I got tired of the girls I painted last October; they are not bad, but not really good either... So I decided to make collages on the back side and offer them as double-side ACEOs. Crazy idea... but that's what I felt like doing. Here are the back sides:

Today I'm sharing photos of my firstborn. There is a reason that I'm posting these pictures today, but I will not go in details. I'll just say that this young man has the biggest heart in the universe and that I couldn't be happier that he is my gift to the world.Not only is he brave, good and smart, he is pretty cute.... dont' you think?

I wish I could spend more days like this.... This was a much needed break from the regular overwhelming chaos going in my mind. My dear, dear friend Connie and I spent the day in Danville learning 'MORE THAN WORDS: THE ART OF COLLAGE' from lovely and talented Kelly Kilmer. I didn't want to torture her with my camera, but I did want to have some photos to share (how does one balance those two things?). Do you see that big bucket? That is gel medium! Doesn't just seeing that huge amount call you to get out papers and start gluing them on anything? After my regular Golden tubs this looked enormous! Kelly is the such a generous teacher! Look at the mounds of collage material! This is just a part of it... We were free to roam through all and take whatever we wanted. :-) Not only that, she had everything else that you may dream of... paints, stamps, pens of every kind and size... all fun stuff! It was a treat to see one of her journals up close.

It was a fast paced workshop, we made several pages. This is my favorite:

So..... It was fun, happy, informative. Kelly is a great teacher. I encourage you to take one of her classes if you can and to visit her blog and say "hi!".

A while ago Sharon encouraged us to doodle (as she said - to draw aimlessly), and that's what I did while listening to my dh talk about politics. Somehow the butterfly found a way to my canvas.
Doodling is fun!

I used again the very convenient, scientific way to find the winner. Here is a list of numbers that turned out (I turned it sideways to save the blog-space). Number 18 is the winner! A big thank you to all that signed for the giveaway. Ann, please email me your address, and I'll send the journal your way.

I had big plans for today, but a bad headache destroyed them... I did manage to make at least one thing. This is something I saw in the new Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. There is an article by Lesley Riley. As soon as I saw how beautiful it is I knew I had to try it...

LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

I updated my shops on etsy and eBay with prints of some of my favorite cards. They are sturdy, colorful and simply positive.
We have lovely weather and I know that I should be out.... but it is so hard to move when you have paint and paper and glue around... Hope that you are enjoying the weekend :-)

Thank you for the comments about the one-legged bird. I feel better now that I didn't ruin her, but rather let her rest her leg. There is even a poem in the comments! FUN!

Isn't it a wonderful thing when you feel down and unexpected gifts arrive to surprise you? That's what happened to me today. Twice!
First, the post lady (post person, as she calls herself) came much earlier than usual with a pretty big box in her hands. In the box the sweetest present ever. Look:

It makes me smile to think that Claire took the time to carefully pack and send a cookie on a long travel across the ocean. I never received cookies in mail, and I don't think that I'll ever forget how sweet this is.
Then, from another part of the world another surprise. My first ever fabric ATCs! I can't stop looking at all the details (that really don't show on the photo) and touching the soft fabric. It's Dotee's magic again.

I feel special and happy and grateful. Thank you.

They are resting their little wings on etsy: here and here.

Do you know who wrote the words I used on this canvas?
(click on the photo to enlarge it)

6"x8" canvas
-listed on eBay-

Click on the following photo to learn more about the giveaway that LisaOceanDreamer started:

I'm offering a hand bound journal and a bundle of collage images to jumpstart the creative flow.Please leave a comment on my blog before March, 20th.
I will announce the winner on March 21st.

I received this image in mail yesterday
(as a gift with my order from ArtChix):It prompted me to create following pages:

Not that we had a cold winter... or much of a winter at all... Still, there is a big difference in the way the birds sing, sun shines and flowers smile. This was a wonderful day. Not a lot time for art play, but we went for a walk and my dh took these pictures. After that he cooked (grilled) a delicious lunch... I am so lucky!