nest giveaway!!!!

Anita's blog is lovely. She's a Franchophile of sorts, teaches French, is finishing her Master's degree and has a gorgeous blog complete with beautiful graphics/pics/music and muse! I highly recommend you stopping by to see it for yourself!!!

As for the prize, I'm still comprising it, because, if any of you have actually been following my activities of late, it's been a bit hectic around here!! So Anita, my dear, it will arrive shortly.

I haven't been able to even get to the studio with Andy moving/cleaning the back cottage/his having transmission troubles (me no car for 4 days) So,,,,enough already back to the workshop tomorrow to finish some projects and fulfill orders, finish gifts and giveaways for friends !

Bring on the Rain,,,,,I'm ready to settle in and Glitter to my hearts content!!!

Hugs and thanks to all that commented. I'll have another giveaway in Late October or early November,,,,,,Angel related!

Shell

Feathering His Nest!

Well, we got the house back in shape today and Andy is moving his things into his new home! It's CLEAN and tidy and except for some of the pink paint, ready to go! (Real men can live with a bit of pink for a bit!)

It's fun to watch him move things in that were just previously in storage when he moved home. In spite of his former Marine status, he really does have an "eye" for design/color/form.

And,,,slowly but surely, I'm getting my space back!!! Not quite ready to do my "naked" dance....but getting close!! (There are certain things you can ONLY do when you KNOW you are alone!)

Shell

I'm exhausticated!!!

Not my usual Blog post....

Andy and I spent the last 8 hours hauling/bagging, cleaning and shaking our heads at the absolute chaos/filth in my rental cottage in back. I cannot imagine that anyone could be that dirty or live in that mess! And she'd only been there 6 months.

I'll spare you all the details...because it wasn't pretty. Let's just say we found drug paraphernalia and it wasn't for Marijuana. Thankfully they weren't actually "cooking" the stuff back there, smoking it and apparently "shooting" the stuff. You give someone a break because they are down in their luck and you can be taken advantage of,,as I was in this case. But I haven't/won't harden my heart, because I think there are STILL people that need a hand up. That said, I'll be a little less naive the next time about the legalities of things. But for now, I don't have to worry because THIS time it will be my son and his good friend.

Where did my happy little community go? WAIT, I think we reclaimed it.I'm feeling the weight lifting. I love this town and I love my neighborhood. And although feeling violated and used, I feel extreme relief that this negativity is gone.

Tired mentally and physically, but by tomorrow night, Andy and I will have it clean as a whistle and bright and shiny. No more tenants,,,,just Andy and Frank. Thank you Jesus.

Shell

PS,,,,Sorry, this isn't a very upbeat post. And I AM an UPbeat person as most of you know. But sometimes you have to live with the hand you've been dealt.

Empty Nest and Giveaway!!!

My darling, sweet, protective, artistic, former Marine has been living with me for about the last six months. I love him dearly. He left home all too early the first time at the age of 18 after joining the Marine Corps. I thought I was going to lose my mind! You love them, you raise them, you nuture them, you try instill in them good values and life skills, and then poof! They leave you. They are gone!! One day they are your precious child and the next they are literally taken away by a Marine recruiter to serve their country.

I cannot lie. I wanted to inflict bodily harm on the recruiter, who literally took my son away. No matter where my pride and patriotism stood, I could not fathom someone taking my boy-child away to potentially be killed in the line of duty. And serve and fight he did. Two tours in Iraq when my world seemed to stop and I felt as helpless as a human being could in protecting their child from harm.

Fast forward. He came home safe. He came home unscathed. I thanked God and breathed for the first time in 4 years. I AM so proud of what he did. I AM SO proud to call him my son. A patriot, a servant to his country and my flesh and blood.

Now, that said, and as you can see, I love this young man with all my heart and soul, he's been living with me again. I've loved it. I've re-adapted. I look at the "Shotgun News" magazine on the coffee table placed atop my Romantic Homes.
I've overlooked the milk carton on the kitchen counter, the multitude of towels on the bathroom floor, the guestroom looking like it was hit by a tornado ,,,because you love them, and you are SO relieved that they are happy and healthy and home. You take a deep breath, and step over said-clutter.

I have SO enjoyed having him home. His letting his proverbial hair down and spending this brief time with me. I wouldn't trade this time for anything!!!!!! And yet, I am SO doing the party dance to have my space back and let HIM create his own!! It's only a door away,,,he's moving with his bud Frankie to my cottage behind me and starting back to college next month,,,,SO,,,he get's his space and I get mine back! Thank you Lord!! Bring on the party dance!!!


If you've made it this far in my ranting, please share your "emtpy nest" story. It can be one of having an empty nest, leaving the nest, what you think you'll feel WHEN your nest is empty, or having said nest full again. I'll be giving away a "nest related prize" next friday. Just post your story to my comments to enter and I'll create a random drawing.

Next week, I'll begin "re-feathering" my next with new decor and insights!

Hugs,
Shell




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The ADD thang,,,,,,,Artists Delusional Denial.....

Today was one of THOSE days! I worked on a bunch of stuff, including setting up and Etsy account, working a a crown for my dear new friend Lulu, working on some Halloween items-such as a "Boo!" Banner, and some Christmas houses- but I finished NOTHING! Nadda, nix, no. I looked around the studio at the various projects I had going and thought if anyone walked in it would look like I was on some designer class of pharmacuticals,,,

There was glitter and paper and ribbon and tinsel and paint and brushes everywhere!!!! Ackkk! I think some of it is good,,I think some of it has potential,,,and I think some of it will end up in the trash heap......It was one of those weird days.

Last night was great fun. I made dinner for Andy's buddy and future housemate. Dinner was good- I made them Steak Oscar (Steak with crab and Hollandaise) with sides of baked potatoes and broccolli and mixed green salad. I used the good china. The pic above is of Frank enjoying his meal wearing the crown Chelsea (my son Andy's GF and I made LAST week-tongue in cheek for Andrew's 25th) Heavy on Camo with a bit of bling to make it funny. My camera was dead when we went to show Andy in the crown,,,,but at least we got Frank!!! "Bon Fete Francious!"

Fall is approaching

This week when I popped in to Joyworks, the girls were changing the displays to reflect a more Autumnal theme. Then again, I was jazzing up some witches hats for Halloween to sell, so I guess we all thinking along the same lines.

THEN, this morning, while heading for my workshop I walked through my first spiderweb or the season (great) and tonight, while feeding the hounds in the mudroom I heard the first honking of geese preparing themselves for their upcoming migration.


We have TRULY had Summer in Washington this year, complete with a run on AC units and heat index warnings. I started to feel like I was living in another State. The grey, cooler day today was a reminder that my feet are still planted on Snohomish terra firma.

That said, I had a lot of fun making the Witches Hats shown above. This is my model and Muse, Marla, she is much more photogenic than I am and always a good sport. You can see individual photos at my other blog, which just shows my custom crafting items.




Looking forward to a fun weekend working at Joyworks and seeing all the new displays and arrivals!!!

Hugs,
Shell

Busy Day!!!

Here are a few projects that I completed today- this and that.

This morning I ordered a few more (we'll leave it at that) things for several projects. I screwed up on one order (ordering an inch of some Vintage garland) and had to call the Vendor and change it. I'd done business with her before and thought the prices and selection on her craft stuff was great!!!! We had a nice chat while correcting my order and I just wanted to share her website.

It's called Silver Crow Creations or http://SilverCrowCreations.com
Annie is a great gal and she and her husband work out of their home (a remodeled church in PA.) She has TONS of :

Dresden
German Buillion Threads (in awesome colors)
Vintage hard to finds
Rubber Stamps
Oh man, there site is huge, but the findings are great and so are her prices. I could keep her to myself,,,but I know as a small business they are struggling too! So check it out!! (I'm not getting anything for this, but I'd love it if you told her I sent you, just to know "we ARE all in this together.)

Hugs,
Shell