Monday, August 24

ONE LAST THING BEFORE I GO...

Greetings dear reader!

Our trip has been delayed due to "circumstances beyond my control", therefore, I decided to make good use of the time (since I've been packed and ready for WEEKS). I've created an art quilt and two canvas dollies! Behold the goods:



Here's the entire quilt...it's backing is an old tablecloth!



Here's a close up of the embroidery. I am still no good at it...I decided to draw the camera instead of stitching it for that very reason!



Here's a close up of some of the buttons and the little wooden "mini me" button. Isn't it adorable? It came from Rainbow Catz (so did the mushroom buttons)!



I used Hambly's screen printed rubons...aren't they fab? And they will adhere to most any fabric! WOOT!



And HOW could I make a quilt without my favorite little poochies? Red Lead stamps are da bomb!



Here's the mushroom button...and the ribbon? Isn't it incredibl? I LOVE it! I got it at the CK vendors convention! I wish I had a dozen more yards of the stuff!


And here's the wonderfully worn, vintage and oh-so-washed quilt block that backs the art quilt. It seems aqua and red ALWAYS find their way home with me!



Here are the two little canvas dollies...I didn't have any fiberfill so I stuffed them with beans! Old fashioned and effective! I love them! Pattern and prints from a new and inspiring ezine: Parasol Crafts. It's 111 pages of inspiration, crafts, patterns, and downloads! AND for only 2.50! That's insane, my friend! Go! Go right now! I'll wait til you get back!



Now you can make the dollies yourself! Here's a close up of Rose Red. I had forgotten all about her in the Snow White story! Isn't she adorable?



And here's Snow White...always a dark haired beauty...

One more thing! Here's the most beautiful (if I do say so myself) ATC I've ever made! The ATC is a bit larger than typical (call me a rebel) .Created for a friend with stamps, charms and images from Red Lead, my personal card stash, and soldered charms by my artist friend Tina Wright!



I used a paisley border for the waves, and added seagreen glitter on the top...then stacked them with pop dots. I used little irridescent seashell sequins and tucked them between the waves. (Sorry about the dark picture, the ATC was too bumpy and lumpy for the scanner!)



The stamp and image are from Red Lead, but the poem, this amazing poem, is from Lord Byron...I think it is so beautiful:

"There be none of beauty's daughters
With magic like thee
And like music on the waters
Is your sweet voice to me."

Okay, we are REALLY leaving for Route 66 tomorrow! I've purchased my books:



and



So we are in good hands! Pictures, stories, and tales of our adventure from the road!

Meanwhile, take some advice from Nat King Cole:


"Well if you ever plan to motor west,
Just take my way , that's the highway that's the best.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six."

Friday, August 21

ON THE ROAD AGAIN...

Greetings, dear reader!

I am happy to report that Hubby Dear, Webbie, Travel Gnome "Gnomey" and I will be leaving for 2 weeks of MUCH needed vacation. We are planning to travel old Route 66 and ultimately end up in New Mexico, and then Colorado. Here's a great video of the scenic wonders of the old "Mother Road.":



I'll be posting as I'm able from the road...meanwhile, we'll be getting our kicks on Route 66!



Peace, OUT!

More soon!

XOXOXOX




Hugs,
Paula Clare

Wednesday, August 19

FINAL BATCH OF ARTFUL HOLIDAY ATCs

Greetings, dear reader!

Here are the final "offerings" of my Artful Holiday ATCs for Red Lead's Swap. Aren't the little images just adorable? And the stamps! Red Lead has some of the sweetest little stamps I've ever seen!











Hope you enjoy!
More soon!

XOXOXOX




Hugs,
Paula Clare

Tuesday, August 18

HAPPY CAMPER!

Today's offering from the incredible "Story People":

What if we all got along & people loved each other & sang songs about peace? he said. Would that be a good world? & I said I didn't know about that, but it would be a good summer camp & he looked at me & shook his head & said, "It's no wonder you're leaving us with such a mess."

Monday, August 10

INSPIRING FRIENDS, INSPIRING PLACES!

Greetings, dear reader!

As I mentioned in my last post, I spent Saturday at an all day workshop at Red Lead in Webster Groves. The shop is so adorable, and so amazingly full of inspiration I could truly spend an entire day just browsing and "ooooooooohing" and "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhing". However, the goal was to get some of the ATCs finished for the Holiday ATC swap that Red Lead is hosting. Here are a few of the ones I created while chatting with Chris, Sharon, Patti, Deb and Margie:









Red Lead's stamps and collage sheets are SO unique and completely adorable! I will use them "to death" because I just can't get enough of the vintage cuteness! Here's a couple of stamps I could NOT resist: (I've included links to Red Lead's shop for the adorable images below. Please do not copy or save images as they are copyrighted and the property of Red Lead! Thanks!)









Happy shopping! More creations made with Red Lead goodies soon to follow!

Hugs,
Paula Clare

Saturday, August 8

WORKSHOPS A GO-GO

Greetings, dear readers!

I am off to spend the day at my favorite little shop: Red Lead Paper Works in Webster Groves. A friend and I signed up for a day-long "Play Day" to create and be inspired! I will be posting pics of our creations upon arrival home!

Meanwhile, do something GOOD for you today...and follow your bliss!



More soon!

XOXOXOX




Hugs,
Paula Clare

Friday, August 7

GNOMEY IS HOME-Y!

Greetings, dear readers!

Much to my relief and (bewilderment quite honestly) Gnomey appeared safe and unharmed in my car at work! His head was still covered, and he was quite shaken by the ordeal, but none the worse for the wear. After a warm family reunion,



Webster was somehow able to contain HIS excitement:



He is happily standing vigil in our garden once again...



No ransom notes, no phone calls...THIS TIME! Keep your eyes open for the culprit, as she tends to strike when least expected!

More soon!

XOXOXOX




Hugs,
Paula Clare

Thursday, August 6

GNOME NAPPER STILL AT LARGE...

Greetings dear readers!

As mentioned in my last post, the infamous Gnome Napper is on the prowl again...Gnomey, the Clouse House gnome is still unaccounted for. I am hoping to hear from his kidnapper long enough to get either a ransom note or a phone call. The silence is driving me mad!

More information as details develop!

Paula Clare

Wednesday, August 5

GNOME NAPPING ON THE RISE...

Greetings, dear reader!

I am writing to alert you to the fact that gnome napping (as in Kidnapping) is at an all time high here in the Vern. My travel companion, Gnomey, general stands in my rose garden minding his own business, diligently guarding both hearth and home.



(you can see how seriously he takes his job)

Anyway, unbeknownst to me, my little friend was Gnome napped while hubby dear and I were in the hot tub the other night.






Please alert the authorities (i.e. ME!) if/when you spot this gnome napper. Let's all work together to bring this crime to justice!

More soon,
Paula Clare

Tuesday, August 4

THE MIRACLE OF "THE SWAP"

Greetings, dear reader!

I have been working feverishly to keep up with the committments I've made on both Swap-Bot and friend's blogs. I tend to over commit because when I do I find I am more likely to stay on a "creative roll" than when I have no deadlines looming.

Allow me to share with you the swap I'm doing with Creative Breathing. This woman's work, is first of all, the definition of "cute." (Seriously, go to the dictionary and look up "cute", I'll BET YOU one of Elizabeth's creations is on the page!) She's also the queen of all things red and aqua. (le sigh) I am SO envious of her little workspace, I just may show up on her doorstep one day with belongings in-tow. I digress...

Anyway, she's having a "Block Party" to celebrate her 300th post. Genius that she is, she's making a garland out of 5" square blocks that she gets from her blog readers. In return, she is creating each of US a block in her typical sugary sweet style. I can hardly wait to get my hands on mine! Here's the one I made for her:



In typical "overachiever fashion" I made my block double sided. It's so hard to get ALL of my "expressive style" to fit into a 5" block!



And because I feel I'm lacking in the "being-able-to-pull-off-cute" department, I over compensated by making the envelope a bit of art too:



And here's the ATC I made for a digital ATC swap. I just LOVE fat babies, don't you?



I guess this is one good thing that comes from insomnia (which is currently, dear reader, kicking my butt).

More soon!

More soon!

XOXOXOX

Hugs,
Paula Clare

Sunday, August 2

SWEET, SWEET, SUMMERTIME

Greetings, dear reader!

Well, it's August and the last "dog days" of summer are upon us. Wow, the year has just zoomed by, has it not?

Anyhoo, thought I'd share with you a few of my fave summertime images from the "Clouse House":


































More soon!

XOXOXOX

Hugs,
Paula Clare