Tidbits of Life and Art

old and not so old friends...

2011-02-06T14:52:00.001-05:00

The Joy of Love...Photography prompt class for February

2011-02-02T07:24:00.000-05:00

http://www.willettedesigns.com/?page_id=2780

2011-01-22T08:49:00.001-05:00

Metal Stamp Set Giveaway on Lori's Blog!!!!!

Lori Anderson of "Pretty Things" blog (and Bead Soup Bog Party) is giving away a fabulous metal stamp set on her Blog. Check it out here.

http://lorianderson.blogspot.com/2011/01/metal-stamp-giveaway.html

Good Luck!

West Virginia erosion bundle

2010-03-13T07:57:00.001-05:00

Fort Lauderdale erosion bundle

2010-03-13T07:54:00.002-05:00

Project 365 July and August pix

2009-09-03T09:45:00.001-04:00

April 15-June 30 Project 365 pix

2009-09-03T08:27:00.001-04:00

new fabric book fron DJ's class

2009-06-25T06:06:00.000-04:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

2009-06-04T10:10:00.000-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

March and April's Project 365 pictures

2009-04-18T10:52:00.001-04:00

2009-04-17T20:56:00.001-04:00

2009-04-17T19:10:00.001-04:00

2009-04-17T18:38:00.001-04:00

2009-04-17T18:01:00.001-04:00

London bound!

2008-07-29T17:16:00.002-04:00

I just booked my plane ticket to go to London and visit my baby, Jacob, who is living there for 6 months. Jim and I kept thinking we would go together, but it just wasn't working out that he could get away from work.So, I'm going solo!! I had to cancel my flea market weekend with Beth and Sue, which I love doing.I hope they invite me to join them again next year!
I emailed Kim and made plans to hook up with her and Sue while I'm there.Coincidentally, Sue was already going to visit with Kim while I'm there.
My full schedule just keeps getting fuller!
But, this is a good full...

2008-07-20T11:14:00.002-04:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-07-02T07:48:00.001-04:00

Queen Coronation

2008-05-22T21:26:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday we crowned our 2008 Bodacious Babe Queen at our first Pajama Breakfast. What fun!! My stomach hurt from laughing so hard!

My 5 classes at Art & Soul

2008-05-12T16:17:00.006-04:00

I took 5 all day classes at Art & Soul this year. I loved them all and they were all so very different and fun!
Day 1...Uber Self portrait with Traci Bunkers...
Day 2...Bedazzling Butterfly Box with Stephanie Rubiano...
Day 3...Art Excavations: Plaster meets Wax with Stephanie Lee...
Day 4...Fabric Personna Journal with Keely Barham...
Day 5...Mica Book with Daniel Essig

2008 Diva picture at Art & Soul

2008-05-09T15:04:00.001-04:00

Art & Soul

2008-05-09T00:11:00.006-04:00

Here are some fun pics from Art & Soul...

2008-05-09T00:05:00.001-04:00

Imagine my surprise to see this sign as I was driving to Virginia last week! I made a screeching stop, turned around, and went back to get a picture of it. Very interesting....

The Big 5

2008-03-30T19:19:00.002-04:00

For 30 years there were 5 of us girls who were all the same age, had kids the same age, and all went to the First Baptist Church together. Now 3 of the gals have moved away from Buckhannon and the Big 5 gets together only a few times a year. This weekend we gathered to give a baby shower for Nancy's daughter and, need I say... we had a blast!

Graduation Day...again

2008-03-27T20:25:00.002-04:00

Today I graduated from Photoshop Elements 6 class and we had our graduation party!
We took our "imaginary"class trip to Japan this time!!

Weekend in DC

2008-03-17T19:20:00.005-04:00

Jim and I decided to drive to Washington DC this weekend to attend their annual Home and Garden Show. Of course, there was plenty of time to see some monuments and visit the National Archives. We had a great time walking the Promenade and just enjoying the spring like day in our nations capital. Lots of tree and shrubs were blooming but not the cherry blossoms. We were a couple of weeks too early to see that awesome sight.
I did practice some photography tricks though....fun!

YIPPEE!! Reorganized...once again!

2008-03-03T12:22:00.003-05:00

I'm sure that all you art gals know the feeling of cleanoing and re-organizing your art room! Every time I do it, I'm amazed at all the "stuff" I have to sort through and find homes for! Amazing! Yet, I can't seem to do without any of it!

Graduate of Intermediate Digital Photography Class

2008-02-28T16:09:00.002-05:00

This is the picture I made on my final day of Intermediate Digital Photography Class. My instructor is on the left, unaltered, I put my head on another guys body on the right, and placed the trash sign between us. Pretty good, huh?
I've learned a lot but there's a lot more to learn!!

Art Room re-organization...yet again

2008-02-28T16:06:00.002-05:00

This is the latest idea I have for storage and viewing of things stored. If I can't see it, I forget about it, and don't use it.
Hopefully this will work better than anything else has...
We'll see..

"Field Trip" in Digital Photography Class

2008-01-30T20:31:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is the last day of class in my Digital Photography class. We took class pictures today and John, our instructor, showed us how to make the picture into a field trip. We went to Washington D.C. and was photographed in front of the White House, in Photoshop only. Tomorrow we are having out last day of class party.

Kensington Place picture by professional photographer

2008-01-16T07:04:00.001-05:00

What's your name's hidden meaning?

2008-01-05T07:05:00.000-05:00

Does this "lady" look wise, competent, powerful, balanced, etc. to you ?????

I was on a friends blog this morning, and saw where she had posted the meaning of her name. So, naturally, I had to do it and this is what it said about "Andi"....

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row.
You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace.
People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

If you would like to see the meaning of your name, click on the link below:
What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Like all of these things, it's very general, therefore, part is true and part is not true. But, fun to play with....

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-01-02T20:37:00.001-05:00

It's Party time!!

2007-12-15T07:17:00.000-05:00

I love this time of the year!! I love the decorating, I love the shopping, I love the cooking and baking, and I love the Christmas parties!! This photo was taken at my BookClub Christmas Party Thursday evening at Deer Park B&B in Buckhannon. I'm president of the bookclub this year and came up with the great idea of having a White Elephant sale to raise $$$ to pay for our Christmas Party. It was a huge success!! We made enough money to pay for all 12 of us to go to Deer Park and have a wonderful 5 course dinner with appetizers and drinks and wine!! A fabulous time was had by all!

"FLY" art in Kathy McElroy's poc-ket-FULL book

2007-12-15T07:11:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving in Florida

2007-11-24T06:52:00.000-05:00

The Holiday season is upon us again!! My favorite time of the year is Thanksgiving and Christmas!! It seems that a new family tradition is developing...we go to either Jacob's or Jaimi's house in Florida for Thanksgiving and all the kids come home to Buckhannon for Christmas. This is fine by me...lots of great shopping in south Florida. NO shopping in Buckhannon!! I get a real jump start on my Christmas gift list over Thanksgiving!!!

October means fall is here!

2007-10-14T13:42:00.000-04:00

I love the month of October!!

It's still warm, but that first hint of a chill comes every so often to remind us that fall is fast approaching! I also love fall decorations! Next to Christmas, fall is my favorite season to decorate around the house. I have a little WVU scene beside Jim's side of the garage for him to see every time he enters or exits his garage stall. Another favorite place for a fall scene is my kitchen window box...I can see it from inside and from outside! A win/win....

I have my first big, ole roaring fire in the TV room fireplace today. A sure sign that autumn is here.....

Jim Morrison's Grave

2007-09-13T20:22:00.000-04:00

While visiting the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris , like millions before me, I just had to stop by and see Jim Morrison's grave. Thank goodness, we had a map and there was a crowd around the grave, because otherwise, we would have missed it. Among so many graves, Jim's was nothing grand or fancy. It was very plain and simple.

Jim's name was James Douglas---the same as my husband!

more favorite photos rom Paris...

2007-09-13T20:14:00.000-04:00

Altered Art...sort of

2007-09-06T18:19:00.001-04:00

This is the West Virginia version of "Mona Lisa"...

Kim Logan joins us in Paris!

2007-09-04T02:27:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Karen Owen, Kim hooked up with us for 2 days of our Paris sojourn. We were thrilled to see her again and had a wonderful time getting to know her better and enjoyed her company immensely. She is delightful to be with and added another dimension to our trip. She even did a few things she had never done in Paris before!

2007-09-04T02:06:00.000-04:00

Shirley and I somehow came up with the perfect plan for our 12 day trip to Paris. We had 2 travel days and 10 days to immerse oueselves into the Parisien world! We were as well prepared as possible and had the 10 days planned out and mapped so we didn't waste time once there. I think the fact that we didn't try to overdo our days made the trip relaxing and much more enjoyable. I've been to Paris many times, but this trip I felt for the first time, that I knew Paris!! We saw and did the little things that can come from having been there before and not being driven by the need to see the basic tourist things. We did only the things we wanted to do and had a marvelous mix of sightseeing, museums, flea markets, shopping, eating, relaxing, and just soaking in the heart and soul of Paris! My husband ask me what I would change next time, and I said "nothing"! Now, that is the true sign of a trip well done!!

Puce de Vanves flea market in Paris

2007-09-03T21:23:00.001-04:00

Some assorted pictures i took at the wonderful Puce de Vanves flea market in Paris....

Andi and Shirley are on their way to Paris for 12 days!

2007-08-21T20:31:00.000-04:00

Here's to two friends doing Paris together!!

Jim and his giant tomato plants!

2007-08-21T20:29:00.000-04:00

Jim has been growing his vegetables organically for several years now and they are going crazy! He measured this tomato plant and it is 8.5 feet tall!

My flea market loot!

2007-08-21T20:26:00.000-04:00

Some of my finds at the Rogers Flea Market

The 5 flea market gals in Lisbon Ohio, August 16 and 17

2007-08-21T20:19:00.000-04:00

38th Anniversary!

2007-08-10T09:59:00.000-04:00

Where has the years gone? Jim and I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary yesterday. We both said it doesn't seem possible!

girls loose in New York City

2007-08-06T19:26:00.001-04:00

6 of us Buckhannon girls went to New York City for 3 days. What an exhausting, whirlwind trip!! But we loved every minute of it...especially the play "The Color Purple"!!

Green's 1st Annual Pig Roast

2007-07-31T18:05:00.000-04:00

Jacob is the second boy from the right. He had the green t-shirts made up in Florida as a surprise to Jon.In the picture on the right, Jaimi,is the girl on the left. The other girl is Jon's sister, Mindi. She and Jaimi graduated together, and Jon and Jacob graduated together.

My son, Jacob, and my daughter, Jaimi, flew home from Florida last weekend to attend Jacob's friend, Jon Green's, 1st Pig Roast. We all went and had a wonderful time!!
Jon, left, is cutting up the pig!!

My first jewelry creation...

2007-07-14T16:02:00.001-04:00

My first piece of handmade jewelry...

These are the pieces of my pin before I assembled it.

My new bracelet!

2007-07-14T15:57:00.000-04:00

I am so thrilled to be the new owner of this magnificent beaded bracelet!! It was made by Laurie Robberts .....

Altercations

2007-07-14T07:29:00.000-04:00

Joanne Thiemme Huffman and I are enjoying each others company and art, at Altercations in Ann Arbor, Michigan this weekend. We worked all day yesterday designinmg a pin and cutting it out of 2 layers of metal, one layer of plexiglass and one layer of paper. Today we are going to asemble it. Now, this jewelry makiung, finally,gets exciting!! This is really my first venture into the world of making jewelry. After today I will own all the tools!! Just when I think I've bought everything I could ever possibly need, I start a new avenue of this crazy thing called mixed media art....

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-07-09T21:08:00.001-04:00

Jacob in Panama Hat

2007-07-05T07:04:00.000-04:00

Jacob has always loved hats and tries them on in all the stores that I can drag him into. Unfortunately, none of my 3 kids,or husband like to shop!! So, on vacation that's not a family activity...

Images fron the islands...

2007-07-04T18:25:00.000-04:00

Family Vacation in the Cayman Islands

2007-07-03T12:53:00.000-04:00

Jaimi, Jacob, J.D., Andi, and Jim on our annual family vacation to the Cayman Islands. This year we are there from June 30 to July 7th.

Summer wedding

2007-06-23T21:13:00.000-04:00

My nephew, Jonathan, got married Friday and had his wedding pictures taken in our yard. They all looked beautiful! Jim's sister, Jill. is second from the left. Her son Jonathan and daughter, Courtney, are on the right.

I love summer weddings!!

BUHS 40th Class Reunion!

2007-06-18T22:22:00.001-04:00

I attended my 40th class reunion on Saturday night! I have never missed a reunion since I graduated. I love them!! This is a picture of me and some of the local Buckhannon girls that I graduated with. We go to lunch once a month all year, not just when we're planning a reunion. I love my "reunion girls"!!

Memories...

2007-06-18T20:33:00.000-04:00

A friend sent me this picture last week. It was taken in 1967 when I was a senior in high school. In the picture with me is my brother, Mike and my sister, Marti. We all still live in Buckhannon. Mike is a dentist and Marti is a nurse.

Maxine's 84th Birthday

2007-06-12T08:44:00.001-04:00

Jim's mother celebrated her 84th birthday Sunday.

simple art

2007-06-12T08:31:00.001-04:00

I'm in a calendar journal RR and this month I'm working in a DaVinci calendar. I love all of the pictures in it and can't bring myself to cover them, so I just alter them a little. I love the simple touch on some of Leonardo's pictures.

Getting taken care of, also

2007-06-09T10:30:00.000-04:00

It wasn't all work...I also got taken care of too!! Jaimi just applied lipstick when I needed it and also polished my toenails one evening!! Who doesn't love a little pampering...

Playing MOM

2007-06-09T10:17:00.000-04:00

My son Jacob is on the left, my daughter Jaimi is in the center, and my nephew Brooks, is on the right.
I just returned from Florida where I was visiting 2 of my 3 children. It always feels good to get to play Mom again after months of not seeing them. I guess that ole statement is true "once a Mom always a Mom"! I cooked, cleaned, decorated, arranged furniture, cooked, cleaned closets, cooked...well, you get the picture.
All in all, I had a wonderful time and am now at home resting up from my trip!!

Charming Florida

2007-05-30T08:57:00.000-04:00

Life has been hectic in lazy little Buckhannon lately! It seems like time creeps for weeks then BAM! all of a sudden there isn't enough hours in the day! I'm leaving in the morning to spend a week in Florida with my son and daughter. So, needless to say, I've been running around here like a one-armed paper hanger! I finally, this morning, finished my charms for the second Diva Charm Swap. I love making these little charms, and I don't, usually, enjoy the smaller canvas of art. Go figure!
I'm caught up enough with my art obligations, that I can leave them at home and relax and enjoy my visit with the kids.

Bird Condo

2007-05-15T18:17:00.000-04:00

Here is my Bird Condo that I decorated in Leighanna Light's class at Art & Soul.

Pamela Huntington's class...Washday

2007-05-14T16:31:00.000-04:00

This was a fun and relaxing class. Everyone loved it! Pam was so organized and generous with all of her supplies. If you had came to class with nothing, she supplied everything you would have needed to make your shadowbox. Mine is finished and sitting on the shelf in my...where else?..Laundry Room!!

Art & Soul class projects

2007-05-14T16:11:00.000-04:00

Andi, Shirley, and Kathy

Hi...It has taken me a week to recover from my week at Art & Soul! I am finally unpacked and everything is put back in it's proper place. I have been finishing up some of my class projects now that I found my countertop again.
I took 2 classes from Kathy W...Clearly Visible Journal and Tin Souls. She's a great teacher and FUN!!

Butterly fun...

2007-04-23T18:19:00.000-04:00

I was so inspired by Rande's butterfly art on her blog that I played around this weekend with..guess what? right...butterflies!! I have quite a ways to go before I get as good as Rande, but I had fun and created 2 pieces that I used...one as a card to a friends sick husband and the other as an April entry in a lottery. All day today I have been printing images onto transparencies, vellum, and tissue paper for a class at Art & Soul. Thank goodness I am almost finished with my supply gathering for A&S...I don't know what I dislike the most...the gathering of supplies or putting them away when I get home. I don't like either!!! But, I do love the classes! And the friendships and the fun!! So, I guess I'll keep packing and unpacking. ;)

My artwork for Paper Whimsy Cookbook

2007-04-19T14:35:00.000-04:00

I'm sending in my artwork which comprises 2 5X7 canvas boards done with art. One is a PaperWhimsy image and the recipe I am submitting, and the other is a 5X7 canvas board with art which includes a picture of myself serving the prepared recipe and my DH eating the prepared recipe. They pick the recipes they want to use and keep the original artwork. I don't know if mine will be picked, but I'll let you know as soon as I find out.

A rare sight...

2007-04-17T09:22:00.000-04:00

Look closely! You may never see this again for many moons...clean countertops in my art room!! I love clean countertops but when I creating art I can't seem to keep them even reasonably clean and straightened. The reason they are so clean is that I have packed all my supplies for Art & Soul...;) It just made sense to clean my room and organize what was left behind. Oh, I wish it would stay like this longer than a few days...

maxineism...

2007-04-14T16:42:00.000-04:00

I just had to post this to my blog today!
I have given this a fleeting thought or two...

gatherings

2007-04-10T09:55:00.000-04:00

Jim snapped this photo of me one morning as I walked along the beach gathering seashells, seaweed, wood, and even 1 piece of sea glass! I plan on using my findings in my art for the calendar journal RR this month.

Spring Time in Buckhannon!

2007-03-26T16:59:00.000-04:00

A sure sign that spring has at long last arrived!

Pam turns 59!!

2007-03-23T17:39:00.000-04:00

Here we are celebrating Pam's 59th Birthday! We've celebrated birthdays together since we were 11 years old!!
Whata fun time we all had. It seems like we don't get together as much as we used to, but we still have a blast and act as crazy as always!!
Aren't props fun???

Motivation and Spring!!

2007-03-22T14:37:00.000-04:00

Spring is finally here! It is 70 degrees here today and has such a feel of spring...I love it! Of course the temperature coupled with the fact that I'm hostessing a birthday party luncheon tomorrow for my best friend, Pam, really lit the fire under me today! If I worked like this every day, I'd never have anything left to do!

I had to beg Feola's Flowers to sell me pansies that weren't quite ready to be sold...I need live, blooming flowers on my front porch to welcome my guests tomorrow!

The house refreshing continues...Jack has moved to the garage for a while. I needed a break inside...6 months is too long to share my space with another person every day! He's going to paint the garage ceiling and polyurethane the chestnut walls.

At this point, Jack feels like part of the family! I see more of him than I do Jim!

2007-03-20T07:07:00.000-04:00

Art/Recipe that I finished yesterday for the Paper Whimsy Recipe Book. The hardest part was deciding on one recipe to use! I chose this one because the instructions were shorter than most...thus more art room!
At a church picnic once, Jim ate a whole brown bag apple pie! He loves desserts and often starts his meal out with...you guessed it..desserts!! Going back for one piece at a time, he ate the whole thing!
Yes...they are still talking about him at church...and he still loves this pie! Why he's so thin, I'll never know!

Charms I made for the Art & Soul Charm swap in Virginia

2007-03-17T15:36:00.001-04:00

a swarm of charms...

2007-03-17T15:36:00.000-04:00

2007-03-17T12:47:00.000-04:00

Hi all...here I am working on updating my blog...yet again! I have finally accepted the fact that I'm just not going to be one of the world's great bloggers! Hey...one can't be great at everything!!
I've told myself that I'll just try and post a minimum of one a week...or when I have new art or photographs to show . Maybe releaving the pressure to post daily will make it a more enjoyable act. We'll see how it goes...
It's St. Patrick's Day and it has snowed 5-6 inches here today!! Nothing green about Buckhannon...Even though I'm half Irish, I'm not big on St. Patrick's Day. Why? I have no idea...
I bought Maeve Binchy's latest book,Whitethorn Woods, and started it yesterday. It's too soon for me to tell if it's going to be one of her better books or not. She's an author who has some books that are better than other books. But, I read all of her books, the good and the not so good.

Diva Queen visits St. Mary's!!!!!!

2007-02-11T17:54:00.000-05:00

Fun, Fabric Book that I made In Jan Bode Smiley's class

2007-02-11T17:49:00.000-05:00

Darya and Steve, Shirley and Andi at dinner

2007-02-11T17:42:00.000-05:00

Darya and Steve, Shirley and I had dinner at Sterling's on Saturday night. We shopped most of the day at the Vendor's at The Creative Palette...fun, fun, fun!!

Only one more day of classes then onto Myrtle Beach to see J.D. on Monday. It's 306 miles from St. Mary's to Myrtle Beach. I just need to be there by 3pm when J.D. gets off work.

Wood and metal classes from Janette Schuster

2007-02-11T17:14:00.000-05:00

Icon class...picture of Jim-not a good scan.

The 3 Divas...

2007-02-10T17:57:00.000-05:00

Fabric House I made in Jan Bode Smiley's class, "Construction 101"

2007-02-10T17:52:00.000-05:00

I love this fabric house that I made in Jan Bode Smiley's class, "Construction 101".

I took 2 classes from Jan...the other one class was "Fun, Fabric Books".

The Creative Palette

2007-02-10T17:49:00.000-05:00

Shirley and me at Seagle's Martini Bar!!!
A great way to relax after a long day of having fun creating art!!

2005-01-22T08:47:00.000-05:00

My first attempt at Reposse. I took a class from Beckah Krahula at Altered Jubilee in 2004. I used the Repossae I made on my Egypt book for The paper Doll RR.

2005-01-22T08:45:00.000-05:00

A collage I did at Altered Jubilee, Woodstock GA,. in Patricia Dibona's class. October 2994

2005-01-22T08:40:00.000-05:00

The 9 Divas who attended Claudine hellmuth's classes in lawrenceville GA on January 14,15, and 16, 2005. Kathy, Andi, Joyce, Angela,Beverly, Pam, Adrienne, Caroline, and Darya.

2005-01-22T08:37:00.000-05:00

My first wax piece in Claudine's class. LOVE the wax technique!! I will definitely be doing lots more wax art!

2005-01-22T08:35:00.000-05:00

My second wax piece of art from Claudine Hellmuth's "Waxing Poetic" class in Lawrenceville

2005-01-22T08:32:00.000-05:00

Tag Book on "Color" from Claudine Hellmuth class in Lawrenceville....January 2005

2005-01-22T07:44:00.000-05:00

Andi's first Frayed Edge piece of art

I have a Blog!!!

2005-01-22T07:19:00.000-05:00

I am so excited!! I just created myself a blog!! Now, to discipline myself to actually use it!! Surely, I can do that! I want to upload some stuff to it so it will be interesting for others to look at. Off we go on this adventure.......