More Bracelets

Ideas

Spring Break has come and gone first for me and then for the kids. Canyon had his tonsils and adenoids removed during this time. Major drama for a 12 year old. He seems to be sleeping better and not nearly as much snorting around as he used to. So maybe with better sleep at night he might just be a little happier kid.

So many ideas floating around in my head of things I would like to make, just no time right now. I guess that is why it is important to write these things down. Caitlin brought the book Tuesdays with Maury home as an English reading assignment, I finished that book in a day as it was rather easy reading and very interesting. It kind of makes you rethink how you think things and what you put value on. We are working on getting the rest of Caitlin's paperwork square so she can attend Northern Arizona University this fall. That seems to be her choice, so she can use their exchange program her junior year to go to Oregon State which is where she really want to go, but her first year away from home, I think she should stay somewhat close to see how she likes it. It will be a major change that is really needs.

Bracelets

These are some new bracelets made from some of the kids toys that are available on etsy. Just click on the link on the side. They are 25.00 each. Very fun.

Give Away

Check out her blog for a chance to win an awesome free book, and read how to make beer margaritas. They sound delicious. http://viechaotique.blogspot.com/

Lap top

Starting to look for a Laptop to purchase. I would really like to have one to put my sewing program on yet at the same time Caitlin is graduating in a couple of months and she really needs one for college more than I do. I am sure she would like to have one like this.

CHA for the first time

What an experience. This was my first and probably only time attending CHA in Anaheim. I felt rather guilty leaving my family at home while I went to the city that has Disneyland. It would have been great if we all could have gone and gone to Disneyland, but just toooooo expensive. There is just so much stuff to see and so many vendors I can see why you have to go several days if you are placing orders. I just went to experience it and play. There were plenty of things to do, all kinds of make and takes. I made a book with Traci Bautista who has papers and collage glues coming out this year. I painted a bag with the Crafty Chica's new line of glues and glitters. Go Hometown Girl. I don't know how she has time to write for our local paper here. F and W publishing was there giving away tons of books and different authors there every half hour to sign. It was a tiring experience as I crammed it all in one day and flew home the same day.

These are the paperdolls I made for the swap Tammie Moore is hosting.

http://www.myartsoulwings.typepad.com/

Working

It seems all there is to do is chores, you really do have to just say the hell with it and do somethings that you want or there really is no time. With a three day weekend, it seemed I was able to get a lot done and still have time to sew, so I think we should just make a four day work week. I am going to CHA winter for the first time. I am only going for the day to Anaheim, to see what most people see in four days. But if I take anytime off from work I loose money and I cannot afford to do that. I think one day will be plenty to see what the new products are that are coming out. And besides that I think after a day of looking at all that stuff, you kind of get burned out. It will be fun to see just what all is out there, and what it can do. I really wish I could afford for all of us to go and spend time at Disneyland, and make a full trip out of it. Who knows maybe this summer we can do that.

Another Day

The kids vacation is fast coming to a close, which means I too will be returning to work. It is always nice to be home. I love staying home with the children. We all kind of fall into our own groove and the days seems to fly by. We have managed to make it to the dentist and doctor. Well not my daughter she had to go to urgent care and wait 5 hours for them to see her and tell her what her father and I did, that her wrist was sprang ed and to take aspirin every few hours, but hey we are just parents what do we know, when we could spend fifty dollars to get the same advice from a doctor.
The bathroom is about to be done finally, all Doug has left to do is nail in the baseboards, and I am off today today to find some shelves to put in there.
The computer is up and running again after being at Best Buy with the Geek squad for days trying to deal with all the viruses. So I guess instead of us being sick this vacation ii was the computer that was sick.

THANKSGIVING

FOR SALE ON ETSY

My husband was an absolute angel today, he spent the whole day in the kitchen cooking for my parents. I cannot tell you what a good job he did and all the work and effort he put into our mill. I am so thankful for him doing that today. We had the option of going to my aunts house for dinner, which would have been nice to spend it with more family, and easier on my husband, however my mom did not want to go, so we stayed home and fixed dinner so they could eat with us. I love my mom, but why she could not go to her sisters for a meal is beyond me. I think she has forgotten how much work it is since she had her heart attack, she does not remember much, maybe that is one of the things she has forgotten, How to prepare meals and the time it takes, as she no longer does it.

Canyon promised me all day that he would take a shower before dinner. (that kid has the worse hygiene problem) He will take a shower but not use soap or shampoo, and I have to continually nag him to brush his teeth. I don't know if this is common with 12 year old boys or just mine because he is lazy. Maybe when he is interested in girls more. Because who wants a smelly boyfriend. He never did take the shower, so no video store. I told him there would be consequences for not doing as asked and promised. So of course the vulgar language starts, I got up and walked away. I am becoming a lot stronger where that child is concerned. The counselor tells us to be consistent. He just has a way of wearing us out. I have become pretty good at ignoring him.

caydens painted nails

caydens painted nails
Originally uploaded by flamingobreeze

My daughter wanted this little guy to be a girl so bad, sometimes she just gets too carried away. He did like the fact that his fingers glowed in the dark. Dad said to get that off of his nails. Sometimes guys just don't understand, they just want to do what the brothers and sisters are doing.

ART DOLL QUARTERLY

I received the Winter issue in the mail today. I have my doll on two pages. It may be in the back of the magazine but it is there TWO WHOLE pages. How cool is that?

apron birds

apron birds
Originally uploaded by flamingobreeze

I love the way this apron turned out. I had my sewing group las night, and this is what we made. I debated about going as my littles is sick, I had him at the doctor yesterday, as he has blisters inside his mouth and on his body, the doctor said it was a virus and to wait it out. Needless to say he is grouchy because he is hungry as it hurts to eat.

Cayden wants his new shoes off

cayden wants his new shoes off
Originally uploaded by flamingobreeze

Living in Phoenix shoes are not something you need here except in the couple of winter months. Cayden has worn crocks for so long, that he hates his tennis shoes. So we put them on him for short periods of time. His walk has started to change from wearing crocs, and so I though we had better get him bak into some shoes.

You can click on the picture and it will take you to the webpage and you can create your own licensce plates and tattoos.

This is What I Would Put On My License Plate

What we all need to do

If I had a tattoo

Cup cake cake pan

This is a cute little cupcake cake pan. My daughter made a cake for my parents who returned for their winter stay here in Phoenix.

WEEKEND

My son was invited to spend the weekend with his friend and his father. He was taking them to Flagstaff to go fishing and spend time in his cabin. I thought that was a wonderful idea and would be a great experience for him. Give him some time away, from t.v., videos and some of his so called friends. After I had him all packed and ready I was putting the Cayden to bed, I heard my husband tell Caitlin that when the dad comes to pick up Canyon be sure to get the license plate number and make of the car, as we would not be home from work yet, when the dad came to pick him up. Now that I heard that comment it had me thinking and wondering the whole night. I had a talk with Canyon before he left to see if the dad had ever done anything in the past that was rather odd. He said no, I asked him if he would tell me if he did, he nodded yes. So the whole weekend I had doubts in my mind. I was made at my husband on the one hand for putting the doubt there, but thankful on the other side, that he was taking precautions. That is what happens when you are married to someone who has worked with criminals his whole life. An it is a sad commentary on society when we have to worry about an innocent trip.
It was nice for the rest of us to get a break from the constant strain that Canyon does place on the household. But here it is Sunday night and he is home, and we are back to his name calling as he is forced to do his homework.

cupcake holder

cupcake holder
Originally uploaded by flamingobreeze

this so far has been the most time consuming project I have done on my embroidery machine. That machine is like magic to me, it is so mesmerizing to watch.
Canyon started 7th grade, so worried and stressed about him, but he is doing pretty well. He seems to like school, that is a blessing right there. He really struggles, and we really have to stay on top of him, my husband is better at that then I am, as he is the type A person in the family. Sometimes he gets rather upset with me thinking I don't care as I am not as compulsive as he is. How could I not care as he is my son, and despite his handicaps and behavior outbursts I love him dearly. I am the one who has to step in and referee when those two start their verbal matches. But sometimes you have to take a step back and let him figure things out on his own. He is 12 and in junior high, we have to start giving him some room to try on his own, if we do for him forever when and where will the skills come from for him to learn to take care of himself.

Ornie

I won this doll from Patricia Anders blog Art Propensity. Don't you just love it. She is a girl pirate. Been a busy time going back to school, getting the kids ready for back to school, and then taking time out to attend Artnraveled, as it happens right here in Phoenix. Took some great classes, will post pictures sometime when I finish something. My husband became a little tired of being with the kids. Oh well, I think they are his kids too, and besides who took three kids on a trip to my parents house for a week without her husband. 21/2 hours on an airplane with a 2 1/2 year old becomes a bit much.

The other picture is of a tinny I ordered from Lisa Kaushttp://www.lisakaus.com/. She did custom colors for me. I was rather afraid to order from her as Sally Jean has a link to her site, and I never did receive the order I had placed with Sally. I had tried several times to contact her but finally gave up. Lisa restored my faith in mail order from hometown artists.

time journal page

time journal page
Originally uploaded by flamingobreeze

I cannot believe that school starts here on Tuesday. This short summer just flew by. I am not ready to go back to work, though I never am. It seems I just get settled into a routine, and it is time to upset it again. There are still so many projects yet to be finished. The downstairs bathroom is still gutted and needs to be repainted, and a sink and faucet found that I like purchased. The baseboard in my sons room need to be sanded and painted and put back in as the carpet has been removed and the tile laid. It looks so much nicer in there, and feels so much cleaner, better for his alergies.
The baseboards in the bathroom need to be repainted and put back in as the floor in there was replaced with tile, as it was all coming up because children in this house seem to feel a puddle of water on the floor after a shower is natural.

The bug man has been here to spray for termites. so now we can have the hardwood floor replaced that they ate up. It seems to be the summer for floors. And I wonder why I have no time to do art.

pirate shirt

pirate shirt
Originally uploaded by flamingobreeze

This is a shirt and shorts that I made for my son who is 2 and 1/2, and already he has decided that he is not wearing the shorts. At such a young age who knew childres had a sense of style.

Colorado

My one and only daughter is in Colorado playing in a softball tournament. I am glad for her, and that we are able to give her that opportunity. That girl loves to travel, and she loves to play ball. Today it is only 54 degrees and it is raining, that sure beats the 112 degrees that it is here today.

This has been a rather productive week so far with sewing, I am getting ready to do First Friday, which is an open vendor art night in downtown Phoenix. I have always gone as a customer, this time I am hoping to be a vendor. It is a really unique feature that Phoenix has going for it. Lots of people out walking in and out of galleries, and shopping on the streets. It happens once a month.

Wetpaint Please Touch - Create Your Own Masterpiece!

Wetpaint Please Touch - Create Your Own Masterpiece!

Summer

Summer is here loud and hard. It was 114 yesterday, and is not supposed to be any cooler today. A lot of pool time and a lot of inside time, with three kids it becomes rather hard to keep them out of each others space.

Don't you love the picture of the fancy shoes and socks.

Major drama

Our chocolate lab got outside the gates today and went on a stroll. We were all at work and school, I just happened to check the answering machine from work to see if there were any messages. There was one on there I hit play and tried real hard to listen, it was really muffled. I could only understand the caller say the last I was your dog she was on 45th street and Windrose. After I had a panic attack, I called my daughters school and had them send her home, she said yes Brannigan was not in the back yard, so she hysterically went looking for her. My husband came home from work four hours early to help her look. I felt really helpless as I sat in my classroom and could not help them. I started getting on the internet to look for resources and found pets911. It is a website that you fill out the information about your animal and submit it. Of course you think the worst when your dog gets out, so I started calling vets in the area to see if a chocolate lab had been brought in. About an hour later my daughter called to say a lady had called and had our dog in her back yard. She saw the post on pets 911, how fast is that, so she and my husband went and got her and brought her home. She was a whole block away. My daughter and husband had been searching far away, and there she was in someone backyard enjoying the shade, as it was only 101 degrees that day. (Painting by Ron Burns)

STATE

My daughters softball team just made it to state today. She is so excited to be going, as this will probably be her only chance, as next year her school will be changing to a 5A school. Way to go, team.

New Hat

I made this bowl from the book Wrap It Up. It was sitting on the table waiting for a handle to be added when my son decided it would make a better hat. Aside from the applesauce on his shirt, I think this makes a rather good picture. He looks like he is ready to tackle anything.

Header

O.K. I have been on this blog for 45 minutes trying to figure out how to add a picture where the title is, and so far all I have been able to do is change the colors and add a link, watch out I am becoming quite the computer nerd. Where is my daughter when I need her?

My husband has been gone for 5 days। Under most circumstances I love it when he is away. This time 5 days was a little long and a little hard. With three children the youngest being two, there is never a chance to sit down. There is always something that needs to be done. I have to tell you I really can understand how hard it must be to be a single parent. They certainly have my sympathy. Just when you think you have it all covered, the little one pulls his diaper off, the other one stays in his room and screams that he needs you to help him with something, (because he is certainly incapable of walking down the stairs to come to where you are, why, when he can just yell. And the oldest sits in her room with the door shut unaware to all that is going on around her. Forget about doing art of any kind, there is just no time or energy for it.

SOFTBALL

For the second year in a row my daughter has made the varsity softball team at her high school. Last year she was the DP designated player. We were hoping this year she would have a starting position, however a freshman has joined the team. Unfortunately she starts every game, and has bumped a few girls out of their positions. This would not be a problem if she were a good player, which she is not. So why does she start every game, not sure, but I am sure of the fact that because her dad bought pants for the whole team may have something to do with it. My husband is ready to call the activities director, but I want him to wait another day so my daughter can have some time to talk with the coach. It is causing disruption throughout the house, as my husband is stubborn and want to call immediately. All Caitlin is asking for is one more day so she can talk with him. I guess this is how it goes, money talks.

Link

Spray Paint

The only kind of paint my students like to do is with spray paint, which of course we cannot or are not supposed to use in the classroom. I never really understood the attraction to it, especially when the only time I see spray paint work is on the graffitti in the neighborhoods. I tried it for the first time painting this ugly table in my classroom. It was rather fun to do, but you do not have nearly the control you do with a regular paint brush. So I think I will expect more of my students who use spray paint.

Art Gallery

The pieces pictured were accepted into a gallery for a fundraiser for breast cancer.http://artstreamstudios.com/hearts/lhcode.html. You can click on this link for more information. Rather exciting as I have never had anything in a gallery before.

Gocco Printer

I continue to read other peoples blogs to look at their artwork and what they are up to. I have decided I need a gocco printer. I have been trying to find one only to hear they are no longer being produced, so I am now trying e-bay, I see all the cool stuff people are making with them, and I would like to give it a try. If y0u have one you would like to get rid of please let me know, I would be interested.

It has been raining here for the past few days, and it has been wonderful. I have almost completed a quilt I started for my son a year ago. I hope to have it done by tonight and I will post a picture. When we have this weather all I want to do is stay inside and make stuff. It makes me homesick for Salem Oregon sometimes, where I grew up.

My son

I do not mean for this blog to become about my son and ADHD but sometimes there are other people out there going through the same thing, and it would be nice to connect with them. We had been to the counselor on Sunday and the second we are out of there my son is in a bad mood because his sister has a softball game that his grandparents are going to so he cannot go over to their house, because he does not want to go to the game. Children with ADHD can be very self centered, and have no feelings or considerations for anyone else in the family. It is all about them, all the time. When there are two other children involved it becomes rather hard to keep it all balanced. It is harder on my husband, I think then my self, it just eats at him, that his son can be so disrespecful, and mean after we have tried so hard to make things good for him in a single day.

This is a journal that I made out of fabric, it has a spine made out of rug hook cloth. I think this is how I keep my sanity is by doing crafts whenever I can, even thoug my loving son, says I do it way too much. (gee is that because when I am crafting the focus is not on him.)