Class is in Session

 It's Christmas Eve and I just got a wonderful present.  An on-line class that I am excited about and could possibly be the way I will journal from now on.  That's saying a lot.  I am addicted to journals of all kinds and I  may never buy another one again.


  What's so wonderful about this class is that it combines my loves of journaling, papers AND fabric and I use my beloved but lately neglected, sewing machine.  Even first time sewers are enjoying themselves because there's plenty of freedom and room for self expression.  Mistakes, in other words.  Techniques.


  (Think you can't sew?  If you can drive a car, you can learn to sew with a basic sewing machine-no Janome or Bernina necessary.  I'm using my heavier than a refrigerator, 20 year old Singer).  


  The class is called "Remains of the Day-A Shabby Journal of Scraps" and is taught by Mary Ann Moss.  The information is here on her website.  www.dispatchfromla.typepad.com/


  Mary Ann has set up a website for her students, a yahoo group and a flickr group, all private and open to students only.   You get tons of videos, pdfs and other goodies-all for $60.00.    And the website for the class is going to be up until December of 2010.  


  I found out about "Remains of the Day-a Shappy Journal of Scraps"  from Teesha Moore's blog.  Teesha wrote that she's been trying to get Mary Ann to teach at Artfest and Journalfest.  If Teesha, someone who arguably invented "art journals" is so jazzed about Mary Ann's journals that Teesha's taking the class, well, I had to check it out.


 Well,  I'm IN and in a big way.  In love.  But I'm just a bit bothered that I'm out of town-several hours and lots of miles from my fabric and paper stashes.  And I don't have a sewing machine here.  Then there's  this festivity called "Christmas" happening and my participation is needed and my interest in it would be nice.  


  That hasn't stopped me from prowling around this house, looking for paper scraps and thinking of cutting up that bed sheet just so I can get started.  Yes, this class is THAT good.  

I Love Color

  I'm in a strange mood today, quiet and contemplative.  That can morph into moodiness, so I decided I needed a change of attitude.
  Working with fabric, bright colors and trims, influenced by the Hispanic history of Tucson, I created this page.

  It's always good to go to my sewing machine, fabric and buttons.  I've been gone too long.

A Christmas Centerpiece

  70 degrees here in Tucson today while I was making this centerpiece.
  The glass topper is vintage and an inexpensive find at a local antique mall.  In the absence of pine trees, I used seed pods from a yucca plant.

  I'm glad my supermarket sells packs of mixed Christmas greens.  The house will smell wonderful now and the centerpiece can last for weeks.

December 16th Journal Pages

Micron pens, water colors

Christmas 2009

  Every year my mother, my sisters and I exchange ornaments.  We started including my eldest niece in our tradition now.
  I made the ornaments I'm exchanging this year.  But I can't post a picture of them yet as they are a surprise.  I'll have to wait until after Christmas to share a picture of them here.
  I can't wait.

Waiting for Santa

  Here's a photo of the pencil drawing I did of our four chis.  I didn't use photos so it was occasionally a challenge to get my models to cooperate.  Mark had to hold them sometimes and bribe them with treats. There's a bit of "cleaning up"that I still have to do but I'm happy with it.
  All these years I've never did a drawing for our Christmas card.  Until now I didn't have the confidence that it was "good enough".
  The Inner Critic is getting a lump of drawing charcoal for Christmas this year.

Dec. 2nd-Glass Lovebirds Ornament

My sister, Barb, gave me this glass ornament three years ago for our ornament exchange. She got it because I love birds, wild or domestic. I used to raise cockatiels, lovebirds and small conures for pet stores and individual buyers when we lived in Albuquerque. One part of our garage was lined with cages and was heated or cooled as necessary. I was known for the raising the sweetest lovebirds who never bit you and liked to be carried around, even in your pocket. They were a lot of work though. I'd take the chicks from the parents before their eyes were open so they'd imprint on me as their mother. I'd make a daily formula just for handraising baby birds and it didn't smell very pleasant. It had to be just the right temperature so as to not burn the babies' gullets. Then I'd put it in plastic syringes and insert it carefully into their beaks. As they got older they'd have to have fresh vegetables and fruit every day, so I was chopping those up constantly. The birds ate healthier than we did.
You never knew when the babies decided they'd like to fly so I had to be careful not to have the overhead fan going. Raising birds was much more work than having my four chihuahuas. The dogs have never made as much a mess as 16 pairs of small birds did.
I don't miss raising birds. But if we ever settle down anywhere longer than a few years I wouldn't mind having a cacatele.

I Get By With a Lot of Help from my Friends

 I have a dear friend I met on-line through a yahoo group.  Over the years we've been partners in swaps.  I finally had the chance to meet her in person at Art Unraveled in Phoenix in 2005.  Becky is multi-talented-she does wonderful art journaling, makes journals, paints on cloth, etc.  What she had done for me especially is design my website and help me with my blogs.  She seems to be able to read my mind as to what I want and need and goes to it right away.  I highly recommend hiring Becky should you want help with your websites or blogs.  She won't make you cry.  :)

Check out Becky's blog here and tell her Theresa sent you.  http://windows-wide-open.blogspot.com

Woodland Santa

This framed cross stitch project is always the first thing I decorate with when the holiday season rolls around.  I stitched it about ten years ago when we were living in Albuquerque full time.  It is about 15 x16 inches, not including the frame.  It took me a long time to complete and I doubt I'll ever tackle anything as ornate as this is ever again.  The eyes and my patience aren't what they used to be!
I love how the gold frame and the green velvet compliment this.
I entered it into the New Mexico State fair competition.  It won First Place Blue ribbon and Best of Show that year.
It has to be one of my favorites and always occupies a prominent place in my home.