Spring Has Sprung!

It's Spring!? Where does the time go?! It's hard to believe that January was my last post....
So here I am ready to post the latest...

We didn't have big plans over Spring Break, but it turned out to be a good week. We had friends we haven't seen in a long time come in town and spent a little time with them.

Elizabeth, Teagan, and Perryn met us one night at Chick-0-flays (as McKenna says it), for some fun playtime and conversation.... It was a hoot to get a picture of all of them...

Katie, Liam, and Allison made a surprise visit up at the church on Friday while I was working... that made my day! Then all of us met up with the Romo bunch for dinner and then a movie. It was sooo good to see them all! I'll post to my Facebook the pictures....

But to top the whole week off, we started the first weekend of spring break with some warm and fuzzies.... we've been wanting to get a cat or kitten for a long time now and so we finally did it. And we now have two sweet and adorable little kittens, Bunny and Bella (Belle), as additions to our family. Both girls came from a litter of five. So they are sisters, and they love each other as much as they love their new home and family....
There's a new life about this family now.... everyone is excited to get up in the mornings, get chores done, and eat their dinner at night, so they can play with the girls before bedtime. I love it. There's new energy seeping everywhere. I guess that is what springtime brings, in and of itself, too. The blooms on the pear trees are disappearing in amongst the big full green leaves. Today, it's hard to imagine it just snowed inches less than a week ago! Crazy Texas weather....

Some fun creative happenings coming..... haven't been on top of anything much lately... but there's Silver Bella 2010 registration right around the corner, and Paper Cowgirl registration today? tomorrow? perhaps! And I'm sure there will be another Gilded Life Event at the church down the road.... I am in need of some creativity that doesn't involve construction paper and coloring sheets (just a different creative breed, Brandi! ;) )

And so... since I probably won't get another post for at least a (week) lol, I am wishing everyone a Happy Spring and a Blessed Easter. I pray that you and your family feel the energy of spring, and the glory of our Savior!
Hugs!

A Couple of Shout Outs!

Oh yes, busy as ever around here.... pink eye and ear infections top the list for this week! ;P But before April slips by with the least amount of posts ever, I thought I'd give a shout out to a couple of gals...

First one is for the infamous Teresa McFayden... Oh, a few posts ago on her blog, she posted a "new" kind of Chicken and Rice Casserole recipe. I thought it sounded different, and the ingredients sounded all yummy to me, AND I hadn't fixed chicken and rice casserole in a l-o-o-o-n-g time. So I thought I'd give it a try. Holy CHICKEN AND RICE! Let me just say, it's by far, hands down, THE BEST chicken and rice casserole EVER!!! You simply must try it sometime. Go HERE for the recipe. Mmmmm..... good. Thank you, T!

For the next one, I want to give a shout out for a new bloggin' friend, Celita. She is a part of the Christian Paper Artists group I belong to. She is celebrating her 1 Year Paper-Cutting Art, and is hosting a little give-away on her BLOG, "Days Ease" to celebrate. Go check it out, she is quite the paper-cutting artist! I love her creativity in the themes of her art. Simply amazing and fascinating!

So there ya go. I haven't been very crafty lately... too many outside things going on at this time of year, as well as another (part-time) job. Paper Cowgirl is right around the corner though.... so there's bound to be some "Rootin' Tootin' Cowgirl Fun" involved!
Stay tuned....

Paper Cowgirl Yahoo! Group...

Weeelllll.... it's underway! Paper Cowgirl registration is finally here... It will be a super fun event, the hoopla has already started with the new Paper Cowgirl 2009 Yahoo Group! I am hearing of swaps that will be getting started soon. And other fun happenings..... So for anyone going to PC- better go sign up for the group, and if you're thinking of attending PC- git on over there and sign up! Tina is telling me a couple classes are close to filling up! (And just an FYI- the lunches will be delicious!)

2009 Paper Cowgirl Retreat...

I also have something else to share... In September, I attended a fabulous little art retreat in Waxahachie, TX called "Paper Cowgirl". And the 2nd annual retreat has been officially announced...

It will be held June 26-28, in Waxahachie at the Hampton Inn, with registration starting March 1st (you can link directly to the Paper Cowgirl Blog by clicking on it in my side bar or on the button in this post).

The retreat is put together by two of the sweetest girls I know, Tina (Glue on my Fingers,Paint in MyHair) and Cindy (Yapping Cat Studio). And the wonderful blog button was created by the talented Miss Dale (Sea Dream Studio), who was one of the instructors at last year's event (as well as this year)! Valita and I had a really great time, and I plan on attending again this year. YEE HAW! So, mark your calendars!!!

PAPER COWGIRL MUSING....

Yee Haw!! What a fantastic weekend at the Paper Cowgirl Retreat! Tina and Cindy, you really know how to put on a fantastic artsy-craftsy kind-of-party! There really was no such thing as too much fun there.... I am soooo happy that you'll be doing it again next year! (so note that, girls~ Paper Cowgirl will be happening again sometime in June 2009! You will want to attend!) They are two of the sweetest cowgirls you'll ever meet!

As I had said in my last post, Valita picked me up Friday morning to head on down to Waxahachie to do some shoppin' before Vendor Night. And we did just that. Once there, we were off to a slow start, spending two hours in a little home decor shop... they had great selection of trims on clearance that we just couldn't pass up! (The two hours was NOT spent shopping, we had our trims picked out in a matter of 20 minutes. It was the check-out process that took sooo long!) We will know better next time...

It was about lunch time, so we decided to walk to and eat at a little pub that was quite quaint in all it's "pubbness" (?) They had some yummy deep-fried, cornbread-battered pickles! lol After lunch, we headed off to our first (and last of the day) antique store. We had a great time looking and digging, then happened upon a wonderful lady who was in to see the new jewelry treasures of one of the booths in the store.

We talked and searched for wonderful little jewels, all-the-while learning some really great tidbits on what to look for in quality vintage jewelry! Valita and I realize that we have passed up some really fantastic pieces in the past, thinking they were brand new, or almost brand new. But it's just the finish that was used at the time...;)

We checked into our hotel, then pranced off to the Little Pink Cottage where vendor night was to begin... So cute!! It's an adorable, literally pink little house made into a tea room, and was perfect for all the little wares that each vendor had. There was SO MUCH creative bliss in that tiny little cottage!

I purchased this sweet little birdy collage from Dale at Sea Dream Studio.



And this wonderful prayer collage is from Ms. Paper Cowgirl herself, Tina!



There was some wonderful little tidbits I purchased, but I have actually been efficient (ya, surprised me too), and tucked them away where they belong before I thought of a picture... and at the rate I'm going, I should have posted this over the course of two days... oh well.

And my blogger friend Nancy, was so sweet to give me these little vintage cupcake toppers and beautiful clock hands from Round Top! Thank you sweet friend.
We finally got to "hug" each other in real life, and I am ever so glad I have met her. She and her long-time friends all came and you must check out Nancy's blog and see the crazy-packed-car they came in!!!


ANOTHER blogger friend and roommie, Ms. Valita,( such a wonderful friend) gave me these goodies all wrapped up in a cute little bag with pink and aqua cowgirl boots paper topper! The little cowgirl necklace is so adorable. (The back of it is the first photo you see up top...)

She is so super sweet! And we had one rootin' tootin' time together! And I look forward to more fun with her at Silver Bella, as well as, just crafty and fun get-togethers down the road...


SATURDAY, we started out super busy with Dale in her lantern class. She is such a sweet person. She had a ton of extras for trading or adding to our lanterns...


Then we had a quick break for lunch that was catered from Two Sisters Lunchbox Cafe. Both Valita and I had Chicken Salad Sandwich with Cranberries on whole wheat bread and cute little cupcakes that were DEliCIouS!!!!! (I scooped one up before I even thought about a picture) You have got to go there, too!

Then off to Jan's banner class (and I'm not the bad little girl, really!). She had a wonderful selection of fabrics and papers in our kits.

After that, we did Joanna's class of Santa Art (the only project I actually got finished!). It was then time for a dinner break for some more antiquing. And the time went fast.... it was back to class with Sharon teaching her Face on a box class. She had our class kits in these cute little bags she painted, transferred, and such... so adorable...



What a great class this was, in that I reached outside the box (so to speak), and learned some great techniques. She was a wonderful teacher, and I think all of us were pleasantly surprised with outcome of all our boxes:

(Valita's and I's boxes)

Last class of the evening was Tina's Soldered Cowgirl Pendant. I was nervous, but Tina encouraged me to get soldering. So I did, and well... needless to say, it needs a little more work. And I still need to solder the jump ring on, then polish it up. She made up these cute little class kits in a disposable coffee cup! How cute is that?! ;)

It was an absolutely wonderful time. The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie is a FANTASTIC little store- worth the little trip, if you get the chance. And I want to thank them, Tina and Cindy, all the teachers, and all the super-fun ladies of Paper Cowgirl! What a fantastic weekend! I can't wait to do it all over again next year! ;)

Go and check out the other blogs for more pictures... and Tina started a Flickr Group, too!

Well, I had better zip-it... This probably goes down as the longest post yet.... ;P

Yeehaw! It's a Cowgirl Weekend!

Whew! Another weekend away from home...
My hubby is sooooo sweet to let me go. ;)
It's PAPER COWGIRL WEEKEND in Waxahachie! Valita is coming to pick me up in the morning, and we are headed south for some shopping along the way, and then we meet up with the rest of the girls at the Cottage for vendor night. Then Saturday is full of artsy-crafty goodness all day til almost midnight! "See" ya when I get back! I will update all the happenings around here sometime next week....

Colorado, Here I Come!!!

Hiya! I don't really have a great post for y'all. This week is super busy... I leave town tomorrow for COLORADO to see my SISTER! Yay! I am so looking forward to some time with her. ( I love you Tammy! See you in the morning... don't have to talk on the phone on the way to work!!!) We will be going to WOF- yes, you read it right... I'm going again! This year she didn't win tickets, but wanted me to go with her. And frankly, I am looking forward to it!

And then....NEXT WEEK is final preparations for The Paper COWGIRL RETREAT in Waxahachie, September 26-27. Valita and I are so excited! How's about you, Nancy? (can't wait to give you a big ol' HUG!) I have recently learned that Cindy of Junque Art will be attending, as well! And then there's Cindy, Tina, hmmmm.... so many!
OH! Go take a look at Valita's new look and new NAME.... very cool! And I just saw a little sneaky-peeky of Silver Bella Swappin' goin' on over there.... ;) (nice job V!)
Okay, back to WILD Vintage Cowgirls and a couple of days of nothing but thrifting, VINTAGE shopping, and crafting! Vendor night is going to be in this cute little pink house!

Well... off to pack, finish packing/mailing swaps... and hopefully a trip to Michael's to get some supplies that are on sale for Silver Bella/Paper Cowgirl. EEK! Ms Heather had to give us the countdown to how many days left (I have promptly forgotten, since it kinda freaked me out how close it REALLY is!
Have a wonderful rest-of-the-week, and fantastic weekend!

Oh, on another note.... Hurricane Ike is long gone.... but the mess he left behind is not. In fact it'll be around for a long time to come.... I just saw satellite pictures of the condos/townhomes today... not a pretty sight at all. The message board I ran across had people that owned one, or had RCI weeks for those townhomes, and everyone is really bummin' that they are such a mess. There isn't a beach left, a pool that once had water to splash and play in, is filled with debris and rubbish. Very sad indeed. Even more sad, many of the beach homes nearby, belonging to residents are gone... ;(

I'll leave you with this perfect little picture... look at ALL those smiles!

COLORADO, HERE I COME!!!

ATCs and some PAPER ARTS FUN!

So, in my last post I said I was feeling a creative jive... joined some swaps, and here's a little bit of what I've been up to:

ATC International Swap

Crowns and Tiaras ATC
Bailey joined in with me, and even swapped ATCs with another girl her age! Here's what she's been working on... quite a little budding artist, I must say! I am so thrilled she loves to be right at my side creating, it's a ton of fun when were singin', inkin', paintin', cuttin', gluein'... hmmm, there's a little jingle in there somewhere. ;) (She's a little busier than I am, hence more production takes place). lol

Then... I am sooooooo excited! Last year I attended Silver Bella Paper Arts Retreat for the first time. I went by myself, which was a little bit frightening ( I have never traveled by myself before). But it was in Omaha, Nebraska- How bad could it be? That was practically back home where I grew up! So I felt like I was in some-what familiar territory... I was so lucky to have been able to register after someone had canceled, because it ended up a sold out event. (Miss Foof sure knows how to put together one doozy of a retreat!) I then made flight and hotel arrangements, and Little Miss Cinderella was on her way! I am so glad I went, it was total paper arts heaven! And now I'm attending again this year, and I am sooo excited to go and see friends I met from last year! Yay!

And not only Silver Bella, but I'll be headed south to the Paper Cowgirl Retreat in September. Tina, who hosted the Cowgirl Swap a couple months ago, along with her friend Cindy, are going to be hostesses of this big paper pow-wow! (Tina will also be one of the talented artist, teaching a class!) I am so excited because I'll be going with Valita (who I met at Silver Bella last year), and I'll be meeting Ms. Nancy ,(whom I've never officially met in person... we met via swapping over the internet and have been blogging "friends" ever since! I never thought when I started blogging, that I would have met soooo many talented and absolutely wonderful people. Oh so much fun and excitement!