Chel in the Land of ZNE

Recipe for Frou Balls

Yesterday's project kept me up till 3 a.m.  It was one of those fabulous "oooh!  Let me just get one more of these done!" type things.

I fell into bed exhausted, and had to wake up three hours later to get the kids up for school.  I was cranky with them all evening and refused to make them dinner - opting for Subway instead.  (Needless to say, they didn't complain).

And all because of these fuzzy frou frou FROU BALLS!

I was cuttin' tulle like a mad woman, and I always love an opportunity to go through my vintage button collection.

Also great fun, were the fabulous images I used for the little paper tags.  They were all taken from Sandra Evertson's "Babies" scrapbook page book. 

Honestly, I just had too much fun.  And the greatest thing?  The bases for my Frou Balls are these horrible plastic ornaments ~ and I was carrying a few of my newly decorated balls out from the studio to my living room - I dropped one, and I kid you not - it BOUNCED!  I mean, not like a tennis ball - but in this fabulous refusal-to-break way.  FROU BALLS!  GOTTA LOVE 'EM!

If you are interested in learning more about my secret Frou Ball technique (ha!) - I have another little slide show for you.  ENJOY!

Have a great Friday everyone!

Jingle Dogs

Here's what I worked on all day yesterday.  Ahhh!  That explains the drill!

Little domino doggy ornaments!

<>

Make sure your speakers are turned on.  It's just not the same without the sound!  : D

xo - Chel

Heavy Machinery

Have I mentioned yet that I am crafting away?

My husband was kind enough to let me use his drill today.  I decided to take pictures as I went along, so that I could post an online workshop - probably in January.

Meanwhile, I now have a whole-buncha dominoes, complete with holes, ready to be altered and made into ornaments and pendants.  The fun is just beginning.

drrrrrrrrrrrilllll drrrriiillllllllll WOO HOO!

Have a great day everyone, and be careful now, when using your own heavy machinery!

I'm featured today!

I figured I'd kick off our artist features on the Holidaze Craft Craze blog, with... ME!

We'll be adding new artist features and event previews every day for the next few weeks, so check back often!

The Countdown is on!

Well, I am crafting away over here!  I am getting goody bag schwag and door prize stuff together, packaging endless fun from The ZNE Store, and making some ChelArt Original Artwork and crafty goodness!

AND - what else?  THE BLOG IS HERE!  It will be updated daily with more fabulousness than you can shake a stick at!

CHECK IT OUT ~ Today, tomorrow, and the next day too!

Happy Sunday everyone!

God's Gift to Me

You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.  ~Desmond Tutu

I wanted to share some of my Thanksgiving pics and thoughts with you.

Well, what can I say.  The holidays can be hard.  My father is generally out of the picture, certainly not reliable in terms of hearing from him.  My mother is no longer living.  I can get a bit weepy.  Other  than my brother, the rest of my family is scattered throughout Michigan, no where near drop-in distance of California.

Sometimes I feel downright sorry for myself.

And then I get a good universal thunk on my head.

Truth is, there aren't words adequate enough to explain the blessing of family that I have in my life.  Everywhere I turn, eveyr day.

Every single day, my son whispers to my soul just a little bit more about the man that he is becoming.  He is so wonderful and funny, and full of joy.  I wrote story, and a poem - about him once.  Both were called "Hair the color of Light."  I see that still, the light of the world dancing off his head.  What a gift.  How did I get to be so lucky?

And then, speaking of men, my husband takes such good care of his daughter Abigail, and my son R.J., and I.  He works hard, provides us with a lovely home.  He knows how to build decks and fix garbage disposals and change the oil in our cars.  ~And~ he's not a slob, and likes to cuddle.  I couldn't have asked for a better deal here, and there is no denying that the universe was winking at me when they sent this beautiful man my way.

And then, there are the women too. 

Little Abbey (now 12, not so little eh) was at her mother's last night so I don't have good pictures.  But she is the joy of my life too.  I know without a doubt that I am doubly blessed in the child department, with a son of my own, and such a beautiful step-daughter to share my life with.

And then of course, there is Jenna.  She is my best friend, but the words are and always have been inadequate.  She has known me since I was a young child.  We have known each other, and the bond was immediate.  We have shared grievious painful difficult times.  We have been by eachother's sides as we stepped forward into life with boundless hope seemingly coming from nowhere, and shared those leaps together.  And, most certainly, she has been there over and over with knowing and loving arms to catch me when I have fallen.  Every fall, made that much more bearable, by her loving embrace.  How can you doubt the ultimate grace of a universe who provides you with such a loving and tender friend?

And so long as we are talking about beautiful women, I have to include my God Daughters.  Jenna's children, babes no longer babes, who I have been so blessed to know, all their lives.  Lucky, lucky me.

So, I am filled with appreciation and this Thanksgiving, I was overwhelmed with just how much I had to be thankful for.

Today is Black Friday.  People are running around shopping shopping shopping.

I hope for all of you that you are as blessed as I am, and take a moment today to remember the gifts that you have, those which money can not buy.

xo - Chel

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!

Two Good Things...

First, I am so excited!  We have more than TWENTY incredible artists contributing to the Holidaze Craft Craze event in December.  My entire house will be transformed into a gallery and show.  I am already working on the goody bags - they are so fun - and free for all participants!  It will be absolutely wonderful, and if you are in Northern California - you simply must stop by!  Not only that, but look who else is joining us that day:  (CLICK ON IT TO SEE A LEGIBLE VERSION. Ha!)

As if all that didn't bring me joy enough  ~ I heard snoring behind me this morning as I drank my morning cup of coffee and caught up on emails.  Look what I found when I turned around:

I mean come on now.

What's not to love about this?

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

xoxo - Chel

Are you excited?

I AM!  This is just a tiny sampling of all the amazing vendors we have signed up for the Holidaze Craft Craze event.  If you are in California, be there!  So much fun!

December 15 & 16

Noon - 4:00

Pleasanton, CA

Stop by anytime!

For more information and details - go to:

PACIFIC COAST MESTIERI WEBSITE

and click on the revolving logo.

SEE YOU THERE!

I'll add it to my to-do list.

  I love this image.

I so envy this rosy cheeked girl, kicked back, relaxing.  Maybe she is even sleeping.  In her cool purple t-shirt.

Just too cool.

In all my web browsing (I'm a notorious link clicker) I found this fabulous Japenese site, with the tempting words:

FREE WEB GRAPHICS.  Oh, and everything they had was superfragilistic cool.  Except, their terms of use - and pretty much all the rest of their text, was in Japanese.

This made me very sad.  I don't speak Japanese.  I certainly don't read Japanese.  Sigh.  I'll have to add it to my to-do list.

I was able to figure out this much - I gotta give credit to the great site.  Here goes:

http://lambie.fem.jp/nightontheplanet/

There.  Now, as soon as I get to:  "Learn Japanese" on my to-do list, maybe I'll figure out what else I can do with these graphics.  Cuz piracy's no good.

Happy Sunday night everyone!

xo - Chelise

I'm a Betty! Sure I am.

Ok, ok, truth be told - I may be a bit more Bettie Page than Betty Grable - but all the same.

Whilst out travelling the blog world a few days ago, I came across this fun interactive site that describes being a Betty, as such:

"Betty - [bet-ee] - noun ~ an attractive woman-- perhaps timeless. This derives from the 1930s and 40s film star Betty Grable. She was the original 'pin-up' girl.

Our Betty believes in beauty on the inside and out and that helping others is a way to achieve both."

Fun stuff.  And it looks like it is all for a good cause too.  Bravo.

Happy Saturday everyone!

xo - Chel

Ooooh! LOOKIE!

Well, I don't have a whole lot to show for myself this past week.  I've been working on:

Finishing up loose ends related to the HSAS auction, so that we can move forward with the next steps there.

Promoting and getting ready for the Holidaze Craft Craze show - which will be here at The ZNE Studios in December.

Playing with dolls.

And... finally!  I found a gif animator program that I can use.  (**Thanks Amanda, for the suggestion!)

Look how fun:

(PS, the button and party hat lady were created by members of the ZNE Design Team.)

Anyway, I am glad that it  is Friday, and I am looking forward to spending time with friends and family next week, for Thanksgiving.

Know that I am thankful for all of YOU!  My wonderful blog readers, cyber friends, and indeed - many of you are like family to me!  : D

xo - Chel 

Birdy for a Kitty

Oooh!  Oohh!  Barbe is offering a special discount!  I bought me some cool bags of fibers, and an awesome red swallow necklace.  (Happy holidays to ME!) 

And, her sales are for a good cause too, so you can feel really good about spoiling yourself and your friends, as it will benefit one of her kitty's teeth, which are in dire need of some dental intervention.

Read on:

"We have many cats, but one feral we took in is really inbred. She is the SWEETEST cat ever, but has a jelly eye, chronic sinus thing, HORRIBLE teeth, chronic ear infections, etc... Last night while attempting to brush her teeth (and I say attempting cause if you have EVER tried to do anything like this with a cat, the cat usually wins LOL), she bit into the towel we had her wrapped up in and broke off her bottom fang. Look at it, it was decay and just broke from that, not from force (thank goodness). But we've decided that we really need to have all of her teeth taken out. We were HOPING we could save some by brushing and what not, but they are all just too far gone..

So-I'm sending out a 20% off coupon to everyone here, and you are welcome to pass it along to help me raise the funds ($1200+ ) to get Puddin's dental work. The coupon code is good on my website in the checkout section , type in THANKYOU (all caps), but I'll also extend it to my etsy shop www.barbesaintjohn.etsy.com as well, just let me know in the comments and I'll refund the difference to you.

Also, this coming Sunday Nov 18th, I'll be down at Feltclub in LA at the LA community College campus. The website is www.feltclub.com, check it out and if you live in LA please stop by! I'll give you the ZNE discount there too!!"

Look what I found, that is still available in her store:

Run!  And have a great Monday everyone.

Cut, paste, glitter, glue, fiber, JOY!

"Joy is but the sign that creative emotion is fulfilling its purpose."

- Charles du Bois 

A couple weeks ago, I received an order from a local gallery (Worthington Gallery West) for some of my art tags - since the holiday season is HERE (!) and small/gifite/papercraft items are sure to be popular.

Claudia, the wonderful proprietess of WGW is a member of PCM, and she is so supportive of the local art community.  Many of our members have shown and sold art and jewelry in her lovely gallery.  I'm really honored to be counted among them.  : D

In any case, the bigger point here is that the order gave me that wonderful excuse to dedicate some time to making art.  Would  you believe, I sometimes forget how fun it is!?

I pulled out so many of my supplies, fibers, rhinestones, glitter, mica, vintage buttons, inks, and lots of little bits of this and that.

The red fairy card (as seen at top) was created using a vintage playing card that JoAnnA Pierotti gave me the first time we met in person, a few years ago.  I love these cards, and this was the first time I really got to play with them.

I know I am not alone in finding a strange sense of satisfaction and joy in seeing how I can fit a cows head on a man's body.  OOOH!  Fun.

Although it is not always the case, it is often true that silliness rules the day when I let myself just have fun and create.

 

(The white tags on the sides of the images are not a part of the art tags themselves, they are actually a part of the outer packaging.  I didn't think to take pictures until they were all packaged and ready to go.

I added more close ups to my photo gallery on The ZNE Network.  If you are a ZNE Member, check 'em out if you want.

Here is to hoping all of you are having a joy filled and creative weekend as well!

I'll BE THERE!  Woo Hoo! 

(Click on the logo above to learn more!)

I Love Red, Glitter, And Kitsch!

Can you tell?

Stay tuned ~ the full tour of The ZNE Studios will be coming within a month or so!  WOO HOO!

HAVE A GREAT FRIDAY EVERYONE!

What about a Little Boy's Hand!?!

YIKES!  Look what my son is reaching for!  This huge praying mantis was running around in front of our house, a couple days ago.

"Praying mantis have voracious appetites and will eat a variety of insects including aphids, grasshoppers, fruit flies, house flies, moths and crickets."  (Source:  http://www.gaygardener.com/features/p-mantis.phtml)

This bug in particular was HUGE.  I was concerned it was going to try to devous my son's hand!

I told my husband that if she (Peggy the Praying Mantis) started to try and seduce him, he'd better WATCH OUT!

Other than that, things are going ok here, around the Land of ZNE.  I think my tooth may be feeling better.  Could it be?  And that may mean that the second root canal isn't necessary, after all.

One can always hope.  Sigh.

And You??

Have a great day!  The weekend is almost here!

Gorilla My Dreams

One of my very favorite and incredibly talented art groups - Altered Art Obsession - is holding a month long online fundraiser for The Dian Fossey Gorrilla Fund, http://www.gorillafund.org/, and Wildlife Direct's Gorrilla Fund, http://www.wildlifedirect.org/blogAdmin/gorilla/.

You can contribute to these incredible causes - and have an opportunity to win some incredible art, here:

http://aaocharities.blogspot.com/.

Two of the prizes being offered are the AAO One Year Aniversary chunky book, and the AAO These Hands Chunky Book.  I have copies of both of these fabulous books, and can attest to how fabulous they are.

   

I am proud to say I also have art in both books:

So get over there quick, and help make a difference ~ today.

I love Sandy.

Ok, instead of talking about the fact that my oral surgeon told me that it looks like I may need a SECOND ROOT CANAL in that same tooth that has already had a root canal, that half fell out of my mouth afterwards, that he already performed a crown lengthining on - and yes - that's right - you heard me right - apparently the cause of the shooting pains is that he thinks I've had some nerve regeneration - and that means root canal number 2, which if you've been counting - means root canal # 3 for me (and honestly at this point I'd rather just get fitted with dentures) - BUT I DIGRESS AND I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT IT ANYWAY! - I thought I would tell you about my new best friend.  Sandy.

(http://blog.iwantsandy.com/)

I can't tell you how much I adore her.  I email her every day.  Well, several times a day, in fact.  I tell her everything I am doing, everything I plan to do in the future, and about all my appointments.  Better yet - she emails ME every morning, and reminds me of all the things that I have planned for the day.  If I ever need to remember my to do list, I just check with Sandy.  She doesn't forget a thing.  SHE ROCKS MY WORLD!

My cyber world, that is.  And she is a cyber-friend.  Still, I am falling head over heels for her.  I was invited (somehow?  Don't ask me how) to beta-test Sandy (which is sort of like cyber blind dating a product).  I was set up with an account, and introduced to Sandy.

Now, anytime I am online, I can email her and in one sentence (the length of a subject line, we're not talking complex coding here) - I can ask her to add appointments to my calender, remember contact information for me, or add things to my to-do list.  In example, yesterday when I got home from my oral surgeon - I emailed Sandy and asked to remember that I had another appointment with him next monday at 8:45 a.m.  And that's how I said it too!  "Remember dental appointment next monday - 8:45 a.m."  and then, voila!  When I pull up next Monday on my calendar, there it is, on the right date, at the right time.  And next Monday?  She'll email me and remind me!

Sandy has a lot more fun bells and whistles too.  You can format your lists and calendars by subject and topics.  You can also ask her to remind other people you know about joint appointments!  How cool is that? 

I have to say, Sandy is rocking my world right now.  This is one of the most exciting organizational tools I have come across in a long long time, and everyone who knows me, knows that I can use all the help I can get when it comes to keeping track of the 10,878 items on my to-do list on any given day.  You all are going to love Sandy too!

Let's not talk about it.

Shhhhhhh!  I have to go back to the oral torture surgeon today, because there seems to be something wrong with my surgery site, as evidenced by increased swelling and shooting pains up the right side of my face.  As I was saying, we'll leave it at that for now - and - let's not talk about it!

We can however talk about this:

Sandy Wood is having a giveaway on her blog.  Quick!  Today is the last day to enter.  She'll draw a name and award a fabulous object d'art - tomorrow!

To enter, go HERE.

Good luck everybody!

Mid Thousand Angels Beaming

‘Te somnia nostra reducunt.’

And ask ye why these sad tears stream?
Why these wan eyes are dim with weeping?
I had a dream-a lovely dream,
Of her that in the grave is sleeping.

I saw her as ’twas yesterday,
The bloom upon her cheek still glowing;
And round her play’d a golden ray,
And on her brows were gay flowers blowing.

With angel-hand she swept a lyre,
A garland red with roses bound it;
Its strings were wreath’d with lambent fire
And amaranth was woven round it.

I saw her mid the realms of light,
In everlasting radiance gleaming;
Co-equal with the seraphs bright,
Mid thousand thousand angels beaming.

I strove to reach her, when, behold,
Those fairy forms of bliss Elysian,
And all that rich scene wrapt in gold,
Faded in air-a lovely vision!

And I awoke, but oh! to me
That waking hour was doubly weary;
And yet I could not envy thee,
Although so blest, and I so dreary.

***

The post above, including the artwork, and poem selection - was taken from my lovely friend Izabella's blog.  Her blog is full of extraordinary artwork and poetry.  If you spend some time there, soon enough you will begin to wonder if you yourself are awake, or dreaming.  It seems she endeavors and succeeds in creating an etherial world for us, full of the agonies and sorrows of life - as well as the angels and joy that abounds.

All day I was trying to figure out what to write today, and how to write it - and then I stumbled upon Bella's post.  And there they were.  The perfect words.  Thank you Bella.

***

Today is my mother's birthday.  She would have been 60 years old.  My brother and I were equally anxious about and resigned to the occasion of this day.  He called me early, we acknowledged the date, and then decided to get together, just us - and our sons.  My ten year old RJ, and Adin, now just over a year old.  My husband stayed home to work in the backyard, and my sister in law stayed home and caught up on some work she'd brought home from the office.

Jesse and I, and RJ and Adin.  We sat and talked about nothing.  The boys played, RJ chasing after Adin (who ran away from his cousin with those quick wobbly toddler steps). 

Suddenly I turned to Jesse and asked - "Do you think I look like her?"  He didn't have to ask who I meant.

"Yeah.  Yeah, a little.  You do."

"You know, sometimes I look in the mirror - and I see her.  Like from the side, or from certain angles.  Suddenly I see her - it's so weird.  It always startles me.  It takes me by suprise."

"Yeah."  He said, nodding. 

SIblings are so nice.  There are certain times in life when you know - no one in the world will understand exactly what you mean - except for a sister or brother.

***

In truth, the aniversary of her death and Mother's Day are usually more difficult than her birthday.  Still, 60 seems a milestone.  It sounds young, and old a the same time.  Enough years to have lived a life, and not enough for it to have been over. 

***

I love this stanza, in the poem from Bella's blog:

I saw her mid the realms of light,
In everlasting radiance gleaming;
Co-equal with the seraphs bright,
Mid thousand thousand angels beaming.

That's how I picture her. That's what I want to believe.  That she is comforted now.  Wrapped now in light, and beauty.

***

~ Happy Birthday Momma.  I wish for you now, and for life everlasting - that you be mid thousand angels beaming.  ~

PS - If anyone reading this post suffers from untreated depression or thoughts of suicide, there is help available.  Don't give up.  Try calling a hotline, talking to medical doctor, a counselor or clergy.  You ARE worth it.

‘Te somnia nostra reducunt.’

And ask ye why these sad tears stream?
Why these wan eyes are dim with weeping?
I had a dream-a lovely dream,
Of her that in the grave is sleeping.

I saw her as ’twas yesterday,
The bloom upon her cheek still glowing;
And round her play’d a golden ray,
And on her brows were gay flowers blowing.

With angel-hand she swept a lyre,
A garland red with roses bound it;
Its strings were wreath’d with lambent fire
And amaranth was woven round it.

I saw her mid the realms of light,
In everlasting radiance gleaming;
Co-equal with the seraphs bright,
Mid thousand thousand angels beaming.

I strove to reach her, when, behold,
Those fairy forms of bliss Elysian,
And all that rich scene wrapt in gold,
Faded in air-a lovely vision!

And I awoke, but oh! to me
That waking hour was doubly weary;
And yet I could not envy thee,
Although so blest, and I so dreary.

***

The post above, including the artwork, and poem selection - was taken from my lovely friend Izabella's blog.  Her blog is full of extraordinary artwork and poetry.  If you spend some time there, soon enough you will begin to wonder if you yourself are awake, or dreaming.  It seems she endeavors and succeeds in creating an etherial world for us, full of the agonies and sorrows of life - as well as the angels and joy that abounds.

All day I was trying to figure out what to write today, and how to write it - and then I stumbled upon Bella's post.  And there they were.  The perfect words.  Thank you Bella.

***

Today is my mother's birthday.  She would have been 60 years old.  My brother and I were equally anxious about and resigned to the occasion of this day.  He called me early, we acknowledged the date, and then decided to get together, just us - and our sons.  My ten year old RJ, and Adin, now just over a year old.  My husband stayed home to work in the backyard, and my sister in law stayed home and caught up on some work she'd brought home from the office.

Jesse and I, and RJ and Adin.  We sat and talked about nothing.  The boys played, RJ chasing after Adin (who ran away from his cousin with those quick wobbly toddler steps). 

Suddenly I turned to Jesse and asked - "Do you think I look like her?"  He didn't have to ask who I meant.

"Yeah.  Yeah, a little.  You do."

"You know, sometimes I look in the mirror - and I see her.  Like from the side, or from certain angles.  Suddenly I see her - it's so weird.  It always startles me.  It takes me by suprise."

"Yeah."  He said, nodding. 

SIblings are so nice.  There are certain times in life when you know - no one in the world will understand exactly what you mean - except for a sister or brother.

***

In truth, the aniversary of her death and Mother's Day are usually more difficult than her birthday.  Still, 60 seems a milestone.  It sounds young, and old a the same time.  Enough years to have lived a life, and not enough for it to have been over. 

***

I love this stanza, in the poem from Bella's blog:

I saw her mid the realms of light,
In everlasting radiance gleaming;
Co-equal with the seraphs bright,
Mid thousand thousand angels beaming.

That's how I picture her. That's what I want to believe.  That she is comforted now.  Wrapped now in light, and beauty.

***

~ Happy Birthday Momma.  I wish for you now, and for life everlasting - that you be mid thousand angels beaming.  ~

PS - If anyone reading this post suffers from untreated depression or thoughts of suicide, there is help available.  Don't give up.  Try calling a hotline, talking to medical doctor, a counselor or clergy.  You ARE worth it.

If only I COULD replace my head...

Well, it's past 2:30 a.m., and I am waiting for the tylenol to kick in so that I can get some sleep.  I can't believe how completely annoying this wad of silly putty crap is, in my mouth.  Almost as annoying as my aching jawbone.  Waaaaaah.  Sniff sniff.  Feel sorry for myself, feel sorry for myself...

Ah well.  I decided if I couldn't pretty up the way my real-life head feels, maybe I could find solace in prettying up my blog header.

Voila.

What do you think of the new look?

No rest for the weary!

Well, I am up and at 'em again.

Overall, I'm doing ok, but man alive does the right side of my face ache.

Even though the surgery/bone grinding etc. was on the lower jaw, it aches all the way up through my right ear.

I'm trying to manage it with tylenol and nothing stronger, but sleeping is a challenge.  I've heard that with things like this you are supposed stay ahead of the pain - ie, take your pain relief before the pain reminds you that you need it - but I can't seem to do that.  I forget, etc. - until suddenly it feels like an elephant has sat on my face.

Ha!  but the worst of all is the dreaded soft food.  Oh what I would give for a nice crunchy crusty chewy hot piece of pizza.  But nooooo... more soup and jello and applesauce for me.  I'm about to poke my eyes out over all this soft food - and it's only been TWO DAYS.

Oh well.  Luckily - life goes on and much as I love to do it, I have ten thousand other things to do, other than sit and feel sorry for myself and my bowl of oatmeal.  Ha!

I've got places to go, people to see.  Busy busy me!  Tee hee!

(ATC above, one of my first, circa early 2005).

Have a great day everyone.  Eat something crunchy and yummy, on my behalf!