I got a date...

with a GENIUS @ the Apple store today!!
Yippee...
I'm excited...


YOU ALL ARE ENABLERS...
hmmm...is this possibly a payback?

Seriously, I appreciate your input & THANKS for taking the time to comment & send emails.

I'll let you know how it goes...

When I made the appointment I told the gal that I am OLD & ILLITERATE & that I REALLY needed a patient Genius...

She laughed...
little did she know that I'm 100% serious...

I HOPE the poor guy survives...I AM a nurse, so I still remember CPR!

Ok...here's my TIP OF THE DAY for you...

I'm always saying...
look @ the possibilities...

what COULD this be??

So, when I got the cute Sizzix "on the edge" cutting pads...
guess what I saw???




ACRYLIC BLOCKS FOR STAMPING!!!

They are an AWESOME size...thinking borders...
they are sturdy...
with a GREAT price...less than $3 for a LARGE block??AMAZING!
and...
they are a PERFECT fit for some studio 490 stamps...

just sayin...a little plug for studio 490...

and a reminder that tim's FRAGMENTS are GREAT for cling /clear stamps too...

I especially LOVE the largest square fragment in the set...
and the small ones are PERFECT for mini stamps...
LOTS of block choices in the package...


Ok...gotta run & get dressed for my date...

I hope you can take time this weekend to...
make art!
wendy

today, it's all about the....ING...

ink...ING with my new favorite color combo...
stormy sky & brushed corduroy...



stamp...ING with these NEW studio 490 stamps...
I'm in LOVE!



make...ING life easier...
this side UP!

duh...pay attention!!!


and I've been think...ING...

we're headed to Iowa on Sunday to my neice's for a housewarmING...

contemplate...ING...
what we should brING...(in addition to a check!)
remember...
cook is a 4 letter word...


watch...ING mollie & her new baby...
could it be millie??
or is it mac??

the baby is soooo sweet...



and speaking of Mac...

seriously think...ING of switch...ING to a Mac...
we do NEED a new computer...honest MR IRS...we really do...

my first REAL Mac exposure was @ tim's last summer.
he made it look so simple...
I was totally impressed...
hmmm...maybe we should change...

but then wait...
he's a technical genius...
so maybe it's not as easy as it looked...
I put that thought on hold...

then I roomed with keychain...
she has a Macbook too...
and loves it...
hmmm...

then I met the iPad...
OMG...it's LOVE...

wait...ING for it to be shipped...
June 3rd...yippee!!

then Mrs Stampers Anonymous brought her Macbook to show me...
here's where it gets SERIOUS...

her enthusiasm was contagious...
she said SIMPLE a hundred times...
now Michelle is a girl...just like me...
not a technical wizz like you know who...

so ...
I've been investigate...ING...

read...ING lots...

I think I'm ready...

I've been yack...ING to Rick about change ....ING...

he's probably sick of listen...ING...

too bad...he's trapped with me...

now I'm ask...ING...YOU...

for those who have changed from a PC to Mac...
what are your thoughts???

Are you like...ING it?

today...

and I'm work...ING on book #3 projects...

design...ING new flowers...

make...ING new custom embellishments, using the memo pins...
LOVE them! just you wait & see... sooo FUN!!! you'll want LOTS of these guys...

create...ING some art for Maya Road for CHA...

brew...ING the season's first sun tea out on the deck...

now I'm done blog...ING and it's time to...

make art!
wendy

I played with LOTS of stuff...

to make this sample acrylic binder...
it's the perfect storage for...
studio 490 stamps!

I'll send it to Ted for the Stampers Anonymous convention booth...
and it will travel all over the country...
just like Ted does...

it's the new small size binder...
too cute!

it's almost done...not quite...
but I decided to show you today...
since I was desperate for some photos to share...

NOW WHAT?
this is...SHOCKING...

Did you notice...
no distress inks?
Can you tell the difference??

These inks are opaque looking, because I used Ranger's pigment inks to color the grungepaper stamped embellishments I made for this cover.

The pigment inks coordinate PERFECTLY with this tim paper.

FATE or did tim plan this???
what's your guess?

Check out butterscotch, lettuce & terra cotta...
they are awesome inks...


Looking @ the details...

so...when is a heart NOT a heart?
well...
when it's transformed into...
leaves...

it's inked with lettuce pigment and stamped with my tiny text register stamp & jet black archival...

and embellished with Sakura glaze pen dots...




NEXT...
this was fun...
I tapped Perfect Medium onto the game spinner & added some distress embossing powder to add texture...
heat to set...

REMEMBER...heated metal gets hot...be very CAREFUL!

Perfect Medium is very sticky, so it's my favorite for embossing...
in addition to making very COOL watermarks...





here I used tim's Sizzix on the edge die to make a border...
more dimension and...
a place to add...

stamped stuff.



NEWSFLASH...
eclecticpaperie has just added a whole tab full of the stuff you NEED to make art...

it's the stuff I use frequently...
my MOST FAVORITE supplies...
the tab is called...

wendy's ART PARTS!

They call it "convenient shopping"...
it has each company I LOVE...


be warned...
they are enablers...
sweet faces...but enablers...

they are making it EASY TO SHOP!!!

And speaking of SHOPPING...

tim's sizzix texture fades will FINALLY be arriving THIS WEEK...
YIPPEE!!!

They're well worth the wait...
because the are unique & over the top AWESOME...

Get 'em before they're GONE...
and you're sad...

and I'll close with the usual...
just in a little different format...






wendy

there's never a dull moment...

@ Green Acres...

Living in the country is good MOST days...
but some days ...NOT SO MUCH!

Ok...
you know Rick has horses...
and we have Ringo & Ranger...the ruling cats...

we HAD a skunk...
HOPEFULLY "HAD" is the key word...YUCK...

now we have bees!!
Oh wait...
this is no ordinary little BEE story...

When Rick picked me up @ the airport Sunday evening he told me that while he was planting flowers earlier in the day...
out of the corner of his eye he saw this massive "black thing" flying...

it was far away...

when the "black thing" landed...
he thought it was an owl sitting on a fence post @ the far edge of our property...

NOT SO...

upon further inspection...by Rick...certainly NOT me ...NEVER!...
he found this MASSIVE swarm of...
BEES!!!

To put it in perspective for you...
this hive thingy is 2 FEET LONG...

I'm NOT kidding...
it has not a MILLION...

but a real BILLION...BEES!!


So...Rick called the soil & water conservation guys...
they said their hive probably got wet & they were looking for a new home...
oh joy! why Green Acres?


we LOVE critters...
but NOT BEES or skunks...
please leave us alone...

they suggested we wait 2 days to see if they went home. If not, they would come & corral them & give them to a beekeeper guy...

he assured Rick that they would not attack or fly around...
they'd all stay together...
OK...we trusted them...& I stayed FAR AWAY!

the HAPPY end to the story...
they have moved on...
PHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!
YIPPEE!
What a unique experience...
country living @ it's best...or NOT...

then last night we watched a deer laying outside the family room window...

we think she was in labor...

she might be the same gal who was here last year & had twins...

she's walking around this morning...
and we have the binoculars out trying to spot her baby or babies...

Like I said...never a dull moment here...

Next...
I was looking thru my photos for something & found this next photo.
I don't think I've shared it before...

This is a little piece I made for tim's idea-ology booth @ CHA...
but alas...
it was STOLEN by some BAD person...
(I hope their butt fries) just sayin...

So...I was glad I did have this photo...
I used tim's papers, memo pin, and of course...
my stamps on grunge...



and speaking of STAMPS!!
there's never a dull moment...

look what the PO person brought...



yep...brand new...studio 490 stamps...
for CHA release in July.

I just might be a little prejudice...
but they are so cool...
I'm HAPPY...
REALLY HAPPY!

just you wait...
there's a whole new style flower...
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
Got a few done...

a few new giant backgrounds...we NEEDED these...

some other sizes of "currents" by popular demand for more options...think ATC's etc...
we aim to please!


and one TOTALLY different set...
it's SHOCKING...
there are NO FLOWERS...
and this set has NO giant BACKGROUND...

BUT...
it will be the bargain of the century...
it has 27 stamps...
which makes the price per stamp less than $1.00.
Sound interesting?
and NO...it's NOT an alphabet set! HA!

Ah...I better say no more for now...

now it's time to get them inky &...

make art!
wendy

In Indy I saw...

1. LOTS of nice FUN gals...
they came with nice clean hands & left with VERY inky fingers...
Imagine that!!!

2. LOTS of HAPPY faces...before we even started...

We had LOTS of students, so the workshops were moved out of the store...

we had GREAT accomodations @ the Jameson Inn...

3. THE...Sherry Cheever...on a "perch" getting a birds eye view of the Ranger technique class...


and then I saw...

4. 2 friends with THE I-PAD...OMG!!!!!!!
It is the coolest thing...small is too cute!

I called them..."the enablers".

They had angelic faces...

but they tormented me with the marvels of the IPad...

so...those faces were NOT as sweet as I first thought...

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE...(Daisy & Jenn)

I just might have to succumb...

Yes MR IRS...I NEED it for BUSINESS...SERIOUSLY!

I DO!

5. I saw & ATE...
Sugar Creme Pie...
compliments of Meghan...
It's "the dessert of Indy"...

Soooooooo Yummy & lo-cal...
I think that's what she said?

6. I got to meet blog friends...
and Linda, who had won a prize on my blog! SO FUN!!!


7. I traveled in the "twilight zone"...
remember the old TV show?

My flight left Indy @ 5pm and I arrived in Chicago @ 4:55pm...
According to the clock I arrived before I left...

YIKES!!!

8. LOTS of grunge being cut for the Maya Road mini book ...
which is filled with mini art!
I think there are about 30 new grunge ADDICTS...
welcome to the club gals! I warned you!!!

9. I got...
2 AWESOME thank you cards...
THANK YOU Cathy & Meghan!!

THANKS to everyone for a VERY FUN...
VERY INKY & ARTY weekend!!

It's GREAT to be home for a bit...
I purposely schedule no workshops for this time...
to start working on projects for book #3...

with NEW studio 490 stamps..and tim' dies
and embossing folders...

and CHA projects...

and re-organizing the basement supply storage area...
got more new shelves...
Rick is down there banging away now...
putting them together...
organized it good...LOVE IT!

and a little antiquing with my hubby...
gotta find that mantle soon...
the wall is naked...
YIKES!!!

I hope that your week is good &
that you can take time to...
MAKE ART!
wendy

no...

mantle that spoke to us...

We found one that was just OK...
but not exactly what I have in mind...
so I didn't cry leaving it there...


We'll suffer & be headboard-LESS...(the shame!)
but look out!

The hunt will continue next week...

But we got some fun finds...

a REALLY AWESOME gift for our friend...

I wonder how long I can keep quiet about it...
I about fainted when we spotted it...
later on that...or I'll spill the beans & be mad @ ME!



Moving on...

Rick retired from Starved Rock State Park...
he was a park ranger...


I KNOW...I KNOW...

RANGER RICK...he's had that comment a million times!


Anyway...he collects memorabilia from Starved Rock...
He was thrilled when I spotted this...


it's PERFECT condition...
it's leather (that's a material people used before GRUNGE!) ha!


Anyway there was a note inside...
that it was purchased in 1936 & it had the buyers name.
Pretty COOL!!!




I've been wanting a cool typewriter for a while...
but everytime I found one I REALLY liked...
I was out of town & didn't want to ship it...
or the price was too much...



You know how much I LOVE mini...
we found this cute MINI...with the case...

it's only 8 inches across...
and it works...



adorable...just what I wanted...

I'll be hunting e-bay for some ribbons...

I can't wait to type on this cutie...

I now resides in the family room...

and the case sits on the floor...

More house stuff...

this time DOOR ART!

Our laundry room is @ the end of the hall and has

a solid door that let in no light...

we shopped for a new door with frosted glass...
to let in light...
but we didn't want to look @ the washer & dryer...


we know nothing...pre-hung...or just a door??


The one we liked was $600...


enter my talented carpenter brother...
yep...the cabinet one...


we asked him which he wanted us to buy, because he would be installing it...
pre-hung or the other?


He suggested that we pick out some glass & he would chop the wood panels out & insert glass...

we found some really cool glass with beveled squares...


here's the before... BORING...



and after he added just $60 worth of glass...
it's much cuter in person...



The class supplies are all waiting for me in Indiana @ the hotel...thank you FED-EX!

now...
I best pack some clothes for the weekend...


I'm headed to Sharon's Crop studio...
to help others to get inky and to...


make art!
wendy
ps...I hope YOUR weekend is arty too!

back in business...

for now...FINALLY!

I exaggerated...
it only took 1 hour & 53 minutes to get back to email...not the usual 2 hours...
GEEEEZ........

In the interim, we did check into wifi...
we're not sure if that will work for us or not, with the limit per month...
that will be plan B.

Switching would also necessitate a new email...
YIKES...scarry to notify LOTS of people.

Hughesnet does not allow you to keep your email or to buy it like some providers do...I checked...

So for now, we'll stick with what we have...
and keep my fingers crossed...

While I was "ON HOLD" one of the 4 times...

I found that grungepaper is FINALLY back in stock.
It was sold out everywhere...nationwide...
I imagine because it's so fun...

I think I've replied to everyone who was trying to find it...but if not...it's here for sure...

SHOPPING...while I was on hold, kept me sane...
the mojito was for medicinal purposes only...I needed it really bad...

I was also happy to find the Core Impressions embossed cardstock that coordinates perfectly with my fav Jenni Bowlin papers...gotta have it...yep...I ordered...

HUGE THANKS for all the sweet comments about Rick's BUD art...that was fun! he got a kick out it too.

OK...
no stamp art to show, so I searched for photos to make this post interesting...

This is the daily routine here...

we go into the bedroom to make the bed...
Ranger pops out...
bites my toes, laughs...I SWEAR he does...

then scoots back under the bed...


With the house redo...
I vowed to simplify...
less stuff...

Because...
DUST is a really bad 4 letter word here...
right up there with IRON...
the worst!

Anyway, my attempt @ simple lasted all of about 1.25 hours.
With no stuff...the place was boring...
It had NO personality...

So...we're back to a pile of stuff ...
in the bedroom...


which sits on top of a cabinet that Rick's grandfather made.

It's NOT fine wood...or perfect...
but it has memories and we adore it...
we were thrilled to rescue it...

and speaking of decor...

I'm late...I'm late for a very important date...

LUNCH & antiquing with my guy...

we're...(OK...I'm) searching for a mantle to use as a headboard...

he doesn't know that yet...

I like to surprise him sometimes...

I'd like to surprise him & tell him I want all the hardwood floors ripped out & replaced...

but that just might put him over the edge...let's keep that a secret between us...PLEASE!

Anyway...

we've had a picket fence, an old door, a gate, a garden trellis and a million frames as a headboard...

I think a mantle would be cool...

the hunt is on...

for a mantle to...

make (bedroom) art!

wendy

ps...I'll report on our finds.

random weekend ...

blah...blah...blah...

Still NO email on the computer...

Thank God for the Blackberry...

I didn't have the 2 HOURS to spare to call HUGHESNET...

This ISSUE happens about twice a year...
they tell me that my firewall (Computer Associates) won't allow any mail to be received...

Computer Associates blames it on HUGHESNET.
INTERESTING...NOT!

This make me NUTS...

and after 2 hours on the phone...
I'm REALLY over the top nuts...
what a waste of time...

I know the routine...
first they tell me we don't have an account...

WHAT?
We've had their service for 10+ years...pay a monthly bill, but we have no account?
SERIOUSLY!

Then they tell me it's really NOT their problem...
There is NO WAY to fix it...

REALLY??? After I start my ranting...
and they figure out I'm NOT going away...

2 hours later...

they do something & magically, it gets fixed.
IMAGINE THAT!

My blood pressure is soaring just thinking about calling them.

TRUST ME...it's more fun to have the flu!

on to other things...

the TV's got delivered on Friday & installed...
yep...2...who knew that the bedroom & family room should be the same brand?

MUST be a guy thing???

new satellite dish installed too...

this necessitated a redo of the family room to accomodate the tv...
I LOVE home decor stuff!

and...

the shipping & receiving department was busy this weekend...

why...YES...

I REALLY DO LOVE FLOWERS...
LOTS of them...


look @ these Maya Road beauties...
just the PERFECT colors...



and we also received a restock of 90000 Maya Road mini alphas...well...almost...

we use LOTS of these guys in my workshops...
I like to mix 2 different fonts...
to make the words more interesting...

what is it about minis that attracts me?

YUMMY YUMMY colors of Maya Road felt flowers...



PERFECT for this Pink Paislee "mini" 6 x 6 paper pad...
it's called Queen Bee...

the pad has AWESOME designs & colors...
I fell in LOVE with it!



the base will be Maya Road's wavy layer book...
I think?

or maybe this cutie...

Maya Road's square canvas binder album???

Hmmm...decisions...decisions...
then the next decision...

to ink?? or to mist???
I'm thinking...BOTH would be good!

what else???

I exited the studio for 2 seconds yesterday and come back to this...

I leave you with Rick's version of art...




He works for Bud!

Have a GREAT Monday...

make art!

wendy

and the winners are...

THANKS to everyone for the comments...

My blog friends are THE BEST...
I'm CERTAIN!

Drumroll...
the winners are...

pixiedust61 said...
Sounds like a really fun weekend! Hope you had a great cinco de mayo. I ate way too much ! But it was so good, especially the homemade guacamole!Carol from southern Maryland
May 6, 2010 5:42 AM


Linda R said...
Glad you had so much fun Wendy. I'm feeling pretty lucky as I'm taking the classes in Greenwood and am so excited. Looking forward to blending some Vecchi into my system! 10 days to making ART, yippee.
May 5, 2010 8:45 PM

Rachel said...
What fun! When are you coming to New York? I really want to take your classes.
May 5, 2010 7:30 PM

Hey Rachel...here's the dates...
Sept 17-19th @ Buffalo Stamps & Stuff Amherst NY
I was there last year...I LOVED IT!

carpediem said...
happy cinco de mayo!!! wow, sounds like you had a fabulous weekend and another one coming up!!!lucky gals in iowa and indiana!
May 5, 2010 10:33 AM


lillianchild said...
How fun to walk into that fabulous store and see yourself as the center attraction - and so well deserved, Wendy. Your art ROCKS! And I totally agree with you - if the t.v. fits the space - buy it. If I dragged my hubby to a craft store for his "input" into my purchases, I think he might find a padded room for me to craft in. HA!
May 5, 2010 9:33 AM

CONGRATS to the winners...
please email me (wbv1213@hughes.net) & we'll send a little package of art stuff your way.

Our email isn't working...
so I'll be calling Hughesnet...AGAIN...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
my least favorite thing to do...besides ironing...
But I will receive messages on my Blackberry...so no worry.

TV report...

Yes...Rick is happy...
he got what he wanted & they will be delivered today...
They ALL looked the same to me...
black...

but what do I know???

The satellite guy will be here Friday for the upgrade on the dish...
I'm SURE we NEEDED that???
Probably as much as I NEEDED that bracelet from St. Louis! ha!

Ok...
time to stamp LOTS of grunge...
make kits & get the shipping containers loaded
for Fed-Ex.
We need to ship tomorrow for guaranteed delivery to Sharon's Crop Studio.

Have a good spring day...

Take time...
make art!
wendy

the weekend was...AWESOME!

over the top...
AWESOME.

What fun for me to meet some blog friends...
to be able to put blog friends faces with their names...
TOTALLY FUN!
I now have LOTS of new art friends too. YIPPEE!

The whole store was decorated to the hilt to celebrate national scrapbook week...

I walked in the front door & saw this...



and this...



They even had a welcome sign in the bathroom...ha!

There were LOTS of
AWESOME samples to jump start creativity...

A MILLION thanks to DAWN & KELLIE for the invite...

and to their staff too...

what a nice group of gals...

*

a MILLION thanks to everyone who signed up for classes...

You ALL were wonderful and are a VERY talented group.

yes...I shall return!

*

Next stop on this art adventure is

Sharon's Crop Studio..in Greenwood Indiana.

*

I'll call Sharon today to get the final class counts,

but I know they were really good...

*

she had to move the classes out of the store to another location to accomodate everyone & to make sure they have enough room to spread out and relax. How COOL!

*

We have poeple flying in from California & Texas...WOW!!!

*

Ok...now it's time to UN-pack all the stuff from last weekend & RE-pack it for Fed-Ex to ship for us.

Indiana or bust...

*

but first...

I'm being kidnapped today...

Rick wants to get a new TV...

why he needs my input is beyond me...

you know I am NOT a techno genius...

My thought...

if it fits on the wall...that's the one we need.

He may have other more technical thoughts...

*

Hey...it's May 5th...Happy Cinco day!!

how about a little giveaway...

or 5?

Just leave a comment...

After tv shopping...

I REALLY want to...

make art!

wendy