Cowgirl Glitter Camp: Altered Books 101 Details!

My first Cowgirl Glitter Camp class is coming up soon!

There are still a few spaces available.

Here's the scoop:

Altered Books 101

September 10th @ Abigail's

*Since this class is introductory, there won't be a theme.

We will be playing in our books, experimenting and exploring creativity through collage in an old book.

We will have tons of ideas available: ideas and examples will inspire your book.

You can use our ideas as much or as little as you would like.

This class is great for everyone interested in playing and having fun with paper, ink, stamps, old photos, ephemera, and other exciting mediums.

The aim is to inspire and get your creative energies going, LAUGH and HAVE FUN.

Treats will be provided.

We will start the class at 8:30pm and finish when we finish (or get tired).

Stay as long as you would like or take ideas home.

You need to bring:

An old book, any shape, size, theme, whatever.

Scissors

Glue Sticks, other adhesive you have.

Pens, markers, crayons, gel pens, pencils (whatever you would like to use).

Collage items: get creative.

Could include candy wrappers, old photos, magazine photos, old cards, tickets, letters, bingo cards, keys, ribbon, trim, lace, fabric. You can include ANYTHING you want to. Bring extra to trade if you'd like. Anything you don't have we will have available to borrow.

I am putting together a suprise ART KIT as a FREE GIFT
for anyone who signs up. It will include vintage photos, collage art sheets, and other suprise goodies.

When you finish your book, it will make a wonderful gift or scrapbook.

Christmas seems far away, but it will be here before we know it!

They cost very little to make and they can are the sweetest gift EVER.

If you're interested, call Melissa @ 223-8898 or email melissadc76@hotmail.com

Cupcake Adventures

Adventures weren't part of my plans today.

I was going to enjoy the cloudy day, staying close to my sewing machine, filling custom slip dress orders.

Plans changed and I needed to pick up my older two kids in Utah.

My sister met us in Ogden, coincidentally, the location of the Vintage Cupcake :)

Since I couldn't take you all with me, I took lots of pictures!

Sorry LT, we accidentally ate all of the cupcakes we bought :(

Cowgirl Glitter Camp!

So, I've been thinking.

Being a mom can be hard.

Sometimes, even the most patient mothers (not me, per se, but I'm sure you know some) need a break.

This week was challenging.

Jonathan is going through a special toddler stage.

Last week he learned to climb on top of the stove and get into shelves, where he found bottles of spices and would pour them out. He did it every day for a week (ok, his mother is a slow learner) with garlic salt, lemon pepper, seasoning salt, black pepper, salt and my navy blue RIT Dye. Beginning this week he must have gotten tired of the climbing and pouring routine.

Instead he became fascinated with taking his pants and diaper off.

Monday, he peed on my floors seven times. Oh, the Clorox wipes I went through.

By Tuesday, I'd had it.

I called my friend.

I need a break, what can we do?

We usually get together and get crafty. Getting crafty really has a way of helping me let off some steam. We create, we chat, we laugh, we get loud and obnoxious. We forget about RIT dye and Clorox wipes.

Usually, I have a hard time getting my crafty act together when I'm on the verge of a Mommy meltdown.

I gathered a basket full of STUFF and brought it over.

She had scissors, glue, and other supplies.

We worked on an altered book for her sister, taking turns doing pages..

The later it got, the more creative and fun it became.

Since I opened Abigail's at this location, I've wanted to offer creative classes.

So here I am.

Introducing...

Cowgirl Glitter Camp.

The first class will be:

Altered Books 101

September 10th 8:30 pm-?

Location TBA

Cost $10

*Learn all the basics of creating an Altered Book to keep, or more fun, to give away.

Oh my goodness, these are fun for gifts!

*Price of the class includes refreshments and instruction.

*Bring your own antique/vintage book to alter or I have a selection you can purchase from $3.

*Bring any old photos, ribbons, trim, ephemera, scrapbook papers, junk, paper scraps, whatever!

*Materials like vintage photos, buttons, etc will also be available for purchase (and a freebie bin).

I will continue once a month, on the second Friday of the month, to have a group.

Altered Book Group/Swap

2nd Fridays 8:30 pm-?

Cost $5

Bring your book-in-progress and learn new techniques, swap ideas, get away, create, giggle.

Create a layout in someone else's book & let them create in yours.

Price includes refreshments, instruction, and materials to learn 3 new techniques.

If all goes well, people like it, and everyone has fun, I will add more fun classes.

Class size will be limited, so stop by the shop, email me at melissadc76@hotmail.com or leave a comment to sign up.

Nothing Lasts Forever...

It's Tuesday evening.

For the last 2 days, I haven't done much. It's been hot and I'm a wimp when it comes to being outside, so I've been staying inside, close to my computer and scissors... creating.

I know this time isn't going to last forever, so I'm doing my best to enjoy every moment of it.

I know that too soon, I'll have exams to study for, papers to write, and classes to attend.

I'll wonder where my free time went and wish I could have a day off to play with scissors and paint and glitter. 

When the sun goes down in the evening, I love going outside to watch the kids run around the yard, play and chat with LT. He always makes me giggle. My humble back yard is heaven on summer evenings.

In my life, I don't have it all together.

There are many, many things that I haven't gotten right.

You could say I have some regrets.

But one thing I do have figured out is how to enjoy a good thing when I have it,

because I know nothing lasts forever.

Funky Mod Retro Hanging Lamp

I just brought in and priced this Funky Mod Retro Hanging Lamp.

This one almost didn't make it to the shop...

If I wasn't in the midst of moving plans, I would have certainly brought it home myself :)

Priced at only $45.

I'm listing it here first, so my blog pals can get the first shot at it.

It is made of a molded resin, but has that glass look (can't tell unless you touch it). It's wired so it plugs into an outlet so you can pretty much hang it anywhere (no existing fixture needed).

Hi there...

Hi there...

Do you ever find something that speaks to your soul and you just had to share it with everyone?

Yesterday, Country Living Magazine posted on Facebook about this little Victorian Cottage.

Go take a look, I'm in love...

I can imagine escaping for a little bit, with a delicious book and a cold lemonade.

Lauri Grimshaw-Cox of Epiphanies of an Art Girl posted this video as a celebration of her birthday.

It gave me goosebumps and I had to pass it on....

So.....
What makes your heart sing?

P.S. Thanks to everyone who visited my shop today. I really appreciate the support of my business.

Life is Good: More Photo Shoot Pics & Giveaway Heads Up

Kris Ryan at Heart & Soul Photography has posted more pics of our photo shoot for my slip dresses!

I can't wait to get the image CD tomorrow morning :)

You can see more of the shoot here.

And Funky Junk Sisters are having a giveaway! I love this necklace :)

Life is good. I'm finally starting to recover from my back troubles. Yesterday, I made friends with my sewing machine again and created 3 new slip dresses. Today I've been working on more.

I've also had camera issues (ugh).

Hopefully at the end of this week I'll be able to post pictures of new items in the shop and new slip dresses

(I know some of you are anxious to see them in the Etsy shop :)

I'm so jealous: my Mom is headed to Paris today! She is going to be gone three weeks and I don't even know if I can stand having her gone that long, but I hope she has the best time ever. And she better bring me back something GOOD from a junky Brocante.

Speaking of Paris, The Speckled Egg is hosting another SWAP that I joined.

The theme is PARIS and I'll keep you updated on what I send and recieve.

One of my partners jetted off to Dubai, and the other to Austria, so I might be posting a little late.