Always Learning

And that's a good thing!

One of the things I really liked about my last official job - I was always learning new things.
Now that I've not been "working" for a few years, and did without the internet for about 6 years, it still amazes me how much has been added since then! I've been back on line for over a year now and it just amazes me even more!
My grandmother had this phrase that she used - I can't remember it exactly, but it was something like: When you quit learning is when you start dieing! She was a teacher! But, mom's are teachers! They are our 1st teachers. My grandmother taught me a lot! There are times I wish that I could talk to one of my parents, but there are probably more times that I wish that I could talk to my grandmother. Oh she would be so amazed at this computer and internet stuff! And being a grandmother myself, it's an awesome position! One that I cherise.

Valentine Splendor

Title links to my new shop on Art Fire.

This ornament is called "Valentine Splendor" - sort of like getting 2 ornaments in one - each ornament has a different design on each side.

I wasn't really planning to do Valentine ornaments, but then I found these lovely little ornaments and well, I just had to................................................

And after visiting a few other blogs, I noticed this new site called Art Fire - checked it out and thought I would give it a try. So far I really like it! The page for listing new items is sooooooooooooooooooooo easy to navigate through. It's all on one page! And you can put 10 pictures of an item if you want! I haven't put that many yet - but it's nice to be able to put more than 5 if you want.

Come check out my new shop! I'm not abandoning etsy yet - but I sort of like the idea that I can list as many items as I want and pay the same amount every month, and no other fees! That's it - except to PayPal of course.

So, I don't know if this works if I don't e-mail this to people, but if you sign up for the $7./mo fee (for life) and be sure to let them know I refered you - then I can get it for free! How cool is that!
You can too Register on ArtFire.com

Have A Heart

A Valentines Heart that is!

This one is called "Hearts and Flowers" a Celtic heart on one side and a red and pink flower on the other!

So, I've managed to get quite a bit done in the re-organizing and de-cluttering job - still more to do though! Amazing how much I've collected in the 7 years I've been here.

I've also managed to get a few new ornaments painted. I wasn't really planning on doing anything for Valentines day, but then I found some ornaments at a couple of stores around here.

I'm getting them listed a little late - but we'll see what happens.

I opened a new shop on ArtFire - I sort of like the flat rate fee, and the product listing page is sooooo convenient with everything on one page!

I debated on signing up and paying for it already - could have tried it out for free I guess, but decided that the $7.00/mo was worth it - no matter how many listings you put on there!

We'll see what happens.

Check it out! The Title of this blog links to my new shop!

It's a beautiful day!

It is a really nice day out today - I sort of want to go out and about, but - instead I'm staying put and am working on cleaning and organizing!

Which I have been doing quite a bit of since my last post - #1 is getting done.

#2 - 7 - well, not so much.

Although, I have been working on some new ornaments the past few nights - ornaments? They are actually Valentine Ornaments - I'm not sure that they are actually going to go up for sale this year.

I've also been working on my "shawl" - in fact it's really close to being done. I couldn't work on it for a few days because I had run out of yarn, and had to go get more. I almost cried when I got to the store and didn't find any in the color I've been working with - but, as I was standing there, I looked up and there in a box was one skein in the color I need! I think the one skein will finish it up, and if it doesn't, and if I can't find more, I can rip out the scarf I made with this yarn!

I have been getting some serious re-organizing and cleaning out done! A few things have gone in the trash - but, I try to recycle as much as I can in various ways - but trying to recycle some of it out of my abode!

Rest of Christmas decorations finally came down yesterday - on the 25th of January - seemed fitting to take the rest down on the 25th. lo

Nonnie Bear is actually ready for Valentines Day - I forgot to take pictures last night - hopefully tonight I will remember to take pictures.

And speaking of pictures - these are a couple I was playing around with yesterday.

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Happy New Year

OK - yeah I know it's a bit late - what can I say!

It all happened because I cleaned up some of the files on my computer, and in doing so I deleted the original link to my blog - which meant I then had to create a google account to get to my blog - not a difficult thing, just something that sort of got put on the back burner so to speak!

BUSY BUSY BUSY -

Christmas decorations are still up outside - most of the inside decorations are put away - and I just put away the Halloween decorations!
Seriously.
I did take them down some time ago, but due to a variety of things they just sort of got piled up on top of their box and not put away. So, I sat for about 3 hours Monday afternoon, pulling little pumpkins off of over 100 lights, and big pumpkins off of about 24 lights, after detangling all of them. Then I had to detangle the spiders from the skeletons, and the shredded cheese cloth...............................................along with about 5 other strings of lights, along with my new Halloween tree - it's like a Christmas tree, except it's black with orange lights and sits in a skull with green lights in the eyes - it's pretty cool. Then I added some little lights that were actually necklaces, pumpkins and ghosts. I put some rings and other little things on the tree and had the kids choose something off the tree along with their bag of treats. Yes, I do get into Halloween!
lolololo one year, I took all the clear lights out of my white wire tree and put in orange and purple lights and tried making everything sort of like a "Nightmare Before Christmas" sort of theme.

Christmas - was quiet - well sort of.
Spent most of the day with my relatively new friend Janet and her family and a couple of friends, that I met through My Space in 2008. Day after, I went to lunch with my son and my new daughter-in-law, after we opened a few presents at my apt.
It seemed very strange and sort of not like Christmas. For the 1st time, my daughter and my grandson weren't here. Putting up the decorations outside was almost a diversion, and I didn't put up even half of what I normally do. Inside, about all I did was put up a small tree on Christmas eve. or maybe the day before Christmas eve.
Funny though, once I got the the little tree up, I didn't want to take it down.
I still have some of the decorations up outside - haven't been turning the lights on since the 5th - they're still just out there!

Resolutions - no
although I do have some definite goals.
1. To get rid of some things, and get everything more organized. it seems as though since I started selling things on etsy, my apt has become very disorganized. Although, my "work" area is very organized.
Books - and a few supplies have to have new homes!
2. to set up a schedule for blogging, and visiting others, including flickr
3. to finish up my grandsons quilt.
4. to finish up categorizing some old family photos, and sending copies to my brother and sister.
5. MOVE - to an apt complex that has 2 indoor swimming pools that they keep at a nice warm 92 degrees - well they used to - hopefully they still do.
6. Find a paint that I can paint with that won't make me sick. Acrylics just aren't my favorite paints, watercolors don't always do quite what I want - although I love them and do play around with them from time to time. I did buy some water based oils the other day - still haven't tried them. I also found some recipes for paint - most use linseed oil - and of course pigments and then a variety of other options - so I want to play around with some of those. And then I may just have to adjust my style to fit the paint to a certain degree.
7. Draw.
8. Write shorter blogs!

So, with that I will stop and wish everyone a wonderful 2009.

Update

I just wanted to let people know - I haven't totally disappeared!

Without going into detail, I have some new health issues going on that are limiting what I can do - especially on the computer -
I hope I can get this problem under control soon -
I really miss conversing with my friends that I have made over the internet -
I will be checking my shops on etsy daily and my blog as often as possible.

I really appreciate everyones support and friendship - it means a lot to me.

I would much rather hang out on the computer and do a short blog every day and leave comments on everyones blogs frequently.

Some re-arranging may be in order here - but that will take some time and perhaps some help.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday - in these weird economic times - it
is important to remember what is really important.

Time spent with loved ones and children is often remembered more than those expensive toys.
making cookies - candy
playing board games
talking
playing anything!
baking goodies

I'll be back.

TIME

I had great plans for today! Really need to get some organizing done. But, I have had some scarves, and ornaments ready for pictures for a while now and decided to do that first!

First - became the only thing.

Took about 100 pictures, downloaded them. Went through all the pictures and resized, tweaked the colors and exposure on some and got 4 listings done. About 7 hours worth of work. A few breaks here and there - had to hang out on the floor a few times to ease the back, walk around a few times, and check the mail.

It would be so nice if these things would just appear in my shop without having to do all this!
I don't even really figure this time into the cost of my items - probably should - but how? And I know I do things a little slowly - so I sort of have to take that into account too. It's just part of the whole thing......I just shouldn't push myself to do it all on the same day though! Tomorrow, I may be hanging out on the couch all day!
Anybody have a magic wand?????

Am now going to go hang out on the couch - with the heating pad!
Cheers!