YAPPING CAT STUDIO

New Eyes

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. - Marcel Proust.

And now, I have new eyes.  So to speak.  I truly loved my little, funky glasses.  But alas, they would not work for "bifocals" (scream!).  Which I have fought tooth and nail for ages now. 

But, now I have them and I CAN SEE!  Ohmygosh.  Why did I wait so long.  It's truly amazing.  I did the "happy dance" in the optical office yesterday (much to the embarrassment of all around me).  I knew I could not see some things (like small print), but just did not realize how much I could not see period. 

One of the days we should do a "show your old eye glasses" party.  Some of my old ones are hysterical.  What was I thinking.  Oh yeah, everyone else was wearing em too. 

So.  Since I was a bazillion miles from home (OK, twenty) and in the neighborhood of one of my favorite haunts, I decided to drop in and "see" what I could find.

Lovely. Lovely. Goodies.

This is something I have never seen before.  Buttery soft and raw edged.  Silk?  I'm not sure.  But a five cents a yard, I grabbed all I could find. 

Seam binding and millinery flowers and such.  They don't have a huge stock of these, but I was fortunate enough to find a few.

These were cool too.  More of a fabric feel than ribbon.  Just fabric trim I guess.  The maroon on top is like a cut-out velvet. The one at the bottom (with yellow) has just the sweetest, tiniest ruffle on it. 

Pretty.  Like candy. 

And I really wished that I had had a camera with me.  While this is no Tinsel Trading Company, it is quite stacked.  Literally.  They have stacks and stacks and stacks of button boxes.  All sorted by color.  And one does the "honor" system.  You mark your little brown bag with your pen with your amount.  Let's say the large green.  Two @ .15 each.  And so on, down the front of your bag. 

A sweet thing happened while I was looking for buttons.  I was sorting buttons and I had them laid out on the table in the back, as above, just in a loose pile.  I went up to the front of the store to get something and when I came back, they were like this.   

All neatly in a line, like little soldiers.  And even more sweeter.  This had been added to the front of my paper bag.

There had been a little girl in the store with her Mom.  As her Mom shopped for fabric, she and I had a brief conversation about the prettiness of buttons.  When I went up front, I guess she lined up all my buttons and left me a little surprise of the heart drawing on the bag.  And it touched my heart.  What sweet finds and a sweet moment. 

Have a great weekend y'all!

 

Pretty In Pink

Or "A Paler Shade of Pink" or "Pink Perfection".  I think any of these titles are perfect for the swap that I just received from my best swap pal, Lisa. 

Lisa and I met, relatively speaking, when we were assigned to each other in Artsy Mama's Sweet and Sinister swap.  And as they say, the rest is history.  Lise and I have been swapping stuff every since.  She's a talented gal and one of her boxes is always the highlight of my day.  When you see these pics, you will see why.

Lisa got to choose the last theme, which was "Things that bring you Bliss".  Of course mine were creating, chocolate, my home and my kitties.  Not necessarily in that order.  Oh.   And color.  Which was a pale pink.  And pale pink perfection it is. 

Such a bounty of goodies and the color is just gorgeous!

Look at this adorable wall hanging!  I love it.  The images, the color, the bling.  So sweet.  The five pink jewels represent my nieces, who make my hair grey...er um, bring me grey-ate joy!  LOL.  They do. 

But this, this is too adorable.  A cigar crafting box.  The flip open lid literally inspires one to create.  I love the colors.  The papers are amazing and the big Peonies on top, well, she had me at the flower.  I love Peonies.  And she filled the box with the sweetest little trinkets and bottles of glitter (gorgeous) and buttons, all perfection.  That sweet little pink bird. 

But this piece is my favorite.  A little album shaped like a house!  I love it.  She really out did herself with this one. 

Isn't this page sweet?  Love the mix of colors and the details and the ribbons.  Oh Lisa, I am swooning! 

See?  Perfect!  My fav saying and look at that sweet button.  Lisa is always all about the details. 

And is if this were not enough, I got supplies and candy too! 

Even the "fuzzy kids" got a treat.  And look at the adorable card that came with.  I'm running out of adjectives to describe everything.  I'm truly over-whelmed.  Lisa's packages always take my breath away!

While it was a bit too warm to ship chocolate.  Lisa covered me by shipping me toffee's.  Which is my next fav candy.  And look at this bowl filled with pens and fabric and ribbon. 

See?  What fun and sweetness where in that bowl.  Love the cat stamp too. 

Had to sneak in one more shot of the cigar box.  It's so wonderfully done. 

Lisa you are the best!  I'm so blessed by our bloggy friendship and you swappy goodness.  Thank you honey, I love it.  It has all truly brought me BLISS. 

If you have not had the chance to check out Lisa's blog, go see that girl at Lisa Laughs (blogspot).  See for yourself how adorable she is.  Pink perfection. 

"I went to a Garden Party...

...to reminisce with my old friends."  Isn't that they way the old song went?  I guess I'm showing my age eh?  Rick Nelson right?  And while the song was not really what I had in my head when I decided to have a couple of gal pals over for lunch, I thought it would make a cute theme.  And these dear friends needed a little TLC and some fussing over.

Actually what did inspire me was the Dollar Spot at Target.  The garden gloves, children's garden tools and garden markers (which I used as place markers) all came from Dollar  Spot.  IKEA .49 cent dish towles - cool napkins.  Just fold em and go.  I had originally intended to use the garden tools as salad tongs, but ended up doing veggie soup, rather than salad. 

Mostly everything else I just had around the house.  The paper lanterns were a close out at Hobby Lobby. 

I just used one of my potted ivys.  Fresh berries.  Pansies from the garden and seed packets.  Sweet Hub intends to plant those anyway.  And my chalk board.  Are chalk boards a Southern Girl thing?  I love my chalk boards.  LOL.

I also have a plate stash.  I just seem to pick em up when I find em on clearance or close-out.  I thought these were kind of fun to mix together. 

I tucked a fake fern under the glass plate stand, just to give it some more color.

On the bar I had another chalk board with the menu.  And Sis's groovy bday tray corrals the bread and dip.  The empty bowl is waiting for baby carrots to be placed into.  Which I forgot.  I called and asked the girls to bring me a bag.  Gah.  Eye roll here. 

I had intended to line the little bucket (also Dollar Spot) with lettuce or cabbage leaves and then dump my dip in, but I didn't have any.  Forgot those too.   Duh.  LOL. 

See?  It needed pretty cabbage or lettuce leaves.  LOL.  What is it, the devil is in the details?  Well, sometimes I forget some of the details.  LOL.  But no one, but me knows.  Except, now, well, you do.   

My other chalk board. 

And last but not least.  The cake.  Now, I'm not a good baker.  At all.  I can cook, but the science of baking eludes me.  As you can see...it burnt a little.  And I don't know why.  I did the correct temp, oil/floured the Bundt pan, so I don't understand.  And it's all from scratch.  I just wanted to stomp my foot and pout.  Oh Well.  Anyway, I digress.  It is a Potato Chocolate Spice Cake and even with the wee bit of burn, it tasted pretty good.  Nice and moist inside. 

Well there you have it.  Garden Decor for a party on the cheap.  I think I spent $6.00 at the Dollar Spot.  I grab a bunch of those IKEA .49 cent towels every time we are up that way and the rest...just around the house. 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Have a safe Memorial Day.  And thank you to those who fought. so that the rest of us can celebrate in freedom.  We owe you many, many thanks and much gratitude.

 

Loving my Kitchen

Marina over at Only Cute Things is hosting a party today.  She is hosting the, "What do you love about your Decor?" Party. 

So. Come on in.  Can I get ya a glass of tea?  How 'bout some chocolate cake?  Let me show you around. 

One of the things I love most about my kitchen decor is the color.  And especially Red.  It's my fav.  And the warmest, coziest room in the house with lots of red is my kitchen.  And it's hard to get an all white kitchen cozy.  When we bought this house, it was white walls, white tile, and a white counters.  Ugh.  Some great Martha paint warmed up the walls.  And lots of color helps too.

I have a large, open style kitchen and as the old saying goes, yes, it's the room people love best.  Anytime we have friends over, everyone seems to pile into the kitchen.

I was into blue and white.  Course now you see it everywhere (eye roll).  So, of curse, I'm now into something else.  Trend-starter or always behind?  LOL.  Who knows.  I've recently switched to yellow's, blacks, reds and white.  I've just recently changed the things on this wall.

This is a huge wall.  So I wanted something large to fill the space.  I found a great basket at Pier One and filled it with little tomato plants and then hung my fav plates over the top.

This is a really long, tall wall that is over a built in kitchen desk.  I had never thought about having a desk in the kitchen, but it is quite handy.

I keep my keys and cell phone handy here.  A chalk board, which sometimes gets updated and sometimes not.  Still have last weeks anniversary message on it.  And a new frame from Hob Lob..needs to find that perfect picture to go into.  And my fav wire basket, holding dishes and my fav creamer.

Love my Emma Bridgewater creamer.  And that cute little dish holding my keys?  Great garage sale find.  Thanks missy Sandra.  Sandra hosts THE best gs's.  She rocks! 

Next on the long wall.  My pine hutch.   I want a new kitchen table and chairs in the worst way.  LOL. 

Found these on my last trip to Canton with my "What the Junk?" bud, Shawna..  I thought they were so cool.  Old metal pieces.  Loved the lone yellow bee.  Cause in real life, I'm really afraid of bee's. 

A shameless plug for my job.  LOL.  Not really.  I love our cookbook and bought it ages and ages ago, before I ever knew that I would be fortunate enough to work there. 

Like most everyone else, I find my favorite things at Canton (a huge flea market here) and Home Goods and garage sales. 

Love this great window.  Not only does it let in lots of wonderful light (especially in the morning), but the kitteh's love to watch the birds, squirrels, and bunnies that eventually wander past at various times during the day.  The ledge is large enough for them to comfortably sit and watch and even sleep. 

This is probably one of the oldest things in my kitchen.  The little maroon pitcher.  It was my Gram's.  Dad says he remembers drinking lemonade from it (well, hopefully not directly from it), as a kid.  It's one of the few things of Gram's that I have.  And the basket it all sits in?  Cool bday prezzie from Sis. 

This is also one of my fav prezzies.  Sweet Hub bought this for me ages ago in a great little shop in Fredericksburg.  As an Anniversary present btw.  I know they are not popular anymore, but I sitll love this.  Maybe cause it's a tray.  LOL.

I love to "corral" things.  Seems to be either in a basket.  Or on a tray.  Somehow someway it seems to be "contained".  LOL. 

See?  Another basket, keeping everything safely intact.  LOL. 

Love this plate.  And my red tea kettle.  And the oil and vinegar bottles are from way back when.  I used to do a lot of painted glass.  There were a few pieces that I kept for myself.

And the space above the cabinets is always tricky.  And don't look too closely, cause probably INCREDIBLY dusty.  yuck.  LOL. 

Well, there you have it.  Hope you enjoyed my little kitchen tour.  Certainly one of my favorite rooms in my home.  Thanks for stopping by.

Birds of a feather...

...bling together.  Or something like that. 

How do you feel when it comes to your art "style"?  There are those that (I envy) that have one style and stick to it.  Yes, I envy them.  I envy their developement of their style and that their work has a look of consistency.

Not so with me.  And this is one of the things that I wanted to address (within my own art work) when I began this blog.  When it comes to style, I bounce around more than a tiny, toddler in an inflatable jump house at the park. 

I love vintage, love to play with vintage, but having only as of late, jumped on this particular band-wagon, well, my stash is small.  But I'm building up and I think having lots of cool things to work with is perhaps the key to producing cool, vintagey things...for me anyway.  And I love color, LOTS of color.  And cute.  And yet, grotty and dark is another style that I love and continue to try and perfect as well.

So..blah, blah, blah.  Where's all this going?  Just to say that I've switched from the lovely vintage images that Miss Beth provided for the bird/bonnet swap to this:

Birds of Bling.  One of the cute projects that I found in my new book was a birdie.  Only the Koch's did it with vintage ephemera and old buttons and thread.  All attached to a clothespin.  I loved it.  But I wanted to put a spin on it as I get the front-end of the booth ready for summer.  I was thinking, lemonade & watermelon saturated colors and bright, summer fun.  So for summer, the "birds of bling".

Cute for not only clipping on a bulletin board, but on a gift or in a flower arrangement.  Anywhere a touch of whimsy is warranted.

And I promise not to become the blog of all birdies, all the time.  But I do plan on trying this project again with ephemera to see how they will turn out with a different medium.  Wouldn't a magnet be fun added to the clip as well?  Just be really careful pulling those babies apart and DON'T use an exacto knife.  LOL.  Lesson learned there.

I have plans for the front section of the booth to be awash in over-saturated color and fun.  A spot to show off Sis's and mine paper goods, such as tags, journals, clothes pins and magnets and more.  If it's paper and fun, it will be there.  I'm also going to add some frames, florals and other goodies.  I'll post a pic or two when I get it done.

And color.  There will be ton's of color. 

So, like Sybil, I guess I must embrace each of my multiple "art style" personalities.  Knowing that I fancy not only vintage, but dark and grotty and then a total one-eighty of color.  Well, what can this girl do, but embrace it all.  Jill of all trades I guess. 

Do you have multiple styles as well, or just one?

Happy Wednesday. 

I live in my own little world (challenge)

I do.  And for more on the "challenge" part, keep reading.  And because I do constantly live in my own little world lately, it's probably why I can never remember anything anymore.  Either that or old age.  LOL. 

With that being said.  Let me explain.  What a week it has been.  It started out with me feeling tremendously proud for getting some things accomplished and actually beginning to catch up on some projects and orders.  Hold the phone.  Sis then had to go and ask me Wed night if I had my panels done for Birds and Bonnets.  "Wha?  It's not due till next weekend..naaaaaaawwwww.  Have not even started yet."  She then went on to tactfully inform me that it was due Monday.  ACK!  Panic, pandemonium and pressure then ensued.  But, no problem, cause I always feel like I make some of my best things at the last minute.  So here is what is zooming over to Missy Beth and Karla today.

These are the front sides (or backs), whichever of the four panels.

Then here are the respective flip sides.

I think nancibel is my favorite one. 

These were so much fun to do.  I loved working with the wallpaper copies and the birds.  And normally, I not a Victorian-girl kinda girl, but these images were so lovely.  Even though I waited till the last minute, it was a project I enjoyed immensely.

Next.  My friend, Pam at Blog Cabin Fever is having a fun challenge.  It's called, "I live in my own little world".  Hence the title of today's post.  We are to show off where we blog and some spots around the house.  Well, I've bored you to tears with photo's of the studio and just showed off my entry way.  The rest is too dirty to show.  But anyway, what the heck, here goes.

Here's where I "blog".  In Sweet Hub's office.  Thanks honey for letting me use your puter. 

Here's one of my favorite spots in the house (other than the studio or kitchen). 

This big ol' chair.  A great spot to read or watch TV or snuggle with a kitteh.  It was originally Sweet Hub's chair.  He picked it out.  But I've grown quite fond of it.  So, there's a few bits of "my own little world".  Thanks Pam for hosting.  Head over to her site and play.  She's issued the challenge till the 18th.

Then, sweet and awesomely talented Melissa at Fischtales Designs (blogspot) tagged me to mention six quirky things.  I'm running out of quirky things, but here goes.

1.  I love to kiss my cats on the head and smell their fur.  They smell woodsy to me (and no, they don't go outside). 

2.  I can't stand fruit in yogurt, ice cream or pudding.  Gross.  On it's own, fine, but not mixed in something.

3.  I almost have to read at night to be able to fall asleep.  About fifteen minutes will do.  But a book must be handy at bed side for snooze time.

4.  I like silence.  It does not bother me.  In fact, I don't like a lot of loud noise, I find it over-whelming.  And when people hum or sing in public, drives me insane.  Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon at heart. 

5.  I love Malt-O-Meal, could eat it every day.  But no lumps.  And certainly no fruit in it.  Oh the Horror. 

6.  I always have to have my car keys in my pocket when I'm out.  Not in my purse.  In my pocket.  I don't know why.   

I'll try and pass this one next week.  And Sis, I promise, I won't tag you.  Honest.  Scout's honor.

Next.  I found this lovely book while I was out and about last week.   I wanted to show it off.

   

Just a few weeks ago, I found those note cards by the Koch's.  Well, Imagine my joy upon finding this book.  It's just lovely and has some really beautiful projects inside.

If you see it, check it out.  I got mine at Barnes & N.  A very talented mother and daughter team.

And last, but certainly not least, Happy Anniversary Sweet Hub.  Twenty one years.  Twenty one.  Today.  Wow.  Seems like yesterday that we walked down the aisle, you stoic and me grinning like an idiot.  Hard to believe.  But as Joan Wilder tells Jack T. Colton in Romancing the Stone...."you are the best time I've ever had".  And you are.  You're my bff.  Here's to another twenty one years and hopefully even more. 

Weren't we cute?  LOL.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. 

Three little birdies...

...need new homes.  Now listed on my Etsy.  Which if the link does not work is under yappingcat.  Which I can't seem to figure out how to list on my side-bar...grrrrrrrh.  Can someone help me please?  LOL.  I hate technology.  Seriously.

Here's the newest one.  The sweet cherry birdie.  She is my favorite and I love the colors.  Frosty limes, lemon and pink buttons.   A sweet dragonfly button.  All with a cherry on top.  Or on bottom as the case may be.  Lots of pretty stitching too.  I'm so proud of myself, I finally figured out how to do the french knot.  I need more practice, but I'm getting there. 

Here's a wee bit of painting as well.  These trays were not selling and needed a little spiff up.  I thought this quote was so beautiful.  One of my favorite painters in Waco had done this on a wooden carrier, that I bought years ago.  I did not think she would mind if I used it on these trays.  I love the saying.

And a hand painted-slash-collage canvas.  I was really happy with the way this one turned out.  Sorry, this is just a partial view.

Here's the whole thing.

OK.  Not the metal thing at top, but the canvas.  This piece came about because a customer came in looking for some artwork for her babies nursery.  She was doing the nursery in brown and turquoise and a nest theme.  I loved the idea and added the "n" as a fun accent.  And of course, the number three for "baby makes three".  I liked the way it turned out. 

Well, best to dash, as I have not even started Karla and Beth's  birdie swap.  Yikes.  And it needs to go into the mail tomorrow.  I feel a late night coming on.  Happy Wednesday y'all.

A birdie in the hand...

...is worth two in the creamer?  LOL.

I think they look cute anywhere.  And these two will be on Etsy as soon as I can make the time to do it.  I have many more in "stages".  There is the "song" bird, and the "nest" bird and the "cherry" birdie and in the works are the turq/brown birdie and the Maria A. birdie.  I'm having too much fun with the birdie.

These are some of the first two that I made.  The top one is embellished with bits and pits and a pretty velvet posy.  A silver charm with a blue bead hangs off the bottom.  The bottom birdie actually has a plastic embellishment sewn in with buttons and a gold heart.  A pretty blue ribbon and and bead hangs from the bottom.   

Still playing with my gift bag experiments.

I wanted to do something fun for my nephews birthday bag.  The selection of gift bags was dismal at best and all that was left was this kinda "surfer dude" striped bag.  Well, I wanted to muck it up a bit.  I spelled his name out in circles (purposely putting the B upside down - much to my niece's distress).  And added brads, staples, ring hole covers, and even a bit of sand-paper.

I punched holes, stamped, smeared, scratched and sanded the surfaces.  So it became "surfer dude meets industrial accident"...LOL.  I even added an "inspection #54" that came off of one of our clothing stickers.  I love those things.  Seems like Inspector #54 is always busy, cause those seem to be the only ones I get.  LOL.  Shouldn't there be other inspectors?  Ah, a topic for another time I guess.

I thought the end result was kinda funky.  I had wanted it to be a little less cutesy, but that's the way it goes.  And I received the highest complement a 15 year old boy can utter.  A grunted, "cool!".  Glad he liked the effort.

Don't lose your ownership of your own images...

Listed below is a post that I found via Tim Holtz, on Claudine Hellmuth's blog.  This text (beginning in red) is taken directly from her blog. 

As someone who likes to create images and art and use photo's on my blog, this is disturbing indeed.  And Flickr.  This would surely impact Flickr. 

So if this disburbs you and much as it did me, please take a mintue to go to Claudine's blog and fill out the form (click on HER link that says, "send a letter").  It takes five seconds to do and lets your voice be heard.  Let's not make the stealing of our artwork and imagery and beloved photo's any easier for them than it already is.  Please take a second and fill out this form letter.  It's quick and easy and I did it.  Here's Claudine's post, but please go to her blog to find out more and to take a second and fill it the form.

Thanks,

yapping cat

do you post your family photos online? read this!

There are two bills that are coming up in the House and Senate that will change copyright as we know it.

They were shot down once before because of action against it --- but now they are back as bill numbers H.R. 5889 The Orphan Works Act of 2008 and S 2913 The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008

If you post your family photos on Flickr, anywhere on the internet or on your blog read on!

Could you imagine if someone used your child's photo in an unsavory advertisement and you had no say and no rights to make them stop using it! This could easily happen if these bills are passed. There has already been an instance of Virgin Mobile using unauthorized Flickr photos of children in advertisements & billboards and that is before this law was proposed. We do not need to make it easier for them to steal your family photos!

If you are posting your photos online, you should read below and then send a letter (there is an EASY fill out form on the Illustrator Partnership web site all you do is enter your info and press send!)Takes 1 minute!!!

This is NOT a hoax. This is FOR REAL. And it is scary. Some people say us illustrators and designers are being alarmist, but I would rather err on the side of caution, defeat this bill and keep my copyrights as they are now. These bills were shot down once because of strong resistance from Illustrators, designers and photographers we can defeat these bills again!

Quotes and Tags

Thanks to everyone for their ideas on the mirror and bench.  I'm still undecided, but perhaps when I go to look at paint that will help me make the final decision.  But I am leaning towards the red. 

Busy little fingers are flying today.  Trying to get caught up and get stock piled up for the booth.   Our town has a huge fest and home tour each June.  I'm trying to pile together, tags and magnets and little goodies for five and under. 

Tags and tags.  And two of my favorite quotes.  'Cept I always want the first one to read, "woman friendship".  LOL.

And little birdies that are getting finished up and ready to fly away tomorrow.

The finger is almost 100 percent and I've got orders I'm trying to finish up today and just generally having a bit of fun in the studio today and praying the storms tonight don't get bad.  Playing catch up and working away.  Hoping your Wednesday is productive as well.

Happy Wednesday to you.