tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615677165930281282024-02-18T21:12:08.273-08:00Still Life With StilettosComing Soon! Find me now at Facebook: facebook.com/cyndiduncanarts, Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/abcyndUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-86549467370009174802017-01-19T06:59:00.002-08:002017-01-19T07:16:56.082-08:00Artiscape 2017 ClassesI'm happy to say that I have been selected to teach at <a href="http://www.artiscape.com/" target="_blank">Artiscape</a> again this year. If you are unfamiliar with Artiscape, you can read more about it through my series of blog posts <a href="http://stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2015/04/artiscape-2015-weekend-part-i.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2015/04/artiscape-2015-weekend-part-ii.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2015/04/artiscape-2013-weekend-part-iii.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I will be teaching two classes, one on Saturday morning and the other on Sunday morning. The first is a printmaking class using a technique that I absolutely love! The second is book folding class utilizing a cut and fold technique that yields amazing results. My first folded book class in 2015 sold out, and I expect this one to be equally popular. Part of the reasons my book folding classes are so popular is likely due to the fact that I teach you not only how to do the process in class, but I also teach you how to make your own patterns so you can continue to make your own projects at home. The folded books make such amazing gifts!<br />
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Classes are detailed below. Click on the class name to register.<br />
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<a href="http://www.createncraft.com/event/printmaking-trace-monoprints/" target="_blank"><b>Printmaking: Trace Monotype Prints</b></a><br />
<b>Saturday, April 29th, 2017</b><br />
<b>9:30 am - Noon </b><br />
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In this class, students will discover printmaking and
how they can use the trace monotype print technique to create very
painterly looking works without drawing skills. In this class we
will discuss various types of printer's inks and how they affect the
use of different coloring tools. We will make a few different prints
while practicing the technique. Students will then choose their
favorite print to color. The finished piece will be matted and ready to be framed. Brayers
will be available, but students can bring their own if they don't
want to wait to share. Students should bring their favorite coloring
medium (ie colored pencils, pastels, watercolor). Images will be
provided, but students may bring photocopied images of their choosing
(color or black and white, laser or ink jet). If bringing images,
good contrast is a must. </div>
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<b>Cut and Fold Book Sculptures that POP!</b></div>
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Sunday, April 30th, 2017</div>
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9 am - noon</div>
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Students will not only learn the
exciting cut and fold technique that allows designs to literally pop
off the pages of a closed book, but also how to create their own
patterns. After completing this class, students will be able to
create patterns from designs of their own choosing to create amazing
gifts and home décor items. The patterns we use will be independent of the computer, so no computer skills are necessary. This technique is different from the
popular folded book sculpture class offered in the past.</div>
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<b>Note: The folded book sculpture class I taught in 2015 (a different technique) sold out! I expect this to be very popular, too. Register early.</b></div>
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Students should bring a hardcover book
with 250 -300 pages. Newer books are better.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-77228372509865016862016-11-19T08:07:00.002-08:002016-11-19T08:07:36.868-08:00Now on InstagramHello everyone. It's been a while since I've posted. I got busy with life. I just wanted to let you know that I am now on Instagram under cyndiduncanarts. I hope you'll follow me there.<br />
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Hopefully, now that the weather is again getting cooler, I will be able to get in here and make some more posts and let you know what I have been up to lately.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-5499967645274753092016-04-09T13:16:00.002-07:002016-04-09T13:22:58.029-07:00Artiscape is around the cornerHello again. You may have noticed that I've been absent for a little while. After publishing <i>Altered</i> <i>Arts</i> magazine for ten years, for some reason using the computer for any reason has equated itself to work in my mind. I had a really difficult time making myself get on the computer to make posts. It felt like work, and it wasn't fun at all, so I took a break. In the interim, I continued creating art and took several classes. Probably as a result of the ten years publishing, I of course, took LOTS of pictures of everything I did. Some even have step-outs. So, I will have plenty to post if I can get into the groove again.<br />
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In just a couple short weeks, Artiscape - An Artist's Gathering will take place again in Columbus, Ohio. This year's theme is: Masquerade in Venice. If you haven't already read my three-part article on the 2015 Artiscape, you can find it <a href="http://stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2015/04/artiscape-2015-weekend-part-i.html" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
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I am busy working on my class kits, lesson plans, and supply preparations. I am also busy working on my trades (<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMOTmO_AUig2MCl2eI_EVS4M5NE6uUmrGExOsU42OanbSTx0ACSxypyX8FDdK5PsEypL3fRorEZj9Vvnqux4xcOYHz-igFpvXPgY_tdCs3ZZ7U5KkAO7JBSieSUrHiWGnNUw3gwEMUWI/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+trades+-+finished.jpg" target="_blank">last year's trades</a>) and just finished my charity auction donation piece.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artiscape Masquerade in Venice Charity Auction Piece by Cyndi Duncan.</td></tr>
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There are still some spaces available in my classes. Last year both of my classes sold out, don't wait too long.<br />
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The two classes I'm teaching are:<br />
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<b>The Beekeeper's Journal</b><br />
<b>Friday, April 22 12:30 - 5:30 </b><br />
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This beautiful beekeeper's journal features unique mini niches and page
cut-outs. Beeswax will be used to embellish the niche. You will have
time to work on some of the individual pages, but your book won't be
completely finished in class. Books provided, as they will be prepped in
advance.<br />
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Note: This is a great class for trying cut-out altered books with niches, if you have never done them before. It is also great for those who love book art. We won't be cutting very deeply into the book, but will be doing a lot of cutting! I just finished decorating the entire book and can share with you the pitfalls and shortcuts I discovered along the way. This book is a great stand-alone art piece, or can be used as a fun art journal.<br />
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Supplies: Students will need a cutting tool and cutting mat. I prefer the cheap-o plastic retractable box cutters. An X-Acto knife will work, too. Additionally, you may want to bring your own heat embossing tool. If there is enough time, we will begin to work on our pages. You may wish to bring some paints and embellishments to decorate. Your book will not be completed in class. You will leave with the structure complete and the back niche page decorated.<br />
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Register for the Beekeeper's Journal<a href="http://www.europeanpapers.com/ART-WS/XART-16.html" target="_blank"> here.</a><br />
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<b>Fifty Shades of Gray: Explorations in Ink</b><br />
<b>Saturday, April 23 2:30 - 6:30 </b><br />
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In shades from gray to black, India ink is a wonderfully versatile
product that many artists have never explored. Release your inhibitions
and explore India ink mark making using numerous tools, techniques and
agents. You will work with Yupo paper, another medium begging to be
discovered. The exploration will climax with a creation on a 16x20"
stretched canvas that showcases your artistic revelations.<br />
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Note: Working with all the different techniques using India ink on Yupo paper was one of the most satisfying times I have spent in the studio. It was very Zen-like. We will be learning lots of techniques, but for those of you used to my Tons of Techniques classes, this one is much more slow paced and allows you a lot of experimentation on your own. I think you will LOVE it! <br />
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Supplies: In addition to the basic Art Kit that Artiscape recommends, you may wish to bring a soft rubber brayer, a paper cutter, stencils, mark-making/texture-making tools, calligraphy fountain pens (dip pens), black Pitt Pen(s), and rubber stamps (with solid-filled designs - not detailed stamps). We will also be painting our canvas with acrylic paints, so you are welcome to bring your favorite colors/brands with you. I do supply everything you need, but many students find they perfer their favorites and don't like to share the tools. <br />
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Register for Fifty Shades of Gray: Explorations In Ink <a href="http://www.europeanpapers.com/ART-WS/XART-32.html" target="_blank">here. </a><br />
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I hope to see you at <a href="http://www.europeanpapers.com/category/XART.html" target="_blank">Artiscape</a> this year!<br />
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~Cyndi <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-36908748819714891522015-07-02T07:43:00.001-07:002015-07-02T07:43:19.657-07:00Stampaway USA 2015Summer is in full-swing, although here in Ohio, although we have yet to really experience it. I think I have seen the sun twice, maybe three times, since May. Thankfully, I believe the weather pattern is changing.<br />
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At any rate, I hope you are enjoying it. I am making the best of it. I am way too busy, though...and wondering why the time flies so quickly.<br />
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Next month I will be teaching at <a href="http://www.stampawayusa.com/" target="_blank">Stampaway USA</a>. Stampaway is a highly regarded paper arts convention near Cincinnati, Ohio. There are numerous mixed-media classes, along with rubber stamping classes. There's something for everyone!<br />
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My classes will be on Wednesday, August 5th and Friday, August 7th. The convention itself takes place at the Sharonville Convention Center.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niches, Drawers, and Doors workshop by Cyndi Duncan. Stampaway USA 2015, Sharonville (Cincinnati), OH</td></tr>
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<b>Niches, Drawers, and Doors</b><br />
Wednesday, August 5th<br />
12 - 5 pm<br />
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During this 5-hour altered book workshop, I will teach you my favorite way to create niches - those fun little recesses where you can showcase wonderful little works of art or other treasures. You will learn how to create unique swinging doors: a student favorite! I will also show you how to create windows and several types of drawers in your book where you can tuck away hidden masterpieces. We will finish our time together "arting-up" our sample books.<br />
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I will provide a prepped book, along with handouts. Paints, some decorative papers and embellishments will also be on-hand for your use in decorating your creation. Students should bring: a cork-backed metal ruler (at least 12"), a pencil, a cutting mat, and a utility-knife (I use box cutters that I typically get at the Dollar Store.). Optional: You can bring your own inks, stencils, sprays, stamps, etc., for our creative time.<br />
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(If you live on the West Coast and can't make it to Ohio for Stampaway, I will also be teaching this class at <a href="http://www.art-xscape.com/" target="_blank">Art-Xscape</a> in Austin, Texas, on <a href="http://art-xscape.com/?page_id=2" target="_blank">Friday, October 9th</a>.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fN2S8-Z-bmG2LmINsC0irpBZOXjnb3p__DGQd9h0Sw4Cml1085MIYLm5DS7snZH6mkU_g1AhNjq8H4RCBq7rkVjHV-yxhdmT8OB9TUpcIwtb5PlAhWzwryHlvU3cqV7uiJPnHU0RmcQ/s1600/still+life+-+artistic+shadows+shadow+box+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fN2S8-Z-bmG2LmINsC0irpBZOXjnb3p__DGQd9h0Sw4Cml1085MIYLm5DS7snZH6mkU_g1AhNjq8H4RCBq7rkVjHV-yxhdmT8OB9TUpcIwtb5PlAhWzwryHlvU3cqV7uiJPnHU0RmcQ/s400/still+life+-+artistic+shadows+shadow+box+watermark.jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artistic Shadows Steampunk Shadow Box class by Cyndi Duncan. Friday, August 7th, Stampaway USA, Sharonville (Cincinnati), OH.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Artistic Shadows Steampunk Shadow Box</b><br />
Friday, August 7th<br />
1:30 - 3:30 pm<br />
<br />
We will use beautiful Victorian-style Steampunk papers and collage images to create a gorgeous shadow box that you will love and display for years. We will build our masterpiece inside an exquisite glass-topped display box while exploring different ways to affix items inside the box and create movement through hanging and/or bobbing elements.<br />
<br />
You will need to bring a basic tool kit (scissors, glue stick, ruler, favorite stamps, a black dye-based ink pad, black Staz-On ink pad and pencil). <i>Optional: Some students find that a paper trimmer is useful in this class</i>. Also, the papers in this sample piece are discontinued, so if you have them in your stash and would like to make the box as shown, feel free to bring them along (Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante). I will provide decorative papers, steampunk collage images, steampunk rubber stamps, and some embellishments. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQQQ38t7U6EbkAtsn7Qh_jqaSz2IaaFWpKXpT8kj6OqI2qkCXZO2-XQJxuFgU3F5ncRwpde3VslRxCE-Ciapqm2HP2sAa5jfu9oZqj_Ri7p2KKxe1F1AdCDJ9PYPghUIWTL8FgzUzgbE/s1600/still+life+-+folded+butterfly+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQQQ38t7U6EbkAtsn7Qh_jqaSz2IaaFWpKXpT8kj6OqI2qkCXZO2-XQJxuFgU3F5ncRwpde3VslRxCE-Ciapqm2HP2sAa5jfu9oZqj_Ri7p2KKxe1F1AdCDJ9PYPghUIWTL8FgzUzgbE/s400/still+life+-+folded+butterfly+watermark.jpg" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elegant Butterfly Book class by Cyndi Duncan. Stampaway USA, Sharonville (Cincinnati), OH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Elegant Butterfly Book</b><br />
Friday, August 7th<br />
4:00 - 6:00 pm<br />
<br />
In this class, we will explore several book folding techniques. You will select one and use it to create a beautiful habitat for your elegant butterfly embellishments. As we work to transform our book into a lovely masterpiece, we will learn several background techniques to adorn your work.<br />
<br />
You should bring a basic tool kit (see the description for the Steampunk Shadow Box) along with a paperback book for practice, and a 1.5" - 2" thick hardcover book to alter. All other supplies are provided, however students are welcome to bring their own stencils and acrylic paints to create to their own vision. <i>Optional: heat embossing tool (to speed up drying time).</i><br />
<br />
<br />
I hope you will plan to attend this fun event, and even better, take one of my classes!<br />
<br />
Registration for Stampaway is done by mail. You can access the registration form <a href="http://www.stampawayusa.com/files/images/2015_REGISTRATION_FORM.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
To view the Stampaway USA pdf brochure, click <a href="http://www.stampawayusa.com/files/images/STAMPAWAY_Brochure.pdf">here.</a><br />
<br />
~Cyndi <br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-86834535841997430652015-04-30T11:35:00.000-07:002017-01-19T07:15:18.851-08:00Artiscape 2015 - The Weekend (Part III)<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My Weekend at Artiscape Artist's
Gathering.<br />
<br />
(Read Part I: <a href="http://stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2015/04/artiscape-artists-gathering.html" target="_blank">here</a> and Part II: <a href="http://www.stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2015/04/artiscape-2015-weekend-part-ii.html" target="_blank">here</a>) </div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Saturday
was a pretty relaxing day. I was not teaching any classes that day,
and the workshop I was taking did not start until two. I got up at
my regular time of 6:30 – 7 am and went down to get another
wonderfully made omelet. I then just hung out in the room for most
of the rest of the time until lunch. I wrote much of the first part
of this post while I lounged around the room. It was a much needed
respite! </span>
</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">For
lunch I wandered down and had some chicken salad and fruit from their
little snack shack in the center of the lovely atrium. I enjoyed
eating my lunch with arty friends I've known for years. </span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Soon
enough my class time rolled around and I headed for my <i>Let's Brooch
the Subject</i> metalworking class with Jen Crossley. While I had done
metal etching before, I had never done cold connections and jewelry
sawing. It was a fun class and I learned a lot. When I went to sign
in on the class roster, I saw a name that I recognized...the
ever-talented <a href="http://cain81art.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Linda Cain</a>! I looked around the room, found her, and
called out her name. Linda is an amazing artist who, if you are not
already familiar with, you must seek out. Her work is fabulous. I
had the privilege of publishing several of Linda's works in<a href="http://www.alteredarts.com/" target="_blank"> <i>AlteredArts</i> magazine</a>. She has since been on Tim Holtz's and Finnabair's
design teams, among others. Follow her blog for regular infusions of
“amazing-ness.” </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxbHc8I5uJaAA33nWq681Oliogt2Xkr9NLj99NArhA8lzn7zKWjg_hAQS7a9LtPpl4plfiyW1zIYxUQaQqzvyxLnTCmCky3KtPxEfvISkzFltBR1MjRD2wMJSTHKkx1KVesQVxHiv4Y8/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+2+cyndi+and+linda+cain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxbHc8I5uJaAA33nWq681Oliogt2Xkr9NLj99NArhA8lzn7zKWjg_hAQS7a9LtPpl4plfiyW1zIYxUQaQqzvyxLnTCmCky3KtPxEfvISkzFltBR1MjRD2wMJSTHKkx1KVesQVxHiv4Y8/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+2+cyndi+and+linda+cain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda Cain and Cyndi Duncan at Artiscape Artist's Gathering 2015.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0BrzX5ChdvqtRqLguu1zfI1yHhFRTSzO9tQtCwDhzcKI_jD3EzWPpgt9fXKQjy-uY-lZZ0kYDHS1EqkhKnmu9vQ8_ZxkOVKH5heKCz77Y41W_JMvD4GN4FOiQQrNea2zu_SLx9f6PCE/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+jen+crossley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0BrzX5ChdvqtRqLguu1zfI1yHhFRTSzO9tQtCwDhzcKI_jD3EzWPpgt9fXKQjy-uY-lZZ0kYDHS1EqkhKnmu9vQ8_ZxkOVKH5heKCz77Y41W_JMvD4GN4FOiQQrNea2zu_SLx9f6PCE/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+jen+crossley.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jen Crossley and Linda Cain in Jen's class <i>Let's Brooch the Subject</i>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Jen
Crossley is a hoot, too. She hails from Australia and has a
wonderful sense of humor. Of course she is fun to listen to; she
could read a phone book and I would sit enthralled by her accent.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">After
Jen's class I had about a half hour to go and get ready for the
evening's banquet. </span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">While
we were waiting for the dinner, we milled about at the evening's
happy hour and set about to relieve ourselves of our trades. During
this time something happened that has never happened before requiring
me to point out some <b>Art Trade Etiquette</b>: If someone asks you if you
have trades, and you do, you TRADE with them! You do not say “Yes,
what do you have?” then look at the trade and respond: “No, I'm
sorry, that's not my style,” or “Thank-you, but I wouldn't be
able to use that.” If I had heard what happened to the two women in
front of me, I would have never proffered my own trade. I have to
imagine that the woman in question just didn't understand how it
worked. I wish I wasn't so floored, or I might have asked her if it
was her first time trading and kindly explained trade etiquette. I
didn't pick my jaw off the floor until much later.</span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The
banquet was a Jules Verne dinner and featured Cirque-de-Soleil-like
performers that were fabulous. The food was good, as it always is at
these dinners at the Embassy Suites-Dublin. I sat with my roommate,
students from my classes and new friends. My roommate retired early
and I sought out others who might want to go to the bar for a drink.
While we never made it to the bar, I did insert myself into a group
of people I did not know, and had a wonderful time learning more about
them. It was the perfect ending to an amazing day. </span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4YEIW-ugz5khj3Y-OcLDs1vWktlLK7SbLfXvr0cMKY6DCqbQ4h2-gyaTQt5XIHd5WPMrvgxZgkrTS2efTDP6HDZAfLYrPXUNlbgpCxaB5llH88P_-LfP3nU6Ygx6V5e2jKPFij6axIc/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+dinner+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4YEIW-ugz5khj3Y-OcLDs1vWktlLK7SbLfXvr0cMKY6DCqbQ4h2-gyaTQt5XIHd5WPMrvgxZgkrTS2efTDP6HDZAfLYrPXUNlbgpCxaB5llH88P_-LfP3nU6Ygx6V5e2jKPFij6axIc/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+dinner+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa's attention to detail always makes Artiscape super special.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaYpgqJjZbSxPrQC6a2GkrrpkcBUuzqW797xAUFta4DFkwg0U6aIm9k4uUOCSrqsx0QaftoaB3j4Uza6SM8mC2Cg0UJOEdCz1Fk6l8yUpQTEAg3CLKbkdYD9ZaxAErze2R9sDUZRW88E/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+dinner+me+and+mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaYpgqJjZbSxPrQC6a2GkrrpkcBUuzqW797xAUFta4DFkwg0U6aIm9k4uUOCSrqsx0QaftoaB3j4Uza6SM8mC2Cg0UJOEdCz1Fk6l8yUpQTEAg3CLKbkdYD9ZaxAErze2R9sDUZRW88E/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+dinner+me+and+mary.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Mary and I at the Jules Verne Dinner Bash at Artiscape Artist's Gathering 2015.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX0R46NudV6sqcY36aM6gXVu7LM_Dk_0MbUDMlcLa6-ToHGFvhhsq4I9h4gOkU-SAskFAKe59guK7HK8XzlZzqw8u4eByo1p3a3SgG8kwZkEqQZ2Z9fywVL7n5eT9c1rmZ788cJrRtjw/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+dinner+performers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguX0R46NudV6sqcY36aM6gXVu7LM_Dk_0MbUDMlcLa6-ToHGFvhhsq4I9h4gOkU-SAskFAKe59guK7HK8XzlZzqw8u4eByo1p3a3SgG8kwZkEqQZ2Z9fywVL7n5eT9c1rmZ788cJrRtjw/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+dinner+performers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performers at the Jules Verne Dinner Bash at Artiscape Artist's Gathering 2015.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Stay tuned for the final installment of my series on the 2015 Artiscape Artist's Gathering. Follow my blog by email and you won't miss it.<br />
<br />
~Cyndi<br />
<br />
5-1-2015: The name of the performers is <i>The Amazing Giants</i>. You can read more about them on their website: <a href="http://www.theamazinggiants.com/" target="_blank">http://www.theamazinggiants.com/</a><br />
<br />
1-19-2017: In linking these pages up to my 2017 Artiscape class offerings, I reread these posts and realized that I never finished the series, lol. For those of you waiting on pins and needles: I don't remember what I did on Sunday! Ha, ha, ha. I think I took a class, checked out, attended the Mad Hatter Tea Party and took my exhausted body home. At any rate, I'm sure the series gave you the flavor of the event, even if I didn't get around to finishing it. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-19647095510867973002015-04-28T10:58:00.000-07:002015-05-01T10:26:06.652-07:00Artiscape 2015 - The Weekend (Part II)<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My Weekend at Artiscape Artist's
Gathering</div>
<br />
(Read Part I of this series <a href="http://stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2015/04/artiscape-2015-weekend-part-i.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) <br />
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I woke up in the morning on Friday, had
the amazing free breakfast, and then headed to my encaustic class with
Serena Barton. This workshop was titled: <i>Waxing Literary with
Charlotte</i>. While the techniques presented were not new to me,
this was the class that spoke to me the most from the brochure, and I
was not disappointed. I really enjoyed the workshop, and Serena and
my table mates were a joy to get to know.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTf-SixRDYp-pj2o47Pz4h1MsdorBaOe-Mcgiz6yCOhp9m-V4xltCmYqdbYZ0Ua6ja1oCjQOOdMypzVlv7G0xlTiyvhdw-Et_bXscu7TBd6KeoIshxcVPjUgZ1VcdhA-C1B_g-c7ljb4/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+serena+barton+class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTf-SixRDYp-pj2o47Pz4h1MsdorBaOe-Mcgiz6yCOhp9m-V4xltCmYqdbYZ0Ua6ja1oCjQOOdMypzVlv7G0xlTiyvhdw-Et_bXscu7TBd6KeoIshxcVPjUgZ1VcdhA-C1B_g-c7ljb4/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+serena+barton+class.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Student work in Serena Barton's <i>Waxing Literary With Charlotte</i> class at Artiscape 2015.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzlsPnEII_5ijcPpIHavfgPwsR_4kmjT_aTfdUhi0RSS_mlHWTzPunAXyQI25knsL5fpoUokuQLBUGe7WuzP85Q6mMkd_rCPjni-eHh_7xF50STLuB17OzL6f0piwgeZnXn3TUIo_2bM/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+serena+barton+class+-+my+project+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzlsPnEII_5ijcPpIHavfgPwsR_4kmjT_aTfdUhi0RSS_mlHWTzPunAXyQI25knsL5fpoUokuQLBUGe7WuzP85Q6mMkd_rCPjni-eHh_7xF50STLuB17OzL6f0piwgeZnXn3TUIo_2bM/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+serena+barton+class+-+my+project+1.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My artwork from Serena Barton's <i>Waxing Literary With Charlotte</i> class at Artiscape 2015.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Immediately following Serena's class, I was to teach my five-hour <i>Tons of Techniques II</i> workshop, so I
had to leave a few minutes early to get my supplies
together and to try and grab something to eat. My friend, Stacey,
graciously agreed to help with this class, and she was indispensable!
<b> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Having taught </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Tons
of Techniques I</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> a few
years ago, I knew that I would fall over dead if I didn't have a
helper. (Maybe not literally, but it would have felt that way!) This
time around we learned about 15 different techniques or technique
variations, and I demonstrated two more. We did all of that in FOUR
hours! That means each technique took about 10 – 15 minutes before
we were on to the next. After four hours, we stopped the fast-paced
craziness and set about turning our technique samples into the
sampler book that students could use for reference after the class.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAk2V1VWGwUXwcHQmMeTgOjQA7bacFsG1ouS7hCUNb_LSwYu0-Yg9PuzsjwPWfbBQ4OrELMSXQtgfE_FulBSZOQkf4scLORZuJEuJgYlPNkVwkygNnh8I-vD-OLuNYyaWY5zSe-gZP9bI/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+TOT+II+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAk2V1VWGwUXwcHQmMeTgOjQA7bacFsG1ouS7hCUNb_LSwYu0-Yg9PuzsjwPWfbBQ4OrELMSXQtgfE_FulBSZOQkf4scLORZuJEuJgYlPNkVwkygNnh8I-vD-OLuNYyaWY5zSe-gZP9bI/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+TOT+II+-+1.jpg" height="236" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tons of Techniques II by Cyndi Duncan at Artiscape Artist's Gathering 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouVzyhidqO6lcKvS1maxHvc9BcntrHrLQdwubRer2hAFaRX86jbzmFIH_paupm3Jxwyb9-vAx56qlcWDR3dHN_IERmXUeCMjlKhD-dJ9MZGEttiGZOMspar7Y-NHskpKGr7_DyA7QsrY/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+TOT+II+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouVzyhidqO6lcKvS1maxHvc9BcntrHrLQdwubRer2hAFaRX86jbzmFIH_paupm3Jxwyb9-vAx56qlcWDR3dHN_IERmXUeCMjlKhD-dJ9MZGEttiGZOMspar7Y-NHskpKGr7_DyA7QsrY/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+TOT+II+-+2.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tons of Techniques II workshop by Cyndi Duncan at Artiscape Artist's Gathering 2015.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">By the time the end of the class rolled around, I was so exhausted
and drained that I could barely think or move. After Stacey helped
me clean up and pack the supplies back into my van, I had such a
splitting headache, too, that I was soooo grateful for the evening
happy hour. I'm sure I am not the only one for whom wine is a
miracle cure. Seriously. My headache was so bad my eyes were
crossing and I could barely drag myself to the bar, but moments after
sitting down with my wine and sipping at it, I glanced up at my arty
friends and said, “It's a miracle!” I felt almost back to normal.
I think this is because my bad headaches are tension triggered and the
wine acts as a muscle relaxer. I don't know...but it sounds good.
All I know is that it works. Wine is medicinal for me. (That's my
story and I'm sticking to it.)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">That
evening I sat with my arty friends, some former and some brand-new,
until shortly before the event's Kick-Off Party began.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The
Kick-Off Party is a marketplace preview accompanied by sweets, and
snacks, and beverages. There were several demonstrations going on
during the evening, as well. I had a wonderful time and spent WAY
too much. I actually thought to take a picture of the haul for you,
but then decided I didn't want proof. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43EwD6xs-dyd51HFP3X9xcqxAmLM-5QyPxE3FiB91n5XH9kqbLBGYo_IpNupK544oBj6_SUk80e5KdbbTGMGpa8mgsfznxV51Js6BSgURidEMUHSNpmJ4ZsWJmYiVQCS6JUW9acaKpNc/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+kick+off+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43EwD6xs-dyd51HFP3X9xcqxAmLM-5QyPxE3FiB91n5XH9kqbLBGYo_IpNupK544oBj6_SUk80e5KdbbTGMGpa8mgsfznxV51Js6BSgURidEMUHSNpmJ4ZsWJmYiVQCS6JUW9acaKpNc/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+kick+off+1.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artiscape Artist's Gathering 2015 Kick-Off Party</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsQU0eFWSchBi8VrBs8XpQHPEBrw5BdNvWU7ZN5GuxgNdtZKiQmwiFaioWTIKNl07d7cvCZQcsBMhcf1FEwYQE3nmupu2BfcvfnJ3iFgMYVAamnvBQAW4v2_Elg6LyPzOvNCrOAdvAJg/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+kick+off+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsQU0eFWSchBi8VrBs8XpQHPEBrw5BdNvWU7ZN5GuxgNdtZKiQmwiFaioWTIKNl07d7cvCZQcsBMhcf1FEwYQE3nmupu2BfcvfnJ3iFgMYVAamnvBQAW4v2_Elg6LyPzOvNCrOAdvAJg/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+kick+off+2.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artiscape Artist's Gathering 2015 Kick-Off Party</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-pNDvmZlKVHUA7ozAV2R9tjLTduobqqc8yAwjUGniNk4mH_ly_SKr3pYEXrWwpHXuLz6QN-eQpmVVaIz7sxdGfa6qvdx7wSZsJTejN_mZrSaTcGT4K_l2KhZvChRXHYLGgk1qR-YZ3E/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+kick+off+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-pNDvmZlKVHUA7ozAV2R9tjLTduobqqc8yAwjUGniNk4mH_ly_SKr3pYEXrWwpHXuLz6QN-eQpmVVaIz7sxdGfa6qvdx7wSZsJTejN_mZrSaTcGT4K_l2KhZvChRXHYLGgk1qR-YZ3E/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+kick+off+3.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artiscape Artist's Gathering 2015 Kick-Off Party</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I
bought so much good stuff that I had to force myself to stay out of
the marketplace the next day! Of course I hadn't yet seen the
wonderful goodies at the outsider art fair...my pocketbook would have
been much happier if I had skipped that, too. If I had skipped it, though, I would have missed out on all the wonderful artist-created goodies I got. It's all good...right?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> ______________________</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">I hope you're enjoying my series on Artiscape Artist's Gathering 2015. Stay tuned to learn about the rest of the weekend. If you follow my blog by email, you won't miss it!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">~Cyndi </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-8377257410507878582015-04-25T10:19:00.000-07:002017-01-19T07:01:06.983-08:00Artiscape 2015 - the Weekend (Part I)<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My Weekend at Artiscape Artist's
Gathering</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
During the fun and entertaining opening
Kick-Off-Party, Lisa Ohmer, the organizer of <a href="http://www.artiscape.com/" target="_blank">Artiscape Artist's Gathering</a>, and I mused about how long we had actually known each
other. Lisa reminded me that we had met about twelve years ago at an altered art event sponsored by Stamp Art Jubilee in Atlanta, Georgia.
It's funny how that event seemed a lifetime ago. I was there
promoting the then-named <i>Altered Book Club</i> (now <a href="http://www.alteredpages.com/" target="_blank"><i>The Mailbox Muse</i></a>,
under new ownership) that I had just begun. I don't even think that
the magazine had been born yet! As a matter-of-fact, I believe that
the club had not even sent out its first kit yet. Anyway, that
invitation by Lisa has led to many years of participation in the
amazing event that she sponsors.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
During the twelve-or-so years that I have
known of Artiscape, I think I failed to participate on just a couple
of occasions. Most of the years I attended I simply had a booth in the
marketplace. During the first few years, the event was held in a very quaint
Ohio canal town called Roscoe Village. At one of those first events
I was able to squeeze out some time to take a workshop by the
original altered book Diva, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/people/bethcote" target="_blank">Beth Cote</a>. It was a wonderful workshop
on color theory and collage.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Fast forward a few years, and I finally
decided that, being a teacher by trade and passion, I wanted to
submit classes. That was about four years ago. My first classes
were very well-received, and so I was invited back for more. This
year I taught two workshops: A three-hour class on book folding and a
five-hour techniques class. I'm thrilled to say that both of them
sold out.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the years that I have been
associated with this wonderful event, the class with Beth Cote had
been the only class I was ever able to take myself. I was either too
busy with the magazine/club or vending in the marketplace. That
changed this year! Because the magazine is on hiatus, I did not have a vendor booth this year which allowed me free time...time I could use for MYSELF! As soon as the classes were announced, I eagerly
signed up for three amazing workshops.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
To help you get a better feel for how
the weekend feels and progresses, let me lay it out for you
chronologically. I will skip the time I used for class prep and
present it to you as an attendee.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I signed up for three workshops, as I
mentioned before. One was an encaustic class by Serena Barton,
another was a metal jewelry class by Jen Crossley, and the final was
a metal soldering class by Shari Replogle. While I am an artist that
dabbles in a multitude of mediums, I tend to work mainly in paper
arts...and more recently, beading. The jewelry and soldering classes
were definitely outside my normal sphere, so I knew I needed to pay
particular attention to the supply lists there. Jen Crossley's class
required several tools and materials that I did not already have. A
friend of mine, also attending Artiscape, offered to let me borrow a
couple on the list, but I had to go and purchase the remaining items.
This process was kind of fun, in that it got me more excited about my
upcoming classes, as I perused the supplies on the internet. I started
this process about three weeks before the event.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At about the same time that I began
shopping for supplies, my wonderful packet from Artiscape arrived.
It contained this lovely name tag and pass for the weekend, along
with other important information.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj3nSUbu2x5F7E46lvG5OZTJHPQWvlvmEdgorRvPE4M2EBxFikgf3cRHoma0CtkJDXcglSOP06SuWjYLwDgS5c6tOvL0JhpatcersiHNfSpb_wnXwzBdJLmGkMq1jo_1l-kjVvVliCSY/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+lanyard+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrj3nSUbu2x5F7E46lvG5OZTJHPQWvlvmEdgorRvPE4M2EBxFikgf3cRHoma0CtkJDXcglSOP06SuWjYLwDgS5c6tOvL0JhpatcersiHNfSpb_wnXwzBdJLmGkMq1jo_1l-kjVvVliCSY/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+lanyard+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Having attended so many of these
wonderful events, I knew that a good portion of the enjoyment was to
be found in participating in the artist trades and collaborative
auction. So, I set about creating my trades about two weeks before
the event. On Sunday of the event there is a Mad Hatter Tea at which
the ladies wear hats...many of which they have hand-made. Wanting to
add even more fun to the weekend, I also created my own fun little
fascinator-type hat, as well. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMOTmO_AUig2MCl2eI_EVS4M5NE6uUmrGExOsU42OanbSTx0ACSxypyX8FDdK5PsEypL3fRorEZj9Vvnqux4xcOYHz-igFpvXPgY_tdCs3ZZ7U5KkAO7JBSieSUrHiWGnNUw3gwEMUWI/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+trades+-+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMOTmO_AUig2MCl2eI_EVS4M5NE6uUmrGExOsU42OanbSTx0ACSxypyX8FDdK5PsEypL3fRorEZj9Vvnqux4xcOYHz-igFpvXPgY_tdCs3ZZ7U5KkAO7JBSieSUrHiWGnNUw3gwEMUWI/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+trades+-+finished.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bead Embroidered charms. Art trades for Artiscape 2015 made by Cyndi Duncan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWQPuw63ESypsNZuHjNPpnX0im_IBVCKFqt1gqjK9V3nGNUIJVRHykbTB8QOAfCOZveOMjnGrIGTXnb67pm55RMeQTdedPKxg2O2ARjtoRv3G55y3owd_WgY1hWrOaqpiqjKVFpTr1nw/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+fascinator+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWQPuw63ESypsNZuHjNPpnX0im_IBVCKFqt1gqjK9V3nGNUIJVRHykbTB8QOAfCOZveOMjnGrIGTXnb67pm55RMeQTdedPKxg2O2ARjtoRv3G55y3owd_WgY1hWrOaqpiqjKVFpTr1nw/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+fascinator+2015.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fascinator hat by Cyndi Duncan for the 2015 Artiscape Artist's Retreat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This was the first year that I stayed
in the host hotel, the Embassy Suites-Dublin. I shared a room with a
woman from my art group. I have to say, staying at the host hotel is
another added bonus to the weekend. As a hotel guest, we were
treated to daily happy hours with snacks such as chips with several
dips, hard cheeses, and other snack foods. This wine lover
absolutely adores that fact that the happy hour included one free
beverage - wine, and cocktails included! Additionally, each morning
the hotel guests enjoyed an amazing hot breakfast bar which also
included an omelet station. Of course, being right in the thick of
things also had its obvious advantage. It was nice being able to go
back to the room to rest, change, or grab a supply that I forgot or
someone else needed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVFLRnqMN98EB21ANNXIhqX6m8eOCbZBdm8wyKvDS1mhQiLE2T8Njk74y1hNLMpM16LLWcZkBJ4YuxBoJXoa_ET4iTOdxzvmyTn0QB6rdF3fSKbjhgDGyGyOZe5VgmXrTK9gGFBspQDs/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+hotel+favor+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVFLRnqMN98EB21ANNXIhqX6m8eOCbZBdm8wyKvDS1mhQiLE2T8Njk74y1hNLMpM16LLWcZkBJ4YuxBoJXoa_ET4iTOdxzvmyTn0QB6rdF3fSKbjhgDGyGyOZe5VgmXrTK9gGFBspQDs/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+hotel+favor+2015.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attendees who stayed in the host hotel received this lovely gift upon check-in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Thursday night were the preconference
workshops. I arrived a couple of hours before they began, and as I
was actually teaching one, spent part of that time setting up and
settling in to my room. My class went wonderfully. I am always
treated to wonderful students; this class was no exception.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQeuxFjETfO-D4ZbNa1pZB1GwkILRsvEMdIVICr6gXaFfN6X70G2umwlizF0JJsMLqKy9THg6TSwcBOpjl1dTtLnX5vYIrC74cak53MVOoHuF_LSNwWfiE6kUrXNNdRz1-bbjtFNZdeI/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+book+folding+students.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQeuxFjETfO-D4ZbNa1pZB1GwkILRsvEMdIVICr6gXaFfN6X70G2umwlizF0JJsMLqKy9THg6TSwcBOpjl1dTtLnX5vYIrC74cak53MVOoHuF_LSNwWfiE6kUrXNNdRz1-bbjtFNZdeI/s1600/still+life+-+artiscape+-+book+folding+students.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wonderful students in my Folded Book Sculptures Class at Artiscape 2015.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Tired, but energized for the weekend
ahead, I drug myself to bed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I hope you enjoyed Part I of my series on Artiscape Artist's Gathering 2015. Stay tuned for Part II. (Pssst.....If you subscribe to my blog by email, you won't miss it!)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
~Cyndi</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-21676267196070273882015-04-06T18:43:00.000-07:002015-04-06T20:32:15.553-07:00Artiscape - An Artist's GatheringI'm so thrilled to be teaching at a variety of wonderful events this year. My workshop schedule starts out with <a href="http://www.artiscape.com/" target="_blank">Artiscape - An Artist's Gathering</a> this weekend. I will teach a <a href="http://www.europeanpapers.com/ART-WS/XART-01.html" target="_blank">book sculpture class</a> on Thursday night, and the second installment of my popular <a href="http://www.europeanpapers.com/ART-WS/XART-17.html" target="_blank">Tons of Techniques</a> class on Friday afternoon.<br />
<br />
You have probably seen the book sculptures before...they are all the rage! I saw them about a year ago and was totally intrigued by them. I bought one, and went crazy trying to find tutorials on the internet on how to make them. What I found was a little discouraging. One woman was selling (and giving away) patterns for awesome designs. Unfortunately, however, the patterns required a database grid, measuring and mathematics. Way too complicated for me! Since I couldn't figure out how to do them by deconstructing the book I bought (and I think the crafter used the same measuring method since there were pencil lines on the pages), I kept searching. I did find another easier tutorial, but that one required a computer and a graphics program to use. While I could figure out how to make that method work, I was convinced that there had to be an easier way for all the many people out there that were not computer or graphics-program savvy like me. Being the persistent woman that I am, I worked out a new way to create these great folded sculpture patterns that is so easy anyone can do it. Being the teacher that I am, I decided I just HAD to teach others the method. <br />
<br />
These folded book sculptures are so much fun to make, and really make wonderful gifts. After I figured out how to make them last fall, I made LOTS for Christmas presents.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiitJmWkc3x9T72-chSs4s9ptt6iZGf2DDSIhy5JzP0orXXQDIpcKWsVGcqZ7eRjqx36nAl_CoQsbbsnl-l07bss2NItL6zlOcoZ8_zN7QRmnXC6VeyJteSkq6M4XM9nEpz_3lECJoK4/s1600/CD+-+Sample+-+Book+Folding+-+both+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiitJmWkc3x9T72-chSs4s9ptt6iZGf2DDSIhy5JzP0orXXQDIpcKWsVGcqZ7eRjqx36nAl_CoQsbbsnl-l07bss2NItL6zlOcoZ8_zN7QRmnXC6VeyJteSkq6M4XM9nEpz_3lECJoK4/s1600/CD+-+Sample+-+Book+Folding+-+both+books.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Folded Book Sculptures by Cyndi Duncan. Thursday, April 9th, 2015 6-9 pm. Artiscape, Columbus, Ohio.</td></tr>
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Last I checked, there are still a couple of spots available in this workshop if you want to learn my easy, no math, no computer method to create these amazing book sculptures.<br />
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Also when I checked, the Tons of Techniques Class had a few spaces available, too. Both workshops had just two or three spots, though, so I do expect them to sell out. In the TOT II class we will be learning 16 great techniques (time permitting). There are several acrylic and watercolor techniques, along with a couple of transfers and miscellaneous techniques. They can be used in mixed media works as well as art journals, scrapbooks and greeting cards. We will take those techniques and use them to create a sampler book that can be used as a great reference tool.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tons of Techniques II by Cyndi Duncan. Friday, April 10th, 2015, 12:30 - 5:30 pm. Artiscape, Columbus, OH.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This is probably the 11th year I've participated in Artiscape. Most of those years I've attended as a vendor for <i>Altered Arts</i> magazine. This is the fourth year that I have actually taught at the retreat. The first year I participated, I took a workshop from THE altered book diva, Beth Cote. I have not had a chance to take classes myself since then. This year, however, I am taking THREE workshops! I am so incredibly excited.<br />
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With the magazine on hiatus, I will not have a booth at the marketplace this year (a FIRST in all the years I have participated). This will be the first year that I get to attend the preview party as a guest. I am also sharing a room on-site with a friend, so I will be right in the thick of things. I can't wait. I am literally giddy with excitement.<br />
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To truly immerse myself in the total experience, I made sure that I made art trades to exchange, and also created a hat for the Mad Hatter Tea Party. I did not have time to create a theme specific piece for the collaborative work auction, though, which is unfortunate. I will say that, having done these "extra" things in the past, participating in the swaps and other side events truly pushes the event experience into an even more enjoyable realm...if you can believe it. After the weekend is over, I will post about the event and share my trades and my fun little hat with you all.<br />
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If you plan to attend, be sure to say "hi." Maybe you will take one of my workshops, or sit next to me in a class we take together. Maybe we will just cross paths as we come and go. If you are not already planning to attend, there is still time! There are always a few workshops with space remaining. If you live in the area, at the very least you can stop by the vendor marketplace on Saturday and/or the Outsider Art Fair on Sunday. You will be really happy you did. If you miss it this year, be SURE to stop by at <a href="http://www.artiscape.com/">www.artiscape.com</a>; make sure you are added to the email list....and make plans to attend in 2016.<br />
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Check out my Workshop page for information on my other classes around the country. <br />
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~Cyndi Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-72988828588762956462015-03-14T09:40:00.002-07:002015-03-14T10:22:54.258-07:00Cardboard Shamrock Journal TutorialHello everyone! Here where I live, the snow is FINALLY starting to melt. It is beginning to feel like spring. Hallelujah!<br />
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I hope you've enjoyed my St. Patrick's Day bead embroidery projects. If you haven't seen them, you can see them <a href="http://stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2015/02/an-artful-memorial.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2015/03/earrings-to-match.html" target="_blank">here</a>. When I posted the first project, I mentioned that I had started a project last year that simply did not inspire me to complete. I think the bones of the project are great, but I just haven't been able to get into decorating it. It is still worthwhile, and someone might be inspired to try their own book, so I'll share it with you today. Just a note: I was inspired by <a href="http://stampington.com/blog/2014/05/29/upcycled-cardboard-journal-guest-artist-michelle-ward/" target="_blank">Michelle Ward's Debris Journal</a>.<br />
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I've shared different pictures of it and some other ideas over on the <a href="http://alteredarts-magazine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Altered Arts magazine blog</a>. <br />
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Here is a tutorial you can use to recreate my shamrock book:<br />
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<b>Supplies Needed:</b><br />
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Cardboard (mine was recycled from boxes on-hand)<br />
Paper and writing template to create a template<br />
Pre-gummed Kraft Packing Tape<br />
Water (a paint brush to brush on the water is helpful)<br />
Utility knife or box cutter<br />
Cutting Mat<br />
Cork-backed metal ruler<br />
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To start, I drew a large shamrock pattern and cut it in half. I then used that to cut pages for the inside of the book. I used corrugated cardboard from recycled boxes.<br />
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After getting the number of pages that I wanted for the book (You will need sets of two.), I measured the thickness of the stack. I put the stack aside. I then traced my shamrock (facing left) onto a larger sheet of cardboard, measured over the amount I calculated for my thickness, and then flipped the pattern over (facing right) and traced it again. I cut out the large shape, leaving a mark for where the "thickness" part started and ended. I then scored the cardboard along the "thickness" marks, using a metal ruler and utility knife.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scored cover with pages inside. The spine is the thickness of the stacked pages.</td></tr>
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After your cover and inside pages are cut, begin adhering the pages together using the gummed packing tape. Push the two sides of the shamrock together, as shown, and adhere down the middle. I found it easiest to do all my sets of two and THEN start joining each set together. So, after all your sets are joined, fold over the first set so that the tape is on the inside; fold a second set the same way. Now, with one set folded to the left, and the other to the right, push them together to form your shamrock. The center will be unjoined; you will now join it with the packing tape. This will form two sets of two pages that can be easily turned.<br />
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Adhere all of your inside pages as I described above. After you do, your stack will look like this when folded:<br />
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I did not adhere my inside pages to my cover. I decided to use it more as a storage sleeve. However, you could add the page stack to the back cover (and front cover, if desired). When I was working with the book, I decided that adhering it to the front cover, too, would make it so the pages would not open flat, just fyi. You can fiddle around with it and see what you like best.<br />
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I hope you enjoyed my shamrock journal. Have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day.<br />
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~CyndiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-85967487699149437262015-03-03T11:09:00.001-08:002015-03-14T09:04:35.240-07:00Earrings to MatchIn my last post, I told you about the process I used to create my St. Patrick's Day bead embroidery cuff bracelet...about its therapeutic effects, and how it became a sort of memorial and tribute to my mom.<br />
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As I mentioned in that post, and in others, the process itself of making bead embroidered items is so incredibly soothing; I think it is my new favorite medium.<br />
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I love my shamrock bracelet, but I felt it needed earrings to match. So, this past Sunday I set out to create a pair of bead embroidered earrings. I stopped tracking the time it took to make them when I hit the three hour mark. It was a day well spent. <br />
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I will have to say, though, that it is a good thing I created them for myself, as they were intended to be post earrings when I started. After they were completely finished, I decided I did not like the way they sat on my ears. So, I snipped off the posts and added fish hook wires.<br />
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At first my ears were kind of sore from all the messing around I did with the posts, and I was afraid that the earrings would be too heavy. After giving my ears a few days rest, when I wore them again I realized they were not too heavy at all. I really like them.<br />
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I hope you enjoy my St. Patrick's Day bead embroidered earrings. Keep an eye out for an upcoming post about my cardboard shamrock book.<br />
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~CyndiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-346391844710043252015-02-21T15:45:00.001-08:002015-02-21T15:46:16.873-08:00An Artful MemorialMy mom was born on St. Patrick's Day. She always considered herself "honorary Irish." We always celebrated St. Patty's Day, because of her birthday, and so it has a lot of fond memories. Shamrocks, in many ways are symbols of love and affection to me.<br />
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Mom always accessorized for the holidays. St. Patrick's Day was no exception. Since we almost always went out, she would dress in green and add her various green bracelets, shamrock pins and earrings. She had a beautiful gold claddagh ring she would wear and I made her a pin that said something about how lucky she was because she was born on St. Patrick's day - she usually wore that, too. My mom was big into bracelets. I don't remember any specific St. Patty's bracelets, but she probably had one of those, too.<br />
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Mom died a couple of years ago, but even before she passed away I had begun planning a memorial St. Patrick's Day art project. Of course if it were completed while she was alive, it would have been more of a tribute project. While I thought of creating this project EVERY year, it never materialized. I couldn't decide on just what form it would take. Somehow, even while she was alive, I knew I would never finish it while she was living.<br />
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Last year I started to create a project, but couldn't get into it. I don't know why, but the project itself didn't inspire me. I may post it sometime...it was a corrugated cardboard shamrock book. I got that part completed, but it was the actual decoration of the inside pages that lost me. I set it aside and never looked back.<br />
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So once again this year, at the beginning of January, I began thinking of my tribute project again. As you may have seen in my last post, I've really taken off with bead embroidery. I totally love it. After I finished my second beaded project, one that I created for a class proposal, I decided that I would make myself a St. Patrick's Day bead embroidered bracelet. <br />
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As I embarked on this project, I kept telling myself that I was making the bracelet for ME...not for a class, not as a gift. I also told myself that it did not have to be THE tribute project. It was for ME. Therefore it didn't matter if it was perfect. It was my piece, but as I created it, it became my tribute to my mom.<br />
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As I may have mentioned before, the beading process itself is VERY therapeutic and cathartic. As I beaded I would think of my mom, of things she used to say and do. A lot of love went into my bracelet. If mom were alive, I would have given it to her, and I know she would have loved it and worn it EVERY year. I love my bracelet, and every time I look at it I think of my mom. Good and happy thoughts. <br />
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I hope you enjoy it, too. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken before I added the edge trim. </td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-69253253911249991262015-02-04T13:09:00.000-08:002015-02-04T13:09:31.408-08:00There Are No Mistakes in ArtAfter teaching myself how to anchor a cabochon using bead embroidery, I decided to try my hand at a larger, more free-form piece.<br />
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I started this piece with no pattern and no preconceived notion of how I wanted the piece to look. I took out my bead box and started with the first bead that "spoke to me." That was the round metal bead. I decided to anchor it with brightly colored orange beads. At this point I wasn't sure where I was going to go with the piece...the circle could have been a sun, too. Oh, the possibilities!<br />
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One of the things I like most about bead embroidery is the amazing fringe. I LOVE texture! So, I decided to add some fringe to the round circle. After adding the fringe, it was obvious to me that it <i>had</i> to be a head with hair. From there the piece took on it's own life. I kept adding just by pulling out a bead that I liked.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcxQBtLGFhf2NKPWqqK70g914bazhlFbIkuLpec6hD8fg-DbTlNyNQy5aVS6n6vb0L4Gn2HKA9UFOYA5uv_JIcGzdpd0tTxseVmIOF2rqmngjo13BfDTQpYiPSN71t5sJrEejNjeXI08/s1600/still+life+-+bead+embroidery+-+beginning+stages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcxQBtLGFhf2NKPWqqK70g914bazhlFbIkuLpec6hD8fg-DbTlNyNQy5aVS6n6vb0L4Gn2HKA9UFOYA5uv_JIcGzdpd0tTxseVmIOF2rqmngjo13BfDTQpYiPSN71t5sJrEejNjeXI08/s1600/still+life+-+bead+embroidery+-+beginning+stages.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After two hours of work. The piece decided it wanted to be a person.</td></tr>
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This piece took about 23 hours to complete. It wasn't laborious. The stitching was actually kind of therapeutic. I spent about 2 hours a day on it until the final day when I was snowed in and just <i>had to get it finished.</i> I truly enjoyed the process. I enjoyed it so much that I'm working on another piece. I see a lot of possibilities in this art form.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHJ924XCcvTwWQlGaoIat8t_PnGo5x0xi3pHbtR-NT_iRHrsPsem-HIpPigXJ6cOeBSrtKyUDeoIwcdwQLGvhMNmvXKRHZW_PP27rUxPAsFQlY-hYhvCf8Ntb0tVvdBF3GwS8y7zz4cs/s1600/still+life+-+bead+embroidery+-+six+hours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHJ924XCcvTwWQlGaoIat8t_PnGo5x0xi3pHbtR-NT_iRHrsPsem-HIpPigXJ6cOeBSrtKyUDeoIwcdwQLGvhMNmvXKRHZW_PP27rUxPAsFQlY-hYhvCf8Ntb0tVvdBF3GwS8y7zz4cs/s1600/still+life+-+bead+embroidery+-+six+hours.jpg" height="320" width="250" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was after about six hours of work.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4oae7p2NyBo_rmZ__R2CXviqkeLR_hubCJMlOUl4XJe4mZ0eKdUPNPuexa8BtztXw8DzXv3UB1CK2ciMqsyjeHREAAN7QNBbvTmE5jNVRi_2I3jw05ZEEsPC4bDdmPMZ9I5GAEIFTH4/s1600/still+life+-+bead+embroidery+-+finished+piece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4oae7p2NyBo_rmZ__R2CXviqkeLR_hubCJMlOUl4XJe4mZ0eKdUPNPuexa8BtztXw8DzXv3UB1CK2ciMqsyjeHREAAN7QNBbvTmE5jNVRi_2I3jw05ZEEsPC4bDdmPMZ9I5GAEIFTH4/s1600/still+life+-+bead+embroidery+-+finished+piece.jpg" height="260" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished piece.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeJjRkHINi56eT70C6s4d6upzrLgTBNVgiPAJJUtTmAYN4z8IOk9ptRMkTqha3HBW-tao8rOhUFvrYsQ6tUzUv1lR-spFmbS_Mr0zCMiFtSw9o3YFs5u30NbdpPPS48C4-Vd6kJ2Mvg0/s1600/still+life+-+bead+embroidery+-+finished+piece+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeJjRkHINi56eT70C6s4d6upzrLgTBNVgiPAJJUtTmAYN4z8IOk9ptRMkTqha3HBW-tao8rOhUFvrYsQ6tUzUv1lR-spFmbS_Mr0zCMiFtSw9o3YFs5u30NbdpPPS48C4-Vd6kJ2Mvg0/s1600/still+life+-+bead+embroidery+-+finished+piece+closeup.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I titled this piece: "There Are No Mistakes in Art."</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-2831314421283275302015-01-29T04:00:00.000-08:002015-01-29T05:52:45.155-08:00Big Changes!If this is your first time at my blog, I hope you'll spend some time here looking around. I post on a variety of things including food, books, shoes, art and lifestyle. Take a minute to subscribe by email. Leave me a comment. Thanks!<br />
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<b>Big, Radical Changes!</b><br />
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I've always wanted to do it. So I finally did. My youngest says I'm having a mid-life crisis. Maybe...but since I plan to live to 120, I won't reach middle age for a while yet. Besides, I just finally got the courage to do it. <br />
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The picture actually makes it look really good, the color that is. The actual color is a little more pink than I'd like, and it didn't take too well to the blonde areas.<br />
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This is what it is supposed to look like:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQxNkIANvCVBRwobl23FNvatOFJybPup5Ui3DhJ3oulDv1EaPkKYpZmVx2prM9XdCsuxpcQ14pZtCPlbY980EJ7xe9Oh5QgRQRLQFRZJdFygV-PXTu8ZERYxKGxElarEzEEgtBx-sufg/s1600/still+life+-+cyndi+red+hair+-+auburn+hair+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQxNkIANvCVBRwobl23FNvatOFJybPup5Ui3DhJ3oulDv1EaPkKYpZmVx2prM9XdCsuxpcQ14pZtCPlbY980EJ7xe9Oh5QgRQRLQFRZJdFygV-PXTu8ZERYxKGxElarEzEEgtBx-sufg/s1600/still+life+-+cyndi+red+hair+-+auburn+hair+box.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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The picture makes it look like it is closer to the box than it really is.<br />
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I picked up this box, too. My oldest said I should start with the one above and move to this one, if I liked it. (I was deciding between the two.) I think she was right. This one would probably been too radical a change at first. I returned it to the store.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnw2skRtKOgAQAJwJqY_Q2AJGf-Gg6lGgsdI9zn3YrtIop4dBBhV5ucNYMc37QxUwY5obY4O1ylhuAXGLrb2tzs5XacS3S5GO8oaQnZiJ5gobd9ieh9IURG0UwdpvEG4aCND5CEAWXQE/s1600/still+life+-+cyndi+red+hair+-+red+hair+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnw2skRtKOgAQAJwJqY_Q2AJGf-Gg6lGgsdI9zn3YrtIop4dBBhV5ucNYMc37QxUwY5obY4O1ylhuAXGLrb2tzs5XacS3S5GO8oaQnZiJ5gobd9ieh9IURG0UwdpvEG4aCND5CEAWXQE/s1600/still+life+-+cyndi+red+hair+-+red+hair+box.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
Sometimes I like it, and sometimes I don't. I've been blonde for soooo long that I don't feel like me. Plus, one of my favorite colors is red, and my red clothes look differently on me now than they used to.<br />
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What do you think?<br />
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~Cyndi <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-2156392350616669672015-01-26T08:11:00.000-08:002015-01-26T08:11:17.879-08:00Bead Embroidery: My First TimeEvery so often I feel a need, I mean a <i>NEED</i>, to learn a particular art technique. I'm not sure what compels me, but it can become intense. When this need arises, I will often look to friends to teach me, or will try to find a class to take. More often than not, the need overpowers my ability to wait, and I wind up teaching myself. One of those compulsions was my need to learn wet felting. I finally couldn't wait anymore, so I taught myself...on a basic and very small scale. I was fortunate that a friend invited me to wet felt with her not long after, and I learned a lot of tricks and wisdom from her as we felted together.<br />
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Recently, the <i>need</i> overpowered me to learn bead embroidery. <br />
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I went to a craft show this past fall and there was a woman there selling her amazing bead embroidered work. I had seen similar work before, but didn't even know what it was called. It was very arty and gorgeous. I had done my own version of bead embroidery on a scarf I made for a
class proposal a while back, but it was very simple and not arty. I heard this woman talk about her classes and, very excitedly, asked her where she taught. Florida. Ugggh! I scanned the internet for local and regional bead embroidery classes and no one offered any. I like in-person classes. I need that interaction. I got very anxious.<br />
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Armed with my frustration, I began searching the internet again and found some tutorials. Moving forward with this information, I began to create my first piece. The piece I created is a cabochon with peyote stitching to anchor it. I was fascinated to find during my research that the bead embroidery I had done totally on my own, without ever seeing a tutorial or anything, was spot-on. Another source I found tells us to just sew things on...period. What you get is what you get. I suppose I had actually stumbled on something back then. Since I do NOT SEW, I was concerned that there was some sort of trick to it. There really is not; but there are stitch variations...just as in regular sewing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2BZCGuB-Rp2GORLnCNoK6eHGQhxEcowmKZXRemYEnDSYC-tHR3tJiwDM0A_XOTYV4ANslDT5Vf2vDZEpTqNtpt4JartiNeb4sp1a1-2zvcY3SsiRSKq-1wtuZYbRZXjrymRAsMG178U/s1600/Still+life+-+bead+embroidered+cabochon+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2BZCGuB-Rp2GORLnCNoK6eHGQhxEcowmKZXRemYEnDSYC-tHR3tJiwDM0A_XOTYV4ANslDT5Vf2vDZEpTqNtpt4JartiNeb4sp1a1-2zvcY3SsiRSKq-1wtuZYbRZXjrymRAsMG178U/s1600/Still+life+-+bead+embroidered+cabochon+2.jpg" height="400" width="367" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Things I learned during my first time doing bead embroidery:</b><br /><br />
<ul>
<li>I will need a new and stronger pair of reading glasses.</li>
<li>None of my scissors want to cut through fire line. </li>
<li>I will need more beads!</li>
<li>Not all beads are created equal. (My stitching on this first piece is uneven mostly due to unequally sized seed beads.)</li>
<li>I will need more money. (To buy beads, of course!)</li>
</ul>
<br />
Because of my inability to find local outlets to learn the tricks of this new art form, the teacher inside of me is already planning several classes to teach the basics to others who just <i>have to learn</i>. Because of course I will continue experimenting and teaching myself until the need to bead is sated. <br />
<br />
I'm not done with this new art form. My next piece will be a free-form piece. I am totally psyched to get started on it. I will, of course, share with you when it is finished...and maybe while it is underway.<br />
<br />
Have a wonderful day!<br />
<br />
~Cyndi<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-54873194032568075212015-01-08T05:21:00.000-08:002015-01-08T05:21:00.491-08:00Happy New Year (part two)<h3>
New Year's Resolutions</h3>
I don't make them. I'm not sure why I am opposed to them. Maybe it has to do with the guilt that comes when they are not met? I don't know. I am, however, a goal-setter. The new year is always a good time to set, or reinforce, goals.<br />
<br />
<b>My goals for the year:</b><br />
<br />
Eat healthy and stay on plan. (I am a lifetime Weight Watcher.)<br />
Exercise three times a week.<br />
Avoid aspartame and added sugar. <br />
Find a way to augment the family income.<br />
Spend more time with my family.<br />
Reduce debt. <br />
<br />
My goals often change throughout the year, but these are the kind that will probably be constant.<br />
<br />
After all my unhealthy eating during the holidays, it is extra important to work on the first one.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Knock You Naked! </h3>
<br />
Speaking of unhealthy, I do have to share with you one of my favorite desserts. Knock-you-naked brownies! They are unbelievably good. The funny thing is, I took pictures of them in process, but neglected to take a picture of the finished product. I think when they came out of the oven I must have only been thinking about eating them! <br />
<br />
They are pretty easy to make. The hardest part is unwrapping the caramels. I bought two different kinds for the <strike>load</strike> batches I made for the party: bulk wrapped caramels and Kraft caramels. I'm not sure why, but the Kraft caramels are MUCH easier to unwrap. The original recipe I used called for 30 caramels, which is what I used here. The recipe I found this time said to use 60. I couldn't imagine all that unwrapping!<br />
<br />
You can find the recipe pinned to my <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/abcynd/food-recipes-ive-tried/" target="_blank">Recipes I've Tried</a> board on Pinterest. If over time the recipe link moves, just contact me...I have the recipe saved.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfsWbJRJMFs1DRNNfeHOsyvU4A__qWidnbCNE43sJ5U_-RaMQ34FX7WcosbCOWDk7yjfJ6cGXG1-7XWJ8XE1vAuQXvMYa2Ag2cX0yWXOqNnqzL8Ynqy978nKccAp7ypcmIRN0m40mupw/s1600/still+life+-+knock+you+naked+brownies+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfsWbJRJMFs1DRNNfeHOsyvU4A__qWidnbCNE43sJ5U_-RaMQ34FX7WcosbCOWDk7yjfJ6cGXG1-7XWJ8XE1vAuQXvMYa2Ag2cX0yWXOqNnqzL8Ynqy978nKccAp7ypcmIRN0m40mupw/s1600/still+life+-+knock+you+naked+brownies+1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bottom layer and caramel layer. You could probably add toffee chips to this layer, too...doesn't that sound yummy?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JU0dNYB0uwG4ib5q2ZgbtTr6OCVWEgwqMWELED1ZV0MCti8DMwcY89LtkRoT_2MvGKPhwdda6xivJVhyphenhyphenH47HwAd0uAAVqWUp8TYKkOW72mpNzsl95x38-p8PeBkXTFxBvukV7eNa3KE/s1600/still+life+-+knock+you+naked+brownies+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JU0dNYB0uwG4ib5q2ZgbtTr6OCVWEgwqMWELED1ZV0MCti8DMwcY89LtkRoT_2MvGKPhwdda6xivJVhyphenhyphenH47HwAd0uAAVqWUp8TYKkOW72mpNzsl95x38-p8PeBkXTFxBvukV7eNa3KE/s1600/still+life+-+knock+you+naked+brownies+2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top layer. When I've made this before, I've just dropped the batter on the top. The recipe I've linked to suggested rolling it out and then laying it on top. I did that here. It looks better in the "before" picture, but I don't think it changes the end product.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What about you? Do you make resolutions or set goals? How do you feel if you do not keep or reach them?<br />
<br />
~Cyndi<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-82641506509835816632015-01-05T07:39:00.001-08:002015-01-07T12:57:05.350-08:00Happy New Year (part one)Happy 2015!<br />
<br />
Let me apologize for my absence. I had every intention of making all sorts of wonderful Christmastime posts, but life got in the way.<br />
<br />
I mentioned to you in my last post about our insurance. I'm not sure what to blame, whether my husband's new company (actually same company, new owner) or Obamacare, but our insurance in 2014 was AWFUL! We had a massively high deductible (although not as high as some, I know). Fortunately, our maximum out-of-pocket cap is not much higher than the family deductible. Once we meet the deductible, we might as well go for broke. Between follow-ups from an elective surgery I had in 2013, an athlete with tendonitis, and a daughter who made a couple of trips to the emergency room (she is fine now), we reached the deductible in October and the cap in November. <br />
<br />
I myself met my personal out-of-pocket cap at the end of October. I began to brainstorm all of the procedures and tests that I have put off because they weren't "essential." I started November with a string of appointments that continued through the end of the year. (One of my first "unnecessary" appointments revealed the <a href="http://stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-bump-that-shall-not-be-named.html" target="_blank">"bump that shall not be named."</a>) Then in November, the whole family reached the cap and I began scheduling things for my children, too. Throw Christmas into the mix and December was a total blur! There was no time for blogging. <br />
<br />
Christmas itself was a blur. I did a lot of the shopping for my dad, or went with him when he shopped; I sent out all of his Christmas cards (with letter!); I did my own Christmas shopping, baking and wrapped presents for 12 people. I could tell you how many hours were spent wrapping alone, but that would only be whining, and I don't want to do that. While it was a total blur, it was wonderful. I hope yours was fantastic, too.<br />
<br />
In that crazy blur, something had to give, so I never actually got around to finishing my ornament garland (go figure). However, I did put it up, as it was.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lfaUyMRsRrv6IeM3WK3zPfZLD-ba2_9P95KRJ27sA4Ue6Bgj08P0iKpTv_iYuKIFsacmuqH_5TIOGEDbUB-loV6zIcCw443LTVM_QhZSFslOflm-Qs3WLB39X3ZmbHcAKAGRKbeHS3U/s1600/still+life+-+christmas+mantel+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lfaUyMRsRrv6IeM3WK3zPfZLD-ba2_9P95KRJ27sA4Ue6Bgj08P0iKpTv_iYuKIFsacmuqH_5TIOGEDbUB-loV6zIcCw443LTVM_QhZSFslOflm-Qs3WLB39X3ZmbHcAKAGRKbeHS3U/s1600/still+life+-+christmas+mantel+2014.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You can find my post on how to make your own ornament garland on-the-cheap <a href="http://stilllifewithstilettos.blogspot.com/2014/11/diy-christmas-ornament-garland.html" target="_blank">here</a><u>.</u></span></div>
<br />
Here's to a Wonderful and Prosperous New Year for all!<br />
<br />
~Cyndi<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-73312692001742545362014-11-22T10:21:00.003-08:002014-11-22T10:21:39.465-08:00The Bump That Shall Not be NamedAnyone who is a friend with me on Facebook knows that I love shoes. The higher the heel, the better. (You might have discerned that from the title of my blog, as well.) Believe it or not when I say that I find high heels actually comfortable to walk and dance in. Well, I DID anyway...that was before <i>The Bump That Shall Not be Named.</i><br />
<br />
It all started when...<br />
<br />
A few years ago I was on a mission. The mission was to find a pair of nice mid-calf, brown leather boots that had a little heel and traction. (VERY important in a winter boot. I don't care how hot the boot is, if I'm afraid I will slip and fall on my butt, I will NOT buy it!) I searched high and low, near and far. Finally, toward the end of winter, I found <i>THE</i> boots. They were at Macy's and were about 3x what I wanted to pay for a pair of boots, but they looked great! So I brought them home. I soon discovered that I did not have the right kind of pants to wear with my new boots. All my pants were boot cut or flares and would not tuck in nicely. So, after having to pay through the nose for the boots, I had to wait until the following winter when I could buy a couple of straight-leg jeans to wear with them.<br />
<br />
The next year arrived, I bought straight-leg jeans and donned my fabulous boots! They were awesome. However, after wearing them for a few days, I noticed that the top of my foot, near my toes, would hurt. If I flexed my toes, there was pain. One has to suffer sometimes for fashion, right? So, I kept wearing them. I wore them all winter until I discovered come early March, that my big toe was sporting a small bump right at the base, on the side of the toe. The bump was sore after I wore my boots (as was the top of the foot). I decided that, since the snow was on its way out, I should shelve the boots. I kept thinking that the bump would go away now that I was no longer wearing the boots. Nope. It stayed around. It didn't bother me, unless I put on one of my closed-top, structured pairs of shoes...whether they were standard shoes, high heels, or stilettos. It didn't/doesn't bother me when I wear sandals. Thankfully! Anyway, I looked online and pretty much determined what the bump was. However, since the only recourse for Mr. Bump was surgery, I decided not to take ownership of it...hence: <i>The Bump That Shall Not be Named</i>.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to now. Our post-AFA massive insurance deductible and maximum out-of-pocket was met back in October (and it is so large I HOPE it will never again be met!) so I went on a quest to have every medical procedure and diagnosis done now. One of the things I did was go to the podiatrist. You see, I forgot to mention that I also have plantar fasciatis. I would have never spent the money to have it addressed by a professional, but since "now is the time"...off to the podiatrist I went. And the bump was named. Boo! He says it is a bunion (I knew that already). He tried to talk me into orthotics, but I said, "I'm a stiletto girl!" He laughed, and told me to take Tylenol when I go dancing. <br />
<br />
So there you have it. There is nothing to be done about said bump, unless it gets much worse. For now, I will be on a quest to find a shoe stretcher, with the bunion pads, for my stilettos. It also gives me one more reason to want to move to the dessert where I can continue to wear my sandals...all year long.<br />
<br />
I know everyone is curious about my shoe collection. Here are the ones I wear most often:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKacEf7hTp8r_2URDBduvXUyj8xbqx-RoHPusrbFo7qS3mI8Tns74syjEbB_xNg1BHRweL2mFwMp6weyXsnQS7uOtODEeLWxjbU7gcJI3OmTrlNaHTPXVkLy6Hyznx65sZ3skUjHMLs0w/s1600/0+still+life+-+shoes+-+collection+and+storage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKacEf7hTp8r_2URDBduvXUyj8xbqx-RoHPusrbFo7qS3mI8Tns74syjEbB_xNg1BHRweL2mFwMp6weyXsnQS7uOtODEeLWxjbU7gcJI3OmTrlNaHTPXVkLy6Hyznx65sZ3skUjHMLs0w/s1600/0+still+life+-+shoes+-+collection+and+storage.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The yellow ones are a pair that I painted. I took an old, much-loved pair that was chipped and scuffed, and gave it new life. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
It's kind of hard to get a real good look at any individual pair. I'll have to try and remember to take some closeup pics. Maybe I'll feature a pair a week for a while.<br />
<br />
Remember, the moral of this story is: If the shoe HURTS, don't wear it!<br />
<br />
~Cyndi<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-33235416287197631302014-11-20T05:30:00.000-08:002014-11-20T05:30:00.992-08:00Still Playing With My FoodI had so much fun making the Reese's turkeys the other day that I had to follow up with another fun Thanksgiving treat that I found on Pinterest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0wSGAvFhLrTScHo9GIjCZ4DUZmEudHYflawYz3aDNz4jK_PtJKFlx7pLSiC78KVzWesLhfs2rvz2QqoP2CWxVoACnMX6PP8f-r4Q51uTG-x1ceHvTGNZVtL9yyMGhNpvQVGtfr_zkXk/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+pretzel+turkeys+displayed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0wSGAvFhLrTScHo9GIjCZ4DUZmEudHYflawYz3aDNz4jK_PtJKFlx7pLSiC78KVzWesLhfs2rvz2QqoP2CWxVoACnMX6PP8f-r4Q51uTG-x1ceHvTGNZVtL9yyMGhNpvQVGtfr_zkXk/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+pretzel+turkeys+displayed.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I had so much fun with these. They were actually more time consuming than the Reese's turkeys, though.<br />
<br />
To make them, you will need:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Pretzel rods, some sort of round, flat chocolate-covered cookie (I used off-brand fudge stripe cookies. The ones I was inspired by used chocolate-covered mint cookies.), candy corn, candy eyes, orange M & Ms, chocolate discs (for candy-making).</blockquote>
Melt the chocolate discs in a tall mug in the microwave (50% power for one minute at a time, then stir). Dip the pretzel rods in the chocolate and lay on a wax paper covered tray. Put in the refrigerator to cool. When the chocolate has cooled, begin adhering the other items using the melted chocolate as glue. Note: you will want to cut the M & Ms in half...they work better that way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwJpJKVMCEMC1ChlKzDhcNl3FKxEWm-dYMNLBI5E20nh-eKMBbG7rwV-HvQsRsKjRSrXGBYDmf1MqMN4rv50eQHEP070Z3D1VFgpF0MPKPYWDpxvRvHaNK1CEuQ1LVEO65gVPYDgoIzw/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+pretzel+turkeys+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwJpJKVMCEMC1ChlKzDhcNl3FKxEWm-dYMNLBI5E20nh-eKMBbG7rwV-HvQsRsKjRSrXGBYDmf1MqMN4rv50eQHEP070Z3D1VFgpF0MPKPYWDpxvRvHaNK1CEuQ1LVEO65gVPYDgoIzw/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+pretzel+turkeys+closeup.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBd2dwYG1amv2WML6as5m_il-1XnG2kYzgJ-wSIZZFXFZhUqRh2V_U3D30GVvm28nXR8l_4hyphenhyphenatjGX2SRDCVwdQbXgaH-RgCVr2a9d1NSf-ZBhRtxvsnL0qtx9PMja7EOHCkvIlamTNTY/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+pretzel+turkeys+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT6DAovoWDkhtuh-tYrXiygm3hTo5p2HwV4sHkCAC5GBfpZA0voIGgYKbZpuqa9Uas8vAQjBlDwyYsZ12wTt_PAShi-vvrHuTwouqMZmN5aNwywgzLeIXXOFcUgpkF71IGflsGeqD8Dk/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+pretzel+turkeys+single+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT6DAovoWDkhtuh-tYrXiygm3hTo5p2HwV4sHkCAC5GBfpZA0voIGgYKbZpuqa9Uas8vAQjBlDwyYsZ12wTt_PAShi-vvrHuTwouqMZmN5aNwywgzLeIXXOFcUgpkF71IGflsGeqD8Dk/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+pretzel+turkeys+single+closeup.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I hope you'll join me for more holiday goodness as we head into the Christmas season.<br />
<br />
~CyndiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-28746175795187680062014-11-18T05:30:00.000-08:002014-11-18T05:30:00.558-08:00Creative Time...With FoodWhile I haven't exactly been getting into my studio daily, I have been inspired. I was inspired by pins I found on Pinterest for fun Thanksgiving food. I decided it would be fun to make some yummy treats to serve at our Thanksgiving dinner.<br />
<br />
You will undoubtedly recognize these treats if you spend any time at all on Pinterest. I claim no originality.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteHrVVRCXAr95VgcWulCok5vWiYlyIHxfW3SZpGCdv6F9a_Yas9pF3U2EGbX3wffJKmYxku7FeE6hjq4hHKylOJPzMuAiRz0z-RTRvzVk-FTcygPnFPybLhTpNxq5-Rmchyqm__nxYWk/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+resses+turkeys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteHrVVRCXAr95VgcWulCok5vWiYlyIHxfW3SZpGCdv6F9a_Yas9pF3U2EGbX3wffJKmYxku7FeE6hjq4hHKylOJPzMuAiRz0z-RTRvzVk-FTcygPnFPybLhTpNxq5-Rmchyqm__nxYWk/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+resses+turkeys.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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They were not difficult to make, but were a bit time consuming. Next time I bake or do any holiday treat-making, I will start off chewing gum. It was an unfortunate side effect that I wound up eating several Reese's peanut butter cups and chocolate covered pretzels. I'll post the pretzels in another post.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcB37rKOhZytlTkLdQj3MtVgpJrtXGXTpVPRJooTaxLzQWXjptroihtDePLd7HcOYE4A5caFXS67TdmrK83KOAs9eu-hLRQWvfLE6hGdv_podcnKD3PSzCDgzkpxqwxsh7UGuTOO2CLbg/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+reeses+turkeys+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcB37rKOhZytlTkLdQj3MtVgpJrtXGXTpVPRJooTaxLzQWXjptroihtDePLd7HcOYE4A5caFXS67TdmrK83KOAs9eu-hLRQWvfLE6hGdv_podcnKD3PSzCDgzkpxqwxsh7UGuTOO2CLbg/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+reeses+turkeys+in+progress.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkeys in progress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I needed a good, and secure, place to store my adorable little turkeys. This egg carton was the perfect home for them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgTCKcf5Z8eaSWij6NjzDgAeVJcQntLq8CD5ca7Cp8W-FH1mtrdn2ryVhP-EJUoheTZGMQoExwmp4GpeBr0M584_GQriv4vI2jUARw1d6o7IkOF0pZH1lFMY0noYe1g1KL8ZUO12144w/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+reeses+turkeys+in+egg+carton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgTCKcf5Z8eaSWij6NjzDgAeVJcQntLq8CD5ca7Cp8W-FH1mtrdn2ryVhP-EJUoheTZGMQoExwmp4GpeBr0M584_GQriv4vI2jUARw1d6o7IkOF0pZH1lFMY0noYe1g1KL8ZUO12144w/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+reeses+turkeys+in+egg+carton.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Don't they look adorable peeking out?<br />
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To make these fun little guys, you will need: Reese's Snack Size Peanut Butter Cups, Reese's Miniatures, candy eyes, candy corn, red gel, chocolate discs (for candy making). <br />
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You will melt the chocolate discs and use them like glue to attach the peanut butter cups, eyes, nose (part of a candy corn) and candy corns.<br />
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Do you follow my blog by email? It is the best way to make sure you don't miss any of the fun Christmastime posts I will be making.<br />
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~CyndiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-61046517569959207812014-11-14T14:07:00.000-08:002014-11-14T14:07:00.466-08:00Yummy Pumpkin DessertThe day after Halloween I was in the mood to bake. My family was gone, and I was home alone. I resisted the urge to pour a glass of wine and turn on the Christmas music. I neglected the first because I am trying to get back on a healthy diet of some sort, and I knew I wanted to spend my calories on some of the dessert I was going to make. I resisted the second (and I DID find a Christmas station on Pandora already!) because it would have been breaking the rules. (See my post from November 12th.) Even though the family was not home, it just wouldn't have been right.<br />
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So, I baked alone. (Listening to swing music.) I had purchased the ingredients for this recipe the week before so I could make this dessert for a Halloween party I was going to, but I forgot the pudding, so I took something else. I made sure to get the pudding after the party! <br />
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I found this recipe on Pinterest. <span style="color: #990000;">You can find it <b><a href="http://www.crazyforcrust.com/2014/08/bake-pumpkin-dessert/" target="_blank">here. </a></b></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvA9U2R7NQYVvaE3BNZAsCbliwjVtZJU4VZX6HhMQwH1zChyD1JtR_ra-QHI7qoJejO3kcn0OCO5tR8LlZ7dJ3x_mgRyKg8zRJUxUEOpnYDFHmbAMluse8RATn4kHfDlZDxBDX9fMzsKg/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+pumpkin+dessert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvA9U2R7NQYVvaE3BNZAsCbliwjVtZJU4VZX6HhMQwH1zChyD1JtR_ra-QHI7qoJejO3kcn0OCO5tR8LlZ7dJ3x_mgRyKg8zRJUxUEOpnYDFHmbAMluse8RATn4kHfDlZDxBDX9fMzsKg/s1600/still+life+-+food+-+pumpkin+dessert.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oops! I forgot to take a picture until SEVERAL pieces were gone. </td></tr>
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It calls for pretzel crisps, butter, sugar, instant vanilla pudding mix, skim milk, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, 8 oz. of cream cheese, vanilla extract, a tub of Cool Whip, and a Hershey bar (optional). <br />
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So, for the purists out there: I wasn't exactly baking. (It is called a No-Bake Dessert.) But I did "create" some sweet, decadent "yummy-ness".<br />
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As I mentioned, I am trying to get back on the straight and narrow food-wise, as I have some of the 53 lbs. I lost a few years ago that need to be "re-lost." So, you benefit by the fact that I know precisely <span style="color: #990000;">how many calories are in 1 1/16 of a piece: 184 calories!</span><br />
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This dessert is not overly "pumpkiny," but it is the perfect pumpkin "fix".<br />
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By the way, the store did not have the original pretzel crisps, as called for in the recipe. I bought the sea salt and pepper ones and they worked just fine. The extra flavor did not hinder the recipe at all.<br />
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'Tis the season for baking and goody-making. I'm sure I'll be back with more. <br />
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You can check my Pinterest board: <b><span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/abcynd/food-trying-it-soon/" target="_blank">Food - Trying it Soon,</a></span></b> if you would like to see what other delectables are on deck.<br />
<br />
After I make a recipe, I pin it to: <b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/abcynd/food-recipes-ive-tried/" target="_blank">Food - Recipes I've Tried.</a></span></b> On that board I rate them with stars and comment on any changes I've made.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
<br />
~Cyndi<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-32922169972432148442014-11-12T03:33:00.000-08:002014-11-22T10:39:30.962-08:00DIY Christmas Ornament Garland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7LAe7bsgyfTe26rqkhnBPRPiN3agfQyU3ps4WN0MiTOtZhnhkQs9eaKIFrs-tlqiY1PndTuO4MLT0YmDkfkOov7fYB8lE4VP91qnTaPQquss-SHU8SCWOBDSblyh2-6Z7KuoVxyNCbI/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+-+all+wired+up+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7LAe7bsgyfTe26rqkhnBPRPiN3agfQyU3ps4WN0MiTOtZhnhkQs9eaKIFrs-tlqiY1PndTuO4MLT0YmDkfkOov7fYB8lE4VP91qnTaPQquss-SHU8SCWOBDSblyh2-6Z7KuoVxyNCbI/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+-+all+wired+up+B.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have always loved those beautiful Christmas ornament garlands that inundate all the holiday catalogs this time of year. However, priced at anywhere from $50 to over $100, it has always been a splurge I was unwilling to make.</div>
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Last year, though, I went on an after-Christmas rampage and hit all the major sales. I, fortunately, was able to pick up the makings for an ornament garland on the cheap. I don't remember if the sale was 50% or 75% off, but at any rate I got all the supplies for between $3.99 and $7.99. I bought the pre-lit 9' garland and two packages of ornaments on sale. To complete the project I also used floral wire and wire snips that I already had on-board. From setup to completion, it took almost exactly one hour.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpsfHwbnMlEcU6875rc4MhYcXRu6DWOOGGlEPBFuZOYyyfmaTZaaSqBJD0iV-O7vvL15R6S9BhB9FmT5EOSV-fSkDHE7QjF2oWljoHVFcCDqCzuTSLEuIxTdo6OA_qoukOp7gGHrHlvw/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpsfHwbnMlEcU6875rc4MhYcXRu6DWOOGGlEPBFuZOYyyfmaTZaaSqBJD0iV-O7vvL15R6S9BhB9FmT5EOSV-fSkDHE7QjF2oWljoHVFcCDqCzuTSLEuIxTdo6OA_qoukOp7gGHrHlvw/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+supplies.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laying out the supplies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFU9nX9bACts-9CloCqQWtljSgzkYwuKrsxlIwuESgQcGZ3cC2J_n4XnajoyECr7r7VeqwUUDeyOJsakNRoUuaiN6-lKtW13WHZKMuk7jxqj1HX4hxngjYMmydsmydu1nnV2uUowAelo/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+laying+out+the+pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFU9nX9bACts-9CloCqQWtljSgzkYwuKrsxlIwuESgQcGZ3cC2J_n4XnajoyECr7r7VeqwUUDeyOJsakNRoUuaiN6-lKtW13WHZKMuk7jxqj1HX4hxngjYMmydsmydu1nnV2uUowAelo/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+laying+out+the+pattern.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before I started attaching, I laid out the pattern. Notice there is one ornament left-over.</td></tr>
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One thing to note is that when I was wiring the ornaments onto the garland, I discovered that it was so much easier to remove the ornaments themselves from the metal hanger and to attach only the metal hanger. Once wired into place, I would then put the ball back onto the metal hanger.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggla0s6HErP6sMxH7AHBImzmfPP0zgNMpKltPHyhuRXvWW4GuJe58B4zFhAxoVh6sUWv-oup9gJ4iTJqVFjsoRSfwCQZhlZYRXovCj15PjyoWYfibelEFug7EsiLQg5u3H4DSuU0ysN20/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+-+wire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggla0s6HErP6sMxH7AHBImzmfPP0zgNMpKltPHyhuRXvWW4GuJe58B4zFhAxoVh6sUWv-oup9gJ4iTJqVFjsoRSfwCQZhlZYRXovCj15PjyoWYfibelEFug7EsiLQg5u3H4DSuU0ysN20/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+-+wire.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Placing the wire (colored yellow for easier viewing).</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM96gZUYWT3Qd7hBmWziZyPr7w-PWwfAHPBjPUxAJhB6eHLaWB-6QMJsu4phEAY_NC2N2DmLzsI3M7WyRF-ycZ5-yzrn8sY4FY3fCY0AsjDyLF5tuALgOYkkw6RQdwvU_dBqpUUMdsqX4/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+-+metal+hanger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM96gZUYWT3Qd7hBmWziZyPr7w-PWwfAHPBjPUxAJhB6eHLaWB-6QMJsu4phEAY_NC2N2DmLzsI3M7WyRF-ycZ5-yzrn8sY4FY3fCY0AsjDyLF5tuALgOYkkw6RQdwvU_dBqpUUMdsqX4/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+-+metal+hanger.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attach the metal hanger only. Replace the ball after you wire it on.</td></tr>
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The number of ornaments I had purchased did not completely fill the garland, so when I get a chance I will be getting more ornaments to complete the project. One more package should do it; at Wal-Mart they should be only about three bucks full-price.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyRlOn4UpkuPhIlj486tSAoNjUegAKywHUeh8LKuKi65nfGqPnsf1bQV8jf8dIJwJj7tMkH1284huYvYYdVuJpATpLyDyk2UeMc9WS5xGG-7b3kY-AimLmIbhO3qsdFy0L9BmkNme9WM/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+-+pine+roping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyRlOn4UpkuPhIlj486tSAoNjUegAKywHUeh8LKuKi65nfGqPnsf1bQV8jf8dIJwJj7tMkH1284huYvYYdVuJpATpLyDyk2UeMc9WS5xGG-7b3kY-AimLmIbhO3qsdFy0L9BmkNme9WM/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+-+pine+roping.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original price. Not bad to start with, right? If you wait for the after-Christmas sales like me, you could score it for $2.50!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnISxxxvmduqAEn3t7i3jyGlwEvsyvseP11HCt3NEXGQ5zmHEEjS-pG4ny6R5IAMNWwQNTD7UXoS_cZER9AGnFfTx-C4WU8RVvhHxWk3bngOZNUAxNeeLR18wDDxb9vKgbnN-yHiw4eTE/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+-+ornament+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnISxxxvmduqAEn3t7i3jyGlwEvsyvseP11HCt3NEXGQ5zmHEEjS-pG4ny6R5IAMNWwQNTD7UXoS_cZER9AGnFfTx-C4WU8RVvhHxWk3bngOZNUAxNeeLR18wDDxb9vKgbnN-yHiw4eTE/s1600/still+life+-+Christmas+-+garland+-+ornament+box.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original price for the ornaments.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In my family we have a rule: We may not decorate, listen to Christmas music or watch Christmas movies until AFTER Thanksgiving. Of course as tradition has it, we listen to Christmas music on the way home from Thanksgiving dinner. That said, I won't be displaying my garland until that time. When I do, I'll be sure to post follow-up pictures.</div>
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It's a lot easier than you think!<br />
<br />
~CyndiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-22590809085506206572014-11-10T12:55:00.000-08:002014-11-10T12:55:00.019-08:00Book Review - The Lost KeySherlock and Savich. If those names ring a bell for you, then you are likely familiar with the FBI series by Catherine Coulter. This book is one of a new spin-off series by Coulter which features British agent Nicholas Drummond. While Sherlock and Savich are not central characters, it is fun that they pop up in the story from time-to-time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5I7xNX-Ng9dQSjwIESBc5HeFppVsdFRK065gSueY4ssRfQT9otcfFB-o9SqRiIadpkxEsQSarFozPq2O-gnna2j4P7qB-puW2btBBRzkRZTWhvJGDKAkG9OIlRMcMmw_iDyLYr4DBUc/s1600/still+life+-+books+-+the+lost+key+-+coulter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5I7xNX-Ng9dQSjwIESBc5HeFppVsdFRK065gSueY4ssRfQT9otcfFB-o9SqRiIadpkxEsQSarFozPq2O-gnna2j4P7qB-puW2btBBRzkRZTWhvJGDKAkG9OIlRMcMmw_iDyLYr4DBUc/s1600/still+life+-+books+-+the+lost+key+-+coulter.jpg" height="342" width="400" /></a></div>
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These FBI books by Catherine Coulter are ones that I watch for. When a new one comes out, I immediately snatch it up...they are that good. This one was no exception. Coulter chose a good co-writer for this series. I would look for books written by Ellison alone.<br />
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In this story, the plot centers around an international secret society. Are you intrigued? You should be. Go get this book and read it; you will be happy you did.<br />
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Here is the synopsis for <i>The Lost Key</i> by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison taken from Amazon:<br />
<div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Freshly minted FBI agent Nicholas Drummond is barely out of
his Quantico training when he and his partner, Mike Caine, are called
to investigate a stabbing on Wall Street. </blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Their investigation, however, yields more questions than answers. It
quickly becomes clear that the victim, John Pearce, was more than the
naval historian and antiquities dealer he appeared to be. What Drummond
doesn’t know is that buying and selling rare books was Pearce’s cover,
and that he had devoted his life to discovering the whereabouts of a
missing World War I U-boat concealing a stash of gold bullion, and an
unexpected surprise that only raises more questions. When Drummond and
Caine find both of Pearce’s adult children have disappeared, the case
assumes a new sense of urgency. The FBI agents know their best lead lies
in the victim’s cryptic final words—“The key is in the lock.” But what
key? What lock?</div>
<div>
</div>
The search for Adam and
Sophia Pearce takes them on an international manhunt, which threatens to
run them afoul of an eccentric billionaire industrialist with his own
plans not only for the lost gold, but the creation of a weapon unlike
anything the world has ever seen.</blockquote>
This one is a page-turner.<br />
<br />
~Cyndi <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-80210328186586536942014-11-08T05:43:00.000-08:002014-11-08T05:43:00.234-08:00Book Review - Seven WondersIf you've been following my current book review series, you know that I discovered my last book, <i>Magnificent Vibration</i>, when I walked into the library and hoped and literally prayed for a book that I would enjoy. I picked up <i>Magnificent Vibration</i> because it seemed maybe more than coincidental that I had just experienced vibrations in my leg. In the same trip, I spied <i>Seven Wonders </i>by Ben Mezrich, and thought "hmmm, seven is a good number." So I grabbed that book, too. A strange way to select a book, for sure, but in these two instances it worked like a charm.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYhKy8LbAQbMOevIDePK5iZsQUSyZTeUr9vDMQfe5Zc8r9zWp-_QycUwWFNdXBVxU0pVdxr2B5dHu3KuZDyEMYe6tf5EN7v9UxliB_nQv3dsHcZ0zoCXSjAjErvkD6b6jDrmz9-Cveds/s1600/still+life+-+books+-+seven+wonders+-+mezrich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYhKy8LbAQbMOevIDePK5iZsQUSyZTeUr9vDMQfe5Zc8r9zWp-_QycUwWFNdXBVxU0pVdxr2B5dHu3KuZDyEMYe6tf5EN7v9UxliB_nQv3dsHcZ0zoCXSjAjErvkD6b6jDrmz9-Cveds/s1600/still+life+-+books+-+seven+wonders+-+mezrich.jpg" height="259" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is the synopsis from Amazon:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
When the reclusive mathematician Jeremy Grady is murdered, it’s up to
his estranged brother Jack to find out why. Jack's search leads him on a
far-flung journey—from Brazil, India, Peru, and beyond—as he unravels
the mystery that links the Seven Wonders of the World, and discovers
that Jeremy may have hit upon something that’s been concealed for
centuries. With the help of scientist Sloane Costa, they discover a
conspiracy to hide a road map to the Garden of Eden—and the truth behind a
mythological ancient culture.</blockquote>
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This book is definitely a four-star. It is the first in an upcoming trilogy and I can't wait for the rest! I could not put this book down. The story moves the reader through many exotic locales filled with lots of action and adventure. If you like fast-moving reads, you will definitely want to pick up this book.<br />
<br />
~Cyndi<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-71685737378317188412014-11-05T05:31:00.000-08:002014-11-05T05:31:00.131-08:00Book Review - Magnificent VibrationI wandered into the library one evening after exercise class wanting to get a new book or two to get me through the next week or so. I was currently reading <i>Half in Love With Artful Death</i>, and I was not even half in love with the book, so I wanted a new one.<br />
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I walked up to the new releases shelves and hoped, no, I actually prayed that I would find a good book to read. Just before I had entered the library, on the drive over, I had noted a strange phenomenon that often happens to me. In this instance it was probably from exercise, although it often happens without any provocation: my leg (or foot) started rhythmically buzzing. Sometimes when it happens I think my cell phone is vibrating...but it turns out to not be the case. It can be annoying. Anyway, back to choosing a book... Since you already know the title of the book I selected from my blog post title, it suffices to say that when I saw that title, I chuckled to myself and picked it up. Maybe it was a sign? Lol. The fact that it was written by rock and roll legend, Rick Springfield, was an added intrigue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5lZw-Cjlhbjf1VsBuwYLq3idamqev7rRdOtsjM1y6GC5hbSaa7gvOGzFvaug7YnmoouBDQUcroeAUYfu81JheS9pbGUpPLZ2Rf0tOh-FyZJiVFlP8e4aaoNMpFRbi-KDyncL5WLMqcI/s1600/still+life+-+books+-+magnificent+vibration+-+springfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5lZw-Cjlhbjf1VsBuwYLq3idamqev7rRdOtsjM1y6GC5hbSaa7gvOGzFvaug7YnmoouBDQUcroeAUYfu81JheS9pbGUpPLZ2Rf0tOh-FyZJiVFlP8e4aaoNMpFRbi-KDyncL5WLMqcI/s1600/still+life+-+books+-+magnificent+vibration+-+springfield.jpg" height="345" width="400" /></a></div>
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Below is the synopsis from the Magnificent Vibration <a href="http://magnificentvibration.com/" target="_blank">website</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
After stealing a mysterious self-help book called
<em>Magnificent Vibration: Discover Your True Purpose</em>
from a bookstore, Bobby calls the 1-800 number scrawled
inside the front cover, only to discover that he has a
direct line to God. This launches Bobby on a whimsical
quest, serendipitously accompanied by a breathtakingly sexy
and exceedingly sharp travel companion named Alice.
Together the pair sets out to find some combination of
spiritual and carnal salvation—and possibly save the planet. <br />
<br />
By turns hilarious, poignant, over-the-top, and deeply
meaningful, <i>Magnificent Vibration</i> is a highly original novel
about the biggest questions one man—or mankind—has ever
asked.</blockquote>
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The book was over the top, for sure. The main character is obsessed with masturbation, for starters. God is portrayed as a prankster who may just be nutso. With those things in mind, I have to say that I REALLY enjoyed this book. I often thought to myself that it was awesome that Rick Springfield was so versatile. His writing style is compelling and the story was well executed. This book was outside my normal genre, but it goes to prove that sometimes it is worthwhile to venture outside your comfort zone.<br />
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~Cyndi Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61567716593028128.post-78419917757541624562014-11-03T05:12:00.000-08:002014-11-03T05:12:00.713-08:00Book Review - Half in Love with Arftul DeathThe second in my series of five of the most recent books I've read is <i>Half in Love with Arftul Death</i> by Bill Crider.<br />
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Here is the synopsis from Amazon:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The local community college and an antique dealer team up to have a
workshop for artists. One local man, Burt Collins, isn't fond of the
art, and he isn't fond of having the artists in town. Sheriff Dan Rhodes
is called to the antique store because Collins has been accused of
vandalizing some paintings. When Rhodes arrives, two men are restraining
Collins. But before Rhodes can take Collins into custody, a near riot
breaks out. Rhodes gets the situation under control with the help of
college math instructor and wannabe cop Seepy Benton.<br />
<br />
Later that
day Rhodes has to help the county animal control officer round up some
runaway donkeys, and that evening there's a robbery at a local
convenience store. After looking into the robbery, Rhodes goes by to see
Collins and talk to him about the vandalism. Collins isn't talking
because he's been killed, his head bashed in with a bust of Dale
Earnhardt, Jr.<br />
<br />
Rhodes is faced with other problems, too: a naked
woman in a roadside park and a gang of meth-cookers. It seems as if a
Sheriff's work is never done.</blockquote>
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I read a lot of these cozy, easy-on-the-mind mysteries. As with many of the cozies, this one wasn't particularly stellar. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't a page-turner either. As a matter-of-fact, I put it down and picked up the third book in my current blogging series before I finished it. I would have been content to turn it in at the library before finishing if I had to. That says a lot. In the end, I did pick it back up and finish it. It wasn't laborious reading, it just wasn't compelling. I didn't feel the need to find out what happened...I wasn't drawn in at all by the characters. On a one to four scale I would probably give it a one-and-a-half. This title is the 21st book in the series, so obviously these characters resonate with someone, just not me.<br />
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~Cyndi Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0