YAPPING CAT STUDIO

Monday Pretties too!

Monday, Monday.....and here it is dreary (again) and grey (again) and damp (again).  Having always considered myself a girl that LOVED that kinda day, imagine my surprise this morning when I found myself craving some sunshine!  

And I found it!  Susan at Hometown Girl posted about Monday Pretties!  It cheered me up greatly.  So, I figured I would follow suite and jump on her bandwagon and drag along too.  So here is my version of Monday Pretties!

Found a new blog that I absolutely ADORE!  Bluebird Papercraft!  Elizabeth is like a whiff or fresh roses on a cloudy day, with a cup of hot tea AND a really good piece of chocolate to boot! 

Look at that Valentine...is that not the cutest?  Elizabeth not only shows you what she is making, she gives you detailed instructions and diagrams so that you can do it too!  She is quite talented and of course, she had me at the red and cherries!  Go check out her blog and just smile.

MaryJanesFarm mag, the Feb-March 2011 issue. 

 

I knew this one was good, when I rounded the corner at B/N and Sweet Hub had a copy of one in his hand as well!  :)

 
There are several great pieces on paper crafts , as well, as that sweet wee house (that every one has had on their blog), as well as many other great articles.

LOVED this tag page! 

Well, here is hoping that you find inspiration in your little neck of the woods.  Happy Monday.

-c

 

 

Six Degrees of...Being Published

If you've ever played the "Kevin Bacon Game", also known as "Six Degree's of Kevin Bacon", the concept is an easy one.  Its a game, based on the theory, that any individual can be linked to another, within six steps. 

With that theory in mind, we are going to play, "Six Degrees of Being Published with Yapping Cat".  LOL.  Some are close, some are a stretch, but what the heck, its Tuesday and what else are we gonna do.

I LOVED this issue.  So apparently did everyone else, since I think I read on the Stampington site that it has sold out completely.  My connection to the issue is this...see those fab velvet holly leaves on the stocking on the right. 

These!  Yep, I sold em to Catherine!  I did.  Sometime last year I had them in my Etsy and she bought em.  Said she had a project in mind.  Who knew it would lead to a cover shot.  And I am a huge fan of Catherine's work (her book, Art from the Heart, remains one of my top ten faves!).  So, does that make me published?  LOL.  A cover no less. 

Again, LOVED this issue.  (I spend way too much money on Somerset mags).  But, this issue, had me at the cover.  And one of the reasons I bought it, was this fabulous piece by Bethany Kartchner.

Her art piece, called "Defining Home", well, its simply fabulous!  And I feel in love.  And as I was going over it with a magnifying glass, er uhm, fine tooth comb, I noticed something familiar.

Heeeeeeeey. See that funky red and white, scalloped trim?  Ohmygosh!  I have some just like it on here! 

Published by association?  Heck yeah, baby, I'll take that status.  Actually, I feel rather like a proud parent, glad to have my "things" make the grade, ya know?  Even if I did not do the creating. 

This book.  *sigh*.  I can truly say that I almost love this one, as much, if not a teensy, eensy bit MORE than the first one.  I know, say it ain't so, but there it is.  So imagine my surprise the other night, when flipping through it for the umpteenth time, I see this:

Wait a minute?  See that Marie in the bottom right hand corner, on page 37?

Yeah, her!  Ohmygosh!  I made that!  Seriously!  for proof, lookie here!

OK, this is a little different.  This is a book, I think what is on page 37 is a card.  I went through a "Marie" phase with that particular piece of art and that black and white paper.  But really.  I'm hangin on Lori's inspiration board. Me!  I feel just like Reese in Legally Blonde when she gets picked for the lawyer's class.  Me! 

Hey...wonder if there is Six Degree's between me and Reese?  Naaaaaahhhhhhhh. 

-c

PS....May I say once again that I am in awe of each and everyone one of the above mentioned ladies and honored to be involved, even if just a eensy bit.  Even if by just a "degree".

 

 

 

Projects, project everywhere!

I've been working on Thank You notes for Paper Cowgirl.  Yeah, I'm only a month and half behind.  Blame that White Rabbit syndrome! 

I'm not really happy with the way the handwritten text above turned out...but sometimes it happens.  But I do LOVE the saying.  The author was unknown, but I thought it marvelously fit the spirit of Paper Cowgirl!

The text reads, "May you always find a new road to travel, new horizons to explore, new dreams to call your own!".  I love it.  To me it signifies the spirit that Tee and I wanted to push in Paper Cowgirl, that it is an adventure.  To find your authentic and creative self.  I hope that I can carry it on in that spirit for Tee.

 

Now, in addition to thank you cards (I'll reveal the total card on Monday), I've been working on my Fall project for A Wicked Tea!  And the inspiration is from the book above.

I've always been fascinated by the Witch Trials in Salem.  Such a dark, grim, time in New England.  Before it was all over, nineteen had been hanged and one pressed to death.  I've made several trips to Boston, but have not been able to make it to Salem yet, maybe one day.  (And Martha's Vineyard too!)

The book above mixes fiction and reality to tell of the days leading up to that event (the witch trials) and the effect on Connie, in the year 1991.  Katherine writes wonderfully and the book is magical and descriptive, along the lines of Practical Magic, but a little darker and more serious.

And that led me to do further research for my project for PC, "The Shadow Book of Prudence Caulders".  It will be a small journal, with a mix of my funky handwriting, and some great journal techniques.  I hope to have pics by next week.  And a little more insight into the project as well.

Much to do. 

ttfn.

-c

Hey, I'm Published...OK...Kinda....

I'm always glad to promote a fellow artist, and its especially fun if she is a fellow Texan artist.  And I was especially tickled to promote this new book by, Shona Cole, since I have a small part in it!   

Shona's book, called The Artistic Mother is about finding or simply making time to create with little ones.  And even better, letting the little's inspire your artistic endeavors as well.  And I found that it is not just for Mom's, but for anyone that can't devote 24/7 to art, but needs to carve out snippets here and there.  I know for me, that has been an issue of late.  And there are lots of great projects here that are adaptable for those (like myself) who don't have kidlets, but are always looking for another creative endeavor. 

The book features some beautiful photo's, great projects and highlights other artist's (Susan Tuttle, and Misty Mawn to name a few) as well. 

As for me, I'm on page 22.

 

Whoo, hoo!

And just a peep of my artwork shows through.  Kewel!

That artwork was actually for a round robin that Mendy started and that I was very honored to be a part of.  I had posted snippets here.  But in looking for photo's for this post, realized that I must have edited them all down.  Booger.  Oh well, when my book gets returned from the publisher, I'll show you some more pics.  It was a fun project and a great collaboration and all of the pages were simply amazing. 

But, back to the other book, check out Shona's beautiful book, as well as her blog, An Artful Life (and she is giving away a copy of the book too!).  Go check her out!

And oh joy, we have more snow headed our way.  Twice in one month...wow.  In Texas.  Insert your own global warming statement here.

Happy (almost) Monday.

Candy is Dandy, But...

...books is better!

As a kid, anytime I had some money "burning a hole in my pocket" as my parents would always say, well, I ran to the candy store.  But now, that I'm older, I don't know about wiser, my candy choice runs to the visual variety.  And I run to the bookstore.  For eye candy. 

Santie brought me a little folding money for Christmas and since I've been "budget challenged" ever since the ULO (unfortunate lay off) of Sweet Hub, well you can bet your bottom that I hit the Barnes pdq.  

I had seen this softbound book reviewed in one of the Somerset mags (sorry, can't remember which one), and Jenny hit the nail on the head with this one. 

Authors Elsebeth Gynther and Christine Clemmensen do not disappoint. Instructions are clear and concise with instructions from beginning to end on basically how to collage.  Visual stunning as well. 

Perfect for a beginner or for someone who needs a kick in the old creativity pants (such as myself). 

Next up is MaryJo Koch's Collage Journals.  I'm such a fan of MaryJo's and have been for ages now.  And this book is just gorgeous.  Lots of great projects to get your art juices going (wow, that almost sounds gross eh?). 

And yes, say it with me in an annoying falsetto....freebies in the back!

Niiiiccce. 

And now under the category of good things come to those who wait. 

I have been waiting for this particular book for evah!  And truly, my little heart skipped a beat when I saw it on the Half Price books shelf last Sat.  And when I can get a $30.00 book for $7.98...well, icing on the cake. 

Carolyn helps you get past the usual "gift bag with tissue crammed on top" standard of gift wrapping. Using gorgeous papers and embellishments, she makes the presentation of the gift almost as equally good as the gift.  And don't we all love presentation?  That's half the fun.

Seriously.  Ad dog biscuit.  Is that sinkin cute or what?

And not just wrapping, but she gives ideas for the entire party from invites to cake to decor. 

Great color combos...

...and just visually fun. 

Ribbon....drool.

And this was my favorite.  What a great looking gift for birthday or the new bride.  And I'm so into yellow, black and grey right now.  Thanks Sis (eye roll). 

Are ya still with me?  Can you absorb a little more?  THIS is the most enjoyable RH I've seen in awhile.  For me, it was awesome from front to back.  Reminded me HUGELY of our beloved MECH mags.

Great article on Paris to the Moon gift shop.

Cool home decor with lots of coluhhh.

And darn it, its just FUN!  And two things I love are color and fun.

And if you are still with me, last but not least on our eye candy tour is this pretty.

I was one of two lucky peeps that won Tricia's giveaway of her Blissfully Traveled magazine.  I chose the March/April 2009 issue as my prezzie.

Tricia picks a locale, heads there and then gives you the skinny on great shops and finds in the area.  All in a beautifully packaged magazine.  One of the highlights of this issue is Curious Sofa. 

As well as several others in the Kansas City area.  Tricia sells her paper beauties in her Etsy shop.

And just a quick thank you to say thank you.  :D  Thanks for all the Etsy love this week.  I've got several orders to get out this morning and I know stock is running low.  I've got lots of goodies to load up and I hope to be able to do that later tonight. 

But now, I'm off to package orders.  And having been wonderfully inspired, hopefully, they will be packaged awesomely!  :D 

Read it.

 

Saw it.

 

Loved it!  *sigh* Cried at the end like a big, ol' baby.  Sheesh. 

Glad the theater was dark. 

But yeah, to me, it was that good. 

One of the few pluses of being unemployed is matinee's.  Yep.  Bonus, right?  Hey, ya gotta find those silver linings where-ever ya can.  So, Sweet Hub and I went the other afternoon to see Julie and Julia.  I wanted to compare book to movie. 

The book was good, but yeah, she does drop the F-bomb...a lot!.  Which I did not care for.  But I will say, she writes really well and I language aside, I did enjoy the book.  To me, its just a great story. 

But the movie, oh, one of the few times I've ever said this, was better.  But only because, it gave me a real sense of the characters.  Maybe because I am so visual, but it just enriched the characters for me, brought them to life more so than the book.  It was just a really good movie, in its own right.

I loved that so much of Julia's story was told, I got a better feel for her life.  She was adorable.  And the love story between her and her husband Paul, was so sweet.  And their apartment in Paris....squeal!  I could have just sat and watched scenes from the Paris part of the movie, over and over and over.  It was gorgeous.  But I have always been a big Julia fan anyway, so this was truly icing on the cake.  And I'm more of a fan now, than ever before.

And Julie, well, my heart just went out to her.  Who has'nt felt that way, that they are disappearing into the fabric of their own life.  Her meltdowns were hysterical.  When she butt heads with her Mom, I'm sure we could all identify with at some point in our lives (and ohmygosh, do we Texans REALLY sound like that?).  And her successes, well, just made me want to cheer.  (And at the end of the movie, yes, dorks that we all were, we clapped). 

But the ending...too dear.  And I don't want to give it away, but yes, I sat sniveling into my greasy popcorn napkins, getting that big, old "gah, I really don't want to cry here" lump in my throat.

And what is the deal with that anyway?   Do you cry in movies?  The older I get the MORE (to my great annoyance) it happens.  Yeah, in my 30's I boo-hooed at the occasional black and white, schmaltzy endings and such (ie Dark Victory, It's a Wonderful Life, etc).  But here lately, good gosh.  Maybe its a menopause thing?  I don't know.  But so annoying. 

I still cannot sit through the part of Ratatouille where the restaurant critic reads his review about the real chief, without bursting into big sobs.  UP (the movie)...oh my gosh.  The same.  I won't say where (again don't want to give it away), but gah, what a sap I am.  Of course, any Disney movie usually has that one scene where you gotta cry.  For the love of Pete. 

Now for the record, I did NOT cry when Dumbledore dies (at the movie), but did shed a tear or two when I first read the book.   And if I gave that away, good gosh, where have you been?  But there were those in the theater boohooing a bit.  Hee hee.  But, this time at least, not me.

And, yes, we have been doing "Julia speak" almost non-stop since the movie, quoting the butter lines and I'm seriously thinking about seeing if I have that book buried in a closet somewhere.  Cause maybe, just maybe, I could try a recipe or two.  So if you get the chance, check it out.  I would love to know if you liked it.  Or better yet, did you cry at the end? 

And you know, I have to say it. 

Bon Apetit! 

:D